THE EUROPEAN MAGAZINE, AND LONDON REVIEW; Τ HORACE EARL OF ORFOR D. (WITH A PORTRAIT.) HE Nobleman whofe Portrait adorns our prefent Magazine pafled a long life in purfuits fo feldom the objects of attention in perfons of the fame rank, that we cannot forbear claiming for his memory that refpect which ever fhould accompany thofe who, by the exertion of their mental faculties, have contributed to the improvement of their own or to the entertainment of future times. HORACE WALPOLE was the youngest fon of the celebrated Minifter of Great Britain, Sir Robert Walpole, afterwards Earl of Orford (atitle which became extinct by the death of the Noblemar now under our consideration), by his wife Catherine Shorter *. He was born about the year 1718, and received the early part of his education at Eton, where he firit became known to the celebrated Mr. Gray, whofe friendship at that early period he cultivated, and whole efteem and regard he retained, with a fhort interruption, to the end of that Gentleman's life. From Eton he went to King's College, Cambridge; but, according to the practice of men of rank and fortune at that time, left the University without taking any degree. While there he wrote "Verfes in Memory of King Henry the Sixth, Founder of the College," which are dated Feb. 2, 1738, and are probably the first production of his pent. In the fame year he was appointed InspectorGeneral of the Exports and Imports; a place which he foon after exchanged for that of Uther of the Exchequer I. To these were added the poft of Comptroller of the Pipe and Clerk of the Etreats; all which he held unto his death. Finding himfelf difinclined to enter fo early into the business of Parliament, he prevailed on his father, Sir Robert Walpole, to permit him to go abroad, and Mr. Gray confented to accompany him in his travels. They left England on the 29th of March 1739, and took their route by the way of France to Italy, viewing whatever was remarkable in the feveral places they vifited, and at fome of them, particularly Florence, refiding feveral months. Unequal friendships are not In July 1754, Lord Orford erected a cenotaph to the memory of his mother in the Chapel of Henry the Seventh in Westminster, with the following infcription: "To the memory of CATHERINE LADY WALPOLE, eldest daughter of John Shorter. Efq of Bybrook, in Kent, and first wife of Sir Robert Walpole, afterwards Earl of Orford. HORACE, her youngest fon, confecrates this monument. She had beauty and wit without vice or vanity, and cultivated the arts without affectation. She was devout. though without bigotry to any fect; and was without prejudice to any party, though the wife of a Minister, whofe power the esteemed but when he could employ it to benefit the miferable, or to reward the meritorious. She loved a private life, though born to shine in public; and was untainted by them. She died August 20, 1737." an ornament to Courts, + See Fugitive Pieces, 1758, p. 1. and Pearch's Collection of Poems, Vol. I. Mafon's Life of Gray, 4to. p. 34. * Mr. Pope faid, "She was untainted by a Court." always always the most lafting. About July 1741 the two friends came to a rupture, and parted at Reggio, each pursuing his journey homewards feparately. Of this quare the circumstances are unknown; but Mr. Walpole enjoined Mr. Mafon to charge him with the chief blame, confefling, that more attention, complaifance, and deference, to a warm friendfhip, and fuperior judgment and prudence, might have prevented a rupture which gave much uneafinefs to them both, and a lafting concern to the furvivor. The liberality of Mr. Walpole on this occafion deferves much praife; though we cannot but affent to Dr. Johnson's remark, that "if we look without prejudice on the world, we thall find, that men whose consciousness of their own merit fets them above the compliances of fervility are apt enough, in their affociation with fuperiors, to watch their own dignity with trouble fome and punctilious jea. loufy, and in the fervour of independence to exact that attention which they refufe to pay." In 1744 a reconciliation took place between them, by the intervention of a Lady who wished well to both parties; though it is probable the cordiality which had fubfified between them did not wholly return, as Mr. Walpole was entirely unnoticed by Mr. Gray in his laft will. In the Parliament which met the 25th of June 1741, he was returned for Callington, and foon had an opportunity of fhewing that he was not likely to become either a filent or inactive Member. On the 23d March 1741-2, on Lord Limerick's motion for an enquiry into the conduct of Sir Robert Walpole for the preceding ten years, he oppofed the propofition, as far as the debates of that period may be depended on, in a speech of fome length, with great fpirit, and greatly to the credit of his filial piety *. He was not, however, a frequent speaker. In 1747 he was chofen for the borough of Caftle Rifing. The tenor of his life was not much varied by accident or adventure; though about the year 1749 he narrowly escaped the piftol of a highwayman, the relation of which we fhall give in his own words +: "An acquaintance of mine was robbed a few years ago, and very near shot through the head by the going-off of the piftol of the accomplished Mr. Maclean; yet the whole