it on familiar fubjects, yet he never understood it to that degree as to venture upon business in it; for in the following wars of Ireland, when the Irish Bifhop of Clogher came in to ferve the King as General of the Ulfter forces, his Lordfhip always fpoke in English, and the Bishop in Irish, fo as perfectly to underftand each other.

In 1628, when the Duke of Buckingham was going upon his expedition to the relief of Rochelle, his Lordship, though fcarcely eighteen, was refolved to have a fhare in that action, and had gotten as far as Portsmouth to embark with the reft; but the Duke afking him if he had his grandfather's confent, and finding he had not, forbade him to go. Even this, perhaps, would not have perfuaded him; but the next day the Duke being stabbed by Felton, he pofted back to London.

Soon after this, he fell in love with his kinfwoman the Lady Elizabeth Prefton, whom he faw at the Court of Charles the First; and who, being a ward to the King, was defigned for a fon of the Earl of Denbigh. This love-match being buzzed about at Court, the King admonished the Duke (then Lord Thurles), "not to meddle with his ward." My Lord replied, “That he never saw her any where but in his Majefty's Court, where all paid refpect unto her; and he, having the honour to be her kinfman, thought he might do the fame as well as others but if his Majefty would forbid him his Court, he would refrain it.""No, no!" faid his Majefty, "I do not command that."

:

In Christmas 1629, however, they were married; but his Lordship was constrained to pay no less than fifteen thousand pounds to the Earl of Holland, in confideration of her wardship.

On the first parliament of Lord Wentworth, afterwards Earl of Strafford, when Deputy of Ireland in 1633, he issued a proclamation, that none of the members, either Peers or Commoners, fhould enter with their fwords on: and the Black Rod accordingly stood at the door of the Lords' Houfe to take away their swords. As my Lord of Ormond came in, he demanded his; but being refuted, Black Rod fhewed the proclamation, and made fome rough reply. To this his Lordship anfwered, "That if he needs must have his fword, it must be in his guts," and fo marched on to his feat, where he fat as the only Peer with a word that day.

The Lord Deputy being informed of

this, took fire, and called his Lordship at night to answer for it. His Lordship fhewed him his writ which called him to Parliament, "Cindlus cum Gladio." Upon this anfwer, the Deputy and his two friends, Sir George Ratcliffe and Mr. Wandesford, confulted whether to fupprefs or oblige fo daring a spirit: but Sir George advifing the latter, it was refolved on: and this begot fuch an intimacy through life between Lord Ormond and Strafford, that the latter made it one of his dying requests to the King, "That his garter might be given to the Earl of Ormond." His Majesty accordingly did offer it; and his Lordfhip's retufal of it was very honourable to his character:-" That at fuch a time of danger, fuch a mark of Royal favour might tie fome other Nobleman to the Crown, who by principles was lefs refolved than himself: he begged his Majetty, therefore, to beftow this garter as his fervice required, and to reierve his bounty for him till all the dangers were

over.

He therefore had no garter till 1649, when it was given him by Charles the Second, who foon after created him a Marquis.

Whilft the Marquis of Ormond was attending the fortunes of Charles the Second, refiding a few days at Lyons, he called at a barber's fhop to have his peruke mended. The mafter was decrepid both in hands and feet, but laid he could direct his fifter to mend it as it ought to be; fo the Marquis, taking another peruke from him, went to faunter in the streets. By chance he stept into an adjoining church, where he faw a chapel therein, which was hung with the prefents of feveral votaries who had received cures from our Lady. Amongst the reft, he found an infcription as well as an offering made by the very man (the peruke maker) whom he had juft left. Seeing him the next day, he asked him about it; wondering why, being ftill a cripple, he fhould do fo; but the man answered, "He thought he was better than he had been, and hoped that by doing honour to the Lady before hand, he might the fooner enjoy the rest of her favours."

(To be continued occafionally.)

SIR JOHN HOLT.

