Star.
London, England, 1802-03-03 00:00:00

DEATH OF THE DUKE OF BEDFORD.

Yefterday morning, at eleven o'clock, died, at
his feat at Woburn Abbey, in Bedfordffiire, in tier
37th year of his age, FRANCIS Duke of BEDFORD,
Marquis of TAVISTOCK, Earl of BEDFORD, Baron
RUSSELL of Cheneys, Thornhaugh, and Howland
of Streathem. his Grace was born, Auguß It,
1765, of ELIZABETH, daughter of the late WIL-
LIAM ANNE, Earl of AMIE melt LE, and filler of the
late Admiral Vifcount KEPEr L. His father, the
Marquis of TAVISTOCR, dying in 1767, in confe-
quence of a fall from his horfe, and leaving three
Cons, he, as eldeß, on the death of his grandfather
in 1771, fucceeded to the princely honours and for-
tunes of his family. His Grace, till about a fort-
night fince, had enjoyed an uninterrupted Rate of
health, when on a fudden he became fo violently
affefted with a diforder, termed by the Faculty, a
firangulated hernia, that it was found expedient to
call in the furgical afliftance of Sir POSES EARL,
who, after a confultation with others of the pro-
feffion, performed a 11.-ilia operation upon his
Grace a few days fince, but, unfortunately, with-
out the hope for fuccefs : other profeflional aid
was then called in, but in vain ; for his Grace
languithcd in great agony, till a mortification took
place on :11Liday evgning, and the f.coni day af-
terwards he expired; after having made time im-
portant arrangements, with the gicateft fortitude,
and prefence of mead. His Grace dying unmar-
ried, and without Hrue, is fucceedcd in titles, and
eftatel, by his neat brother, Lord Joust Komi., a
Repttitatative in the present Parliament for the
Borough of Tavitiock, who was born July 6, 1766,
and in 1786 married GI-ORMANA ELIZABETH
BENG, fecond daughter of Lord Vircount TOR.
itiscvoN, formerly Britifh Ambaffador to the
Court of Bruffels ; Rte died laft year leavinr, iffue
fcveral tons, and daughters.
The firft accounts received from Woburn yet:
terday morning, gave fome faint hopes of the
Duke's recovery. Between twelve and one, how-
ever, a gloom arrived with the intelligence that
the medical men had given up all hopes.
His Grace was fenfible to the lall, and aware of
the dangerous (late in which he was. He bore his
fuffc: ings, which were moil acute, with exemplary
qprefignation. His Solicitor, Mr. Gotobed, went
down on Monday ; and the equanimity and forti-
tude of his Grace left him full paliffion of him-
fell, to make what arrangements of his property
he deemed proper. A (port time before his death
.he raw his brothers, Lord Jona and Lord WIZ,
LIAM : he likeviiti raw Lora HOLLAND: of all of
them he took the moll affeaionate leave. The
fcene was mat folemn and impreffive.
-Such was the anxiety of all ranks refpeEting the
Duke's situation, that on the arrival of the fire
malinger, his Grace's houfe in Arlington-ftnet
was furrounded by eager inquirers, and it was the
topic which engrolfed the conyerfation of every
one; filch too was the number of inquirers
throughout the county, that the poft-horfes on all
the roads leading to Woburn, were knocked up,
and it was with difficulty that the groom could
procure poll horfes to come to town.
. As a man his Grace was univerfally refpe!ted
and beloved. The ufe he made of a magnificent
fortune was wifely benevolent. He was the leader
in every beneficial inffitution for the encourage-
ment of dude arts which moll immediately conduce
to the comfort of others. In the management of
his vall property he gave an example in every be-
neficial improvement, and in carrying his plans in-
to effect, he fupplied employment to the induitty
of many thoufands of the labouring clalres. His
exertions for fpreading a fpirit of agricultural im,
prove:nent will long be remembered, and its bene-
' fits extenfively felt. The great and ufeful works
which he himfelf planned difplayed the foundeß
! judgment, and he condueted them with a method,
exaetnefs and propriety, that proved how well he
was qualified for affairs. His eftates, both in the
cottatry and in town, (hew how well he uaderflood
beneficial improvement and the jolt application of
great wealth. He was the beft friend of induftry,
!.becaufe he gave employment to it. The example
of a per'on of his rank thus applying his time and
fortune was Of infinite advantage to the commu.
nitv.
•

But the influence of his virtues will not die with
him. The only conf(ilation that his friends, that
his neighbours and tenants, that his country can
indulge is, that the warm and affectionate intimacy
in which he lived with his brother, Lord JoHN,
makes him the full heir of his opinions, his purfuits,
and his fricndltips, as wcll as of his fortunes.—
Lord JOHN, with a congenial fpirit, and animated
by that warm alfzaion which fn tenderly united
all the brothers, entered into all his views fcr
the promotion ()f agricultural knowledge and ex.
petimental hufbandry. The magnificent plans
which his Grace had deviled for the improve.
meat of the country will, we are perfuaded, be
the peculiar objeds of the precut Duke's folicitude.

His Grace was tall, well formed, and uncom-
monly elegant in Lis perfon, and pelithed in his
manners.