The Lives of the Poets of Great Britain and Ireland (1753) Volume V.Cibber, Theophilus
General
The Lives of the Poets of Great Britain and Ireland (1753) Volume V.
Cibber, Theophilus
Poets, English -- Biography -- Early works to 1800; Poets, Irish -- Biography -- Early works to 1800
Mr. Budgell having regularly made his progress in the secretary of
State's office in Ireland; upon the arrival of his late Majesty in
England, was appointed under secretary to Mr. Addison, and chief
secretary to the Lords Justices of Ireland. He was made likewise deputy
clerk of the council in that kingdom, and soon after chose member of the
Irish parliament, where he became a very good speaker. The post of under
secretary is reckoned worth 1500 l. a year, and that of deputy clerk to
the council 250 l. a year. Mr. Budgell set out for Ireland the 8th of
October, 1714, officiated in his place in the privy council the 14th,
took possession of the secretary's office, and was immediately admitted
secretary to the Lords Justices. In the same year at a public
entertainment at the Inns of Court in Dublin, he, with many people of
distinction, was made an honorary bencher. At his first entering upon
the secretary's place, after the removal of the tories on the accession
of his late Majesty, he lay under very great difficulties; all the
former clerks of his office refusing to serve, all the books with the
form of business being secreted, and every thing thrown into the utmost
confusion; yet he surmounted these difficulties with very uncommon
resolution, assiduity, and ability, to his great honour and applause.
Within a twelvemonth of his entering upon his employments, the rebellion
broke out, and as, for several years (during all the absences of the
lord lieutenant) he had discharged the office of secretary of state, and
as no transport office at that time subsisted, he was extraordinarily
charged with the care of the embarkation, and the providing of shipping
(which is generally the province of a field-officer) for all the troops
to be transported to Scotland. However, he went through this extensive
and unusual complication of business, with great exactness and ability,
and with very singular disinterestedness, for he took no extraordinary
service money on this account, nor any gratuity, or fees for any of the
commissions which passed through his office for the colonels and
officers of militia then raising in Ireland. The Lords Justices pressed
him to draw up a warrant for a very handsome present, on account of his
great zeal, and late extraordinary pains (for he had often sat up whole
nights in his office) but he very genteely and firmly refused it.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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