d was written by order of king William 111.; the original papers and documents were furnished by the earl of Portland, and sir William Trumball, secretary of state. 10.
His works are: 1. “Sermons sur divers textes de l'Ecriture,
” Leyderi, Panegyrique de M. l'Electeur de Brandenbourg,
” Rotterdam, Traite de la Verite de la
Religion Chretienne.
” This treatise on the truth of the
Christian Religion has passed through many editions, and
has been translated into English, 2 vols. 8vo, and Dutch,
and has long been esteemed an able confutation of infidel
principles. The abbe Houteville, a steady Catholic, gives
it the following character: “The most shining of these
treatises in defence of the Christian religion, which were
published by the Protestants, is that written by Mr. Abbadie. The favourable reception it obtained, the almost unexampled praise it received on the publication, the universal approbation it still preserves, render it unnecessary
for me to join my commendations, which would add so
little to the merit of so great an author. He has united in
this book all our controversies with the infidels. In the
first part, he combats the Atheists; the Deists in the second; and the Socinians in the third. Philosophy and
theology enter happily into his manner of composing,
which is in the true method, lively, pure, and elegant,
especially in the first books.
” 4. “Reflexions sur la Presence reelle du Corps de Jesus Christ dans l'Eucharistie,
”
Hague, Traite de la Divinitie de notre Seigneur Jesus Christ,
”
Rotterdam, L'art de se Connoitre Soimeme; ou, la recherche des Sources de la Morale,
” Rotterdam, Defence de la Nation Britannique,
” &c. London, Avis important.
” 8. “Panegyrique de
Marie reine d'Angleterre,
” Hague, Histoire de la Conspiration derniere d'Angleterre,
” &c. Lond.
La Verite de la Religion lleformee,
” Rotterdam, Le
triomphe de la Providence et de la Religion, en l'ouverture des Sept Sceaux par le Fils de Dieu,
” &c. Amsterdam,
, earl of Portland, &c. one of the greatest statesmen of his time,
, earl of Portland, &c. one of the greatest statesmen of his time, and
the first that advanced his family to the dignity of the
English peerage, was a native of Holland, of an ancient
and noble family in the province of Guelderland. After a
liberal education, he was promoted to be page of honour
to William, then prince of Orange (afterwards king William III. of England), in which station his behaviour and
address so recommended him to the favour of his master,
that he preferred him to the post of gentleman of his bedchamber. In this capacity he accompanied the prince into
England, in the year 1670, where, going to visit the university of Oxford, he was, together with the prince, created
doctor of civil law. In 1672, the prince of Orange being
made captain-general of the Dutch forces, and soon after
Stadtholder, M. Bentinck was promoted, and had a share
in his good fortune, being made colonel and captain of the
Dutch regiment of guards, afterwards esteemed one of the
finest in king William’s service, and which behaved with
the greatest gallantry in the wars both in Flanders and
Ireland. In 1675, the prince falling ill of the small-pox,
M. Bentinck had an opportunity of signalizing his love and
affection for his master in an extraordinary manner, and
thereby of obtaining his esteem and friendship, by one of
the most generous actions imaginable: for the small-pox
not rising kindly upon the prince, his physicians judged it
necessary that some young person should lie in the same
bed with him, imagining that the natural heat of another
would expel the disease. M. Bentinck, though he had
never had the small-pox, resolved to run this risque, and
accordingly attended the prince during the whole course
of his illness, both day and night, and his highness said
afterwards, that he believed M. Bentinck never slept; for
in sixteen days and nights, he never called once that he
was not answered by him. M. Bentinck, however, upon
the prince’s recovery, was immediately seized with the
same distemper, attended with a great deal of danger, but
recovered soon enough to attend his highness into the field,
where he was always next his person; and his courage and
abilities answered the great opinion his highness had formed of him, and from this time he employed him in his most
secret and important affairs. In 1677, M. Bentinck was
sent by the prince of Orange into England, to solicit a
match with the princess Mary, eldest daughter of James,
at that time duke of York (afterwards king James II.) which
was soon after concluded. And in 1685, upon the duke
of Monmouth’s invasion of this kingdom, he was sent over
to king James to offer him his master’s assistance, both of
his troops and person, to head them against the rebels,
but, through a misconstruction put on his message, his
highness’s offer was rejected by the king. In the year
1688, when the prince of Orange intended an expedition
into England, he sent M. Bentinck, on the elector of Brandenburgh'a death, to the new elector, to communicate to
him his design upon England, and to solicit his assistance.
