s majesty, in further testimony of his judicial integrity and abilities, was pleased to create him a peer of Ireland, by the style and title of John lord Fortescue Aland,
In May 1718, he was constituted one of the justices of the court of king’s bench; but after the accession of king George II. all the judges had new patents, except Mr. justice Aland, whose commission was superseded, for reasons which have not transpired. It appears, however, that he regained his majesty’s favoifV, as in January 1728 he was appointed one of the justices of the court of common pleas. He continued on this bench from Michaelmas vacation, 2 Geo. II. 1728, until Trinity term 19 and 20, A. D. 1746, when he resigned the same, having sat in the superior courts of Westminster for the long period of thirty years, and eighteen of them in the court alluded to. His majesty, in further testimony of his judicial integrity and abilities, was pleased to create him a peer of Ireland, by the style and title of John lord Fortescue Aland, baron Fortescue of Credan, in the kingdom of Ireland, by privy seal, dated at Kensington, June 26, 1746, 19 Geo. II. and by patent dated at Dublin, August 15. But he did not enjoy this honour long, dying Dec. 19 of the same year, in the seventy-seventh year of his age. The family is now extinct.
th the king, who, in 1626, appointed him secretary of state for Scotland, and in 1630, created him a peer of that kingdom by the title of viscount Canada, lord Alexander
But whatever opposition or censure he encountered from the public in this affair, he still remained in high credit with the king, who, in 1626, appointed him secretary of state for Scotland, and in 1630, created him a peer of that kingdom by the title of viscount Canada, lord Alexander pf Menstrie. About three years after, he was advanced to the title of earl of Stirling, at the solemnity of his majesty’s coronation in Holyrood house. His lordship appears to have discharged the office of secretary of state for Scotland with universal reputation, and endeavoured to act with moderation during a crisis of peculiar delicacy, when Laud was endeavouring to abolish presbytery in Scotland, and to establish episcopacy.
tration, to obtain a majority in the upper house, introduced twelve new lords in one day, was made a peer. On the accession of George I. when his political friends were
, earl, an English nobleman of distinguished abilities, was son of sir Benjamin Bathurst of Pauler’s Perry, Northamptonshire, and born in St. James’s square, Westminster, Nov. 16, 1684. His mother was Frances, daughter of sir Allen Apsley, in Sussex, knt. After a grammatical education, he was entered, at the age of fifteen, in Trinity college, Oxford; of which his uncle, dean Bathurst, was president. In 1705, when just of age, he was chosen for Cirencester in Gloucestershire, which borough he represented for two parliaments. He acted, in the great opposition to the duke of Maryborough and the Whigs, under Mr. Harley and Mr. St. John; and, in Dec. 1711, at that memorable period, in which the administration, to obtain a majority in the upper house, introduced twelve new lords in one day, was made a peer. On the accession of George I. when his political friends were in disgrace, and some of them exposed to persecution, he continued firm in his attachment to them: he united, particularly, in the protests against the acts of the attainder against lord Bolingbroke and the duke of Ormond. We have no speech of his recorded, till on Feb. 21, 1718 from which period, for the space of twenty-five years, we find that he took an active and distinguished part in every important matter which came before the upper house; and that he was one of the most eminent opposers of the measures of the court, and particularly of sir Robert Waipole’s administration. For an account of these, however, we refer to history, and especially to the history and proceedings of the house of lords.
nd’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
, 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.
se of commons. Two other protests were also signed by him on different occasions. But this patriotic peer did not live long to enjoy his new dignity; for he died at London
Though lord Delamer was removed from the administration, it was thought necessary to confer on him some mark
of royal favour. Accordingly, by letters-patent, bearing
date at Westminster, April 17, 1690, he was created earl
of Warrington, in the county of Lancaster, to continue to
him and the heirs-male of his body. A pension likewise of
two thousand pounds per annum was granted to him, for
the better support of that dignity. And it was said, in the
preamble of the patent for his earldom, that it was conferred on him, “for his great services in raising and bringing great forces to his majesty, to rescue his country and
religion from tyranny and popery.
” On the 3d of January,
1692-3, the earl of Warrington signed a protest against
the rejection of the bill for incapacitating persons in office
under the crown, either civil or military, from sitting in
the house of commons. Two other protests were also
signed by him on different occasions. But this patriotic
peer did not live long to enjoy his new dignity; for he
died at London on the 2d of January, 1693-4, having not
quite completed the forty-second year of his age. He was
interred in the family vault in Bowdon church, in the
county of Chester, on the 14th of the same month. Mr.
Granger says, that lord Delamer was “a man of a generous and noble nature, which disdained, upon any terms,
to submit to servitude; and whose passions seemed to
centre in the love of civil and religious liberty.
” In every
part of his life, indeed, he appears to have been actuated
by the same principles; and in his “Advice to his Children,
” printed in his works, he says, “There never yet
was any good man who had not an ardent zeal for his
country.
” He was not only illustriously distinguished by
his public spirit, and his noble ardour in defence of the
liberties of his country; but in his private life he appears
to have been a man of strict piety, and of great worth, honour, and humanity. He married Mary, sole daughter
and heiress to sir James Langham, of Cottesbrooke, in the
county of Northampton, knight and baronet, by whom he
had four sons, and two daughters. His first son died an
infant, and his second son, George, upon the death of his
father, became earl of Warrington. He died on the 2d
of August, 1758, and leaving no heirs male, the earldom
became extinct, but was revived in his daughter’s husband.
; and Mr. Bosvvell ever remembered with gratitude the friendship he so long enjoyed with this worthy peer. Having always entertained an exalted idea of the felicity of
, the friend and biographer of Dr. Johnson, was the eldest son of Alexander Boswell, lord Auchinleck, one of the judges in the supreme courts of session and justiciary in Scotland. He was born at Edinburgh, Oct. 29, 1740, and received the first rudiments of education in that city. He afterwards studied civil law in the universities of Edinburgh and Glasgow. During his residence in these cities, he acquired by the society of the English gentlemen who were students in the Scotch colleges, that remarkable predilection for their manners, which neither the force of education, or national prejudice, could ever eradicate. But his most intimate acquaintance at this period was the rev. Mr. Temple, a worthy, learned, and pious divine, whose well-written character of Gray has been adopted both by Dr. Johnson and Mason in the life of that poet. Mr. Boswell imbibed early the ambition of distinguishing himself by his literary talents, and had the good fortune to obtain the patronage of the late lord Somerville. This pobleman treated him with the most flattering kindness; and Mr. Bosvvell ever remembered with gratitude the friendship he so long enjoyed with this worthy peer. Having always entertained an exalted idea of the felicity of London, in the year 1760 he visited that capital; in the manners and amusements of which he found so much that was congenial to his own taste and feelings, that it hecanie ever after his favourite residence, whither he always returned from his estate in Scotland, and from his various rambles in different parts of Europe, with increasing eagerness and delight; and we find him, nearly twenty years afterwards, condemning Scotland as too narrow a sphere, and wishing to make his chief residence in London, which he calls the great scene of ambition and instruction. He was, doubtless, confirmed in this attachment to the metropolis by the strong predilection entertained towards it by his friend Dr. Johnson, whose sentiments on this subject Mr. Boswell details in various parts of his life of that great man, and which are corroborated by every one in pursuit of literary and intellectual attainments.
, peer and maréchal, distinguished in the French history, was born
, peer and maréchal, distinguished in the French history, was born Jan.
10, 1644. His dispositions for the art of war having displayed themselves at a very early period, he was chosen
in 1669 to be colonel of a regiment of dragoons, at the
head of which he demonstrated his bravery under the
marechal de Crequi, and under Turenne. He received a
dangerous wound at the battle of Voerden; and another in
the affair of Entsheim, to the capture whereof he contributed much, by the confession of Turenne. After several
signal exploits, he gained immortal renown by the defence
of Lille in 1708. The siege lasted near four months.
Bouflers said to his officers, “Gentlemen, I trust to you;
but I answer for myself.
” Prince Eugene carried on the
siege with so much vigour that it was obliged to submit.
“I am very vain,
” said he to Bouflers, “on having taken
Lille; but I had rather still have the glory of having defended it like you.
” The king rewarded him for this service as if he had gained a battle. He was created a peer
of France; had the honours of first gentleman to the king,
and the reversion of the government of Flanders for his
eldest son. When he entered the parliament for his first
reception in it, turning to a crowd of officers who had
defended Lille with him, he said, “It is to you that I am
indebted for all the favours that are heaped upon me, and
on you I reflect them I have nothing to glory in but the
honour of having been at the head of so many brave men.
”
During the siege, one of his party having proved tojiim
that he could easily kill prince Eugene, “Your fortune is
made,
” returned Bouflers, “if you can take him prisoner:
but you shall be punished with the utmost severity if you
make an attempt on his life; and if I but suspected that
you had any such intention, I would have you shut up for
the rest of your life.
” This generosity, which formed a
part of his character, induced him to ask permission to
serve under the orders of marechal de Villars, though he
was his senior. At the battle of Malplaquet in 1709, he
made the retreat in such good order, that he left behind
him neither cannon nor prisoners. The marquis de Bouflers
united the virtues of a good citizen with the activity of a
general; serving his prince as the ancient Romans served
their republic; accounting his life as nothing when the
safety of his country was in question. The king having
ordered him to go and succour Lille, and having left to
himself the choice of his lieutenants; he set out that instant, without settling his affairs, or taking leave of his
family, and chose for his officers a man that had been disgraced, and a prisoner of the Bastille. His magnificence
was equal to his love for his country and his sovereign.
When Louis XIV. formed the camp of Compiegne, to
serve as a lesson to his grandson the duke of Burgundy,
and as a spectacle to the court, Bouflers lived there in
such a splendid style, that the king said to Livri, his
maitre-d'hotel, “The duke of Burgundy must not keep a
table; we cannot outdo the marechal; the duke of Burgundy shall dine with him when he goes to the camp.
”
This patriot general died at Fontainbleau, Aug. 22, 1711,
aged 68. “In him (writes madame de Maintenon) the
heart died last.
” We read in the continuation of the
history of England by Rapin, an anecdote too honourable
to the memory of this great man to be passed over here in
silence. King William having taken Namur, in 169,
made Bouflers prisoner, in violation of the articles that
had been agreed on. Surprised at so unjust a proceeding, the marechal, fresh from the glorious defence he
had made, demanded the reason of this perfidious treatment. He was answered that it was by way of reprisals
for the garrison of Dixmude and of Deinse, which the
French had detained contrary to capitulation. “If that be
the case (said Bouflers), then my garrison ought to be
arrested, and not I.
” “Sir (he was answered), you are
valued at more than ten thousand men.
”
he was appointed to print the Journals of the House of Lords, and the Rolls of Parliament. The noble peer to whom he was indebted for this appointment, and his gratitude
In 1744, Mr. Bowyer is supposed to have written a small
pamphlet on the present state of Europe, taken principally
from Pufendorff. In 1746, he projected, what during his
whole life he had in view, a regular edition of Cicero’s
Letters, in a chronological order, on a plan which it is to
be lamented that he did not complete; as an uniform series
thus properly arranged would have formed a real history of
Tully’s life, and those which cannot be dated might be
thrown to the end without any inconvenience. In the same
year he published “The Life of the Emperor Julian,
”
translated from the French of M. Bleterie, and improve^
with twelve pages of curious notes, and a genealogical
table. The notes were not entirely Mr. Bowyer’s, but
were drawn up, in part, by Mr. Clarke and other learned
men. The translation, by Miss Anne Williams (Dr. Johnson’s inmate), and the two sisters of the name of
Wilkinson, was made under Mr. Bowyr’s immediate inspection.
In this year also, he printed, and is supposed to have assisted in thp composition of, “A Dissertation, in which the
objections of a late pampinet (by bishop Ross) to the writings of the anci nits, after the mariner of Mr. Maryland,
are clearly answered: those passages in Tuily corrected,
on which some of the objections are founded; with
Amendments of a few pieces of criticism in Mr. Maryland’s
Epistola Critica,
” 8vo. On the 2d of August, 1747, Mr.
Bowyer entered a second time into the matrimonial state,
with a most benevolent and worthy woman, Mrs. Elizabeth
Bill, by whom he had no children. In 1750, he had the
honour of sharing, with Dr. Burton, in the invectives most
liberally bestowed by Dr. King, in his “Elogium Famse
inserviens Jacci Etouensis, sive Gigantis: or, the Praises
of Jack of Eaton, commonly called Jack the Giant.
” Dr.
King’s abuse was probably owing to his having heard that
our learned printer had hinted, in conversation, his doubts
concerning the doctor’s Latiriity. Mr. Bowyer drew up
strictures in his own defence, which he intended to insert
at the conclusion of a preface to Montesquieu’s Reflections, &c.; but, in consequence ol Mr. Clarke’s advice, they
were omitted. In the same year, a prefatory critical dissertation, and some valuable notes, were annexed, by our
author, to Kuster’s Treatise “De vero usu Verborum
Mediorum;
” a new edition of which work, with further
improvements, appeared in 1773. He wrote, likewise,
about the same time, a Latin preface to Leedes’s “Veteres
Poeta? citati, &c.
” Being soon after employed to print an
edition of colonel Bladen’s translation of Cæsar’s Commentaries, that work received considerable improvements from.
Mr. Bowyer’s hands, and the addition of such notes in it
as are signed Typogr. In the subsequent editions of this
work, though printed by another person, and in our author’s life-time, the same signature, contrary to decorum,
and even justice, was still retained. In 1751, he wrote a
long preface to Montesquieu’s “Reflections on the Rise
and Fall of the Rouian Empire;
” translated the Dialogue
between Sylla and Socrates; made several corrections to
the work from the Baron’s “Spirit of Laws,
” and improved
it with his own notes. A new edition, with many; new
notes, was printed in 1759. He gave likewise to the
public, in 1751, with a preface, the first translation that
was made of Rousseau’s paradoxical oration on the effects
of the arts and sciences, which gained the prize at the academy of Dijon, in 1750; and which first announced that
singular genius to the attention and admiration of Europe.
On the publication of the third edition of lord Orrery’s
“Remarks on the Life and Writings of Dr. Swift,
” in Two Letters from Dr. Bentley in the shades below, to
lord Orrery in a land of thick darkness.
” The notes
signed B, in the ninth quarto volume of Swift’s works, are
extracted from these Letters, which are reprinted at large
in his “Tracts.
” In Vindication of the Histories of the Old and New Testament, in answer to the Objections of Lord Bolingbroke,
”
Mr. Bowyer drew up an analysis of the same, with an intention of sending it to the Gentleman’s Magazine: it is now
printed in Mr. Nichols’s “Anecdotes.
” In Remarks on a Speech made in Common Council,
on the Bill for permitting persons professing the Jewish Religion to be naturalized, so far as Prophecies are supposed
to be affected by it.
” The design of this sensible little tract,
which was written with spirit, and well received by those
who were superior to narrow prejudices, was to shew, that
whatever political reasons might be alleged against the
Bill, Christianity would in no degree be prejudiced by
the indulgence proposed to be gVanted to the Jews. In
the same year, some of Mr. Bowyer’s notes were annexed
to bishop Clayton’s translation of “A Journal from Grand
Cairo to Mount Sinai, and back again.
” In Commentary on the Book of Wisdom,
” and enriched it with the remarks of Mr. Markland.
Upon the death of Mr. Richardson, in 1761, Mr. Bowyer,
through the patronage of the late earl of Macclesfield, was
appointed printer to the Royal Society; and, under the
friendship of five successive presidents, had the satisfaction
of continuing in that employment till his death. In the
same year (1761), appeared “Verses on the Coronation
of their late majesties, king George the Second and queen
Caroline, October 4, 1727, spoken by the Scholars of
Westminster school (some of them now the ornaments of the Nation) on January 15th following, being the Day of
the Inauguration of Queen Elizabeth, their foundress
with a Translation of all the Latin copies The whole
placed in order of the transactions of that important day.
Adorned with the Coronation Medals pf the Royal Pair,
and a bust of our present king. To which is subjoined
the Ceremonial of the august Procession, very proper to
be compared with the approaching one; and a Catalogue
of the Coronation Medals of the Kings and Queens of England.
” The original part of this pamphlet, in which a great
deal of humour is displayed, was entirely Mr. Bowyer' s:
the Latin verses were translated partly by him, but principally by Mr. Nichols. Our learned printer’s next publication was of a more serious and weighty nature, an excellent edition of the Greek Testament, in two volumes,
1763, 12mo, under the following title: “Novum Testamentum Greecum, ad Fidem GrascorUm solum Codicum
Mss. nunc primum expressum, adstipulante Joanne Jacobo Wetstenio, juxta Sectiones Jo. Albert! Bengelii divisum; et nova Interpunctione saepius illustratum. Accessere in altero Volumine Emendationes conjecturales virorum doctorum undecunque collectse.
” This sold with
great rapidity; though Mr. Bowyer, in his advertisements
of it in the public papers, was pleased to add, that it
boasted neither elegance of type nor paper, but trusted to
other merits. The conjectural emendations are a very
valuable addition to the Greek Testament, and were extremely well received by the learned. In a letter of thanks,
from the president and fellows of Harvard college, in Cambridge, New-England, to Mr. Bowyer, in 1767, for several benefactions of his to that college, they express themselves as follows: “It is a particular pleasure to us to
mention your very curious edition of the Greek Testament, in two volumes, with critical notes, and many happy
conjectures, especially as to the punctuation, an affair of
the utmost importance as to ascertaining the sense. This
work, though small in bulk, we esteem as a rich treasure
of sacred learning, and of more intrinsic value than many
large volumes of the commentators.
” A second edition of
the Conjectures on the New Testament, with very considerable enlargements, was separately published, in one
volume, 8vo, in 1772, a third in 4to, 1782, and a fourth
from the interleaved -copy of Dr. Owen, which he bequeathed to the honourable and right reverend Dr. Shute
Barrington, bishop of Durham, is just published (1812).
Bishop Wavbnrton having censured apassage in the first edition, Mr. Bowyer sent him a copy of the second, with a conciliatory letter. In 1765, at the request of Thomas Hollis,
esq. our learned printer wrote a short Latin preface to Dr.
Wallis’s “Grammatica Linguae Anglicanse.
” A larger English preface, which was written by him, and intended for
that work, is printed in his “Tracts.
” Some copies of this
book were sent by him to the rev. Edward Clarke, when,
chaplain to the earl of Bristol at Madrid, to be given to the
Spanish literati. Towards the latter end of the same year,
in consequence of overtures from a few respectable friends
at Cambridge, Mr. Bowyer had some inclination to have
undertaken the management of the University press, by
purchasing a lease of its exclusive privileges. He went,
accordingly, to Cambridge for this purpose; but the treaty
proved fruitless, and he did not much regret the disappointment. In the beginning of 1766, by engaging in a partnership with Mr. Nichols, he was again enabled to withdraw, in some degree, from that close application, which
had begun to be prejudicial to his health. His new associate had been trained by him to the profession, and had
assisted him several years in the management of business. He was very happy in this connection; and it is unnecessary to add how successfully Mr. Nichols has trod in
the steps of his worthy and learned friend and partner. In,
that year (1766) Mr. Bowyer wrote an excellent Latin preface to “Joannis Harduini, Jesuitae, ad Censuram Scriptorum veterum Prolegomena; juxta Autographum.
” In
this preface he gives an account of the nature of the work,
and of the manner in which it had been preserved. Mr. De
Missy’s remarks on the celebrated Jesuit’s extraordinary production were published about the same time, in a letter to
Mr. Bowyer, written in Latin. In 1767, he was appointed
to print the Journals of the House of Lords, and the Rolls
of Parliament. The noble peer to whom he was indebted
for this appointment, and his gratitude to whom is testified
in the inscription which he left behind him, to be placed in
Stationers Hall, was the earl of Marchmont. Mr. Bowyer
was now compelled, from the want of sufficient room, to
exchange White Fryars for Red Lion-passage; and it was
not without reluctance that he quitted a residence to which
he had been accustomed from his infancy. His new printing-house was opened with the sign of his favourite Cicero’s
Head: under which was inscribed, “M, T, Cicero, A Quo
Primordia Preli,
” in allusion to the well-known early editions of Tally’s Offices. Having printed this year Mr.
Clarke’s excellent and learned work on “The Connexion
of the Roman, Saxon, and English Coins,
” he wrote some
notes upon it, which are interspersed throughout the volume with those of the author. Part of the dissertation on
the Roman Sesterce was, likewise, Mr. Bowyer’s production; and the index, which is an uncommonly good one,
and on which he did not a little pride himself, was drawn up
entirely by him. On the 14th of January, 177 J, he lost
his second wife, who died at the age of seventy. His old
friend, Mr. Clarke, who had administered consolation to
him, on a similar occasion, nearly forty years before, again
addressed him with tenderness on this event. In the Philosophical Transactions for 1771, was printed a very ingenious “Enquiry intothe value of the antient Greek and Roman Money,
” by the late Matthew Raper, esq. The opinions advanced by this respectable gentleman, on these
subjects, not coinciding with those of Mr. Bowyer, he
printed a small pamphlet, entitled, “Remarks, occasioned
by a late Dissertation on the Greek and Roman Money.
