In tenderness, simplicity, and elegance, the second specimen that we have selected is, perhaps, unsurpassed in the English language. It is thus introduced by Mr. Russell :

"Another of his favourite melodies was the popular Irish air, "Gramachree." He never heard it without being sensibly

affected by its deep and tender expression; but he thought that no words had ever been written for it which came up to his idea of the peculiar pathos which pervades the whole strain. He said they all appeared to him to want individuality of feeling. At the desire of a friend he gave his own conception of it in these verses; which it seems hard to read, perhaps impossible to hear sung, without tears. He was asked whether he had any real incident in view, or had witnessed any immediate occurrence which might have prompted the lines. His reply was, that he had not; but that he had sung the air over and over, until he burst into a flood of tears, in which mood he composed the words.

“Song.

"(Air-Gramachree.)

1.

"If I had thought thou could'st have died,

I might not weep for thee;

But I forgot, when by thy side,

That thou could'st mortal be;
It never through my mind had past,
The time would e'er be o'er,

And I on thee should look my last,
And thou should'st smile no more!

2.

"And still upon that face I look,

And think 'twill smile again;
And still the thought I will not brook,

That I must look in vain!

But when I speak - thou dost not say,
What thou ne'er left'st unsaid,

And now I feel, as well I may,

Sweet Mary! - thou art dead!

97

No. V.

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE CHARLES

WHITWORTH,

EARL WHITWORTH OF ADBASTON, COUNTY OF STAFFORD; BARON ADBASTON; LORD WHITWORTH OF NEWPORT PRATT, COUNTY OF GALWAY; G. C. B.; A PRIVY-COUNCILLOR; LORD OF THE BOARD OF TRADE AND FOREIGN PLANTATIONS; HIGH STEWARD OF STRATFORD-UPON-AVON; AND D. C. L.

"Dum Spiro Spero."

THE Whitworths are an ancient Staffordshire family. Charles, Lord Whitworth, the eldest of the six sons of Richard Whitworth, Esq., by Anne, niece of Sir Oswald Moseley, a Cheshire baronet, like the late earl, was a very able and celebrated statesman and negociator; having been employed as ambassador and minister plenipotentiary to the several courts of Europe, from the reign of king William until the time of his death, which happened in 1725. In the year 1704, he was sent envoy extraordinary to the court of St. Petersburgh; he appeared in the character of minister plénipotentiary to the diet of Ratisbon in 1714; he was envoy extraordinary to the king of Prussia in 1716; in 1717, he resided in the same character at the Hague; and in 1724, he was nominated ambassador extraordinary to the States General. Like the late earl, also, he was in the year 1720 created by George I., Baron Whitworth, of Galway, in Ireland; and, as if to complete the resemblance, he died without male issue, in consequence of which the title became extinct.

Charles, Lord Whitworth, was succeeded in his estates by his younger brother, Francis Whitworth, Esq.; who, in 1724, removed into Kent, purchased the manor of Leybourne, rebuilt the mansion-house called the Grange, and improved

and embellished the adjoining grounds. Mr. Whitworth was M. P. for Minehead, Surveyor-General of His Majesty's Woods and Forests, and Secretary of Barbadoes; and died in 1743. His son, Sir Charles Whitworth, Knight*, inherited his property; and for many years held the office of LieutenantGovernor of Gravesend and Tilbury Fort. He was a major in the West Kent regiment of militia, and chairman of the Quarter Sessions. He also sat in parliament for Minehead; and frequently presided in the Committee of Supply. On the 1st of June, 1749, Sir Charles married the eldest daughter of Richard Shelley, Esq., Commissioner of the Stamp Office, by whom he had seven children (three sons and four daughters), the eldest of whom is the subject of the following memoir.

The late earl was born in 1754, at Leybourne Grange, but in 1776 removed with his father to Stanmore, Sir Charles having, with his eldest son's consent, obtained an act of parliament which enabled him to sell Leybourne to James Hawley, Esq., M.P. and F. R. S., whose son, Sir Henry Hawley, Bart., now resides at that beautiful seat. Earl Whitworth was educated at Tunbridge-school, under Mr. Cawthorne, the poet, and Mr. Towers, the translator of Cæsar and other Latin classics. Among his school-fellows were Colonel James, of Tytham Lodge, Kent; Christopher Hull, Esq., of Sidcup; and the late Lord Eardley. To the second of these he was fag; and, it is not a little remarkable, that the third was created a baronet whilst at school, which occasioned a holyday and treat, &c. Soon after leaving this academy, Mr. Whitworth became an officer in the Guards. The successful example, however, of his predecessor, Lord Whitworth, appearing to point out diplomacy as the happiest road to celebrity and preferment, it was determined that he should commence that career, which eventually led him to honour and distinction.

After an initiatory trial in a subordinate situation, Mr. Whitworth's first mission was to the court of Stanislaus Augustus, of Poland, where he appeared, in 1786, in the character of

He was knighted in 1768.