Memoirs of the Reign of King George the Third, Volume 1 (of 4)Walpole, Horace
History
Memoirs of the Reign of King George the Third, Volume 1 (of 4)
Walpole, Horace
Great Britain -- History -- 1760-1789; Great Britain -- History -- George III, 1760-1820
[74] Son of Selina Countess of Huntingdon. He remained Groom of the
Stole till 1770. Akenside, who was one of the least adulatory of
poets, addressed to him, in 1747, a didactic ode on his setting out
on his travels. He was an amiable and accomplished nobleman, though
it requires some partiality to believe of his early youth that his
“breast the gifts of every Muse had known.” Delicate health prevented
his taking an active part in public business, and in 1766 he declined
the embassy to Spain, which was pressed on him by Lord Chatham. He died
in 1790, aged 62, without having been married, and the title was for
some years supposed to be extinct. In 1819 the father of the present
Earl established a claim to it, and took his seat in the House of Lords
accordingly.--E.
[75] See page 39, and _infra_.
[76] Henry Seymour Conway, only brother of Francis Earl of Hertford.
[77] John Waldegrave, only brother of James Earl Waldegrave, whom he
succeeded in the title, married Lady Elizabeth Leveson Gower, sister
of Gertrude Duchess of Bedford. His presence of mind and intrepidity
at the battle of Minden established his character as a soldier.--Mem.
vol. ii. p. 367. He was appropriately rewarded with the regiment of
dragoons, vacated by Lord George Sackville’s dismissal. Subsequently he
obtained one of the regiments of foot-guards, and was made Master of
the Horse to the Queen. His love of state, not less than the handsome
manner in which he lived, well adapted him to any great office at
Court. He died in 1784. His eldest son, a most respectable nobleman,
and also an officer, only survived him five years.--E.
[78] John Mostyn, brother of Sir Roger Mostyn, Bart., and Groom of
the Bedchamber to the King. He had commanded the British cavalry with
distinction in Germany, and was mainly instrumental in gaining the
Battle of Warburgh, the credit of which Lord Granby ascribed entirely
to him. He might have risen high in the army, had he not shrunk from
the responsibility of great commands. He refused the command of the
expedition to the Havannah, on the ground that he did not pretend to be
more than a cavalry officer. His good nature and conviviality, as well
as his quiet military deportment, made him popular at Court; and George
the Second liked him so much, that he generally formed one of the
King’s evening party. It was believed he might have been a favourite if
he pleased. His last employment was as Governor of Minorca.--Memoirs of
Sir James Campbell, vol. i. p. 173.
[79] John Manners, Marquis of Granby, son of John Duke of Rutland.
[80] Letter (of 21st March) to George Montagu, and the note.--Walpole’s
Collected Correspondence, vol. iv. p. 128.
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