” The pamphlet was intended as an appendix
to Mr. Clarke’s Treatise on Coins. The opinions of many
excellent writers in Germany and France having been ably
controverted in that elaborate work, Mr. Bowyer transmitted
a copy of it to the French king’s library, and inscribed his
little appendix,
rt of the crown of England against Irish rebels, and in the service of his country. Though he was no peer of England, he was, on account of his eminent abilities and
On the departure of lord-deputy Falkland, the earl of Cork, in conjunction with lord Lortus, was appointed one of the lords justices of Ireland, Oct. 26, 1629, and held that office several years. Feb. 16th following, the earl lost his countess, by whom he had fifteen children. Nov. 9 1631, he was constituted lord high treasurer of Ireland, and had interest enough to get that high office made hereditary in his family. Nevertheless, he suffered many mortifications during the administration of sir Thomas Wentworth, afterwards earl of Strafford, who, before he went to Ireland, had conceived a jealousy of his authority and interest in that kingdom, and now conceived that if he could humble the great earl of Cork, nobody in that country could give him much trouble. On the breaking out of the rebellion in Ireland in 1641, the earl of Cork, as soon as he returned from England (where he was at the time of the earl of Strafford’s trial), immediately raised two troops of horse, which he put under the command of his sons the lord viscount Kinalmeaky and the lord Brogbill, maintaining them and 400 foot for some months at his own charge. In the battle which the English gained at Liscarrol, Sept. 3, Io42, four of his sons were engaged, and the eldest was slain in the field. The earl himself died about a year after, on the 15th of September, in the 78th year of his age; having spent the last, as he did the first year of his life, in the support of the crown of England against Irish rebels, and in the service of his country. Though he was no peer of England, he was, on account of his eminent abilities and knowledge of the world, admitted to sit in the house of lords upon the woolpacks, ut consiliarius. When Cromwell saw the prodigious improvements he had made, which he little expected to find in Ireland, he declared, that if there had been an earl of Cork in every province, it would have been impossible for the Irish to have raised a rebellion.
go out merely for want of oil to maintain it. The reader may wonder that Mr. Boyle was never made a peer; especially when it is remembered, that his four elder brothers
As to the person of this great man, we are told that he was tall, but slender; and his countenance pale and emaciated. His constitution was so tender and delicate, that he had divers sorts of cloaks to put on when he went abroad, according to the temperature of the air; and in this he governed himself by his thermometer. He escaped indeed the small-pox during his life; but for almost forty years he laboured under such a feebleness of body, and such lowness of strength and spirits, that it was astonishing how he could read, meditate, make experiments, and write as he did. He had likewise a weakness in his eyes, which made him very tender of them, and extremely apprehensive of such distempers as might affect them. He imagined also, that if sickness should confine him to his bed, it might raise the pains of the stone to a degree which might be above his strength to support; so that he feared lest his last minutes should be too hard for him. This was the ground of all the caution and apprehension with which he was observed to live: but as to life itself, he had that just indifference for it, which became a philosopher and a Christian. However, his sight began to grow dim, not above four hours before he died; and, when death came upon him, it was with so little pain, that the flame appeared to go out merely for want of oil to maintain it. The reader may wonder that Mr. Boyle was never made a peer; especially when it is remembered, that his four elder brothers were all peers. A peerage was, however, often offered him, and as often refused by him. It is easy to imagine, that he might have had any thing he should express an inclination for. He was always a favourite at court: and king Charles II. James II. and king William, were so highly pleased with his conversation, that they often used to discourse with him in the most familiar manner. Not that Mr. Boyle was at any time a courtier; he spake freely of the government, even in times which he disliked, and upon occasions when he was ohliged to condemn it; but then he always did it, as indeed he did every thing of that nature, with an exactness of respect.
out of his post, Her majesty, in the tenth year of her reign, raised him to the dignity of a British peer, under the title of lord Boyle, baron of Marston, in Somersetshire.
, earl of Orrery, second son of
Roger second earl of Orrery, by lady Mary Sackville,
daughter to Richard earl of Dorset and Middlesex, was
born in August 1676, at his father’s house in Chelsea;
and at fifteen entered a nobleman of Christ-church, in
Oxford, under the care of Dr. Francis Atterbury, afterwards bishop of Rochester, and Dr. Freind. Dr. Aldrich,
the head of that society, observing his uncommon application, drew up for his use that compendium of logic
which is now read at Christ-church, wherein he styles him
“the great ornament of our college.
” Having quitted the
university, he was in
he was elected a knight of the thistle in June 1716, and on the 30th of the same month was created a peer by the title of Lord Cadogan, baron of Reading. His lordship
When the duke of Marlborough was disgraced, and went abroad, he resigned all his employments, choosing, as he had a share in his grace’s prosperity, to be a partaker in his adversity; but first served the campaign, in 1712, under the duke of Ormond. At the accession of George I. on August 1, 1714, he was made master of the robes, and colonel of the second regiment of foot-guards; also envoy extraordinary and plenipotentiary to the States General. In 1715, he was appointed governor of the Isle of Wight; and having extinguished the remains of the rebellion in Scotland, he was elected a knight of the thistle in June 1716, and on the 30th of the same month was created a peer by the title of Lord Cadogan, baron of Reading. His lordship soon after was again sent ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to the States of Holland; and arriving at Brussels, on Sept. 15, 1716, signed, at the Hague, the treaty of defensive alliance between Great Britain, France,and the States General. He set out for Utrecht, on Jan. 28, 1716, to wait on the king, expected there that afternoon; who was pleased to command his attending him to Great Britain. And Mr. Leathes, his majesty’s secretary at Brusels, was appointed to reside at the Hague, during his lordship’s absence.
st in the promotion of that measure; for which, on his arrival in England, her majesty created him a peer of England, by the title of Baron of Chatham, and Earl of Greenwich.
In 1705, he was nominated her majesty’s lord high commissioner to the Scottish parliament, though he was then
only twenty-three years of age, an appointment which gave
much satisfaction to that nation, where, on his arrival, he
was received with unusual ceremony. On the 28th of
June, his grace opened the parliament by a speech, and
was so well convinced of the advantages which would result to both kingdoms from an union between England and
Scotland, that he employed his whole interest in the promotion of that measure; for which, on his arrival in England, her majesty created him a peer of England, by the
title of Baron of Chatham, and Earl of Greenwich. In
1706, he made a campaign under the duke of Marlborough;
and greatly distinguished himself by his courage and conduct in the battle of Ramillies, in which he acted as a brigadier-general; and also at the siege of Ostend, and in the
attack of Menin, of which his grace took possession on the
25th of August. After that event, he returned to Scotland, in order to be present in the parliament of that kingdom, when the treaty for the union was agitated; and was,
as before, very active in the promotion of it, though he
declined being one of the commissioners. When a riotous
multitude came to the parliament-close, demanding, with
loud clamours, “That the treaty of union should be rejected,
” his grace went out of the house, and appeased the
people who were assembled, by the calmness and strength
of reason with which he addressed them; but his zeal in
this affair diminished his popularity, though even his enemies did justice to the rectitude of his intentions. In
1708, he commanded twenty battalions at the battle of
Oudenarde; and the troops under his command were the
first of the infantry that engaged the enemy, a*nd they
maintained their post against unequal numbers. He likewise assisted at the siege of Lisle and commanded as
major-general at the siege of Ghent, taking possession of
the town and citadel on the 3d or' January, 1703-9. He
was afterwards raised to the rank of lieutenant-general, and
commanded in chief under general Schuyiemberg, at the
attack of Tournay. He had also a considerable share, on
the llth of September, 1709, in the victory a Malplaquet, where he was much exposed, and gained great honour. On the 20th of December, 1710, he was installed a
knight of the garter; and about this time took some part
in the debates in parliament, relative to the inquiry which
was set on foot concerning the management of affairs in
Spain, when he spoke and voted with the tofies, and joined
in the censure that was passed on the conduct of the late
whig ministry.
erve in parliament for the county of Hertford, in 1639 and 1640. In the following year he was made a peer by Charles I. with the title of lord Capel, of Hadham. Upon
was the only son and heir of
sir Henry Capel, who died in the flower of his age. He
succeeded to the family estate on the death of his grandfather, sir Arthur, and following the example of his virtuous ancestors, was very eminent for his hospitality to
his neighbours, while his great charities to the poor endeared him to the hearts of the people, who chose him to
serve in parliament for the county of Hertford, in 1639
and 1640. In the following year he was made a peer by
Charles I. with the title of lord Capel, of Hadham. Upon
the breaking out of the rebellion, he raised at his own
charge some troops of horse, in defence of the royal cause,
although he hud at first sided with the parliament; and did
not attach himself particularly to the court, until he sawthat the designs of the republicans were no longer conducted with moderation or justice. He fought valiantly in
many battles and skirmishes, and continued to adhere
loyally to his king, till his majesty’s armies were dispersed,
his garrisons lost, and his“person imprisoned, when lord
Capel compounded with the parliamentarians, and retired
to his manor of Hadham. Perceiving, some time after,
the hard treatment his sovereign met with, he resolutely
ventured again, with all the force he could raise, to rescue
the king from his enemies; and joining his troops with
those of lord Goring and sir Charles Lucas, underxvent the
severest hardships in the memorable siege of Colchester,
which was at length surrendered to general Fairfax upon
articles which were immediately broke; for sir Charles
Lucas and sir George Lisle were shot, and lord Capel sent
prisoner to Windsor-castle. An act of attainder being ordered by the house of commons to be brought in against
him, the house voted, Nov. 10, 1648, that he and some
others should be banished, but that punishment not being
thought severe enough, he was removed to the Tower.
Lord Clarendon is of opinion that two or three sharp and
bitter speeches which passed between Ireton and lord
Capel, cost the latter his life. In the mean time, however, he contrived to escape out of his prison, but being
discovered and apprehended at Lambeth, on Feb. 10,
1649, he was brought before a pretended high court of
justice in Westminster- hall, to be tried for treason and
other high crimes and though he strenuously insisted that
he was a prisoner to the lord general Fairfax, that he had
conditions given him, and was to have fair quarter for his
life; yet his plea was over-ruled. In three days after he
was brought again before the court, when the counsel
moved that he should be hanged, drawn, and quartered.
This, however, was changed for beheading, and the sentence was executed March 9. He trod the fatal stage,
says lord Orford, with all the dignity of valour and conscious integrity. In these qualities all historians are agreed,
if we except Mrs. Macaulay, whose hostility to the loyalists
is rather a compliment. His literary remains were published in 1654, with the title
” Daily observations or meditations; divine, moral, written by a person of honour
and piety;“to which are added
” Certain letters written
to several persons,' 7 4to; and the whole were reprinted
afterwards in 12mo, with the title of “Excellent Contemplations, &c.
” and some account of his life. Some “Stanzas,
” by lord Capel, written when he was a prisoner in
the Tower, were inserted in the Gentleman’s Magazine
for 1757. His heart, which he had ordered to be kept,
and deposited near the remains of his royal master, was
afterwards placed in the family-vault at Hadham, as appears by a letter from the late incumbent of that parish,
Dr. Anthony Hamilton, published in the fifteenth volume
of the Archaeologia.
whoever should presume to print any account of the life, the letters, or other works of any deceased peer, without the consent of his heirs or executors, should be punished
It is highly probable that the success and popularity of
Kapin’s History gave considerable disgust to Mr. Carte,
and other gentlemen of the same principles, and suggested
the scheme of a new undertaking. It is evident, from
some letters written about this time to Dr. Z. Grey by
our author, that he laid a great stress upon that part of his
Life of the duke of Ormonde which vindicated Charles I.
in his transactions with the earl of Glamorgan, and which
brought a charge of forgery against that nobleman, but in
this it has since been proved he was mistaken. Some booksellers of Dublin having formed a design of printing in Ireland a piratical edition of the “History of the duke of
Ormonde,
” Mr. Carte recollected an order of the house of
lords, made in 1721, which was full to his purpose. By
this order, which had been issued upon occasion of Curll’s
publication of the duke of Buckingham’s writings, it was
declared that whoever should presume to print any account
of the life, the letters, or other works of any deceased
peer, without the consent of his heirs or executors, should
be punished as guilty of a breach of privilege of that house.
An attested copy of the order was carried by our historian
to the earl of Arran, and his lordship sent it to his agent
in Dublin, to serve upon the booksellers concerned in the
pirated impression, and to discharge them in his name from
proceeding in the design. But as this was a remedy only
in Mr. Carte’s case, and arising from the particular naiure
of his work, he was very solicitous that a new act of parliament should be passed, to secure the property of authors in their writings, and. drew up a paper recommending
such an act. Lord Cornbury, at the instance of the university of Oxford, had procured the draught of a bill to
be prepared, which was approved by the speaker of the
house of commons but we do not find that any farther
measures were pursued in the affair. In April 1738, Mr.
Carte published on a separate sheet, “A general account
of the necessary materials for a history of England, of the
society and subscriptions proposed for defraying the expences of it, and the method in which he intended to proceed in carrying on the work.
” In the following October
he had obtained subscriptions, or the promise of subscriptions, to the amount of 600l. a year. Not long after, he
was at Cambridge, collecting materials for his history, from
the university and other libraries. Whilst he was thus
employed, his head quarters were at Madingly, the seat
of sir John Hinde Cotton, bart. whose large collection of
old pamphlets and journals, published during the civil war
between 1639 and 1660, he methodized, and procured to
be bound in a great number of volumes now in the library
there. March 8, 1744, a cause in chancery was determined in his favour against his brother Samuel and his
sister Sarah, with regard to a doubt concerning their father’s will. Not many weeks after, our author fell under
the suspicions of administration, and was taken into custody, together with a Mr. Garth, at a time when the
habeas-corpus act was suspended, in consequence of some
apprehended designs in favour of the pretender. It is certain that nothing material was discovered against him, for
he was soon discharged out of custody, May 9, 1744- *. This
event did not detract from his popularity, or prevent his
receiving such encouragement in his historical design, as
never before or since has been afforded, or expected in
any literary undertaking. On July 18, the court of common-council of the city of London agreed to subscribe 5()l.
a year for seven years to Mr, Carte, towards defraying the
expence of his writing the history of England. In the
next month was printed, in an 8vo pamphlet, “A collection of the several papers that had been published by him
relative to his rgreat work.
” Oct. 18, the company of
goldsmiths voted 2 5l. a year for seven years, towards de* Whilst under examination, the walking in a heavy shower, he wa
and especially his eloquence, and his eminent skill in the ancient and modern languages. Our learned peer engaged Dr. Bentley to undertake an edition of Homer, and was
The late duke of Newcastle used to say of lord Granville, that he was a man who never doubted. From his lordship’s acknowledged literature, it may naturally be supposed that he patronized learned men and learned undertakings. His regard for Dr. Swift, and his attention to the dean’s recommendations, we have already mentioned. He assisted and encouraged Mr. Lye, in his edition of Junius’s Etymologicon, and the learned Mrs. Grierson of Dublin, when he was lord lieutenant of Ireland. Of Dr. Taylor, the celebrated Grecian, he was the particular patron. The doctor owed his principal preferments to lord Granville; and has testified his gratitude, in the dedication of his Demosthenes, by warmly celebrating his lordship’s excellencies, and especially his eloquence, and his eminent skill in the ancient and modern languages. Our learned peer engaged Dr. Bentley to undertake an edition of Homer, and was very active in procuring the doctor the use of manuscripts, and- other necessary aids, for that purpose. Dr, Bentley, when he came to town, was accustomed, in his visits to lord Carteret, sometimes to spend the evenings with his lordship. One day ojjl lady Granville reproached her son with keeping the country tler^yman, who was with him the night before, till he was intoxicated. Lord Carteret denied the charge; upon which the lady replied, that the clergyman could not have sung in so ridiculous a manner, unless he had been in liquor. The truth was, that the singing thus mistaken by her ladyship, was Dr. Bentley’s endeavour to instruct and entertain his noble friend, by reciting Terence according to the? true cantilena of the ancients.
at was anciently the last resort in law for convicting a murderer, he obtained the favour of a noble peer to go in his name to count Koningsmark to charge the guilt of
, the first duke of Devonshire, was born Jan. 25, 1640. He made the tour of Europe, under the care of Dr. Killigrew, afterwards master of the Savoy. In 1661 he was chosen to represent the county of Derby, and continued a member of the long parliament till its dissolution. Sept. 21, 1663, he was created M. A. of the university of Oxford, by the special command of the chancellor. In 1665 he went a volunteer on board the fleet under the duke of York, and in 1669 accompanied Mr. Montague in his embassy to France. Being accidentally at the opera in Paris, three officers of the French king’s guard, intoxicated with liquor, came upon the stage, and one of them coming up to him with a very insulting question, he gave him a severe blow on the face; upon which they all drew, and pushed hard upon him. He set his back against one of the scenrs, and made a stout defence, receiving several wounds; till a sturdy Swiss, belonging to the ambassador Montague, caught him up in his arms, and threw him over the stage into the pit. In his fall one of his arms caught upon an iron spike, which tore out the flesh. The three assailants were, by the king’s command, sent to prison, and not released but by his intercession. In 1677 he distinguished himself in the house of commons, by a vigorous opposition to the measures of the court. The year following he assiduously promoted an inquiry into the murder of sir Edmundbury Godfrey, and other particulars of the popish plot; and was one of the committee appointed to draw up articles of impeachment against the treasurer Dan by. In the parliament which met in the spring of 1679, he again represented Derby. This year he was chosen one of the king’s new privy-council: but soon finding that his attendance at the board would be wholly ineffectual, he, in conjunction with lord Russel and others, desired leave to withdraw. The county of Derby again elected him their representative in that parliament which met Oct. 21, 1680. The articles of impeachment against the chief justice Scroggs, for his arbitrary and illegal proceedings in the court of king’s bench, were carried up by him to the house of lords. When the king declared his resolution not to consent to a bill of exclusion, lord Cavendish made a motion, that a bill might be brought in for the association of all his majesty’s protestant subjects. He was also one of those who openly named the evil counsellors, and promoted the address to his majesty to remove them from all offices, and from his majesty’s councils and presence for ever. He shewed the same steadiness and zeal in the next parliament, in which also he represented Derbyshire. When parliaments were kid aside, though he was as obnoxious to the court as any, he was not afraid of meeting and conversing with his noble friends; but he condemned a bold overture which was made at one of those meetings, and declared, with great earnestness, that he would never more go with them. At the lord Russel’s trial, when it was almost as criminal to be a witness for him as to be his accomplice, he dared to appear to vindicate him in the face of the court. He afterwards sent him a message by sir James Forbes, that he would come and change clothes with him in the prison, and stay there to represent him, if he thought he could make his escape, but lord Russei was too generous to accept of this proposal. He prosecuted the immediate murderers of his friend Mr. Thynne to condign punishment, and brought the great abettor of it, count Koningsmark, to his trial, who happened to be acquitted by a jury prepossessed, or rather prepared, in favour of him. Lord Cavendish felt great indignation at the discharge of the count, which he thought owing to corruption; and knowing that an appeal to single combat was anciently the last resort in law for convicting a murderer, he obtained the favour of a noble peer to go in his name to count Koningsmark to charge the guilt of blood upon him, and to offer to prove it in the open field; but this method of trial the count thought fit to decline. In Nov. 1684 he became, by the decease of his father, earl of Devonshire. In the reisrn of James he was the same man in greater honour, and in greater zeal and concern for his country. He had been very much affronted within the verge of the court by colonel Culpepper; but restrained his resentment at the time, and pardoned him upon condition he should never more appear at Whitehall, but when, immediately after the defeat of the duke of Mon mouth, the colonel was encouraged to come publicly to court, and was rising to some degree of favour, the earl of Devonshire meeting him in the king’s presencechamber, and receiving from him, as he thought, an insulting look, took him by the nose, led him out of the room, and gave him some di>dainful blows with the head of his cane. For this bold act he v\as prosecuted in the king’s-bench upon an information, and had an exorbitant fine of 30,000l. imposed upon him; and, though a peer, was committed to the king’s-bench prison till he should make payment of it. He was never able to bear any confinement he could break from; and therefore escaped. only to go home to his scat at Chatsworth. Upon the news of his being there, the sheriff of Derbyshire had a precept to apprehend him, and bring him with his posse to town. But he invited the sheriff in, and kept him a, prisoner of honour, till he had compounded for his own liberty, by giving bond to pay the full sum of 3O,000l. This bond was found among the papers of king James, and given up by king William.
nce of Orange; and James II. upon the first alarm from Holland, being jealous of him above any other peer, endeavoured to draw him to court, which the earl evaded. Upon
He was one of the earliest in inviting over the prince of Orange; and James II. upon the first alarm from Holland, being jealous of him above any other peer, endeavoured to draw him to court, which the earl evaded. Upon the prince’s landing, he appeared in arms for him, and was afterwards received by him with the highest marks of affection and esteem. In the debates of the house of lords concerning the throne, he was very zealous for declaring the prince and princess of Orange king and queen of England. Feb. 14, 1689, he was admitted one of the privy-council, and not long after, named lord steward of their majesties’ houshold; and, April 3, 1689, chosen a knight of the garter. At their majesties’ coronation he acted as lord high steward of England; and, in the first session of parliament afterwards, procured a resolution of the house of lofds, as to the illegality of the judgment given against him in the former reign, and a vote, that no peer ought to be committed for non-payment of a fine to the crown. Jan. 1691 he attended king William to the congress at the Hague, where he lived in the utmost state and magnificence; and had the honour to entertain several sovereign princes at his table, the king himself being also present incognito. May 12, 1694, he was created marquis of Harrington, and duke of Devonshire; which, with his garter and white staff, the place of lieutenant and custos rotulorum of the county of Derby, and justiceship in Eyre, was perhaps as much honour as an English subject could enjoy. After the queen’s death, when the king’s absence made the appointment of regents necessary, he was one of the lords justices for seven successive years; an honour which no other temporal peer enjoyed.
