Cæsar," and "Marcus Brutus 5." He died Feb. 24, 1721, and was buried in Westminster Abbey, where a monument is placed to his memory, with an epitaph written by himself. His character, says Dr. Johnson, is not to be proposed as worthy of imitation. His religion he may be supposed to have learned from Hobbes, and his morality was such as naturally proceeds from loose opinions. His sentiments with respect to women he picked up in the court of Charles, and his principles concerning property were such as a gaming-table supplies. He is said, however, to have had much tenderness, and to have been very ready to apologize for his violences of passion. As a statesman, says Dr. Anderson, he is characterized by a steady attachment to Tory principles of government. As a courtier he is distinguished by personal dignity, gracefulness, and good breeding. As a poet he has been eulogized by Dryden, Garth, Prior, Addison, and Pope; but this praise has received a critical counterpoise from the 5 Both these were taken from Shakspeare's Julius Cæsar, but with great alterations. Biog. Dram. vol. i. p. 410. • Macky thus drew his living character about 1704: "The duke of Buckinghamshire is a nobleman of learning and good natural parts, but of no principles. Violent for the high church, yet seldom goes to it. Very proud, insolent, and covetous, and takes all advantages. In paying his debts, unwilling; and is neither esteemed nor beloved: for notwithstanding his great interest at court, it is certain he hath none in either house of parliament, or in the country. He is of a middle stature, of a brown complexion, with a sour, lofty look." Characters of the Court of Great Brit. p. 20, pens of Dr. Johnson", Dr. Warton, and lord Orford: whence a writer in the New Biog. Dict. has taken occasion to exclaim, "What a precarious and uncertain thing is literary reputation, and how miserably may many an author flatter and delude himself with dreams and visions of immortal fame !" The following effort of his grace's muse has been chosen more from admiration of the theme than the poetry: "ODE ON THE DEATH OF HENRY PURCELL'. "Good angels snatch'd him eagerly on high; Joyful they flew, singing and soaring through the sky, Teaching his new-fledg'd soul to fly; While we, alas! lamenting lie. He went musing all along Composing new their heav'nly song. 7" Criticism discovers him to be a writer that sometimes glimmers, but rarely shines; feebly laborious, and at best but pretty. To be great, he hardly tries; to be gay, is hardly in his power. His verses are often insipid, but his memoirs are lively and agreeable: he had the perspicuity and elegance of an historian, but not the fire and fancy of a poet." Lives of the Poets, ut sup.-Dr. Warton places him in his fourth class of English poets, the mere versifiers; and determines that his reputation as a writer was owing to his rank. Essay on Pope. Vol. xiii. p. 367. • Purcell, one of the greatest musicians that England or any nation can boast of, died in 1695, at the age of thirtyseven. His genius was universal. His love-songs are pathetic, tender, and finely varied; and his martial songs are most animating and spirited. For sublimity and grandeur in the church style, his "Te Deum" and " Jubilate" will keep their rank while any taste for church music shall remain. See Tytler's Dissertation on the Scottish Music, p. 213. Awhile his skilful notes loud hallelujahs drown'd, But soon they ceas'd their own to catch his pleasing sound. David himself improv'd the harmony, David, in sacred story so renown'd Crown'd with applause surpassing all desert, Needs must he wish that Purcell only might Have liv'd to set what he vouchsaf'd to write : With the frail body never dies, But with the soul ascends the skies, From whence at first it came. 'Tis sure no little proof we have And in our fame below still bears a share : And death despis'd for fame by all the wise and brave? Who Pow'r Almighty only love, and only that admire! Look down with pity from your peaceful bower On this sad isle perplex'd, And ever, ever vex'd With anxious care of trifles, wealth, and power. In our rough minds due reverence infuse, For sweet melodious sounds and each harmonious muse! Music exalts man's nature, and inspires High elevated thoughts, or gentle, kind desires."] 2 JAMES STANHOPE, FIRST EARL STANHOPE, [THE eldest son of Alexander Stanhope, went from Eton to Oxford, which he left at the age of seventeen to accompany his father when appointed envoy extraordinary to Spain in 1689. He volunteered his military services in Flanders under king William in 1695, and under the duke of Ormond in 1702, hehaving with great gallantry on both occasions. In 1705 he was promoted to the rank of brigadier-general, and acquired new honour at the siege of Barcelona. In 1708 he was declared commander in chief of the British forces in Spain, and reduced the whole island of Minorca. On the accession of George the first he was sworn one of the principal secretaries of state. On April 11, 1717, he was constituted first lord commissioner of the treasury and chancellor of the exchequer; and in July following was promoted to the dignity of viscount Stanhope of Mahon, in the island of Lord Stanhope was at Eton school with a Scotch nobleman who was condemned after the rebellion in 1715. He requested the life of his old schoolfellow of the privy-council, while they were deliberating upon signing the warrant. His request was refused, till he threatened to give up his place if the council did not comply with it. This menace procured him the life of his associate in early life, to whom he afterwards sent a handsome sum of money. Seward's Anecdotes, vol. ii. p. 316. Minorca, and baron Stanhope of Elvaston, in the county of Derby 3. Lord Stanhope succeeded the earl of Sunderland as principal secretary of state in March 1718, and in April following was farther dignified with the title of earl Stanhope. On June 14 ensuing he was employed to negotiate with the courts of France and Spain for a general peace 4; but failed of success at that time, though he afterwards proved more successful. In 1720 he attended George the first to Hanover; but a few months after his return, while attending at the house of lords, he was seized with a dizziness in his head, and died the next evening, Feb. 5, 1721. His lordship was interred with great military splendour at Chevening, in Kent 5. The writer of his life gives the following illustration of his character: The preamble to his lordship's patent is said to have been drawn by "a great pen," and is given in the Memoir of his Life and Actions, 1721, from which this account is taken. 4 • On this occasion Tickell penned a short ode of gratulation and good wishes. See Brit. Poets, vol. viii. p. 419. "A Virgil or an Addison should tell How Britain trembled when a STANHOPE fell. Invoke Apollo's aid to paint his mind; In Maro's strains, his laurels to renew, And show the godlike patriot to our view, } A Stanhope and a Walsingham the same; |