The National Register.
London, England, 1809-11-05 00:00:00

DUKE OF POIITLA✓VD.

NOV. 5.

santly resounded. On our own shores, in those mansions
destined for suffering humanity, particularly, his exploits
are still repeated with deep and incessant sighs. How
worthy of his present associates ! How different from
his godlike father I The name of CHATHAM used to imply
every thing great, patriotic, and noble. His Lordship has
added to those dignified qualities the softer virtues of
forbearance, meekness, and charity towards the enemy.
Such arc the groupe that preside over the destinies of
Great Britain. Such the Champions opposed to NAPOLEON
BUONAPARTE. To their foresight, courage, versatility,
and patriotism, the fortunes of IS millions arc confided
at home ; and abroad, the remaining independence
of nations. We might ransack the annals of nations and
the records of great events, and not find a parallel point for
extravagance and imbecility. In the nineteenth century,—
this age of political philosophy and dear bought experi-
ence,—it must appear extravgant that the weakest in-
dividuals should: be selected to save a country, when the
most pre-eminent talents are scarcely adequate to the task.
Posterity will have some difficulty in judging the present
generation of Englishmen. In reading of the intrepidity of
our seamen and soldiers, they will be at a loss to reconcile
this active enterprising spirit, this love of glory and love of
country, with the supiness and apathy, which the existence
of this grotesque administration seems to imply.

No man, as a political character, his perhaps been exposed
to more party obloquy, than the venerable Nobleman whose de-
mise, on Monday evening last, we lament to announce : yet,
assailed as he has been by the drudges of faction and opposition
ever since his anion. for coalition in this instance we can-
not call it, with the PITT Administration, there has been no man
more courted either in private or public life, from the innate
goodness of his heart, and for the weight and countenance of
his Parliamentary interest. His Grace was, strictly speaking,
coteraporary with his present MAJESTY, being born in the same
year, 1738 ; his education was finished at Christ Church, Ox-
ford, where, in 1756, he recited in public before all the genius
of that time, the English verses, with distinguished approba-
tion. The customary Continental tour then took place, and on
his return, he also began his public career, cotemporary with
his Sovereign, being returned, by his family influence, for the
Borough of Weobly, in the first Parliament of the present reign.
The death of his father, which took place in 1762, called
him up to the House of Peers, when he first took a decided part
in politics, having joined the Opposition in 1763, and attracted
considerable notice by his speeches against the Cyder Duty
Bill, and also on that interesting constitutional question respect-
ing Member. of Parliament in matters of Libel, on which occasions
he sided with the Duke of Ca A FTO NI and joined him in those
spirited protests now On the Records of the House. His personal
activity and Parliamentary weight rendered him a desirable ac-
quisition to any party. Accordingly, the ROCK IN Gli A NIS glad•
ly enlisted him under their banners, against the IStrrE and GIL ES•
♦ I LLE Administration ; andrw hen, by their united endeavours the
hostile party were ousted from office, his Grace received the si.
tuation of Lord Chamberlain, which, however, he resigned on
the decease of that short-lived Ministry. His Grace's pubiic
conduct now rendered him very obnoxious to their successors;
acturdellfilY, at the hard contested Elections which follower)

NOV. 5.
shores, in those mansions
particularly, his exploits
id incessant sighs. How
tea ! How different from
of CHATHAM used to imply
1 noble. His Lordship has
dies the softer virtues of
trity towards the enemy.
aside over the destinies of
ions opposed to NAPOLEON
ght, courage, versatility,
if 1 s millions arc confided
remaining independence
the annals of nations and
not find a parallel point for
n the nineteenth century,—
and dear bought experi-
;ant that the weakest in-
:o save a country, when the
rcely adequate to the task.
Ity in judging the present
reading of the intrepidity of
be at a loss to reconcile
iis love of glory and love of
ipathy, which the existence
seems to imply.
lITLA.VD.
ter, has perhaps been exposed
enerable Nobleman whose de-
we lament to announce : yet,
fges of faction and opposition
ran in this instance we can-
strat:on, there has been no man
public life, from the innate
e weight and countenance of
Grace was, strictly speaking,
LJ ESTI', being born in the same
finished at Christ Church, Ox-
n public before all the genius
with distinguished approba-
-1 tour then took place, and on
blic career, cotemporary with
his family influence, for the
Parliament of the present reign.
,cll took place in 1762, called
hen he first took a decided part
►position in 1763, and attracted
'ches against the Cyder Duty
constitutional question respect-
tiers of Libel, on which occasions
FTO fct and joined him in those
ords of the House. His personal
;ht rendered him a desirable ac-
ingly, the ROCK IN GHA MS glad•
Ts, against the MITE and GIL CS.
11, by their united endeavours the
Ince, his Grace received the si.
which, however, he resigned nn
Ministry. His Grace's pubiic
obnoxious to their successors
stcd Ejections which followed

