Pleas, by whom he had iffue Nicholas, created baron Tufton, of Tufton in Suffex, in the fecond year of Charles I. and two years after carl of Thanet. He married the lady Frances, daughter to Thomas earl of Exeter, and by her had four fons and nine daughters. He died on the first of July 1632, and was buried in the parish church of Raynham. John, his eldeft fon, fucceeded to the honours of his father, and married Margaret, the elder of the two daughters and co heirs to Richard earl of Dorfet; by whom he had fix fons and fix daughters. This nobleman was obliged to compound for his eftate, with the fequeftrators of the rebel parliament, in the fum of nine thousand pounds, the largest fum of any one mentioned in the lift of compounders. And in the year 1653, being appointed high fheriff of the county of Kent, for the enfuing year, his lordship, however inconfiftent or difagreeable, this inftance of the indifcriminating ufe of that power the rebel party had ufurped, might be to him, fubmitted to the neceffity of the times, and ferved the office, as many others of the fame loyal principles did, on whom it was impofed in thefe oppreffive times. He lived to fee the reftoration of Charles II. and died on the 6th of May 1664, leaving his countefs furviving, who died on the 14th of Auguft 1676, aged 62 years. Nicholas, his eldeft fon, born Aug. 7, 1632, fucceeded his father. He married, on the 11th of April 1664, Elizabeth, fecond daughter of Richard Boyle earl of Burlington. In the time of the rebellion against king Charles I. he refided in France, but returned to England, before the year 1650, when he vifited his grandmother, the countefs dowager of Pembroke and Dorfet, in the north of England. In the year 1655 he was committed prifoner to the Tower, by the Protector and his council, on fufpicion of his being in a plot against them; but was released on the 20th of September following. He died without iffue, on the 24th of November, 1679, and was fucceeded in his honours and eftates by John, his next brother and heir. This nobleman alfo fucceeded to the whole of the eftate poffeffed by his grand mother, the countess of Pembroke; and dying unmarried at Skipton-caftle in Yorkshire, on the 27th of April, the earldom and eftates in Kent, Suffex, Yorkshire, and Weftmoreland, defcended to his next brother and heir, the hon. Thomas Tufton, born August 30th, 1644. His lordship married Catharine, daughter and co-heir of Henry Cavendish, duke of Newcastle; by whom he had three fons, who all died in their infancy, and five daughters. This nobleman alfo fucceeded as heir to his grandmother Anne, baronefs of Clifford, Westmoreland, and Vefy. But dying on the 30th of July 1729, without iffue-male, the earldem of Thanet, with the eftate in Kent, Suffex, Yorkshire, and Weftmore land, defcended to his nephew Sackvile Tufton, eldeft furviving fon of his brother Sackvile Tufton, fifth fon to John earl of Thanet. This nobleman was born at Hothfield-houfe in Kent, on the 11th of June 1646. In the reign of king James II. he was governor of Tilbury-fort, and had a colonel's com miffion million in the Guards. mother died on the 30th of July 1751; and his lordship on the 4th of December 1753; and was fucceeded in his honours and estates by his only fon and heir Sackvilę lord Tufton, now earl of Thanet. Armorial Bearings.] Sable, an eagle difplayed, ermine, within a bordure, argent. He married, on the 10th of June, 1686, Elizabeth, daughter and fole heir to Ralph Wilbraham of Newbottle, in Northamptonshire, Efq; by whom he had iffue fix fons and fix daughters. His fecond fon Sackvile fucceeded his uncle Thomas earl of Thanet, mentioned above. He was born May 11, 1688, and married, on the 11th of June 1722, the lady Mary Savile, younger of the two daughters, and co-heirs of William marquis of Halifax; by whom he had iffue two fons and two daughters; John lord Tutton, who died in the ninth year of his age; and Sackvile lord Tufton, born in Auguft 1733; lady Mary born in 1723, and lady Charlotte in 1728. Their Creft.] On a wreath, a fea lion, fejant. Supporters.] Two eagles, their wings expanded, ermine. Morto.] Fiel pero defdichado.... Faithful tho' unhappy. Chief Seats.] At Hothfield in Kent; at Newbottle in Northamptonshire; and in Grofvenor-fireet, London. To the Authors of the BRITISH MAGAZINE. GENTLEMEN, At a time when biography is in general eftimation, I prefume the following will be agreeable to your readers. The Life of SCIPIO AFRICAN