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THE

UNIVERSAL MAGAZINE.

N° XLIX. VOL. VIII.] For DECEMBER, 1807.

NEW SERIES.

"We shall never envy the honours which wit and learning obtain in any other cause, if we can be numbered among the writers who have given ardour to virtue, and confidence to truth."DR. JOHNSON.

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

MARQUIS TOWNSHEND.

under the tuition of Mr. Lowe, forFa name so long celebrated in merly master of Litchfield school, a century, and embalmed to posterity in tional celebrity by affording the rudithe glowing language of Burke, curi- ments of education to Dr. Johnson. osity must be eager to learn some- Lord Townshend, early in life, enthing; and now that the venerable tered into the Guards, having obtained and justly-admired character which a commission immediately on finishwe are about to delineate is removed ing his education, and at a period from this world, envy can have no when he did not exceed eighteen motive to depreciate, nor friendship to years of age. Great Britain happened applaud beyond the just measure of then to be at war with France, and a his excellence. We have repeatedly fair prospect therefore presented itself had occasion to insist upon the supe- of combining theory with practice, rior claims of this species of biogra- and acquiring both knowledge and phy; and it is no small recommenda- preferment. George II. a warlike tion, where knowledge is to be ac- sovereign, commanded in person quired that it should come pure to our against the enemy on the continent, minds. and the Hon. Mr. Townshend had an Field-Marshal George Townshend, opportunity of making a campaign Marquis Townshend, of Rainham, in under the eye of that monarch. He the county of Norfolk, was born on served with the rank of a subaltern at the 28th of February, 1724, O. S. the memorable battle of Dettingen, He was the eldest son of Charles, late where the Duke of Cumberland comLord Viscount Townshend, by a Hert- manded the English, and the Marfordshire heiress, Miss Audrey Harri- shal de Noailles the French army; son, daughter of Edward Harrison, but he soon after procured the rank Esq. of Balls. of captain in the first regiment of foot

Lord Townshend, at an early period, guards, which of course gave him the betook himself to the profession of rank of lieutenant-colonel in the arms; and there are few men of the army.

present day who have seen a greater It appears, however, that Colonel variety of service. Connected with Townshend's advancement did not the first whig families in this king- seem sufficiently rapid for the gratifidom, and being a youth of talents and cation of his ambition, and that he reenterprise, there is but little wonder tired at the close of the campaign. that his military career should have His merits and pretensions however been at once brilliant and rapid. like his interest, must have been very high in the public estimation.

It was previously, however, and wisely determined that he should en- Having now in some measure rejoy the advantages resulting from a signed all idea of a military life, the good education; and he and his bro- views of Mr. Townshend were di ther Charles* were accordingly placed rected towards another channel, i less favourable to the expectations }. It was Charles, whose character had formed of advancement in the Burke drew in such admirable lan- state; and as his family possessed guage. large property and considerable influ

UNIVERSAL MAG. VOL. VIII.

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ence in Norfolk, he became a candi- Norfolk, at the general election in date to represent that county in par- 1754. Although Mr. Townshend apliament at the general election of 1747, and was returned accordingly. peared to have abandoned the profesNo sooner had he obtained his seat sion of arms for ever, yet he was still than he began to profess those princi- so far influenced by his favourite purples of whiggism which he had im- suits that he constantly spoke whenbibed in his early youth, and which it ever any military topics were brought had ever been the pride of his family before the house. A measure of this to cultivate and support. Nor did he kind, big and important in its conse now forget to resist those petty abuses quences, was agitated in the year which he had witnessed while in the 1756, in which he took a decided army. He had beheld the halbert part. This was the famous system of snatched from the veteran serjeant, a national militia. Mr. Townshend and the well-earned knot torn from was one of the most strenuous sup the shoulders of the deserving corpo- porters of this measure, and used his ral, at the arbitrary will and caprice utmost exertions to render it ef At length, after being agi of a superior officer; and in one me- fectual. morable instance he had seen govern- tated for more than a twelvemonth, ment itself stoop to the baseness and and recommended by a speech from injustice of wresting a pair of colours the throne, the bill was carried, but from the hands of a young cornet, not without many warm debates and Mr. Townshend (Mr. Pitt, afterwards Earl of Chat- many alterations. ham) calculated by nature to preside acquired no small share of honour and in the councils of his country, and popularity by the active part which he fated soon after to wield her thunders took in this measure. with irresistible success against. the ambitious house of Bourbon.

So great indeed was his reputation, that in 1756, when a war with France appeared inevitable, he not only obtained the restoration of his former rank, but, or the 6th of June, had the command of the 64th regiment conferred upon him.

