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THE

EUROPEAN MAGAZINE,

AND

LONDON REVIEW;

FOR AUGUST 1797.

SIR JAMES HARRIS, LORD MALMSBURY.
[WITH A PORTRAIT.]

THIS accomplished Nobleman,

on

whole ability the Nation at this time repofes its interelts in the most important Negotiation ever carried on, and whole conduct on former occafions affords expectation of a latisfactory conclusion, is the fon of James Harris, Eiq. * of Salisbury (a Gentleman whole merit in the literary world was not inferior to that of the Nobleman row under our confideration in the political) by Elizabeth, daughter of John Clarke, Eiq. He was born April 20, 1746, and early was detined to the diplomatic employment, in which he has been the greatest part of his lite fuccefsfully engaged. After paffing through the fubordinate fituation of Secretary at more than one Court, we

find him, in the year 1772, Envoy Extraordinary at the Court of Berlin; and about the fame period, he was chofen Member for Christ Church, Hampshire, along with his father. In 1779, he had, the honour of Knighthood of the Bath conferred on him, and foon after was. appointed Envoy Extraordinary to the Court of Ruflia. After refiding there fome years, he was appointed Minister at, the Hague, and was there during the memorable commotion in 1787, where his conduct was fo acceptable to his Pruffian Majefty and the Stadtholder of the United Provinces, that they jointly granted to him the additional bearings in his arms, as marks of their high ap.. probation of his abilities and fervices

James Harris, Efq. was the fon of a Gentleman of the fame names by Elizabeth, daughter of the fecond, and fifter of the third, Earl of Shaftesbury, Author of the Charatenflicks. He was born in the Clofe of Sarum in 1708, and educated under the Rev. Mr. Hill, Mafter of the Public Grammar School there. From thence he went, in 1726, to Wadham College in Oxford, but left it without a degree. It does not appear that he took any active part in public life until the year 1763, when he was appointed to a feat at the Admiralty Board, which on the 16th of April he exchanged for a place on the Treasury Bench. On the 12th of July 1765, he was removed from that polt; but in 1774 accepted the office of Secretary and Comptroller to the Queen, in poffeffion of which he remained until the time of his death. He was F. R. S. Trustee of the British Mufeum, and Member for Christ Church Hants, which he reprefented in feveral Parliaments. He died the 21st of December 1780. He was the Author of 1ft. THREE TREATISES; (1) Concerning Art; (2) Concerning Mufic, Painting, and Peetry; (3) Concerning Happ nefs; 8vo. 1745. 2d. HERMES; or, A Philofophical inquity concerning Univerfal Grammar, 8vo. 1751. 3d PHILOSOPHICAL ARRANGEMENTS, 8vo. 1775. 4th. PHILOLOGICAL INQUIRIES, 2 vols. 8vo. 1781. 5th. CONCORD; a Poem to Lord Radior, 4to. 1751; also printed in The Poetical Calendar, Vol xil. p. 53. 6th. SPRING, a Paftoral, acted at Drury Lane, 4to. 1762. Of HERMES, B.fhop Lowth, in his Introduction to the English Grammar, fpeaks in the following terms: "There who would enter more deeply into this fubje&t will find it fully and accurately handied, with the greateft acuteness of investigation, perfpicuity of explication, and elegance of method in a. Treatife entitled 'Hermes,' by James Harris, Eq. the most beautiful and perfect example of analysis that has been exhibited fince the days of Aristotle."

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done those States. These were bearing the Pruffian Eagle, and taking the motto allotted to him by the Stadtholder, the fame as ufed by the Houfe of Naffau, which honours were confirmed to him by his Majesty's permiffion, dated 9th May, 1789. On the 19th of September 1788, he was created a Peer, by the title of Lord Malmsbury, Baron of Malmsbury, in the county of Wiltshire. From this time until the late Negotiation, he has been unemployed.

The Revolution in France, and the aggreffion of the Powers which govern there, having involved Great Britain in a war which had been carried on with much violence, it became the wifh of the Government and people of this country to endeavour to stop the effufion of blood, and restore peace to the world. Accordingly Lord Malmbury was appointed to go to Paris, where he was unwillingly received, and treated with much hauteur and coldrefs. The proceedings of this embassy have been fo lately prefented to the public, that we fhall only obferve, that no difpofition appeared in the enemy to accept any reafonable terms. Without propofing any thing themselves they rejected the offers of their adverfaries in a manner that could not be juftified even to an enemy at their feet, and the Ambaflador was commanded, with Republican in folence, to quit their country. To the conduct of Lord Malmsbury, every praite is due; it was manly, firm, and proper: in fhort, the reverse of those with whem be had to negotiate.

But war is a state which, however fuc

cefsfully carried on, cannot be long viewed without horror and regret: however determined the Governing Powers in France might be to rejest reasonable offers of accommodation, yet the voice of the people was too audibly heard, not to compel them to affume the appearance of a defire to terminate the calamities which overwhelmed their country. Accordingly a congrefs at Lifle was agreed to, and Lord Malmbury once more was deputed to endeavour to fettle the differences of the two countries. At that place he now refides, and that he may be fuccefsful is certainly the wifh of the majority of the people, both of Great Britain and France; but that their hopes and expectations will be gratified, we are far from placing much confidence. A power made formidable by rapine and plunder will not readily reduce itfelt within the pale of moderation and rectitude. fore the Public are in poffeffion of the prefent Magazine, the die aay be again caft, and the decifion of the exiting differences may depend on the force to be spread over the fea, or to cover the land. To avert the continuance of such evils we do not doubt the moderation or firmness of the Miniftry, which will be ably supported by the wildem, experience, and powers of conciliation, poffefied by Lord Malmbury; or, if neceffary, by the valour and intrepidity of our forces both by fea and land.