US. Haud ulli veterum virtute fecundus. fcended from a good family of the patrician order. At feventeen he was at the battle of Tefin, where he faved the life of his father, at that time conful in this engagement he displayed the greatest bravery, and a condu& fuperior to his age. The battle of Canna happened foon after, where Hannibal, whofe force fcarce equalled half the Roman army, gave them the moft fignal defeat they ever fuftained. This did not abate their resolution; on the contrary, their greatnefs of mind was never more confpicuous. When Varro, the conful, returned to Rome after the lofs of this battle, of which he had been the principal caufe, the fenate went in proceffion and thanked him for not despairing of the republic. Instead of fuing to the conqueror, they did not even mention peace. Some time after, when the victorious Hannibal advanced within four miles of the city, at a crifis when other states would either have opened their gates to the victors, or have abandoned themselves to the baseness of defpair, they not only made the X X X 2 necef neceffary difpofitions for a vigorous defence, but even detached a large body of troops for the fecurity of Spain. The very lands on which Hannibal was encamped, were, under thofe circumftances, expofed to fale, and fold at as high a price as they were ever known to do. The examples of young Scipio, and Fabius Maximus, had fome fhare in this effect: but the chief cause were, the equanimity, bravery, and intrepidity, that were become hereditary to the Romans. The death of the two Scipios, father and uncle, of our hero, feemed to indicate the ruin of the Roman affairs in Spain. Many tears were led when they affembled to appoint a fucceffor to thefe great Nobody dared offer himfelf as a candidate, every thing appeared to dupe.ate in that province; and the ftrict filence which reigned made them feel, and regret, ftiil more their great lofs. In this general consternation, Scipio, then 24 years old, ftood up, and offered to command in Spain, if the electors approved of him. This heroic propofal reftored life and joy to the people, and he was unanimously appointed general. His arrival in Spain infpired the army with courage. They difcerned, with joy, that his phyfiognomy refembled thofe of his father and uncle, from whence they drew a happy prefage. In difcourfing with him, they found that he even excelled them in politeness of behaviour, docility of mind, and folidity of expreffion. He was far from fruftrating their expectations. The firft enterprize he formed was the fiege of Carthagena, at once the strongest and richeft town in all Spain. It was the enemy's place of arms, arfenal, magazine, treafury, and place of fecurity. He knew that all weak towns in a country depend on the ftrongeft, and muft fall with it, and that the taking of this one place would render him mafter of Spain. This expedition, fo important, difficult, and dangerous, coft him but one day. He ordered a general attack on one fide of the town, and obferving a fordable place in the ditch, neglected by the befieged, he commanded a party there, who attacked it with fuch courage, refo lution, and perfeverance, that the enemy was fpeedily obliged to furrender. The booty was fo immenfe, that the town itself was regarded as the leaft part of the acquifition. Scipio, who was the moft pious of all the Romans, immediately returned thanks to God, not only for obtaining him the town in fo fhort a time, but likewite for affembling there almost all the riches of Spain and Africa. After performing this primary duty, he rewarded the troops, according to their respective merit, with praife, honour, and money. He then fent for the hoftages, and told them, with the utmost benevolence, that they were fell into the hands of the Romans, who would rather obtain their hearts by kindness, than fubject them by fear; and attract the esteem of foreigners by the honourable title of friends and allies, than reduce them to the ignominious and miferable condition of flavery. On this occafion, a lady, illuftrious by her birth, and venerable by her age, wife of Mandonius, bro Africanus ther to Indibilis, king of the Iller- and that of my country, oblige me I am going to relate an action which fhews be her husband. He obferved to the latter, that his mistress had been used the fame in his houfe, as fhe would have been in her father's. Says he, "I have treated her thus, to be able to make you a prefent worthy of you and me. I ask