part of the day; and the principal performers, disciplined with the in the best order, and in the best "These meetings were continued "I cannot conclude this article without observing, that though his lordship's discharge of the public duty necessarily abridged his residence in the country, yet it did not in any degree diminish his zeal for his favourite art. As a proof of which, he soon afterwards took a leading part in laying the foundation of the Concert of Ancient Music, which was framed, as nearly as circumdel stances would admit, after the mo "About this time Randa'e of Catharine-street in the Strand, was engaged in publishing several of the oratorio in score; and whenever any made its appearance that was not much known, it was of course put into a state of preparation for the next meeting. By which means one or two of the sublimest of Handel's works were brought into notice, which had been in danger of falling into oblivion for want of being heard; and one of them in particular became the favourite performance of the week, in preference even ta The Messiah." del of the Hinchingbrook meeting. And it is but justice to his memory to acknowledge, that the celebrated performances at Westminster-abbey owe much of their splendor, and the order with which they were conducted, to the unremitted exertions of his indefatigable mind; whose powers on this, as well as on other occasions, seemed to enlarge themselves in proportion to the magni. tude and difficulty of the enterprises in which he was engaged. liberality of spirit, and purity of sentiment, which commanded the respect and confidence of the people, he was enabled to execute the trust reposed in him more effectua). ly for the benefit of the community. "The further we proceed, the more will our esteem for the noble earl be excited. His constant attendance with his family and domestics on divine worship, in his parish church at Huntingdon, was truly exemplary. He was scrupulously punctual in observing the stated times of service: it being he expresses himself to one of his friends, never to suffer an indivídual, much less a congregation, to "It has been reported by some, who were certainly very little ac quainted with his lordship's way of thinking, that he held the clergy in little or no estimation. Let him speak for himself, and the editor is assured he speaks the real feelings of his heart. I hold the interests of the clergy to be sacred; as sacred as any of those of your lordships: and I shall always think it one of my first duties to do every thing in my power to support those interests, and to contribute to the "Such were the elegant embellishments of bis domestic plan. If we contemplate his lordship in aan invariable maxim with him,' as higher point of view, we see in him an useful, able, and upright justice of the peace. He possessed in an eminent degree those qualifica-wait for him.' tions*, which have been justly considered as requisites for the due discharge of this important office: a quick, clear, and good understand ing; a perfect knowledge of the world; a competent acquaintance with the laws and constitution of his country; a love of justice; and a spirit of moderation:' above all, a perfect indifference to either party brought before him-a quality indispensable in the administration of justice. To these he added, what indeed is inseparably connected with the last-mentioned qualiti-honour and welfare of the minication, an entire and rigid absti-sters of that religion, in which I nence from every thing which bore even the most distant appear⚫ance of profit to himself. He seldom failed to attend the quarterly sessions, and the judges at the assizes, by whom he was always received with the greatest respect. He never spared himself, or thought any trouble too great, where the good of society and the service of the country were concerned. By this was born and bied.' Many calumnies equally unjust were thrown upon the noble earl: but they have all died away; and his name will descend to posterity in its true colours; never failing to raise, whereever it is received, the warmest sentiments of love, esteem, and admiration. ** Lord Sandwich was in every relation of life truly amiable: He Justice of the Prace's Manual, by a Gentleman of the Commission, Leicester, 1771." was a good and affectionate father, a kind master to his servants, most of whom were known to live in his service many years; and some at this day remain in the family, maintain ed under the protection of the present earl. They, who were in the habit of living with him, had every day occasion to observe and admire the sweetness of his temper which showed itself in continual acts of kindness and benevolent attention 10 all around him. His lordship's heart was ever open to the exigences of the distressed; and at all times most ready and willing to administer relief; which he was the more enabled to do by his influence and interest, when in power, than in his individual capacity; his patrimonial estate, particularly in his early days, being too narrow to allow the exertion of his benevolence in the extent which he wished. He was, however, as it were, instinctively disposed to relieve the miseries of life, in whatever shape they presented themselves to his notice. Numberless instances crowd upon the editor's recollection of the happy consequences produced by the habitual exercise of these social virtues. No man was ever more beloved by his acquaintance, friends, and relatives, than lord Sandwich. "But his benevolence was not confined to persons of this description only; it extended to others, who, on the various contests in which he was engaged, opposed him with much vehemence, in the pursuit of objects which he had most at heart. So placable was his disposition, that, when the contest was over, he rendered to many of them essential services; so open to reconciliation, that on the slightest overtures he forgave even those, who, after having received from him the highest obligations, were most forward to assist his enemies, in the virulent attacks so repeatedly made on him while in office. "Ingratitude, though too com→ mon, it is feared, apidst the conflicts of contending parties, must be considered as at all times odious and unpardonable. It appears with ag grivated deformity when exercised towards a man so far from deserving such treatment as lord Sandwich, who was remarkably steady and constant in his friendships, and ever kept his promise inviolate. The editor is happy to relate that his lordship was in a high degree compensated for the ill behaviour of too many, whom he served, by the liberal sentiments of others, who acknowledged with gratitude the obligations which they were under, and were well disposed to make every return in their power. Some, it is well known, were even magnificent in their retribution. "Lord Sandwich, after his retirement, at times attended parliament, and, as has been observed, occasionally spoke. At