and then, generally, either to shoot or to gamble with him.

cularly the gentleman in question, who was very pointed in his observations on the singularity of the case; Mordaunt briefly said, "Sir, this was to show you, that you should not have all the fun to yourself," and rising from his seat, left the black-leg to ruminate on the obvious necessity of quitting India. Here however Mordaunt's goodness of heart was prevalent; for he obtained a promise from the whole party to keep the secret, provided the of finder instantly left the country, which he accordingly did by the first conveyance.

Mordaunt was little acquainted with the small sword, but was an excellent marksman either with ball or small shot. With the latter he scarcely ever was seen to miss, and I have known him to come off winner when he has waxered to kill twenty snipes in as many shots, although he missed one bird, he made up for it by killing two that were sprung at the same time, and which flying across each other's direction were shot at the point of intersection. He was one of the three, who, during one day, in the It was well known that Mordaunt year 1786, shot such a quantity of could arrange the cards according to game, chiefly snipes and teal, as load- his pleasure, yet such was the general, ed a small boat, which conveyed the I may say universal, opinion of his birds from Gowgautchy to Calcutta. His favourite sport was tyger shoot ing, in which he was often very successful, being vigorous, spirited, and expert; all which qualifications are absolutely requisite in that noble branch of the chase.

With respect to the use of a pistol, it was wonderful! I have often combated with him, but without the smallest chance of winning; he has frequent ly laid five to one, though he confess ed I sometimes trod close on his heels. I have more than once seen him hit a common brass-headed nail at fifteen yards; and would always have wage ed on his side, when the object was an inch in diameter.

Yet strange to say, when a few years after, Mordaunt and another gentleman engaged in a quarrel of a very serious nature with a third, whom they had accused of some improper conduct at cards, he missed his adversary, who on the other hand wounded both Mordaunt and his friend des perately. This was not owing to agitation, but, as Mordaunt expressed in very curious terms at the moment of missing, to the pistol being too highly charged.

Mordaunt was acquainted with all the ordinary tricks in the shuffling, cutting, and dealing way. He observed that one of his adversaries, at whist, was remarkably fortunate in his own deals, and as he was rather a suspicious character, thought it needful to watch him. When Mordaunt came to deal, he gave himself thirteen trumps! this excited the curiosity of all, but parti

honour, that no one hesitated to play with him, sober or otherwise, for their usual stakes. His decision in cases of difference was generally final; and many references have been made to him by letter from very distant situations, regarding poiuts of gaming.

With respect to the ordinary rules of arithmetic, no man could be more ignorant than Mordaunt, at least he never shewed the least knowledge of any thing relating thereto. He kept no books, but all his money concerns were on scraps of paper, and under terms and figures intelligible only to himself. He had many extensive claims on the Nabob, and he had immense losses and gains to register in the I. O. U. way. Yet even the most intricate cases never puzzled him; and at settling times he was rarely, if ever to be found in an error. This was one of the points in which he was apt to be peremptory; for no sooner did he hear a claim stated, which did not tally with his own peculiar mode of ac counting, than he condemned it in round terms, and would scarcely hear the attempt to substantiate what he so decidedly denied. His spirited de testation of any attempt of undue exercise of authority was manifested on various occasions.

Mordaunt was so much master of his racket, and was so very vigorous, that he would always wager on hitting the line from the over-all, a distance of thirty yards, once in three times. He could beat most people with a common round ruler. If he ever did indulge in mischief it was at this game, when

his best friends were sure to receive with particular consideration: but some smart strokes of remembrance! when Harry attempted to oppose or arI have had a ball or two from him gue against him, he used briefly to put occasionally, which kept my back in a him down with, "Hold your tongue, glow for some hours. But he used to Harry, you are a puny little fool, and be terribly severe on a very worthy, fit for nothing but to be made a lord." good-natured civilian, Mr. Marcus Nevertheless, John never allowed any Sackville Taylor, deputy to Colonel, person to speak disrespectfully of his now Major General Palmer, who was brother.

