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ARTES
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1817
SCIENTIA
VERITAS
OF THE
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
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ST-QUÆRIS-PENINSULAM-AMŒNA
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مشر محمد
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​808.8
R314
1799
Anne Newton
ANECDOTES
AND
BIOGRAPHY.
J
ANECDOTES
AND
BIOGRAPHY,
INCLUDING
MANY MODERN CHARACTERS
IN
THE CIRCLES'
OF
FASHIONABLE AND OFFICIAL LIFE,
SELECTED FROM THE
PORTFOLIOS OF A DISTINGUISHED LITERARY AND
POLITICAL CHARACTER, LATELY Deceased,
Alphabetically arranged.
BY L. T. REDE,
FROM GRAVE TO GAY, FROM WITTY TO SEVERE.- -Pope.
THE SECOND EDITION.
London :
Printed by J. W. MYERS, No. 2, Paternoster-row,
FOR CROSBY AND LETTERMAN, STATIONER'S-COURT, NEAK
PATERNOSTER-ROW; AND R. PITKEATHLEY,
TAVISTOCK-STREET.
1799.
FOL
04 - 24 f
English
севдожу
My name
25.46
54808
ADVERTISEMENT.
THE favourable reception which collec-
tions of this kind have received in all ages
will, it is prefumed, be a fufficient apology for
the following Publication. "He that amuſes
you," fays Lord Bacon, "is next to him that
inftructs you." "I pity the man," fays Dr.
Smith,* "who has no reliſh for Anecdote.
Should folitude, want of bufinefs, or misfor-
tunes of any kind, force fuch a man to feek
relief from books, alas! he finds them "But
formal dullneſs, tedious friends!" No moment
of time needs hang heavy on his hands; no
fituation, no circumstances, neither at home nor
abroad; neither in youth nor old age; neither
in profperity nor adverfity, but can be ren-
dered more agreeable while he can taſte the
intellectual pleaſures of a terfe and well-
told Anecdote." Suppofe that youth fhould
*Late of Mariana-College, America.
a 3
reap
vi
ADVERTISEMENT.
reap no other advantage from a work of this
nature than the power of employing thoſe
vacant hours, which, for the want of fuch
an agreeable companion, are but too often
ſpent in trifling vifits, cards, hunting, drink-
ing-matches, and other hurtful pleaſures;
even fuch a confideration is not the leaft in
its favour. But there is another fuperior to
this; fuch felections tend to enlarge the mind,
to excite emulation and a laudable curioſity,
to improve the temper, to ſoften the manners,
to footh the paffions, to fill up the pauſes of
converfation, to give a zeft to hilarity, to
cheriſh reflection, and to lead on to ftudies of
a more exalted clafs. With thefe views the
following collection was undertaken; ſeveral
of the Anecdotes are original, and fuch as
have appeared were thought worthy of a more
permanent medium than thoſe through which
they were at firſt conveyed.
:
CONTENTS.
Į
A.
ABERCÖRN, the late Earl and prefent Marquis
Actreffes
Addington, Dr.
Addiſon
Advertiſements
Affright
Age, old
Albans, Duke of, the late
Albany, Ducheſs
Page
I
4
56∞
8
9
II
12
17
19
Alchymy
Allen, Mr.
America
20
21
Animals
25
Angelotto, Cardinal
31
Antiquities
32
Antoinette, Marie, Queen of France
34
Apes
37
Apparitions, Aftrology, &c.
4I.
Archbiſhops
45
Arithmetic
46
Athlone, Earl
ibid.
1
Atkinſon,
viii
CONTENTS.
Atkinfon, Richard and Chriftopher
Auſterity of old Men
Auckland, Lord
Auditor of the Exchequer
Auſtria, Ann of
Page
47
48
49
50
51
B.
Bacon and Coke
53
Baddely, Mrs.
55
Barrington, Lord
ibid.
Barillon
Baſtile
1
57
58
ibid
Bathurst, Earl
Banks's (Sir Jofeph) Grandfather
Bath, Earl of, the late
Baume, la, or Lady's Grotto
Beckford, Alderman
Bedford, Duke of
62
64
ទ៩៩៩ន
Birds. See Animals.
Books
Bottetot, Lord
73
74
Bouille, Marquis
75
Buckinghamshire, Lord
76 -
Burton, Dr. John
77
Burials
78
Butler, Mifs, and Mifs Ponfonby
79
C.
Calvert, Alderman
80
Carnarvon, Earl
Carteret, Lord
Charles I.
82
83
84
Charles
CONTENTS.
ix
Charles V.
Charles IX.
Charon
Churchill
Clarke, Dr.
Cleland, John
Corn
Page
84
ibid
86
87
ibid.
88
Cole, Henry, Dr.
Coulthurſt, Mayor
89
90
१
92
Converts
93
Cooper, Lucy
93
Cromwell, Oliver
94
Richard
102
Cruden, Alexander
ibid.
D
Dancer, Daniel, Efq.
105
Dempfter, George, Efq.
106
D'Eon, Louis
107
Derby, Earl
108
Defcartes and Sir Kenelm Digby
109
Dogs
107
D'Orbizzi
III
Donne
112
Downing, Sir George
113
Dreams
115
Drelincourt
124
Drummond, Mr.
125
E
Elizabeth
Elweys, Sir Hervey
: 1
125
132
Etymology
CONTENTS.
Page
Etymology
Euler
133
135
F
Fanshaw, Lady
136
Captain
139
Farinelli
ibid.
Fenclon
140
Ferrers, Earl
142
Fish
144
Fitzherbert, Sir William
145
Fitzwilliam, Earl
146
Foley, Lord
147
Lady
Fordyce, the Banker
Fofter, Mr.
Fothergill, Dr.
A
Fox, Hon. Charles James
Fountain, Sir Andrew
Franklin, Dr.
·148
149
150
151
152
:
155
156
Gainsborough
Ganfel, General
Giants
Glafs, Captain
Glover, Philip, Eſq.
Goldfmith, Dr.
Grant, Captain
Grenville, Mr -
Lord
G
156
160
161
166
168
169
172
173
.174
Grofe,
CONTENTS.
xi
Groſe, Captain
Groathead, Bishop
Gwynn, Nell
Page
175
ibid.
13
H.
176
ibid.
177
179
180
184
185
186
ibid.
1
}
187
189
191
}
Halifax, Marquis
Hanway, Jonas
Harrington, Lord
Haftings, Warren
Heidegger
Hell
Henderfon
Henley, Anthony, Efq.
Orator
Herbert, Sir Edward
Hermit
Hill, Aaron
Holbein
Holbourn, Admiral
Holland, Lord, the firſt
Hough, Biſhop
Howard
Houſe, Samuel
Human Species
Hume, David
Jackfon, Omniſcient
Jacobus
James the Firſt
Idlenefs
Jefferies, Judge
1
192
193
195
196
197
198
200
208
J.
209
ibid.
211
1
212
214
Jennings,
xii
1
CONTENTS.
$
Page
Jennings, Soame
Sir Philip
Imagination
215
216
..
Ibid.
Incest
217
Indians
220
Infidelity
222
Johnſon, Dr.
223
Johnfton, Governor, the late
224
Judges, Scotch
225
Junius
226
K.
Kaye, Sir Richard
229
Kingſton, Ducheſs of
230
Kneller, Sir Godfrey
236
L.
Landaff, Biſhop of
238
Law Anecdote
240
Libel
Lloyd
Locke
248
249
251
Long, Sir Walter
258
Louis XIV.
ibid.
XV.
265
Lully
267
Lyons, Biſhop of Cork
Macdonald, Sir Archibald
Madmen
Magliabechi
Man in the Iron Maſk
Mancheſter, Duke of
Manners, modern
Ibid.
M.
269
270.
271
277
280
281
Mansfield,
CONTENTS.
XIN
Page
Mansfield, Earl
283
Mara, Madam
284
Marlborough, Duke of
285
Marmontel
287
Mary, Queen of Scots
288
Mafon, Sir John
289
Matilda, Queen of Denmark
Ibid.
Maupin, La
Melcombe, Lord
Milbank, Admiral
Milton
Monk, General
Montague
More, Sir Thomas
Moyfey, Dr.
Murder
291
1
Ibid.
292
293
296
298
299
302
303
Mufic
Naſh, Beau
308
N.
309
Newcaſtle, Duke of
Newſpapers
Newton, Biſhop
310
Ibid.
313
Sir Ifaac
Northington, Earl
314
315
O.
O'Kelly, Count
O'Brien, John, the Honourable
Orange, Prince of, his favourite Dogs
318
320
322
P.
Parallels between civilized Man and the Savage
323
Paine, Tom
325
Peerage
326
A
Peter
xiv.
CONTENTS.
}
Peter the Great
"2
the Cruel
Piozzi, Mrs.
Pitt, the First Earl of Chatham
--, the preſent Premier
Pole, Cardinal
Page
1
327
331
333
334
335
335
Pope, Alexander
338
•
Popular Sayings
Pryfe, Sir John
Proſtitutes
Pye, Sir Thomas
342
347
348
352
Quacks, &c.
352
Quin
353
R.
Retirement
356
Richlieu, Marſhal ·
-, Alphonfo de
Rigby
Robertfon, Dr.
Rodney, Lord
Rokeby, Lord
Rofs, Walter
David
Rouffeau
Ruffel, Lord
Lady
1
}
Rutland, Duke of, the late
357
359
ibid.
360
361
362
363
ibid.
365
368
369
372'
}
Sacchini
Sailors
1
S.
373
374
Sartine
CONTENTS.
Xv
Page
Sartine
376
Serpent
378
Shaftesbury
ibid.
Shebbeare, Dr.
379
Sherlock, Biſhop
381-
Shrewſbury, Counteſs of
ibid.
Shynefs
385
Slave-Trade
385
Spencer, John, Efq.
386
State-Paper Office
389
Steele, Sir Richard
391
Sterne
ibid.
1
Stuart, Athenian
Stone, Dr. George
Strange, Lord
Stuckley, Thomas
396
ibid.
397
398
Sunderland, Earl of
400
Swedenbourg
401
Swift
ibid.
Synonymous Words
410
T.
Taylor, Sir Robert
4IL
Temperance
412
Thorius, Dr. Raphael
413
Time
414
Title-Deed
415
Thornton, Bonnell
416
Tourneur, Monfieur
417
Townſhend, Colonel
ibid.
Charles
419
Tranflations
424
Trawley, Lord
ibid.
Valour
CONTENTS,
Page
V.
Valour
Vanity
Ventriloquiſt
Vefuvius
Virtue
425
(
426
427
429
1
432
Voltaire
Voyage-Writers
433
434
W.
Wallace, Lady
435
Walpole, Sir Robert
ibid.
Warburton, Biſhop
438
Wefley, John
442
Weymouth, Lord, the late
443
William the Third
444
Willis, the Rev. Dr.
447
Captain Richard
748
Wife, Sale of
449
Wolf, Baron
451
Wren, Sir Chriſtopher
452
Women
453
Wake, Dr. William
454
Wilkes, John, Efq.
455
Williamfon, Rev. Dr.
456
Wright, the Rev. Mr.
457
Writing
ibid.
X.
Ximenes
York, Philip
Young, Dr.
458
Y
#
458
31
459
ANEC-
!
1
ANECDOTES, &c.
ABERCORN,
The late Earl and prefent Marquis.
HE late Earl of Abercorn was born in 1712,
and fucceeded his father in 1744. He was the
only nobleman of the kingdom not of the blood
royal who united in his own perſon the honour of the
Peerage of England, Scotland, and Ireland.
His Lordſhip was remarkable, in early life, for the
ſtiffneſs and auſterity of his manners. He is faid to
have made the tour of Europe in ſo perpendicular a
ftile, as never to have touched the back of his car-
riage, Although, at one part of his life, he was much
about the Court, he never booed.
When the prefent Queen landed from Germany,
Lord Abercorn received her at his houfe, where fhe
and her fuite ſlept : foon after his Lordship went to
St. James's, when his Majefty thanked him for his
attention to the Queen, faying, he was afraid hẹr
B
vifit
་
ABERCORN.
vifit had given him a great deal of trouble, he replied,
"A great deal of trouble, indeed!"
His brother, who was a churchman, once folicited
him to apply for a living which was vacant, and in the
gift of the Crown, worth £1000 a year. Lord A.'s
anſwer was as follows:-"I never afk favours.
clofed is a deed of annuity of £1000 per annum.
Yours,
In-
Abercorn."
He generally viſited his feat at Duddingſtone, in
the vicinity of Edinburgh, once a year, where he
remained five or fix weeks; but, contrary to the
maxims of Scotch hofpitality, was highly offended if
any perſon preſumed to viſit him without the forma-
lity of a card of invitation. Dr. Robertfon, the ce-
lebrated hiſtorian, not aware of this, went to`pay his
refpects to the Noble Earl, and found him walking in
a fhrubbery lately planted. The Doctor, wiſhing
to pay à compliment to the foil, obferved, the fhrubs
had
Lordship's laft vifit.
grown confiderably fince his
"They have nothing elfe to do," replied his Lord-
ſhip, and, immediately turning on his heel, left the
Doctor, without uttering another word.
Theſe were the peculiarities of his character, which
made him very unpopular in his native country. He
died immenfely rich.
He was fucceeded by his nephew, the Honoura-
ble JOHN JAMES HAMILTON, now Marquis of
Abercorn.
He
ANECDOTE.
3
When making the grand tour as Mr. Hamilton, this
Nobleman was not a little mortified that he could not
with propriety ſport a coronet over his arms, his un-
cle being then alive, and he only a Commoner. It
was a law of police, to which all travellers muſt con-
form in their journies through France, Italy, &c.
that every perſon ſhall give in his name and quality
to the landlord of the hotel where he fleeps, who is
obliged to infert them in a book kept for that purpoſe,
the contents of which are every night communicated
to the Commandant. Mr. Hamilton affumed the title
of Count, ftiling himſelf, in the landlord's book,
Comte Hereditaire, by which title he has fince been ge-
rally known.
The fhrewd aubergiftes of France foon diſcovered
the weak fide of their gueft; they therefore called
him My Lord, and charged him accordingly.
-
ANECDOTE.
The Marquis determining, at leaſt in his own ar-
rangements, to obtain a punctuality from his vifitors,
invited a large party to dinner. The card mentioned
five o'clock precifely.
His Lordſhip found himſelf attended at that hour
by a fingle gentleman: he, however, fat down to din-
ner, and partook of the first-courfe. About fix, his
vifitors began to drop in; his Lordſhip was at dinner.
No apology was made; they feated themſelves in
awkward confufion, looked at their watches, and
took
B 2
4
ACTRESSES.
took dinner. The ftill more-polite part of the affem-
bly arrived about feven, and, inftead of dinner, were
complimented with coffee.
ACTRESSES.
1. When Mrs. GLYNN made her entrée in Lady
Townley, fome years fince, in Dublin, three high-
bred women of fafhion in the ftage-box grofsly in-
fulted her by talking loud, coughing, &c. The
Actreſs, greatly diftreffed, ftopped, burst into
tears, and retired. The Ladies, unabaſhed, for a
moment enjoyed their triumph, when a great uproar
enfued, and go on, go on, was heard from all parts of
the houſe. A young collegian, Sir R— J—, then
fuddenly jumped on the bench, in the middle of the
pit, and exclaimed to the audience, "My friends,
who fit about me, are determined the play fhall not
go on till thofe three drunken gentlemen in women's
clothes leave the ftage-box." This addrefs was uni-
verfally applauded, and, being followed by a fhower
of oranges and apples from both galleries, the Ama-
zonians retired in the utmoſt confufion amidſt the
hiffes of the ſpectators.
2. Mademoiſelle Vanhope appeared upon the ftage in
the fourteenth year of her age. Her father, who
played Agamemnon to her Iphigenia, was a great per-
former, and her mother was alfo diftinguiſhed upon
the Stage.
It
1
ADDINGTON.
LO
It was this Lady, who, finding fhe had the misfor-
tune of diſpleaſing the inhabitants of the pit, (who
fit, or rather ſtand, there, the umpires of fame,) by·
a witty allufion to her being married to an actor, and
of courfe folicitous to tread the ftage in company
with him, thus parodied two lines in her part of Ra-
cine's Tragedy of Phedra and Hypolitus.
O haine de Vénus! O fatale colère ! ‹
C'est vous que m'expofer aux fureurs du Parterre!
DR. ADDINGTON, Father of the Speaker.
DR. ADDINGTON was fent for by a Gentleman whofe
fon was ſuppoſed to be at the point of death. While
the Doctor was in the fick room, the family affembled
below in anxious expectation, and, after a long and
painful pauſe, a near relation of the patient hurried
out of the room, to enquire the reafon of his delay.
On the ftairs he found the phyfician and apo
thecary, who was a Foxite, involved in a difpute
with Dr. Addington on the India Bill.
"Dear Sir, (faid the young man, labouring with
fraternal affection, and angry with the phyfician,)
there is no one in this houfe denies the tranſcendant
merits of the heroes at Burton Pynfent, but my poor
brother will I fear be dead before you get through the
India Bill."-The medical practitioner felt the hint,
went out, and preſcribed.
# 3
ADDISON,
ADDISON.
1
ADDISON.
Mr. Addifon, having received certain hints, which
it was impoffible to miſunderſtand, from a married
lady, the wife of his friend, he fent her the following
letter.
"Madam,
"It would be ridiculous in me, after the late
intimation you were pleafed to favour me with, to
affect any longer an ignorance of your fentiments,
however oppofite an approbation of them must be to
the dictates of reafon and juftice. This expreffion I
am fenfible may appear inconfiftent in the mouth of
a polite man, but I hope it is no difgrace to a fincere
.one. In matters of importance, delicacy ought to give
way to truth, and ceremony muſt be ſacrificed to can-
dour. An honeft freedom is the privilege of ingenu-
ity, and the mind, which is above the practice of de-
ceit, can never ftoop to be guilty of flattery upon
fuch a point.
"Give me leave, Madam, to remark, that the
connexion fubfifting between your huſband and my-
felf is of a nature too ftrong for me to think of inju-
ring him in a point where the happineſs of his life is
fo materially concerned. You cannot be infenfible
of his goodneſs or my obligations; and fuffer me to
obſerve, that, were I capable of ſuch an action, how
much foever my behaviour might be rewarded by
your paffion, I muſt be deſpiſed by your reafon, and,
though
1
7
ADDISON.
though I might be eſteemed as a lover, I fhould be
hated as a man. Highly fenfible of the power of
your beauty, I am determined to avoid an interview
where my peace and honour may be for ever loft.-.
You have paffions, you ſay, Madam; give me leave
to anſwer, you have underſtanding alfo; you have a
heart ſuſceptible of the tendereft impreffions, but a
foul, if you would chooſe to awaken it, beyond an
unwarrantable indulgence of them; and let me in-
treat you, for your own fake, to refift any giddy im-
pulfe or ill-placed inclination which fhall induce you
to entertain a thought prejudicial to your own ho-
nour, and repugnant to your virtue.
"I too, Madam, am far from being infenfible. I
too have paffions, and would my fituation, a few
years ago, have allowed me a poffibility of fucceed-
ing, I fhould legally have folicited that happineſs
which you are now ready to beftow. I had the ho-
nour of ſupping at Mr. D.'s, where I firft faw you,
and I ſhall make no fcruple in declaring, that I ne-
ver faw a perſon ſo irrefiftibly beautiful, nor a manner
fo exceffively engaging; but the fuperiority of your
circumſtances prevented any declaration on my fide,
although I burnt with a flame as ftrong as ever fired
the human breaſt. I laboured to conceal it. Time
and abfence at length abated a hopeleſs paffion, and
your marriage with my patron effectually cured it.
Do not, Madam, endeavour to rekindle that flame;
do not deftroy a tranquillity I have juſt begun to
taſte, and blaſt your own honour, which has been hi-
therto
}
B 4
8
ADVERTISEMENTS.
therto unfullied. My beſt eſteem is yours; but,
ſhould I promiſe more, confider the fatal neceffity I
fhould be under of removing myſelf from an inter-
courſe fo dangerous. In any other commands, dif-
pofe of,
Madam,
Your humble Servant."
ADVERTISEMENTS.
See an excellent Effay upon this fubject in Grofe's
Olio.
1. The following is from Lloyd's Evening Poft, in
1774:
"Money wanted-when it can be procured-
100l.-No fecurity can be given for the principal,
and poffibly the intereft may not be punctually paid.
Under the above circumftances, fhould any one be
found willing to lend the defired fum, he will much
furprife and particularly oblige the, Author of this
Advertiſement.-Direct for A. B. C. George's Cof-
fee-houſe, Haymarket."
2. We have heard much of cork-rumps, falfe calves,
artificial teeth, &c. but the following literally tran-
fcribed hand-bill of a City-Oculift demonftrates that
there are other brilliant decorations wanting, before
the perfonal charms of the modern beau or belle can
be deemed complete.
“Curious enameled Eyes, upon an improved Plan;-
having the tone of action like life-is a great pre-.
ſervation to the inner eye, worn with the utmoſt eaſe
and
AFFRIGHT.
9
and comfort, acting like a glove as a defence againſt
colds, heats, duft, &c. Put into the head without
pain by John Watſon, at Mr. Watſon's, Eye-builder,
Church ſtreet, Coverley-fields, Mile-end New Town,
London."
+
1
AFFRIGHT.
When the Duke of Alva was in Bruffels, about
the beginning of the tumults in the Netherlands, he
fat down before Hulft, in Flanders. There was a
Provoſt Marſhal in his army who was a favourite of
the Duke, and had put fome perſons to death by a
fecret commiffion from him. There was alfo in the
army one Captain Bolen, an intimate friend of the
Provoſt's, who one evening late went to the Cap-
tain's tent, and brought with him a Confeffor and
Executioner, as was his cuſtom; he told the Captain
he was come to execute his Excellency's commiffion
and martial law upon him. The Captain, ftarting up
with amazement, aſked him, wherein he had offended
the Duke? The Provoft anfwered, "Sir, I am not
to expoftulate with you, but to execute my com-
miffion, therefore pray prepare your felf, for there
are you ghoſtly father and executioner.” He then
fell on his knees before the prieft, and having con-
feffed, the hangman was going to put the halter about
his neck, but the Provoft threw it away, and burſting
into a fit of laughter, told him, he had no fuch
order, and only meant to try his courage, how he
would bear the terror of death. The Captain looked
fſternly
10
AFFRIGHT.
fternly at him, and faid, "Then, Sir, get out of
my tent, for you have done me a very ill office."
The next morning, though a young man, about
thirty, he had his hair turned quite gray, to the
admiration of the whole army, as well as the Duke,
who queftioned him concerning it, but he would
confefs nothing.
The year following the Duke was recalled, and
in his journey to the Court of Spain, was to paſs
by Saragoffa, and the Captain and Provoſt attended
him. The Duke being to ftay fome time in Sara-
goffa, the Captain told him there was a thing in
that town well worth feeing, which was a Cafa de
Loco, a bedlam-houfe. Well, faid the Duke, go,
tell the Warden I will be there to-morrow in the
afternoon. The Captain then went to the Warden,
and told him the Duke's defign, and that the chief
reafon that moved him to it was, that he had an
unruly Provoſt about him, who was fubject to fits
of phrenzy, and that he was determined to try the
effect of confining him fome days in Bedlam.
The Duke came accordingly with a train of
attendants, among whom was the Provoft, fuperbly
arrayed. Captain Bolen then, pointing to the Pro-
voft, faid to the Warden," That's he," on which
he was taken afide, deprived of his ſword, and hur-
ried down to a dungeon, where he laid in this fitua-
tion two nights and a day, when a gentleman, going
accidentally to fee the houſe, happened to peep into the
cell,
AGE.
11
cell, and difcovered him. The poor Provoft con-
jured him to acquaint the Duke with his fate, the
cauſe of which he could by no means deviſe. The
gentleman complied with his rèqueft, and the Duke,
aſtoniſhed at the incident, fent for the Warden, with
his priſoner, who appeared, covered with feathers
and ftraw. The Duke, bursting into laughter, aſked
the Warden the cauſe of his confinement. The
Warden replied, "Sir, it was by virtue of your
Excellency's commiffion, brought me by Captain
Bolen." The Captain then advanced, and thus ad-
dreffed the Duke; "Sir, you have often aſked me how
thefe hairs of mine grew gray fo fuddenly;" he then
repeated the affair in Flanders, and added, that he
had ever fince racked his invention to obtain revenge
on the Provoſt for making him old before his time.
The Duke laughed heartily at the ftory, and effected
-a perfect reconciliation between the parties.
AGE, (OLD.)
1. Jane Forrefter, of Abbey Laddercoft, in Cum-
berland, is now in the 138th year of her age. When
Cromwell befieged the city of Carliſle, 1646, fhe
remembered a horfe's head fold for 2s. 6d. before
the garrifon furrendered. At the martyrdom of
Charles I. fhe was 19 years of age.
She has an
only daughter living, aged 103, and there are fix
women now living where the refides, the youngeſt
of whom is 99 years of age.----Public Advertifer,
March 9, 1768.
In
{
་
12
ALBANS.
2. In the church-yard of Ware, in Hertfordshire,
is the following infcription:-
"In memory of William Mead, M. D. who
departed this life 28th October, 1652, aged 148
years and 9 months."
#
3. In 1676 died a woman in the parish of Guy-
thien, 164 years old, of good memory and health-
ful at that age.
ST. ALBANS, DUKE, (the late.)
Striking Specimen of his Extravagance in the Capital
of the Auftrian Low Countries.
It must be premiſed that his Grace had a rival in
parade and ſplendor in the perſon of Sir Lambert
Blackwell, and nothing can be conceived more ideotic
than the means they purſued to outſhine each other.
Among others, the Duke being engaged to dine
with the Knight, found him dreffed in a brocade
of the moſt ſuperb fabric of the Lyons manufacture.
On return of the vifit, fome time afterwards, his
Grace had taken care to provide a fuit of cloaths of
the fame coftly materials, for the fervant who waited
behind his chair at table.
A continuance of fimilar inftances of extrava-
gance foon produced thoſe diſgraceful circumftances
with which every one is acquainted; but, perhaps,
it is not fo univerfally known, that, after he had ob-
tained
ALBANS.
13
1
tained his liberty, and was enabled, by the melio-
ration of his affairs, to return and live with comfort
in his own country, he ſhould again quit it to refide
in the very place where he had been fo expoſed and
infulted, and where, from not having adjuſted every
demand upon him, he was liable to a repetition of
former difgrace. The only reaſon ever affigned
for this extraordinary conduct was found in his obedi-
ence to the will of a favourite valet-de-chambre,
who was born at Bruffels, and was refolved to paſs
the remainder of his days in the place of his nativity.
His Grace's Anceflor was
MRS. NELL GWYN,
A very fingular Woman, and an extraordinary Inftance
of the Caprice of Fortune.
The origin of this perfon was of the loweſt rank,
and her employment in that city, where one of her
defcendants enjoys the emoluments of the prelacy,
of the most inferior kind; indeed, it is there, or in
the neighbourhood, that the tradition of the place
ſuppoſes her to have been born. From thence, by one
of the many tranfitions which tranſplant individuals
of the labouring clafs from one place to another,
ſhe became an inhabitant of the metropolis, and the
fervant of a fruiterer, who was, probably, one of
thoſe who attended the play-houſe, as it appears
that in this character fhe firft obtained admiffion in-
to the theatre in Drury-lane.
What
14
ALBANS.
What favour of fortune advanced her from this
humble fituation to the ftage, whether from the gene-
ral recommendation which her natural humour and
vivacity gave her, or a paffion which Mr. Hart, the
player, had for her, is unknown. It is certain fhe
was a favourite of Dryden's, who gave her the moſt
Thewy and alluring parts in his comedics, and wrote
feveral prologues and epilogues exprefsly for her,
but the more immediate caufe of her becoming an
object of the Monarch's affection was as follows:
At the Duke's houfe, under Killegrew's patent, the
celebrated Nokes had appeared in a hat, larger than
Piftol's, which pleaſed the audience fo much as to
help off a bad play; Dryden cauſed a hat to be made
of the circumference of a large coach-wheel, and
as Mrs. Gwyn was low in ftature, made her ſpeak
an epilogue under the umbrella of it, with its brim
ftretched out, in its utmoft horizontal extenfion.
No fooner did ſhe appear in this ſtrange drefs, than
the houſe was in convulfions of laughter. Among
the reft, the King gave the fulleft proof of approba-
tion, by going behind the fcenes immediately after
the play, and taking her home in his own coach to
fupper with him.
After this elevation, fhe ftill continued on the
ftage, and though in general comedy fhe did not
rank with Betterton, Marfhall, Lee, Bourell, &c.
for the airy, fantaftic, fprightly exhibitions of the
comic Mufe, her genius was moft aptly calculated,
and, according to the tafte of thofe times, fhe was
confidered
ALBANS.
15
#
confidered the beft prologue and epilogue fpeaker
on either theatre.
It now remains to confider her as the miſtreſs of a
King, and here fhe nobly belied the baſeneſs of her ori-
gin, and that feminary of vice in which ſhe was bred.
Mrs. Gwyn met and bore her good fortune as if fhe
had been bred to it, difcovering neither avarice,
pride, nor oftentation; fhe remembered all her thea-
trical friends, and did them fervices; fhe generouſly
paid off her debt of gratitude to DRYDEN, and
was the patronefs of OTWAY and LEE.
When ſhe became more immediately connected
with the King, that gay monarch was already fur-
rounded with miftreffes. The Dutchefſes of Portf-
mouth and Plymouth, with Miſs Davis, and others,
were confidered to be in that capacity, but theſe
were known to have been unreftrained in their con-
duct. Mrs. Gwyn preſerved her character of fidelity
to the laft, and being once folicited by a Sir John
Germain, to whom fhe had loft a confiderable fum
of money at play, to exchange the debt for other
favors, the no leſs honeſtly than wittily replied, No,
Sir John, I am too good a fportfwoman to lay the dog
where the deer ſhould lie.
She was not only the favourite of the Monarch,
but the favourite of the people, and, though that age
abounded with fatires and lampoons against the reft of
the King's miſtreffes, as the caufes of political difal-
ters, Mrs. Gwyn, except in the inftance of a few
lines -
16
ALBANS.
lines written by Lord Rochefter, not only eſcaped,
but even met their approbation, as fhe never trou-
bled herſelf with politics. She was munificent in he
charities, fociable with her friends, and what was
fingular enough, piqued herſelf on her regard for
the Church of England, contrary to the then difpo-
fition of the Court.
As a proof how much ſhe was in the favour of the
people, an eminent Goldſmith, who died about forty
years fince, in the 79th year of his age, has been of-
ten heard to relate, that, when he was an apprentice,
his maſter made a moft expenfive fervice of plate, as a
preſent from the King to the Ducheſs of Portſmouth,
and that a great number of people uſed to croud the
ſhop to gratify their curofity, and throw out curfes
againſt the Duchefs; but that all were unanimous
in wiſhing the preſent had been for Mrs. Gwyn.
In her perfon, according to her picture by Lely,
ſhe was low in ftature, red haired, and had what the
French call en bon point. There is a buft now to be
feen of her at Bagnigge-Wells, formerly her country-
houfe. She had remarkable fmall but lively eyes:
her foot was of the moſt diminutive fize, and uſed to
be the fubject of much mirth to her merry paramour.
She had a very fine underſtanding, was humour-`
ous, witty, and poffeffed the talents ſo neceffary to
enliven converfation in an eminent degree, and ge-
nerally kept her place at table with the King, the
Lord Rochefter, Shaftesbury, &c. till they quitted the
bounds of decency, when fhe never failed to retire.
She
ALBANY.
17
>
She lived long enough to fee, and without doubt
to lament, the decline of that family which had raiſed.
her to rank and fortune, having the good fenſe to
avoid meddling with the politics of the times.-
After the King's death, fhe purchaſed a houfe in
Pall-Mall, where fhe lived many years with an un-
blemiſhed reputation, and where fhe died in 1691,
and was buried with great funeral folemnity in the
parifh-church of St. Martin in the Fields, to the
ringers of which, among other valuable donations,
ſhe left a fum of money to ſupply them with a weekly
entertainment, which they enjoy to this day.
Dr. Tenniſon, afterwards Archbishop of Canter-
bury, preached her funeral fermon.
ALBANY, (DUCHESS.)
She was the daughter of the late Pretender by a
Miſs Walkenſhaw, whofe fifter, at the time of her
connection with Charles, Prince of Wales, (as he
was called,) lived on terms of fimilar intimacy with
Frederic, Prince of Wales, at Leiceſter-houſe.
Notwithſtanding the ftrong attachment the Preten-
der entertained for Mifs Walkenfhaw, he refuſed, in
oppofition to repeated folicitations, to recogniſe her as
his daughter till the laſt year of his life, when he ſent
for her from France to Florence, where he refided,
and by virtue of his royal prerogative created her
Duchefs of Albany, and made her his heir; in con-
fequence of which the received a large fortune in
C
the
18
ALBANY.
the French funds, and a confiderable quantity of va-
luable jewels, belonging to the Crown of England,
which were taken from this country by James II. on
his abdication.
Although the Pretender fo long refufed acknow-
ledging her as his daughter, the Cardinal of York,
his brother, always confidered her as his niece, and,
allowed her a penfion of 6000 livres per ann. He
placed her under the care of his kinſwoman, the Prin-
cefs De Guemenée, mother of the Cardinal De Rohan,
from whom the received her education, which was
the moft refined and accompliſhed poffible.
The circumſtances of the attachment which gave
the Ducheſs of Albany birth muſt have a place in the
hiftory of Great-Britain, when fecret Cabinets fhall
be opened for future Dalrymples and Macpherſons ;
for then it will appear that the Pretender's connection
with the fifter of a bed-chamber woman at Court, in
addition to the indolent and fottifh life which he led
at Bouillon, in the year 1756, at a time when almoſt
general difcontent againſt the Government in England
prevailed, and his party faw an opening favourable
to their views, was the cauſe, firſt, of remonftrance,
and afterwards of a final deſertion of him by all the
friends of the houfe of Stuart.
The feat of the late John, Earl of Weſtmoreland, at
Merreworth, in Kent, was the place where the Chief of
the party met. It was agreed then to repreſent to him
in ftrong colours the dangers that arofe to them from
any
ALCHYMY.
19
any intercourfe with him, whilft there was a moral cer-
tainty of communication of fecrets of the utmoſt confe-
quence to their lives and fortunes, by means of Mifs
Walkenfhaw to her fifter at Leiceſter houſe, and the
impoffibility of any advantages arifing from their ut-
moſt exertions at that moſt favourable jun&ture, un-
lefs he arouſed himſelf from his then inglorious inac-
tivity.
The late Mr. James Dawkins charged himſelf with
the commiffion. He went to Bouillon, where he
found the Prince wrapped up in Mifs Walkenfhaw,
immerſed in the groffeft fenfuality, inſenſible to the
repreſentation of his adherents, and carelefs of all
confequences. Mr. Dawkins, on his return to Eng-
land, made his report to the fame Convention at the
fame place, when it was refolved, that, under fuch a
Chief, there were no hopes for the Jacobite cauſe,
and that there remained nothing for them but to make
their peace at St. James's, at the firſt favourable
moment. This offered itſelf at the demise of the
Crown in 1760. The reft is remembered.
ALCHYMY.
This vifionary purfuit is well defcribed by M.
Bailli.
"Alchymia eft capta meretrix, omnes invi-
tat, neminem admittit, eft fine arte ars, cujus principium
eft fcire, medium mentiri, finis mendicare."-The ftudy
of Alchymy may be compared to a coquet; fhe
fmiles
c a
20
ALLEN.
fmiles invitation to every one, but grants her favours
to no one. It is an art without rules, whofe begin-
ning holds out a ſemblance of knowledge, whofe mid-
dle is falfehood, and whofe end is beggary.
}
ALLEN, (MR.)
Mr. Allen, who has been univerfally honoured
with the epithet of good, was originally born to no
poffeffions; a fund of good fenfe however fhewed
him the moſt likely method of procuring them, and
his conduct proved the antient adage, “that every
man is the maker of his own fortune." The crofs
pofts all over England were of his contrivance; theſe
he farmed from the Government, and they turned
out highly to his advantage.
An eftate he bought near Bath contained a quarry,
from whence the ſtones for building the moſt beauti-
ful parts of that town were taken. By this eftate he
gained fo much, that, although he gave numberless
benefactions to the indigent, yet he died worth more
than 100,000l.
It is told of this excellent man, that he once court-
ed a young lady, whofe father wanted to drive the
match, as it was a very advantageous onė. The
young Lady was however pre-engaged to another,
which, when Allen knew, he generously portioned
qut his miſtreſs from his own fortune, and gave her
away himſelf to his rival.
Pope
1
AMERICA.
21
Pope thus fpeaks of him,
Let modeft Allen, with ingenuous fhame,
Do good by ſtealth, and bluſh to find it fame.
1
}
AMERICA.
1. Thoſe writers who maintain that the New World
was peopled by the inhabitants of the Northern part of
Afia, which region they name Scythia, have this quef-
tion to anſwer: Why do we not there find thoſe hor-
fes, bulls, camels, animals, of fo great utility, nor
any other belonging to our Continent? The Ameri
cans were unable to manage horſes, and yet the Scy-
thians were in the continual habit of riding.
2. Beyond the Obi, in the immenfe regions of Tar
tary, is a great river, called Kayonia, which receives
the waters of another, known by the name of the
Lend. At the Kevonia, where it difcharges itſelf in-
to the Frozen Sea, lies a large ifland, frequented by
a vaft number of people, who refort to it for the
purpoſe of killing certain amphibious animals, which
are found there in great abundance, which the peò-
ple of the country call Behemots. Thefe creatures
are frequently feen' afleep on the ice in the Frozen
Sea. The hunters or fishermen often get upon the
ice for the purpoſe of killing their prey. Great af-
fiduity is requifite upon this occafion, therefore the
hunters commonly take their wives with them to
affift in the chace. It frequently happens, that,
C 3
whilft
>
22
AMERICA.
whilft theſe poor people are engaged in this bufineſs,
a thaw comes fuddenly on, by which this immenſe
plain of ice is inftantly broken into many floating
iflands. Upon fome of thefe, the hunters are fre-
quently wafted to the fhore, from which they ori-
ginally ventured; but, when the wind blows from
the fhore, thefe unfortunate men are never feen again
by their countrymen ; whether they perifh through
hunger and cold at fea, or are driven to fome other
coaft, is unknown.
<
It is not at all improbable but fome of theſe float-
ing iſlands may have been driven towards the point
of North America, which lies at no great diftance
from that part of Afia which projects into the ſea of
Tartary. What renders this opinion extremely pro-
bable is, that the Americans, who inhabit the parts
here alluded to, have exactly the fame complexion
and features with the Tartars, who live upon the
ifland mentioned as fituated at the mouth of the Ka-
vonia, and precifely the fame fpecies of beafts and
animals as are found on the borders of the fea of
Tartary, that are ſeen in the moft Northern parts of
the Continent of America,
3. Dr. Michaelis, Phyfician to the German part of
the army in America, in a letter to Dr. Forfter, re-
lative to the large unknown beafts in America, adds
his opinion to the authority of Dr. Hunter, that
the animal is neither a fea-horfe nor an elephant. "
Dr.
AMERICA.
23
!
Dr. M. fays, according to an Indian account,
(which however he does not believe,) this animal is
ſtill to be found alive in the Weſtern parts of Ame-
rica. Dr. H.'s examination of the bones, tranfmit-
ted to him, fully eſtabliſhes that the huge beafts to
which they belonged were of the carnivorous kind.
See what Carver fays on this ſubject.
4. I have ſeen a Planter, whofe name was Chape-
ron, who forced one of his negroes to go into a heat-
ed oven, where the poor wretch expired, and his
jaws being fhrivelled up, the barbarous Chaperon
faid, "I believe the fellow laughs," and took a po-
ker to ftir him up. From that time he grew a fcare
crow to the flaves, who, when they had done any
thing amifs, were threatened by their mafters with,
"I will fell thee to Chaperon,”—Note in Bofu's
Travels over Louifiania, tranflated by Fofter.
When the Spaniards difcovered America, they
carried the Goſpel in one hand and the fword in the
other; thofe of the Indians, who accepted the for-
mer, were enrolled in the number of the bleffed, and
condemned to the mines; thofe who did not believe
it, were fometimes run through, and fometimes, to
give them a taſte of thoſe torments to which they in-
formed them they would be everlaſtingly configned,
roaſted them alive. For a detail of the cruelty of the
Spaniards to theſe people, fee Edwards's Hiftory of
Jamaica.
C 4
5. The
24
AMERICA,
5. The American States in New England have
publiſhed a Book of Common Prayer. It is ac-
companied with a preface, fetting forth, that the Book
of Common Prayer, as uſed in England, had long
been complained of as containing many things that
favoured too much of Popery. They then acknow-
ledge their obligations to Mr. Lindſey and other Di-
vines, whoſe plans they have adopted.
The moft ftriking particulars are theſe :
All the prayers are of the Unitarian ftamp, and
Chrift, the Saviour of the World, is no where men-
tioned but as the Son of God and the Mediator. The
Litany is confequently much fhortened, and adapt-
ed to the preſent reigning powers, and their ftate of
government, inſtead of King and Parliament; Chrift-
mas day is termed the birth-day of Chrift, and Ash-Wed-
nefday much ſhortened, the curfes and bleffings be-
ing left out every where. The office of Matrimony
is fhortened, and the word obey is left out in the
women's part.
The Lord's Prayer is like Mr. Lind-
ley's,-"Our Father, who art in heaven;" and, in the
Belief, all the part about defcending into hell is left
out. In the ceremony of Baptifm, the child is to have
three or more fponfors from the parents and relations
of the family, but no Godfather nor Godmother, and no
figning with the Crofs. The Gloria Patri is left out,
and fome doxologies introduced inftead of it. In
the Pſalms, there are particular parts printed in Italie,
which the Editor fays may be omitted in public wor-
1
fhip,
!
1
25
ANIMALS.
ſhip, as they are liable to be miſunderſtood, and want
explanation to common readers.
There are fome other alterations, particularly
wherever the Chriftian fyftem of atonement is men-
tioned, and the adoration or worship of the ſecond
Perfon in the Trinity. The Athanafian Creed is alſo
left out, and the Abfolution.
It is printed on crown 8vo, upon a large letter,
and is much thinner than the book of Common
Prayer of the Church of England.
ANIMALS.
Natural hiftory furniſhes many examples which
fhew that inftin&t in animals makes a near approach to
reafon.
1. The acutenefs of this faculty in the "half-rea-
foning elephant" is known almoſt to a proverb, and
the well-attefted accounts of it, given by travellers,
have in them fomething aftonifhing.
We are informed by Thevenot, that elephants are
the only public executioners in the Mogul's country,
and that theſe animals are trained in fuch a manner,
that they break the limbs of criminals with as much
dexterity as a Paris executioner did formerly.
Among other furprifing ftories, told by the above
author, of the inftinct of this animal, is the follow-
ing:
An
26.
ANIMALS.
An elephant, that had been fed and kindly treated
by a herb-woman belonging to the market of Delhi,
the capital of Indoftan, paffed once through the mar-
ket when proud. This animal, at fuch a time, is ob-
ferved to be quite outrageous, and to fpare nothing
that comes in his way; it accordingly drove on with
the utmoſt fury, throwing down and trampling upon
all thoſe it met, till the daughter of the herb-woman,
a little child, that could fcarcely crawl, happening
to come in its way, its rage immediately fubfided: it
took up the child gently upon its probofcis, and, lay-
ing it upon a ſhed hard by, where it might be out of
harm's way, proceeded with the fame fury as before.
2. A ftill more furprising inftance of inftinet, ma-
king a nearer approach to reaſon, is to be found in
the natural hiftory of the Ukraine, or country.of the
Coffacks, bordering upon Poland.
The baubaci, a fort of animals that bear a ſtrong
reſemblance to monkies, abound in the plains and
forefts of the Ukraine. Thefe creatures form fepa-
rate parties, or claffes, and upon certain days meet
in hoſtile bands, and engage in pitched battles. The
oppofing armies have their reſpective chiefs, and of-
ficers of ſeveral fubordinate ranks; the various com-
batants appear to obey orders, and proceed with the
fame regularity that men do upon like occafions.
་
Cardinal Polignac, who was fent Ambaſſador
Louis XIV. to Poland, in order to fupport the in-
terefts of the Prince of Conti against Stanislaus, had
often
ANIMALS.
27
often an opportunity of ſeeing theſe animals engage.
He tells us, that they give the word of command for
the onſet by a fort of cry, or inarticulate found; that
he has feen them march in regular companies, each
led by its particular captain; and, upon meeting their
adverſaries, both parties have drawn up in battle ar-
ray, and, upon the fignal being given by their chiefs,
have engaged with a degree of fury that has ſurpriſed
him.
BIRDS.
3. How far a rational principle, mutual affection,
and compariſon of ideas, may be aſcribed to animals,
is hard to determine; but the following adventure of
a tame ſtork, ſome years ago, in the Univerſity of Tu-
bengin, is literally true.
This bird lived quietly in the court-yard till Count
Victor Gravenity, then a ftudent there, fhot with ball
at a ftork's neft adjacent to the College, and proba-
bly wounded the ftork then in it, as ſhe was obſerved
for fome weeks not to ftir out of her neft. This hap-
pened in Autumn, when foreign ftorks begin their
periodical emigrations. In the enfuing fpring, a ftork
was obſerved on the roof of the College, and, by its
inceffant chattering, gave the tame ftork, walking be-
low in the area, to underſtand that it would be glad
of its company; but this was a thing impoffible, on ac-
count of its wings having been clipped, which induced
the ſtranger, with the utmoſt precaution, firſt to come
down to the upper gallery, the next day ſomething
lower,
28
ANIMALS.
lower, and, at laſt, after a great deal of ceremony,
quite into the court. The tame ftork, who was con-
ſcious of no harm, went to meet him with a foft cheer-
ful note, and a fincere intention of giving him a fa-
vourable reception, when, to his great aftoniſhment,
the other fell upon him with the utmoft fury. The
fpectators prefent, indeed, for that time drove away-
the foreign ftork; but this was fo far from intimida-
ting him, that he came again next day to the charge,
and, during the whole fummer, continued fkirmishes
were interchanged between them. Orders had
been given that the fame ftork ſhould not be affifted,
as having only a fingle antagonift to encounter, and,
by being thus obliged to fhift for himfelf, he came to
ftand better on his guard, and made fuch a gallant de-
fence, that, at the end of the campaign, the ftranger
had no great advantage to boaſt of. But next fpring,
inftead of a fingle ftork, came four, which, without
any of the foregoing ceremonics, alighted at once in
the College area, and directly attacked the tame ftork,
who, indeed, in the view of feveral ſpectators ftand-
ing in the galleries, performed feats of valour, de-
fending him elf, with the arms nature had given him,
with the utmoſt bravery, till, at length, being over-
powered by fuperior numbers, his ftrength and cou-
rage began to fail, when very unexpected auxiliaries
came to his affiſtance. All the turkies, ducks, geeſe,
and the rest of the fowls, that were brought up in the
court, (to whom, undoubtedly, this gentle ftork's
mild and friendly behaviour had endeared him,)
without
ANIMALS.
29
}
}
without the leaft dread of the danger, formed a kind
of rampart round him, under the fhelter of which he
might make a retreat from fo unequal an encounter ;
and even a peacock, which before never could live
in friendſhip with him, on this emergency, took the
part of oppreffed innocence, and was, if not a true-
bottomed friend, at leaſt a favourable judge on the
ftork's fide. Upon this, a ftri&t look-out was kept
againſt ſuch traitorous incurfions of the enemy, and
a ſtop put to more bloodſhed; till at laft, about the
beginning of the third fpring, near twenty ftorks fud-
denly alighted in the court with the utmoft fury, and
before the ftork's faithful life-guards could form
themſelves, or any of the people come to his affiſt-
ance, they deprived him of life, though, by exert-
ing his ufual gallantry, they "paid dear for the pur-
chafe. The malevolence of thefe ftrangers against this
innocent creature could proceed from no other motive than
the fhot fired by Count Victor from the College, and
which they doubtleſs ſuſpected was done by the
inſtigation of the tame ſtork.
4. The following Anecdote is related by Sir Wm.
Temple.
I had a mind (faid Sir William Temple) to know
from Prince Maurice's own mouth the account of a
common, but much credited, ftory of an old parrot
he had ſeen in Brazil during his government there,
that spoke, aſked, and anfwered, queftions like a reaſon-
able creature. I had heard many particulars of this
bird
80
ANIMALS.
1
bird afferted by people hard to be diſcredited, which
made me afk Prince Maurice what there was in it.-
He ſaid, there was a good deal of truth in what had
been reported; that he had the curiofity to fend for
it, and that, when it came firſt into the room where
the Prince was with a good many Dutchmen about
him, it ſaid preſently, "What a company of white men
are here." They aſked it "what it thought that man
was," pointing at the Prince. It anfwered," Some
General or other." When they brought it cloſe to
him, he afked it, "Whence come you ?" It anſwered,
"From Mariannan."
The Prince. To whom do you belong?
The Parrot.-To a Portuguefe.
The Prince. What do you do there?
The Parrot.—I look after the chickens.
The Prince laughed, and faid, "You look after the
chickens ?"—The Parrot anſwered, “ Yes I,-I know
how to do it well," and made the chuck, chuck, chuck,
three or four times, which people make to chickens
when they call them.
I fet down the words of this dialogue (continues
Sir William) juſt as Prince Maurice ſaid them to me.
I aſked him in what language the Parrot fpoke, and
he faid in the Brafilian, which he did not underſtand,
but that he had taken care to have two interpreters
by him, the one a Dutchman who ſpoke Brafilian,
and the other a Brafilian who ſpoke Dutch ; and that he
aſked them ſeparately and privately, and that they
both
1
ANGELOTTO.
31
!
both agreed in telling him juſt the fame thing the Par-
rot faid.
5. To the above may be added the following brief
account of the famous Parrot in the poffeffion of the
late celebrated Count O'Kelly, which he bought for
fifty guineas at Briſtol.
It not only repeats all things, but anfwers almoft
every thing; and ſo ſtrong is its retention, that it
fings a variety of tunes with exquifite melody. It
beats time with all the appearance of ſcience, and,
wonderful to relate, fo accurate is its judgment, that,
if, by chance, for it is merely fo when it happens,
it miſtakes a note, it reverts to the bar where the mif-
take occurred, corrects itſelf, and ſtill beating regu-
lar time, goes through the whole with wonderful ex-
actneſs. It fings whatever air is defired, and inti-
mates an expreſs knowledge of every requeſt.
ANGELOTTO, (CARDINAL.)
This man, notorious for the weakneſs of his intel-
lect and the meannefs of his difpofition, was very
fond of detracting from the merit of others. One
day, when Pope Eugenio IV. was at Florence, a
lad of ten years old was introduced to his Holinefs
in the prefence of the Cardinal. The youth addref-
fed the Pope in a fpeech which, for gravity and wif
dom, much exceeded his years. 6 It is common,
obferved Angelotto, when the rest of the audience
praiſed
32
ANTIQUITIES.
29
praiſed the oration) for young perfons, endowed with
premature talents, to fall into early decay of parts.'
"Then, my Lord Cardinal, (replied the lad,) you
muſt have had very extraordinary talents when you
were young."
ANTIQUITIES.
1. The following fact happened in the pontificate
of Innocent VIII. (March, 1485.)
The fraternity and convent of St. Maria Nova or-
dered a fpot of ground belonging to the monaftery,
lying without the Appian gate, in the Appian Way,
about the diſtance of five miles from the city, to be
dug up; and, in demoliſhing a tomb near or in the
Way, from the very foundations, at the bottom of it,
they found a marble cheſt, covered with marble, and
leaded. As they opened it, they viewed the body of
a woman, wrapped up in fome odoriferous compound,
a golden coifure upon her head, with golden hair about
her forehead, a glowing bluſh and fleſh on her cheeks,
as if ſhe were alive; her eyes and mouth were not
entirely cloſed; her tongue, when drawn from it, re-
turned immediately to its place: the nails of her hands
and feet were white and firm. She ftood, during the
fpace of many days, in the Confervator's palace,
where the colour of her face was only altered to a de-
gree of blackneſs by the air, but her fleſh and ſize
were not at all diminiſhed; and, when they had re-
placed
ANTIQUITIES.
33
placed her in the fame cheft, near a ciftern in a back
cloiſter of the fame palace; at the command of Inno-
cent, they conveyed her by night through the Pincian
gate to a neighbouring village, where they buried
her in a ditch. The first day after ſhe was found and
carried to the palace, there was fo great a concourſe
of people to fee her, that along the ftreet of the Ca-
pitol there were every where ftalls the fame as if it
had been a fair. Many thought there had been a vaſt
quantity of gold and precious ftones found with her,
becauſe the men that dug, and their overſeers, were
never heard of more. Her age feemed to have been
about thirteen, and fhe was more beautiful than can
be expreffed. Many came from remote parts to ſee
her, and paint her beauty.
2. Near Mullingar, in the County of Weftmeath,
in Ireland, on the Earl of Belvidere's eftate, there
is a great lake called Lough Inn Hole, about four
miles long and two broad; under which, or at the
bottom of it, there is a large town or city, which a
perſon who fails over it on a calm day may eaſily per-
ceive, the streets, the chimnies, and the walls of the
houſes, appearing very plainly. The hiftory of the
country is filent as to this city. The account the
common people give of its being deluged is old and
whimfical. They fay, an old woman having come
to get fome water at a well near the town, and for-
getting to lock down upon it an iron lid, (with which
it had been uſually covered,) the water gufhed out fo
D
furiouſly,
34
ANTOINETTE.
furioufly, that, before the woman got home, the whole
town was deluged. This, they fay, happened in con-
ſequence of an antient prophecy, which was, that the
town would be ſwallowed up by a well, through the
neglect of a woman in not fhutting its mouth.
ANTOINETTE, MARIE,
Late Queen of France,
Was volatile and thoughtlefs. In her gaité de cœur,
fhe defied a wit of the court to collect into a fong all
the defects afcribed to her by her enemies. He ac-
quitted himſelf incomparably well of this delicate
talk, as will appear from the following ftanzas.
Voulez-vous favoir les on dit
Qui courent fur Themire?
On dit, que, par fois fon eſprit
Paroit être en délire.
Quoi! de bonne foi?
Oui, mais, croyez-moi,
Elle fait fi bien faire
Que fa de raiſon,
Fuffiez-vous, Caton,
Auroit l'art de vous plaire.
3
On dit, que le trop de bon sens
Jamais ne la tourmente;
On dit, même, qu'un grain d'encens
La ravit et l'enchante.
Quoi! de bonne foi?
{
•
Elle
ANTOINETTE.
35
**
Elle fait fe bien faire,
Que même les dieux.
Defcendroient des cieux
Pour l'encenfer fur terre.
Vous donne-t-elle un rendez-vous
De plaifir, ou d'affaire,
On dit, qu' oubliant l'heure & vous,
- Pour elle c'eft mifere.
Quoi! de bonne foi?
Oui, croyez moi,
Se rêvoit, ou près d'elle
Adieu tous fes torts,
Le tems même alors
S'envole à tire-d'aile.
Sans l'égoïfme rien n'eft bon,
C'eft là fa loi fuprême;
Auffi s'aime t'elle, dit. on,
D'une tendreffe extreme.
Quoi! de bonne foi?
Oui, mais croyez moi,
Laiffez-lui fon ſyſtême;
Ce
Peut-on la blâmer
De favoir aimer
que tout le monde aime?
TRANSLATION.
Would'ft thou know what rumours fay
On fair Themira, when they dwell ?
"Tis faid, her fpirits, frank and gay,
To folly's bounds will ſometimes fwell.
Are theſe things fo?-
They are,—but know,
D 2
Her
36
ANTOINETTE.
Her trifling, has ſo ſweet an air,
That, fpar'd from philofophic toil,
E'en Cato's rigid felf would ſmile,
And cenfure fo mifplaced would fpare.
They fay, reflection never haunts
The foft receffes of her mind d;
That her ſweet breaſt for flatt'ry pants,
And joy can in it incenſe find.
Are theſe things fo?—
They are, but know,
That, in her pleaſure-ſparkling eyes,
So many nameleſs charms combine,
That Gods, defcending from the ſkies,
Would offer incenfe at her fhrine.
For pleaſure or for buſineſs made,
Does the a bleſs'd appointment give?
They fay, forgetful why ſhe ſtaid,
You're left thro' tedious hours to grieve.
Are theſe things fo?-
They are, but know,
That, happy in her converfe gay,
And all your fleeting wrongs forgot,
So bleſt, ſo pleaſing is your lot,
On ſwifteft wing time flies away.
They fay, that, confcious of her charms,
Of charms all others which excel,
Unmindful how the topic harms,
She ever on herſelf can dwell.
Are theſe things fo?-
They are-but know,
To
APES.
37
To no falſe height her foul aſpires ;
If on her charms her thoughts repoſe,
She feels what each beholder knows,
What all the gazing world admires.
APES.
1. LEWIS LE COMPTE, in his Memoirs of China,
afferts, that, in the Straits of Molucca, he faw apes
of four feet in height, that walked erect, and had
faces fhaped like thofe of the Hottentots at the Cape;
they made a noiſe like a young child; their paffions
appeared with a lively expreffion in their counte-
nances; they ſeemed to be of a tender difpofition,
and would kiſs and embrace thoſe they were fond of.
2. DR. TYSON, giving an account of a young male
brought from Angola, obferves, that he poffeffed the
like tenderneſs of difpofition towards the failors on
board the ſhip; he would not aſſociate with monkeys
brought in the fame fhip, but fhunned their company;
he uſed to put on his own cloaths; or, at leaſt, where
he found a difficulty in managing any part of his
drefs, he would take it in his hand to fome of the
company, fignifying his defire that they fhould help
him.
3. MR. NOEL ſpeaks of Apes which he faw in Gui-
nea, and calls Barris, (which Mr. Buffon takes to be
a fynonym of the Orang-Outang,) who walked erect,
D 3
and
38
APES.
t
and had more gravity and appearance of underftand-
ing than any other of the ape kind, and were paf-
fionately fond of women. Linnæus affirms, that they
converſe together in a kind of hiffing diale&t; that
they poffefs thought and reflection. It is alſo averred,
that they fometimes endeavour to furprize and carry
off negro women into their wooden retreats to enjoy
them.
4. Monfieur LE BROSSE fays he knew a negrefs at
Loangs, in Guinea, who had refided three years with
them; he afferts, that they grow to the height of fix
or feven feet, have vaft mufcular ftrength, and de-
fend themſelves with flicks. He bought two young
ones, a male of fourteen months, and a female of
twelve. They fat at table, and eat of every thing
without diftinction, handled the knife and fork, and
helped themſelves, drank wine and other liquors,
made themſelves underſtood by the cabin-boy when
they wanted any thing,, and, on the boys not giving
them what they ſeemed to defire, fhewed fymptoms
of great anger.
The male, falling fick, was twice
blooded in the right arm, which relieved him; and
afterwards, when he found himſelf indifpofed, he
pointed to his arm, as if he knew what had done him
good in his former illness. I must own this account
contains fome particulars very extraordinary, for a
child of the fame age in England would be regarded
as wonderfully forward, if it ſhould exhibit the like -
proofs of fagacity. But, if we allow to theſe orang-
outangs
APES.
39
*
outangs a degree of intellect not reftricted wholly to
inftinct, but approaching, like the frame of their
organs, to an affinity with the human, we may efta.
bliſh the credibility of this relation, by fuppofing,
that, like the human inhabitants of Guinea, they
arrive three or four years earlier at the
of pu-
age of
berty, or maturity, than the inhabitants of northern
climates, and, confequently, that their faculties, in
general, bloffom and expand proportionately earlier.
5. Mr. GROSSE reports, that two young ones,
fcarcely two feet high, (probably under two years of
age,) which he prefented to the Governor of Bombay,
reſembled mankind in all their actions. If they were
gazed at when in bed, they covered with their hands
thofe parts which modefty forbids to expofe. They
appeared dejected under their captivity, and the fe-
male dying on board of fhip, her comrade exhibited
every token of heartfelt affliction, rejected his food,
and did not furvive her above two days.
6. GUATT, ſpeaking of a female which he ſaw at
Java, ſays, her ſtature was very large; that ſhe re-
fembled ftrongly fome Hottentot women he had ſeen
at the Cape; that ſhe made her own bed every day
very properly, laid her head on the pillow, and
covered herſelf with the quilt. When fhe had a
pain in her head, fhe bound it, with a handkerchief.
Several other particulars, he fays, might be enume-
rated that were very fingular, but he fufpected that
theſe
D 4
1
}
1
40
APPARITIONS, &c.
theſe animals were often brought, by a habit of in-
ftruction, to do many of thoſe feats, which the vul-
gar regard as natural; this, however, he gives as a
matter of conjecture.
APPARITIONS, ASTROLOGY, &C.
1. When I was in France (fays Lord Bacon) I
heard from one Dr. Pena, that the Queen Mother
Catherine de Medicis had caufed her huſband's (the
King's) nativity to be caft under a feigned name, and
the aſtrologer gave a judgment, that he ſhould be killed
in a duel; at which the Queen laughed, thinking her
huſband to be above challenges and duels; but he
was flain upon a courſe at tilt, the ſplinters of the
ſtaff of Montgomery going in at his beaver.-Eſſay
on Prophecies, 35.
2. Lord Mohun's Appearance to his Miftrefs on the
Morning he was murdered.
1
LORD MOHUN was a fafhionable young gentle-
man in the days of King Charles the Firft. Accord-
ing to the cuſtom of that time, his fenfe of honour
led him to refent, in a ferious manner, an affront,
which had produced a quarrel between him and a
perſon of the firſt quality, though a foreigner in this
kingdom. By appointment they met in Chelfea
Fields, near a place called Ebery-Farm, and where
Lord Mohun was killed, but not without fufpicion
of
APPARITIONS, &c.
41
of foul play. At the fame time Lord Mohun kept
company with a certain lady, whom he entertained
in genteel lodgings in James-ftreet, Covent-garden.
Lord Mohun was murdered about ten o'clock in the
morning, and at that very time his miftrefs, being in
bed, faw him come to her bed-fide, undraw the
curtains, look upon her, and go away; fhe called
after him, but received no anfwer; fhe then rung
for her maid, and aſked her for Lord Mohun, but
the woman replied, fhe did not fee him, and had the
key of the chamber-door in her pocket. This ac-
count was atteſted by the lady and her maid to Mr.
Aubrey, who relates it in his Miſcellanies.
'
3. CATHERINE DE MEDICIS.
I have often heard (fays Dupleffis Mornay, in his
notes upon Thuanus) King Henry the Fourth fay,
that, at the time the Cardinal of Lorraine died, he
was with the Queen, his mother-in-law, Catherine of
Medicis, in her cabinet, with whom he was reading
the office of vefpers verfe by verfe, and that ſhe
lifted up her head fuddenly, crying out that fhe faw
the Cardinal of Lorraine, who made a fign with his
finger to her, in the gefture of a perfon threatening
her, very pale, and very frightful, whilft himſelf
(Henry) never dared to lift up his head. Madame de
Suave, who was fetting in the next apartment, came
into the room on hearing the Queen cry out, and the
phantom immediately diſappeared. The Queen, on
the
42
APPARITIONS, &C.
the inftant fent to enquire after the Cardinal, and
found he had died at the exact time he had appeared'
to her.
4. Doctor Johnfon, in his Life of Lord Rofcommon,
gives the following Relation:
The LORD ROSCOMMON, being a boy of ten years
of age, at Caen, in Normandy, one day was, as it
were, madly extravagant in playing, leaping, getting
over the tables, boards, &c. He was wont to be
fober enough. They ſaid, God grant this bodes no
ill luck to him! In the heat of this extravagant fit,
he cried out, My father is dead. A fortnight after,
news came from Ireland that his father was dead.
This account I had from Mr. Knolles, who was his
governor, and then with him, fince ſecretary to the
Earl of Strafford, and I have heard his lordship's
relation confirm the fame.-Aubrey's Mifcellanies.
The preſent age is very little inclined to favour
any accounts of this kind, nor will the name of
Aubrey much recommend it to credit: it ought not,
however, to be rejected, becauſe better evidence of
a fac cannot eaſily be found than is here offered,
and it muſt be by preferving fuch relations that we
may at laſt judge how much they are to be regarded.
If we ftay to examine this account, we fhall fee
difficulties on both fides; here is a relation of a fact
given by a man who had no intereft to deceive, and
who could not be deccived himſelf; and here is, on
the
APPARITIONS, &c.
43
the other hand, a miracle which produces no effect;
the order of nature is interrupted to diſcover not a
future, but only a diftant event, the knowledge of
which is of no ufe to him to whom it is revealed.
Between theſe difficulties, what way fhall be found?
Is reaſon or teftimony to be rejected? I believe what
Oſborne fays of any appearance of fanctity may be
applied to fuch impulfes or anticipations as theſe :-
Do not wholly flight them, becauſe they may be true; but
do not easily trust them, because they may be falfe.
The following anecdote fhews with what abun-
dant caution all anecdotes of this fort fhould be re-
ceived.
When Mr. Holt, afterwards Lord Chief Juftice of
the King's Bench, was a ſtudent, he and fome other
young gentlemen, his friends, being out on a ſhooting
party, became much fatigued, and wanting refreſh-
ment, they agreed to go into a public-houfe, and
take whatever it afforded; but, upon enquiry
among one another, it appeared that none of the party
had any money; fome ingenuity, therefore, was ne-
ceffary; and Mr. Holt, feeing a miſerable old trotting
female fitting in the chimney-corner, enquired the
cauſe of her condition; fhe had been forely afflicted,
fhe faid, for more than a whole year, with the
ague,
which baffled all the fkill of the doctors. Mr. Holt
immediately declared he would remove her complaint
in ten days time, and accordingly got a pair of ſciſ-
fars,
44
APPARITIONS, &c.
•
fars, and cutting out a circular piece of paper, wrote
a line of Virgil in the margin, and bid her wear it
about her neck. The old woman had faith, and the
ſtudents could not prevail on her to take what they
offered, but which they had not to give. When
Mr. Holt became Lord Chief Juſtice, a woman was
brought before him for trial, charged with being
guilty of witchcraft; his lordship was very unwilling
to try, and much more to condemn, her; he, there-
fore, aſked in what inftance the priſoner ſeemed par-
ticularly criminal? Her accufers faid, (among other
things,) that fhe had a charm whereby the cured
agues, which never returned. The Judge called
upon the old woman to anfwer the charge, and fhe
honeſtly owned that it was true, but abfolutely denied
poffeffing any fupernatural power, and faid fhe did it
merely by means of a bit of parchment, or paper,
on which was written fomething fhe did not under-
ftand, and which paper had cured her mother of a
moſt obſtinate ague, and was given to her by her
mother as a rare and valuable legacy, which ſhe had
formerly received from a young gentleman of Ox-
ford. The Chief Juftice required the woman to
produce the charm, and was confirmed in his fufpi-
cion, for he found it to be the very charm with which
he had fubdued his own and his companions hungry
appetites. It is almoſt needlefs to add, that the witch
efcaped, and the judge found a pleafing opportunity
of diſcharging the prifoner, as well as compenfating
for his youthful frolic.
ARCH-
$1
45
ARCHBISHOPS.
!
ARCHBISHOPS.
It is amufing to fee at what time of life the Arch-
biſhops have attained this ftation of pre-eminence.
The following is an account of the ages of the pri-
mates fince the reformation under Elizabeth.
Bachelors are marked with a B.
Years of Nomination.
Age.
1559
Parker
55
1675-6
Grindal-B.
56
1583
Whitgift-B.
53
1604
Bancroft-B.
60
1611
Abbot-B.
49
1633
Laud-B.
60
1660
Juxon-B.
78
1663
Sheldon-B.
65
1677-8
Sancroft-B.
61
1691
Tillotfon
60
1695
Tenniſon
59
1715
Wake
57
1737
Potter
1747
Herring-B.
63
54
1757
Hutton
64
1758
Secker-Widower
65
1762
Cornwallis
54
1783
Moore
From theſe entries, it is evident that it was not
owing merely to the advanced ages of the primates
on their promotion, but partly to the number of
them
46
ATHLONES
them, viz. ten out of eighteen, who were fingle
men, that one child only has been born to an Arch-
biſhop in 237 years. But, before any calculation
can be formed of the chances against an incident
which, on account of its novelty, was a topic of
chit-chat at many a tea-table, it is neceffary to aſcer
tain the ages of the wives of the married Archbishops.
ARITHMETIC.
Our arithmetical figures were borrowed by the
Arabians from the Brachmans, who were much
fkilled in the knowledge of numbers. The Ara-
bians, before that time, made uſe of letters to count
with.
ATHLONE, EARL.
Of the first Earl, Biſhop Burnet relates, that his
extenſive grants from King William were the only
letters patent for thofe purpoſes that were confirmed
by the Iriſh Parliament.
This law paffed in the 7th year of King William, for
confirming the outlawries and attainders of the Earl
of Limerick and others, and for confirming feveral
grants and patents made to Goddart, Earl of Athlone.
When this grant was confirmed by a private ftatute in
Ireland, it could not be re-affumed by the general
act of Re-aſſumption paffed in 1698 in England, and
the Earl prudently fold his grant, and retired to Hol-
land,
>
ATKINSON.
47
land, where his defcendants have lived till the French
invaded that country in 1794. Thus Ireland is now
to pay for the prodigality of the family, by an enor
mous penfion, which has lived out of the country for
a century.
ATKINSON, RICHARD and CHRISTOPHER.
Mr. RICHARD ATKINSON was one of the many
inftances of good fenfe and perfevering induftry,
well directed in a commercial country like England,
rifing from the bottom of ſociety to the fummit of
affluence. When he came from the north, he was
a mere adventurer, unfuftained by any inheri-
tance, by few family-friends of any power, and
by no acquifitions which education imparts but
common penmanſhip and arithmetic. Thus circum-
ſtanced, he came to London, and, paffing through
different counting-houſes and experiments in trade,
accumulated that prodigious wealth of which he died
poffeffed, and which he had long enjoyed.
times he was even inventive after occafions to be
magnificent. Thus to Lady A. Lindfay, whom he
had long admired, he once, in the gaiety of an after-
dinner table-talk, offered to employ a thouſand pounds
of her fortune with his own capital in trade, and as
far as it went to ſhare and fhare alike. The offer
was of courſe with thanks accepted, and in three
years her Ladyfhip received her original thoufand
At
pounds,
48
AUSTERITY.
pounds, with the comfortable addition of nine thou
fand more.
This was city-gallantry in its beft manner; and it
was fair, not otherwife than gentleman-like; although
very weighty, it failed of fuccefs, Lady A. conti-
nuing inexorable.
This is the gentleman whom the witty Lord North
(in allufion to his rum-contract with Government)
called a Rogue in fpirit.
Mr. CHRISTOPHER ATKINSON, by the fame per-
fevering induſtry and a few lucky hits, alfo acquired
a large fortune, and the fame Nobleman diftinguifhed
him by the appellation of a Rogue in grain.
t
AUSTERITY OF OLD MEN.
There is nothing more unjuft than the ill temper
which old people fhew against the young. An attempt
to check the merriment and fportiveneſs of youth is
not leſs prepoſterous than to be angry with the fpring
of the year becauſe it produces nothing but bloffoms,
and to expect from the early ſeaſon the fruits of autumn.
How different was the humour of Anaxagoras, the
Greek philofopher: that amiable old Man, at the
point of death, was afked by the Citizens of Lamp-
facus, what dying command he would wiſh to enjoin
them? His requeft was, that every year during the
whole
S
AUCKLAND.
49
+
whole month in which he died, all the children in the
city fhould be permitted to keep holiday.
DIOGENES LAERTIUS, who relates this ftory,
adds, that this cuftom was obſerved in his remem-
brance.
AUCKLAND, LORD.
This nobleman has talents and induſtry that would
have enfured fuccefs in any profeffion. He poffeffed
very early worldly wifdom; at the Univerſity he con-
ciliated the regard of Lord Robert Spenſer, who in-
troduced him to his brother the Duke of Marlborough,
by whom he was brought into Parliament. He after-
wards ingratiated himſelf with Mr. Weddeburne, now
Lord Loughborough, who is faid to have affifted him
in his treatiſe on penal laws; from this recommen-
dation he was received into the friendſhip of Lord
Suffolk, and foon after appointed Under-fecretary of
State, by which means he became acquainted with
Lord North.
He married the daughter of Sir Gilbert Elliot, and
was ſoon after appointed one of the Commiffioners
of the much talked-of embaffy to America.
He has been Secretary to Lord Carliſle, as Lord
Lieutenant of Ireland; an Ambaſſador to the Court
of Spain; and was the principal negociator of the
celebrated Commercial-bill with the Court of France.
His fervices have not been confined to the public
affairs of Government, the private arrangements of
adminiſtration were alfo indebted to his ability and
zeal.
At
•
50
AUDITOR.
At a period when the power of a late firſt Lord of
the Admiralty ſeemed to totter; when Lord Charles
Spenfer had determined to refign his place, and even
the Duke his brother, influenced as fome have fup-
poſed by the Earl of P — was inclined to throw
his weight into the ſcale of oppofition, he contrived
to turn both of theſe from their purpoſe, and keep
them within the pale of adminiſtration.
He is the author of thoſe celebrated letters which
bear his name, and are addreffed to his noble friend
the Earl Carliſle.
1
AUDITOR OF THE EXCHEQUER.
An anecdote to fhew that the auditorfhip of the Ex-
chequer, given to Lord G
is not a finecure.
-, Secretary of State,
In Major Cartwright's letter to the Duke of New-
caſtle, publiſhed in 1792, the writer fays, "I never,
"my Lord, was in the habit of putting my fignature
"to the lower corners of blank fheets of paper by
"dozens, as I once faw done by an auditor of na-
❝tional-money accounts.
"Whether thoſe fheets were to be filled after-
"wards with his own private accounts, or with thoſe
"entruſted by the nation to his audit, I fay not. I
"ſpeak only to the FACT of the blank sheets of
CC paper figned at the lowest corners, of which I faw a
pile, and fome of them figned in my prefence,
"and then one by one formed into another pile on
"the
1
AUSTRIA.
51
the floor. The circumftance, unimportant as it
"might be, made upon my mind that kind of im-
"preffion which wears not away but with the faculty
"of memory itſelf."
As the noble Duke had not the duties of Secretary
of State, nor of a minifterial orator in Parliament,
to`take up his time, he was enabled to go through
this laborious duty without apparent fatigue. Amidſt
his Lordship's multifarious and important employ-
ments, the fatigue of the auditorſhip muſt be exceſſive.
AUSTRIA, ANN.
Mother of Louis the Fourteenth.