In this negociation M. Bentinck was so successful as to
bring back a more favourable and satisfactory answer than
the prince had expected; the elector having generously
granted even more than was asked of him. M. Bentincfc
had also a great share in the revolution; and in this difficult and important affair, shewed all the prudence and sagacity of the most consummate statesman. It was he that
was applied to, as the person in the greatest confidence
with the prince, to manage the negociations that were set
on foot, betwixt his highness and the English nobility and
gentry, who had recourse to him to rescue them from the
danger they were in. He was also two months constantly
at the Hague, giving the necessary orders for the prince’s
expedition, which was managed by him with such secrecy,
that nothing was suspected, nor was there ever so great a
design executed in so short a time, a transport fleet of
500 vessels having been hired in three days. M. Bentinck
accompanied the prince to England, and after king James’s
abdication, during the interregnum, he held the first place
among those who composed the prince’s cabinet at that
critical time, and that, in such a degree of super-eminence,
as scarcely left room for a second: and we may presume
he was not wanting in his endeavours to procure the crown
for the prince his master; who, when he had obtained it,
was as forward on his part, in rewarding the faithful and
signal services of M. Bentinck, whom he appointed groom
of the stole, privy purse, first gentleman of the royal bedchamber, and first commoner upon the list of privy counsellors. He was afterwards naturalised by act of parliament; and, by letters patent bearing date the 9th of April
1689, two clays before the king and queen’s coronation, he
was created baron of Cirencester, viscount Woodstock,
and earl of Portland. In 1690, the earl of Portland,
with many others of the English nobility, attended king
William to Holland, where the earl acted as envoy for his majesty, at the grand congress held at the
Hague the same year. In 1695, king William made this
nobleman a grant of the lordships of Denbigh, Bromtield,
Yale, and other lands, containing many thousand acres, in
the principality of Wales, but these being part of the
demesne thereof, the grant was opposed, and the house
of commons addressed the king to put a stop to the passing
it, which his majesty accordingly complied with, and recalled the grant, promising, however, to find some other
way of shewing his favour to lord Portland, who, he said,
had deserved it by long and faithful services. It was to
this nobleman that the plot for assassinating king William
in 1695 was first discovered; and his lordship, by his indefatigable zeal, was very instrumental in bringing to light
the whole of that execrable scheme. The same year another affair happened, in which he gave such a shining proof
of the strictest honour and integrity, as has done immortal
honour to his memory. The parliament having taken into
consideration the affairs of the East India company, who,
through mismanagement and corrupt dealings, were in
danger of losing their charter, strong interest was made
with the members of both houses, and large sums distributed, to procure a new establishment of their company by
act of parliament. Among those noblemen whose interest
was necessary to bring about this affair, lord Portland’s was
particularly courted, and an extraordinary value put upon
it, much beyond that of any other peer; for he was offered no less than the sum of 50,000l. for his vote, and his
endeavours with the king to favour the design. But his
lordship treated this offer with all the contempt it deserved, telling the person employed in it, that if he ever
so much as mentioned such a thing to him again, he would
for ever be the company’s enemy, and give them all the
opposition in his power. This is an instance of public
spirit not often mst with, and did not pass unregarded;
for we find it recorded in an eloquent speech of a member
of parliament, who related this noble action to the house
of commons, much to the honour of lord Portland. It was
owing to this nobleman, also, that the Banquetting-house at
Whitehall was saved, when the rest of the Palace was destroyed by fire. In February 1696, he was created a knight
of the garter, at a chapter held at Kensington, and was installed at Windsor on the 25th of March, 1697, at which
time he was also lieutenant-general of his majesty’s forces:
for his lordship’s services were not confined to the cabinet;
he likewise distinguished himself in the field on several
occasions, particularly at the battle of the Boyne, battle of
Landen, where he was wounded, siege of Limerick, Namur, &c. As his lordship thus attended his royal master
in his wars both in Ireland and Flanders, and bore a principal command there, so he was honoured by his majesty
with the chief management of the famous peace of Ryswick; having, in some conferences with the marshal
BoufHers, settled the most difficult and tender point, and
which might greatly have retarded the conclusion of the
peace. This was concerning the disposal of king James;
the king of France having solemnly promised, in an open
declaration to all Europe, that he would never lay down his
arms tilt he had restored the abdicated king to his throne,
and consequently could not own king William, without
abandoning him. Not long after the conclusion of the
peace, king William nominated the earl of Portland to be
his ambassador extraordinary to the court of France; an,
honour justly due to him, for the share he had in bringing
about the treaty of Hysvvick; and the king could not have
fixed upon a person better qualified to support his high
character with dignity and magnificence. The French
likewise had a great opinion of his lordship’s capacity and
merit; and no ambassador was ever so respected and caressed in France as his lordship was, who, on his part, filled
his employment with equal honour to the king, the British
nation, and himself. According to Prior, however, the
earl of Portland went on this embassy with reluctance, having been for some time alarmed with the growing favour of
a rival in king William’s affection, namely, Keppel, afterwards created earl of Albermarle, a DutchmLin, who had
also been page to his majesty. “And,
” according to Prior,
“his jealousy was not ill-grounded for Albemarle so prevailed in lord Portland’s absence, that he obliged him, by
several little affronts, to lay down all his employments,
after which he was never more in favour, though the king
always shewed an esteem for him.
” Bishop Burnet says
“That the earl of Portland observed the progress of the
king’s favour to the lord Albemaiie with great uneasiness
they grew to be not only incompatible, as all rivals for favour must be, but to hate and oppose one another in every
thing; the one (lord Portland) had more of the confidence,
the other more of the favour. Lord Portland, upon his
return from his embassy to France, could not bear the visible superiority in favour that the other was growing up to;
so he took occasion, from a small preference given lord
Albemarle in prejudice of his own post, as groom of the
stole, to withdraw from court, and lay down all his employments. The king used all possible means to divert
him from this resolution, but could not prevail on him to
alter it: he, indeed, consented to serve his majesty still in
his state affairs, but would not return to any post in the
household.
” This change, says bishop Kennet, did at first
please the English and Dutch, the earl of Albermarle having cunningly made several powerful friends in both nations, who, out of envy to lord Portland, were glad to see
another in his place; and it is said that lord Albemarle was
supported by the earl of Sutherland and Mrs. Villiers to
pull down lord Portland: however, though the first became
now the reigning favourite, yet the latter, says bishop
Kennet, did ever preserve the esteem and affection of king
William. But king William was not one of those princes
who are governed by favourites. He was his own minister
in all the greater parts of government, as those of war and
peace, forming alliances and treaties, and he appreciated
justly the merit of those whom he employed in his service.