for years resident at the Nabob's court. Harry died of diseases which seemed As a bon vivant, as master of the to have been rocked with him in his revels, or at the head of his own table, cradle; while John, though possessed few could give greater variety or more of a vigorous constitution, after arrivsatisfaction than Mordaunt. He had ing at the acme of popularity, at least the best of wines, and spared no ex- so far as related to all with whom he pence, though he would take little associated, and after performing feats personal trouble in providing what in various exercises which denoted was choice and rare. He stood on little the vastness of his powers, seemed to ceremony, especially at his own house; descend as it were down a precipice into and, with his friends, never allowed any his grave. He never got completely thing to inconmode him from a bash- well of the pistol-shot in his breast; ful reserve. Whatever was in his and probably actuated by that mistaken opinion wrong, he did not hesitate to pride, which generally urges men' condemn. These observations were who have done wonders, not to allow very quick, and generally not devoid their decrease of vigour to be noticed of humour. His old friend Captain or suspected, he neglected the warnWaugh, dining with him one day, ings given him by one or two serious made such a hole in a fine goose, as to attacks on his liver, and thus hastened excite the attention of Mordaunt, who that end,which we may call untimely. turning to his head servant, ordered He died in the 40th year of his age, aloud, that "whenever Capt. Waugh beloved and regretted by a numerous dined at his house there should always circle: I believe, setting aside the disbe two geese on table, one for the Cap- sipation in which he delighted, he tain, the other for the company. could not leave any past reckoning After the arrival of the two brothers of vices to appear against him. His Harry and John in Bengal, they had heart was formed for friendship; he but little intercourse, Harry seemed was warm in his attachments, which to be jealous and envious of his bro- were however very select; and, notther's qualifications, and of the gene- withstanding the peculiar bluntness ral partiality in his favour, which of his manner, I cannot say I ever was by no means the case with himself. heard him utter a rude thing, or do He was haughty, reserved, tenacious, an uncharitable act,

and satirical; consequently was not Such are the outlines of a man who, very likely to be much respected, or had he been bred in courts, would relished as a companion. His emaci- probably have been the Rochester of ated bilious appearance was not cal- his day; for he was inordinatel fond culated to prepossess either sex in his of women, and seemed, when ill, to behalf, indeed the ladies could not regret his situation chiefly as debear him. John always treated him priving him of their society.

HISTORICAL CHRONICLE.

Deaths in and near London. most privacy, in the Jews' Burialat Mr. Ground at Mile End, having been Benj.Goldsmid. Various reports removed from his own house at Roeare in circulation respecting the cause hampton, about four in the morning, of Mr. Goldsmid's sudden demise: with very few attendants. The prosome of them even impute it to suicide. perty this unfortunate gentleman left However the corpse was interred on behind him has been variously stated. Thursday, the 14th inst. with the ut- We believe it exceeds half a million.

It is said to have been divided among man of Weem, in the northern part his seven children (with a small an- of Perthshire, and was born in 1779. nuity to his widow), five sons and two He studied at the universities of Edindaughters; and that his eldest son, burgh and St Andrews, and was tutor about 19, cannot come into the full for some years in a respectable family, enjoyment of his patrimony before he according to the system to which the is 30 years of age. Mr. Benjamin less opulent part of the Scotch students Goldsmid and his brother Abraham, are under the necessity of submitting. whose names are the most familiar to Such a situation is generally desired the commercial and monied men of with the view of provision in the any in the family, are the second and church, but this was not Mr. Mac third sons of a respectable Dutch mer- Diarmid's object, he became desirous chant, who came over from Holland of visiting the metropolis, and trying with their father while they were very his fortune in the career of literary young. From their infancy, it is competition. He accordingly came said, the brothers were affectionately to London in 1801, and was soon in attached to each other, and, at a suit- the receipt of a competent income able age, embarked in business. The from periodical writing. His principal wealth accumulated by this family, to occupations of this kind were, as editor some may appear astonishing; but it of the St. James's Chronicle, and as a may in some measure be accounted reviewer in a critical publication. On for, when it is understood that, in the the commencement of the present war, purchase and sale of bullion, stocks, his attention was forcibly struck with navy and exchequer bills, and in the the imperfections of our military negociation of foreign bills of ex- establishment, and he relinquished his change, they have annually turned periodical engagements to become the some millions of money. With re- author of a work of length, under the spect to character and example, the title of "An Enquiry into the System family of the Goldsmids have been of Military Defence in Great Britain." quoted as moral o.naments to society. It was published in 1805, in 2 vols.8vo. With the means of princely magnifi. It exposed the defects of the volunteer cence, they are free from pride; and system, as well as of all temporary exwith the most liberal benevolence, pedients, and asserted the superiority void of ostentatiou. The latter of these of a regular army. He was an advocate virtues has by no means been con- also for that most essential improvefined to their own people. The Ma- ment, a limited term of service. His rine Society, the Royal Humane next work was an "Inquiry into the Society, and other charitable Institu- Nature of Civil and Military Subordi tions, have publicly expressed their nation," in one vol. 8vo. This was gratitude to the Goldsmids; and, in published in 1804, and is perhaps the some few instances, they have been fullest disquisition which the subject mentioned as the patrons of literature has received. He now determined to among their own people. The esta- suspend his philosophical labours, and blishments of the Goldsmids have to turn his attention to works of narra been suitable to their great wealth, tive. He accordingly wrote "The and their families have been admitted Lives of British Statesmen," in one into the first circles. During Mr. vol. 4to. beginning with the life of Sir Fox's and Lord Howick's late admini- Thomas More. This work has strong stration, we believe that Lord Chan- claims on the public attention. The cellor Erskine and some of his col- style is perspicuous and unaffected; leagues in office were of a party at the authorities are quoted for every statehouse of Mr.A.Goldsmid, in Finsbury- ment of consequence, and a variety of square; and on a visit which the Royal curious information relative to the Family paid to Mr. Benjamin Gold- conduct of our public men is extracted smid, at his Villa at Roehampton, his from voluminous records, and brought Majesty in introducing these brothers for the first time before the public to the Queen, justly denominated view. His political specimens were them his friends. temperate and liberal. He did not hesitate to attack our national prejudices in several respects, and his mode