eat interest at court, he was by letters- patent, dated November 3, 1620, raised to the dignity of a peer of the realm, by the style and title of baron Ogle and viscount
, baron Ogle, viscount Mansfield, earl, marquis, and duke of Newcastle, one of the most accomplished persons, as well as one of the most able generals and most distinguished patriots of the age, was son of sir Charles Cavendish, youngest son of sir William Cavendish, and younger brother of the first earl of Devonshire, by Catherine, daughter of Cuthbert lord Ogle. He was born in 1592, and discovering great capacity in his infancy, his father had him educated with such success, that he early acquired a large stock of solid learning, to which he added the graces of politeness. This soon made him be taken notice of at the court of James I. where he was quickly distinguished by the king’s favour; and in 1610, was made knight of the bath, at the creation of Henry prince of Wales. In 1617, his father died, by which he came to the possession of a very large estate and having a great interest at court, he was by letters- patent, dated November 3, 1620, raised to the dignity of a peer of the realm, by the style and title of baron Ogle and viscount Mansfield; and having no less credit with Charles I. than with his father king James, was in* the third year of the reign of that prince advanced to the higher title of earl of Newcastle upon Tyne, and at the same time he was created baron Cavendish of Bolesover. Our genealogists and antiquaries give us but a very obscure account of these honours, or at least, of the barony of Ogle, to which, in the inscription upon his own and his grandmother the countess of Shrewsbury’s tomb, he is said to have succeeded in right of his mother. His attendance on the court, though it procured him honour, brought him very early into difficulties; and there is some reason to believe that he was not much liked by the great duke of Buckingham, who perhaps was apprehensive of the large share he had in his master’s favour. However, he did not suffer, even by that powerful favourite’s displeasure, but remained in full credit with his master; which was notwithstanding so far from being beneficial to him, that the services expected from him, and his constant waiting upon the king, plunged him very deeply in debt, though he had a large estate, of which we find him complaining heavily in his letters to his firm and steady friend the lord viscount Wentworth, afterwards earl of Strafford. But th&e difficulties never in the least discouraged him from doing his duty, or from testifying his zeal and loyalty, when the king’s service required it. In 1638, when it was thought requisite to take the prince of Wales, afterwards Charles II. from the nursery, the king made choice of the earl of Newcastle, as the person in his kingdom most fit to have the tuition of his heir-apparent and accordingly declared him governor to the prince. In the spring of 1639, the first troubles in Scotland broke out, which induced the king to assemble an army in the north; soon after which, he went down thither to put himself at the head of it; and in his way, was most splendidly entertained by the earl of Newcastle, at his noble seat at Welbeck, as he had been some years before when he went into that kingdom to be crowned; which though in itself a very trivial matter, yet such was the magnificence of this noble peer, that from the circumstances attending them, both these entertainments have found a place in general histories. But this was not the only manner in which he expressed his warm affection for his master. Such expeditions require great expences, and the king’s treasury was but indifferently provided, for the supply of which, the earl contributed ten thousand pounds, and also raised a troop of horse, consisting of about two hundred knights and gentlemen, who served at their own charge; and this was honoured with the title of the Prince’s troop. These services, however, rather heightened than lessened that envy borne to him by some great persons about the court, and the choice that had been made of his lordship for the tuition of the prince, which was at first so universally approved, began now to be called in question by those who meant very soon to call every thing in question. On this the earl desired to resign his office, which he did; and in June 1640, it was given to the marquis of Hertford. As his lordship took this step from the knowledge he had of the ill-will borne him by the chief persons amongst the disaffected, so he thought he could not take a better method to avoid the effects of their resentment, than to retire into the country; which accordingly. he did, and remained there quietly till he received his majesty’s orders to visit Hull; and though these came at twelve o'clock at night, his lordship went immediately thither, though forty miles distant, and entered the place with only two or three servants, early the next morning. He cffered his majesty to have secured for him that important fortress, and all the magazines that were there: but instead of receiving such a command as he expected, his majesty sent him instructions to obey whatever directions were sent him by the parliament; upon the heels of which, came their order for him to attend the service of the house; which he accordingly did, when a design was formed to have attacked him, but his general character was so good, that this scheme did not succeed. He now again retired into the country, but soon after, upon the king’s coming to York, his lordship was sent for thither; and in June 1642, his majesty gave him directions to take upon him the care of the town of Newcastle, and the command of the four adjacent counties of Northumberland, Cumberland, Westmoreland, and Durham. These orders were easily issued, but they were not so easily to be carried into execution; for at this time, the king had not either money, forces, or ammunition; and yet there never was more apparent necessity, for at that juncture his majesty had not a single port open in his dominions; and if either the order had been delayed a few days, or had been^ sent to any other person, the design had certainly miscarried. But, as soon as he received his majesty’s commands, he repaired immediately to the place, and by his own interest there secured it: he raised also a troop of one hundred and twenty horse, and a good regiment; of foot, which secured him from any sudden attempts. Soon after, the queen, who was retired out of the kingdom, sent a supply of arms and ammunition, which being designed for the troops under the king’s command, the earl took care they should be speedily and safely conducted to his majesty under the escdVt of his only troop, which his majesty kept, to the great prejudice of his own affairs in the nor x th. The parliament, in the mean time, had not forgotten the earl’s behaviour towards them, but as a mark of their resentment excepted him by name; which was so far from discouraging, that it put his lordship upon a more decided part: and having well considered his own influence in those parts, he offered to raise an army in the north for his majesty’s service. On this the king gave him a commission, constituting him general of all the forces raised north of Trent; and likewise general and commander in chief of such as might be raised in the counties of Lincoln, Nottingham, Lancaster, Chester, Leicester, Rutland, Cambridge, Huntingdon, Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex; with power to confer the honour of knighthood, coin money, and to print and set forth such declarations as should seem, to him expedient; of all which extensive powers, though freely conferred, and without reserve, his lordship made a very sparing use. But with respect to the more material point of raising men, his lordship prosecuted it with such diligence, that in less than three months he had an army of eight thousand horse, foot, and dragoons, with which be marched directly into Yorkshire; and his forces having defeated the enemy at Fierce-bridge, his lordship advanced to York, where sir Thomas Glen ham, the governor, presented him with the keys, and the earl of Cumberland and many of the nobility resorted thither to compliment and to assist his lordship. He did not long remain there; but, having placed a good garrison in the city, marched on towards Tadcaster, where the parliament forces were very advantageously posted. The design which the earl had formed, not only for reducing that 'place, hut for making the troops that were there prisoners, tailed, through the want of diligence in some of his officers; hut notwithstanding this, his lordship attacked the place so vigorously, that the enemy thought fit to retire, and leave him in possession of the hest part of Yorkshire. This advantage he improved to the utmost, hy estahiishing garrisons in proper places, particularly at Newark upon Trent, by which the greatest part of Nottinghamshire, and some part of Lincolnshire, were kept in obedience. In the beginning of 1643, his lordship gave orders for a great convoy of ammunition to be removed from Newcastle to York, under the escort of a body of horse, commanded by lieutenantgeneral King, a Scotch officer, whom his majesty had lately created lord Ethyn. The parliament forces attempted to intercept this convoy at Y arum-bridge, but were beaten on the 1st of February with a great loss. Soon after this, her majesty landing at Burlington, the earl drew his forces that way to cover her journey to York, where she safely arrived on the 7th of March, and having pressing occasions for money, his lordship presented her with three thousand pounds, and furnished an escort of fifteen hundred men, under the command of lord Percy, to conduct a supply of arms and ammunition to the king at Oxford, where he kept them for his own service. Not long after, sir Hugh Cholmondley and captain Brown Bushel were prevailed upon to return to their duty, and give up the important port and castle of Scarborough. This was followed by the routing Ferdinando lord Fairfax on Seacroft, or as some call it Bramham-moor, by lord George Goring, then general of the horse under the earl, when about eight hundred of the enemy were taken prisoners; and this again made way for another victory gained on Tankersly-moor. In the month of April, the earl marched to reduce Rotherham, which he took by storm, and soon after Sheffield; but in the mean time, lord Goring and sir Francis Mackworth were surprised, on the 2 1st of May, at Wakefield, where the former and most of his men were made prisoners, which was a great prejudice to the service. In the same month her majesty went from York to Pomfret under the escort of the earPs forces; and from thence she continued Jier journey tp Oxford, with a body of seven thousand horse, foot, and dragoons, detached for that service by the earl; and those forces, likewise, the king kept about him. In the month of June the earl reduced Howly-house by storm; and on the 30th gained a complete victory over Ferdinando lord Fairfax, though much superior to him in numbers, on Adderton- heath, near Bradford, where the enemy had seven hundred men killed, and three thousand taken prisoners; and on the 2d of July following Bradford surrendered. The earl advanced next into Lincolnshire, where he took Gainsborough and Lincoln; but was then recalled by the pressing solicitations of the gentlemen of Yorkshire into that country, wherq Beverley surrendered to him on the 28th of August, and in the next month, his lordship was prevailed on to besiege Hull, the only place of consequence then held for the parliament in those parts. Notwithstanding these important successes obtained by an army raised, and in a great measure kept up by his lordship’s personal influence and expence, there have not been wanting censures upon his conduct; of which, however, his majesty had so just a sense, that by letters-patent dated the 27th of October, he advanced him to the dignity of marquis of Newcastle; and in the preamble of his patent all his services are mentioned with suitable encomiums. That winter the earl marched into Derbyshire, and from thence to his own house at Welbeck in Nottinghamshire, where he received the news of the Scots intending to enter England, which brought him back into Yorkshire, from whence he sent sir Thomas Glenham to Newcastle, and himself for some time successfully opposed the Scots in the bishopric of Durham: but, the forces he left behind under the command of lord Bellasis at Selby being routed, the marquis found himself obliged to retire, in order, if possible, to preserve York; and this he did with so much military prudence, that he arrived there safely in the month of April 1644, and retaining his infantry and artillery in that city, sent his horse to quarter in Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, and Leicestershire, for the sake of subsistence. The city was very soon blocked up by three armies, who quickly commenced a regular siege, and were once very near taking the place by storm; and at last, having lain before it three months, brought the garrison into great distress for want of provision; and if the marquis had not very early had recourse to a short allowance, had infallibly reduced it by famine. For though sir Charles Lucas, who commanded the marquis’s horse, importuned the king for relief, yet it was the latter end of June before his majesty could send a sufficient body, under the command of prince Rupert, to join sir Charles Lucas, and attempt the forcing the enemy to raise the siege; which, however, upon their approach, they did, remaining on the west side of the Owse with all their forces, while the king’s army advanced on the east side of the same river. By this quick and vigorous march, prince Rupert had done his business; but, as is very well observed by a most judicious historian of these times, he would needs overdo it; and not content with the honour of raising the siege of York by a confederate army much superior to his own, he was bent upon having the honour to beat that army also; and this brought on the fatal battle of Hessom, or, as it is more generally called, Marston-moor, which was fought July 2, 1644, against the consent of the marquis of Newcastle, who, seeing the king’s affairs totally undone thereby, made the best of his way to Scarborough, and from thence, with a few of the principal officers of his army, took shipping for Hamburgh. After staying about six months at Hamburgh, he went by sea to Amsterdam, and from thence made a journey to Paris, where he continued for some time; and where, notwithstanuing the vast estate he had when the civil war broke out, his circumstances were now so bad, that himself and his young wife were reduced to the pawning their cloaths for a dinner. He removed afterwards to Antwerp, that he might be nearer his own country; and there, though under very great difficulties, he resided for several years; while the parliament in the mean time levied prodigious sums upon his estate, insomuch that the computation of what he lost by the disorders of those times, though none of the particulars "can be disproved, amount in the whole to a sum that is almost incredible. It has been computed at 733,579l. All these hardships and misfortunes never broke his spirit in the least, which his biographer somewhat fondly says was chiefly owing to his great foresight; for as he plainly perceived after the battle of Marston-moor, that the affairs of Charles I. were irrecoverably undone, so he discerned through the thickest clouds of Charles lid’s adversity, that he would be infallibly restored: and as he had predicted Hie civil war to the father before it began, so he gave the strongest assurance to the son of his being called home, by addressing to him a treatise upon Government and the Interests of Great Britain with respect to the other powers of Europe; which he wrote at a time when the hopes of those about his majesty scarcely rose so high as the marquis’s expectations. During this long exile of eighteen years, in which he suffered so many and so oreat hardships, this worthy nobleman wanted not some consolations that were particularly such to one of his high and generous spirit. He was, notwithstanding his low and distressed circumstances, treated with the highest respect, and with the most extraordinary marks of distinction, by the persons entrusted with the government of the countries where he resided. He received the high compliment of having the keys of the cities he passed through in the Spanish dominions offered him: he was visited by don John of Austria, and by several princes of Germany. But what comforted him most was the company very frequently of his royal master, who, in the midst of his sufferings, bestowed upon him the most noble order of the garter. On his return to England at the restoration, he was received with all the respect due to his unshaken fidelity and important services was constituted chief justice in Eyre of the counties north of Trent, and, by letters- patent dated the 16th of March 1664, was advanced to the dignity of earl of Ogle, and duke of Newcastle. He spent the remainder of his life, for the most part, in a country retirement, and in reading and writing, in which he took singular pleasure. He also employed a great part of his time in repairing the injuries which his fortune had received, and at length departed this life December 25, 1676, in the eighty-fourth year of his age. His grace was twice married, but had issue only by his first lady. His body lies interred, with that of his duchess, under a most noble monument at the entrance into Westminster-abbey, with an inscription suitable to his merits. His titles descended to his son Henry, earl of Ogle, who was the last heir male of this family, and died July 26, 1691, in whom the title of Newcastle, in the line of Cavendish, became extinguished, but his daughters married into some of the noblest families of this kingdom.
, a peer of France, but more remarkable as an astronomer and mathematician,
, a peer of France, but more remarkable as an astronomer and mathematician, was born at Paris Dec. 30, 1714. He soon discovered a singular taste and genius for the sciences; and in the tumults of armies and camps, he cultivated mathematics, astronomy, mechanics, &c. He was named honorary academician the 27th of February 1743, and few members were more punctual in attending the meetings of that body, where he often brought different constructions and corrections of instruments of astronomy, of dioptrics, and achromatic telescopes. These researches were followed with a new parallactic machine, more solid and convenient than those that were in use; as also with many reflections on the manner of applying the micrometer to those telescopes, and of measuring exactly the value of the parts of that instrument. The duke of Chaulnes proposed many other works of the same kind, which were interrupted by his death Sept. 23, 1769.
t event. On his return, he assisted at the coronation in April 1685; and May following was created a peer of England, by the title of baroti Churchill of Sandridge in
The laurels he brought from France could not fail to gain him preferment at home; accordingly the king made him a lieutenant-colonel, and the duke made him gentleman of his bed-chamber, and soon after master of the robes. The second Dutch war being over, colonel Churchill was again obliged to pass his days at court, where he behaved with great prudence and circumspection in the troublesome times that ensued. In 1679, when the duke of York was constrained to go to the Netherlands, colonel Churchill attended him; as he did through all his peregrinations, till he was suffered to reside again in London. While he waited upon the duke in Scotland, he had a regiment of dragoons given him; and thinking it now time to take a consort, he made his addresses to Sarah Jennings, who waited on the lady Anne, afterwards queen of Great Britain. This young lady, then about twenty-one years of age, and universally admired both for her person and wit, he married in 1681, and by this match strengthened the interest he had already at court. In 1682 the duke of York returned to London; and, having obtained leave to quit Scotland, resolved to bring his family from thence by sea. For this purpose he embarked in May, but unluckily ran upon the Lemon Oar, a dangerous sand, that lies about 16 leagues from the mouth of the Humber, where his ship was lost, with some men of quality, and upwards of 120 persons on board. He was particularly careful of colonel Churchill’s safety, and took him into the boat in which himself escaped. The first use made by his royal highness of his interest, after he returned to court, was to obtain a title for his favourite; who, by letters patent, bearing date Dec. 1, 1682, was created baron of Eymouth in Scotland, and also appointed colonel of the 3d troop of guards. He was continued in all his posts upon the accession of James II. who sent him also his ambassador to France to notify that event. On his return, he assisted at the coronation in April 1685; and May following was created a peer of England, by the title of baroti Churchill of Sandridge in the county of Hertford.
on a friend to the church and clergy: and thus, when he had lost his public employments, and a great peer was inclined to question the rights of the church of Norwich,
Sir Edward Coke was in his person well-proportioned,
and his features regular. He was neat, but not nice, in
his dress: and is reported to have said, “that the cleanness of a man’s clothes ought to put him in mind of keeping all clean within.
” He had great quickness of parts,
deep penetration, a faithful memory, and a solid
judgment. He was wont to say, that “matter lay in a little
room;
” and in his pleadings he was concise, though in
set speeches and in his writings too diffuse. He was certainly a great master of his profession, as even his enemies
allow; had studied it regularly, and was perfectly acquainted with every thing relating to it. Hence he gained
so high an esteem in Westminster-hall, and came to enjoy
so large a share in the favour of the great lord Burleigh.
He valued himself, and indeed not without reason, upon
this, that he obtained all his preferments without employing either prayers or pence; and that he became the
queen’s solicitor, speaker of the house of commons, attorney-general, chief justice of both benches, high-steward of Cambridge, and a member of the privy-council,
without either begging or bribing. As he derived his fortune, his credit, and his greatness, from the law, so he
loved it to a degree of intemperance. He committed
every thing to writing with an industry beyond example,
and, as we shall relate just now, published a great deal.
He met with many changes of fortune; was sometimes in
power, and sometimes in disgrace. He was, however, so
excellent at making the best of a disgrace, that king James
used to compare him to a cat, who always fell upon her
legs. He was upon occasion a friend to the church and
clergy: and thus, when he had lost his public employments, and a great peer was inclined to question the rights
of the church of Norwich, he hindered it, by telling him
plainly, that “if he proceeded, he would put on his cap
and gown again, and follow the cause through Westminster-hall.
” He had many benefices in his own patronage,
which he is said to have given freely to men of merit;
declaring in his law language, that he would have law
livings pass by livery and seisin, and not by bargain and
sale.
tion of that, and his general merit and services, he was advanced, Nov^ 9, 1706, to the dignity of a peer, by the style and title of lord Cowper, baron Cowper of Wingham
1619, 4to. Fuller’s Abel Redivivus. Clarke’s Ecclesiastical History, p. 445.
Hayley’s life of Cowper, To!. I. p. '2. 8vo edit. Mr. Hayley thinks it not
improbable that he may have been an ancestor of the poet.
waited upon the queen at St. James’s with the articles
agreed upon between the commissioners, as the terms upon
which the union was to take place, and made a speech to
her majesty on the occasion. The articles of union, agreed
upon by the commissioners, with some few alterations,
were afterwards ratified by the parliaments both of England and Scotland. The lord-keeper had a very considera^le hand in this measure, and in consideration of that,
and his general merit and services, he was advanced, Nov^
9, 1706, to the dignity of a peer, by the style and title of
lord Cowper, baron Cowper of Wingham in Kent; and
on May 4, 1707, her majesty in council declared him lord
high chancellor of Great Britain. In 1709, in consequence
of the intrigues of Harley and Mrs. Masham, the earl of
Sunderland, son-in-law to the duke of Marlborough, was
removed from the office of secretary of state; and it being
apprehended that this event would give disgust to that
great general, and perhaps induce him to quit the command of the army, a joint letter was sent to his grace by
lord Cowper, the dukes of Newcastle and Devonshire, and
other noblemen, in which they conjured him in the strongest terms, not to quit his command. But soon after, on
the 8th of August, 1710, the earl of Godolphin being removed from the post of lord-treasurer, the other whig ministers resigned with spirit and dignity. Lord Cowper, in
particular, behaved with unexampled firmness and honour,
rejecting with scorn the overtures which Harley, the new
favourite, made to induce him to continue. When he
waited on the queen to resign, she strongly opposed his
resolution, and returned the seals three times after he
had laid them down. At last, when she could not prevail,
she commanded him to take them ' adding, “I beg it as a
favour of you, if I may use that expression.
” Cowper
could not refuse to obey her commands: but, after a short
pause, and taking up the seals, he said that he would not
carry them out of the palace except on the promise, that
the surrender of them would be accepted on the morrow:
and on the following day his resignation was accepted.
This singular contest between her majesty and him lasted
three quarters of an hour.
stence, which drove him first out of the church of England, and then into a monastery. As this noble peer knew him well at Oxford, it may be very easily imagined that
After the restoration, and the marriage of king Charles II.
queen Catharine appointed our author, who was then become one of the mission in England, her chaplain, and
from that time he resided in Somerset-house, in the Strand.
The great regularity of his life, his sincere and unaffected
piety, his modest and mild behaviour, his respectful deportment to persons of distinction, with whom he was formerly acquainted when a protestant, and the care he took
to avoid all concern in political affairs or intrigues of state,
preserved him in quiet and safety, even in the most troublesome times- He was, however, a very zealous champion in the cause of the church of Rome, and was continually writing in defence of her doctrines, or in answer
to the books of controversy written by protestants of distinguished learning or figure; and as this engaged him in
a variety of disputes, he had the good fortune to acquire
great reputation with both parties, the papists looking
upon him to be one of their ablest advocates, and the protestants allowing that he was a grave, a sensible, and a
candid writer. Among the works he published after his
return to England, were: 1. “A non est inventus returned to Mr. Edward Bagshaw’s enquiry and vainly boasted
discovery of weakness in the Grounds of the Church’s Infallibility,
” A Letter to an English gentleman, dated July 6th, 1662, wherein bishop Morley is
concerned, printed amongst some of the treatises of that
reverend prelate,
” 3. “Roman Catholic Doctrines no Novelties; or, an answer to Dr. Pierce’s court-sermon, miscalled The primitive rule of Reformation,
” The Church History of
Britanny,
” Roan, upon account of some nice controversies between the
see of Rome, and some of our English kings, which might
give offence.
” While engaged on this work, he found leisure to interfere in all the controversies of the times, as
will presently be noticed. His last dispute was in reference
to a book written by the learned Dr. Stillingfleet, afterwards bishop of Worcester, to which, though several answers were given by the ablest of the popish writers, there
was none that seemed to merit reply, excepting that
penned by father Cressey, and this procured him the honour of a very illustrious antagonist, his old friend and
acquaintance at Oxford, Edward earl of Clarendon. Being
now grown far in years, and having no very promising scene
before his eyes, from the warm spirit that appeared against
popery amongst all ranks of people, and the many excellent books written to confute it by the most learned of the
clergy, he was the more willing to seek for peace in the
silence of a country retirement; and accordingly withdrew
for some time to the house of Richard Caryll, esq. a gentleman of an ancient family and affluent fortune, at East
Grinstead, co. Sussex, and dying upon the 10th of August 1674, being then near the seventieth year of his age,
was buried in the parish church there. His loss was much
regretted by those of his communion, as being one of their
ablest champions, ready to draw his pen in their defence
on every occasion, and sure of having his pieces read with
singular favour and attention. His memory also was revered by the protestants, as well on account of the purity
of his manners, and his mild and humble deportment, as
for the plainness, candour, and decency with which he
had managed all the controversies that he had been engaged in, and which had procured him, in return, much
more of kindness and respect, than almost any other of
his party had met with, or indeed deserved. It is very remarkable, however, that he thought it necessary to apologize to his popish readers for the respectful mention he
made of the prelates of our church. Why this should require an apology, we shall not Inquire, but that his candour and politeness deserve the highest commendation will
appear from what he says of archbishop Usher: “As for
B. Usher, his admirable abilities in ‘chronological and historical erudition,’ as also his faithfulness and ingenuous
sincerity in delivering without any provoking reflection*,
what with great labour he has observed, ought certainly at
least to exempt him from being treated by any one rudely
and contemptuously, especially by me, who am moreover
always obliged to preserve a just remembrance of very
many kind effects of friendship, which I received from,
him.
”
We have already taken notice of his inclination to the
mystic divinity, which led him to take so much pains about
the works of father Baker, and from the same disposition
he also published “Sixteen revelations of divine love,
shewed to a devout servant of our Lord, called mother Juliana, an anchorete of Norwich, who lived in the days of
king Edward Hi.
” He left also in ms. “An Abridgment
of the book called The cloud of unknowing, and of the
counsel referring to the same.
” His next performance,
was in answer to a famous treatise, written by Dr. Stillingfleet, against the church of Rome, which made a very
great noise in those days, and put for some time a stop to
the encroachments their missionaries were daily making,
which highly provoked those of the Roman communion.
This was entitled “Answer to part of Dr. Stillingfleet’s
book, entitled Idolatry practised in the church of Rome,
”
Fanaticism fanatically
imputed to the Catholic Church by Dr. Stillingfleet, and
the imputation refuted and retorted,
” &c. Question, Why are you a Catholic? Question, Why
are you a Protestant?
” Animadversions
” upon our author’s answer; in which he very plainly
tells him and the world, that it was not devotion, but necessity and want of a subsistence, which drove him first
out of the church of England, and then into a monastery.