After the fall of Concini and his Lady, the young
Queen fuffered a trait of character to eſcape her
which gave no very favorable opinion of her good-
nefs of heart. Theſe unfortunate perfons left a fon,
whofe amiable figure and ingenuous manner evinced
the excellence of his difpofition. "I am born to
ſuffer the puniſhment of my father's pride," faid this
unhappy youth to thoſe who adviſed him to bear his
misfortunes with patience. Overcome by defpair,
he would neither eat nor drink. The Count de
Fieſque took pity on him, and lodged him in his
apartment. The young Queen, having learned he
was at the Louvre, fent him fome fweetmeats, and
ordered him to be brought to her; ſhe had been told,
that young Concini danced very gracefully, and ſhe
aſked
I
52
AUSTRIA.
•
aſked him to dance before her, which he did, with
the tears gufhing from his eyes. The blood of his
father was ſtill reeking, and the funeral-pile pre-
paring which was to confume his mother. There
was, in this action, an inhumanity which nothing can
excufe.
2. A curious Circumftance as the Archduke of Auftria
fome few Years fince paffed through Devizes.
A cuftom has prevailed in that place, of which
the following ſtory is the foundation:-A poor wea-
ver paffing through the place, without money or
friends, being overtaken by hunger, applied for cha-
rity to a baker, who gave him a loaf. The weaver.
made his way to Coventry, where, after many years
of induſtry, he made a fortune, and, by his will, in
remembrance of the above fact, bequeathed a fum.
in truft for the purpoſe of diftributing, on the anni-
verſary day, when he was fo relieved, a halfpenny-
loaf to every perſon in the town, and to every tra-
veller that ſhould paſs through the town a penny-
loaf. The will is faithfully adminiſtered, and the
Duke of Auſtria and his fuite paffing through the town
on the day of diftributing the Coventry loaf, in
their way from Bath to London, a loaf was preſented
to each of them, which the Duke and Duchefs
accepted, and partook of with much pleaſure at
breakfaſt.
AUSTRIA
AUSTRIA.
53
AUSTRIA, HOUSE OF.
The refources of this HOUSE must be immenfe.
It has expended in little more than the laſt century
four hundred and eighty-fix millions of florins in the
wars of Hungary only. What, then, muſt have
been its revenues, when it is known that it carried
on the moft bloody wars, during that period, in
Germany, Flanders, Spain, and Italy, in oppofition
to every thing that was powerful in Europe!
The laft Sovereign MARIA THERESA had no
friend to affift her but GEORGE II. when the moſt
formidable confederacy was formed to ftrip her of her
inheritance. See the deftruction of the Houfe of Auftria
foretold in the Monthly Review, Vol. I. p. 353.
BACON AND COKE.
1. Sir EDWARD COKE had a great diſlike to Lord
Bacon, and did every thing in his power to elbow
him out of place; to fuch excefs did he carry it,
that he could not refrain from attacking him even in
the Courts of Juftice; an inſtance of which is thus
recited in a letter from Mr. Bacon to Secretary
Cecil.
"I moved," fays Bacon, "to have a re-ſeizure of
"the lands of George Moore, a relaps'd recufant, a
"fugitive, and a practifing traitor, and fhewed better
"matter for the Queen againſt the diſcharge by plea,
"" which
E 3
{
51
BACON,
.
6
"which is ever with a falvo jure, and this I did in
❝as gentle and reafonable terms as might be."
"Mr. Attorney kindled at it, and faid, 'Mr. Bacon,
"if you have any tooth againſt me pluck it out, for it
"will do you more hurt than all the teeth in your
"head will do you good.' I answered coolly in theſe
"words, Mr. Attorney, I refpect you; I fear you
"not, and the leſs you ſpeak of your own greatneſs,
"the more I fhall think of it.' He replied, I think
"fcorn to ftand upon terms of greatneſs toward you
"who are leſs than little, leſs than the leaft;' and
"other fuch ftrange light terms he gave me with that
"infulting which cannot be expreffed. Herewith
"ftined, I faid no more but this: Mr. Attorney,
"do not deprefs me fo far, for I have been your
"better, and may be again when it pleaſe the Queen.'
"With this he ſpoke, neither I nor himſelf could
"tell what, as if he had been born Attorney-General,
"and in the end bid me not meddle with the Queen's
bufinefs but with mine own, &c. &c.."
6
2. A very few years fince, there was a ftatue and
feat of Sir Francis Bacon in Gray's-Inn Gardens,
which the Benchers of that ſociety have fince removed.
Here he uſed to fit for many hours almoft every day
during fummer, and in that place compofed fome of
his beft volumes. To this place he conftantly re-
forted in fine weather, till Lord Hatton, a very co-
vetous man, whofe houfe was contiguous to the gar-
dens,
BADDELY.
55
dens, and to whom Sir Francis uſed to fend his fer-
vant for ſmall beer during his hours of ſtudy, it be-
ing remarkably good. Lord Hatton at length chur-
lifhly refuſed ſending him any, which mark of diſre-
ſpect fo affected Sir Francis, that he, from that time,
forfook his place in the garden.
BADDELY, MRS.
Made her first appearance on the ftage in the cha-
racter of Ophelia, and her performance was pro-
nounced inimitable. In the fofter characters both
of tragedy and comedy fhe had no fuperior. In the
part of Fanny, in the Clandefline Marriage, the beauty
of her perſon and elegant fimplicity of her per-
formance ſo much attracted his Majefty's notice, that
he commanded a picture to be taken of her with
Lady Ogleby in the 4th act,
She died in the 37th year of her age, in Shakeſpear-
fquare, Edinburgh. See her Life by Mrs. Steele.
BARRINGTON, LORD.
1. LORD BARRINGTON preferved, to the laſt hour
of his life, a truly fincere attachment for the Ducheſs
of Kingſton. On her trial he was called as an evi-
dence, and the queſtions put to him being intended
to extort what had paffed in private converfation,
his Lordſhip. with a great degree of firmneſs, de-
clined
E 4
56
BARRINGTON.
clined giving any anſwer. The peers withdrew,
and, on returning, delivered it as their opinion, that
the Noble Lord was bounden to anſwer the queſtions.
He ſtill, however, refuſed, and, to get rid of the buſi-
néfs, the queſtions which had been propofed were
foftened, and his further teftimony diſpenſed with.
The Duchefs and Lord Barrington conftantly corref
ponded.
2. LORD BARRINGTON was in the habit of
making an apt allufion to the profits of government.
He confidered (to ufe his own expreffion) every ad-
miniſtration as a plumb-cake, and never failed to ac-
company this élégant idea with a declaration, that he
would do his beft at all times to have a flice of it.
On being accuſed of ftealing the compariſon from
the humour of the late Charles Townfhend, he ac-
knowledged the theft, but begged he might have the
merit of improving upon the groffneſs of the original
idea, as that witty ftatefman was uſed to honour Go-
vernment with the more folid title of a plumb-pudding.
3. His conduct on the death of Lady Barrington de-
ſerves to be remembered. On that event he immedi-
ately ſettled the whole of his real eſtate on his nephews,
the fons of his next brother, the late General Barring-
ton, and gave the following fenfible reafon for it.
"There is no fool (obferved his Lordship) like an
"old fool, and I, like many other doating debau-
"chees, may dream of pleaſure with a young wife,
"who, not fatisfied with an old huſband, may, with
the
BARILLON.
57
"the help of a ſmart valet-de-chambre or a stout
❝coachman, give me a collufive heir to my eftate, and
❝ rob my relations of their rights; and, having never
"been able to answer for myſelf in theſe matters, it is
66 my refolution to preclude any poffible mifchief of
"this nature, by ſecuring my fortune to the children
"of my brother. As to the peerage, (continued his
"Lordſhip,) which is not worth having, that muſt be
❝left to chance; but as for the dirty acres, which are
"worth fomething, they fhall be placed out of the
❝reach of it,"
BARILLON.
In a ſtate of his money-accounts from December
22, 1668, to December 14, 1669, are the following
fums to the following perfons.
Duke of Buckingham, 1000 guineas; Mr. Sydney,
500; Sieur Bebar, 500; Sieur Littleton, 500; Sieur
Powle, 500; Sieur Harbord, 500. In another ac-
count to William Harbord, who Barillon fays contri-
buted much to the ruin of Lord Danby, 500 guineas;
to Mr. Hampden, 500; to Colonel Titus, 500; to Sir
Thomas Armſtrong, 500; to Bennett, Secretary to
Prince Rupert, and afterwards to Lord Shaftſbury,
300 guineas; to Hotham, fon of Hotham, Governor
of Hull, 300; to Hiedall, 300; to Garroway, 300; to
Francland, 300; to Compton, 300; to Hathes, (Sir
Edward,) 300; to Sacheverelle, 300; to Foley, 300;
to Bide, 300; to Algernon Sidney, 500; to Herbert,
500;
58
BATHURST.
500; to Bebar, 500; to Hill, (Sir Roger,) 500; to
Boscawen, 500; to Du-crofs, 500; to Le Pin, 150.
guineas.
It appears fomewhat ftrange, that theſe pecuniary
difpofitions ſhould have efcaped the vigilance of
Carte, (the hiftorian,) who was well difpofed to have
made them public, had they come to his knowledge.
BASTILLE.
It was the invariable cuftom of the Lieutenant-Go-
vernor of the Baſtille, to enquire of every priſoner
who was deſtined to liberty or death, on the morning
of the day of execution or deliverance, the dream of
the preceding night, which he regularly entered in a
book kept for that purpoſe.
BATHURST, EARL.
The firſt Lord BATHURST fays, in a letter to Dean
Swift, "Were his majefty inclined to-morrow to de-
clare his body-coachman his firſt minifter, it would
do juft as well, and the wheels of government would
move as eaſily as they do with the fagacious driver
who now fits on the box. Parts and abilities are not
in the leaſt wanting to conduct affairs; the coachman
knows how to feed his cattle; and the other-feeds the
beaſts in his fervice; and this is all the ſkill that is ne-
ceffary in either cafe."
2. Bon Mot by the late Earl BATHURST. In fome
one of the Seffions of the laft Parliament, there had
been
BANKS.
59
been an unuſual number of bills brought in by the
Commons, which had been corrected and amended in
the Houſe of Lords. Amongſt others, a bill from the
Commons, "To rectify a miſtake in the finking fund
bill," by Mr. Gilbert, to whom the public are much
indebted for various plans for the better care of the
poor, houſes of correction, &c. The Earl went down
in the uſual form to receive the faid bill; and, after
liſtening with great attention to the meffage delivered
by his friend, (Mr. Gilbert,) jocofely faid to him,
“You have been a long time, Mr. Gilbert, wiſhing for
"a good Houfe of Correction, and I now congratulate
• you on having found one; for this Houfe has been
nothing but a Houfe of Correction for the errors and
❝ miſtakes of your Houſe this whole feffion.”
66
BANKS, SIR JOSEPH'S GRANDFATHER.
This gentleman, by whofe labours and induftry
it may, without a pun, be faid, the Banks were raifed,
was a practifing attorney of London, who, by adding
fix and eight pence without fpending of it to another
fix and eight pence, made thirteen and four pence;
in
fhort, he fo much increaſed his clients and moderated
his expences, that, in a courſe of years, he was able to
purchaſe an eſtate in Lincolnſhire, which he had been
employed for fome time to fell. He bought it cheap,
but it had a particular incumbrance upon it, which
was a fchool, whereby the owner of the manor was
obliged to find a mafter for educating the fons of
the
60
BANKS.
the tenants occupying the land. Mr. Banks, who
loved to go the nearest way in every thing but in a
caufe at law, appointed his own coachman to be the
ſchoolmafter; at which meaſure confiderable mur-
murings aroſe among the farmers, and at length a
formal complaint was forwarded to the lord of the
manor in London. He wrote down word that he
fhould be in the country at fuch a time, when he
would pay a proper attention to the complaint. At`
the period mentioned, he went down, and invited all
the complainants to dine with him. After dinner,
and the can of ale being pufhed heartily round the
table, Mr. Banks opened the bufinefs by the following
enquiries, viz. Whether the maſter he had placed in
the ſchool had been negligent of his duty? to which
Yes was the anſwer. Has he then exerciſed any
cruelty over the boys? (for it may be ſuppoſed, he
was a good hand ot a whip,) the fame anſwer was given.
What then are your objections to him? faid the Lord
of the foil. 66
Why,” replied one of the gueſts, in the´
name of them all, we do not think he is fufficiently
"qualified to educate our children."" Why," ob-
ferved the hoft," you want your fons to be brought
36 up to make their way in the world and thrive,
"don't you?"--"Yes," faid they all in a breath.
"Why, then, look you, my friends," faid their land-
lord, Humphry is as perfect in the rules of addition
"and multiplication as any ſchoolmafter in England,
"and by thofe alone I have acquired money enough to
"buy the eſtates you all rent of me." They imme-
"
$
diately
BATH.
61
diately drank the Pedagogue's health in bumpers, and
here the complaint ended.
BATH, EARL OF, THE LATE.
1. The late EARL OF BATH is a remarkable
inftance of popularity poffeffed, loft, and, in fome de-
gree, regained. The public favour which once fol-
lowed him could alone be equalled by the odium
which fucceeded; nevertheleſs, he lived to poffefs no
ſmall degree of importance and political reſpect. He
re-obtained fo much of the public confidence, that, in
any ſtate-meaſure, his opinion, when it was known,
had no inconfiderable influence with the people. On
this account it was thought adviſeable, that his pre-
fent Majefty, on afcending the throne, fhould favour
this veteran ſtateſman with a very particular and ref
pectful attention: his appointment to the lieutenantcy
of Shropſhire, which occafioned fuch diffatisfaction
in that county, was the confequence of it. Another
circumſtance alfo happened, which gave the young
monarch an opportunity of exerciſing his political
flattery, and with great good fenfe he availed himſelf
of it. In an audience Lord Bath had of his Sove-
reign, when he was fo infirm as to be incapable of
ſtanding without the alliſtance of a cane, his ſupport
accidentally fell from him, and the King, immediately
reaching it from the ground, reſtored it to its uſe, and
relieved the venerable Peer in the moſt engaging
manner
62
BAUME.
manner from the confufion which fuch a circum-
ftance occafioned.
2. This Earl was very much attached to Dr. Doug-
las, the new Bishop of Carlisle, now Biſhop of Salif-
bury, and, amongſt other inftances of regard, left him
his library as a memorial of his friendſhip. General
Pultney, brother of the Earl, was however defirous of
retaining the library in the family, and therefore
offered Dr. Douglas a thouſand pounds inftead of it,
which the latter confented to receive, though the fum
was by far below its value. On the death of the Ge-
neral, it was found that he had bequeathed the fame
library with confiderable additions to Dr. Douglas,
who was again offered a thouſand pounds in lieu of it,
which he again accepted, rather than deprive the fa-
mily of any thing it deemed its proper inheritance,
though the library was far more defirable to his turn
of mind than the pecuniary compenſation.
BAUME, la, or the Lady's Grotto at St. Bauzile, near
Ganges, a Town in the Cevennes, in Languedoc.
This grotto has been lately diſcovered by M. Lon-
gon, an inhabitant of Ganges, and a great lover of natu-
ral curiofities. It lies about two miles from the town
in a wood, at the top of a very ſteep and high moun-
tain, called the Rock of Saurach. It was reported that
a numerous family, in the times of the bloody wars, on
account
BAUME.
63
per-
account of religion, had retired, in order to avoid
fecution and death, to this cave. Some of them were
often ſeen in the evening, quite naked, pale, and dif-
figured, hunting after food, and trying to catch the
wild goats that dwelt among the rocks. It is ima-
gined that the children, which were produced by this
little, colony of wretched beings, lived only upon
graſs and roots, and what they could catch by chance
in their huntings about the place. They were cer-
tainly naked, and continued to lead a kind of favage
life. The people, who lived in and near the Ce-
vennes, looked upon them as a little nation of gypfies,
or, as they uſed to call them, Doumaiſelles, (or fairies.)
Time, however, diſorders, and miſery, at length exter-
minated the whole race. By the bones that have been
found in the cave, it is prefumed they exiſted a long
while, and many tools, but clumfily made, that are
ftill preſerved, give us an idea of their arts and their
knowledge. Being looked upon as a fpecies of fu-
pernatural beings, they had ſpread fuch a terror about
the neighbourhood, that none would venture to ap-
proach the windings and paths that led to the grotto.
M. Longon, accompanied by his fon, the Marquis
of Mont Laur, Meffrs. Bouiffy, Marfollier, Brunet,
and Alut, the Prefident of Ribes, M. Martin de
Choify, and one Peter, the moſt ſenſible young coun-
tryman about Ganges, and the moft intrepid, under-
took the dangerous taſk of defcending into the cave,
after having, with the greateſt difficulty, climbed to
the top of the almoſt inacceffible rock. The mouth
of
64
BECKFORD.
of the cavern was furrounded with lofty thick trees, as
if intended to hide its entrance, and the looking
down the crater was fo terrible and fo difmal, that
M. Brunet's large dog, one of the moſt faithful
creatures in the world, had not the courage to follow
his maſter, but remained round the mouth, barking
and yelling in a moft plaintive tone, till his maſter
came out of it.
BECKFORD, ALDERMAN,
Although no great orator, always commanded at-
tention from the knowledge he diſplayed upon the
fubje&t diſcuſſed.
At a meeting of the livery of London at Guildhall,
for the nomination of members to ferve in parlia-
ment, Mr. Beckford, who had already reprefented
them, attended, in order to juftify himſelf againſt the
accufation then generally prevalent throughout the
City, that he had not duly attended his duty for fome
time paſt as an alderman. The hall was crowded in
every part of it; and, when Mr. Beckford came
forward upon the huftings to addreſs the livery, he was
received with the moft tumultuous marks of contempt
and averfion. For upwards of an hour he attempted
to ſpeak, and was prevented by the hiffes, groans, and
outrageous diſpleaſure of the irritated affembly. At
length, however, his refolution prevailed; filence was
obtained, and he addreffed the Common Hall in the
following manner:
"Gentlemen
$
21
#
BECKFORD.
65
"Gentlemen of the Livery of London and Fellow
"Citizens, I thought it my duty to attend here this
❝day, both in juſtice to you, and your faithful hum-
"ble fervant. I had been informed, and my preſent
"experience convinces me I was truly informed, that
❝a very unfavourable opinion had gone forth againſt
66
me, among my late worthy conſtituents. Permit
"me to fay, gentlemen, with the boldnefs becoming
❝an honeft man, that I have not deferved it. It has
"been my chief pride to be a reprefentative of the
"firſt city in the univerſe, and I fhall relinquish ſuch
"an honour with much concern and mortification;
"but I will not flatter you in order to obtain the
"continuance of it. It is my duty to ſpeak out as
"I have ever done, with openneſs and integrity.
My abilities may not be equal to thoſe of many
"other gentlemen whom you may chooſe to reprefent
you; but I defy you to find any one who ſhall ferve
with more zeal and attention than I have done,
"—a zeal and attention, which, give me leave to ſay,
"does not deſerve that degrading reception I have
"met with 'from you this day. But I am informed,
"that I am more particularly accuſed of not regularly
CC
66
66 you
66
attending my duty in the Court of Aldermen, and
"elſewhere, as one of your magistrates. In fome de-
66
gree I plead guilty to that charge; but I must beg
"of you to remember, that, during the winter, I am
"engaged in doing my duty as your reprefentative
❝ in Parliament, and, when I am obliged to attend the
"Houſe of Commons, I cannot attend the Court of
"Aldermen,
F
66
BECKFORD.
}
"Aldermen, for no man can be in two places at
"one time. During the fummer, gentlemen, I have
"of late been engaged in doing my duty as an
officer in the Militia, and thereby promoting, to the
" utmoſt of my power, that excellent, neceffary, and
"conftitutional eſtabliſhment: and when I am en-
"gaged in attending upon the militia, I cannot attend
"the Court of Aldermen,-for no man can be in
"two places at one time. It has been told me
❝alfo, that I have given offence to many of you by
"not canvaffing your votes; I am forry for it; be-
"cauſe I reſpect you too much, and love the confti-
"tution of my country too well, to infringe on the
"freedom of election, of which, in theſe corrupt
"times, this city ftill continues to give a moſt glori-
❝ous example. If you recollect, gentlemen, I did not
"canvaſs you at the laſt general election; I have not
"canvaffed you for the approaching one, and I tell
66 you honestly, I never will canvaſs you. You fhall
"elect me without á canvaſs, or not at all.-This is
"the juftification of myſelf which I offer to you; and
"if it fhould not fatisfy you, I must be content to
"thank you for your paſt favours, and to áffure you,
"that if you ſhould not elect me, I ſhall ſtill have
"a feat in the Houſe of Commons, and I will conti-
"nue to exert my beft endeavours for your ſervice,
"as I always have done."
The burſt of applaufe which fucceeded to this fin-
gular but ſpirited harangue, was, if poffible, fuperior´
to the noify diffatisfaction which preceded it; and
Mr. Beckford
BEDFORD.
67
Mr. Beckford left the Hall amidſt a tumult of appro-
bation, which made ample amends for the infults he
received at his entrance into it. I need not add that
he was afterwards elected, and continued to receive
the increafing favour of his fellow citizens to his
death.
1
f
BEDFORD, DUKE.
Origin of his Family.
1. PHILIP, Archduke of Auftria, fon of the Em-
peror Maximilian, being forced into Weymouth by
a violent ftorm at fea, about the year 1500, was re-
ceived on fhore and accommodated by Sir Thomas
Trenchard, who invited Mr. John Ruffel, his rela、
tion, to wait upon the Archduke, being converfant in
the French and German languages. Philip was fo
much pleaſed with the polite manners and cultivated
converſation of Mr. Ruffel, that, on arriving at Court,
he recommended him to the notice of Henry VII.
who immediately fent for him to his palace, where
he remained in great favour-till that monarch's death,
and was afterwards raiſed ſtill higher in the eſtimation
of Henry VIII. who created him an Engliſh Baron,
and, at the diffolution of monafteries, granted him
the manor of Tavistock, with divers lands, manors,
and demefnes, in various counties.
F 2
2. Anecdote
68
BEDFORD.
2. Anecdote of Wriothfley, Duke of Bedford, Brother to
the late Duke.
This nobleman had many qualities that recom-
mended him in the fociety of the world, but an un-
conquerable paffion for play was very pernicious to
him, it being fo violent, that though he had the
ſtrongeſt ſuſpicion of the probity and integrity of
thoſe who played with him, he ftill perfifted in the
purſuit, even after lofing very confiderable fums,
which greatly hurt his fortune, and brought him into
fuch neceffitous circumftances as were ſcarce credi-
ble for a man of his great eftate. The following
anecdote, which is faid to be true, will ferve to illuf-
´trate this nobleman's character.
He was at Bath one ſeaſon, when a confpiracy was
formed againſt his Grace by feveral firft-rate fharpers,
among whom was the then manager of a theatre, and
Nafh, the maſter of the ceremonies. A party at ha-
zard had already deprived the Duke of upwards of
feventy thousand pounds, when his Grace got up in a
paffion, and put the dice in his pocket. The game-
fters were all terrified, as they knew they were loaded,
and as he communicated his fufpicions, intimating his
refolution of infpe&ting them. His Grace then re-
tired into another room, and, flinging himſelf upon a
fofa, fell afleep. The only ftep that appeared practi-
cable to the winners, to avoid difgrace and get
money, was, to pick his pocket of the loaded
dice, and to ſupply their place with a pair of fair
their
ones
BEDFORD.
}
69
3
1
ones. They accordingly caft lots who fhould execute
this dangerous commiffion, and it fell on the manager.
He performed the operation without being dif-
covered; after which his Grace, having clofely in-
ſpected the dice he had then in his pocket, and find-
ing them juft, he renewed the party, and loft near
thirty thouſand more. The gamefters had received
only five thousand pounds of the money, yet they
could not divide this fum without quarrelling; and
Nafh, thinking himſelf ill uſed, divulged the whole
impofition to his Grace; whereby he faved the re-
mainder of the money. His Grace made Naſh a
handſome preſent, and ever after gave him his pro-
tection, the Duke thinking the fecret was revealed
through friendſhip.
3. When the late Duke of Bedford negociated the
peace of Aix-la-Chapelle, he figned the preliminaries
with the French minifter, (Choiffeul,) without regard-
ing the proper ftipulations for the poffeffions of the
Eaſt India Company. A gentleman (a Dutch Jew
of great abilities and character) hearing this, wrote a
letter to the Duke of Bedford, informing him that the
Engliſh Eaſt India Company had materially neglected
their own intereft, as their chief conquefts were made
fubfequent to the period at which they had fixed their
claim of fovereignty; and if thefe latter conquefts
were to be reſtored, an immenſe annual revenue
would neceffarily be taken from England. The
F 3
Duke,
70
1
BEDFORD.
}
1
}
Duke, ftruck with the force of the fact, yet embarraffed
how to act, as preliminaries were really figned, re-
paired to Choiffeul at Verfailles, and addreffed him
thus: "My Lord, I have committed a great miſtake
in figning the preliminaries, as the affair of the
"India poffeffions must be carried down to our laſt
"conquefts in Afia." To this Choiffeul replied,
"Your Grace aftoniſhes me; I thought I had been
"treating with the minifter of a great nation, and not
"with a ſtudent in politics, who does not confider
"the validity of written engagements."-" Your re-
"proach, my Lord, is juft, (returned the Duke,) but
"I will not add treachery to negligence, nor betray
.
my country deliberately, becauſe I have overlooked
❝ her intereſt unaccountably in a ſingle circumſtance;
"therefore, unleſs your Lorfhip agrees to cede the
"latter conqueft in India, I fhall return home in
❝ twelve hours, and ſubmit the fate of my head to the
« diſcretion of an Engliſh Parliament." Choiffeul,
ftaggered at the Duke's intrepidity, complied; and
this country now, enjoys above half a million annu-
ally, through the Duke's firmnefs. On the termi-
nation of the affair to the Duke's fatisfaction, he
gave his informant, the Dutch gentleman, the warmest
recommendations to England, who accordingly came
over, and received till his death a penſion of five
hundred pounds a year from the India Company.
4. The late Duke of Bedford was once walking
with a book in his hand which he had been reading,
and
BEDFORD.
71
and having been attentive to his ſubject, had rambled
farther from home than ufual; he was dreffed ex-
ceedingly plain, and was looking about him, in order,
as is fuppofed, to fee where he was, and to return home,
when he obſerved a woman ftanding in the corner of
a field, wringing her hands, and expreffing, by her
actions, figns of the deepeſt diftrefs. The Duke was
moved, and going into the field, defired her to dry up
her tears, and tell him the cauſe of her affliction, pro-
mifing at the fame time to do her all the fervice in his
power. The woman told him that ſhe and her family
were ruined. That ſhe had a huſband who was fick,
and ſeven ſmall children, but being behind hand
with her rent, the Duke of Bedford's fteward had
feized all they had, and that ſhe was come into that
field to look at her poor cows, that had been taken
from her, and which ſhe ſhould never ſee again.
Grace, at this melancholy tale, defired her to be
comforted, told her that he knew the Duke to be a
good-natured man, bid her drive her cows home, and
offered to go and fet open the gate; but at this re-
queſt ſhe burst into tears, and refuſed to meddle
with the cows, alleging that as they were no longer
her huſband's, if fhe drove them home, ſhe ſhould be
looked on as a thief, and, for what fhe knew, fhe
might be hanged. The Duke, who from the firft had
been greatly affected, could not help yielding to her
reaſons, and giving her money, defired her to take
courage, telling her that he heartily pitied her, and
would take the liberty to recommend her and her
family
F 4
His
72
BEDFORD.
1
family to the Duke of Bedford, and defired her to
go the next day to Woburn-Abby, and afk for John
Ruffel, when he would introduce her, and ſpeak in
her behalf. This the good woman promiſed, and
having returned him thanks, they parted. The next
day fhe dreffed herſelf in her beft clothes, went as fhe
was ordered, and having aſked for John Ruffel, was
immediately led into a room, and told that Mr.
Ruffel would be with her prefently. At laft, fome
gentlemen entered the room, all of whom were
richly dreffed, when recollecting the features of him
who had talked with her the day before, whom the
imagined to be the Duke himſelf, fhe was ready to
faint with furprize and fear, when his Grace walking
up to her, recovered her fpirits by affuring her that
ſhe had no caufe to be afflicted: and, inftantly calling
his fteward, bid him write her a receipt in full, and
fee that every thing that had been taken from her huf-
band was returned to him again. The receipt was
preſently brought and put into her hands, when his
Grace, faying that he had enquired into her huſband's
character, and had heard that he was an honeft man,
and had been long his tenant, added to his former
bounty by giving her thirty guineas, and then bid her
go home and rejoice with her family.
5. JUNIUS attempted to imprefs on the public
mind an unfavourable opinion of the Duke's pecu-
niary character, defying Sir William Draper to pro-
duce an inſtance in which his Grace had relieved in-
digence
1
BOOKS.
73
digence or patronized merit. It is well known that
he was a generous benefactor to Henry Fielding, who
frequently did juftice to his Grace's liberality,—a libe-
rality which in this inftance amounted to fifteen hun-
dred pounds.
BOOKS.
1. Deftruction of libraries in the time of Henry
VIII. at the diffolution of the monafteries.
This diffolution was fo great that John Bayle
much laments it, in his epiftle upon Leland's journal.
Thoſe who purchaſed the religious houſes, took the
libraries as part of the booty with which they
fcoured their furniture. Some they fold to the
grocers, and others they fent over the fea to
the book-binders in fhip loads. I know a merchant
(ſays he who bought two noble libraries for forty
fhillings each.
1-
2. THE DUKE OF WIRTEMBERG has a library
of great value and curiofity. It was begun in 1768,
and already amounts to 100,000 volumes. The
prince is a great collector of ancient books. He has
often travelled in purfuit of them, and gives liberal
prices. His collection of bibles is unique; they
amount to 9000, all different editions; and it is fup-
pofed that three thouſand more are wanting to render
it complete. This library contains more than two
thouſand
1
74
BOTTETOT.
thouſand volumes, printed before the year 1500, and
a complete collection of all fovereign-families and
towns.
.
3. Let it be remembered to the honour of the
London bookfellers, that, befides the original purchaſe
money, they have expended very confiderable fums
in publiſhing correct and improved editions of all the
principal books in the Engliſh language. For ex-
ample, fór corrections and improvements in Boyer's
French Dictionary, 3671. for alterations and additions
to Miller's Gardener's Dictionary, 1065l. for a new
edition of Chambers's Dictionary and Supplement,
1500l. for revifing, correcting, and digefting a new
edition of the Univerſal Hiſtory, Ancient and Mo-
dern, 15751. for different editions of Shakeſpeare
22881. and for improvements in other books, very
confiderable fums to authors and editors, in propor-
tion to the nature and importance of their reſpective
labours. See many curious anecdotes on this fubject in
Wharton's Hiftory of English Poetry.
BOTTETOT, LORD.
In paffing through Glouceſter foon after the cider
tax, in which he was very unpopular, he obſerved
himſelf burning in effigy; he ftopped his coach, and
giving a purſe of guineas to the mob, ſaid, Pray, gen-
tlemen, if you will burn me, burn me like a gentleman;
don't let me linger; I fee you have not faggots enough.
3
This
1
BOUILLE.
75
This good humoured ſpeech appeaſed the people;
they gave three cheers, and let him paſs.
BOUILLE, MARQUIS DE.
1. When the Laurel and Andromeda frigates were
wrecked in the laft violent hurricane in the Weft
Indies, at the back of Martinique, about thirty or
forty men were thrown afhore alive. The Marquis
gave immediate orders to have the greateſt care taken
of them; and after getting them cured of their bruifes
and ſickneſs, and clothing them from head to foot,
he fent them with a flag of truce to the commanding
officer at St. Lucia, with a letter, ftating that thoſe
men having experienced the horrors of fhipwreck, he
would not add thofe of war, and therefore ſent them
free, and at liberty to ſerve their country.
2. A poor man having freighted a ſmall veffel with
fome goods at St. Lucia, and meaning to difpofe of
them at St. Kitts, hired a few failors to navigate her.
During the voyage they formed a plot, and ran with
the veffel into Martinique, where they reported their
exploit, and expected to have veffel and cargo given
them; but the Marquis not permitting fuch a
robbery to be committed even on a foe, ordered the
men to be detained as prifoners of war, ſent the veſſel
and owner, with a flag of truce to Lord Hood, then
cruizing off the iſland, likewiſe giving it permiffion to
go unmoleſted to its deftination.
BUCKINGHAM-
76
BURKE.
BUCKINGHAMSHIRE, LORD.
The claffical and convivial Craddock, late arch-
biſhop of Dublin, had been fuddenly feized with a
putrid fore throat, which for fome days threatened
the worſt conſequences, and then as fuddenly left
him. Lord Buckinghamſhire, then Lord Lieutenant,
who had not once fent to enquire after him during
his illneſs, wrote him the following elegant note the
day of his recovery.
MY LORD,
The enquires of a Lord Lieutenant after the health
of an Archbishop might be deemed equivocal, but his
fincere congratulations on the recovery of a refpected
friend cannot be mifinterpreted.
B.
BURKE.
1. MR. BURKE, in his juvenile days, was paf-
fionately fond of acting private plays. At this period
a few of his companions propoſed that he ſhould play
Richard the Third, which, however, he neglected
ftudying till the morning prior to the day of perform-
ance; he got up by times, and walked down a lane
adjoining his father's houfe, fo intent on the book
in his hand, that he did not perceive a filthy ditch
before him, and had uttered with heroic dignity, as he
walked on, "Thus far we have got into the bowels
❝ of the land,” when heedlessly ſtepping from the lane,
he found himſelf up to the middle in mire.
2: In
BURTON.
77
*
2. In a debate in the Houfe of Commons, Lord
North ſchooled Mr. Burke in making the ĭ (ſhort)
in vectigal. Mr. Burke, as Lord North well knew,
was but a very indifferent claffical ſcholar, not know-
ing a letter of Greek, and, perhaps, even unable to
conftrue many of his own Latin quotations. It is
remarkable, the Monthly Magazine has never noticed
Mr. Burke's character as given by the man of all
others who knew him beft, the late Mr. Gerard Ha-
milton. Certain it is, the friends of Mr. Burke did all
in their power to fupprefs it, and in fome degree
fucceeded*.
Pall Mall,
(Signed) DRAMATICUS.
Dec. 17th, 1797. Addreffed to the Monthly Ma
gazine.
BURTON, DR. JOHN, FELLOW OF ETON.
About the year 1733, Mr. Burton was preſented to
the vicarage of Maple-Durham, in Oxfordshire.
Upon taking poffeffion of this new preferment, he
found the widow of his predeceffor (Dr. Lyttleton)
and three infant daughters, without a home, and with-
out a fortune. A fight ſo affecting inſpired him with
compaffion, and compaffion was followed by love.
The lady indeed had every qualification, except
* The editor of this work has been informed from the moft re-
fpectable authorities, that Mr. Burke was a good claffical ſcholar.-
See fome intereſting anecdotes of him, prefixed to the Beauties of his
Works, in 2 vols. 8vo. publiſhed by W. Weft, No. 27, Paternofter-
1
Row.
money,
78
BURIALS.
1
1
money, to recommend her, and he defired her and
the children to remain at the parfonage. Soon after,
a neighbouring clergyman happening to call in, found
Mrs. Lyttleton fhaving Mr. Burton. Whether fhe
had been the performer of that operation on her late
huſband does not appear; the clergyman however
fcrupled not to declare, that the thing was not decent,
and ought to be fet to rights; Burton propofed mar-
riage, and the lady accepted the offer. In fome of
his Greek effufions, he calls her pandor, his fhining
light.
1
BURIALS.
Reading in Mrs. Bellamy's Life the two dreadful
relations of a gentleman and a lady having been
buried alive, fuggefted the following reflections:
"Let any one but repreſent to the imagination a
fimilar fituation; how exquifite must be their fuffer-
ings! To awake and find themſelves within the bowels
of the earth, totally precluded from making known
their cafe, they must neceffarily furrender their exift-
ance in the greateſt agonies, infinitely heightened by
the diftrefs and diftraction of their minds. Can any
one perſon beſtow a moment's confideration on a ſub-
ject like this, without being alarmed for himſelf, for
thoſe who are near and dear to him, for all mankind ?
Should not fome means be deviſed, fome me-
thod be fixed on to prevent premature interment ?
Would fuch a confideration be altogether unworthy
the
1
BUTLER.
79
the attention of the legiflature? It would be the happy
means of preferving the lives of many uſeful members
of fociety. A precaution of this kind is highly ne-
ceffary, and the end might be very eaſily effected, by
obliging the friends of the fuppofed dead to keep
them for a certain time after they have to all appear-
ance departed life in their own bed, and not ſuffer
them to be interred until the expiration of ten days or
a fortnight, except in thoſe cafes where they become
offenfive, or when they die of an infectious diforder."
There are two ſmall volumes in 12mo. upon the
fubject, abounding with inftances of premature bu-
rials; entitled, "The Uncertainty of the Signs of
Death,” and was publiſhed in 1747. This interefting
work is now ſcarce, and fhould be reprinted.
BUTLER, MISS, AND MISS PONSONBY.
MISS BUTLER and MISS PONSONBY (now re-
tired from the fociety of men into the wilds of a
Welch vale) bear a ſtrong antipathy to the male ſex,
whom they take every opportunity of avoiding.
Miſs Butler is of the Ormond family, had five offers
of marriage, all of which ſhe rejected; a Mifs Pon-
fonby, her particular friend and companion, was fup-
poſed to have been the bar to all matrimonial union.
It was thought proper to feparate them, and Mifs
Butler was confined: the two ladies, however, found
means to elope together, but being foon overtaken,
were brought back to their refpective relations.
Many attempts were again made to draw Mifs Butler
*
into
80
CALVERT.
into marriage, in vain; not many weeks after, the
ladies eloped again, each having a ſmall fum with
them. The place of their retreat was confided to a
female fervant of the houſe.
Here they have lived many years unknown to any
of the neighbouring villages, otherwife than by the
appellation of the Ladies of the Vale. No perfuafions
could ever get them from this retreat. Mifs Butler is
tall and maſculine, always wears a riding-habit, hangs
up her hat with the air of a ſportſman, and appears in
all refpects like a young man, except the petticoat.
Mifs Ponfonby is polite and effeminate, fair and
beautiful.
In Mr. Steele's lifts of penfions for 1780, there are
the name of Eleanor Butler and Sarah Ponfonby, for
annuities of fifty pounds each.
They live in neatnefs, elegance, and tafte. Two
females are their only fervants. Mifs Ponfonby does
the honours of the houſe, while Mifs Butler fuperin-
tends the garden and grounds.
CALVERT, ALDERMAN.
This gentleman, as well as the generality of
brewers, had a number of public houfes belonging
to him. One of thefe, in a low neighbourhood,
which he had let on a very trivial confideration, at
length increaſed ſo high in its demands for his intire,
that the Alderman, amazed at the confumption, as he
ſeldom heard of any company being ſeen there in the
day
CALVERT.
81
day time, called upon the landlord, expreffing his
furprize at the circumftance, no perfon, being
ſeen in the houſe, in the day time. The landlord
told his worſhip, that, if he would call in the evening,
his curiofity ſhould be amply gratified, but added, that
if the quality of his beer was not bettered, he might
foon loſe ſome of his principal cuſtomers. The
Alderman attended, and the better to make his ob-
ſervations, was prevailed on by the landlord, to put
on one of his old great coats, a flouched hat, &c.
He was then, with ſome apology by the former, intro-
duced into a back room, nearly filled with the halt, the
lame, and the blind, who had loft all their infirmities
in the plenitude of his porter. After the mutual
relations of their day's adventures, fongs, &c. it was
propoſed, as uſual, to one of the oldeſt of them, who
acted as prefident, to name the fupper; when, whether
he had not before noticed the new gueft or not, fixing
his eye upon the Knight, he exclaimed, "For fupper
"to night, I think we muſt have An Alderman hung
"in chains!" While this was acceded to by the whole
company, the Alderman, thinking he was diſcovered,
and that they meant to uſe him ill, made a precipitate
retreat out of the room, and communicated, with
much embarraſſment, his fufpicion to the landlord,
his apprehenfion however foon fubfided; as, before
the hoft could give him an explanation, he was called
backwards to take orders for fupper; when, without
taking any notice to the worthy brewer, he stepped to
a poulterer's in the neighbourhood, and foon returned
G
with
82
CARNARVON.
1
with a fine turkey, and a link of pork faufages, which,
preſenting to his gueft, he affured him, when ſpitted
with the link of faufages to be roafted, was the Alder-
man meant by the company to be hung in chains for
fupper. The adventure fo well pleafed the brewer,
that the melioration of the beer was immediately
attended to.
CARNARVON, EARL.
Parliamentary Anecdote.
In a debate about the profecution of the Lord
Treaſurer Danby, in the reign of Charles II. we are
told of a very peculiar fpeech pronounced by the
Earl Carnarvon, a Lord, who is faid never to have
ſpoke before in the Houfe, but having been heated
with wine and excited to difplay his abilities by the
Duke of Buckingham, who meant no favour to the
Treaſurer, but only ridicule, was refolved, before he
went up, to ſpeak to any fubject that ſhould offer;
accordingly he ftood up, and delivered himſelf thus:
66 MY LORDS,
1
"I underſtand but little of Latin, but a good
deal of Englifh, and not a little of the Engliſh
hiftory, from which I have learned the miſchiefs
of ſuch proſecutions as thefe, and the ill fate
of them. I could bring many inftances, and
thofe very ancient; but, my Lords, I fhall go, no
'farther back than the latter end of Queen Elizabeth's
reign, at which time the Earl of Effex was run down
by
CARTERET.
83
by Sir Walter Raleigh; Lord Bacon run down Sir
Walter Raleigh, and your Lordſhips know what be-
came of Lord Bacon; the Duke of Buckingham ran
down Lord Bacon, and your Lordſhips know what
became of the Duke of Buckingham; Sir Thomas
Wentworth, afterwards Earl of Strafford, run down
the Duke of Buckingham, and you all know what
became of him; Sir Harry Vane run down the Earl
of Strafford, and your Lordſhips know what became
of Sir Harry Vane; Chancellor Hyde run down Sir
Harry Vane, and your Lordſhips know what became
of the Chancellor. Sir Thomas Oſborn run down
Chancellor Hyde, and what will become of the Earl
of Danby your Lordſhips can beft tell; but let me fee
the man that dares run the Earl of Danby down, and
we ſhall foon fee what will become of him."
This being pronounced with a remarkable tone
and humour, the Duke of Buckingham, both fur-
priſed and diſappointed, cried out, "The man's in-
"fpired, and claret has done the bufinefs!"
CARTERET, LORD.
This Nobleman was Lord Lieutenant of Ireland in
the year 1724.
His memory was truly aftoniſhing. He retained,
by memory, the whole of the New Teftament, from
the firſt chapter in St. Matthew to the laft word in Re-
velations. It was very aftoniſhing to hear him repeat
1
*
G 2
long
84
CHARLES.'
long paffages from it, in the fame accurate method as
if he were reading the book.
CHARLES I.
Met his fate in confequence of duplicity. Lord
Bolingbroke told us, (Mr. Pope, Lord Marchmont,
and myſelf, June 12th, 1742,) that he had ſeen an ori-
ginal letter of Charles I. written to the queen,(in anſwer'
to one of hers that had been intercepted and forward-
ed to him,) wherein the reproached him for having
made thoſe villains too great conceffions, viz. that
Cromwell fhould be Lord Lieutenant for life of Ire-
land, without account with the garter, &c.) That in
that letter of the King's, it was ſaid ſhe ſhould leave
him to manage who was better informed of all cir-
cumſtances than fhe could be; but fhe might be en-
tirely eaſy as to any conceffions he ſhould make
them, for that he ſhould know in time how to deal
with the rogues, who inſtead of a filken garter ſhould
have a hempen one. This letter was intercepted, and
decided his fate. Lord Oxford offered five hundred
pounds for this original letter.
CHARLES V.
The Emperor uſed to unbend his mind in the fo-
ciety of a large baboon, which he had taught to play
chefs, a game the Emperor was remarkably fond of.
One day the animal checkmated the Emperor, upon
which,
CHARLES.
85
which, being extremely irritated, he took up the
chefs board, and ftruck the ape fo violent a blow on
the head that the blood flowed; but, on recollection,
ſeeing the abfurdity of his conduct, he foothed the
poor animal, which with fome difficulty became again
familiar with him.
Some time after the Emperor invited the baboon
again to his favourite amuſement, when the animal
again checkmated the Emperor, and recollecting the
Emperor's anger on the former occafion, ſprung, from
his feat, and hid himſelf under the table, from whence
he was enticed with great difficulty.
•
CHARLES IX.
1. When Charles was at Bordeaux, a Nobleman
was alſo there, whom the parliament of that city had
condemned to death for murder. The King ſent for the
widow of the deceaſed, and faid to her; "I truft you
will pardon the murderer of your huſband, and accept
his eſtate to indemnify you for his lofs." "Sir, replied
the high ſpirited lady, I cannot accept fo mean and
fcandalous an indemnification; but, fince you are more
powerful than the law and juftice, I entreat you to
grant before hand to my fon the fame pardon you
have granted to the murderer of his father, and I
fhall, in confequence of that pardon, bring him up
with the hope that he will revenge in your place
the death of his father, without having any reafon
to fear for his own life."
G 3
2. After
86
CHURCHILL.
2. After the accurfed day of St. Bartholomew,
Charles became wretched and melancholy, he ima-
gined he heard continually groans and fhrieks; he loft
all reliſh for amufements, and, after a diſeaſe of a few
days, died in the moſt horrid manner, his blood exu-,
ding through the pores of his ſkin.
CHARON.,
Biſhop Warburton, in his divine Legation of
Mofes, informs us, that Charon was a perfon actu-
ally ſubſiſting in this world. The Egyptians, he ſays,
like all other people in their deſcriptions of the world
to come, uſed to copy from fomething they were well
acquainted with in the prefent. In their funeral rites,
which was a matter of greater moment with them than
with any other nation, they uſed to carry their dead
over the Nile, and through the marfh of Acherafia,
and there put them into fubterraneous caverns, the
ferryman employed in this bufinefs being, in their
language, called Charon.
t
CHURCHILL
Led a very diffolute life-he was nevertheleſs very
humane, and the cry of diftrefs never reached his ear in
vain. As he was returning home, about two o'clock
one morning from a debauch, he was accofted in the
Strand by a genteel young girl, who, in a tremulous
voice,
CLARKE.
87
}
voice, aſked him to accompany her to a tavern.
Churchill was ftruck with her manner of addreffing
him, and, looking earneſtly at her, faw her face co-
vered with tears; he felt for her, and gave her a
guinea, bid her go home, and 'get fomething to enliven
her ſpirits, of which ſhe feemed to be much in need.
The poor girl, unable to contain her gratitude, dropped
on her knees in the ſtreet, and implored ten thouſand
bleffings on him, who had thus preferved a family
from ſtarving." I am, Sir, (faid fhe,) the daughter of
"an officer, whofe regiment being broken, he is now
"reduced with a wife and five children to the point
"of death for want; we were brought to the very laft
"extremity, when I, unable any longer to fee my
66 parents in fuch a fituation, refolved on this method
"to procure them fuftenance, but your generofity has
“faved us.”
Mr. Churchill defired to be conducted to this fcene -
of horror, and, finding the account given perfectly
true, he not only adminiftered prefent relief, but
procured them a very liberal benefaction.
CLARKE, DR.
1. DR. CLARKE, it is well known, had reviſed
our whole Liturgy, and ftruck out, in a private manu-
fcript, all the exceptionable paffages, and made the
whole agreeable to the Scriptures.
The late Lord Townfhend, Secretary of State, had
formerly that manufcript to confider, and returned it.
G 4
-Dr.
88
CLELAND.
-Dr. Clarke himſelf communicated it to his
Lordſhip.
2. The late Sir John Germaine, (whofe character
is well known,) lying upon his death bed at Weft-
minſter, and being in great confufion of thought,
relating to his departure out of the prefent world,
fent to Dr. Clarke, defiring fome converſation with
him. When the Doctor came, Sir John, in great
anxiety, aſked him what he muft do?" Oh! what ſhall
I do, Doctor, what fhall I do? I am in great diftrefs
of mind; what fhall I do? fhall I receive the facra-
ment, and do you think it will do me good to receive
it? Tell me, I pray you, tell me, what I muft do in
my preſent fad condition." The judicious and honeſt
Divine (well knowing what life he had led, and what
his thoughts and purfuits had been chiefly bent on in
the time of his health and profperity) told him very
fedately, that he could not adviſe him to take the fa-
crament, and fo, commending him to the mercy of
God, did not adminifter it and left the room.
CLELAND, JOHN.
Was educated at Weſtminſter; he was admitted in
1722, at the age of 13, and was a contemporary of
Lord Mansfield. He wrote The Woman of Pleafure,
which he lamented to his death, and alfo wrote The
Woman of Honour, as the antidote, but it did not
prove ſo, for the latter is very indifferently written;
he died very old in 1789.
CLIVE,
A
89
COIN.
CLIVE, LORD.
He had been fome time at Bath under a regimen
for reducing the enormous quantities of opium which
he had gradually brought his conſtitution to bear;
and when this object was in a great degree effected,
the phyficians abfolutely forbid his taking the waters,
and adviſed his return to London. On his arrival
there, Doctor Fothergill, whom he immediately con-
fulted, blamed his conduct in the moſt expreſs terms,
and preſcribed his inftant return to Bath, ftrongly
recommending the waters of that place, as the only
means of relief. Thus buffeted about by his diffe-
rent phyficians, and concluding from their conduct
towards him, that his cafe would not admit of any re-
medy, he refolved to obviate the lingering approaches
of death by the fatal application of his own hand.
·
COIN.
Upon the dollars, ftivers, and doits, coined in the
town of Dort, or Dortrecht, in Holland, is a cow,
under which is fitting a milk-maid. The fame image
is obferved in relief on the pyramid of an elegant
fountain in that beautiful town.
The following is the fact in hiſtory which gave
occafion to it:
f
At the time the United Provinces were ftruggling
for their liberty againſt feveral defpots of Europe,'
the Spaniards, having already invaded thofe peaceable
and
go
COLE.
ง
and induſtrious regions; prepared to take the town
of Dort by furprize. One morning, two beautiful
daughters of a rich farmer, at a little diſtance from
the town, on their way to it, where they carried
milk, obſerved, not far from their path, feveral
Spaniſh foldiers concealed behind fome hedges; the
patriotic fair ones pretended not to have feen any
thing, and purſued their journey; as foon as they
arrived in town, they infifted upon an admiffion to
the Burgo-mafter, who had not yet left his bed; they
were admitted, and related what they had diſcovered.
The Chief Magiftrate affembled the council, mea-
fures were immediately taken, the fluices were opened,
and moſt of the enemy periſhed in the waters.
COLE, HENRY, DR.
A native of Godfhill, in the Ifle of Wight, Dean
of St. Paul's, who was very pliable to the fhifting
times of his day. In the reign of Mary, he returned
to his old principles, and was thereby honoured with
his diploma, and the deanery of St. Paul's, with a long
etcætera of other lucrative pofts and preferments.
Mary, the royal, miftrefs of his fortune, was deter-
mined, it ſeems, to act the ſame fatal tragedy among
her Proteftant fubjects in Ireland as fhe had already
done at home in Smithfield; for this purpoſe, her
commiffion was made out, and who fhould have the
care of it but her trufty and well beloved time-
ferving Dr. Cole. He undertook the charge, and
in
CÒLE.
91
in the progreſs of this bufinefs, making fome little
ſtay at Chefter, was waited on by the Mayor of
that city; in the courſe of the converfation which,
paffed between theſe two, the Doctor was fo full
of his commiffion, that he could not forbear
letting the cat out of the bag. "I have that
with me," faith.he, producing a little box from his
portmanteau, "which will laſh the heretics of Ire-
land." His hofteſs, a Mrs. Edmunds, had the good
luck to overhear this, and being more than half a
heretic herſelf, and having a brother of that profeſ-
fion in Dublin, fhe became much troubled, and
taking the opportunity while the Doctor was gone
down to compliment his Worſhip the Mayor to the
door, fhe ſtepped into the Dean's apartment, took
out the commiffion, and put a pack of cards into the
box in their room. The Doctor, having completed his
civilities, returns to his chamber, and puts up his
box, without the leaft fufpicion of what had hap-
pened; soon after he fet fail for Dublin, where he
arrived December 7th, 1558. Being introduced to
Lord Fitzwalter, then Lord Lieutenant, and the
Privy Council, he began with a ſpeech in form to
fet forth the nature of his buſineſs, and then delivered
his box with due ceremony. "What have we here!"
fays his Lordſhip at the opening; this is nothing
but a pack of cards!" It is not eafy to conceive the
Doctor's feelings at the ridiculous figure he now
made; he could only fay, that a commiffion he
certainly had, but who had played him this trick he
1
could
92
COULTHURST.
could not tell.
"Why then, Mr. Dean," fays his
Lordſhip, “you have nothing to do but to return to
London again, and get your commiffion renewed,
whilft we in the mean time fhuffle your cards;" this.
ſarcaſtic advice the Doctor, no doubt, with infinite
chagrin, was obliged to take, though at fo diſagree-
able a ſeaſon of the year; but, whilft all this was
about, meeting with contrary winds and other vexa-
tious delays, behold the Queen died, and fo the
buſineſs came all to nothing. It is faid that Queen
Elizabeth was fo well pleaſed with the ftory, that ſhe
allowed Mrs. Edmunds forty pounds a year during
her life, for this ſeaſonable and important piece of
dexterity.
•
COULTHURST, MAJOR.
He was a few years fince overturned in a carriage
near Cork, and killed on the fpot. He was remark-
ably handfome, his figure fine, and his manners ele-
gant and poliſhed, foremoſt in fafhion, and fond of
every gay amuſement; he imbibed an early love for
play, where he had a career of aftoniſhing fuccefs
for years. He was, nevertheleſs, from his extrava-
gancies, for ever in want of money. An extraordi-
nary inſtance of diffipation he uſed to relate of him-
felf, that, having won three thouſand pounds in one
night at Bath, he ſpent it in one week in London. In
paffion and warmth of temper he went even beyond
his coufin, the late Sir John Coulthurft. So little,
when
COOPER.
93
when heated, was he mafter of his conduct, that,
whilft giving evidence at a trial at an affize, he drew
upon a gentleman in the face of the court. In wine
he always indulged very freely, and was then ex-
tremely apt to give offence, for which he was the
next morning as ready to fight as to apologize, of
courſe, he was very frequently in the field; but his
company, though dangerous, was much fought after.
CONVERTS.
The following anecdote uſed to be related by Ge-
neral Oglethorpe :
An induſtrious miffionary had taken great pains to
impart a knowledge of the Chriftian religion to an
American favage, and exulted in the probable hope
of fuccefs; he perfuaded himſelf that the affent of
this untutored child of nature was the effect of ra-
tional conviction, and thought it his duty to confirm
the good work by adminiftering the facrament.
After receiving it, the good father, in the honeft
triumph of his heart, afked the profelyte if he did
not receive a mental comfort, an inward refreſhment
from the holy cup? "Yes," faid the poor fellow in-
nocently, "it was very good, but I like rum better."
COOPER, LUCY.
Her life was exceptionable, her death exemplary.
When the companions of her mirthful hours fled
from
94
CROMWELL.
from her cheerlefs fituation, they at once fhewed
their own unworthinefs, and gave the unhappy victim
an opportunity of looking into herſelf. She faw her
foibles, and repented of them; fhe confulted a
Divine in her neighbourhood to comfort her the few
hours ſhe had to fojourn in this world, and to footh
the paffage fhe was about to explore. No one
ever died a more fincere penitent, nor gave ftronger
marks of contrition for her paft life. She poffeffed
many valuable qualities; her charity was extenfive,
and fhe is known to have laid out large fums annu-
ally in the fupport of the diftreffed and indigent.
CROMWELL, OLIVER.
1. We are apt to confider the rage for equeſtrian
exercifes, which fo much diftinguifhes the nobility
of the prefent age, as a frolic of modern growth;
but the following anecdote, which Father D'Orleans
relates of Oliver Cromwell, proves that the firſt man
in the kingdom was 'ambitious of diftinguifhing him-
felf on a coach-box.
The DUKE of HOLSTEIN prefented the Protec-
tor with a very fine ſet of horſes, and he, to fhew
a ſprightlineſs which neither became his age nor
dignity,
;
+
CROMWELL.
95
dignity, got upon the coach-box to make trial of
them; before he was well feated, the horſes ran away,
and threw both him and his poftilion, fo that his
clothes hanging to the pole, he was dragged a long
time and far; his hazardous and precarious fituation
in life inducing him always to carry fire-arms about
him, a piſtol, which was ſtuck in his girdle, went off;
the report made the horſes ſtill wilder, and their fud-
den ſpring extricated him from the wheels, which,
not paffing over his body, he was not killed, though
much hurt with many contufions.
2. The following hiftorical fact is not to be found
in the hiſtory of the times therein alluded to:
One time, when Lord Broghill, (afterwards created
Earl of Orréry by Charles II.) was riding, with
Cromwell on one fide of him and Ireton on the
other, at the head of their army, they fell into dif
courſe about the death of Charles I.-Cromwell de-
clared that if the King had followed his own mind,
and had had trufty fervants about him, he had fooled
them all; and further obferved, that once they had a
mind to have clofed with him, but on fomething
that happened they fell off from that defign.-Lord
Broghill afked the reaſon; "We found, replied he,
that the Scotch and the Prefbyterians began to be
more powerful than we, and, if they made up matters
with the King, we fhould be left in the lurch; there-
'fore we thought it beft to prevent them by offering
firft
96
CROMWELL.
first to come ip upon reaſonable terms; but, while we
were bufied upon theſe thoughts, there came a letter
from one of our fpies, who was one of the King's
bed chamber, which acquainted us that on that day
our final doom was decreed; that he could not tell
what it was, but we might find it out if we would
intercept a letter from the King to the Queen, which
letter he ſaid was fewed up in the ſkirt of a faddle,
and the bearer of it would come with a faddle on his
head, about ten o'clock that night, to the Blue Boar
inn, in Holborn, for there he was to take a horſe, and
go to Dover with it. This meffenger knew nothing
of the letter in the faddle, but ſome perfons in Dover
did; we were at Windfor when we received this ad-
vice, and immediately Ireton and I refolved to take
one trufty fellow with us, and in troopers habits
go to the inn in Holborn, which we accordingly did,
and ſet our man at the gate of the inn, where the
wicket only was open to let people in and out: our
man was to give us notice when any one came there
with a faddle, while we, in the diſguiſe of common
troopers, called for cans of beer, and continued drink-
ing till about ten at night, when our centinel gave
notice that the man with the faddle was come in;
upon this we immediately rofe, and, as the man was
leading out the horfe faddled, came up to him with
drawn fwords, and told him we were to ſearch all that
went in and out there, but, as he looked like an honeft
man, we would only ſearch his faddle, where, in the
fkirts
CROMWELL.
97
ſkirts, we found the letter, and having got it we fent
the man about his bufinefs, who knowing nothing of
the letter went away, to Dover. In this letter the
King acquainted the Queen that he was now courted
by both the factions, the Scotch Prefbyterians and
the army, and which bid faireft for him ſhould have
him, but he thought to clofe with the Scotch fooner
than the other. Upon this, added Cromwell, we
took horfe, and went to Windfor, and finding we were
not likely to have any tolerable terms from the King,
we from that time forward refolved his ruin.
3. The parliament which received Charles II.
paſſed a reſolution, by which the body of Cromwell
was ordered to be drawn on a hurdle to Tyburn,
and there hung from ten o'clock till fun-fet, and then
buried under the gallows." The Protector's friends,
however, it was known, obtained his remains foon
after, and, according to traditionary reports, buried
them fecretly in a meadow to the north of Holborn.
The preciſe ſpot is ſaid to be at this time the centre
of Red-Lion Square, and the obelisk is thought by
many to be a memorial erected to his manes, by an
apothecary who was attached to Cromwell's princi-
ples, and had fo much influence in the building of
the ſquare, as to manage the marking out the ground;
and further contrived to pay this tribute to his fa-
vorite's ashes.
}
4. The following well-authenticated anecdote,
which deferves to be known univerfally, has not ap-
peared in any of our Engliſh hiſtories
H
In
98
CROMWELL.
U
In the time of Oliver Cromwell, the town of Win-
cheſter was attacked by a detachment of the Parliament-
army: it was commanded by an officer who had been
educated at Wincheſter ſchool, and had taken an oath
never to fee the College injured: the town was, after
a flight reſiſtance, taken; the officers gave up the reſt
of the place to be ranfacked and plundered, but a
guard was ſtationed at the College, which was fup-
poſed not to have fuftained the ſmalleſt injury.
5. The following is a copy of a letter written by
an Earl of Derby to Oliver Cromwell; it is couched
in ftrong terms of diffatisfaction towards the Ufurper,
and breathes an heroic fpirit of loyalty for his Sove-
reign:
4
"I received your letter with indignation and with
fcorn: I return you this anfwer, that I cannot but
wonder whence you ſhould gather any hopes from
me, that I fhould (like you) prove treacherous to
my Sovereign, fince you cannot be infenfible of my
former actions in his late Majefty's fervice, from
which principle of loyalty I am no ways departed.-
I ſcorn your proffers, I difdain your favours, I abhor
your treafons, and am fo far from delivering this
ifland to your advantage, that I will keep it to the
utmoſt of my power to your deftruction. Take this
final anfwer, and forbear any further folicitation;
for, if you trouble me with any more meffengers on
this occafion, I will burn the papers and hang the
bearer.
CROMWELL.
99
1
bearer. This is the immutable refolution, and ſhall
be the undoubted practice, of him who accounts it the
chiefeft glory to be
CASTLETOWN,
12th July, 1619.
His Majeſty's moſt loyal
and obedient fubject,
DERBY."
6. CROMWELL, after he had ran through his
youthful career of amuſements and diffipation, be-
came fo hypochondriacal, that he uſed occafionally
to have his phyſician called up in the middle of the
night to attend him, imagining himſelf dying. In
one of theſe fits of melancholy he is faid to have ſeen
a gigantic female figure that told him he ſhould be a
king. See Anecdotes of Cromwell, by the Rev. Mr.
Spence, in manufcript, (Author of Polymetis,) in the
Britiſh Muſeum; alfo, in the fame, very curious Particu-
lars of the great Men of the prefent and laft Ages.
In theſe anecdotes it is faid that a few nights after
the execution of Charles I. a man, covered with a
cloke and his face muffled, (fuppoſed to have been
Cromwell,) marched flowly round the coffin, covered
with a pall which covered the body of Charles I. ex-
claiming dreadful neceffity! Having done this, he
marched out in the fame folemn way he came in.-
Cromwell and Ireton faw the execution from a ſmall
window of the Banqueting-houſe at Whitehall.
7. In the fuite of the late Princeſs Amelia, there
was formerly a lady of the name of Ruffell, who
was a grand-daughter of Oliver Cromwell, and who,
# 2
i
100
CROMWELL
WELL
it fhould feem, inherited without any alloy much
of his undaunted and ready fpirit: one day, it hap-
pened to be the thirtieth of January, fhe was in wait-
ing, and occupied in adjuſting fome part of the Prin-
cefs's attire, juft as the then Prince of Wales, the
father of his prefent Majefty, came into the room;
his Royal Highneſs accoſted Miſs Ruffell rather ſport-
ingly, and faid to her, "For fhame, Mifs Ruffell
why have you not been at church, humbling yourſelf
with weepings and wailings for the fins on this day
committed by your grand-father ?" "Sir," replied.Mifs
Ruffell," for a grand-daughter of Oliver Cromwell,
it is humiliation ſufficient to be employed, as I am, in
pinning up your fifters tail!"
;
8. Copy of a Petition to OLIVER CROMWELL:
"To his Highnefs the Lord Protector of the Common-
wealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland.
"The humble petition of Margery, the wife of Wil-
liam Beachamp, mariner,
"Sheweth,
"That your petitioner's huſband hath been active
and faithful in the wars of this Commonwealth, both
by fea and land, and hath undergone many hazards,
by impriſonment and fights, to the endangering his
life, and at laſt the uſe of his right arm, and is utterly
difabled from future fervice, as doth appear from
the certificate annexed; and yet he hath no more
than forty fhillings penfion from Chatham by the
year.
❝ That
CROMWELL.
101
"That your petitioner, having one only fon, who
is tractable to learn, and not having wherewith to
bring him up, by reaſon of her preſent low eſtate,
occafioned by the public fervice aforefaid:.
"Humbly prayeth, that your Highnefs would
vouchſafe to preſent her ſaid ſon, Randolph Beachamp,
to be a ſcholar in Sutton's Hoſpital, called the Char-
ter-houſe."
66 OLIVER, P.
"We refer this petition and certificate to the Com-
miffioners for Sutton's Hofpital."
July 28, 1655.
$
Copy of a Letter fent by Oliver Cromwell to his Secre-
tary, on the above Petitions being prefented.
"You receive from me, this 28th inftant, a peti-
tion of Margery Beachamp, defiring the admiffion of
her fon into the Charter-houſe. I know the `man,
who was, one day, employed in an important fecret
fervice, which he did effectually, to our great bene-
fit and the Commonwealth's. The petition is a brief
relation of a fact, without flattery. I have wrote
under it a common reference to the commiffioners,
but I mean a great deal more, that it shall be done
without their debate, or confideration of the matter,
and fo do you privately hint to -
"I have not the particular fhining bauble, or
feather, in my cap for crowds to gaze at, or to kneel
to, but I have power and refolution for foes to trem-
ble at.
To be fhort, I know how to deny petitions;
H 3
and
1
102
CRUDEN.
and whatever I think proper, for outward form, to
refer to any officer or office. I expect that fuch my
compliance, with cuſtom, ſhall be alſo looked upon
as an indication of my will and pleaſure to have the
thing done:-See, therefore, that the boy is admitted.
Thy true friend,
OLIVER, P."
1
CROMWELL, RICHARD,
On his difmiffion from the Protectorate, refided
fome time, at Pozena, in Languedoc, and after-
wards at Geneva. In 1680 he returned to England,
and refided at Chefhunt, in Hertfordshire. In 1705
he loft his only fon, and became, in right of him,
poffeffed of the Manor of Horfley. In a fuit re-
ſpecting this eftate, it was neceſſary he ſhould appear
at Weſtminſter in perfon, when Lord Chancellor
Cooper ordered a chair for him in Court, and defired
him to keep his hat on. As he was returning from
the trial, curiofity led him to ſee the Houſe of Peers,
when, being afked by a perfon, to whom he was a
ftranger, if he had ever feen any thing like it before,
he replied, (pointing to the throne,) " Never fince I
fat in that chair." He died aged 86.
CRUDEN, ALEXANDER, M. A.
Who died in November, 1770, at Iflington, was
one of thoſe remarkable characters, that, while they
excite
:
CRUDEN.
103
12
+
nature.
excite the laugh in us, draw the nerve of pity and
compaffionate regard on the infirmities of human
His Concordance to the Holy Scriptures,
dedicated to the late Queen Caroline, will ever re-
main a monument of his attentive faculties, and his
uſefulneſs to mankind. The publication of his ad-
ventures, and fome other remarks, prove that he was
not touched-with the infane malady, as Sir William
Lee, the Chief Juftice, fuppofed, when he laid his
action of damages againſt his own fifter, for falfe
impriſonment, at 10,000l.; for, after this, he lived
in the habits of correcting for the prefs; and ſeveral
Greek and Roman claffics, for their accuracy, in
publication, are indebted to him alone. In the year
1754, we find him, on application to Mr. Sheriff
Chitty, nominated a candidate for the City of Lon-
don, and addreffing them in hand-bills, acquainting
them, that he was Alexander the Corrector, and that
his election would
pave the way for his being a Jo-
feph. In 1762, he was active in behalf of a con-
demned criminal in Newgate, and fucceeded to the
fatisfaction of all. However, fome parts of his cha-
racter may appear of the whimfical kind, his main
drift was entirely of the uſeful; but we cannot help
repeating here a circumftance but little known:-
He was in great eſteem, at one time of life, with
the famous Dr. Bradbury, a zealous diffenting cler-
gyman. The Doctor had, one evening, prepared
an excellent fupper for feveral friends; at the mo-
ment it was ſerved on the table, Mr. Cruden made
H 4
his
104
DANCER.
his appearance in the room, heated with walking;
the Doctor's favourite difh, a turkey, was fmoking
at one end of the table, and, before the company
could be feated, Cruden advanced, put back his.
wig, and, with both hands plunged in the gravy,
he calmly waſhed his head and face over the bird,
to the no ſmall mortification of the jolly Doctor and
his company. It was this conduct that proved fo
fatal to his action againſt his fifter at Weſtminſter-
Hall; for, on Bradbury's evidence alone reſpecting
it, Judge Lee ſtopped all further proceedings; on
which, Mr. Cruden faid, "My Lord, don't believe
a word that man fays; he is very well at Pinner's
Hall in the pulpit, but he is not a proper evidence
in this Court.
}
}
DANCER, DANIEL, ESQ.
LADY TEMPEST was the only perſon who had
the leaft influence on this unfortunate mifer; and,
though the knew fhe fhould divide the bulk of his
fortune with Captain Holmes, fhe, with that gentle-
man, uſed every
device to make him enjoy the good
things of this world, but all in vain. She had, how-
ever, one day, the pleaſure of prevailing on him to
purchaſe a hat, (having worn his own for thirteen
years,) from a Jew for a fhilling; but, to her great
furprife, when fhe called the next day, fhe faw that
the old chapeau ſtill covered his head. On enquiry,
it was found that, after much folicitation, he had pre-
vailed
1
DANCER.
105
vailed on old Griffiths, his fervant, to purchaſe the
hat for eighteen-pence, which Mr. Dancer bought,
the day before, for a fhilling, from the Jew.-One
day her ladyfhip fent him a prefent of trout, ſtewed
in claret, which he liked above all things. It was
frofty, and the whole, from lying by a night, was
frozen almoſt into ice. As he was a martyr to the
tooth-ache, he could not touch it, and, to light a
fire, this man thought expenfive, who, befides hav-
ing 3000l. per year, was a man of immenfe riches.
As he generally, in fevere weather, laid in bed to
keep himſelf warm, he had the fiſh and ſauce put
between two pewter plates, on which he fat till the
whole was fufficiently warm. He never took ſnuff,
for that was extravagant, but he always carried a
fnuff-box. This, probably, he would fill, in the courſe
of a month, by pinches obtained from others. When
the box was full, he would barter the contents for a
farthing candle at a neighbouring green-grocer's;
this candle was made to laft till the box was again
full, as he never fuffered any light in his houfe, ex-
cept while he was going to bed. He feldom waſhed
his face and hands but when the fun fhone forth;
then he would betake himfelf to a neighbouring
pool, and ufe fand inftcad of foap; when he was
waſhed, he would lie on his back, and dry himſelf
in the fun, as he never uſed a towel, for that would
wear, and when dirty the washing was expenfive.
Since his death, there have been jugs of dollars and
fhillings found in the ftable. At the dead of night
he.
106
DEMPSTER.
he has been known to go to this place, but for what
purpoſe even Old Griffiths could not tell; but it now
appears he uſed to rob one jug to add to the other.
DEMPSTER, GEORGE, ESQ.
Anecdote of his ideal Appointment to the Poft of
Governor-General of Bengal.
This worthy gentleman, a few years ago, was in
danger of being oufted from Perth, one of the bo-
roughs he reprefents, owing to an interested phrenzy
of fome of the magiftrates there. His friend, the
wealthy and worthy Mr. P, was very active
in his intereft. Knowing that the Provoft, whofe
name was Stewart, was violently against D, he
hit upon a moſt whimfical manœuvre to gain him over
to his intereft. Dr. Carmichael Smythe was known
to be Mr. D's Phyſician, and the Provoft's re-
lation; Mr. P accordingly applied to the Doc-
tor, to know whether Mr. D's health would be
endangered by a Bengal refidence, as it was the de-
termination of Adminiſtration to appoint Mr. D.
Governor-General, provided he approved of his health
flanding the climate. The hum took; Dr. S, with
great gravity, told Mr. P that Mr. D's con-
ftitution would agree very well with India, and they
parted. He inftantly wrote to his friend, the Pro-
volt, informing him of Mr. D's appointment,
and that he muft, by all means, ſupport his intereſt,
if
D'EON.
107
•
if he expected the promotion of his fons, then in
India. The Provoſt eagerly fwallowed the bait.
Mr. D, therefore, when he went to Perth, was
aſtoniſhed to find the tranfition of the Provoft's
countenance; he beſlabbered him on the bridge,
where he waited his coming; he vowed the moſt
difintereſted and eternal friendſhip, and indeed
gained him his election. The affair taking wind
when Mr. P wrote to Scotland, it has often
fince excited the rifibility of thouſands, at the Doc-
tor's confequential credulity and the Provoft's in-
tereſted venality.
•
D'EON, LOUIS.
He was father to the celebrated Chevalier of that
name, and one of the under intendants of the gene-
rality of Paris, in which fituation he rendered him-
felf fo beloved by the poor of his diftri&t, that, for
fome time after his death, they uſed to refort in
crowds to his grave, in one of the churches of Ton-
nerre, in Burgundy, to weep over it, and lament
the lofs of their friend and benefactor. His family
is mentioned as a very noble and ancient one, in the
Dictionnaire Genealogique de la Chefnaye du Bois, who
gives the following curious account of his behaviour
in his laſt illneſs. On finding himſelf in the agonies
of death, after having received the laſt facrament,
he fent for his daughter, Mademoiſelle la Chevaliere
D'Eon, and, on her approaching the bed to take
her
108
DERBY.
her 'final leave of him, he took her by the hand,
and faid, in a moft tender accent of voice, "Ne
vous inquiétez point, ma fille, il eft auff naturel de
mourir que de vivre. Je quitte une mauvaife patrie
pour aller dans une bonne. J'ai donné tous mes foins
pour vous apprendre à bien vivre, il faut que je vous
apprenne à bien mourir." He then gave her his
bleffing, and expired.
DERBY, EARL.
It is univerfally known, among the polite cir-
cles, that the late Lady Derby, formerly Lady
Elizabeth Hamilton, had given an abfolute refufal
to propoſals of marriage from the prefent Lord, in
the hopes of winning the heart of his Grace of Dor-
fet; but no fooner were they baffled, by attentions
to the Houſe of Stanley, than fhe brought about a
renewal of thoſe addreffes fhe had rejected, and
yielded to them. However, to compenſate, in ſome
degree, for not being a Duchefs, fhe was refolved
to fignalize her nuptials with a fcene of pleaſure and
entertainment unparallelled in expence and elegance.
A fête champêtre was contrived, which embarraffed
the curiofity of the whole nation. The Duchefs
of Hamilton, her mother, was much blamed for
not exerting her authority to prevent fuch an enor-
mous expence, but her Grace found an excuſe in
that maternal vanity, which, as it is generally fup-
poſed to be mingled with affection, foftens the lan-
guage
DESCARTES.
109
guage of cenfure. A little female oftentation alfo
checked General Burgoyne's prudence on the occafion.
