till they have sharply felt, and so have been made sensible of the contrary.

in a family

There was an emergence in the family of his Concerned lordship's grandfather, which, as to the economy revolution of it, was of the last importance: and in regard it to his loss. drew in his lordship to be the chief actor in the scene, and, as things then stood, a bold undertaker, and shows him so early thought fit to be employed and intrusted in nice performances, I shall give a relation of it. The old lord, besides his reverend steward mentioned before, had two other servants of a French race, who were his favourites. One was called Bertram St. Genes, that had scarce English enough to make himself understood; but a gross sycophant, and (if honest) most unfit for business. He had married the other's sister, and had children, for whom a habitation was prepared near hand. He was a very little fellow, and served as a valet de chambre, and had thereby means to insinuate to the prejudice of the rest of the family. But the other, Monsieur le Blanc, in English (as he was called) White, was a brisk, gay spark, that had been bred at court (such as it was) a page to Sir John Danvers, one of the king's judges. He could dance, sing, and play very neatly on the violin, was good company, and served as a gentleman waiter, and was most acceptable in his musical capacity. It fell out, very unluckily for the family, that the old

lord quarrelled with his good steward; and, as his humour was to be very tyrannical and vindictive, so he had taken a resolution never to be in the wrong. And he cared not whom he persecuted, nor how unjustly or unreasonably, if it tended, as he thought, to justify any thing he had done: and the more mistaken he found himself, the more violent was he in his proceedings; as if, by that means, he was to set himself right. These are the dregs of an old courtier. But surely he tormented the poor old man by revilings, and law-suits, and at last broke his heart; and he died. But, upon the first turning him off, there was a place fallen, no less than the premier minister in that family; and the question came, who should succeed him? Sir Dudley North, his lordship's father, was really afflicted at the hard usage of the old steward; and more at the ruin he foresaw would follow, if that rascally monsieur, who was worse than good for nothing, was made steward. There never was an instance of filial duty to a parent more eminent than that of Sir Dudley North to his father. He lived to a good old age before the barony descended upon him, and had stood as an eldest son of a peer, at the state in the House of Lords, at sixtythree. He never would put on his hat, or sit down before his father, unless enjoined to do it. So far was he from moving any thing to him that he knew would displease him; and so egregious was

66

this dutiful demeanour, that all people took notice of and admired it. And some were so assured to say, that Sir Dudley had his reward in living to see all his own children, who were not a few, male and female, both dutiful to him, and settled prosperously, according to their several pretensions, in the world. But Sir Dudley, dreading the advancement of this Bertram, encouraged his son Frank, who seemed a favourite also, to represent. to the old lord the unfitness of that fellow to be. his steward; and he accordingly ventured to say, "he hoped his lordship did not intend to make choice of him." Why so?" said the old lord; "what can you charge Bertram with ?" He answered, "that for many years he had the charge of his wine and strong-beer cellar, and never gave his lordship an account of that, or any thing he was intrusted with." This was but too true, and could not be denied. Then the old man rearing himself a little, "Who then," said he, "would you have to be steward?" He answered, Mr. White. And that was worse and worse, because he was a favourite also; and Frank North's designation of him, in that manner, could not fairly be quarrelled with. Whereupon the old lord rose up, and lapping his cloak about, as he used when angry, without saying more, went out, leaving the young man in great suspense, not knowing what was to become of him. The old lord went to his cabinet,

But

and took out a codicil he had made to his will, and carried it to his son Dudley; and, "Look here, son," said he, "I had given Frank twenty pounds a year, but he has offended me, and here is his reward;" so threw it into the fire. And, from that time, contrived all the ways he could to defame and ruin him. Sir Dudley repaired his son Frank by a lease of a house in London, and encouraged him by his approval of his fidelity and courage. the old man still made use of Frank for his diversion; and, teeth outwards, was kind to him: but he must sometimes bear a gird or two upon account of the steward, which, at last, proved to be the Monsieur. But he lived not long enough to do much mischief; for a government, long kept in good order, will not be put out all at once. And, after Frank (at his next term) was gone to London, the old lord made a servant write to him, and at the bottom were these words: In consilium ne accesseris antequam voceris; that is, do not offer your advice before it is asked. The reason of which was, that the bitterness of his repentance might not wear off. This was the last transaction, in that family, which much concerned his lordship: and, if these relations are thought of small import, to mend that fault, I can add only, that they con cern my subject, and are true: and, from a private family, let the imagination transfer the scene to some royal and imperial court, changing the

names of persons and offices, and the whole may be seen sprout up into the altitude of state intrigues.

I have so far conducted his lordship, as to be Character. ready for the bar. But before I touch upon that,

I shall take some notice of his character, as the
same appeared in this first stage of his life.* He
was of low stature, but had an amiable, ingenuous
aspect, and his conversation was answerable, being
ever agreeable to his company.
His hair grew to

a considerable length, but was hard and stiff, and
did not fall as the rest of the family, which made
it bush somewhat, and not without a mixture of
red and grey. As to his humour, he was free from

*To this admirable picture of a studious young lawyer, the following character of a gallant young nobleman, of the same day, forms no unsuitable companion. It is the portrait of the valiant and accomplished Ossory:-" He is a young man, with a very handsome face, a good head of hair, a pretty big voice, well set, and a good round leg. He pleaseth me exceedingly, being very good-natured, asking many questions, and humouring the answers. He rides the great horse very well; is a good tennis-player, fencer, and dancer. He understands music, and plays on the guitar and the lute; speaks French eloquently, reads Italian fluently; is a good historian, and so well versed in romances, that, if a gallery be full of pictures or hangings, he will tell the story of all that are there described. He shuts up his door at eight o'clock in the evening, and studies till midnight. He is temperate, courteous, and excellent in all his behaviour."-See the Life of Ormond, vol. ii. p. 161.