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HILE vice, like a torrent,

Earl of Marlborough, December 14, 1702; and the honour and manor of Woodstock, with the hundred of

W pervades every rank, and ele- Wooton, were, in January 1705,

vated station, and diffipated manners, are too generally esteemed fynonimous terms, it is with peculiar pleafure we feel ourfelves enabled to delineate the character of his Grace the Duke of Marlborough; who, though equal in rank and opulence to any fubject, and of courfe as well qualified to obtain the fulleft gratification of every wish, feems to copy the amiable precedent of royalty, and to retain the freedom of a man, and the native independence of a British peer, untainted by example, and unawed by fashion, amidst an age of folly, levity, and corruption.

His Grace is paternally defcended, from a race of ancestors whofe names are facred to patriotifm and their country; and, by the maternal line, from the great and glorious John Churchill, first Duke of Marlborough; whofe amazing victories raised the British name to fuch an eminence, that Envy can never tarnish the laurels he won, or Time confign them to oblivion.

In confequence of the victory of Blenheim, and a train of fucceffes unparalleled in hiftory, the title of Duke was conferred on the then

vefted in his Grace and his heirs for ever; rendering to Queen Anne, her heirs, and fucceffors, every year, for ever, at the Castle, of Windfor, on the 2d of Auguft, one standard or colours, with three fleurs de lis painted thereon, for all manner of rents, and fervices. The Palace of Blenheim was built at the public expence; and five thousand pounds a year, to be paid out of the Poft Office, were fettled by Act of Parliament, to keep it in perpetual repair.

By his dutchefs, Sarah, daughter of Richard Jennings, Efq. of Sandridge, in the county of Hertford, John Duke of Marlborough had one son, and four daughters.

In 1706, the manor and honour of of Woodstock, with the Palace of Blenheim, were annexed by Act of Parliament to the inheritors of his Grace's honours and titles; which, as his fon had died in the preceding year, confequently went to his eldest daughter, Henrietta, Lady of Lord Godolphin, and the heirs male of her body; and then to all the other. daughters fuccefively, according to. priority of birth, and their respective: heirs male.

Lady

Lady Godolphin dying without iffue, the title devolved on the fon of the fecond daughter, Charles Spencer, the fifth Earl of Sunderland, with eight thousand pounds a year of the first duke's eftate; and, on the demife of his grandmother, Sarah, Dutchefs Dowager of Marlborough, on whom the Palace of Blenheim and Manor of Woodstock had been fettled in jointure, he gained a vast acceffion of fortune.

His Grace, who was diftinguished as a man of courage, humanity, and every focial virtue, was, on the 25th of July 1758, appointed commander in chief of all the British forces intended to ferve in Germany under Prince Ferdinand of Brunfwick; and, in the following Auguft, conftituted General over all and fingular the foot forces employed, or to be employed, in his Majefty's fervice. But his Grace did not long enjoy these distinguished honours; dying on the 10th of October, at Munfter, in Weftphalia, from whence his corpfe was brought to England, and buried at Woodstock. By his Dutchefs, Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Lord Trevor, his Grace had iffue three fons and two daughters. George, the eldest, and prefent Duke of Marlborough, (being the twenty-fifth in paternal defcent from his ancefter Robert Defpencer, who came to England with William the Conqueror) and the third who has borne that title, Marquis of Blandford, Earl of Sunderland and Marlborough, Baron Spencer of Wormleighton, and Baron Churchill of Sandridge, a Lord of the Privy Council, Lord Lieutenant and Cuftos Rotulorum of Oxfordshire, a Governor of the Charter Houfe, High Steward of Oxford and Woodstock, Prefident of the Ratcliffe Infirmary at Oxford, Ranger of Whichwood Foreft, Knight of the most noble Order of the Garter, and LL.D. was born on the 26th of January 1739, and fucceeded to the honours and titles of the family on the demife of his father in the year 1758.

Having received a finished, though private education, his Grace fet out

on his travels; and how much his natural tafte and genius were improved by feeing foreign countries, may eafily be judged, from that juft judg ment, elegance of taste, and love of fcience, which the Duke of Marlborough has conftantly difplayed. At the time of the late duke's death, he attended on him in quality of aid-ducamp; and, a few years after, was appointed a captain in the 20th regiment of foot, on his return from his travels, but afterwards refigned.

In April 1760, his Grace was appointed Lord Lieutenant and Cuftos Rotulorum of Oxfordshire; and he was continued in thofe offices by his prefent Majefty, at whofe coronation he carried the fceptre with the cross,

In 1762, the Duke of Marlborough was appointed Lord Chamberlain of the Houfhold; and, next year, Lord Privy Seal. But thefe places he foon refigned. Naturally fond of a domeltic and regular life, his difpofition ill agreed with the buftle and inconvenience of office. Born to independence, and warmly attached to the happieft gifts the can confer, he fought not for gratification from the idle difplay of pomp, the objects of ambition, or the profituted breath of popular applaufe. The honours which have been conferred on him by the favour of his fovereign, or delegated by different communities, derive luftre from their noble poffeffor. Connected with many of the first fami lies in the kingdom, and fupported by immenfe and princely revenues, were his Grace fond of the charms of ambition, and the trappings of state, we have reafon to believe that he might long fince have poffeffed the most important office which a Britifh fubject can enjoy; and every fincere lover of his country will probably join us in the with, that thofe virtues and acquifitions which fo eminently adorn the private nobleman, had been displayed in a ftation where they muft have enfured the higheft credit to his Grace, and confequently have proved of the greatest public utility.