It was that of his Mufe; for the darling pleaſure of
figuring as a man of tafte and literary character fup-
preffed every other confideration. It is well known
that the preparations for this unmeaning ceremonial
aftoniſhed even the moft extravagant; however,
the extent of the propofed plan of operations was
kept a profound fecret from the Earl's father, who,
having been informed that fomething of a fête was
to grace the nuptials, greatly approved of it, and
declared to every body that he ſhould give a couple
of hundreds towards the expence. Poor old man!
if he had known how many thouſands were unpro-
fitably laviſhed away on the occafion, he would, in
all probability, have new modelled his will, and
not have left him the key of his coffers.
DESCARTES AND SIR KENELM DIGBY.
SIR KENELM, having read the works of Deſcartes,
refolved to go to Holland to fee him. He found
Deſcartes in his folitude at Egmond, where he con-
verfed with him, without making himſelf known.
Defcartes, who had read fome of his works, faid,
I have not the leaſt doubt you are Digby; to which
Sir Kenelm replied, Was you not, Sir, the illuf-
trious Deſcartes, I fhould not have come from Eng-
land on purpoſe to ſee you. Thefe compliments
over, they converſed on different ſubjects, and Digby
told
110
DOGS.
told Defcartes that he would do much better to feek
after the diſcovery of fome means to prolong life than
to attach himſelf to the fimple fpeculation of philofo-
phy. Defcartes affured him that he had long re-
flected on the fubject, and that to render man im-
mortal was more than he dared promife, but he was
certain he had the power of rendering life as long as
thofe of the Patriarchs. It is well known, in Hol.
land, that Defcartes had flattered himſelf that he had
made this very difcovery, and the Abbé Picot, his
difciple, confident of his being in poffeffion of fuch
powers, would not believe the news of his death;
and, when he could no longer doubt it, exclaimed,
C'en eft fait, la fin de genre humain va venir.
DOGS.
Method of difcovering canine Madneſs.
When a perſon has been bit by a dog, appre-
hended to be mad, it commonly happens that the
dog is killed before one is affured of his condition.
Mr. Pettitt, an eminent Surgeon in France, has
difcovered an expedient for putting an end to this
uneafinefs: he rubs the throat, teeth, and gums of
the dead dog with a piece of meat that has been
dreffed, taking care that there has been no blood to
ftain it, and then offers it to a living dog; if he re-
fufes it with crying and howling, the dead dog was
certainly mad; but if it is well received, and eaten,
there is nothing to fear.
1
Infcription
D'OBIZZI.
111
}
Infcription on an Ionic Column, erected to the Memory
of a favorite Dog, which was shot by accident.
D. M.
Optimi et fideliffimi amici,
Sodalis jucundiffimi,
Qui nihil injufti, nihil mali,
Nihil indecori, nihil denique
Contra fummam virtutem et honorem agitat,
Vifu Domini decepto,
Plumbum occepit lethale et,
Fato concedens me tuum occidifti
Pompeium
Tumulo dixit me,
An. M,DCC,LXI.
D'OBIZZI.
A gentleman of Padua fell defperately in love with
the Marchionefs D'Obizzi; but, defpairing of poffeff-
ing her by fair means, he contrived, in the abfence of
her huſband, to conceal himſelf in the bed-chamber
where the Marchionefs and her child, about five
years of age, ufually flept; and where, after ufing the
gentleſt means without fuccefs, he became furioufly
frantic, and ſtabbed to death the object of his love.
The lady being found murdered, the gentleman's paſ-
fion for her being notorious, and one of his fhirt-
buttons being found in the bed, he was taken up,
and fuffered the torture ordinary and extraordinary,
but
112
DONNE.
7
but ftill denied the fact; and after fifteen years im-
priſonment he was difcharged. However, before he
had enjoyed his liberty many weeks, the Marchio-
nefs's bedfellow and fon took an opportunity to fhoot
him, and then retired into Germany. A monument
is erected to record fuch an inftance of virtuous
courage in the following words:
Venerare pudicitiæ fimulachram & vi&timam, Lu-
cretiæ de Dendis ab Horologio Pyæacæ de Obizzo-
nibus, Orceani Marchionis Uxorem. Hæc inter
Noctis Tenebras maritales afferens Tædas, furiales
recentes Tarquinii Faces cafto Cruore extinxit.
Sicque Romanam Lucretiam, intermerati Tori
Gloria, vinxit. Tantæ fuæ Heroinæ generofis Ma-
nibus hanc dicavit Aram Civitas Patavina, Decreto
Die xxxi Decembris, Anno MDCLXI.
1
DONNE.
When Doctor Donne, afterwards Dean of St.
Paul's, London, became poffeffed of the firft living he
ever had, he took a walk into the church-yard, where
the fexton was digging a grave; and, throwing up a
fcull, the Doctor took it up to contemplate thereon,
and found a ſmall ſprig or headlefs nail fticking in the
temple, which he drew out fecretly, and wrapt it up
in the corner of his handkerchief; he then demanded
of the grave digger whether he knew whofe fcull that
was? He faid he did very well; declaring it was a
man's who kept a brandy fhop, an honeft drunken
fellow,
१
DOWNING.
113
}
fellow, who one night having taking two quarts of
that comfortable creature, was found dead in his bed
the next morning. Had he a wife? Yes. What
character does ſhe bear? A very good one; only the
neighbours reflect on her, becauſe fhe married the
day after her huſband was buried; though to be ſure
ſhe had no great reafon to grieve after him. This
was enough for the Doctor, who, under pretence of
vifiting his parishioners, called on her: he aſked her
ſeveral queſtions, and, amongſt others, what fickneſs
her huſband died of: fhe giving him the fame ac-
count he had before received, he ſuddenly opened the
handkerchief, and cried, in an authoritative voice,
Woman, do you know this nail? She was ftruck with
horror at the unexpected demand, and inftantly
owned the murder.
DOWNING, SIR GEORGE.
MR. DOWNING, grandfather to Sir George, was
Oliver Cromwell's minifter at the Hague. During
his refidence there, Charles II. being at Breda, fent a
trufty meffenger to his fifter, requefting a private in-
terview at the Hague. A few days after, the King,
accompanied with one gentleman for the greater
privacy, arrived at the place appointed. In the in-
terim, Downing received an expreſs from Oliver,
intimating that Charles would be at the Hague at fuch
a time, fignifying alfo the place and the company, and
ordering him to demand a party of the Dutch guards
I
to
114
DOWNING.
to feize the King, and fend him over to England.
Downing had a fecret affection for the perfon of the
King, and he knew to trifle with Oliver was certain
death; at the fame time he was aftonifhed how he had
got the intelligence, though he was too fufficiently ac-
quainted with the art and fubtlety of his mafter to
fufpect the truth of it. To prevent, however, any
diſaſter from happening to himfelf, he devifed the fol
lowing ftratagem: he changed his clothes, put on a
vizard with a large beard, flipped out of a private door
of his houſe unknown to his family, went directly to
the houſe where the King was, and defired to know of
the hoft, whether two ftrange gentlemen were not
arrived there? Being anfwered in the affirmative,
he requeſted to be admitted to them. The king, be-
ing informed of the requeft, and hearing the defcrip-
tion of the perfon, was furpriſed, and, after a little
converſation with his companion, refuſed him ad-
miffion. The hoft returned again to the ftrangers
with a warmer intreaty than the firft. Let the man
come up, faid the King, he is but one; I think, turning
to his gentlemen, we fhall be able to manage him, if
miſchief is intended. When admitted, he told the
King, he had a word with him in private, and that his
companion muft withdraw. This extraordinary re-
queft alarmed the King, being apprehenſive that aſſaſ-
fination was intended. After a little confultation, and
viewing Downing, he granted his requeſt. The gen-
tleman withdrew, and Downing, (having locked and
bolted the door after him, which increaſed the fufpicions
and
DREAMS.
115
and fears of the King,) came forward, and, falling on his
knees, folemnly intreated him not to divulge the fecret
he was about to communicate. The King promifed,
and faithfully kept his promife. He then informed
him (pulling off his vizard) of the intelligence and
orders he had received, and adviſed the King to de-´
párt inftantly, for he was going to demand the guards.
He ſaid no more, retired from the King, went home,
changed his clothes, demanded the guards, obtained
them, and ſet off immediately to the place to execute
Cromwell's orders. But the King, having taken the
hint, inftantly left the place. After the Reſtoration,
Downing being at Court, fome of the courtiers ob-
ferved to the King that Downing, one of Oliver's mi-
nifters, was prefent. To whom the King replied,
I have an eſteem for the man,---he ferved us, when
in the moſt imminent danger of our perfon. The
King added nothing more, and no one but Downing
knew what he meant.
DREAMS.
1. The following ftory is told by Grotius. It is in
the 405th of the Epiftola extra Ordinam.
Salmafius told it him thus:-One quite ignorant of
Greek, came to Salmafius's father, and told him he had
heard thefe words in a dream, * απιθι εκ οσφραίνη την σεν
auxar, the found of which, on his awakening, he
had written down in French characters, which,
underſtanding nothing of, he brought to Salmafius,
I A
the
3
116
DREAMS.
the father, one of the Parliament of Paris.
Under-
ſtanding the meaning of the words, the dreamer re-
moved out of his houfe, which the next night fell
down. This, as far as I can recollect, is the fimple
ftory, well attefted, that ftands quite free of a liber-
tine's objection, that the prevention was the effect of
imagination; for here the intelligence was conveyed
in a language not underſtood by the dreamer.
2. When Newark was befieged by the Scotch
army, in the grand rebellion, a filk mercer in that
place dreamed his houſe was knocked down by a
bomb; he awaked, removed, and in an hour after a
bomb did that execution. The wonder, you fee,, is
not that a rich tradefman in a town befieged fhould
dream of bombs; but that he fhould dream fo oppor-
tunely. However, the man thus preferved, to com-
memorate this mercy, left an annual donation to the
poor, and a fermon to be preached on that day of the
month for ever.
3. Dryden, in his tale of the Cock and the Fox,
thus beautifully writes on dreams:
Dreams are but interludes, which fancy makes;
When monarch-reaſon fleeps, this mimic wakes.
Yet to a dream is to be aſcribed the inſtitution of
St. John's College.
It is reported that Sir Thomas White, of the City
of London, having been informed by a dream, that
he fhould found a college for the benefit of religion
and
DREAMS.
117
and learning, in a fpot where three feveral trunks
iffued from one root, came to Oxford, and finding
ſomething like his dream near Glofter-hall, began to
build there; but meeting afterwards with three treès
near St. Barnard's College, which ftruck him as more
peculiar, he left off building at Glofter-hall, and en-
dowed a college there by the name of St. John
Baptift.
Remarkable Dream of an Italian Mufician.
4. TARTINI, a celebrated muſician, who was born -
at Pirano, in Iſtria, being much inclined to the ſtudy
of muſic in his early youth, dreamed one night that
he had made a compact with the devil, who promifed
to be at his ſervice on all occafions; and during this
vifion every thing fucceeded according to his mind;
his wiſhes were prevented, and his defires always fur-
paffed by the affiſtance of his new fervant. At laft,
he imagined that he prefented the devil with his vio-
lin, in order to diſcover what kind of a muſician he
was; when, to his great aftonifhment, he heard him
play a folo fo fingularly beautiful, and which he exe-
cuted with fuch fuperior tafte and precifion, that it
ſurpaſſed all the mufic which he had ever heard or
conceived in his life. So great was his furprize, and
fo exquifite was his delight, upon this occafion, that it
deprived him of the power of breathing. He awoke
with the violence of his fenfation, and inftantly fèized
his fiddle in hopes of expreffing what he had juft
heard,
} 1
I 3
118
DREAMS.
1
heard, but in vain; he, however, then compofed a
piece, which is, perhaps, the beſt of all his works;
he called it the The Devil's Sonata; but it was fo far
inferior to what he had fancied in fleep, that he de-
clared he would have broken his inftrument, and
abandoned mufic for ever, if he could have found
any other means of living,
J
i
Obfervations.
5. I believe there is not any circumftance in the ani-
mal œconomy more aftoniſhing and wonderful than
fleep. That a
That a body, exhaufted with the fatigue of
the day, as well as by conftant attention of the mind,
fhould be diſpoſed, at a certain period of time, in-
ſenſibly, and almoſt irreſiſtibly, to drop into abfolute
paſſiveneſs and inaction; that it fhould lofe all its
voluntary powers, and yet preferve all its animal
functions; that it ſhould in a few hours ſhake off this
inattention and inactivity, and recover its former
fpirits and ftrength, and be entirely refreſhed and re-
ftored in all its faculties; that this mere fufpenfion of
attention, and inability of motion, fhould fo regu-
larly take place, and produce fuch extraordinary ef
fects, is ftrictly to be ranged among thofe great arcana
of nature, which we every day are familiar with as
to effect, and yet are entirely ignorant of as to caufe.
But, however wonderful fleep may be, it is attended
by fomething as much more unaccountable as the
powers of the foul furpafs thofe of the body: I mean
dreaming; a faculty which the foul exerts, more or
lefs,
DREAMS.
119
lefs, in all, and yet none can difcover from whence
the impulfe arifes, how it is circumfcribed, or what
brings it to an end. In real active life our ideas are
regular, our actions determined by fome certain
views, and we complete them by juſt and uniform
meaſures: but, in dreams, the imagination reigns ab-
folute, and the will and judgment are entirely at its
command; and yet was this alone, without the aid of
the fenfes, or the apparent help of the
it
memory,
can engage us in fcenes of the deepeſt reach and the
higheſt importance, can officiate for reafon and judg
ment, can affemble and compare ideas, begin and
finiſh adventures, can fhift the ſcenes, and bring on
the cataſtrophe at her own pleaſure, and never once
afk the will nor the underſtanding leave. Nay, it can
proceed éven much farther ftill, and preſent thoſe
images, and correct thofe circumſtances, that never
were in the power of the waking mind to conceive,
hurries over actions with incredible celerity, or hangs
a load on the wings of time, and lengthens out dura-
tion to what term ſhe pleafes. This is exemplified in
the cafe of thoſe who have dreamed through the actions
of three days, in a fucceffive ſeries, in the compaſs
of a few hours, and of others who in one night have
made a tour over the whole globe. Again, when we
are awake, the action of recollecting, inventing, and
arranging our ideas to writing, is a work of incredi-
ble pains and labour; it advances flowly, and is di-
vided into a number of ftages, before it arrives at the
point in view, or can prefent the images of the writer
¡
1 4
to
1
1
120
DREAMS.
to the reader: whereas, many people have dreamed of
reading books on a variety of ſubjects, clearly, con-
fiftently, and elegantly written, which they never ſaw
waking; whereby it appears that the imagination com-
poſes the work, attends the thread of the narration,
judges of its excellency, and remembers its contents,
all at the ſame moment,-an inconteftible proof, in
my opinion, that the foul is of a much more noble and
comprehenſive nature than we generally ſuppoſe it;
and, when delivered from the bands of fenfe, and
difincumbered of the body, can act more like Deity
than we ſhould fufpect from fuch a frail limited agent
as it now appears.
6. Extract of a letter, written by a learned Divine, to
Mr. Baxter, author of the Enquiry into the Nature
of the Human Soul.
"There are two or three phenomena in my dreaming
which I beg to mention. I am apt to dream frightful
dreams, and, when they become very frightful, I have,
in my fleep, gained a habit of reflecting how the cafe.
ftands with me, and whether I be awake or afleep,
they generally end in a difcovery of the truth of the
cafe, and when I find it a dream I am eafy, and my
curiofity engages me to fee how the fcene will end;
but, although all along an actor in the farce, the rea-
lity of the reprefentation is perpetually intruding itfelf
upon me; fo when the fcene becomes.too troublefome
to be borne, I can at any time, by making a certain
effort, (which I can no way defcribe,) awake myfelf.
It
2
DREAMS.
121
1
>
"It has been ſaid by an ingenious writer, that waking
we all live in one common world, but, on going to reft,
each retires into a world of his own; but, I do not
know whether this or any other writer has obſerved
any thing like what happens to me, that this world of
our own is as conftant and regular, in many particulars,
as the common waking one. To explain myſelf, I
have rambled for twenty years together in dreams, in
one certain country, quite different, as to the whole
face of the country and fituation of the place, from
any thing I ever faw awake, and the fcene quite un-
varied.
"The third cafe will appear more furpriſing, per-
haps, than either of the foregoing. You have taken
notice of that new and ſtrange conſciouſneſs we have
in dreams; in which a bachelor, for inſtance, ſhall
be conſcious he has been married ten or twenty years,
and fhall recollect all the events of that period. A
conſciouſneſs, of this kind, I have frequently expe-
rienced. I fuppofe it to be very common; yet you
are the firſt I know of, who has publicly taken notice
of it. But what I am going to tell you is infinitely
more furpriſing. I have felt, as it were, in dreams,
a double identity. As thus; I have dreamed I was
converfing with another, and, at the fame time, was
very inquifitive and defirous to know the ſubject of
the converfation, which feemed to be carefully kept
from me. I was mentioning this odd circumftance,
one day, to Mr. Pope, and he told me, that his friend
Gay,
122
DREAMS.
Gay, in the delirium of a fever, had fomething like
the ſame ſenſation. He was quite affured himſelf
fhould recover, but he was under great apprehenfions
concerning the fate of John Gay."
I
7. The more particular converſe of ſpirits feems
to be as follows, viz. by dreams, voices,
noifes, im-
pulfes, hints, apprehenfions, and involuntary fadnefs.
Dreams, of old, were the way's by which God him-
felf was pleaſed to warn men what fervices to per-
form, and what to fhun. Jofeph was directed of
God, in a dream, to go to Egypt; and fo were the
wife men warned, in a dream, to depart into their
own country another way, to avoid the fury of Herod.
I am not like thofe who think dreams are the mere
dofings of a delirious head, or the relicts of a day's
perplexities or pleafures; but, on the contrary,
muſt take leave to fay, I never had any capital miſ-
chief befal me in my life, but I had fome notice of
it in a dream. As the devil never wanted infinu
ators, I ſhall obferve, that I learned a way how to
make a man dream of what I pleafed. For inftance,
let us ſuppoſe one to be found aſleep; let another lay
his mouth cloſe to his ear, and whifper any thing fo
foftly as not to awake him, the fleepy man fhall dream
of what has been fo whiſpered in his ear. Nay, I
can affure you, thofe infinuating devils can do this
even when we are awake, which I call, impulfes of the
mind. For, from whence, but from theſe infinuators,
1
come
DREAMS.
123
+
And,
come our cauſeleſs paffions, involuntary wickedneſs,
or finful defires? Who elfe forms ideas in the mind
of man when he is afleep, or prefents terrible or beau-
tiful figures to his fancy? Mr. Milton repreſents the
devil tempting Eve in the fhape of a toad, lying juft
at her ear, when in her bower ſhe laid faſt aſleep; and
brings in Eve telling Adam what an uneafy night's
reft fhe had, and related her dream to him.
likewiſe, I believe, that good ſpirits have the ſame
intercourſe with us, in warning us against thoſe
things that are evil, and prompting us to that which
is good. Were we to have the eyes of our fouls
opened through the eyes of our bodies, we fhould
fee this very immediate region of air which we breathe
thronged with fpirits now invifible, and which,
otherwife, would be the moft terrible; we ſhould
view the ſecret tranfactions of thoſe meffengers who
are employed when the parting foul takes its leave of
the reluctant body, and, perhaps, fee things nature
would fhrink back from with the utmoft terror and
amazement. In a word, the curtain of Providence,
for the difpofition of things here, and the curtain of
judgment, for the determination of the ſtate of ſouls
hereafter, would be alike drawn back; and what
heart could fupport here its future ftate in life, much
lefs that of its future ftate after life, even good or bad!
From the Preface to an old Edition of Robinfon
Crufoe.
DRELIN-
124
DRUMMOND.
!
#
DRELINCOURT.
DRELINCOURT's book on Death is a book of great
credit among vulgar enthuſiaſts, but when he first pub-
lifhed it, he was fo totally difappointed in its fale,
that he complained to Daniel Defoe, the Author of
Robinſon Crufoe, of the injury he was likely to ſuf-
tain by it. Daniel aſked him, if he had blended any
thing marvellous with his pious advice; he ſaid, he
had not.
If you wiſh to have your book fell, fays
Daniel, I will put you in a way; he then fat down,
and wrote the ſtory of the Apparition, which is to be
found at the end of Drelincourt on Death, and which
is alleged, as a proof of the appearance of ghofts, to
be as authentic as the affair of the Witch of Endor.
DRUMMOND, MR.
The fire which burnt his fummer-building at
Catlins, in Hampshire, was firft perceived during the
time of dinner. He had, as ufual, a good deal of
company, all of whom immediately left the table, and
ſtrove to make themſelves uſeful. They removed
out of the houſe moſt of the furniture, and the
faſhes, which were very curious, &c. &c, Every
body, in fhort, worked very hard but Mr. Drum-
mond himſelf, who was foon miffed, and, when found,
had been employing himſelf, with the moſt provident
calmnefs of magnificent philofophy, in the neceffary
directions for a fplendid fervice of refreſhments,
fruits, flowers, ices, and wines.
ELIZABETH.
1.
ELIZABETH.
125
5
ELIZABETH.
1. SIR ROBERT LEGARD, Maſter in Chancery,
during the feffion, would frequently take his pipe at
the Coffee-houfe adjoining the Houfe of Lords,
and would ſometimes ftay there till he had notice
given him of being wanted for the bufinefs of the
Houſe. He had, feveral times, the honour of con-
verfing with the late Lord Chandos in that coffee-
houſe, who would take his pipe with him. In talk-
ing of Queen Elizabeth, his Lordſhip ſaid to him,
"I'll tell you, Sir Robert, a piece of private hiftory
relating to our family, though, at the time it was
done, it was of very great importance to the public.
In Queen Mary's reign, an anceſtor of mine was
Sub-governor of the Tower; and, during the time of
the Princess Elizabeth's confinement there, an order
came to him, in all appearance figned by the Queen,
for taking the Princeſs into the inmoft part of the
Tower, and cutting off her head. Iminediately upon
the fight of that order, my anceftor, Mr. Bridges,
as ſoon as he had diſmiſſed the meſſenger from Court
that brought the order to him, went directly to White-
hall, and defired to ſpeak with the Queen, to whom
he fhewed the order, telling her Majefty, that he
wanted the plaineft affurances that it came from her-
felf. The Queen expreffed great furprize at the
fight of it, and thanked him moſt heartily for coming
to her, affuring him, that it never was in her own
thoughts to deal fo with her fifter; and faid further,
that, fince the ſaw her fifter was not ſafe where ſhe
1
was
1
126
ELIZABETH.
was, ſhe would take care of her being in more fafety,
which fhe did foon after." His Lordfhip added, that
after Queen Elizabeth came to the throne, fhe re-
membered Mr. Bridges for it, and raiſed his family.
2. The entertainments given lately to his Daniſh
Majefty, by feveral of the nobility and gentry,
have
been magnified with all the parade of defcription, and
boafted of as exceeding all the pomp of former ages.
Though, indeed, thofe ages have been repreſented
by modern fcribblers as remarkable for their fimpli-
city and economy, yet he, who has been converfant
in what cotemporary Authors have written concern-
ing them, will find them not more behind us in the
luxury of their diet than they are fuppofed to ex-
ceed us in the purity of their manners. I fhall
chooſe an example from the reign of Queen Eliza-
beth, to verify what I have afferted; and prefer her
reign to any other, becauſe it is celebrated for the
learning of the Sovereign, the ability of the Miniftry,
and the fimplicity of the People.
We are informed that Robert Dudley, Earl of
Leiceſter, in the month of July, 1575, entertained
his Royal Miftrefs, Queen Elizabeth, at Kentworth
Caftle, for ten days, with the greateſt elegance, and
at a boundleſs expence. A particular detail of this
entertainment is as follows:-The Queen was fur-
prized, at her entrance, with the proſpect of a float-
ing iſland in a large pool, illuminated with torches,
on which were the lady of the lake and two nymphs
waiting
ELIZABETH.
127
!
waiting on her, dreffed in filk, who made a fpeech
to the Queen, in verfe, difplaying the antiquity of
the family which belonged to the Caftle. This was
clofed with a band of mufic. Within the bas-court was
erected a noble bridge, twenty feet wide and ſeventy
feet long, over which her Majefty paffed. On each
fide of the bridge were perfons habited in the cha-
racters of the heathen deities, who fucceffively pre-
fented her with gifts. A cage of wild fowl was given
her by Sylvanus; divers forts of fruits by Pomona;
corn by Ceres; wine by Bacchus; fea-fifh by Nep-
tune; habiliments of war by Mars; and muſical in-
ftruments by Phoebus. During the feveral days
her Majeſty ſtayed, variety of fhows and ſports were
exhibited, viz. in the chace a favage man with ſatyrs;
bear-baiting; fire-works; vaulting by the beſt tum-
blers from Italy; a country bride-all; running at the
quinting, and morrice-dancing. To complete the
entertainment, the countrymen acted the ancient play
called Hock's Tuesday, reprefenting the deftruction of
the Danes in the reign of King Ethelred; the per-
formance of which pleafed the Queen fo much, that
her Majefty gave them a brace of bucks, and five
marks, for a feaſt, as a token of her approbation. On
the pool was a triton riding on a mermaid, eighteen
feet long, and Arion on a dolphin, who entertained
her Majefty with an excellent piece of mufic. The
coft and expence of this entertainment may be
gueffed at from the quantity of beer then drank, which
i
amounted
128
ELIZABETH.
amounted to three hundred and twenty hogfheads, of
the common fort only.
3. SIR HUGH PLATT informs us, "That delicate
Knight, Sir Francis Carew, once making a fplendid
entertainment for Queen Elizabeth at Beddington,
led her Majeſty after dinner to a cherry-tree in his
garden, which had on it fruit in their prime, then
above a month after all cherries had taken their leave
of England. This retardation he performed by
ftraining a tent or canvaſs cover over the whole
tree, and wetting it, as the weather required, with a
ſcoop; fo by obftru&ting the fun-beams, they grew
both great, and were very long before they gained
their perfect cherry-colour, and when he was affured
of the time her Majefty would come, he removed
the tent, and a few funny days brought them to their
full maturity.
6
66
God reward thee three-
4. The letter, of which the following is a copy,
is not mentioned in any of the hiftorical collections
of this reign. It may ferve to explain fome of the
dark paffages of thofe times. Amias, my moft
faithful and careful fervant.
fold into the double for thy moft troubleſome charge
fo well diſcharged. If you knew, my Amias, how
kindly befides dutifully my gratefull heart accepts
your ſpeedye endeavors and faultleſſe actions, your
wife orders and fafe regard performed in fo dangerous
and
1
129
ELIZABETH.
and craftye a charge, it would eafe your travells and
rejoice your heart. In which I charge you carry
this moſt juſt thought, that I cannot balance in
any weight of my judgment the value that I price
you at, and fuppofe no treaſure to countervąjle fuch
a faith, and ſhall condemne myſelf in that fault
which I never committed if I reward not fuch
deferts; yea, let me take lacke when I moft need,
if I acknowledge not fuch a meritt with a reward.
Omnibus datum. Let your wicked murthereffe knowe
how with heartye forrow hir vile deferts compells
theſe orders, and bidde her from mee afke God.
forgiveneffe for hir treacherous dealings towards the
faver of hir life thefe many yeares, to the intolle-
rable perill of hir owne. And yet not contented
with ſo many forgiveneſſes muſt fall againe ſo hor-
ribly, farre ſurpaffing a woman's thought, much more
a prince's. Inſtead of excufings, whereof none can
ferve it, being fo plainly confeffed by my actors of
my guiltleffe death, let repentance take place, and
let not the feend poffeffe hir, fo as hir better part
bee loft, which I pray with hands lifted upp to him
that may fave and ſpile.
With my moſt loving adieu and prayer for thy
long life,
Your moſt affured and loving Soveraigne, as thereto
by good defert induced.
To my faithful
AMIAS.
•
ELIZABETH, Regina.
-
K
Anecdote
{
í
130
ELIZABETH.
Anecdote of a Female Regicide in the Reign of Queen
Elizabeth.
Margaret Lamburn was a Scotch woman, of the re-
tinue of Mary Queen of Scots, as was alfo her huf-
band, who dying of grief for the fad cataſtrophe of that
Princeſs, his wife refolved to revenge herſelf of both
their deaths on Queen Elizabeth. For this purpoſe,
ſhe dreffed herſelf in man's clothes, and affumed the
name of Anthony Sparks, came to her Majefty's
Court, carrying always about her a pair of piſtols,
one to kill the Queen, and the other herſelf, in order
to eſcape juftice; but her defign happened fortu-
nately to miſcarry: one day, as ſhe was pufhing
through the crowd to come up to her Majefty, who
was then walking in her garden, the chanced to
drop one of her piftols, which being feen by the
guards, ſhe was ſeized, in order to be immediately
fent to priſon; but the Queen, not ſuſpecting her
to be one of her own fex, had a mind to examine
her firft; accordingly, demanding her name, coun-
try, and quality, Margaret, with an undaunted
firmnefs, replied, "Madam, though I appear in this
drefs, I am a woman;-my name is Magaret Lam-
burn. I was feveral years in the fervice of Queen
Mary, my miftrefs, whom you have fo unjustly
put to death, and by her death you have alſo cauſed
that of my huſband, who died of grief to ſee ſo
innocent a Queen perifh fo iniquitoufly. Now, as
I had the greateſt love and affection both for my
late royal miſtreſs and huſband, I resolved, at the
1
peril
+
}
ELIZABETH.
131
3
peril of my life, to revenge their death by affaf-
finating you, who caufed them both to die. I confefs
to you that I fuffered many ſtruggles within my
breaſt, and have made all poffible efforts to divert
my refolution from putting fo fatal a defign in force,
but all in vain; I find myſelf obliged to prove by
experience the certain truth of that maxim, that nei-
ther reafon nor compulfion can prevent a woman
from revenge, when ſhe is ſtimulated thereto by love
and eſteem.” However juftified the Queen might
have been to have refented ſuch diſcourſe, ſhe heard it
with coolness, and anfwered calmly; "You are then
perfuaded, that in this defign you have done your
duty, and fatisfied what you think was required of
you in affection and regard to your miſtreſs and
huſband; what think you now is my duty towards
you?" The woman replied with the fame intrepidity,
"I will tell your Majeſty my opinion frankly, and
with candour, provided you will pleaſe to let me know
whether you put the queftion in character of my
Queen or my Judge." To which her majeſty pro-
feffing that ſhe put the queſtion as Queen; "Then,
faid Margaret, your Majefty ought to grant me your
pardon." "But what fecurity or affurance can you give
me, fays the Queen, that you will not take another
opportunity to make the attempt, and effectuate your
purpofe?" Margaret replied, " Madam, a favour
which is given under fuch terms is not a favour;
and your Majefty would, by infifting on any con-
ditions, ac towards me as a Judge." The Queen,
turning
{
❤
K 2
132
ELWEYS.
1
+
turning to fome of the Council then prefent, ob-
ferved, that ſhe had been thirty years a Queen, but
did not remember to have been fo addreffed be-
fore, and immediately granted a full unconditional
pardon as deſired, and that too againſt the opinion
of the Prefident of the Council, who faid, he thought
her Majesty obliged to puniſh fo daring an offender.
The Queen was pleafed not only to difregard the
advice, but her generofity carried her even one de-
gree further; for, upon Margaret's foliciting her Ma-
jeſty to grant her a ſafe conduct out of the kingdom,
Elizabeth immediately complied with that alfo, and
Margaret ſhipped herſelf for the French coaft, on
which the foon found herſelf ſafe, in health, and
fpirits.
ELWEYS, SIR HERVEY,
}
Was son of Gerwas Elweys, Efq. by Ifabella,
fifter of John Harvey, the first Earl of Briſtol, and
grandſon of Sir Gerwas Elweys, Bart. fo created,
June 22, 1660, bv King Charles II. and lineally
defcended from Sir Gerwas Elweys, Lieutenant of
the Tower, in the reign of James I. who, as Howell
informs us in his letters, "was made a notable ex-
ample of juftice and terror to all officers of truft:
for being acceffary, and that in a paffive way only,
to the murder of Sir Thomas Overbury, yet he
was hanged on Tower-hill, and the caveat is very
remarkable which he gave upon the gallows; that
people.
}
イ
​}
133
ETYMOLOGY.
people fhould be very cautious how they make vows
to heaven, for the breach of them feldom paffes
without a judgment, whereof he was a moft rue-
ful example; for being in the low countries, and
much given to gaming, he once made a folemn
vow, which he broke afterwards, that if he played
above fuch a fum he might be hanged. My Lord
William of Pembroke did a moft noble act, and
like himſelf; for the King having given him all Sir
Gerwas Elweys' Eftate, which came to above a
thouſand pounds per annum, he freely beſtowed it
on the widow and her children.
ETYMOLOGY.
Names of Places.
The names of places, as well as perfons, are
often derived from circumftances very curious in
their origin.-A very few years fince a Jew, that
dealt in diamonds, going accidentally into a public
houſe at Wapping, happened to want change for
a guinea, which occafioning the landlady to pull
out the contents of her pocket in ſearch of a fix-
pence to make up the fum, a large pearl was no-
ticed by the Jew, which the landlady faid was
given her by a failor, and had been carried in her
pocket feveral years; the Jew betraying much anxi-
ety to purchaſe it, ´fo enhanced its value in the
poffeffor's opinion, that her husband applied to an
eminent jeweller in the city, and fold it for fo con-
fiderable
K 3
134
ETYMOLOGY.
fiderable a fum, that, retiring from bufinefs foon
after, and purchafing ground near Holywell-Mount,
he built a fmall row of houfes, to which he gave
the · name of Pearl-Place, in commemoration of
the incident. The tar, the inftrument of this piece
of good fortune, died on his voyage to the Eaſt
Indies.
To thoſe who pride themſelves on the confequences
of name and pride of blood, how humble muft be
their origin!
1
We cannot but be fenfible that moſt of our
English names, which have any meaning at all, are
borrowed from the loweft, and fometimes the moſt
offenfive objects: thus, for inftance, what can be
more fhocking to a delicate ear, than mangy, rag,
belcher, gorge, grub, trollop, huffey, &c. many take
their appellation from the loweft tradeſmen and me-
chanics; fuch as, fmith, mafon, gardener, packer,
dyer, turner, taylor, cook, cooper, carter, draper, glo-
ver, butcher, plumber, painter, carpenter, &c. almoſt
all kinds of beaſts, birds, and fifhes, are alſo
to be found among us; as, buck,, ftag, hind, fox,
hare, bull, bullock, lamb; duck, drake, gofling, crow,
hawk, kite, heron, crane, parrot, partridge, cock,
woodcock; fprat, herring, crab, whiting, falmon, &c.
the four quarters of the wind are uſed as fir-names,
eaft, weft, north, fouth; and even cock may be found
in the lift to furnifh family confequences and family
All the colours of the rainbow are appro-
aims.
priated
EULER.
135
priated to the fame purpoſes; as, green, fcarlet, grey,
brown, black, blackall, blackmore, white, whitehead,
ruffhead, redhead, &c. Even the different parts of
our habitation furniſh us with no inconfiderable num-
ber of names; we have houfe, garden, court, wall, hall,
kitchen, garret, chambers, wood, flone, lock, key, ſtreet,
Idne, whitflone, &c. We have alfo fields, meadows,
hills, rivers, lakes, ponds, pools, dykes, hedges, &c. Some
parts of the body likewife ferve for the fame end,
as head, ſkull, leg, foot, hand, nail, trotter, ham, &ć.
There are rich and poor, Sharp and blunt, young and
old, long and Short, fmall and great, walker and rider,
fwift and on-low; with a variety of other names,
the etymology of which would blot the proudéſt
eſcutcheon of family blood and arrogated confe- ·
quence.
EULER.
This great geometrician was born at Bafil the
13th Auguft, 1707, died the 7th September, 1783.
On that day, after having amufed himſelf in calcu-
lating the afcenfional motion of the aeroftatic ma-
chines, he dined with M. Lexelle and his family,
ſpoke of Hertſchell's planet, and of the calculations.
that determine its orbit, with his ufual intelligence
and ftrength of mind; and then fent for his little
grandſon, drank tea with him, and fmoked a pipe;
on a fudden, the pipe fell from his hand, his inno-
K 4
cent
136
.
FANSHAWE.
1
cent play with the child, his calculations, and his
life, were at an end. His death, which was not at-
tended with a groan, was as eaſy as his life had been
inoffenſive and uſeful. This great man was a member
of the academies of Peterſbourg, Berlin, London,
Paris, Turin, Liſbon, and Bafil. The academy of
Peterſbourg, by whom his death was confidered as a
public lofs, went into deep mourning for him, and
are now about to place an elegant marble buſt to his
honour in their affembly-room.
}
FANSHAWE, LADY.
The following anecdote of the conjugal affection
of this excellent woman to her huſband, Sir Richard,
Clerk of the Council to Charles the Firſt and Second,
and tranſlator of the Paftor Fido, is extracted from
fome MSS. memoirs of her, addreffed to her fon. The
tranſaction took place in a voyage that Lady Fanfhawe
made from Galway to Malaga, in the fpring of the
year 1649.
"We purſued our voyage with profperous winds,
but a moſt tempeftuous Maſter, a Dutchman, (which
was enough to ſay,) but truly, I think, the greateſt
beaſt I ever faw of his kind. When we had juſt
paffed the Straits, we faw coming towards us, with
full fails, a Turkiſh galley well manned, and we be-
lieved we ſhould be carried away flaves; for this man
had ſo laden his fhip with goods for Spain, that his
guns
L
FANSHAWE.
137
1
guns were uſeleſs, though the fhip carried 60 guns.
He called for brandy, and after he had well drunken
and all his men, which were near 200, he called for
arms, and clcared the deck as well as he could, re-
folving to fight rather than lofe his fhip, which was
worth 30,000l. This was fad for us paffengers, but
my huſband bid us to be fure to keep in the cabin,
and not appear, which would make the Turks think
we were a man of war, but if they faw women, they
would take us for merchants, and board us. He went
upon deck and took a gun, a bandelier, and ſword,
expecting the arrival of the Turkiſh man of war.
This Beaſt-Captain had locked me up in the cabin;
I knocked and called to no purpoſe, until the cabin-
boy came and opened the door. I, all in tears, de-
fired him to be fo good as to give me his thrum-cap
and his tarred coat, which he did, and I gave him
half-a-crown, and putting them on, and flinging away
my night-clothes, I crept up foftly, and ftood upon
the deck by my huſband's fide, as free from fickneſs
and fear as I confefs of difcretion, but it was the
effect of that paffion which I could never mafter. By
this time the two veffels were engaged in parley, and
fo well fatisfied with ſpeech and fight of each other's
force, that the Turk's man of war tacked about, and
we continued our courſe. But, when your father ſaw
it convenient to retreat, looking upon me, he bleſſed
himſelf, and fnatched me up in his arms, faying,
"Good God, that love can make this change!" and
though
1
•
138
FARINELLI.
>
though he ſeemingly chid me, he would laugh at it
as often as he remembered that voyage.
""
This incomparable woman wrote the memoirs of
her life, which contain many curious anecdotes of
the great perfonages of the times, Lord Clarendon,
&c. They are in manufcript in the Britiſh Muſeum.
FANSHAWE, CAPTAIN.
During the American war, this officer's fhip, in
company with the frigate commanded by Sir Andrew
Snape Hammond, was ordered to throw in fome ad-
ditional forces to our poft in the North River, to
effect which ſervice, they would be obliged to fail
within point-blank fhot of two of the enemies moſt
powerful batteries; it was the general opinion of the
officers, that they would be blown out of the water
in attempting it; on which Captain Fanfhawe replied,
"Look you, gentlemen, we are pofitively ordered
to convey the troops to their deftination, and if that
order had been to land them in hell, by God I would
have had a thunder at the gate." This fpeech had its
proper effect, and the ſervice was fully accompliſhed.
1
1
FARINELLI,
An eminent Italian finger, rendered infolent by
the incenfe of the Britiſh nation. He defpifed their
praife, paid reſpect with infult, and, pocketing their
gold, retired to enjoy affluence and independence in
his native country.
After
1
FARINELLI.
139
After much intreaty, and an extravagant pecuniary
confideration, he had been prevailed on to engage
to fing at a public entertainment, given by the late
Duke of Northumberland, who affembled on the
occafion a large company of the nobility, gentry,
and others. The amateurs were waiting on the tip-
toe of expectation to liften with extacy to his warb-
lings, when he rudely fent a verbal meffage, that he
was otherwiſe engaged, and could not poffibly attend.
His Grace was feverely mortified, and apologized to
his friends for their difappointment. The Duke of
Modena, to whom Farinelli was a fubject, being at
that time on his tour to England, and one of the
company, begged pardon for interrupting his Grace
of Northumberland, and diſpatched a fervant to the
finger, with orders for his immediate attendance.
Farinelli came, when a chair was placed for him in
the room, and every perfon, except the Prince, flood
up.
"Does your Grace permit a public finger to
fit in your prefence?" exclaimed his Highnefs; have
the goodneſs to excufe my officious interference, but
we manage thefe gentry better in Italy. Farinelli, ftand
in yonder corner of the room, and fing your beſt
ſong, in your beſt manner, to this company, who ho-
nour you with their notice." The fqueaking minion
trembled and obeyed, and after his fong retired with
a humble bow from the room, receiving from the
Duke, at the fame time, a nod of approbation.
}
FENELON.
1
140
FENELON.
1
FENELON.
1. When one of his inferior clergy boafted to the
Biſhop, that he had put a stop to the dances of the
peaſants on Sundays and holidays, a conftant prac-
tice in Catholic countries, he replied, "We will not
dance; but fuffer thofe poor people to divert them-
felves, that they may for a few moments forget their
unhappy fate."
2. When his library was on fire, "God be praiſed
(ſaid he) that it is not the habitation of fome poor
man."
3. When Fenelon was Almoner to the King, and
attending Louis XIV. to a fermon, preached by a
Capuchin, he fell aſleep; the Capuchin perceived it,
ánd, breaking off his difcourfe, faid, "Awake that
fleeping Abbé, who comes here only to pay his court
to the King:"-an anecdote which he often related
with pleaſure after he was Biſhop of Cambray. At
another time the King was aftoniſhed to find, inſtead
of a numerous congregation at his chapel, only Fe-
nelon and the prieft." "What is the reafon of all
this?" faid the King. "I caufed it to be given out,
Sire, that your Majefty did not attend chapel to-day,
that you might know who came to worſhip God, and
who to flatter the King."
P
4. No fooner was Fenelon nominated Archbishop
of Cambray, than he gave up the abbey of St. Valery,
that
}
FENELON.
141
that he might not violate the ecclefiaftical law; where-
upon Le Tellier, Biſhop of Rheims, feelingly told
him, "you will abſolutely ruin us.”
5. " Violence (ſaid Fenelon) may make hypocrites,
but it can never perfuade: to give fuch profelytes to
religion is not to protect but enflave it. Every wife
Prince (ſaid he) ſhould reign by the laws alone. His
juftice, his glory, nay his very authority, are all in-
tereſted in ſupporting them."
6. When his royal pupil, the Duke of Burgundy,
commanded the army in the campaign in 1708, he
could not obtain his grandfather's leave to fee Fe-
nelon, though he ardently folicited it. At the fame
time Fenelon was feceiving every mark of honour
and attention from the Duke of Marlborough and
Prince Eugene. When the French army were torn
to pieces, and ftarving, Fenelon had corn in his ma-
gazines to the value of 100,000 livres; this he ge-
nerouſly diſtributed among them, and refufed to be
paid for it afterwards. "The King (faid he) owes
me nothing; it is my duty to return to the State, at
fuch a time, what I have received from it."
7. He lived conftantly at Cambray, and con-
fequently (according to the French idea) in
exile; for when it is recommended to a French
Biſhop to retire to his diocefe, that is deemed exile.
Great, good, and amiable, as this prelate was, yet
ſuch is the weakneſs of man, or the force of educa-
tion, that he ſubmitted his fuperior underſtanding
to
142
FERRERS.
to the church, and publiſhed the Pope's Bull, which
condemned his own maxims of the Saints, and even
cauſed the figure of the fun to be placed in his own
cathedral, fupported by two angels, trampling under
their feet many books, among which was one of his .
own!
FERRERS, EARL.
a noted public-houſe,
liking to the chamber-
He went one night on the Leiceſter road, in dif
guife, without a fervant, to
where he had before taken a
maid, and ordered a bed, defiring it might be
warmed; he followed the maid, and locked the cham-
ber-door: the maid, furprized, aſked him to let her
out, which he refufed, and ſwore ſhe ſhould not ga
out that night, for that ſhe ſhould be his bed-fellow,
which the objecting to, he ſaid he would blow her
brains out if ſhe did not confent; (previoufly the
hoft of the inn had, knowing him, though unattended
and in diſguiſe, given the girl a precaution, that, in
cafe the Earl fhould offer violence, to give a fignal
by wrapping on the warming-pan, which he would be
ready to anſwer with a force fufficient to enter the
chamber for her releaſe.) On his threatening to ſhoot
her, ſhe refolutely went up to the other piſtol, which
laid on the table, and faid fhe would defend herſelf,
and commanded him to let her out; and on his ad-
vancing towards her, fhe made the appointed fignal.
The landlord, alarmed, forced the door, collared the
Earl, releaſed the chamber-maid, and, after a ſevere
repri-
+
t
FERRERS.
143
1
reprimand, permitted him to go to bed. On his being
brought to town to anſwer for his ſteward's death, he
called at the Inn, and defired to fee the landlord, who
prudently declined any interview; however, he faw
the miftrefs, and afked her if fhe recollected fuch a
circumftance; which fhe faying fhe did, he defired
to know in what fituation of life the girl was; being
anfwered, ſhe had a family, he requeſted to fee her,
and as he believed himfelf to be a dying man, de-
fired her to fend the girl, or any of her friends, to
him at the Tower, which ſhe accordingly did; the girl
came with her huſband, to whom he gave one hundred
guineas.
2. At the races he, in a paffion for fome fuppofed
infolence, cut off the waiter's middle finger; the
waiter repeatedly wrote to him to make him fome
amends, as he had loft his means of livelihood,
but he neglected to do it, which provoked him,
after three years fruitless folicitation, to apply to a
lawyer, who undertook his caufe, and applied to
the Judge on the Circuit; the Judge, on hearing of
fuch an outrage, defired the attorney to tell him when
the Earl came in; he foon appeared in the High
Sheriff's Box; the halbert-men were ordered to fur-
round him, and his Lordſhip commanded the Earl to be
taken into cuftody. He affected to know nothing of
the matter, till the finger, which was preſerved in
fpirits, was produced by the attorney, as the moſt
cor-
144
FISH.
corroborating evidence: on which the Judge inte-
reſted himſelf in the unhappy fellow's caufe, fo that
he agreed to pay him immediately five hundred
pounds.
FISH
The number of ſpawn laid by fome fiſh is almoſt
incredible; the roe of the cod-fifh for example, in
the ſpace of the cube of one fourth of an inch, con-
tains 250 eggs; and, according to that proportion,
the whole muſt contain about 1,000,000. The great
Mr. Lewenhock tells us, that, in the ſpace of a ſmall
fand of the male feed of the cod-fifh, there are about
ten thouſand animalculæ. Now, fuppofing that every
egg or ſpawn of a fingle cod-fifh fhould come to per-
fection, and that in five years every one of thoſe
fifh fhould be capable of producing others, fuppofing
only one half of them female, the increaſe of them
would be then 5,000,000,000, and five years after-
wards there would be an increaſe of above a thouſand
myriads of myriads, which increaſe, in the ſpace of
ten years, from one fingle fish, would give us room
to ſuppoſe, that, in a thousand years, at that rate, the
cod only, fo propagated, would fill more ſpace than
the whole world contains. Nor are the fifh of the
rivers and lakes lefs prolific, confidering their pro-
portion. A carp does not fpawn lefs than 20,000,
and perhaps a tench half as many.
C
FITZ-
1
FITZHERBERT.
145
FITZHERBERT, SIR WILLIAM.
The occafion of his retiring from the fervice of the
Court was a miſunderſtanding between him and the
Lord Chamberlain, as follows:
Sir William began his fervices at St. James's, as a
Gentleman Ufher to his Majefty, in which fituation
he continued enjoying the peculiar favour and good
opinion of his Royal Mafter, till he had attained the
feniority to which it had been the cuſtom to annex
the dignity of a Baronet. The King conferred this
honour upon Sir William, and he retired to his pa-
trimonial eſtate in Derbyſhire, coming to town only
thoſe months he was in waiting by the orderly courſe
of duty. Upon a particular occafion of fome cere-
monial at St. James's, it was neceffary for a Gentleman-
Uſher extraordinary to attend at Court, and the Mar-
quis of Saliſbury, in quality and right of his office,
ordered the Baronet to attend, who pleaded, in vain,
the diſtance he was from London, indifpofition, in-
convenience, and expence of the journey, for one
day's attendance; at the fame time he mentioned, that
another Gentleman-Ufher could not fail doing the
duty in his room. The Marquis directed a fecond
order to be fent to Sir William, commanding his at-
tendance or his refignation; the Baronet immedi-
ately took a poſt-chaiſe, reached the palace in time
to perform his duty, and immediately after
gave in
his refignation, which proved lucky to the new Cham-
berlaina
L
V
146
FITZWILLIAM.
berlain, who had feveral officers of his militia-
regiment, friends of Lady Saliſbury, to provide for.
The office of Gentleman-Ufher was accordingly
given to Captain Wortham.
}
1
FITZWILLIAM, EARL.
1. The Earl's family have been always noted for
their liberality, and his Lordfhip certainly keeps up
the firm of his noble houfe. It is very true that
William Fitzwilliam, the founder of his family, was
Alderman of Bread ftreet Ward in the year 1506.
Before his death, he forgave all his debtors, and
wrote upon the erafed accounts of each, Amore
Dei remitto! Cardinal Wolfey was the chief
means of the worthy Alderman acquiring his for-
tune. After the fall of that great man, Mr. Fitz-
william very hofpitably entertained him, at his feat
at Malton, in Northamptonshire, where the preſent
Earl refides. Henry VIII. was fo enraged at this,
that he fent for him, and faid, “Ha! ha! how comes
it, ha!—that you dare entertain a traitor?-ha!" Mr.
Fitzwilliam modeftly replied, " Pleafe your Highneſs,
I did it not from difloyalty but gratitude." The angry
Monarch here interrupted him by "ha! ha!" the ufual
interjections of his rage, Mr. Fitzwilliam, with the
tear of gratitude in his eye, and the burst of loyalty,
in his bofom, continued, "From gratitude, as he
was my old mafter, and the means of my greateſt
for-
FOLEY.
147
fortunes." Impetuous Harry was fo much pleaſed with
the anſwer, that he took him heartily by the hand and
faid, "Such gratitude, ha! fhall never want a maſter.
Come into my ſervice, worthy man, and teach my
other fervants gratitude, for but few of them have
any. He then knighted him on the ſpot, and ſwore
him in a Privy Counſellor.
"9
2. It is well known that this Lord was married
near 18 years before he had a child, and having
given up all hopes of being bleft with an heir to his
rank and fortune, he requeſted that his only brother,
George, would marry; but Mr. Fitzwilliam, who
was a pofthumous child, and of a very weakly con-
ftitution, declined the offer, although the noble Earl
propoſed to fettle 4cool. per annum upon him.
immediately, and a handfome jointure on any lady of
family he might efpoufe. It is worthy of remark,
that Mr. Fitzwilliam died foon after his Lordſhip had
made the propofition, and the next year the Counteſs
proved pregnant, and bleft her amiable confort with
a fon and heir, who will poffefs, if he lives, all the
Rockingham and Fitzwilliam eftates.
FOLEY, LORD.
In the annals of modern extravagance, there has
not been fuch an extenfive and ufelefs diffipation as
L 2
has
148
FOLEY.
1
has been contrived by the two elder fons of this fa-
mily. There was neither fplendor nor elegance in
the buſineſs, and the golden interval was not graced
with jovial mirth or fmiling hofpitality. It gave nei-
ther bread to the labourer, nor encouragement to the
artiſt: no one profited by it but the blood-fucking
ufurer, the jockey, and the gamefter. It was a ruin
with ſcarce a wreck:-when the bark funk, a few
filken ftreamers floated on the wave, and that was
all. The attempt to overturn the. teftamentary ar-
rangement of the late Lord, by an act of parliament,
was illegal; and they were friends to the laws of their
country who oppofed the innovating defign. The
infant and the child unborn will one day thank them
for their juſtice and their mercy.
FOLEY, LADY.
In the annals of inconfiftency, it would be a diffi-
cult matter to parallel the conduct of Lady Ann
Foley,-juſt at the moment fhe was going to be made
an honeſt woman by Lord 'Peterborough, to ſtart
off in a tangent, and to diſcover that her paffion for
her late husband was unconquerable, and having
ceaſed to be his wife, to wiſh to live with him as his
miſtreſs.
J
Not Cæfar's Emprefs would I deign to prove :—
No-make me miſtreſs to the man I love.
Lady
FORDYCE.
149
1
Lady Ann ufed to complain, that Lord Coventry's
temper made home difagreeable to her, and would
fay to her enquirers," You'll eafily find me, our houfe is
COVENTRY-CROSS."
Some years ago, when Lady Foley, to avoid cer-
tain debts, went over to Calais, George Selwyn ob-
ferved, "It was a pafs-over not much relished by the
Jews."
FORDYCE, THE BANKER.
A
With the foibles generally attendant upon an af-
piring man, Fordyce had generous qualities.
young intelligent merchant, who kept cafh at his
banking-houſe, one morning making a fmall lodg-
ment, he happened to ſay in the fhop, "that, if he
could command fome thouſands at prefent, there was
a certain fpeculation to be purfued, which, in all pro-
bability, would turn out fortunate." This was faid
looſely, without Fordyce's making any anfwer, or
ſeeming to attend to it, and no more paffed at the
time.
A few months afterwards, when the fame merchant
was what they call fettling his book with the houſe,
he was very much furprifed to fee the fum of five
hundred pounds placed to his credit fide more than
he knew he poffeffed. Thinking it a miſtake, he
pointed it out to the clerk, who, feeing the entry in
Mr. Fordyce's hand-writing, faid he muſt have paid
it to him.
L 3
FOSTER.
150
FOSTER.
FOSTER.
Mr. Foſter had, in the early part of life, been ſe-
lected by old Edward Wortley Montague, the huf-
band of the late celebrated Lady Mary, and the fa-
ther of the prefent Lady Bute, to fuperintend the
education of that very eccentric character, the late
Edward Wortley Montague. Fofter was perfectly
qualified for the ftation of a private tutor, but his
pupil was ſo exceedingly diſpoſed to fly off, as it
were, in a tangent, as to render it utterly impoffible to
fix his attention to any thing worthy purfuit. After
thrice running away, and being diſcovered by his
father's valet crying flounders about the ſtreets of
Deptford, he was fent to the Weft-Indies, whither
Fofter accompanied him. On their return to Eng-
land, a good-natured ftratagem was practiſed to ob-
tain a temporary ſupply of money from old Montague,
and at the fame time to give hin a favourable opinion
of his fon's attention to a particular fpecies of erudi-
tion. The ftratagem was this: "Fofter wrote a book
which he entitled, "The Rife and Fall of the Roman
Republics." To this he fubjoined the name of Edward
Wortley Montague, Jun. Efq. Old Wortley, feeing
the book advertiſed, fent for his fon, and gave him a
bank note of one hundred pounds, promifing him a
fimilar prefent for every new edition which the book
fhould pafs through. It was well received by the
public, and therefore a fecond edition occafioned a
fecond
FOTHERGILL.
151
fecond fupply. It is now in libraries with the name
of Wortley Montague prefixed as the author, al-
though he did not write a line of it. Mr. Fofter was
afterwards Chaplain to the celebrated Sir William
Wyndham; he then went to Peterſburgh, in the fuite
of the Engliſh Ambaffador. Many years afterwards
he became acquainted with the Duke of Kingſton,
and, on the demife of his Grace, the Ducheſs ap-
pointed him her domeftic Chaplain; he accompanied
her on her firſt vifit to Peterſburgh, and the Empreſs,
who had known him before, gave him an appoint-
ment in the academy, annexing a ftipend out of her
privy purſe. This appointment he held a fhort time,
and died in the eighty-fixth year of his age.
FOTHERGILL, DR.
1. A few years before the death of the above cele-
brated phyfician, a Cumberland gentleman, much
addicted to the bottle, and poffeffed of few Chriftian
virtues, coming to town, applied to the Doctor for
advice. Being introduced, the Doctor, who had
fome knowledge of his perfon, which, however, he
chofe to conceal, enquired what was his ailment; to
which the other replied, he was very well in health,
eat well, drank well, and flept well, but wiſhed to
know how he might be guarded against fudden fnaps.
The venerable phyficían, feeling a fupreme contempt
for fo diffolute and abandoned a character, gave him a
preſcription for his complaint in the following deferved
reproof:-
L 4
152
FOX.
}
reproof:-Do juftice, love mercy, walk humbly before
thy God, and do not SNAP the bottle too often.
The fequel, however, was, that the Almighty chofe,
fome few years after, to rid fociety of fo obnoxious
a member by what he fo impioufly called a SUDDEN
SNAP, unregretted and unpitied.
2. In the very large and moſt valuable collection
of trees and plants, in the gardens of Charles White,
Efq. at Sale, near Mancheſter, is a plant named by
Linnæus Fothergilia; near this is a handſome ftone,
on which the following copy of verfes is infcribed,
written by John Aikin, M. D.
1
To the Memory of Jn. Fothergill, M. D. F. R. S. &c.
"O friend of human kind, benignant fage!
Whoſe clear fagacious thought ſo oft has quell'd
The rage of dire difeafe; whofe ample mind
Drew its rich flores from Nature's genuine fource;
May grateful Medicine, forrowing for her lofs,
Thy memory ever cheriſh; may thy name
From Nature's votary call the tender figh,
As muſing mid thy favourite plants he roves,”
{
}
FOX, THE HONOURABLE CHARLES JAMES.
1. When at Eton, it was obſerved he was never fa-
tisfied with mediocrity in the execution of any thing
he undertook; the ardor of his genius ftill rofe fupè-
rior to whatever oppofed his progrefs, and his very
levities (unlike thofe of many, who with no claims
to his merits have, notwithſtanding, affected to defpife
his
FOX.
153
his manners) were always ingenious and fyftematic:
nor, amidſt theſe objects of feftivity and fplendor,
which inceffantly pampered his paffions and dazzled
his imagination, was it difficult to perceive fuch pro-
penfities of heart as have certainly given birth and
colouring to his fubfequent character.
I
How foon and fenfibly he demonftrated his fu-
preme attachment to all the ftrongeft fenfibilities of
humanity was exemplified by his uniformly efpoufing
the cauſe of the weakest and most friendlefs, in the
various altercations and contentions which, in the
halcyon days of youth, occafionally embroiled this
little fociety of innocence and pcace; and here he is
faid to have fupported, with equal addrefs and good
nature, a kind of municipal jurifdiction, where the
aggreffors were regularly arraigned and tried, and
where rules and laws of conduct were eſtabliſhed and
maintained, and where his maiden eloquence was fre-
quently and happily exerted in behalf of juſtice,
mercy, and benevolence.
2. From infancy to manhood it was his father, Lord
Holland's, method to fhew him the most unlimited
indulgence. The following ſtory is told in proof of it.
Maſter Charles, when fix or feven years of age, one
day ſtrolled into the kitchen when dinner was cook-
ing, and a pig roaſting at the fire, he amuſed himſelf
with piffing upon it. It was a ftanding order of the
Houſe to contradict him in nothing, fo there was no-
thing to be done-but to let the pig be fo bafted.
The
1
154
1
FOX.
ร
1
>
- The cook, however, thought it fair to give the
guefts warning of the fauce to it, which he did, by
fending up the following lines upon a label in the
mouth of it.
If ſtrong and favory I do tafte,
"Tis with the liquor that did me baſte,
While at the fire I foam'd and hifs'd,
A fox's cub upon me pifs'd.
This whimſical piece of poetry produced an expla-
nation, and of courſe a hearty laugh.
3. In fhort, the ftories related of him are innumera-
ble. The following is his, and of his ruling paffion
thus diſplayed.
When his brother's houfe was in flames, he food
by a ſpectator, cool, collected, and curious, laughing
at the odd fhapes the old houſe burnt into, and betting
on the fall of a beam.
4. His father introduced him fo early into life, that
the very ſpirit of the Conftitution was wounded, by
his being returned to Parliament before he had at-
tained the age of 21, and, confequently, before he
could legally take his feat in the houſe. His talents
were known before they were felt in debate, and either
the opinion of his capacity, or the weight of his con-
nections, immediately obtained for him a feat at the
Admiralty-board.
FOUN
FOUNTAIN.
t
155
FOUNTAIN, SIR ANDREW.
A rich old Abbot had a noble collection of medals,
that had been tranfmitted to him from his anceſtors;
which, as he underſtood nothing of them, and was
come to that time of life when, having no farther
occafion for money, we love nothing elſe, he wanted
to part with.
Ficaroni, as being the Pope's Antiquary, was em-
ployed to get him a purchafer, and he brought him
Sir Andrew, who he had before acquainted him was
a young Engliſh Cavallero on his travels, who knew
nothing of medals himſelf, but had a mind to fhew
away, like other raw young fellows of birth and for-
tune, when he came home, with a little bad vertu. This
did very well, but Ficaroni and Sir Andrew (who
was one of the keeneſt virtuofi in Europe, and out
italianized the Italians themfelves) had agreed before
they went, on certain terms between them two, to pick
out all the rare and valuable ones, which the Abbot
was to let him have for low prices, as being in a
manner trafh, for fo Ficaroni was to wink at him;
by which means they plundered the poor Ecclefiaftic,
while he was hugging himſelf on his and his friend's
duping the young Engliſh cully. When they were come
down, and got out of the Convent, Sir Andrew em- -
braced Ficaroni, as Auguftus and Licinius might
have done; " Noi fiamo due becchi furetti."" We are
a couple of precious dogs."
FRANK-
156
GAINSBOROUGH.
FRANKLIN, DR.
While Dr. Franklin was at Paris laft war, he hap-
pened to mention at his table that he had but little
Madeira wine, upon which an American gueft fent
him three dozen. A few days afterwards this gentle-
man was thrown into the Baftile, and confined there
feveral weeks, without the leaft intimation of what
he was accuſed; only, on his earneſt enquiry, one of
the officers told him, he was afraid it would go hard
with him, and aſked him whether he was a Catholic,
and would be attended by a Prieſt, which, he being a
Proteftant, refuſed. After fome time, a bottle of
wine was brought, and he was afked whether he knew
what wine it was, and was ordered to drink it; he
complied, and anfwered that he believed it was fome
of his own Madeira. At length he was releaſed, and
then he discovered that Dr. Franklin had been takeņ
ill foon after he received his prefent, and the mean
and fufpicious French emiffaries imagined that this
injured gentleman had been hired by the English
Court to poifon the Doctor.
1
GAINSBOROUGH.
MR. GAINSBOROUGH was born at Sudbury, in
Suffolk, in the year 1727. His father, on his out-
fet in life, was poffeffed of a decent competence,
but
t
GAINSBOROUGH.
157
but a large family and a liberal heart foon leffened
his wealth to a very humble income. The fon, of
whom we ſpeak, very early diſcovered a propenſity
for painting. Nature was his teacher, and the woods
of Suffolk his academy; here he would paſs in ſoli-
tude his mornings, in making a ſketch of an antiquated
tree, a marſhy brook, a few cattle, a fhepherd and
his flock, or any other accidental objects that pre-
ſented themſelves. From delineation he got to co-
louring, and after painting feveral landfcapes from
the age of ten to twelve, he quitted Sudbury in his
thirteenth year, and came to London, where he com-
menced portrait-painter, and, from that time, never
coft his family the leaft expence. The perſon at
whoſe houſe he principally refided was a filverſmith
of ſome taſte; and, from him, he was ever ready to
confefs he derived great affiftance. Mr. Gravelto,
the engraver, was alfo his patron, and got him in-
troduced at the old Academy of the Arts in Saint
Martin's Lane. He continued to exerciſe his pencil
in London for fome years, but marrying Mrs. Gainf-
borough while he was only nineteen years of age, he
foon after took up his refidence at Ipfwich; and,
after practifing there a confiderable time, he went to
Bath, where his friends intimated his merits would
meet their proper reward. His portrait of Quin, the
actor, which he painted at Bath, will ever be confi-
dered as a wonderful effort in the portrait-line; and,
it was with a degree of veneration that Mr. Gainf
borough
心​か
​1
158
GAINSBOROUGH.
borough always fpoke of Mr. Ralph Allen, Earl Cam-
den, and a few other gentlemen, for the patronage
and favor they extended to him here. The high re-
putation which followed induced him to return to
London, where he arrived in 1774. After fpending
a ſhort time in town, not very profitably, his merit
engaged the attention of the King. Among other
portraits of the Royal Family, the full length of
his Majeſty at the Queen's Houſe will ever be
viewed as an aſtoniſhing performance. From this
period Mr. Gainsborough entered into a line which
afforded a becoming reward to his fuperlative
powers. All our Princes and Princeffes have been
painted by him, the Duke of York excepted, of
whom he had three pictures beſpoken. Among his
latter performances, the head of Mr. Pitt, and ſeveral
portraits of that gentleman's family, afforded him
great fatisfaction.
His portraits will pafs to futurity with a reputation
equal to that which follows the pictures of Vandyke;
and his landſcapes will eftablifh his name, on the re-
cord of the fine arts, with honours fuch as never
before attended a native of this ifland. He was
fond, frequently, of giving a little ruftic boy and girl
a place in landſcapes. Some of thefe poffefs won-
derful beauty; his "Shepherd's Boy," the "Girl
and Pigs," the Fighting Boys and Dogs," and feve
ral of a like defcription, give him a very peculiar
character, as an artif, over every other difciple of
the pencil. The landſcape of the
66
Woodman in
the
1
GAINSBOROUGH.
159
9
the Storm," for expreffion, character, and colouring,
is of ineftimable worth. His Majefty's praiſes of this
picture made Mr. Gainſborough feel truly elate; and
the attention of the Queen, who fent to him foon
after, and commiffioned him to paint the Duke of
York, were circumftances that he dwelt upon with
conſcious pleaſure. His mind was moft in its ele-
ment while engaged in landfcapes. Theſe fubjects
he painted with a faithful adherence to nature; and,
it is to be noticed, they are more in approach to the
landſcapes of Rubens than to thofe of any other
mafter. At the fame time we mult remark, his trees,
foregrounds, and figures, have more force and ſpirit;
and we add, the brilliancy of Claude and the fimpli-
city of Ruyfdail appear combined in Mr. Gainſbo-
rough's romantic fcenes. Painting was not the only
art this extraordinary man poffeffed; mufic and the
fifter-arts dwelt with him.
His reply, on his examination, in the action brought
by Difenfares againſt Vandergucht, poffeffed that pe-
culiarity of genius and fancy for which that gentle-
man's converſation is fo remarkable. He was aſked,
"whether he thought there was not fomething necef-
fary, befides the eye, to regulate an artift's opinion
reſpecting a picture." His reply was, "that he be-
lieved the veracity and integrity of a painter's eye was,
at leaſt, equal to a pleader's tongue.
GANSELL,
160°
GANSELL.
1
}
GANSELL, GENERAL.
Many years ago the late King had a violent pain
in his thumb, which, after many ineffectual experi-
ments made by the ftate-phyficians, was configned
over to Dr. Ward, who was, at that time, in great
vogue with the public. Previous to Dr. Ward's ad-
miffion to the royal prefence, he had minutely ac-
quainted himſelf with the diforder, and had prepared
himſelf with a particular noftrum, which he had con-
cealed in the hollow of his hand; when he was in-
troduced, he begged his Majefty would permit him
to look at his hand, which the King complied with;
Dr. Ward gave him fo fudden a wrench, that the
King fwore at him, and, at the fame time, gave him
a kick on the fhins. Dr. Ward bore all this patiently,
till, finding him a little cool, he defired him to ftir
his thumb, which he did (to his very great furprife)
without the leaft pain whatfoever. The King was
fo tranfported with this fudden relief, that he called
him Æfculapius, made him fit down in his preſence,
and infifted upon knowing how he could ferve him.
Dr. Ward replied, that he thought the honour and
pleaſure he received, in giving eaſe, was fufficient;
but that, ſince his Majefty was fo obliging, he told him
he had a nephew (meaning the late General Ganfell)
who was unprovided for, and any favors granted him
he fhould confider as beftowed on himſelf. The
King, after firſt infifting on his accepting a ftate-
coach,
GIANTS.
161
coach, immediately fent his nephew a pair of colours
in the Guards, and, by degrees, made him a lieu-
tenant-general.
2
GIANTS.
1. Among other difquifitions in phyfical and natural
hiftory, that of the fize of men, in different coun-
tries or different ages, has not a little employed
ſpeculation, and produced difputes. On one fide,
the teftimony of all antiquity, which mentions giants
as familiarly known, the ſkeletons dug up of a mon-
ftrous fize, and fome more modern diſcoveries in the
fouthern parts of America, are brought to confirm
their exiſtence. On the other fide, when theſe proofs
come to be examined, the ancients will frequently
appear to have been themſelves deceived. The fke-
letons will appear to have belonged to other animals.
The exiſtence of the tall Patagonians in South Ame-
rica has been called into queſtion by Sir Hans
Sloane, Frazer, and others; but there has been lately
publiſhed, at Madrid, a work entitled Giganthalogia,
by T. Jeffop Tarrubria, PROVING the exiftence of
this ſpecies of men, not only from the concurrent
teftimony of all antiquity in this our own world, but
from ſeveral Indian antiquities difcoverable in the
The monftrous features of feveral of their
idols, which are affirmed to have been no bigger than
the life, and feveral utenfils, that from their fize
could have been made uſe of only by giants, are
new.
M
con-
162
GIANTS.
confirmations of this; but what is a more irrefragable
proof than either, the author infifts upon having feen
feveral Spaniards, who have feen thoſe monftrous
men as they happened to ftray from their wild re-
treats, verging towards the Straits of Magellan. They
are defcribed as being nine or ten feet high, ftrong
in proportion to their fize, and active to a ſurpriſing
degree. But, inftead of dipping into a controverfy,
that time, and not difputations, will determine, I fhall
only relate a ſtory told of one of thofe extraordinary
fpecies of beings.
Madalena de Nigueza was one of thofe unhappy
women, who, leaving Europe, expected to find afflu-
ence and fortune in fome of the extenfive provinces
ſubject to the Spanish monarchy in South America.
Thoſe who are friendleſs at home are generally friend-
lefs among ſtrangers. She wandered, for ſome time,
in the streets of Carthagena, feeling all the miferies
of houfelefs indigence, and an unfavourable fky. In
this forlorn ftate, an Indian fhepherd faw, married
her, and brought her with him to his native village,
which bordered on the favage countries of Guanoas
and Chiquitos. Thoſe barbarous nations, which could
never be reduced to the fubjection of the Spaniards,
make continual incurfions upon the countries that
have b、en reduced, and kill or carry away the in-
habitants who happen to fall in their power.
one of thefe incurfions, Madalena and her huſband
were taken prifoners and carried fome hundred
leagues to the fouth, where they were feveral times
exchanged
In
A
GIANTS.
163
exchanged for other commodities in the uſual courſe
of traffic, till at length they arrived among a people
ftill, if poffible, more rude than their former mafters,
and here they were put to their ufual employment of
keeping cattle. In this fituation, however, they had
not long continued, when a general alarm was fpread
through the Indian town where they were ftationed,
that an army of giants were marching forward, and
laying all things wafte, with fire and fword, before
them. Madalena could perceive that the Indians,
inſtead of attempting to fly, rather endeavoured to
conceal themſelves, as they defpaired of finding
fafety by fwiftnefs, in which the giants fo much ex-
celled them. The formidable army, at length, ap-
peared; but, inſtead of ſpreading that terror which
was expected, ſhe was furprized to fee the humanity
with which they treated their prifoners. This body
of giants confifted of about four hundred; the loweſt
foldier in the whole army was not under nine feet
high, and the talleft was about eleven. Their fea-
tures were regular, their limbs exactly proportioned;
they had a ſweetneſs and affability in their looks, and
their ſpeech was deep, clear, and fonorous. Mada-
lena and her huſband were now made prifoners once
more, but treated with infinitely more compaffion
and tenderneſs than by their former maſters. The
giant to whofe lot fhe fell, uſed to hearken to the
account of her adventures with pleaſure, and feemed
to regard her misfortunes with a paffion mixed with
love and pity. They lived in a fate of perfect equa-
M 2
lity
164
GIANTS.
1
lity among each other, and had people of ordinary
ftature to do the domeſtic offices of life. Their
women were by no means proportionably large, not
being above fix feet and a half high; and the chil-
dren, when brought into the world, were of the ufual
fize. In this fituation, Madalena continued almoft
four years, when, growing weary of fervitude, fhe
was refolved to travel down to the weſtern ſhore,
which bounds the great Pacific Ocean, which fhe
effected, and was brought off by a Spaniſh bark, and
carried to Panama, from whence, fome time after,
fhe found means of returning to Europe.
of ſhort cloke hung
They appeared wil-
2. By the relation of Dutch voyagers we are told,
that they faw, towards the Straits of Magellan, men
whoſe ſtature exceeded ten feet, and whoſe bodies
were of proportionate bulk. They had no covering
on their bodies, except a kind
over their ſhoulders and back.
ling to come among the Dutch feamen, but they
diſperſed them by diſcharging their mufkets, by which
two or three of them were killed. Being obliged
by their fears to retire, and apprehenfive of a fur-
ther attack, they began to tear down trees, in order
to form a rampart againſt their enemies.
A letter from Colonel Simeon Thompſon, in the
County of Kerry, Ireland, to Mr. George Barry
Douglas, about the year 1785, gives the following
remarkable relation, of which he was both an eye
and ear witneſs:
❝ I ordered
GIANTS.
165
"I ordered two. men (fays he) to go down to the
bottom of a well I was finking; it was dug about
twenty feet perpendicular, but no water appeared;
I was refolved, however, to go on with it, and try
how far I could penetrate before a ſpring was found.
We dug accordingly forty-eight feet further, when
ſomething like a vapour coming out, we drew up
the men, and defifted for about an hour, when, the
fmoke ceafing, the two men again defcended, and
penetrated about three feet more; they found, on
the north-eaft fide, a hollow way, arched over, in a
very curious manner, with ſticks and clay; they had
courage to enter, for there was room fufficient for a
man to walk almoft upright, and they proceeded for
about ten yards in an oblique direction, when they
heard a noiſe fomething like the chattering of a num-
ber of jays. This affrighted them fo much, that
they returned, and we drew them up. I then de-
fcended with my brother Stephen, and we went
through this fubterraneous paffage into a large fſpace,
where laid a moft curious ftone coffin, of an enor-
mous fize. With fome difficulty we got off the lid,
and faw a human form twelve feet eleven inches and
three quarters long, all but the head and neck tightly
fweathed in a pitched ſkin of ſome large animal. On
touching the face with my finger, it fell into a kind
of yellowiſh aſhes, and feparated near the fternum;
the reft remained firm. We returned in amaze-
ment, got up in the bucket, fent the men down, had
the bottom of the well widened fo as to admit feven
people
M 3
166
GLASS.