It is highly probable, therefore, that lord Portland never
Jost the king’s favourable opinion, although he might
be obliged to give way to a temporary favourite. The
earl of Albemarle had been in his majesty’s service from
a youth, was descended of a noble family in Guelderland, attended king William into England as his page of
honour, and being a young lord of address and temper,
with a due mixture of heroism, it is no wonder his majesty took pleasure in his conversation in the intervals of
state business, and in making his fortune, who had so
long followed his own. Bishop Burnet says, it is a difficult matter to account for the reasons of the favour shewn
by the king, in the highest degree, to these two lords,
they being in all respects, not only of different, but of
quite opposite characters; secrecy and fidelity being the
only qualities in which they did in any sort agree. Lord
Albetnarle was very cheerful and gay, had all the arts of
a court, was civil to all, and procured favours for many;
but was so addicted to his pleasures that he could scarcely
submit to attend on business, and had never yet distinguished himself in any thing. On the other hand, lord
Portland was of a grave and sedate disposition, and indeed,
adds the bishop, was thought rather too cold and dry, and
had not the art of creating friends; but was indefatigable
in business, and had distinguished himself on many occasions. With another author, Mackey, his lordship has the
character of carrying himself with a very lofty mien, yet
was not proud, nor much beloved nor hated by the people.
But it is no wonder if the earl of Portland was not acceptable to the English nation. His lordship had been for ten
years entirely trusted by the king, was his chief favourite
and bosom-friend, and the favourites of kings are seldom
favourites of the people, and it must be owned king William was immoderately lavish to those he personally loved.
But as long as history has not charged his memory with
failings that might deservedly render him obnoxious to the
public, there can be no partiality in attributing this nobleman’s unpopularity partly to the above reasons, and partly
to his being a foreigner, for which he suffered not a little
from the envy and malice of his enemies, in their speeches,
libels, &c. of which there were some levelled as well
against the king as against his lordship. The same avereion, however, to foreign favourites, soon after shewed itself
against lord Albemarle, who, as he grew into power and
favour, like lord Portland, began to be looked upon with
the same jealousy; and when the king gave him the order
of the garter, in the year 1700, we are told it was generally disliked, and his majesty, to make it pass the better,
at the same time conferred the like honour on Jord Pembroke (an English nobleman of illustrious birth). Yet it
was observed, that few of the nobility graced the ceremony
of their installation with their presence, and that many
severe reflections were then made on his majesty, for giving the garter to his favourite. The king had for a long
time given the earl of Portland the entire and absolute government of Scotland; and his lordship was also employed,
in the year 1698, in the new negociation set on foot for
the succession of the Crown of Spain, called by the name
of the partition treaty > the intention of which being frustrated by the treachery of the French king, the treaty itself fell under severe censure, and was looked upon as a
fatal slip in the politics of that reign; and lord Portland
was impeached by the house of commons, in the year
1700, for advising and transacting it, as were also the
other lords concerned with him in it. This same year,
lord Portland was a second time attacked, together with
lord Albemarle, by the house of commons, when the affair of the disposal of the forfeited estates in Ireland was
under their consideration; it appearing upon inquiry, that
the king had, among many other grants, made one to lord
Woodstock (the earl of Portland’s son) of 135,820 acres of
land, and to lord Albemarle two grants, of 108,633 acres
in possession and reversion; the parliament came to a resolution to resume these grants; and also resolved, that
the advising and passing them was highly reflecting on the
king’s honour; and that the officers and instruments concerned in the procuring and passing those grants, had
highly failed in the performance of their trust and duty;
and also, that the procuring or passing exorbitant grants,
by any member now of the privy-council, or by any other
that had been a privy -counsellor, in this, or any former
reign, to his use or benefit, was a high crime and misdemeanour. To carry their resentment still farther, the
commons, immediately impeached the earls of Portland and
Albemarle, for procuring for themselves exorbitant grants.
This impeachment, however, did not succeed, and then
the commons voted an address to his majesty, that no person who was not a native of his dominions, excepting his
royal highness prince George of Denmark, should be admitted to his majesty’s councils in England or Ireland, but
this was evaded by the king’s going the very next day to
the house of lords, passing the bills that were ready, and
putting an end to the session. The partition treaty was
the last public transaction we find lord Portland engaged
in, the next year after his impeachment, 1701, having
put a period to the life of his royal and munificent master,
king William III.; but not without having shewn, even in
his last moments, that his esteem and affection for lord
Portland ended but with his life: for when his majesty
was just expiring, he asked, though with a faint voice, for
the earl of Portland, but before his lordship could come,
the king’s voice quite failed him. The earl, however,
placing his ear as near his majesty’s mouth as could be, his
lips were observed to move, but without strength to express his mind to his lordship; but, as the last testimony
of the cordial affection he bore him, he took him by the
hand, and carried it to his heart with great tenderness,
and expired soon after. His lordship had before been a
witness to, and signed his majesty’s last will and testament,
made at the Hague in 1695; and it is said, that king
William, the winter before he died, told lord Portland, as
they were walking together in the garden at Hampton
court, that he found his health declining very fast, and
that he could not live another summer, but charged his
lordship not to mention this till after his majesty’s death.
