with joy by his father, who heaped honours and
riches upon him, which were not sufficient to satisfy his ambitious
views. To exclude his uncle, the Duke of York, from the throne, he
was continually intriguing with the opposers of government, and was
frequently in disgrace with his sovereign. On the accession of
James II. he made an ineffectual attempt to raise a rebellion, was
taken prisoner, and beheaded on Tower-hill, 15th July, 1685. Mr.
Macpherson has drawn his character in the following terms:
"Monmouth, highly beloved by the populace, was a fit instrument to
carry forward his (i.e. Shaftesbury's) designs. To a gracefulness
which prejudiced mankind in his favour as soon as seen, he joined an
affability which gained their love. Constant in his friendships,
and just to his word, by nature tender, and an utter enemy to
severity and cruelty, active and vigorous in his constitution, he
excelled in the manly exercises of the field. He was personally
brave. He loved the pomp and the very dangers of war. But with
these splendid qualities, he was vain to a degree of folly,
versatile in his measures, weak in his understanding. He was
ambitious without dignity, busy without consequence, attempting ever
to be artful, but always a fool. Thus, taking the applause of the
multitude for a certain mark of merit, he was the dupe of his own
vanity, and owed all his misfortunes to that weakness."--History of
England, vol. i., chap. iii.]

His entrance upon the stage of the world was so brilliant, his ambition
had occasioned so many considerable events, and the particulars of his
tragical end are so recent, that it were needless to produce any other
traits to give a sketch of his character. By the whole tenor of his
life, he appeared to be rash in his undertakings, irresolute in the
execution, and dejected in his misfortunes, in which, at least, an
undaunted resolution ought to equal the greatness of the attempt.

His figure and the exterior graces of his person were such, that nature
perhaps never formed anything more complete: His face was extremely
handsome; and yet it was a manly face, neither inanimate nor effeminate;
each feature having its beauty and peculiar delicacy: He had a wonderful
genius for every sort of exercise, an engaging aspect, and an air of
grandeur: in a word, he possessed every personal advantage; but then he
was greatly deficient in mental accomp