',
people, and then, by the affiftance of pullies, &c.
we raiſed the coffin, and got t it up.
When it came
into the air, the fkin in which the body was clothed
became by degrees from a black to a perfect white
colour. We opened it, and the body and arms of
a woman appeared quite perfect and found. On the
thumb of the right hand was a very curious corne-
lian, in the form of a ring, and on it, as well as in-
fide the lid of the coffin, were thefe cyphers, O. O.
O. X. O. X. X. X. We have put the body in ſpirits
of wine, and intend to fent it to Dublin as a preſent
to the University. We could never difcover, nor
can we form any conjecture, from what cauſe the
noiſe which the two men heard arofe, except it was
what their fears created. There are many tradi-
tionary ſtories of giants in this part of Ireland, and
this diſcovery makes them all fact among the common
people, who are defcending and afcending the well
from fun-riſe to fun-fet every day."
AIN,
GLASS, CAPTAIN,
·
Was a native of Scotland, and bred a Surgeon;
in that capacity he made ſome voyages to the coaſt
of Guinea, and was at length mafter of a Guinea
fhip, in which ſtation he continued till the late war
began. Having faved a good fum of money, he
ventured part of it on board a privateer, and went
himfelf as Captain. He was not three days at ſea
before the crew mutinied, but by fair fpeeches they
were
GLASS.
167
were pacified. The capture of a French merchant-
man of great value followed immediately. This
good fortune was foon difpelled by the appearance
of an enemy's frigate, about twice his ftrength, with
which he engaged. The conteft was very warm for
more than two hours; but, another French fhip ap-
pearing, Captain Glafs was obliged to ftrike, with
the lofs of more than half his crew, and himſelf fhot
through the fhoulder. He remained fome time in
a French prifon in the Weft Indies, but, being ex-
changed, he embarked upon another adventure. He
was again taken prifoner, and his fortune deftroyed.
Being releaſed a fecond time, he was employed by
merchants in their fervice to and from the Weft
Indies, and was taken priſoner, during the laſt war,
no leſs than ſeven times. He had, on the conclufion
of the peace, amaffed about 2000l. and, being an
excellent feaman, he refolved in his own fhip to go
upon a diſcovery. He found out a new harbour on
the coaft of Africa, between the river Senegal and
Cape de Verd, to which he fuppofed a great trade
might be driven. He returned to England, and laid
his diſcovery before the miniftry. Having prepared
for his departure, with the affiftance of one or two
merchants, he left England, and arrived at the har-
bour; he fent one of his men on fhore with propo-
fitions of trade, but the natives murdered him. Cap-
tain Glaſs found means to inform the King of the
country of the wrong done him, and the mutual
advantage that might accrue from trading thither.
M 4
The
168
GLOVER.
}
The King feemed pleaſed with his propoſal only to
get him into his power; but, Glaſs being on his guard,
he failed in his defign. The King's next attempt was
to poifon the crew by provifions, fent as prefents to
the Captain; this alfo failed of effect; but Glafs,
for want of neceffaries, was obliged to go to the
Canaries in an open boat. In the mean time, the
favages fell upon his fhip, but were repulfed; and
the fhip being obliged to quit the harbour, and not
finding her Captain return, failed for England, where
The arrived in ſafety. In the mean time, the Captain
had landed upon one of the Canary Iſlands, and
preſented his petition to the Spaniſh Governor, who
threw him into priſon as a ſpy, and kept him for fome
months, without pen, ink, or paper. He at length
bethought himſelf of writing with a piece of charcoal
on a biſcuit to a Captain of an English man of war
then in the harbour, who with much difficulty ef
fected his releaſe. Here he continued for fome time,
till his wife and daughter, a beautiful girl about
eleven years old, came to him from home, and from
the Canaries they all embarked for England, on board
the Sandwich, Captain Cockeran.
C
GLOVER, PHILIP, ESQ.
He would not fuffer the most exalted characters
to trifle with him. Of this he gave a fignal inftance
when the late Marquis of Rockingham, being the
Minifter, betrayed an inclination to difpenfe with a
promiſe
}
GOLDSMITH.
169
promiſe he had given Mr. Glover, to place a lad in
the Charter-houſe. The Marquis played the Courtier,
forgetting the nature of the man with whom he had
to deal. After ſeveral attempts to evade, Mr. Glover
brought the matter to iffue, by requeſting a Peer to
tell the Marquis, who was his friend, "That if he
did not immediately perform his promife, he would
pull his ſkin over his ears, and that at a public meeting
of his own County." This language foon fettled the
matter, and the lad whom Mr. Glover had patro-
nifed filled the vacancy at the Charter-houſe. Mr.
Glover was an intimate friend of the Duke of Kingſton.
GOLDSMITH, DR.
"
This ingenious writer, in his "Chineſe Letters,'
(firſt publiſhed in "the Ledger," about the year
1760,) feems to have predicted the preſent revolution
in France. As the Swedes," fays he, " are ma-
king concealed approaches to defpotifm, the French
on the other hand are imperceptibly vindicating them-
felves into freedom. When I confider that theſe Par-
liaments (the members of which were all created by
the Court the Prefidents of which can only act by
immediate direction) prefume even to mention pri-
vileges and freedom, who till of late received di-
rections from the throne with implicit humility:-
when this is confidered, I cannot help fancying that
the genius of freedom has entered that kingdom in
difguife. If they haye but three weak monarchs fuc-
t
ceffively
170
GOLDSMITH.
ceffively on the throne, the mafk will be laid afide, and
the country will certainly once more be free.
The Doctor had not the fame love of fomething
new that prevails at preſent ſo much in our writings
and in our opinions. "Whatever is new," fays he,
"is, in general, falfe." The Doctor was a great
admirer of Rowley's Poems, and wifhed much to
purchaſe the manufcript copy of them, then in the
poffeffion of Mr. George Calcott, of Briftol, but
had, however, nothing but his note of hand
to offer for them. "Alas! Sir," replied Mr.
Calcott, "I fear a poet's note of hand is not very
current upon our Exchange of Briftol." Of the
Doctor's poetry the late Doctor Johnfon thought fo
highly, that, when a friend of his was rather coldly
perhaps, commending "The Traveller," "So, Sir,
you call it only a fine poem do you? It is the fineſt
poem fince Mr. Pope's time, I affure you." In his
manner and converfation, Dr. Goldſmith exhibited
very little of that knowledge of the world and of life
which his Effays univerfally diſplay. Many of them
were printed in the periodical and ephemeral publi-
cations of his time, but they deferved, moft affuredly,
more durable vehicles. This, however, very kindly
for the public, has been afforded them by the
care of an anonymous editor, who has collected them
together, with fome Effays of Dr. Smollet, Kenrick,
and the late ingenious Mr. Badcock, in three vo-
lumes, 12mo.
་
2. The
GOLDSMITH.
171
2. The Doctor ufed to fay, he could play on the
German flute as well as moft men; at other times, as
well as any man living: but, in truth, he underſtood
not the character in which mufic is written, and played
on that inftrument, as many of the vulgar do, merely
by ear. Roubillac, the ſculptor, a merry fellow, once
heard him play; and, minding to put a trick upon
him, pretended to be charmed with his performance,
as alſo that himſelf was killed in the art, and en-
treated him to repeat the air, that he might write it
down. Goldſmith readily confenting, Roubillac called
for paper, and ſcored thereon a few five-lined ftaves,
which having done, Goldfmith proceeded to play,
and Roubillac to write; but his writing was only fuch
random notes on the lines and ſpaces as any one
might fet down who had ever infpected a page of
mufic. When they had both done, Roubillac fhewed
the paper to Goldfmith, who looked over it with
feeming great attention, faid it was very correct, and
that if he had not feen him do it, he never could
have believed his friend capable of writing muſic
after him.
3. The following is a lift of his original works:
On the prefent State of polite Learning in Europe.
12mo. 1759.
{
The Bee. 12mo. 1759•.
Citizen of the World.
Effays. 12mo. 1765.
2 vols. 12mo. 1760.
Life of Lord Bolingbroke. 8vo. 1770.
Life
,172
1
CRANT.
Life of Parnell before his Works, Small 8vo. 1770.
The Traveller, 4to. 1765.
Deferted Village, 4to. 1769.
Retaliation, 4to. 1774. ・・
Printed to
gether in twó
vols. 8vo. in
Haunch of Veniſon, 4to. 1776.
Good-natured Man, 8vo. 1768.
She Stoops to Conquer. 8vo. 1773.
GRANT, CAPT.
1780.
A circumſtance happened at Douay fome years
ago, which marks the honeft unguarded effufion's
of the military character, even more than Uncle
Toby's celebrated oath. A Scots gentleman of the
name of Grant, who had retired into France after
the battle of Culloden, with many others of his
brave but infatuated countrymen, was remarkable
for giving into all the gaities and faſhionable diffi-
pations of that volatile people; being, however, as
much diſtinguiſhed for a liberal, generous, and ſo-
cial difpofition, he ftood in the higheſt eſteem with
all the unfortunate exiles, whom the fame miſtaken
notions of loyalty had expatriated! Captain Grant
was vifited in the height of his pleaſureable career
by one of thoſe fudden admonitions, at times fo
neceffary to remind a gallant accompliſhed young
cavalier that he is no more than mortal: he was fei-
zed with a violent fever, which, in his own opinion
as well as that of his phyficians, was likely to put
a period to his life: in order to prepare for the
awful moment which he apprehended was fhortly to
arrive,
GRENVILLE,
173
arrive, he fent to his uncle, Abbé Grant, who was
then fuperior of the Scots college of Douay, and
received from his hands the facrament, and other
rituals of the church, in a very penitent manner.
Juft as the Abbé had quitted his nephew, after per-
forming this laſt and melancholy office, Dr. Mc.
Kernan, the ſuperior of the Iriſh college, with whom,,
notwithſtanding his rakiſh character, Capt. Grant had
been always a particular favourite, called to ſee
how he did: upon entering the room, and aſking his
friend how he found himſelf, the Captain replied,
in a very ſerious tone,-“Ah, my dear doctor, I
feel my mind now at eaſe, for I truſt I have now
made my peace with God, and I'll be damned if
ever we fall out again!"-The good doctor, who
perfectly knew that his friend had not the moft dif-
tant idea of impiety in this curious fpeech, fmiled
and only anfwered he wifhed they might long con-
tinue upon fuch good terms, but fincerely hoped
that they might not ſettle accounts for a long time
to come. The Captain recovered, and was fince
promoted to the rank of Major-General, but whether
he kept inviolate the treaty of pacification we can-
not take upon ourſelves to ſay.
1
}
GRENVILLE, MR.
Bred to the law, and binding down his early fa-
culties to the narrow line of a ſingle profeffion, which,
shackled with precife forms and determined modes
of
'
174
GRENVILLE.
of proceedings, is calculated to oppoſe an enlarge-
ment of mind, even in the prefent enlightened ftate
of it, but in the days of Mr. Grenville's ftudies
was more particularly hoftile to that univerſal ſpirit,
which is neceffary to perfect the character of a great
minifter, he labored under the inconveniences of
its moft inveterate habits.
In the common courſe of human affairs, a frame
of mind, produced by fuch an education, may be
of very general utility, but, in the exigencies of
ftates, and the vaft occurrences of kingdoms, which
foar above the forms and mock the precedents of
former times, fomething more than the moft per-
fect official wiſdom is requisite to the due regulation
of an important crifis.
GRENVILLE, LORD.
Lord Grenville was educated at Eton, and was
confidered a lad of talents, although his peculiar
attachment was to Cocker, a book he had for ever
in his head and in his hand. He was in the rebel-
lion under Fofter; his father was the intimate friend
of Fofter, and infifted on his fon's return to him; he
did fo, but left the ſchool a few weeks after on his
father's death.
It was the cuſtom of the ſchool for every boy,
on leaving it, to prefent the mafter with his por-
trait, drawn by fome eminent mafter; Grenville pre-
fented
GROSTHEAD.
175
fented his, painted by a common houſe-painter
Fofter hung it up in the proper place,—in the necef-
fary houſe.
GROSE, CAPT.
When he firſt went over to Ireland, his curioſity
led him to ſee every thing in the capital worth ſee-
ing: in the courſe of his perambulations, he one
evéning ſtrolled into the principal meat market of
Dublin, when the butchers, as ufual, fet up the con-
ftant cry of "What do you buy? what do you buy,
maſter ?" Groſe parried this for fome time, by fay,
ing "he wanted nothing;" at laft a butcher ſtarts
from his ftall, and eyeing Grofe's figure from top to
bottom, which was fomewhat like Doctor Slop's in
Triftam Shandy, exclaimed, "Well, fir, though you
don't want any thing at prefent, only fay, you buy
your meat of me, and by God you'll make my for-
tune."
1
GROSTHEAD, BISHOP.
This prelate, who was the friend and patron of
our illuftrious, countryman, Roger Bacon, was a
of eminent parts and amazing integrity. A
farmer, who was a kinfman of his, once folicited a
benefice from him, and fuch a difpofal of eccle-
fiaftical preferments was not unuſual in thoſe times.
"Coufin," fays the Bifhop, "if your cart be broken,
I'll mend it; if your plough be old, I'll give you a
new
176
ĦANWAY.
}
*
new one, and feed alfo to fow your land; but as
a hufbandman I-found you, fo a huſbandman I'll
leave you.'
""
HALIFAX, MARQUIS.
Sir John Rerefby carried one Mr. Grant, a
leader of the fanatic party, to wait on Lord Hali-
fax; he acquainted his Lordſhip with the double
dealings of fome great men at Court against him,
who had been particularly inftrumental in exafpera-
ting his Commons againſt him in the late parliament,
which my Lord took as a piece of fervice done, as
it would put him upon his guard againſt the fame
men for the future: at the fame time he conducted
a Gentleman to my Lord, to afk his pardon for fome
things he had been reported to have faid againſt his
Lordship, for in good policy we ought to fuffer no
man tó be our enemy if we can poffibly avoid it;
but fuch was his Lordship's natural diſpoſition, that
no man was more ready at all times to forgive;
and this is the expreffion he uſed on the occafion:
"Sir, if you did not fay the words, I am very glad
of it, and, even if you did, I am glad you find cauſe
to be of another mind.”
t
HANWAY, JONAS.
During the progrefs of the bill which he intro-
duced into the Houſe of Commons for the regula
tion of infant pariſh-poor, he was obliged to be
inceffantly
HARRINGTON.
177
+
inceffantly going about to the members and clerks
to bring down his witneffes; (for he was his own ſo-
licitor,) his coachman having driven about all day,
till near evening, was ftopped in the way to the
Parliament-houſe by a crowd of carriages: the old
gentleman, impatient of delay, rated the coachman
for not get ing forward, on which the fellow deſcended
from the box with great compofure, and faid; "If you
think you can drive better than I, pray drive your-
felf, for damn me if I an't fick of it;" and ac-
cordingly went home, taking his whip with him.-
The carriage was driven home by a porter, and
Mr. Hanway purſued his way on foot.
HARRINGTON, LORD,
When a boy, poffeffed much natural fpirit: in
the great rebellion under Fofter, when all the boys
threw their books into the Thames, and marched
to Salt-hill, he was among the foremoft; at that
place each took an oath, or rather ſwore, he would
be damned if ever he returned to fchool again.
When therefore he came to London, to the old
Lord Harrington's, and fent up his name, his fa-
ther would only fpeak to him at the door, infift-
ing at the fame time on his immediate return. "Sir,"
faid the fon, "confider 1 fhall be damned if I do”! “And
I,” anſwered the father, "will be damned if you don't."
"Yes, my Lord,” replied the ſon, “but you'll be damned,
whether I do or no.”
N
HASTINGS
1
178
HASTINGS.
HASTINGS, WARREN.
1. His grandfather was rector of a ſmall living in the
parish of Twining, four miles from TEWKSBURY;
his father, whom bottle-companions uſed to call Pen
Haftings, was a little lame 'man, intended for the
church, but being free in his opinion and rather
gay in his conduct, he was perfuaded to lay afide
all thoughts of the gown, and was afterwards em-
ployed by the Duke of Cleveland's family, who
fent his fon Warren to Weſtminſter ſchool, to take
care of one of their family.
John or Thomas Warren, of Stuphill, a tea-drinking
garden in the parish of Twining, clofe to the road,
leading to Malvern, was uncle to Mr. Haftings, and,
in confequence of Lord Coventry, or ſome other
perfon in the neighbourhood, having reprefented to
the nephew the impropriety that marked the houſe
on Sundays, Mr. Haftings allowed his uncle 100l. a
year during his life to quit that fituation.
Mr. Hafting's fifter married William Turner, gro-
cer and foap-boiler, in the town of Glouceſter, and
their fon, Mr. Haftings was appointed his Aid-de-camp,
and ſoon after the young man arrived in India, he
fent him ambaffador to the grand Lama, with a
monthly falary of 10,000 rupees, though it can
hardly be fuppofed he had yet acquired fufficient
knowledge of the manners, cuftoms, or language, of
eaſtern countries. The father and uncle of Mr.
Haftings are dead.
When
HASTINGS.
179
2. When all that is bad is faid againſt a man, fome of
his good actions fhould likewiſe be remembered.
A young gentleman, of the name of Montgomery
was engaged to a lady in India, whom he could not
marry on account of the total want of fortune be-
tween the parties. The ftory was mentioned to Mr.
Haftings, with many encomiums on the deferving
qualities of the fubject of it. On this he fent for
Mr. Montgomery, and aſked him if want of a compe-
tence was the only obſtacle to his wiſhes? On being
told it was, he preſented him with a paper, which at
once left Mr. Montgomery without further complaints
aginft fortune, and in aſtoniſhment at the generous
uſe which Mr. Haftings made of it.
3 Mr. Hafting's Perfian titles, as engraved upon
feal. A true tranflation.
Nabob Governor General Haftings, Saub,
Pillar of the Empire,
The fortunate in War and Hero,
The moſt princely Offspring of the Loins
Of the King of the Univerſe,
The Defender of the Mahomedan Faith,
And Afylum of the World, &c. &c.
Tranflation of a Perfian infcription engraved on
a fine large ruby, being the titles either given to or
affumed by Mrs. Haftings.
Royal and Imperial Governeſs,
The Elegance of the Age,
The moſt exalted Bilkiſs,
The Zobaide of the Palaces,
The moſt heroic Princefs,
Ruby Marian Haftings, Suaby, &c, &c.
N 2
With
[
180
HEIDEGGER.
N.B. With the Muffelmen, Bilkifs fignifies the
perfon called in the Bible the Queen of Sheba; and
Zobaide was a favourite wife of Mahomed, and,
when they wish to pay the higheft compliments to
a lady, they compare her to Bilkifs and Zobaide,
who poffeffed the moſt exalted beauty and perfection
of every kind.
HEIDEGGER
Was a very extraordinary man; though born amidſt
the mountains of Switzerland, in the greateft fim-
plicity of manners, he had naturally the ſtrongeſt pro-
penſity, tafte, and inclination, for refined and fplendid
diverfions: he came to England with thefe endowments,
which would have ruined any other, but he made a
brilliant fortune of them. The English nation may
be faid to have conftituted him director of its public
diverſions, a poft which often brought him in clear
5000l. a year. He was undertaker of the Opera,
the Ridottos, and the principal entertainments of
London. He was well received at court, and ho-
noured with the familiarity of the chief nobility.-
Being once at fupper, in very high company, the
converfation fell on the excellencies of the feveral
European nations, and particularly which might be
faid in general to have moft wit. The opinions
were divided between the Italians, French, and En-
gliſh: after ſome ſhort, fprightly, altercations, Mr.
Heidegger, being aſked which he thought, anſwered
•
without
HEIDEGGER.
181
i
without any paufe, it is Switzerland; this occafioned
ſeveral burſts of laughter: the old blade, however
went on in this manner; "And I prove my deci
fion thus; I am a native of Switzerland; I came
into England with fcarce a fhilling, and only by
mere induſtry, I find means to get five thoufand a
year; nay, and to ſpend the whole: now I defy the
moft ingenious Engliſhman to go and do the like
in Switzerland: then it muſt be granted, that in
point of wit, a Swifs out-does an Engliſhman."
However liberal nature might have been, to Mr.
Heidegger in genius and invention, fhe brought
them into account at the formation of his counte-
nance, the uglinefs of which was almoft frightful.
He very prudently was the firft to joke on it; and
once he laid a confiderable wager with a nobiemen,
that there was not in all London a face fo hideous
as his; judges were appointed, and after a great deal
of trouble and enquiries in all the bye ftreets, lancs,
and alleys, the Earl's emiffaries found an old woman
of fo horrible an afpect, that he concluded the wager
was his; and indeed, on her being brought before the
bench, the Judges one and all decreed against Mr.
Heidigger; but he appealed, objecting to the dif
ference of their head dreffes, and put on-the o'd dame's
pinners, and fitted his wig on her head; this gave
a turn to the affair, and his uglinefs appeared to the
court in fuch a decifive fuperiority, that my Lord
was adjudged to pay the wager.
N 3
The
182
HEIDEGGER.
2. The late facetious Duke of Montague (the memo-
rable author of the Bottle-Conjurer at the Hay-
market) gave an entertainment at the Devil-Tavern
to feveral of the nobility and gentry, felecting the
moſt convivial, and a few hard drinkers, who were
all in the plot. Heidegger was invited, and in a few
hours after dinner was made fo dead drunk, that he
was carried out of the room, and laid infenfible upon
a bed. A profound fleep enfued; when the late Mrs.
Salmon's daughter was introduced, who took a mould
from his face in plaiſter of Paris. From this a maſk
was made, and a few days before the next mafque-
rade, (at which the King promiſed to be preſent with
the Countess of Yarmouth,) the Duke made applica-
tion to Heidegger's Valet-de-chambre, to know what
fort of clothes he was likely to wear; and then pro-
curing a fimilar drefs, and a perfon of the fame fta-
ture, he gave him his inftructions. On the evening
of the maſquerade, as ſoon as his Majeſty was ſeated,
(who was always known by the conductor of the en-
tertainment, and by the officers of the court, though
concealed by his dreſs from the reft of the company,)
Heidegger, as ufual, ordered the mufic to play
"God fave the King;" but his back was no fooner
turned, than the falfe Heidegger ordered them to
play "Over the water to Charley." The whole com-
pany were inſtantly thunderftruck, and all the cour-
tiers, not in the plot, were thrown into a ftupid con-
fternation. Heidegger flew to the mufic-gallery,
fwore, ftamped, and raved, accufed the muficians of
drunken-
HEIDEGGER.
183
drunkenneſs, or of being fuborned to ruin him. The
King and the Countefs laughed fo immoderately, that
they hazarded a diſcovery.
>
While Heidegger ftood in the gallery, "God fave
the King" was the tune; but when, after ſetting mat-
ters to rights, he retired to one of the dancing-rooms,
to obferve if decorum was kept by the company, the
counterfeit, ſtepping forwards, and placing himſelf
upon the floor of the theatre, juft before the mufic-
gallery, called out in a moft audible voice, imitating
Heidegger, damned them for blockheads, had not he
just told them to play Charley over the Water? A
pauſe enfued; the muſicians, who knew his character,
in their turn thought him either drunk or mad; but,
as he continued his vociferation, Charley was played
again. At this repetition of the fuppofed affront, fome
of the officers of the guards were for afcending the
gallery, and kicking the muficians out; but the late
Duke of Cumberland, who could hardly contain him-
felf, interpofed. The company were thrown into the
greateſt confufion; "Shame! ſhame!" refounded from
all parts, and Heidegger once more flew in a violent
rage to that part of the theatre facing the gallery.
Here the Duke of Montague artfully addreffed him-
felf to him, ſaying, "the King was in a violent
paffion, that his beſt way was to go inſtantly and make
an apology, for certainly the mufic were mad, and after-
wards diſcharge them." Almoft in the fame inftant, he
ordered the falfe Heidegger to do the fame. The
ſcene now became truly comic. Heidegger had
N 4
no
184
HELL.
no fooner made a genteel apology for the infolence of
his muſicians, but the falſe Heidegger advanced, and
in a plaintive tone cried out, " Indeed, Sire, it was
not my fault, but that there Devil's in my likeneſs."
Poor Heidegger turned round; ftared, ftaggered,
grew pale, and could not utter a word. The Duke
then humanely whifpered in his ear the fum of his
plot, and the counterfeit was ordered to take off his
maſk. Here ended the frolic; but Heidegger fwore
he would never attend any public amuſement, if that
witch, the wax-work woman, did not break the mould,
and melt down the mafk before his face.
HELL.
The following defcription is given of the Valley
of Hell by a German author.
"This famous paſs is fituated in the Black Foreft,
in Swabia, between Neuſtadt and Fribourg: a pro-
verb expreffes, that Judgment, Heaven, and Hell,
are there to be met with. On the way from Neu-
ſtadt, it is neceſſary to paſs by a Court of Juftice in
the road, and directly after you enter this valley,
called Hell: it is about fix Engliſh miles in length,
and full of the wildeft beauties of nature, and in
fome parts only from 10 to 12 paces in breadth. A
high wall of rocks form the two parallel lines, in-
cloſing a ſmall rivulet that runs through the valley,
which at length fuddenly opens upon an inn, diftin-
guiſhed by the name of the Kingdom of Heaven.
The
HENDERSON.
185
The whole country, between this inn and Fribourg,
is exceedingly pleaſant and fruitful, and is faid to
be beautified by a number of nut-trees.
HENDERSON
Was apt, at times, to be extremely depreffed in
fpirits, when he frequently told the following ſtory.
When his brother was about ten years old, and he
not more than eight, they were both entirely depen-
dent on their mother, who was afflicted with a violent
nervous diſorder, which had funk her into a deep me-
lancholy. While fuffering under this diforder, fhe
one morning left her houſe and children, who waited
her return with impatience. Night approached, but
their parent did not come: full of terror, the two
boys went in fearch of her; ignorant of what courſe
to take, they wandered until midnight about the places
where ſhe uſed to walk, but wandered without fuccefs.
They agreed to return home, but neither knew the
way; fatigued, alarmed, diſtreſſed, they fat down on
a bank to weep, when they obferved, at ſome diſtance,
a luminous appearance; fuppofing it a candle in fome
friendly habitation, they haftily directed their fteps to-
wards it. As they moved, the light moved alfo, and glided
from field to field for a confiderable time; at length it
feemed fixed, and, on their near approach, vaniſhed
on the fide of a large piece of water, on the margin
of which they found their mother in a ſtate of grief,
from which ſhe was rouſed by the tears of her chil.
dren.
186
HENLEY.
dren. This H-believed to be neither an ignis
fatuus, nor any creature of imagination, but a kind
interpofition of Providence for the prefervation of the
widow and the widow's fons.
HENLEY, ANTHONY, ESQ.
Father of Lord Chancellor Northington, was pro-
prietor of the Grange eftate in Hampſhire, and M. P.
for Melcombe Regis; he was a perfon of great abili
ties and learning, conftantly mixing an uncommon
ſhare of humour in the moſt ſerious debates; he was
the correſpondent and familiar friend of Dr. Swift,
and in one of his letters to the Dean makes the fol-
lowing whimſical remark. "I'll tell you (fays he) as
good a reflection on death as even Adrian's ( (anima,
vagula, blandula,) though made by an old father of
mine; he had been ill for fome time, and when he
ſeemed near his end, his friends came all croaking
about him as uſual, and one of them aſking him how
he did, he replied in great pain, "But, if I could once
get this fame breath out of my body, by heaven it
ſhould never come in again!" This, if put into fine
Latin, would make as good a found as any thing of
the kind I have met with.
HENLEY, ORATOR.
A converſation between Orator Henley and an
Attorney.
Attorney. I remember the man well, I think he
went to the Weft-Indies, and fettled at Ceylon, in one
of our Iſlands.
Henley.
HERBERT.
187
Henley. In the first place, Ceylon is no ifland of
ours, and in the next, not in the Weft-Indies, but the
Eaft.
Attorney. I deny that.
Henley. The more fhame for you; a boy of ten
years old knows it.
Attorney. Well, I thank God, I know nothing of
Eaft nor Weft; I am no great geographer.
Henley. Then you thank God for your ignorance.
Attorney. (Very angry,) Yes, I do, Sir.
Henley. Then, Sir, you have much to be thankful
for.
HERBERT, SIR EDWARD.
Sir Edward Herbert, being fent Ambaſſador from
King James I. to Louis XIII. was inftructed to me-
diate a peace for the Proteftants in France. De
Luines, the French Prime Minifter, haughtily afked
him, "What the King of England had to do in that
"affair?" The Ambaffador replied, "It is not you
"to whom the King, my Mafter, owes an account of
"his actions; and for me, it is enough that I obey
❝ him.
In the mean time I must mention, that my
"Maſter hath more reaſon to do what he doth, than
"you to aſk me why he doth it. Nevertheless, if
66 you civilly defire me, I fhall acquaint you further.”
Upon this, De Luines, bowing a little, faid, "Very
66 well." The Ambaffador anfwered, "That it was
❝ not
188
HERBERT.
d
"not on this occafion only that the King of Great
"Britain had defired the peace and profperity of
"France, but upon all other occafions, whenever
any war was raiſed in that country;" and this was
the firft reafon. The fecond was, "That, becauſe
ડેદ peace being fettled in his own dominions, the King
of France might be better diſpoſed and able to affift
"the Palatinate in the preſent broils of Germany."
De Luines faid, "We will have none of your advice."
The Ambaſſador replied, "That he took that for an
« anfwer, and was forry only that the amicable inter-
pofition of his Mafter was not duly understood;
but that fince it was fo abruptly rejected, he could
«do no leſs than fay, that the King, his Maſter,
"knew well enough what to do."-De Luines an-
fwered, “We are not afraid of you.”—The Ambaffa-
dor, fmiling a little, replied, "If you had faid you
had not loved us, I fhould have believed you, and
"given you another anſwer; in the mean time, all I
"will tell you more is, that we know very well what
66 we have to do."-De Luines upon this, ftarting
from his feat, faid in a great ferment," By G―d,
CC
if you was not Monfieur the Ambaſſador, I know very
"well how I would ufe you."-Sir Edward, alfo rifing
from his chair, faid, "That, as he was the King of
« Great Britain's Ambaffador, fo he was alſo a gen-
"tleman, and that his fword (on which he clapped his
"hand) fhould give him fatisfaction, if he was pleafed
"to take any offence."-After which, De Luines
making
HERMIT.
189
making no reply, the Ambaffador went towards the
door, and De Luines feeming to accompany him, Sir
Edward faid, "That after fuch language there was
"no occaſion to uſe fuch ceremony," and fo de-
parted, expecting to hear farther from him. The
Ambaſſador had afterwards a gracious audience of
the King; after which a Court-Lord telling him, that,
having offended the Conſtable De Luines, he was
not in a place of ſafety, he gallantly anſwered, "that
" he thought himſelf in a place of fafety wherefoever
he had his fword by him." The vindictive De Luines
procured his brother, with a train of officers, (of
whom there was not one, as he told King James, but
had killed his man,) to go as Ambaffador Extraordi-
nary to England, who fo mifreprefented the affair,
that Sir Edward was recalled; but, upon his return,
he cleared it up with honour, and fell on his
knees to the King, requeſting that a trumpeter, if
not a herald, might be ſent to De Luines from him,
with an accufation of falfity, and a challenge for fatis-
faction; but that Prince, being of a pacific difpofition,
made anfwer, "that he would think of it." How-
ever, De Luines dying foon after, Sir Edward was
again ſent Ambaſſador to France.
1
HERMIT.
The Gardens of Pains-hill, near Cobham, in
Surry, late in the poffeffion of Mr. Bond Hopkins,
ef
190
HERMIT.
of which ſo much praiſe has been justly given, brings
to recollection an anecdote of its late owner, Mr.
Hamilton.
He advertiſed for a perſon who was willing to be-
come the hermit of that retreat; among other curious
conditions were the following:
was'n
That he was to continue in the hermitage ſeven
years, where he ſhould be provided with a bible, op-
tical glaffes, a mat for his bed, and a haffock for his
pillow, an hour-glafs for his time-piece, water for his
beverage, and food from the houfe, which was to be
brought him daily by a fervant, with whom, how-
ever, he was never to exchange one fyllable; he was
to wear a camblet-robe, never to cut his beard or
his nails, nor ever to ftray beyond the limits of the
grounds. If he lived there, under all theſe reſtric-
tions, till the end of the term, he was to receive 700
guineas; but, on breach of any of them, or if he
quitted the place any time previous to that term, the
whole was to be forfeited.
One perfon attempted it, but three weeks was the
extent of his abode.
2. Some time fince a Mr. Powyfs, of Morcham,
near Preſton, Lancaſhire, advertiſed a reward of an
annuity of 50l. a year for life to any man who would
undertake to live ſeven years under ground, without
feeing any thing human, and to let his toe and finger
nails grow, with his hair and beard, during the whole
time. Apartments were prepared under ground, very
com-
HILL.
191
commodious, with a cold bath, a chamber-organ, as
many books as the occupier pleaſed, and provifions
ferved from his own table. Whenever the reclufe
wanted any convenience, he was to ring a bell, and
it was provided for him. Singular as this refidence
may appear, an occupier offered himſelf, and actually
ftaid in it, obferving the required conditions, for
four years.
?
HILL, AARON.
The celebrated Aaron Hill, when in Egypt had
the curioſity to examine a Catacomb; he was accom-
panied in his expedition by two gentlemen, and
conducted by a guide, one of the natives of the
country; they at length arrived at the ſpot, and,
without taking any notice of fome fellows who were
fauntering about the place, defcended by ropes
into the vault; no fooner were they let down than
they were preſented with a fpectacle which ftruck
them with horror :-Two gentlemen, apparently
ftarved to death, laid before them; one of theſe un-
happy victims had a tablet in his hand, on which was
written, in very pathetic language, the ftory of their
lamentable fate. It ſeems they were brothers, of
rank and family in Venice, and having, in the courſe
of their travels, entrusted themſelves with one of
the natives for the purpoſe of vifiting the Catacomb,
the perfidious villain had left them there to periſh.
The
192
HOLBEIN.
The danger to which Mr. Hill and his friends were
expofed inftantly alarmed them; they had fcarce
read the tale, when, looking up, they beheld their
inhuman guide, affifted by two others, whom they
had ſeen near the ſpot, clofing the entrance into the
vault; they were now reduced to the utmoſt diſtreſs;
however, they drew theirfwords, and were determined
to make fome defperate effort to reſcue themſelves
from a ſcene, ſo truly dreadful; with this reſolution,
they were groping about at random in the dark, when
they were ftartled at the groans of fome one feemingly
in the agonies of death; they attended to the difmal.
found, and, at length, by the glimmering light from
the top of the Catacomb, they faw a man juft mur-
dered, and a little beyond, they diſcovered his inhu-
man murderers, flying with the utmoft precipita-
tion; they purfued them immediately, and though
not able to come up with them, they however
had the good fortune to reach the opening through
which theſe wretches eſcaped out of the cavern, be-
fore they had time to roll the ſtone on the top of it;
thus Mr. Hill and his friends were by a miracle
faved.
HOLBEIN.
AS HOLBEIN one day was privately drawing fome
Lady's picture for the King, a great Lord forced
himſelf into the chamber. Holbein threw him down
ftairs; the Peer cried out; Holbein bolted himſelf in,
eſcaped
3
HOLBOURN.
193
efcaped over the top of the houſe, and running di-
rectly to the King, fell on his knees, and befought his
Majeſty to pardon him without declaring the offence.
The King promiſed to forgive him if he would tell
the truth; but foon began to repent, faying, he ſhould
not eafily overlook fuch infults, and bade him wait
in the apartment till he had learned more of the mat-
ter. Immediately arrived the Lord with his com-
plaint, but finking the provocation. At firft the Mo-
narch heard the ftory with temper, but foon broke out,
reproaching the Nobleman with his want of truth, and
adding, "You have not to do with Holbein, but with
me; I tell you, of ſeven peaſants I can make as
many lords, but not one Holbein.-Begone, and
remember, that, if you ever pretend to revenge
yourſelf, I fhall look on any injury offered to my
painter as done to myſelf."
#
HOLBOURN, ADMIRAL.
The late Admiral HOLBOURN was not more dif
tinguiſhed as a brave and fkilful Commander than
for the ſeverity of his diſcipline, the roughneſs of his
manners, and the peculiarity of his temper, which
the following anecdote may ſerve to illustrate.
On being appointed in the late war to the com-
mand of the fleet ftationed at Portſmouth, when he
went down to attend his poft for the firſt time, the
youngeſt Lieutenant on board the Royal Anne (the
ſhip in which he was to hoift his flag) was appointed
his
194
HOLBOURN.
his Day-Officer, to receive his orders every morning.
The Lieutenant, having never ſeen the Admiral, was
going the first morning to attend him on fhore, and in
his way met him dreffed in an old brown coat, fhabby
hat, without a cockade, or any enfign of his rank or
profeffion. The Admiral accofted him with " Where
the dare you going?" The young officer eyeing
him over, thought a contemptuous look was a fuffi-
cient reply, and walked on. "Hark you, Sir, I
fay, d-your b-d, what bufinefs are you going
about?" Nettled at a repetition of fuch infolent
impertinence, the Lieutenant returned, brandiſhed
his cane over the Admiral's head, and fwore that
nothing but his age and contemptible appearance.
faved him from the chaftifement his infolence de-
ferved, and that if he ever prefumed to accoft him
in the fame manner again he would confider neither.
Nothing more paffed; they parted. The Lieutenant
purfued his walk, and the Admiral his. Upon en-
quiry at the Admiral's houfe, he was informed he was
out, but defired to fit down till his return, which was
not many minutes afterwards. His fituation may more
cafily be imagined than defcribed, on feeing the Ad-
miral in the perfon he had fo lately encountered.-
The Admiral perceived his embarraffment, avoided
the leaft hint of the affair, entered into familiar con-
verfe with him, and afterwards teftified his regard
for him, by using his intereft in getting him promoted
to the command of a fhip in the royal navy.
HOLLAND,
HOLLAND.
195
}
HOLLAND, LORD, THE FIRST.
The amuſements of this great man were frequently
the moſt abfurd and childiſh that can be imagined, and
yet he ſomehow or other contrived to make them ap-
pear graceful. The manner in which he fitted up
the public-houſe called Captain Digby's Head, near his
feat in Kent, is an evident proof that he fought after
pleaſure in the moſt trifling trifles. However, the
time arrived, when ill health, enfeebling age, the
public cenfure, the ingratitude of friends, and the
unparallelled extravagance of his children, baniſhed
every idea of pleaſure from his mind; and he was
known frequently to declare, during the laft two
years of his life, that the cloud of mifery wherein he
was involved was fo thick and dufky, that remem-
brance could not penetrate it to catch one tranfient
gleam of former happineſs.
His Lordſhip was a fingular example of parental
fondneſs, which he indulged in the extreme, and per-
haps to this weakneſs may be attributed the mifery of
his clofing life, when he found himſelf, as it were,
in danger of beggary from the extravagance of his
children. He was well known to have honoured,
without heſitation, a bill of his fon Charles for 30,000l.
and when at Eton, he fent him to paſs his vacation at
Paris, appointed him a brilliant equipage, gave him
a powerful command of money, and is faid to have
indulged the lively paffions of the forward youth in all
the gratifications of that luxuriant metropolis.
0 2
HOUGH,
196
HOUGH.
1
HOUGH, BISHOP.
This prelate's character was fo great in every re-
ſpect, that no words can do it juftice. Hoſpitality
and charity were two fhining ftars in this good Biſhop's
life. It happened when Biſhop Smalbroke had been
firft down to vifit his fee of St. David's, in his return
to London he paid a vifit at Hartlebury to Biſhop
Hough, who afking him how he liked his dioceſe,
Biſhop Smalbrcke replied, "Not very well; for, my
Lord, you know that much of my revenues lie in
being Lord of the Manor, where are many ſmall
copy-holders, on whoſe death I am entitled to heriots
and fines; and as to my heriots, they cheat me fadly,
and inſtead of giving me the beft horfe or cow, I am
put off with the worſt, ſome poor half-ſtarved beaſt
and the people are fo poor it is not worth while
to fue them." "O my Lord! replied Biſhop Hough,
I think you may confole yourſelf that you get any
thing; for my part, if I was in your Lordſhip's place,
who has a handfome eftate of your own, I could not
find in my heart to take any thing from them, but
rather forgive them their dues."
7
As Biſhop Hough was much beloved by the gentry
and clergy of his diocefe, his hofpitable table was
much frequented. A neighbouring gentleman ufed to
vifit him with his lady, who was of a very particular
caft; fhe happened to dine there once, when breed-
ing, and near her time, At dinner, foup was ferved
up
HOWARD.
197
up
2
¥
in a noble filver tureen. When fhe came home'
ſhe was, or pretended to be, much indifpofed. Her
huſband, who was very kind and good, requeſted
earneſtly to know if fhe longed for any thing, or what
could remove her illneſs. She faid fhe was afhamed
to own it, but fhe longed for the filver tureen fhe
had ſeen at Biſhop Hough's. He would have pre-
vailed with her to have `put afide fuch a thought, as
quite unreaſonable, the denial of which could be
of no bad confequence, but fhe continued for fome
days fo indifpofed and fo ruffled, that fhe pre-
vailed on her huſband to go to the Biſhop, and ac-
quaint him with it; he did fo reluctantly, and with
great concern told his Lordfhip he could not reaſon
her out of it. The good Bishop obligingly told him
he ſhould readily gratify his Lady in any thing in his
power rather than have any ill attend her, or what
ſhe carried with her, and fent the tureen directly to
the Lady, who with great joy received it, and re-
turned her moft grateful thanks for it. When fhe
had laid in, and was got abroad, the Biſhop wrote
her a polite letter, and after congratulating her on
being abroad, requeſted ſhe would return the tureen,
for he longed for it back, and whenever ſhe was in
à condition to long for it again, it fhould be at her
ſervice.
HOWARD.
A few years fince, a man wrapped up in a blanket,
with a night-cap that almoſt concealed his face, ſtop-
0 3
ped
198
R
HOUSE.
!
ped in a hackney coach at the door of an eminent
banker in Lombard-ftreet, and left a leather bag
containing two hundred guineas, with a paper intima-
ting his wiſh that they fhould be appropriated to fome
charitable purpoſe in any way that Mr. Howard
fhould direct. The banker waited upon Mr. Howard,
told him the circumftance, and defired to have his
inftructions." Before I give any, replied he, I wifh
to know if you are a fubfcriber to what they have
called the Howardian fund?" "I am not," was the re-
ply. "That being the cafe, fays Mr. Howard, I take
you to be a fenfible man; I beg you will be feated;
we will talk over this buſineſs. I will not give any
inſtructions about this money, but I will give you my
advice. By your deſcription, I ſuſpect the donor to be
fome poor wrong-headed mortal, who is taking away
a fum of money that ought to be given or bequeathed
to his own family; advertiſe for him to come and
fetch it again." "But if he will not come," replied
the Banker." Why then," fays Mr. Howard, "I
think you ought to give it to St. Luke's Hofpital, and
then the fuperfluity of one madman will be contri-
buted to the ſupport of many." The advertiſement
was inferted, and a letter was fent in anfwer to it,
defiring that the money might be kept till further
orders were received.
HOUSE, SAMUEL.
The late SAMUEL HOUSE was one of the moſt ex-
traordinary characters of modern times. Amongſt
other
HOUSE.
199
other fingularities, he never wore a coat nor a wig,
nor was ever found in bed (except when he was ill)
after four o'clock in the morning. Though blunt and
uneducated in his manners, he was juft and honeft
in all his dealings, and his word upon all occafions
facred. He early eſpouſed Mr. Fox's party upon
principles of patriotifm, which his conduct notoriously
evinced; as he was not only active in forwarding his
intereft, but frequently entertained, at his own ex-
pence, thofe of that party who would eat buttock of
beef and drink porter in Wardour-ftreet. He was
never embarraffed in the prefence of any man, and
though he frequently called upon the Great, and was
admitted into their prefence, he never changed his
drefs nor his character. In fhort, like Brutus, he
died in what he thought the fervice of his country,
(having never been able to throw off a cold he got
at a Weſtminſter election,) and his character might be
parodied, from what Anthony fays of that diftin-
guiſhed patriot,
This was the nobleft Briton of them all:
All the confpirators fave only he
Did that they did to cross the views of Cæfar.
He only, in the general honeft thought
And common good to all, made one of them.
His life was humourous, and the elements
So mixed in him, that Nature might ftand up
And fay to all the world, "This was an ODDITY.”
0 4
HUMAN
}
200
HUMAN SPECIES.
HUMAN SPECIES.
Lord MONBODDO (in his ancient Metaphyfics)
fays, "There are men with Tails.-Many do not
believe this, but in the Original Progrefs of Lan-
guage, I have given, ſays he, fuch authorities for the
fact, that we cannot doubt it, without rejecting all
human teftimony. Paufanias gives an account of
satyrs, or men with tails, which he had from one
Euphemus, who was an eye-witneſs of what he re-
lated:
•
"This man, upon a voyage to, Italy, was driven by
a ftorm into the Atlantic Ocean, and was there forced
aſhore upon one of ſeveral iſlands, known to the
failors by the name of the Iſlands of Satyrs, being
inhabited by men with tails, fome of whom wanted
to come on board the ſhip, but the failors would not
allow them; and as they knew it was fome women
they had in the ſhip whom they wanted, in order to
fatisfy them, they gave them a Barbarian woman
they had on board, whom they uſed, not only in
the natural way, but in every other way poffible.
They had tails, he faid, not much less than the tails
of horſes; but they made no ufe of ſpeech.
"There is another variety of our fpecies, that I
think much more incredible, and which, I confefs,
I am very unwilling to believe, though Monfieur
Buffon, who does not believe in men with tails, ſeems
to
HUMAN SPECIES.
201
to give credit to it.
It is this; that there are men
fomewhere in India who are born with one leg
much bigger than the other. This is mentioned
by no ancient author, and is, I think, a much
greater deformity than the prolongation of the rump-
bone into a tail, being fuch an incongruity and dif-
proportion of parts, as I am perfuaded is not to be
found in any other animal.
"I am much more difpofed to believe what an Ef
quimeaux girl, who was taken prifoner by the French,
related after fhe had learned to fpeak French, that
ſhe had ſeen a whole nation of men with but one leg.
The ſtory is told, both by Charlevoix in his Ac-
count of Canada, and by Maillet in his Telliamede,
who adds, that the girl, after having been ſeveral
times examined and re-examined, ftood conftantly to
the truth of the fact. Neither is ancient authority
here wanting; for Strabo mentions feveral authors,
whom he names, that ſpeak of men with one leg.-
Strabo, indeed, fays that he looks upon it as a mere
fable: but I obferve that a ſpirit of incredulity was
begun as early as the days of Strabo, not only with
reſpect to the works of nature, but alſo with reſpect
to the works of men in ancient times; for Juvenal,
who lived in the days of Domitian, rejects as a fable
the failing round Mount Athos by Xerxes, when he
invaded Greece, his bridging the Hellefpont, and
with his army drinking up whole rivers, though
no man, who reads Herodotus, can doubt of the
truth of any of thoſe particulars.
2. "There
202
HUMAN SPECIES.
2.There is another fingularity of our fpecies,
which Strabo likewife fays he does not believe,
though attefted by the feveral authors whom he
names. It is that of men who had their eyes in their
breafts. To the authors he quotes I will add a
Biſhop and a Father of the Church, who relate,
"that when he, with other fervants of Chrift, went to
Æthiopia to preach the gofpel there, he faw many
men and women without heads, but having great eyes
in their breafts, their other parts being fuch as ours."
And he relates ſuch circumftances concerning their
priefts, as fhew that he had been fome time among
them, and was well acquainted with them; fo well, at
leaſt, that it was impoffible he could be miſtaken in
what he ſays of their perfons. And with the Biſhop
and the Authors quoted by Strabo agrees what Sir
Walter Raleigh tells us he heard (for he does not
pretend he faw it) when he was in South America.
3.
"There are very few, if any, who do not be-
lieve that the one-eyed Cyclops of Homer is a mere
poetical fiction; and they give as little credit to
what Herodotus, the historian, relates of the Ari-
maſpians, a people of Scythia, who from that quality
had their name, of which he had given us the etymo-
logy in the Scythian language. But, if we will be-
lieve the fame Biſhop, it is a fact, and no fiction; for
he fays, that in the lower parts of Ethiopia, he faw
men with only one eye in their forehead; and of them
he relates ſuch particulars as fhew that he muſt have
been
1
HUMAN SPECIES.
203
been fome time among them, and could not have
been miſtaken in ſuch a remarkable particular con-
cerning their perfons; and what temptation he had
to lie, either with refpect to this fact, or what is re-
lated above, even if he had not been a Biſhop and a
Father of the Church, I cannot diſcover.
4. "I will conclude this account with one other
variety, and more extraordinary than any I have
hitherto mentioned; but neither is it deftitute of an-
cient authority; ſo that I may apply here what Solo-
mon has ſaid, "That there is nothing new under the
fun;" which indeed, may be applied to all my philofo-
phy, and all the facts I have advanced to fupport it.
The variety I mean is that of fea-mcn and fea-women,
commonly called Mermaids.
/
"It is well known that many writers have handed
down to us an account of what happened in the year
1403 or 14C4, in the time of a great ftorm in Europe.
Many dikes in Holland were broken down betwixt
Kampen and Edam, in the Zuyder Zee. A wild or
ſea woman was drove from thence, through a breach
in the dike into the Parmen Sea, and there taken by
the boors of Edam, to which place they brought her,
} cleared her of fea-weed, and put clothes on her. The
people of Harlem heard of it, and requeſted to have
her, which was granted. She had in the mean time
learned to eat victuals, and they afterwards taught her
to ſpin. She lived many years, and, as the prieſt ſaid,
had been obſerved to pay reverence to the Holy Croſs.
She
204
HUMAN SPECIES.
Ї
She was allowed at her death a Chriftian burial.
Many writers declare that they had ſpoken to people
who had feen the fea-woman.
"Pliny (Book ix. Chap. 5.) fays, that the ambaffa-
dors to Auguftus from Gaul declared that fuch fea-
women were often ſeen in their neighbourhood.
"Georgius Trapanzantius fays, he faw from the
fea-fhore fuch a Mermaid, very handſome, appear
feveral times above water. In Epirus, he fays, there
appeared a fea-man, who for fome time watched
near a ſpring of water, and endeavoured to catch
young women that came there; he was, with much
difficulty, at length caught himſelf, but they could
never get him to eat.
5.
"There is alſo in a collection of certain learned
tracts, written by John Gregory, A. M. and Chaplain
of Chrift Church in Oxford, publiſhed in London in
1650, an account of a fea-animal of the human form,
very much like a biſhop in his pontificals. It is faid
to have been ſent to the King of Poland, in 1531,
and to have lived for fome time in the air; but it
took the firſt opportunity of throwing itſelf into the
fea. This ftory Gregory fays he got from one Ronde-
letius, whoſe words he gives us, page 121, from
which it appears that Rondeletius had the ftory only
at fecond-hand from one Gifbert, a German doctor.
But the moft circumftantial ftory of all is that which
is told by Maillet, in his Teliamede, (page 241 of the
Engliſh tranſlation,) of a fea-man that was feen by the
whole
с
HUMAN SPECIES.
205
whole crew of a French fhip, off the coaft of New-
foundland, in the year 1720, for two hours together,
and often at the diſtance of no more than two or three
feet. The account was drawn up by the pilot of the
veffel, and figned by the captain and all thofe of the
crew that could write, and was fent from Breft by
Monfieur Hautefort to the Count de Maurepas, on
the 8th of September, 1725. The ftory is told with
fo many circumstances, that it is impoffible there can
be any deception or miſtake in the cafe; but if it be
not true, it is as impudent a forgery as ever was at-
tempted to be impofed on the public.
"Theſe and fuch like facts I believe, as they appear
to me fufficiently attefted; and are not, as I think, by
the nature of things, impoffible; for there does not
appear to me any impoffibility or contradiction that
there fhould be a marine animal of the human form
which can live in the water as we do in the air, or
even that this animal fhould not have two legs, as we
have, but ſhould end in a tail like a fiſh.
6. "I fhall now only mention, that, in the year
1716, the newſpapers were every where full of a fea-
man, who appeared in the month of January, near
Ragufa, a ſmall city on the Adriatic Sea, the like of
whom I never heard nor read of. It had much the re-
femblance of a man, but it was near fifteen feet long.
Its head was very large, and its feet and arms were well
proportioned to its body. It appeared for feveral
days running, and commonly came out of the ſea about
?
three
206
HUMAN SPECIES.
three o'clock in the afternoon, and walked with mon-
ftrous ftrides, fometimes in one, ſometimes in another
place, along the fhore.
"People from far and nigh went to look at it; but
they were ſo much afraid, that they kept a good dif-
tance from it, and many looked with ſpy glaffes. It
often carried its hand above its head. The hideous
noiſe it made could be heard at half a mile diſtance,
fo that people in the neighbourhood were fore afraid of
it. The various accounts given by thoſe who ſaw it
are fo uniformly the fame, that there is no room left to
queſtion the veracity of the ftory."
""
Mr. Valentyn then concludes with faying, “If, after
all this, there fhall be found thofe who difbelieve the
exiftence of fuch creatures as fea-men or mermaids,
of which we have at leaſt given great reaſon to believe
that there are, let them pleaſe themſelves; I ſhall give
myſelf no more trouble about them.”
7. "Joan Duerey relates a curious ftory of fome
American fifhers. One night, it being a perfect calm,
they obſerved a mermaid coming into their veffel;
and they fearing it to be fome mischievous fiſh, in the
fright one of them cut with a hatchet the creature's
hand off, which fell within board, and the creature
itſelf funk immediately, but came foon up again, and
gave a deep figh as one feeling pain. The hand was
found to have five fingers and nails like a man's hand.
"In the laſt age, one of the Dutch herring-buffes
caught a mermaid in their nets. The man, who was
taking
HUMAN SPECIES.
207
taking out the herrings, was fo confounded when he
came to it, that in his fright he threw it into the fea.
He repented too late of what he had done, when he
obferved clearly that it had a head and body like a
man."
After the foregoing relations from reading and hear-
fay, the author, Mr. Valentyn, declares what he faw
himſelf on his voyage from Batavia to Europe, in the
year 1714. “In 12 deg. 38 min. fouth latitude, on the
1ft. day of May, about eleven o'clock in the forenoon,
I, the captain, purfer, and mate of the watch, and a
great number of the fhip's company, it being very
calm, and the fea fmooth as glafs, faw, about the dif
tance of thrice the length of the fhip from us, very
diftin&tly on the furface of the water, feemingly fitting
with his back to us, and half the body above the
water, a creature of a grizliſh or grey colour, like that
of a cod fiſh-ſkin; they could fee they had breaſts.
They were, all above the waiſt, ſhaped exactly as
human creatures, but from thence downwards they
ſeemed to go tapering off to a point. About fix
weeks afterwards, near the fame place, the like ap-
pearance was ſeen by the-ſaid Smallen, and upwards
of fifty people that were with him.
"Alkert Herport, in his Account of India, fol.
147, fays, " On the 29th of April, at Taynan, near the
New Work, in the forenoon, a man appeared three
times above water; and, on immediate examination,
nobody was miffing. In the forenoon, he appeared in
like manner three times, near the bulwark, called
Hollandia;
208
JACKSON.
Hollandia; his hair was long, and a mixture of green
and grey colour."
HUME, DAVID,
Appears to have been confiftent to the laft mo-
ment of his life.
Such in thoſe moments as in all the paſt.
In the letter he wrote two or three days before his
death, he appears very anxious about fome correc-
tions to his Hiſtory of England.-A very ſenſible
man, a friend of his, in anſwer to his letter, wrote to
him to ask him, whether then, on the verge of the
grave, he thought on fome fubjects of great import-
ance as he had been uſed to do.---Mr. Hume died
before the letter reached him.
JACKSON, OMNISCIENT.
MR. JACKSON who died ſome few years fince wa
a lawyer of diſtinguiſhed eminence. He was fo well
and generally informed, that he got the epithet of
Omnifcient.
He is faid to have poffeffed at his death an eſtate
of 3000l. a year, and above 200,000l. in ready.
money. All this he accumulated very fairly, with no
want of labour as may be fuppofed; but with correſ
ponding abundance of gratification. To appropriate
is one thing, to enjoy is another.
All
1
JACOBINS.
209
All this accumulation, or at any rate the larger
portion of it, Mr. Jackſon meant to have bequeathed
to his friend Mr. Clarke. But juftice feemed to in-
tercept this bequeft, and he died without making a
will; of courſe his fortune, enormous as it was,
was divided between his two fifters. The age of Mr.
Jackſon was near ſeventy; but, notwithſtanding that,
he is ſaid to have felt the tender paſſion, and indeed
to have died a martyr to it! The object of his atten-
tion was a young lady to whom he was guardian.
{
JACOBINS.
As England, not a century and a half
ago, endea
voured in a fit of parfimony to fave the falary of a
king, it may not be amifs to furniſh thoſe who confider
them as having acted wife in this reſpect with a little
account of fome of their Expences in Republican Go-
vernors to fupply the place of Charles the Firſt.
As most of them were in debt, and all in poverty,
the gratuities fet againſt their names are the prices of
their redemption from crying creditors, in order to
their independence.
Each Member of the Long Parliament received 41.
per week of public money,-576 Members, at 52
weeks, 119,8081.
Speaker Lenthall, 7730l. per ann. and 6000l. gra-
tuity. His fon received 2000l. a year
1
P
Walter
1
JACOBINS.
210
Walter Strickland, 5000l. a year.
Bulftrode Whitelocke, Commiffioner of the Great
Seal, 1500l.-Gratuity 2000l.
Penfioners of 1200l. per annum.-Edmund Pri-
deaux, Roger Hill, Francis Rous, Thomas Hoyle,
and Sir Gilbert Gerrard, with a gift of 60,000l. and
the Paymaſterſhip of the Army, at 3d. in the pound,
equivalent to 12000l. per annum.
Miles Corbett, 1700l. per ann.-Henry Smith,
2000l. per ann.-Sir Edward Hungerford, 1500l. per
ann.-Cornelius Holland, 1600l. per ann.-Sir
Thomas Widdrington, 1500l. per ann.—Sir William
Brereton, 2000l. per ann.-Sir William Allifon,
1600l. per ann.
The moſt eminent who received gratuities, without
being penfioned, were Selden, 2500l.-Oliver Crom-
well, (who afterwards made it better worth his while,)
4000l.-Ifaac Pennington, 7000l. (Biſhops and lands
not included.)-William Pierrepoint, 47,000l. but
being diſpleaſed with the fmallneſs of the donation, he
was pacified by a gift to his brother of the Arch-
biſhop of York's lands in Nottinghamſhire.— John
Aſh, 14,000l. befides places, and John Blackſtone,
15,000l. befides his penſion of 200l. per ann.
Theſe gratuities amounted to 308,500l. exclufive
of gifts in lands and the confifcated eftates of the
Nobility, of immenfe value; and the penfioners drew
annually 80,400l. from the people, exclufive of ne-
ceffary places, &c,..
1
It
JAMES.
211
It is difficult to find the exact multiple of theſe
fums, in order to eſtimate their value in the currency
of theſe days; but, perhaps, if every guinea were to
be confidered equal to five in the preſent times,
though it might not fhew in its utmoſt extent what a
Republic coſt, it might yet be fufficient to convince
the candid that good order is purchaſed at half the
price which has been paid for anarchy.
JAMES THE FIRST.
A very abufive fatirical libel in verfe, againſt the
King and fome of the Nobility and Gentry of the
Court, being brought to his Majefty, he defired to
hear it read; in a fhort time he fhewed evident tokens
of difcompofure; but, as they proceeded in the paf-
fages, the ſtrokes becoming more acute, the King
often exclaimed, that, if there were no more men in
England, the rogue fhould hang for it; but coming to
the two laft concluding lines, which was after all his
Majeſty's railing in thefe words:
"Now God preferve the King, the Queen, the Peers,
"And grant the Author long may wear his ears ;"
This pleaſed the King fo well, that he broke into a
fit of laughter, and faid, "By my foul, and thou
fhalt for me; thou art a bitter, but thou art a witty,
knave."
? 2
IDLENESS.
212
IDLENESS.
!
IDLENESS.
pro-
1. Seneca has a very juft obfervation on this
penfity of the mind. "Self-conftraint," fays he, "is
neceffary to force the mind into exertion." Cogenda
mens, ut incipiet. The human appetite, at certain
feafons, will grow languid, and by tafting food regains
its powers. It is neceffary, with refpect to the mind,
that the difguft, the inaptitude to toil, fhould be over-
ruled, and when once it is ſet in motion, the thoughts
follow one another in abundance, and with a facility
which appears impoffible to the mind in a ſtate of
inaction.
2. With very great attainments many neglect to
qualify themſelves for what half the world figh after,
but which the kind diftribution of Providence has put
out of their reach,-a ſtate of abfolute leiſure.
Without fuch qualifications, the paffing hour drags
heavily on, in the ftillneſs of a fequeftered-retreat.
{
Let the profeffional and commercial man, exhauſt-
ed by the conflicts of competition, and inflamed to
painful exertion by the ardour of getting money, who
wiſhes to relax from fatigue in a country-box,---let
him pauſe before he figns and feals,- let him learn,
"that the worst importunities, the most embarraffing
perplexities of buſineſs are ſoftneſs and luxury compared
with the inceffant cravings of vacancy and the unfatisfac-
tory expedients of idleness;" or he will find, when it is
too late, that occupation is the only preventative of
corroding chagrin, that employment is the grand fpe-
cific
IDLENESS.
213
cific for abſorbing or fuppreffing the anxieties of an
active mind, which, for want of its cuftomary avoca-
tions, is too often bufied in tormenting itſelf.
}
3. The wretchednefs and mifery of an unprofeffional
and idle life were, perhaps, never better delineated
than by Lord Clarendon.
“When I viſited a country-neighbour of mine, in
the morning I always found him in bed, and when I
came in the afternoon he was afleep, and to moft men
befides myſelf was denied, but was very willing to be
called upon when I came, and always received me
with cheerfulneſs. Once walking with him, I doubt-
ed he was melancholy, and by ſpending his time ſo
much in bed, and ſo much alone, that there was fome-
thing that troubled him, otherwiſe that it could not be,
that a man upon whom God had poured fo many
bleffings in the comfort of fo excellent a wife, who
had brought him fo many hopeful children, and in the
poffeffion of ſo ample an eſtate, ſhould appear in the
courfe of his life, and in the fpending of his time, to
be fo little contented as he appeared to be.---To
which, with a countenance a little more erect and
cheerful, he anſwered, that he thought himſelf the moſt
happy man alive in a wife, who was all the comfort
he could have in this world; that he was at ſo much
eaſe in his fortune he did not wifh it greater; but he
faid, he would deal freely with me, and tell me if he
were melancholy (which he ſuſpected himſelf of)
what was the true cauſe of it; that he had ſomewhat
P 3
he
214
JEFFERIES.
he knew not what to do with; his time he knew not how
to spend, which was the reafon he loved his bed ſo
much, and flept at other times, which, he faid, he found
did already do him no good in his health. I told him
that I had obferved in his clofet many books finely
bound, which I prefumed he might find good diver-
tiſement in reading. To which he replied, that they
were all' French romances, which he had read
enough, and never found himſelf the better for."-
Lord Clarendon adds, that the unhappy 'gentleman's
melancholy daily increafed with the agony of his
thoughts, till he contracted thofe difeafes which car-
ried him off at the age of thirty-fix.
響
​JEFFERIES, JUDGE.
JUDGE.
His Speech to the Mayor and Aldermen of Briſtol.
"I have brought a brufh in my pocket to rub off
your dirt; I tell you I have brought a ftout befom,
with which I will fweep every man's door, both with-
in and without, for in good truth you want rubbing;
the dirt of your ditch is in your noftrils.--Where
am I?—in Briſtol, a city in which it ſeems you claim
the privilege of hanging, drawing, and quartering; a
privilege you ought to enjoy at leaſt once a month. I
have a calendar of your city in my hands, and hope,
before I have done, to hang one half of
leaft."
you at
JENNINGS,
JENNINGS.
215
?
4
JENNINGS, SOAME.
1. His intellectual powers were of the higher order;
his life had been very active and diverſified; he had
read much, and feen more; he was rich in the expe-
rience of more than fourfcore years. He converfed
as well as he wrote; how he wrote is difpatched in
few words; his thoughts were fprightly, his expref-
fion neat.---This is the character both of his verfe and
profe.
On his death-bed he fpoke much of his little
book on Chriſtianity;---he ſpoke as one prepared to
die; he did not ſhrink from it as an evil nor a puniſh-
ment, but met it with firmneſs as his original deſtiny,
the kind releaſe from what was worſe, the more kind
fummons to all that is better.
2. He was ſuppoſed to know very well what was
to be got from a minifter, and it was believed he never
gave a vote againſt government. He was a fingular
man, of fingular talents: he wrote an effay on the
origin of evils, which is one kind of performance; he
afterwards publifhed an effay on the internal evi-
dence of the Chriftian religion, which is another kind
of performance; and he was fuppofed to be the author
of feveral little productions, in profe and verfe, which
are neither one nor the other. He was a Lord of
Trade; and it is to be told to his honour, that, when
the deftruction of that Board was in agitation in the
Houſe of Commons, and while his unblufhing bre-
thren were labouring to ſupport its golden finecures,
P 4
he
216
IMAGINATION.
he was the only one among them who had fufficient
virtue to leave the houſe before the divifion.
JENNINGS, SIR PHILIP, THE LATE.
He was formerly in the firft troop of horſe-
guards, and was eſteemed one of the handſomeſt
men of the day in which he lived. The only re-
markable circumftance which lately occurred refpect-
ing him was that of Lord George Gordon getting into
his carriage, to go from the Houfe of Commons, 'on
the day the Proteftant petition was prefented. This
carriage was drawn triumphantly through the ftreets,
to the utter confufion of Sir Philip, who meant to
take no fide whatever, and only accommodated Lord
George with a caft.
IMAGINATION.
The Duchefs of BURGUNDY, a Princeſs of the
Houſe of Savoy, (wife to the grandſon of Lewis
XIV.) had her fortune told her before her departure
from Italy, when it was predicted fhe would die at
the age of twenty-feven. This prediction made a
ftrong impreffion on her mind, and, confequently,
formed the frequent ſubject of her converſation. She
one day ſaid to her huſband," As the hour of my
diffolution is now drawing near, and I know you
will
}
1
INCEST.
217
will not be able to live without a wife, as well on ac-
count of
of your religious principles,
your
""
rank as
I ſhould be glad to know whom it is your intention
to marry. "I hope," anſwered the Duke, “ that
God will never inflict fo fevere a puniſhment on
me as to deprive me of you; but, fhould I expe-
rience fuch a misfortune, I fhould not, moft cer-
tainly, think of taking a fecond wife; fince, being
unable to ſupport your death, I fhould follow you
in less than a week." The Duke kept his word, dy-
ing of grief on the feventh day after the deceaſe of
the Duchefs, which took place at the time ſpecified
by the prediction.
INCEST.
A young woman of Glaſgow, about twenty-five
years ago, having the misfortune of becoming a mo-
ther before fhe was a wife, and at fo early an age
as fourteen years, for the better concealment of her
unlucky fituation, retired to Edinburgh to lye in,
where fhe was delivered of a boy.-The lad, at the
age of twelve years, either from a diſpoſition inca-
pable of fubmitting to the controul of his guardians,
or the ſeverity of his preceptor, ran away from
ſchool, nor could any tidings of him be afterwards
obtained. The mother in the mean time fet up a
a houfe in Glaſgow, for the reception of boarders,
to which the better clafs of failors in the merchants.
fervice generally reforted. A young man, about
twenty-
218
INCEST.
twenty-two years of age, Maſter of a Weft-India
veffel, happened to take up his abode with her, and
in a fhort time, by his attractions and affiduity,
awakened a flame in the breaft of his landlady; a
mutual attachment enfued, which was cemented by
matrimony. The happy couple lived together for
three years without interruption to their domeftic
felicity, each year producing them a child as the
reward of their conjugal fidelity, when one morning,
the huſband putting on his fhirt in the prefence
of his wife, the diſcovered a mark on his fhoulder,
by which ſhe knew him to be her long-loft fon.
-She inftantly became frantic, and, feizing him
by the hair, tore him to the ground, when, fupplied
with ftrength by madneſs, ſhe would probably have de-
ftroyed him, had not his cries procured him the
affiftance of fome of the family. She afterwards
recovered reafon fufficient to give an almoſt unin-
telligible account of the melancholy circumftance
that bereft her of her fenfes, and then relapſed into
an incurable delirium. The confequences of an
éclairciffement were equally fatal to the unhappy
fon and huſband, whofe reafon was entirely over-
turned.
५
6. The following curious account of trials for
inceſt may tend to fhew the nature of the ancient
criminal trials of Scotland.
Alexander Blair, taylor, in Curry, was criminally
profecuted by his Majefty's Advocate for inceft.
The
INCEST.
219
The fact charged againſt him was, that he had carnal
knowledge of one Catherine Windrahame, his firſt
wife's half-brother's daughter, and being admonifhed
by the Kirk to abſtain from this connection, inſtead
of yielding obedience, he fled to England with the
woman, and there married her. The Jury unani-
moufly found him guilty, and the Court ordered
him to be beheaded.
James Wilfon, coal-grieve at Bonhard, was tried
before Mr. Alexander Colvil, Juftice-depute, at the
inftance of Mr. Thomas Nicholfon, his Majeſty's
Advocate. The indictment accuſed him of having
committed inceft with Janet Carfe, daughter of
Agnes Brown his wife, about thirty-five years fince,
or thereabouts, his wife being then alive; alfo, of
having committed adultery with Jean Walker, du-
ring the life-time of his faid wife. The prifoner, with
great penitence, confeffed his guilt before the Court
and Jury; and a verdict being returned againſt him,
the Court ordered him to be taken on the next day
to the Caſtle-hill and beheaded, and his perfonal
eftate to be forfeited.
William Dryfdale and Barbara Tannahill were
ferved with ſeparate indictments, accufing them of
having committed inceft with each other. The
crime libelled was, that the prifoner William Dryf-
dale, a widower, (whoſe wife, a fifter of the other
prifoner, had been dead for two years,) had layen
with
1
220
INDIANS.
1
with the faid priſoner Barbara Tannahill: and that,
by an act paffed in the reign of King James VI. part
1. chap. 14. and by the 18th chapter of Leviticus,
this crime inferred the pain of death.-The charge
againſt Barbara Tannahill was the fame, mutatis mu-
tandis.
INDIANS.
Governor Dudley, as well acquainted as ever any
man was with the difpofition of the Indians, would
often tell the following ftory as a mark of their
capacity.
He was building a houſe at his plantation, and as
he was looking upon his workmen, took notice of a
lufty Indian, who, though the weather was ſeverely
cold, was a naked as well as an idle ſpectator.
Harkee, you Indian, faid the Governor, why don't
you
work as theſe men do, and get clothes to cover you?
And why you no work, Governor ? replied the Indian.
I work, returned the Governor, clapping his fore-
finger upon his forehead, with my head, and therefore
need not work with my hands.—Well, replied the In-
dian, and if I would work, what have you for me to
do ?--Go kill me a calf, faid the Governor, and I will
give you a fhilling. The fellow did fo; and the Go-
vernor aſked him, why he did not ſkin and dreſs it?
Calf dead, Governor, faid the Indian, give me my
Shilling-give me another, and I will ſkin and drefs
him. This was complied with, and away went the In-
dian
+
INDIANS.
221
dian to an alehouſe, with his two fhillings; he foon
drank one in rum, and then returned to the Go-
vernor, Your Shilling bad; the man no take it. The
Governor believed him, and gave him another;
but returning in the fame manner with the fecond,
the Governor difcerned that he was a rogue; ne-
vertheleſs he exchanged that too, referving his re-
fentment for another opportunity, which he thought
he ſhould find no great difficulty in procuring.
To accomplish this, the Governor wrote a letter
to the Keeper of Bridewell, at Boſton, to take the
bearer, and give him a found whipping. This letter
he kept in his pocket, and in a few days, the In-
dian came again to ftare at the workmen. The
Governor took no notice of him for fome time,
but, at laft, pulling the letter out of his pocket,
If you will carry this, faid he, to Bofton, I will give
you half a crown. The Indian clofed with the pro-
pofal, and fet out upon his journey, but had not
gone far, before he met another Indian belonging
to the Governor, to whom he gave the letter, and
told him, his mafter had ſent him to meet with him,
and bid him return with that letter to Bofton as
foon as he could. The poor Indian carried it with
great diligence, and received a found whipping for
his pains, at the news of which the Governor was
not a little aftoniſhed on his return. The other
Indian came no more, but at the diftance of fome
months, at a meeting with fome of his nation, the
Governor faw this fellow there amongſt the reſt, and
afked
222
JOHNSON.
}
afked him, how he durft ſerve him fuch a trick?
The Indian looking him full in his face, and clap-
ping his fore-finger upon the forehead-Head work!
Governor, faid he, Head work!
INFIDELITY.
Newton, Locke, Fenelon, Pafcal, Gravefande,
and Wolff, that is to fay, the moſt reflective and
perfpicuous men on earth, in the moſt philoſophical
of all ages, and in the full vigour of their genius
and days, have believed in Jefus Chrift; and that
confummate hero, the great Condé, when expiring,
repeated, with exultation, theſe noble words: Yes,
I fhall fee God as he is, face to face whereas the
intrepidity of a dying Infidel can never be totally
proof againſt all uncafinefs, if he but reafons thus:
A thousand times have I been mistaken in my most
palpable interefts, and I may alfo have been mistaken
with regard to my religion, but now have neither time
nor ſtrength to confider it; I am dying.
་
JOHNSON, DR.
1. Mr. Garrick was once prefent with Dr. Johnſon,
at the table of a Nobleman, where, amongst other
guefts, was one of whofe near connexions fome dif-
graceful
JOHNSON.
223
graceful anecdotes were then in circulation.
It had
reached the ears of Johnfon, who after dinner
took an opportunity of relating it in his moft acri-
monious manner. Garrick, who fat next to him,
pinched his arm, trod upon his toe, and made
uſe of other means to interrupt the thread of his
narration; but all in vain. The Doctor proceeded,
and when he had finiſhed the ſtory, he turned
gravely round to Garrick, of whom before he
had taken no notice whatever," Thrice," faid
he, "Davy, have you trod upon my toe; thrice
have you pinched my arm, and now, if what I
have related be a falfehood, convict me before this
company."-Garrick replied not a word, but fre-
quently declared afterwards, that he never felt half
fo much perturbation, even when he met 66 his
father's ghoft."
