quired. He had declined many opportunities of ennobling and enriching himself, and yet possessed sufficient for his own moderate desires. He had brought up all his sons to active business, and was justly sensible that this was preferable to any fortune he could give, or leave them. But as he was thus liberally provided for by his majesty's bounty, he thought the least he could do was to make every return in his power; and having the honour of being one of his majesty's privy council, he, in conjunction with the venerable sir Thomas Parker, who had been chief baron of the exchequer, uniformly attended the appeals to the king in council till the year 1782, when his increasing infirmities obliged him to give up this last part of what he thought his public duty. His services in this interval had been constant, and were frequently acknowledged by the lord president of the council, and by the minister in parliament. About this time, the reversion of an estate in Derbyshire, of about 400l. per ann. fell in to him by the death of a gentleman, to whose family he was allied, and with which in the early part of his life he had lived in great intimacy: but there being an illegitimate son of one branch of the family alive, whom sir Eardley had patronized from his birth, he immediately made a conveyance of the estate to him for his life, and intended, if he had had children, to have given him the whole interest in it. He now retired totally from public business, and saw very little company during the remainder of his life, except a few friends, whcm time bad hitherto spared. The principal of these were lord Shelburne, since created marquis of Lansdown, sir Thomas Parker, lord Huntingdon, lord Hardwicke, and lord Bethurst, by whom he was frequently consulted, while he held the great seal, both on political and legal subjects. He was resorted to by these and a few others for advice and for entertainment, his conversation be ing equally cheerful and instructive. A person who, with the greatest honour to himself and advantage to the nation, had filled many high stations in public life, told the writer of these sheets, that he was never in his company without feeling himself the happier and the better for it. He mentioned, among other anec dotes, that he once went to sir Eardley, under the impression of great wrath and indignation, at a real injury which he had received from a person high in the political world, and which he was meditating how t resent in the most effectual manner. After relating the particulars to sir Eardley, he asked, if he did not think it would be "manly" to resent it? Yes, said sir Eardley, certainly, it will be "manly" to resent it: but, added he, it would be "god-like" to forgive it. This the gentleman declared had such a instantaneous effect upon him, that he came away quite a different man. and in a totally different temper from that in which he went. His principal society was in the bosom of his own family, as three of his children were married, and had presented him with twelve grandchildren. His wife, indeed, a most faithful and exemplary one! and L eldest son, who, to say all, was worthy of such a father! he was so unfortunate as to lose, in the two successive years after his retreat from public business. These losses, though ho he felt like a man, he bore like a Christian. His retreat from business not only procured him ease and health, but probably added many years to his life. No one ever more completely enjoyed "otium cum dignitate." His first employment in a morning was to read and study a chapter or two in the Greek Testament. Anatomy was one of his favourite pursuits during his retirement, and with this view he regularly attended the lectures of the celebrated Dr. Hunter. most alarming symptoms, but by the strength of his constitution, and the great skill and attention of his physician, sir Richard Jebb, he was enabled to remove into the country, and gradually recovered from the immediate effects of it. He can hardly however be said to have lived, or at least to have enjoyed any degree of health or comfort after this attack, except such as arose from the attention of his children, the contemplation of a well-spent life, and that firm, but humble confidence in a joyful resurrection, which christianity alones inspires. After having thus passed a life of advantage to the public, and of great delight to his family and friends, he died, on the 5th of February 1792, aged eighty-two. He was in the habit of entering in his common-place book the death of his friends and contemporaries, with a short account of them. It will be further illustration of his own character, to observe how ready he was to do justice to the worth of He left his eldest surviving son others. his sole executor, with express diSir Eardley had a very severe ill-rections, in his own hand writing, ness in the spring of 1780, which for a plain marble tablet to be put up terminated in a jaundice of the worst in the church of Berkswell, in the kind, and being sent to Bath by sir county of Warwick, with an inscripNoah Thomas, his life was long de- tion, containing an