when from his previous conduct, the most vigilant and benevolent exertions for the public benefit, were to be expected as the result of his future life. It not unfrequently happened, that the fairest hopes derived from the dawn of life, were disappointed in maturity; but with respect to the noble person alluded to, the hopes which had been afforded in the early period of his life, were confirmed in maturity, in which his character became firmly and decidedly fixed. That noble person came into the possession of high rank and immense wealth at a time of life when he was surrounded by the greatest danger, by those dangers to which persons in his situation were peculiarly exposed, from the seductions of temptation and the influence of flattery: but though thus situated, in the midst of prosperity, his character, his mind, acquired all the firmness and energy which could be derived from adversity. There never was a man who gave himself up more completely to the public good to that he was continually looking in all his actions; that was the sole object of his life. Enjoying a splendor almost princely, still every selfish consideration was postponed, whilst the good of others formed the constant object of his wishes and his exertions. It was frequently remarked that people grew wiser as they grew older; it often happened however that as they advanced in years, they lost some of that warmth of feeling by which they had been actuated at an earlier period of life. Not so with the noble person he was now alluding to, no man ever cultivated any favourite science, or pursued any art, or followed any trade, with more solicitous and assiduous industry, than that noble person did the art of doing good; whilst he improved every day not only in that, but in the most generous warmth of feeling. The great value of his character was his desire of public utility, the great object of his life, the public good. Instances were not wanting, or unknown; to mention, however, only one-the agriculture of the country, it was well known, was more indebted to him than to any other man. With respect to the politics of that noble person, he found some difficulty in speaking of them before such an assembly, as his political principles were those for which, though he might think he was entitled to the highest praise, yet others might think they demanded an apology. He believed there were few, however, who would not sometimes confess that their adversaries were entitled to admiration and esteem. If in Rome a descendant of the family of Claudii was permitted to be aristocratical, in his opinion surely it might be allowed to one who bore the name of Russell to cherish the political principles of his ancestors. He could not forget that his ancestors had been attached to liberty; but whatever might be his opinions, his conduct had been firm and patriotic, manly and sincere. He now came to the close of what he had to say, and those who were solicitous to see the perfection of the human character, would find that the death of this great and good man was conformable to his life. It might have been expected that his thoughts would have been concentrated in the extreme bodily torture which he endured, and in that awful event to which he had to look forward; he died, however, as he had lived, regardless of himself, and only solicitous to make those arrangements which might conduce to the happiness of others. He did not wish, in saying what he had said of the noble person, whose death was so deservedly lamented, merely to strew flowers upon his grave, but to raise a monument to his fame in the memory of all around, that they might relate his virtues and his actions to their children, and talk of them to their friends. He concluded by moving, "That the speaker do issue his warrant to the clerk of the crown, for a new writ for the borough of Tavistock, in the room of Lord John Russell, now Duke of Bedford." Mr. Sheridan seconded the motion, which was agreed to. His next brother Lord John, succeeded him, as SIXTH DUKE OF BEDFORD. He was born July 6th, 1766, and while a commoner represented Tavistock in parliament. He married, first, at Brussels, March 21st, 1786, Georgina Elizabeth, second daughter of Viscount Torrington, by whom he had, first, Francis Marquis of Tavistock, born May 13th, 1788; second, Lord George William, born May 8th, 1790, a lieutenant in the first regiment of dragoons; third, Lord John, born August 19th, 1792. Their mother died October 11th, 1801; and his Grace remarried, June 23d, 1803, Lady Georgina Gordon, daughter of Alexander, present Duke of Gordon, by whom he has a son, born May 18th, 1804; and another son born April 24th, 1805. His Grace, in 1806, was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, which he resigned in spring 1807. Titles. John Russell, Duke of Bedford, Marquis of Tavistock, Earl of Bedford, Baron Russell of Cheyneys, Baron Russell of Thornhaugh, and Baron Howland of Stretham. Creations. Baron Russell of Cheneys, in com. Bucks, by letters patent, March 9th, 1538-9, 30 Henry VIII. Earl of the county of Bedford, January 19th, 1549-50, 3 Edward V1. Baron Russell of Thornhaugh, in com. Northampton, July 21st, 1603, 1 Jac. I. Marquis of Tavistock, in com. Devon; and Duke of the county of Bedford, May 11th, 1694, 6 William and Mary; and Baron Howland of Stretham, in com. Surry, June 13th, 1695, 7 William III. Arms. Argent, a lion rampant, Gules; on a chief, sable, three