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vile and ferocious assault that an act of Parliament was passed, constituting it felony, without benefit of clergy, for any person to attempt the life of a privy-counsellor in the execution of his office. A clause was likewise inserted for the indemnification of all those who," in defending Mr. Harley, did give any wound or bruise to the Sieur Guiscard, whereby he received his death."

In 1711 Mr. Harley was advanced to the peerage, by the style and titles of Baron Harley of Wigmore in the county of Hereford; Earl of Oxford and Mortimer; with remainder, in failure of issue male, to the heirs of Sir Robert Harley, Knight of the Bath, his grandfather. On the 29th of May, in the same year, her Majesty conferred upon him the office of Lord High Treasurer; and on the 26th of October, in the year ensuing, he was elected a Knight-Companion of the order of the Garter. The most able helmsman has seldom possessed power to rule with permanent success the stormy sea of politics. His Lordship resigned office on the 27th of July, 1714, just five days before the death of the royal mistress to whom he had proved so just and so capable a servant. The storm once triumphant, every hand was ready to profit by the wreck. Cabal and intrigue pursued their revel; and, on June 10, 1715, the Earl was impeached by the House of Commons of high treason, and various other crimes and misdemeanors. In July he was committed to the Tower, and suffered confinement for nearly two years. A trial then took place, the result of which was an honourable acquittal by his Peers. His Lordship died in the 64th year of his age, A. D. 1724. We are compelled to wave all examination of his political conduct, though we believe that such a scrutiny would tend to the honor of his memory; but it is impossible to avoid reminding the reader that (in direct opposition to the great political luminary which soon after appeared, Sir Robert Walpole,) he was the patron and friend of those literary men on whom the polish of the age depended. The tributes of Pope appear doubly valuable when we consider that they were rendered in opposition to the wish of Lord Bolingbroke, a nobleman who too often obtained an ascendant over the judgment of that writer.

Edward

*

Edward Harley, the second Earl, was only son of the preceding peer. His Lordship married Henrietta Cavendish Holles, daughter and heir of John Holles, Duke of Newcastle, by whom he had issue one son and one daughter. He died in 1741, and was buried in Westminster Abbey. This Lord made many valuable additions to the manuscripts collected by his noble father, especially such as regard the History and Antiquities of England. among which is a curious treasure of original letters and papers of state, written by various princes, statesmen, aud scholars, as well foreign as native. This inestimable collection was for some time carefully preserved at the family London residence in Dover-street, by his widow; but at length her ladyship acceded to the strenuous wish of the whole literary British public, and allowed that Parliament should (in 1754) purchase it for general inspection and benefit.

From failure of male issue, Earl Edward was succeeded by his nephew,

Edward, the third Earl, who had been elected member for the shire of Hereford in several sessions of Parliament. His Lordship married, in 1725, Martha, eldest daughter of John Morgan, Esq. of Tredegar, Monmouthshire, by which lady he had three sons; and, dying in 1755, was succeeded by

Edward Harley, the eldest son, and fourth Earl. This Lord married, in 1751, Susannah, eldest daughter of William Archer, of Welford in Berkshire, Esq. He was appointed Lord of the Bed-chamber soon after the accession of his present Majesty; and, in 1766, was named Lord-Lieutenant of the county of Raduor. His Lordship died in 1790, without heir-male.

Edward, the fifth and present Earl, then succeeded, who was nephew to the preceding Lord, and son to the late Hon. John Harley, Bishop of Hereford. His Lordship was married, at the age of twenty-one, to Miss Scott, eldest daughter of the Rev. James Scott, of Itchin in Hampshire.

Playfair's Family Antiquities, &c.

POPU

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OXFORD,

The classical and splendid metropolis of this county, is seated on a gentle elevation, in the area of an amphitheatre of hills. The rivers Isis and Charwell encompass the city on the east, the west, and the south, ornamenting and enriching the circumjacent valley with meadows of a luxuriant description, while the "wall of hills," beforementioned, shields the city of the Muses from the winds most inimical to health and comfort.

The city of Oxford presents a grand and interesting spectacle from all the neighbouring heights. Its spires, its towers, and various public edifices, display the triumph of learning with grateful magnificence; nor is the effect of these lessened on nearer inspection. The chief approaches to Oxford are particularly good. On the west, the city is entered by a broad and excellent causeway, that proceeds over many elegant modern bridges of

On the north, the traveller finds, as he passes through St. Giles's, a well built street, more than 2000 feet long, and 246 feet broad, in which are two churches, and several public buildings, besides the venerable colleges of Balliol and St. John. The High Street is conspicuously fine, and derives an indescribable interest from the curved direction in which it is formed. Owing to this circumstance, a fresh display of architectural grandeur takes place at almost every step. This street is well paved, and its sides are adorned by the colleges of University, Queen's, and All Souls. The embattled tower of Carfax Church ornaments one extremity, and a bridge of tasteful construction, in addition to the grand and lofty pinnacles of Magdalen College, completes the prospect at the opposite termination. While contemplating this scene we readily admit the words of the legitimate University Poet*, to convey no more than genuine prosaic truth:

* Warton.

"Would

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