1
2. The papers in the Adventurer, figned with the
letter T. are commonly attributed to one of Mr.
Johnſon's earlieſt and moſt intimate friends, Mr.
Bathurst, the bookſeller; but there is reafon to
believe they were written by Johnſon, and by him
given to his friend. At that time, Johnſon was
himſelf engaged in writing the Rambler, and could
ill afford to make a preſent of his labours. The
various other pieces he gave away have conferred
fame, and probably fortune, on feveral perfons, to
the great difgrace of fome of his clerical friends;
forty
1
224
JOHNSTON.
forty fermons which he himſelf tells us he wrote,
have not yet been deterré.
3. When Johnſon was in a fally of converfation
once, agitating who ſhould be his biographer, Gold-
ſmith, it was ſaid, would do it the beft. The dog
would write it the beſt to be fure, faid he, but his
particular malice towards me, and general difregard
for truth, would make the book uſeleſs to all, and
injurious to my character. Dr. Taylor, of Afhbourn,
is better acquainted with my heart than any man or
woman now living, and my Oxford exploits lie be-
tween him and Dr. Adams, of Pembroke-College.
Dr. James knows my early days better than he.
After my coming to London, to drive the world
about a little, you must go to Jack Hawkfworth for
anecdotes; I lived in great familiarity with him
(though I think with little affection) from 1753 till
the time Mr. Thrale took me up.
JOHNSTON, GOVERNOR, THE LATE.
He was a violent partizan of the oppofition to
Lord North's adminiſtration, till he was named to be
one of the American Commiffioners; and the
Miniſter ſeems to have had no common confidence
in the hardihood of his temper, when he affigned to
him the power of venal diftribution. Whether he
actually offered, or only hinted, a bribe to a Member
of the Congreſs may be known by an examination
of
{
JUDGES.
225
of the affidavit made in America, which relates and
records the tranfaction. This part of his conduct,
however, fo highly offended the rulers of rebellion,
that they infifted upon his difcontinuing the often-
fible office of Commiffioner, as the only terms upon
which they would continue any communication with
the humbled remains of the Britiſh Embaffy. As a
public fpeaker, he was blunt and bold, with a ready
command of force and expreffion, but his energy
too often roſe into violence, and what he fancied to
be plain ſpeaking was frequently little leſs than rude
ſeverity.
JUDGES, SCOTCH.
Lord Holt fat as Chief Juftice of the King's Bench
in England 21 years; Lord Mansfield 32.
In Scotland, the Judges are not appointed at a
very early period of life; yet many of them have
fat much longer on the Bench than the Judges in
England, viz.
Sir Hugh Dalrymple,
Lord Pollock,
Lord Strichen,
Lord Minto,
Lord Arniſton,
59 years.
33
45
40
27
29
Lord Kaimes,
31
Lord Balmerino,
32
Lord Dunn refigned, after fitting
44
Q
Lord
Lord Drummore,
226
JUNIUS.
{
Lord Auchinleck,
28 years.
Ld. Cockburn, of Ormiſton,
· 30
*
Lord Fountainhall,
35
Lord Milton,
43
Lord Grange refigned, after fitting
Lord Royston,
The Earl of Loudon fat an extraordi-
27
34
nary Judge,
The Marquis of Tweedale,
and
33
41
Archibald, Duke of Argyle,
53
"Twenty-one more have fat above twenty years,
including eight of the prefent Judges; fo that, out
of ninety-three, fifteen of which are ftill living, nearly
the one half have fat above that period on the
bench.”
2
JUNIUS.
The following anecdote is related refpecting the
fuppofed difcovery of JUNIUS:
Not long before he terminated his literary career,
the Duke of R-ch-d was one day taking a morn-
ing walk, when he accidentally met with the Right
Hon. Wm G-rr-d H-m-lt-n, who aſked
his Grace if he had that day read Junius, for that he
was greater than ever. Mr. H— then began to
recite feveral parts of the letter, which led the Duke
to return home in order to perufe the remainder,
when, to his very great ſurpriſe, he found that no
fuch
JUNIUS.
227
fuch letter had made its appearance in the Public Ad
vertiſer of that day. His Grace mentioned the cir-
cumſtance to ſeveral of his friends, and on the day
following the identical letter appeared, having by ac-
cident or miſtake been omitted to be inferted, as was
intended by Mr. H. the preceding day. This led to
the long-wiſhed for diſcovery of the author of
Junius, and a cabinet-council was forthwith affem-
bled, to determine on what was neceffary to be done.
The Earl of Suffolk, at that time one of his Majefty's
principal Secretaries of State, was very violent on the
occafion, and recommended committing Mr. H. (he
being a Member of Parliament, and Privy Councillor
in Ireland) cloſe prifoner to the Tower. This meaſure
the fagacious Lord Mansfield, it was faid, violently
oppoſed; wifely obferving, that the letters of Junius
had already ſufficiently roufed and alarmed the ſpirit of
the nation, and the fooner it was quieted the better. In
conſequence of this falutary council, a meffage was faid
to have been ſent to Mr. H, to acquaint him that
he was known, and that it was his Majefty's pleaſure
he ſhould continue to hold for life the apartments
which he ever after occupied in the palace of Hamp-
ton Court.
2. From ſeveral circumftances many have been led
to think, that the author of the celebrated letters, under
the fignature of Junius, was no other than the late
Thomas Hollis, Efq. The fentiments political and
religious, that comprehenfive and profound know-
Q 2
ledge
228
JUNIUS.
>
ledge as to the nature of civil government in general,
and the conftitution of this country in particular; that
intimate acquaintance with the merits and demerits of
the leading men about the Court, as well as thofe
who were in oppofition; that extenfive information
as to the views and fituations of foreign Courts; that
thorough infight into his ſubject, and thofe hard opi-
nions of public men and public meaſures, which
appear in the writings of Junius, anfwer in every tittle
to the known character of Mr. Hollis: not a fingle
exception can be pointed out.
At the time thofe letters appeared, Mr. Hollis fpent
moft of his time at Corfcombe, in Dorſetſhire, a
retired fituation, well adapted to the purpoſe of ſe-
crecy, and where might be enjoyed moſt completely
that undisturbed leifure neceffary for compofitions
fo finiſhed and elaborate.
In the ſtate the nation was in at that time, it is not
to be fuppofed that Mr. Hollis would be an idle
fpectator. He on feveral occafions, when he had
made up his mind to retire, expreffed very ſtrongly
his expectation of being ufeful to the public even in
that fituation; and certainly there was no fervice more
agreeable to his ufual mode of acting, nor that he
would have deemed more important, than that of
laying before his countrymen the information which
is contained in Junius's Letters.
A gentleman, who was in the habits of great inti-
macy with him, on reading the letter addreffed to the
Rev. Mr. Horne, is known to have faid, that he had
feen
KAYE.
229
1
feen that letter a few days before in the hand-writing
of a friend of his from Dorſetſhire. That Mr. Hollis
was the author of Junius's Letters was the opinion
of Dr. Flemming, a man not likely to miſtake, as
they lived in great friendfhip, and who probably
was the channel through which, in part, they might
find their way to the people. No long time after
Junius gave over writing, Mr. Hollis died. It is
allo proper to mention that this fingular perfon ftu-
diouſly endeavoured to bury in concealment his moſt
fplendid fervices.
Theſe ſeveral circumftances, by their congruity with
his character, fentiments, and hiftory, ftrongly induce a
belief, that the memorable Junius will be found to have
been the honeft obfcure Thomas Hollis, Efq. which is
ftill farther ftrengthened by the difficulty of finding
any other perfon to whom they will apply throughout
with the fame exactnefs, or any thing that approaches
near it.
}
KAYE, SIR RICHARD.
Sir RICHARD is the Curate of Mary-le-bonne, fup-
poſed to be worth annually 5000l.; he is Sub-Almoner
to the King; Rector of Kirby, in Aſhfield; Preben-
dary of York; Prebendary of Southwell; Preben-
dary of Durham; Archdeacon of Nottingham; and
Dean of Lincoln.
2 3
KINGSTON,
230
KINGSTON.
}
KINGSTON, DUCHESS OF..
1. At Genoa, the Engliſh Conful went to wait on
her Grace, who apologized for receiving him in a
maner fo unſuitable to her rank, in a very mean inn,
The Conful, who had had the misfortune to be a
bankrupt, and who had not above three hundred
pounds per annum to live on, politely offered her
his houſe, in which her Grace, with her numerous
ſuite, might be more conveniently accommodated.—
She accepted the invitation readily, and ſeveral weęks
remained with her generous but poor landlord, who
kept a ſumptuous table for her entertainment. At
leaving Genoa, fhe thanked the Conful, and told
him that ſhe ſhould gratefully remember his favours
at her return. Return foon afterwards fhe did, and
drove inftantly to her former hotel, where fhe had
been already fo handſomely entertained. Again fhe
continued feveral weeks with the Conful, whoſe affi-
duity to pleaſe and accommodate his noble gueft' was
whetted by the near profpect of his reward. At part-
ing the expreffed her gratitude, and to prove it, faid
fhe would give him a prefent which fhe highly prized.
"Your eyes, I obferve, begin to fail. Here is a
pair of ſpectacles of my dear Lord's,-take them,
take them, I dare not look on them;"-and then, af
fecting to cry, and putting her handkerchief to her.
face, hobbled to her carriage as faft as her corpu-
lence
KINGSTON.
231
This is an
lence and..crookednefs-would allow her.
example of what Garrick uſed to fay, that her Grace
was a better Comedian than himfelf. It is alfo an il-
luftration of a truth more important, "that women of
a certain defcription may be oftentatious, but can
never be generous."
1
2. Living, as did the Duchefs, in the early period
of her life, within the Court circle, her exterior man-
ners had a poliſh, and her actions, when ſhe choſe it,
a grace.
When the ſunſhine of good humour exhi-
larated her ſpirits, there was brilliancy in every thing
fhe did; but, as fhe could be faſcinating, the reverſe
was too much in her power, and too frequently in her
inclination. Viewed fuperficially, and by a tranſient
acquaintance, fhe appeared irrefiftibly attractive;
intimacy diffolved the charm, and even her moſt
partial admirers could only feel a pity that powers
fo eminently pleaſing ſhould not be united with in-
ternal worth. This deficiency it was which rendered
her promiſes not to be relied on.
}
3. Her Grace embarked feveral years ago for the
Continent, for the purpoſe of enjoying that peace and
happineſs which her native country denied her. After
travelling through many countries, and refiding for
a while in ſome, fhe at laft fixed her refidence at
Calais, where fplendor, magnificence, and hofpita-
lity, foon made her the goddeſs of the place. Her
doors were open to the rich and the poor; both al-
24
ways
232
KINGSTON.
ways went away happy; the latter never unaccompa-
nied by a prefent.
It fo happened, that, in the courfe of the laft year,
the very perfon by whom he was perfecuted and
proſecuted in this country, by whoſe means ſhe loſt a
title, and was obliged to leave her native home, un-
fortunately was arrefted at Metz, in France, for a
fum exceeding by at leaſt 6000l. more than he was
able to pay. His equipage, furniture, and houfe,
was feized upon in confequence of a judgment ob-
tained in the balliage, which judgment, when con-
firmed by the Parliament of Paris, would have been,
perhaps, perpetual impriſonment. A perfon well
acquainted with the cruelty of the profecution againſt
her Grace, hearing by accident of the difafter of her
enemý, went with the tidings of what he deemed an
acceptable piece of intelligence. He told it with
pleaſure, but it produced pain. Her Grace faid, "I
have long fince forgiven him; my refentments are
buried, and compaffion now is the gueft of their habi-
tation." On faying this fhe burft into a flood of tears,
and when they fubfided, fhe defired the perſon who
brought the intelligence of diſtreſs to be a meffenger
of comfort to the afflicted. "Go," ſaid ſhe, "and
tell him I will be his friend." She immediately,
though in a bad ftate of health, fet out for Verfailles,
where her intereft was fo great as to obtain a pro-
tection for him from the King, and an order to ſtop
all further proceedings. He was inftantly liberated,
and fhe was as good as her word. She took a houſe
for
KINGSTON.
233
می
for him, and not only furniſhed him with money for
immediate ufe, but has beftowed on him a penfion
for life of 600l. per annum.
4. When her trial was over, fhe dictated a letter
to the King of Pruffia, who in return offered her
Berlin as an afylum, and intimation was given by the
Pruffian Minifter that her property would be fafe in his
mafter's dominions. Probably fhe thought this would
be too literally the cafe; for, after receiving the inti-
mation, and declaring her grateful fenfe of the favour,
fhe thus expreffed herſelf to an Engliſh friend; The
K― of Pruffia is devilish clever, but I fhan't trust hims
K-
5. To be received by fome crowned head was
the Duchefs's great object, as the only means of re-
lief from the marked difgrace fixed upon her by the
conviction. The Court of Ruffia was chofen, where
pictures were fent as prefents, not only to the Sove-
reign, but to her more powerful fubjects. One in-
ftance, and an anecdote accompanying it, will exem-
plify the views and liberality of the donor.
Count Chernichoff was reprefented to the Duchefs
as an exalted character, to whom fhe ought in policy
to pay her particular devoirs; fhe felt the force of
the repreſentation, and fent him two pictures. As
little fkilled in painting as in mufic, fhe was a total
ſtranger to the value of thefe pieces: they happened
to be originals, by Raphael and Claude Lorraine. The
Count was ſoon appriſed of this, and, on the arrival
of
234
KINGSTON.
1
❝ tures,
of the Ducheſs at Petersburg, he waited on her
Grace, profeffed his thankfulneſs for the preſent, at
the fame time affuring the Duchefs," that the pic-
"tures were eſtimated at a value, in Ruffian money,
"amounting to ten thousand pounds Engliſh. The
Duchefs, who the moment before, he let this fecret
eſcape from his lips, had arranged her features with
a fmile of complacency, inftantly changed colour,
and could, with the utmoſt difficulty, veil her cha-
grin. She told the Count that "fhe had other pic-
which ſhe ſhould confider as an honour
"were he to accept; that the two paintings in his
"poffeffion were particularly the favourites of her
"departed Lord; but that the Count was extremely.
"gracious in permitting them to occupy a ſpace
"in his palace, until her manfion was properly
"prepared for decoration." This manœuvre did not
fucceed. The Count has the pictures at this mo-
ment; and the Duchefs, in her will, has actually in-
troduced a history of the manner in which they be-
came poffeffed by Count Chernichoff; referring, at
the fame time, to the teftimony of a Mr. Moreau,
in proof of the paintings having been only com-
mitted to the care of the Count in truft. Here is
a trait, and a fingular one it is, fufficient to mark the
character of the Duchefs.
6. The Ducheſs of Kingfton was a woman, the
Icading features of whofe character are more diſco-
verable
KINGSTON.
235
""
verable from a review of her conduct than from any
delineation in the power of the pen to give. If fhe
might be allowed to know herſelf, her own defcrip-
tion of the mutability of her nature ſhould paſs for
the truth. Her words were thefe: "I fhould deteft
"myſelf if I were two hours in the fame temper.'
What fhe faid fhe verified; for fhe was alternately
changing from humour to humour. This inftability
it was which, in the early part of life, occafioned her
to be furrounded more with admirers than friends;
and from the hour of her conviction to the moment
of her death, fhe had not one friend attached to her
from a principle of cordial eſteem. The Empreſs of
Ruffia was much difpofed to favour her; but, after
the novelty of the meeting was over, there was even
too much of fameneſs in the interviews with her Ma-
jefty to be endured. Thoſe to whom the Duchefs
fhewed any thing like fteadineſs were companions of
her own felection, and fhe was ever fure to err moſt
grofsly in her choice; her benefits and her friendſhips
were beftowed on the unworthy.
Habits, manners, and principles, compoſe the fum
of life, and render the fubject of them eſtimable or
obnoxious. In what point of view the Duchefs of
Kingſton was lately beheld, and is now confidered,
may be known by her living almoſt friendleſs, and
dying unregretted. The rights of fepulture were a
long time withheld from her: not a relative anxious
for her honourable interment; not an executor difin-
tereſted enough to have her remains oblivioned by the
duſt;
236
LADIES' HATS.
duft; not a tear fhed on account of her departure,
nor a heart affected by her lofs.
KNELLER, SIR GODFREY.
Gay read a copy of verfes he had made on Sir
Godfrey Kneller to him, in which he had pushed his
flattery fo far, that he was all the while in great ap-
prehenfion that Sir Godfrey would think himſelf ban-
tered. When he had heard it through, he faid, in
his foreign ftyle and accent, " Aye, Mr. Gay, all
that you have faid is very fine and very true; but
you have forgot one thing, my good friend. By G-,
I fhould have been a General of an Army; for when
I was at Venice, there was a girandole, and all the
Place St. Mark was in a fmoke of gunpowder, and
I did like the fmell, Mr. Gay. I fhould have been
a great General, Mr. Gay."
1
LADIES' HATS.
Ann Turner, a Phyfician's widow, was indicted
at the bar of, the King's Bench, for the murder of
Sir Thomas Overbury, (as acceffary before the fact,)
Nov. 7th 1615, Michaelmas term, 13 Jac. 1, be-
fore Sir Edward Coke. On her arraignment, Sir
Edward, obferving her hat on, told her "to put it
off; that a woman might be covered in church,
but
LADIES' HATS.
237
but not when arraigned in a Court of Justice;"
whereupon ſhe ſaid ſhe thought it fingular that ſhe
might be covered in the houſe of God, and not in
the judicature of man.---Sir Edward told her, "that
from God no fecrets were hid, but that it was not
fo with man, whofe intellects were weak; therefore,
in the inveſtigation of truth, and eſpecially when
the life of our fellow-creatures are put in jeopardy,
on the charge of having deprived another thereof,
the Court ſhould ſee all obſtacles removed, and,
becauſe the countenance is often an index to the
mind, all covering fhould be removed from the face;"
hereupon the Chief Juftice ordered her hat to be
taken off, and fhe covered her hair with her hand-
kerchief.
Robert Carr, Earl of Effex, and Frances, his
vicious Countefs, were the two principal parties in
the above murder, which was affected by poifon,
in which diabolical tranfaction this infamous woman
was materially concerned, in fo much that ſhe became
one of the Countefs's chief companions, and was
. vain enough to fet the faſhion of yellow ftarched ruffs,
which was adopted upon her introduction of them,
and continued in vogue to the day of her execution,
for ſhe went to the gallows in a cob-web lawn-ruff
of that colour, and was hanged in it; but this neck-
drefs began to decline immediately after.
LANDAFF,
238
LANDAFF.
LANDAFF,
BISHOP OF.
Of this great man fomething fhould be known,
and it is to his credit that he cannot be known too
much.
Weftmoreland has to boaft his birth, and he was
educated there. From that fchool he derived a to-
lerable acquaintance with the Claffics, an induftrious
habit of life, and what was bad, a provincial accent,
which improved life has not removed.
Trinity College, Cambridge, had him next; he
was there famous when a ftudent for application
and Kendal blue hofe, which he always wore.—In taking
his degrees he was high amongſt the wranglers, pro-
phetic of his being fo now.
34
His learning made him a fellow, and recommended
him to be one of the College-Tutors; he had for
his antagoniſt Mr. Poftlethwaite, a great mathema-
tician, who went on proving himſelf in the wrong,
and demonftrated himſelf into a fmall living in the
country; the latter knew nothing of the world; the
former did, and found it the beſt knowledge
To catch the manners living as they rife
In progrefs of time he was appointed Public Pro-
feffor of Chemistry; here he firft formed the bafis
of that fame and character which followed him in
the line of chemiſtry.-Cambridge never boafted
any thing like him; whole days did he and his work-
man, Hoffman, pafs in the laboratory: in their firſt
experiments,
LANDAFF.
239
3
experiments, they broke their retorts, brought on
diforders, blew themſelves up, and at laſt their work-
fhop. But the Biſhop went on, nothing daunted,
and at length eſtabliſhed his chemic character.
About this period Dr. Rutherford died, and Dr.
Watſon was appointed in his room to the profeſſor-
ſhip of divinity; about this time too he obtained
another fpecies of divinity, he married.
As no longer holding a fellowſhip, he was allowed
this privilege; from this period nothing came forth
but his chemical effays, and fome domeftic ones;
but thoſe of chemiſtry have ſpread the wideft. All
have read and admired his book. In the recom-
mendations to a fee may be placed great merit,
perſonal remembrance, and his pupil the Duke of
Rutland.
1
He is now fitting upon a bench with men collected
the heavens know how, fpeaking religioufly, and
amongſt whom, with the exception of a very few,
he is, indeed as a light to lighten the Gentiles.
To ſpeak on fubjects of commerce, of articles
of trade, of manufactures, of metals and their qua-
lities,-what man is fo qualified? For in the pro-
grefs of his experiments he has had occafion to
examine them all. Beyond this knowledge his know-
ledge extends; and about his mind there is fome-
thing as liberal as extenfive; in all the various
information he has acquired in the clofe of a cha-
racter ſo diſtinguiſhed, no circumftance ſhould be
loft.
240
LAW.
Ja
loft. Sometime ago he certainly was, there is no
denying it, a ftrenuous oppofer of all plurality of
church-preferment. On the death of the Bifhop
of Durham, a great change certainly took place in
both the bishops, the former was tranflated,-the
latter wifhed to be fo,-and his application for
confolidating certain church-duties being refufed, -
The BISHOP OF LANDAFF oppofes Government-upon
principle and fentiment.
LAW: ANECDOTE.
It has been faid of Law, that it is the only pro-
feffion in which ftudents have no obligation to
birth or patrimony in order to obtain title and
eminence. One fourth of the peers of the Realm
are generated from this fruitful fource, and by a
farther fubdivifion of theſe into two parts, we ſhall
diſcover one moiety to have arifen from we know not
what, and in a manner we know not how.
As a learned profeffion, it is entitled to our re-
ſpect when the profeffors of it are diſtinguiſhed by
their private character and their public virtue, they
exact from us in a two-fold degree our efteem and
regard; but when we behold men put on a long robe
to conceal the hypocrify of their hearts, and the
vices of their habits, and obferve them invited to
feats with the patricians and nobles of the land,
only becauſe by profitable practices they are able
to
LAW.
241
n
(
to ſurpriſe and captivate our underſtandings, we
are infenfibly led to cenfure the whole clafs thus
diftinguifhed, and to withdraw that veneration from
the titled part of the community which is neceffary
to be cheriſhed among the fubordinate claffes of
mankind, to prevent them from making the diſtinction
between ennobling by a nation, and entitling by a
King or his Minifter.
Theſe reflections have naturally ariſen from ſeeing,
not many years fince in the Houfe of Peers, a Lord
who owes his fortune and his title to a circumflance
which in reafon could not have been expected to
have procured that kind of elevation. It is not
pretended that the honors which this Peer enjoys at
this day followed cloſe upon the tranſaction about to
be related; they, were nevertheleſs remotely caufed
by it, as the ingenious diſplay of his talents attached
him fo much to the family in high power, in whoſe
ſervice they were difplayed, as to paye the road
to every preferment he met with afterwards; for
it is with an adroit lawyer as with a balloon, which,
once raiſed by fome fupernatural aid to a certain
diſtance above the earth, will float of itſelf by its
own ſpecific lightneſs in a denfer atmoſphere; but,
not to take up time unneceffarily, the writer will
haften to relate the important event, which faved
three perſons their lives, and procured another his
fortune and the diftinguiſhed rank he now holds.
In a county verging on London, lived within
this century a family of great opulence and much
intereft
R
242
LAW.
intereft at Court, and, although it has from the
period alluded to been in a continual ftate of
decay, yet one branch of it has ftill a footing in
the neigbourhood, though the leading one has
baniſhed himſelf the kingdom for a crime, or a fup-
pofed one, the mention of which is not neceffary
to any part of this ftory. There are not wanting
thoſe fuperftitious perfons ftill alive and remembering
the ftory, who conceive the declenfion and various
miferies which that family has experienced are the
marks of the juft vengeance of the Deity for the
crime alleged to the material perfons in it.
When the Peer of this ftory was a very young
man, he was juft diftinguiſhing himſelf in the Courts,
and was diſtinguiſhed by the epithet of the extra-
ordinary Special Pleader. He was called upon at
a very fhort warning to attend at a neighbouring
feffion, in a caufe of the higheſt importance to the
reputation,, the happineſs, not to fay, the existence,
of the antient family alluded to.-The crime to be
tried was no leſs than murder, and the prifoner no
other than the daughter of an antient Baronet,
one of the moſt beautiful young women of that
day; it being however an indictment on fufpicion
of murder, the young lady and her two relations
were admitted to bail.
The cafe as appeared on the trial was as follows:
About eight miles from the manfion, under whofe
roof ſo much calamity has fince fallen, lived a
midwife of great fkill and extenfive practice, it
not
LAW.
243
not being the cuſtom of thoſe days, as at prefent,
for Lucina to receive any other votaries than women.
This female profeſſor of the obſtetric art was called
up, as was not unfrequently the cafe, juft as fhe
had returned from the tender office performed in
another quarter; as foon as fhe awaked, fhe en-
deavoured to excuſe herſelf, and to ſend an affiſtant
which fhe kept in the houſe, under the plea of her
own fatigue, and with the pretence that the fubftitute
was truly a fage femme. The meffenger, refolving
to poffefs himſelf of the principal only, urged that
he had fomething to fay to her by way of obtaining
advice for a perfon of great confequence, after
which her deputy might do. She defcended the
ftairs and opened the door, which was no fooner
done than the candle was thrown out of her hand,
after which ſhe was not heard of for many hours.
Although her going out was frequently abrupt
from the nature of her bufinefs, yet there was
fomething fo extraordinary in her manner of leaving
home, that much anxiety was expreffed in her
abſence, and as many enquiries made of her as
foon as fhe returned.
The account ſhe gave of herfelf was as follows:
She faid, as foon as fhe had unlocked the door
and in part opened it, a hand forced itſelf in, and
beat the candle to the ground, at the fame inftant
pulling her into the road, which ftood detached from
the village or any other dwelling. The perfon bid
her tie a handkerchief over her head, and not ftay
for
R 2
244
LAW.
for a hat, as he intimated that a lady of the firſt
quality in that part of the country wanted her help,
being in great danger. Then he led her to a ftile
within about forty yards, where there was a horſẹ
ſaddled, and a pillion on his back; he ordered her
to feat herſelf firft, and immediately mounted, and
rode off on a ſmart trot. By the time they had been
travelling about three quarters of an hour, ſhe was
greatly alarmed, but her conductor affured her no
harm fhould come to her, and that fhe fhould be
well paid, but added, that he had feveral miles
more to go; he got off his horfe five or fix times
to open gates, and croffed many corn and ploughed
fields, for, although it was quite dark, fhe could dif-
cover that ſhe had left the high road within two
miles of her houſe.
By the time, as fhe computed, fhe had been an
hour and a half on the journey, they entered a
large paved court or yard, as fhe concluded, from
the claltering of the horfe's fhoes on the ftones; her
guide now lifted her off the horſe, and conducted
her through a long dark paffage, there being no
light whatever, and fhe remembered fhe faid the
only light fhe faw at a diſtance was concealed or
put out upon the fhutting of a large gate through
which they rode. As foon as fhe had arrived at
a fort of landing-place up a few fteps, her con-
ductor addreffcd himſelf to her in the following
words: "You must now let me put this cap and
bandage over your eyes, which will allow you to speak
and
LAW.
245
and breathe, but not to fee; keep your prefence of mind,
it will be wanted;—and I again repeat no harm ſhall
come to you. You are now in a chamber with a lady in
labor; perform your office well, and you fhall be amply
rewarded; but, if you offer to pull away the blind from
your eyes, take the confequence of your rafhness. Here
fhe obferved, that dread and horror had fo benumbed
every faculty of her mind, that, if much affiftance
had been wanted, fhe was utterly incapable of giving
it, but nature had effected nearly all that was necef-
fary, and what remained for her to do was little more
than to receive a male child, and give it into the
hands of a perſon ſtanding on her right hand, who
by her voice fhe conceived to have been a woman
in years.
Her patient fhe was fure was a very young lady,
but ſhe was forbid to aſk any queſtions, or ſpeak a
word.
As foon as the event was completely over, fhe had
a glaſs of tent wine poured into her mouth, and fhe
was told to prepare to return home by another road,
not quite fo near, but free from gates and ftiles. She
begged to be allowed to repoſe herſelf for a quarter
of an hour in the arm-chair, while the horſe was got
ready, pleading the hardfhip and fatigue fhe had un-
dergone the preceding day. Under pretence of fleep-
ing, fhe made fome of thofe reflections which laid
the foundation of that legal enquiry that excited the
attention of all ranks of people.
R 3
She,
246
LAW.
She, undiſcovered or unfufpected, took a pair of
fciffars, which her profeffion rendered neceffary for
her to carry about her, and with them cut off a
finall bit from the corner of the curtain. This leading
circumftance, added to others of lefs note, was fup-
pofed evidence fufficient to fix the tranfaction to the
houſe pointed out, and which, with an advocate lefs
able in the art of defence, would have given the law
great ſcope over feveral perfons, for it is impoffible
fewer than five or fix could have been concerned in
fo regular and concerted a plan.
The midwife averred, that before fhe left the houſe
fhe finelt a very uncommon and burning fmell, and
which followed them all the way through the avenues
to the court yard, where fhe again mounted the horſe.
She had very unwarily remarked, the moment her
guide had opened the firft gate, that fhe faw a light
and ſmelt a very ſtrong ftench of fomething burning,
which he faid was the work of the gardeners, firing.
the weeds and burning the moles among them, as
they always did at that time of the year; and ſhe ſaid
that at the time of parting, which was within fifty
yards of her own houſe, he made her fwear to fe-
crecy, at the fame time putting a purſe into her hand,
which the afterwards found contained 25 guineas,
and till that moment the bandage had never been
removed from her eyes. The morning was now
breaking.
She obferved, in her depofition, that ſhe had
counted the number of fteps of the first and fecond
landing
LAW.
247
landing places, which exactly agreed with thofe of the
fufpected houſe, and the piece of curtain was found
to match one exactly in a room where it was con-
cluded the birth of the child had taken place.
With two fuch pieces of evidence as thefe, toge-
ther with the fudden abfence of two of the family-
fervants, without any cauſe, it can ſcarce be imagined
that any thing less than the conviction of ſome perfon
or other for the murder of a new-born child muſt
have happened, eſpecially as a very beautiful young
lady of fixteen had withdrawn herſelf from her ac-
quaintance, under the plea of going to a convent at
Avignon to learn French, when he had more than
once, after her declared departure, been feen by a
fruit-woman looking out of a ſmall window next her
ufual bed-chamber. The ingenuity however of
the great Law-character ſaved his client's life, by his
queftions and crofs examination, for he did away the
effect of the piece of curtain, by faying that a Roman
Catholic fervant had left them in malice, with a de-
claration of vengeance, becauſe they had forbidden
her going to maſs, and that the evidence had ſwore
that the guide forded a river twice in going to the
houſe where her affiftance was wanted, when it was
known that there was but one ftraight river between
the two houſes. Suppofing the guide, in order to
deceive the midwife, fhould have made a wheel
round to paſs it again, fhe muft have forded it a
third time.
R 4
The
248
LIBEL.
The ingenuity of this remark fo completely puzzled
the Jury, that they acquitted the prifoner without
going out of court; and, for this able defence, it
is faid the great Law-character received twenty
thousand pounds, and ten thoufand other marks
of favour, from one of the firſt families in the
kingdom.
-
It is neceffary to remark, that the perfon for whoſe
ſervice the advocate employed his talents ſo ſucceſs-
fully has dwindled into nothing nefs, as is the cafe
with the defcendants of them, but the Counfel himſelf
is a peer with at leaſt ten thousand pounds per annum.
LIBEL.
When the Biſhops made great complaints of Tin-
dal's Tranflation of the New Teftament, Tonſtal,
then Biſhop of London, being a man of great mo-
deration, would hurt no one, yet endeavoured all he
could to get all the books of Tindal and other re-
formers into his hands. So, being at Antwerp in
the year 1529, he fent for one Packington, an Eng-
liſh merchant there, and defired him to fee how many
New Teftaments of Tindal's Tranflation he might
have for money. Packington, who was a fecret fa-
vourer of Tindal's, told him what the Bifhop pro-
pofed, which Tindal was glad of, for being aware
of ſome errors, he wifhed to print a fecond edition,
but was too poor to undertake it till the firft was fold
off.
LLOYD.
249
off. The Bifhop purchaſed all the remaining copies
brought them over to England, and publicly burnt
them in Cheapfide. Next year, when the fecond edi-
tion was finiſhed, many more were brought over, and
one Conftantine, being taken up for difperfing them
in London, the Lord Chancellor, in a private exa-
mination, promiſed him, if he would reveal who on
this fide the water moſt encouraged and fupported
them in the expences of printing, &c. at Antwerp,
he ſhould not be harmed. This Conftantine accepted,
and told him in reply, " Truly, my Lord, the greateſt
encouragement we have had hath been from the
Biſhop of London, who bought up more than half
of the copies of the firft impreffion to burn them in
Cheapfide."
66
LLOYD.
The late ingenious and unfortunate Bob Lloyd,
fome time before his commitment to the Fleet Priſon,
formed a defign of compiling a dictionary, fuperior
to any extant, for the uſe of ſchools. Fluſhed with
this idea, he waited on a bookfeller, to whom he
communicated his intention. The bookfeller had no
hope of Lloyd's fuccefs, till he told him he would
engage to get his father's approbation of the work
who was fecond maſter of Weſtminſter School, which
would fecure it an extenfive fale throughout England.
The bookfeller, on this information, began to count
the
250
LLOYD.
the imaginary hundreds, and inftantly engaged him at
fix guineas per ſheet. Lloyd wrote him a letter the
next day, defiring gol. as he could not ftir out of
his lodgings till he had compounded with one of his
creditors, who had fome fharks on the look-out for
him; at the fame time he faid he waited for a cer-
tain number of books in different languages to pro-
fecute the work, which he defired might be ſent him
as foon as poffible. The unfufpecting bookfeller
complied with his requeft; the books fent amounted
to the value of 20l. which Lloyd no fooner re-
ceived, than he depofited with a pawnbroker for ten
guineas, and then fet out with a woman of the town
on a country-excurfion; but, as a ſpendthrift's cup
is daſhed with gall, our poor poet found himſelf
ftripped of caſh in a few days, and returned penny-
lefs to town with his 'conomical companion. The
bookfeller waited for a confiderable time for the fruits
of Mr. Lloyd's genius and intenſe application; but he
might as well have waited for the refurrection of
Shakeſpeare, or ten volumes of Triftram Shandy
from Dr. Priestley.
Mr. Lloyd died in the Fleet Priſon of a bilious
fever, where he was put at the ſuit of a toyman in
Weſtminſter. In this retreat he feemed to feel no
peculiar uneafinefs, but lived and laughed away.
LQCKE,
LOCKE.
251
1
1
!
LOCKE.
Mr. LOCKE, having been introduced by Lord
Shaftesbury to the Duke of Buckingham and Lord
Halifax, theſe three noblemen, inſtead of converfing
with the philofopher, as might naturally have been
expected, on literary fubjects, in a very fhort time
fat down to cards. Mr. Locke, after looking on
for fome time, pulled out his pocket-book, and be-
gan to write with great attention. One of the com-
pany obferving this, took the liberty of afking him
what he was writing. "My Lord," fays Locke, "I
am endeavouring, as far as poffible, to profit by my
preſent ſituation; for, having waited with impatience
for the honour of being in company with the greateſt
geniuſes of the age, I thought I could do nothing
better than to write down your converſation; and,
indeed, I have fet down the ſubſtance of what you
have faid for this hour or two." This well-timed ri-
dicule had its defired effect; and theſe noblemen,
fully fenfible of its force, immediately quitted their
play, and entered into a converfation more rational,
and better ſuited to the dignity of their characters.
2. Mr. Locke's celebrated Treatife on the Reaſon-
ableness of Chriſtianity is well known, but it is per-
haps known only to a few, that he wrote fome letters
on the ſubject to his pupil Lord Shaftesbury.
They
252
LOCKE
}
They are faid to be written in a ftile the moft af
fecting, and are depofited in the British Mufeum.
3. In a letter of Mr. Locke's to a Mr. Bold, he
tells him :
I have loft many ideas by their flipping out of my
mind. Lord Bacon fays, he adviſes a man never to
go without pen, ink, and paper, to write down the
thoughts of the moment. I must own, continues
he, I have often omitted it, and often repented it.
The thoughts that come unfought are commonly the
moſt valuable, and ſhould be fecured, becauſe they
feldom return.
4. The following curious Letters relate to the ex-
pulfion of Mr. Locke from the Univerſity of Oxford.
To the Lord Bishop of Oxford, (Dr. FELL.)
Whitehall, Nov. 6, 1684.
MY LORD,
The King being given to underſtand that one Mr.
Locke, who belonged to the late Earl of Shaftesbury,
and has, upon feveral occafions, behaved himſelf very
factioufly and undutifully to the Government, is a
Student of Chrift Church, his Majefty commands.
me to fignify to your Lordfhip, that he would have
him removed from being a Student, and that in order
thereto your Lordship fhould let me know the me-
thod of doing it.
I am, my Lord, &c.
:
SUNDERLAND.
LOCKE.
253
To the Right Hon. the Earl of SUNDERLAND,
Principal Secretary of State.
Right Honourable,
I have received the honour of your Lordfhip's
letter, wherein you are pleaſed to inquire concerning
Mr. Locke being Student of this Houſe, of which I
have this 'account to render, that he being as your
Lordſhip is truly informed, a perſon who was much
truſted by the late Earl of Shaftesbury, and who is
fufpected to be ill affected to the Government, I
have for divers years had an eye upon him; but fo
cloſe has his guard been on himſelf, that, after ſeveral
inquiries, I may confidently affirm, there is not any
man in the College, however familiar with him, who
has heard him ſpeak a word either againſt, or ſo
much as concerning, the Government; and although
very frequently, both in public and private, dif-
courſes have been purpoſely introduced to the difpa-
ragement of his Mafter, the Earl of Shaftesbury,
his party and defigns, he could never be provoked
to take any notice, or diſcover in word or book the
leaft concern; fo that I believe there is not in
the world fuch a mafter of taciturnity and paffion.
He had here a Phyfician's place, which frees him
from the exerciſes of the College, and the obliga-
tions which others have to refidence in it, and he is
now abroad on want of health, but notwithſtanding
I have fummoned him to return thence, which is
done with this profpect, that if he comes not back
:
:
he
254
LOCKE.
he will be liable to expulfion for contumacy; and if
he does, he will be anfwerable to the law for what
he ſhall be found to have done amifs, it being pro-
bable, that though he may have been thus cautious
here, where he knows himſelf to be fufpected, he
has laid himſelf more open at London, where a ge-
neral liberty of ſpeaking was uſed, and where the
execrable deſigns againſt his Majeſty and his Govern-
ment were managed and purſued; if he does not re-
turn by the first day of January next, which is the
time limited to him, I fhall be enabled, of courſe,
to proceed againſt him to expulfion; but if this me-.
thod feems not effectual or ſpeedy enough, and his
Majefty, our Founder and Vifitor, ſhall pleaſe to
command his immediate removal, upon the receipt
thereof directed to the Dean and Chapter, it fhall
accordingly be executed by, my Lord,
Your Lordſhip's moft obedient Servant,
Jo. Oxon.
To the Bishop of OXFORD.,
MY LORD,
HAVING Communicated your lines of the 8th to
his Majeſty, he has thought fit to direct me to ſend
you the incloſed, containing his immediate com-
mands for the expulfion of Mr. Locke.
SUNDERLAND.
LOCKE.
255
1.
:
To the Right Rev. Father in God JOHN Lord Bishop
of OXFORD, Dean of Chriſt Church, and to our
trufty and well-beloved the Chapter there.
Right Rev. Father in God, and trusty
and well-beloved, we greet you:
WHEREAS, we have received information of the
factious and difloyal behaviour of Mr. Locke, one
of the Students of that our College, we have thought
hereby to fignify our will and pleaſure to you, that
you forthwith remove him from his Student's place,
and deprive him of all the right and advantage there-
unto belonging, for which this ſhall be your warrant,
and fo we bid you heartily farewell. Given at our
Court of Whitehall, the 17th day of November,
1684.
By his Majeſty's Command,
SUNDERLAND.
To the Earl of SUNDERLAND.
Right Honourable,
I hold myſelf bound in duty to fignify to your
Lordſhip, that his Majefty's command for the expul-
fion of Mr. Locke from this College is fully executed.
Jo. QxON.
256
LOCKE.
To the Bishop of OXFORD.
MY LORD,
I have your Lordship's of the 16th inſtant, and
have acquainted his Majefty there with, who is well,
fatisfied with the College's ready obedience to his
commands for the expulfion of Mr. Locke.
SUNDERLAND.
THIS great man, in his early years, had contracted
a very particular friendſhip with a young fellow who
had lived in the fame neighbourhood from his in-
fancy. This eſteem Mr. Locke carried fo high, that
he confidered his friend's intereft as infeparably con-
nected with his own, and looked upon any inſtance
of good fortune in either to be a means of ad-
vancing the welfare of both. However, having once
got into the favour of fome people in power
the friend began to envy the fituation of Mr.
Locke; and, judging of that good man's heart
by his own, fuppofed he would withdraw his
friendſhip as he increaſed his fortune. Fraught
with this opinion, he endeavoured to fupplant Mr.
Locke in the eſteem of all his friends, and to
engage protection for himſelf, by the diſcovery of
every fecret which the other had truſted him with in
the unfufpecting opennefs of his heart; finding, how-
ever, that all attempts of this nature were fruitless,
he fuddenly diſappeared, and carried off a fum of
money,
·
LOCKÉ.
257
i
money, the property of his friend, which he knew
muſt involve him in the greateſt diftrefs. Mr. Locke
felt ſeverely for the perfidy of his friend, and was to
the laſt degree furpriſed, when informed of the
methods he had taken to ruin his intereft; but, ftill con-
tinuing his application to buſineſs, and deferving the
favour of his patrons, he was advanced to fome
places of no inconfiderable profit and honour.
One morning while he was at breakfaſt, word was
brought that a man in a very fhabby habit requeſted
the honour of fpeaking to him. Mr. Locke, whom
no advancement could raiſe above the practice of
good manners, immediately ordered him to be ad-
mitted, and found, to his great aſtoniſhment, his old
friend reduced by a life of cunning and extravagance
to the greateſt poverty and diſtreſs, and come to im-
plore his affiftance and folicit his forgiveneſs. Mr.
Locke looked at him for fome time very ftedfaftly,
without fpeaking one word; at length, taking out a
fifty pound note, he prefented it to him with the fol-
lowing remarkable declaration:
"Though I fincerely forgive your behaviour to
me, yet I muſt never put it in your power to injure
me a ſecond time. Take this trifle, which I give
not as a mark of my former friendſhip, but as a re-
lief to your prefent wants, and confign it to the ſervice
of your neceffities, without recollecting how little
you deſerve. No reply:-it is impoffible to regain
my good opinion, for know, friendſhip once injured
is løft for ever!"
{
LONG,
258
LOUIS
}
LONG, SIR WALTER, HIS WIDOW.
The widow of Sir Walter Long, of Drayton, in
Wiltſhire, made him a folemn promife, on his death
bed, that ſhe would not marry after his deceaſe; but,
not long after, one Sir — - Fox gained her affec-
tions, fo that fhe married him. The nuptial cere-
mony was performed at South Wraxall, where the
picture of Sir Walter happened to hang over the par-
lour-door. As Sir Fox was leading his bride
by the hand from the church, which was near the
houſe, into this parlour, the ftring of the picture
broke, and it fell on her fhoulders, and cracked
in the fall; (it was painted on wood, as the faſhion
was in thoſe days.) This accident embittered the re-
mainder of her Ladyfhip's life.
-
·
LOUIS XIV.
1. His mother had been almoſt eighteen years mar-
ried before fhe gave a heir to the crown, and was
at the time of an age at which no Spanish Princeſs
had ever been known before to bring forth a child.
From this circumftance it was that his flatterers called
him Dieu donné, or given by God, as if the Almighty
had miraculouſly imparted a fecundity to the Queen
which ſhe had never before poffeffed, or reſtored it
after
LOUIS.
259
}
•
after it had been loft through age. The circum-
ſtances attending the birth of this Prince, though not
miraculous, were certainly fingular. Louis XII.
had for fome years ceaſed to cohabit with the Queen;
ſhe kept her court in Paris, whilft the King kept his
at St. Germain-en-Laye. His Majefty was one day
at Paris on public bufinefs, and juſt as he was about
to return to St. Germain, it began to rain moft co.
piouſly, and continued fo to do all the evening. The
King, unwilling to fet out upon his journey in fuch
weather, left his attendants fhould be foufed by the
rain, (for carriages were not much in ufe at that
time,) faid he would ftay in Paris, and lie at the
Louvre, but at the fame time he expreffed his fears
that the royal apartments were not fufficiently aired.
One of the courtiers fuggefted to him, that her Ma-
jeſty's bed and apartments were certainly well aired;
the King took the hint; he ſent word to the Queen
that he would be obliged to her for a fhare of her
bed that night. The confequence was, that nine
months after, to the great joy of the nation, Louis
XIV. was born. The next year the Queen gave
birth to Monf. Duke of Orleans, but never had a
third child.
2. After the battle of Senef, which the great Conde
had gained in 1664 againſt the Prince of Orange,
he went to pay his refpects to the King. Louis XIV.
happened to be on the top of the ftaircaſe when the
Prince was going up, who moved flowly on account
$ 2
of
260
LOUIS.
:
:
T
of his gout. I beg your Majeſty's pardon for making
you wait, faid he. Do not hurry yourſelf, coufin,
replied the King; no man can walk faft fo loaded with
laurels as you are.
3. M. Talon, who had been Attorney-General,
had enjoyed a penfion of 6000 livres. M. de La-
moignon fucceeded to the fame place, and folicited
the like favour which the King promiſed. Six months
had paffed, during which the Magiftrate daily faw
his Majefty without once mentioning his penfion.
The King one day faid to him, "How happens it
M. de Lamoignon that you have not aſked for your
penfion?" Pleaſe your Majefty," replied the At-
torney General, "I ftay till I have deſerved it.”
"Oh! if that is your mode of arguing," anſwered
the King," it is I who am in arrears.”
4. Samuel Bernard was the richeft banker in Eu-
rope; the Comptrollers-General had often need of his
affiftance, and treated him with great refpect. The
King, feeing him with Defmaretz, faid to Bernard,
"What is the reaſon I never fee you at Marli?-come
and take a view of the place." Bernard accordingly
went, and the King took him every wherè, fhewed
him all the curiofities of the place and gardens, ſpoke
only to him, and made ufe of all that infinuation
which he knew fo well how to employ when he had
fome end to obtain. The courtiers were at firft afto-
niſhed to behold that kind of proftitution of the
royal dignity, but were lefs fo when they knew the
cauſe.
个
​LOUIS.
261
caufe. Defmaretz knew not where to find money,
and had ſo often failed in his payments, that he could
obtain none on credit; Bernard, like the reft, refuſed
to advance any; in vain did Defmaretz reprefent to
him the urgent neceffities of the ſtate, and the enor-
mous profits he had made by their former dealings;
the banker was immovable. He, however, was the
only man who could deliver the Miniftry from their
preſent embarraffment; but there was only one means
of vanquishing his obftinacy. Bernard was intole-
rably vain, and, would the King but deign to flatter
him, would certainly open his purfe. Defmaretz
propofed this expedient to the King, to which he
confented, and Bernard was the dupe of his vanity.
He returned from Marli fo enchanted, that he faid to
the Minifter, "he would rather risk his own ruin
than ſee the diſtreſs of ſo excellent a Prince." Def
maretz did not fuffer this enthuſiaſm to cool, but in-
ſtantly obtained much more than he at firft had pro-
pofed.
5. Louis XIV. was one day playing at backgam-
mon; a doubt arofe concerning the throw; he and
his antagoniſt difputed, and the courtiers remained
filent. The Count de Grammont came in." You
ſhall decide” ſaid the King to him. "Your Majefty
is in the wrong," inftantly replied the Count. "And
how fo?" retorted the King: "Do you pronounce
me wrong, without hearing?" "Had there been the
leaft doubt," faid Grammont, thefe gentlemen
would
$ 3
262
LOUIS.
would all, undoubtedly, have declared for your
Majefty."
6. Louis was fo much accuſtomed to flattery, that
he did not know he was flattered, not even in the
prologues to Quinault's operas. Without voice or
ear, he himſelf uſed to fing the paffages moft extra-
vagantly in his praiſe, and fometimes at table, when
the full band played the airs to which thofe panegy-
rics were fet, he could not forbear muttering the
words over.
7. Meffieurs de Saint-Agnan and Dangeau had
perfuaded the King he could write verſes as well as
another. Louis made the experiment, and compofed
a madrigal, which he himſelf did not think very
good. One morning he faid to the Marſhal de Gram-
mont," Read this, Marſhal, and tell me if ever you
faw any thing fo bad; finding I have lately addicted
myſelf to poetry, they bring me any traſh." The
Marſhal, having read, anfwered, "Your Majefty is
a moft excellent judge in all matters of tafte, for I
think I never read any thing fo ftupid or fo ridicu-
lous." The King laughed. "Do not you think he
muſt be a very filly fellow who compofed it?" "It is
not poffible," continued Grammont, "to call him any
thing lefs."
"I am delighted," faid the King, "to
hear you ſpeak your ſentiments fo frankly, for I wrote
it myſelf." Every body prefent laughed at the Mar-
fhal's
1
LOUIS.
263
fhal's confufion, and it certainly was as malicious a
trick as could poffibly be played an old courtier.
8. Mademoiſelle d'Argnecourt, maid of honour to
the Queen-mother, was defirous of being beloved by
Louis XIV. and fucceeded; but her power was of
ſhort duration; for ſhe had, at the ſame time, an in-
trigue with Chamarante, firft valet-de-chambre, and one
of the fineſt men at Court. Mademoiſelle d'Agen-
court, proud of beholding her Mafter at her feet,
treated him with rigour, and exacted great refpect.
She had gained the friendfhip of the Queen-mother by
her exterior deportment, while in ſecret ſhe indulged
herſelf with her lover. Louis XIV. fufpe&ted a rival,
but never imagined it could be one fo unworthy of him.
He had her watched and difcovered her infidelity.
Coming from mafs, the King's nurfe found a letter in
the
great hall of Fontainbleau, which fhe carried to
the Queen-mother. The King read it, and found it
was a moft tender billet, but not intended for him; he
knew not yet his rival, and his ſurpriſe and humiliation
were very great when he was informed by his mo-
ther, that one of his valets was the happy man. Ma-
demoiſelle d'Argencourt was forgotten, and Chama-
rante received no other puniſhment than a diſdainful
look.
9. Louis XIV. was prefent at the performance of
a motet, in which the word nocti-corax, (night-raven)
was ſeveral times repeated, and aſked the Biſhop who
$ 4
fat
£64
LOUIS.
{
:
fat by him, who this Nocticorax was. The Prelate,
who was as ignorant as himſelf, though not willing to
be thought fo, anſwered he was an officer of King
David's houfhold,
10. Louis, one day, ſpoke ſo harſhly to the famous
Louvois, that the minifter threw fome papers on the
table, and faid, "It is impoffible to ferve you." The
King rofe, and feized the tongs, with which he had
certainly beaten his miniſter, if he had not been with-
held by Madame de Maintenon, Another time Lou-
vois irritated his mafter fo much, and contradicted
him fo rudely, that the King, quitting his deſk, ran
for his cane.
Louvois retired with a ferene face but
an angry heart. When he got home, he exclaimed,
"I am loft!" and vented his paffion on ſome unfor-
tunate people, whom he ordered to be imprifoned.
Madame de Maintenon wrote to him, and told him he
might return, as the ftorm was paft. Accordingly he
went, and faw the King, but perceived he never more
could gain his favour. At leaving the council, he
entered his own apartment, and haftily drank a glaſs of
cold water; paffion had already confumed his powers:
he threw himſelf into an arm-chair, half articulated a
few words, and expired.
Maria Therefa of Auftria, Queen of Louis XIV.
11. This Princeſs was as lofty in her ſentiments as
irreproachable in her manners. Nothing can be a
better proof of this than the anſwer fhe returned to a
Carmelite
LOUIS.
265
Carmelite Nun, whom fhe had requeſted to affift her
in an examination of her confcience, previous to a
general confeffion fhe intended to make. The good
fifter aſked her, whether, before her marriage, fhe had
not ſometimes wifhed to appear amiable in the eyes
of
the young nobles, at the Court of the King, her father?
"No, replied fhe, none of them were Kings."
12. Louis the Fourteenth's love for Madame de
Montefpan was equally diftreffing to three perfons. The
Queen, whofe fenfibility was extreme, and who had a
right to the King's affections; La Valliere, who was no
leſs hurt by it than the Queen, though fhe had no
right but what ſhe derived from the weakneſs of the
Monarch; and the Marquis de Montefpan, whofe
honour fufficiently fuffered. La Valliere yielded the
palm to her more fortunate rival; the Marquis was
obliged to abandon Verfailles, and the Queen was
reduced to the fad neceffity of difguifing even her un-
eafineſs. At first, endeavours were made to conceal
from her the King's familiarity with Madame de Mon-
tefpan; but Louis at length grew tired of this; Ma-
demoiſelle de Blois and the Comte de Thoulouſe, the
two laſt children he had by that Lady, were fent for to
Court. The Queen, to whom they were preſented,
as fhe careffed them, faid with no little agitation,
"Madame de Richlieu always told me fhe would be
anfwerable for all that paffed, and thefe are the fruits
of her furety-fhip."
This Queen funk at laft beneath her uneafineſs of
mind, and the efforts fhe made to conceal it. She
died
266
LULLY.
died in her forty-fifth year, after an illness of only
three days. The King was prefent at her death, and
could not be infenfible to an affection fo ill repaid.
Some marks of refpect and tenderness which he
fhewed her by ſpeaking to her in Spaniſh, in her laft
moments, appeared to recal her to life. "I die without
regret, ſaid ſhe to him, if it is true you ſtill love me.'
و"
LOUIS XV.
Louis xv. was playing at piquet with the Duke
of Grammont for one thouſand Louis the
game; be-
hind the King's chair ftood a courtier, whoſe name
was Galliard; the King loft three games, and growing
very angry, ordered Galliard to get behind the
Duke's chatr, which he did, and the King won back
his lofs, and fome thouſand Louis more. This
brought him into temper again, and he became very
merry.—“ Pray, Galliard," fays the King, "what's
the difference between the words Galliard and Pal-
liard." "I know not of the difference, Sire," replied
the Count, "but the diftance is only the table."
N. B. Palliard fignifies whoremonger.
}
LULLY.
LULLY, on performing his grand "Te Deum" on
the recovery of Louis XIV.. met an accident that
brought him to his grave. In beating time with his
foot,
LYONS.
267
foot, he ftruck his toes fo vehemently that a ſwelling
enfued, and his phyfician adviſed him to loſe his toe,
and preſently after his leg. His Confeffor affured
him, that if he did not burn the mufic of his new
opera, he could not give him abfolution. With re-
luctance the penitent pointed to a drawer which con-
tained ſome airs ofhis Achilles and Polixena. "There,
Father, (faid he,) take and burn them." Lully foon after
grew better, and thought himſelf out of danger. One
of the Princes of the Blood, who was extremely fond
of his mufic, paid him a vifit, and reproaching him
for burning it, faid, " My dear friend, how could you
be fuch a fool as to believe an old doating prieft,
and deſtroy your new opera."" My Lord,(faid Lully,
whispering the Prince in his ear,) I knew what I was
about; I have another copy of it." Unfortunately
this pleaſantry was followed by a relapſe, and poor
Lully died afterwards a great penitent.
1
LYONS, BISHOP OF CORK.
DR. WILLIAM LYONS, who was preferred to the
Biſhopric of Cork, Cloyne, and Rofs, toward the
latter end of Queen Elizabeth's reign, was originally
a captain of a fhip, who diſtinguiſhed himſelf fo gal-
lantly in feveral actions with the Spaniards, that, on
being introduced to the Queen, fhe told him he ſhould
have the first vacancy that offered.
The
268
LYONS.
The honeft captain, who underſtood the Queen
literally, foon after hearing of a vacancy in the fee of
Cork, immediately fet out for court, and claimed the
royal promife. The Queen, aftoniſhed at the re-
queft, for a time remonftrated againſt the impropriety
of it, and what fhe could never think of as an office
ſuitable to him. It was however in vain; he ſaid
the royal word was paffed, and he relied on it. Her
Majeſty then ſaid, ſhe would take a few days to con-
fider of it, when, examining into his character, and
finding him a fober moral man, as well as an intrepid
commander, ſhe ſent for Lyons, and gave him the
biſhopric, faying at the fame time, "fhe hoped he
would take as good care of the Church as he had done
of the State."
Lyons immediately ſet out for his Biſhopric, which
he enjoyed for above twenty years with great reputa-
tion to himſelf,,never attempting however to preach
but once, and that was on the death of the Queen.
On that melancholy occafion, he thought it his duty
to pay the laſt honours to his royal miſtreſs, and ac-
cordingly mounted the pulpit in Chrift Church, in
Cork; when, after giving a good diſcourſe on the un-
certainty of life, and the great and amiable qualities
of the Queen, he concluded in the following warm
but whimſical manner; "Let thofe who feel this lofs
deplore with me on this melancholy occafion; but, if
there be any that hear me who have fecretly wifhed
for this event, (as perhaps there may be,) they have
now
1
1
no
MACDONALD.
269
now got their wifh, and the devil do them good with
it."
The Biſhop's name and the date of his appointment
(1583) are on record in the Confiftorial Court of
Cork; and his picture, in his captain's uniform, the
left hand wanting a finger, is to be ſeen in the Biſhop's
Palace at Cork.
MACDONALD, SIR ARCHIBALD.
While a very wealthy Weft-India Planter, and a ftill
more wealthy Eaft-India Nabob, were contending for
the Borough of Hind-n, this Gentleman, when a
very young Advocate, was retained as counfel for the
latter before the Committee of the Houfe of Com-
mons, and very dexterously ftepped in between the
two litigants, and defeated them both on the Speaker's
Warrant being iffued for a new Election. Appear-
ances from this event aroſe at firſt much againſt Mr.
Macdonald, and fufpicions of very difingenuous
fubtlety on his part were far from weakened, when
his being a native of the northernmost part of this
ifland was taken into the account: however, upon a
thorough inveſtigation of the affair, Mr. Macdonald
was found to have acted not only with fairneſs, but
with the utmoſt honour and delicacy. He is nephew
of Lord Eglington, and youngeſt brother of Lord
Macdonald, who offered his fervice to raiſe
a regiment of Highlanders in the American war.
There
#70
MADMEN.
There was likewiſe another brother, Sir James
Macdonald, one of the moft accompliſhed men of
the age, who died abroad in the year 1766.—Mr.
Arch. Macdonald was firft defigned for the army,
and received the early part of his education in France.
}
་
MADMEN.
In Spain madneſs is very common, as it is more or
lefs in all hot countries. The heat of the climate
affects the brain by drying it up. A Spanifh Am-
baffador, going on his miffion to Africa, lodged in his
way at a convent in Navarre, where many infane peo-
ple were accommodated. One perſon, who appeared
rational, told the Ambaffador that his relations had
unjustly fhut him up there, and that their intereſt at
Court had detained him there, though he had given
them ſeveral proofs of a found mind, and begged his
Grace to apply to the King for his releaſe. The Am-
baffador pitied the man, really judging him to be ill
ufed, and promiſed him to apply to his Majefty, if he
would tell him his name. "I am," replied the maniac,
"the angel Gabriel, who carried the meſſage from
heaven to the Virgin Mary." On his progrefs, he
lodged a fecond time in Grenada, at a monaſtery of
the fame deſcription, and fell into difcourfe with one
of the lunatics, whoſe ſtory was, that he had done
eminent ſervices to the King of Spain, and that his
ſon, in order to take poffeffion of his eſtate, had con-
fined
MAGLIABECHI
271
fined him among madmen; and he begged his Grace,
on application to his Majefty, to obtain his releaſe.
The Ambaffador mentioned to him his former com-
miffion from the angel Gabriel. "Do not mind that
fool, my Lord; he is a liar: for if he had been the
angel Gabriel, I ſhould have known it, as I am God
the Father himſelf."-Great care fhould be taken to
keep madmen from the palaces of Kings. Henry the
Second's life was attempted by a madman; and Maho-
met Baffa, a general of the Turkiſh army, was killed by
a madman at the head of his troops. Henry IV. uſed
to ſay very frequently," Protect me from madmen!
Men in their ſenſes will never do me any harm."
*
MAGLIABECHI.
Magliabechi was born at Florence on the 29th of
October, 1633. His parents were of fo low and
mean a rank, that they were very well fatis-
fied when they had got him into the ſervice of a man
who fold greens. He had never learned to read,
and yet he was perpetually poring over the leaves
of old books, that were uſed as wafte-paper in his
Maſter's ſhop. A Bookfeller who lived in the
neighbourhood, and who had often obferved this,
and knew the boy could not read, aſked him one
day, "What he meant by ftaring fo much on printed
paper ?" He faid, "That he did not know how it
was, but that he loved it of all things; that he was
very
272
MAGLIABECHI.
very uneafy in the bufinefs he was in, and fhould
be the happieft creature in the world if he could
live with him, who had always fo many books
about him." The Bookfeller was pleaſed with his
anſwer, and at laſt told him, that, if his Maſter
were willing to part with him, he would take him.
Young Magliabechi was highly pleaſed, and the more
fo, when his Mafter, on the Bookfeller's defire, gave
him leave to go. He went, therefore, directly to
his new and much-defired bufinefs; and had not
been long in it, before he could find out any book
that was aſked for, as readily as the Bookſeller him-
felf. Some time after this, he learned to read, and
as foon as he had, he was always reading when he
could.
}
He feems never to have applied himſelf to any
particular ftudy. An inclination for reading was his
ruling paffion, and a prodigious memory, his great
talent. He read every book almoft indifferently, as
they happened to come into his hands; and that with
a furpriſing quicknefs, and yet retained not only the
ſenſe, but often all the words, and the very manner
of ſpelling.
His extraordinary application and talents foon
recommended him to Ermini, Librarian to the Car-
dinal of Medicis, and Marmi, the Great Duke's
Librarian. He was by them introduced into the
converfations of the learned, and made known at
Court; and began to be looked upon every where
as
MAGLIABECHI.
273
as a prodigy, particularly for vaſt and unbounded
memory.
It is faid, that there was a trial made of the force.
of his memory, which, if true, is very amazing. A
gentleman of Florence, who had written a piece
which was to be printed, lent the MS. to Maglia-
bechi; and, ſome time after it had been returned,
came to him again with a melancholy face, and told
him of fome invented accident, by which he faid
he had loft his MS. The Author feemed almoſt
inconfolable for the lofs of his work, and intreated
Magliabechi to try to recollect as much of it as
he poffibly could, and write it down. Magliabechi
affured him he would, and on fetting about it,
wrote down the whole MS. without miffing a word.
By treaſuring up every thing he read in fo ftrange
a manner, or at leaſt the ſubject, and all the prin-
cipal parts of all the books he ran over, his head
became at laſt, as one of his acquaintance expreffed
himſelf "An univerfal index both of titles and
"matter."
By this time, Magliabechi was grown fo famous
for the vaſt extent of his reading, and his amazing
retention of what he had read, that it began to grow
common amongſt the learned to confult him when
they were writing on any ſubject. Thus, for in-
ftance, if a Prieft was going to compofe a panegyric
on fuch a faint, and came to communicate his
defign to Magliabechi, he would immediately tell
him who had faid any thing of that faint, and in
T
•
what
274
MAGLIABECHI.
what part of their works, and that fometimes to the
number of above one hundred authors. He would
tell them not only who had treated of their ſubject
defignedly, but of fuch alfo as had touched upon
it accidentally, in writing on other fubjects; both
which he did with the greateſt exactneſs, naming the
author, the book, the words, and often the very
number of the page, in which they were inferted.
He did this fo often, fo readily, and fo exactly,
that he came at lafl to be looked upon almoft as an
oracle.
Latterly he read the title-pages only, then dipped
here and there into the preface, dedication, and
advertiſements, if there were any; and then caft his
eyes on each of the divifions, and different fections
or chapters of the book, and thus he conceived the
matter almoſt as completely as if he had read it at
full length.
Magliabechi had a local memory too of the places
where every book flood
book flood; as in his Mafter's fhop at
firft, and in the Pitti, and feveral other libraries
afterwards; and feems to have carried this even
farther than to the collection of books with which
he was perfonally acquainted. One day the Great
Duke fent for him, after he was his Librarian, to
aſk him whether he could get him a book that was
particularly fcarce. " No, Sir," anſwered Maglia-
bechi," it is impoffible; for there is but one in the
world; that is in the Grand Signior's library at
Con-
MAGLIABECHI.
275
•
Conftantinople, and is the feventh book on the
feventh ſhelf on the right hand as you go in."
Though Magliabechi muft have lived fo feden-
tary a life, with fuch an intenſe and almoft perpetual
application to books, yet he arrived to a good old
age. He died in his eighty-firft year, on July 14,
1714. By his will he left a very fine library of his
own collection, for the ufe of the public, with a
fund to maintain it; and whatever fhould remain
over, to the poor.
He was not an ecclefiaftic, but chofe never to
marry; and was quite negligent, or rather quite
flovenly, in his dreſs. His appearance was ſuch, as
muſt have been far from engaging the affection of
a lady, had he addreffed himſelf to any; and his
face, in particular, as appears by the feveral repre-
fentations of him, whether in his bufts, medals,
pictures, or prints, would rather have prejudiced
his fuit than advanced it: he received his friends,
and thoſe who came to confult him in any points of
literature, in a civil and obliging manner; though,
in general, he had almoſt the air of a ſavage, and
even affected it.
In his manner of living, he affected the character
of Diogenes; three hard eggs, and a draught or
two of water, was his ufual repaſt. When any one
went to fee him, they moft ufually found him lolling
in a fort of fixed wooden cradle, in the middle of his
ſtudy, with a multitude of books, fome thrown in
T 2
heaps,
276
MAGLIABECHI.
heaps, and others fcattered about the floor, all
round him; and this his cradle, or bed, was attached
to the neareſt pile of books by a number of cob-
webs at their entrance, he commonly uſed to call
out to them, "Not to hurt his fpiders!"
Thus lived and died Magliabechi, in the midft of
the public applaufe; and with fuch an affluence for
all the latter part of his life, as very few perfons
have ever procured by their knowledge or learning.
It was his great eminence this way, and his vaft,
I had almoſt ſaid, inconceivable knowledge of books,
that induced the Great Duke, Cofimo the Third, to
do him the honour of making him his Librarian ;
and what a happineſs muft it have been to Maglia-
bechi, who delighted in nothing fo much as in
reading, to have the fupreme command and ufe of
fuch a collection of books as that in the Great
Duke's Palace! He was alſo very converfant with
the books in the Lorenzo Library; and had the
keeping of thofe of Leopoldo and Franceſco
Maria, the two Cardinals of Tuſcany.
And yet even all this did not fatisfy his extenfive
appetite, for he had read almoſt all books, i. e. the
greateſt part of thoſe printed before his time, and
all in it; for it was latterly a general cuftom, not
only among the Authors, but the Printers too of
thofe times, to make him a prefent of a copy of
whatever they publiſhed.
MAN
MAN, &c.
277
MAN IN THE IRON MASK.
Soon after the death of Cardinal Mazarin, which
was in the year 1661, an unknown prifoner, young,
of a graceful figure and majeftic appearance, was
brought with great fecrecy to the Caftle of Saint
Margaret, in the Ifland of Provence. This perfon
wore an iron maſk, the lower part of which was
rendered commodious by fteel fprings; and it was
generally underſtood, that any diſcovery of himſelf
would be followed by immediate death.
In this caftle he remained till a Monfieur de St. Mars,
an officer of approved merit and tried fidelity, was
made Governor of the Baftile, in the year 1690,
who was fent to fetch him to that prifon. Before
he left the iſland, the Marquis de Louvois, Prime
Minifter, of France, went to fee him, and during
his vifit never fat down in the prefence of the pri-
foner. When he becaine an inhabitant of the
Baftile, he continued to be treated with the utmoſt
refpect, and with all the magnificence the circum-
ſtances of the place would admit; the Governor
himſelf in general waited upon him, and always
ftood uncovered before him. Whatever he expreffed
a wiſh to have was procured for him, and his pre-
dominant tafte feemed to be for rich laces and fine
linen. His guitar, on which he performed in a very
maſterly manner, was an occafional amuſement.
T 3
An
278
MAN, &c.
\
An old Phyſician, who uſed to attend him, and who
had ſeen the lower part of his face in examining his
tongue, defcribed his complexion as being very
dark, and his perfon as most elegantly formed. His
manners were extremely engaging, the tone of his
voice uncommonly pleafing, and no part of his
conduct, in thefe medical interviews, appeared to
denote the leaſt ſymptoms of a difcontented mind.
He died in the year 1704, and was buried at night in
the Parish of St. Paul.
This prifoner was always ferved on plate; and
he once took an opportunity to write fome lines
on a ſmall ſilver difh with his fork, and to throw it
from the window of his chamber. A fisherman
found the plate, and brought it to the Governor ;
who, on feeing the infcription, detained the man till
he was convinced that he could not read, and that
no other perſon had feen the plate. Monfieur de
Chamillard was the laft perfon who knew any thing
of this fecret. The fecond Marfhal de Feuillade,
who was his fon-in-law, conjured him in the moſt
earneſt manner, when he laid on his death-bed, to
unfold to him the hiftory of the Man in the Iron
Mafk. Chamillard anſwered, that it was a fecret of
flate, and he had fworn never to reveal it. All
thefe circumstances were fupported in the moft au-
thentic manner at the time; but here the matter
reſted, and will probably reſt for ever, unleſs any
'documents fhould be difcovered in the archives of
the
MAN, &C.
279
the Baftile, which may unveil this hitherto impene
trable fecret.
It ſhould be alfo obferved, that, at the period
when this extraordinary prifoner employed the
curioſity of France, it could not be diſcovered that
any perſon of confequence was miffing in any part of
Europe.
2. Some papers have been found in the library
of a Nobleman lately deceaſed at Turin, to whom
they deſcended from his anceſtors, which prove that
the celebrated victim to powerful vengeance, known
by the name of the Iron Mafk, was Garolami Magni,
Prime Miniſter to the Duke of Mantua, who drew
upon himſelf this misfortune, by having greatly
contributed to the league of Augsbourg againſt
Louis XIV. The Marquis of Louvois, by the
affiftance of the Ambaffador of Turin, found means
to carry off this Minifter, then in the flower of his
age; he was furpriſed as he was hunting, and an
iron maſk immediately fixed on, to prevent his being
known or reclaimed.
Thefe papers, as it is faid, contain a moft ample
detail of his confinement in the ifland of St. Mar-
guerite, and his impriſonment in the Baftile. It
appears, that the perſon who wrote them was con-
cerned in the bufinefs.
Many circumſtances corroborate the probability
of the above relation. Had the Iron Mafk been, as
it is afferted by fome, a defcendant of royalty,
whoſe
T 4
280
MANCHESTER.
whoſe pretenfions to the throne itſelf were fo well
founded as to warrant his confinement, left they
ſhould diſturb the repofe of the kingdom, the ex-
iftence of fuch a perfon muft previouſly have been
known, and his difappearance, with the very pre-
cautions taken to conceal him, would have pointed
him out as the prifoner.
No perſon of note, except the above Miniſter, is
known to have been miffing in Europe at the time;
the Mafk was neceffary to conceal the violation of
the law of nations in his perfon; and the Duke of
Mantua is fuppofed to have fufpected the fate of his
faithful fervant, but to have winked at it from mo-
tives of policy.
MANCHESTER, DUKE OF.
In May 1791, his Grace was in Italy, and hear-
ing the Pruffian troops were fhortly to be reviewed,
took poſt and ſet off for Berlin. Night and day he
was equally perfevering, and never made a longer
ftop than what was neceffary, with the utmoft dif
patch to change horfes, fo that in the courſe of a
fortnight he arrived at Potſdam. The review was
to begin on the following day, and his Grace felt
perfectly rewarded for the fatigue he had undergone
by his timely arrival. For the first time he went
comfortably to bed fince he had left the capital of
the
MANNERS.
281
the Chriftian world; but, alas! he did not awake
the next day till the review was over, and the troops
had, retired from the field. For this misfortune he
confoled himſelf, there being two more days of thofe
furpriſing evolutions.-The fecond morning his
valet awoke him, for which he was reprimanded, and
his Grace took another turn, and flept till evening.
Mortified at this circumftance, he was determined a
fimilar accident fhould not happen on the laft day,
and agreed with fome Engliſh Gentlemen to watch
the coming of the morning.-Their refolution held
good till almoſt day, when they began to doze, and
Nature at laſt prevailing, they got fo found afleep,
that the thunder of the artillery had not the ſmalleſt
effect upon them. At laft a groom, whofe patience
had been exhauſted by waiting with the horfes above
fix hours at the door, went into their room and
rouſed them, but too late; for, though they got in-
ftantly on horſeback, they met the troops returning
to their quarters.
MANNERS, MODERN.
1. The education of modern times is an educa-
tion of accompliſhments, and not of knowledge; of
the body, and not of the mind. Its great object is
to form the man of faſhion and the courtier inſtead
of the great and good character: thus the Dancing-
mafter precedes the Hiftorian, the Profeffor of
Science
}
1
282
MANNERS.
Science yields to the Performer of a mufical Inftru-
ment, the Teacher of Legiflation gives way to a
Babbler of foreign Tongues, and Religion to every
thing.
To fing, play, and dance well, according to the
fentiments of the great Poet of Life and Manners,
where virtue is, may be moft virtuous. When ex-
ternal accompliſhments are only confidered as the
decorations of great and fuperior qualities; when
they ſerve as exterior graces to interior merit; they
give a complete finiſhing to the human character,
and make a man every thing he can or ought to be;
but, after all, they are only fecondary attainments,
the mere ornaments of the building, which adminifter
neither folidity nor ftrength, and he who gives his
fole or immediate attention to their cultivation will
be liable to the fame imputation of folly and weak-
nefs as the Architect, who, in erecting an edifice,
turns his thoughts to the richneſs of his friezes and
the ornaments of the columns, and is totally inat-
tentive to the folidity of the foundation which is to
fupport the fabric.
London Newſpapers, 5th May, 1792.
2. A Ball was given by Lord Courtenay, which
coft 6oool. Among other rarities, there were 1000
peaches, at a guinea each; 1000 pottles of cherries,
at 5s. each; 1000 pottles of ftrawberries, at 5s. each;
and every other article in the fame proportion.