escalops of the first. Crest. On a wreath, a goat passant, Argent, armed, Or. Supporters. On the dexter side a lion, on the sinister an antelope, both Gules; the latter gorged with a ducal collar, chained, armed, crested, tufted, and hoofed, Or. Motto. Che sara sara. Chief Seats. At Wooburn Abbey in the county of Bedford; at Thorney, in the Isle of Ely; at Cheneys in the county of Bucks; at Bedford House in the city of Exeter; and at Stretham in Surry. • See an Account of it in Pennant's Journey to London. THE potent and illustrious family of CAVENDISH, of which in the last century two branches arrived at Dukedoms, laid the foundation of their future greatness; first, on the share of abbey-lands obtained at the dissolution of monasteries, by Sir William Cavendish, who had been gentleman usher to Cardinal Wolsey, who died in 1557; and afterwards by the abilities, the rapacity, and the good fortune of Elizabeth, his widow, who remarried George, Earl of Shrewsbury, and died in 1607, æt. eighty-seven. But though from hence originated the superior property and rank which this family still enjoy, let it not be supposed that their remote ancestors were obscure. Whether the first of this name who possessed the Lordship of Cavendish in Suffolk, was, or was not, the son of one of the Baronial family of Gernon, a a The following account of the Gernons is given by Collins: 2 The Gernons were of great note in the counties of Norfolk and Essex, being lineally descended from Robert de Gernon, a famous Norman, who assisted William the Conqueror in his invasion of this realm, A. D. 1c66; and in reward of his services, had grants of several lordships, particularly of the manors of Merdley, three hides of land in Wallington, two hides and a half in Aiot, one hide in Wimundeley, and the manor of Lechworth, rated at ten hides, all in Hertfordshire. This Robert de Gernon gave to the church of St. Peter, in Gloucester, the church of Winterbourne, as also the church of Laverstoke, and half the lands thereto belonging, to the abbey of Gloucester, which was confirmed by King Henry I. in the time of Peter the abbot. His son and heir, Matthew de Gernon, was one of the witnesses to the a Domesday-book, folio 137, 138. b Dugdale's Monasticon Ang. vol. i. p. 120. Ibid. vol. i. p. 883. 16. b. whom genealogists have stated to have owned that estate, it is demonstrably proved that Sir John Cavendish, who obtained the b charter of William de Montefichet, of the donation of divers lands to the priory of Stratford Langton in Essex, founded in 1135, and gaved also himself to the said priory, his lands of Gubige. He had to wife Hodierna, daughter and coheir to. Sir William Sackvile, second son of Herbran de Sackvile, and brother to Sir Robert Sackvile, lineal ancestor to his Grace the present Duke of Dorset; by whom he had issue Ralph de Gernon. Which Ralph was a witness (with William Earl Warren, and others of prime note) to the charter of King Henry II. made to the abbey of Bungey in com Suff. dated at Bromholm in 1167, the thirteenth year of his reign; and by his wife, who was sister to Sir William de Brewse, Knight, had issue a son of his own name, Ralph de Gernon, founder of Lees priory in Essex, who departed this life in 1248, leaving issue William his son and heir. Which William de Gernon, Knight, was a witness, with William Earl of Albemarle (and others of great note) to the confirmation charter of King Henry III. to Basedale priory, com. Ebor. dated at Durham, on September 10th, 1236, and deceasing in 1258, left issue, by the Lady Eleanor his wife, k two sons, Sir Ralph de Gernon, Knight, whose line terminated in females; and Geoffery de Gernon, ancestor to the Cavendishes. Which Geoffrey was wrote of Moorhall in the Peak in com. Derb. in the reign of King Edward I. and was succeeded by Roger his son and heir, seated at Grimston Hall in Suffolk, who departed this life in 17 Edward II. and whom Collins pretends to have married the daughter and heir of John Potton, Lord of Cavendish in the same county, and to have had issue John, Roger, Stephen, and Richard, who all took the name of Cavendish, as was usual in those times. b Sir William Dugdale had said in his Baronage, that "this family was derived from the Gernons, which being seated at Cavendish in Suffolk, assumed that place for their surname. Collins went farther and said, "that the chief justice was eldest son of Roger de Gernon," who, he says, “married the daughter and heir of John Potton Lord of Cavendish." In the eleventh volume of the Archaeologia, is an article by Thomas Ruggles, Esq F.A. S. intitled, "Notices of the manor of Cavendish in Suffolk, and of the Cavendish family while possessed of that manor." From the opening I fully expected that it was intended to prove that the family of Cavendish of Chatsworth, were not in truth allied to those who possessed the lordship of that name. But it is so far from this, that it proves by new and original documents their immediate descent from thence: Its object is to establish, and it does seem to establish, that the chief justice obtained the manor of Cavendish Overball by marriage with the heiress of Odynseles, and not by descent from any mar d Dugdale's Monasticon Ang. vol. i. p. 49. b. • Vincent's Disc. of Brook's Errors, p. 679. f Monastic Angl. vol. i. p. 120. 8 Ex ejusdem Familiæ. stemmate. A Monasticon Angl. vol. ii. p. 362. lib. 51. Ibid. vol. i. p. 841. 1 Ibid. * Segar's Baronage, MS. |