NOT. 5.

soon after, we find the Ministry oppo•sing his Parliamentary in-
terest in Cumberland, by a shameful grant to Sir JAMES Low-
Til ER, of the forest of Inglewood, in that county, which had ac-
tually been granted to his ancestor by WILLIAM 111. At this
crisis, Sir H. FLETCHER and the late Mr. CURwEN, were the
candidates opposed to the late Earl of Lo NSD A LE and his friend ;
their exertions were successful, as the resentment of all the inde-
pendent Freeholders of the county was roused, and his Grace
was triumphant here, as afterwards at the issue, tried before the
Barons of the Exchequer, w here, after much chicanery and delay
of office,the late LordLovG H ao RO U G II being Counsel for the M
nistry, , whilst the sturdy Taunt° w advocated his Grace's cause.
The grant to LOWTHER was found invalid, as the reserved rent
was not equal to a third of the annual value, agreeable to a
statute of ANNE. The powerful motives of private pique were
InOW added to those of public duty : accordingly, we find him
oppose with great energgy and constitutional acumen, every mea-
sure which tended to abridge the public liberty ; not the wild
liberty of the Rights of Man, but as it has been elegantly describ-
ed by BURKE, in his well-known letter to his Grace, when
alluding to the politics of the party, " the liberty they pursued
was a liberty inseparable from order, from virtue, from morals,
and from religion, and was neither hypocritically nor practically
followed. They did not wish that liberty in itself one of the first of
blessings, should in perversion become the greatest curse which
should fall upon mankind." In 1766, he married Lady DORO-
THY CAVENDISH, sister to the Duke of DEVONSHIRE, whose
exalted virtues secured to him the height of domestic happiness,
whilst the union bound him still closer to the ROCKINGHA
party, on whose return to office, from the resignation of Lord
N 0 aTrr, after the well-remembered motion of General CoNWAY,
his Grace was appointed to the Viceroyalty of Ireland. There
be became extremely popular from the interest he took in the
affairs of that country, and from its falling to his lot, to execute
the grant of Irish independence. His continuance in this high of-
fice, however, was but short,as the elevation of the SHELBURNE
party produced his recal. On the lamented death of the Mar-
quis of RocKIN GH A sr, the Whig party felt themselves much in
want of a leader of talent and influence; some of them looked
towards his nephew, FITZWILLIAM, but Fox having espoused
the cause of the Duke, the Privy Council recommended him as
a fit person to succeed to the Treasury ; notwithstanding this,
Lord SHELBURNE received the Premiership, but the so much
execrated coalition having upset the SHELBURNE party, his
Grace soon took his place at the head of the Treasury Board.
It has generally been supposed that a high personage was not
friendly to this arrangement, and the new friends of NORTH be-
Came a's much reviled as ever they had been courted. A Cabinet
of such incongruous materials, indeed, seemed to predict its own
speedy dissolution; anarchy of course ensued, and PORTLAND,
KEPPEL, Lord JOHN CAVENDISH, and Fox, were pitted
against CARLISLE, STORM° NT, and NORTH. Some of the
friends to the former have urged that the latter actually for-
sook their principles; however, that accusation has been re-
torted , but the whole business was soon settled ; the India Bill
of Fox became fatal to them, and the test of confidence failed
them at a new Election, when few of the friends of either party
*ere chosen.

The Duke at first stood forward in opposition to the PITT

Administration; some friends, however, attempted a coalition,
in the negociations for which he refused to accede, or even to
listen to any terms eicept en -PITT'S resignation, and their start-
ing fair far-ot ice. yo this the young statesnanftemurred, anfl
Lis Cituce mtnuined'a supportei of opposition until 17* when