name was indeed frequently sought for the furtherance of some excellent design; and on such occasions he did let his light shine' with a pure brilliancy before men; at other times, also, in however delicate a way he dispensed his bounty and charity, they could not always be done in a corner;' they could not be altogether hid from the world; it consequently followed, that such acts acquired for him a deserved, though an unsought, name for unbounded liberality: still his title for excellence and benevolence rests not on such a frail and unstable basis. No; in his charity, as in all other acts of his life, he ever observed the precepts of the Gospel; that, in many cases, he let not his left hand know the good which his right hand did ;' that he did indeed give with simplicity,' various secret acts of goodness, frequent deeds of true benevolence, known only to God and himself, will, no doubt, hereafter attest to his eternal happiness. But, further: he did walk worthy of the vocation wherewith he was called, with all lowliness and meekness,' with singleness and integrity of heart, and with a most sincere delight in the happiness of those around him. Such was his Christian and noble demeanour, so full was it of urbanity and goodness, that he never failed both to conciliate the regard and to command the respect of those that approached him: so perfectly also did he blend the mildest manners with an exalted carriage, that, whilst he retained the full dignity and authority of his high station, he lost not the attachment and love of his inferiors; thereby exemplifying the effect of whatsoever things are lovely and of good report amongst men.'

"So long as it pleased God to prolong the existence of this good man on earth, so long was he followed by the respect and esteem of all who ever knew him or heard of his name: so long, also, as any person of the present generation shall continue to exist, so long will that his name, connected as it is with every good and amiable quality, be mentioned with a

Nec illi quod est rarissimum aut facilitas auctoritatem, aut severitas amorem diminuit. Tac. Vita Agric.

respect approaching to veneration. So long will the mention of it recal to our minds the virtues which graced his life: so long will his memory be blessed.'

"If ever a long life, marked by those virtues which adorn and exalt the Christain name; if the greatest suavity and benignity of manner; or, if noble descent and noble demeanour could have saved him from death, we should not now mourn his loss. But no. 'It is appointed unto man once to die;' and, in virtue of this appointment, this venerable and noble man hath come to his 6 grave in a full age, like as a shock of corn cometh in its season.' Every day doth it become us to copy in our lives the character which hath now been placed before us. The more we reflect upon it, the more certain must we feel that this noble personage was alike true to God, whom he devoutly worshipped, and to the practice of that faith, which he sincerely professed: that he exercised Christian charity in the most enlarged acceptation of the term; charity for the wants, and charity for the failings of his neighbours and that he was the true friend of all mankind; in private life showing compassion for the unfortunate, and in public life displaying a lively patriotic interest in 'the prosperity of our Jerusalem.' Finally, it must appear, that his genuine piety, both unassuming and unassumed, his moderation,' his integrity, his kindness and elegance, yet simplicity of manner, are 'known unto all men.'

By his first lady, already mentioned, Earl Fitzwilliam had an only child, whose birth did not take place until nearly sixteen years after their marriage. Charles William, now Earl Fitzwilliam, has been, whilst Lord Milton, a conspicuous public character as M.P. for Yorkshire, and latterly, for Northamptonshire. He married, in 1806, his cousin, the Hon. Mary Dundas, fourth daughter of Thomas first Lord Dundas; and by that lady, whose unexpected death took place in November, 1830, has the numerous surviving family of four sons and six daughters.

Charlotte Countess Fitzwilliam died on the 13th of May, 1822; and the Earl married, secondly, July 21st, 1823, the

Rt. Hon. Louisa dowager Lady Ponsonby, fourth daughter of Richard third Viscount Molesworth, and widow of William Brabazon first Lord Ponsonby (who was first cousin to the former Countess Fitzwilliam), by whom she had been mother of the present Lord Ponsonby, of Major-Gen. the Hon. Sir William Ponsonby, K.C.B., slain at Waterloo, of the present Bishop of Derry, and of the present Countess Grey. Her Ladyship left the Earl a second time a widower, on the 1st of September, 1824.