It is related of Lord Chief Justice Holt, who had been very wild in his youth, that being once at the Bench at the Old Bailey, a fellow was tried for a highway robbery, and very narrowly

acquitted, whom his Lordship recollected to have been one of his early diffipated companions. After the trial was over, curiofity induced him to fend for the man in private, in order to inquire the fortune of the cotemporaries with whom he was once affociated: he therefore afked the fellow what was become of Tom fuch-aone, and Will fuch-a-one, and the rest of the party to which they belonged? when the fellow, fetching a deep figh, and making a low bow, replied: "Ah! my Lord, they are all hanged, except your Lordship and myself."

The Society for the Reformation of Manners which was fet up in the latter end of King William's time and continued to the prefent day, though inftituted upon good principles, yet in many inftances acted upon refinements as unferviceable to the cause of real morality as to that of common sense. This was exemplified in the cafe of Leveridge, the well-known popular vocal performer of that time, whom they profecuted merely for finging an ode of Dryden's, the fubject of which was, the praife of Love and Wine. The public, in a degree, caught the fpirit of the Reformers, as the Grand Jury found a bill against

him.

When the trial came on before Sir John Holt, he at once faw the narrow fpirit of the profecution; and finding the fact of the finging, &c. fully proved, he thought of the following ftratagem to get poor Leveridge out of the fcrape: He accordingly called for the printed fong; and, after reading it over very attentively, he obferved, that as he faw nothing in the words very culpable, he imagined the offence muft lie in the manner of finging it: he therefore defired Leveridge might fing it before the Court. The performer readily took the hint, and fung it with so much power of voice and tafte, that the Jury, without ever going out of the box, acquitted him, and he was carried home on the shoulders of the mob, in triumph.

LORD CHANCELLOR COOPER

ufed to fay of Lord Chief Justice Holt, when at the bar, that though he had not a great deal of wit, what he had he always carried about him.

REV. WILLIAM WHISTON.

This very extraordinary character, though occafionally fo much the butt of the wits, had both learning and integrity

of mind to recommend him to the first characters of his time.

The late Queen walking with him one day in Hampton Court Gardens, her Majefty obferved, "that however right he might be in his notions on fome fubjects, it would be perhaps better if he kept them to himself.""Is your Majefty really ferious in your advice?” faid the old Man. "I really am,” replied the Queen. "Why then," fays Whifton, not the leaft abashed in the prefence of her he stood before," had Martin Luther been of your way of thinking, where would your Majefty have been at this time?"

Whiston being in a conversation with Sir Robert Walpole, the difcourfe happened to turn on politics, when Whiston laid it down as a poftulation, "that there could be no true policy without being bottomed by morality." Sir Robert replied," he had heard a great deal of thofe theories in his time; but as men were conftituted, it would be impoffible to put them into practice." Whifton ftill continued in his opinion, whilft Sir Robert took the contrary side; at laft, feeing no end of the argument, Whiston drily obferved, "Suppofe, Sir, you try my advice for once, and then give me your opinion afterwards."

Whifton was a fhort time Rector of Loweftoff, where he was vifited by his friend Dr. Clarke: they went one evening together on board one of the fmall trading hips belonging to that town, where they obferved two feamen jointly lifting up a veffel out of the hold, when another who ftood by fwore at one of them who was looking down, for not turning his head another way; which he inftantly complied with, ftill continuing to affift in lifting up the vessel as before.

This conduct for a while puzzled the philofophers, till they got home, when they were informed, that the meaning of the failor turning his face another way was to qualify him for fwearing, " that he saw nothing taken out of the hold, or that he took nothing out of it himself.

"This," fays Mr. Whiston, “is a feaman's falvo for fuch errant perjury; and this is the confequence of our multiplying oaths on every trifling occasion."

