MARVELL, ANDREW, an Eng,lish writer and politician, was b. Nov. 15, 1620, at Hull, in Yorkshire, where his father was master of the grammar-school and lecturer of Trinity church. He studied at Trinity college, Cambridge, and afterwards spent several years in various parts of the continent, " to very good purpose," according to 'Milton. He returned to England about 1653, and was employed by Oliver Cromwell RS tutor to a 3Ir. Dutton; in 1657 he became assistant-secretary to Milton; and in 1660 was chosen by his native town to represent it in parliament. Marvell's parliamentary career was both singular and honorable. Without fortune or influence, possessing no commanding talent as a speaker, nor, indeed, brilliant intellectual qualities of any kind, he maintained a character for integrity so genuine and high that his constituency felt itself honored by his conduct, and allowed him to the end of his life " a handsome pension." Otherwise, it would have occasionally fared ill with this incorruptible patriot, for be v.-as often
reduced to great pecuniary straits. Charles II. made many but fruitless efforts t9 win him over to the court-party-. Tbe story of the interview between narvell and the lord treasurer Danby, who had found out the patriot's lodgings (with difficulty) " up two -pair of stairs in one of the little courts in the Strand, " is belie'ved to be essentially true, and indicates a certain noble republican simplicity of nature which cannot be too highly admired. Marvell died Aug. 16, 1678, not without suspicion of poison. His writings, partly in verse and partly in prose, are satirical, sharp, honest and pithy (like his talk), but they relate to matters of temporary interest, and are now well-nigh forgotten. An edition of them was published, along with a life of the author, by- capt. Edward Thompson, London, 1776.