BAPTIST NOEL, EARL OF GAINSBOROUGH, WHO died in 1751, had "a Song" ascribed to him in the Morning Herald for Nov. 15. 1786. In Collins's Peerage his lordship's chaplain, in his funeral sermon, speaks of his taste for painting, music, and poetry. [His lordship was born in 1708; succeeded his father, the third earl, in 1714; married Miss Elizabeth Chapman, by whom he left a numerous issue; and died March 21. 1751. 2 His character was drawn by the pen of lavish encomium, in a funeral sermon preached by the Rev. John Skynner, public orator at Cambridge; and may be perused in Collins. According to the orator's report, his virtues and graces appear to have approached perfection; while his skill in music, painting, and poetry; his knowledge in the arts and embellishments of elegant life; and his acquaintance with history and the sciences, rendered him at all times capable of furnishing a polite entertainment both for himself and others, of the same improved and cultivated taste. See Peerage, vol. iii. p. 491. "To speak of him in the more extensive relations of society," adds his lordship's encomiast," he was a true Briton, zealously devoted to the interest of his country, and consequently most inviolable in his attachments to the present royal family. Accordingly, he contributed to the support of those principles when they were in so much danger of being subverted in 1745; and the services he then performed in maintenance of our civil and religious rights were honoured with the express thanks (as they justly merited) of his sovereign." All that I find to have been transmitted of his lordship's poetical accomplishments, is the following song, first printed in 1786, and here copied from Nichols's Select Collection of Poems. 3 "The Persians stretch their votive arms To Phœbus, in his rising state; I gaze on dear Myrtilla's charms, And meet those eyes that dart my fate: "So the fond moth round tapers plays, With joy he hastes into the blaze, He courts his doom, and there expires."] 3 Vol.iv. p. 318. HENRY ST. JOHN, VISCOUNT BOLINGBROKE, WITH the most agreeable talents in the world, and with great parts, was neither happy nor successful. He wrote against the late king, who had forgiven him; against sir Robert Walpole, who did forgive him 2; against the Pretender and the clergy, who never will forgive him. He is one of our best writers; though his attacks on all governments and all religions (neither of which views he cared directly to own) have necessarily involved his style in a want of perspicuity. One must know the man 2 [That Bolingbroke wrote against the king, who had forgiven him, is certain; but that he wrote against sir Robert Walpole who did forgive him, we cannot admit. He wrote against sir Robert because he did not forgive him; and because he prevented his being restored to those honours which he wished to recover. That sir Robert was implacable against him, appears from a speech which he made in the house, and which he concluded with the following imprecation-" May his attainder never be reversed, and may his crimes never be forgotten!" Monthly Rev. vol. xix. p. 567. [The earl of Orrery says, " Lord Bolingbroke had early made himself master of men and books; but in his first career of life, being immersed at once in business and pleasure, he ran through a variety of scenes in a surprising manner. When before one can often guess his meaning. He has two other faults, which one should not expect in the same writer, much tautology, and great want of connexion. Besides his general works, published together since his death in five volumes, 4to. several of his letters are preserved with Pope's, and one or two little pieces of his poetry are extant, for which he had a natural and easy turn. "To Clara;" published in several miscellanies. "Almahide, a Poem." 4 "An Epilogue to Lord Orrery's Altemira." Prologue to Lord Lansdown's Heroic 66 Love." "Ironical Copy of Verses, in praise of the Chef d'Euvre d'un Inconnu, prefixed to that Book." his passions subsided by years and disappointments, and when he improved his rational faculties by more grave studies and reflection, he shone out in his retirement with a lustre peculiar to himself, though not seen by vulgar eyes. The gay statesman was changed into a philosopher equal to any of the sages of antiquity. The wisdom of Socrates, the dignity and ease of Pliny, and the wit of Horace, appeared in all his writings and conversations." Memoirs of Dean Swift. ♦ Printed in the Whartoniana, vol. ii. p. 116. [and in Bell's Fugitive Poetry, vol. xviii. p. 105.] 5 Biogr. vol. ii. p. 219. The initial letters subjoined stand for his lordship's name, titles, and employments, in Latin. The following political pieces are not republished in his works, "A Letter to the Examiner," 1710. It was answered by earl Cowper (of whom I find no other work except his speeches) under this title, 'A Letter to Isaac Bickerstaffe, Esq. occasioned by the Letter to the Examiner.' 6 "The true Copy of a Letter from the Right Honourable the Lord Viscount Bolingbroke;" printed in the year 1715. "The Representation of the Right Honourable the Lord Viscount Bolingbroke;" printed in the year 1715.7 There has also been published in his lordship's name, but I do not know on what authority, a piece called "Reflections concerning innate moral Principles ;" written in French by the late lord Bolingbroke, and translated into English. Lond. Printed for S. Bladon, 1752. 6 [See article of William, earl Cowper, sup. p. 114.] 7 Somers's Tracts, fourth coll. vol. iv. p. 260. |