FOOTNOTES: 

[424] Ep.  Sarr. p. 116.

[425] Le Clerc, l. 12. t. 2.  Latin Life of Grotius.  Barleus, in Vicquefort’s Letters, Ep. 79. p. 416.  Vind.  Grotii, p. 472.

[426] Ep. 760. p. 749.

[427] Ep. 761. p. 749.

[428] Ep. 1762. p. 749.

[429] Ep. 1793. p. 749.

[430] Ep. 1764, p. 750.

[431] Ep. 1765. p. 750.

[432] Vind.  Grot. p. 478.

XIII.  Grotius’s departure from Stockholm gave rise to several very uncertain reports.  Vondel, a famous Dutch Poet, and a friend of that learned man, pretends that he designed to go to Osnabrug[433], where the peace was negotiating; others assure[434], that he was desirous of retiring to Holland, where the Republican party was beginning to gain the ascendant.  A modern author has advanced[435], that he resolved to go into Poland, in hopes that the King would send him Ambassador to the court of France:  but it is more probable, that, disgusted with negotiations and business, he only sought a place of retreat, where he might complete his imaginary project of forming a coalition of Christians, and prepare for his latter end.

The vessel was scarce sailed for Lubeck, when she was overtaken by a violent storm, which obliged her to put in, on the 17th of August, fourteen miles from Dantzick.  Grotius set out in an open waggon for Lubeck, and arrived at Rostock[436] on the 26th of August very ill.  Nobody knew him:  his great weakness determined him to call a physician:  his name was Stochman, who, on feeling Grotius’s pulse, said his indisposition proceeded from weakness and fatigue; and that with rest and some restoratives he might recover:  but next day he changed his tone; on seeing his weakness increase, with a cold sweat, and other symptoms of nature being spent, he judged that his end was near.  Grotius then asked for a clergyman.  John Quistorpius was brought, who, in a letter to Calovius, gives us the particulars of Grotius’s last moments.  We cannot do better than copy it.

“You are desirous of hearing from me how that Phoenix of Literature, Hugo Grotius, behaved in his last moments, and I am going to tell you.  He embarked at Stockholm for Lubeck; and after having been tossed for three days by a violent tempest, he was shipwrecked and got to shore on the coast of Pomerania, from whence he came to our town of Rostock, distant above sixty miles, in an open waggon, through wind and rain.  He lodged with Balleman; and sent for M. Stochman, the physician, who observing that he was extremely weakened by years, by what he suffered at sea, and the inconveniences attending the journey, judged that he could not live long.  The second day after Grotius’s arrival in this town, that is, on the 18th of August, O.S. he sent for me about nine at night.  I went, and found him almost at the point of death.  I said there was nothing I desired more than to have seen him in health, that