In

ladies and gentlemen of his acquaintance, the former, by way of heightening the good-humour of the company, agreed to toast ordinary women, and to have them matched with ordinary men. this round, one of the ladies gave Mrs. Williams (the well known inmate of Dr. Johnfon, who was both very plain in her perfon and nearly blind), when another inftantly paired her with Dr. Goldfmith. This whimfical union fet the company laughing, and in particular to pleafed the lady who gave the firft toaft, that though he had fome pique with the lady who gave Dr. Goldimith, the ran round the table, killed her, and faid he forgave her every thing pait for the apropos of her laft tcaft. Johnfon, who faw and heard all this, and who did not like to have two of his moft intimate friends thus made the butt of ridicule, growled out, "Aye, this puts me in mind of an obfervation of Swift's, who fays, that the quarrels of women are made up like thofe of antient kings: there is always an animal facrificed on the occafion."

CAPABILITY BROWNE.

This celebrated Layer out of Ground, whole Chriftian name was Launcelot, but who was commonly called Capability Browne, from his favourite phrafe (when he approved of the ground) of faying, "it had its capability," was no lefs diftinguifhed in his profeffion than for the plainnefs and integrity of his mind in all tranfactions. Being one day confulted by a Baronet, of an antient family but no very large eftate, about improving his grounds; and the Baronet having fuggefted a number of very expensive

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alterations, Browne heard him with great attention, and thus replied: “ Why, Sir John, I grant the ground has its capabilities, and all of what you propote may be done, and even more, and what is ftill better, I must get a great deal of money by the job, which will take up feveral years; but I have one question to afk you, previous to our commencement on this butinefs,- Have you provided for your younger children?" This blunt queftion had its proper effect. The Baronet fhook him by the hand, and led him back to the dining parlour, where they drank another bottle, and the improvements were totally laid afide.

Being for fome time at a Nobleman's houfe, laying out his grounds, as he was paffing through the hall one day after dinner, he faw a number of fervant's in handiome liveries, in the aft of almost ftretching out their hands for vails: upon this he turned round to the mafter of the houfe who was at his heels :"Pray, my Lord, was not you thinking of reducing fome part of the back ground of the houfe? Now, fuppofe we begin by clumping fome of theje rows bere 10 the front."

GEORGE, LORD LYTTELTON.

This venerable and virtuous Nobleman being afked by a lady, why he did not infert in his Hiftory of Henry the Second the popular anecdote of Henry being the offspring of Stephen (her competitor) and the Empress Matilda? he replied, "Becaufe, Madam, my book fall never be the vehicle even of antiquated fcandal against a lady of rank and character."

THIS amiable man and agreeable writer was of a good family, which has for a long feries of years been poffelled of confiderable property. By one of his works it appears that he was defcended from Sir George Hungerford, his great grandfather, by Lady Frances Ducie, only daughter of Francis Lord Seymour, Baron of Trowbridge. He was born, as may be conjectured, about the year 1729 or 1730, and received his education at Kingston school, under the Rev. Mr. Woodelon. From thence he went to Geneva, where he refided fome years;

and, during his flay there, became acquainted with Voltaire, with whom he continued to correspond many years after he returned to England. After finishing the tour of Europe, he fettled as a student in the Inner Temple, was called to the bar, and fometimes attended Westminsterhall; though he did not meet with encouragement enough to induce his perfeverance in his profeflion, nor indeed does it feem probable that he had suffi cient application for it. His firft performance was "Ancient and Modern Rome," a poem, written at Rome in the

year

year 1755. printed in the year 1760, and received with confiderable applaufe. The next year he published "A Short Account of the Ancient Hiftory, prefent Government, and Laws of the Republic of Geneva," 8vo. This work was compiled during the Author's refidence at Geneva; is a very useful one; and is dedicated to Monfieur de Voltaire; to whom he fays, "When I reflect that it was in this Republic, whofe government I have attempted to defcribe, that I was firft introduced to your acquaintance; when memory renews the hours of focial mirth and refined entertainment which your hospitality and converfation afforded me; I cannot but rejoice in this occation of expreffing my gratitude: proud that as your friendship diftinguished the author of thefe pages in a foreign country, your name may at home adorn his labour." It was at one time the intention of Voltaire to translate this account into French, though he afterwards relinquished the defign.

