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
[93] Memoirs of George the Second, vol. i. p. 242. It is ably drawn,
and not unkindly, considering the belief long entertained by the Whigs
of the Duke having betrayed Sir Robert Walpole. The more favourable
portrait given by Archdeacon Coxe, from materials supplied by his
family, is, like too many family portraits, feeble, flattering, and
indistinct. His Grace unquestionably possessed a powerful, active,
and cultivated mind. He had studied, and thoroughly understood the
weaknesses of men, and was unscrupulous in the practice of all the arts
of intrigue. Success usually crowned his efforts, and notwithstanding
the various changes of Government, he maintained much of his power
to the last. Disappointment attended only his private life, which
was chilled by aversion to his wife and the want of children. _Il
fut riche, il fut titré, mais il ne fut point heureux_--the just and
natural result of a line of conduct which, as Lord Mahon correctly
observes, was seldom on any occasion swayed either by virtue or
generosity.--Coxe’s Life of Sir R. Walpole, vol. iv. p. 236; Mahon’s
Hist. vol. iii. p. 237.--E.
[94] This prediction has not been realized. The Bangorian controversy
has long lost its interest, and great as was their success in
their day, and great their reward--no less than the Bishoprick of
Winchester--the three massive folios of Hoadley’s Works now slumber on
the shelves of theological libraries. His two sons, one of whom was
chaplain, and the other physician to the King, were men of talent, and
are still recollected as the joint authors of that popular comedy, “The
Suspicious Husband.” They were the last of their family.--E.
[95] John Hay, Marquis of Tweedale, had been secretary of State for
Scotland. Lord Tweedale had been one of the extraordinary Lords of
Session in Scotland, and also had held the post of Secretary of
State for that country. He was the last person that filled either of
these offices. His connexion with Lord Granville, whose daughter he
had married, brought him into public life in opposition to Walpole,
and he shared the spoils of that minister. Like Lord Granville, he
possessed considerable knowledge of law. He is said also to have been
a good debater in Parliament. He died, without male issue, in December
1762.--E.
[96] Dr. Robert Hay Drummond, brother of the Earl Kinnoul.
[97] Richard Edgcumbe, second Lord Edgcumbe, an intimate friend of
the author, who has given him a place in the Noble Authors. He was a
humourist, and had a turn for poetry and drawing, of which some amusing
specimens are noticed in the publications of his day. Walpole says, he
never had a fault but to himself, never an enemy but himself.--E.
[98] Lady Caroline Lenox, eldest daughter of Charles second Duke of
Richmond, married to Henry Fox, Paymaster of the Forces.
[99] Eldest daughter of Stephen Fox, Earl of Ilchester, by the sole
daughter and heiress of Mr. Strangways Horner, whose name he assumed.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account