Mr. Mac Diarmid.-He was the son of the Rev. Mr. Mac Diarmid, clergy

death.

of doing it in the present work was woman languished several days, when sufficiently conclusive, as he not only she was relieved from her misery by pointed out by reference the source Mr. Heaviside had afforded of his information, but in disputed the deceased every assistance during points, generally quoted the words of her affliction. the author, or of the document on In St. Catharine's near the Tower, which he founded his decision. We the eccentric Moses Benjamin, who scarcely remember to have seen a more is said to have drank in the course of satisfactory exposition of the state of his life upwards of three thousand ite literature, and of the progress of civil pounds worth of English gin. liberty, during the 16th and 17th cen- was remarkable as a mediator among turies than this work exhibits, and it wrangling people; always ready to bail affords likewise a useful specimen of any one in distress, and generally political biography in regard to the known by the name of Ilonest Benadmixture of private anecdote with jamin.

public history. But unfortunately, he In Newcastle-street, Strand, Mr. was destined to enjoy for a short time Thomas Bayley, better known as little only the approbation with which his Tommy, the Pot-Boy, in St. Mary's work was received. His health, at all parish, Strand. He was in his 54th times delicate, received in November year, and had been Torty years a potan irreparable blow in a paralytic boy. The last twenty were spent at stroke. His friends flattered them- the Fountain public-house, in Newselves that his youth would overcome castle-street, where he died, after a this stroke, but their hopes were vain, week's illness, during which time he In February, a second attack deprived him of the use of his limbs, and he expired a few weeks afterwards.

In Clerkenwell workhouse, aged 77, William Paddock, pastry-cook.-He was well known for many years, being remarkable for singing convivial songs, at the public houses adjacent to the two houses of Parliament, and being a choice spirit, always went by the name of My Soul. He was a companion of the late Charles Bannister, and also much noticed by the celebrated, though eccentric character, George Morland. He was much addicted to drinking spirits, and the day previous to his death, drank in the course of one hour, what he facetiously called fire-balls, no less than seventeen glasses of gin.

made a will, bequeathing 400!. the savings of forty years servitude, to a sister, whom he had not seen for the last twenty years of his life; who, on being informed of the bequest, said, "she did not want it, but he ought to have had more mouey," He was a most faithful and trusty servant.

