that the world was indebted for their appearance in print to Mr. Stanhope's widow, thus adding weight to the charge that she had unfairly retained copies of them,-yet, as she states in her advertisement to the work, that the originals, in the late Earl's own hand-writing, and sealed with his seal, are in her possession, there is reason to question the fairness of the charge. The letters she formally dedicates to the Prime Minister, Lord North, and as she takes care to remind him that they were once on terms of friendship, probably her family connexions may have been more respectable than her fortune.

During the closing years of his long life, Lord Chesterfield not only suffered severely, and almost constantly, from disease, but latterly deafness was added to his other infirmities. As many as twenty years before his death, we find him speaking of himself as already "half-way down hill," and in one of his latest letters to his son, he complains that his want of hearing has deprived him of the pleasures of society, at an age when he was precluded from every other source of rational enjoyment. And yet this heavy accumulation of human ills was endured by the infidel philosopher, with a dignity and resignation that would have done credit to a better faith. To his intimate friend, Mr. Dayrolles, he writes, on the 10th of July, 1755: -"All my amusements are reduced to the idle business of my little garden, and to the reading of idle books, where the mind is seldom called upon. Notwithstanding this unfortunate situation, my

old philosophy comes to my assistance, and enables me to repulse the attacks of melancholy, for I never have one melancholic moment. I have seen and appraised everything in its true light, and at its intrinsic value. While others are outbidding one another at the auction, exulting at their acquisitions, or grieving at their disappointments, I am easy, both from reflection, and experience of the futility of all that is to be got or lost." Again, he writes to the Bishop of Waterford "I consider myself as an old decayed vessel, of long wear and tear, brought into the wet-dock to be careened and patched up, not for any long voyage, but only to serve as a coaster for some little time longer. How long that may be, I little know, and as little care; I am unrelative to this world, and this world to me. My only attention now is to live, while I do live in it, without pain, and when I do leave it, to leave it without fear." On one occasion, he sent a message to the celebrated Pulteney, Lord Bath, that he had grown very lean, and very deaf. "Tell him," replied Pulteney, "that I can lend him some fat, and shall be very glad to lend him at any time an ear."

The death of his beloved son was a severe blow to Lord Chesterfield. He was now in his seventythird year, and from the declining state of his health, was, to all appearance, but little capable of sustaining so severe a shock. He survived the melancholy event, however, more than four years, during which period his bodily infirmities con

tinued to increase. Once, speaking of old Lord Tyrawley, he said;-"We have both been long dead, but we do not choose to have it mentioned."

Lord Chesterfield, during the last months of his life, was afflicted with a diarrhoea, which entirely baffled the art of his physicians, and subsequently proved the immediate cause of his death. "He was afflicted," says Dr. Maty, "with no other illness, and remained to the last free from all manner of pain, enjoying his surprising memory and presence of mind to his latest breath; perfectly composed and resigned to part with life, and only regretting that death was so tardy to meet him.” About half an hour before he expired, his valet opened the curtains of his bed, and announced a visit from Mr. Dayrolles. Though he had hardly strength to give utterance to his words, he muttered faintly," Give Dayrolles a chair." Thus his last words were those of politeness. It was observed by his physician, Dr. Warren, who was in the apartment at the time," Lord Chesterfield's good breeding only quitted him with his life."

The death of Lord Chesterfield took place on the 24th of March, 1773, in his seventy-ninth year. His remains were interred in Audley-street chapel, agreeably with directions contained in his last will.

364

JOHN, LORD HERVEY.

Eldest son of the first Earl of Bristol.-His birth in 1696.— Educated at Cambridge.-Appointed Gentleman of the Bedchamber to the Prince of Wales.-Returned to Parliament for Edmondsbury.-Called to the House of Peers as Lord Hervey, of Ickworth, during his father's life-time.-Nominated Keeper of the Privy Seal in 1740.-His oratorical powers. Supports Sir Robert Walpole. - Resigns the Privy Seal on the overthrow of that minister.-His political writings. His duel with Pulteney.-Circumstances that gave rise to it. Sir Charles Hanbury Williams's verses on the duel.-Lord Hervey's quarrel with Pope.-The latter satirizes him under the character of Sporus.-Lord Hailes' account of Lord Hervey-Extract from Archdeacon Coxe.Personal warfare commenced by Lord Hervey on Pope.-His satirical address to that poet.-Pope's prose letter to Lord Hervey. Suppressed during their life-time.-Brief Memoir of Hammond, the Poet.- His unfortunate attachment to Catherine Dashwood, ward of Lord Hervey.-The latter's opposition to their union.-Hammond's despondency in consequence, and death in his thirty-third year, 1742.— Dr. Middleton's fulsome dedication of his Life of Cicero to Lord Hervey. The latter's unamiable character.-Queen Caroline's partiality for him. His effeminacy and affectation.His success with the fair sex.-Princess Caroline's romantic attachment to him. His desertion of Sir Robert Walpole.— Extracts from Horace Walpole's letters.- Lord Hervey's death in 1743.

JOHN, LORD HERVEY, the eldest surviving son of John, first Earl of Bristol, was born on the 15th of October, 1696. He completed his education at

Clare Hall, Cambridge, where he took the degree of Master of Arts, and, shortly after quitting the University, was appointed Gentleman of the Bedchamber to the Prince of Wales, afterwards George the Second, who had recently accompanied his father to England.

About the period that he came of age, Lord Hervey was returned to Parliament as member for Edmondsbury, and in May, 1730, was appointed Vice-Chamberlain of the Household, and sworn of the Privy Council. On the 12th of June, 1733, in the lifetime of his father, he was called up to the House of Peers as Lord Hervey, of Ickworth; and on the 1st of May, 1740, was nominated Keeper of the Privy Seal, the highest appointment to which he attained in the state. the same time he was named one of the Lords Justices for conducting the affairs of the kingdom during the absence of the King in Hanover.

About

Lord Hervey, when in the House of Commons, and subsequently in the House of Lords, distinguished himself by his oratorical powers; and though his style of eloquence is said to have been somewhat florid and pompous, he was both an able and witty, as well as a frequent speaker. In politics he professed the principles of the Whigs, and remained a zealous supporter of the measures of Sir Robert Walpole, as long as the administration of that minister appeared likely to stand. When Walpole was driven from Parliament in 1742, Lord Hervey was compelled to resign his post of Privy Seal, in order to make way for Lord