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youngest of five brothers) very remote from any prospect of a throne. It is probable, however, that the early genius of Alfred gave his holiness presages of future greatness; or perhaps by this ceremony the pope meant to assume the power for which his successors afterwards contended, of conferring kingdoms at pleasure. The novelty and grandeur of the scenes which Rome displayed to the youthful hero, made an impression on his mind which was never afterwards effaced; and he profited more by his own quickness of apprehension, than by the partiality of the pope, who had destined him to be a king.

After his second return from Rome, his father made him the idol of his fondest but misguided affection. He indulged him in every pleasure; and so neglected his education, that when he was twelve years of age he was still ignorant of the lowest elements of literature. His mother, having a taste for Saxon poetry, encouraged her son, by rewards adapted to his juvenile years, to commit some verses to memory. The noble and elevated sentiments with which nature had endowed him, were now roused into action. Not satisfied with reciting, he speedily learnt to read his native tongue: and afterwards acquired a knowledge of Latin; which, opening new sources of mental improvement to him, fanned the ingenuous ardour that lay smothered in his breast.

Ethelwolf divided his property and his kingdoms among his sons with impartial affection. Alfred, being exempted from the cares of sovereignty, devoted much of his time to literary pursuits. He had, however, frequent opportunities of displaying his courage against the Danes; and his three elder brothers dying after short reigns, he was appointed minister and general to Etheldred, who next assumed the government. In a battle fought soon afterwards, Etheldred was mortally

wounded; and Alfred, in the twenty-second year of his age, was called, to his unspeakable regret, from learned leisure, in which he took the most sincere delight, tọ the defence, not the enjoyment, of a crown.

The Danes were now ravaging the country; and scarcely had he time to bury his brother, before he was obliged to take the field against them with inferior numbers. The enemy, however, accepted terms of accommodation, and agreed to leave the kingdom: but no sooner were they at a distance from a power to which they had reluctantly yielded, than they renewed their devastations; and fresh swarms pouring in from the north, they penetrated into Dorsetshire, the very centre of Alfred's dominions. Again they were obliged to accept a treaty of the same purport as that which they had lately violated; but with singular perfidy they seized the first opportunity of falling on Alfred's army; and, having put it to the route, obtained possession of Exeter.

The spirit of the prince rose with the dangers he was called to encounter. He collected new forces; and pressed the foe with such vigour, that, after fighting eight battles in one year, he reduced them to the utmost extremity. Still, however, the love of peace was superior to a passion for military glory in the heart of Alfred: he listened to new proposals for accommodation; and insisted only that they should retire from his dominions, and suffer no further incursions of their countrymen. But during the very conclusion of this liberal treaty, news was brought that a fresh band of invaders had landed, and surprised Chippenham, then a town of some importance, and were carrying fire and sword through the heart of the kingdom.

This last calamity reduced the English to despair. Each thought of his own preservation; the authority of

the king was disregarded, and all his eloquence and his heroism could not inspire them with resolution to make another effort in defence of their liberties and homes. In this dilemma Alfred prudently laid aside the ensigns of royalty, dismissed his attendants, and in the meanest attire endeavoured to conceal himself from the fury of his foes. History relates that he sought an asylum for some time with one of his own cowherds; whose wife, ignorant of the condition of her guest, left him one day in charge of some cakes which were toasting: but the mind of Alfred being intent on higher objects, he neglected his trust, and suffered them to burn; on which the honest housewife scolded him well; and observed that as he had no objection to eat her warm cakes, he might have taken some care in toasting them. Alfred was too magnanimous to resent this taunt; it doubtless excited only an inward smile.

The Danes becoming less ardent in their progress, he retired into the isle of Athelney in Somersetshire, a spot formed by the inundations of the rivers Thone and Parret, where he established himself; and gradually collecting a few of his most faithful adherents, whom he inspired with hopes of seeing better days, he supported them in this sequestered and almost inaccessible retreat, by occasional excursions in the environs.

After lying twelve months in this concealment, meditating projects of delivering his country, he was formed that a party of his followers had routed a considerable body of the Danes, killed their chiefs, and taken the famous raven or enchanted standard.

This omen of success inspired him with fresh resolu tion to take the field, and to discover himself to his subjects; but prudently reflecting that caution should precede enterprise, he disguised himself in the habit of a harper, and thus reconnoitred the enemy's camp in

perfect security. His music, and his facetious humour, were so acceptable to the Danish prince, that he entertained him for some days; little suspecting the quality of his guest, or the hostile object of his visit.

Finding the enemy sunk in supine security from their contempt of the English, he summoned this nobles to bring their followers into the field; and by his appearance reanimated their drooping courage, and inspired them with a determination for liberty or death. Immediately taking advantage of this impression, he led his army against the Danes: who, panic-struck at this unexpected attack, made but a feeble resistance, and after great numbers of them were slain, the rest offered an unconditional submission.

Alfred, no less generous than brave, formed a scheme for converting them from mortal enemies into faithful friends. He assigned them a part of the northern and eastern coasts; on condition that they would embrace Christianity, betake themselves to habits of industry, and form a defence against any future incursions of their countrymen. This lenient and politic measure secured the peace of Alfred's reign for several years; during which time he applied himself with patriotic zeal and diligence to perfect the civil and military institutions, to rebuild the ruined cities (particularly London, which had been sacked with circumstances of great cruelty, and de- ́stroyed,) and to erect numerous castles and forts. At the same time, availing himself of the insular situation of Britain, he first raised a navy; which he instinctively foresaw would be the future bulwark of his kingdom.

But as ships are of little use without sailors, he promoted navigation by every possible means, and in time trained a body of men courageous and hardy; and prompt, whenever called, to defend their native coasts from hostile aggression. Thus to Alfred we are indebt

ed, not only for many wise aud salutary institutions which still have a sensible influence on our laws and government, but most particularly for establishing a mode of defence to which we owe our principal glory and security.

So rapid seems to have been the increase of population in Scandinavia for some centuries, that colonies were sent out from those extensive regions in quick succession, either to seek new settlements, or to enrich their native country with the plunder of more southern nations. Accustomed to warfare, restrained by no ties divine or human, these barbarians carried devastation wherever they went; and proved the terror and the scourge of countries with which they could have no quarrel, or plausible pretext for enmity.

Even the fame and prowess of Alfred could not, for any long time, guard his coasts from violation. The Danes tried to excel him in the art of naval war; and made frequent descents, in some of which they did considerable damage. On one occasion, however, when they had sailed up the Thames, and built a fort which commanded London, and numbers of their ships had been drawn up the Lea, he contrived to divert the course of that river, and to leave the vessels dry; which extraordinary enterprise obliged the enemy to make a precipitate retreat.

Still they returned with new means of annoyance; and when they found themselves unable to cope with Alfred's fleets in open fight, they carried on a piratical kind of warfare, more galling than any regular attack. A considerable number of these freebooters, however, having been made prisoners, were brought to trial at Winchester; and justly sentenced to be hanged, as the common enemies of mankind.

This instance of well-timed severity, added to the for