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THE

UNIVERSAL MAGAZINE.

No XLIX.-VOL.VIII.]

For DECEMBER, 1807.

NEW SERIES.

"We shall never envy the honours which wit and learning obtain in any other cause, if we can be numbered among the writers who have given ardour to virtue, and confidence to truth."-DR. JOHNSON.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

MARQUIS TOWNSHEND.
Fa name so long celebrated in

under the tuition of Mr. Lowe, formerly master of Litchfield school, a

century, and embalmed to posterity in tional celebrity by affording the rudithe glowing language of Burke, curi ments of education to Dr. Johnson. osity must be eager to learn some- Lord Townshend, early in life, enthing; and now that the venerable tered into the Guards, having obtained and justly-admired character which a commission immediately on finishwe are about to delineate is removed ing his education, and at a period from this world, envy can have no when he did not exceed eighteen motive to depreciate, nor friendship to years of age. Great Britain happened applaud beyond the just measure of then to be at war with France, and a his excellence. We have repeatedly fair prospect therefore presented itself had occasion to insist upon the supe- of combining theory with practice, rior claims of this species of biogra- and acquiring both knowledge and phy; and it is no small recommenda- preferment. George II. a warlike tion, where knowledge is to be ac- sovereign, commanded in person quired that it should come pure to our against the enemy on the continent, minds. and the Hon. Mr. Townshend had an Field-Marshal George Townshend, opportunity of making a campaign Marquis Townshend, of Rainham, in under the eye of that monarch.' He the county of Norfolk, was born on served with the rank of a subaltern at the 28th of February, 1724, O. S. the memorable battle of Dettingen, He was the eldest son of Charles, late where the Duke of Cumberland comLord Viscount Townshend, by a Hert- manded the English, and the Marfordshire heiress, Miss Audrey Harri- shal de Noailles the French army; son, daughter of Edward Harrison, but he soon after procured the rack. Esq. of Balls. of captain in the first regiment of foot

Lord Townshend, at an early period, guards, which of course gave him the betook himself to the profession of rank of lieutenant-colonel in the arms; and there are few men of the army.

present day who have seen a greater It appears, however, that Colonel variety of service. Connected with Townshend's advancement did not the first whig families in this king, seem sufficiently rapid for the gratif dom, and being a youth of talents and cation of his ambition, and that he reenterprise, there is but little wonder tired at the close of the campaign.. that his military career should have His merits and pretensions however been at once brilliant and rapid. like his interest, must have been very high in the public estimation.

It was previously, however, and wisely determined that he should enjoy the advantages resulting from a good education; and he and his brother Charles were accordingly placed

It was Charles, whose character Burke drew in such admirable lan

guage.

UNIVERSAL MAG. VOL. VIII.

Having now in some measure resigned all idea of a military life, the views of Mr. Townshend were di rected towards another channel, no less favourable to the expectations he had formed of advancement in the state; and as his family possessed large property and considerable infiu

P

ence in Norfolk, he became a candi- Norfolk, at the general election in date to represent that county in par- 175.

liament at the general election of Although Mr. Townshend ap1747, and was returned accordingly. peared to have abandoned the profes No sooner had he obtained his seat sion of arms for ever, yet he was still than he began to profess those princi- so far influenced by his favourite purples of whiggism which he had im- suits that he constantly spoke whenbibed in his early youth, and which it ever any military topics were brought had ever been the pride of his family before the house. A measure of this to cultivate and support. Nor did he kind, big and important in its consenow forget to resist those petty abuses quences, was agitated in the year which he had witnessed while in the 1756, in which he took a decided army. He had beheld the halbert part. This was the famous system of snatched from the veteran serjeant, a national militia. Mr. Townshend and the well-earned knot torn from was one of the most strenuous supthe shoulders of the deserving corpo- porters of this measure, and used his ral, at the arbitrary will and caprice utmost exertions to render it ef of a superior officer; and in ope me- fectual. At length, after being agimorable instance he had seen govern- tated for more than a twelvemonth, ment itself stoop to the baseness and and recommended by a speech from injustice of wresting a pair of colours the throne, the bill was carried, but from the hands of a young cornet, not without many warm debates and (Mr. Pitt, afterwards Earl of Chat- many alterations. Mr. Townshend ham) calculated by nature to preside acquired no small share of honour and in the councils of his country, and popularity by the active part which he fated soon after to wield her thunders took in this measure. with irresistible success against the ambitious house of Bourbon.

With such instances as these, fresh in his recollection, we need not be surprised that, on the third reading of the mutiny bill in 1749, Colonel Townshend distinguished himself by his humanity; and towards the conclusion of a very able speech, moved to add the following clause, that no noncommissioned officer should be liable to be broken without the sentence of a court martial."

So great indeed was his reputation, that in 1756, when a war with France appeared inevitable, he not only obtained the restoration of his former rank, but, on the 6th of June, had the command of the 64th regiment conferred upon him.

In the memorable expedition against Quebec, under the immortal Wolfe, Colonel Townshend was selected as third in command, and obtained the rank of brigadier-general, with an express stipulation however on his On this occasion Mr. Townshend part, that he should return at the end found many supporters; but he was of the campaign. Accordingly, he opposed also by men of rank and ta- sailed with the squadron, destined lents, and even by Mr. Pitt himself. for that attack, about the middle of

Mr. Townshend now thought of Feb. 1759. The honour he obtained settling in life, and an honourable and in this business was great: in the advantageous alliance was soon found course of the action the command de for him, in the person of Charlotte, volved upon him, in consequence of Baroness de Ferrars of Chartly, only the death of Wolfe, and General daughter of James Compton, Earl of Monckton being dangerously woundNorthampton, by Lady Elizabeth, ed. On this he instantly repaired to Baroness de Ferrars. In this lady, the centre in order to take upon himto whom he became united in Feb. self the direction of the troops, and 1751, was concentrated the ancient finding them disordered, in conse baronies of De Ferrars, Chartley, quence of the pursuit which had ta Bourchier, Louvain, Basset, and ken place, he formed them again Compton, all baronies in fee; and in with all possible expedition. consequence of this inatch, he ob- On the particulars of this camtained a very considerable accession paign, or it successful termination, it to his fortune. Mr. Townshend was will not be necessary to dwell: sufagain returned for the county of fice it to observe, that Quebec being