XXIV. rican refiftance, in the house of lords, and the judg- CHAP. ment he then profeffed appears to have fwayed him in every subsequent crifis . 1774. THE EARL OF SANDWICH, firft lord of the admiral- Lord Sandty,was a veteran in parliamentary contest, and official wich, employ, having, in 1739, taken his feat in the house of lords. He joined the duke of Bedford, in his oppofition to Sir Robert Walpole, and continued with the duke in oppofition to the fucceeding administration. On the formation of the broad-bottom miniftry in 1744, he was appointed a lord of the admiralty; and in 1746, plenipotentiary at the congress of Breda, in which character, in 1748, he figned the peace of Aixla-Chapelle. On his return he was made first lord of the admiralty, and a privy councillor. He was removed in 1751, but regained an official fituation in 1755, when he was conftituted joint vice-treasurer of Ireland. He refigned his office in 1763, on being nominated embaffador extraordinary to the court of Spain, but his personal services were not exerted in that fituation, and he was in 1763, re-appointed first lord of the admiralty. In the duke of Bedford's administration he held the feals of fecretary of ftate; on the diffolution of that ministry, in 1765, was again out of office till 1768, when he became joint postmaster-general; on the termination of the Grafton adminiflration, in 1770, he received the feals of the home department, and in 1771, again became first lord of the admiralty. In all his official employments, lord Sandwich difplayed great vigour and judgment, in introducing reform, economy, and activity. In the admiralty thofe qualities were peculiarly required, as fince the conclufion of the late war, great negligence f Proceed, then, my lords," he said, " with spirit and firmness, and when you fhall have eftablished your authority, it will then be time to fhew your lenity." See Holliday's Life of Lord Mansfield. & This delineation is derived from the characters of lord Mansfield, by bishop Newton, Dr. Johnfon, bishop of Worcester, and various other authorities collected by Holliday, in his Life of Lord Mansfield, p. 456, et feq; and from private in formation. had XXIV. 3774. CHA P. had prevailed, infomuch that, at the period of the difpute with Spain, refpecting Falkland's Iflands, it was much doubted whether the naval force of great Britain could cope with that of the Bourbon family. The good effects of lord Sandwich's exertions were perceptible in 1773, when the menaces of a British armament were fufficient to deter France from engaging in the war between Ruffia and the Porte; but the complete re-establishment of a marine force, after a long period of indolence, negligence, and improvidence, accompanied with that parfimony, which incurs infinitely more expence than it avoids, was a talk of great labour, and required time for its completion. The introduction of care and fubordination in departments where waste and difregard of difcipline had long prevailed, created many perfonal enemies, and none of the miniftry experienced more fevere and frequent attacks than the firft lord of the admiralty. In debate he was rather able and intelligent, than brilliant and eloquent his arguments were ftrongly pointed, and his fpeeches diftinguished for found fenfe and appropriate knowledge. His unruffled temper gave him great advantages in the refutation of charges: and the house liftened to him with great attention, from a conviction that he was not an obtrufive orator, but spoke only when he poffeffed effential and exclufive information. Lord HKborough. Lord Gower. THE EARL OF HILLSBOROUGH, though no longer fecretary of state for the colonies, continued to give his advice and affiftance to the miniftry. He fupported their proceedings with zeal, firmnefs, and ability: his experience made him a competent judge of the great topics of difpute, and in debate, rendered ready and effectual fervices. THE meafures of government were officially fupported by EARL GOWER, lord prefident of the council, who obtained a feat in the houfe of commons, in n Derived principally from memoirs of lord Sandwich, by the Rev. John Cooke, M. A. XXIV. 1744, and ever fince that period had been a distinguish. CHA P. ed member of the fenate, and filled feveral offices of refpectability; the EARL OF DARTMOUTH, fecretary 1774. of ftate for the colonies, who chiefly confined himfelf Lord Dartto the details of office and explanations required in the course of debate, and for fome time by the DUKE OF GRAFTON, lord privy feal. THE oppofition was formidable on account of acknowledged talent, and the popularity of many of its members. mouth. ham. THE EARL OF CHATHAM, feeming to acquire new Lords in vigour from the importance of the crifis, was indefati- oppofition.. gable in expofing to'cenfure the conduct of adminiftration. His declining fun fhone with meridian fplendour, Lord Castand never were his extraordinary faculties difplayed with greater energy than during the American conteft. The popularity and fuccefs of his own adminiftration; the regard due to his years and the integrity of his character, made him the most confpicuous of parliamentary fpeakers. His obfervations were repeated by the public with the profoundeft veneration, and even his opponents in parliament frequently mollified their difference of fentiment, by a complimentary tribute to his