affair was conducted with the greateft good-breeding on both fides. The robber, who had only taken a purse this way because he had that morning been difappointed of marrying a great fortune, no fooner returned to his lodgings, than he fent the Gentleman two letters of excufes, which with less wit than the epiftles of Voiture had ten times more natural and eafy politeness in the turn of their expreffion. In the pofticript he appointed a meeting at Tyburn at twelve at night, where the Gentleman might purchase again any trifles he had loft; and my friend has been blamed for not accepting the rendezvous, as it feemed liable to be conftrued by ill-natured people into a doubt of the honour of a man who had given him all the fatisfaction in his power for having unluckily been near fhooting him through the head." (To be continued.) TWO ORIGINAL LETTERS of DR. ARBUTHNOTT. HONOURED SIR, THE kind meflage I had from you by Mr. Pricket tother day, putts me in mind of a neglect of my duty, which is to with you a good new year, in all health and prosperity to yourself, and fuccefs to your defigns, for the good of a fociety which I have many obligations to honour. Were it not that I have hardly any thing hefides to tell you, but what I know you have from much better hands, I should be * Chandler's Debates, vol. xiii. p. 191. tWorld, Dec. 19, 1754. often troublesome to you. I was in hopes of having a good account of my friends at Oxford to-night by Dr. Gregory, but I find, by a letter of his, I am difappointed at prefent. I do not hear of any remarkable newes about town, the Czaar and My Lady Macclefield make up the greatest part of the deverfion. As for the ftanding army, we reckon ther is an end of that. I was pleaid to fee Mr. The Author himfelf, as he explains it in his "Fugitive Pieces." Allop's Alfop's fop: Mr. Bentley fayes, there is three faults in the Latin of Canis in præfepe. Mr. Charles Bernard told me, he bid him inftance in one: he faid, exteri fi quid fetaul fer fciunt. Mr. Bernard afk'd him, if he was fure it was wrong; he faid he was, and bid him depend upon it. The next day Mr. Bernard fent him this verfe in Horace, fi quid componere curem, but was forry afterward he did not lett him publish his criticifin. We expect foon fone reply to his differtation at the end of Wotton's book. This new act of parlia, against corresponding with K. James, lyes very heavie upon a great many people it is reckon'd to comprehend above 20 thousand at leaft. I beleive I know above thirtie of my acquaintance that muft gett them gone before the day appointed. Sir Andrew Forefter, Dr. Cockbern, &c. feveralls I mefure have not money to pay for their paffage to Graves-end; & which is yet harder, they are like to be very ill receiv'd in France, where they are putting a tax upon foreigners, fome fay on purpofe to discourage thofe who might leave England on this occeafion. We are expecting the Count de Talard over here, as ambaffadour, with a fplendid equipage. He ftayes only at Paris to give my Lord Portland a dinner. It is no newes to tell you of his highnefs the Duke of Glocetters preceptors & governour My Lord Malborough, the B of Salefburry, La Vafteur, a French refugee, whom you have feen at Oxford, & I cant tell how many more of one fort of people & other. I hope at least the University of Oxford may have the intereft to have one. I have not had the good fortune to fee Mr Jeffreys fince he came home, I have made fome enquiry about him, & expect a return before I proceed further. I fhall ufe the freedom to give my refpects to the Warden of All Souls, The Dean of Chrifts Church, and Dr. Wallis. I long for good weather, & leisure to see yourself & the rest of my frends at Oxford. If I should be to happy as to have a line from you, please to direct it for me at the Pine apple in St Martines Street. Pricket faid he was going out of town, but I fancy not without iceing the Czaar. I hop you will excufe this trouble, & beJeive that I will alwayes be, Hond Sir, Your most humble Servent, London, Jan. 5, Jo. ARBUTHNOTT. 94. I receaved yours, & thanks you heartly for your Ballad. It is not as yet refolved, to farr as I know, that her Majefty fhall go to the Bath, but I do beleive fhe will, & if the do's, I fancy it will be a little fooner than last year. I can give you no newes in return for yours. I have feen this day a moft impudent petition, of the Commission of the Kirk, to the parliament, againft toleration in Scotland. I think it will be of fervice to print it, & it will fully answer your occaional Ballad. Affairs there feem to be in great faction & confufion, by the honeft & wife managment of the Queens Minifters, as you may guess, but the rediculous compleafance of the Cavalier party is past all comprehenfion, for they, forfooth, out of a fear for the Queens Honour, wont fuffer a miniftry to be touch'd that are ruining her affairs as fast as they can. Please to fhow this to Dr Gregory, & tell him it is the state of the cafe; when it comes to greater maturity I shall give him a more particular account of it. I hope to fee you at od time. In the mean time, wifhing you all health & happiness, remain, Hd S, Your Moft affectional freind Windfor, June 8th, 1703. D' ARBUTHNOTT, For The much Honoured Doctor Charlot, Master of University Colledge, Oxon. THE |