in London, While he was at Tutbury, he had become acquainted with Dr. Joseph Denman, a physician of eminence at Buxton, who being pleased with his manners, his active mind, and his honourable principles, gave him a letter of introduction to his brother, Dr. Denman of London. This naturally led to occasional visits at his house, and a few months afterwards, Mr. Croft was married to Margaret, the eldest of Dr. Denman's twin daughters, with the entire approbation of her parents.

Soon after his marriage, in consequence of the suggestion of his father-in-law, who was unable to attend in person, Mr. Croft repaired to Paris, to assist the Duchess of Devonshire, when she was brought to bed of the present Duke; and as on this occasion, he gave the most entire satisfaction, it led to a great increase of business after his return to London. His connection with Dr. Denman was likewise extremely favourable to his views on a variety of occasions; and long after that gentleman had almost entirely withdrawn from the exercise of his profession, Mr. Croft's business continued gradually increasing, until in point of respectability, it had become equal to that of any former accoucheur in the metropolis. For nearly thirty years he continued to practise with the highest credit and success, and when the late much lamented Princess Charlotte became pregnant, he was chosen by Her Royal Highness to attend, during her confinement. This he did with the most anxious and unwearied zeal, and notwithstanding the heartrending event, with the greatest judgment and most unquestionable skill. It is not surprising that public disappointment should find a vent, in censure on individuals; and that unlooked for calamity, though resulting from circumstances beyond human controul, should be imputed to those who have failed in the execution of trusts, so generally and so deeply interestng. Such feelings however will hardly be sufficient to explain the persevering obloquy, which so long laboured to convert the general grief into unjust indignation. In this instance, the party assailed laboured under peculiar disadvantages : for while the criticisms on his medical treatment could only be

answered by a publication of the whole case, respect for the august family to which the patient belonged, tenderness towards the feelings of an afflicted husband, and even a due regard to decency and propriety, equally forbade the disclosure of minute particulars. But other circumstances were also strangely misrepresented. Sir Richard Croft was censured for not earlier desiring the assistance of Dr. Sims. The fact is, that he first proposed sending for him, and before any alarming symptom, except the protraction of the labour, had been exhibited. When that skilful physician arrived, he had only to recom-: mend a continuance of the treatment which had been adopted : and though he did not at first see Her Royal Highness, this was the consequence of his own and Dr. Baillie's opinion that his introduction, at that time, might produce an injurious alarm on the mind of this amiable Princess, without any immediate necessity, as the labour was proceeding naturally although slowly at that period. It was likewise stated, that in the course of the night which terminated the existence of Her Royal Highness, Sir Richard Croft retired to rest, and abandoned an amiable and illustrious Princess, at the moment of extreme sufferance and danger.

Without adverting to the powerful ties of gratitude and interest which attached him to the Princess, it may safely be affirmed, that no patient of Sir Richard's will believe this statement. Even where his skill as a physician was most conspicuous, his attentions as a friend have left a still deeper impression: his care was unremitting, his zeal indefatigable, his anxiety almost amounted to a fault!

During the whole of this severe trial, Sir Richard conducted himself with the utmost fortitude and self-possession, but after its - fatal and afflicting termination, he exhibited an agonizing despair, which was succeeded by great depression of spirits. This state of mind sometimes appeared to be soothed by the kind and considerate attentions of the royal family, and by the attachment and sympathy strongly expressed for him upon this occasion, by the respectable part of his own profession, and by his numerous patients, who were generally

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eager to show, that their confidence was undiminished. His friends were sometimes flattered with the hope, that his spirits were gradually recovering, but his grief continued to return occasionally with increased violence; and about three months after his attendance upon the Princess, his former agonizing feelings were renewed, by a still more lingering labour, which had required his presence from Sunday night to Friday morning, with every appearance of the same fatal termination.

It is generally known that exhausted by anxiety and fatigue, he had been reluctantly persuaded to retire into a bed-room, where loaded pistols were unhappily left within his reach, and that after midnight, in a moment of distraction, he put an end to his own life. But although this was performed during a temporary derangement of mind, he had never in his former life shown any symptom of insanity, nor can that disease be traced in any of his family.*

Sir Richard Croft may be justly described as a man of the most honourable principles, and the most generous disposition; while his sound practical knowledge in his profession has been acknowledged by all capable of deciding on such a subject. No man more entirely commanded the affectionate attachment of his family and friends, and their regret at his dreadful death, is at once embittered and consoled by the reflection, that it was occasioned by an excess of those feelings which do most honour to the human heart. He succeeded to the title of Baronet on the demise of his brother, the Rev. Sir Herbert Croft, in 1816. His wife survives him, and he has left a daughter and three sons,

the eldest of whom is in the Grenadier Guards. The fortune they inherit is not considerable, for Sir Richard had no patrimony, and, the small fortune of his wife excepted, he possessed nothing but what arose from the profits of his profession, which might have been greater, but for the liberality of his disposition, which showed itself in every part of his conduct through life.

LATE GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF BENGAL, AND A MEMBER OF HIS

MAJESTY'S MOST HONOURABLE THE PRIVY COUNCIL.

WARREN HASTINGS, the son of an obscure clergyman, and a man destined alike by nature and by fortune, to produce no inconsiderable effect on the fate of Asia as well as of England, was born in 1733. The precise spot where he first saw the light, is unknown to the writer of this article; but it could not have been at Daylesford House, as has been supposed, this mansion have ing been sold full eighteen years before, by one of his progenitors. Certain it is, however, that he passed part of his infancy in that neighbourhood, and had imbibed such an attachment to the spot, that he never was happy until he had become the possessor.

The period that elapsed between his birth, and his employment in a public capacity was so exceedingly short, as to afford but few materials for biography. That his parents

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were not in great affluence may be readily conjectured, when it is recollected, that the remainder of the family estate had been recently disposed of; and yet, on the other hand, his maintenance and education for several years at a great public school, followed by a respectable appointment in the service of the East India Company, at the moment he was enabled by law to fulfil its duties, would seem to infer no deficiency either of substance or connections.

As Mr. Burke, during the memorable impeachment of this gentleman, was pleased to assert, that the origin of “ the prisoner at the bar of the House of Lords was low, obscure, and vulgar," some pains have been bestowed to refute this assertion, and prove it to have been at least gratuitous. It appears evident, from Nash's History of Worcestershire, as well as the records in the heralds' office, that a family of this name flou' Tished many centuries ago in that county. Indeed, Mr. Pennyston Hastings an antiquary, who happened to be rector of Daylesford, after much research, derives the pedigree of this branch from the famous Hastings the Dane. Astrophe Hastings was possessed of certain lands in Warwickshire, :so · early as the time of William the Conqueror; and of this family were the ancient Barons of Abergavenny, who by the marriage of John Hastings, Baron of Abergavenny with the heiress of Acmar de Valentia, became Earl of Pembroke. At length, John the last Earl, dying without issue, his earldom reverted to the crown, while the Barony of Abergavenny was transferred by marriage to Reginald Lord Grey: and here, it ought not to be omitted, that the right of it was long contested by a Mr. Hastings, descended from the second son of John Lord Abergavenny, who claimed as male heir.

From a younger branch of this family sprung ihe Earls of Huntingdon, who have altered the arms, and bear a Manche Sable in a field Argent; whereas the original arms of Hastings, and those that have been always borne by the Hastings of Daylesford, were a Manche Gules in a Field. Or.

The estate of Daylesford, and the patronage of the living, continued in the family of Hastings for many generations, as

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