The next year, 1762, he produced an Epittle from Lady Jane Gray to Lord Guildford Dudley :" and in 1763, "The Alps," a poem; the subject of which comprehends all that chain of mountains, known under the general name of the Alps, extending from Italy to Germany, and from France to Tyrol, by whatever denomination they are particularly diftinguished. Of all the poetical works of Mr. Keate, this is entitled to the higheft praife for truth of defcription, elegance of verfification, and vigour of imagination.

Continuing to employ the prefs, he in 1764 publifhed" Netley Abbey," which he afterwards, in 1769, enlarged and reprinted, and, in 1765, produced "The Temple Student, an Epiltle to a Friend ;” humourcufly rallying his own want of application in the ftudy of the law, his preference to the belles lettres, and his confequent want of fuccefs in the purfuit of it. The death of Mrs. Cibber in 1766, whofe merits as an actress he entertained the highest opinion of, gave cccafion to a poem to her memory, which celebrates her excellent performances on the stage, and laments the lofs the Theatre would fuftain by her death.

In February 1769, he married Mifs Hudion; and about the fame time publifhed " Ferney; an Epistle to Monfieur de Voltaire." In this poem, after praifing with energy the various beauties

his friend's poetical works, he in

troduced the following panegyric on Shakipeare :

Yes! jealous wits may ftill for Empire strive,
Still keep the fames of critic rage alive:
Our SHAKSPEARE yet shall all his rights
maintain,

And crown the triumphs of Eliza's reign.
Above controul, above each claffic rule,
His tut'refs Nature, and the world his school,
On foaring pinions borne, to him was giv'n
Th' aerial range of Fancy's brightest Heav'n;
To bid wrapt thought o'er noblest heights
afpire,

And wake each passion with a mufe of fire.
Revere his genius. To the dead be just,
And fpare the laurels that o'ershade the
cuít.

Low fleeps the Bard, in cold obftru&tion laid,
Nor afks the chaplet from a rival's head.
O'er the drear vault, ambition's utmost bound,
Unheard fhall Fame her airy trumpet found!
Unhear! alike; nor grief nor tranfport raife,
The blat of cenfure, or the note of praife!
As Raphael's own creation grac'd his hearfe,
And ftam'd the pomp of oftentatious verfe,
Shall Shakspeare's honours by himself be paid,
And Nature perifh ere his pictures fade.

Its imagined, that in confequence of this elogium, Mr. Keate, in June this year, was complimented by the Mayor and Burgeffes of Stratford with a standish, mounted with filver, made out of the famus Mulberry tree planted by Shakfpeae. In 1773, he published "The Monument in Arcadia," a dramatic poen, built on the picture of Pouffin, mentioned by Abbé du Bos, in his " Critica Reflections on Poetry and Painting"

n 1779, Mr. Keate produced one of his molt fuccefsful works, entitled, "ketches from Nature; taken and cobured in a Journey to Margate;" 2 Vos. 12mo. This performance, allowin; it to be, as it really is, an imitation ofSterne's "Sentimental Journey;" yet contains fo many pleafing delineations of lie, fo many ftrokes of humour, and to much elegance of compofition, that few will hesitate to give it the preference to ay other of Sterne's imitators.