As this noble peer knew him well at Oxford, it may be
very easily imagined that what he said made a very strong
impression, and it was to efface this, that our author thought
tit to send abroad an answer under the title of “Epistle
apologetical to a person of honour, touching his vindication of Dr. Stillingfleet,' 1 1674, 8vo. In this work he
gives a large relation of the state and condition of his affairs, at the time of what he styles his conversion, in order
to remove the imputation of quitting his faith to obtain
bread. The last work that he published was entitled
” Remarks upon the Oath of Supremacy."
charge against him in the house of lords; and Cromwell, in return, brought another against the noble peer in the house of commons. It is true, that neither of these charges
The wisest men and the best patriots saw very clearly
whither these excessive praises tended. That the nation
might be made as fully convinced of it, the earl of Manchester exhibited a charge against him in the house of
lords; and Cromwell, in return, brought another against
the noble peer in the house of commons. It is true, that
neither of these charges was prosecuted; but it is equally
true, that Cromwell and his friends absolutely carried their
point, by bringing in what was called the self-denying ordinance, which excluded the members of either house
from having any commands in the army; from which,
however, on account of his extraordinary merit, which
set him above all ordinances, Cromwell was at first occasionally, and at length altogether exempted. From being
lieutenant-general of the horse, he became lieutenant-general of the army; and he procured an address from his
regiment, declaring their satisfaction with the change. He
continued to distinguish himself by his military successes,
and to receive the thanks of both houses for the services
he did. He shone particularly at the battle of Naseby,
June 14, 1646, and had also his share in reducing the
west; till, upon the surrender of Exeter, April 13, 1645,
he found leisure to return to London. Upon taking his
seat in the house, thanks were returned him, in terms as
strong as words could express; and the prevailing party
there received from him such encouragement, as induced
them to believe he was wholly at their devotion. But in
this they were mistaken; for while they thought the lieutenant-general employed in their business, he was in
reality only attentive to his own. Thus, when the parliament inclined to disband a part of their forces, after the
king had delivered himself to the Scots and the Scots
had agreed to deliver him to the parliament, Cromwell opposed it vigorously, if not openly. For, in the first
place, he insinuated by his emissaries to the soldiers, that
this was not only the highest piece of ingratitude towards
those who had fought the parliament into a power of disbanding them, but also a crying act of injustice, as it was
done with no other view than to cheat them of their arrears. Secondly, he procured an exemption for sir Thomas Fairfax’s army, or, in other words, for his own, the
general only having that title and appointments, while
Cromwell had the power; and the weight of the reduction
fell upon Massey’s brigade in the west, together with the
troops which colonel Poyntz commanded in Yorkshire;
men of whom he had good reason to doubt, but upon whom
the parliament might have depended. Thus he dextrously
turned to his own advantage the means which, in truth,
were contrived for his destruction.
Nov. 12, 1646, the army marched triumphantly through
London; and in February following, the Scots having received the money agreed on, delivered up the king, who
was carried prisoner to Holmby. At this time Cromwell
had a most difficult part to play. What wore the legal
appearance of power was evidently in the hands of the parliament, in which the presbyterian party was still prevalent;
and as the general sir Thomas Fairfax was likewise in that
interest, the real power seemed also to be on their side.
At bottom, however, the army, now taught to know their
own strength, were in reality the masters; and they were
entirely directed by Cromwell, though they knew it not
themselves. He saw the necessity of having a strong place,
and getting the king’s person into their power and he
contrived to do both, without seeming to have a hand in
either. Oxford was at that time in a good condition, and
well supplied with artillery, upon which the army seized
it, with the magazines, and every thing else; and Cromwell, then at London, prevailed upon cornet Joyce to
seize the king’s person with a strong detachment of horse,
not only without the general’s orders, but without any
orders at all, except those verbal instructions from Cromwell. This was executed June 4, 1G47, notwithstanding
the parliament’s commissioners were then with the king;
who was conducted from Holmby to Childersly, in Cambridgeshire, then the army’s head quarters. Here, through
the management chiefly of Cromwell and his son-in-law commissary Ireton, the king was treated, not only with reverence,
but with kindness; and when sir Thomas Fairfax, who
knew nothing of the taking of the king away, and disliked
it, would have sent him back asrain with the commissioners,
under the guard of two regiments of horse, the king absolutely refused to move. Nay, to such a degree was that
monarch convinced of the sincerity of his new friends, that
he had the indiscretion to tell sir Thomas Fairfax, when
he made him a tender of his duty and respect, with promises of fair treatment, that “he thought he had as good
an interest in the army as himself.
”
was, on account of his family’s deserts and sufferings, advanced, July 21, 1603, to the dignity of a peer of this realm, by the title of Baron of Dantesey: and in J 605,
, a brave warrior in the end of the sixteenth and beginning of the seventeenth century, and created earl of Dariby by king Charles I. was the second son of sir John Danvers, knight, by Elizabeth his wife, daughter and coheir to John Nevil the last lord Latimer. He was born at Dantesey in Wiltshire, on the 28th of June, 1573. After an education suitable to his birth, he went and served in the Low Country wars, under Maurice count of Nassau, afterwards prince of Orange; and was engaged in many military actions of those times, both by sea and land. He was made a captain in the wars of France, occasioned in that kingdom by the League; and there knighted for his good service under Henry IV. king of France. He was next employed in Ireland, as lieutenantgeneral of the horse, and serjeant-major of the whole army, under Robert earl of Essex, and Charles Baron of Montjoy, in the reign of queen Elizabeth. Upon the accession of king James I. he was, on account of his family’s deserts and sufferings, advanced, July 21, 1603, to the dignity of a peer of this realm, by the title of Baron of Dantesey: and in J 605, by a special act of parliament, restored in blood as heir to his father, notwithstanding the attainder of his elder brother, sir Charles Danvers, knight. He was also appointed lord president of Munster in Ireland; and in 1620 made governor of the Isle of Guernsey for life. By king Charles I. he was created earl of Danby, February 5, 1625-6; and made of his privy council; and knight of the order of the garter. Being himself a man of learning, as well as a great encourager of it, and observing that opportunities were wanting in the university of Oxford for the useful study of botany, he purchased for the sum of two hundred and fifty pounds, five acres of ground, opposite Magdalen college, which had formerly served for a burying-place to the Jews (residing in great numbers at Oxford, till they were expelled England by king Edward I. in 1290), and conveyed his right and title to that piece of land to the university, on the 27th of March, 1622. The ground being first considerably raised, to prevent its being overflowed by the river Cherwell, the heads of the university laid the first stones of the walls, on the 25th of July following. They were finished in 1633, being fourteen feet high: and cost the noble benefactor about five thousand pounds. The entrance into the garden is on the north side under a stately gate, the charge of building which amounted to between rive and fix hundred pounds. Upon the front of that gateway, is this Latin inscription: Gloriie Dji Opt. Max. Honori Caroli Regis, in usum Acad. et Keipub. Henricus Comes Danby, D.D. MDCXXXII. For the maintenance of it, and of a gardener, the noble founder left, by will, the impropriate rectory of Kirkdale in Yorkshire: which was afterwards settled for the same purpose, by his brother and heir sir John Danvers, knt. The earl of Danby’s will bore date the 14th of December, 1640.
cumstances) at his own expence: for charity indeed was his predominant quality. Both as a bishop and peer of the realm, he considered himself as responsible for the souls
So strict an observer was he of his word, that no consideration whatever could make him break it; and so inviolable in his friendship, that without the discovery of
some essential fault indeed, he never departed from it.
A great point of conscience it was with him, that his
promises should not create fruitless expectances; but
when, upon proper considerations, he was induced to do
it, he always thought himself bound to employ his utmost
interest to have the thing effected; and till a convenient
opportunity should present itself, was not unmindful to
support the petitioner (if in mean circumstances) at his
own expence: for charity indeed was his predominant
quality. Both as a bishop and peer of the realm, he considered himself as responsible for the souls committed to
his charge in one respect, and as intrusted with the lives
and fortunes of his fellow subjects, in the other. If in
some parliamentary debates (in which he made a very considerable figure), he happened to dissent from other great
men, who might have the same common good in view, but
seemed to pursue it in a method incongruous to his sentiments, this ought to be accounted his honour, and a proof
of his integrity, but cannot, with any colour of justice, be
deemed party prejudice, or a spirit of contradiction in
him; because those very men, whom he sometimes opposed, at other times he joined himself to, whenever he
perceived them in the right. He associated himself with
no party, it being his opinion, that whoever enters the
senate house, should always carry his conscience along
with him; that the honour of God, the renown of his
prince, and the good of his fellow subjects, should be, as
it were, the polar-star to guide him; that no multitude,
though never so numerous; no faction, though never so
powerful; no arguments, though never so specious; no
threats, though never so frightful; no offers, though never
so advantageous and alluring; should blind his eyes, or
pervert him to give any the least vote, not directly answerable to the sentiments of his own breast.
After his death appeared “The whole Works of sir William Dawes, bart.
” &c. 3 vols. 8vo, with a preface and
life, 1733, including those published by himself, viz.
d court left the metropolis, lord Essex pleaded in excuse his obligation to attend in his place as a peer of the realm, and was accordingly deprived of all his employments;
, son to the former, and third earl of Essex, was born in 1592, at Essex-house, in the Strand; and at the time of his father’s unhappy death, was under the care of his grandmother, by whom he was sent to Eton school, where he was first educated. In the month of January 1602, he was entered a gentleman-commoner of Merton- college, Oxford, where he had an apartment in the warden’s lodgings, then Mr. Savile, afterwards the celebrated sir Henry Savile, his father’s dear friend, and who, for his sake, was exceedingly careful in seeing that he was learnedly and religiously educated. The year following, he was restored to his hereditary honours; and in 1605, when king James visited the university of Oxford, our young earl of Essex was created M. A. on the 30th of August, for the first tirne, which very probably he had forgotten, or he would not have received the same honour above thirty years afterwards. He was already in possession of his father’s high spirit, of which he gave a sufficient indication in a quarrel which he had with prince Henry. Some dispute arose between them at a game at tennis; the prince called his companion the son of a traitor; who retaliated by giving him a severe blow with his racket; and the king was obliged to interfere to restore peace. At the age of fourteen, he was betrothed to lady Frances Howard, who was still younger than himself; but he immediately set out on his travels, and during his absence the affections of his young wife were estranged from him, and fixed upon the king’s favourite, Carr, afterwards earl of Somerset. The consequence was a suit instituted against the husband for impotency, in which, to the disgrace of the age, the king interfered, and which ended in a divorce. The earl of Essex, feeling himself disgraced by the sentence, retired to his country seat, and spent some years in rural sports and amusements. In 120, being wearied of a state of inaction, he joined the earl of Oxford in a military expedition to the Palatinate, where they served with companies of their own raising, under sir Horatio Vere, and in the following year they served in Holland, under prince Maurice, In the course of the winter they returned to England, and lord Essex appeared in the ranks of the opposition in parliament. On this account he was not favourably received at court, which was the mean of attaching him the more closely to foreign service. He commanded a regiment raised in England for the United States in 1624, and though nothing very important was atchieved by the English auxiliaries, yet he acquired experience, and distinguished himself among the nobility of the time. On the accession of Charles I. he was employed as vice-admiral in an expedition against Spain, which proved unsuccessful. In 1626, he made another campaign in the Low Countries, and shortly after he formed another unhappy match, by marrying the daughter of sir William Paulet, from whom, owing to her misconduct, he was divorced within two years. He now resolved to give himself up entirely to public life; he courted popularity, and made friends among the officers of the army and the puritan ministers. He was, however, employed by the king in various important services; but when the king and court left the metropolis, lord Essex pleaded in excuse his obligation to attend in his place as a peer of the realm, and was accordingly deprived of all his employments; a step which alone seemed wanting to fix him in opposition to the king; and in July 1642 he accepted the post of general of the parliamentary army. He opposed the king in person at Edge-hill, where the victory was so indecisive, that each party claimed it as his own. After this he was successful in some few instances, but in other important trusts he did little to recommend him to the persons in whose interests he was employed. He was, however, treated with external respect, until the self-denying ordinance threw him entirely out of the command: he resigned his commission, but not without visible marks of discontent. Unwilling to lose him altogether, the parliament voted that he should be raised to a dukedom, and be allowed 10,000l. per annum, to support his new dignity; but these were vented by a sudden death, which, as in the case of his grandfather, was by some attributed to unfair means. He died September 14, 1646. Parliament directed a public funeral for him, which was performed with great solemnity in the following month, at Westminster abbey. In his conduct, the particulars of which may be seen in the history of the times, a want of steadiness is to be discovered, which candour would refer to the extraordinary circumstances in which public men were then placed. Personal affronts at court, whether provoked or not, led him to go a certain length with those who, he did not perceive, wanted to go much farther, and although he appeared in arms against his sovereign, no party was pleased with his efforts to preserve a balance; yet, with all his er/ors, Hume and other historians, not friendly to the republican cause, have considered his death as a public misfortune. Hume says, that fully sensible of the excesses to which affairs had been carried, and of the worse consequences which were still to be apprehended, he had resolved to conciliate a peace, and to remedy as far as possible all those ills to which, from mistake rather than any bad intention, he had himself so much contributed. The presbyterian, or the moderate party among the commons, found themselves considerably weakened by his death; and the small remains of authority which still adhered to the house of peers, were in a manner wholly extinguished.
fer any just claims on their own private generosity. On one occasion, when applied to by a very rich peer in behalf of two of his cousins, he replied, “that he was sorry
In 1753 when a severe attack was made on the political
character of his two intimate friends Mr. Stone and Mr.
Murray, afterwards the great earl of Mansfield, the bishop
vindicated his old school-fellows before a committee of the
privy council, directed to inquire into the charge, with
that persuasive energy of truth, which made the king exclaim on reading the examination, “That is indeed a man
to make a friend of.
” In May that
he was sorry to say that the very reason which would induce himself to assist them, prevented his considering them
as objects of his majesty’s charity their near relationship
to his lordship.
” His conduct in the metropolitan see of
York is described with great spirit and truth by Mr. llastal,
the topographer of Southwell, who styles him “peculiarly
virtuous as a statesman, attentive to his duties as a churchman, magnificent as an archbishop, and amiable as a man.
”
This character appears to be confirmed by all who knew
him. As a statesman he acted upon manly and independent principles, retiring from parliament in 1762, when
new men and measures were promoted, averse, in his opinion, to that system of government under which the country
had so long flourished. When, however, any question was
introduced, in which the interference of a churchman was
proper, he was sedulous in his attendance, and prompt in
delivering his sentiments. His munificence in his see deserves to be recorded. When he was translated to York,
he found the archiepiscopal palace, small, mean, and incommodious; and the parish church in a state of absolute
decay. To the former he made many splendid additions,
particularly in the private chapel. The latter he rebuilt
from its foundation, with the assistance of a small contribution from the clergyman of the parish, and two or three
neighbouring gentlemen. He died at his palace at Bishopsthorpe, Dec. 10, 1776, in the 66th year of his age, and
was buried by his own desire, in a very private manner,
under the altar of the church. Although his literary attainments were very considerable, he published only six
occasional sermons, which were much admired, and of
which his son, rev. George Hay Drummond, M. A. prebendary of York, published a correct edition in 1803: to
this edition are prefixed “Memoirs of the Archbishop’s
Life,
” and it also contains “A Letter on Theological
Study,
” addressed to the son of an intimate friend, then a
candidate for holy orders, which evinces an intimate acquaintance with many of the best writers on theological
subjects. His own principles appear to have been rather
more remote from those contained in the articles and homilies than could have been wished, because they are
thereby not so consistent with some of the writers whom
he recommends; and he speaks with unusual freedom of
certain doctrines which have been held sacred by some of
the wisest and best divines of the established church. Of
the “Memoirs
” prefixed to this new edition of his Sermons, we have availed ourselves in this brief record of a
prelate whose memory certainly deserves to be rescued
from oblivion. His Sermons are composed in an elegant
and classical style, and contain many admirable passages,
and much excellent advice on points of moral and religious
practice.
e, of Devonshire, who died in 1769, leaving his lordship a son, Francis Augustus Eliott, the present peer. He closed a life of military renown at the most critical season
On his return to England, the gratitude of the British senate was as forward as the public voice in giving him that distinguished mark his merit deserved, to which his majesty was pleased to add that of knight of the bath and an elevation to the peerage, by the title of lord Heathfield, baron Gibraltar, on June 14, 1787, and permitting his lordship to take also the arms of the fortress he had so bravely defended, to perpetuate to futurity his noble conduct. He married Anne, daughter of sir Francis Drake, of Devonshire, who died in 1769, leaving his lordship a son, Francis Augustus Eliott, the present peer. He closed a life of military renown at the most critical season for his memory. He had acquired the brightest honours of a soldier, the love and reverence of his country; and he fell in an excursion beyond his strength, from an anxiety to close his life on the rock where he had acquired his fame. He died in the seventy-third year of his age, July 6, 1790, at his chateau at Aix-la-Chapelle, of a second stroke of the palsy, after having enjoyed for some weeks before a tolerable share of good health, and an unusual flow of spirits. Two days before his death, he dined with a friend with whom he was soon after to have travelled to Leghorn in his way to Gibraltar. His remains were brought to Dover from Ostend, in the Race-horse packet, whence they were conveyed to Heathfield in Sussex, and there deposited, in a vault built for that purpose, over which a handsome monument is erected.
, duke, peer, and marshal of France, son of the subject of the preceding
, duke, peer, and marshal of France, son of the subject of the preceding article,
was born in the year 1573. At first he embraced the ecclesiastical state, and king Henry IV. appointed him to the
bishopric of Laon; but he quitted the church to take up
the profession of arms. He signalized himself on several
occasions, brought succours to the duke of Mantua in 1626,
took Treves, and distinguished himself no less by his sagacity than by his valour. Being appointed in 1636 ambassador extraordinary to Rome, he honourably executed
that office in supporting the glory and interests of the
crown, but not with the prudence requisite in such an office; and his rudeness and sallies of temper so involved
him in differences with Urban VIII. and his nephews, that
it was found necessary to recall him; which he much resented, and refused to appear at court to give an account
of his conduct. He died at Paris the 5th of May, 1670, in
his ninety-eighth year. The marshal d‘Estre’es was more
calculated for serving the king at the head of his troops,
than in intricate negociations. Not content with making
his character respected, he would make his person feared.
He was brother of the fair Gabriel d'Estrdes, whose history is given in a subsequent article. He was the author
of, 1. “Memoirs of the regency of Mary de Medicis,
” the
best edition of which is that of Paris,
o the emperor of the Romans, the most renowned and most excellent among the Christian princes, first peer among all the nations that believe in Christ, and best beloved
The queen of England now concerted measures with the
emperor for declaring and carrying on a war with France.
Her Britannic majesty highly resented the indignity offered to herself, and the wrong done the house of Austria,
by the duke of Anjou’s usurping the crown of Spain. She
acted, therefore, to preserve the liberty and balance of
Europe, to pull down the exorbitant power of France, and
at the same time to revenge the affront offered her, by
the king of France’s owning the pretended prince of Wales
for king of her dominions. Eugene was made president of
the council of war by the emperor, and all the world approved his choice; as indeed they well might, since this
prince no sooner entered on the execution of his office than
affairs took quite a new turn. The nature and limits of our
plan will not suffer us to enlarge upon the many memorable
actions which were performed by this great statesman and
soldier during the course of this war, which proved so fatal
to the glory of Louis XIV. The battles of Schellenburg,
Blenheim, Turin, &c. are so particularly related in almost
every history, that we shall not insist upon them here. In
1710 the enemies of Eugene, who had vowed his destruction, sent him a letter, with a paper inclosed, which was
poisoned to such a degree, that it made his highness, with
two or three more who did but handle it, ready to swoon;
and killed a dog immediately, upon his swallowing it after
it was greased. The next year, 1711, in April, the emperor Joseph died of the small-pox; when Eugene marched
into Germany, to secure the election of his brother to the
throne. The same year, the grand visier sent one of his
agas in embassy to his highness, who gave him a very
splendid audience at Vienna, and received from him a
letter written with the grand visier’s own hand, wherein
he styles his highness “the great pattern of Christian
princes, president of the Aulic council of war to the emperor of the Romans, the most renowned and most excellent among the Christian princes, first peer among all the
nations that believe in Christ, and best beloved visier of
the emperor of the Romans.
”
he ports between Dover and Portsmouth in his district; and sir Thomas Clifford, who was afterwards a peer, and lord high treasurer of England, was another. We find these
About the close of 1662, when his majesty was pleased,
by his letters patent, to erect and establish the royal society for the improvement of natural knowledge, John
Evelyn, esq. was appointed one of the first fellows and
council, on June 20. He had given a proof the same year
how well he deserved that distinction, by his “Sculptura.
”
Upon the first appearance of the nation’s being obliged to
engage in a war with the Dutch, the king thought proper
to appoint commissioners, in November 1664, to take care
of the sick and wounded, and Mr. Evelyn was one of the
number, having all the ports between Dover and Portsmouth in his district; and sir Thomas Clifford, who was
afterwards a peer, and lord high treasurer of England, was
another. We find these particulars in a letter from our
author to Mr. Boyle, in which he expresses how great a
satisfaction it would have been to have had that worthy
and charitable person for his colleague. Notwithstanding
the plague which raged in London in 1665, he frequently
went thither on the business of this office, having at one
time no less than 3000 Dutch prisoners under his care. In
January 1665-6, he waited on his majesty at Hamptoncourt, who was newly returned from Oxford, where he had
resided during the plague, and his majesty took this opportunity to thank him for his zeal and fidelity in his service at A time of such danger, when every one was desirous of quitting London, and kindly told him he had often
been alarmed for his safety.
of Richard Chapel Whaley, esq. of Whaley abbey, in Ireland, by whom he had issue, John, the present peer, and another son and two daughters. At his death his lordship
His lordship married July 1, 1786, Miss Whaley,
daughter of Richard Chapel Whaley, esq. of Whaley abbey, in Ireland, by whom he had issue, John, the present
peer, and another son and two daughters. At his death
his lordship was a privy-counsellor, a lord of trade and
plantations, vice-chancellor of the university of Dublin,
and LL. D. In the elevated and arduous situation of lord
chancellor, during a very eventful period, he uniformly
acted with a manly decision and ability that extorted applause even from his political adversaries. He banished
chicanery and artificial delay from the court where he presided; and was on every emergent occasion the firm and
undaunted supporter of the constitution of the British
realms, at a time when it was every where assailed by secret machinations, and in his own country by open rebellion. For such emergencies he was peculiarly fitted by a
dauntless spirit, joined to great ability, virtue, and patriotism in its true sense. The only printed document of
his composition is his “Speech on the Union.
”
the Austrians in Provence; and, returning to Versailles to plan the campaign of 1748, was created a peer of France. He had enjoyed the title of duke of Gisors, from
, count of
Belle-Isle, more known by the name of marechal Bellisle,
grandson of the preceding, was born in 1684. Politics and
history attracted his attention from his very infancy, to
which studies he afterwards added that of mathematics.
He had hardly finished his education when Louis XIV. gave
him a regiment of dragoons. He signalized himself at the
siege of Lisle, received other steps of promotion, and at
the peace returned to court, where the king entirely forgot
the faults of the grandfather in the merits of his descendant.