But if we wave the confideration

of

of public advantage, and attend to the wifer determination of his Grace, who will not congratulate him on his choice! who would not wish to imitate his condu&!

Though no statesman, his Grace is nevertheless a warm lover of his

country: being firmly attached to his fovereign; an enemy of faction; and infinitely above the meannefs of unduc influence, either to humour a party, or gratify defigning ambition. In private life, his Grace of Marlborough's character is fo truly amiable, that it is difficult to fay in what he is most excellent. He is an affectionate father; a tender huf band; an indulgent mafter; and a generous patron of merit, induftry, and fcience. His conftant regard to the profperity of the neighbouring aniverfity, and his noble benefactions, fufficiently prove his Grace's love of literature. In feveral of the fublimeft ftudies, the Duke of Marlborough has diftinguished reputation. The elevating fcience of aftronomy in him finds a munificent patron, and an able judge. His Grace has erected and fitted up an elegant obfervatory, on the top of Blenheim; where he devotes great part of thofe hours which are with too many of our nobility fo fhamefully diffipated, in contemplating the works of HIM who tells the number of the ftars, and calleth them all by their names.

The just taste of his Grace needs no eulogium: let the moft frigid obferver vifit his delightful pleafuregrounds, park, and canal, at Blenheim, and he will be compelled to feel an admiration, the acknowledgment of which it will be dificult for him to fupprefs; while every refined and fufceptible foul, on contemplating thefe beautiful fcenes, muft be loft in aftonishment at viewing the chastity of defign, and elegance of execution, fo apparent in all thofe improvements which have been made under his Grace's patronage and in-, spection.

The poor regard him as a father; his vast and continual improvements

employ numbers who would other wife, be deftitute of fupport; and ficknefs or age in his fervice is fure to be comfortably provided for.

The Duke of Marlborough's donations to charitable or public ufes are too well known to need the re

cord of our pen; in the borough of Woodstock, in particular, they will be gratefully remembered by the remoteft pofterity! And his private benefactions are fuch as do honour to the goodness of his heart; and fully convince us, that if indigent merir has ever fuffered the poignancy of neglect, or the flings of oppreffion, in the Duke of Marlborough's neighbourhood, it can by no means be im puted to his Grace.

It is often difficult for the beams of truth to penetrate the manfions of power; but we may fafety affert, that no fingle inftance was ever yet known, where his Grace did not itep forth to relieve the diftrefs with which he was properly made acquainted.

If half the fum expended by this nobleman in real charity, without parade or oftentation, were difpenfed by the hands of those who wish to befeen of men, they might procure the fhouts of the rabble, and the echo of the public; but would they experience the smallest degree of that fatisfaction which pervades the bofom of him who feels a confcioufnefs of doing good from the innate love of virtue! When charity, like the waters of the Nile, fructifies and enriches,. without difcovering it's fource, we may juftly pronounce it genuine.

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Thefe are the qualities which truly ennoble. The fplendid roll of an ceftry, and the founding titles of ambition, are frequently the gifts of chance; but thofe of rectitude of heart are the more elevated honours which Heaven alone can beftow, Rank and dignity, unfullied, juftly claim our refpect: but if his Grace of Marlborough did not poffefs either, his amiable character would ftill entitle him to our warmeft regard.

His Grace married Lady Caroline Rüffell, daughter of John late Duke

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letter written about twenty years fince, to Mr. Millar, the book feller of the lady with whofe memoirs we are now enabled to gratify our readers, and full of eulogiums on her very great abilities, has the following fignificant phrase- Nothing is more public than her writings, no· thing more concealed than her

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As this obfervation ftill maintains great part of it's original force, we have met with no fmall difficulty in obtaining that genuine and fatisfactory information, without which we are refolved nothing fhall induce us to undertake the delineation of any character, however popular, and of courfe however greedily fought after by thofe fuperficial readers who are indifferent as to the facts, provided they receive a temporary gratification of their curiofity. We write, it is true, for the amufement of our readers, but their in formation is our primary object: about the former we are folicitous, but we are determined as to the latter. Mrs. Charlotte Lenox is the daughter of Colonel James Ramfay, who was lineally defcended from the noble and ancient houfe of Dalhoufie in Scotland. Colonel Ramfay's father, befides the command of a troop of horfe, enjoyed a very honourable poft in Ireland; and his mother, whose maiden name was Lumley, was of the Scarborough family. His father died young, leaving three fons; the eldest of whom was Chaplain, General and Judge Advocate of the Fleet, in the reign of King William; the fecond was captain of a man of war; and the youngest, the father of Mrs. Lenox, commanded a company

