taken a survey of the most remarkable things at
home, he travelled to digest and enlarge his notions, from a view of
other countries, where, says the above-mentioned author, he made a
collection of their virtues, without any tincture of their vices and
follies, only that some were of opinion he copied the French air too
much, which being disagreeable to his father, who was remarkable for
his gravity, and, indeed, inconsistent with, the gloominess of the
times, he was reproached for it, and it was imputed to him as the
effects of his travels; but some were of opinion, that it was more
natural than acquired, the easiness of his manner and address being
suitable to the openness of his heart, the gaiety, wit and gallantry,
which were so conspicuous in him; and he seems to have valued himself
upon nothing more than the character of the Courtier and the Fine
Gentleman, which he so far attained, that he is allowed to have had
the peculiar happiness, of making every thing he did become him.
While Suckling was thus assiduous about acquiring the reputation of
a finished courtier, and a man of fashion, it is no wonder that he
neglected the higher excellencies of genius, for a poet and a beau,
never yet were united in one person.

Sir John was not however, so much devoted to the luxury of the court,
as to be wholly a stranger to the field. In his travels he made a
campaign under the great Gustavus Adolphus, where he was present
at three battles and five sieges, besides other skirmishes between
Parties; and from such a considerable scene of action, gained as much
experience in six months, as otherwise he would have done in as many
years.

After his return to England, the Civil War being then raging, he
raised a troop of horse for the King's service, entirely at his own
charge, so richly and compleatly mounted, that it stood him in 1200
l. but his zeal for his Majesty did not meet with the success it
deserved, which very much affected him; and soon after this he was
seized with a fever, and died in the 28th year of his age. In which
short space he had done enough to procure him the esteem of the
politest men who conversed with him; but as he had set out in the
world with all the advantages of birth, person, education, and
fortune, peoples expectations of him were raised to too great a
heighth, which seldom fails to issue in a disappointment. He makes no
figure in the history of these times, perhaps from the immaturity of
his deat