Such were the steps which produced the Magna Charta,which was signed by John at Runnymede, on the banks of the Thames, in June 1215. By this charter (the basis of English constitutional freedom), not only were the nobles protected against the crown, but im

latter was enabled to oppose. So much disaffection | agreement as they thought fit to dictate. A facnevertheless prevailed, that Pandulph, the pope's simile of the royal seal, as prefixed to this document, legate, induced him not only to receive Langton as is given in the preceding column. It is copied from archbishop of Canterbury, but abjectly to resign his the original in the British Museum. kingdoms of England and Ireland to the holy see, in order to receive them again as its vassal with absolution. This ignominious compact was executed at Dover in May 1213; and the pope, now regarding England as his own, and jealous of the aggrandizement of Philip, required the latter to desist from hos-portant privileges were granted to every order of freetilities against a country under the protection of the men. The passive manner in which John yielded to see of Rome. Philip received this mandate with great these restrictions of his power, indicated a secret inindignation, but, in consequence of a victory over his tention of freeing himself from his obligations. In fleet, was gradually brought to reason. Flushed with order to lull the barons into security, he dismissed this success, John resolved to endeavour to recover his foreign forces, but in the mean time was secretly his continental dominions, but the English barons employed in raising fresh mercenaries, and in seeking declined the service. In the next year, however, he the concurrence of the pope, who issued a bull annicarried over an army to Poitou, but after some partial hilating the charter as extorted from his vassal, consuccesses was obliged to return in disgrace. John trary to the interests of the holy see. He even forhad by this time rendered himself the object of such bade John to pay any regard to its conditions, and universal contempt and hatred, that his nobles, who pronounced a sentence of excommunication on all had long felt aggrieved by the usurpation of their who should attempt to enforce it. Thus furnished sovereigns, and of the reigning one in particular, de- with spiritual and temporal arms, the king left his termined to seize upon so favourable an opportunity retreat, and carried war and devastation through the to controul his power and establish their privileges. kingdom. His barons, taken by surprise, could make Langton produced to them a copy of the charter of no effectual resistance, and despairing of mercy from rights granted by Henry I., and at a general meeting John, sent a deputation to France, in which they in London in January, 1215, they laid their demands offered the crown of England to the dauphin Louis. before the king, which he attempted to elude by de- Philip gladly accepted the proposal, and Louis, with lay. In the mean time he sought to ingratiate him- a fleet of six hundred vessels, landed at Sandwich, self with the clergy and the pope, with whom he and proceeded to London, where he was received as lodged an appeal against the compulsory proceedings lawful sovereign. John was immediately deserted by of the barons. The politic pontiff, who found it his all his foreign troops, and most of his English adinterest to support a sovereign who had so far hum-herents; but the report of a scheme of Louis for the bled himself, declared his disapprobation of their conduct; but, little moved by the declaration, the latter assembled in arms at Oxford, where the court was

extermination of the English nobility arrested his progress, and induced many to return to their allegiance. While the king's affairs were beginning to assume a better aspect, he had the misfortune, in a march from Lynn across the sands into Lincolnshire, to lose, by the sudden flow of the tide, all his carriages and baggage. Being already in a bad state of health, this event so aggravated his disorder that he died at Newark in October, 1216, in the forty-ninth year of his age and seventeenth of his reign. No prince in English history has been handed down to posterity in blacker colours than John, to whom in

then held, and, choosing a general, immediately proceeded to warlike operations. They were received without opposition in London, which so intimidated the king that he consented to sign such articles of

gratitude, perfidy, and cruelty were habitual. Apparent gleams of vigour and energy were indeed occasionally manifest, but they always proved mere explosions of rage, and soon subsided into meanness and pusillanimity. His private life was stained with

