ingly bestir itself; and on Tuesday, 18th March, the due order is given.1 To which, we doubt not, as the matter then drops, effect was given, till the Restoration came, and ousted Colonel Robert and some others. Whether the Colonel personally ever lived at Bear Park, or has left any trace of his presence there, the County Histories and other accessible records do not say.

LETTER CLXIX.

HERE next, from another quarter, is a new University matter, Project of a College at Durham; emerging incidentally like a green fruitful islet from amid the dim storms of War; agreeably arresting the eye for a moment.

Concerning which read in the Commons Journals of May last: "A Letter from the Sheriff and Gentlemen of the County of Duresme, dated 24th April, 1650; with a Paper" or Petition of the same date, "delivered in by the Grand Jury at the Sessions of the Peace holden at Duresme the 24th of April, 1650, To be presented to the Honorable Parliament of this Nation,' were this day read. Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of Obstructions for Sale of Dean-and-Chapter Lands, to consider these desires of the Gentlemen and others. of that County, touching the converting some of the Buildings at Duresme called the 'College,' which were the Houses of the late Dean and Chapter, into some College or School of Literature; to state the business, to "2-in short, to get on with it if possible.

This was some ten months ago, but still there is no visible way made; and now in the wild Spring weather here has been,

suppose, some Deputation of the Northern Gentry riding through the wild mountains, with humane intent, to represent the matter to the Lord General at Edinburgh; from whom, if

1 Commons Journals, vi. 492 (7th November, 1650), his "Petition," referred to in this Letter; ib. 549 (18th March, 1650), due "redress" to him. 2 Ibid. vi. 410 (8th May, 1650).

he pleased to help it forward, a word might be very further. some. The Lord General is prompt with his word; — writes this Letter, as I find, this and the foregoing, in some interval of a painful fit of sickness he has been laboring under.

"To the Right Honorable William Lenthall, Esquire, Speaker of the Parliament of the Commonwealth of England: These.

"EDINBURGH, 11th March, 1650.

"SIR, Having received information from the Mayor and Citizens of Durham, and some Gentlemen of the Northern Counties, That upon their Petition to the Parliament, that the Houses of the late Dean and Chapter in the City of Durham might be converted into a College or School of Literature,' the Parliament was pleased in May last to refer the same to the Committee for removing Obstructions in the sale of Deanand-Chapter Lands, 'to consider thereon, and to report their opinion therein to the House:'1 Which said Committee, as I am also informed, have so far approved thereof as that they are of an opinion That the said Houses will be a fit place to erect a College or School for all the Sciences and Literature, and that it will be a pious and laudable work and of great use to the Northern parts; and have ordered Sir Arthur Haselrig to make report thereof to the House accordingly: And the said Citizens and Gentlemen having made some address to me to contribute my assistance to them therein :

"To which, in so good and pious a work, I could not but willingly and heartily concur. And not knowing wherein I might better serve them, or answer their desires, than by recommending the same to the Parliament by, Sir, yourself their Speaker, I do therefore make it my humble and earnest request that the House may be moved, as speedily as conveniently may be, to hear the Report of the said Committee concerning the said Business, from Sir Arthur Haselrig; that so the House, taking the same into consideration, may do therein what shall seem meet for the good of those poor Countries.

1 Commons Journals, ubi suprà.

"Truly it seems to me a matter of great concernment and importance; as that which, by the blessing of God, may much conduce to the promoting of learning and piety in those poor rude and ignorant parts; there being also many concurring advantages to this Place, as pleasantness and aptness of situation, healthful air, and plenty of provisions, which seem to favor and plead for their desire's therein. And besides the good, so obvious to us, [which] those Northern Counties may reap thereby, who knows but the setting on foot this work at this time may suit with God's present dispensations; and may—if due care and circumspection be used in the right constituting and carrying on the same tend to, and by the blessing of God produce, such happy and glorious fruits as are scarce thought on or foreseen!