Dog-
史
​MANSFIELD.
283
Dog-Kennels.
A dog kennel was lately built by Sir William
Rowley, at his feat in Suffolk, which covers four
acres of ground. Among other accommodations
for his hounds, he has erected a warm bath, through
which each dog is regularly purified, after each day's
chace. See the accounts in the public papers of the
Duke of Richmond's and Bedford's dog-kennels, the.
latter of which is faid to have coſt 10,000l.
4. The following anecdotes may mix with the moſt
curious of modern houfehold-books.
Lord Weymouth had lately go fervants at one time.
The Duke of Devonshire, (Chatſworth); there
were of upper-fervants, &c. at the fecond table,
according to the ſtanding eſtabliſhment, 46 perſons
every day at dinner.-At the third table there were
86.-MARCH, the Dentiſt, at the fame time, went
to Chatſworth, and had a table to himſelf.
MANSFIELD, EARL.
Lord MANSFIELD has been accufed of having
once diſplayed, in the levity of a convivial evening,
a moſt ardent attachment to the intereſts of the unfor-
tunate Houſe of Stuart.
This report was at the time fully detected to have
had its fource in malevolence and difappointed pro.
fligacy. His Lordſhip, then Mr. Murray, is well
known
284
MARA.
known to have had a younger brother, an officer of
the Guards, whofe diffipated turn of mind, fo con-
trary to the parfimonious difpofition of his Lordſhip,
was conftantly involving him in embarraffments, from
which to relieve himſelf, he made fuch frequent ap-
plications, that Lord M thought it neceſſary to
turn a deaf ear to his applications. The brother,
equally profligate in his morals as improvident in his
expences, immediately fabricated and conveyed to
the Cabinet the report that his Lordſhip had been
connected with the Pretender, whofe health and fuc-
ceſs he had not fcrupled to drink upon his knees.—
Happily however, for Lord M- the malevolent
fource of this accufation was detected, and upon
thorough inveſtigation it was proved to be unfounded
in truth; in confirmation, therefore, of the good opi-
nion of Government, and as a proper recompence of
fuch wanton treachery, the difappointed Officer was
broke, and retired in difgrace to Holland, where it
is believed he died.
9
MARA, MADAM.
In Dodley's Annual Regifter, page 131 of the
Chronicle for the year 1760, is the following account
of Madame MARA, whofe maiden name was Schem-
ling:
EXETER, 9th Sept.
"We have now in this city an inftance of early
maturity, reckoned in its kind next to a prodigy.-
Mifs
MARLBOROUGH.
285
a
Miſs Schemling, a native of Heffe-Caffel, (from which
place fhe and her father were forced to retire from
the cruel outrages and plunderings of French in-
vaders) who, though but ten years old, not only readily
ſpeaks ſeveral languages, the Engliſh among the reft,
and fings charmingly in concert, but alfo plays fur-
prifingly on the violin and guitar.
CLINCAILE."
Not a great many years fince ſhe narrowly eſcaped
being fent to the Houſe of Correction at Ghent, and
was compelled to beg pardon for her infolence;
after which ſhe was conducted out of town, and
admonished to be more grateful and refpectful in
future to her benefactors and ſuperiors.
She had obtained permiffion to give a concert at
Ghent, and in the bill of fare promiſed three fongs;
but conceiving herſelf fomewhat flighted by the au-
dience not being fo numerous as fhe expected, fhe
refuſed to fing more than two, upon which the police
interfered; Madame was yet refractory, but being
menaced with chaftiſement, fhe fubmitted; after
which fhe was compelled to come forward and apo-
logize for her rudeness, and then ordered to quit
the town.
MARLBOROUGH,
DUKE OF.
1. On the 16th June, 1712, the great Duke of
Marlborough ſent a very pointed written challenge to
Lord
J
286
MARLBOROUGH.
Lord Poulet, for having infinuated in the Houfe of
Lords that his Grace contrived to have his officers
placed in fituations where they were fure of being
killed, in order to fill his own pockets by difpo-
fing of their Commiffions. Lord Poulet was on the
point of meeting him, but Queen Anne, with whom
the Duke was then in difgrace, wrote him a letter,
entreating him on pain of her diſpleaſure not to pro-
ceed to fuch extremities. Lord Poulet was alfo dif-
poſed to make the Duke a proper apology.
2. In the war of the Confederates with France, the
Deputies of the States of Holland were a conſtant
obftruction to the views of Prince Eugene and the
Duke of Marlborough. The Duke was one day
afked how it happened that Alexander the Great and
many other heroes had in one year made fuch a con-
fiderable progrefs, and that now all the greateſt and
moſt accompliſhed Generals could do was to take two
or three towns in the courſe of a ſingle campaign.-
The reafon, he replied, is fufficiently obvious; Alex-
ander and other heroes had never any deputies from
the States-General in their camps.
3. Behaviour of the Duke of Marlborough and his
family on the birth-day of Queen Anne, after he had
been deprived of his offices:
On the birth-day of the Queen, the Duke of Marl-
borough was in a chair in St. James's Park, with the
curtains drawn; the mob, who believed it to be the
Prince
MARMONTEL.
287
Prince Eugene, huzzaed the chair, but the Duke
modeftly drew back the curtains, and put himſelf
out, and with a fign fhewed his diflike to the faluta-
tion. The mob, finding their miſtake, and that it was
he, cried out "Stop Thief," which was a thorough
mortification to him. Two of his daughters that
day, to fhew their contempt of the Court, were in
wrapping-gowns, at a window in St. James's, to ſee
the company paſs, and the other two drove through
Pall-mall four times in the worſt mob dreſs they
could put themſelves. The Duke was in a black
fuit that day, and his fon-in-law, the Duke of Mon-
tague, was at Court in a plain coarſe red coat, with
a long fhoulder knot, in ridicule of the day; but the
Queen had the fatisfaction to fee the moft fplendid
Court that ever was, and crowded more than uſual.
MARMONTEL.
When MARMONTEL was a fchool-boy, his maſter
having chaſtiſed him for fome youthful offence, he
wrote ſo ſevere a lampoon upon him, that he was
under the neceffity of running away. Being afraid of
returning to his parents, he entered himſelf as a
private foldier in a regiment commanded by the
Prince of Condé; and in the year that he obtained
a halbert, this celebrated poet wrote his charming
Hiſtory of Belifarius. Many applications were made
for his diſcharge, which the Prince has always
withstood,
#88
}
MARY.
withſtood, declaring it to be the moft flattering honour
he could poffibly receive, to have ſuch a man as Mar-
montel a ferjeant in his regiment. Once a year, at
the general review, this diftinguiſhed character ap-
peared in his proper ftation, and multitudes innumer-
able then crouded to fee him. After the review was
over, Marmontel had always the honour to dine with
his illuftrious Colonel and the principal Officers of
the army, by whom he was efteemed to admiration.
MARY, QUEEN OF SCOTS.
In the picture of the death of David Rizzio, ori-
ginally exhibited in the Shakeſpeare Gallery, in which
the terror of the favorite, and the diſtreſs of his mif-
treſs, Mary Queen of Scots, are admirably repre-
fented by Mr. Opie, one of the affaffins, who is in
the act of inflicting a deadly wound on the unfortu-
nate muſician, is a portrait of Peter Pindar, for which
he fat at his own exprefs defire.
It has been faid, and not unaptly, of the three
hiftorians of this unhappy Queen, that the narrative
of Camden, whofe annals were reviſed and corrected
by James the Firſt, is almoſt wholly without truth;
that Buchanan has told the whole truth, and more than
the truth; that Melvil has ſpoken the truth, but not
the whole truth.
MASON,
MATILDA.
289
:
i
MASON, SIR JOHN.
Sir J. M. Privy Counſellor to Henry the Eighth,
on his death-bed delivered himfelf as follows:-
I have ſeen five Princes, and have been Privy
Counſellor to four; I have ſeen the moſt remarkable
things in foreign parts, and been preſent at moſt state-
tranfactions for thirty years together, and have at
length learned, after fo many years experience, that
feriouſneſs is the greateſt wiſdom; temperance the
beſt phyfic; and a good confcience the beſt eftate :
and were 'I to live again, I would change the Court
for a cloiſter, my Privy Counſellor's buſtle for a
hermit's retirement, and the whole life I have lived
in the palace for one hour's enjoyment of God.
MATILDA, QUEEN OF DENMARK.
It is remarkable, that, in the year 1652, a Queen of
Denmark, on a pretence of high crimes, was impri-
foned in the Fortreſs of Nybourg, when M. Huet
travelled through that town in his way to Stockholm.
On this fubject however hiftory is filent. All
that is faid in the Modern Univerfal Hiſtory, Vol. xii.
p. 172, is, that Chriftian IV. (who died in 1648,) di-
vorced his Queen to gratify an ambitious miſtreſs.
Մ
The
290
MATILDA.
The fate therefore of this innocent Princefs was
probably very ſimilar to that of Queen Matilda, and
the fame crimes, perhaps, were unjustly alleged
againſt them both. M. Huet, we may fuppofe, took
his information from fome partifans of the miſtreſs; `.
and at this time any traveller, who fhould apply
to the friends of the Queen-Dowager, would in
like manner be told a moft foul and injurious tale
of the Queen-Confort. Perhaps, too, the imprifon-
ment of this innocent Royal Fair one may 120
years hence be quite forgotten, unleſs ſome poetical
traveller fhould immortalize it; and even then the
occafion of it may be miſtaken and miſrepreſented,
fo imperfect is hiſtory, ſo fallible is tradition!
The Caftle of Cronenburgh, which commands the
Sound, is mentioned by Mr. Huet, in the following
manner.
·
dum munimine ſpectans
Cronemburgi obeo, foſſam prope labor in imam.
Quam varia impendent peregrinis undique cafus!
Tranquillam in patriâ potuit qui ducere vitam,
Liquerit hic dulces nunquam, me Autore, penates.
while my eye, with heedlefs gaze,
The ftrength of Cronenburgh furveys,
Cloſe to the ditch my foot I found:
What perils travellers furround!
Whoe'er can peace enjoy at home,
By my advice would never roam.
KUPING
MELCOMBE.
291
MAUPIN, LA.
One of the Pupils of Lulli.
This extraordinary Syren was equally fond of both
fexes, fought and loved like a man, and refifted and
fell like a woman.
She married a young huſband,---ran away with a fen-
cing-mafter, of whom the learned the fmall fword, and
became an excellent fencer,-foon after feduced a
young perfon of her own fex,---fet fire to the convent
in which the girl's friends had confined her,---carried her
off in triumph,---was condemned to die for this offence,
but eſcaped by the reſtoration of the young woman
to her friends---went to Paris,---became an Opera
finger,---caned every man who affronted her,---killed
three in duels,---and after other adventures quitted the
ftage,---was feized with a fit of devotion,---recalled her
huſband,---and paffed with him the laft years of her
life in a very pious manner, dying in 1707, at the age
of thirty-four !
1
MELCOMBE, LORD.
LORD MELCOMBE, whofe Diary was publiſhed a
few years fince to the difgrace of his memory, as it
proved him a mean fluctuating venal character, was,
à
when his name was plain Bubb, intended by the ad-
miniſtration of that time to be ſent ambaffador to Spain.
U 2
While
292
MILBANK.
1
While this matter was in contemplation, Lord Chef-
terfield met him, and touching him upon the propoſed
embafly, told Bubb that he did not think him by any
means fit to be the reprefentative of the crown of
England at the Spaniſh Court. Bubb begged to know
the ground of his objection; ". Why, faid his Lordſhip,
your name is too short. Bubb, Bubb, do you think
the Spaniards, a people who pride themſelves in their
family honors and the length of their titles, will fup-
pofe a man can poffefs any dignity or importance
with a name of one fyllable, and which is pronounced
in a ſecond? No, my friend, you muſt not think of
Spain unleſs you make ſome addition to your name."
---Bubb defired his Lordship to fay what he would
have him do. Lord Chefterfield, paufing a moment,
exclaimed, “I have it! what do you think of calling
yourſelf Silly-Bubb ?”
1
MILBANK, ADMIRAL.
Some years fince, the bargemen of his Majeſty's
fhip the Berwick, then at Spithead, quarrelled
with the bargemen of the fhip which the Admiral, then
Captain, commanded, and the latter were all heartily
drubbed, to the no fmall mortification of the Admiral,
who was in his younger days exceedingly athletic,
and as fond of boxing with a certain clafs of Eng-
liſhmen as he was of fighting with the enemies of
his country; and at both was generally victorious.
Our
MILTON.
· 293
· Our naval hero, a few days after, called all his boat's
crew together, d---d them for a ſet of cowards, dreffed
himſelf in a common jacket and trowfers, and obferv-
ing the Berwick's barge rowing afhore to Portſmouth-
Beach, ordered his own to be immediately manned,
and thus diſguiſed took an oar as one of the crew.
The coxfwain, as particularly directed, ran the head of
his barge againſt the Berwick's barge's quarter; in
confequence, a volley of oaths were given and re-
turned, which produced a challenge to fight with more
ſubſtantial weapons. The Admiral, as champion for
his crew, beat the whole of the barge's crew one after
another, (eleven in number,) to the great joy and ad-
miration of the failors, and then, making himſelf known,
went and vifited his friends in Portſmouth as if no-
thing of the kind had happened,
MILTON.
It will be a doubt with pofterity, whether Johnſon's
affaffination of the noble and free mind of Milton, or the
barbarity of the prefent age, in not removing the dif-
covered duft of that divine Poet, and depofiting it in
Westminster Abby, but permitting it to lie among "fur-
feit-flain fools, the common dung of the foil," merits
moft their deteftation. Johnfon was penfioned for
affailing Liberty,-the fublime Milton for defending
it. No wonder therefore that Johnfon, Milton's
modern Salmafius, reviled him for being the great and
unanswerable
U 3
294
MILTON.
1
unanswerable champion of civil liberty in that century,
But, in anſwer to all fuch rank Tories, it may be re-
marked in the poet's own words, that to be cenfured by
them is the height of praiſe; for
what delight to be by fuch extoll'd,
To live upon their tongues, and be their talk,
Of whom to be difprais'd were no ſmall praiſe!
His lot, who dares be fingularly good.
Of the Britiſh Homer, it is recorded in an old and
fcarce tract,---that the writer of it has feen "Milton
in his old age led by Millington, a celebrated bookfel-
ler of Little Britain, at whofe houſe he then lodged.
This was three or four years before he died. He af-
terwards had a houfe near Bunhill-Fields, without
Moorgate, where I have ſeen him fitting at the door
of his houſe in warm funny weather, dreffed in a grey
coarſe cloth coat, enjoying the freſh air, and receiving
there, as well as in his own houſe, the vifits of people
of diftinguiſhed parts and perfons of quality.
"I likewife once vifited him in his houſe, which
was ſmall, there being but one room on a floor. I
found John Milton up one pair of ftairs, in a room
which was hung with a rufty green, fitting in an elbow
chair, black clothes, and neat enough, rather pale, but
not cadaverous; his hands and fingers gouty, and with
chalk ftones. He was cheerful, thought not free from
pain, and diſcourſed pleaſantly about his blindneſs,
ſaying, among other excellent things, that in his dark-
nefs the light of the face of God fhone the clearer,
and
MILTON.
295
and that his mind was far from being blind;-and
he added emphatically and fublimely, that, though
he loft the colour and furface of things in defend-
ing liberty, in this darkneſs he was greatly enlight-
ened; and he felt confcious that God had not brought
this darkneſs upon him fo much by the dimnefs of his
eyes, as by the shadow of his protecting wings!
"He died November 10, 1673, of the gout, but
with fo little pain, that thofe in the room knew not
when he expired. He was buried clofe 'under the
pavement of the church of St. Giles's, Cripplegate,
by his indulgent father; the circumſtances of his
family excufed a monument, nor was any fuch ne-
ceffary."
*
So far this cotemporary writer.---But to conclude:
In this age of tafle, genius, and freedom, the Lite-
rati ſhould immediately affemble, and fee that the re-
mains of Milton be honourably interred, and a monu-
ment by ſubſcription erected to his memory.
Let the Revolution- Society and the Whig-Club con-
fider, that Milton's pen diſcomfited the two greateſt
writers and enemies in Europe to the cauſe of Liberty.
Let them befides reflect, that, when he was engaging
in this conflict, his phyſicians told him, as he had tender
eyes, that ſuch a great taſk would to a certainty deprive
him of his fight, and that he was by no means intimi -
dated, but replied, "Here blindneſs,—there my duty;
and I reſign my fight rather than defert what a monitor
within tells me God has impofed on me."-And he loft
U 4
his
296
MONK.
his fight accordingly, in attaining a glorious victory
over the engines of tyranny!-But fo far was he from
repining, that he declared, in his fecond Defence of
the People of England, written after his blindneſs, "I
would not exchange for any other of God's greateſt
benefits the conſciouſneſs of the action, nor lay down
the remembrance of it, which is a perpetual fund to
me of tranquillity and joy!"
Should not the afhes of fuch a poet, and ſuch a
Martyr to LIBERTY, be gloriously inurned!!!
譬
​1
MONK, GENÈRAL.
MONK, keeping his ordinary refidence at Dalkeith,
fome few miles on this fide Edinburgh, the London
Packet touched conftantly there, that the General
might have his letters before it reached Edinburgh.
The Committee of Safety being refolved to fecure
Monk, diſpatched ſecret orders to Scotland, by the
ordinary packet, left an expreſs might give ſuſpicion;
and, inftead of directing the label for Dalkeith, as
ufual, it was ordered ftrait for Edinburgh. It happened
that one of Monk's life-guards accidentally met the poſt
turning out of the road that led to Dalkeith, and find-
ing he had not touched there, brought him back,
notwithſtanding the label was directed otherwiſe.
Monk, fufpecting fomething, opened all the letters that
he found directed to the officers of the army, among
which there was one from the Committee of Safety to
Colonel
1
+
MONK.
297
Colonel Thomas Wilks, ordering him to uſe the moſt
effectual, fpeedy, and fecret, way to fecure the perfon of
General Monk, and fend him up to London under
a ſtrong guard, in a frigate that laid in Leith-Road, and
then to take upon him the command of the army, till
farther order.
Having taken out this, and what other letters he
thought fit, together with his own, from the fame
Committee, full of high compliments and expreffions
of truft, he fent away the packet as it was directed.
But, having communicated the matter to ſome of his
particular friends, he gave orders for a general review
of the army to be made next morning at Edinburgh,
where he arrefted Colonel Wilks, and fome other
officers he had reaſon to fufpect, and fent them pri-
foners to the Caftle, filling up their commiffions with
others of his own creatures.
Monk, in his march through England, and
after he came to London, carried on diffimula-
tion with wonderful dexterity, till all things were
ripe for throwing off the maſk, and calling home the
King. As he was fingularly happy in being the chief
inftrument of that Revolution, he was no lefs in the
fenſe King Charles continued to exprefs of fo great an
obligation; and it ſhewed him to be a man of true
judgment, that the Duke of Albermarle behaved him-
felf fo as never to feem to over-value his ſervices.
MONTAGUE.
#98
MONTAGUE.
t
MONTAGUE.
MR. MONTAGUE had the art of judging infallibly
of a perfon's country by his writing, though he wrote
in a language Montague knew nothing of.
He told Mr. Saccerni at Ferrara, who received
fome letters from Spain in his company, that what
he held in his hand, ftill unfealed, came from an
eunuch. In fact, Farrinelli had fent him a violin
which had been played upon before the King.
This ſcience is the idengraphie of the ancients,
which Appollonius Tyaneus knew, no doubt, when
he faid to Iarchas, who addreffed him in Greek, that in -
the writing which he prefented him fealed up the
delta was wanting, (Apoll. Tyan. t. 3. Ch. 16.) Profper
Aldorifi, publiſhed in Rome, in 1689, an accurate
treatiſe upon this wonderful art, rather as a perſon con-
vinced of its truth than difcuffing it as a philofopher.
This idengraphie, according to him, is the art of
gueffing by the hand-writing of a perfon the fituation
and difpofition he was in at the time of writing. Gaſper
Schott ſpeaks of it with certainty; Idengraphie (fays
he) is rejected only by the ignorant.
When we reflect that there are times when we write
in a hurry, others when heavily, inconfiftently, &c.
it muſt be allowed that this knack, if looked upon as
trifling, is yet of fome advantage, according to the uſe
it is made of. It is a fword by the fide of a prudent
man which is employed when occafion requires.
In
MORE.
299
66
In 1740, Mr. Montague received a letter from
London; when he was at table, looking only at the
cover, without breaking the feal, "Alas! (cries he,) my
friend is fick." "Do you guefs fa, fays one of the com-
pany?" "I ſee it by the writing, (fays Montague,) and I
beg you'll read it out." This friend was in love with
a very pretty woman in London, and having met with
croſſes of every kind, fuffered the deepeſt affliction.
His life depended upon the fuccefs of his amour. "And
what a long circumlocution is here! (faid Montague;)
---if he had only faid he was in love, his malady would
have appeared at once.”
1
MORE, SIR THOMAS.
1. On the 9th of July, 1535, Sir Thomas Pope
waited on Sir Thomas More, then under condemna-
tion in the Tower, early in the morning, and acquaint-
ed him that he came by command of the King and
Council to bring his unfortunate friend the melan-
choly news that he muft fuffer death before nine of
the o'clock the fame morning, and that therefore he
fhould immediately begin to prepare himſelf for that
awful event. Upon this meffage, More, without the
leafſt ſurpriſe or emotion, cheerfully replied, “Maf-
ter Pope, I moſt heartily thank you for your good ti-
dings. I have been much bound to the King's High-
nefs for the benefit of his honors that he hath moſt
bountifully beſtowed upon me; yet I am more bound
to
¿
300
MORE.
to his Grace, I affure you, for putting me here, where
I have had convenient time and ſpace to have remem-
brance of my end, and fo help me God. Moft of all
am I bound unto him, that it hath pleafed his Ma-
jefty fo fhortly to rid me of the miferies of this
wicked world." Then Pope fubjoined, that it was the
King's pleaſure that at the place of execution he
fhould not uſe many words. To this More anſwered,
that he was ready to fubmit to the King's commands;
and added, “I beseech you, good Mr. Pope, to get
the King to fuffer my daughter Margaret to be prefent
at my burial." Pope affured him, that he would ufe
his utmoſt intereft with the King for this purpofe; and
having now finiſhed his difagreeable commiffion, he
folemnly took leave of his dying friend, and burſt into
More, perceiving his concern, faid with his
uſual compoſure, "Quiet yourſelf, good Mr. Pope,
and be not difcomforted! for I truft that we fhall one
day in heaven fee each other full merrily, where we
ſhall be fure to live and love together in joyful blifs
eternally." But this method of conſolation proving
ineffectual, More, to divert the melancholy of his
friend, and to diſmiſs him in better fpirits, called for a
glaſs; and, applying it as an urinal, he held it up to
the light, and, with the prophetic air of a fagacious phy-
fician, gravely declared, "This man might have lived
longer if it had pleaſed the King."
tears.
""
In confequence of Sir Thomas Pope's interceffion
with the King, agreeably to More's earneft and dying
requeft, his favourite daughter, Margaret Roper and
others
¿
301
MORE.
others of his family, were permitted to be prefent at
his interment, which was immediately after the execu-
tion in the chapel of the Tower. But Margaret af-
terwards, and probably by the fame intereft, begged
the body of the King, and depofited it on the South
fide of the choir of the church of Chelſea, where a mo-
nument with an infcription written by himſelf, had
been erected fome time before. This affectionate.
daughter, whofe refolution equalled her piety, alfo
found means to procure her father's head, after it had
remained ignominiouſly ſtuck on a pole on London
Bridge for fourteen days. For this daring fact fhe
was apprehended and impriſoned; but, declaring in
her defence before the Privy Council that fhe had
bought it, that it might not in the end become food
for fiſhes in the Thames, fhe was diſcharged. How-
ever fhe carefully preferved it for fome time in a
leaden box, till an opportunity offered of conveying
it to Canterbury, where fhe placed it in a vault be-
longing to her huſband's family, under a chapel ad-
joining St. Dunstan's church in that city.
2. Lord Bacon, in his Effays Modern and Civil,
gives the following anecdote of More, whilſt he was
Lord Chancellor. A perſon, who had a ſuit in Chan-
cery, fent him two filver flaggons, not doubting of
the agreeableneſs of the prefent. On receiving them,
More called one of his fervants, and told him to fill
thoſe two veffels with the beſt wine in his cellar; and
turning
1
1
302
MOYSEY.
turning round to the fervant who had prefented them,
"Tell your maſter,” replied the inflexible magiftrate,
"that, if he approve my wine, I beg he would not
fpare it," and returned the cups.
MOYSEY, DR.
The Doctor lived fo long in his office of
Phyſician at Chelſea-hoſpital, that, during many changes
in adminiſtration, the reverfion of the place had been
promiſed to feyeral of the medical friends of the
different paymasters of the forces. The Doctor, one
day looking out of his window, and feeing a gen-
tleman examining the houfe and gardens, who he
knew had juft got a reverfion of the place, came
out to him, and thus accofted him: "Well, Sir, I
fee you are examining your houſe and gardens that
are to be, and I affure you they are both very plea-
fant and very convenient; but I muſt tell you one
circumſtance, you are the fifth man that has got
the reverſion of the place, and I have buried them
all; and what is more, (faid the Doctor, looking
very archly at him,) there is fomething in your
face that tells me I fhall bury you too." The event
juftified the Doctor's predictions, as the gentleman
very foon after died, and what was ftill more extra-
ordinary, at the time of Dr. Moyfey's death there was
no perſon that had the promiſe of the reverfion.
MURDER..
MURDER.
303
MURDER.
Some years ago, there lived at Brompton a woman
whofe profeffion was taking off their parent's hands
the children of an unauthorized paffion. Her name
was Sarah Welland.
The people of intrigue knew the name of this
perfon familiarly; her profits were confiderable.
Her cuſtom was to receive the devoted infant from
a third perfon without afking any queftions; fhe
took with it a certain price for the maintenance and
care of it for life; and neither the parents nor the
pariſh were any more to hear of it.
What must be
their hearts who could deliver up their children to
this certain deftruction! The expofing infants among
the old Romans, againſt which we ſo much exclaim,
was lefs criminal. The child there might efcape;
but in this caſe the very bargain fold its blood.
Parents, who themfelves felt no compaffion nor huma-
nity, could not fuppofe there would be either in a
ſtranger; and as the whole price was paid at once,
the fooner the infant perifhed the greater was the
profit; it were happy if there were at the preſent
time no murderers of this ftamp, for there will
never want unnatural parents. The late miferable
fon of the Earl of Rivers is but one inftance among
thouſands, that when a perfon is deprived of the
common benefits of fociety, and devoted to ever-
lafting ſhame by the particular circumftances of his
birth, his parents are his implacable enemies.
One
304
MURDER.
One child that entered the bloody walls of
Welland eſcaped, for herfelf died that evening.
The ſmiling innocence of the little victim pleaded
even with thoſe who had perhaps before been the
inftruments of her barbarity; they had no intereſt
in its death, and they carried it to thoſe who had at
that time the care of the poor. The deferted infant
was taken from houfe to houfe, and begging fup-
ported it till there ſhould be a veftry. The careful
overſeer poſtponed a fortnight that which fhould
have come on the day following, that the pariſh might
have a chance to be freed from the incumbrance,—but
this little wretch was to live. The nameleſs infant
had eſcaped the only hands from which it could fail
to meet compaffion; its throat bled with a wound
inflicted by the hand of its father, but not mortal.
All were charmed with it, and all ftruck with com-
miferation. Thoſe who had no fortunes declared,
that were they rich they would adopt it; but fuch
as had the power found the inclination leſs fervent ;
even they, however, contributed their fhillings. The
veftry met at length, and the child was living; the
officers took it into their care, and the world heard
no more of it. Pity is a fhort-lived virtue; the
incident was foon forgotten; and, if any thought
upon it, they probably fuppofed it devoted to
deftruction.
>
Nine years after this, one Frazer, a man of humanity
and honour, faw a boy naked upon one of the moft barren
of
1
MURDER.
305
of his mountains. He was fitting, his eyes were
fwimming in forrow, though no tear had fallen from
them. They were turned up to heaven with refig-
nation, but with almoſt a ſpirit of upbraiding, and
in his hand was a root of grafs,-his food.
The mafter of this place, touched with com-
paffion, ordered him to his houſe; he put him on
the habit of the Highlands, employed him in his
fervice, and he was called Frazer. He was aſked
how he came thither, and how he became fo miferable,
but could make little anſwer: he knew nothing of
father nor mother, nor friend, nor place of birth. His
firſt remembrance was of an ancient woman, with
whom he had lived in a cabin; her death had
fent him from one to another of the Highlanders;
and at laſt the lofs of his only remaining friend had
left him perfectly deftitute. His mafter found in
the boy as he grew up ſenſe and ſpirit, and the
moſt perfect gratitude; he took him from the meaner ·
fervices, and had him near his perfon. Few faw him,
but all who did, faid they perceived fomething in
him very fingular: his behaviour was modeft, but
his underſtanding was above his years; he had been
near twenty years in the fervice of this father (more
than maſter) when the last rebellion broke out in
Scotland: his mafter took the wrong fide, and there
was no queſtion of Frazer following. He was in
the two actions that were fuccefsful, and had fo dif-
tinguiſhed himſelf in both, that he was marked for
particular favor.-In the laft his hand was not lefs
active
X
306
MURDER
active, but he fought againſt the Duke of Cumberland.
A fingle arm could not command fuccefs in oppofition
to fo much condu&t, joined with fo much refolution.
He fled among the routed Highlanders, and in an
hour was in a place of fafety; a retreat, where neither
friend could be likely to find nor enemy to reach
him,-where he could neither be forced nor be-
trayed. In this place, as he was leaning upon his
fword and refting againſt a tree, he faw two per-
fons enter haftily, the one an old man flying, the
other a young one in purſuit of him. What asto-
niſhed the warrior was, that they appeared both of the
victorious party. He ftood a moment, expecting they
would fall together upon him; but they regarded none
except each other. The old man, finding his feet
would not give him fecurity, turned upon the pur-
fuer, and put himſelf in a poſture of defence. Frazer
was too much a hero to look upon an unequal en-
counter. As the old man was on the brink of de-
ftruction, he fell in between. "I know nothing of
your quarrel, faid he, to the younger, but let me
difpute it in his place. He is not a match for your
youth and vigour." No more words paffed; the old
man ſtood afide, and his champion conquered.
The perfon whom he had faved made him all
poffible acknowledgments. He told him, that he
would return the obligation by preferving him; he
propoſed taking him back in the evening, and changing
his dress; and promifed to adopt him for his fon. He
concluded with extolling his gallantry in the higheſt
terms,
་
MURDER.
307
•
terms, and with obferving, it was a pity a perſon of
fo much honour ſhould be a rebel. Frazer anſwered
him thus; "The Scots do not fight against their King
becauſe they are difloyal, but becauſe they are
commanded by thoſe they ſerve. Their Lords have
a right to their duty; and they are taught from
infants to believe that their first virtue is obedience
there.". He pauſed, and wiped away a tear, and
then continued," None had fo much right to that
compliance as mine; nor could I have accepted of
your propofed friendſhip, but that I faw him fall.
Now I am free; and if you will receive a friendlefs
orphan into your protection, I will be as faithful to
you as I have been to him."
The perfon he had preferved was moved extremely
with his ſpeech; there was fomething in the manner
more than the words that charmed him; he kiffed
him, took him back with him, changed his habit,
and brought him to England, where his intereft
obtained him a pardon. Frazer lived with this
man of honor as a fon; the family confifted of
themſelves and a daughter, a lady of forty-feven,
not more diftinguiſhed by her amiable temper than
by an air of melancholy which never forfook her
countenance. The father often told her the ftory
of his reſcue. "The wretch, faid he, who difhonored
you, fought my life for the refentment I had fhewn
againſt his barbarity: what I have faid (continued he
to Frazer) must reach no other ear, but you are as
a fon;-this is the cauſe of that lady's melancholy;
X 2
fhe
308
MUSIC
fhe was deluded under an engagement of marriage;
fhe had a child, whom the abandoned creature cauſed
to be deſtroyed, and he would have now added my
murder to that of his fon's, had not you prevented it,
.becauſe not many years fince I fought to bring
him to juftice. How long revenge will live in bad
men's minds!"
As they ſpoke together upon this ſubject, they com-
paffionated the infant. Frazer was ftrangely moved
with the recital. "Perhaps, faid he, if my memory
would reach to my infant-years, fome fuch a fate
was mine." He repeated on this occafion the ſtrange
obfcurity of his birth, and fhewed a fcar upon his
throat, which, he added, fome inhuman hand had
given before the time of his earlieſt memory.
MUSIC.
"Music, faid Luther, is one of the faireſt and moſt
glorious gifts of God, to which Satan is a bitter
enemy; for it removes from the heart the weight of
forrow and the fafcination of evil thoughts. Mufic
is a kind and gentle fort of diſcipline; it refines the
paffions and improves the underſtanding. Even the
diffonance of unfkilful fiddlers ferves to fet off the
charms of true melody, as white is made more con-
fpicuous by the oppofition of black. How is it,
continued he, that on profane ſubjects we have ſo
many fine verſes and elegant poems, whilft our re-
ligious
NASH.
309
ligious poetry remains fo languid and dull? Thofe
who love mufic are gentle and honeft in their tem-
pers. I always loved mufic, added Luther, and
would not for a great matter be without the little ſkill
which I poffefs in this art."
NASH, BEAU.
Although his life has been publiſhed, the writer
omitted one of the moſt humourous tranfactions of it,
which was had from Nafh's own mouth, and which
happened upon his firft going to Bath. "Stepping
one morning," faid Nafh, "to fee who was at, and
who was in, the Croſs-Bath, I obferved a beautiful
young lady up to her chin, whoſe head being much
adorned with flowers, &c. (as was the faſhion at that
time,) and whofe cheeks being enlivened by the heat
of the Bath, looked a very goddefs. At this inftant,
a young gentleman elegantly dreſſed came in, who
proved to be the lady's huſband, and who exclaimed,
"My deareft life, you look like an angel! I wiſh
I was with you." Upon this, Nafh took him by the
fhoulder and waiſtband of the breeches, and threw
him over the baluftrades; telling him, as he went
over, his wifh fhould be inftantly fulfilled. "At this
time," ſaid Naſh, "though there was but one fur-
geon, one apothecary, and no phyfician, at Bath, the
gentleman recovered his fright, and the lady her
health!" For this frolic, however, Naſh got an ugly
wound in his fword-arm, the remains of which were
x 3
very
NEWSPAPERS.
very viſible; and this it was which determined him
to iffue his edict, (for he did not love fighting,) that
no perſon ſhould wear a fword at Bath, but he that
was not entitled to wear one any where elſe.
NEWCASTLE, DUKE OF.
His Grace kept the moſt princely table and the
greateſt number of domeftics of any nobleman in the
three kingdoms; nor would he fuffer any one of
them, during a feries of years, to difpofe of any
part of their old liveries, but made this ufual per-
quifite up to them by douceurs, and the caft clothes
were carefully depofited in a large ftore-room appro-
priated to that purpoſe, where they remained until
after his Grace's deceaſe, when they were fold; at
which time the number of fuits were fo great, that,
for a year or two after, ſcarcely a carter, coachman,
drayman, chairman, or porter, in London, but wore
the Newcaſtle livery. His Grace is known repeatedly
to have had thirty legs of mutton cut up in one day,
merely to take out the Pope's Eyes to form one difh
at his table!
NEWSPAPERS.
Account of their first Eſtabliſhment in England.
On the 9th of July, 1662, a very extraordinary
`queftion arofe about preventing the publication of
the
NEWSPAPERS.
· 311
the Debates of the Irish Parliament in the Engliſh
newſpaper called the Intelligencer; and a letter was
written from the Speaker to Sir Edward Nicholas,
the Engliſh Secretary of State, to prevent thefe pub-
lications, in thofe Diurnals, as they called them. The
London Gazette commenced the 7th of November,
1665; it was at firſt called the Oxford Gazette, from
its being printed there during a feffion of Parliament
held there on account of the plague. Antecedent
to this period, Sir Roger L'Eftrange publiſhed the
firſt daily newſpaper in England.
From the following paffage in Tacitus it appears,
that fomewhat like newſpapers were circulated in the
Roman States:
"Diurna populi Romani, per provincias, per ex-
ercitus, curatius leguntur: quam ut non nofcatur,
quid Thrasea fecerit."
In a note of Mr. Murphy's tranflation of Tacitus,
he laments, that none of theſe diurnals or newſpapers,
as he calls them, had been preferved, as they would
caft great light upon the private life and manners of
the Romans.
With the Long Parliament originated appeals to the
people; by accounts of their proceedings, thefe ap-
peared periodically, from the firſt of them, called
"Diurnal Occurrences of Parliament," the 3d of
November, 1641, to the Reſtoration.
Theſe were fomewhat like our Magazines, and
were generally called "Mercuries": as Mercu
rius Politicus, Mercurius Rufticus, and one of them,
X 4
in
312
NEWSPAPERS.
in 1644, appeared under the odd title of Mercurius
Fumigosus, or the Smoking Nocturnal.
The number of theſe publications appear from a
liſt in an accurate, new, and valuable, piece of Bio-
graphy, from 1641 to 1660, to have been one hun-
dred and fifty-fix.
Theſe publications of Parliamentary Proceedings
were interdicted after the Reftoration, as appears
from a debate in Grey's collection, the 24th of March,
1681; in confequence of which, the votes of the
Houfe of Commons were firft printed by authority of
Parliament.
From the firſt regular paper, the above-mentioned
Public Intelligencer, commencing the 31ft of Auguft,
1662, there were to 1688, with the Gazette, which
has continued regularly, as at prefent, from Nov. 7,
1665, ſeventy papers, fome of a fhort and others of
a longer duration.
The firſt daily paper, after the Revolution, was
called the Orange Intelligencer; and from thence to
1692 there were twenty-fix newſpapers.
From an advertiſement in a weekly paper called the
Athenian Gazette, the 8th of February, 1696, it
appears that the Coffee-houſes in London had then,
exclufive of the votes in Parliament, nine newſpa-
pers every week; but there ſeems not to have been in
1696 one daily paper.
In the reign of Queen Anne, there were, in 1709,
eighteen weekly papers publifhed, of which, how
ever,
NEWTON.
313
ever, only one was a daily paper, the London Cou-
rant.
In the reign of George I. in 1724, there were pub-
lifhed three daily, fix weekly, and ten evening, papers,
three times a week.
In the late reign, there were publiſhed of newfpa-
pers, in London and in all England:
In 1753
7:411,757
1760
9,464,790
And in the prefent reign in 1790
14,035,639
1791
14,794,153
1792
15,005,760
In 1792, there were publiſhed in London, thirteen
daily, twenty evening, and nine weekly, papers.
In the country ſeventy, and in Scotland fourteen
country papers.
}
NEWTON, BISHOP.
From Biſhop Newton's account of himſelf, prefixed
to his works, it ſeems he was in one continued pur-
fuit of preferment till 1768, when, on being diſap-
pointed of the fee of London, he obtained the rich
deanry of St. Paul's. The Biſhop tells us, that pre-
vious to this he thought it right to look out for fome
clever woman to be his wife. The woman he had
1
in view was Elizabeth, daughter of John Lord Lif-
burne by a fine young woman, whom he married and
injured.
314
NORTHINGTON.
injured. What this injury was, the Bifhop forbears
to mention, but it is related to be as follows:
Lady Lifburne (as fhe fuppofed herſelf to be)
was one day obferving to her Lord, that the newf-
papers had announced the death of a Lady Lifburne
in Portugal. "Who can this Lady Lifburne be?" faid
fhe. "She was my wife," anfwered the Biſhop. "Why
then," replied the Lady, "I am not your wife." The
Lady infifted on a feparation, and they never lived
together afterwards.
NEWTON, SIR ISAAC.
He loft a confiderable fum of money in the South-
Sea bubble of 1720, and did not much like to talk
of it.
His patience in pain was wonderful, and his mo-
defty was as great as his fagacity.
He was fo completely abfent in thought at times,
that an old lady, whofe huſband was his particular
friend, uſed to ſay, that he often came to their houſe
to dinner, and would fit fo wrapped in medita-
tion by the fire-fide, that they were obliged to remind
him that the table was covered, when he would fay,-
"Oh! what you are going to dinner ?"
NORTHINGTON,
NORTHINGTON.
315
NORTHINGTON, EARL,
1. It has never been ſuppoſed that honeft bluntneſs
was a quality often to be found in Courts, much lefs
characteriſtic of a Lord High Chancellor ;---but this
upright Nobleman, who formerly held the feals, is
not the only inftance where plainnefs of ſpeech has
led to royal favour, and even to the reward of
an Earldom.
A more fingular character than Lord Chancellor
Northington has not perhaps been unfolded to modern
obfervation, he poffeffed confiderable abilities, was
an upright Judge, and gave fatisfaction in the high
office he enjoyed; but in private life he was the
very reverſe of every thing which would feem to
produce dignity in a public ftation. In his youth he
was a profeffed debauchee; and the fentiments and
language of that character were retained by him to
the latest moment of exiſtence. On his return
home from the adminiftration of juftice, he would
not heſitate to fwear at his fervants and be inde-
cent with his company; indeed, the ftate-coach was
not always confidered facred to chafte and decent
ſpeech; and the uneafineſs of that rumbling machine,
when his Lordship's feet have been tender from the
gout, has called forth very strong exclamations in the
prefence even of the mace and feals. Some of his
friends have been fo free as to declare they had
actually feen an oath upon his lips when he prefided
on the woolfack, though it was never known to
have
316
NORTHINGTON.
1
have eſcaped farther: one occafion was however
marked with language too expreffive to pafs un-
noticed.
The Speaker Onflow, who attended with the moſt
fcrupulous regard, both in public and private, to
the dignity of his character, was complaining on his
arrival later than ufual at the Houſe of Commons,
on fome day of important buſineſs, that he had been
ftopped in Parliament-ftreet, owing to the obftinacy
of a carman; and was told, that the Lord Chan-
cellor had experienced a confiderable delay from the
fame caufe:" Well, (faid the Speaker,) did not
his Lordship fhew him the mace, and ftrike him
dumb with terror ?"" No," (it was replied;)
his Lordſhip did not; but he ſwore, by G—d,
that if he had been in his private coach, he would
have got out, and beat the dan'd rafcal to a jelly."
2. On his death-bed he ordered his gardener to
cut down fome clumps of trees, purely, as it faid,
becauſe they were agreeable to his fon. The gar-
dener, willing to worſhip the rifing fun, neglected to
do it, expecting every moment the death of his old
mafter. He, inquiring whether his commands had
been obeyed, and being anfwered in the negative,
eafily conceived the gardener's motive for diſobe-
dience, and, fending for him into his chamber, thus
addreffed him: "So, d-n you, you have not done
as I ordered you; you think I am going; fo I am
and be d-d to you, but you fhall go first; ftrip
him,"
NORTHINGTON."
317
him," ſaid he, to fome of his attendants," and kick
him out of the houſe."
3. During the fame illneſs, he fent for the Duke
of Chandos, then Marquis of Caernarvon, a man of
great piety, who, though ſurpriſed at the meſſage,
waited upon him, and begged to be honoured with his
Lordship's commands. "I fent for you, (fays the
Chancellor,) to beg you to recommend me fome able
parfon, whofe advice I might ſafely take in regard to
the neceffary fettlements refpecting the future welfare
of my foul, which, I fear, will be ſhortly ejected from
my body."
"My Lord, replied the Marquis, I am ſurpriſed at
the queſtion; as Chancellor, your Lordſhip has had
the difpofal of much church-preferment, which
doubtless you always beſtowed on pious and deferv.
ing perſons. For example, what think you of Dr.
T?" "Oh! name him not, loudly exclaimed the
Chancellor, that is one of my crying fins; I fhall
certainly be damned were it only for making that
fellow a Dean.”
4. Lord Northington, remarkable for his profli-
gate and brutal manner of expreffing himſelf on all
occafions, which had procured him the nick-name
of Surly Bob, being at the point of death, exclaimed,
"I'll be damned if I am not dying!" During his fick-
neſs, his wife, daughter, and fome female relations,
coming to aſk the ſtate of his health, could not re-
•
!
frain
318
O'BRYEN.
frain from weeping; on which, in a paffion, he
roared out to his nurſe, "Turn out all thoſe fnivel-
ling bitches, except Bridget !"---The lady diftinguiſhed
by this delicate preference was his daughter Lady
Bridget Lane.
O'BRYEN, JOHN, THE HONOURABLE.
Few men have been more unfortunate at fea, few
fo fortunate as the Honourable John O'Brien, nearly
related to the Earl of Inchiquin.
This gentleman was brought up to the fea, and
at an early period of his life was made a Lieutenant
in the navy his commiffion bears date the 28th of
September, 1747. His firft misfortune at ſea was
on the coaſt of India, where his fhip was wrecked,
and every one on board periſhed, except Mr. O'Bryen
and four more perfons. On his return to Europe,
he was calt away near the Cape of Good Hope, but
had the good fortune to get alive to fhore.
The Dutch Governor, finding that he was a man of
quality, fupplied him with every neceffary for con-
tinuing his voyage, and provided him a cabin in
one of the Dutch homeward-bound Eaft-Indiamen.
When all Mr. O'Bryen's baggage, &c. which had
been furniſhed by the Governor of the Cape, was
put on board, a Dutch Governor of fome of the
Eaftern
O'BRYEN.
319
!
Eaſtern ſettlements in India, who was to return to
Europe in the fame fhip, found himſelf rather
ftraitened for room, on account of the number
of his own family and the other paffengers. He
applied therefore to the Governor of the Cape,
and told him, that he would efteem it a particular
favor, if he could prevail on the other paffengers
to quit the ſhip, and leave it entirely to his family
and fuite.
The Governor, wiſhing to oblige this gentleman,
ſpoke to the paffengers, but particularly to Mr.
O'Bryen, and told them they' would much oblige
him if they would give up their births to the Afiatic
Governor; in return for which he pledged himſelf
to procure them excellent accommodations on board
another fhip, that was to fail at the fame time.
They readily complied with the Governor's wiſhes,
and removed to another fhip. Soon after they put
24 hours after they
to fea, and in little more than
had left the Cape, Mr. O'Bryen faw the fhip he had
quitted founder in a hard gale of wind, and every
one on board perifhed. This was the third eſcape.
In fome few years after, he was ftationed on board
the Dartmouth of 50 guns.
This fhip fell in with
the Gloriofo, a Spaniſh man of war of ſuperior force,
and gallantly engaged her for ſeveral glaffes. Mr.
O'Brien was in his ftation between decks, when the
gunner ran up to him, and, with wildnefs and defpair
in his looks, cried out, "O Sir! the powder-
room!"
320
O'KELLY.
room!" Lieutenant O'Brien heard no more from
him, for the fhip inftantly blew up.
One might have imagined that this would havé
been the end of all his hair-breadth efcapes, and
that it was morally impoffible he could furvive fuch
a cataſtrophe as this; nevertheless, he did furvive
it, and was afterwards found floating upon the car-
riage of a gun. From this circumftance it was con-
jectured that he had been blown out at a port-hole
with one of the guns, and that by fome inconceivable
means he had refted upon the carriage. He was
picked up by the Duke privateer, and treated with
all poffible care; his clothes were all in tatters,
torn in ſome places and burned in others.
This dreadful accident was not capable of finking
the fpirits of Mr. O'Brien, who was always fprightly
and gay.
When he came to himſelf, and was in-
troduced to the Captain of the Duke, he faid to
him with great gravity, "Sir, you will excufe me
for appearing before you in fuch a drefs; for I left
my fhip with fo much precipitation, that I had not
time to put on better clothes."
:
O'KELLY, COUNT.
Among the fingular things of O'Kelly's life, one
circumftance has been omitted. When he brought
his celebrated horfe Eclipfe to run at York, the night
before the race he fat up fomewhat late at Blewitt's
Inn,
O'KELLY.
321
}
Inn, and in company, where he foon got intoxicated.
At that time the houſe was very full, and O'Kelly's
head, at no time the cleareft, was rendered much leſs
fo by the quantity of wine he had then drunk. In re-
tiring to his chamber, he made a ſmall miſtake, and
got into the room where laid a Mifs Swinburne,
fifter to Sir Thomas, and, miftaking her bed for his
own, was about to get into it, had not the fcreams
of the lady called up the houſe. O'Kelly was imme-
diately taken to his own. In the morning, the
brother waited upon O'Kelly; but as, in truth, he
meant and did no harm, the affair was compromiſed
to the fatisfaction of all parties, by O'Kelly agreeing
to pay the fum of five hundred pounds to the Hofpital
at York.
The following apology appeared in the York
Courant of October 1, 1770:
"I do hereby acknowledge that I was (when in
liquor) lately guilty of a very grofs affront and rude-
nefs to a young lady of a very refpectable family,
which I am now concerned at, and humbly beg par-
don of that lady and her friends for my behaviour
to her, being very ſenſible of her lenity and theirs
in receiving this day my public fubmiffion and ac-
knowledgement; and, as a farther atonement for the
offence, I have alfo paid the fum of 5col. to be dif-
poſed of for fuch charitable purpoſes as that lady
ſhall direct; and do conſent that this may be inferted
in
1
322
ORANGE.
in
any of the public newſpapers. Witnefs my hand,
this 25th day of Auguſt, 1770.
d...
J
}
D. O'KELLY."
Y
}
' '
1
ORANGE, PRINCE OF.
•His favourite· Dog's.
j
About twenty or thirty years ago, the faſhionable
lap-dog was the Dutch pug; every old Duchefs in the
kingdom had three or four, and thefe little ugly
animals were the ladies' favourites from the accef-
fion of William the Third to the death of George
the Second, fince which time the breed ſeems nearly
extinct. They were generally decorated with orange
ribbons, and in high favour at Court. King William
being very partial to them, his courtiers apprehended
he had learnt the old Engliſh proverb, ". Love me,
love my dog." The reafon of this partiality is not
generally known, but may be accounted for by the
following anecdote, which is related in a very ſcarce
old book:-Sir Roger Williams, his Actions of the
Low Countries, imprinted in the year 1618.
"The Prince of Orange being retired into the
camp, Julian Romero with earneſt perfuafions
procured licence of the Duke D'Alva to hazard a
camifado, or night attack, upon the Prince. At
midnight, Julian fallied out of the trenches with a
thouſand armed men, moſtly pikes, who forced all
the guards that they found in their way into the
place
PARALLELS.
323
་
place of arms before the Prince's tent, and killed
two of his Secretaries, the Prince himſelf efcaping
very narrowly; for I have often heard him ſay, that,
as he thought, but for a dog he had been taken or
flain. The attack was made with fuch reſolution,
that the guards took no alarm until their fellows
were running to the place of arms, with their ene-
mies at their heels, when this dog, hearing a great
noife, fell to ſcratching and crying, and awakened
him before any of his men, and as the Prince laid
in his arms, with a lacky always holding one of his
horſes ready bridled, yet at the going out of his tent
with much ado he recovered his horfe before the
enemy arrived; nevertheleſs one of his equerries was
flain, taking horſe preſently after him, as were divers
of his fervants. The Prince, to fhew his gratitude,
until his dying day kept one of that dog's race,
and ſo did many of his friends and followers. Theſe
animals were not remarkable for their beauty, being
little white dogs, with crooked flat nofes, called
Camufes."
7
PARALLELS BETWEEN CIVILIZED MAN AND THE
SAVAGE.
The Savage riſes in the morning, takes his bow,
runs through the foreft, and returns loaded with ani-
mal food for his family vegetables fpring up fpon-
taneouſly under his feet.
Y 2
The
3.24
PARALLELS.
The Peafant gets up with the fun to ferve his
mafter's cattle, waters the foil with the fweat of his
brow, and reflects that, all this is not for himſelf.
The Savage has in abundance the viands that pleafe
him, the drink which he prefers, and receives every
thing as it is prepared by the hands of Nature.
The Civilized Man has but a fcanty pittance of
unfavoury food, is obliged to ftruggle with his wants,
and to quench his thirft with an unwholeſome beve-
rage.
The Inhabitant of the Woods confiders his defires
as the bleffings of Nature, fince he can chuſe and
vary his pleaſures at his will. 1
The Civilized Man is obliged to concenter his hap-
pinefs in one object; if fickness or accidents incapa-
citate him, there remains to him nothing but uneafi-
nefs and imbecility.
The one depends only upon the ordinary progreſs
of events, which carries us on along with it.
The other is encompaffed with chains. Kings, go-
vernment, laws, fociety, prejudices, act every inſtant
even upon his very thoughts.
The former feels no anxiety for the future welfare
of a family; however numerous it may be, he is tor-
mented by no tributes, no burthens, the appendages
of focial life.
The latter has continually before his eyes the
wretchednefs that threatens his family, hears every in-
ftant the voice of the tax gatherer at his door, and is
fre-
PAINE.
325
frequently at a lofs how to provide clothing, which
conventions have rendered neceffary.
The one feels no fatal effects from ftorms, droughts,
or inundations; his houſe is a tree, his field is every
where, and Nature is his country.
The other, a victim to the inclemency of ſeaſons,
fees his proviſions confumed by the burning fun, or
carried away by impetuous torrents.
The being whoſe deſtiny we lament is cheerful,
alert, courageous by nature, lives contentedly, and
dies without regret, becauſe he conceives he fhall
foon revive.
The being, whofe lot we boaft of, bears in his ema-
ciated and furrowed vifage the traces of mifery, is
never fure of to-morrow, and dies in the midſt of
trouble and fears.
>
PAINE, TOM.
It was obſerved in company to Thomas Paine, that
the Britiſh and Irifh were naturally inclined to mo-
narchy; fo much fo, that in their convivial meetings
they always had a toaſt-mafter; and that, if fix of
them went to a tavern to drink a bottle of wine, one
would be put into the chair, who would collect the
bill and pay the waiter, and the reft would benefit
by his attention.
"Very true, Sir, fays Paine; but ſuppoſe your fix
men met every day to drink their bottle, and that they
Y 3
to
had
326
PEERAGE.
had no more, and the chairman always took a pint to
himſelf, they would foon contrive to drink without
one; that is, if they were fond of wine, and had
common ſenſe.
PEERAGE.
1. The Peerage-lift of England has increafed in
the courſe of a century, during the reigns of fix fuc-
ceffive Sovereigns, in the following manner:
At the death of King Charles the Second, the
Houſe of Lords confifted of 176 Members.
At the death of King William the Third, it con-
fifted of
192 Members.
At the death of Queen Anne, they amounted to
209 Members.
At the death of George the Firft, the Peerage
was 216.
At the deceaſe of George the Second, it had in-
creaſed to 229 Members.
At the preſent time, 1799, it amounts to 301 Peers.
2. "Roger Palmer, of Caſtlemain, owed his peer-
age to his wife, a royal miſtreſs, and afterwards Du-
chefs of Cleveland. James II. ſent him on an em-
baffy to the Pope, to reconcile the church of theſe
Kingdoms to the Holy See, after their long lapfe to
herefy. The politic Pope faw the folly of the de-
fign, and never received the Ambaffador without
being
$
PETER THE GREAT.
327
being feized with a moft feaſonable fit of coughing,
which always interrupted the fubject of his errand.
At length, wearied with delay, he was adviſed to take
pet, and threaten to leave Rome. His Holineſs, with
great fang froid, told him, that, fince fuch was his
refolution, he affectionately recommended him to
travel early in the morning, and to reſt at noon, left
he fhould endanger his health ;-and fo-ended this ridi-
culous bufinefs."
3. There is a ftanding Order of the Houſe of
Peers, by which every Peer that attends his duty, and
is too late for divine fervice, fhall forfeit one fhilling
to the poor's box for the parish of St. Margaret; and
if he does not attend at all, or fhew fpecial caufe for
fuch neglect, he is to forfeit the fum of five fhillings,
to be applied to the fame purpoſes. This order
fhould be enforced!
PETER THE GREAT.
1. The following anecdote of Peter the Great was
delivered by Mr. Peter Muller, maſter of ſome iron
works, who was himſelf in the Czar's palace at Mof-
cow, when the tranfaction happened.
The Czar Peter I. in the twenty-fifth year of his
age, laid dangeroufly ill of a violent fever. His dif-
order increaſed to fuch a degree, that there was
fcarcely any hope of his recovery, and a general
confternation prevailed throughout the Court. Prayers
Y 4
were
3.2.8
PETER THE GREAT.
were offered up day and night in all the churches for
the reſtoration of his health. The Judge for criminal
caufes attended, according to ancient cuftom, with a
requeſt, that the malefactors who were condemned to
die, and who at this juncture were nine in number,
convicted of ſtreet robberies and murder, fhould be
fet at liberty, that they might pray to God for the
prefervation of the Czar. As foon as Peter was
informed of this, he ordered the Judge to his bed-
fide, and bade him read the lift of fuch as were con-
demned to die, together with their crimes.-This
done, his Majefty, with a faultering voice, made this
anfwer to the Judge: "Thinkeft thou that, by par-
doning fuch bafe and wicked villains, and by hinder-
ing the righteous courfe of juftice, I fhould do a
pious work, and thereby move heaven to fpare my
life; or that God will hearken to the prayer of ſuch
godlefs murderers and thieves? Go thy way this in-
ftant, and let the fentences be fully executed on all
the nine criminals to-morrow morning. I have much
greater hope that, through this act of juftice, the Al-
mighty may be moved to fhed his grace upon me,
that he will ſpare my life, and reſtore me to health
again."
The fentence was executed the following day; the
Czar grew better and better; and, in a fhort time.
after, perfeâly recovered.
It is well known that Peter the Great not only felt
the neceffity of having good furgeons to attend his
newly-raiſed army and fleet, and took great pains to
pro-
PETER THE CREAT.
329
procure them, but alfo learned to perform feveral
operations himself.
He commonly carried about him a couple of
pocket-caſes; one of mathematical inftruments, for
his uſe in making drafts in civil, naval, and military,
architecture; and the other of chirurgical inftru-
ments.
He has likewiſe many times drawn teeth; and tap-
ped, with his own hands, the wife of Borldf, the mer-
chant, who was ill of a dropfy.
When he was no more than twenty years of age,
he was in the habit of familiar converfation, not only
with Monf. Le Fort, his firft favourite, but likewiſe
with M. Tirmond, an old and ſkilful practitioner, of
great reputation, who was in particular intimacy with
the Czar, and ufed frequently to fit with him till
morning, labouring in the Hungarian vintage. He
was ſo perfectly in the good graces of his Sovereign,
that, having, in a fit of drunkennefs, ftabbed an old
and truſty ſervant, he came running next morning to
the Czar in great affliction, threw himſelf on the
ground at his feet, and implored his forgiveneſs.-
His Majefty told him he would hear nothing till he
rofe and flood on his feet; and when he faw that he
did not ftir from his pofition, he helped him up him-
ſelf, embraced him with great affection, and heard
him make his own accufation. Which having ended,
the Czar gave him for anfwer, "That he need not
afflict nor trouble himſelf about it; that he had none
to afk forgivenefs of but God; and, if the deceaſed
1
had
330
PETER THE GREAT.
had left behind him a wife and any children, he
ſhould endeavour to make up their loſs to them by all
the means in his power;" which he did, by allowing
them a confiderable annuity on his own eftate.
This famous M. Tirmond died at 70 years of
age,
and left behind him a widow, not old, and rather
handfoine, with a fortune of ſeveral thouſand rubles.
This lady, during the life of her huſband, paid fo
little regard to adapt her conduct to the rules of or-
der, that ſhe had given occafion to many reflections
on her behaviour, and had turned her eyes with fome
affection on a handfome young journeyman-barber
from Dantzic. On the death of her huſband fhe
married this perſon, and they began to live in a very
profuſe and extravagant manner, driving about in a
gaudy coach with four horfes, and, in fhort, made
a very confpicuous figure in Moſcow. All this
coming to the knowledge of the Czar, together with
a contemptuous defcription of the young Dantzicker,
one day, when his Majeſty was on a viſit to one of
his Boyars, in company with feveral of his confidents,
he fent for the gay fucceffor of his favourite Tir-
mond; who, immediately on receiving the meffage,
thought for certain that it was for putting him in
the place of his predeceffor; and accordingly re-
paired in his fineſt carriage and in great ſtate to the
palace, where he found the Czar furrounded by a
numerous company. All ran to the windows to fee
the barber make his entrance. When he was come
before the Czar, the Monarch aſked him for an ac-
count
PETER THE CRUEL.
331
1
?
+
count of himſelf and his circumſtances, and then
fent him round the company, who all ſeverally made
him undergo a ftrict examination. At length the
Czar, knowing him for an ignorant and unworthy
fucceffor of the learned Tirmond, immediately gave
orders for all the menial .fervants and common
boors about the Court to be collected into fome
of the drawing-rooms, where the fpruce and gallant
gentleman-barber was obliged to trim and fhave them
all; which, when he had done, he was ordered to re-
turn home in his fumptuous equipage. The young
gentleman and his lady took this humiliating circum-
ſtance ſo much to heart, that in a ſhort time after they
left the country with what remained of their money,
and went to Dantzic, where they lived as gaily as
poffible till all was fpent. An old acquaintance of
Tirmond's afterwards faw him, during the following
Swediſh war, as a poor broker, and his ſpouſe re-
duced to the neceffity of taking in waſhing.
PETER THE CRUEL.
-
A Canon of the cathedral of Seville, affected in
his dreſs, and particularly in his fhoes, could not
find a workman to his liking. An unfortunate fhoe-
maker, to whom he applied, after quitting many
others, having brought him a pair of ſhoes not made
to pleaſe his tafte, the Canon became furious, and,
feizing one of the tools of the fhoemaker, gave him
with it fo many blows upon the head, as laid him
dead
332
PETER THE CRUEL.
dead on the floor. The unhappy man left a widow,
four daughters, and a fon fourteen years of age,
the eldest of the indigent family. They made their
complaints to the Chapter: the Canon was proſe-
cuted, and condemned not to appear in the choir for
a year. The young fhoemaker having attained to
man's eftate, was fcarcely able to get a livelihood,
and, overwhelmed with wretchedneſs, ſat down, on
the day of a proceffion, at the door of the cathedral
of Seville, in the moment the proceffion paffed
by. Amongst the other Canons, he perceived the
murderer of his father. At the fight of this man,
filial affection, rage, and defpair, got fo far the
better of his reaſon, that he fell furioufly upon the
prieft, and ftabbed him to the heart. The young
man was feized, convicted of the crime, and con-
demned to be quartered alive. Peter, whom we
call the Cruel, and whom the Spaniards, with more
reaſon, call the Lover of Juſtice, was then at Seville.
The affair came to his knowledge; and, after learn-
ing the particulars, he determined to be himfelf the
judge of the young fhoemaker. When he proceeded
to give judgment, he firft annulled the fentence
pronounced by the Clergy; and, after afking the
young man what profeffion he was of, " I forbid
you," ſaid he, "to make ſhoes for a year to come."
PIOZZI,
}
PLOZZI.
333
}
PIOZZI, MRS.
Mrs. Piozzi one evening reading in her clofet,
the candleſtick fuddenly jumped off the table, a hif-
fing fire ran along the floor, and, after a fhort time,
left a piece of paper in a flame, which with her foot,
to prevent mifchief, fhe put under the fire-place.
She then fat down, without any light, to confider what
could poffibly occafion this event. She knew the
door and windows were faft, and there was no way
open into the cloſet but by the chimney, and that
any thing fhould come down there, and ftrike the can-
dle off the table in that ſtrange manner, was altogether
impoffible. After fhe had wearied herſelf with re-
flecting to no purpoſe, fhe rang the bell. When the
fervant was told what had happened, he begged par-
don for having by miftake given a mould-candle with
a gunpowder-fquib in it, which was intended to make
ſome ſport amongſt the fervants on a rejoicing day.
Mrs. Piozzi, with much good humour, defired him
not to make himſelf uneafy; all the concern fhe had
received was from not being able to difcover the oc-
cafion of the accident.-From how many incidents,
much more trifling, have ftories of ghofts and prodi-
gies been handed down to poſterity?
PITT,
334
PITT.
ས་
PITT, THE FIRST EARL OF CHATHAM.
It was preparatory to one of the fecret expeditions
during the laft war, that the Minifters had given or-
ders to the different prefiding officers in the navy,
military, and ordnance, departments, to prepare a
large body of forces, a certain number of fhips, and
a proportionable quantity of ordnance-ftores, &c.
and to have them all in readineſs by a 'given day..
To thèſe orders- he received an exprefs from each of
the officers, declaring the total impoffibility of a.
compliance with them. Notwithſtanding it was at a
very late hour, he fent immediately for his Secretary,
and, after ſpeaking in terms of the higheſt indignation
at the treatment he met with from the ignorance or
negligence of his Majefty's fervants, he gave the fol-
lowing commands: "I defire, Mr. Wood, that you
will immediately go to Lord Anfon: you need not
trouble yourſelf to fearch the Admiralty; he is not
to be found there: you muſt purſue him to the gaming-
houſe, and tell him from me, that, if he does not
obey the orders of Government, which he has
received at my hands, I will affuredly impeach
him. Proceed from him to Lord Ligonier, and
though he ſhould be bolftered with harlots, undraw
his curtains, and repeat the fame meffage. Then
take your courſe to Sir Charles Frederick, and affure
him, that, if his Majefty's orders are not obeyed,
66
theſe
PITT.
335
G3
theſe ſhall be the laft which he fhall receive from
me."-In confequence of theſe commands, Mr. Wood
proceeded to White's, and told his errand to the Firſt
Lord of the Admiralty, who infifted that the Secre
tary of State was out of his fenfes, and that it was
impoffible to comply with his wifhes. "However, he
added, as madmen muſt be anfwered, tell him, that
I will do my utmoſt to fatisfy him." From thence he
went to the Commander in Chief of the Forces, and
delivered the fame meffage. He alfo faid that it
was an impracticable buſineſs: "And the Secretary
knows it, added the old Lord; nevertheleſs, he is in
the right to make us do what we can; and what it is
poffible to do, inform him fhall be done." The
Surveyor-General of the Ordnance was next informed
of Mr. Pit's refolution, and, after fome little confi-
deration, he began to think that the orders might be
completed within the time prefcribed. In fhort, the
army, navy, ordnance, military ftores, &c. in fpite
of impoffibilities, were all ready on the day ap-
pointed.
J
PITT, THE PRESENT PREMIER.
He was a candidate for Cambridge-Univerfity at
the general election in 1780, and was unſucceſsful. A
few days after the account came to London, the late
Duke of Rutland, coming up St. James's Street, met
Lord Lonſdale, (then Sir James Lowther,) and ac-
coſted him with faying, he had a favor to beg of
him.
336
POLE.
him. Sir James aſked what it was. The Duke faid,
to bring young Pitt into Parliament. Sir James re-
plied, it ſhould be done; and he was accordingly
brought in for Appleby. During Mr. Pitt's admini-
ftration, Sir James has been created Earl of Lonf
dale, and the Duke of Rutland was made Lord
Lieutenant of Ireland.
&
POLE, CARDINAL.
Much has been faid by Pole's panegyrift in praiſe of
his remarkable mildneſs and his lenient arts to thoſe who
diffented from the doctrine of his church; and Dr. Bur-
net's extorted conceffion is produced in confirmation
of this affertion. It is true, that Prelate had once a
favourable opinion of the Cardinal's mildnefs, but,
upon farther examination, he retracted that conceffion,
and owned," he found that Pole was not fo mild as
he had reprefented him." No colouring can difguife,
no excufes can palliate, his infolent and inhuman be-
haviour to Cranmer and Cheke. His zeal was not
fatisfied with the perfecution of living heretics, as
he called them; it was exerted alfo beyond the grave.
Being the Legate of the fancied fucceffor of St. Peter,
he feems to have imagined that he had power, by the
help of Peter's keys, to open the doors of purga-
tory; and he attempted to exerciſe it, but it was not
with the charitable intent of freeing any fouls from
the
POLE.
337
the imaginary confinement, but to thrust them (if
poffible) from thence into hell. We have already
confidered one fingular inftance of wanton barbarity
acted, by his orders, at Oxford, upon the dead body
of the wife of Peter Martyr. He, who formerly re-
proached Henry VIII. for his facrilege in difturbing
the aſhes of Thomas-à-Becket, now cloſely followed
his example, and fent his Commiffioners to Cam-
bridge, to take up and burn for herefy the dead bodies
of Bucer and Fagius, two reforming Divines, who
had been Profeffors in that Univerfity, the one of
Divinity, the other of Hebrew. What the Legate
commanded, his Delegates performed. After theſe
inſtances of frantic zeal, may not the mildneſs and
humanity of Pole be called in queftion? If not, can
thofe religious principles, which impelled him to act
fo contrary to thoſe amiable virtues, to his naturally
good difpofition, be too much abhorred and detefted?
How noble, in compariſon of this furious bigotry,
was the behaviour of the Emperor Charles V. who,
when he had taken the town of Wirtemberg, in which
the body of Luther was buried, not only refifted the
importunities of the bigots around him to dig up
his body and burn it, but alſo protected it from
their infults, and filenced their clamours by this
Chriftian reply, "Let him alone, let him reft to
the day of refurrection and the judgment of all
men !"
N
POPES
338
POPE.
J
POPE, ALEXANDER.
1. During Pope's laft illneſs, a fquabble happened
in his chamber between his two Phyficians, (Dr.
Burton and Dr. Thompfon,) Dr. Burton charging
Dr. Thompſon with haftening his death by the violent
purges he had prefcribed, and the other retorting
the charge. Mr. Pope at length filenced them, faying,
"Gentlemen, I only learn by your diſcourſe that I am
in a very dangerous way; therefore all I now aſk is,
that the following epigram may be added after my
death to the next edition of the Dunciad, by way of
poſtſcript:
Dunces rejoice, forgive all cenfures paft,
The greateſt dunce has killed your foe at laſt.
2. The late Queen Caroline declared her intention
of honoring Mr. Pope with a vifit at Twickenham.
His mother was then alive; and, left the viſit ſhould
give her pain, on account of the danger his religious
principles might incur by an intimacy with the Court,
his piety made him, with great duty and humility,
beg that he might decline this honour. Some years
after, his mother being dead, the Prince of Wales
condefcended to do him the honour of a vifit. When
Mr. Pope met him at the water-fide, he expreffed his
fenſe of the honour done him in very proper terms,
joined with the moſt dutiful expreffions of attach-
ment..
POPE.
339
ment.
•
On which the Prince faid, "It is very well;
but how ſhall we reconcile your love to a Prince
with your profeffed indifpofition to Kings, fince
Princes will be Kings in time?" "Sir,” replied Pope,
"I confider royalty under that noble and authoriſed
type of the lion;-while he is young, and before his
nails are grown, he may be approached and careffed
with fafety and pleaſure."
3. An original Letter from Mr. POPE to the Duchefs
of HAMILTON.
London, Oct. the -,
between day
MADAM,
and night. The writer drunk.
Mrs. Whitworth (who, as her epitaph on Twicken-
ham highway affures us, had attained to as much per-
fection and purity as any fince the Apoftles) is now
depofited, according to her own order, between a
fig-tree and a vine, there to be found out at the laft
refurrection.
I am juft come from feeing your Grace in much
the like fituation, between a honey-fuckle and a roſe-
buſh, where you are to continue as long as canvas
can laft. I ſuppoſe the Painter by thefe emblems
intended to intimate, on the one hand, your Grace's
fweet difpofition to your friends, and on the other,
to fhew you are near enough related to the thiftle of
Scotland, to deferve the fame motto with regard to
your enemies:
Nemo me impune laceffit.
Z 2
The
340
POPE.
The two foregoing periods, methinks, are fo myf
tical, learned, and perplexed, that if you have any
Statelinen or Divines about you, they cannot chooſe
but be pleaſed with them. One Divine you cannot be
without, as a good Chriftian; and a Statefman you
have lately had, for I hear my Lord Selkirk has been
without you. But (that I may not be unintelligible
quite to the bottom of this page) I must tell your
Grace in Engliſh, that I have made a painter beſtow
the aforefaid ornaments round about you, (for upon
you there needs none,) and am, upon the whole,
pleaſed with my picture beyond expreffion.
I may now ſay of your picture, it is the thing in
the world the likeft you, except yourfelf; as a cau-
tious perfon once faid of an elephant; it was the
biggeſt in the world, except itſelf.
You ſee, Madam, it is not impoffible for you to be
compared to an elephant. And you must give me
leave to fhew you one may carry on the fimile.
An elephant never bends his knees; and I am told
your Grace fays no prayers. An elephant has a moſt
remarkable command of his fnout, and fo has your
Grace, when you imitate my Lady Orkney. An ele-
phant is a great lover of men, and fo is your Grace
for all I know; though from your partiality to my-
felf, I ſhould rather think you love little children.
I beg you not to be difcouraged in this point: re-
member the text, which I'll preach upon the firft day
I am a parfon, Suffer little children to come unto me,
and defpife not one of thefe little ones.
No,
POPE.
34T
*
No, Madam,-defpife great beafts, fuch as Gay,
who now goes by the dreadful name of The Beaſt of
Blois, where Mr. Pulteney and he are fettled, and
where he fhew tricks gratis to all the beafts of his
own country, (for ftrangers do not yet underftand the
voice of the beafl.) I have heard from him but
once, Lord Warwick twice, Mrs. Lepell thrice: if
there be any has heard from him four times, I fup-
poſe it is
you.
I beg Mr. Blundell may know Dr. Logg has re-
ceived ordination, and enters on his functions this
winter at Mrs. Blount's. They have chofen this inno-
cent man for their confeffor; and I believe moſt
Roman Catholic ladies, that have any fins, will fol-
low their example. This good Prieft will be of the
order of Melchifedeck, a Prieft for ever, and ferve a
family from generation to generation. He'll ftand in
a corner as quietly as a clock, and, being wound up
once a week, ſtrike up a loud alarum on a Sunday
morning. Nay, if the Chriflian religion fhould be
abolifhed, (as indeed there is great reafon to expect it,
from the wisdom of the Legiflature,) he might at
worſt make an excellent bonfire; which is all that
(upon a change of religion) can be defired from a
heretic. I do not hope your Grace fhould be con-
verted; but, however, I wiſh you would call at Mrs.
Blount's out of curiofity: to meet people one likes
is thought by fome the beſt reaſon for going to church,
and I dare promiſe you'll like one another. They are
Z3
ex-
342
POPULAR SAYINGS.
extremely your fervants, or elſe I ſhould not think
them my friends.
I ought to keep up the cuſtom, and aſk you to
fend me ſomething; therefore, pray, Madam, ſend me
yourſelf, that is a letter; and pray make hafte to bring
up yourſelf, that is all I value, to town.
I am, with the trueft refpect, the leaft ceremony,
and the moſt zeal,
MADAM,
Your Grace's
Moſt obedient, faithful,
And moſt humble, fervant,
A. POPE.
"Mr. Hamilton, I am your's."-There is a ſhort
letter for you.
A. P.
POPULAR SAYINGS.
