NOT TO BE BRIBED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 271, 15 November 1930, Page 3 (Supplement)

NOT TO BE BRIBED.

In the rei/ni of Charles 11. Hull had for its member of Parliament Andrew Marvell, the poet, a man of exceptional honesty and ability.. The King had a high appreciation of MarvelPs talents, and was anxious to obtain his help in Parliament against the people, whom he had hitherto served most faithfully. Unfortunately, the King had not so high an opinion of Marvell's honesty and patriotism as he had of his ability, and he thought it would be possible to win him to his side by the offer of a bribe. So he sent the LoTd Treasurer, Danby, to Marvell's humble lodgings in the Strand to see what he could accomplish in the matter..

The Lord Treasurer groped up the narrow stairs leading to the apartment on the second floor where Marvell resided, and stumbled awkwardly into his room. He found the statesman at his desk, and, after apologising for disturbing him, told him that he had been sent by His Majesty, who had a high opinion of his character and wished to appoint him to some important and well-paid offic,e. Marvell knew quite well that the king could only make this offer to draw him aside from his duty to the people who had elected him, and therefore while he returned thanks to the king, he declined his offer. The Minister, finding that this proposal was of no avail, told him that the king had given orders for a thousand guineas to be paid to him as a mark of the appreciation in which his royal master held him. Marvell declined this offer, too, as he had declined the first, remarking at the same time that he hid no need of such a gift, as his mode of living was quite good enough for his modest desires. In proof of this he called up his servant and said to him, "What had I for dinner yesterday?'-' "A shoulder of mutton, sir," was 3 the answer. "And what shall I have to-day?" asked Marvell. "Some of the remainder hashed," replied the servant. MaTvell allowed the servant to withdraw, and then, turning to the Lord Treasurer, said: "To-morrow, my Lord, I shall have the blade-bone broiled." The Lord Treasurer had sense enough to see- that a man so frugal, so outspoken, and so honest was not to be won by bribes, and he returned to tell the king what he had see- and heard. As for Marvell, though he never attained to wealth or to a title, he remained faithful to his duty to the last, and he left a name which has ever since been honoured as that of a patriot who valued his character more than all the riches which could be offered him.