532 
justifiable, and no man need be censured 
for prudently refusing to join in them. 
Nevertheless, he, and Cranmer too, signed 
the document, which was understood to 
throw Mary out of the succession. This, 
when called before the council, in the suc- 
ceeding reign, after Northumberland’s 
schemes had ended in his own destruction 
and that of his innocent victim, he endea- 
voured to show he had done merely as a 
witness, and had remonstrated against the 
‘act. 
To a certain extent he made good his 
defence, and might—but this all depends 
on the “ domestic’’—have retained his office 
of secretary, would he have consented to 
change his religion. This, however, of 
course, was a condition, which, with his 
high-minded, and pure Protestant convic- 
‘tions, Cecil could never consent to: and he 
was accordingly dismissed, and the office of 
‘chancellor of the garter given to another. 
Cecil, however, was no further persecuted— 
nay, he rose into favour, for within a few lit- 
tle months we find him especially appointed 
one of an honourable commission to fetch 
the /egate Cardinal Pole from Brussels— 
living with the same cardinal in terms of 
great intimacy on their return, and accom- 
panying him back to the continent, when 
the cardinal went to negociate a peace ; and 
in other respects, we find him not over- 
looked among the courtiers of the day. The 
fact is—and a melancholy fact it must be to 
his admirers— whatever Cecil’s first im- 
pressions and resolutions were on the sub- 
ject of religion, he soon changed his mea- 
sures—he even conformed—this pillar and 
-defender of Protestantism was converted ; 
and at his Wimbledon residence had a 
priest in his house, confessed, attended 
mass, &c., and suffered Cranmer, whose 
coadjutor he had so long been, to go unac- 
companied to the stake. Yet has he the 
good fortune to have gained the credit of 
sincerity, and even of consistency; he is 
considered as wisely accommodating himself 
to circumstances; and, while others fled, 
assuming a useful disguise, and thus effec- 
tively and allowably promoting the interests 
of Protestantism. In 1555, he was returned, 
according to his own account, unwillingly, 
to Parliament, and there took an active 
part, “ aliquo cum periculo,” he says, in 
occasionally opposing the measures of the 
administration. On one occasion, after an 
effort of this kind, certain members invited 
themselves to dine with him, and, contrary 
to an express stipulation, some of them 
talked freely at table. This was reported ; 
they were summoned before the council, 
and severally committed. Cecil was the 
last. On his introduction, he begged they 
would not treat him as they had done the 
others—commit first, to hear afterwards— 
being convinced he could explain all to 
their satisfaction. “ You.speak like a man 
of experience,” said Lord Paget—“ go on.” 
This was the sum of the peril he encoun- 
Monthly Review of Literature, 
* [Noy. 
tered in Mary’s reign; and this is amply 
counterbalanced by many marks of favour. 
Cecil must haye been a very prudent per- 
son, and his conversion, or conformity, is 
indisputable proof it. Dr. Nares has fought 
a good fight for him—but biographers need 
not surely be adyocates. We shall be misun- 
derstood, if we are supposed to depreciate 
Dr. Nares—there is much able execution in 
the work; but he has over estimated his 
man, and made too large a book. 
Compendium of Mechanics, by Rohert 
Brunton. Ath Edition; 1828.—This isa 
compilation for the use and benefit of Me- 
chanics’ Institutes, by one of themselves—a 
mechanic of Glasgow—consisting of a body 
of practical rules, for calculations in mecha- 
nical matters. The theory and principles 
of these things are wholly omitted—the ob- 
ject is solely a practical one. Rules are 
given for finding the areas of geometrical 
figures, selected from books of good autho- 
rity. In the same way, and from the same 
sources, chiefly are presented rules for ascer- 
taining and measuring specific gravities, 
the strength of materials—iron and timber 
—the strength and velocity of wheels—the 
powers of pumps and steam-engines, &c. ; 
to which are added geometrical problems, 
and tables of specific gravities—weights of 
malleable and cast iron plates—yelocities of 
falling bodies—squares, cubes, roots, &c.— 
all excellently adapted for immediate appli- 
cation, and unencumbered with reasons, 
though we cannot but think a little even of 
the grounds and reasons of these rules might 
not have been altogether out of place. 
The Winter’s Wreath ; 1829.—This an- 
nual comes forth under new auspices. The 
leading object of the last, it will be remem- 
bered, was to convey religious impressions ; 
in the present the introduction of similar 
topics has been carefully ayoided, from a 
feeling that more harm than good is done in 
attempting to relieve grave matters by light 
handling—like Whitfield singing a psalm to 
the tune of the Black Joke. Though strictly 
provincial, the Winter’s Wreath, will fairly 
match, in the beauty and elegance of its 
ornaments, with its rivals of the metropolis ; 
and as to its literary treasures, besides con- 
centrating the talent, alive and dead, of Li- 
verpool—Roscoe, Shepherd, Currie, and ini- 
tialists, whose names will be readily filled 
up, of acknowledged superiority, it presents 
many of the best specimens of the bijouterie 
of the annual establishments. The volume 
contains at least 120 pieces, of which it may 
be observed, generally, the prose bears the 
palm. Among these may be distinguished — 
‘not invidiously, for there are others probably 
of equal merit—Kit Wallace, by the author 
_of Recollections in the Peninsula, Wallace 
was a soldier—a poor underwitted fellow, of 
whom nothing could be made—the com- 
mon butt of his comrades, who survived 
the campaigns of Spain, and was after- 