account of his spaired of, till by taking a medicine birth, death, the dates of his appoint. which he there met with, he was ments, and names of his children, restored to his family. "without any other addition whatever." Sir Eardley always considered epitaphs as of little use, except in furnishing evidence of facts and dates, in which respect he had often found them of considerable importance in the course of his professional experience. From Bath he went to Brighthelmstone, in the beginning of June, and was no sooner arrived there then the accounts followed him of the riots in London; on the reports being brought to him every day of the increasing tumults and mischief, he declared, with unusual warmth, that "he thought it impossible there could be one soldier or one lawyer in London; for if there were, the riots would not have been suffered to get to such a height." From this time to March 1796, sir Eardley had a tolerable share of health at this period, he was attacked by a violent fever, with the His person was of the middle size; his countenance of a commanding and dignified aspect; his eye particularly lively and animated, tempered with great sweetness and benignity. His knowledge was extensive and profound, and perhaps nothing but his natural modesty prevented him from equalling the greatest of his predecessors. It was this invincible modesty which continually acted as a fetter upon his abilities and learning, and prevented their full exertion in the service of the public. Whenever any occasion arose, that made it necessary for him to come forward (as was sometimes the case in the house of lords, in the court of chancery, and in the common pleas), it was always with reluctance, to perform a duty, not to court applause, which had no charms for his pure and enlightened mind. But of all the parts of sir Eardley's character, none was more conspicuous than the manner in which he conducted himself on the bench, in that most delicate and important office of hearing causes, either of a criminal or civil nature: he was not only practically skilled in his profession, but his penetration was quick and not to be eluded; his attention constant and unabated; his elocution clear and harmonious; but, above all, his temper, moderation patience, and impartiality, were so distinguished, that the parties, solicitors, counsel, and audience, went away informed and satisfied, if not contented" etiam contra quos statuit, æquos placatosque dimisit." This was the case in questions of private property: but where any points of a public nature arose, there his superior abilities and public virtue were eminently characterized; equally free from courting ministerial favour, or popular applause, he held the scale perfectly even between the crown and the people, and thus be came equally a favourite with both. This was conspicuous on many occasions, but particularly in the important cause, related before, between Mr. Wilkes and lord Halifax, in 1769. With superior talents from na ture, improved by unremitting in dustry and extensive learning, bou in and out of his profession, Le possessed such native humbleness of mind and simplicity of manners, that no rank nor station ever made him think highly of himself, or meanly of others. In short, when we contemplate his various excel lencies, we find ourselves at a los whether most to admire his dep and extensive learning and penttration as a lawyer, his industry, probity, firmness, wisdom, and patience as a judge, his taste and ele gant accomplishments as a scholar. his urbanity and refined sentiments as a gentleman, or his piety and humility as a Christian. But whea we approach nearer and view la in the shade of private life, then we may confidently assert, that he has left an illustrious and encouragi example of the progress which man, with all his frailties, may make the attainment and exercise of those virtues and graces, of which the great Teacher and Saviour of malkind condescended, in his own person, to exhibit the perfect and inimitable pattern! They appeared to be about 1200 in number, every individual superbly mounted, richly dressed, and attended by a servant on foot, carrying a long stick in his hand. But the magnificence of the beys or chiefs was beyond any thing that can be conceived. They were lodged in spacious tents, divided into several apartments; the insides lined with rich stuffs, and the bottom covered with beautiful Turkey carpets. Nothing can equal the grand and splendid appearance of this cavalry. Their horses are well made, strong, sleek, and plump, very sure-footed, and stately in their attitudes, and having altogether the most beautiful appearance. The magnificence of the trappings, with which they are covered, is amazing, and the saddles and housings glitter with gold and silver, almost dazzling the eyes of the astonished spectator. Indeed, a Mamaluke may be said to carry all his wealth about him; his horse, sword, and pistols, beautifully wrought and inlaid with silver, are worth very great sums, and constitute the chief part of his riches. These horses, as well as all those to be found in Egypt, have