Memoirs of his Excellency the Right Honourable the Earl of Carlifle. (With an engraved Portrait, from a Drawing after the Life.) FREDERICK Howardard of Morpeth, to this ford fhip's genius. REDERICK Howard, earl of Car- of the gay and polite, which did honour And amongst the reft, A Rhapfody on Tafte,, addreffed to the Duchefs of Devonshire; and verfes fent to a young lady, with a new Edition ' of Shakespeare, were peculiarly admired. and aron Dacres of Gilliland, Cumberkad, was born on the 28th of May, 1748, and fucceeded his father Henry, the late earl, on the 4th of September, 1758. His lordhip was educated at Eton-school, where he became acquainted with William Eden, Efq; and formed an intimacy and Cole friend hip with that gentleman, which has continued ever fince, and has united them in a fingular manner in public, as well as in private life. Soon after leaving Eton fchool, Lord Corlife made the tour of Europe, and returned home about the year 1769, when be came of age, and took his feat in the Hole of Lords; at this period of his life, the political abilities, which have fince been difcovered, lay dormant, and his hip rather diftinguished himfelf as the accomplished, fine gentleman. His drefs, sequipage, and his manners, being conred as models of elegance, and the fandards of tafte, by all young men of hion. Nor was the voice of cenfure fet upon this occafion; common report bid him forth to the public, as a gay, diffated youth, whofe fortune, accumulatduring his minority, would foon be wed by gaming, luxury, and other movices; he was even ridiculed for fome aces of uncommon foppery, fuch as earing red Morocco heels to his fhoes; tthefe detractions from his merit were forgotten, and his lordfhip's literary es made the world amends for the folIf youth. Many elegant poetical comans were handed about in the circles Hib. Mag. Jan. 1781. If his lordship's fortune was by this time confiderably diminished, it is certain he took a very prudent meafure to repair it, by throwing himself into the direct line of promotion. Many noble families courted a domeftic alliance with him, but beauty, refined manners, and mental endowments, all combined to attach him to Lady Caroline Gower, the fecond daughter of Earl Gower, the young lady to whom his lordship fent the above-mentioned verses. The nuptials of this noble pair were celebrated with a degree of fplendour and elegance fuitable to their diftinguished tafte, March 22d, 1770; but though Earl Gow er was then Prefident of the Privy Coun cil, and at the head of the Bedford intereft, we do not find that Lord Carlisle obtained any preferment till the year 1777, when he was appointed Treasurer of his Majefty's household, after having given speci mens of his political abilities in the two preceding feflions of parliament, by fupporting the measures of adminiftration upon the rupture with America. In the debate upon the Duke of Richmond's motion in the House of Lords, on the 5th of March, 1776, for prefenting an humble addrefs to his Majelly, praying that he would be gracioully pleased to countermand the march of the troops c Heffe, Hanover, and Brunswick, and lik wife to give directions for an immediat A 1 fufpenfion of hoftilities in America; Lord Carlisle made an able fpeech to point out the advantages of the treaties for employing foreigners in preference to our own countrymen in the war against the Americans; his lordship argued very juftly, that our people might be much better employed in agriculture, manufactures, and trade, at home; and affuredly it would have been a bleffing to this country, if all parts of Europe had been ranfacked for foreign mercenaries, inftead of making America the grave for thousands of British foldiers, many of them our veteran troops. Upon the opening of the following feffion of parliament, on the gift day of October, in the fame year, his lordship moved the addrefs of thanks for his Majefty's fpeech, and very warmly cenfured thofe who had hitherto impeded the meafures of administration in fupport of the fupreme right and controulling power of the British legislature over all the dominions and fubjects of the empire. These fervices were rewarded the enfuing spring, by the promotion already noticed; and from this time, his lordship is to be viewed as a nobleman riting at court, and ftudying the duties of a perfect fenator and ftatefaan. Upon the death of Lord Cathcart, which happened in the courfe of the year 1776, his vacant ribbon of the moft antient order of the Thistle was given by the fovereign to the Earl of Carlile; and on the 13th of April, 1778, his lordship was appointed his majefty's first commitfioner, to treat, confult, and agree (with the American Congrefs) upon the means of quieting the diforders fubfifting in certain of his majesty's colonies, plantations, and provinces in North America. In this commiffion his bofom friend, Mr. Eden, was joined through his lordship's intereft, and at his particular request. The mifcarriage of that commillion is too well known to be repeated, no abilities could infure fuccefs, where an infurmountable obftacle, which ought to have been forcfeen, rendered all the proceedings nugatory. The congrefs would not treat without a previous acknowledgment of the independence of the Thirteen United States of North America; and it foon afterwards appeared, that congrefs was bound by the alliance with France not to treat for a feparte peace. Thus, for want of duc political information at home, the nation was put to a needless expenfe, and the commiffioners turned home difgraced in the eyes of the public; but the merchants of London trading to New York, and other parts of America reftored to their allegiance to his majefty, found themfelves be nefited by the commercial abilities of lord Carlile and Mr. Eden, and we may fuppofe it was in confequence of the meatures they took, while in America, to