JOHN THE PARRICIDE JOHN VI. extreme licentiousness, and the best part of his con- | dress but that of enemies: in the last war they were duct as a ruler was the attention he paid to com- all clothed in the garb of Turks." On his arrival he merce and maritime affairs. More charters of bo- chose the most advantageous position, ascended an roughs and incorporations for mercantile pursuits elevation to observe the grand vizier, and remarked, date from him than from any other of the early kings, "He has selected a bad position. I understand him; and the popular constitution of the city of London he is ignorant and persuaded of his own genius. We was his gift. He left by his second wife a family of shall gain no honour from this victory." Sobieski two sons and three daughters. Eltham Palace, once was not deceived. The next day the Turks were the favourite residence of this monarch, is depicted driven from their camp in terror, leaving behind the in the previous page. holy standard of Mohammed, which the conqueror sent to the pope with the following letter: "I came, I saw, and God has conquered." On his entrance into Vienna at the head of his victorious Poles, the inhabitants received him with indescribable enthusiasm. They pressed around to embrace his feet, to touch his garments or his horse, and proclaimed him their saviour and deliverer. He was moved even to tears, and, under the strong impulse of his feelings, called this the happiest day of his life.

JOHNES, THOMAS.

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on the 10th of March, 1826, having previously appointed his daughter Isabella, regent of Portugal.

to Spain, and a part of Guiana to France. After the emperor of Brazil. This good-natured monarch, who peace of Tilsit, Napoleon, not content with the vast was incompetent to struggle with the troubles of his sum of money by which John had purchased his neu-age and the political degeneracy of his nation, died trality, required him also to close his ports against the English, to arrest all of that nation in Portugal, and to confiscate their estates. As the regent complied with the first only of these requisitions, the "Moniteur" declared that the house of Braganza had ceased to reign, and an army composed of French and Spanish soldiers marched into Portugal. The prince regent now resolved to transfer his court to Brazil, as he had been advised to do in 1800. The English ambassador, Viscount Strangford, and the British admiral, Sir Sidney Smith, facilitated the accomplishment of his design. On the anniversary of the elevation of the house of Braganza, the ensigns of Braganza were succeeded by the French eagle. An earthquake and a storm which the Portuguese fleet encountered in the view of the city and the enemy, completed the submission of the Portuguese.

JOHNES, THOMAS.-This eminent antiquary and historian was born at Ludlow in 1748. He was educated at Eton, and afterwards proceeded to Edinburgh where he attended several courses of lectures. Mr. Johnes left that city in the latter end of the year 1768, and immediately commenced his tour on the continent. In the choice of a travelling companion for his son, the elder Mr. Johnes was truly fortunate. He committed him to the conduct of Robert Liston, Esq., who has since so honourably distinguished himself by the able manner in which he has fulfilled many diplomatic missions; and was latterly, at an advanced age, actively employed in executing the arduous duties of British minister at the Ottoman Porte. Under the direcFrom Rio de Janeiro, in May, 1808, the prince- tion of this able and honourable guide, Mr. Johnes regent declared all treaties with France and Spain proceeded through great part of France, Spain, and null, and formed a closer union with England, which Italy. Thence he proceeded to Switzerland, and powerfully supporting the bravery of the Portuguese following the course of the Rhine as far as Strasarmy and the ardour of the people, recovered for him burg, turned off through Alsace and Lorraine to the possession of his European kingdom. Marshal the French capital, where he fixed his residence Beresford continued to exercise an important influ- for several months. The society of Paris was at ence on the affairs of Portugal till August, 1820, when that time extremely brilliant. Its tone, its manners, by the convocation of the cortes a new political sys- and sentiments, have of late been well and faithfully tem was established. In America the Portuguese pourtrayed in the memoir of Marmontel, the letters also recovered the portion of Guiana which they had of Madame du Deffand, and, above all, in the volulost, and occupied French Guiana; the latter, how-minous and entertaining correspondence of Baron ever, was restored to France in 1817. Meantime the Grimm. By these arbiters of taste and of public ministry of the prince-regent carefully attended to opinion Mr. Johnes, on his arrival at the French the improvement of Brazil. The inquisition was abo- metropolis, was received on a footing of intimacy. lished, religious freedom introduced, the evils of slavery diminished, and European artists, manufacturers, merchants, and agriculturists, encouraged to settle in the country. The revolution of the Spanish colonies in South America (perhaps the refusal of Spain to restore Olivenza) led the court of Rio de Janeiro to occupy Monte-Video and the left bank of La Plata. Spain had recourse to the intercession of Austria, Russia, Prussia, and Great Britain, whose declaration, directed to the marquis of Aguiar, Portuguese secretary of state for foreign affairs, induced the court of Brazil to evacuate Monte-Video on condition that Olivenza should be restored.

