significancy; and wi h the cowardice natural to tyrants, these sapient ministers of a sapient monarch published a proclamation, by which the ancient charters were restored to the several corporations in the kingdom. In this proclamation something was granted, and more was promised. Of the advantages of the proclamation Bristol availed itself, and subsequent events rendered the performance of the promises unnecessary. The old corporation was restored in 1688. An era consecrated in British history by the arrival of the illustrious William III.*

The period which beheld Anne upon the throne of England is no less interesting and important in the history of Bristol, than conspicuous in the

*After the battle of the Boyne, William III. landed at Morgan's Pill, now Lamplighter's Hall, and proceeded immediately to Badmington. With William III. many families came from Holland and settled in Bristol, to whom the city is greatly indebted for its high character of commercial respectability; among which may be noticed those of Peloquin, La Roche, Casamajor, and Daltera.

+ Anne is the last regal visitant with whom Bristol has been honoured. The house in which the illustrious guest was entertained is not mentioned; but the following anecdote relative to her visit has been thought worth preserving. Edward Harford, Esq. grand-father of J. S. Harford, Esq. of Blaize Castle, observed, in conversation with a gentleman to whom the author is indebted for this anecdote, that he saw Queen Anne and the Prince of Denmark get into their carriage, when leaving Bristol, in Redcliff-Street.

history of literature, and splendid in the annals of military achievements. This illustrious princess granted a new charter to Bristol, which bears date the 24th of July, 1710. By this charter she confirmed all former charters and liberties which had been granted to the city by preceding sovereigns, and grants the royal pardon to the mayor and to the other officers of the corporation for having executed their respective offices without the approbation of the chancellor, which by the charter of Charles II. was ordered to be obtained. She, moreover, absolves the body corporate from the necessity of obtaining such approbation of their future elections, and relinquishes in the crown every power of removing the mayor, and the other officers of the corporation, from the respective offices to which they have been elected.

Such is the outline of one of the most important of the Bristol charters ;* a charter which placed the corporation of Bristol upon its present truly respectable establishment, and entitles it to rank among the first corporations of the civilized world.

From the reign of Anne to the present period the history of Bristol is so intimately connected with that of the British Empire at large, as to present few

* See Bristol charters; of which a new and complete edition has been promised from a rev. gentleman of great ability and research.

events of any unconnected interest. But in the history of cities as well as empires, it frequently happens that the period which is most deficient in events which the historian can record, is most abundant in the means of happiness, and most important in the progress of intellect. In the lapse of the last century the arts of civilization have been advancing in their silent but rapid progress. The spirit of improvement has been diffused throughout the empire, and of this spirit Bristol has imbibed no inconsiderable a proportion. The effects of it may be traced in every part of the city; and while it has prompted us to the erection of public buildings for the most important purposes, and introduced elegance in the appearance of our streets, it becomes us to demonstrate that it has also introduced liberality of thinking and dignity of sentiment. Its operations, however,have not yet ceased, and we feel confident that they will not, till every thing shall be effected which it is desirable to accomplish.

The most important of the improvements, which have been effected in Bristol during the last cen

* Mr. Chalmers has remarked that in the first fourteen sessions of the present reign, no fewer than seven hundred acts of parliament were passed for dividing commons, inclosing wastes and draining marshes; four hundred and fifty acts for making roads in different districts; and nineteen acts for making artificial canals; besides others for the improvement and security of harbours.

tury, have generally derived their origin from the public spirit, and well directed exertions of the body corporate. It has already been observed that this respectable body was placed upon its present foundation, and empowered to exercise the full authority with which it is now entrusted, by the charter of Queen Anne. The history of Bristol having been brought down to this period, we propose to devote the remainder of this chapter to an historical sketch of the corporation, embracing such biographic notices of some of its most eminent members as could be procured, with the exception of such names as will constitute distinct articies in the chapter it is proposed to assign to the biography of eminent persons natives of Bristol.

The corporation of Bristol has been differently constituted in different periods of its history. In the times of feudal servitude and of military despotism, the governor of the castle appears to have exercised a jurisdiction, if not unlimited, at least, undefined. When the governor of the castle, during the civil wars, surrendered the castle and city to the generals of the parliamentary armies, no conference was held with the civil magistrates, notwithstanding the castle and precincts were then a part of the estate of the corporation by purchase from Charles I. Whence it would seem that the civil power was then absorbed in military autho

rity. The progress of civilization, however, at length taught the world to seek protection from an authority, and to reverence powers which derive no efficacy from the rights of conquest, or from the force of arms; but which by recommending themselves to the judgment and to reason, derive their best support from being found to be productive of reciprocal advantages.

Bristol gives title to an earl, which is at present enjoyed by the noble family of Hervey. It was created an earldom in 1622, by James I. and conferred upon the ancient family of Digby. Lord John Digby was the first earl of Bristol. His lordship's heir, Lord George Digby, bore a conspicuous part in the transactions of the reign of Charles II. and was equally remarkable for his talents and his inconsistencies. "His life," observes Walpole," was one contradiction. He wrote against popery, and embraced it; he was a zealous opposer of the court and a sacrifice for it; was conscientiously converted in the midst of his prosecution of Lord Strafford, and was most unconscientiously a prosecutor of Lord Clarendon. With great talents he always hurt himself and his friends; with romantic bravery he was always an unsuccessful commander. He spake for the test act though a roman catholic; and addicted himself to the study of astrology on the birth-day of true philosophy."