Francis, Duke of Bedford.

BORN A. D. 1765.-dieD A. D. 1802.

FRANCIS, DUKe of Bedford was born on the 23d of July, 1765; and upon the death of his grandfather in 1771, he succeeded to the title and fortunes of his family. His grace received the first rudiments of his education at Loughborough house, a seminary at that time much in fashion as a preparatory school. From this place he was removed at an early period to Westminster school, where, by the blow of a cricketball, he became subject to an inveterate hernia, which proved the ultimate cause of his premature death.

It is not understood, however, that his grace was a very deep proficient in the classics, and we believe he considered his own education as having been neglected; but this was amply compensated by the uncommon vigour of his mind, and his application to useful studies in his mature years. The turf seems to have engaged his early and most earnest attention; it was indeed the favourite pursuit of his grandfather, but his grace seems to have addicted himself to this sport rather from a predilection for the noble animal which is the object of it, than from the mere love of gambling. His attention was soon directed to a more important and patriotic object, the general improvement of agriculture, and the encouragement of every art subservient to that truly meritorious science.

The late Mr Bakewell was one of his first instructors in the knowledge of cattle and the means of improving the breed. But he soon equalled, and was thought by some to have excelled, his master, both in what may be termed the theory and the practice. In whatever his grace engaged, two qualities generally insured success,—a clear judgment and indefatigable perseverance; while his large property amply furnished him with the means of procuring able assistance, and directing it in the most effectual manner in the pursuit of his end.

From his first outset in public life, he was connected with Mr Fox, and was a firm and disinterested supporter of whig principles. Yet it was long before his grace could so far overcome his natural diffidence as to be prevailed upon to speak in public. What the persuasions of those whose opinions he most respected could not effect, was unexpectedly produced by a momentary glow of indignation; he commenced his career as a public speaker, by what is generally considered as the most difficult effort of an orator-a reply. In a debate in the house of lords, his grace imagining himself personally alluded to by one of the speakers, rose and defended himself and his party in a most animated and able manner. From that period he occasionally spoke upon the most important questions that divided the house, and was constantly heard, even by his adversaries, with the most respectful attention. He opposed the war in its commencement, and predicted most of the calamities and miseries which ensued from it. With the rest of the whig party he seceded from parliament in 1796, and very seldom was seen in his place in the house till after the change of ministry in the beginning of 1801.

His

His grace died, after a brief illness, on the 2d of March, 1802. person was tall and well-proportioned; his countenance corresponded with the frankness and liberality of his disposition,-it was handsome and had a pleasing expression. His external deportment was easy and unaffected.

Though better acquainted with matters of business in the detail than most men, yet a greatness of design is evident in all his plans; he never undertook any thing upon a small or trifling scale. The magnificence of the improvements on the Bloomsbury estate were correspondent to the taste of the proprietor. Had it pleased Providence to prolong his useful life, he would have probably effected more for the improvement of his country than any individual of the age, without excepting the duke of Bridgewater himself. He took an active and conspicuous share in every public institution for the promotion of those arts which are essential to the welfare of a country; and where his name and example could be of service, they were never withheld. Though his income was immense, he never thought of reserving any part of it; it was all consumed by his bounty and his improvements; and so great and extensive were his plans, that, in the words of Mr Fox, "his munificence might, if he had lived, have engaged him in expenses, to which even his princely fortune would have been found inadequate."

Mr Fox, on moving the writ for Tavistock, consequent on the elevation of Lord John Russell to the dukedom, said :— "To appreciate his merits justly, we must consider, not only the advantages, but the disadvantages, connected with such circumstances. The dangers attending prosperity in general, and high situations in particular, the corrupting influence of flattery, to which men in such situations are more peculiarly exposed,―have been the theme of moralists in all ages, and in all nations; but how are these dangers increased with respect to him who succeeds in his childhood to the first rank and fortune in a kingdom such as this, and who, having lost his parents, is never approached by any being who is not represented to him as in some degree his inferior! Unless blessed with a heart uncommonly susceptible and disposed to virtue, how should he who has scarce ever seen an equal, have a common feeling and a just sympathy for the rest of mankind, who seem to have been formed rather for him, and as instruments of his gratification, than together with him for the general purposes of nature? Justly has the Roman satirist remarked,

Rarus enim fermè sensus communis in illa
Fortuna.

