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BOOK II,
Chap. III.
Book-

of Durham; a princeps Homer to Cyril JACKSON, Dean of Christ Church. Those justly venerated men were his two LOVERS AND dearest friends.

PUBLIC
BENEFAC-
TORS.

THE
COLLECTOR

OF THE

LANSDOWNE

MANU

SCRIPTS.

The next conspicuous donor to the Library of the British Museum was a contemporary of the learned recluse of Queen Square, but one whose life was passed in the thick of that worldly turmoil and conflict of which Mr. CRACHERODE had so mortal a dread. To the Collector of the 'Lansdowne Manuscripts,' political excitement was the congenial air in which it was indeed life to live. But he, also, was a man beloved by all who had the privilege of his intimate friendship.

William PETTY FITZMAURICE, third Earl of Shelburne, and first Marquess of Lansdowne, was born in Dublin, in May, 1737. He was the son of John, Earl of Shelburne in the peerage of Ireland, and afterwards Baron Wycombe in the peerage of Great Britain. The Marquess's father united. the possessions of the family founded by Sir William PETTY with those which the Irish wars had left to the ancient line of Fitzmaurice.

William, Earl of SHELBURNE, was educated by private tutors, and then sent to Christ Church, Oxford. He left the University early, to take (in or about the year 1756) a commission in the Guards. He was present in the battles of Campen and of Minden. At Minden, in particular, he evinced distinguished bravery. In May, 1760, and again in April, 1761, he was elected by the burgesses of High Wycombe to represent them in the House of Commons. But the death of Earl John, in the middle of 1761, called his son to take his seat in the House of Lords. He soon evinced the possession of powers eminently fitted to shine in Parliament. The impetuosity he had shown on the field

Chap. III.

LOVERS AND
PUBLIC
BENEFAC-

of Minden did not desert him in the strife of politics. Book II, Those who had listened to the early speeches of PITT might Bookwell think that the army had again sent them a 'terrible cornet of horse.' So good a judge of political oratory as was Lord CAMDEN thought SHELBURNE to be second only BEGINNING to CHATHAM himself.

TORS.

OF LORD

SHEL

CAREER IN

MENT.

Lord SHELBURNE's first speech in Parliament-the first, BURNE'S at least, that attracted general notice-was made in support PARLIA of the Court and the Ministry (November 3, 1762). Within less than six months after its delivery he was called to the Privy Council, and placed at the head of the Board of Trade and Plantations. This appointment was made on the 23rd of April, 1763. Just before it he had taken part in that delicate negotiation between Lord BUTE and Henry Fox (afterwards Lord HOLLAND) which has been kept well in memory by a jest of the man who thought himself the loser in it. This early incident is in some sort a key to many later incidents in Lord SHELBURNE's life.

AND HENRY

For, in all the acts and offices of a political career, save SHELBURNE only one, Lord SHELBURNE was characteristically a lover of Fox. soft words. In debate, he could speak scathingly. In conversation, he was always under temptation to flatter his interlocutor. In this conversation of 1763 with Fox, SHELBURNE's innate love of smoothing asperities co-operated with his belief that it was really for the common interest that BUTE and Fox should come to an agreement, to make him put the premier's offer into the most pleasing light. When Fox found he was to get less than he thought to have, he fiercely assailed the negotiator. Lord SHELBURNE's friends dwelt on his love of peace and good-fellowship. At worst, said they, it was but a 'pious fraud.' 'I can see the fraud plainly enough,' rejoined Fox, but where is the piety?'

BOOK II,
Chap. III.
Book-

PUBLIC

BENEFAC

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The office accepted in April was resigned in September, when the coalition with the BEDFORD party' was made. LOVERS AND Lord SHELBURNE's loss was felt in the House of Lords. But it was in the Commons that the Ministry were now feeblest. 'I don't see how they can meet Parliament,' said CHESTERFIELD. 'In the Commons they have not a man with ability and words enough to call a coach.'

TORS.

OF LORD

In February, 1765, SHELBURNE married Lady Sophia CARTERET, one of the daughters of the Earl of GRANVILLE. The marriage was a very happy one. Not long after it, he FORMATION began to form his library. Political manuscripts, state papers of every kind, and all such documents as tend to throw light on the arcana of history, were, more especially, the objects which he sought. And the quest, as will be seen presently, was very successful. For during his early researches he had but few competitors.

SHEL

BURNE'S
LIBRARY.

THE SECRE

TARYSHIP

OF STATE.

