Many attempts were in the mean time made, but, hap pily for the best interests of learning and humanity, with out success, to excite prejudice against him in the breast of his powerful protector Louis. That prince was not to be influenced by such unworthy efforts ; but, on the con trary; his respect for Grotius increased, by observing the unabated love which the illustrious exile bore towards his ungrateful country. Ile employed much of his time while in France in Leading and composition, and increased the resentment of his enemies who then prevailed in Holland, by his admirable defence of the deposed magistrates.
In 1631, his pension from the French court was with drawn, whether from motives of public economy, or from ministerial pique, or from what other cause, cannot be as certained. lie soon after ventured to return to Holland, confiding in the friendship cs3.p O. Prince lienry Frederic. But, through the malice of his enemies, he was condemned anew to perpetual exile. Finding himself cruelly com pelled to leave his native land, which lie still fondly loved, Ire repaired to Hamburgh, where he received the most gratifying offers of protection from the kings of Denmark, Poland, and Spain, accompanied with solicitations from each, that lie would attach himself to his court. He pre ferred, however, the patronage of Gustavus Adolphus, king of Sweden, whose death, in 1632, obliged him for some time to remain unemployed in Hamburgh. Queen Christina fulfilled the wishes and intentions of her prede cessor; and in 1634, appointed Grotius one of her coun sellors. She soon after nominated him to be her ambas sador at the court of France. This new diplomatic ap pointment displeased CardinarRiehelieu, then prime min iste• of Louis X111. and he used his ialluence with Oxen stern, the chancellor of Sweden, to have him recalled. Gro tius, who had remained in retirement at St Denis till the ulterior pleasure of the Swedish court should be known, made his formal entry into Paris as Swedish ambassador in March 1635. After having spent eleven years in France, he was, in consequence of his own request, recalled, and having occasion to pass through Holland in his way to Sweden, he was received at Amsterdam with every mark of respect and honour ; for many of his enemies had retir ed, or were dead, and several of his friends were restored to offices of public trust. The account which he gave to the Queen of Sweden of the affairs connected with his embassy, proved highly satisfactory ; and anxious as he was to retire from public life, she would have gladly re tained him in her councils ; but the jealousies of her cour tiers inducing him to persist in his desire, she at length consented. She made hint, when on the eve of his de turc, a present of twelve thousand rix-dollars. Stress
of weather driving the vessel in which he embarked for Holland upon the coast of Pomerania, he was put ashore in a bad state of health, intending to finish his journey by land. He was unable to proceed farther than Rostock. Calumnies, with regard to the soundness of the religious principles of Grotius, and the state of his mind at his death, were officiously published by his enemies; but they are satisfactorily confuted by John Questorpius, professor of theology, and minister of Rostock. This learned and pious man wrote a letter, which is still extant, giving a pleasing account of the chearful resignation and Christian piety by which the close of his, valuable life was charac terized. He expired at Rostock, on the 28th of August 1645, in the 63:1 year of his age. The remains of this great and good man were embalmed, and removed to Delft, where they were committed to the sepulchre of his ancestors. His wife appears to have survived him. He left three sons and a daughter. The eldest son Cornelius, who wrote elegant Latin verses, was for some time em ployed by Oxenstern in Sweden. The second, Dederic, was aide-de-camp to Duke Bernard of Weimar, and was assassinated in a tavern by his valet. The youngest, Peter, was appointed by the Elector Palatine to be his resident with the states general ; and, by the favour of the De Wits, he was made pensionary of Amsterdam. After having been employed in different political embassies for Hol land, he was tried for alleged offences against the state, and was acquitted. He died in retirement at the age of seventy. Cornelia, the daughter of Grotius, was married to M. de Mouthas, who served with eclat in Holland ; but being involved in the fall of the De Wits, he quitted that country in 1672.
The multitude of works which Grotius left behind him on various subjects, prove Lint to have been an universal and profound scholar, and a man of the most indefatigable industry. It is not without astonishment that we contem plate the literary labours of one, whose private misfortunes and public duties might have been supposed to leave him little inclination, and less leisure, for the calm pursuits of philosophy and science. Ilis mind was amply stored with the treasures of ancient and modern learning, and his ex cellent memory enabled him to retain and employ, as oc casion might require, the knowledge which lie derived from his books. It is indeed related of him by Bo•reman, in proof of his wonderful memory, though we must be permitted to doubt the accuracy of the anecdote, that Grotius having been present at the review of regiment, recollected the name of every individual belonging to it.