THE DUKE OF PARMA.

ALEXANDER FARNESE, Duke of Parma, great grandson of Pope Paul III. and by his mother's side grandson of Charles V. is indebted for his reputation, in a principal degree, to his military talents. To these, however, he united a goodness of heart, (which caused him to be esteemed even by his enemies) consummate prudence, uncommon sagacity in public affairs, and considerable address in influencing the human mind.

He was born in 1546. His youth passed away without giving any presage of his future grandeur. His talents began to unfold themselves in his engagements with the Turks: he particularly distinguished himself at the battle of Lepanto, and appeared worthy of commanding as soon as the reins were placed in his hands. After having followed Don John of Austria into the Low Countries, he succeeded him, in 1578, in the government of those provinces. The Duke of Parma, active, vigilant, indefatigable as a general, insinuating and pliant as a negociator, endeavoured to repair the imprudencies of his predecessor. He reconciled the catholic provinces to the Spanish yoke, extended its dominion, expelled the French from the Low Countries, took Maestricht, Nimeguen, Breda, and Antwerp, and compelled the Prince of Orange and his son Maurice to retreat into Holland, and to act upon the defensive. He reduced under the jurisdiction of Spain a portion of the Low Countries, and

would, it is presumed, have conquered them entirely had his counsel been implicitly followed by Philip II.

In the midst of so many brilliant achievements, we unwillingly hazard a conjecture that he was privy to the assassination which terminated the days of the Prince of Orange, and which he countenanced. Two expeditions, in the opinion of some writers, have given peculiar eclat to the military career of the Duke of Parma; they are those which he made in France in 1590 and 1592, in order to support the partizans of the league against the army of Henry IV. In both of these he executed his designs with extraordinary prudence, and restrained or deceived, by his judicious manœuvres, his formidable rival. The second is peculiarly remarkable for the address with which, wounded and dying, he escaped from the army which blockaded him in a manner in his own camp, and retired to Arras, where he finished his career. After the battle of Aumale he apologized for not profiting by the rashness of the king, by saying, I thought I was contending with a general, and not with a Carbine. Henry IV. indignant at this remark, replied, Il est bien aisé au Duc de Parme d'être prudent; il ne risque que de ne pas faire des conquêtes dont il peut se passer; au lieu que moi, je defends ma couronne. The Duke died in 1592, aged forty-six.