We are told, that at the time of the king’s death, lord
Portland was keeper of Windsor great park, and was displaced upon queen Anne’s accession to the throne: we are
not, however, made acquainted with the time when his
lordship became first possessed of that post. After king
William’s death, the earl did not, at least openly, concern
himself with public affairs, but betook himself to a retired
life, in a most exemplary way, at his seat at Bulstrode in
the county of Bucks, where he erected and plentifully
endowed a free-school; and did many other charities.
His lordship had an admirable taste for gardening, and
took great delight in improving and beautifying his own
gardens, which he made very elegant and curious. At
length, being taken ill of a pleurisy and malignant fever,
after about a week’s illness he died, November 23, 1709,
in the sixty-first year of his age, leaving behind him a very
plentiful fortune, being at that time reputed one of the
richest subjects in Europe. His corpse being conveyed to
London, was, on the third of December, carried with,
great funeral pomp, from his house in St. James’s square
to Westminster-abbey, and there interred in the vault
under the east window of Henry the Seventh’s chapel.
ke of Richmond; and the lady Margaret, married to Charles John count Bentinck, second son to William earl of Portland, by his second wife. His lordship dying on July
His lordship married Margaretta- Cecilia Munter, daughter of William Munter, counsellor of the court of Holland, by his wife Cecilia Trip, of Amsterdam; and by her left issue only two daughters; the lady Sarah, married to Charles, second duke of Richmond; and the lady Margaret, married to Charles John count Bentinck, second son to William earl of Portland, by his second wife. His lordship dying on July 17, 1726, was buried in Westminsterabbey. Her ladyship survived him till August, 1749, when she departed this life at the Hague, from whence her corpse was brought the next month, and interred by his lordship’s in Westminster-abbey. As they left no male issue, the titles of viscount and earl became extinct, and the barony of Oakley devolved on Charles, his brother, second lord Cadogan, who died in 1776.
nce of the presbyterian party to such a degree, and so successfully cultivated the friendship of the earl of Portland, and other men of influence about the court, that
, a political character of considerable fame in Scotland, was the descendant of an ancient family, and born in 1649 at Cathcart in Glasgow.
He was educated in divinity and philosophy at Edinburgh
and Utrecht, to which his father sent him that he might
avoid the political contests which disturbed the reign of
Charles II. but he had a zeal which prompted him to interfere in what regarded his country, although removed
from it, and he must have given some proofs of a talent
for political affairs at a very early period. When England
was alarmed about the popish succession, Carstares was
introduced to the pensionary Fagel, and afterwards to the
prince of Orange, and entrusted with his designs relating
to British affairs. During his residence in Holland, his
principles both in religion and politics, were strongly confirmed; and upon his return to his native country he entered with zeal into the counsels and schemes of those noblemen and gentlemen who opposed the tyrannical measures of government; and although about this time he took
orders in the Scotch church, his mind seemed to have acquired such a decided bias towards towards politics, that
he determined to revisit Holland. On his way thither he
passed through London, and was employed by Argyle, and
the other Scots patriots, in treating with the English, who
were for excluding the duke of York from succession to the
crown. Towards the close of 1682, he held various conferences with the heads of that party, which terminated in
his being privy to what has been called the “Rye-house
plot.
” Accordingly, he was committed to close custody
in the Gate-house, Westminster. After several examinations before the privy council, he was sent for trial to Scotland; and as he refused to give any information respecting
the authors of the exclusion scheme, he was put to the
torture, which he endured with invincible firmness, but
yielded to milder methods of a more insidious nature, and
when a pardon was proposed, with an assurance that no
advantage should be taken of his answers as evidence
against any person, he consented to answer their interrogatories. The privy-council immediately caused to be
printed a paper, entitled, “Mr. Carstares’s Confession,
”
which contained, as he said, a false and mutilated account
of the whole transaction; and in direct violation of their
promise, they produced this evidence in open court against
one of his most intimate friends. This treachery and its conquences very deeply affected him; but as soon as he was
cleared, he obtained permission to retire to Holland, towards the close of 1684, or the beginning of 1685, where
he was kindly received by the prince of Orange, who appointed him one of his chaplains, caused him to be elected
minister of the English protestant congregation at Leyden;
and when the prince determined to transport an army to
England, Carstares accompanied him as his chaplain, and
continued about his person till the settlement of the crown.
During the whole of this reign he was the chief agent between the church of Scotland and the court, and contributed by his influence with the king to the establishment
of presbytery in Scotland, to which his majesty was disinclined, and to a degree of coalescence or accommodation
on the part of the presbyterian clergy with the episcopalians. When an act was passed in 1693, by the Scots
parliament, obliging all officers, civil and ecclesiastical, to
take an oath of allegiance, and also to sign an assurance
(as it was called) declaring William to be king dejure, as
well as de facto, the ministers refused to sign the declaration,
and appealed to the privy council, who recommended to
the king to enforce the obligation. Accordingly, measures were adopted for this purpose; and the body of the
clergy applied to Carstares, requesting his interference in
their favour. The king persisted in his resolution; orders
were renewed in peremptory terms, and dispatches were
actually delivered to the messenger to be forwarded next
morning. In these critical circumstances Carstares hastened to the messenger at night, demanded the dispatches,
which had been delivered to him in the king’s name, and
instantly repaired to Kensington, where he found his
majesty gone to bed. Having obtained admission into his
chamber, he gently waked him, fell on his knees, and asked
pardon for the intrusion, and the daring act of disobedience of which he had been guilty. The king at first
expressed his displeasure; but when Carstares further
stated the case, his majesty caused the dispatches to be
thrown into the fire, and directed him to send such instructions to the royal commissioners of the general assembly as he thought most conducive to the public good.