character and abilities, and a fort of indirect apology for not coinciding in judgment with him. of Rocking WITH those who confidered the taxation of Ame. The marque rica as the fole caufe of the exifting difputes, the MAR- han QUIS OF ROCKINGHAM had the greatest claim to po The eloquence and manner of the earl of Chatham, are admirably characterized in an extract of a letter from Mr. Stillingfleet to Dr. Dampier, afterwards dean of Durham, which I did not receive till the chapter relating the event to which it refers, had paffed through the prefs. London, November 17, 1761. " Mr. Aldworth was at the honde laft Friday. Pitt was greater than ever; he is a most wonderful man; I queftion whether there ever was fo complete an orator fince Demol thenes; every attitude, every action, every look, every tone of voice was a masterpiece, to fay nothing of his words. It was perhaps the most ticklish and trying Atuation man could be in; yet he acquitted himfelf almoft without cenfure. la fhort he may take penfious, and titles, and refignat a critical juncture, and talk impru dently of guiding, &c.-it is all nothing, when once he is heard. You remember, perhaps, how Efchines endeavoured to give an idea of the power of Demofthenes to the Rhodians when he was banished: beis fuch a man, faid chines, that were I to wrelle and throw him, he would perfuade you all that he threw me," pularity: XXIV. 1774. CHAP. pularity; his administration, though fhort, produced feveral measures calculated to gratify the public. He is defcribed by Mr. Burke, as a perfon of found principles, enlargement of mind, clear and fagacious fense, and unfhaken fortitude. These qualities secured many adherents; but their effect was diminished by a deficiency in parliamentary eloquence. He seldom took a fhare in the debates, even to defend his own administration; fpoke with an air of embarraffment, and in fo low a tone of voice as scarcely to be heard. The duke of Lard Shelburne. Lord Camden. THE DUKE OF RICHMOND was an active and indefatigable opponent of adminiftration. In the Rockingham ministry he held the feals of fecretary of state; and was, in 1766, appointed minister plenipotentiary to the court of France. He poffeffed confiderable abilities, improved by laborious perfeverance, and the affociations incident to a military life. In every debate he feized fome cenfurable point, which he attacked with force and obftinacy. In debate he evinced a prompt and decifive mind; his reprobation of the measures of administration was never qualified in terms or manner, but always calculated to convince the hearers that it was the genuine offspring of conviction. THE EARL OF SHELBURNE poffeffed ready powers of argumentation, applied himself to the commercial and political relations of Great Britain, and was well verfed in foreign affairs. He was firft lord of trade during the duke of Bedford's administration in 1763, and, under the aufpices of lord Chatham, by whom he was held in high estimation, filled the office of secretary of state. THE EARL OF CAMDEN was the principal law lord in oppofition, and his exertions were of the utmost importance. He was a member of the house of commons from 1754, till December 1761, when he was appointed chief juftice of the common pleas. In that court, he prefided with dignity, firmness and imparti *Speech on American taxation; Burke's works, vol. i, p. 548. ality a XXIV. 1774. ality his popularity was established by the memorable CHA P. questions relative to Wilkes, and confiderably augmented by his oppofition to the American war. His legislative information was recommended by a ready, nervous and perfuafive eloquence, and his reafonings were drawn from a thorough and accurate knowledge of the conftitutional hiítory of the country. He was perfonally attached to lord Chatham, to whom he was indebted for his advancement, and during whofe administration he was elevated to the dignity of lord chancellor. Devonshire THE DUKES OF DEVONSHIRE and PORTLAND The dukes of feldom addreffed the houfe; the former often com- and Portpensated for filence by a few words of fingular force land. and neatness they joined in the important protefts, and affifted the party with all the weight of their connexion and perfonal influence; and were both highly respected by the public for independence and integrity. THE lower house exhibited an unusual affemblage of In the lower abilities on both fides. house. Elliott. MR. RIGBY, paymafter of the forces, was a vigor. Mr Rigby. ous and intrepid fpeaker. SIR GILBERT ELLIOTT Sir Gilbert was endowed with firm and manly fenfe, and clearness in detail, highly advantageous in debate; and SIR Sir Grey GREY COOPER rendered effential fervices by know- Cooper. ledge of business, facility in debate, and a strict attention to, and accurate acquaintance with the affairs of finance; he enjoyed the full confidence of the minister, under whofe aufpices he was introduced into parliament, and to whom he remained invariably attached. MR. DUNDAS, lord advocate of Scotland, had ac- Mr. Dundas quired confiderable eminence by his proficiency in the civil and common law, by application, and by the order which he introduced into all the affairs of office. Although he seemed to lie under some disadvantages from his native accent, yet, few were heard with greater attention he was an able and fpirited debater, never 6 fhrinking |