facilitate the commerce between the two countries, that his majefty was pleafed to place Lord Carlisle at the head of the Board of Trade, and to put Mr. Eden into the fame commiflion in the month of November, 1779. And upon the recent appointment of his lordship to be Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, a committee of merchants trading to North America waited on him and Mr. Eden with the great benefits which have been dean addrefs, fetting forth their due fenfe of rived to the commercial interefts of this kingdom from their public spirited efforts; particularly by the patronage which they gave to the late act of parliament for reviving the trade of this country with cer tain parts of America. And congratulating our fifter kingdom, Ireland, on their appointment to their prefent high fta tion (Mr. Eden being appointed fecretary to his lordship) at a time which requires not only judgment to discern, but dispo fition to adapt fuch meatures as may hap pily tend to rivet the bonds of friendship between the two kingdoms. It is a fingu Eden, that this grateful tribute of esteem lar advantage to Lord Carlisle and Mr. from the merchants of London, trading to North America, announces to the peo ple of Ireland, the attention they have hewn to commercial concerns in the public ftations in which they have been before employed by government; and it is equally fortunate, that his lordship's difpofition in private life coincides with their ideas and manners. Being remarkably hofpitable, and fond of good cheer, they will prefer a governor whofe liberality may border on excefs, to one whofe prudent frugality verges on meannefs; and in his prefent princely office, a revival of his lordfhip's taste for magnificence, pomp, and fplendour, will be highly acceptable, ef pecially as it will be accompanied with that affability and condefcenfion for which the merchants of London have expreffed their gratitude. We hope, and we doubt not, that the new Lord Lieutenant of Ire land will diftinguish himfelf at Dublin by the fame facility of accefs, and the fame unwearied application to the progrefs and difpatch of the important concerns of the mercantile people of Ireland, which endeared him fo much to our merchants, while he prefided at the Board of Trade. fized, well-made, and genteel, cafy in his Lord Carlile in his perfon is middle addrefs, cheerful, and entertaining in his converfation; and as a public speaker, more convincing than pleating. A noble 1 St. A noble A As A of Humanity, faid to have been rmed by that fingular Genius, the Rev. Mr. Charles Churchill, as relatra by an ingenious Writer in " Chryfal, or the Adventures of a Guinea." THE company to which my new maf ter was in fuch hafte to go, confiited ffa few perfons whom a fimilarity of terer had linked in the clofeft intimacy wel there he spent the remainder of the evening in a manner which few would dife, though fewer ftill could approve it: ta: fpirited wit and liveliness of their conveition gilded the groffeft debaucheries, at the fame time that the rectitude and nity of their fentiments, whenever terhearts could find opportunity to speak, made the vices of their practice ftill more horrible by the contraft. They broke not up, as it might be ima of Humanity. god, 'll nature funk under their exceff- The figh of diftrefs which never fruck is ear without affecting his heart, came with double force from fuch an object. le viewed her with filent compassion for Lae moments, and, reaching her a piece gold, bade her to go home and shelter berfelf from the inclemencies of the night late an hour. Her furprize and joy fuch unexpected charity overpowered ber: the dropped upon her knees in the wet and dirt of the street, and, raifing her hands and eyes towards Heaven, remained in that pofture fome moments, unable to give utterance to the gratitude that filled her heart. Such a fight was more expreffive than all the powers of eloquence. He raised her fenderly from the ground, and, foothing her with words of comfort, offered her to conduct her to fome place where the might get that refreshment of which the appeared to be in too great want. "Oh! Sir," faid he, preffing the hand that had raised her with her cold trembling lips, "my deliverer, fent by Heaven to fave me from defpair, let me not think of taking refreshment myfelf 'till I have firft procured it for those whofe greater wants I feel ten thoufand times more feverely than my own." "What can they be 3 interrupted he, with anxious impatience. "Can humanity feel greater wants than thofe under which you are finking ?" "My father," exclaimed fhe, bursting into tears, "languishing under infirmities, acquired in the fervice of his country; my mother worn out with attending on him, and both perithing for want; (Heaven grant they are not already dead!) together with two infant brothers, infenfible of the caufe of their dittress, and crying to them for a morfel of bread, which it is not in their power to give." "Where can fuch a fcene of wretchednefs be hidden from relief? I'll go with you myfelf directly. But ftop! let us first procure fome comfortable nourishment from fome of the houfs which are kept open at this late hour for a very different purpose. Come with me; we have no time to lofe."