When war again broke out, after the death of Louis XIV.
he proceeded to distinguish himself, but a change of
ministry put a check to his career. He shared the disgrace of the minister Le Blanc, was for a time im-prisoned
in the Bastile, and then banished to his own estate. In
this retreat he composed a complete justification of himself, was recalled to court, and from that time experienced
only favour, fortune, and promotion. In the war of 1733,
he obtained a principal command in Flanders, distinguished
himself before Philipsburg, and commanded during the
rest of the campaign in Germany. In 1735 he was decorated with the order of the Holy Ghost, and was the confidential adviser of the minister, cardinal Fleury. About
this time, taking advantage of an interval of peace, he
wrote memoirs of all the countries in which he had served:
but on the death of the emperor Charles VI. in 1740, he
urged the cardinal to declare war. Ambition prompted
this advice, and his ambition was not long without gratification. In 1741, he was created marechal of France. The
witlings attacked him on his elevation, but he despised
their efforts: “These rhymers,
” said he, “would gain
their ends, should I do them the honour to be angry.
” At
the election of the emperor in 1742, marechal Bellisle was
plenipotentiary of France at the diet of Francfort, where
his magnificence was no less extraordinary than the extent
of his influence in the diet. He appeared rather as a principal elector than an ambassador, and secured the election
of Charles VII. Soon after, by the desertion of the Prussians and Saxons, the marechal found himself shut up in
Prague, and with great difficulty effected a retreat. He
was obliged to march his army over the ice, and three
thousand troops left in Prague were compelled to surrender,
though with honour. On his return to Francfort, Charles
VII. presented him with the order of the golden fleece,
having already declared him a prince of the empire. In
December 1743, as he was going again into Germany, he
was taken prisoner at Elbingerode, a small town encircled
by the territory of Hanover, and was carried into England,
where he remained till August 1744. He then served
against the Austrians in Provence; and, returning to Versailles to plan the campaign of 1748, was created a peer
of France. He had enjoyed the title of duke of Gisors,
from 1742. Afterthe peace in 1743, his influence at
court continued to increase, and in 1757 he became prime
minister; but in this situation he lived only four years;
falling a victim, it is said, to his application to business,
his sorrow for the misfortunes of France, and his anxious
cares to extricate her from them. This patriotic character
coincides with other anecdotes related of him. Having
lost his brother, whom he tenderly loved, at a very critical
period of public affairs, he suppressed his private grief as
soon as possible, saying, “I have no brother; but I have
a country, let me exert myself to save her.
” He died in
January, 1761, at the age of 77.
May 6, 1762, his lady was created baroness Holland; and on April 16, 1763, he himself was created a peer by the title of lord Holland, baron Holland, of Foxley, in the
, Lord Holland, the first nobleman of
that title, was the second and youngest son of the second
marriage, of sir Stephen Fox, and brother of Stephen
first earl of Ilchester. He was born in 1705, and was
chosen one of the members for Hendon, in Wiltshire, on
a vacancy, in March 1735, to that parliament which met
Jan. 23, 1734; and being constituted surveyor-general of
his majesty’s board of works, a writ was ordered June 17,
1737, and he was re-elected. In the next parliament,
summoned to meet June 25, 1741, he served for Windsor; and in 1743, being constituted one of the commissioners of the treasury, in the administration formed by
the Pelhams, a writ was issued Dec. 21st of that year, for
a new election, and he was re-chosen. In 1746, on the
restoration of the old cabinet, after the short administration
of earl Granville, he was appointed secretary at war, and
sworn one his majesty’s most honourable privy-council.
On tbis occasion, and until he was advanced to the peerage, he continued to represent Windsor in parliament.
In 1754, the death of Mr. Pelham produced a vacancy in
the treasury, which was filled up by his broker the duke
of Newcastle, who, though a nobleman of high honour,
unblemished integrity, and considerable abilities, yet was
of too jealous and unstable a temper to manage the house
of commons with equal address and activity, and to guide
the reins of government without a coadjutor at so arduous
a conjuncture. The seals of chancellor of the exchequer
and secretary of state, vacant by the death of Mr. Pelham, and by the promotion of the duke of Newcastle, became therefore the objects of contention. The persons
who now aspired to the management of the house of commons, were Mr. Fox and Mr. Pitt (afterwards earl of Chatham) whose parliamentary abilities had for some time
divided the suffrages of the nation; who had so long fosterod reciprocal jealousy, and who now became public
rivals for power. Both these rival statesmen were younger
brothers, nearly of the same age; both were educated at
Eton, both distinguished for classical knowledge, both
commenced their parliamentary career at the same period,
and both raised themselves to eminence by their superior
talents, yet no two characters were ever more contrasted.
Mr. Fox inherited a strong and vigorous constitution, was
profuse and dissipated in his youth, and after squandering
his private patrimony, went abroad to extricate himself
from his embarrassment*. On his return he obtained a
seat in parliament, and warmly attached himself to sir
Robert Walpole, whom he idolized; and to whose patronage he was indebted for the place of surveyor-general
of the board of works. His marriage in 1744 with lady
Caroline Lennox, daughter of the duke of Richmond,
though at first displeasiug to the family, yet finally
strengthened his political connections. He was equally a
man of pleasure and business, formed for social and convivial
intercourse; of an unruffled temper, and frank disposition.
No statesman acquired more adherents, not merely from
political motives, but swayed by his agreeable manners,
and attached to him by personal friendship, which he fully
merited by his zeal in promoting their interests. He is
justly characterized, even by Lord Chesterfield, “as having
no fixed principles of religion or morality, and as too unwary in ridiculing and exposing them.
” As a parliamentary orator, he was occasionally hesitating and perplexed;
but, when warmed with his subject, he spoke with an animation and rapidity which appeared more striking from
his former hesitation. His speeches were not crowded
with flowers of rhetoric, or distinguished by brilliancy of
diction; but were replete with sterling sense and sound
argument. He was quick in reply, keen in repartee, and
skilful in discerning the temper of the house. He wrote
without effort or affectation; his public dispatches were
manly and perspicuous, and his private letters easy and
animated. Though of an ambitious spirit, he regarded
money as a principal object, and power only as a secondary concern. He was an excellent husband, a most indulgent father, a kind master, a courteous neighbour, and
one whose charities demonstrated that he possessed in
abundance the milk of human kindness. Such is said to
have been the character of lord Holland, which is here introduced as a prelude to some account of his more illustrious son. It may therefore suffice to add, that in 1756
he resigned the office of secretary at war to Mr. Pitt, and
in the following year was appointed paymaster of the forces,
which he retained until the commencement of the present
reign; his conduct in this office was attended with some
degree of obloquy; in one instance, at least, grossly
overcharged. For having accumulated a considerable fortune by the perquisites of office, and the interest of money
in hand, he was styled in one of the addresses of the city
of London, “the defaulter of unaccounted millions.
” On
May 6, 1762, his lady was created baroness Holland; and
on April 16, 1763, he himself was created a peer by the
title of lord Holland, baron Holland, of Foxley, in the
county of Wilts. In the latter part of his life he amused
himself by building, at a vast expence, a fantastic villa at
Kingsgate, near Margate, His lordship was also a lord
of the privy-council, and clerk of the Pells, in Ireland,
granted him for his own life and that of his two sons.
Lord Holland died at Holland-house, near Kensington,
July 1, 1774, in the sixty-ninth year of his age, leaving
three sons, Stephen, his successor; Charles James, the
subject of the next article; and Henry Edward, a general
in the army. Stephen, second lord Holland, survived his
father but a few months, dying Dec. 26, 1774, and was
succeeded by Henry Richard, the present peer.
pecuniary difficulties, from which he was extricated by the late duke of Norfolk, the last catholic peer of that illustrious family. To prevent similar embarrassments,
In 1764 he returned to Scotland, and was ordered to
Dundee to officiate as priest among the catholics in the
county of Angus, but was scarcely settled when he received, an invitation to become a resident in the family of
the earl of Traquaire, in what capacity, unless as a friend,
does not appear. He accepted, however, an offer so favourable to the pursuit of his studies; and here,. as well as
at Paris, he regulated his inquiries so as to be preparatory
to the plan he had long conceived, of giving a new translation of the Bible. His residence here was unfortunately
interrupted by an attachment he formed for a female relative
of the earl of Traquaire’s, and which was reciprocal; but
regarding his vow of celibacy as sacred, and his passion,
otherwise invincible, he left the family, and went again to
Paris, where he continued about eight or nine months, and
returned to Scotland in the spring of 1769. He now accepted the charge of a catholic congregation at Auchinhalrig in the county of Bamff, where he engaged the affections of his flock by many pastoral offices, reconciling
differences, administering to the poor, and rebuilding their
ruinous chapel. All this, however, seems to have involved him in pecuniary difficulties, from which he was
extricated by the late duke of Norfolk, the last catholic
peer of that illustrious family. To prevent similar embarrassments, Mr. Geddes now took a small farm, which again
involved him in debts, which he endeavoured to discharge
by an application to the muses. “Some daemon,
” he says,
“whispered him' that he had a turn for poetry,
” which
produced in 1779, “Select Satires of Horace,' translated
into English verse, and for the most part adapted to the
present times and manners,
” 4to. The impression of this
work extended only to A dissertation on the Seoto-Saxon
Dialect,
” and “The first Eklog of Virgil,
” and “The first
Idyllion of Theocritus, translatitt into Scottis vers,
” in the
former of which the Edinburgh dialect is chiefty imitated,
and in the latter the Buchan. He also composed a “Caruien Seculare
” for the society’s anniversary of
ucceeded to the estate of the elder branch of his family, at Stow; and December 31, he was created a peer of Great Britain, by the title of lord Lansdowne, baron of Bideford,
SacheverelPs trial, which happened not long after,
brought on that remarkable change in the ministry in 1710,
when Mr. Granville^s friends came again into power. He
was elected for the borough of Helston, but, being returned
at the same time for the county of Cornwall, he chose to
represent the latter; and on September 29, he was declared secretary at war, in the room of Robert Walpole,
esq. afterwards the celebrated minister. He continued in
this office for some time, and discharged it with reputation;
and, towards the close of the next year, 1711, he married
the lady Mary, daughter of Edward Villiers, earl of Jersey,
at that time possessed of a considerable jointure, as widow
of Thomas Thynne, esq. He had just before succeeded to
the estate of the elder branch of his family, at Stow; and
December 31, he was created a peer of Great Britain, by
the title of lord Lansdowne, baron of Bideford, in the
county of Devon. In this promotion he was one of the
twelve peers who were all created at the same time; and so
numerous a creation, being unprecedented, gave much
offence, although but little in his case. His lordship was
now the next male-issue in that noble family, in which two
peerages, that of the earl of Bath, and that of lord Grenville of Potheridge, had been extinguished almost together: his personal merit was universally allowed; and as to
his political sentiments, those who thought him most mistaken, allowed him to be open, candid, and uniform. He
stood always high in the favour of queen Anne; and with
great reason, having upon every occasion testified the
greatest zeal for her government, and the most profound
respect for her person. For these reasons, in the succeeding
year, 1712, he was sworn of her majesty’s privy-council,
made controller of her household, about a year after advanced to the post of treasurer in. the same office; and to
his other honours, says Dr. Johnson, was added the dedication of Pope’s “Windsor Forest.
” His lordship continued in his office of treasurer to the queen, until her
death, when he kept company with his friends in falling a
sacrifice to party-violence, being removed from his treasurer’s place by George I. Oct. 11, 1714.
so highly to the favour of William III. that on Jan. 10, 1695-6, he was advanced to the dignity of a peer of Scotland, by the title of earl of Orkney. His lady, likewise,
, earl of Orkney, a brave officer, was the fifth son of William earl of Selkirk, and very early embraced the profession of arms. In March 1689-90 he was made a colonel, and distinguished himself with particular bravery at the battle of the Boyne, under king William, July 1, 1690; and those of Aghrim, July 12, 1691; of Steinkirk, Aug. 3, 1692, and of Lauden, July 19, 1693. Nor did he appear to less advantage at the sieges of Athlone, Limerick, and Namur. His eminent services in Ireland and Flanders through the whole course of the war, recommended him so highly to the favour of William III. that on Jan. 10, 1695-6, he was advanced to the dignity of a peer of Scotland, by the title of earl of Orkney. His lady, likewise, whom he married in 1695, and who was the daughter of sir Edward Villiers, knight-marshal, and a special favourite with the king, received a grant under the great seal of Ireland, of almost all the private estates of the abdicated king James, of very considerable value. Upon the accession of queen Anne, the earl of Orkney was promoted to the rank of majorgeneral March 9, 1701-2, to that of lieutenant-general Jan. 1, 1703-4, and in February following was made knight of the thistle. In 1704 his lordship was at the battle of Blenheim, which was crowned with so important a victory in favour of the allies; and he made prisoners of war a body of 1300 French officers and 12,000 common soldiers, who had been posted in the village of Blenheim. In July 1705, he was detached with 1200 men to march before the main body of the army, and to observe the march of a great detachment of the enemy, which marshal Villars had sent off to the Netherlands, as soon as he found the march of the allies was directed thither; and his lordship used such expedition, that he seasonably reinforced the Dutch, and prevented marshal Villeroy’s taking the citadel of Liege, about which his troops were then formed. The next month his lordship marched with fourteen battalionsof foot, and twenty-four squadrons of horse, to support the passage over the Dyle, which was immediately effected. In July 1706, he assisted at the siege of Menin; and on Feb. 12, 1706-7, was elected one of the sixteen peers for Scotland, to sit in the first parliament of Great Britain after the union. The same year he again served under the duke of Marlborough in Flanders; being in the latter end of May detached with seven battalions of foot from Meldart to the pass of Louvain, in order to preserve the communication with it, and on that side of Flanders; which his lordship did, and abode there during the time of the allied army’s encamping at Meldart. When they decamped on Aug. 1, to Nivelle, within two leagues of the French army, and a battle was expected, the earl, with twelve battalions of foot, and thirty squadrons of horse and dragoons, and all the grenadiers of the army, advanced a little out of the front of it, and lay all night within cannon-shot of the enemy; and the next morning charged their rear in their retreat for above a league and a half, and killed, disabled, and caused to desert, above 4000 of them. In the beginning of September following his lordship was again detached with another considerable body of troops to Turquony, under a pretence of foraging by the Scheld, but really with the design of drawing the enemy thither from Tournay to battle, and getting between them and the city. In November 1708, the earl commanded the van of the army at the passing of the Scheld; and in June the year following, assisted at the siege of Tournay, and took St. Amand and St. Martin’s Sconce; and on Aug. 20, was detached from the camp at Orchies towards St. Guilliampass, on the river Heine, towards the northward of Moms, in order to attack and take it, for the better passage of the army to Mons; and on the 30th of that month, was present at the battle of Malplaquet. In 1710 he was sworn of the privy-council; and made general of foot in Flanders, and in 1712 colonel of the royal regiment of foot-guards called the fuzileers, and served in Flanders under the duke of Ormond. In October, 1714, his lordship was appointed gentleman extraordinary of the bed-chamber to king George I. and on Dec. 17 following, governor of Virginia. He was likewise afterwards constable, governor and captain of Edinburgh castle, lord-lieutenant of the county of Clydesdale, and field-marshal. He died in London, at his house in Albemarle-street, Jan, 29, 1736-7.
ppointed vice-admiral of Great Britain, and first lord of the admiralty; and, in 1776, he was made a peer of England, under the title of Baron Hawke, of Towton, in the
, an eminent naval
officer, was the son of Edward Hawke, esq. barrister at law,
by Elizabeth, daughter of Nathaniel Bladen, esq. He was
from his youth brought up to the sea, and passed through
the inferior stations till, in 1713—4, he was appointed captain
of the Wolf. His intrepidity and conduct were first of all
distinguished in the memorable engagement with the combined fleets of France and Spain on Toulon, in 1744, when
the English fleet was commanded by the admirals Matthews, Lestock, and Rowley. If all the English ships had
done their duty on that day as well as the Berwick, which
captain Hawke commanded, the honour and discipline of
the navy would not have been so tarnished. He compelled
the Pader, a Spanish vessel of 60 guns, to strike; and, to
succour the Princessa and Somerset, broke the line without orders, for which act of bravery he lost his commission, but was honourably restored to his rank by the king.
In 1747 he was appointed rear-admiral of the 'white; and
on the 14th of October, in the same year, fell in with a
large French fleet, bound to the West Indies, convoyed
by nine men of war, of which he captured seven. This
was a glorious day for England, and the event taught British commanders to despise the old prejudice of staying
for a line of battle. “Perceiving,
” says the gallant admiral in his letters to the Admiralty, “that we lost time in
forming our line, I made the signal for the whole squadron
to chase, and when within a proper distance to engage.
”
On October the 31st, admiral Hawke arrived at Portsmouth
with his prizes, and as a reward of his bravery, he was
soon afterwards made knight of the bath. In 1748 he was
made vice-admiral of the blue, and elected an elder brother of the Trinity-house; in 1755 he was appointed viceadmiral of the white, and in 1757 commanded the squadron which was sent to co-operate with sir John Mordaunt
in the expedition against Rochfort. In 1759, sir Edward
commanded the grand fleet opposed to that of the French
equipped at Brest, and intended to invade these kingdoms.
He accordingly sailed from Portsmouth, and, arriving off
Brest, so stationed his ships that the French fleet did not
dare to come out, and had the mortification of beholding
their coast insulted, and their merchantmen taken. The
admiral, however, being by a strong westerly wind blown
from his station, the French seized this opportunity, and
steered for Quiberon-bay, where a small English squadron
lay under the command of commodore Duff. Sir Edward
Hawke immediately went in pursuit of them, and on the
20th of November came up with them off Belleisle. The
wind blew exceedingly hard at the time, nevertheless the
French were engaged, and totally defeated, nor was the
navy of France able to undertake any thing of consequence
during the remainder of the war. This service, owing to
the nature of the coast, was peculiarly hazardous; but when
the pilot represented the danger, our gallant admiral only
replied, “You have done your duty in pointing out the
difficulties; you are now to comply with my order, and
lay me along the Soleil Royal.
” For these and similar
services, the king settled a pension of 2000l. per annum
on sif Edward and his two sons, or the survivor of them;
he also received the thanks of the house of commons, and
the freedom of the city of Cork in a gold box. In 1765
he was appointed vice-admiral of Great Britain, and first
lord of the admiralty; and, in 1776, he was made a peer
of England, under the title of Baron Hawke, of Towton, in
the county of York. His lordship married Catharine the
daughter of Walter Brooke, of Burton-hall, in Yorkshire,
esq. by whom he had four children. He was one of the
greatest characters that ever adorned the British navy; but
most of all remarkable for the daring courage which induced him on many occasions to disregard those forms of
conducting or sustaining an attack, which the rules and
ceremonies of service had before considered as indispensable. He died at his seat at Shepperton in Middlesex,
October 14, 1781.
s died abroad in 1788, The following well-drawn character of lord Bristol, written by a contemporary peer in the sea-service, lord Mulgrave, seems to justify the insertion
Soon after this event, a coolness arose between captain Hervey and his wife, which increased till they both became desirous of a separation. In Jan. 1747, he was appointed to the command of the Princessa, and served in the Mediterranean under admirals Medley and Byng and after the peace, in Jan. 1752, he obtained the Phoenix of 22 guns. In the course of two wars, the courage, zeal, and activity of captain Hervey were distinguished in the Mediterranean, off Brest, at the Havannah, and in other places. During the same period he was gradually advanced to the command of a 74 gun ship; and at the peace in 1763 he was appointed one of the grooms of the bed-chamber to the king. In 1771 he was created one of the lords of the admiralty; and in 1775, on the death of his brother without issue, he became earl of Bristol, after having represented the borough of Bury St. Edmund’s in four parliaments. He now resigned his places, and was created an admiral. In the beginning of the American war, captain Hervey was a strenuous advocate for the measures of the ministry; but, changing his politics in the year 1778, continued to the end of it as violent an opponent; not without very striking appearances of inconsistency on several occasions. He died in 1779, when his titles, and as much of his estate as he could not leave away, devolved to his brother the bishop of Derry, as he left no legitimate heir. The affair of his marriage, which attracted much public notice at the time, was briefly thus: After nine years of preparation, his wife, who had long lived with the Juke of Kingston, obtained her suit in the commons, in 1768, by which it was decided that their marriage never had been legal, and was void. She then was married to the duke of Kingston in 1769. But, it appearing afterwards that the decision had been fraudulently obtained, she was indicted in 1775 for bigamy, tried in the House of peers, and found guilty, but, as a peeress, was discharged from corporal punishment. She afterwards died abroad in 1788, The following well-drawn character of lord Bristol, written by a contemporary peer in the sea-service, lord Mulgrave, seems to justify the insertion of his name in this place; though it may be in some degree heightened by personal partiality.
iam lord Cavendish. Hobbes ingratiated himself so effectually with this young nobleman, and with the peer his father, that he was sent abroad with him on his travels
, an eminent English
philosopher and miscellaneous writer, was born at Malmsbury in Wiltshire, April 5, 1588, his father being minister
of that town. The Spanish Armada was then upon the
coast of England; and his mother is said to have been so
alarmed on that occasion, that she was brought to bed of
him before her time. After having made a considerable
progress in the learned languages at school, he was sent, in
1603, to Magdalen hall, Oxford; and, in 1608, by the
recommendation of the principal, taken into the family of
the right honourable William Cavendish lord Hardwicke,
soon after created earl of Devonshire, as tutor to his son
William lord Cavendish. Hobbes ingratiated himself so
effectually with this young nobleman, and with the peer
his father, that he was sent abroad with him on his travels
in 16:0, and made the tour of France and Italy. Upon
his return with lord Cavendish, he became known to persons of the highest rank, and eminently distinguished for
their abilities and learning. The chancellor Bacon admitted him to a great degree of familiarity, and is said to
have made use of his pen for translating some of his works
into Latin. He was likewise much in favour with lord
Herbert of Cherbury; and the celebrated Ben Jonson had
such an esteem for him, that he revised the first work which
he published, viz. his “English Translation of the History
of Thucyciides.
” This Hobbes undertook, as he tells us
himself, “with an honest view of preventing, if possible,
those disturbances in which he was apprehensive his country would be involved, by shewing, in the history of the
Peloponnesian war, the fatal consequences of intestine
troubles.
” This has always been esteemed one of the best
translations that we have of any Greek writer, and the
author himself superintended the maps and indexes. But
while he meditated this design, his patron, the earl of
Devonshire, died in 1626; and in 1628, the year his work
was published, his son died also. This loss affected him
to such a degree, that he very willingly accepted an offer
of going abroad a second time with the son of sir Gervase
Clifton, whom he accordingly accompanied into France,
and staid there some time. But while he continued there
he was solicited to return to England, and to resume his
concern for the hopes of that family, to which he had
attached himself so early, and owed many and great
obligations.
e likeness was rigidly observed, without even the necessary attention to compliment or flattery. The peer, disgusted at this counterpart of his dear self, never once
It happened in the early part of Hogarth’s life, that a
nobleman who was uncommonly ugly and deformed, came
to sit to him for his picture. It was executed with a skill
that did honour to the artist’s abilities; but the likeness
was rigidly observed, without even the necessary attention
to compliment or flattery. The peer, disgusted at this
counterpart of his dear self, never once thought of paying
for a reflector that would only insult him with his deformities. Some time was suffered to elapse before the
artist applied for his money; but afterwards many applications were made by him (who had then no need of a banker) for payment, but without success. The painter,
however, at last hit upon an expedient which he knew must
alarm the nobleman’s pride, and by that means answer his
purpose. It was couched in the following card: “Mr.
