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Hampton Court, May 19, 1681." Lond. one sheet folio.

"His Arguments upon a Decree in a Cause in the Howard Family; wherein the several Ways and Methods of limiting a Trust for a Term of Years are fully debated." Lond. 1685, nine sheets folio.

His lordship left in manuscript

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[This nobleman was the son of sir Heneage Finch, knight, recorder of London; was born in 1621, educated at Westminster school, and entered a gentleman commoner of Christ-church, Oxford, 1635. From thence he removed to the Inner Temple, where, by diligence and good parts, he became remarkable for his knowledge of the municipal laws, and passed through the legal ranks of barrister, bencher, treasurer, reader, &c. At the restoration he was made a baronet, and successively attained the honours enumerated by lord Orford, and more circumstantially by Collins. He officiated as lord high-steward at the trial of viscount Stafford, in 1680, was created earl of Nottingham in the following year, and died on December 18, 1682, worn out with the fatigues and solicitudes to which his high station and offices subjected him.

Biog. Dict. vol. vi. p. 160.

⚫ See Peerage, vol. iii. p. 237, 4th edit.

The inscription on his monument reports him "a person of extraordinary natural endowments, and for manly and unaffected eloquence, universal learning, uncorrupted justice, indefatigable diligence, most exemplary piety, large and diffusive charity, not unequal to any that have gone before him; and an eminent example to posterity," &c. He served the king with great wisdom, honour, uprightness, and ability, treating all men with meekness and affability, and always most ready and pleased to forgive injuries, valuing greatness as only ministering to him greater opportunities of doing good 3." Bishop Burnet's estimate of his great parts and greater virtues, falls but little short of this monumental record.

In addition to the pieces mentioned by lord Orford, the Biographical Dictionary specifies

"An Argument on the Claim of the Crown to Pardon on Impeachment," printed in folio.

Two speeches, and an official letter, occur among the Harleian MSS. but encouraged not transcription.]

a Collins, ut sup.

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ANTHONY ASHLEY COOPER,

EARL OF SHAFTESBURY.

As lord Rochester was immersed only in the vices of that reign, his was an innocent character compared to those who were plunged in its crimes. A great weight of the latter fell to the share of the lord in question, who had canted tyranny under Cromwell, practised it under Charles the second, and who had disgraced the cause of liberty, by being the busiest instrument for it, when every other party had rejected him 3. It was the weakest vanity

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⚫ [Lord Shaftesbury was twice committed to the Tower under an accusation of treason. Soon after he was committed the second time, says sir Richard Bulstrode, I was assured from a very good hand, that a petition was presented to the king, in the name of this nobleman, wherein he prayed his liberty, and offered to transport himself and family to Carolina: but his petition was not received, or at least not answered. Mr. Seward informs us, that the character of Antonio, the old senator, raving about plots and other things in Venice Preserved, is supposed to have been intended to ridicule this extraordinary personage. Anecd. vol. v. p. 54.]

' [Dryden characterizes him in his well-known satire:

"For close designs and crooked counsels fit,

Sagacious, bold, and turbulent of wit:
Restless, unfixt in principles and place;

In pow'r unpleas'd, impatient of disgrace.

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