Returning from the continent in the year 1771, furnished with those accomplishments usually acquired by gentlemen of rank and fortune in the course of foreign travel, Mr. Johnes spent nearly three years in the society of the first circles of the English metropolis. In the year 1774, however, tired of a desultory life of pleasure, he determined to devote himself to more important objects; and aspiring to the honour of a seat in parliament, on the occasion of a vacancy he offered himself as candidate for the borough of Cardigan. On this occasion he was strongly opposed by Sir Robert Smith, who at the conclusion of the poll was returned by the officer who presided at the election; but the latter was ousted by petition, and his more fortunate rival seated in his place.

A conspiracy against the existing government was discovered at Lisbon in 1817, and suppressed by the execution of those engaged in it. After this the freemasons were persecuted more severely than ever. In 1780 he lost his father, and in deference to the In consequence of the Portuguese revolution and the advice of his friends, though contrary to his own convocation of the cortes, 1820, which the monarch wishes, he vacated his seat for the borough of Carrecognised as lawful, he returned in 1821 to Por-digan, and offered himself a candidate for the countugal. The crown-prince remained in Brazil, and that ty of Radnor, which the former had represented vast country separated itself entirely from the mother- during several parliaments. This step involved him country, where an absolute government was in the in a second electioneering contest. He was opposed mean time established. John was incompetent to by Walter Williams, Esq., of Maesclough, but after unite the constitutionalists and royalists. He was an arduous struggle was returned knight of the himself in danger of falling a victim to the intrigues shire. The parliamentary politics of Mr. Johnes of the latter, when he was rescued by an English ves- were at this time decidedly ministerial. To Lord sel in the Tagus. Portugal and Brazil also assumed North, who was then prime minister, he was attached a hostile attitude; but in August, 1825, by the media- by the ties of personal friendship as well as by their tion of England, John VI. concluded a treaty with agreement in political views. Like the celebrated his son the emperor Pedro I. of Brazil, in which he Gibbon, he gave many a silent but sincere vote in acknowledged that country as an independent king-favour of the American war. Like Gibbon too, he dom, wholly separate from Portugal, and his son as emperor, reserving for himself, personally, the title of

had his reward. In the year 1781 he was appointed his majesty's auditor for the principality of Wales.

This office, which was in fact a well paid sinecure, | instruction in the various processes of agriculture, was a few years afterwards proscribed by a bill of re-entitled "A Cardiganshire Landlord's Advice to his form, but by a kind consideration, usual in such cases, Tenants." He provided for the education of the and in this instance enforced by the powerful interference of Mr. Johnes's intimate friend, Lord Chancellor Thurlow, its abolition was deferred till the demise of the existing incumbent.

young and the support of the aged. He instituted among his labourers a benefit society, which he had the happiness to see flourish under his auspices. In these acts of beneficence he was heartily and ably On the death of his father Mr. Johnes had visited seconded by Mrs. Johnes' who soon became the his estates at Hafod, and had been greatly struck by "Lady Bountiful" of the neighbourhood, administerthe beauties of that enchanting spot. Through a ing medicine to the sick, comfort to the afflicted, vale, at its entrance narrow and craggy, but gradu- and good advice to all. It will easily be believed, ally widening in extent, until the prospect is closed that conduct such as this obtained for the family by distant hills, the Istwith rolls its waters, now the respect and love of the whole vicinage. In his urging their way in foam through fragments of attention to religious duties, Mr. Johnes was puncbroken rocks, now precipitated down cascades, tual and strict. When the weather permitted, he and now gently flowing in an expanded channel. regularly attended at the service of the parish church, The adjacent heights rise in every form of varied where it was truly gratifying to observe the cheerbeauty, and enclose spots of fertile ground, well cal-ful looks and respectful familiarity with which he was culated to form amidst "a desert wild" a terrestrial received by the yeomanry and working people, prinparadise. On one of these the taste of the former cipally labourers in husbandry, of which the congreproprietors had fixed a mansion. This was, how-gation was almost entirely composed. When the ever, mean in its appearance, and inconvenient in its inclemency of the season precluded his attendance, structure; Mr. Johnes therefore determined to sub- he read the Liturgy, and a sermon selected from the stitute for it an edifice more worthy of the grandeur works of the best English divines, to his family and of its situation. He accordingly erected, at an im- domestics. mense expense, a large and handsome chateau in the modern Gothic style, the interior of which he decorated with splendid furniture and costly specimens of ancient and modern art. His library, a spacious octagonal building, he filled with rare and curious volumes, including a noble collection of books on natural history, and manuscripts in the Welsh, French, and Latin languages. Adjoining to the library he erected a conservatory 160 feet in length, which he furnished with a rich variety of plants. But, elegant and gorgeous as was the interior arrangements of the mansion, the principal charm of Hafod consisted in the natural beauties of its site: and in availing himself of these, in the laying out of his grounds, Mr. Johnes evinced the most consummate taste. He strictly followed nature. No incongruous ornaments, no studied surprises, no frivolity of decoration, broke in upon the harmony of the scene. The bleakness of the hills, indeed, he obviated by means of trees, of which, in the course of sixteen years, he planted no less than 2,065,000. As these grew up, they added to the beauty of the varying prospect, which was rendered the more rich and interesting by the contrast which it presented to the lengthened sterility with which it was surrounded.

