He survived his Father little more than four years; during which period he enjoyed but an indifferent state of bodily health. His mental faculties, however, were, to the last, strong and unimpaired; his manners truly elegant; his conversation always sensible and pleasant; and his epistolary correspondence[54] lively and facetious.
His death is thus recorded on an upright stone on the West side of Kensington church-yard:
"Samuel Pegge, Esq.
died May the 22d, 1800, aged 67 years.
Martha, Wife of Samuel Pegge, Esq.
died June 28, 1767, aged 35 years.
Charlotte-Anne, the only Daughter
of Samuel and Martha Pegge,
died March 17, 1793, aged 31 years.
Mrs. Christiana Pegge died July 1, 1790."
To Mr. Pegge, we are indebted for the foregoing circumstantial Memoir or his very learned Father; and for several occasional communications to the Gentleman's Magazine.
But his principal Work Was intituled, "Curialia; or, an Historical Account of some Branches of the Royal Household[55];" Three Portions of which he published in his life-time:
Part I. consisted of "Two Dissertations, addressed to the President of the Society of Antiquaries, London; viz. 1. On the obsolete Office of the Esquires of the King's Body. 2. On the original Nature, Duty, &c. of the Gentlemen of the King's Most Honourable Privy Chamber, 1782."
Part II. contains "A Memoir regarding the King's Honourable Band of Gentlemen Pensioners, from its Establishment to the present Time, 1784."
Part III. is "A Memoir respecting the King's Body-Guard of Yeomen of his Guard, from its Institution, A. D. 1485; 1791."
During the remaining period of his life, Mr. Pegge amused himself in preparing several other Numbers of his "Curialia" for the press; the materials for which, and also his "Anecdotes of the English Language," he bequeathed to Mr. Nichols; who printed "The Anecdotes of the English Language" in 1803. This Work having been noticed with much approbation in the principal Reviews, and very favourably received by the Publick at large, a Second Edition (corrected and improved from his own detached MSS.) was published in 1814. To this Edition was added, "A Supplement to the Provincial Glossary of Francis Grose, Esq." compiled by Mr. Pegge.
In 1806 Mr. Nichols published Two additional Numbers of the "Curialia:"
Part IV. "A History of Somerset House[56], from the Commencement of its Erection in 1549."
Part V. "A Dissertation[57] on the ancient Establishment and Function of the Serjeant at Arms."
The further continuation of that interesting work was broken off by the melancholy accident mentioned in page v.