This was precisely the case of the duke of Bedford, nor do I know that his education was perfectly exempt from the defects usually belonging to such situations; but virtue found her own way, and on the very side where the danger was the greatest was her triumph most complete. From the blame of selfishness no man was ever so eminently free. No man put his own gratification so low, that of others so high, in his estimation. To contribute to the welfare of his fellow-citizens was the constant unremitted pursuit of his life, by his example and his beneficence to render them better, wiser, and happier. He truly loved the public; but not only the public, according to the usual acceptation of the word, not merely the body corporate (if I may so express myself)

which bears that name,-but man in his individual capacity,-all who came within his notice and deserved his protection, were objects of his generous concern. From his station, the sphere of his acquaintance was larger than that of most other men; yet in this extended circle few, very few,-could be counted to whom he had not found some occasion to be serviceable. To be useful,—whether to the public at large, whether to his relations and nearer friends, or even to any individual of his species, was the ruling passion of his life. He died, it is true, in a state of celibacy; but if they may be called a man's children whose concerns are as dear to him as his own,-to protect whom from evil is the daily object of his care,-to promote whose welfare he exerts every faculty of which he is possessed,-if such, I say, are to be esteemed our children, no man had ever a more numerous family than the duke of Bedford. The only circumstance," continued the orator, "like a failing in this great character was, that while indulging his darling passion for making himself useful to others, he might be too regardless of future consequences to himself and family. The love of utility was indeed his darling, his ruling passion. Even in his recreations, and he was by no means naturally averse to such as were suitable to his station in life,-no less than in his graver hours, he so much loved to keep this grand object in view, that he seemed by degrees to grow weary of every amusement which was not in some way connected with it. Agriculture he judged rightly to be the most useful of all sciences; and, more particularly, in the present state of affairs he conceived it to be the department in which his services to his country might be beneficial. To agriculture, therefore, he principally applied himself; nor can it be doubted but with his great capacity, activity, and energy, he must have attained his object, and made himself eminently useful in that important branch of political economy."

Mr Fox, in touching upon the political character of his noble friend, said:" I believe few if any of us are so infatuated with the extreme notions of philosophy as not to feel a partial veneration for the principles, some leaning even to the prejudices of ancestors, especially if they were of any note,-from whom we are respectively descended. Such biasses are always, as I suspect, favourable to the cause of patriotism and public virtue; I am sure, at least, that in Athens and Rome they were so considered. No man had ever less of family-pride, in the bad sense, than the duke of Bedford; but he had a great and just respect for his ancestors. Now, if, upon the principle to which I have just alluded, it was in Rome thought excusable for one of the Claudii to have, in conformity with the general manners of their race, something too much of an aristocratical pride and haughtiness, surely in this country it is not unpardonable in a Russell to be zealously attached to the rights of the subject, and peculiarly tenacious of the popular parts of our constitution. It is excusable, at least, in one who numbers amongst his ancestors the great earl of Bedford,—the patron of Pym, and the friend of Hampden,—to be an enthusiastic lover of liberty; nor is it to be wondered at if a descendant of Lord Russell should feel more than common horror for arbitrary power, and a quick,—perhaps even a jealous discernment,—of any approach or tendency in the system of government to that dreaded evil."

6

William Woodfall.

BORN A. D. 1745.-DIED A. D. 1803.

THE following notice of this celebrated journalist and political printer appeared in the Monthly Magazine' for October, 1803, a few weeks after his death :

"He was early placed by his father under Mr Baldwin, of Paternoster-row, to learn the art of printing; from whose house he went back to bis father's office, and assisted in the printing and editing of a daily paper entitled 'The Public Advertiser.' Mr Woodfall became so warm