Pecuniary circumstances now induced Mr. Johnes to alter the character of his establishment at Hafod. He dismissed a long train of his domestics, and reduced his household to the lowest point consistent with simple comfort. A most agreeable consequence proceeding from his new plan of life was, the fixing of his residence almost exclusively at Hafod. In this retired spot, where all the articles of the first necessity were furnished from his own domain, he was enabled to live, even in elegant hospitality, at a rate almost incredibly moderate. Nor did he here want scope for his mental and bodily activity. The improvement of his grounds, and the superintendence of his farm, occupied a considerable portion of his morning hours. He watched with kind concern over the welfare of his tenantry, and of the peasantry in his neighbourhood. For the benefit of the farmer he compiled and printed a book of useful

In addition to the avocations which have been already mentioned, Mr. Johnes daily devoted a portion of his time to the superintendence of the education of his daughter, who, as her health became confirmed, gave indications of mental powers of no common order, and whose rapid improvement in knowledge, and in the acquirement of the accomplishments suited to her sex, amply repaid all the anxiety which he experienced on her behalf. His library also afforded him ample means of amusement, of which his relish for the fine arts and his knowledge of various languages enabled him to avail himself to the utmost. These pursuits, the society of a few friends, and of the occasional visitors who, among the crowd of tourists attracted by the beauties of Hafod, were either personally known to Mr. Johnes, or were fortunate enough to procure letters of introduction to him, caused the summer and autumnal months to pass rapidly away. But the dreary evenings of winter were sometimes tedious by their uniformity. This circumstance did not, however, tempt Mr. Johnes to deviate from his plan of prudent seclusion. He acted much more wisely in seeking within his own resources for some plan of active and stated exertion which might occupy his thoughts, and profitably fill up his time. With this view he determined to devote many of his leisure hours to literary labour. The first fruits of his lucubrations consisted in a translation of the memoirs of the life of Sir John Froissart, from the French of Mons. de la St. Palaye, which he published in the year 1801. He next undertook a new version of the voluminous Chronicles of Froissart. So far was he from shrinking from the toil of literary exertion, that when his manuscripts had accumulated to a sufficient bulk, he established a printing-office in a cottage situated in his pleasure grounds; and, in addition to his other occupations, sedulously devoted himself to the correction of the press. Under his own inspection, his work proceeded rapidly, and in the year 1803 the first volume was published in the form of a magnificent quarto. As a memorial of their long-continued friendship, he dedicated it to Lord Thurlow, the late

JOHNSON, CHARLES-JOHNSON, SAMUEL.

chancellor of England. In the ensuing year he published two other volumes, and in 1805 the series was closed by a fourth.