In consequence of this seasonable interposition, the oath
and assurance were dispensed with on the part of the
clergy. By this timely service Carstares acquired the
confidence of the presbyterian party to such a degree, and
so successfully cultivated the friendship of the earl of Portland, and other men of influence about the court, that he
was regarded in the management of Scotch affairs, as a kind
of viceroy for Scotland, though he possessed no public
character. All applications passed through his hands, all
employments, honours, and offices of state, were left to his
disposal; and without public responsibility, he engrossed
the secret direction of public affairs. Few Scotchmen obtained access to the king, unless through his intervention;
and in his correspondence with every department, says a
late historian, it is curious to remark how the haughty nobility condescended to stoop and truckle to a presbyterianx
clergyman, whom their predecessors in office had tortured
and deceived. His moderation, secrecy, and a prudence
apparently disinterested, recommended him to king William, who once said of him, in the presence of several of
his courtiers, “that he had long known Mr. Carstares;
that he knew him well, and knew him to be an honest man
”
He is represented on the other hand, as a cunning, subtle,
insinuating priest, whose dissimulation was impenetrable;
an useful friend when sincere; but, from an air of smiling
sincerity, a dangerous enemy.
aughter of Charles duke of Bolton), who marrying lady Elizabeth Ariana Bentinck, daughter of William earl of Portland, had by her one daughter and five sons, of whom
, late bishop of Durham, a descendant of the preceding, was the son of Henry Egerton, bishop of Hereford (fifth son of John third earl of Bridgewater, by lady Jane Powlett, first daughter of Charles duke of Bolton), who marrying lady Elizabeth Ariana Bentinck, daughter of William earl of Portland, had by her one daughter and five sons, of whom John was the eldest. He was born in London, on the 30th of November, 1721, was educated at Eton school, and admitted a gentleman commoner in Oriel college, Oxford, upon the 20th of May 1740, under the tuition of the rev. Dr. Bentham, afterwards regius professor of divinity in that university, where he prosecuted his studies extensively and successfully for six or seven years. He was ordained deacon privately by Dr. Benjamin Hoadly, bishop of Worcester, in Grosvenor chapel, Westminster, on the 21st of Dec. 1745, and the following day he was ordained priest, at a general ordination holden by the same bishop in the same place. On the 23d he was collated by his father to the living of Ross in Herefordshire, and on the 28th was inducted by Robert Breton archdeacon of Hereford. On the 3d of January 1746 (a short time before his father’s death, which happened on the 1st of April following), he was collated to the canonry or prebend of Cublington, in the church of Hereford. Upon the 30th of May 1746, he took the degree of bachelor of civil law, for which he went out grand compounder. On the 21st of November 1748 he married Indy Anne Sophia, daughter of Henry de Grey, duke of Kent, by Sophia, daughter of William Bentinck, earl of Portland. He was appointed chaplain in ordinary to the king upon the lyth of March 1749; and was promoted to the deanery of Hereford on the 24th of July 1750. He was consecrated bishop of Bangor on the 4th of July 1756, at Lambeth; and had the temporalities restored to him upon the 22d, previously to which, on the 21st of May, the university of Oxford conferred upon him the degree of LL. D. by diploma, and he was empowered to hold the living of Ross, and the prebend of Cublington, with that bishopric, in commendam, dated the 1st of July. On the 12th of November 1768, he was translated to the see of Lichfield and Coventry, with which he held the prebend of Weldland, and residentiary ship of St. Paul’s, and also the two preferments before mentioned. He was inducted, installed, and enthroned at Lichfield by proxy, upon the 22d of November, and had the temporalities restored upon, the 26th. On the death of Dr. Richard Trevor, he was elected to the see of Durham, upon the 8th of July 1771, and was confirmed on the 20th in St. James’s church, Westminster. Upon the 2d of August following he was enthroned and installed at Durham by proxy. The temporalities of the see were restored to his lordship on the 15th of August, and on the 3d of September he made his public entry into his palatinate. On his taking possession of the bishopric, he found the county divided by former contested elections, which had destroyed the general peace: no endeavours were wanting on his part to promote and secure a thorough reconciliation of contending interests, on terms honourable and advantageous to all; and when the affability, politeness, and condescension, for which he was distinguished, uniting in a person of his high character and station, had won the affections of ll parties to himself, he found less difficulty in reconciling them to each other, and had soon the high satisfaction to see men of the first distinction in the county conciliated by his means, and meeting in good neighbourhood at his princely table. The harmony he had so happily restored, he was equally studious to preserve, which he effectually did, by treating the nobility and gentry of the county at all times with a proper regard, by paying an entire and impartial attention to their native interests, by forbearing to improve any opportunities of influencing their parliamentary choice in favour of his own family or particular friends, and by consulting on all occasions the honour of the palatinate. The same conciliating interposition he had used in the county, he employed in the city of Durham with the same success. At the approach of the general election in 1780 he postponed granting the Mew charter, which would considerably enlarge the number of voters, till some months after the election, that he might maintain the strictest neutrality between the candidates, and avoid even the imputation of partiality; and when he confirmed it, and freely restored to the city all its ancient rights, privileges, and immunities, in the most ample and advantageous form, he selected the members of the new corporation, with great care, out of the most moderate and respectable of the citizens, regardless of every consideration but its peace and due regulation; objects which he steadily held in view, and in the attainment of which he succeeded to his utmost wish, and far beyond his expectation. A conduct equally calculated to promote order and good government, he displayed, if possible, still more conspicuously in the spiritual than in the temporal department of his double office. Towards the chapter, and towards the body of the clergy at large, he exercised every good office, making them all look up to him as their common friend and father: and to those who had enjoyed the special favour of his predecessor, he was particularly kind and attentive, both from a sense of their merit, and that he might mitigate in some degree their loss of so excellent a friend and patron. In the discharge of all his episcopal functions, he was diligent and conscientious. He was extremely scrupulous whom he admitted into orders, in respect of their learning, character, and religious tenets. In his visitations, he urged and enforced the regularity, the decorum, and the well-being of the church, by a particular inquiry into the conduct of its ministers, encouraging them to reside upon their several henetices, and manifesting upon all opportunities, a sincere and active concern for the interests and accommodation of the inferior clergy. His charges were the exact transcripts of his mind. Objections have been made to some compositions of this kind, that they bear the resemblance of being as specious as sincere, and are calculated sometimes, perhaps, rather a little more to raise the reputation of their author as a fine writer, than to edify the ministry and advance religion. Of the charges his lordship delivered, it may truly be said, that, upon such occasions, he recommended nothing to his clergy which he did not practise in his life, and approve of in his closet.
