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and who can fay unto him, What deeft tbou? For if Mr. Prefident BRADSHAW had reverted his text for him, and faid: Where Power is,THERE is the word of a King; the event would have foon proved how much nearer he was to the truth.

Whether any independent man or independent State has a Right to fubdue another, is, as I faid in the beginning, a queftion fo ill ftated, that it will be difficult to give it any rational folution; the word Right being a term of fociety, the offspring of Law, and not applicable to the fubject of conqueft, which is always antecedent to legislation. It appears to me that I have done enough in thewing that Conqueft is a part of the divine difpenfation, and that it was the will of God to make Ambition virtue. The Conqueror

SIR,

may call it his allotment, or his Grace of God, or what elfe he pleases; but, by what I have above remarked upon the univer fally received principles of civil Govern ment, no man ought to pretend a Right to govern, except he can firft prove that he has a Right to be firong and it was most wifely as well as piously faid, by the Emperor of Morocco, in his late answer to the King of Spain's manifefto: "As for the Towns upon the Coat of Africa, which the King of Spain says belong to him, it is fit for his Majesty to know, that they neither belong to him nor to me, but to God Almighty, who will betow the command of them upon the perfon who fhall be found, upon trial, tu be the best qualified for it."?

To the EDITOR of the EUROPEAN MAGAZINE.

THE following Letters from the celebrated LORD ROCHESTER to his LADY were given me, many years ago, by a DERBYSHIRE BARONET, who affured me they were never printed. As they place the character of this licentious Nobleman in rather a new point or view, I fend them for publication in your Magazine.

LETTER I.

PRAY do not take it ill that I have

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after eight hours infinite torment in her Stomach and Bowels fhe died the most lamented (both in France and England) fince dying has been in fashion, &c. &c.

LETTER II.

TO LADY ROCHESTER.

writt to you fo feldome fince my comming to towne. My being in waiting upon the fad accident of Madame's Death (for which the King endures the highest fiction imaginable) would not allowine time or power to write Letters. You have heard the Thing; but the Barbaroufnefs MY most neglected Wife, till you are a of the manner you may guess at by my refpected Widow, I find you will scarce relation. Monfieur, fince the banishment be a contented Woman: and (to fay no of the Chev. de Lorraine, of which he more than the plain truth) I do endeavor fufpected Madame to be the Author, has fo fairly to do that laft good fervice that ever behaved himselfe very ill to her in all none but the most impatient would refufe things, threat ning her upon all occations, to reft fatisfied. What evil Angel that if the did not get Lorraine recalled, Enemy to my repofe does infpire my Lady the myght expect from him the worst that to vifit you once a year and leave could befall her. It was not now in her. power to performe what he expected. So that the returning to Paris he immediately carried her away to St. Cloud, where, having remained 15 days in good health, the having been bathing one morning, and finding herfelf very dry, called for fome Succory water (a cordial Julep the ufually took upon thefe occafions) and being then very merry difcourfing with fome of the Ladies that were with her, the had no fooner fwallowed this Succory water but icmediately falling into Madame de Chatillon's arms the faid the was dead; and fending for her Confeffor,

you bewitched for eleven months after? I thank my God that I have the torments of the ftone upon me (which are no small ones) rather than that unfpeakable one of being an eye witness to your uneafmelles. Do but propofe to me any reasonable thing upon earth I can do to fet you at quiet: but it is like a mad woman to lie roaring out of pain and never confefs in what part it is. These three years have I heard you continually complaining, nor has it ever been in my power to obtain the knowledge of any confiderable caufe. I am confident you fhall not have the like affliction three years hence; but that re

pofe

pose I must owe to a furer friend than you : When that time comes, You will grow wifer, tho' (I tear) not much happyer.

LETTER III.

TO LADY ROCHESTER,

RUN away like a Rafcal without taking leave! Dear Wife it is an unpolished way of proceeding which a modeft man ought to be ashamed of. I have left you a prey to your own imaginations, the worst of damnations; but there will come an hour of Deliverance, till when may my mother be merciful to you. So I commit you to what fhall enfue, woman to woman, wife to mother, in hopes of a future appearance in Glory. The mall fhare I could fpare you out of my pocket I have fent as a Debt to Mrs. Konfon, within a week or ten days I will return you more; pray write as often as you have leifure, to ROCHESTER.

your

Remember me to Nan and my Lord Wilmot. You must prefent my fervice to my cousins; I intend to be at the deflowring of my Niece Ellen, if I hear of it. Excufe my ill paper and my ill manners to my mother. They are both the bat the place and age will attord.

LETTER IV.

TO LADY ROCHESTER.

