Mr. Marvel, considered as a statesman, makes a more conspicuous figure than any of the age in which he lived, the proceeding, or the subsequent:  He possessed the first quality of a statesman, that is, inviolable integrity, and a heart so confirmed against corruption, that neither indigence, a love of pomp or even dangers the most formidable, could move his settled purpose, to pursue in every respect, the interest of his country.

That Marvel understood the true interest of his country, is abundantly clear, from the great reverence paid to his opinion, by such persons as were most able to discern, and most disposed to promote its welfare.  He has succeeded to a miracle in the droll way of writing; and when he assumes a severity, and writes seriously his arguments and notions are far removed from imbecility.

As a poet, I cannot better delineate his character than in the words of Mr. Cooke, ’There are few of his poems (says he) that have not something very pleasing in them, and some he must be allowed to have excelled in; most of them seem to be the effect of a lively genius, and manly sense, but at the same time seem to want that correctness he was capable of making.  His most finished pieces are upon Milton’s Paradise Lost, and upon Blood’s stealing the crown; the latter of which is very satirical.’

  On BLOOD’s stealing the Crown.

  When daring Blood, his rent to have regain’d,
  Upon the English diadem distrain’d;
  He chose the cassoc, circingle, and gown,
  The fittest mask for one that robs the crown: 
  But his lay-pity underneath prevail’d,
  And, while he sav’d the keeper’s life, he fail’d. 
  With the priest’s vestment had he but put on
  The prelate’s cruelty, the crown had gone.

’In his state Poems, is contained much of the secret history of king Charles the IId, in which time they were all written.  They were composed on various occasions, and chiefly to expose a corrupt ministry, and the violence of those who were for persecuting all who differed from them in opinion.  He has several Poems in Latin, some of which he translated into English, and one in Greek.  They have each their proper merit; he discovers a great facility in writing the Latin tongue.  There are some small pieces of his in prose, which ought not to escape observation.  From his letter to Sir John Trott, there seems to have been a friendly correspondence between him and that gentleman.  By his Familiar Letters, we may easily judge what part of his works are laboured, and what not.  But of all his pieces in Prose, the King’s Mock-Speech to both Houses of Parliament, has most of spirit, and humour.  As it will furnish the best specimen of Mr. Marvel’s genius for drollery, as well as the character of that prince and ministry, we shall here insert it, as a performance of the most exquisite humour we have ever seen.

  His Majesty’s most gracious Speech to both
  Houses of Parliament.