Be

Lord Malmbury, on the 28th of July 1777, married Harriet Mary, daughter of Sir George Amyand, Bart. by a lifter of Sir George Cornwall, Bart. by whom he has feveral children.

MARRIAGE OF THE RAJAH's DAUGHTER.

(THE FOLLOWING IS AN EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM THE COAST OF MALABAR, DATED DEC. 5, 1795.)

"ON N the 16th of last month I went to Mauncherry, to be prefent at the marriage of the Rajah's daughter to the fon of the Peypenard Rajah: I had á Havildar's party with me. About two miles from Mauncherry, at the intreaty of a Bramin and fome Nairs, who accompanied us, we halted under a large Banyan tree. In a little while a principal Nair, with fifty or fixty followers, furrounded the tree, and commenced a firing, which continued, as fait as they could load, for fome minutes: certain circumstances made me defire them to

Bit, but without effect; and they only

topped when their ammunition failed. We again purfued our journey, and my attention was quickly engaged by the appearance of the moit wretched race of men in the world: thefe are the Polters, who oblerving the cavalcade, or having intelligence of the approaching ceremony and feaft, were attracted from their hills and trees, in hopes, no doubt, of sharing in the general feativity. Thele creatures, at a distance, folicited our charity; I was defircus of bringing them nearer, but I was given to understand, that any attempt to país certain limits would be at the expence of their lives. The

3

Poliers,

Poliers, in the mean time, urged their demands in fhort abrupt fentences, uttered roughly and not in a pleating strain, which made me at firft imagine they were abuting us; a privilege or induigence allowed to mendicants in many parts of India. I was however mistaken, and my interpreter informed me, they were asking our charity in the usual ftie of humility. When the Nairs perceived me interested for thee miferable objects, they procured fome plantains and pieces of old aags, which they left on a particular ipot, calling out to them to oblerve the place, and depart in peace. They rejected this advice, and infifted that they ought to receive fanams from the red Rajah on horseback, meaning myself. They followed us clamoroully during the reft of the journey, and at night took poft in the fields adjacent to the Rajah's house, when they perfevered in their importunities.

On ap

or twelve large tom toms. proaching us the noise ceased, but this was only until they had completed their manœuvre: they quickly furrounded our party; the tom toms ftruck up afresh, and the mufquetry was discharged as before. Having finifhed, they requested my permillion for the Sepoys to fire, which would make the Rajah, they said, think we had a cannon, as our pieces all went off together; a thing they could never contrive. Being anfwered that we never uled our ammunition in this manner, they nevertheless continued to urge their requeft; and imagining, I believe, that we refufed them from an unbecoming economy, they offered to replace whatever we expended; nor, in fine, did they ceafe their importunities till the Havildar luckily told them, it was contrary to our customs. After this they not only defifted, but feemed to applaud our obftinate adherence to cultom. In a fhort time the Rajah, with fome Bramins, and a crowd of attendants, appeared. The falutations, the firings, and the tomtoms were repeated, and we walked to the Rajah's houfe, which was close by, my felf leading the proceffion, as the Rajah infifted on walking behind me.

"This unfortunate tribe have their refidence amongst the hills or jungles, where they live in nefts on trees, or in dens like wild beasts, to which they are a common prey. They are not fuffered to enter a village, or even to approach an inhabitant nearer than fifty or fixty yards; for this reafon, they are obliged to look round on all fides with circumfpection, and on the appearance of a man or a woman, efpecially if a Nair, they fly with speed to their proper diftance. They build no houses, and wear no clothes, except a ftring or a rag about the middle, and they have no occupations whatever. Perhaps there exiits in no other country an order of men fo totally deprived of the benefits of fociety; and it is not eafy to conceive how one part could have fo completely fucceeded in degrading the other, especially as from this fyitem of flavery they derive no advantage. It is in vain to expect information from the natives concerning this original inftitution; but as thele out calls fpeak the language of the other inhabitants, their origin probably is not very ancient. The Poliers are not numerous, as their way of life is not favourable to population, and the tigers are faid to kill a great many of them.

"Proceeding terwards, we reached another grove of trees, from whence we had a view of Mauncherry Pagoda, fituated on a hill, at the bottom of which is the Rajah's house: here we were again requested to ftop, as the Rajah was advarcing to meet us; and in a few minutes a cavalcade of three hundred armed men appeared, fhouting and beating ten

"On the morning of the 17th, the celebration of the marriage took place: the bridegroom appeared about eighteen years of age, and the future wife between fix and feven. The following parts of this ceremony I had an opportunity of obferving: The Rajah, with feveral neighbouring Rajahs, or their deputies, and all his own family, a little after the fun rofe, went in proceflion to the Pagoda; the intended husband alfo attended, but the bride remained at home. Abouttwo hours were spent here in praying, or religious ceremonies, which I could not witnefs; but being at last admitted to the threshold of the door, a Bramin took three measures fucceffively of rice, and poured them on the old Rajah's head, and three in the fame manner over that of the young man. This fign of plenty. and generation was followed by a petition, or bleffing, in behalf of the parties. Thus ended this ceremony, and I ef corted the Rajah home, accompanied by two thoufand Moplas and Nairs, who capered and fired all the way. The fear of a difpute between theie hoftile tribes was, indeed, the occafion of my attend

ance.

The young man did not return to the Rajah's houfe, but retired to that of his mother-in-law, which was at 3 little diftance. The Rajah and the

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