TIS not an eafy thing to be entirely happy, but to be kind is very eafy, and that is the greatest measure of happiness. I fay not this to put you in mind of being kind to me (you have practifed that fo long that I have a joyful confidence you will never forget it), but to shew you that I myself have a fenfe of what the methods of my life feem fo utterly to contradict., I must not be too wife about my own fol. lyes, or elfe this letter had been a book dedicated to you and published to the world. It will be more pertinent to tell you that very shortly the King goes to Newmarket: Then I fhall wait on you at Adderbury. In the mean time think, of any thing you would have me do, and I fhall thank you for the occafion of pleasing you.

LETTER V.

TO LADY ROCHESTER.

THE Ayle of your Ladyfnip's laft, tho' kinder than I deferve, is not without fome allay from your late converfations with those whom I fhould extremely honour if they would do me the right and

you the juftice never to come near you. When I am really as well with you as I with and you prétend, I fhall at least obtain that favour: In the mean time I will exercite my ufual talent of patience and fubmiffion. I would be very glad to employ mytelf in thote affairs you have to be done here, had I the leaft hopes of doing them to your fatisfaction: but defpairing of that happynefs, pray fend your Cofin and my friend to town, and let her please you better. I know not who has perfuaded you that you want five pounds to pay the Servants Wages: but next week Blancourt is going into the Welt, at whofe return you may expect an account of your entire revenue, which I will be bold to fay, has hitherto and fhall (as long as I can get bread without it) be wholly employed for the ufe of yourself, and thole who depend on you. If I prove an ill feward, at least you never had a better, which is fome kind of fatisfaction to Your humble Servt. ROCHESTER.

LETTER VI.

TO LADY ROCHESTER.

Nerumarket.

I'LL hold you fix to four I love you with all my heart. If I would bet with other people I am fure I could get two to one, but because my paffion is not fo extenfive to reach every body, I am not in paih to fatisfy many. It will content me if you will believe me and love me.,

LETTER VII.

TO LADY ROCHESTER.

I CANNOT deny to you but that he roic refolutions in women are things of the which I have never been tranported with great admiration, nor can be if my Life lay on it: For I think it is a very impertinent virtue. Befides, confidering how men and women are compounded, that is Heat and Cold, fo Greatnefs and Meanefs are neceffary ingredients that en.. ter both into the making up of every one that is born. Now when heat is predomi nant we are termed hot, when Cold is; we are called Cold, tho' in the mixture both take their places, elfe our warmth would be a burning and our cold an exceffive freezing to greatnefs or Virtue, that spark of primitive Grace, is in every one alive, and likewife meanels or vice, that feed of original fin is (in a mea. fure) alfo. For if either of them were totally abfent, men and women mest be perfect angels or abfolute devils. Now

from

from the preheminence of either of these qualities in us we are turned Good or Bad: but yet, as Contrarieties tho' they both refide in one Body muft ever be oppofite in place, thence I infer, that, as heat in the feet makes cold in the head, fo it may with probability be expected too, that Greatneis and Meanefs fhould be às oppofitely feated, and then an Heroic Head is likely to be balanced with an humble Tail. Befides reafon, experience has furnished me with many examples of this kind: My Lady Morton, Nel Villars and 20 others, whofe Honor was ever fo exceffive in their heads that they fuffered a want of it in every other part. Thus it comes about, Madam, that I have no very great efteem for a high fpiritted Lady; Therefore fhould be glad that none of my friends thought it conve

TABLE

nient to adorn their own perfections with that most tranfcendent accomplishments It is tolerable only in a waiting Gentlewoman, who to prove herself lawfully defcended from Sir Humphrey, her great Uncle, is allowed the affectation of a high fpirit, and a natural inclination towards a genteel converfe. This now is a Letter; and to make it a kind one I muft affure you of all the Dotage in the World, and then to make it a civil ent down at the bottom with a great space be tween I muft write Madam

OR,

Your most humble Servant
ROCHESTER.

I have too much refpect for you to come near you whilft I am in Difgrace: but when I am a favourite again, I will wait on you.

TALK;

CHARACTERS, ANECDOTES, &c. OF ILLUSTRIOUS AND CELEBRATED BRITISH CHARACTERS, DURING THE LAST FIFTY YEARS,

(MOST OF THEM NEVER BEFORE PUBLISHED.)

[Continued from Page 161.]

GEORGE THE FIRST.

NOTHING feems to have hurt this monarch more than the frequent oppofitions he met with on account of fubfidies. Bred up in principles different from thofe of the country which he was called to govern, he could not avoid complaining to his moit intimate friends, that he was come over to England to be a brgging king." He added, "he thought his fate very hard to be continually oppoled in his application for fupplies, which he only asked that he might employ them for the advantage of the nation."