With such instances as these, fresh in his recollection, we need not be surprised that, on the third reading of the mutiny bill in 1749, Colonel Townshend distinguished himself by his huIn the memorable expedition against manity; and towards the conclusion of a very able speech, moved to add Quebec, under the immortal Wolfe, the following clause, "that no non- Colonel Townshend was selected as commissioned officer should be liable third in command, and obtained the to be broken without the sentence of rank of brigadier-general, with an express stipulation however on his a court martial." On this occasion Mr. Townshend part, that he should return at the end found many supporters; but he was of the campaign. Accordingly, he opposed also by men of rank and ta- sailed with the squadron, destined for that attack, about the middle of lents, and even by Mr. Pitt himself.

Mr. Townshend now thought of Feb. 1759. The honour he obtained settling in life, and an honourable and in this business was great: in the of advantageous alliance was soon found course of the action the command deconsequence for him, in the person of Charlotte, volved upon him, in Baroness de Ferrars of Chartly, only the death of Wolfe, and General daughter of James Compton, Earl of Monckton being dangerously woundNorthampton, by Lady Elizabeth, ed. On this he instantly repaired to In this lady, the centre in order to take upon himBaroness de Ferrars. to whom he became united in Feb. self the direction of the troops, and 1751, was concentrated the ancient finding them disordered, in cons baronies of De Ferrars, Chartley, quence of the pursuit which had taBourchier, Louvain, Basset, and ken place, he formed them again Compton, all baronies in fee; and in with all possible expedition. On the particulars of this camconsequence of this match, he obtained a very considerable accession paign, or its successful termination, it to his fortune. Mr. Townshend was will not be necessary to dwell: sufagain returned for the county of fice it to observe, that Quebec being

reduced, together with a great por- Lord Townshend, and succeeded to tion of the adjacent country, and the considerable estates in Norfolk; and inhabitants on all sides having come in the same year, he was appointed to in and sworn allegiance to the English the high and important office of lordgovernment, Brigadier-Gen. Towns- lieutenant of Ireland. Few noblehend, who had accepted his commis- men of that day were better adapted sion on the express stipulation that he for this eminent situation. His lordshould return to England at the end ship was gay, gallant, shewy in his of the campaign, now prepared for person and address; he possessed a his departure. Previously to this, popular eloquence, and was calcuhowever, he took the most effectual lated to win the confidence of the measures for securing his conquests, people over whom he was delegated and left a strong garrison at Quebec, to rule. One unfortunate event, consisting of 5000 effective men; and however, occurred during this peimmediately after this he embarked riod, for, having given some umbrage with Admiral Saunders, and arrived to Lord Bellamont during his resi in England at the beginning of the dence in Ireland, that nobleman folwinter of 1759. lowed him to England, and a duel ensued, in which the latter was wounded.

About a month after the siege of Quebec, and during his absence in America, Brigadier-general Townshend obtained an old regiment (the 28th), in exchange for the young one (the 64th), which he had before commanded; a circumstance which must have been equally gratifying and advantageous to a professional man, as it continued him on the establish ment in time of peace.

In 1761, we find him serving in Germany, when he was raised to the rank of major-general; as there were many superior officers, he had no opportunity of distinguishing himself by any separate command; he returned to England therefore to attend his parliamentary duties, and about this time was chosen a third time to represent the county of Norfolk.

As the dispute between these noblemen occasioned much noise at the time, and as the whole breathes the spirit of ancient chivalry, it may not be uninteresting to detail the particulars in this place.

On Lord Townshend's return from his government in Ireland, Lord Bellamont repaired to England, and employed the late Earl of Charlemont to wait on the Ex-viceroy with the fol lowing paper, explanatory of the nature of the offence given at the castle of Dublin, in Feb. 1770:

done him the favour to receive him the last time that he attended, by your lordship's appointment, for a private audience.

"I wait upon your lordship, by desire of Lord Bellamont, first, to re turn your lordship his thanks for the recommendations to the king with which you honoured him, and for Soon after this, the dominions of which it was his intention to have our ally, the King of Portugal, being thanked you in person, if you had menaced by the enemy, a considerable body of British troops was embarked for the protection of this king dom. Major-general Townshend was selected on this occasion as a pro- "I am further to acquaint your per officer to command the British; Lordship, that Lord Bellamont but having obtained no opportunity thought it his duty not to break in of distinguishing himself, he returned upon your Lordship upon an earlier home, not however without many day, lest he should interrupt you in marks of respect from the King of giving an account of your high comPortugal, and among others, a valua- mission to the King, or in taking an ble diamond ring, which was given account of your own important affairs, to him with the king's own hand. But as your Lordship has now been At the conclusion of the war Ge, twelve days in town, he conceives neral Townshend was nominated lieu- that he may, with propriety, remind tenant-general, under the Marquis of your Lordship of the disrespect Granby, who was appointed master-ge. thrown upon him by the message deneral of the Ordnance. On the death of livered to him from your Lordship, by is father, Mar. 12, 1764, he became your Aid-de-Camp, of which Lord

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