CHAPTER XXI.
An insertion here occurs in the manuscript, which has the appearance of having been written at a subsequent period, and introduced in this place, as if to preserve something like chronological accuracy.
“The man of whom a concise account is now about to be given, in every respect, whether we consider his talents, his virtues, or his fortunes, merits a more circumstantial detail, and a better biographer. His father was a very respectable tradesman in a provincial town, where he arrived at honours, bestowed only on the most eminent and most opulent citizens. However, from some cause or other, when he died, his property was found inadequate to the maintenance of a son and a daughter. The son was destined for the law, and placed with an eminent attorney, but soon becoming tired of the drudgery of the desk, he went into the army; and the daughter was taken under the protection of a wealthy family, from which she afterwards happily married. The person of whom we are speaking had a commission in the Marines, and was in all Lord Rodney’s celebrated battles. He has been heard to describe with extraordinary pathos and effect, as the sublimest spectacle, and at the same time the most terrible, he ever witnessed, the blowing up of the seventy-four Spanish ship in the battle with Don Langara, in the Bay of Gibraltar. He served as Lieutenant under Captain Macbride, in the Bienfaisant. A detachment from this ship was employed to take possession of the Spanish Admiral Langara. Langara was pleased with the courtesy and gallantry of this young man, and an acquaintance, indeed friendship, took place, of which he reaped the advantage almost twenty years afterwards.
He was, when on some military service, taken prisoner in the Mediterranean, and brought to Langara, who immediately recognized his quondam acquaintance, and offered him every indulgence in his power. The Englishman requested that his papers might be preserved without injury, which his official situation rendered highly important The request was not only complied with, but after treating him with the greatest kindness and hospitality, Langara gave him his release.
Finding, that in spite of all his activity and exertions, promotion in the department of the Marines was very tardy and very precarious, he quitted this line of service. He afterwards went to the West Indies with General Bruce, as his Secretary. His gentle and conciliating manners made friends wherever he went, and he was recommended by General Bruce to his relative Lord Elgin, who was then English Minister at the Court of Brussels. On coming over to England with dispatches, he was, in an evil hour to him, introduced to the patronage of a very great man; from which patronage flowed all the troubled waters in which he was ever afterwards immersed, and finally sunk.
He was much too honest and simple for a court. His talents were discerned and acknowledged—his manners were admired; but his incorruptibility was his ruin. He was appointed, with certain coadjutors, to a very responsible situation in a foreign country. He had various accounts of foreign Princes to check, and, in the simplicity of his heart, conceived that his first duty was to watch the interests of his country. In the accounts of one foreign Prince he detected a trifling error of 1200l. With great delicacy and respect, he ventured to communicate the circumstance to his Highness. Sir, replied the Prince with great indignation, did you think I was bred in a counting house? In short, the evidence of his probity, and of the want of it in those with whom he acted, is alike irrefragable: nor have the accounts in which he was concerned with others, to the amount of more than half a million, ever yet been duly balanced.
Whilst abroad, he was much noticed by Sir Charles Stuart, brother to Lord Bute, who had the command in Portugal. This gentleman was so much impressed with the accuracy and excellent precision in which his military accounts were kept, that he wrote home in his favour, and recommended the general adoption of his plan.
He embarked with the fleet under Lord Nelson, when he went to Egypt, but separated from him at Marmora, and went to Constantinople. Here he renewed his acquaintance with Lord Elgin, and travelled through Greece with Mr. and Mrs. Nesbit, parents of Lady Elgin.
On his return to his native country, he gave a memorable example of the most inflexible integrity, which nevertheless served to embitter the remainder of his life. He was required by some individuals with whom he was connected in service, to do that with his and their common accounts, which it may be presumed they thought compatible with rectitude, but which to him seemed disreputable and dishonest. Notwithstanding repeated importunity of friends, the most flattering invitations, and splendid promises, he continued firm and immoveable, and pertinaciously resisted every effort and every offer. As his seeming obstinacy had a tendency to implicate some individuals of high station, in what would have had but an awkward appearance, if any parliamentary enquiry had been set on foot, attempts were made to prevail upon him to accept of a lucrative appointment abroad. But this also he constantly refused, from the manly impression that it would look like shrinking from the investigation of truth; and he also thought that artifice, fraud, and self-interest, might be exerted in his absence, to do that with respect to his accounts, which never could take place, when he was present to explain or refute.
But the continued vexation and chagrin arising from this perpetual contest with eager and powerful opponents, added to the effects of laborious service in hot climates, at length had a serious effect on his strength and constitution. He retired from the noise and tumult of the metropolis to his native place, where he flattered himself with the hope of spending a few tranquil years with a daughter whom he loved, and in the society of a few friends whom his spirit, his integrity, and his accomplishments had conciliated. But it was unfortunately too late—he died in the interval of a few months after the last object of his wishes was placed within his view. Few lamented him more than he who pays this affectionate, though fleeting tribute to his memory. His mind, as has before been remarked, was uprightness itself; and though in many hard fought contests, both by sea and land, he had given the most unquestionable proofs of his bravery, he was particularly mild, gentle, and unassuming. He had withal, a remarkably fine taste in the arts, and for painting more particularly; and having preceded the great ravager Bonaparte, and his myrmidons, in his excursion to Italy, he, by honest means, though for perhaps little money, obtained some very choice and valuable curiosities of art, both in sculpture and painting, from the finest galleries at Rome, and the most splendid collections of Naples, as well as in other places.
Several of these specimens adorn the best Collections in this country. One of them in particular, strongly exemplifies the perverse fortune which seemed invariably to accompany him. The picture he most valued and esteemed, was one from the Villa Albani, at Rome. It was indeed exquisite, and, as since acknowledged, the undoubted production of a very great master. Unfortunately for its owner, circumstances required a supply of ready money.—He trusted to the force of truth and nature, and so confided in the intrinsic merit, and obvious excellence of the composition, that he sent it without any sort of restriction or reserve, to a celebrated auction-room. He was too proud and too honest, to resort to the usual methods on such occasions, and left his picture to its fate. On its exhibition, the dealers affected doubt and suspicion as to its being a genuine picture of the master to whose pencil it was assigned; and this so far prevailed, that an opulent tradesman, from the pure emotion of feeling, and the impulse of natural taste, was allowed to carry off the prize for the small sum of three hundred pounds. But the picture had excited curiosity; and these same dealers, on its being removed beyond their reach, went to visit and examine it again.—It is not long since, that one of these gentlemen sent to offer twelve hundred pounds for the picture, which was refused.
Not unworthy of recital with respect to this personage, is an accident which once happened to him, and which nearly cost him his life:
He was on a shooting party with an old general officer, and in a spot, access to which they mutually presumed could not properly be denied them, in beating a small covert, our young friend (for such he then was) trod upon a man-trap, which caught him in the leg. He was unable to extricate himself, but luckily his friend was at no great distance. By their joint efforts he was released, but he was most severely lacerated, and it was a very long time before be effectually recovered. But let us now turn into another path.
Partes autem quibus eruditi homines censeri vel maxime solent, saltem ut e multis aliquas afferamus, sunt, acuta inventio, rei obscuræ explicatio, inveterati erroris depulsio, multijuga lectio, locorum in priscis scriptoribus corruptorum emendatio, dicendi elegantia et nitor, atque alia his cognata.