In 1781, he collected his poetical works in 2 vols. 12mo. and added feveral nw pieces not before printed. The Fincipal of thefe was "The Helvetiad," a fragment, written at Geneva in the yar 1756. In the preface to this perfemance, he gives the following account dit: During a long ftay I many yars fince made at Geneva, I vifited

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moft of the principal places in Switzerland. The many fublime fcenes with which Nature hath enriched this romantic country; the tranquillity and content with which every individual enjoys his property; and, above all, that independence of mind which is ever the refult of liberty, animated me with fuch veneration for the first authors of that freedom, whofe figures are recorded to pofterity either by fculpture or painting in the public parts of the towns through thofe little states, that my enthusiaim betrayed me into a defign of writing a poem on this fingular revolution; the argument of which I had divided into ten cantos, beginning the work with the oppreffions of the House of Auftra, and clefing it with the battle of MONGARTEN; by which thofe injured people finally renounced its ufurpatior, and formed among themfelves thofe various confederacies that ended in the great union and alliance of the prefent thirteen Canions. When I had fettled the whole plan of this work, I occafionally, as I found a difpofition in myself, took up any part of the poem which at the moment most invited my thoughts and enjoying at this time fuch an intercourfe with Monfieur de Voltaire as affordel me a conftant access to him, I acquainted him with my intention; fhewing hin the argument I had drawn out for the onduct of the whole defign. He keptit a few days; and, in returning it, told me that he thought the great object ofthe piece, the epifodes connected with the history, together with the fcenery of the country, prefented fubject matter wheron to form a fine poem; but the time (adied he) which fuch an undertaking will equire, I would rather counsel you to employ on fubjects that might more mgage the public attention; for fhould you devote yourself to the completionof your prefent defign, the Swifs would be. much obliged to you, without being alle to read you, and the rest of the word care little about the matter." Feeling the force and juitnefs of the reman, Mr. Keate laid afide his plan, and pr bably never refumed it. In the fane year, 1781, he published "An Epifte to Angelica Kauffman."

A few years after he became engage in a long and vexatious lawfuit, in cor fequence of the neglect (to fay the leat of it) of an architect who profeffed hin felf to be his friend; the particulars which it is of no importance to detai. At the conclufion of the bufinels h

fhewed that his good humour had not forfaken him and in 1787 he gave to the public the principal circumstances of his cafe in a performance, entitled, "The Diftreffed Poet, a ferio-comic Poem, in three Cantos," 4to. with some pleasantry, and without any acrimony.

In the next year, 1788, the laft of his productions appeared; and the compofition was very honourable to his talents and his liberality. In 1782, the Antelope packet was fhipwrecked on the Pelew Itlands, where the Commander, Captain Wilfon and his crew lived fome time before they could get off. The circumftances attending this extraordinary deliverance having been communicated to Mr. Keate, he offered to draw up the narrative of them for the advantage of his friend Captain Wilfon. This he executed in "An Account of the Pelew Ilands, fituated in the Western Part of the Pacific Ocean: compofed from the Journals and Communications of Captain Henry Wilfon and fome of his Officers, who in Auguft 1783 were there fhipwrecked, in the Antelope, a Packet belonging to the Honourable Eaft India Company," 4to. a work written with great elegance, compiled with much care, and which, if embellished (as it has been infinuated) with facts better calculated to have found a place in a novel than a genuine narrative, must be ascribed to the mif-information of those who were actors in the fcene, and must first have deceived before they obtained credit. We mention this report as it has come to us, without any attempt either to eftablish or refute it. We fhall only add, that if the charge is well-founded, Mr. Keate (who undertook the task on the most difinterested principle, and derived no advantage whatever from the work) was too fturdy a moralist to have had any hand in the impofition.

Befides the pieces already mentioned, Mr. Keate was the author of many Prologues and Epilogues, fpoken at Mr. Newcomb's fchool at Hackney; and fome complimentary verfes by him are to be found in the preceding Volumes of our Magazine: thefe, however, are not of fufficient importance to be enumerated. He had alfo adapted his friend Voltaire's "Semiramis" to the ftage; but this was fuperfeded in 1777, at Drury Lane, by a worthlefs tranflation of as worthless an author, one Captain Ayfcough; but neither this nor the author are deferving of any further notice.

We shall conclude by obferving, that
Mr.