GEORGE SAVILE, MARQUIS OF HALIFAX, A MAN more remarkable for his wit than his steadiness, and whom an ingenious modern his 2 torian has erected into a principal character in the reign of Charles the second. But when old histories are re-written, it is necessary to set persons and facts in new lights from what they were seen by cotemporaries 3. Voltaire, speaking of Dupleix, says, that he was the first who introduced the custom of quoting his authorities in the margin, "précaution absolument nécessaire, quand on n'écrit pas l'histoire de son • Mr. Hume, who observes that the marquis's variations might be the effects of his integrity, rather than of his ambition. They might; but it is doubtful. [Dryden seemed to be of Hume's opinion, for he is described of piercing wit and pregnant thought, * In order to which, it is best to omit referring even to those authors that are used in the compilation. • Ecrivains du Siecle de Louis XIV. tems." However, the dictator of this sentence, and author of that beautiful Essay on universal History, has totally forgot his own rule; and has indeed left that work a most charming bird's-eye landscape, where one views the whole in picturesque confusion, and imagines the objects more delightful than they are in reality, and when examined separately. The marquis wrote, "The Anatomy of an Equivalent"." "A Letter to a Dissenter, upon Occasion of his Majesty's late gracious Declaration of Indulgence," 1687°. "An Essay upon Taxes, calculated for the present Juncture of Affairs in England.” 16937. "Advice to a Daughter." "The Character of a Trimmer." • Printed in the Collection of State Tracts, vol. ii. p. 300. " Printed among Somers's Tracts, vol. ii. p. 364. 8 Ib. vol. iv. p. 63. [Republished under the title of "The Lady's New Year's Gift," in 1705. Philip, lord Stanhope, son to the earl of Chesterfield, married Elizabeth, daughter of the marquis of Halifax. The marquis and the earl quarrelled, and the latter made his son bring his wife to Lichfield; breaking off all intercourse between the families. Lady Stanhope had always on her toilette her father's "Advice to a Daughter:" her father-in-law took it up one day, and wrote in the title-page, "Labour in vain." Walpoliana, vol. ii. p. 9. "Maxims of State applicable to all Times "." "Character of Bishop Burnet"." "A seasonable Address to both Houses of Parliament, concerning the Succession, the Fears of Popery and arbitrary Government," 1681 3. "Cautions for Choice of Parliament-men." "A rough Draught of a new Model at Sea." "Lord Halifax's historical Observation upon the Reigns of Edward I. II. III. and Richard II. with Remarks upon their faithful Counsellors and false Favourites," 1689 4. Seven of these pieces were printed together in 8vo. 1704, under the title of "Miscellanies by the late Marquis of Halifax. A Character of King Charles the Second; and political, moral, and miscellaneous Thoughts and Reflections;" published by his grand-daughter the countess of Burlington. [The advertisement prefixed to the above volume announces it to be published from the original manu • Printed among the works of Villiers duke of Buckingham, vol. ii. p. 137. • Printed at the end of the bishop's History of his own Times. * Somers's Tracts, second collect. vol. iii. p. 346. ♦ Harl. Catal. vol. i. p. 438. scripts of lord Halifax, in the possession of his granddaughter Dorothy, but not by her. It was printed in 1750, 8vo. The marquis also wrote "Memoirs of his own Life," says Mr. Seward; the manuscript was in the possession of the late earl of Burlington. His lordship had a failing too commonly incident to persons who have some wit but more vanity: according to Dr. Burnet", he let his wit frequently turn upon matters of religion; so that he passed for a bold and determined atheist; though, adds the bishop, "he often protested to me he was not one, and he believed there was not one in the world.” Lord Halifax was descended from an ancient family in Yorkshire, and born about 1630, as has been conjectured from the time of returning from his travels 8. He contributed to bring about the Restoration, and soon distinguishing himself after that æra by his abiJities, was created baron Savile and viscount Halifax, in 16679. He was called to the privy-council in 1672, and in the same year went over to Holland as embassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to treat about a peace with France. In 1675 he opposed with vigour the non-resisting test bill; and was removed from the council-board the year following, by the interest of lord Danby, whom he had provoked by a • Anecd. vol. ii. p. 217. 7 Hist. of his own Times, vol. i. p. 375. 8 New Biog. Dict. vol. xiii. p. 266. • Bolton's Extinct Peerage, p. 137. |