Hogarth’s dutiful respects to lord; finding that he
does not mean to have the picture which was drawn for him,
is informed again of Mr. H.'s necessity for the money; if,
therefore, his lordship does not send for it in three days,
it will be disposed of, with the addition of a tail, and some
other little appendages, to Mr. Hare, the famous wild-beast
man; Mr. H. having given that gentleman a conditional
promise of it for an exhibition picture, on his lordship’s
refusal.
” This intimation had the desired effect. The
picture was sent home, and committed to the flames.
ot, that was more conscientious in this matter. I very well knew a great man,” says the bishop, “and peer of the realm, from whom ne had just expectations of preferment;
, an English divine, was
born at Baccharack, a town in the Lower Palatinate, in
1641. His father was recorder or secretary of that town,
a strict protestant; and the doctor was brought up in the
same manner, though some, we find, asserted that he was
originally a papist. He was designed for the sacred ministry from his birth, and first sent to Heidelberg, where
he studied divinity under Spanheim, afterwards professor
at Leyden. When he was nineteen he came over to
England, and was entered of Queen’s college, in Oxford,
Dec. 1663; of which, by the interest of Barlow, the provost of that college, and afterwards bishop of Lincoln, he
was made chaplain soon after his admission. He was incorporated M. A. from the university of Wittemberg, Dec.
1663; and not long after made vicar of All Saints, in Oxford, a living in the gift of Lincoln-college. Here he < ontinued two years, and was then taken into the family of
the duke of Albemarle, in quality of tutor to his son lord
Torrington. The duke presented him to the rectory of
Doulton, in Devonshire, aud procured him also a prebend
in the church of Exeter. In 1669, before he married, he
went over into Germany to see his friends, where he was
much admired as a preacher, and was entertained with
great respect at the court of the elector Palatine. At his
return in 1671, he was chosen preacher in the Savoyj
where he continued to officiate till he died . This,
however, was but poor maintenance, the salary being small as
well as precarious, and be continued in mean circumstances for some years, after the revolution; till, as his.
biographer, bishop Kidder, says, it pleased God to raise up
a friend who concerned himself on his behalf, namely,
the lord admiral Russel, afterwards earl of Orford. Before
he went to sea, lord Russel waited on the queen to take
leave and when he was with her, begged of her that she
“would be pleased to bestow some preferment on Dr.
Horneck.
” The queen told him, that she “could not at
present think of any way of preferring the doctor
” and
with this answer the admiral was dismissed. Some time
after, the queen related what had passed to archbishop
Tillotson; and added, that she “was anxious lest the ad-,
miral should think her too unconcerned on the doctor’s
behalf.
” Consulting with him therefore what was to be
done, Tillotson advised her to promise him the next prebend of Westminster that should happen to become void.
This the queen did, and lived to make good her word in
1693. In 1681 he had commenced D. D. at Cambridge,
and was afterwards made chaplain to king William and
queen Mary. His prebend at Exeter lying at a great distance from him, he resigned it; and in Sept. 1694 was
admitted to a prebend in the church of Wells, to which
he was presented by his friend Dr. Kidder, bishop of Bath
and Wells. It was no very profitable thing; and if it
had been, he would have enjoyed but little of it, since he
died so soon after as Jan. 1696, in his fifty-sixth year.
His body being opened, it appeared that both his ureters
were stopped; the one by a stone that entered the top of
the ureter with a sharp end; the upper part of which was
thick, and much too large to enter any farther; the other
by stones of much less firmness and consistence. He was
interred in Westminster-abbey, where a monument, with
an handsome inscription upon it, was erected to his memory.
He was, says Kidder, a man of very good learning, and
had goou skill in the languages. He had applied himself
to the Arabic from his youth, and retained it to his death.
He had great skill in the Hebrew likewise nor was his
skilllimited to the Biblical Hebrew only, but he was also
a great master in the Rabbinical. He was a most diligent
and indefatigable reader of the Scriptures in the original
languages: “Sacras literas tractavit indefesso studio,
” says
his tutor Spanheiui of him: and adds, that he was then
of an elevated wit, of which he gave a specimen in 1655,
by publicly defending “A Dissertation upon the Vow of
Jephthah concerning the sacrifice of his daughter.
” He
had great skill in ecclesiastical history, in controversial and
casuistical divinity; and it is said, that few men were so
frequently consulted in cases of conscience as Dr. Horneck.
As to his pastoral care in all its branches, he is set forth
as one of the greatest examples that ever lived. “He had
the zeal, the spirit, the courage, of John the Baptist,
”
says Kidder, “and durst reprove a great man; and perhaps that man lived not, that was more conscientious in
this matter. I very well knew a great man,
” says the
bishop, “and peer of the realm, from whom ne had just
expectations of preferment; but this was so far from stopping his mouth, that he reproved him to his face, upon a
very critical affair. He missed of his preferment, indeed,
but saved his own soul. This freedom,
” continues the
bishop, “made his acquaintance and friendship very desirable by every good man, that would be better. He
would in him be very sure of a friend, that would not suffer sin upon him. I may say of him what Pliny says of
Corellius Rufus, whose death he laments, “amisi meæ vitæ
testem,' &c. ‘I have lost a faithful witness of my life;’
and may add what he said upon that occasion to his friend
Calvisius, ‘vereor ne negligentius vivam,’ ‘I am afraid lest
for the time to come I should live more carelessly.’” His
original works are, 1.
” The great Law of Consideration:
or, a discourse wherein the nature, usefulness, and absolute necessity of consideration, in order to a truly serious
and religious life, are laid open,“London, 1676, 8vo,
which has been several times reprinted with additions and
corrections. 2.
” A letter to a lady revolted to the Romish
church,“London, 1678, 12mo. 3.
” The happy Ascetick: or the best Exercise,“London, 1681, 8vo. To this
is subjoined,
” A letter to a person of quality concerning
the holy lives of the primitive Christians.“4.
” Delight
and Judgment: or a prospect of the great day of Judgment, and its power to damp and imbitter sensual delights,
sports, and recreations,“London, 1683, 12mo. 5.
” The
Fire of the Altar: or certain directions how to raise the
soul into holy flames, before, at, and after the receiving of the blessed Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper with
suitable prayers and devotions,“London, 1683, 12mo. To
this is prefixed,
” A Dialogue between a Christian and his
own Conscience, touching the true nature of the Christian
Religion.“6.
” The Exercise of Prayer; or a help to devotion; being a supplement to the Happy Ascetick, or
best exercise, containing prayers and devotions suitable to the respective exercises, with additional prayers
for several occasions,“London, 1685, 8vo. 7.
” The first
fruits of Reason: or, a discouse shewing the necessity of
applying ourselves betimes to the serious practice of Religion,“London, 1685, 8vo. 8.
” The Crucified Jesus:
or a full account of the nature, end, design, and benefit of
the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, with necessary dU
rections, prayers, praises, and meditations, to be used by
persons who come to the holy communion,“London, 1686,
8vo. 9.
” Questions and Answers concerning the two
Religions; viz. that of the Church of England and of the
Church of Rome.“10.
” An Answer to the Soldier’s Question: What shall we do?“11, Several single Sermons.
12.
” Fifteen Sermons upon the fifth chapter of St. Matthew," London, 1698, 8vo.
was chosen chancellor of the university of Oxford in Oct. 1660 and, in November following, created a peer by the title of baron Hyde of Hindon in Wiltshire; to which
Besides the post of lord chancellor, in which he was
continued, he was chosen chancellor of the university of
Oxford in Oct. 1660 and, in November following, created
a peer by the title of baron Hyde of Hindon in Wiltshire;
to which were added, in April 1661, the titles of viscount
Cornbury in Oxfordshire, and earl of Clarendon in Wiltshire. These honours, great as they were, were, however,
by no means beyond his merit. He had, upon the Restoration, shewn great prudence, justice, and moderation,
in settling the just boundaries between the prerogative of
the crown and the liberties of the people. He had reduced
much confusion into order, and adjusted many clashing
interests, where property was concerned. He had endeavoured to make things easy to the Presbyterians and malcontents by the act of indemnity, and to satisfy the Royalists by the act of uniformity. But it is not possible to
stand many years in a situation so much distinguished,
without becoming the object of envy; which created him
such enemies as both wished and attempted his ruin, and
at last effected it. Doubtless nothing more contributed to
inflame this passion against him, than the circumstance of
his eldest daughter being married to the duke of York,
which became known in a few months after the king’s
return. She had been one of the maids of honour to the
princess royal Henrietta, some time during the exile, when
the duke fell in love with her; and being disappointed by
the defeat of sir George Booth, in a design he had formed
of coming with some forces to England in 1659, he went
to Breda, where his sister then resided. Passing some
weeks there, he took this opportunity, as Burnet tells us,
of soliciting miss Hyde to indulge his desires without marriage; but she managed the matter with such address, that
in the conclusion he married her, Nov. 4 that year, with
all possible secrecy, and unknown to her father. After
their arrival in England, being pregnant, she called upon
the duke to own his marriage; and though he endeavoured
to divert her from this object, both by great promises and
great threatenings, yet she had the spirit and wisdom to
tell him, “She would have it known that she was his wife,
let him use her afterwards as he pleased.
” The king
ordered some bishops and judges to peruse the proofs of
her marriage; and they reporting that it had been solemnized according to the doctrine of gospel and the law
of England, he told his brother, that he must live with
her whom he had made his wife, and at the same time
generously preserved the honour of an excellent servant,
who had not been privy to it; assuring him, that “this
accident should not lessen the esteem and favour he had
for him.
”
ett, LL.D.” ibid. 1712. 12. “A Memorial for Protestants on the 5th of November, &c. in a letter to a peer of Great Britain,” ibid. 1713. 13. “A Letter to the lord bishop
Among his works, besides those already noticed, are his
1. “Parochial Antiquities, attempted in the History of Ambroseden, Burcester, and other adjacent parts, in the
counties of Oxford and Bucks,
” Oxford, Preface to sir Henry Spelman’s History of Sacrilege,
”
Ecclesiastical Synods, and Parliamentary Convocations in the Church of England, historically stated, and
justly vindicated from the misrepresentations of Mr. Atterbury,
” Lond. An occasional Letter, on
the subject of English Convocations,
” ibid. The
History of the Convocation summoned to meet Feb. 6,
1700, &c.
” ibid. The case of Impropriations, and of the Augmentation of Vicarages^ &c.
” ibid.
Preface to sir Henry Spelman’s and Dr.
Ryve’s two tracts,
” ibid. Account of the Society for propagating the Gospel in foreign parts,
” ibid.
The Christian Scholar, in rules and directions for children and youth sent to English schools,
”
ibid. The French favourite, or the seven
discourses of Balzac’s Politics,
” ibid. A Letter, about a motion in convocation, to the rev Thos. Brett,
LL.D.
” ibid. 1712. 12. “A Memorial for Protestants on
the 5th of November, &c. in a letter to a peer of Great
Britain,
” ibid. A Letter to the lord bishop of
Carlisle, concerning one of his predecessors, bishop Merks,
on occasion of a new volume for the Pretender, entitled,
The Hereditary Right of the Crown of England asserted/'
ibid. 1713. 14.
” The wisdom of looking backwards to
judge the better on one side and the other, by the speeches,
writings, actions, and other matters of fact on both sides,
for the four last years,“ibid. 1715, 8vo. This is a very
curious volume, and fills up a gap in our literary history;
but he rendered a more important service afterwards by his
” Register and Chronicle," 1728, folio. Dr. Kennet published also a great many sermons on occasional subjects.
ef-justice of the court of common-pleas, and soon after sworn of the privy-council. He was created a peer May the 25th, 1725, by the title of lord King, baron of Ockharn,
From this time, however, our author found himself under a necessity of relinquishing pursuits of this kind, on account of the increasing and urgent business which his abilities as a lawyer brought into his hands; and in a fevr years his merit in the law was distinguished by the highest honours. July 1708, he was chosen recorder of London; and knighted by queen Anne September following. In 1709, he was appointed one of the managers of the House of Commons, at the trial of Sacheverell. Upon the accession of George I. he was appointed lord chief-justice of the court of common-pleas, and soon after sworn of the privy-council. He was created a peer May the 25th, 1725, by the title of lord King, baron of Ockharn, in Surrey; and the great seal being taken from lord Macclesfield, was delivered to him the 1st of June following. He did not, however, make that figure as chancellor, which was expected from the character that raised him to it; and it is said that more of his decrees were repealed by the House of Lords than of any other chancellor in the same space of time. Yet it is allowed that he took extraordinary pains in the discharge of his office, which, impairing his constitution by degrees, brought on atan a paralytic disorder and his distemper increasing, he resigned the seals the 26th Nov. 1733, and died July the 22d following, at his seat at Ockham, leaving behind him two sons and two daughters, and a widow, the daughter of Richard Seys, of Boverton, in Glamorganshire, esq. Lord King was a man of great integrity, knowledge, and diligence, although not of transcendant abilities. He was interred in Ockham church, Surrey, where a monument was erected to his memory.
, peer, marechal, and constable of France, governor of Dauphiny, and
, peer,
marechal, and constable of France, governor of Dauphiny,
and one of the greatest generals of his age, was born April
1, 1543, at St. Bonnet de Chamsaut, in Dauphiny, of a
noble and ancient family. He was among the chiefs of the
protestants, for whom he took several places, and when
Henry IV. ascended the throne, received fresh marks of
his esteem, being appointed lieutenant-general of his
forces in Piedmont, Savoy, and Dauphiny. Lesdiguieres
defeated the duke of Savoy at the battle of Esparon, April
15, 1591, and in several other engagements; and when
the king blamed him for having suffered that prince to build
Fort Barreaux, he replied, “Let the duke of Savoy be at
that expence; your majesty wants a fortress opposite to
Montmelian, and when it is built and stored, we will take
it.
” He kept his word, and conquered Savoy. This brave
man received the marechal’s staff in 1607, and his estate
of Lesdiguieres was made a dukedom, as a reward for his
services. At length he abjured protestantism at Grenoble,
and was afterwards presented by his son-in-law, the maredial de Crequi, with letters, in which the king appointed
him constable, July 24, 1622. He commanded the troops
in Italy in 1625, and died at Valence in Dauphiny, Sept.
28, 1626, aged eighty-four. His secretary, Lewis Videl,
has written his life, or rather his eulogy, 1638, folio. There
were, however, many defects in his moral character, and
his apostacy is said to have been founded in avarice.
he great seal was put into his custody, with the same title. In February following, he was created a peer of England, by the title of lord Littleton, baron of Mounslow
, lord keeper of the great seal of England in the reign of Charles I. was descended, by a collateral branch, from the preceding judge Littleton, being grandson of John Littleton, parson of Mouuslow in Shropshire, and son of sir Edward Littleton of Henley in that county, one of the justices of the inarches, and judge of North Wales. He was born in 1589, and admitted a gentleman commoner of Christchurch, Oxford, in 1606, where he took the degree of bachelor of arts in 1609. Some time after, being designed for the law by his father, he removed to the InnerTemple, and soon became eminent in his profession. In 1628, we find him in parliament; and on the 6th of May he was appointed, together with sir Edward Coke and sir Dudley Digges, to carry up the petition of right to the house of lords. He had also the management of the charge made against the duke of Buckingham, concerning king James’s death; on which occasion he behaved himself with universal applause, although he had to consult both the jealousy of the people and the honour of the court. His first preferment in the law was the appointment to succeed his father as a Welch judge; after which he was elected recorder of London, and about the same time counsel for the university of Oxford. In 1632, he was chosen summer-reader of the Inner-Temple, and in 1634, appointed solicitor-general, and received the honour of knighthood in 1635. In 1639, he was constituted lord chief-justice of the common-pleas; and, in 1640, on the flight of lord-keeper Finch from the resentment of the parliament, the great seal was put into his custody, with the same title. In February following, he was created a peer of England, by the title of lord Littleton, baron of Mounslow in Shropshire.
his lordship having survived his only son, Alexander lord Polwarth, who had been created an English peer, but died without issue of his marriage with the lady Isabella
, a nobleman of great learning and accomplishments, was born in 1708. He was the third in succession to, and the last inheritor of, that title; there being no male descendants of his grandfather, sir Patrick Hume, the first earl, and his lordship having survived his only son, Alexander lord Polwarth, who had been created an English peer, but died without issue of his marriage with the lady Isabella Grey, daughter of the earl of Hardwicke, and heiress of the last duke of Kent; a peeress in her own right, under a limitation by Charles II. of the barony of Lucas of Cruduell.
al act of his life, was the vote he gave on Mr. Fox’s India bill; on which occasion he was the first peer who went below the bar as a non-content.
After his lordship’s accession to the peerage in 1740, he did not mix in public business till 1747, when he was appointed first lord commissioner of police in Scotland; and had no opportunity of rendering himself conspicuous in polir tical life until 1750, when he was elected one of the sixteen peers, in the room of the earl of Crawford. From this time he took a very active share in most of the important debates that occurred, which led to his being appointed keeper of the great seal of Scotland in 1764 (on the death of the duke of Athol), the office substituted for that of lord chancellor. The last political act of his life, was the vote he gave on Mr. Fox’s India bill; on which occasion he was the first peer who went below the bar as a non-content.
rran, as being by proximity of blood the next heir to the crown in legitimate descent, and the first peer of Scotland, should be made governor of the kingdom, and guardian
, queen of Scots, celebrated for her beauty, her wit, her learning, and her misfortunes, was born Dec. 8, 1542, and was the daughter and sole heiress of James the Fifth king of Scots, by Mary of Lorrain, his second queen, and dowager of Longueville. She was not eight days old when her father died; and therefore, after great animosities among the nobility, it was agreed, that the earl of Arran, as being by proximity of blood the next heir to the crown in legitimate descent, and the first peer of Scotland, should be made governor of the kingdom, and guardian of the queen: who remained, in the mean time, with her mother, in the royal palace of Linlithgow. Urgent application being made by Henry VIII. in the behalf of his son Edward, for this princess in her childhood, it was at last agreed between the chief peers of both kingdoms, that she should be given in marriage to that prince; but this was afterwards refused by her governor. She was, according to the custom of the day taught the Latin, French, Spanish, and Italian tongues; in which she afterwards arrived at so great perfection, that few were found equal to her in any of them, and none superior in them all.
se, a gentleman of the bedehamber, first lord-commissioner of the treasury; and soon after created a peer, being made baron Monk of Potheridge, Beauchamp, and Tees, earl
However, Monk made no scruple of discovering every
step taken by the cavaliers which came to his knowledge,
even to the sending the protector this letter; and joined
in promoting addresses to him from the army, one of which
was received by the protector March 19, 1657, in which
year Monk received a summons to Oliver’s house of lords.
Upon the death of Oliver, Monk joined in an address to
the new protector Richard, whose power, nevertheless, he
foresaw would be but short-lived; it having been his opinion, that Oliver, had he lived much longer, would scarce
have been able to preserve himself in his station. And
indeed Cromwell himself began to be apprehensive of that
great alteration which happened after his death, and fearful that the general was deeply engaged in those measures
which procured it; if we may judge from a letter written
by him to general Monk a little before, to which was added
the following remarkable postscript: “There be that tell
me, that there is a certain cunning fellow in Scotland, called
George Monk, who is said to lie in wait there to introduce
Charles Stuart; I pray you, use your diligence to apprehend him, and send him up to me.
” It belongs to history
to relate all the steps which led to the restoration of Charles
II. and which were ably conducted by Monk. Immediately after that event, he was loaded with pensions and
honours; was made knight of the garter, one of the privycouncil, master of the horse, a gentleman of the bedehamber, first lord-commissioner of the treasury; and soon
after created a peer, being made baron Monk of Potheridge,
Beauchamp, and Tees, earl of Torrington, and duke of
Albemarle, with a grant of 7000Z. per annum, estate of
inheritance, besides other pensions. He received a very
peculiar acknowledgment of regard on being thus called
to the peerage; almost the whole house of commons attending him to the very door of the house of lords, while
he behaved with great moderation, silence, and humility.
This behaviour was really to be admired in a man, who,
by his personal merit, had raised himself within the reach
of a crown, which he had the prudence, or the virtue, to
wave: yet he preserved it to the end of his life: insomuch,
that the king, who used to call him his political father, said,
very highly to his honour, “the duke of Albemarle demeaned himself in such a manner to the prince he had
obliged, as never to seem to overvalue the services of general Monk.*‘ During tRe remainder of his life he was
consulted and employed upon all great occasions by the
king, and a.t the same time appears to have been esteemed
and beloved by his fellow-subjects. In 1664, on the breaking out of the first Dutch war, he was, by the duke of York,
who commanded the fleet, intrusted with the care of the
admiralty: and, the plague breaking out the same year in
London, he was intrusted likewise, with the care of the city
by the king, who retired to Oxford. He was, at the latter
end of the year, appointed joint-admiral of the fleet with
prince Rupert, and distinguished himself with great bravery against the Dutch. In September 1666, the fire of
London occasioned the Duke of Albemarle to be recalled
from the fleet, to assist in quieting the minds of the people;
who expressed their affection and esteem for him, by crying
out publicly, as he passed through the ruine’d streets, that,
” if his grace had been there, the city had not been burned."
The many hardships and fatigues he had undergone in a
military life began to shake his constitution somewhat early;
so that about his 60th year he was attacked with a dropsy;
which, being too much neglected, perhaps on account of
his having been hitherto remarkably healthy, advanced
very rapidly, and put a period to his life, Jan. 3, 1669-7O,
when he was entering his 62d year. He died in the esteem
of his sovereign, and his brother the duke of York, as appears not only from the high posts he enjoyed, and. the
great trust reposed in him by both, but also from the tender
concern shewn by them, in a constant inquiry after his
state during his last illness, and the public' and princely
paid to his memory after his decease; for, his
funeral was honoured with all imaginable pomp and solemnity, and his ashes admitted to mingle with those of the
royal blood; he being interred, April 4, 1670, in Henry
the Vllth’s chapel at Westminster, after his corpse had
lain in state many weeks at Somerset-house.
in a note that Halifax was " a peer no cause as Pope’s, disappointment of
in a note that Halifax was " a peer no cause as Pope’s, disappointment of
n without furnishing their lordships with facts at once important and interesting; of which no other peer was so perfectly master as himself. During the period of the
“The earl of Sandwich,
” says his biographer, “was
rather to be considered as an able and intelligent speaker,
then a brilliant and eloquent orator. In his early parliamentary career, he displayed uncommon knowledge of the
sort of composition adapted to make an impression on a
popular assembly; and from a happy choice of words, and
a judicious arrangement of his argument, he seldom spoke
without producing a sensible effect on the mind of every
impartial auditor. In the latter part of his political life,
and especially during the American war, his harangues
were less remarkable for their grace and ornament, than
for sound sense, and the valuable and appropriate information which they communicated. His speeches, therefore,
were regarded as the lessons of experience and wisdom.