an amateur of the drama, that, in his younger years, to gratify his penchant for the stage, he made an excursion into Scotland, and performed several times for his own amusement in the company of a Mr Fisher. He used to relate many pleasant anecdotes of this jaunt, the most fortunate event of which, however, was his marriage with a most amiable woman, with whom he returned to the metropolis about the year 1772, and then engaged himself as editor of The London Packet.' From this he was called by the proprietors of The Morning Chronicle' to the double station of printer and editor, which he filled with much credit to himself until the year 1789, when he commenced a paper called 'The Diary' on his own account. Mr Woodfall was the first writer who undertook to detail the reports of the debates in the two houses of parliament on the night of the proceeding. Before his time, a very short sketch of the debate was all that the newspapers attempted to give on the same night, and the more detailed reports were deferred to some subsequent day. Blessed with a most retentive memory, Mr Woodfall undertook the difficult task of giving a detail of the proceedings on the same night. Without taking a note to assist his memory,—without the use of an amanuensis to ease his labour,—he has been known to write sixteen columns, after having sat in a crowded gallery for as many hours, without any interval of rest. He even took no small pride in this exertion, which, however, brought him, it seems, more praise than profit. It, indeed, insensibly wore down his constitution, which was naturally a good one; and, when other papers, by the division of labour, produced the same length of details with an earlier publication, he reluctantly yielded the contest, and suffered his Diary' to expire. Since that time he employed his talents in various publications. He sought, in the decline of his life, to be appointed Remembrancer of the City,an office for which he was allowed by all to be peculiarly qualified; but private friendships and superior interest prevailed here over modest merit. Mr Woodfall possessed all the virtues of private life that can endear a man to society, and was particularly distinguished for his literary talents. His memory was uncommonly retentive; indeed, were it not for this quality, he would probably have risen to affluence in a world upon which he certainly entered with a competence, but left in very humble circumstances. Aided and incited, however, by this advantage, he explored a path hitherto unknown, and commenced and finished a career of great but unprofitable labour. In this line he attained the highest degree of celebrity, as well for the fidelity of his

report, as the quantity and rapidity of his execution. In the year 1784 Mr Woodfall was invited to Dublin, to report the debates upon the Commercial propositions; at which time, so great was his fame, crowds followed him through the streets, eager to catch a glimpse of a man whom they considered as endowed with supernatural powers. Mr Woodfall was also devoted to the belles lettres; and, as such, was the intimate friend of Garrick, Goldsmith, Savage, &c. &c. He was so passionately fond of theatrical representations as never to have missed the first performance of a new piece for the last forty years; and the public entertained so high an opinion of his taste, that his criticisms were generally decisive of the fall or fortune of the piece and the performer. Unfortunately for himself and his family, Mr Woodfall had placed all his hopes on a most precarious species of property; he became the proprietor of a newspaper, which his talents, indeed, raised to eminence, but the talents of no individual could secure it a permanent station upon that eminence. The paper unfortunately fell, and with it fell all his hopes. Though disappointed, however, he was not to be diverted from his favourite pursuits. He was constant in his attendance at the bar of the house of lords, which he had visited so lately as the 27th of last July. Although far advanced in life, he was active, animated, and in full possession of his mental faculties, without the appear ance of any considerable decay of his physical strength."

Adam, Viscount Duncan.

BORN A. D. 1731.-DIED A. D. 1804.

ADAM DUNCAN, the hero of Camperdown, was born at Dundee on the 1st of July, 1731. He was the second son of an old Scottish family, which had been, for a succession of generations, lairds of Lundie in Perthshire. Having, like most younger brothers, to push his way in the world by his own exertions, he made choice of the naval profession, and commenced his career as a seaman under Captain Haldane of the Shoreham frigate. In 1749 he served as a midshipman in the Centurion, under Keppel. In 1755 he became second lieutenant of the Norwich. He was next employed on board the Torbay, in which he was engaged in the attack on Goree. In 1759 he obtained the rank of commander; and in 1761 was appointed post-captain of the Valiant, in which he was present at the taking of the Havannah. On this latter occasion some discussion arising as to a few ships on the stocks, which the governor appears to have been desirous of saving, Duncan, it is said, "privately took a few persons on whom he could depend, and put an end to the controversy, by setting fire to the cause of it. This act," it is added, "was much approved by the besiegers, in both departments of the service, as the most expeditious mode of settling a troublesome dispute for obvious reasons, however, the affair was kept extremely quiet; and it was known only to a very few persons, by what means this apparent accident so fortunately and critically happened."

In the battle between the British and Spanish fleets on the 16th of January, 1779, Duncan, in the Monarch of seventy-four guns, passed a-head of the other vessels, and commenced the action. The San