would not wish it true?  What a satisfactory spectacle to a philosophical mind, to see the oppressor, in the zenith of his power, envying his victim!  What an acknowledgment of the superiority of virtue!  What an affecting and forcible testimony to the value of that peace of mind which innocence alone can confer!  We know not who this man was; but when we reflect that the guilt which agonised him was probably incurred for the sake of some vain title, or, at least, of some increase of wealth, which he did not want, and possibly knew not how to enjoy, our disgust is turned into something like compassion for that very foolish class of men whom the world calls wise in their generation.

Soon after his short repose Argyle was brought, according to order, to the Laigh Council-house, from which place is dated the letter to his wife, and thence to the place of execution.  On the scaffold he had some discourse, as well with Mr. Annand, a minister appointed by government to attend him, as with Mr. Charteris.  He desired both of them to pray for him, and prayed himself with much fervency and devotion.  The speech which he made to the people was such as might be expected from the passages already related.  The same mixture of firmness and mildness is conspicuous in every part of it.  “We ought not,” says he, “to despise our afflictions, nor to faint under them.  We must not suffer ourselves to be exasperated against the instruments of our troubles, nor by fraudulent, nor pusillanimous compliances, bring guilt upon ourselves; faint hearts are ordinarily false hearts, choosing sin rather than suffering.”  He offers his prayers to God for the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland, and that an end may be put to their present trials.  Having then asked pardon for his own failings, both of God and man, he would have concluded; but being reminded that he had said nothing of the royal family, he adds that he refers, in this matter, to what he had said at his trial concerning the test; that he prayed there never might be wanting one of the royal family to support the Protestant religion; and if any of them had swerved from the true faith, he prayed God to turn their hearts, but, at any rate, to save His people from their machinations.  When he had ended, he turned to the south side of the scaffold, and said, “Gentlemen, I pray you do not misconstruct my behaviour this day; I freely forgive all men their wrongs and injuries done against me, as I desire to be forgiven of God.”  Mr. Annand repeated these words louder to the people.  The earl then went to the north side of the scaffold, and used the same or the like expressions.  Mr. Annand repeated them again, and said, “This nobleman dies a Protestant.”  The earl stepped forward again, and said, “I die not only a Protestant, but with a heart-hatred of popery, prelacy, and all superstition whatsoever.”  It would perhaps have been better if these last expressions had never been uttered, as there appears certainly