He was never ambitious of obtruding himself upon the
house. He had a peculiar delicacy of forbearance, arising
from a sense of propriety; which, if more generally practised, would tend very much to expedite the public business by compressing the debates, now usually drawn out
to an immeasurable and tiresome length, within more reasonable bounds. If, after having prepared himself on any
important question, when he rose in the house any other
lord first caught the chancellor’s eye, he sat down with the
most accommodating patience; and, if the lord, who spoke
before him, anticipated the sentiments which he meant to
offer, he either did not speak at all, or only spoke to such
points as had not been adverted to by the preceding
speaker. Whenever, therefore, he rose, the House was
assured that he had something material to communicate:
he was accordingly listened to with attention, and seldom
sat down without furnishing their lordships with facts at
once important and interesting; of which no other peer
was so perfectly master as himself. During the period of
the American war he was frequently attacked in both
houses for his official conduct or imputed malversation.
When any such attempts were made in the House of Peers,
he heard his accusers with patience, and with equal temper as firmness refuted their allegations, exposing their
fallacy or their falsehood. On all such occasions, he met
his opponents fairly and openly, in some instances concurring in their motions for papers, which his adversaries
imagined would prove him a negligent minister; in others
resisting their object, by shewing the inexpediency or the
impolicy of complying with their requests. In the parliamentary contest, to which the unfortunate events of the
American war gave rise, he is to be found more than once
rising in reply to the late earl of Chatham; whose extraordinary powers of eloquence inspired sufficient awe to
silence and intimidate even lords of acknowledged ability.
Lord Sandwich never in such cases suffered himself to he
dazzled by the splendor of oratorical talents; or ever spoke
without affording proof that his reply was necessary and
adequate. In fact, his lordship never rose without first
satisfying himself, that the speaker he meant to reply to
was in error; and that a plain statement of the facts in
question would dissipate the delusion, and afford conviction to the house. By this judicious conduct his lordship
secured the respect of those whom he addressed, and commanded at all times an attentive hearing.
”
d was, atthe desire of Mr. Bearcroft, the senior counsel in that court, transmitted to the venerable peer by Mr. (now lord) Erskine. Lord Mansfield instantly returned
From this time, it seemed, as if popular odium had spent its fury, and had no longer any malice to direct against this noble person. Party rage seemed to be softened by this last act of mischief; and, during the remainder of his days, lord Mansfield seemed to unite all parties in one uniform sentiment of approbation and reverence for a tried and ancient servant of the public. The increase of years did not bring on such infirmities as to disable him from, discharging the duties of his station till about 1787: these, at length, bore so much upon him that he came to the resolution to resign his office, which he did in the month of June, 1788. Upon that occasion the gentlemen who practised at the bar of the court where he had so long presided, addressed to his lordship a letter, in which they lamented their loss, but remembered, with peculiar satisfaction, that his lordship was not cut off from them by the sudden stroke of painful distemper, or the more distressing of those extraordinary faculties which had so long disv tinguished him among men; but, that it had pleased God to allow to the evening of a useful and illustrious life the purest enjoyment that nature had ever allotted to it. The unclouded reflections of a superior and unfading wind over its varied events, and the happy consciousness that it had been faithfully and eminently devoted to the highest duties of human society, in the most distinguished nation upon, earth. They expressed a wish that the season of this high satisfaction might bear its proportion to the lengthened days of his rctivity and strength. This letter had many signatures, and was, atthe desire of Mr. Bearcroft, the senior counsel in that court, transmitted to the venerable peer by Mr. (now lord) Erskine. Lord Mansfield instantly returned an answer, in which he said, that, if he had given any satisfaction, it was owing to the learning and candour of the bar; the liberality and integrity of their practice freed the judicial investigation of truth and justice from difficulties. The memory of the assistance he had received from them, and the deep impression which the extraordinary mark they had no v given him of their approbation and affection, had made upon his mind, would be a source of perpetual consolation in his decline of life, under the pressure of bodily infirmities, which made it his duty to retire.
ociety of the Sorbonne, and superior of that of Navarre, was the second son of Anne dukede Noailles, peer of France, and born May 27, 1651. In consequence of his birth,
, cardinal and archbishop of Paris, commander of the order of the Holy Ghost, proviseur of the house and society of the Sorbonne, and superior of that of Navarre, was the second son of Anne dukede Noailles, peer of France, and born May 27, 1651. In consequence of his birth, he became lord of Aubrach, commander of the order of the Holy Ghost, duke of St. Cloud, and peer of France. He was bred with great care, and his inclination leading him to the church, he took holy orders; and proceeding in the study of divinity, he performed his exercise for licentiate in that science with reputation, and was created D. D. of the Sorbonne, March 14, 1676. Three years afterwards the king gave him the bishopric of Cahors, whence he was translated to Chalons on the Marne, in 1680. He discharged the duties of both these dioceses with a distinguished vigilance, and a truly pastoral charity; so that, the archbishopric of Paris becoming vacant in 1695, by the death of Francis de Harlay, his majesty chose the bishop of Chalons to fill that important see. Invested with this dignity; he applied himself wholly to the affairs of it, and made excellent rules for the reformation of the clergy.
h as early as 1616, at the creation of Charles prince of Wales, and had stood as the eldest son of a peer, at the state in the house of lords, at sixty-three, and was
, son of the preceding,
had a learned education in the university of Cambridge.
He had been made knight of the Bath as early as 1616,
at the creation of Charles prince of Wales, and had stood
as the eldest son of a peer, at the state in the house of
lords, at sixty-three, and was an eminent instance of filial
duty to his father, before whom he would not put on his
hat, or sit down, unless enjoined to do it. He was bred
in the best manner; for besides the court, and choicest
company at home, he was sent to travel, and then into the
army, and served as a captain under sir Francis Vere.
He sat in many parliaments, until secluded by that which
condemned the king. After this he lived privately in the
country, at Tostock, in Suffolk; and towards the latter
end of his life, entertained himself with justice-business,
books, and (as a very numerous issue required) oeconomy.
He published a little tract on that subject, entitled “Observations and advices Œconomical,
” Lond. Passages
relating to the Long Parliament,
” with an apologetic, or
rather recantation preface; for he had at first been active
against the King. He wrote also the “History of the
Life of Edward Lord North, the first Baron,
” Lord Orford says, “sensibly, and in a very good style,
” though
this critic seems to think he fails in impressing the reader
with much respect for his ancestor. After his death appeared a volume of essays, entitled “Light in the way to
Paradise; with other occasionals,
” Lond.
his death, in 1683, the great seal was committed to his custody, on which occasion he was created a peer, by the title of lord Guilford, barori of Guilford, in the county
He usually attended the Norfolk circuit, and was soon
employed as counsel in every important cause. When the
great level of the fens was to be divided, he was appointed
chairman in the commission, and directed the execution
in such a manner as greatly to augment his fame. Dr.
Lane, then bishop, likewise constituted him judge of the
royal franchise of Ely; a creditable employment, which
increased his business in the country. He was also appointed to assist the earl of Oxford, lord chief justice in
eyre, in a formal iter, or justice-seat of the forests, which
was of great pecuniary advantage to him, and gave him
an idea of the ancient Jaw in the immediate practice of it
He was promoted to be the king’s solicitor- general, in the
room of sir Edward Turner, made lord chief baron, and
was knighted the same day, May 23, 1671. He now
dropt the circuit, and was chosen to represent the borough
of Lynn, in the house of commons. In 1673 he was appointed attorney-general, on the promotion of sir Heneage
Finch to the great seal. In former times, when he applied close to his studies, and spent his days in his chamber, he was subject to the spleen, and apprehensive of
many imaginary diseases; and by way of prevention, wore
warm cloathing, and leather skull-caps, and inclined much
to quackery; but as business flowed in, his complaints
vanished, and his skull-caps were destined to lie in a drawer,
and receive hjs money. Though his profits were now very
great, while the king approved his judgment and fidelity,
and the chiefs of the law were mostly his friends, yet he
soon grew weary of his post, and wished for another, though
less profitable, in a calmer region. The court was sunk
in pleasure and debauchery; averse to, and ignorant of
all business. The great men were many of them corrupt,
false, and treacherous; and were continually tormenting
him with improper projects and unreasonable importunities.
Among all the preferments of the law, his thoughts
were most fixed upon that of lord chief justice of the common pleas; the business there being wholly matter of pure
law, and having little to do in criminal causes, or court
intrigues: and, on the death of lord chief justice Vaughan
in 1674 he succeeded to his wishes. While he presided in
this court, he was very attentive to regulate what was amiss
in the law, arising either from the nature of things changing, or from the corruption of agents: when any abuse or
necessity of regulation appeared, he noted it down, and
afterwards digested his thought, and brought it into the
form of a tract, from which he might prepare acts of parliament, as he had encouragement and opportunity. He
had a great hand in “The Statute of Frauds and Perjuries,
” of which the lord Nottingham said, that every line
was worth a subsidy. In 1679, the king, being under great
difficulties from the parliament, in order to bring them to
better temper, and that it might not be said he wanted
good counsellors, made a reform of his privy-council, dissolved the old, and constituted a new one, which took in
the lord Shaftsbury as president, and the heads of the opposition in both houses; but that he might not be entirely
at their mercy, he joined some of his friends, in whose
fidelity and judgment he had an entire confidence, among
whom lord chief justice North had the honour to be one.
Not long after this, he was taken into the cabinet, that he
might be assistant, not only in the formal proceedings of
the privy-council, but also in the more private consultations of his majesty’s government. He was also often
obliged to fill the office of speaker, and preside in the
House of Lords, in the room of the chancellor Nottingham, who, towards the latter end of his time, was much
afflicted with the gout and other infirmities. From his interest with the king he was considered as probable successor to Nottingham, and accordingly, on his death, in 1683,
the great seal was committed to his custody, on which occasion he was created a peer, by the title of lord Guilford, barori of Guilford, in the county of Surrey, by patent
bearing date Sept. 27th, 1683.
d in the age whose manners he emulated, his spirit would have maintained the character of an ancient peer with as much dignity, as his knowledge would have effaced that
Mr. Coxe characterises this nobleman as “a fluent and
plausible debater, warm in his friendship, and violent in his
enmity.
” Lord Orford, after mentioning some of his foibles, among which was a superstitious veneration for the
feudal system, says, that, with all these, he. had strong
parts, great knowledge of the history of this country, and
was a very able, though not an agreeable orator. His
domestic virtues more than compensated for some singularities that were very innocent: and had he lived in the
age whose manners he emulated, his spirit would have
maintained the character of an ancient peer with as much
dignity, as his knowledge would have effaced that of others
of his order.
ation was formed, and Mr. Pitt, in 1766, was made lord privy seal. At the same time he was created a peer, by the titles of viscount Pitt, of Burton Pynsent, in the county
The Rockingham ministry proving unable to maintain its ground, a new administration was formed, and Mr. Pitt, in 1766, was made lord privy seal. At the same time he was created a peer, by the titles of viscount Pitt, of Burton Pynsent, in the county of Somerset, and earl of Chatham, in the county of Kent. Whatever might be his motives for accepting this elevation, he certainly sunk by it in popularity, at least as much as he rose in nominal dignity. The great commoner, as he was sometimes styled, had formed a rank to himself, on the sole basis of his talents and exertions, for which the titular honours, which he was now to participate with many others, could not in the public opinion compensate. Still it must be owned that the high and hereditary distinction of the peerage is a just and honourable object of ambition to a British commoner; which, if he attains it, as Mr. Pitt appears to have done, without any improper concession or stipulation, may be considered as the fair reward of past services, and the most permanent monument of public gratitude. Lord Chatham, whatever might be the cause, did not long continue in office; he resigned the place of lord privy seal on the 2d of November, 1768, and it was the last public employment which he ever accepted. He does not indeed appear to have been desirous of returning to office. He was now sixty; and the gout, by which he had been long afflicted, had become too frequent and violent in its attacks, to allow of close or regular application to business. In the intervals of his disorder he continued occasionally to exert himself, on questions of great magnitude, and was particularly strenuous in 1775, and the ensuing years, against the measures pursued by the ministers in the contest with America. Nevertheless, in all things he maintained his native spirit. When France began to interfere in the contest, he fired with indignation at the insult; and when, in 1778, it was thought necessary, after the repeated misfortunes of the war, to acknowledge the independence of America, he summoned up all the strength that remained within him, to pour out his disapprobation of a measure so inglorious. He did so in a speech of considerable energy, and being answered in the course of the debate by the duke of Richmond, seemed agitated with a desire to reply: but when he attempted to rise, the effort proved too violent for his debilitated constitution, and he sunk, in a kind of fit, into the arms of those who were near him. This extraordinary scene of a great statesman, almost dying in the last exertion of his talents, has been perpetuated by the pencil, and will live for ever in the memory of his countrymen. He did not long survive this effort. This debate happened on the 8th of April, 1778, and he died on the 11th of May ensuing.
him testimonies of their regard, and his popularity was now at its height. In 1765 he was created a peer of Great Britain by the title of lord Camclen, baron Camden
His lordship had the reputation of having presided in
that court with a dignity, weight, and impartiality, never
exceeded by any of his predecessors and when the celebrated John Wilkes was seized and committed to the
Tower, upon a general warrant, his lordship granted him
an Habeas Corpus; and when Wilkes was brought before
the court of Common Pleas, discharged him from his confinement in the Tower, on May 6, 1763, after stating the
case, in a speech which did him great honour. His wise
and spirited behaviour upon this occasion, and in the consequent judicial proceedings, between the printers of the
“North Briton
” and others concerned in that publication,
or in apprehending the authors, was so acceptable to the
nation, that the lord mayor, aldermen, and common-council of the city of London, presented him with the freedom
of their corporation in a gold box, an,d desired him to sit
for his picture, which was put up in the Guildhall in 1764,
with a suitable inscription at the bottom of the frame. The
guild of merchants of the city of Dublin, also voted him
the freedom of their guild, in a gold box the corporation
of barber- surgeons of that city voted him his freedom
thereof; and the sheriffs and commons of Dublin presented
him their thanks “for the distinguished zeal and loyalty
which he has shewn in asserting and maintaining the rights
and liberties of the subject, in the high station whichhe
now fills, with remarkable dignity and for his particular
services to this kingdom, in the office of attorney-general.
”
Other towns sent him testimonies of their regard, and his
popularity was now at its height. In 1765 he was created
a peer of Great Britain by the title of lord Camclen, baron
Camden in the county of Kent and on July 30, 1766, his
majesty, upon the resignation of lord Northington, delivered the great seal to his lordship, as lord high chancellor
of Great Britain. It was the Rockingham administration
who promoted his lordship’s advancement to the peerage;
but they did not thereby obtain his entire support in parliament for when the declaratory bill, asserting the right
of parliament to make laws, binding the colonies in all cases
whatever, was brought into the House of Lords, he opposed
it with the greatest vigour. Lord Camden, whatever might
be thought of his opinions, was uniformly independent,
and incurred a portion of popular odium for supporting
the suspension of the law, in order to prevent the exportation of corn at a time when scarcity was impending. On
this occasion he happened to make a sarcastic reply to lord
Temple, which drew upon him the wrath of Junius; but
for this he had as little regard as for the more sober invectives of party. As a lord chancellor, he appears to
have conciliated the good opinion of all parties. His acuteness and judgment, and the perspicuity with w'hich he delivered his opinions, and his general politeness, mixed
with a becoming regard to the dignity of his office, all
produced the highest respect and confidence in his decisions. But as he still adhered to his opinion against the
taxation of the Americans, which he strongly and publicly
opposed on every occasion, he was removed from his high
office in 1770.
, peer of France, prince of Leon, colonel general of the Swiss and
, peer of France, prince of
Leon, colonel general of the Swiss and Grisons, one of the
greatest men France produced in his age, was born August
21, 1572, at the castle of Blein, in Bretany. He
distinguishcd himself at the siege of Amiens when but sixteen,
in presence of Henry IV. who had a sincere regard for him,
and alter the death of that prince he hccame chief of the
French protestants, to whom he rendered the most important services, both at the head of their armies, and in negociations. He fought with success in Holland, Germany,
Italy, and France, and carried on three wars against Louis
XIII. in favour of the protestants; the last, however, ended
to the advantage of the catholics, in the capture of llochelle.
But notwithstanding the consternation into which this event
threw the duke’s party, he supported himself by those copious resources with which his prudence furnished him,
refusing to surrender but on advantageous terms, and these
were granted by the peace of 1629. The civil wars with
the protestants being thus terminated, he regained the favour of Louis XIII. but not choosing to live at court, retired
to Venice, and was chosen by that republic for their generalissimo, after the unfortunate battle of Valleggio, against
the Imperialists, but the treaty of Querasque, concluded
June '2[, 1631, rendered his plans useless. The king of
France afterwards employed him as ambassador extraordinary to the Orisons, to assist them in reducing to obedience
the Valteline, and counties of Bormio, and Chiavenes,
which were supported in rebellion by the Spaniards and
Imperialists. The Orisons immediately declared him their
general, and their choice was confirmed by Louis XIII. who
appointed him in 1632, ambassador extraordinary to the Helvetic body; but early in 1635, he received orders to return to
Venice, and having staid there some months, was sent back
to the Orisons, and seized the passages of the Valteline,
took Bormio, Chiavenes, and Riva, and defeated the Germans and Spaniards. The Grisons having rebelled some
time after because France delayed to withdraw its forces,
he made a new treaty with them March 26, 1637, which
did not please the court, and this circumstance obliged him
to retire to Geneva, that he might avoid the resentment of
cardinal Richelieu; but he left that city in January 1638,
to join his friend the duke of Saxe Weimar, who was going
to engage the Imperialists near Rhinfeld. The duke of
Jiohan placed himself at the head of the Nassau regiment,
broke through the enemies’ ranks, was woundcd, Feb. 28,
1638, and died of his wounds, April 13 following, aged
fifty-nine. He was the author of many works, among which
are, 1. “Memoirs,
” the most complete edition of which
is in 2 vols. 12mo, containing the transactions of trance
from 16 10 to 1629. 2. “Les intérésts des Princes,
” 12mo.
3. “Le parfait Capitaine, ou P Abregé des Guerres des
Commentaires de Cesar,
” 12mo. 4. “Memoires
” and
Letters, relative to the war of the Valtelines, 3 vols. 12mo;
vol. I. contains the “Memoirs;
” the two others, the “Pieces
Justificatives,
” the greatest part of which had never been
printed before. From the preface we learn the following
anecdote: This nobleman being at Venice, was informed
that the grand signor would sell him this kingdom of Cyprus, and grant him the investureof it, on condition of his
giving the Porte two hundred thousand crowns, and agreeing
to pay an annual tribute of twenty thousand crowns. The
duke being a protestant, intended to purchase this island,
and settle the protestant families of France and Germany
there. He negociated the affair skilfully with the Porte, by
means of the patriarch Cyril, with whom he was much connected; but that patriarch’s death, and other unexpected
incidents, prevented the execution of his design. The
above anecdote originated in the memoirs of the duchess of
Rohan, Margaret de Bethune, daughter of the great Sully,
who married at Paris, Henry de Rohan, February 7, 1605.
This lady, who was a protestant, rendered herself celebrated by her courage. She defended Castres against the
marechal de Thémines, 1625, lived in strict conjugal harmony with the duke her husband, and died at Paris, Oct.
22, 1660. The French biographers tell us that all Henry
de Rohan’s works are excellent, and extremely proper to
form good soldiers: he writes like a great general and able
politician, and his letters on the war of the mountains are
very instructive. The duke trod in the steps of Sertorius,
which he had learned from Plutarch, and the marechal de
Catinat trod in those of the duke. To all these uncommon
talents, the duke joined great sweetness of temper, the
most affable and pleasing manners, and a degree of generosity seldom seen. He discovered neither pride, ambition,
nor selfish views; and frequently said, that glory and zeal
for the public welfare, never encamp where private interest
is the commander. We have two good lives of this great
man, one by Fauvelet du Toe, Paris, 1666, 12mo, the
other by the Abbé Perau, Paris, 1767, 2 vols. 12mo. Some
notice may be taken of Benjamin de Rohan, brother of the
preceding, who supported the duke’s undertakings during
the protestant war, after having learned the military art in
Holland under prince Maurice of Nassau. He made himself master of Lower Poiton, 1622, and went into England
soon after to solicit help for the Roohellers. In 1625, he
took the isle of Rhe, and ravaged the whole coast from the
mouth of the Garonne to that of the Loire, by the capture
of several merchant ships. M. Rohan was driven from the
isle of Rhe some time after, then from that of Oleron, and
forced to retire into England, where he was active in procuring the succour sent to Rochelle; but that city being
taken, notwithstanding these succours, he would not return to France, and died in England 1630, leaving no
children.
ng Charles made him a knight of the garter, and a free denizen, and advanced him to the dignity of a peer of England, by the title of earl of Holdernesse and duke of
, third son of the king of Bohemia, by the princess Elizabeth, eldest daughter of James I. of England, was born 1619, and educated, like most German princes, for the army and those who have been least inclined to favour him, admit that he was well adapted, both by natural abilities and acquired endowments, to form a great commander. On the commencement of the rebellion, which happened when he was scarcely of age, he offered his services to Charles I. and throughout the whole war behaved with great intrepidity. But his courage was of that kind which is better calculated for attack than defence, and is less adapted to the land service than that of the sea, where precipitate valour, Granger observes, is in its element. He seldom engaged but he gained the advantage, which he generally lost by pushing it too far. He was better qualified to storm a citadel, or even mount a breach, than patiently to sustain a siege, and would have been an excellent assistant to a general of a cooler head. In consideration of his services, for which we refer to the general histories of the times, and on account of his affinity to him, king Charles made him a knight of the garter, and a free denizen, and advanced him to the dignity of a peer of England, by the title of earl of Holdernesse and duke of Cumberland.
his abilities in public affairs; and being zealous in bringing about the restoration, was created a peer, in consideration of his own and his father’s merits. In 1668
, marquis of Halifax, a celebrated statesman, but of equivocal character, was descended from an ancient family in Yorkshire. He was the son of sir William Savile, bart. and Anne, daughter of Thomas lord Coventry, lord keeper of the great seal. He was born, probably about 1630. Upon the death of his father, he succeeded to the title of baronet, and soon distinguished himself by his abilities in public affairs; and being zealous in bringing about the restoration, was created a peer, in consideration of his own and his father’s merits. In 1668 he was appointed of that remarkable committee, which sat at Brook-hall for the examination of the accounts of the money which had been given during the Dutch war, of which no member of the House of Commons was admitted. In April 1672 he was called to a seat in the privy council; and, June following, went over to Holland with the duke of Buckingham and the earl of Arlington, as ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary, to treat about a peace with France, when he met with great opposition from hi* colleagues.
that licentious age deemed very impertinent; and the archbishop’s descendants believe that the proud peer instigated the deluded rabble to murder their ancestor. Such
Sharp had a servant, one Carmichael, who by his cruelties had rendered himself particularly odious to the presbyterians. Nine men formed the resolution, in 1679, of waylaying him in Magus-moor, about three miles from St. Andrew’s. While they were waiting for this man, the primate himself appeared in a coach with his daughter, and the assassins immediately considered this as a fit opportunity to rid the world of such a monster of perfidy and cruelty, and accordingly dispatched him with their swords, with every aggravation of barbarity, regardless of the tears and intreaties of his daughter. Such is the account given by all historians of the murder of Sharp; and that he fell by the hands of fanatics whom he persecuted, is certain. A tradition, however, has been preserved in different families descended from him, which may here be mentioned. The primate had, in the plenitude of his archiepiscopal authority, taken notice of a criminal amour carried on between a nobleman high in office and a lady of some fashion who lived within his diocese. This interference was in that licentious age deemed very impertinent; and the archbishop’s descendants believe that the proud peer instigated the deluded rabble to murder their ancestor. Such a tradition, however, is contrary to all historical testimony, and all historians have been particularly desirous to prove that the meeting with the assassins was purely accidental.
s appointed first lord of the treasury, and chancellor of the exchequer. He was afterwards created a peer of Great Britain, by the title of baron Stanhope of Elvaston,
Upon the change of administration, a new parliament
being called, he was proposed candidate for the City of
Westminster, together with sir Henry Dutton-Colt, but
being unsuccessful, was chosen again for Cockermouth.
