was knighted at a very advanced age, and raised by James II. first to be
a Baron of the Exchequer, and afterwards one of the Judges of the Common
Pleas. He was much persecuted by the republicans for his adherence to
the royal cause, but his composition with them was effected by his
brother's interest.

[1] Dr. Burney says he was "equal in science, if not in genius, to
the best musicians of his age."

[2] Born in his father's house, at the Spread Eagle in Bread-street,
Cheapside, December 9, 1608.

Besides these two sons, he had a daughter, Anne, who was married to a
Mr. Edward Philips, of Shrewsbury; by him she had two sons, John and
Edward, who were educated by the poet, and from whom is derived the
only authentic account of his domestic manners.

MILTON was thus by birth a gentleman; but had his descent been
otherwise, his works would ennoble him to posterity.

The lord, by giddy fortune courted,
Stalks through a part by thousands played;
The minstrel, proud and unsupported,
Stands forth the Noble God has made[3]

[3] W. Kennedy--in the _Amulet_ for 1829.

We sought our illustration of GREAT MILTON in the "Oxfordshire" of that
voluminous and expensive work, "the Beauties of England and Wales;" but,
strange to say, the family name of Milton is not even mentioned there,