At the Prince of Wales's Coffeehouse, Sir Narboro' D'Aeth, Bart. of Knowlton, in Kent, and Colonel of the East Kent Regiment of Militia.

in

At Hammersmith, in his 85th year, John Rice, Esq. a character mise abie and penurious. Mr. Rice was born in Westminster, and having received a musical education, resolved to try his fortune in America. Tie saned for New York, where he settled, and got an appointment as an organist. In Evesham Buildings, Somers this situation, denying himself the Town, Mrs. Willis.-While sitting at common necessaries of life, he accubreakfast with an infant, the child mulated a considerable sum of money, threw a part of the breakfast things off and returned to England. this habit the table, and Mrs. Willis, in hastily was that of the most indigent beggar, stooping to save them from breaking, and so deplorably miserable were his set fire to her head dress. Her cloath- garb and appearance, that he was ing was instantly in a blaze, and she turned out of two lodgings he took. ran down stairs into Mr. Walter's shop At length he obtained a room at a this situation, and in the midst of glazier's shop near Marsham-street, her alarm she retired back to her where he was taken ill. He requested room; she was followed by the land- he might be decently cloathed, and lord, who wrapped her in some baize, conveyed to Mr. Boyce, at Hammerand extinguished the fire, but not until smith, whose father he said was his even her chemise was burnt. In this most intimate acquaintance. He was deplorable situation the unfortunate accordingly taken to the house of Mr.,

Boyce, where he survived only a few days. After his death his will was opened, by which it appeared that he had bequeathed 20,000/. to Mr. Boyce, and 10,000l. to the Bishop of New York; to Mr. Bovce's servant he left 250/. for the kindness she had shewn him, in affording him some temporary relief, when he called on her master, soon after his return to England. His visits, however, were not encouraged by Mr. Boyce, his appearance indicating the most abject distress and misery. When at his lodgings he slept on a heap of rags, in which were secreted a quantity of foreign gold and silver coins, to the amount of 290%. The inhabitants of the neighbourhood in which he lived frequently gave him alins, which he accepted with the greatest eagerness. He is said to have died worth 40,000/. !

his chamber, and the deceased ordered the housekeeper to send him some soda water, which he drank. He then requested that he might not be dis turbed, and ordered the servant not to come to his apartment till he rung the bell. About two o'clock, a Gentleman called at the house, who the servants understood to be Genera! Russell. He delivered a letter which was carried up to Mr. Paull, and the servant came down without any answer. Between four and five o'clock General R. called again, and was introduced to Mr. Paull in his chamber. He remained a short time with the deceased, and went down alone, and let himself out (The conversation between Gen. R. and Mr Paull was not known, as Gen. R. was not present at the Inquest). Between five and six o'clock the housekeeper went up stairs with intention to make her master's fire, when she distinctly heard the deceased groan. In attempting to open his room door she found it locked within; she had never known her master to lock his door be fore; she then ran down and alarmed the butler, and they went into the room adjoining the chamber of the deceased, In this room a door opened into the deceased's chamber, which they found unlocked. On going in, the deceased appeared lying on the bed undressed with his arm and head leaning on a wash-hand stand at the right foot of the bed, his throat was cut in a dread. ful manner, and the floor was covered by a profusion of blood; a razor was found, which appeared to have fallen from his left hand, with which it was On Saturday evening an inquisition evident he had inflicted the wound in was held before G. Hodgson, Esq. Co- his throat, beginning under the right roner of the county of Middlesex, on car. The deceased was not quite dead, a view of the body of the deceased, but speechless and insensible. The who, it appeared, had terminated his butler lifted the deceased, laid him at existence the preceding day by cutting length on the bed, and immediately his th oat. The Jury assembled at went for Surgeon Brodie, of Sackvilles the residence of the deceased, and street. When Mr. Brodie arrived the having seen the body, which remained deceased was dead. On examination in a bed chamber on the second floor, of the body he found the wind pipe they proceeded to examine the do- nearly severed, and three wounds inmestics relative to the melancholy Hicted on his right arm with a sur catastrophe. It appeared from the geon's lancet, which was found be evidence of the butler and house- tween the bedding and the wash-hand keeper, that Mr. Paul went out on stand. The wounds on his arm, in Thursday night, and returned home the opinion of Mr. Brodie, would not (generally supposed from the Union) have occasioned his death. Mr. Brodie about five o'clock on Friday morning. further mentioned, that he had at His butler and valet attended him to tended Mr. Paull during his long ill

James Paull, Esq.-This gentleman 30 well known through his connection with Sir Francis Burdett, and his independent conduct in Parliament which led to that event, put an end to his existence on Friday the 15th, between six and seven in the evening at his own house, No.2, Charles-street, St. James's-square, by cutting his throat, and otherwise lacerating himself. This rash act is understood to have been committed in consequence of a temporary insanity, occasioned by vrious disappointments both of a public and private nature. It is said that he had sustained considerable losses at play, which, with habits of liberality approaching to profusion, greatly embarrassed him.