ARGUMENT OF BOOK FIRST.

Address to Sleep-Its concomitants-Mrs Claypole's sentiments on what constitutes true paternal affection-Details of her father's regard for her when a child-their rural walks, and religious instruction-Family Worship-She observes that her father is agitated by internal emotion in a dream or trance-His incoherent language-Awakes-Remarks on dreams-Cromwell points out original and innate Sin as the disturber of peace in sleep-Allusion to Man's estate in Paradise and fall-Its results-Mrs. Claypole prevails with him to reveal the dream that disquieted him, viz. the execution and dying demeanour of King Charles I.-Description-Mrs. Claypole deprecates her father's allowing fantasies to weigh upon his mind-A tender conscience, what? and how easily assailable—Cromwell's despondency, and yearning after the assurance of reconciliation with heaven-Mrs. Claypole vindicates her father in regard to the execution of Charles I.-Her reasoning on this point-System of punishments of State crimes-High treason, what?—An historical sketch of it-Account of a young Rebel, the Jemmy Dawson of former centuries-Description of a righteous King-Was Charles conform to this character?-Cromwell checks her invective-His own rule more severe than Charles' -His character of the King-Amiable qualities-Is beseeched to accord religious toleration, and abrogation of the penal statutes against liberty of conscience-Favourable offers of the army to him-His contempt of these and refusal-Cromwell's narrative of the King's education, and character of his father James I.-Spanish nuptial excursion-Results of his French marriage-Treasonable views and conduct of Queen Henrietta-French and Spanish politics and despotism-Charles unhappily imbued with theseHis tyrannical behaviour-Ruin of the State-Civil authority laid

on Cromwell-His desponding views thereupon-Mrs. Claypole's consolation-She entreats him to unfold an account of his early youth, which he declines-His views of the sin of his youthHis dark religious experience-Mrs. Claypole suggests the remedy -He agrees to give her an account of some leading points of British history, with reference to his own transactions-Allusion to Milton-His character-Description of Britain prior to the coming of Christianity-Its introduction-Account of IcolmkillThe missionary and religious zeal of its inmates-Scotland and Ireland christianized-History of Oswald, King of Northumberland His early education at Iona-What constituted his nurture -Beneficial effects on the government of his own kingdom-Determines to christianisę his subjects-Embassy to Iona- Bishop Aidan sent to Oswald-His journey- Description of the convention of the Kingdom to meet him-His sermon-its effects'Death of Oswald, anno 642-Lament of Mrs. Claypole.

OLIVER CROMWELL.

SCENE.—The Lord Protector of England is discovered asleep on a couch, in the Palace at Whitehall; his daughter Elizabeth, Mrs. Claypole, watching beside him.

MRS. CLAYPOLE.

HAIL! courteous sleep, whose soft and shadowy hand
Unlocks her balmy bower to the unblest;

The wretched harbouring with a welcome smile
And sweet caress: such as a blooming nurse
Bestows upon her minion, long withheld,
And craving for her lost maternal arms.
O modest, noiseless friend! what potent word
The value will denote of gracious gifts,
Thy bounty brings unto a laden race.
The vehemence of passion lull'd by thee,

D

As it had never raged, steals soft away;
Desire becomes inactive and expires;
Careless of his intents, ambition rests—
All lower'd and levell'd down his languid flight;
Confiding trust soothes the forgetful frame,
Sweetly surrender'd to the pleasing pause
And grateful stop of all the forceful springs
That cause the heart to flutter, or to break.
Each member free, and gnawing pain assuag'd,
And in thy blandishing domain bewitch'd;
Of wrongs the bitter memory forgot,

And anxious prescience of its sting beguil'd;
Alas! sweet sleep, thou dost surpass so far
In profit, that the wise should never wake.
Thou slumber'st, O my persecuted sire!
Wasted with unassisted cares, exhaust

With wounding malice, and the strife of tongues.
Relax thy labour'd brow, while that I steal
Thus softly to impress thy channell'd cheek;
And kiss the parent hand that erst was wont
Me govern in the tottering dawn of life :
That now a sinking state upholds secure

By skill profound, and miracle of power,

Kindness, when blent with manly sense, how good: Paternal prudence, so expert to join

Guidance with love, freedom with soft restraint,