on this, resigning his post in the exchequer, he was succeeded therein by Richard Weston, afterwards earl of Portland. After the demise of king James, he continued in
During the life of the treasurer Cecil, he obtained no
advancement in the court or state; but, in 1615, some
time after his death, was made under-treasurer and chancellor of the exchequer; in consequence of which he was
called to the board of privy-council. In 1617 he obtained
from the king a special charter, confirming all such liberties
as had been granted to any of his ancestors in behalf of the
town of Alcester, upon a new reserved rent of ten shillings
a year; and, in 1620, was created lord Brooke of Beau*
champ-court. He obtained this dignity as well by his
merit and fidelity in the discharge of his offices as by his
noble descent from theNevils, Willoughbys de Brook, and
Beauchamps. In September 1621, he was made one of the
lords of the king’s bed-chamber; and on this, resigning his
post in the exchequer, he was succeeded therein by Richard
Weston, afterwards earl of Portland. After the demise of
king James, he continued in the privy-council of Charles
I. in the beginning of whose reign he founded a historylecture in the university of Cambridge, and endowed it
with a salary of lOOl. per annum. He did not long survive
this last act of generosity; for, though he was a munificent
patron of learning and learned men, he at last fell a sacrifice to the extraordinary outrage of a discontented domestic. The account we have of this fatal event is, that his
lordship, neglecting to reward one Ralph Heywood, who
had spent the greatest part of his life in his service, this
attendant expostulated thereupon with his lordship in his
bed-chamber, at Brook-house in Holborn; and, being severely reproved for it, presently gave his lordship a mortal
stab in the back with a knife or sword; after which he
withdrew into another room, and, locking the door, murdered himself with the same weapon. He died September
30, 1628, and his corpse being wrapt in lead, was conveyed
from Brook-house, Holborn, to Warwick; where it was
interred on the north side of the choir of St. Mary’s church,
there, in his own vault, which had formerly been a chapter-house of the church; and where, upon his monument,
there is this inscription: “Fulke Greville, servant to
queen Elizabeth, counsellor to king James, and friend
to sir Philip Sidney. Tropheum peccati.
” He made that
dear friend the great exemplar of his life in every thing;
and Sidney being often celebrated as the patron of the
muses in general, and of Spenser in particular, so we are
told, lord Brooke desired to be known to posterity under
no other character than that of Shakspeare’s and Ben Jonson’s master, lord-chancellor Egerton and bishop Overal’s
patron. His lordship also obtained the office of clarencieux
at arms for Mr. Camden, who very gratefulty acknowledged
it in his life-time, and at his death left him a piece of plate
in his will. He also raised John Speed from a mechanic
to be an historiographer.