Earl Fitzwilliam's sister, Charlotte Lady Dundas, survived him only three days, dying in Arlington Street, on the 11th February. She was his senior by nearly two years, having been born on the 24th of May, 1746. She was married May 24th, 1764, and left a widow June 14th, 1820, having had issue seven sons and seven daughters (including the present Lord Dundas and the late Vicountess Milton).

The materials for the foregoing Memoir have been chiefly derived from the "Public Characters," the "Annual Register," and the "Gentleman's Magazine.”

107

No. VIII.

SIR HENRY BLACKWOOD.

VICE-ADMIRAL THE HONOURABLE

SIR HENRY BLACKWOOD,

BART. K. C. B. K. G. H., AND K. ST. F., AND M. GROOM OF THE BEDCHAMBER TO HIS MAJESTY.

THIS Island has mainly owed her greatness to her navy; nor in all the revolutions among kingdoms and empires, that may be destined to take place in time, can we imagine a condition of the world in which her greatness will not still have to be guarded by the same power. It represents the national character in its most formidable attributes, and embodies the national might in the most magnificent impersonation. The British navy these are words of fear to tyrants, and of succour to slaves. All shores have been shaken by that thunder; and usurpation has felt the crown falling from its forehead,

"As patriot hopes arise, and doubts are dumb,

When bold, in Freedom's cause, the Sons of Ocean come."

In none of those great sea-fights with the intrepid and skilful Hollanders were our fleets vanquished; some were doubtful or drawn battles; in most our flag flew in triumph. Previous to their Great Revolution, the French never could cope with us at sea; ever after it, whether engaging our fleets with their own, or in junction with the Spaniard, they sustained signal and total overthrows. As certain was the same issue in all single combats between ship and ship; and our enemies fought not for the glory of victory, but of resistance against inevitable defeat. The glories even of Hawke and

Rodney were eclipsed by those of Jervis and Nelson; and the dominion of the seas was settled at Aboukir and Trafalgar.

Sir Henry Blackwood was the sixth son of Sir John Blackwood, Baronet, and Baroness Dufferin and Clanboye. At the age of eleven years, in April, 1781, he entered his Majesty's service, under the protection of Captain M'Bride, on board the Artois frigate, and was present at the Dogger Bank action under Admiral Parker, as well as at the capture of the Pylades and the Orestes, two Dutch Sloops of war, by that frigate, after a short action; and, on serving the intermediate years under Captain Montgomery, in the Boreas and the Concord frigates, Hawkins Whitshed in the Rose ditto, and Commodore Corby in the Trusty, of 50 guns, he was promoted from Earl Howe's ship to the rank of Lieutenant, in November 1790. In the ensuing year (1791), he was employed on board the Proserpine frigate, under Captain Curzon : and, on the commencement of hostilities with France in January, 1793*, was

In the year 1792, or end of 1791, being unemployed, Lieutenant Blackwood went to Angoulême to improve himself in the French language, which he acquired with particular facility, and spoke better than most Englishmen. The beginning of the French Revolution, at that time so interesting to the world at large, too strongly excited his mind to allow him to remain at Angoulême, and he left that place for Paris. He was strongly requested to convey a small book addressed to a family who had emigrated, with a positive assurance it contained neither political matter, nor private correspondence, nor danger to him, but was merely on domestic subjects, or he would not have undertaken to deliver it, knowing how the violence of the revolutionary tribunals raged at this time against the emigrants. On his arrival at Paris, the book, which concealed some letters, was discovered among his effects, when he was seized and immediately taken before the Municipal Council, and then committed to a rigid imprisonment as a bearer of treasonable correspondence, and an agent to convey money to the emigrants. His confinement was one of the most frightful suspense, as the contents of the concealed letters were unknown to him, and he had every reason to dread the utmost vengeance that Jacobin ferocity could inflict. In a few days he was again brought forward, when it was fortunately proved the papers were free from political topics, and he was to be admitted to bail if some person of responsibility would answer for his appearance at the bar of the Convention, to which the business was to be referred. His friends at Angoulême had given him an introduction to a respectable merchant at Paris, where he lodged for a few days in this critical situation. M. Lafitteau, the name of this generous friend, came forward; and, when the court demanded, in stern and threatening terms, who would answer for le Citoyen Blackwood, he arose with great energy, and, putting his