"Sir, not doubting of your readiness and zeal to promote so good and public a work, I crave pardon for this boldness; and rest,

"Your most humble servant,

"OLIVER CROMWELL."1

Whereupon the Committee for removing Obstructions does bestir itself; manages, in three months hence (for we do nothing rashly), to report by "Sir Arthur Haselrig, touching Duresme College-Buildings to be converted to a College or School for all the Sciences of Literature: That". -thatAnd, in brief, History itself has to report that the pious Project, thanks mainly to furtherance by the Lord General, whose power to further it increased by and by, did actually, some seven years hence, take effect; actually began giving Lessons of human Grammar, human Geography, Geometry, and other divine Knowledge, to the vacant human mind, in

8

1 Baker MSS. xxviii. 455 printed also in Hutchinson's History of Durham, and elsewhere.

2 Commons Journals (vi. 589), 18th June, 1651.

• Protector's Letters-Patent of 15th May, 1657, following up his Ordinance in Council of the previous Year: Hutchinson's History of the County Palatine of Durham (Newcastle, 1785), i. 514-530. See Cooper's Annals of Cambridge, iii. 473 (Cambridge Petition against it: 18th April, 1659). "Throve apace,” says Hutchinson, "till" &c.

those once sleepy Edifices, dark heretofore, or illuminated mainly by Dr. Cosins's Papistical waxlights or the like: and so continued, in spite of opposition, till the Blessed Restoration put a stop to it, and to some other things. In late years there is again some kind of Durham College giving Lessons, I hope, with good success.

LETTER CLXX.

By that tempestuous sleety expedition in the beginning of February my Lord General caught a dangerous illness, which hung about him, reappearing in three successive relapses, till June next; and greatly alarmed the Commonwealth and the Authorities. As this to Bradshaw, and various other Letters still indicate.

"To the Right Honorable the Lord President of the Council of State: These.

"EDINBURGH, 24th March, 1650. "MY LORD, —I do with all humble thankfulness acknowl edge your high favor, and tender respect of me, expressed in your Letter, and the Express sent therewith to inquire after one so unworthy as myself.

"Indeed, my Lord, your service needs not me: I am a poor creature; and have been a dry bone; and am still an unprofit able servant to my Master and you. I thought I should have died of this fit of sickness; but the Lord seemeth to dispose otherwise. But truly, my Lord, I desire not to live, unless I may obtain mercy from the Lord to approve my heart and life to Him in more faithfulness and thankfulness, and [to] those I serve in more profitableness and diligence. And I pray God, your Lordship, and all in public trust, may improve all those unparalleled experiences of the Lord's wonderful Workings in your sight, with singleness of heart to His glory, and the refreshment of His People; who are to

Him as the apple of His eye; and upon whom your enemies, both former and latter, who have fallen before you, did split themselves.

"This shall be the unfeigned prayer of,

"My Lord, your most humble servant,

"OLIVER CROMWELL." 1

From Edinburgh, of date 18th March, by special Express we have this comfortable intelligence: "The Lord General is now well recovered: he was in his dining-room to-day with his Officers, and was very cheerful and pleasant." And the symptoms, we see, continue good and better on the 24th. "So that there is not any fear, by the blessing of God, but our General will be enabled to take the field when the Provisions arrive." "Dr. Goddard" is attending him. Before the end of the month he is on foot again; sieging Blackness, sieging the Island of Inchgarvie, or giving Colonel Monk directions to that end.

LETTER CLXXI.

THE following Letter brings its own commentary:

"For my beloved Wife Elizabeth Cromwell, at the Cockpit:

These.

"[EDINBURGH,] 12th April, 1651.

"MY DEAREST, I praise the Lord I am increased in strength in my outward man: But that will not satisfy me except I get a heart to love and serve my heavenly Father better; and get more of the light of His countenance, which is better than life, and more power over my corruptions: - in these hopes I wait, and am not without expectation of a gracious return. Pray for me; truly I do daily for thee and the dear Family; and God Almighty bless you all with His spiritual blessings.

1 Newspapers (in Cromwelliana, p. 10.). HI.II Vol. 10

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2 Ibid. pp. 100, 101.