1766-1768.

On the organization of the Duke of GRAFTON'S Ministry in 1766 (July 30) Lord SHELBURNE was made Secretary of State for the Southern Department, to which at that time the Colonial business was attached. His colleague, in the Northern, was CONWAY, who now led the House of Commons. As Secretary, Lord SHELBURNE's most conspicuous and influential act was his approval of that rejection of certain members of the Council of Massachusetts by Governor BERNARD, which had so important a bearing on colonial events to come.

SHELBURNE, however, was one of a class of statesmen of whom, very happily, this country has had many. He was able to render more efficient service in opposition than in office. Of the Board of Trade he had had the headship but a few months. As Secretary of State, under the GRAFTON Administration, he served little more than two years. His opponents were wont to call him an 'impracticable' man.

Chap. III.

LOVERS AND

PUBLIC

But if he shared some of CHATHAM's weaknesses, he also Book II, shared much of his greatness. And on the capital question BOOKof the American dispute, they were at one. They both thought that the Colonies had been atrociously misgoverned. BENEFACThey were willing to make large concessions to regain the loyalty of the Colonists. They were utterly averse to admit of a severance.

TORS.

OPPOSITION.

Under circumstances familiar to all readers, and by the LORD Shelpersonal urgency of the King, Lord SHELBURNE was dis- BURNE IN missed from his first Secretaryship in October, 1768. His dismissal led to CHATHAM's resignation. SHELBURNE became a prominent and powerful leader of the Opposition, an object of special dislike to a large force of political adversaries, and of warm attachment to a small number of political friends. His personal friends were, at all times, many.

The nickname under which his opponents were wont to satirize him has been kept in memory by one of the many infelicities of speech which did such cruel injustice to the fine parts and the generous heart of GOLDSMITH. The story has been many times told, but will bear to be told once again. The author of the Vicar of Wakefield was an occasional supporter of the Opposition in the newspapers. One day, in the autumn of 1773, he wrote an article in praise of Lord SHELBURNE'S ardent friend in the City, the Lord Mayor TOWNSHEND. Sitting, in company with Topham BEAUCLERC, at Drury Lane Theatre, just after the appearance of the article, GOLDSMITH found himself close beside Lord SHELBURNE. His companion told the statesman that his City friend's eulogy came from GOLDSMITH'S pen. 'I hope,' said his Lordship-addressing the poet-' you put _1773. nothing in it about Malagrida?' 'Do you know,' rejoined November. poor GOLDSMITH, 'I could never conceive the reason why they call you "Malagrida,”—for Malagrida was a very good

Hardy,

Life of Lord

Charlemont,

voli, p. 177.

BOOK II,
Chap. III.

Book

LOVERS AND

PUBLIC
BENEFAC-

TORS.

GROWTH OF

LORD SHEL-
BURNE'S
LIBRARY.

THE CESAR
PAFERS.

THE CECIL

OR BURGH

sort of man.' This small misplacement of an emphasis was of course quoted in the clubs against the unlucky speaker. 'Ah!' said Horace WALPOLE, with his wonted charity, 'that's a picture of the man's whole life.'

Lord SHELBURNE's library profited by his long releasement from the cares of office. He bestowed much of his leisure upon its enrichment, and especially upon the acquisition of manuscript political literature. In 1770, he was fortunate enough to obtain a considerable portion of the large and curious Collection of State Papers which Sir Julius CESAR had begun to amass almost two centuries before. Two years later, he acquired no inconsiderable portion of that far more important series which had been gathered by BURGHLEY.

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Whilst Lord SHELBURNE was serving with the army in Germany, the Cæsar Papers' had been dispersed by auction. There were then-1757-a hundred and eightyseven of them. About sixty volumes were purchased by Philip Cartaret WEBB, a lawyer and juridical writer, as well as antiquary, of some distinction. On Mr. WEBB'S death, in 1770, these were purchased by SHELBURNE from his executors. On examining his acquisition, the new possessor found that about twenty volumes related to various matters of British history and antiquities; thirtyone volumes to the business of the British Admiralty and its Courts; ten volumes to that of the Treasury, Star Chamber, and other public departments; two volumes contained treaties; and one volume, papers on the affairs of Ireland.

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The Burghley papers,' acquired in 1772, had passed LEY PAPERS. from Sir Michael HICKES, one of that statesman's secretaries, to a descendant, Sir William HICKES, by whom

they were sold to CHISWELL, a bookseller, and by him to

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