The late Lord Bute, who is said to have been in no small degree partial to his countrymen, took the Earl of March under his patronage at an early period of life, and in addition to the situation already alluded to, exerted his influence in another point of view; for in the beginning of the present reign his lordship was elected one of the sixteen peers of Scotland, and continued to enjoy that honour in about six successive parliaments, until it became unnecessary, in consequence of the attainment of an English barony. At length, on the demise of the late Duke of Queensborough, the Earl of March succeeded to that title, and at the same time obtained a very considerable addition to a fortune already ample, particularly a very valuable estate in Wiltshire. Other honours were also showered down upon his Grace, for he was elected a knight of the thistle; he also obtained a place of some emolument, that of Vice-admiral of Scotland, which he afterwards resigned in behalf of his old and intimate friend, as well as opposite neighbour, Lord William Gordon; and in 1786 hét became an English peer, by the stile and title of Baron Douglas. Many jokes have been levelled at his Grace, and some of the diurnal writers seem to have actually lived at his expence; yet he appears to have invariably exhibited a generous forbearance, and was perhaps one of the first to laugh at the bad puns and coarse allusions, which have taken place relative to him. But amidst all the party disputes of the times in which he has lived, and all the rancour and malevolence of contending contending statesmen, we never recollect to have seen the name of the Duke of Queensborough called in question, except during the contest between the court and Mr. Wilkes. On this occasion his Grace's chaplain, burning with all the fervour of holy zeal, imprudently entered the lists with the author of the North Briton, when some of the many darts shot at the black gown of this officious priest, glanced against the ermined robes of his noble patron. Notwithstanding the event that ensued, in consequence of the part taken by his Grace during the regency, he has frequented the levee and the drawingroom with the same assiduity and attention as before; thus exhibiting a marked and decided proof that he had not been induced to repair thither from interested motives, but is swayed now, as heretofore, by love and attachment to the Royal Family. In point of fortune the Duke is affluent, for he not only possesses immense estates, but is said to keep a larger sum of ready money at his banker's* than any other nobleman or gentleman in the kingdom. He has been enabled to obtain a degree of wealth necessary for his independence, by means of a well regu lated œconomy. He is not a churl, however, either in his table or his appearance, for no one entertains his friends with more hospitality, or exhibits a greater number of splendid carriages, well-dressed servants, or rich liveries, upon gala occasions. As to himself, notwithstanding the ravages of a recent illness, and the addition of seventy-three years of age, he still looks hale and hearty, and, when viewed from behind, The amiable and respectable Mr. Coutts, in the Strand. seem of seems to the full as youthful and as alert as many the beaus of the present age. His Grace appears almost every fine morning in front of his house in Piccadilly, sitting in a cane chair in the balcony, enjoying the sight of the passengers; and, if we are to credit report, not wholly insensible to female charms. He resides next door to the Earl of Yarmouth, whose lady was brought up under his immediate inspection, whom he has always cherished with a certain degree of paternal affection, and to whom, if we are to believe report, he intends to bequeath a considerable part of his fortune. Formerly, when it was the fashion to dress in a splendid manner, his Grace complied with the custom of the day; but now that good sense begins to prevail, in respect to the decoration of the person, he conforms to the temper of the times, wisely preferring elegance to tawdry finery. The Duke of Queensborough spends a great portion of the year in the metropolis, and indeed the view of the Green-park from his house can scarcely be excelled in point of mere scenery, by any portion of the kingdom. Having rendered his residence larger and more commodious, by a staircase to the basement story, he may be seen every forenoon either ascending from this, or descending by means of a little iron staircase, to reach his vis-a-vis, ascend his little black forester, or get into a single horse-chaise, which appears to have more of the antico-moderno than any thing appertaining to him. About five o'clock in the sumer he generally drives in a sociable to his house at Richmond, Richmond, which is built on the margin of the Thames, and so situated as to command a beautiful prospect both by land and water: there he spends the evening in festivity, enjoying the sound of music, surrounded by friends male and female, and not unmindful of the second line of the celebrated distich of Martial: "Balnea, Vina, Venus consumunt corpora nostra, His Grace was formerly accustomed to make longer excursions, and to spend several weeks at a time at his seat at Amesbury, in the immediate neighbourhood of Stonehenge; it was once the residence of that Duchess of Queensborough who acquired no common share of celebrity by the patronage of Gay. He is ground-landlord of the town, and also lord of the manor. The house is a noble building, like all those built by Inigo Jones, who was the architect; and the present possessor must be allowed to have made great improvements in the grounds, having not only enlarged them, but planted an adjoining hill, at the foot of which the Avon beautifully meanders, after passing through the gardens. Nor ought it to be omitted, that he has generously appropriated this charming scat to the victims of devotion, and thus proved by a noble action, that if his Grace of Queensborough has not zcal sufficient to found a nunnery, he has at least munificence and generosity enough to protect a few antiquated devotees, who consider seclusion from mankind as absolutely necessary for their salvation! Before we conclude this article, it may not be im proper proper to remark that the Duke of Queensborough possesses a very fine taste for music. He does not, indeed, we believe, like his friend, the late Lord Kellie, who attained an unrivalled excellence on the violin, delight in instrumental, but we know that he is an eminent judge of vocal performance, and has attained such a facility in the science, as to be able to hum the songs and accompaniments of any new opera in his way home from the Haymarket. He himself has also been known occasionally to accompany a lady on the harpsichord, and even to exhilarate the festivity of a convivial meeting by a solo of his own. HER SERENE HIGHNESS THE MARGRAVINE OF ANSPACH. ENGLAND has produced many ladies distintinguished for their exquisite beauty, rare virtues, and excellent good sense; but until the reign of Elizabeth few were noted either for their learning or their genius. Whatever may be said of modern manners, it must be at least acknowledged that modern education has been peculiarly favourable to the disclosure of female talent, and that in point of mental accomplishments, the fair of the present day far excel those of any former epoch. The Margravine of Anspach, born in the month of December 1750, is the daughter of the late Earl of Berkeley, and sister of the present earl. At an early period of life this lady cultivated the Muses, without forgetting .1803-1801. P7 |