the inhuman Jeffreys. Jeffreys’s seat, well known by the name of Buistrode, was purchased by William earl of Portland, in queen Anne’s reign, and until lately has been
This wretched man left an only son, who inherited his
title as lord Jeffreys, and also his intemperate habit. Two
poetical efforts, in the “State Poems,
” 4 vols. 8vo, are attributed to him, and he is said to have published “An Argument in the case of Monopolies,
”
nue, and appointed one of the commissioners of the treasury, March the 4th, upon the death of Weston earl of Portland. Besides this, he was, tvVo days after, called into
In 1634 our archbishop did the poor Irish clergy a very important service, by obtaining for them, from the king, a grant of all the impropriations then remaining in the crown. He also improved and settled the revenues of the London clergy in a better manner than before. On Feb. 5, 1634-5, he was put into the great committee of trade, and the king’s revenue, and appointed one of the commissioners of the treasury, March the 4th, upon the death of Weston earl of Portland. Besides this, he was, tvVo days after, called into the foreign committee, and had likewise the sole disposal of whatsoever concerned the church; but he fell into warm disputes with the lord^Cottington, chancellor of the exchequer, who took all opportunities of imposing upon him . After having continued for a year commissioner of the treasury, and acquainted himself with the mysteries of it, he procured the lord-treasurer’s staff" for Dr. William Juxon, who had through his interest been successively advanced to the presidentship of St. John’s college, deanery of Worcester, clerkship of his majesty’s closet, and bishopric of London, as already noticed in our life of Juxon. For some years Laud had set his heart upon getting the English liturgy introduced into Scotland; and some of the Scottish bishops hud, under his direction, prepared both that book and a collection of canons for public service; the canons were published in 1635, but the liturgy came not in use till 1637. On the day it was first read at St. Giles’s church, in Edinburgh, it occasioned a most violent tumult among the people, encouraged by the nobility, who were losers by the restitution of episcopacy, and by the ministers, who lost their clerical government. Laud, having been the great promoter of that affair, was reviled for it in the most abusive manner, and both he and the book were charged with downright popery. The extremely severe prosecution carried on about the same time in the star-chamber, chiefly through his instigation, against Prynne, Bastwick, and Burton, did him also infinite prejudice, and exposed him to numberless libels and reflections; though he endeavoured to vindicate his conduct in a speech delivered at their censure, June 14, 1637, which was published by the king’s command. Another rigorous prosecution, carried on with his concurrence, in the star-chamber, was against bishop Williams, an account of which may be seen in his article, as also of Lambert Osbaldiston, master of Westminster school.
In 1698, he attended the earl of Portland in his embassy from king William to the court of
In 1698, he attended the earl of Portland in his embassy
from king William to the court of France; and having
the pleasure to see his “Synopsis Conchyliorum
” in the
king’s library, he presented that monarch with a second
edition of the treatise, much improved, in 1699, not long
after his return from Paris. Of this journey he published an
account, with observations on the state and curiosities of that
metropolis; which, containing some things of a trifling nature, was pleasantly ridiculed by Dr. Wm. King, in another,
entitled “A Journey to London.
” In Historiae Animalium Angliae
tres Tractatus,
” &c. John Goedertius of Insects,
” &c. De Fontibus medicalibus AnglitE,
” Ebor. Exercitatio anatomica, in qua
de Cochleis agitur,
” &c. Cochlearum &
Limacum Exercitatio anatomica; accedit de Variolis Exercitatio,
” Conchy liorum Bivalvium
utriusque Aquae Exercitatio anatom. tertia,
” &c. Exercitationes medicinales,
” &c.
a more patriotic motive, he opposed king William’s grant of certain lands in Wales to his favourite, earl of Portland, and made a memorable speech on this occasion in
, an eminent lawyer and judge, was the
son of Thomas Price, esq of Geeler in Denbighshire, and
born in the parish of Kerigy Druidion, Jan. 14, 1653. After
an education at the grammar-school of Wrexham, he was
admitted of St. John’s college, Cambridge; but, as usual
with gentlemen destined for his profession, left the university without taking a degree, and entered himself a
student of Lincoln’s Inn about 1673. In 1677 he made
what was called the grand tour, in company with the earl
of Lexington, and lady and sir John Meers. When at
Florence, we are told that he was apprehended, and some
law-books taken from him; and his copy of “Coke upon
Littleton
” being supposed, by some ignorant officer, to be
an English heretical Bible, Mr. Price was carried before
the pope where he not only satisfied his holiness as to this
work, but made "him a present of it, and the pope ordered
it to be deposited in the Vatican library. In 1679 he returned, and married a lady of fortune; from whom, after
some years’ cohabitation, he found it necessary to be separated, on account of the violence of her temper. In
1682 he was chosen member of parliament for Weobly in
Herefordshire, and gave nis hote against the bill of
exclusion. The same year he was made attorney-general for
South Wales, elected an alderman for the city of Hereford, and the year following was chosen recorder of Radnor. His high reputation for knowledge and integrity
procured him the office of steward to the queen dowager
(relict of Charles II.) in 1684; he was also chosen townclerk of the city of Gloucester; and, in 1686, king’s
counsel at Ludlow. Being supposed to have a leaning
towards the exiled family, he was, after the revolution,
removed from tn*e offices of attorney-general for South
Wales and town-clerk of Gloucester. In resentment for
this affront, as his biographer insinuates, or from a more
patriotic motive, he opposed king William’s grant of certain
lands in Wales to his favourite, earl of Portland, and made
a memorable speech on this occasion in the House of Commons; the consequence of which was, that the grant was
rejected.
or England without any reason assigned; but a letter informed him, that he was to be governor to the earl of Portland’s son. Having never bad any thoughts of this kind
In the end of 1693, he was ordered for England without
any reason assigned; but a letter informed him, that he was
to be governor to the earl of Portland’s son. Having never
bad any thoughts of this kind of employment, he could
not imagine to whom he owed the recommendation; but at
last found it to be lord Galway. He immediately went to
London, and entered upon this charge, losing, however,
with it those preferments in the army which several of his
fellow-officers soon after attained. All the favour shown
him was, that he had leave to resign his commission to his
younger brother, who died in 1719, after having been
made lieutenant-colonel in a regiment of English dragoons.
Indeed the king gave him a pension of 100l. per annum,
“till such time as he should provide for him better;
”
which time never came: and after enjoying this pension
during the king’s life, a post of small value was given him
in its stead.