There are few inquiries more entertaining to cu-
riofity than into the origin of popular fayings, it
being certain that they invariably take their riſe from
ſome circumftance of much importance or uncommon
whimſicality. Dr. Brown, in his treatiſe on Vulgar
Errors, has developed many of the myfteries couched
under theſe apothegms, and cleared them of the er-
rors to which they were made to give the fanction of
preſcription. But the heap was too great to be forted
by one hand, though the little he accompliſhed, and
efpe-
POPULAR SAYINGS.
343
efpecially his leading the way, was of greater ſervice
to truth than may generally be fuppofed.
There is a common faying, when a perſon would
deſcribe one apt to break his word, that "he would
fham mad and dance naked to avoid paying the
piper."
I had often heard this, without confidering it as
any more than one of thofe jumbles of odd ideas,
the meaning of which, if any they have, is not worth
the trouble of fearching for; but, in an excurſion
into Yorkſhire, I found reafon to change my opi-
nion.
The ſtory goes, that, in former ti.nes, a certain part
of this country near the fea was fo infeſted with rats,
as a judgment from heaven for not rebuilding a mo-
naftery which had been burnt down by accident,
that the Baron, who was lord of the foil, to pre-
vent his vaffals from leaving it, made a proclamation,
that he would grant any man who fhould rid him of
thoſe vermin any reward he ſhould require. As
much might be gained and nothing hazarded, ſo
fo many made the attempt in vain, that, to prevent
farther trouble of the kind, he iffued another procla-
mation, that, as the reward of fuccefs would neceffa-
rily be great, the penalty on mifcarriage fhould be
no leſs than death.
This had, in one reſpect, the effect intended. The
Baron was no longer plagued with pretenders, though
on the other hand the evil gained ground every day.
The vermin multiplied fo faft, that the Baron himſelf
z 4
be-
344
POPULAR SAYINGS:
began to entertain thoughts of leaving a place vi-
fited with fo dreadful a fcourge; when a ftranger, of
mean appearance, offered himſelf to the adventure.
The confidence with which he fpoke encouraged
hope of his fucceeding; however, as the event was
to be of fo great confequence to one party or the
other, he demanded, that the Baron fhould folemnly
repeat the conditions, in prefence of all his people;
which was no fooner done in form, than the ſtranger
defired to meet them all in the fame place on the ſe-
venth day following, to fee the conditions fulfilled,
either by his receiving the reward he fhould claim,
or paying with his life the penalty of his failure.
The curiofity of the country, as may be fuppofed,
was raiſed very high, to know what preparations the
ftranger would make for a trial of his fkill, on which
his life depended. But their furpriſe was equal to fee
him walk about the whole day, playing for his amuſe-
ment on a fhepherd's pipe. His perfifting in this ap-
peared ſo abfurd, that, after the third day, they took
no farther notice of him, of which he took advantage
to diſappear unperceived that night, nor did they fee
any more of him the next day, from which they con-
cluded he had ran away; but they found the contrary
the fixth morning, when he returned, and, going to the
Baron's caſtle, gave notice that he had performed
what he had undertaken, and fhould demand his re-
compenfe the next day, declaring, that, if in the mean
time, a fingle rat could be found within the bounds.
of
POPULAR SAYINGS.
345
of the Baron's lands, he would not only give up his
pretenfions, but alfo fubmit to fuffer the penalty.
The ſearch, it may be prefumed, was made with the
utmost care, and, proving in his favour, the Baron
fummoned all his vaffalage to meet in the great court
of the Caſtle, and bear witneſs to his honourable pcr-
formance of his promife.
Among thoſe affembled on the occafion was the
Baron's only daughter, a young lady undoubtedly of
exquifite beauty, and heiress to all her father's bound.
lefs poffeffions. As foon as the Court was duly mar-
fhalled, the Seneſchal read aloud the conditions en-
tered into between the Baron and the ſtranger, and ac-
knowledging that the latter had performed his part of
them, required him to name the reward he expected;
when, to the indignant aſtoniſhment of all preſent, he
demanded the Baron's daughter in marriage; nor could
any offers, expoftulations, or threats, prevail upon him
to change his demand.
The diftrefs of both father and daughter was beyond
expreffion; but what could be done? He had pledged
the faith of a true Knight, an oath as inviolable as that
of the Gods by Styx. They were relieved, however,
by a young Knight, who happened to be prefent, and
boldly claimed a prior engagement with the lady,
which took her out of the power of her father, and
confequently prevented her being included in his pro-
mife. This diffuſed joy over the whole affembly, the
lady not denying, nor her father diſapproving, the
engagement.
As
346
POPULAR SAYINGS.
As foon as the tumult of their exultation fubfided,
the Baron told the ftranger, that, having promifed only
the individual reward which he ſhould claim, his
claiming one not in his power to grant had diſcharged
the promiſe; as, by the arrogance of the claim he had
made, he had juſtly forfeited his life; but that, as he
himſelf always tempered juftice with mercy, he would
give him that life as a reward for his fervice. The
ftranger, far from expreffing any ſenſe of this favour,
pulled out his pipe, and began to play with an air of
the moſt eaſy indifference. This was matter of
new furpriſe, which was not a little increafed when
they faw the Baron, the moment he heard him, ftart up
from his chair of ſtate, and, leaping into the middle of
the court, fall to dancing as if he were mad, in which
his example was inftantly followed by his daughter,
her new claimant, and every perſon prefent, who foon
grew fo hot from the violence of the exercife, as well
as the warmth of the weather, it being the midſt of
fummer, that they ſtripped off all their clothes, and
continued to dance naked, without fhewing the leaſt
fenſe of their fituation, till, being quite wearied out,
they dropped down one after another, and fell faft
afleep, in which ſtate they laid till the next morning.
In the mean while the piper difappeared, nor was ever
feen there again, any more than the rats, which it
was diſcovered had followed the found of his pipe
into the fea, where they were all drowned. And
hence aroſe the faying of "fhamming mad and
dancing naked to avoid paying the piper."
66
As
PRIOR.
347
As for the young lady, ſhe was ſo much aſhamed
of her frolic, that ſhe ſhut herſelf up for life in a
convent, while her father and lover went on a pil-
grimage to the Holy Land, where they ended their
lives as wifely.
PRYSE, SIR JOHN.
Mr. Pennant, whofe abilities do honour to his
country, in his fecond volume of his Tour in Wales,
takes notice of the following fingular circumftance :
"The late Sir John Pryfe, Bart. of Newtown-Hall, in
Montgomeryshire, was a gentleman of worth, but
of ſtrange fingularities. He married three wives;
and kept the two firft, who died in his room, one on
each fide of his bed; his third declined the honor
of his hand, till her defunct rivals were committed
to their proper place."
PRIOR.
>>
Prior kept his fellowſhip of St. John's College,
Cambridge, to the laſt. "The falary (faid he) will al-
way inſure me a bit of mutton and a clean ſhirt.'
Prior, who had been Miniſter Plenipotentiary, printed
his poems by ſubſcription in the latter end of his
life for fubfiftence; he made 2000l. by them.
It
348
PROSTITUTES.
It is fingular enough that Prior ſhould be recom-
mended to Queen Anne, to be her Ambaffador at
the Court of France, as being very converfant in
matters of trade and commerce. Prior was a very
high bred man, and made himſelf peculiarly agree-
able to Louis XIV. by this talent. He preſented
his College with a picture of himſelf, in a very fine
brocaded fuit of clothes; he there has very much
l'air noble; this picture has never been engraved.
2. At Wimpole, formerly the feat of Lord Oxford,
but fince in the poffeffion of Lord Hardwicke, there
was to be ſeen, a few years fince, a portrait of Mr.
Harley, the Speaker, in his robes of office. The
active part he took to bring forward the bill which
fettled the Crown on the Houfe of Hanover induced
him to have a ſcroll painted in his hands, bearing
the title of the bill; yet, ſoon after George I. ar-
rived in England, Harley was fent to the Tower.
This being told to Prior the poet, while he was view-
ing the above portrait, he took a pencil out of his
pocket, and wrote on the white part of the fcroll,
the date of the day on which Harley was committed,
and under it, this bill paid in full!
PROSTITUTES.
Charles the Great, endeavouring to clear Paris of
proſtitutes, ordered, that, wherever they were found,
they fhould be feverely fcourged; and that any enter-
taining them, or thoſe in whofe houſe they were found,
fhould
PROSTITUTES.
349
fhould carry them on their ſhoulders to the place of
execution; but experience foon manifefted that they
are a neceffary evil in great cities, and it was
thought adviſeable to tolerate them. They now began
to form a body, particular taxes were impoſed on
them, and they had their judges and their ſtatutes;
they were called femmes amoureufes, filles folles de leur
corps. Every year, on St. Magdalen's day, they
made a folemn proceffion; twelve ſtreets were affigned
for their habitation, in each of which they had a
clapier, i. e. a burrow, the cleanlineſs, conveniency,
and embelliſhment, of which were objects of emu-
lation among them; thither they were obliged to
repair at ten o'clock in the morning, and to quit it
on the couvre-feu bell tolling, that is, at fix in the
winter, and between eight and nine in the fummer;
they were not allowed to carry on their trade any
where elfe, not even at their own lodgings.
The Filles-Dieu had been founded fo early as the
year 1226, "for the relief of finners, who, after prof-
tituting their bodies all their life, were reduced to
beggary."
It was not till 1497 that the Filles Penitentes were
erected; their ftatutes, which the then Biſhop of
Paris condescended to draw up, will appear fomething
odd.
"No Nun fhall be admitted againſt her will, nor
any one who has not for fome time led a diffolute
life; and, to guard against any fraud or impofition,
they fhall, in the prefence of the mothers and fub-
mothers
350
PROSTITUTES.
{
mothers, be fearched by matrons, who fhall fwear
on the Holy Evangelift to make a juft and true
report.
"That young women may not go and proftitute
themſelves in order to be admitted, they, who have
been once refufed, on fearch fhall be excluded for
ever.
"Further, the candidates fhall be obliged to fwear,
under penalty of eternal damnation, that they did
not proſtitute themſelves with the view of getting
hereafter into this congregation; and warning fhall
be given them, that, fhould it ever come to light
that they had debauched themſelves with this inten-
tion, they ſhould no longer be accounted nuns of
this monaftery, even after profeffion and making
the vows.
"That women of ill life may not defer their con-
verfion, in the thoughts that the door will be always
open to them, none will be admitted above the
age of thirty."
This community was fometimes pretty numerous,
and hiſtory makes mention of a devout perfonage
who uſed to preach on horſe-back in the crofs-ways,
and had the fatisfaction to ſee eighty bad women
and three tax-gatherers converted at one of his
fermons. However, all places of public proftitu-
tion, after having been tolerated near four hundred
years, were fuppreffed by the Edict of Orleans
in 1560; yet this did not leffen the number of
proſtitutes, though their profeffion was no longer
con-
PYE.
351-
confidered as a calling; and the not allowing them
to be fome where obliged them to fpread themſelves
every where.
2. It appears from the Rev. Dr. Dodd's account
of the Magdalen, joined to his fermon in recom-
mendation of that charity, that, out of one hundred
girls, one ſeventh part had not feen their fifteenth
year, feveral were under fourteen, and one third
of the whole had been feduced before that age.
PYE, SIR THOMAS.
When this truly-gallant officer commanded as
a Commodore on the Leeward-iſland ſtation, he
became enamoured of the wife of a merchant who
lived in Antigua. Thofe, who remember the figure
of this extraordinary character will not be furpriſed
to learn that his addreffes were by no means
agreeable to the fair Creole; notwithſtanding which,
fuch was the perfevering fpirit of the vain Com-
modore, that he would not take any denial. At length
the lady made her huſband acquainted with the
attack meditated againſt her conjugal faith, and it
was determined between them that an affignation
ſhould be privately made, in which the amorous
Commodore fhould fuffer himſelf to be hoifted up
in a baſket. The happy moment arrived, (on the
evening the Commodore was dreffed for a ball in
his full uniform,) and he was elevated as he thought
to
352
QUACKS, &c.
to the feat of every earthly blifs, when, lo and
behold! he found himſelf fufpended half way between
the balcony and the ground, a laughing stock to
the numerous creoles and negroes who were pur-
pofely affembled the next morning at break of
day to behold the wonderful fpectacle!
QUACKS, VAGRANTS, AND MOUNTEBANKS.
In Edward the Sixth's reign, one Grig, a poulterer,
in Surry, was fet in the pillory at Croydon, and
again in the Borough of Southwark, during the time
of the fair, for cheating people out of their money,
by pretending to cure them by charms, by only looking
at the patient, or by cafting his water.
In the reign of King James I. the Council dif-
patched a warrant to the Magiftrates of the city
of London, to take up all reputed empirics, and
bring them before the Cenfors of the College, to
examine how properly qualified they were to be
truſted either with the limbs or lives of his Majeſty's
fubjects.
Dr. Lamb, a moft noted quack, and one whỏ
had got a large fortune by his pretended medicines,
was at laft obliged to confefs he knew nothing of
phyfic.
Read and Woodhouſe, two other contemporary
quacks, were likewife brought to juftice, and ac-
knowledged the fame.
In
QUIN.
353
In Stowe's Chronicle we meet with a relation of
a water-cafter being fet on horfeback, his face to
the horſe's tail, which he held in his hand, with a
collar of urinals about his neck, led by the hang-
man through the city, whipped, branded, and then
baniſhed.
However lenient we are at preſent, with refpect
to the notorious illiterate empirics who now infeſt
this nation, more care was taken formerly of the
conftitutions of the people; their health was not
ſuffered to be infected by thoſe poiſoners of whole
pariſhes.
Fairfax was fined and impriſoned in King
William's time for doing great damage to feveral
perfons by his Aqua Celeftis. One Anthony, with
his Aurum Potabile. Arthur Dee, for advertifing
medicines which he gave out would cure people
of all difeafes; Fofter, for felling a powder for the
green fickness; Tenant, a urine-cafter, who fold his
pills for fix pounds each; Aires, for felling purging
fugar-plumbs; Hunt was puniſhed for putting up bills
in the streets for the cure of diſeaſes; Philips, a
diftiller, for felling his ftrong water's, inferting in
the directions what they were good for, and how
perfons were to take them.
QUIN.
1. It has been faid that Mr. Quin was very deficient
in literature, and that he laughed at thofe who read
A A
books
i
354
QUIN.
books by way of inquiry after knowledge, faying, he
read men, that the world was the beſt book.-If this
were true, what an amazing ſtrength of natural parts
muſt he have been bleffed with, to be able to make the
figure he did as a man of fenfe and genius!
From the death of Mr. Booth, in the year 1733, to
the powerful appearance of Mr. Garrick, (a period of
ten or twelve years,) Mr. Quin was the firft in the
profeffion, and then began to make his fortune. It
has been faid his power was fo great as to demand
8ool. a year falary, which Mr. Rich was then obliged
to comply with! No wonder that at fuch a fortunate
juncture, he collected a fum fufficient to enable him to
retire to the full enjoyment of all the comforts and
bleffings of this life, for which no man had a higher
reliſh. He was an excellent companion, when kept
within proper bounds, and died with the character of
a fenfible, witty, honeſt, man.
The following very remarkable anecdote, relating
to this great actor, is well attefted.
His mother was a reputed widow, who had been
married to a perſon in the mercantile line, and who
left her in Ireland to purfue fome traffic, or particular
bufinefs, in the Weft-Indics. He had been abfent
from her near ſeven years, without having received
any
letter or the leaſt information, about him. He
was given out to be dead, which report was univerſally
credited; ſhe went into mourning for him; and fome
time after a gentleman, whofe name was Quin, who
had
1
QUIN.
355
had an eſtate of 1000l. a year, paid his addreffes to
her, and` married her; fhe bore him a ſon, and no
couple appeared more happy; but, in the midſt of
their happineſs, the firft hufband returned, claimed
his wife, and had her. Mr. Quin retired with his
fon, and at his death left him his eftate; but the
heir at law, hearing the ftory of our hero, foon reco-
vered the eſtate, and left young Quin to ſhift for him-
ſelf, in what manner his wit and genius would fuggeſt
to him; he foon took to the Stage, where he got both
fame and fortune, and counterbalanced, by his talents,
the untoward accident of his birth.
2. Mr. Quin wounded a young fellow flightly in
the hand, who had drawn upon him in a riot at the
ftage-door of Covent-Garden Theatre. The fpark,
preſently afterwards, made his appearance in one of
the balcony-boxes over the ftage-door. The play
was Macbeth, and in the fine foliloquy where he fees
the imaginary dagger, as Quin repeated, " And on
thy blade are drops of reeking blood!" the young man
bawled out, "Ay, reeking indeed! What does your
confcience prick you? You rafcal, that's my blood you
dréw juft now!" The actor, giving him a fevere fide-
glance, replied, juft loud enough to be heard by him,
"D---n your blood, I fay," and then, without the leaft
heſitation, went on with the fpeech, fo that the major
part of the audience fcarce noticed the interruption.
•
A A 2
RELIGION,
:
356
RETIREMENT.
C
}
{
RELIGION.
Religion viewed at a proper point of light hath a
very beautiful face. It is innocent, and very careful
not to hurt any body, or, doing it inadvertently, is un-
eaſy till it hath made him amends; it always means
well. If it offends, it wants to be reconciled, con-
feffes its fault, prays to be forgiven, is defirous to be
informed, is lefs adventurous, more circumfpect, fen-
fible of its own frailty, forgives every body, abounds
in good will, delights in good offices, keeps itſelf clean,
is pleaſed with itſelf, looks cheerful, is cheerful.-
Why then will any one be ſo indiſcreet, as to drefs this
lovely form in fuch a frightful manner as to terrify the
beholder, inftead of inviting him to embrace it?-Dr.
Newton's Sermon on the Minifterial Duty.
RETIREMENT.
1. The din of politics in all companies makes one
fometimes envy the Carthufian Monks, of whom it
is faid, "they lived a life of tranquillity amidſt the
general tumults which diftra&ted the reft of the world,
of which they hardly heard the rumours, and knew
nothing of the mighty fovereigns, but by name, when
they prayed for them."-Volt. Hift. iv. 128.
2. The
RICHLIEU.
357
་
2. The following fimile of the fame writer, upon a
fubject of the fame kind, is extremely juft and
beautiful.
"The artificers and merchants, whofe humble fta-
tion had protected them from the ambitious fury of
the great, were like ants who dug themſelves peacea-
ble and fecure habitations, while the eagles and vul-
tures of the world were tearing one another in
pieces."
3. "Although retirement is my dear delight, (fays
Melmoth,) yet upon fome occafions I think I have
too much of it, and I agree with Balzac, "Que la fo-
litude eft certainement une belle chofe, mais il y a plaifir
d'avoir quelqu'un à qui on puiffe dire de tems en tems que
la folitude eft une belle chofe."
"Solitude is certainly a fine thing, but there is a
pleaſure in having fome one whom we may tell from
time to time that folitude is a fine thing.---It is the
difadvantage of retirement and folitude, that men fall
into erroneous and fantaſtical opinions and fyftems,
for want of fifting and proving them in converfation
and friendly debate."
RICHLIEU, MARSHAL.
The late Marſhal RICHLIEU, who died at Paris,
was born in March, 1696. The day after his
birth, M. de Coulanges wrote thus to Madame de
Savigné.
पू
A A 3
“The
358
RICHLIEU.
"The Ducheſs of Richlieu has been fo very ill
theſe few days paft, that ſhe was brought to bed of a
fon in her feventh month.
A fever and a violent
The child, however, is
cough accelerated the birth.
full of life, and caufes as much joy to the Duke his
father as it does affliction to the Marquis. But will
it live?-It ſeems very doubtful." It is rather furpri-
fing then, that the Marſhal fhould have lived to fo
advanced an age, born, as he was, at feven months,
and being of fo delicate a conſtitution, that more
than once his life was defpaired of both in infancy
and youth. This longevity, however, is not
without example. A nun of the convent of Fonte-
vreaux lived 117 years, and being aſked, when ſhe
was 115, whether the thought in her youth ſhe ſhould
live fo long; "How could I cheriſh any ſuch thought,
faid fhe, when I was the moft ailing creature of all our
religious fociety!" But how different muſt be a
nun's peaceful, regulated, and tranquil, life, compared
with that of a Man of the World, a'Courtier, a Gene-
ral, and an Ambaffador. The Marfhal had been
married three times, and in three different reigns;-
in 1711, to Mlle de Noailles, by whom he had no
children; in 1735, to Mlle de Guife Lorraine, mo-
ther to the Duke of Fronfac;-and afterwards to
Mad. Duchemin, by whom he had no iffue. He was
received at the French Academy in 1720, in the room
of the Marquis de Dongean.
1
1
>
RICHLIEU,
RIGBY.
359
}
}
RICHLIEU, ALPHONSO DE,
Cardinal de Lyons, Brother of the great Cardinal
Richlieu.
On his death-bed he ordered his body to be buried
in the chapel of an hoſpital at Lyons, with this in-
ſcription, Pauper natus fum, paupertatem novi, pauper
morior, & inter pauperes fepeliri valo.
1
RIGBY.
1. Whether this gentleman's general and unreſerved
avowal of his political motives aroſe from a ſtern un-
equivocal honeſty, or from a mind of the moſt aban-
doned depravity, may amufe the curious of the pre-
fent, and perhaps of a future, age. The fcene of
Litchfield horfe-courfe, which raifed him to the partial
protection that proved the fource of his uncommon
fortune, is fo univerfally known, that it would be
defervedly confidered as an act of impertinence to
offer another repetition of it. Whatever merit
he might have had with Government for his effron-
tery in P
it was to his artful management of
the Bedford party that he owed the poffeffion of an
employment that brought him immenfe wealth. His
chief talent was ridicule, which he employed with great
fuccefs and in abundance, where ridicule ought very
1
A A 4
fparingly
360
ROBERTSON:
fparingly to be employed, in the Houfe of Commons.
—In private life, he was of a cheerful, lively, convivial,
difpofition; and he owed to the corruption, as well as
the misfortunes, of his country, that he became one of
the wealthieft men in it.
2. When Mr. Rigby was in Ireland, being in a
jolly party, where drinking was the topic of converfa-
tion, he was challenged by an Iriſh nobleman to a
match at claret for twenty guineas. Mr. Rigby at firſt
declined it, but, finding the Irifhman triumph in his
unwillingneſs to engage, he was at laſt provoked to ac-
cept it. He met the Irish Nobleman, and two dozen of
claret were introduced; the firſt dozen went off very
well, but, upon entering on the fecond, the Noble-
man's tongue began to faulter, and he fell under the
table. Mr. Rigby called up the landlord, had the
Peer put to bed, and finiſhed the remainder of his
liquor with the hoft. Next day, meeting his antago-
nift, his Lordſhip acknowledged he had loft, and was
going to pay the twenty guineas. "No, my Lord,"
faid Rigby, "it was two to one againſt you, and you
know the odds in liquor always lofe, where the
bubble is not barred."
ROBERTSON, DR.
1. For fome years before his death he was afflicted
with a periodical deafnefs, when he devoted his time
to
RODNEY,
361
to writing. When his hearing returned, he returned
to fociety; he pre-eminently excelled in converfation.
His first production was a moft admirable fermon
on the ſtate of the world, at the time of the birth of
Chrift.
2. Long accuſtomed to learned fociety, it was his
practice to record in a common place book the anec-
dotes and ingenious converſation of the day, and he
was fo happy in introducing theſe anecdotes into con-
verfation, that, whether he affociated with lawyers,
foldiers, or merchants, all of them left the company,
impreffed with an idea that he had made their pro-
feffion his peculiar ftudy.
RODNEY, LORD.
This gallant nobleman was but a little time previous
to his fplendid victories fo much embarraffed, that
he found it convenient to quit the capital of his own
country, and take up his refidence in that of France.
At the commencement of the late war, he hap-
pened to expreſs an ardent wifh to return to England,
as it is faid, in the preſence of the Duc de Biron, who,
finding that the Admiral reſted the hopes of reſtoring
his affairs on his obtaining a Command, and that his
debts at Paris, to a large amount, were the only ob-
ftacles to his defign, generoufly took the latter upon
himſelf, and reſtored the gallant officer to his country.
His
362
ROKEBY.
His fubfequent fucceffes and rapid change of for-
tune, being connected with and making fo great a
part of the glory of his country, are known to the
whole world. His own nation has been grateful to
him; and, though unblufhing faction lifted her voice
for a ſeaſon, not a leaf of his laurels loft their verdure,
and his name will be enrolled with the firft of thofe
men who have fought and conquered for their coun-
try. Although one of the old ftock of Admirals, whofe
rough profeffional ſkill and hardy bravery formed the
whole of their accompliſhments, yet he poffeffed a
diftinguifhing elegance of manners.
ROKEBY, LORD.
LORD ROKEBY is upwards of eighty years of age;
for the laft twelve he has let his beard grow; it reaches
to his middle, and gives him the air of a Patriarch: he
is conftantly clothed in a fuit of the coarſeft woollen
yarn: his food is principally compofed of raw beef-
fteaks, (over which boiling water is poured every
morning for breakfaſt,) after having been in the cold
bath, where he daily immerges, let the weather be
ever fo cold. The excellence of his private character
makes him beloved in the neighbourhood where he
refides, about 16 miles from Canterbury, to which
place he frequently walks. During the American
war, his Lordfhip publiſhed a pamphlet, which was
much read. His great political experience makes his
obfervations worthy the moſt reſpectful attention.
ROSS.
ROSS.
363
ROSS, WALTER.
The late Mr. Ross, or, as he was called, honeft
Watty Roſs, was a genius of a moſt ſingular caſt, and
his peculiarities never forfook him during life; he
gave directions to his executors to inter his body in a
grave in the neighbourhood of his own houſe, where-
in fome years before a labourer diſcovered a male and
female ſkeleton, which appeared to have laid there
many years. They were fuppofed to have been the
fkeletons of two lovers who were fuddenly overwhelm-
ed by the fall of the bank, beneath which they were
fitting. There was an obfcure tradition of the cir-
cumſtance having happened, and the following lines
were written in commemoration of the event;
Beneath this ftone two lovers reft,
Reader, reſtrain thy tears,
For happineſs, it is confeft,
Lies not in length of years.
Fate, finding it beyond his power
Their tranſport to increaſe,
Refolved that no fucceeding hour
Should ever make it lefs.
ROSS, DAVID.
Mr. DAVID Ross, the actor, is a memorable ex-
ample of the viciffitudes of human life. This gentle-
man,
'
+
364
ROUSSEAU.
man, in the younger part of his days, was the fa-
vorite of the fair, and the delight of every convivial
fociety he frequented.
In his theatrical profeffion too, he enjoyed a very
confiderable portion of public favour in the foremoſt
characters of the drama, even at the zenith of Garrick's
fame, and during the beſt exhibitions. of Garrick's
wonderful powers.
Mr. Rofs poffeffed his faculties in great vigour,
and, in parts adapted to his time of life, would cer-
tainly have been an effential ſupport to the ftage, and
all his efforts to procure an engagement proved
ineffectual.
yet
2
He was difinherited by his father for going upon
the ſtage; but had the happineſs to retain the regard of
a number of his fchool, fellows, among whom were
Lord Stormont, Lord Onflow, Lord Sondes, the Bar-
ringtons, &c. &c.
ROUSSEAU.
1. Mr. Burke, in his developement of this eccentric
character, attributes his popularity to ſome fecret
charm in his ſtyle, felt only by thofe to whom his
language is native.
The great author of the reflections has, we think,
been diverted by political indignation from a juft
judgment upon a philological queftion. We fhall
fubjoin a fhort extract, which we think any Engliſh-
man
1
ROUSSEAU.
365
man will find, without difficulty, to be fublime; he
will confefs too that the charms are not fecret, though
in tranflation they may be unattainable.
THE INVOCATION TO THE LEVITE OF
EPHRAIM.
"Sainte colere de la vertu, viens animer ma voix!
Je dirai les crimes de Benjamin, et les vengeances
d'Ifrael; je dirai des forfaits et des châtimens encore
plus terribles. Mortels, reſpectez la beauté, les
mœurs, l'hofpitalité; foyez juftes fans cruauté, mifé-
ricordieux fans foibleffe; et fachez pardonner au
coupable plutôt que de punir l'innocent."
Every body, who knew any thing of the powers of
the late Mr. Maty, will have known that he was
rarely accuſtomed to mifs what was attainable by fine
tafte and great command of language. Read the fol-
lowing inadequate attempt to transfuſe the French of
the philofopher of Geneva into Engliſh :-
TRANSLATION.
"Holy Spirit of Virtue, defcend from heaven,
and teach my lips what they are to fing! I will declare
the crimes of Benjamin, and the vengeance which
Ifrael took of them; I will tell of guilt till this time
unheard of, and of puniſhment more unheard of ſtill.
Ye mortals, love virtue, refpe&t beauty, revere
hofpitality; be juft without being cruel; be merciful
without being weak; and learn rather to pardon the
guilty
366
ROUSSEAU.
guilty than to involve the innocent in his condemna-
tion."
He, who does not feel the fuperiority of the ori-
ginal, and cannot put his finger upon the expreffions
which create it, has neither tafte nor feeling in what
relates to ftyle.
!
2. Rouſſeau having one day' walked with St.
Pierre to Mount Valerien, when they had reached
the fummit of the mountain, they afked a dinner of
its hermit. They arrived at their habitation a little
before they fat down to table, and while they were
ftill at church, Rouffeau propoſed they ſhould ſtep
in and offer up their devotions, which, having done,
Rouffeau faid to St. Pierre, "At this moment I ex-
perience what is faid in the Gofpel; where two or
three are gathered together in my name, there am I in
the midst of them." St. Pierre faid to him, " If Fe-
nelon had lived, you would have been a Catholic ;"
he exclaimed in an extacy, "Oh! if Fenelon were
in life, I would ftudy to get into his fervice as his
lacky, in hopes I fhould in time merit the place of
his valet-de-chambre."
}
3. A Letter of Rouffeau to his Bookfeller at the
SIR,
Hague.
t
I am very forry for that embarraffment which you
tell me you lie under, on account of the Savoyard's
Creed,
ROUSSEAU.
1
367
Creed, inferted in my Emilius; but I declare to you
again, once for all, that no power on earth, no cen-
fure, no threats, no violence, fhall ever prevail on me
to ſuppreſs a fyllable of what I have written. As
you did not think it neceffary to confult me with re-
gard to the contents of my manufcript, when you
treated for the copy, you have no right to make ap-
plication to me now, on account of the obftacles you
may meet with to its publication; eſpecially as the
bold truths, ſcattered up and down in my other
works, might very naturally fuggeft to you, that this
was by no means exempted from the like. I am
aftoniſhed you ſhould ever conceive that a man, who
takes ſo many precautions that his works may not
be altered after his deceaſe, would permit them to be
mutilated during his life-time.
With refpect to the ſeveral reaſons you have urged,
you might have ſpared yourſelf that trouble, by fup-
pofing that I had myſelf reflected on what was proper
to be done. You tell me, that I am cenfured even
by perfons of my own way of thinking. But this
cannot poffibly be; for I, who certainly am of my
own way of thinking, approve what I have done;
nor is there any action of my whole life with which
my heart is more perfectly fatisfied. In afcribing
glory to God, and endeavouring to promote the
real good of mankind, I have done my duty. Whe-
ther they profit by it, or not; whether they approve
or blame me for my conduct in fo doing, concerns
me not; I would not give a ſtraw to convert their
cen-
{
368
.RUSSEL.
1
cenfure into applaufe. As for the reft, to take things
in the worst light, what can the world do to me
more than the infirmities of my nature will very
Speedily do of themſelves? The public can neither
confer nor deprive me of my reward: this depends
not on any human power. You fee, therefore, that
my meaſures are taken, let what will happen; for
which reafon, I would advife you to prefs me no
farther on the fubject; as every thing you can pof-
fibly advance will be abfolutely to no purpoſe.
Yours, &c.
J. J. ROUSSEAU.
RUSSEL, LORD.
1. Lord Ruffel was married to Rachel, daughter to
the Earl of Southampton, a lady of very diftinguiſhed
merit, and paffionately beloved by him. During
his trial and impriſonment fhe behaved with moſt
heroic conftancy and refolution; and when, if he
would have turned informer, and given evidence
againſt the other perfons accufed, he had affurance
given of his life, fhe, it is faid, greatly adviſed him to
reject the infamous propofal, faying that, though his life
was dear, very dear to her, yet his honor was fill
dearer. By her he had one fon, great grandfather
to the preſent Duke of Bedford, and two daughters.
When he took his laft farewel of them, « Now,"
fays he, "the bitterneſs of death is paſt."
The
RUSSEL.
369
The Earl of Bedford, it is ſaid, offered 100,000l.
to the Ducheſs of Portſmouth, the King's favourite
miſtreſs, to fave his fon's life, but to no purpoſe,
the King being inexorable. Such virtue as Lord
Ruffel's was not fit to live in fuch a reign as that
of Charles II.
2. When Lord Ruffel was on the fcaffold, and
preparing to be beheaded, he took his watch out
of his pocket, and gave it to Dr. Burnet, who
affifted his devotions, with this obfervation: "My
time-piece may be of fervice to you: I have no fur-
ther occafion for it. My thoughts are fixed on eter-
nity."
RUSSEL, LADY.
LETTER from LADY RUSSEL to DR. FITZWILLIAM,
written about two Months after her Lord was be-
headed.
I need not tell you, good Doctor, how little ca-
pable I have been of ſuch an exerciſe as this. You
will foon find how unfit I am ftill for it, fince my
yet-diſordered thoughts can offer me no other than
fuch words as exprefs the deepeſt forrows, and con-
fuſed as my yet-amazed mind is. But fuch men aş
you, and particularly one fo much my friend, will
B B
}
I know,
370
RUSSEL.
I know, bear with my weaknefs and compaffionate
my diſtreſs, as you have already done by your good
letter and excellent prayer., I endeavour to make
the beſt uſe I can of both, but I am fo evil and
unworthy a creature, that, though I have defires, yet
I have no difpofitions or worthinefs towards re-
ceiving comfort. You that knew us both, and how
we lived, muſt allow I have juſt cauſe to bewail my
lofs: I know it is common with others to lofe a friend;
but to have lived with fuch a one, it may be quef-
tioned how few can glory in the like happineſs, fo
confequently lament the like lofs. Who can but
ſhrink at ſuch a blow, till, by the mighty aids of his
Holy Spirit, we will let the gift of God, which he
hath put into our hearts, interpofe? That reaſon
which fets a meafure to our fouls in profperity will
then fuggeft many things which we have feen and
heard, to moderate us in fuch fad circumſtances as
mine: but, alas! my underſtanding is clouded, my
faith weak, ſenſe ftrong, and the devil buſy to fill
my thoughts with falfe notions, difficulties, and
doubts, as of a future condition*,
of
prayer but this I hope to make matter of humilia-
tion, not fin. Lord, let me underftand the reafon
of thefe dark and wounding providences, that I fink
not under the difcouragements of my thoughts: I
know I have deſerved my puniſhment, and will be
filent under it; but yet fecretly my heart mourns,
* Words torn off.
too
RUSSEL.
371
too fadly I fear, and can't be comforted, becauſe I
have not the dear companion and fharer of all my
joys and forrows. I want him to talk with, to walk
with, to eat and fleep with; all theſe things are irk-
ſome to me now; the day unwelcome, and the night
fo too; all company and meals I would avoid, if it
might be; yet all this is, that I enjoy not the world
in my own way, and this fure hinders my comfort:
when I fee my children before me, I remember the
pleaſure he took in them; this makes my heart
fhrink. Can I regret his quitting a leffer good for
a bigger? Oh! if I did ftedfaftly believe, I could not
be dejected; for I will not injure myſelf to fay, I
offer my mind any inferior confolation to ſupply
this lofs. No, I moft willingly forfake this world,
this vexatious troubleſome world, in which I have
no other bufinefs but to rid my foul from fin, ſe-
cure by faith and a good confcience my eternal in-
terefts, with patience and courage bear my eminent
misfortunes, and ever hereafter be above the ſmiles
and frowns of it; and, when I have done the rem-
nant of the work appointed me on earth, then joyfully
wait for the heavenly perfection in God's good time,
when by his infinite mercy I may be accounted
worthy to enter into the fame place of reſt and
comfort where he is gone, for whom only I grieve.
I do*
fear. From that contemplation.
muſt come my beſt ſupport. Good Doctor, you
will think, as you have reaſon, that I fet no bounds
* Words torn off.
B B 2
when
372
RUTLAND.
F
1
1
when I let myſelf looſe to my complaints, but I will
releaſe you, firſt fervently aſking the continuance of
your prayers for
!
Your infinitely afflicted,
but very faithful, fervant,
1
Wobourn Abbey, 30 Sept. 1683.
R. RUSSEL.
RUTLAND, DUKE OF, THE LATE.
When his Grace was at Trinity-College, Cam-
bridge, he had a violent rheumatic fever, which re-
duced him fo low, he thought he ſhould not live;
his only brother, Lord Robert Manners, was then
in the navy, which fervice he thought very hazar-
dous to the life of his fucceffor; he, therefore, told
his brother, if he would retire from the ſervice, he
would give him his houfe at Cheveley, and 4000l.
per annum with it, the better half of his income at
that time. Lord Robert refufed the offer, faying,
he would never rob his family, nor lounge away his
time at home, when he could be of fervice to his
country abroad. His Lordfhip continued in the
fervice till the 12th of April, 1782, when he was
killed in action: his Grace, on receiving the melan-
choly news, was ftupified with grief, and a long time
inconfolable.
SACCHINI.
SACCHINI.
373
SACCHINI.
Antony M. Gaſpar Sacchini was born at Naples
in 1734. He was brought up in the * Conſervatory
of Loretto, where he began to learn the violin,
which he foon touched with exquifite delicacy. To
this may be imputed the brilliancy and vivacity ob-
fervable in all the inftrumental parts of his compofi-
tions. He foon difcovered a wonderful genius for
the thorough bafs, and compofed very early fome
charming and popular airs. The celebrated Du-
rante, who was his maſter, faid to him one day,
"You will, I forefee, be a great mafter, my boy,
and ſeem deſtined by nature to irradiate northern
regions with the rays of our charming fcience;"
alluding to his intention of fending mufic-mafters
into Hungary, where Durante had lived five years
under the protection of Prince Eſterhazi, who deſired
him to fend fome of his pupils thither, to reform
the bad taſte of the people in vocal mufic. The
moment Sacchini left the Confervatory, he compoſed
fome operas with fuccefs. His firft was L'Ifola
d'Amore, which was tranflated into French (the
words adapted to the mufic) under the title of La
Colonie. Soon after, he went to Brunfwick, where
he ſtaid four years, and then returned to Italy. At
Naples, Rome, and Venice, he compofed Semiramis,
Artaxerxes, Andromache, Cræfus, Etius, the Olympiad,
Armida, and Adrian. Thefe were his principal
* A public boarding ſchool for teaching mufic.
B B 3
ferious
374
SAILORS.
+
ferious operas. Among the comic ones,* La Con-
tadina in Corie, which had fo great a run in London,
and has been elegantly tranflated by Signor Povoleri,
was reckoned his beft,Through the means of Guar-
dueci, he was engaged by the managers of the
opera in London, where he continued twelve years.
His Tamerlane, Angono, Perfeus, Montezuma, and
Eriphile, are ftill, and will be for ever, admired.
He excelled in the art of charming the ear (particu-
larly an Engliſh one) by melodious rondeaus, and his
choruffes are allowed by the fevereft judges to be.
mafter pieces of compofition. The grandly-folemn
mufic of Renaud and Dardanus is enthufiaftically ad-
mired by the French. His Chimene always brings a
crowded houſe, and the connoiffeurs fcruple not to
compare it with Piccini's Dido. The Oedipe à Ca-
lonne charmed the Court of Verfailles.
He has left behind him an opera, called Evelina,
unfiniſhed, but who will dare to add a line to the
compofitions of fo great a maſter!
SAILORS.
1. Some time about the year 1780, one Mr.
Conftable, of Woolwich, paffing through the church-
yard of that place at twelve o'clock at night, was fur-
priſed to hear a loud noife like that of feveral per-
*Ninette à la Cour, or the Country-Girl at Court, of which
Veftris made a ballet.
fons
SAILORS.
375
fons finging; at firft he thought it proceeded from
the church, but on going to the church-doors, he
found them faft fhut, and all within filent: the noiſe
continuing, he looked round the church-yard, and
obferved a light in one of the large family-tombs,
and going up to it, found fome drunken failors had
got into a vault, and were regaling themfelves with
bread, cheeſe, tobacco, and ftrong beer.-They
told him, they belonged to the Robuft man of war,
and that, having refolved to ſpend a jolly night on
ſhore, they had kept it up at a neighbouring ale-
houſe till they were turned out by the landlord, and
were obliged to take fhelter there to finish their even-
ing. In their jollity, they had opened fome of the
coffins, and crammed the mouth of one of the bodies
with bread, cheeſe, and beer. Mr. Conftable with
great difficulty prevailed on them to return to their
ſhip. In their way thither, one of them, being much
in liquor, fell down, and was fuffocated in the mud,
on which his comrades took him upon their fhoulders,
and carried him back to fleep in company with the
honeft gemmen with whom he had paffed the evening.
2. A failor on board a ſhip of war being fre-
quently drunk, the Captain affured him, the next
time he was guilty of that offence he fhould be
feverely whipped, and at the fame time forbid the
Purfer, and all other perfons, letting him have any
liquor. Shortly after, this fellow appeared again
drunk; how he got the liquor no one could guefs.
B B 4
The
376
SARTINE.
The Captain refolved to find out and puniſh the
perfon who had thus difobeyed his order, and pro-
miſed to forgive him if he would tell how he got the
liquor after fome heſitation, he hickupped out,-
"Why, and pleaſe your Honor,-I TAPPED THE
GOVERNOR!"-by which he meant, that he had ſtolen
fome of the arrack in which the body of an Eaſt-
India Governor was bringing home in the fhip for
interment in England,
SARTINE.
M. De Sartine, late Miniſter of the Marine for
France, was for a long time Lieutenant of the
Police in Paris, in which deteftable fituation he
conducted himſelf with great honour and probity.
A valet-de-chambre of the Duke of Choiffeul, wifh-
ing to make a connexion with a very beautiful wife
of a grocer at París, procured from his mafter a
lettre de cachet for the huſband, which he carried to
M. de Sartine, then Lieutenant de Police.
This excellent and fagacious Magiftrate, who was
acquainted with the grocer, and knew him to be a
perfectly honeſt and quiet man, began to ſmell a
rat: he, however, told the valet-de-chambre to leave
his lettre de cachet with him, and he would have it
ſerved upon the grocer the next night; in the inte-
rim he ordered the grocer to come to his houſe,
and adviſed him to quit Paris immediately, for two
or
SARTINE.
377
or three days, for reafons which he was not then at
liberty to tell him.
The grocer did as he was defired, and the next
evening the valet-de-chambre came to the grocer's
houſe, to enjoy, as he thought, his miſtreſs in all
fecurity: at midnight, however, the officers of the
police broke open the door of the houſe, and arreſted
the valet-de-chambre, who was in bed with the gro-
cer's wife. He perfifted in ſaying, that he was not
the perſon they took him to be; that he was not the
grocer; that he was valet-de-chambre to the Duke
de Choiffeul. At all this, however, they laughed,
and paid no regard, (as excufes of the kind are fo
often made,) and took him with them to the Bicêtre,
where, by M. de Sartine's order, he was kept to
hard labour, and fed upon bread and water for ten
days, with an exprefs order, that he fhould not
write to any one within that time. At laft, how-
ever, he procured pen and paper, and wrote to his
mafter, to inform him how cruelly he had been
treated. The Duke de Choiffeul, in a great paffion,
fent for M. de Sartine, and reprimanded him very
fmartly for having thus ufed his fervant. The
Lieutenant de Police pleaded complete ignorance
of the bufinefs, and told the Duke, that he had his
orders to take up the grocer, which he had done at
the dead of night, and that he was fure there could
be no mistake, as his people had told him particu-
larly that they found him in bed with his wife,
and were fure he could be no one elſe. The fer-
vant
378
SHAFTESBURY.
vant was releaſed, and moſt probably never after-
wards applied for a lettre de cachet on a fimilar oc-
cafion.
SERPENTS.
The effects of their poiſon are wonderful, as of
that called the Copperhead. A man ftung by one
became like a ferpent; fpots of various colours
alternately appeared and vanifhed on different parts
of his body; rage filled his eyes, which darted the
moft menacing looks on all prefent; he thrust out
his tongue as ſnakes do, and hiffed through his teeth
with inconceivable force.—A ſtriking picture of our
great Adverſary, and the manner in which, by his
fuggeſtions, he acts on the human mind, and fills it
with his own temper and difpofition.-See Hector
St. John's Letters.-Letter 10.
SHAFTESBURY, EARL.
Having been taken ill in a tour through Italy, he
ftopped at an inn, and fancied he could eat fome
veal it was Lent, and the Landlady did not dare
drefs meat without a difpenfation; fhe therefore ap-
plied to the Prieft, telling him the quality and fitua-
tion of her gueft; the Prieft granted the difpenfation,
faying, that his Lordship might eat meat AND BE
DAMNED.
SHEBBEARE.
SHEBBE ARE.
379
SHEBBEARE, DOCTOR.
When Lord Melcombe (then Bubb Doddington)
was in the train of the late Princeſs Dowager of Wales,
he obſerved one day a pamphlet lying in one of the
anti-chambers, which, upon perufal, he found reflected
very ſharply on many of the characters and intrigues
of the Court. The Princefs faw him reading it, and
alked him what he thought of it? He replied, "That
it was a very artful libellous performance, and might
occafion fome prejudices againſt her Royal Highneſs's
fervants, if not immediately anfwered; and if your
Royal Highneſs (faid he) will permit me to take
it home, I believe I could anfwer it myſelf." The
Princeſs returned him thanks for his kindneſs, and
he took the book with him.
However, not having time, or perhaps inclination,
to be as good as his promife, he fent for Dr. Sheb-
beare, (with whom he had fome intimacy, and whom
he knew to be an author by profeffion,) and told him
if he had leifure to fit down and anfwer that pam-
phlet, he would be obliged to him, and he fhould be
well paid into the bargain. Shebbeare, running his
eye rather carelefsly over the book, faid it fhould
be done. "Aye, but (ſays Doddington) I wiſh to
have it done well, as I have undertaken it immedi-
ately under the fanction of the Princefs; and to tell
you the truth, though I have a very good opinion of
your
380
SHEBBE ARE.
1
your general knowledge, I am afraid you do not rea-
dily fee the jut of this fellow's reafoning." Shebbeare,
a little nettled at this, threw down the book in a kind
of paffion, and exclaimed, "Why, z-ds, this
is confounded harfh cenfure, not to allow an author
to underſtand his own work."-" What do you mean?”
fays Doddington, quite aftoniſhed." Why, I mean
to fay, it was I wrote this pamphlet, and therefore I
think I know how beft to anfwer it."
2. A Scotchman one day bragging in Shebbeare's
company, that it was a countryman of his that had
the honour of inventing the compafs, Shebbeare took
his part againſt the reft who differed from him, and
faid he could further tell them the occafion of it. The
Scotchman feemed much pleafed at having fo good
an advocate, when Shebbeare proceeded as follows:
"Whilft a Captain of a fhip was coafting it with
all that caution which was neceffary before the in-
vention of the compafs, a ftorm fuddenly fprang up,
and drove him out to fea. Not knowing where he
was, and expreffing his concern for the fafety of
the ſhip, a Scotchman, among the crew, bid him
not be under fo much uneafinefs, for he could at
leaft tell him in what direction they were.
that will do fomething," fays the Captain.
here it is, mon, (fays the Scotchman, pulling a louſe
out of his head, and placing it on a fheet of white pa-
per,) watch that fellow's motions well, for I'll be
dd if ever you faw a Scotch loufe that did not
always travel fouth."
" Well,
"Then
SHERLOCK,
SHREWSBURY.
381
}
SHERLOCK, BISHOP.
The perſon who communicates this had the honour
for many years of knowing the Biſhop intimately, and
was often invited to dine with him. It chanced one
of the times was on a Sunday, when the Athenafian
Creed was appointed to be read; and as he remem-
bers about 1751-2, the Gentleman who read
prayers
ufually dined with the Bifhop on Sundays, as he did
that day. As foon as dinner was over and the ſer-
vants withdrawn, the Biſhop faid, "Sir, you forgot
the day I believe, (I think it was St. John the Baptiſt,)
and omitted the ufual creed." The Reader feemed
abaſhed, and begged his Lordship's pardon, when the
Biſhop ſtopped his apology by faying, "Sir, I am
not at all offended at the omiffion of the Athenafian
Creed, and if you always forget it I fhall never be
forry for it; it is indefenfible."
1
Mr. Whiſton and Dr. Clarke were of the fame
opinion.
SHREWSBURY, COUNTESS.
She was the daughter of John Hardwick, of Hard-
wick, in the County of Derby, by Elizabeth, the
daughter of Thomas Leeke, of Loafland, in the fame
county, Efq. and in proceſs of time became cohei-
reſs of his fortune by the death of her brother, with-
out
882
SHREWSBURY.
out children. When fhe was fcarce fourteen, fhe was
• married to Robert Barley, of Barley, in the county
of Derby, Efq. a young Gentleman of a large eftate,
all which he fettled abfolutely upon her, on their
marriage; and, by his death without iffue, fhe came
into poffeffion of it on the 2d of February, 1532.
After remaining a widow about twelve years, fhe
married Mr. Cavendifh, by whom fhe had Henry
Cavendish, Efq. who was poffeffed of confiderable
eftates in Derbyſhire, but fettled at Tutbury, in Staf-
fordſhire; William Cavendish, the firft Earl of De-
vonſhire; and Charles Cavendish, who fettled at
Walbeck, in Nottinghamshire, father of William,
Baron Ogle, and Duke of Newcaſtle; and three
daughters, Frances, who married Sir Henry Pierr-
pont, of Holm Pierrpont, in the county of Notting-
ham, from whom the Dukes of Kingfton are de-
fcended; Elizabeth, who efpoufed Charles Stuart,
Earl of Lenox, (younger brother to the father of
King James I.) and Mary, afterwards Countefs of
Shrewſbury. After the death of Sir William Caven-
diſh, this prudent lady, confenting to become a third
time a wife, married Sir William St. Lowe, Captain
of the Guard to Queen Elizabeth, who had a large
eftate in Glouceflerfhire; which, in articles of mar-
riage, fhe took care fhould be fettled on her, and her
own heirs, in default of iffue: and accordingly, hav-
ing no child by him, fhe lived to enjoy his whole
eftate, excluding as well his brothers, who were heirs
male, as his own female iffue by a former lady. In
this
SHREWSBURY.
·383
per-
this third widowhood, the charms of her wit and
fon captivated the then greateſt ſubject of the realm,
George Talbot, Earl of Shrewſbury, whom the
brought to terms of the greateſt honor and advan-
tage to herſelf and children; for he not only yielded
to a confiderable jointure, but to an union of fami-
lies, by taking Mary, her youngest daughter, to be
the wife of Gilbert, his ſecond ſon, and afterwards
his heir; and giving the Lady Grace, his youngeſt
daughter, to Henry, her eldeft fon. On November
18, 1590, fhe was a fourth time left, and to death
continued a widow. "A change of condition (ſays
Biſhop Kennet) that perhaps never fell to any one
woman, to be four times a creditable and happy wife;
to rife by every huſband into greater wealth and
higher honors; to have a numerous iffue by one
huſband only; to have all thofe children live; and
all, by her advice, to be honorably and creditably
difpofed of in her life-time; and, after all, to live.
ſeventeen years a widow, in abfolute power and
plenty." She died on the 13th of February, 1607,
when ſhe was upwards of 90 years of age, although
it is faid by mistake, in the infcription on her tomb-
ftone, in Allhallows-church, Derby, where ſhe was
buried, that ſhe died in her 87th year.
This Countess Dowager of Shrewſbury built three
of the moſt elegant feats that were ever raiſed by one
hand within the fame county, Chatfworth, Hardwick,
and Oldcotes. It must not be forgotten that this
lady had the honour to be the keeper of Mary, Queen
of
384.
SHYNESS.
of Scots, who was committed prifoner to George,
Earl of Shrewſbury, feventeen years; and it was
ſuſpected by ſome perfons, that there was too much
familiarity between the Earl of Shrewſbury and the
captive Queen; and the Countefs herſelf is faid to
have been ſomewhat jealous, on account of the in-
timacy there appeared between them.
SHYNESS.
Mr. Loveday uſed to ftyle it the English madness;
if indulged, it may be the cauſe of madneſs, by dri-
ving men to fhun company and live in folitude, which
few heads are ſtrong enough to bear; none if it be
joined with idleneſs. Or it may be the effect of mad-
nefs, which is miſanthropic and malignant. Some fay
pride is always at the bottom. You do not like com-
Why? You are con-
difqualifies you from
pany; you are uneafy in it.
ſcious of fome infirmity which
fhining and making that figure you wiſh to do; and
others excel you in breeding, converſation, and the
arts of pleafing; you feel felf-abaſement and vexa-
tion at being thus abaſhed and kept under; you fly
from the ſcene of torment, hating your tormentors,
and abufing them either to yourſelf or in ſociety of an
inferior fort, among thofe who will join you, hav-
ing perhaps fuffered the fame or worse; and fo you
believe and comfort one another, All this, I am
afraid
SLAVE-TRADE.
385
afraid, is too true. An Engliſhman is upon the re-
ferve, according to Mrs. Piozzi, by way of fecurity,
left he ſhould fay fomething open to the cenfure and
ridicule of others, and ſo his character ſhould ſuffer.
This is upon the fame principle; and fo, if he cannot
fay fomething fine and witty, and worthy himself,
he fits fullen and fays nothing. Thus a whole com-
pany, among us, is often filent for a confiderable
time together, till they wifh themſelves and one ano-
ther farther. The Italians, it ſeems, talk freely and
eafily all that occurs, having no fuch thoughts and
fears. A Frenchman (fays Ganganelli) is fuperficial
and lively; an Engliſhman profound and gloomy.
SLAVE-TRADE.
A Slave's Muzzle.
1. Notwithſtanding the recommendation of the
word of God, not to muzzle even the ox when he
treadeth out the corn, nor to rebuke the needy
paffenger who plucks an ear of wheat for his neceffity,
yet in Jamaica and other iſlands the poor African,
whofe lot is caft in the moſt ſevere of all cafes, (hard
labour, without pity or reward,) is not fuffered, though
hungry, to taſte the growing work that ripens under
his hand; befides the threat, the terror of the laſh,
and even its feverer fmart, are not enough to fatisfy
the planter's avarice; his mouth muſt be muzzled.
сс
The
386
SPENCER.
The muzzle is of iron; an oval rim, half an inch
broad, furrounds the face, the lower part of which, as
high as the bottom of the noſe, is filled up with a thin
plate of iron, which runs into the mouth, and preffes
down the tongue. The mafk is thus faftened on the
head: from the forehead runs an iron, as bread as the
above rim, down the ſhape of the head, behind the
collar-bone, where it meets two fimilar rims that come
from the bottom near the cheeks, round the neck, and
join behind through an eye in the back rim, whereon
is fixed a padlock, the weight of which is difcre-
tionary.
This muzzle too has another ufe; it prevents the
flave being heard when writhing under the ſeverity
of the lafh.
2. A cauſe was argued in the King's Bench not
long fince, in which a Gentleman concerned in the
African trade was plaintiff: he enfured property (i. e.)
human beings, (SLAVES,) to the amount of 10,000l.
and having unfortunately loft it, (i. e. 10,000l. worth
of human beings,) brought an action againſt the Un-
der-writers for the indemnity.
Can the God of Mercy protect with his providence
a land that makes fuch a trade the fubject of a law-
fuit!!
SPENCER, JOHN, ESQ.
The late John Spencer, Efq. was a man of ſenſe,
humour, and wit, very fingular in his dreſs, and very
determined
SPENCER.
387
•
determined in his actions. In the morning he walked
the ſtreets in a Tyburn wig, with an oak ſtick and a
little couteau de chaſſe, under a plain brown frock.—
In this manner, fallying forth one morning, à voir le
monde, a butcher's dog, not liking his phiz, flew at
him, and ſhook him ſo foundly by the coat, that Mr.
Spencer (then commonly called Jack Spencer) drew
forth his couteau, and ſtabbed the dog. The enraged
butcher, not thinking it quite fafe to attack a man fo
ftout and well armed at both points as Mr. Spencer
then was, determined rather to dog the affaffin, which
Mr. Spencer perceiving, he went into the firft ale-
houſe, and called for a pot of porter, in order to give
the butcher time to take fuch meaſures as he thought
more prudent than a boxing-match. The butcher
fetched the conftable, and charged him to take that
man into cuftody. Sir Thomas De Veil was then the
first acting Magiftrate of Weſtminſter, before whom
the noble culprit was brought. Mr. Spencer feeing
the pompoſity of the juſtice, and knowing what he
was at bottom, affected a face of concern, fear, and
repentance! “How dared you, Sir," ſaid the Juſtice,
(as ſoon as the caſe was opened,) "kill this here man's
dog, nay, his fervant, as a body may call him, who
protected his fhop with more faith and fidelity than
perhaps a Chriftian would have done?" And feeing
the difmay his prifoner was under, added, " Sirrah,
what provocation had you to kill this honeft man's
dog?" Upon this fecond interrogation, "Bow, wow,
CC 2
Wow,
""
388
SPENCER.
wow," barked Mr. Spencer, and running his head
furioufly in De Veil's face, and taking hold of his
coat collar with his mouth, made the feat of juſtice
tremble, to the aſtoniſhment of all preſent. A dog
killed, juſtice infulted, a poor butcher ruined, a
court of juftice difgraced!-why it was almoſt
death without benefit of clergy. "Commit him,
commit him!" faid De Veil. "What's your name,
fellow?" faid the clerk, who was filling up the
mittimus. At length, filence being called, the pri-
foner, with a fecond penitential face, anfwered, "my
name, and pleaſe your worſhip, is Spencer." "But
yourch riſtian name?" "Why, that is John."-Now
Șir Thomas was no fuch fool, but he knew that
Spencer John, turned the other way, was John Spen-
cer, and that John Spencer was a fingular character,
and brother to the Duke of Marlborough, and then
taking a more ftedfaſt look in his face, recollected
his perfon. A fhort paufe was here neceffary; Sir
Thomas took it, and then, burſting out in a laugh,
ran up to Mr. Spencer, and faluted him:
Spencer," faid he, "I am your moft obedient humble
fervant; pray how does my Lord Duke your brother
do? Pray, Mr. Spencer, do me the honour to fit
down;" and turning to the butcher, "Sirrah, away !
never let me hear again of your keeping dogs to in-
fult Gentlemen, and terrify his Majeſty's faithful fub-
jects in the ſtreets; I have a great mind to❞— here
to".
Mr. Spencer interpofed, and defired that he might fo
❝ Mr.
far
!
STATE-PAPER OFFICE.
389
far prevail as to let the man go quietly home, and
look after his mutton, which Sir Thomas granted.
$
STATE-PAPER OFFICE.
Its Origin.
Before the acceffion of his prefent Majefty, it had
been the practice of every Secretary of State, when
he refigned the feals, to carry out of the office as
many of the original papers and letters, which came
into it during his adminiftration, as he thought fit;
confidering all the correfpondence, addreſſed to him
as Secretary of State, as his private property.
It was intended that a ftop fhould be put to this
practice, by a fignification of the King's pleaſure,
after the refignation of the late Lord Chatham, then
Mr. Pitt, That no original papers fhould be taken
away by any future Secretary of State; but that he
"might have copies of whatever he defired."
66
This order was followed by another regulation, the
eſtabliſhment of the Paper-Office, the occafion of
which is a curious fact, and fhews what little care had
formerly been taken of public documents.
Mr. John Pownall, brother to Governor Pownall,
and many years Secretary to the Board of Trade,
having occafion to refer to fome tranfactions of a date
prior to the Restoration, expected to find an account
cc 3
of
390
STATE-PAPER OFFICE.
of them in the books of the Privy Council, in which,
until that time, the whole executive government was
abforbed.
Upon inquiry at the Privy Council office, he was
informed, there were no books there of fo old a date;
but one of the clerks told him, there were ſeveral
books in a room over the old gate-way into Privy
Garden, which was then ſtanding, and it was proba-
ble he might find what he wanted there.
Mr. Pownall immediately repaired to the place,
and climbed up the rotten ftair-cafe. He found the
door of the room faftened by a lock, which had not
been opened for many years, and to which no key
could be found. He therefore was obliged to fend
for a fmith, who broke it open with a fledge-hammer.
This was no fooner done than Mr. Pownall was co-
vered with a cloud of duft, raiſed by a flock of pi-
geons, that had long made the room their dwelling-
place, to which they had eaſy acceſs, the windows
being almoſt all broken.
When the cloud of duft was diffipated, he removed
the filth, and found the books he was in fearch of,
with many other ancient and public records.
Mr. Pownall acquainted Mr. Grenville, father of
the preſent Marquis of Buckingham, and Mr. Secre-
tary Grenville, then Chancellor of the Exchequer,
with the diſcovery he had made.-That Minifter, re-
ceiving with thankfulneſs whatever uſeful informa-
tion they brought him, and giving it the attention its
importance
}
STERNE.
.391
•
importance deferved, concerted with Mr. Pownall
the plan of the Paper-Office, for the reception and
prefervation of fuch papers as might be fpared from
the ſeveral public offices.
STEELE, SIR RICHARD.
IN SIR RICHARD STEELE'S Epiftolary Correfpon-
dence, publiſhed in 1788, in letter 219, written by
Sir Richard Steele to Lady Steele, he ſays, “We
had not, when you left us, an inch of candle, a
pound of coals, nor a bit of bread nor meat in the
houſe, but we do not want now."
The recollection of this paffage fhould reprefs the
rifing murmur of difcontent in humbler life, fo cir-
cumſtanced, and induce a proper acquiefcence in the
difpenfations of Providence.
1
STERNE
1. At fchool, Mr. Sterne would only learn when
he pleaſed, which was not oftener than once a fort-
night; from the academy, in proper courfe of time,
he was removed to the Univerſity; there he ftudied
little, laughed a great deal, and was particularly fond
of puzzling his tutors; he left Cambridge with the
character of a fingular man, without guile, who
poffeffed confiderable talents whenever he thought
proper
CC 4
392
STERNE.
*
proper to uſe them. After his ordination, he refted
himſelf quietly in the lap of the church; and, if it
was not covered with a fringed cufhion, to a man
of his eafy difpofition, it was not deftitute of charms.
In this fituation he waited patiently, till time and
chance ſhould raiſe him to what they pleaſed; but
here he fell into a difpute, which made him firft feel
his own confequence, and to which the public, per-
haps, are indebted for the origin of Triftram Shandy.
1
Friendſhip, not his own immediate concerns, was
the cauſe; a perſon, who had a very good finecure-
poft for life, wanted it continued to his lady, and
his fon after her deceaſe. The friend of Yorick was
againſt this, and warmly oppoſed the propofal; each
fide were equally pofitive: in this ftate of the con-
tention, Yorick attacked the monopolifer in a little
fatirical production, which he entitled "The Hiftory
of a good warm Watch-coat, with which the Pof-
feffor could not be content to cover his own Body,
unleſs he might alfo cut out of it a Petticoat for his
Wife, and likewife a Pair of Breeches for his Son."
This had the defired effect; the knowledge of its
contents foon came to the ears of the unreaſonable
claimant; he immediately fent the author word, that,
if he would fupprefs the publication of it, he would
on his part defift from all further contention. Yorick,
who by this time had deliberately peruſed the pages,
fent back word, that the gentleman might reft fatis-
fied he had already thrown it into the fire, becauſe it
was too harſh and ill-natured. The reafon of his
deſtroying
STERNE.
393
deſtroying it was confidered as a proof of the good-
neſs of his heart, which pleaſed the few odd people
who had a fimilar turn, and raiſed his reputation
more than any thing he could have publiſhed on the
occafion.
An incident occurred about the fame time which
contributed much to eſtabliſh his reputation for wit.
There was a coffee-room in the principal inn, where
gentlemen who frequented the houſe might read the
newſpapers: one of the greateſt enjoyments of Yo-
rick's life was ſpending an inoffenfive hour in a ſnug
corner of this room. There, was a troop of horſe at
that time quartered in the town; one of the officers
was a gay young man, ſpoiled by the free education
of the world, but not deftitute of good qualities;
this young gentleman was remarkable for his freedom
of converſation and pointed reflections againſt the
clergy. The modeft Yorick was often conſtrained
to hear toaſts he could not approve, and converſations
fhocking to the ear of delicacy, and was frequently
obliged to move his feat or pretend deafnefs; the
Captain, refolving this conduct fhould no longer avail
him, feated himſelf by Yorick, fo as to prevent his
retreat, and immediately began a profane indecent
tale, at the expence of the clerical profeffion, with
his eyes fixed ftedfaftly on Yorick, who pretended
for fome time not to notice his ill manners; when
that became impoffible, he turned to the mili-
tary intruder, and gravely faid, "Sir, I'll tell you
my ftory-my father is an officer, and is fo brave
himſelf,
894
STERNE.
himſelf, that he is fond of every thing elſe that is
brave, even his dog: you must know we have at
this time one of the fineft creatures in the world, of
his kind; the molt fpirited, yet the best natured
that can be imagined; fo lively that he charms every
body; but he has a curfed trick that throws a ſtrong
fhade over all his good qualities." "Pray, what may
that be?" interrogated the Officer. "He never
fees a Clergyman, but he inftantly flies at him," an-
fwered Yorick. "How long has he had that trick?"
"Why, Sir," replied the Divine, with a fignificant
look, "ever fince he was a puppy." The man of
war for once bluſhed; and, after a pauſe, "Doctor,
fays he, I thank you for your hint ;-give me your
hand, I'll never rail at a parfon again as long as I
live."
Thefe, and a number of pleaſant repartees, always
conducted with temper, and ftrongly enforced with
good fenfe, eſtabliſhed his character as a first wit
and perfect mafter of humour in the country.
About this period of time, Mr. Sterne printed the
two firft volumes of Triftram Shandy at York, and
fent a parcel of them up to a bookſeller in London;
they were unknown, and ſcarely advertiſed; but, thus
friendleſs, made their way to the clofet of every per-
fon of taſte, and introduced their author to the tables
of the moſt diſtinguiſhed perfons in the kingdom.
2. Sterne told the following ftory of himself:
"I happened (faid he) to be acquainted with a
young man who had been bound apprentice to a
ftationer,
STERNE.
395
ftationer, in Yorkshire; he had juft then finiſhed his
time, fet up in London, and had rented a window
in one of the flagged alleys in the City.
"I hired one of the panes of glafs from my friend,
and ftuck up the following advertiſement on it with
a wafer:
"Epigrams, Anagrams, Paragrams, Chronograms,
Monograms, Epitaphs, Epithilamiums, Prologues,
Epilogues, Madrigals, Interludes, Advertiſements,
Letters, Petitions, Memorials on every occafion,
Effays on all Subjects, Pamphlets for or againſt Mi-
niftry, with Sermons upon any Text, or for any
Sect, to be written here on reaſonable Terms, by
A. B. PHILOLOGER."
"The uncommonnefs of the titles occafioned nu-
merous applications; and at night I uſed privately to
glide into my office to digeft the notes or heads of the
day, and receive the earnefts, which were directed
always to be left with the memorandums, the writing
to be paid for on delivery, according to the ſubject.
"The ocean of vice and folly that opened itſelf to
my view, during the period I continued in this odd
department of life, fhocked and difgufted me fo
much, that the very moment I had realiſed a ſmall
fum, and diſcharged the rent of my pane, I cloſed
the horrid ſcene."
STUART,
396
STONE.
STUART, ATHENIAN.
A day or two previous to his death, one of his
maid-ſervants on coming from the kitchen to the par-
lour faw him, as fhe pofitively averred, pafs out of
the room and go down ftairs with more quickneſs
than uſual, as he had been for fome time rather lame.
Notwithſtanding this folemn affertion of the fervant,
who made it to her mafter and miftrefs when fhe en-
tered the parlour, he had not left it. They checked
the maid for the abfurdity of her attempting to alarm
them in that manner. The very fame evening, Mr.
Stuart fickened of the diftemper, which configned
him to the grave. The truth of this extraordinary
circumſtance was attefted by the widow.
STONE, DR. GEORGE.
Dr. George Stone, the late Primate of Ireland,
was bred with very different views than thofe of the
Church, and carried the contempt of feeming forma-
lities, even in his own profeffion, to a moft vicious.
excefs. It is faid, that, when leaving Oxford, after
having ſpent his ſmall patrimony among men of larger
fortunes than himſelf, he had an offer of going into
the Church or the Army. Another of his friends, re-
duced to fimilar circumſtances, it is faid, ſtood the
chance of a die with him, which either fhould chooſe,
and his companion, winning, chofe the army, and
left
STRANGE.
397
left Mr. Stone the fortunes of the church, in which
he foon roſe to the Primacy.
In the first part of his conduct in Ireland, he was
by no means popular; and fome calumnies were
raiſed againſt him, which he never after got over.
Indeed his companions were by no means fuch as
fuited his ftation; it was remarkable, that a Clergy-
man was ſcarce ever feen at his table, his guefts
moftly confifting of military men, who talked with
the utmoſt freedom, and gave a looſe to more than
innocent liberties. Nor was this all; they generally
made the Primate's houſe a place where they gamed
for large fums, and, though he did not join himſelf
in what was going forward, yet he winked at it, and
fuffered it to paſs without cenfure.
1
On the other hand, his generofity was boundleſs;
and though he might have raiſed the rents of his
tenants, and thus mended his own fortune, and thoſe
of his archbishopric, yet he generously declined
thoſe ways to wealth which rofe from the oppreffion
of thoſe beneath him.
STRANGE, LORD.
This Lord, who, when alive, was.all over French,
being on a Committee of the Houſe of Commons, on
a petition of the Spitalfields weavers, after the exa-
mination of the parties and bufinefs were over, turns
himſelf round to old Crumpler, who had been a
velvet-weaver forty years, and, in a very pleaſant
humour,
398
STUCKLEY.
1
humour, made ſeveral inquiries, which were anſwered
with much civility; at laſt, taking up the ſkirt of his
coat, and fhewing it, "Pray, Mr. Crumpler, tell me
why you cannot make fuch in England; you oblige
us to fmuggle and to fly from home to be dreffed
decently." The old man looked at him very hard,
then praiſed the pattern for beauty, and, bowing,
told his Lordſhip he was happy to find Mr. Swan
had put that piece into his Lordfhip's hand, for it
was one of the beft he ever made for Swan and
Buck, and he had made many hundred yards of
French velvet. The noble Lord took the old man
by the hand, and told him, he would be an Engliſh-
man in future. ·
•
1
STUCKLEY, THOMAS,
Was born the 6th of June, 1681; he refided fome
time in the Middle Temple, but never practifed the
law. Retiring to his native place, he conceived
the idea of being able to diſcover the quadrature of
the circle and the perpetual motion. Such abſtract
ftudies kept him fo much from company, that at
length he would not go out of doors: by this means
he became hypocondriacal, and was haunted with
the dreadful apprehenfions of catching fome epidemic
diforder, and yet he lived in filthinefs, and would
ſcarce ever receive money that was due to him.
Of his early neglect of pecuniary concerns, it is
related, that fome years after he quitted his chambers,
a gentleman,
STUCKLEY.
399
a gentleman, who occupied them, feeing fomething
on a fhelf over the door, took it down, and found
it to be an old portmanteau, containing, among
other articles, 200 guineas.
He had a large quantity of gold and filver thrown
into a heap in his bed-chamber, and, as he was ac-
cuſtomed to walking much, he had, by kicking the
pieces afide, made two paths through the heap, which
remained fo to his death. There was hardly a corner
in his houſe but contained money in piles, to which
the ſpiders hung their webs in peace. By this care-
leſſneſs his executors loft confiderable fums. When-
ever he vouchfafed to receive any money, it was
always put into a baſon of water, and remained there
fome hours.
He was fond of politics, and regularly read the
newſpapers. When the Duke of Marlborough laid
fiege to any town in Flanders, Mr. Stuckley would
draw a plan of the place upon his kitchen-floor,
which, according to the Devonshire cuftom, was
made of lime and afhes, and, by the intelligence of
the newſpapers, would work at the plan with a
pick-axe, fo that every conqueft coft him a new floor.
At the acceffion of George I. he was obliged to
appear at the town-hall to fwear allegiance; and the
concourfe of people affembled to fee him was im-
menfe. He wore then a little round hat covered
with tar, and his beard was of an immoderate length.
After this he never ftirred out of doors. He was
afraid of having new clothes for fear of infection,
and
400
SUNDERLAND.
and becauſe he would not fee a new face. Though
his fervants lived well, yet they were always in a
ragged condition, and could very rarely get per-
miffion to have a new garment.
He would never fee any of his friends, not even
his brothers and fifter.
At his death there were two trenches in his kitchen,
made by his conftant walking; and a large pit before
the fire, in which he uſed to fit.
He died about 1738, and, at his death, his body
was covered with vermin. He was interred in the
family-vault at Weft-Worlington. Some account of
him has been given in Dr. Shebbeare's Letters on
the Engliſh Nation, publiſhed in 1755.
SUNDERLAND, EARL.
In thoſe times of general jealoufies and fears, while
others fled into France, the Earl of Sunderland re-
tired to Holland, for the country-people were highly
incenſed againſt the King's Minifters. As ſoon as
Sunderland arrived in Holland, he was feized by
fome licentious failors, and carried before the Chief
Burgher of Rotterdam, and being preſently dif
charged, he forthwith went to one JUNIEU, who
was in thofe parts looked upon as a prophet, and
this prophet was much efteemed by the Prince of
Orange: he was, therefore, the only man by whom
the Earl of Sunderland defired to be inftructed, and
was accordingly now, for the first time, inftructed by
him
SWIFT.
401
him in matters of religion. In order to ingratiate
himſelf ftill farther with the people, he took care
always to have a bible carried with him to church,
and wherever he went. By his addrefs and affecta-
tion of piety, he infinuated himſelf into the good
graces of JUNIEU, through whofe influence with the
Princefs of Orange he returned, in a fhort time, to
England, thoroughly inftructed in religion, and in
full poffeffion of popular approbation, and not only
eſcaped puniſhment, but actually became a favourite
with the Prince of Orange.
SWEDENBOURG.
The following anecdote will fhew that he was dif
ordered in his mind:
A friend of his, walking with Baron Swedenbourg
along Cheapfide, in one part, the Baron fuddenly
bowed very low down to the ground, when the
Gentleman lifting him up, and afking him what he
was about, the Baron replied by aſking him, if he
did not ſee Mofes paſs by, and faid he had bowed
to him.
This anecdote is related by Mr. Lindfey, in a
a note to his Second Addrefs to the Youth of the
Univerfities.
SWIFT.