--With thete words he went directly to a tavern, and, enquiring what victuals were drefied in the houfe, loaded her with as much as he could carry of the beft, and, putting a couple of bottles of wine in his own pocket, walked with her to her habitation, which was in a blind alley, happily for her, not very far diftant, as weakness, together with the conflict of paffions ftruggling in her heart, made her carce able to go. When they came to the door, she would have gone up firft for a light, but he was refolved to accompany her, that he might see the whole scene in its genuine colours. He, therefore, followed her up to the top of the houfe, where, opening the door of the garret, the discovered to him such a fcene of mifery as ftruck him with astonishment. By the light of a lamp, which glimmered in the fireless chimney, he faw lying on a bare bedftead, without any other covering than the relics of their own rags, a man, a woman, and two children, fhuddering with cold, though huddled together to fhare the little warmth which exhaufted nature ftill fupplied them with. While he ftood gazing with horror at fuch complicated wretchednefs, his conductress ran to the bed fide, and, falling on her knees, "Oh! Sir! Madam!" exclaimed the in rapture," arife; I have got relief from an Angel of Heaven !”— "Take care,' anfwered a voice, the hollow trembling of which was fharpened with indignation, "take care it is not a Fiend of Hell, who has taken advantage of your diftrefs to tempt you to ruin; for with whom elfe could you be 'till this time of night? But know, wretched girl! that I will never eat the earnings of Vice and Infamy. A few hours will put an end A 2 to 46 Ceafe, my child!" interrupted the father, nor prefs your benefactor to continue in a fcene of mifery that muft give pain to his humane heart." "If my ftaying will not give you pain," "answered my mafter, I will moft willingly ftay; but it must be on condition that our converfation points entirely forward to happier days: there will be time enough hereafter to look back.”— to my miferies, which have received the only poffible addition by this your folly." "He must be fuch, indeed," interrupted my matter, ftill more truck with fentiments fo uncommon in fuch a fituation, "who would think of tempting her, in fuch circumftances, to any folly. I will withdraw while you arife, and then we will confult what can be foonest done to alleviate a diftrefs of which you appear fo undeferving." -While he said this, he took the wine out of his pockets, and, giving it to the daughter, went directly down ftairs, without waiting for a reply; and, walking backward and forward in the street for fome time, enjoyed the fublimeft pleasure the human heart is capable of, in confidering how he had relieved, and fhould farther relieve, the fufferings of objects fo worthy of relief. By the time he thought they might have Jearned from their daughter the circumflances of her meeting with him, and taken fome nourishment, he returned to them; when the moment he entered the room, the whole family fell upon their knees to thank him. Such humiliation was more than he could bear. He raised them, one by one, as faft as he could, and, taking the father's hand," Gracious God!" faid he," can a fenfe of humanity be fuch an uncommon thing among creatures who call themselves human, that fo'poor an exertion of it should be thought deferving of a return proper to be made only to heaven? Opprefs me not, Sir, I conjure you, with the mention of what it would have been a crime I could never have forgiven myfelf to have known I had not done. It is too late to think of leaving this place before to-morrow, when I will provide a better, if there is not any to which you chufe particularly to go. I am not rich, but thank heaven that it has bleffed me with ability and inclination to afford fuch affiftance as may be immediately neceffary to you, 'till means may be thought of for doing more." "On, Sir!" anfwered the mother, "well might my daughter call you an angel of heaven; you know not from what mifery you have already relieved". "Nor will I know more of it at this time," interrupted my mafter, "than that which I too plainly fee. I will leave you now to your reft, and return as foon as it is day." "Speak not of leaving us, Sir!" exclaimed the daughter, who was afraid that if he fhould go away he might not return; "what reft can we take in fo fhort a time? Leave us not, I beseech you; leave us not in this place." Saying this, he fat down on the bed-fide, (for other feats the apartment afforded none,) between the hufband and wife, with whom he spent the little remainder of the night in fuch difcourfe as he thought moft likely to divert their attention from their prefent mifery, and inspire their minds with better hopes, while the children, all but the daughter, who hung upon his words, comforted at heart with a better meal than they had long tafted, fell faft afleep as they leaned their heads upon their mother's lap, As foon as it was day, "Now, Madam," faid my mafter, addrefing himself to the mother, "I will go and provide a place for your reception, as you fay all places are alike to you. In the mean time, accept of this trifle (giving her ten guineas) to provide fuch neceflities as you may indifpenfably want before you remove: when you are fettled, we will fee what farther can be done. I fhall be back with you within thefe three hours at moft." For fuch beneficence there was no poffibility of returning thanks; but their hearts fpoke through their eyes in a language fufficiently intelligible to his. Departing directly, to fave both himself and them the pain of purfuing a converfation that grew too dittressful, he went, without regard to change of drefs or appearance, to look for a proper lodging for them, where he laid in fuch provifions of every kind as he knew they muft immediately want. This care employed him 'till the time he had promised to return, when he found fuch an alteration in the looks and appearance of them all, as gave his heart delight. "You fee, Sir," faid the mother, as foon as he entered, "the effects of your bounty; but do not think that vanity has made us abufe it. Thele clothes, what we could raife on which has for fome time been our fole fupport, were the purchase of happier times, and were now redeemed for much lefs than we must have given for the wort we could buy." "Dear Madam!" interrupted my mafter, taking her hand respectfully, "mention not any thing of the kind to me, I befeech you. You will foon fee fuch |