only two paces; the walk, in which they step out well, and a full gallop. They are accustomed to stop dead short, when going full speed; this is effected by the means of the most severe bit in the world, which throws back the horse upon his haunches; but this practice very soon ruins their legs, and it is seldom they can hold out against it for any length of time. The Mamalukes, taken as light troops, or as individual horsemen, are equal, and perhaps superior, to any in the world; but without tactics, and never acting in a body, they cannot be expected to succeed against European troops. Their desperate courage, and singular dexterity in managing their horses, were often experienced by the French, and never shown more conspicuous than at the celebrated battle of Embabeh, where they repeatedly charged the solid square of the French, and where so many of them fell victims to their ill-judged bravery. These Mamalukes were so richly dressed and accoutred, that the French soldiers actually fished up the bodies of those who were drowned in the Nile, by which they obtained very considerable booty. The following are the names of the beys who joined general Hutchinson: Osman Bey Tambourgi, Mahomed Bey Elfi, Achmet Bey, Osman Bey Berdici, Osman Bey Hassan, and Selim Bey. Each of these beys made presents of horses to the British general officers, From the time of the conquest of Egypt by Amrou, one of the generals of Omar, the first calif, till the eighth century, this country was governed by the lieutenants of the califs, and by sultans of the race of the Fatimites and Aioubites, The head of the latter family was that Saladin, who acquired so much fame against the crusaders. It was one of his weak successors, who was first obliged to cominit his castles to a guard of foreigners which originally consisted of young slaves. These had been purchased by the merchants from the Moguls, who were at that time overrunning the greater part of Asia under Genghis Khan. This guard called Mamalukes, (i. e. in Arabic, slaves) was at one time divided into two corps. One thousand had the care of the river, and lived on an island near Cairo; the other corps, which was more numerous, had the charge of the gar risons. It was the last sultan of the Aioubite race, in the eighth century, who so gallantly opposed Saint Lewis, and took him prisoner; but lost his throne and his life on the field of battle. The Mamalukes, by this time very numerous, were governed by twenty-four beys, who had engrossed all the principal offices of the state; and, being discontented with Touran-Shah, whom they suspected of some designs unfavourable to them, assassinated him at the beginning of his reign, in the year 1250, and put Azzedin Bey, one of their own body, into his place. From this time there was nothing but a continued scene of treachery and murder; whoever aspired to be sultan, formed a party, and after having murdered his rival, waited for a favourable opportunity to seize the reins of government. Whoever assasinated the sultan was generally proclaimed in his place; and sometimes two or three reigned at the same time in Syria, Upper Egypt, and Cairo, who were continually at war, till the most 'daring and enterprising had destroyed the others. These dissensions continued till sultan Selim the Second, surnamed the Great, taking advantage of the divisions among the beys, conquered Egypt. Finding it more easy to vanquish them, than to make them submit to a despotic government, he did not attempt to give them new laws, but was content with delegating the power of sultan to a bey, who, by basely betraying his former master, had been of service to Selim; and quitted the country six months after his first entry into Cairo, leaving the Mamalukes still masters of it. Soliman, the legislator, the suc cessor of Selim, who raised the Turkish empire to its highest splendour and greatest power, gave a constitution, not only to Egypt, but to all the different provinces composing that heterogeneous mass of empire. He found it in the first place necessary to establish a counserpoise for the power and influence of the Mamalukes; to effect which, he established the corps odjacklis or militia, composed of natives of Egypt, and into which a Mamaluke was on no account to be admitted. To these corps he gave great powers; to the Mamalukes he left nothing but honorary titles, a little military authority, and a few villages for their different officers. He established a pacha, as his representative, who was at the head of the government, and who had the nomination of the different officers of state. The beys had indeed the choice of a successor, to fill up any vacancies among themselves, but they were obliged to present the person so chosen to the pacha in full divan, to be invested with the dignity by him. The pacha of Egypt was often the road to the great office of the vizirate, and was sometimes an honourable retreat for a disgraced vizier. He could be formally deposed by the corps of militia in the divan, and made to settle his accounts before he left the country. The reasons for his being so were trans |