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In 1814 Mr. Johnes was attacked by a serious malady, and it was considered advisable for him to remove to the coast of Devonshire. Here he lin

In 1807 Mr. Johnes, who was in London attend-gered till April 1816, still continuing his literary puring to his parliamentary duties, received intelligence suits, and he died much lamented on the 24th of that that his favourite mansion of Hafod was reduced to month. ashes. At three o'clock in the morning of Friday the 13th of March, Mrs. Johnes was awakened by an unusual noise, and soon suspected that the house was on fire. Hastily rising, she found her suspicions were too well founded. Her first care was to arouse her daughter, who had scarcely quitted her apartment before the ceiling fell in, and it was enveloped in flames. Next calling up her brother-in-law, Mr. Hanbury Williams, who was then on a visit at Hafod, and alarming the domestics, she proceeded to the library, and, aided by the few hands which could be hastily collected, she saved several of the most valuable manuscripts and books. Her exertions had nearly cost her her life. In the gallery of the library she became senseless under the pressure of suffocation, and immediately after her removal the roof gave way, and covered the area of this magnificent edifice with smoking ruins. The fire had now free course. It totally destroyed the interior of the dwelling, and its inhabitants, who had retired to rest in the midst of elegance and splendour, were happy and thankful to take refuge in a neighbouring cottage, whence they beheld the complete destruction of the scene of those domestic joys which constitute the purest pleasures of human life.

In the hour of affliction Mr. Johnes never gave way to despondency. He bore this heavy loss with fortitude and equanimity. Grateful to that Providence which had spared to him the objects of his chief solicitude, he diverted his mind from unavailing regrets as to the past by laying plans for the future.

Mr. Johnes lost no time in commencing the rebuilding of Hafod. The massy outside walls which were still standing underwent the necessary repairs, and the interior of the mansion was renewed upon a plan much more commodious than the original one. The sale of Mr. Beckford's effects at Fonthill, which took place about this time, supplied Mr. Johnes with a variety of splendid decorations. The requisite furniture was provided by contract. The extensive and valuable library of the marquis of Pesaro, lately purchased by Mr. Johnes, had fortunately, on its passage to Cardiganshire, been delayed in London; so that, having escaped the late fire, it arrived opportunely to fill up a large proportion of the vacancies which had been created by that destructive accident. Every exertion was made to expedite the work, and at the end of little more than three years Mr. Johnes and his family were once more settled in their re-edified dwelling.

Before the fire took place, he had made considerable advances in printing, at his own press, a translation of the "Travels to Palestine of Bertrandon de la Brocquiere," counsellor and first esquirecarver to Philip le Bon, duke of Burgundy, and of "Joinville's Life of St. Louis." Both these works he published in the year 1807. Two years afterwards the publication of a version of "Monstrelet's Chronicles," in four quarto volumes, evinced Mr. Johnes's unremitted assiduity, and the excellence of its execution his increasing ability in the apparently easy but really difficult task of translation.

JOHNSON, CHARLES, an ingenious Irish writer, who was born in the early part of the last century, was called to the bar, and came over to England to practise; but, being afflicted with deafness, confined himself to the employment of a chamber counsel. His success not being great in this way, he turned his attention to literature, and his first lite rary attempt was the celebrated "Chrysal, or the Adventures of a Guinea," a work which attracted much attention. The secret springs of some political intrigues on the continent were unfolded in this production, which, together with smart and piquant sketches of many distinguished characters of the day, including statesmen, noblemen, women of quality, citizens, and persons of every description, who had claimed any share of public notice, rendered it exceedingly popular. As usual in such works, however, some truth is blended with much fiction; and although, in regard to known personages, little is absolutely without foundation, much exaggeration prevails. His exposure of the orgies of a club of fashionable profligates, held at the seat of a dissipated nobleman in Buckinghamshire, produced no small sensation at the time. He wrote other works of a similar class, in which much knowledge of life and manners is united to a considerable talent for spirited caricature. In 1782 he went to India, and became concerned in editing a Bengal newspaper. He died in Calcutta about 1800.

JOHNSON, JOHN, a non-juring divine, who was born in 1662. He was educated at Cambridge, and in 1687 appointed vicar of Boughton. He afterwards removed to Appledore, where he wrote several works. His "Paraphrase with Notes on the Book of Psalms" is a well-written work. Mr. Johnson died in 1725.

JOHNSON, SAMUEL.-There is no name in the literary annals of the last century that ranks so high