Nothing but his unacquaintance with the laws of England could make him feel fo eftablished an article in its government, that of not granting money but by the confent of Parliament, as any hardhip but that it was his principle to employ that money for the good of the nation is evident, as he was not fond of appearing in the full fplendor of majefty, was remarkably averfe to any act of oppreffion, and cultivated the happiness and esteem of his fubjects throughout the whole courfe of his reign..

GEORGE THE SECOND.

This Monarch, foon after his acceffion, willing to extend the alliance already fub

fifting between his Houfe and that of Pruffia, by a double marriage with their refpective children, fent over Sir Charles Hotham, about the year 1729, as Minifter Plenipotentiary to the King of Pruffia, to propofe a marriage between the Prince of Wales and the eldest Princefs of Pruffia; and another between the Prince Royal of Pruffia and the King of England's fecond daughter. His Pruffian Majefty's anfwer was, "that he would confent to the marriage of his Prince Royal with our Princets, if our King did not infift upon a double marriage on the terms propaled, but that if he did, he would not content to either of them; for he thought he had as much right to expect our Princess Royal for his eldeft fon, as our King had to expect his Princefs Royal for. his Prince of Wales." The two Kings perfifting in their refolutions, there was an end of the negociation, but not of the difference.

A difpute relative to Mecklenburgh happening nearly at this time between the two monarchs, the above "family" quarrel affifted in blowing up the coals. Levies of men were forcibly raifed in the Hanoverian dominions by Pruffian emiffaries, and thofe proceedings occalione ed retaliations on the fide of Hanover.

The

The two monarchs felt themselves offended more as private gentlemen than as fovereign princes. They were both men of very warm tempers, and, as both poffeffed acknowledged perfonal bravery, a repetition of the icene between Charles the Fifth and Francis the First was univerfally talked of.

The States of Holland, however, having been applied to, a letter was written in their name to the King of Pruffia to entreat him to fufpend hoftilities, and to litten to conciliatory terms. To add weight to this letter, feveral Dutch regiments received orders to march towards Cleves: this fep had the defired effect; an arbitration was proposed and accepted, and foon after an accommodation took place, which produced at least a formal reconciliation between the brother kings. When the Guards returned from Germany in 1745 (where they behaved with great gallantry), fresh troops were neceffary to be fent against the Rebels, who had Janded the latter end of the fame year in Scotland, and the King, though he always refpected and depended upon the Guards, had a delicacy in applying for their fervices fo recently after their campaigns. He applied to a confidential General-officer for advice, who gave it as his opinion, that he fhould call a military levée by way of experiment. The levée was accordingly announced, and all the Officers attended, when the King, coming into the circle, thus addressed them:

"Gentlemen,

"You cannot be ignorant of the present precarious fituation of our country, and, though I have had fuch recent instances of your exertions, the neceffity of the times, and the knowledge I have of your hearts, induce me to demand your fervices again; fo that all of you that are willing to meet the Rebefs, hold up your right hands; all thofe who may, from particular reafons, feel it an inconvenience, hold

up your left." On the inftant all the right hands in the room were up, which fo affected the King that, in at tempting to thank them, he fhed tears ard retired.

The Guards next morning marched to Finchley, and were accompanied with the prayers, the acclamations, and the bounties of the Public.

When Hogarth, fome years afterwards, made a sketch of this march to Finchley, it was fhewn to the King, who did not feem pleased with the idea, and faid, He would not have his brave foldiers turned into ridicule. Hogarth, who had, previous

to this, meant to dedicate it to the King, took the hint, and dedicated it to the late King of Pruffia.

During the war of 1743, a victory gained over the French was celebrated, not only by publick rejoicings, but fre quently by an ode fet to mufic on the occafion, and performed before the king in the Great Council Chamber. Upon the fe days the King always appeared in the hat, coat, fword, and fcarf, which he wore at the battle of Oudenarde in the year 1708, where he fought under the Great Duke of Marlborough; and, as the fashions of neat forty years must make a confiderable difference in appearance, it was difficult to refrain from laughing, at feeing the monarch strut about in those antiquated habiliments.

On one of thofe days the following couplet being repeated in full chorus,

"Sure fuch a day was never known, "Such a King! and fuch a throne !"

drew the attention of the audience more particularly upon the King and his dress ; this inftantly let them on a titter, which was beginning to fpread much more than decency would allow of, when one of the Lords of the Bed-chamber began clapping the couplet; the audience took the hint, and relieved themselves by joining in a general plaudit, which the band gratefully acknowledged, and the good old King feemed pleafed at, without knowing the original caufe of the compliment.