Hinchingbrook, his favourite residence, he lived in his usual habits of elegant hospitality; kept up an agreeable intercourse with his neighbours ; and was frequently honoured by the company of respectable and noble friends from a distance. He still continued to act as a magistrate, with his accustomed vigilance and ability, with the same advantage to the country. "We are now drawing near to that bourn, which terminates all human action and pursuits. After an interval of little more than seven years, thus spent in the calm satisfactions of a private station, and in the regular exercise of those useful duties belonging to it, a complaint in the bowels, to which his lordship had at times been subject, be came came more than usually trouble some. From about the middle of August to December 1791 the disorder seemed to be gaining ground, and he appeared visibly weakened and wasted by its continuance. At this time he went, by the advice of Dr. Hallifax, who had for some time past attended him, to Bath, to try the efficacy of the waters. Ha ving resided there a few weeks without receiving the expected benefit, he returned to his house in town the latter end of February, 1792. He was not sensible of his danger till within a few days before his death; when some very alarming symptoms convinced his mind, not yet impaired, that his recovery was no longer to be hoped for. He received the intimation with firmness. During even the last stages of his illness he frequently conversed on public affairs, with the same reach of thought and perspicuity of of expression, as he had at any time been accustomed to do. He often spoke with great pathos upon the alarming 6 revolutions then commencing: and once, in so affecting a manner, that his listening friend emphatically exclaimed: You speak, my lord, more like a philosopher and a lord in parliament, than one on the bed of sickness.' This seems to have been the last effort of his exertion. From which, after languishing a few days, he expired 30th April, 1792, with perfect composure and resignation. "Thus closed the scene upon this great and amiable man. The editor has to lament that he has been so little qualified to give a finished portrait of so illustrious a character. If however the outline, which he has been able to sketch, avail in any degree to preserve though but a faint resemblance of the original, his de sign will be so far answered; and he has the satisfaction of having performed a duty, to which he felt himself bound by the strongest ob ligations of gratitude and affection. ate respect." SKETCH of the LITERARY CHARACTER and ATTAINMENTS of SIR WILLIAM JONES. [From SIR JOHN SHORE'S DISCOURSE delivered at a Meeting of the ASIATIC SOCIETY, in CALCUTTA, and inserted in the first Volume of the WORKS of SIR WILLIAM JONES.] "T O define with accuracy the variety, value, and extent of his literary attainments, requires more learning than I pretend to possess, and I am therefore to solicit your indulgence for an imperfect sketch, rather than expect your approbation for a complete description of the talents and knowledge of your late and lamented president. "I shall begin with mentioning his wonderful capacity for the acquisition of languages, which has never been excelled. In Greek and Roman literature, his early proficiency was the subject of admiration and applause; and knowledge of whatever nature, once obtained by him, was ever afterwards progres sive The more elegant dialects of modern Europe, the French, the Spanish, and the Italian, he spoke consider language in any other light than as the key of science, and he would have despised the reputation of a mere linguist, Knowledge and truth were the objects of all his studies, and his ambition was to be useful to mankind: with these views he extended his researches to all languages, nations, and times. and wrote with the greatest fluency and precision; and the German and Portuguese were familiar to him. At an early period of life his application to oriental literature commenced; he studied the Hebrew with ease and success, and many of the most learned Asiatics have the candour to avow, that his knowledge of Arabic and Persian." Such were the motives that in was as accurate and extensive as their own: he was also conversant in the Turkish idiom, and the Chinese had even attracted his notice, so far as to induce him to learn the radical characters of that language, with a view perhaps to farther improvements. It was to be expected, after his arrival in India, that he would eagerly embrace the opportu nity of making himself master of the Sanscrit; and the most enlighted professors of the doctrines of Brahma confess with pride, delight, and surprise, that his knowledge of their sacred dialect was most critically correct and profound. The Pandits who were in the habit of attending him, when I saw them after his death, at a public Durbar, could neither suppress their tears for his loss, nor find terms to express their admiration at the wonderful progress he had made in their sciences. "Before the expiration of his twenty second year, he had completed his Commentaries on the Poetry of the Asiatics, although a considerable time afterwards elapsed before their publication; and this work, if no other monument of his labours existed, would at once furnish proofs of his consummate skill in the oriental dialects, of his proficiency in those of Rome and Greece, of taste and erudition far beyond his years, and of talents and application without example. But the judgment of Sir WilJiam Jones was too discerning to duced him to propose to the government of this country, what he justly denominated a work of national utility and importance, the compilation of a copious digest of Hindu and Mahommedan law, from Sanscrit and Arabic originals, with an offer of his services to superintend the compilation, and with a promise to translate it, He had foreseen previous to his departure from Europe, that without the aid of such a work, the wise and benevolent intentions of the legislature of Great Britain, in leaving, to a certain extent, the natives of these provinces in possession of their own laws, could not be completely fulfilled; and his experience, after a short residence in India, confirmed what his sagacity had anticipated, that without principles to refer to, in a language familiar to the judges of the courts, adjudications amongst the natives must too often be subject to an uncertain and erroneous exposition, or wilful misinterpreta tion of their laws. "To the superintendance of this work, which was immediately undertaken at his suggestion, he assiduously devoted those hours which he could spare from his professional duties. After tracing the plan of the digest, he prescribed its arrangement and mode of execution, and selected from the most learned Hindus and Mahommedans fit persons for the task of compiling it: flattered by his attention, and encouraged by his applause, the Pandits prosecuted |