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Published Jan 7 12 1816, by Taylor & Höpsey, Het Tirea

THE

COUNSELS OF A FATHER,

IN

FOUR LETTERS

OF

SIR MATTHEW HALE TO HIS CHILDREN.

TO WHICH IS ADDED,

The practical Life of a true Christian,

IN THE ACCOUNT OF

THE GOOD STEWARD AT THE GREAT AUDIT.

BY SIR MATTHEW HALE.

WITH A NEW MEMOIR OF THE AUTHOR'S LIFE.

"I am now on the shady side of threescore years: I write to you what you
have often heard me in substance speak."-First Letter.

THIRD EDITION.

LONDON:

PRINTED FOR TAYLOR AND HESSEY,

FLEET STREET.

[graphic]

THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY

159459

ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS.

1899.

ADVERTISEMENT.

Bishop,

SIR MATTHEW HALE was twice married; first to Anne More, the sister of Sir Henry More, of Fanley, Berks, Knight; and, secondly, to Anne, daughter of Esq. of the same place. By the former he had six children: Robert, Matthew, Thomas, Edward, Mary, and Elizabeth. They were all living in 1662, the date affixed to one of these letters; and the eldest, Robert, was at that time in his 23d year. It is to this son he alludes in the above-mentioned letter, when he says, "Let the original be laid up safely for your brother R." These letters of Sir Matthew Hale were written when he was on the circuit:-thus the duties of the parent were fulfilled, without interfering with those of the judge.

a

vi

Of these children, Robert died in 1670, Matthew in 1675, and Thomas in May, 1676, half a year before his father. These were sad blows to a sinking man, whose children appear to have been most dear to him. But he had other cares to occupy his latter days, and other claims upon him as a parent. His son Robert had married Frances, daughter of Sir Francis Chokke, of Avington, Berkshire, Knight. But she dying at nearly the same time with her husband, the charge of their five orphan children, all of them infants, devolved upon Sir Matthew and his second wife. Thus he had another young family to protect and educate in his old age. With these he pursued the same system which he had adopted towards his own children; writing to them a long letter of sound advice, which was become the more necessary, as in the common course of events he could not hope much longer to superintend their conduct. It is preserved among his MSS. in Lincoln's Inn library, and is entitled, "A Letter of Advice to my Grand

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