1

MARQUIS TOWNSHEND. This Nobleman, who has endeared himself to fociety through life by his wit, good-humour, and urbanity, being defigned for the army, began his campaign early in life at the battle of Dettingen. The regiment he belonged to began the attack; and, as he was marching down towards the enemy, rather thoughtful, a drummer's head was shot off fo clofe to him, that his brains befpattered Lord Townfhend's regimentals. A veteran officer, apprehenfive that this accident might derange his young friend, went up and encouraged him by telling him, thefe were the mere accidents of war, and the best way was not to think at all in thefe cafes. "O dear Sir," fays the other (with great prefence of mind)," "you entirely mistake my reverie. I have been only thinking what the D--1 could bring this little drummer here, who feemed to poffefs fuch a great quantity of brains!"

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As Lord Townshend was walking witha friend through the ftreets of Yarinouth, which are very narrow and fhelving, from the houtes elbowing out fo much in the first story, his friend cried out, "Take care, my Lord, or you'll be down on your knees. "No, no," faid his Lordship, your elbows will fupport me."

It was Lord Townshend who gave the following ftrong, but defcriptive, defnition of the late Provcft of Ireland, Hutchinson (though often attributed to others), on ing afked what fort of a man he was: "He is of that foliciting difpofition, that if his Majefty could give him England, Ireland, and Scotland, be would fill afk for the Ille of Man, for a cabbage garden."

HON. CHARLES TOWNSHEND,

brother to the above Neblerian, was reckoned to poffers the finest talents in the Houfe of Commons: his orly fault in peaking, perhaps, was, a laying out for words and antithefes to ornement his dif courte, which foretiass led him into embarraffments. His convertion, how ever, was of the most excellent kind, partaking of almost every thing which could adorn it. Some people uted to think he, at times, took too great a lead; but he talked fo much from the fulncis of his mind, his humour fo prevailing, and his wit to fudden and brilliant, that most people gave way to him, well pleased to let him take their turn.

He was, befide all this, a fine mimic; and, though a very handsome man, he had that power of face, that he could in a moment transforın it into every kind of deformity.

It was from thefe talents, that, after the death of his father, he became the p3tron of his whole family. It was through his intereft that his brother Lord Townfaend was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Ireland; and though Mr. Townshend died before the appointment was made out, yet theking, knowing it was in train, punétually performed his promife; and his Lordship foon after fet cut for Ireland, swhere he continued eight years, with fo much credit to himself, and advantage to the country, that the anniversary of his birth-day is regularly celebrated there by fome of the melt refpectable Societies in Chat kingdom.

Mr. Townshend died about the year 1768, and the King felt his lofs fo fincerely when he heard it, that he exclain.ed, He had lost one of the ablest and beft men in his dominions,

The wit and humour of this family feem to have defcended from the female line, the late Lady Dowager Townshend being the first wit in the Court of George the Second: the father was a pledding man of business, and much in the confidence of the late King through life.

It was owing to the above Dowager's advice, that the prefent Marquis takes the title of Townshend, his first choice being that of Marquis of Raynham; but afterwards confulting his mother the afked him, Whether he did not think the fami ly of the Tornfbends deferved to be handed down to pofterity more than the name of an eftate. His Lord.hip took the hint, and the patent was made out accordingly.

The understanding of this lady was equal to her wit and humour, which was often acknowledged by thole who had the happiness of her acquaintance. One day, the company talking of the qualities and effes of good-breeding and politeness, a gentiuman undertook to undervalue them by faying, They introduced a fineffe and hypocrify in fociety, which the other qualities did not make amends for. Lady Tovahend, being applied to for her opi rion, faid, he thought good-breeding and politenefs always agreeable, and very often good freens for a great many ugly Jights."

HON. GEORGE GRENVILLE.

Amongitthe many talents of this wellknown ftatefnan,hisikill in and attachment to bufinets was always predominant, infomuch that, according to the brilliant defeription given of him by one of our first-rate orators," he took public buine's not as a duty which he was to fulfil, but as a pleasure he was to enjoy, and he feemed to have no delight out of the House of Commons, except in fuch things as fome way related to the bufinefs that was to be done it."

During the recefs of parliament, being afked to a private concert in the coun try, where fome of the finest performers from London were engaged, affifted by fome of the best gentlemen connoiffeurs, he accepted the invitation and attended. The concert began; and, whilft everybody was admiring the fkill of the performers, and the general effect of the harmony, Mr. Grenville fattened himself upon the mafter of the houfe (who, though a member of parliament, was much more inclined to mufic, at leaft for that time, than public bufinels) and, pulling a number of papers our of his pecket, began afking his opinion of

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