He continued prisoner in Spain till 1712, when his imperial majesty made an exchange for the duke of Escalone,
formerly viceroy of Naples; and in July the general set
out on his return home by the way of France, and on the
16th of August arrived in England. In parliament he now
opposed vigorously the measures of the court, and particularly the Bill of Commerce between Great Britain and
France. Upon the calling a new parliament in 1713, he
lost his election at Cockermouth by a small majority, but
was soon after chosen unanimously for Wendover in Bucks;
and opposed the Schism-bill with great spirit. Upon the
arrival of king George I. in England, he was received by
his majesty with particular marks of favour; and on the
27th of September 1714, appointed one of the principal
secretaries of state, and October the 1st sworn one of the
privy- council. On the 20th of the same month, the day
of his majesty’s coronation, he, with the lord Cobham, set
out with a private commission to the emperor’s court; where
having succeeded in his negotiations, he returned to England in the latter end of December. A new parliament
being summoned to meet at Westminster on the 17th of
March 1714-15, he was unanimously chosen for Cockermouth, as he was likewise for Aldborough in Yorkshire.
In July 1716 he attended his majesty to Germany, and
was principally concerned in the alliance concluded at that
time with France and the States-general, by which the
Pretender was removed beyond the Alps, and Dunkirk and
Mardyke demolished. He returned with his majesty in
1716, and the following year was appointed first lord of
the treasury, and chancellor of the exchequer. He was
afterwards created a peer of Great Britain, by the title of
baron Stanhope of Elvaston, in the county of Derby, and
viscount Stanhope of Mahon in the island of Minorca. In
March 1718, he was appointed principal secretary of state,
in the room of the earl of Sunderland, who succeeded lord
Stanhope in the Treasury: and soon after was created earl
Stanhope. The Spanish power growing more formidable,
an alliance was set on foot between his Britannic majesty,
the emperor, and the king of France, for which purpose
earl Stanhope set out in June for Paris, and thence to
Madrid, but finding nothing could be done with that court,
he returned to England in September. In December following, he introduced a bill into the House of Lords “for
strengthening the protestant interest in these kingdoms,
”
in which he proposed a repeal of the occasional-conformity
bill, and the schism bill, and it passed by a majority of
eighteen.
he had been in the lower, by his talent for speaking, which indeed he exerted with more success as a peer than as a commoner. “Lord Chesterfield’s eloquence,” says Dr.
He was soon distinguished in this house, as he had been
in the lower, by his talent for speaking, which indeed he
exerted with more success as a peer than as a commoner.
“Lord Chesterfield’s eloquence,
” says Dr. Maty, “though
the fruit of study and imitation, was in great measure his
own. Equal to most of his contemporaries in elegance and
perspicuity, perhaps surpassed by some in extensiveness
and strength, he could have no competitors in choice of
imagery, taste, urbanity, and graceful irony. This turn
might originally have arisen from the delicacy of his frame,
which, as on one hand it deprived him of the power of
working forcibly upon the passions of his hearers, enabled
him, on the other, to affect their finer sensations, by nice
touches of raillery and humour. His strokes, however
poignant, were always nnd r the controui of decency and
good sense. He reasoned best when he appeared most
witty; and while he gained the affections of his hearers, he
turned the laugh on his opposers, and often forced them
to join in it. It might, in some degree, be owing to this
particular turn that he was not heard with so much applause in the lower, as in the upper house.
” Besides being
eminent as a speaker in parliament, lord Chesterfield had
the credit of being intimate with all the wits of his time.
The friendship of Pope in particular, with whom he passed
much time at Twickenham, led to the very best society
which could then be enjoyed. He was known also to Algarotti, Voltaire, and Montesquieu, when they visited England, and with the latter he formed a friendship, and established a correspondence.
monarch, in reward of his many virtues and distinguished merit, honoured with the dignities of duke, peer, and marshal of France, with the governments of the Upper and
After the death of his master, by which he was greatly
afflicted, Sully retired from court; for, a new reign introducing new men and new measures, he was no longer regarded. The life he led in retreat was accompanied with
decency, grandeur, and even majesty; yet it was, in some
measure, embittered with domestic troubles, arising from
the extravagance and ill conduct of his eldest son, the marquis of Rosni. He died Dec. 22, 1641, aged eighty-three,
and his duchess caused a statue to be erected over his
burying-place, with this inscription: “Here lies the body
of the most high, most puissant, and most illustrious lord,
Maximilian de Bethune, marquis of Rosni, who shared in,
all the fortunes of king Henry the Great; among which
was that memorable battle, which gave the crown to the
victor; where, by his valour, he gained the white standard,
and took several prisoners of distinction. He was by that
great monarch, in reward of his many virtues and distinguished merit, honoured with the dignities of duke, peer,
and marshal of France, with the governments of the Upper
and Lower Poitou, with the office of grand master of the
ordnance; in which, bearing the thunder of his Jupiter,
he took the castle of Montmelian, till then believed impregnable, and many other fortresses of Savoy. He was
likewise made superintendant of the finances, which office
he discharged singly, with a wise and prudent occonomy;
and continued his faithful services till that unfortunate day,
when the Caesar of the French nation lost his life by the
hand of a parricide. After the lamented death of that great
king, he retired from public affairs, and passed the remainder of his life in ease apd tranquillity. He died at
the castle of Villebon, Dec. 22, 1641, aged 82.
”
Though he lived to such an age, no life could be more
frequently exposed to perils than that of Sully. One of
these was of a very extraordinary kind, and deserves to be
particularly mentioned. It was at the taking of a town in
Cambray, in 1581, when, to defend the women from the
brutality of the soldiers, the churches, with gu.irds about
them, were given them for asylums; nevertheless, d very
beautiful young girl suddenly threw herself into the arms
of Sully, as he was walking in the streets, and, holding
him fast, conjured him to guard her from some soldiers,
who, she said, had concealed themselves as soon as they
saw him. Sully endeavoured to calm her fears, and offered
to conduct her to the next church; but she tpld him she
had been there, and had asked for admittance, which they
refused, because they knew she had the plague. Sully
thrust her from him with the utmost indignation as well as
horror, and expected every moment to be seized with the
plague, which, however, did not happen.
king of Corsica, baron Niewhoff, grandee of Spain, baron of England, peer of France, baron of the holy empire, prince of the Papal throne
king of Corsica, baron
Niewhoff, grandee of Spain, baron of England, peer of
France, baron of the holy empire, prince of the Papal
throne for thus he styled himself; “a man whose claim
to royalty,
” says lord Orford, “was as indisputable, as
the most ancient titles to any monarchy can pretend to
be;
” was born at Metz about 1696. The particulars of
his eventful history are thus related. In March 1736,
whilst the Corsican mal-contents were sitting in council,
an English vessel from Tunis, with a passport from our
consul there, arrived at a port then in the possession of the
roal-contents. A stranger on board this vessel, who had
the appearance of a person of distinction, no sooner went
on shore, but was received with singular honours by the
principal persons, who saluted him with the titles of excellency, and viceroy of Corsica. His attendants consisted
of two officers, a secretary, a chaplain, a few domestics
and Morocco slaves. He was conducted to the bishop’s
palace; called Himself lord Theodore; whilst the chiefs
knew more about him than they thought convenient to declare. From the vessel that brought him were debarked
ten pieces of cannon, 4000 fire-locks, 3000 pair of shoes,
a great quantity of provisions, and coin to the amount o
200,000 ducats. Two pieces of cannon were placed before
his door, and he had 400 soldiers posted for his guard,
He created officers, formed twenty-four companies of
soldiers, distributed among the mal-contents the arms and
shoes he had brought with him, conferred knighthood on
one of the chiefs, appointed another his treasurer, and professed the Roman Catholic religion. Various conjectures
were formed in different courts concerning him. The
eldest son of the pretender, prince Ragotski, the duke de
Ripperda, comte de Bonneval, were each in their turns
supposed to be this stranger; all Europe was puzzled but
the country of this stranger vas soon discovered he was,
in fact, a Prussian, well known by the name of Theodore
Antony, baron of Niewhoff.
te, the late queen of Prussia;” “Queen Anne’s reasons for creating the electoral prince of Hanover a peer of this realm, by the title of duke of Cambridge;” and, “The
He continued in Holland till 1710; and, while he was
there, had the good fortune to get acquainted with prince
Eugene, who gave him several marks of his generosity.
Upon his return to England, he was for some time sup*
ported by the liberality of Mr. Harley, and by his means
was enabled to keep a country-house at Epsom in Surrey.
He published, in 1711, “A Description of Epsom, with
the Humours and Politics of that Place.
” He afterwards
lost the favour of this minister, and then wrote pamphlets
against him. He published in 1710, without his name, a
French piece relating to Dr. Sacheverell, “Lettre d'urt
Anglois a un Hollandois an sujet du docteur Sacheverell:
”
and the three following in A Letter against Popery,
particularly against admitting the authority of fathers or
councils in controversies of religion, by Sophia Charlotte,
the late queen of Prussia;
” “Queen Anne’s reasons for
creating the electoral prince of Hanover a peer of this
realm, by the title of duke of Cambridge;
” and, “The
grand Mystery laid open, viz. by dividing the Protestants
to weaken the Hanover succession, and, by defeating the
succession, to extirpate the Protestant religion.
” At that
time he also undertook to publish a new edition of Cicero’s
works by subscription, and gave an account of his plan in
a “Latin dissertation,
” which has been printed among his
posthumous pieces.
services, was advanced to the peerage, by the title of lord Vere, baron of Tilbury; being the first peer created by that monarch. He died the 2d of May, 1635, and was
Upon the accession of king Charles I. sir Horace Vere, as a reward for his services, was advanced to the peerage, by the title of lord Vere, baron of Tilbury; being the first peer created by that monarch. He died the 2d of May, 1635, and was buried in Westminster-abbey. He married a lady who was then the widow of Mr. John Hoby: she was the youngest daughter of sir John Tracy of Doddington, or Tuddington, in Gloucestershire. She died in 1671, at a great age. The parliament placed the younger children of Charles I. under the care of this lady, who was a person of great piety and worth, and in her punning epitaph, written by Dr. Simon Ford, is thus addressed,
bt but that his father’s being a Roman catholic recommended him to that nobleman’s notice. From this peer’s service it is easy to suppose he went into that of the sovereign,
, an useful historical writer
and herald, was son of Edward Walker, of Roobers, in
Neiherstowey in Somersetshire, gent by Barbara, daughter
of Edward Salkerid, of Corby-Castle in Cumberland, esq.;
and his grandfather, John Walker, was son of Edward, second son of Humphrey Walker, of Staffordshire, esq. He
was originally a domestic servant to the earl of Arundel, and
was appointed by him secretary at war, in the expedition
into Scotland in 1639. There is little doubt but that his
father’s being a Roman catholic recommended him to that
nobleman’s notice. From this peer’s service it is easy to
suppose he went into that of the sovereign, because he had
shewn himself equally faithful and dexterous. Charles I.
gave him the same post, to which, in June 1644, he added
that of clerk extraordinary of the privy council. He steadily adhered to the king in all his misfortunes. After the
battle of Cropredy Bridge, in 1644, being desired to wait
upon sir William Waller, one of the parliament generals,
with a message of grace, he requested that a trumpet might
first be sent for a pass, because “the barbarity of that people was notorious, so that they regarded not the law of
arms or of nations.
” His precaution was not unnecessary,
the trumpeter being sent back with the most marked eontempt.
another distinguished mark of the royal favour; his eldest son, then on his travels, being created a peer, by the title of Baron Walpole of Walpole. In 1725 he was made
It was not long before he acquired full ministerial power,
being appointed first lord commissioner of the treasury and
chancellor of the exchequer; and, when the king went
abroad in 1723, he was nominated one of the lords justices
for the administration of government, and was sworn sole
secretary of state. About this time he received another
distinguished mark of the royal favour; his eldest son, then
on his travels, being created a peer, by the title of Baron
Walpole of Walpole. In 1725 he was made knight of the
bath; and, the year after, knight of the garter. Into any
detail of the measures of his administration, during the
Jong time he remained prime or rather sole minister, it
would be impossible to enter in a work like this. They
are indeed so closely involved in the history of the nation
and of Europe, as to belong almost entirely to that department. His merit has been often canvassed with all the
severity of critical inquiry and it is difficult to discern the
truth through the exaggerations and misrepresentations of
party. But this difficulty has been lately removed in a
very great measure by Mr. Coxe’s elaborate “Memoirs of
sir Robert Walpole,
” a work admirably calculated to abate
the credulity of the public in the accounts of party-writers.
Although sir Robert had been called “the father of corruption
” (which, however, he was not, but certainly a great improver of it), and is said to have boasted that he
knew every man’s price *, yet, in 1742, the opposition
ary to the Statesgeneral; in 1741 was appointed a teller of the exchequer^ and in 1756 was created a peer of England, by the title of lord Walpole of Wolterton. His lordship
Mr. Coxe has also enriched the historical library with memoirs of Horatio Lord Walpole, brother to sir Robert, first earl of Orford. Horatio was born in 1678, and came early into public life. In 1706 he accompanied general Stanhope to Barcelona, as private secretary, and in 1707 was appointed secretary to Henry Boyle, esq. then chancellor of the Exchequer. In 1708, he went as secretary of an embassy to the emperor of Germany, and was present in the same capacity at the congress of Gertruydenberg in 1709. On sir Robert’s being nominated first lord of the treasury in 1715, he was made secretary to that board. In 1716 he was sent as envoy to the Hague; and in 1717 succeeded to the office of surveyor and auditor-general of all his majesty’s revenues in America, 'in consequence of a reversionary grant obtained some time before. In 1720 he was appointed secretary to the duke of Grafton, when lord-lieutenant of Ireland. In 1723 he commenced his. embassy at Paris, where he resided till 1727 as ambassador. In 1.730 he was made cofferer of his majesty’s housebold. In 1733 he was sent plenipotentiary to the Statesgeneral; in 1741 was appointed a teller of the exchequer^ and in 1756 was created a peer of England, by the title of lord Walpole of Wolterton. His lordship died Feb. 5, 1757.
igion so weakly supported. The personal enmity, which had been excited many years before between the peer and our author, had occasioned the former to direct much of
In 1751, Mr. Warburton published an edition of Pope’s
“Works,
” with notes, in nine volumes, octavo and in the
same year printed “An Answer to a Letter to Dr. Middleton, inserted in a pamphlet entitled The Argument of the
Divine Legation fairly stated,
” &c. 8vo. and “An Account of the Prophecies of Arise Evans, the Welsh Prophet, in the last Century;
” the latter of which pieces
afterwards subjected him to much ridicule. In 1753, Mr.
Warburton published the first volume of a course of Sermons, preached at Lincoln’s-inn, entitled “The Principles
of natural and revealed Religion occasionally opened and
explained;
” and this, in the subsequent year, was followed by a second. After the public had been some time
promised lord Bolingbroke’s Works, they were about this
time printed. The known abilities and infidelity of this
nobleman had created apprehensions, in the minds of many
people, of the pernicious effects of his doctrines; and
nothing but the appearance of his whole force could have
convinced his friends how little there was to be dreaded
from arguments against religion so weakly supported. The
personal enmity, which had been excited many years before
between the peer and our author, had occasioned the former
to direct much of his reasoning against two works of the
latter. Many answers were soon published, but none with
more acuteness, solidity, and sprightliness, than “A View
of Lord Bolingbroke’s Philosophy, in two Letters to a
Friend,
” The, Divine Legation
” having being called for, he
printed a fourth edition of the first part of it, corrected
and enlarged, divided into two volumes, with a dedication
to the earl of Hardwicke. The same year appeared “A
Sermon preached before his grace Charles duke of Marlborough president, and the Governors of the Hospital for
the small-pox and for inoculation, at the parish church
of St. Andrew, Holborn, on Thursday, April the 24th,
1755,
” 4to; and in Natural and Civil Events the
Instruments of God’s moral Government, a Sermon preached
on the last public Fast-day, at Lincoln’s-inn Chapel,
” 4to.
In Remarks on
Mr. David Hume’s Essay on the Natural History of Religion;
” which is said to have been composed of marginal
observations made by Dr. Warburton on reading Mr.
Hume’s book; and which gave so much offence to the author animadverted upon, that he thought it of importance
enough to deserve particular mention in the short account
of his life. On Oct. 11, in this year, our author was ad* Soon after he attained this pre- Neal’s History of the Puritans, which
ferment, he wrote the Remarks on are now added to his Works.
“vanced to the deanery of Bristol and in 175&republished
the second part of
” The Divine Legation,“divided into
two parts, with a dedication to the earl of Mansfield, which
deserves to be read by every person who esteems the wellbeing of society as a concern of any importance. At
the latter end of next year, Dr. Warburton received the
honour, so justly due to his merit, of being dignified
with the mitre, and promoted to the vacant see of
Gloucester. He was consecrated on the 20th of Jan.
1760; and on the 30th of the same month preached -before the House of Lords. In the next year he printed
” A
rational Account of the Nature and End of the Sacrament
of the Lord’s Supper,“12mo. In 1762, he published
” The
Doctrine of Grace: or, the office and operations of the
Holy Spirit vindicated from the insults of Infidelity and
the abuses of Fanaticism,“2 vols. 12mo, one of his performances which does him least credit; and in the succeeding year drew upon himself much illiberal abuse from
some writers of the popular party, on occasion of his complaint in the House of Lords, on Nov. 15, 1763, against
Mr. Wilkes, for putting his name to certain notes on the
infamous
” Essay on Woman.“In 1765, anotber edition
of the second part of
” The Divine Legation“was published, as volumes III. IV. and V.; the two parts printed
in 1755 being considered as volumes I. and II. It was this
edition which produced a very angry controversy between
him and Dr. Lowth, whom in many respects he found more
than his equal. (See Lowth, p. 438.) On this occasion
was published,
” The second part of an epistolary Correspondence between the bishop of Gloucester and the late
professor of Oxford, without an Imprimatur, i.e. without a
cover to the violated Laws of Honour and Society,“1766,
8vo. In 1776, he gave a new edition of
” The Alliance
between Church and State;“and
” A Sermon preached
before the incorporated Society for the Propagation of the
Gospel in foreign Parts, at the anniversary Meeting in the
parish church of St. Mary-le-bow, on Friday, Feb. 21,“8vo.
The next year produced a third volume of his
” Sermons,“dedicated to lady Mansfield and with this, and a single
” Sermon preached at St. Lawrence-Jewry on Thursday,
April 30, 1767, before his royal highness Edward duke of
York, president, and the governors of the London Hospital.
&c.“4to, he closed his literary labours. His faculties continued unimpaired for some time after this period; and, in
1769, he gave the principal materials to Mr. Ruffhead, for
his
” Life of Mr. Pope." He also transferred 500l. to lord
Mansfield, judge Wilmot, and Mr. Charles Yorke, upon
trust, to found a lecture in the form of a course of sermons; to prove the truth of revealed religion in general,
and of the Christian in particular, from the completion of
the prophecies in the Old and New Testament, which relate to the Christian church, especially to the apostacy of
Papal Rome. To this foundation we owe the admirable
introductory letters of bishop Hurd and the well- adapted
continuation of bishops Halifax and Bagot, Dr. Apthorp,
the Rev. R. Nares, and others. It is a melancholy reflection, that a life spent in the constant pursuit of knowledge frequently terminates in the loss of those powers, the
cultivation and improvement of which are attended to with
too strict and unabated a degree of ardour. This was in
some degree the misfortune of Dr. Warburton. Like Swift
and the great duke of Marlborough, he gradually sunk into
a situation in which it was a fatigue to him to enter into
general conversation. There were, however, a few old
and valuable friends, in whose company, even to the last,
his mental faculties were exerted in their wonted force;
and at such times he would appear cheerful for several
hours, and on the departure of his friends retreat as it were
within himself. This melancholy habit was aggravated by
the loss of his only son, a very promising young gentleman, who died of a consumption but a short time before
the bishop himself resigned to fate June 7, 1779, in the
eighty-first year of his age. A neat marble monument has
been lately erected in the cathedral of Gloucester, with the
inscription below *.
ing the succeeding reign his age and infirmities afforded an excuse for his no longer attending as a peer of parliament.
When Richard assumed the reins of government, on coming of age, one of his first measures was to appoint Wykeham lord chancellor, and to dismiss the administration which had the care of public affairs during his minority. The new ministers, however, unwilling to be suspected of owing their appointments to a fit of caprice, after a short time, professed to resign, that their conduct might be investigated in parliament; and what they wished, actually happened. The commons declared in favour of their conduct, and they were all restored. In conjunction with them, Wykeham had the satisfaction of being very instrumental in promoting public tranquillity, until his resignation of the great seal in 1391. After this he seems to have kept at a distance from the management of public affairs, and thus avoided the risk of countenancing those ruinous proceedings which led to the deposition of the king; and qluring the succeeding reign his age and infirmities afforded an excuse for his no longer attending as a peer of parliament.