1. The celebrated Doctor Swift, Dean of St.
Patrick's, gave a public dinner to all the firſt Noble-
men and Gentlemen in Dublin.
D D
Knowing
402
SWIFT.
Knowing the Dean's punctuality, they affembled
to the minute; a fervant announced the dinner; the
Dean led the way to the dining-room; to each chair
was a fervant, a bottle of wine, a roll, and plate
turned upside down.
On taking his feat, the Dean defired the gueſts to
arrange themſelves according to their own ideas of
precedency, and fall to: the company were aftoniſhed
to find the table without à difh or any provifions.
The Lord Chancellor faid, "Mr. Dean, we do
not ſce the joke."" Then I will fhew it you," an-
fwered the Dean, turning up his plate, under which
was a half crown, and a bill of fare from a neigh-
bouring tavern. "Here, Sir, (to his fervant,) bring
me a plate of goofe." The company caught the idea,
and each man ſent his plate and half-a-crown.
Covers with every thing that the appetites of the
moment dictated foon appeared. The novelty, the
peculiarity of the manner, and unexpected circum-
ſtances, altogether excited the plaudits of the noble
gueſts, who declared themſelves particularly gratified
by the Dean's entertainment.
"Well," faid the Dean, "Gentlemen, if you
have dined, I will order the defert." A large roll of
paſteboard, with the particulars of a fuperb dinner,
was produced; the whole expence, dreffing, &c.
The Dean requested the accountant-general to de-
duct the half-crowns from the amount, obferving,
"That, as his noble guests were pleaſed to exprefs
their fatisfaction with the dinner, he begged their
advice
SWIFT.
403
advice and affiftance in difpofing of the fragments
and crumbs, (as he termed the balance, mentioned
by the accountant-general,) viz. two hundred and
fifty pounds, and placed his purfe on the table.
The company faid, that no perfon was capable of
inftructing the Dean in things of that nature. After
the circulation of the fineſt wines, the moft judicious
remarks on charity and its abuſe were introduced, and
it was agreed, that the proper objects of liberal relief
were well-educated families, that from affluence, or the
expectation of it, were reduced through misfortune to
filent defpair. The Dean divided the fum by the
number of his guefts, and addreffed them according
to their reſpective private characters, which no man
perhaps knew fo well. "You, my Lords, (fpeaking
to ſeveral young Noblemen,) I wish to introduce to
fome new acquaintance, that will, at leaft, make
their acknowledgment for your favors with fincerity.
You, my Reverend Lords, (on his left hand,) ad-
here ſo cloſely to the fpirit of the fcriptures, that
your left hands are literally ignorant of the beneficence
of your right. You, my Lord of Kildare, (and
two other noble Lords,) I will not intruft with any
part of this money, as you have been long in the
ufurious habits of lending your own on fuch occa-
fions; but your affiftance, my Lord of Kerry, (turn-
ing to the oppofite fide of the table,) I much intreat,
as Charity covereth a multitude of fins.”
DD 2
2. It
404
SWIFT.
2. It has not been remarked by any of his hifto-
rians, but the Dean entertained a moſt virulent hatred
to the memory of William the Third; which he often
expreffed in very bitter terms when in the company
of his intimate friends. He was accuftomed to ftyle
that monarch a "bloody and remorfelefs tyrant,"
and would commonly add, that, "So far from this
country receiving any benefit from him, he and his
favorites only were the gainers."
Swift dined one day with feveral friends of both
parties in Crow-ftreet, when the converſation turned
upon a paraphrafe Concannon had lately made of
Prior's celebrated epitaph.-It was as follows:
1
Hold, Matthew Prior, by your leave,
Your epitaph is fſomewhat odd;
Bourbon and you were fons of Eve,
Naffau, the offspring of a God!
The Dean, fhaking his head, faid, "Let us fee
whether a man, who is neither a fool nor a parafite,
cannot write four lines that will found as well as
thoſe;" and, taking Dr. Sheridan's pencil, wrote the
following:
Hold, friend Concannon, by your leave,
Your paraphrafe is hereby civil;
Bourbon and Mat were fons of Eve,
Naffau, the offspring of a Devil!
3. In
F
SWIFT.
405
1
3. In the reign of King William, it happened th. t
the King had either chofen, or actually taken, this
motto for his ſtate-coach in Ireland;
Non Rapui, fed Recepi.
I did not fteal, but I received.
66
alluding to his being called to the Throne by the
people, and to clear himſelf from the imputation of
violence. This was induftriouſly reported to Swift
by one of his court-emiffaries: "And what," ſaid he
to the Dean," do you think the Prince of Orange
has chofen for his ftate-motto on his coach?"-
"Dutch cheefe," faid the Dean, with a reluctai t
fmile, (for he ſcorned to laugh, and even a ſmile
was extorted.) "No," ſaid the gentleman," but
Non rapui, fed recepi ;"-" Ay," fays Swift," but
there is an old faying and a true one, The Receiver
is as bad as the Thief:"-an embittered reflection
not unworthy of his known mifanthrophy and rather
fuperior contempt of the degeneracy of the human
fpecies. If the reader had had the pleaſure of know-
ing the Dean, and hearing him both in his plea-
fantries and his peevith pets, he could eafily have
pictured to himſelf the manner of the Dean's expref-
fing himſelf at that moment,
4. He could never
ſtanding his ready wit,
of his pride. He was
reply to a repartee, notwith-
becauſe it trod upon the corns
croffing over the ferry in
DD 3
Dublin
406
SWIFT.
Dublin, and he was remarkably fond of chatting
with the moſt indifferent men, overlooking the better
fort as below the notice of his dignity. Turning
himſelf from the paffengers in the ftern of the boat,
he addreſſed a poor man near him; "Well, friend,
what profeffion are you of ?" "I am a tailor, Sir,"
fays the other, (not knowing the Dean.) "What, are
you married?" fays Swift. "Yes, fir," replied the tai-
lor. "And who wears the breeches?" faid the Dean
66
My a-," anſwered the other; which retort ſo mor-
tified the Dean, (as moft in the boat knew him,)
that, to fave his pride, he gave the tailor a crown,
bidding him wear a better pair, fince it was what
the moſt noble bums in Europe could not boaſt.
5. Some perfon, I think it was Dr. Delany,
having this motto on his coach,
Nam Avos et Proavos, et que non fecimus ipfi,
Vix ea noftra voco.
For to boat of birth and matters in which we have no
merit, I fcarce can call fuch things mine.
Swift feeing it, wrote under it,
By this grave motto be it known,
Delany's coach is not his own.
6. Lord Sin Ireland had this motto on his
coach;
Eques haud malè notus
A Nobleman not ill known;
And this gentleman not having the greateſt alacrity
in prompt payments of his tradefmens' bills,. Dr.
Swift
SWIFT.
407
Swift very gravely faid, I think the Latin motto
on Lord S-'s coach may be literally rendered,
Better known than trufted.
7. The Scholars of Trinity-College, Dublin, had,
in a gaité de cœur, invited themſelves to fupper with
the Dean one Friday night; on which night they
never had any fupper throughout the year, and
therefore flunge, as they call it, among their friends.
The Dean very plcafantly received them; and, to
their furprife, fupper was brought in before they
could imagine it was ready. The table was laid
out in the moſt neat manner, and the Dean being
feated, ſeveral ſervants brought in the diſhes covered.
"Come, Gentlemen, fays he, uncover;" which they
did, and found the difhes contained nothing but
ragouts of old books and mufty rums; at which,
though perhaps not well pleafed with their fare, they
forced their faces into a grin of complaifance, as
admiring the Dean's wit, not doubting but the fecond
courſe would make amends for the infipidity of
the firft, and that Epicurus would follow Burgerf-
dicius and Keckerman. The fecond courfe came
în, covered alfo. They did as before, and found
nothing but falt.
"There, fays the Dean, is a feaſt
for Plato. There is Sales Attica for you; indulge,
indulge:" this produced another laugh. The fecond
courſe being removed, in came the third, which con-
fifted of plates covered, in number tallying with
the gueſts; each, uncovering his plate, found a half
crown. Some took them up, and others left them,
DD 4
and
1
408
SWIFT.
and thus ended the entertainment; the Dean ufher-
ing them to the door, in the waiter's phraſe, "Kindly
welcome, Gentlemen."
8. The Dean was invited to a gentleman's houfe,
where at dinner he obſerved fome beautiful children
of his friend, and, on his eagerly looking round,
as if he wanted fomething, was afked what he would
have; to which he with too much ill-nature, if not
ill-manners, replied, I am looking to fee which is
the handfomeft footman here; for the gentleman was
remarkably deformed, and ordinary both in perfon
and features. I heard a gentleman obferve on this
ftory being told, that he deferved to be kicked down
ftairs, had he been the Archbishop of Canterbury.
9. Swift had taken a diſlike (without knowing him)
to Vanburgh, and fatirized him feverely in two or
three poems, which difpleafed Mr. Pope; and he
remonftrated with his friend on this occafion. Swift
faid, he thought Vanburgh a coxcomb and a puppy;
the other replied, "You have not the leaft acquain-
tance with or perfonal knowledge of him.-Van-
burgh is the reverfe of all this, and the moſt eaſy
careleſs writer and companion in the world.” This,
as he affured an intimate friend, was true. He
added, that Vanburgh wrote and built juft as his
fancy led him; or as thofe he built for, and wrote
for, directed him. If what he did pleaſed them,
he gained his end; if it difpleafed them, they might
thank themſelves. He pretended to no high fcien-
'tific
}
SWIFT.
409
tific knowledge in the art of building; and he wrote
without much attention to critical art. Speaking
with Mr. Pope of the fables in the comedy of
Æfop, the latter faid to him, "Prior is called the
English Fontaine, for his Tales; nothing is more
unlike. But your Fables have the very ſpirit of
this celebrated French Poet." It may be ſo," re-
plied Vanburgh; but, I proteft to you, I never
read Fontaine's Fables."
10. The Doctor had fome knowledge of an
old woman, known by the name of Margaret Stiles,
and who was very much addicted to intoxication,
againſt which the Doctor repeatedly admonished her
whenever he met with her, but, as he perceived,
altogether without affecting any vifible reformation,
notwithſtanding her feeming penitence and pro-
miſes of amendment. One day, as the Dean was
taking his evening walk, he faw Margaret in her
uſual ſtate of inebriety, fitting by the foot-path on
a bundle of fticks which fhe had tumbled down
with; the Dean, after ſeverely rebuking her, aſked
her, "Where fhe thought of going to ?" (meaning
after death.) "I'll tell you, Sir, (replied Margaret,)
if you will help me up with my wood," which, after
he had done, "Well, Margaret, (demanded he,) now
tell me?"-"Where do I think of going to? (re-
peated Margaret, ſtaggering and ſtaring,) why, where
there is the beſt liquor, to be fure, Doctor."
SYNONYMOUS
410
SYNONYMOUS WORDS.
SYNONYMOUS WORDS.
1
The French, we are told, divert themfelves with
playing at Les Mots Synonymes. In an evening party,
two words apparently fynonymous, but in reality
different in their meaning, are fixed upon as the
fubject on which they are to employ their talents,
and they write an effay, or ſpeak an oration on their
feveral fignifications. It is much to be regretted,
that, while our poliſhed neighbours have proceeded
fo far in the knowledge of their language as to make
it a fubject of badinage, we are ſo very much
behind them as feriouſly to ftand in need of a to-
Jerable book upon the ſubject. Such a book would
require great labour in the undertaking; a mind
ftored with reading, a difcriminating judgment, and
great critical acumen; and by fuch a book our
philogical repofitories would be extremely benefited.
It would teach that firſt ſtep to grammatical know-
ledge, a ftep too much neglected in our feminaries
of education, the art of definition. But who is to
accompliſh ſo ftupendous an undertaking? who fhall
be the Lexiphanes of the modern day? Harris is
no more, and his fuperior, Johnſon, is no more!
and who but fuch writers could?-So fay we with
all our prejudices; but on examination we ſhall find,
arduous as the taſk is, that the prefent age can fur-
niſh writers able for the compilation.
The path
is already partly cleared, as Dr. Blair juftly obferves,
by
TAYLOR.
411
by the Abbé Gerrard, and by following his manner,
though not his very words, on account of the
different idioms of the two languages; by following
his manner the deed may be done. To fucceed,
the accurate method of the Abbé fhould be fol-
lowed; to fail, the flovenly manner of Trufler.
Thus we have that which we fhould covet, and
that which we fhould avoid, and thus-
"Our life and death,
"Our bane and antidote, are both before us."
TAYLOR, SIR ROBERT.
Although his profeffional abilities were eminent,
yet the following inftance will fhew, that man is
not at all times equal to himſelf, and that the moſt
finiſhed judgment will fometimes make a lapfe,
that too often fhows the inequality and frailty of
human nature.
Sir Robert received inftruction from the Direc-
tors to remedy an inconvenience to which the large
doors of the bank were liable, as they could not
be opened nor fhut without extreme difficulty and
delay. The artiſt, judging that taking off the hinges
upon which they turned, and making them ad.
vance and retire upon caftors, through a groove,
into and out of the wall, by means of a windlaſs,
would obviate the difficulty, gave directions for
the immediate execution of the plan; it was foon
completed
412
TEMPERANCE.
completed, and the door's moved to meet each other
from their oppofite receffes with great facility, and
were perfectly clofed, but the windlafs and the man
who had worked it, being ftationed within fide, were
obliged to open the door again in order to get out,
TEMPERANCE.
1. CARNIVOROUS animals have more courage,
muſcular ſtrength, and activity, in proportion to their
bulk, which is evident by comparing the cat-kind, as
lions, tygers, and likewife the dog-kind, with herb-
eating animals of the fame bulk. Birds of prey excel
thoſe that are granivorous in ftrength and courage. I
know more than one inftance of irafcible paffions being
fubdued by a vegetable dict.
Arbuthnot.
2. "You Europeans," fay the Hottentots," are
madmen; you build great houſes, though your bodies
take up but little ſpace; you have ſo great a number
of wants in order for clothing and nourishing your
felves, that, not contented with things fufficient for
yourſelves in Europe, you come to this and other
countries, in order to difpoffefs the inhabitants of
their clothes and food. With regard to ourſelves, we
want neither money nor wares; as we neither eat nor
drefs after your manner, there is nothing can oblige
us to work and diſturb ourſelves as you do.”
THORIUS,
THORIUS.
413
THORIUS, DR. RAPHAEL.
Dr. RAPHAEL THORIUS was a phyfician fettled in
London, and famous for his Latin poem on Tobacco.
We are informed, that, when Peireſc was in company
with Dr. Thorius, who ſeems to have had as ftrong an
averfion to water as any of the faculty had to phyfic,
he peremptorily inſiſted on his drinking a health in
an enormous glaſs of wine. Peireſc earneſtly defired
to be excuſed, as unable to bear fo large a quantity.
Thorius would admit of no excufe; he therefore drank
it, but upon condition that the former fhould follow
his example, in drinking a health to be propofed by
him in his turn. He then filled the fame glaſs with
water, named the health, and preſently drank it off.-
Thorius looked like a man thunderstruck, fighed
deeply, frequently applied his lips to the repleniſhed
glaſs, without reſolution to tafte it, poured forth a
torrent of quotations from ancient authors againſt
the innocent element, and thus hefitated and trifled
for fome hours, before he fwallowed by fips the de-
tefted potion. This story was told to King James,
who would by all means hear it from Peireſc him-
felf, and his Majefty was delighted with the relation.
V. Gaffendus in Vita Peirefkii, Ann. 1606.
4:
TIME.
414
TIME.
TIME.
1. "No man (fays Lord Bacon) can be ftraitemed
and oppreffed with buſineſs and an active courſe of
life, but he may have many vacant times of leiſure,
while he expects the returns and tides of buſineſs. The
queftion is, how thefe fhall be filled up? With ftudy
and contemplation, or with fenfuality and pleaſure.—
A man may be out of his bed for fixteen out of the
twenty-four hours. What might not be done in that
time?"
2. "Every day is a year to a filk-worm, and has
in it the four feafons: the morning is fpring, the
middle of the day fummer, the evening autumn,
and the night winter. To man, life is a year, and
a year is a day.
3. "Paft ſcenes are generally recollected with a fo-
lemn fadneſs, cauſed by the thought, that the time is
gone which will never return. Our days must be well
and profitably ſpent, if we would remember them with.
pleaſure."
4. What enabled Dr. Birch to go through ſuch a
variety of undertakings was his being an early rifer.
By this method he had executed the buſineſs of the
morning before numbers of people had begun it;
and
TITLE-DEED.
415
and indeed it is the peculiar advantage of rifing be-
times, that it is not in the power of any interruptions,
avocations, or engagements, whatever, to deprive a
man of the hours which have already been well em-
ployed, or to rob him of the confolation of reflecting
that he hath not fpent the day in vain.
5. There is a traditional anecdote concerning Mr.
Boyle, that he uſed to have it ſometimes infcribed
over his door," Mr. Boyle is not to be ſpoken with
to-day." This was very proper in one who was often
engaged in proceffes of the utmoft importance, and
which required an unremitted attention. Indeed, if
literary men, in general, could find a rational method
of preventing the interruption of needlefs morning-vi-
fitants, it would be of ſervice to the proſecution of
many uſeful defigns.
6. Cardan's motto was, "Tempus mea poffeffio:
Tempus ager mcus."-Time is my eftate, my land that
I am to cultivate.
TITLE-DEED.
The following curious poetical Title-deed was
granted by William the Conqueror to an anceſtor of
the prefent Earl Moira, then Lord Rawdon. It is
copied verbatim from the original grant now in his
Lordship's
416
THORNTON.
Lordship's poffeffion, who ftill retains the eftates in
Yorkſhire, on which he built a noble manſion called
Rawdon-hall.
CONCESSUM AD PAULUM ROYDON.
I, William, King, the thurd yere of my reign,
Give to thee Paulyn Roydon, Hope and Hope-towne,
With all the bounds, both up and downe,
From heaven to yerthe, from yerthe to hel,
For thee and thyn, there to dwel,
As truly as this king right is myn;
For a crofs-bowe and harrow,
When I fal come to hunt on Yarrow.
And in token that this thing is footh,
I bit the whyt wax with my tooth,
Before Meg, Maud, and Margery,
And my thurd fonne, Henry.
THORNTON, BONNELL.
He was the author of feveral pieces of humour,
and began a tranflation of Plautus, but died, leaving
it unfiniſhed in 1768.
Mr. Thornton's character, as a man of wit, as well
as a writer of reputation, has been well eſtabliſhed;
like moft wits, too, he loved conviviality, which fre-
quently lead to late hours, and confequently fhort
mornings. After a night ſpent in this manner, an old
female relation called on him rather late in the morn-
ing, and found him in bed, upon which fhe read
him
TOWNSHEND.
417
him a lecture on prudence, and concluded it by
faying, "Ah! Bonnell, Boniell, I fee plainly you'll
ſhorten your days;" "Very true, (replied Bonnell,) but,
by the fame rule, I fhall lengthen my nights.”
TOURNEUR, MONSIEUR,
Monfieur de Tourneur, the eloquent tranflator of
Young's Night-Thoughts, fold the verfion for the
trifling fum of twenty-five louis-d'ors to a Madame
de Chêne, who, at leaſt, made fixty thouſand livres
of the work! Whilft Le Tourneur was tranflating
Young, and adding new energy to his native language,
he was feldom indulged with a bed to repofe his
wearied limbs on; he and his wife were often obliged
to leave Paris before night to feek the moſt conve-
nient and hofpitable hedge in the environs of the
capital, under which they might expect the following
day!--But Milton knew mifery in England!!!
TOWNSHEND, COLONEL.
Anecdote related by Drs. Cheyne and Barnard, his
Phyficians, at Bath.
1. The Colonel was under their care, being ſe-
verely afflicted with nephritic complaints. While he
E E
was
418
TOWNSHEND.
was in this condition, he fent for the two Doctors,
and told them it was to be witneſs to a very extraor-
dinary power he poffeffed, namely, that of dying, and
yet fenfible that he had the faculty of re-animating
his body. It is needlefs to fay what conſtruction two
ingenious men put upon ſo ſtrange an idea, and, con-
fequently, both wifhed to decline feeing him carry
it into execution; but the Colonel, perfectly ſenſible,
cool, and without any appearance of diſorder, ex-
cept weakneſs, infifted on their feeing him perform
death, and which they did in all appearance fee; for,
after they had felt his pulfe, which was weak and low,
he compoſed himſelf upon his back, and laid ſome
time in a ſtill pofture, while Dr. Cheyne held his
hand, and Dr. Barnard placed his upon his heart, and
Mr. Skrew, his apothecary, held a mirror to his
mouth. His pulfe funk and ceafed, as to any per-
ceptible motion, as did his heart, nor was there the
leaft appearance of moiſture upon the glaſs.
Thefe gentlemen had reafoned upon this extraor-
dinary appearance for half an hour, thought the Co-
lonel actually dead, and were about to leave the
room, when they perceived fome motion about the
body, and, upon examination, felt a returning pulſe,
his heart beat, he fpoke in a low feeble voice, and
they all went away fatisfied that death had been won-
derfully imitated, but were unable to account for it.
This is the fubftance of Dr. Cheyne's own account,
a man of great fkill as a Phyfician, and one whoſe
life and manners were exemplary as a Chriſtian.
TOWNS-
TOWNSHEND.
419
J
เ
TOWNSHEND, CHARLES.
1. During the great debates on general warrants,
a great law-officer of the Crown (the Maſter of the
Rolls) having fpoken in the firft debate, poftponed
what he had to conclude with to an adjourned day.
On that day, being dreffed out in an official big wig,
he got up with great pompofity to deliver his final
opinion; but, when expectation was on tip-toe for
fome time, the fubject of his difcourfe was, "That
turning the matter over and over in his bed that
morning, in all poffible fhapes, and adducing many
arguments from the circumſtances, which he could not
then recollect, he was ftill of the fame opinion he was
on the laſt debate." Mr. Townshend, who had
liſtened with great attention to him the whole time,
upon this immediately obſerved, he was very forry
that the honourable Gentleman who ſpoke laft fhould
have "the misfortune of lofing in his wig what he
found in his night-cap."
2. Among other of the graver virtues which were
not poffeffed by this gentleman was a firm manly
courage. It is alfo well known that the great object
of his political dread, though he had fometimes ven-
tured to oppofe him, was Mr. Pitt, who was ftill in
the Houſe of Commons at the period under confi-
deration. That great Commoner was afflicted with
a very ſevere fit of the gout, at a time when fome
propofitions were to be made in Parliament unfavour-
E E 2
able
420
TOWNSHEND.
•
able to the conduct of the German war, which he
had adopted. It was univerfally fuppofed that he
was incapable of attending the debates of that day,
in which Mr. Townshend took an active, and, to all
appearance, a decifive part againſt continental engage-
ments; but, as he was fpeaking with uncommon elo-
quence and ability, Mr. Pitt was brought into the
houfe, covered with flannels, and in a ſtate of much
corporal affliction and weakneſs. Mr. Townfhend
continued his ſpeech for ſome time, according to the
tenor in, which he had begun it; when, obferving that
he had uſed every argument, which, in his opinion
could be fuggefted against the meaſures which were
the ſubject of that day's confideration, he veered ſud-
denly to the oppofite quarter, entreated the attention
of the Houſe to what might be urged on the other fide
the question, and, with an ingenuity and readineſs of
reaſoning unparallelled, he overturned every argu-
ment he had juft employed, he then fat down, fatis-
fied that he had given a fpecimen of his abilities, the
fplendor of which would obfcure the diſhonourable uſe
he had made of them, and fave him from the lafh of
the commanding orator, whofe words would have
made him tremble, if he had not flown to this extra-
ordinary refuge for protection.
The following is the Defcription of this extraordinary
Man by Mr. Burke.
"In truth he was the delight and ornament of this
"Houſe, and the charm of every private fociety
" which
TOWNSHEND.
421
66
« which he honoured with his prefence. Perhaps
"there never arofe, in this nor any other country,
❝ a man of a more pointed and finiſhed wit, and,
"where his paffions were not concerned, of a more
"refined, exquifite, and penetrating, judgment. If
"he had not fo great a fhare, as fome have had who
"flouriſhed formerly, of knowledge long treaſured
66 up, he knew, better by far than any man I ever
"was acquainted with, how to bring together, within
CC
a fhort time, all that was neceffary to eftablifh, to
illuftrate, and to decorate, that fide of the queftion
"he fupported. He ftated his matter fkilfully and
"powerfully; he particularly excelled in a moft
"luminous. explanation and difplay of his fubject;
"his ftyle of argument was neither trite nor vulgar,
C6
nor fubtle and abftrufe; he hit the Houſe juſt
"between wind and water; and, not being troubled
"with too anxious a zeal for any matter in queſtion,
"was never more tedious or more earneſt than
"the pre-conceived opinions and preſent temper of
"his hearers required, to whom he was always in
"perfect unifon; he conformed exactly to the tem-
66 per of the Houſe, and feemed to guide, becauſe
he was always fure to follow it."
"There are many young members, ſuch of late
"has been the rapid fucceffion of public men, who
"never faw that prodigy, Charles Townfhend, nor,
of courſe, know what a ferment he was able to
"excite in every thing by the violent ebullition of
his mixed virtues and failings; for failings he un-
"doubtedly
Σ £ 3
422
TOWNSHEND.
"
,,doubtedly had: many of us remember them.
"he had no failings which were not owing to a noble
"cauſe; to an ardent, generous, perhaps an immo-
"derate, paffion for fame; a paffion which is the
inftinct of all great fouls. He worſhipped that
"goddeſs wherefoever fhe appeared, but he paid his
"particular devotions to her in her favourite habita-
“tion, in her chofen temple, the Houſe of Com-
“mons. He was truly the Child of the Houſe; he
"never did, thought, or faid, any thing but with a
"view to it; he every day adapted himſelf to
"your difpofition, and adjufted himfelf before it as
"at a looking-glafs.
©
#
"He had obferved, indeed it could not eſcape
"him, that ſeveral perfons, infinitely his inferiors
“ in all reſpects, had formerly rendered themſelves
"confiderable in this Houfe by one method alone.
"They were a race of men, who, when they roſe
in their place, no man living could divine, from,
66 any known adherence to parties, to opinions, or to
principles,—from any order or ſyſtem in their po-
"litics, or from any fequel or connection in their
66
ideas,. what part they were going to take in any
"debate. It is aftonishing how much this uncer.
66
tainty, eſpecially at critical times, called the atten-
❝tion of all parties on fuch men :-all eyes were
"fixed on them, all ears open to hear them; each
65
party gaped and looked alternately for their vote,
almoft to the end of their fpeeches. While the
"Houfe hung in this uncertainty, now the hear-hims
" roſe
1
TOWNSHEND.
423-
1
"rofe from this fide, now they re-bellowed from
"the other; and that party, to whom they fell at
"length from their tremulous and dancing balance,
always received them in a tempeft of applaufe."
(6
(6
"The fortune of fuch men was a temptation too
great to be refifted by one, to whom a ſingle
"whiff of incenfe withheld gave much greater pain
"than he received delight in the clouds of it which
"daily rofe about him from the prodigal fuperftition
"of innumerable admirers. He was a candidate for
"contradictory honours, and his great aim was to
"make thoſe agree in admiration of him who never
"agreed in any thing elſe."
This obfervation was fully illuftrated in a very ce-
lebrated ſpeech of this gentleman at the time when
he was informed of his father being at the point of
death; a circumftance to which he repeatedly al-
luded, in the courfe of his debate, in ſomewhat like
the following words: "I have the feelings of nature,
"and at this moment a venerable parent is at the
❝ laſt ſad ſcene of life;—at this moment my affec-
❝tions urge me to pay my laft fad duties to him, to
"clofe his eyes, and receive the patriarchal bleffing:
"but my country calls me here, and I obey her call.
"I have the feelings of nature, but thofe of a citizen
"have a fuperior claim; they will abforb even thoſe
"of a fon: the latter may wring his heart, but the
"former muſt be obeyed; and thus I manifeft my
obedience to them." This oratorical flight, or, as
it has been wittily called, this parliamentary rondeau,
EE 4
how-
424
TYRAWLEY.
however it might be admired by his fenatorial audi-
ence, did not come home to the bofoms of thoſe who
knew the ſpeaker, and the terms upon which he and
his father had long lived. The pathetic apoftrophe,
however, had its effect upon the gallery, for which
perhaps it was originally defigned, and drew forth
tears from their eyes, and many a white handkerchief
from the pockets of ladies affembled there.
TRANSLATIONS.
It has been faid, that a tranflation in general ex-
hibits the fame fort of refemblance to the original as
the wrong fide of the tapeſtry does to the right.
In fome cafes, it does not even that. Sir John
Pringle publiſhed a medical book, wherein he fays
he cured a foldier of a violent fcurvy, by prefcribing
two quarts of the Dog and-Duck water, to be drank
every morning before dinner. In a tranflation of
this book by a French phyfician, this remedy is fpe-
cified to be two quarts of broth made of a duck and a
dog!
TYRAWLEY, LORD.
This Nobleman, a little before his death, was vi-
fited by feveral Engliſhmen, who came with a pre-
tence of aſking him how he did, but in reality to fee
if
VALOUR.
425
if he was dying, that they might apply for his em-
ployments. The old Gentleman, who knew their
motives, thus anſwered them:-" Gentlemen, I know
your reaſon for inquiring after my health; I have
but two things worth any man's having,—my regiment
and my girl,-neither of which will fall to your lot.
I'll tell you how they are to be diſpoſed of,—a
Scotchman will get the one, and an Irishman the
other."
VALOUR.
In the first war with Carthage, the Roman army
was ſurrounded in fuch a manner by their enemies,
that univerfal deftruction feemed inevitable. Cædi-
cius, a military tribune, propoſed to the Conſul a
detachment of 400 men, to make a diverſion in fa-
vour of the Romans, fo that the main body might
effect their eſcape whilft this company were engaged
with the enemy. "But who," fays the Conful, will
put himſelf at the head of fo defperate an expedi-
tion ?"--"I will," replied Cædicius. “Come, my
friends," exclaims the Tribune to the foldiers," it
is neceffary for the fafety of the army that we fhould
march to yonder ftation ;-it is not neceffary that we
fhould return." The fcheme fucceeded. The Tri-
bune only eſcaped with life, and was found among
the wounded. M. Cato, who records this ſtory ac-
cording to A. Gellius, complains, that, although Leo-
nidas
426
VANITY.
1
!
nidas was rendered famous, and ftatues erected to
his memory, the name of Cædicius was almoſt un-
known.
VANITY.
Notwithſtanding vanity frequently expoſes a man
to ridicule, there are few inftances of men getting
forward in life without a confiderable portion of it.
It is proper not only that we ſhould have a good
opinion of ourfelves, but that we fhould not always
have too high a one of others.
Among the many falſe eſtimates which we daily
make of human ability, there is, perhaps, none more
groundless than the exaggerated conceptions we are
apt to form of that ſpecies of political wiſdom which
is fuppofed to be the fruit of long experience and of
profeffional habits. "Go," (faid the Chancellor
Oxenstiern to his fon, when he was fending him to a
congrefs of Ambaffadors, and when the young man
was expreffing his diffidence of his own abilities for
ſuch an employment,) "Go, and fee with your own
eyes, Quam parva fapientia regitur mundus!" The
truth is, however paradoxical the remark may appear
at firft view, that the fpeculative crrors of ftatefmen
are frequently leſs fenfible in their effects, and, of
confequence, more likely to eſcape without detection,
than thofe of individuals who occupy inferior fta-
tions in fociety. The effects of miſconduct in pri-
vate
VENTRILOQUIST.
427
vate life are eaſily traced to their proper fource, and
therefore the old is feldom far wrong in the
judgments it forms of the prudence or of the im-
prudence of private characters; but, in confidering
the affairs of a great nation, it is fo difficult to trace
events to their proper caufes, and to diftinguiſh the
effects of political wifdom from thofe which are the
natural refult of the fituation of the people, that it is
fcarcely poffible, excepting in the cafe of a very long
adminiftration, to appreciate the talents of a ftatefman
from the fuccefs or the failure of his meaſures.
- VENTRILOQUIST.
On
Monfieur de Miravin, a young gentleman of Paris,
poffeffed, in addition to a great deal of wit and vi-
vacity, the amazing faculties of a ventriloquift.
his father's death, finding himſelf poffeffed of little
more than the advantages of a polite education, he
refolved to make this talent fubfervient to ſome pur-.
pofe of utility. He accordingly, by affuming a garb
of piety and reſerve, introduced himſelf into the fa-
mily of a rich citizen, who had an only, daughter,
the heiress of an immenfe fortune. One day, as they
were converfing on religious fubjects, the citizen
heard a voice folemnly whifpering in his ear, If
thou doft not give thy daughter in marriage to this godly
young man, within three days, thou shalt die." The old
re
man
428
VESUVIUS.
man ſtarted with horror, and cafting his eyes on
Monf. de Miravin, faw that his lips were unmoved,
and that his countenance expreffed nothing but amaze-
ment. The mother of the young lady, who was pre-
fent, ftrongly recommended an immediate conclufion
of the match, that her huſband might eſcape his im-
pending fate. He, more fufpicious, adjourned to
the church of Notre Dame, there by prayer to ſeek
for comfort and information. He had not been
many minutes on his knees, when he heard from be-
hind the altar the word "obey" repeated thrice in
the fame folemn accent as the former warning. He
returned home, and the next day made Monf. de
Miravin his fon-in-law, and one of the richeſt men
in Paris.
་
VESUVIUS.
The following letter from Naples contains a diſtinct
account of Mount Vefuvius, written by an Eng-
lifh Nobleman, who was an eye-witness to the late
eruptions.
"They reckon it eight miles from Naples to the
top of the Vefuvius. During the firft four miles
we paffed through many good villages, following
the fea coaft: thefe places are well tilled, and ſeem
to have received no damage by the eruptions of the
mountain, notwithſtanding they have happened fo
frequently, only from place to place there are large
ftones,
VESUVIUS.
429
ftones, which have rolled thither. After you paſs the
laſt village, called Refina, you turn to the left, and
begin to aſcend, and you ftill travel on horfeback two
miles, or two miles and a half further, among loofe
ftones and heaps of burnt earth, which the vomit-
ings of the mountains have fpread all about. The
farther
you advance, the more you find the ground
cracked, dry, burned, and covered with feveral forts
of calcined ftones, which are fo many monuments of
thoſe furious eruptions. You may alſo obſerve in
feveral places the channels of the torrents of fulphur
and bitumen, which have frequently ran down from
the mountain. At laft, the afcent becomes fo rough
and difficult, that you are forced to go on foot. You
may eaſily imagine, that there are neither inns nor
other houſes, fo that your fervant must hold your
horfes till your return.
"Thoſe who have the curiofity to afcend this
prodigious furnace muſt reſolve to endure a great
deal of trouble and fatigue. You are for the moſt
part plunged among the afhes, if one may give that
the name of aſhes which rather reſembles brick-duft.
Sometimes you fall back inſtead of advancing, be,
cauſe the aſhes give way under your feet; and at laſt,
after you have ſtopped ſeveral times to take breath, as
you muſt neceffarily do, you come to the brink of
the ancient gulf; I fay the ancient gulf, becaufe you
will perceive by and by that this mountain has been
fubject to great alterations.
?
" The
་
430
VESUVIUS.
1
1
"The firſt height makes a circle round the gulf;
the top of the mountains having been worn, you may
eafily conceive what fort of hillocks and rugged ele-
vations have been formed in the circuit of its height.
As near as we could guefs, this vaft hole is near a
mile in diameter. You may go down into it in ſe-
veral places, about a hundred paces below the ſteep
circle of the brink of the mountain, which is the
whole depth of this old mouth.
"By an extraordinary eruption, this vaft abyfs was
almoft quite filled with a mixture of fulphur, bitu-
men, mineral, allum, nitre, and melted or vitrified
earth. After the ebullition was over, theſe ſubſtances
formed a kind of a`thick cruft, or hardened fcum,
which made a level in the gulf, a hundred paces be-
low the brink of the hole. A furious fhaking of the
mountain did afterwards break this cruft, or thickneſs
of hardened matter, and tumbled the pieces one
upon an another, as when, after you have broken the
ice of a pond, a ſudden froſt preſently cements all
the pieces together. This rugged furface is every
where equally uneven; and there are here and there
burning funnels, from whence the ſmoke continually
exhales: in fomne places you feel the heat through your
fhoes as you paſs over it.
}
"But this is not all; for, juſt in the middle of
this extent, which by the way is almoſt round, a
curious eruption forced its paffage, and has formed a
new mountain. This mountain is alſo round, and is
a quarter of a mile in height. I could not count the
paces,
VESUVIUS.
431
paces, becauſe it is impoffible to make them equal,
by reaſon of the afhes, which, as I told you before,
make one fometimes flide back.
"After you have paffed that rough ſpace, which re-
fembles a flat ditch about three hundred paces broad,
between the brink of the great mountain and the foot
.of the little ones, you afcend the laſt with at leaſt
as much pains as you did the firft. It is all over.
full of fmoking chinks. In many places the ful-
phur appears almoft pure, like a kind of fal am-
moniac, inclining to a citron colour; in others,
there is a reddiſh and porous matter, like the ſcum
of iron, which comes from fmiths' forges: there are
pieces of all colours, and of different figures and
weight. All theſe ſubſtances being ſo often burned and
calcined by fo vehement a fire, and this compofition
of fo many different matters being melted and incor-
porated together, you may eafily imagine what it is.
"The top of the little mountain hath its opening
as well as the great one; and it is this which at
preſent is the throat of the vaft abyfs; we gueffed it
to be about a hundred paces broad. There iffues out
a flood of ſmoke, which almoft fills its capacity;
but there comes ſometimes gufts of wind from above
which drive away this ſmoke, ſometimes one way and
fometimes another, and gave us an opportunity, at
feveral views, to difcover all the upper part of the
mouth.
«The
432
VIRTUE.
"The following infcription is to be ſeen about
three miles from Naples, in a village on the way to
the mountain.
"Pofteri, pofteri, vertra res agitur. Quies facem
præfert dici; nudius perendino. Advertite vicies ab
fatu Solis, ni fabulatur hiftoria, arfit Vefuvius immani
femper clade hæfitantium: ne pofthac incertos occu-
pet, mōreo. Uterum gerit mons hic bitumine, alu-
mine, erro, auro, argente, nitro, aquarum fontibus
graven. Serius ociu ignefcet, pelagoque influente
pariet; fed ante partum concutitur, concutique fo-
lum: fumigat, corufcat, flammigerat, quafit acram, hor-
rendum immugit, boatum tonat, arcet finibus accolas.
EMIGRA DUM LICET. Jamjam enititur, erumpit,
mixtum igne lacum evomit, præcipiti ruit ille lapfu,
feramque fugam praveftit. Si corripit actum eft,
pèrrifti, Anno falutis 1631, &c. Tu fi 'fapis audi
clamantem lapidem, fperne larem, fperne farcinulas;
more nulla, fuge.
VIRTUE.
There is an ancient ſaying, but nevertheleſs a faulty
one, ❝ Virtue is to be fought for itſelf only, and that
it is its own reward." This axiom, attributed to
Zéno, the Grecian fage, is extravagant in its fenti-
ment, and little conformable to human nature and
experience. Solon, the wifeft of all human legifla-
tors,
1
VOLTAIRE.
433
tors, has pronounced on this fubje&t a more judicious
fentence: "The good actions of men are produced
by the fear of puniſhment and the hope of reward."
There is a fine paffage in Lactantius on this topic:
"Non eft, ut aiunt, propter feipfam expetenda vir-
tus fed propter vitam beatam quæ virtutem neceffa-
rio fequitur."-Virtue is not (as fome affert) defirable
on its own account; but for the fake of that happi-
nefs in life which neceffarily follows a virtuous
conduct.
VOLTAIRE.
1. The preſent Emprefs of Ruffia once fent this
celebrated genius a little ivory-box, made by her
own hands. Voltaire, upon this, got his niece to
inftruct him in knitting ftockings, and actually half
finiſhed a pair of white filk, when he became com-
pletely tired. In this unfiniſhed ftate he fent them to
the Empreſs, with a charming poetical epiftle, replete
with gallantry, in which he told her, "That, as ſhe
had preſented him with a piece of man's workman-
ſhip, wrought by a woman, he thought it his duty to
crave her acceptance, in return, of a piece of
woman's work from the hands of a man."
2. Voltaire had a brother, an arrant Janfenift,
poffeffing all that aufterity of manners which that
fect affected. The Abbé Arouet, heir to a confi
derable fortune, would not fee his impious brother,
F F
and
434
VOYAGE-WRITERS.
and openly faid, "he would not leave him a half-
penny." But his health was weak, and his life could
not be of long duration. Voltaire had not given up
all hopes of inheritance; he turned Janfenift, and
acted the devotee; on a fudden he appeared in the
Janfeniftical garb, with a large flouched hat; he ran
from church to church, took care to chooſe the
fame hours as the Abbé Arouet, and there, with a de-
portment contrite and humble, kneeling in the middle
of the church, or ftanding with his arms croffed on his
breaft, his eyes caft on the ground, on the altar, or on
the Chriſtian orator, he would hearken or pray with all
the compunction of the penitent finner reclaimed from
his errors. The Abbé believed in his brother's con-
verfion, exhorted him to perfevere, and died leaving
him all his fortune. But the Janfenift's cafh was all
that Voltaire retained of his converfion.
3. Voltaire ufed to relate, as an inftance of the
bewitching nature of gaming, that he had known an
old woman, formerly addicted to play and extremely
indigent, who ufed to make broth for fome poor
players, for the fake of being permitted to look
on.
>
VOYAGE-WRITERS.
Monfieur Toinard、 faid, that, having collected
with great care all kinds of books of voyages, and
having
}
WALPOLE.
485
A
having ftudied, one after another, all their fyftems,
he was convinced they were all unfatisfactory. With
regard to the magnet, its variations are infinite.
Pilots acknowledge that the mariner's compafs varies
at different times in the fame place, infomuch that no
certain rule can be followed.
WALLACE, LADY.
This lady was partial to the philofopher, and the
philofopher was partial to the lady. They once
croffed the Frith from Kinghorn to Leith together,
when a violent ftorm rendered the paffengers appre-
henfive of a falt-water death; and her ladyfhip's
terror induced her to feek confolation from her
friend, who, with infinite fang froid, affured her,
"he thought there was great probability of their
becoming food for fiſhes!"—" And pray, my dear
friend," faid Lady Wallace," which do you think
they will eat firft ?"-"Thofe who are gluttons,"
replied the philofopher, "will undoubtedly fall foul
of me; but the epicurcs will attack your Ladyfhip.'
>
WALPOLE, SIR ROBERT.
1. During the adminiſtration of Sir Robert Wal-
pole, there were ſtrong debates in the Houfe of Com-
F F 2
mons
436
WALPOLE.
mons, on the ſubject of keeping up a large ſtanding
army in time of peace. Sir Robert was in no humour
of thinking to reduce the army, becauſe he very well
knew, the larger it was, the more commiffions he
fhould have at his difpofal, and confequently the
more friends to fupport him; but, as fome plaufible
pretext was neceffary to fet a face on the affair, he
trumped up a ſtory, which he put into the King's
Speech, and his Majefty very gravely and unknow-
ingly delivered it to both Houfes of Parliament.
His Majefty, among other things, acquainted them,
he had received certain intelligence, that the Emperor
of Germany and the King of Spain had concerted
to invade theſe kingdoms in favour of the Pretender.
As ſoon as the Emperor's Ambaffador at our
Court heard of it, he wrote directly an account of it to
his Maſter, who very ſoon ſent him back an order to
repair immediately to Court, and defire an audience
of the King, and affure him, upon the faith and
honour of a crowned head, he never had ſuch a
thought or deſign.
2. In the year 1733, the Excife-Bill, having been
oppoſed in every flage, was ordered to be reported.
The qucftion for its being reported was carried by a
majority of fixty. The nation was in a ferment, and
there had been fome dangerous riots. On the even-
ing before the report, Sir Robert fummoned a meet-
ing of the principal members who had ſupported the
Bill; it was largely attended. He referved his own
opinion
}
WALPOLE.
437
opinion to the laſt, but perfeverance was the unani-
mous voice. It was faid, all taxes were obnoxious,
and there would be an end of fupplies, if mobs were to
controul the Legiſlature in the manner of raiſing them;
that the execution of this Act could only make the
people fenfible of its real merit; and, if a fair trial
was given, and the certain good effects feen and felt,
thoſe who had made themfelves unpopular by fupport-
ing the Bill would receive the applaufe of the public
and the thanks of their Conftituents. When Sir Ro-
bert had heard them all, he affured them how con-
fcious he was of having meant well, and how certain
that experience would remove every prejudice that
had been entertained againſt the Exciſe-ſcheme; but
in the prefent inflamed temper of the people it could
not be carried into execution without an armed
force; that there would be an end of the liberty of
England, if fupplies were to be raiſed by the fword;
if, therefore, the refolution was to go on with the Bill,
he would immediately wait upon the King, and defire
his Majeſty's permiffion to refign his office, for he
would not be the Miniſter to enforce taxes at the
bable expence of blood.
pro-
This anecdote is told by Sir William Meredith, in
an unpubliſhed Tract, written by him, entitled "Hif-
torical Remarks on the Taxation of Free States," 4to.
1778, on the information of Mr. White of Retford,
who had lived in friendſhip with Sir Robert Walpole.
F F 3
3. Sir
438
WARBURTON.
3. Sir Robert once ftood in need of the votes of
the Biſhops on fome great national queſtion.-In
order to fecure their fupport, he prevailed on the
Archbishop of Canterbury, whom he had raifed to
that dignity, to remain at home upon the occafion, and
permit him to have it given out that his Grace was ill,
and laid at the point of death. The expedient took;
the whole bench to a man came down to the houſe, and
voted for the Minifter.
4. When Sir Robert Walpole planned any confti-
tutional or public Act of Parliament, he always in-
vited two or three of his friends, men of confequence,
underſtanding, penetration, and unconfined genius,
to perufe the plan, defiring them to raiſe all the ob-
jections they could poffibly form, in the moft adverſe
way. By this very circumfpect and prudent ftep, he
made himſelf perfect mafter of any confequential de-
bate arifing from any point he wanted to carry,
and thus he became remarkable for quick and judi-
cious replications in the Houfe. By a few altera-
tions, if thought neceffary, well adapted to the plan,
he thus obviated moft difficulties that might attend it, as
well in paffing the Houſe of Parliament, as in the exe-
cutory part, when it became a law.
WARBURTON, BISHOP.
1. Biſhop Warburton's books were much fcribbled
in the margin and on the blank leayes. He fays, in one
of
WARBURTON.
439
of his letters, "It is my way to write any obfervation
on the leaf of the book that is the fubjc&t of it." Of
the books in his library that he did not want, he uſed
to get rid every year. This he called, giving his li-
brary a purge. The Bishop's reading was very ex-
tenfive, and exceedingly mifcellaneous. When he
was tired of ferious reading, or of ftudy, he used to
take up a novel or romance to relax his mind, turning,
as Dr. Armſtrong adviſes his ftudent, in his Art of
preferving Heath,
"From ferious Antonine
• “To Rabelais' ravings, and from profe to fong."
The Great Chancellor of France, Dagneſſeau, uſeđ
to ſay, “Le changement d'étude eft pour moi un délaſſe-
ment," when he turned his noble and comprehenfive
mind from an intricate law cafe to mathematics or
oriental learning.
Biſhop Warburton appears to have thought very
highly of Baxter's Matho-Puerilis, as an inftitutional
book of Natural Philofophy, in which the explanations
are very familiar, and fuited to the capacity of young
perfons. He always thought that there had been fome
omiffions in the Oxford edition of Lord Clarendon's
hiſtory, but that nothing had been added to it. One
very notorious omiffion, he faid, he was fure he could
fhew.
Dr. Middleton and Warburton were well enough
inclined to fpar; they were, however, mutually afraid
of each other. They were both of them men of
F F 4
ftrong
440
WARBURTON.
ſtrong parts, and ſtrong paffions. The Biſhop ſays,
"Whether or not I anfwer Dr. Middleton's poftfcript,
we ſhall give the public, in this difpute, an example.
that friends may differ in opinion without any abate-
ment of their mutual eſteem, or any interruption in
the commerce of friendfhip."
2. Biſhop Warburton was in a great meaſure loft
to the world and to his friends fome years before his
death, by the decay of his intellectual faculties, the
body preffing down the mind that muſed upon many
things; which hath been the cafe of many a great ge-
nius as well as himfelf; for he was indeed a great
genius, of the most extenfive reading, of the moſt re-
tentive memory, of the moft copious invention, of
the livelieft imagination, the fharpeft difcernment,
the quickeſt wit, and the readieft and happieſt ap-
plication of his immenfe knowledge to the preſent
fubject and occafion. He was fuch an univerfal
reader, that he took delight even in'romances, and
there is fcarce one of any note, ancient or modern,
which he has not read; he faid himſelf, that he had
learned Spaniſh to have the pleaſure of reading Don
Quixote in the original. He was excellent and admi-
rable both as a companion and a friend. As a
companion, he did not dwell upon little trivial mat-
ters, but difclofed a nicer vein of converfation, was
lively and entertaining, inftru&tive and improving,
abounded with pleaſant ftories and curious anec-
dotes; but fometimes took the difcourfe too much
to
WESLEY.
441
As a
to himſelf, if any thing can be faid to be too much of
fuch an inexhauftible fund of wit and learning.
friend, he was ingenuous and communicative, would
anſwer any queſtions, refolve any doubts, deli-
vered his fentiments upon all fubjects freely, and with-
out reſerve laid open his very heart, and the character
which he was pleaſed to give Mr. Pope of being the
foul of friendſhip was more juftly applicable to him-
felf, and more properly his own. The fame warmth of
temper, which animated his friendſhip, ſharpened like-
wife his refentment; but, even to his enemies, if he
was eaſily provoked, he was as eafily reconciled, efpe-
cially after the leaft acknowledgment and fubmiffion,
fo that his friend truly applied to him the ſaying,
Irafci facilis, tamen ut placabilis effet.
WESLEY, JOHN.
1. This veteran of religion, having learned that a
wealthy tradefman of the neighbourhood indulged to
exceſs in the pleaſures of the table, paid him a vifit, and
diſcuſſed the ſubject with him; in which he exhauſt-
ed all the texts of fcripture, and his memory and inge-
nuity, in arguments againſt the fin of gluttony.
Obferving the tradefinan filent and thoughtful, the
fpiritual foul-faver flattered himfelf he had gained his
point, and produced the defired reformation.
The
442
WESLEY.
The dinner-cloth was by this time ſpread, and
fumptuous elegance decorated the board; preaching
John was aſked to dine, and, in the very act of licking
his lips, was thus addreffed:
"Mr. Weſley, your converfation has made fuch an
impreſſion on me, that henceforward I ſhall only live
on bread and water; and, to fhew you I am in earneſt,
I fhall begin immediately." The good things were
removed, and bread and water introduced.
The good man was a good deal diſappointed, and
probably wished he had abated fomewhat of the
energy of his eloquence, or at leaſt that he had been
later in its application, for it is well known John
Weſley did not want tafle nor fervor in culinary
devotion.
2. The following bold apoftrophe occurs in fome
of Wefley's productions. "If I leave behind me ten
pounds above my debts and the little arrears of my
fellowſhip, let every man bear witneſs againſt me, that
I lived and died a thief and a robber." The pofthu-
mous ftate of his finances eftabliſhed the truth of this
animated declaration.
3. Part of a hymn on a dying female finner, written
by this apoſtle of Methodifin, is worth recording.
The following are Mr. Weftley's very affecting
ftanzas:
Ah!
WEYMOUTH,
443
Ah! lovely appearance of death!
No fight upon earth is fo fair!
Not all the gay pageants that breathe
Can with a dead body compare.
With folemn delight I ſurvey
A corpfe when the fpirit is fled,
In love with its beautiful clay,
And wiſhing to lie in its ſtead.
The wanderer's head is at reſt,
Its aching and throbbings are o'er,
The quiet immoveable breaſt
Is heav'd by affliction no more.
This heart is no longer the feat
Offickneſs, of forrow, and pain;
It ceafes to flutter and beat,
It never ſhall flutter again.
Thoſe lids the fo feldom could clofe,
By forrow forbidden to ſleep,
Seal'd up in eternal repofe,
Have ftrangely forgotten to weep.
k
WEYMOUTH, LORD, THE LATE.
1. This Nobleman was, perhaps, as fingular an ex-
ample of extravagance, œconomy, and refolution, as
has been known. After having, by refinements in
luxury and extravagance, which would have afforded
matter for wonder even in this age, reduced himſelf to
the fituation of refigning his eftate into the hands of
truſtees, for the benefit of his creditors, he retired at
once
444
WILLIAM.
once from the magnificence of — —, with an annuity
not exceeding fifteen hundred pounds, to a fmall
houſe by the fide of his park, where he lived in
a very private manner, to all' appearance with as much
fatisfaction as he had ever enjoyed amidſt his former
magnificence, and managed his annuity with fo much
care, as to be able, on a particular emergency, a few
years afterwards, to advance ten thousand pounds to
his own truſtees.
2. This Nobleman's paffion for play is ftrongly
evinced by the following anecdote :
When he came to the poffeffion of his eftate, there
was ftill, comparatively fpeaking, an inconfiderable
debt upon it, which fome deflined woods, it was fup-
pofed, would greatly reduce. The axe was therefore
laid to the root of the trees; and, when they were dif
pofed of, the noble Lord undertook himſelf to be the
bearer of the money, which was to a great amount.
When he arrived in town, he went directly to the per-
fon who was appointed to receive it, but he being un-
luckily from home, his Lordship as unluckily went
to a gaming houſe, where he loft all the money.
}
WILLIAM III.
The Prince of Orange had a kind of hereditary
averfion to the French; with the eftates of William III.
he feems to have inherited the hatred of that Prince
to
WILLIAM.
445
to France.
1
William III. conceived that averfion at
a very early period of life, in confequence of a public
affront put upon him by a French Ambaffador, when
he was a child. At the death of this Prince's father,
the purely Republican party, finding a favourable op-
portunity in the minority of his Son, to humble the
Houſe of Orange, effected after many ftruggles the
abolition of the Stadtholderſhip, and thus reduced
the young Prince to the rank of a private fubject.
In this ſtate of things, the little Prince was one day
taking an airing in his coach with his mother the Prin-
ceſs Mary, eldeſt daughter to the unfortunate Charles
the Firſt, when the coach entered a gate-way that
led into a court, through which the coachman was to
drive, to come to another gate juft facing the one
through which he had before paffed; but here he was
ftopped by the French Ambaffador's carriage, which
happened to be driving the oppofite way; the Prince's
fervants called out to the Ambaffador's Coachman to
put back, and make way for the Prince of Orange;
the man was going to comply, when his Mafter defired
he would not give way an inch: upon this a parley
took place between fome Gentlemen-attendants on
both fides: the negociation for the Prince reminded
the Ambaſſador of the rank and fplendor of the Houſe
of Orange, the founders of the Government to which
his Excellency had been fent Ambaffador: the French-
man replied, that he reſpected the Houfe of Orange
as much as any man, but he reſpected ftill more the
dignity of his own character of Ambaffador from his
Moft
446
WILLIAM.
Moft Chriftian Majefty, and therefore he had a juft
right, as fuch, to claim precedency, even at the
Hague, over a Prince of Orange, who, divefted of
the Stadtholderſhip, was no more in Holland than a
private fubject.—His Excellency was next reminded
of the rank and dignity of the Prince's mother, who
was Princeſs Royal of Great-Britain; the Ambaſſador
anſwered that he had the moſt profound reſpect for her
Royal Highneſs, and if he himſelf was in a private
character, he would think himſelf honoured to be in
the fuite of fo great and fo amiable a Princeſs, not half
fo refpectable for being defcended from the illuftrious
Henry IV. as for her many virtues and accompliſh-
ments; but he hoped her Royal Highneſs would ex-
cufe him for not giving way to her, as he was fup-
porting the rights aud privileges of his Royal Mafter,
whofe reprefentative he was.-The treaty lafted for
fome hours, but the Ambaffador remained inflexible;
he would not fuffer his carriage to be put back; and
the Princcfs could not bring herſelf to give way to an
Ambaffador: at laft an expedient was thought of to
fave her own and her fon's honour; the wall adjoin-
ing the gate-way was broken down, and a clear paf-
fage made through it; the Prince's carriage inclining
then a little to one fide drove on, and left the French-
man in poffeffion of the field: this preferved the
Prince and his mother from the mortification of turn-
ing back; but ftill the Ambaffador carried his point.
William never forgave this affront to the day of
his death; he had a perfonal diflike to Louis XIV.
becauſe
1
WILLIS.
447
becauſe that Monarch approved of his Miniſter's
conduct; and the prefent Stadtholder, it is faid, has
treaſured up
the refentment of his predeceffor.
WILLIS, THE REV. DR.
This highly-celebrated character ftarted in the
ftudy of divinity, for which purpoſe he was early in
life entered a ſtudent at Oxford, but fortunately for
himſelf and his country attached himſelf to phyſic.
After quitting Oxford, he went to refide near Lin-
coln, where the firſt patient he undertook was a poor
old pieman, a native of Lincoln, at that time chained
naked in the caſtle, raving mad. The Doctor fucceeded
in the cure, and the man is now living very healthy,
alike found in body and intellect, though very old.
His fame, like his buſineſs, is very widely extend-
ed. Although he has not ſlept from his own houſe for
fix weeks together, he is known not to have feen it
during that time by day-light, having been entirely oc-
cupied in riding about, vifiting his patients.
Very ſoon after that memorable event, which com-
municated fuch unexampled joy through the' me-
tropolis and the kingdom at large, the Doctor was fent
for to Oxford, to attend Sir Charles Nourfe, Bart. a
diftant relation, who died very rich, and left the
Doctor a very fmall legacy, and the bulk of his for-
tune to his houſe-keeper. This fact is related for the
fake of introducing the following circumftance, that
he
448
WILLIS.
he rode from thence on horfeback to his own houfe
at Greatford, in Lincolnſhire, 115 miles in one day,
being at that time feventy-two years of age; and that,
fince paffing his ſeventieth year, he has frequently rode
from his own houſe to London in one day and back
again the next, a diſtance of ninety-five miles each way.
Some years ago Dr. Willis attended his friend, Na-
thaniel Dance, Eſq. during a very ſevere illneſs, and
fucceeded in curing him.-The Doctor, fome time
after calling upon Mr. Dance, refuſed to take any
reward for his trouble, when Mr. Dance begging the
Doctor to fit down a few minutes, and taking out his
pencil, drew a very ftriking likeneſs of the Doctor
upon a fheet of paper, which the latter has now by
him in great preſervation.
The Doctor is very rich, and what is better, very
humane, generous, and charitable. The poor go
daily away from his door thankful, fed, and clothed;
he attends them in fickneſs, and furniſhes them with
medicine from his own houfe; and he is, perhaps, de-
ſervedly the moſt popular man in the kingdom, as
having been the means under heaven of reſtoring a
beloved Sovereign to his people.
'
}
WILLIS, CAPTAIN RICHARD,
The Doctor's Son.
Soon after his Majefty's recovery, the Captain was
one day engaged to dine at the houſe of
Rey-
nardſon,
WIFE.
449
nardſon, Efq. next door to the then Lord Chancel-
lor's, in Ormond Street. The coachman, by miſtake,
knocked at the Chancellor's door; Captain Willis,
not perceiving the mistake, was ushered into the
room, where the Chancellor and his company were at
dinner. It was a cabinet dinner.-Captain Willis's
confufion may be eaſily conceived, when he endea-
voured to apologize, from which however he was re-
lieved by the Chancellor's politeneſs, inviting him tò
fit down to finner.-the Captain begged to be excuſed,
bowed, and retired.
•
WIFE, SALE OF.
In the goth of Edw. (1302) Sir William Paynell,
Knight, and Margaret, his wife, demanded the third
part of the manor of Torpul as the dower of the faid
Margaret, after the death of John de Camoys, her
firſt huſband, the manor being then in the King's
hands. The Attorney General anfwered, that fhe
ought not to be endowed, " becauſe fhe departed
from her huſband in his life-time, and lived as an
adultereſs with the faid Sir William, and was not
reconciled to her huſband before his death; and fo by
the form of the ſtat. (Weft. 2, chap. 34,) fhe ought
not to have her dower."
The Demandants replied, and pleaded a deed of the
former huſband under feal, of which the following is
a tranſlation:
" To
450
WIFE.
"To all Chriftian people, to whom theſe preſents
fhall come, John de Camoys, fon and heir of Sir
Ralf de Camoys, fendeth greeting.-Know ye, that I
have, of my own will, delivered and demifed to Sir
William Paynell, Knt. my wife, Margaret de Camoys,
daughter and heir of John' Batefden; and that I
have alſo given and granted, and to the faid Sir Wil-
liam releaſed, and quit-claimed, all the goods and chat-
tels which fhe the faid Margaret hath, or hereafter
may have, and alſo whatever is mine of the goods and
chattels of the faid Margaret, with the appurtenances;
fo that neither I, nor any one in my name, can or
may ever hereafter have or claim any power in or
over the faid Margaret, or her goods, chattels, or
appurtenances.—And I will and grant,. and by this
preſent writing confirm, that the aforefaid Margaret
fhall be and remain with the faid Sir William, at the
will and pleaſure of him, the faid Sir William. In
witnefs whereof, I have here affixed my feal, &c."
Sir William and his wife then concluded their reply
by faying, "By virtue of which deed, fhe, the faiḍ
Margaret, did not live as an adulterefs with the faid
William, but as the wife of the faid William.”
Whereupon the Attorney-General demurred in
law; that is, appealed to the Court for their judg-
ment, whether this plea of Sir William and his wife
was valid in law, and on this the Court gave judg-
ment that ſhe ſhould not be endowed, this being mani-
feft adultery..
The
WOLF.
451
The Demandant attempted to produce letters of the
Biſhop reciting a purgation of the adultery, but
which were not admitted in evidence.
WOLF, BARON.
In the laſt years of the reign of Queen Elizabeth,
when Baron Wolf, went to Ruffia, he found the
Pruffians in poffeffion of the moſt lucrative branches
of commerce, and amongſt others that of clothing the
Imperial army. He conceived the project of depri-
ving them of it, and transferring fuch an important
branch to his own country. There was no other
poffible method but that of ſelling Engliſh cloth
cheaper, and the able negociator refolved to facrifice
200,000 roubles to gain his ends, and ſerve his
royal Miſtreſs. He fucceeded in the hazardous at-
tempt, and obtained the preference. This operation
fo confounded the Pruffians, that their manufacturers
vifibly declined, and by that means foon left the Eng-
liſh ſole maſters of the woollen-cloth trade.
When Baron Wolf was convinced that the Pruffians
conceived no hopes of ever rifing to their original
preteufions, fearing no other competitors, he adroitly
augmented the price of his merchandiſe, and in a few
years made it equal to that fixed by the Pruffians.
The uncommon talents of Wolf were rewarded by
Government. He received a fervice of plate, with
the royal Arms of England fuperbly engraved in
G G 2
gold;
452
WREN.
1
gold; he was by her Majefty firſt named Conful, and
foon after her Refident at the Court of Ruffia.
WREN, SIR CHRISTOPHER.
When SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN built the church
of St. Magnus, there were houſes on each fide of
London-Bridge, which projected as far as the church.
When theſe houfes were pulled down, the foot-path
came directly againſt the church, fo that the people
who walked on that fide were obliged to go round into
the coach-road. This was found very inconvenient,
and a meeting of the inhabitants was held, to confider
if they could with fafety cut a road through, which
was thought too hazardous an expedient, and the
neighbours, apprehending it might bring the church
about their ears, laid afide their ſcheme. Going round
the church being found alfo very inconvenient and
dangerous, they had a fecond meeting, when it was
determined by a fmall majority to make the experi-
ment, and the workmen, on breaking through the
wall, found a complete and perfect arch, which Sir
Chriſtopher, foreſeeing with prophetic tafte that the
houſes would at fome future period be pulled down,
had left in its preſent form.
WOMEN
WOMEN.
453
WOMEN.
Mahometan Doctrine refpecting them.
1. Any woman that dies unmarried is thought to die
in a ſtate of reprobation. To confirm this belief,
they reaſon thus the end of the creation is to increaſe
and multiply; fhe is, therefore, only properly em-
ployed in the works of her calling, when fhe is bring-
ing forth children, or taking care of them, which
are all the virtues that God expects from her.
66
•
Many of them are very fuperftitious, and will
not remain widows ten days, for fear of dying in the
reprobate ſtate of a uſeleſs creature. This is a piece
of theology very different from that which teaches,
that nothing is more acceptable to God than a vow
ofperpetual virginity;-which doctrine is moſt rational
I leave you to determine." Thus far Lady Wortley.
The Moravians carry this doctrine much farther
than the Mahometans, as will appear by the follow-
ing anecdote :—A perſon, in a very eminent ſtation,
being dangerouſly ill and given over, Count Zinzen-
dorff, by virtue of the plenitude of the power with
which he was inveſted by the Almighty, fent him
an abfolution for all his fins, and in particular for
that mortal fin in which, as he had lived, the cha-
ritable patriarch feared he would alfo die. The
great and good man could not conceive what was
meant by this mortal fin; but one of his friends, more
G G 3
verfed
454
WAKE.
verfed in the doctrine of the Moravians, told him,
it was his having lived in a state of celibacy.
2. M. Bafile afked Santeul one day, why pretty
women were in general pleaſant and good-humoured,
and ugly women, on the contrary, harſh and always
out of humour. "The reaſon is obvious," replied
the bard; "the former are accuſtomed to havè civil
and agreeable things faid to them perpetually, and
the latter are daily chagrined at being neglected.”
Being afked another time, "why pretty woman were
lefs fenfible and accomplished than plain women,"
Santeul replied, "The latter feek company which
may inftruct them, and the former fhew generally
an averfion to fuch kind of fociety; fo that thofe
women who have no beauty receive from nature
propenfities that compenfate to them the want of
charms." On the ſubject of infidelity to their huf-
bands, fo notorious in fome women, Santeul, on
being aſked the reaſon of theſe irregularities, replied,
"This conduct in the women is for the moſt part
occafioned by the frivolous characters of their huf-
bands."
1
WAKE, DR. WILLIAM,
Archbishop of Canterbury.
When performing the fervice of confirmation at the
Metropolitan church of his diocefe, a poor old woman
of Canterbury, whom curiofity had led to the church,
!
burf
WILKES.
455
burſt forth into an exclamation, that the good
Biſhop was POLLING all the folk!
WILKES, JOHN. ESQ.
1. MR. WILKES ufually wrote his fatire againſt
Lord Bute's miniftry (himſelf fitting in, his bed) upon
a deſk, à la poſterior: this portatif deſk, Wilkes uſed
to ſay jocularly, his miſtreſs would not have parted
with for 50,00ol. however cheap fhe might have
mortgage it, or let it out to hire. Wilkes performed
every act of debauchery, political and female, with
much pleaſantry and much caution. He once took
the opinion of counſel (the late Sir Fletcher Norton)
how he ſhould avoid an action for feduction, if he
took a certain girl from her father into keeping. A
lawyer who cannot adviſe a client how to evade a
law, as well as to fecure himfelf by the law, has but
half-learnt his profeffion. Sir Fletcher, who 'knew
both, adviſed Wilkes to "take the girl as an upper-
fervant, and give her double wages,-extra wages
denoting that fomething more than common ſervices
were expected to be performed by her." Wilkes
took the hint, and actually kept his fille de joie and
chamber-maid at twenty pounds per annum, at the
fame time anathematifing the whole profeffion, fwear-
ing by his Goddeſs VENUS, that the name of a
lawyer was but another for a fcoundrel.
GG 4
2. Mr.
456
WILLIAMSON.
2. Mr. Wilkes going to Dolly's chop-houfe, in
Paternofter-row, with a friend, in order to obferve
the humours of the place, accidentally feated him-
felf near a rich and purfe-proud citizen, who
almoſt ſtunned him with roaring for his ftake, as he
called it. Mr. Wilkes in the mean time, afking
him ſome common queſtion, received a very brutal
anfwer: the ftet.k coming at that inſtant, Mr. Wilkes
turned to his friend, faying, "fee the difference
between the City and the Bear-Garden; in the latter
the bear is brought to the ſtake, but here the freak-
is brought to the bear.
3. The fame gentleman, during the profecution car-
ried on againſt him by Adminiſtration, being in France,
and at Court, Madame Pompadour addreffed him
thus:-"You Engliſhmen are fine fellows; pray how
far may a man go in his abuſe of the Royal Family
among you?”—“ I do not at preſent know, (replied
he drily,) but I am trying.”
}
A
WILLIAMSON, DR.,
Some years fince Doctor Williamſon, Vicar of
Moulton, in Lincolnſhire, had a violent quarrel
with one of his parishioners, which was refented by
the latter, whoſe name was Hardy. On the follow-
ing Sunday he preached on the following text, which
he pronounced emphatically with a fignificant direc-
tion of his eye to HARDY," There is no fool like
THEE, fool HARDY!"
WRIGHT,
WRITING.
457
WRIGHT, THE REV. MR.
This gentleman was a curate in the weſt of Eng-
land, who refuſed reading the St. Athenafian Creed,
though repeatedly defired to do fo by his parishioners.
The parishioners complained to the Biſhop, who or-
dered it to be read. Now this very curious creed is
appointed to be faid or fung, and the curate accord-
ingly on the following Sunday thus addreffed his
congregation:-" Next follows St. Athenafius's Creed,.
either to be faid or fung, and with God's leave I'll fing
it.—Now, Clerk, mind what you are about," when they
both ſtruck up, and fung it with great glee to a fox-hunt-
ing tune, which, having previouſly practiſed, was ad-
mirably performed. The parishioners again met and
informed the curate they would readily diſpenſe with
the creed in future.
WRITING.
The confequences of a bad hand.
A Gentleman, writing to his country-friend in
Lincolnſhire, who had done him fome recent favour,
informed him by letter how much he was obliged, and
that he ſhould ſoon ſend him an equivalent. Not be-
ing accuſtomed to faſhionable fcrawls, he read it, that
his friend would fend him an Elephant; and, building
a barn at the time, actually fitted up a ftall for the
reception
458
YORKE.
1
reception of his expected prefent. The arrival,
however, of a barrel of oysters by the ftage, a few
days afterwards, helped him to the right reading, by
putting him in poffeffion of a more fuitable equiva-
lent than an elephant. This is a fact, and occurred
a few years fince.
$
XIMENES.
The life of this extraordinary perſon has been com-
piled by two French writers of elegance, Flechier
and Marfolier.
This General of the Cordeliers came from Rome,
on purpoſe to confer with ISABELLA on the ſubject
of the reform of his order; and, to give her an ill im-
preffion of himſelf, he behaved to the Queen fo in-
folently, that ſhe faid to him, " Recollect, Sir, who
you are, and to whom you ſpeak." "Yes, Madam,"
replied he, “I am ſpeaking to Iſabella, Queen of
Spain, who, like myſelf, is merely duft and afhes."
1
YORKE, PHILIP,
Afterwards Lord Hardwicke, Lord Chancellor of Great -
Britain.
He commenced his ftudy of the Law by ferving a
clerkship with an attorney, where he was frequently
teazed
#
1
YOUNG.
459
1
teazed by the wife of his principal with trifling errands,
improper to be executed by one in his fituation.
"When you are going by the green-grocer's," one
day, ſaid ſhe to him, "be fo good as buy me a cauli-
flower."
At his return, the cauliflower was produced, which
he obſerved coft one fhilling and fix-pence-Six-pence
for the cauliflower, and a fhilling for a chair to
bring it home in.
YOUNG, DOCTOR.
1. Young, in the early part of life, was fond of mufic,
and touched the German flute with much taſte. Being
once on the river with fome ladies, he played them
feveral tunes, and then put the flute in his pocket.
་
Some officers rowing by juft as he ceafed playing,
one of them rudely afked him, why he left off. "For
the fame reaſon that I began," replied Young, "to
pleaſe myſelf." One of them immediately told him,
that if he did not continue playing, he would directly
throw him into the Thames. His female friends be-
gan to be much alarmed, and Young, on their ac-
count, played till they reached Vauxhall, where both
parties ſpent the evening.
The Doctor had marked his man, and took an op-
portunity, in one of the dark walks, to tell the fon
of Mars, that he expected him to meet him at fuch
a place, in the morning, to give him gentleman's
fatisfaction, and that he chofe fwords for the wea-
pans.
460
YOUNG.
1
'
pons. The officer was furprized on their meeting,
to fee Young advance towards him with a large horſe-
piſtol, with which he told him he would inftantly
fhoot him through the head, if he did not dance a
minuet: after fome difficulties, he complied; the
officer, reflecting on his impertinent conduct, acknow-
ledged the juſtice of his treatment.
2. Mr. Pope thought Dr. Young had much of a
fublime genius, though without common fenfe; fo
that his genius having no guide was perpetually liable
to degenerate into bombaft. This made him paſs a
fooliſh youth, the ſport of peers and poets; but his
having a very good heart enabled him to fupport
the clerical character when he affumed it, firſt with
decency, and afterwards with honour.
The want of reaſonable ideas in this ingenious
writer, fo pregnant with imagination, occafioned the
fame abfence and diftraction in company which has
frequently been obferved to befal philofophic men
through the abundance of theirs. But his abfence
being on that account attended with much abfurdity,
it was not only excufed but enjoyed. He gave,
throughout his life, many wonderful examples of this
turn, or debility of mind; of which one will here
fuffice. When he had determined to go into orders,
he addreffed himſelf, like an honeft man, for the beſt
direction in the ſtudy of theology. But to whom did
he apply? It may, perhaps, be thought to Sherlock,
or Atterbury; to Burnet, or Hare. No! to Mr.
Pope,
1
1
YOUNG.
461
Pope, who, in a youthful frolic, recommended
Thomas Acquinas to him. With this treaſure he re-
tired, in order to be free from interruption, to an
obfcure place in the fuburbs. His director hearing
no more of him for fix months, and apprehending he
might have carried the jeft too far, fought after him,
and found him out juft in time' to prevent an irre-
trievable derangement.
3. He is repreſented by Fielding under the cha-
racter of Parſon Adams. During the war in Flan-
ders, in a regiment 'of which Mr. Young was chap-
lain, one fine fummer's evening he thought proper
to indulge in a folitary walk, and accordingly fallied
forth from his tent; the beauty of the hemifphere,
and the landſcape about him, preſſed warmly on his
imagination, his heart overflowing with benevolence
to all God's creatures, and gratitude to the Supreme
Diſpenſer of that emanation of glory which covered
the face of things. In this fit of intenſe thought,
Mr. Young actually walked into the enemy's camp,
where he was with difficulty brought to his recollec-
tion by the repetition of Qui va là? from the guard.
The officer on guard, finding he had ſtrayed there in
the undefigning fimplicity of his heart, gave him
leave to purſue his contemplation home again.
FINIS.
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