at the fiege of Gibraltar in the year 1731. In this truly good man were united the brave foldier, the fincere Chriftian, and the true gentleman: beloved and revered while living, his memory is ftill dear to many perfons of high rank and diftinguished worth! After the fiege, Colonel Ramfay fent for his lady; their fami

ly, which then confifted only of a fon and daughter, being left in England for their education. Mrs. Ramfay was fifter to the Reverend Dr. Tifdale of Ireland, the friend and companion of the celebrated Dean Swift, who has mentioned him with much refpect and kindness in several of his Letters. In Gibraltar, fhe had three children, two of whom died; and the youngest, the fubject of thefe memoirs, was ftill an infant, when the regiment in which her father ferved being reduced, he came over to England, where he procured a lieutenancy in the guards, and fome time after obtained the rank of colonel, on being appointed to the command of a company. In this ftation he continued feveral years; but finding it difficult to fupport the appearance which his fituation required, and at the fame time make a proper provifion for his children, (though the fon was already provided for by a genteel legacy from his uncle) he accepted an advantageous poft at New York, where he was fecond in military command to the governor. And here, if he had lived a few years, he might have left his family in the circumftances he fo ardently wished; but, unfortunately, this worthy parent died in less than two years after his departure from England.

Mrs. Ramfay,who was a moft affec tionate wife, could by no means be prevailed on to quit the melancholy spot where the afhes of her husband were depofited: but her fifter, Mrs. Luck ing, of Meffing Hall, the widow of a gentleman of an honourable family and good fortune in Effex, earnestly requesting to have the care of Mifs Charlotte, then about fourteen; the

was

was fent over accompanied by a female relation.

The firft news the young lady heard, on her arrival in England, was the death of her aunt. The only fon of that lady, who was heir to a title and large eftate, having met with a fatal accident, the unhappy mother, on receiving the melancholy intelligence, immediately loft her fenfes, and foon after her life.

The friends of Mifs Charlotte were now preparing to fend her back to America, as foon as a proper opportunity fhould occur: in the mean time, fome of her little compofitions being handed about, they drew upon her the notice of feveral perfons of diftinction. ' :.

Lady Ifabella Finch, in particular, first Lady of the Bedchamber to the Princess Amelia, took Mifs Charlotte under her protection; declaring her intention of placing the young lady about the perfon of that princefs as foon as fhe was a little older, being then under fifteen.

Mifs Charlotte was now conftantly, with her ladyship, or the late, Dowager Marchionefs of Rockingham, fifter of Lady Ifabella: and he was actually preparing to go with the marchionefs into the country, when this connection was diffolved by her marriage with Mr. Lenox; a young gentleman of good family, and genteel education, but whofe fortune, like that of the object of his regards, confifted wholly in hopes and expectations.

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In this fituation, they muft, un questionably, foon have been reduced to great difficulties, if a friend of the young lady had not fortunately reminded her of the poffibility of making fome fubftantial advantages of that genius with which Heaven had fo liberally bleffed her. A bookfeller was accordingly found, who agreed to purchafe her first novel: this was Harriet Stewart, published in De-, cember 1750, which met with a very favourable reception.

Thus encouraged to proceed, our VOL. III.

fair author went earnestly to work; and, in the beginning of 1752, publifhed the Female Quixote, which at once put the indelible feal on her literary reputation. The celebrity of this work was fo great, that the firft: impreffion went off in a few weeks; and one of the most diftinguished writers the world ever faw, with a candour and generofity which add luftre to his character, has acknowledged, in the Covent Garden Journal of the 24th of March 1752, that in many inftances this copy of Cervantes even excels the great original. It is,' indeed,' fays Mr. Fielding, a

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work of true humour, and cannot fail of giving a rational, as well as very pleafing amufement, to a fen-. fible reader, who will at once be inftructed and highly diverted.'

After the Female Quixote, Mrs. Lenox produced her Shakespeare Illuftrated, in 3 vols. A Tranflation: of the Life of Madame de Maintenon, in 5 vols. and The Countess of Berci, an Heroic Romance, taken from the French, in 2 vols.

She next undertook a Tranflation of the Duke of Sully's Memoirs, in 3 vols. quarto, which was published in the year 1756. This celebrated work was dedicated to the late Duke of Newcastle, who received it with: every mark of refpect and confideration; not only making Mrs. Lenox a moft liberal prefent, but kindly obferving that her birth and merit entitled her to Royal notice, declared that he would recommend her to the. king as a person who well deserved a penfion. This, however, Mrs. Lenox very politely declined, in fa vour of her husband; for whom he folicited a place, which the duke promifed to procure him the firft op portunity.

The conftitution of Mrs. Lenox, which was never very strong, became now confiderably impaired by her early and continual application to her pen; but the duke's promise not immediately taking effect, she was obliged to engage in a new and la..

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