Where fleets meet fleets in deepest conflicts join'd, Whose mimic thunders mock th' impelling wind: But born in greater character to shine, And add new lustre to a noble line: Make thee a patriot good, and constant friend! May'st thou the first of Britain's senate shine, And be thy father's fame surpass'd by thine!"] THOMAS PITT, LORD CAMELFORD, [THE HE son of Thomas Pitt, esq. lord warden of the stannaries, &c., and nephew to the first earl of Chatham, was born in 1737; married in 1774 Anne, daughter of Pinkney Wilkinson, esq. by whom he left issue Thomas, the late lord Camelford, and Anne, the present lady Grenville. He was created lord Camelford, baron of Boconoc in Cornwall, 1784; and died at Florence on the 19th of January 17933. His lordship has been honourably characterized by two noble pens: by lord Chatham, in early life, for being one of the most amiable, valuable, and noble-minded of youths; and recently by lord Grenville, for combining a suavity of manners with steadiness of principle, and a correctness of judgment with integrity of heart; which produced an affectionate attachment from those who knew him, that has followed him beyond the grave 4. Lord Camelford is introduced here from being the reputed author of a tract concerning the American war; and a paper relating to a disagreement between the father of sir S. Smith and lord Bathurst, privately • Kearsley's Peerage, p. 209. * Gentleman's Magazine, vol. Ixiii. p. 94. See lord Grenville's Preface to the Earl of Chatham's Letters, p. xiv. printed, as I am told by Mr. Reed. Neither of these. however having been met with, it is presumed that a profitable extract may be substituted from one of lord Chatham's letters to Mr. T. Pitt while at Cambridge, as they were too slightly noticed in the noble author's article, at p. 318. 66 Pythagoras enjoined his scholars an absolute silence for a long noviciate. I am far from approving such a taciturnity: but I highly recommend the end and intent of Pythagoras's injunction; which is to dedicate the first parts of life more to hear and learn, in order to collect materials out of which to form opinions founded on proper lights, and well-examined sound principles, than to be presuming, prompt, and flippant, in hazarding one's own slight, crude notions of things; and thereby exposing the nakedness and emptiness of the mind, like a house opened to company before it is fitted either with necessaries or any ornament for their reception and entertainment. "As to your manner of behaving towards those unhappy young gentlemen you describe, let it be manly and easy; decline their parties with civility; retort their raillery with raillery, always tempered with good breeding. If they banter your regularity, order, decency, and love of study, banter in return their neglect of them; and venture to own frankly, that you came to Cambridge to learn what you can, not to follow what they are pleased to call pleasure. "I come now to the part of the advice I have to offer to you, which most nearly concerns your wel fare, and upon which every good and honourable pur pose of your life will assuredly turn: I mean the keeping up in your heart the true sentiments of religion. If you are not right towards God, you can never be so towards man: the noblest sentiment of the human breast is here brought to the test: ingratum qui dixerit, omnia dixit. Remember thy Creator in the days of thy youth,' is big with the deepest wisdom. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of ' wisdom; and an upright heart that is understand'ing.' This is eternally true, whether the wits and rakes of Cambridge allow it or not: nay, I must add of this religious wisdom, Her ways are ways of 'pleasantness, and all her paths are peace;' whatever your young gentlemen of pleasure think of a tainted health and battered constitution. Hold fast therefore by this sheet-anchor of happiness, Religion: you will often want it in the times of most danger; the storms and tempests of life. Cherish true religion as preciously as you will fly, with abhorrence and contempt, superstition and enthusiasm. The first is the perfection and glory of human nature; the two last, the depravation and disgrace of it. Remember the essence of religion is a heart void of offence towards God and man; not subtle speculative opinions, but an active vital principle of faith. The words of a heathen were so fine, that I must give them to you: Compositum jus, fasque animi, sanctos recessus mentis, et incoctum generoso pectus honesto."] WILLIAM MURRAY, EARL OF MANSFIELD, [THE fourth son of David, earl of Stormont, was born at Perth, in Scotland, March 2, 1705. He was placed early at Westminster school, and about the age of fourteen was admitted king's scholar. At the election in May 1723 he stood first on the list of those youths who were sent to Oxford, and was entered of Christ Church in June. In 1727 he proceeded B. A. in 1730 M. A. and probably soon afterwards left the university. He then made the tour of Europe, and on his return became a member of the society of Lincolns Inn, and was in due time called to the bar 2. He does not however appear to have proceeded in the way usually adopted, of labouring in the chambers of a special pleader, or copying the trash of an attorney's office; but being gifted with pre-eminent powers of oratory, and having soon an opportunity of displaying them, he very early acquired the notice of the chancellor and the judges, as well as the confidence of the inferior practitioners. Yet the graces of his elocution produced an unfavourable effect on a certain class of people, who were disinclined to believe that such luminous talents could assimilate with the more solid attainments of jurispru In 1731, says a biographer in the British Magazine for September 1782. |