While the earl of Portland was ambassador in France, Rapin was obliged to be
While the earl of Portland was ambassador in France,
Rapin was obliged to be sometimes in that kingdom, sometimes in England, and often in Holland: but at length he
settled at the Hague, were the young lord Portland was
learning his exercises. While he resided here, in 1699,
he married; but this marriage neither abated his care of
his pupil, nor hindered him from accompanying him in his
travels. They began with a tour through Germany, where
they made some stay at Vienna: hence went into Italy by
the way of Tirol, where the marshal de Villeroy, at that
time prisoner, gave Rapin a letter for the cardinal d'Etrees,
when at Venice. Their travels being finished, which put
an end to his employment, he returned to his family at the
Hague, where he continued some years; but, as he found
it increase, he resolved to remove to some cheap country;
and accordingly retired, in 1707, to Wesel, in the duchy
of Cleves in Germany, where he employed the remaining
years of his life in writing fche “History of England.
”
Though his constitution was strong, yet seventeen years
application (for so long he was in composing this history)
entirely ruined it. About three years before his death, he
found himself exhausted, and often felt great pains in
the stomach: and at length a fever, with an oppression in
his breast, carried him off, after a week’s illness, May 16,
1725. He left one son and six daughters. He was naturally of a serious temper, although no enemy to mirth:
he loved music, and was skilled, as we have said, in mathematics, especially in the art of fortification. He was
master of the Italian, Spanish, and English languages;
and had also a very competent knowledge of the Greek
and Latin. He spent all his leisure hours in reading and
conversing with men of learning and information.
me ministers of state at Oxford, and how they had conveyed all intelligence thither.” He accused the earl of Portland and lord Con way as co-operating in the transaction;
The plot was published in the most terrific manner. On
the 31st of May (1643), at a solemn fast, when they were
listening to the sermon, a messenger entered the church,
and communicated his errand to Pym, who whispered it to
others that were placed near him, and then went with them
out of the church, leaving the rest in solicitude and amazement. They immediately sent guards to proper places,
and that night apprehended Tomkyns and Waller; having
yet traced nothing but that letters had been intercepted,
from which it appeared that the parliament and the city
were soon to be delivered into the hands of the cavaliers.
They perhaps yt*l knew little themselves, beyond some
general and indistinct notices. “But Waller,
” says Clarendon, “was so confounded with fear and apprehension,
that he confessed whatever he had said, heard, thought, or
seen; all that he know of himself, and all that he suspected
of others, without concealing any person of what degree or
quality soever, or any discourse that he had ever, upon any
occasion, entertained with them: what such and such Jadies of great honour, to whom, upon the credit of his wit
and great reputation, he had been admitted, had spoken
to him in their chambers upon the proceedings in the
Houses, and how they had encouraged him to oppose them;
what correspondence and intercourse they had with some
ministers of state at Oxford, and how they had conveyed all intelligence thither.
” He accused the earl of
Portland and lord Con way as co-operating in the transaction; and testified that the earl of Northumberland had
declared himself disposed in favour of any attempt that
might check the violence of the parliament, and reconcile
them to the king.
On June 11, the earl of Portland and lord Con way were committed, one to the custody
On June 11, the earl of Portland and lord Con way were
committed, one to the custody of the mayor, and the other
of the sheriff: but their lands and goods were not seized.
Waller, however, was still to immerse himself deeper in
ignominy. The earl of Portland and lord Conway denied
the charge and there was no evidence against them but
the confession of Waller, of which undoubtedly many would
be inclined to question the veracity. With these doubts
he was so much terrified, that he endeavoured to persuade
Portland to a declaration like his own, by a letter which is
extant in Fenton’s edition of his works; but this had very
little effect: Portland sent (June 29) a letter to the Lords,
to tell them, that he “is iti custody, as he conceives, without any c.rirge; and that, by what Mr. Waller had threatened him with since he was imprisoned, he doth apprehend a very cruel, long, and ruinous restraint: he therefore prays, that he may not find the effects of Mr. Waller’s
threats, a long and close imprisonment; but may be speedily
brought to a legal trial, and then he is confident the vanity
and falsehood of those informations which have been given
against him will appear.
”
arl of Northumberland, being too great for prosecution, was only once examined before the Lords. The earl of Portland and lord Conway, persisting to deny the charge,
In consequence of this letter, the Lords ordered Portland and Waller to be confronted; when the one repeated
his charge, and the other his denial. The examination of
the plot being continued (July 1,) Thinn, usher of the
House of Lords, deposed, that Mr. Waller having had a
conference with the lord Portland in an upper room, lord
Portland said, when he came down, “Do me the favour
to tell my lord Northumberland, that Mr. Waller has extremely pressed me to save my own life and his, by throwing the blame upon the lord Conway and the earl of Northumberland.
” Waller, in his letter to Portland, tells him
of the reasons which he could urge with resistless efficacy
in a personal conference; but he overrated his own oratory; his vehemence, whether of persuasion or intreaty,
was returned with contempt. One of his arguments with
Portland is, that the plot is already known to a woman.
This woman was doubtless lady Aubigny, who, upon this
occasion, was committed to custody; but who, in reality,
when she delivered the commission of array, knew not
what it was. The parliament then proceeded against the
conspirators, and Tom,kyns*and Chaloner were hanged.
The earl of Northumberland, being too great for prosecution, was only once examined before the Lords. The earl
of Portland and lord Conway, persisting to deny the
charge, and no testimony but Waller’s yet appearing against
them, were, after a long imprisonment, admitted to bail.
Hassel, the king’s messenger, who carried the letters to
Oxford, died the night before his trial. Hampden escaped