no return, unless it be that you become a friend of the Romans. If you think me a perfon of good reputation, fuch as my father and uncle were in this nation; I must inform you that there are many like us in Rome, and that there are no people on earth, whofe friendfhip you ought fo much to value, nor whofe enmity you ought fo much to fear." Then the young lady's parents preffed Scipio to accept a confiderable fum that they brought for her ranfom, and laid it at his feet in gold and filver. But he addretling himself to Allucius, "I add this fum to the marriage portion you are to receive from your father-in-law." He forced him to take it. Scipio was at this time young, unmarried, and a conqueror. This prince was no fooner returned to his own country, than he proclaimed every where the excellent qualities of Scipio, faying, young Roman, of angelic difpofition, is arrived in Spain, who fubdues all men by force of arms, and still more by his benevolence, generofity, and condefcenfion." He re " A To what a Godlike height, the Roman joined him foon after with fifteen virtue hundred horfe. This divine action is the honour of his nation, the glory of his age, the inimitable example of pofterity. Scipio, after employing the winter in conciliating the affections of the people, began the campaign. The two princes, Indibilis and Mandonius, met him with their forces, and and affured him that only their bodies had been with his enemies, their hearts having been where they knew honour and juftice were revered. They then prefented their wives and children to him, and the joy on each fide was fo great, that it fired their speech, and could only fhew itfelt for a confiderable time by tears and embraces. Afdrubal, amazed at the rapid progrefs of the Romans, judged the only way to stop them was to give them battle. This was the very thing Scipio de fired, and for which he was well prepared. It foon after happened. The Carthaginians were totally defeated, and left above eight thousand men on the field of battle. Afdrubal retired towards the Pyrenian mountains, to join his brother Hannibal in Italy. After this victory the people, charmed with his valour and moderation, would have conferred the title of king on him. But he reprefented to them, that this name, fo efteemed in other plates, was defpifed by the Romans. That he would be contented if he could poffefs thofe inclinations which kings ought to have. These people, though uncivilized, diftinguished what greatness of mind is requifite to difdain a rank, which is the object of admiration and envy, amongst the reft of mankind. Scipio fent his brother to Rome with the news of the conquest of Spain. But his views reached much further, and he only regarded this conqueft as the prelude to that of all Africa. The fame of his exploits reached Rome before him, and difpofed every mind in his favour. On his arrival, he was chofen conful with one voice, and had Sicily for his department. This was a certain way to pafs into Africa, and he did not conceal that it was his intention. Fabius Maximus, whether thro' circumfpection, which was his peculiar chara&eriftic, or a fecret jealoufy, ufed all his credit to fruftrate Scipio's defign, and alledged feveral reafons, very plaufible in appearance. Scipio refuted them all, and fini.ed the difpute, by referring the decifion to the fenate; who gave him. permiffion to invade Africa, if he thought it for the intereft of the republic. He loft no time, but immediately went to Sicily, and prepared for his expedition against Carthage. His enemies (pread a report, that he paffed his time at Syracufe in pleafure and luxury; that the army followed his example, and that they were overwhelmed with debauchery. Fabius was for recalling him; but the fenate contented themselves with fending commiffaries to enquire into the truth of this accufation. When they arrived in Sicily, they were furprised to find every thing in the utmost regularity. The troops were in good order, the granaries filled with corn, the arfenals with ftores, and the fhips ready to fail. This fight filled them with joy and admiration. They perceived that if Carthage could be conquered, it must be by fuch a general, and fuch an army. After teftifying their fatisfaction they returned. At length he failed. All Sicily ran in crouds to fee him depart. Scipio, already famous by his victories, attracted the attention of the whole world. They admired the great bravery of the enterprize, which none 1 |