Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

considerable, and they are charitable, but the institution is very rigid; they are forbidden to speak to any person, or to each other; they eat no animal food, drink no wine, sleep on straw, and go bare-footed: we need not wonder therefore that they are not more numerous.

We found out an inn, such as it was, and the people knowing we were from Cadiz, flocked around us enquiring for news? and among other questions, whether we were English or Irish? A postilion, who was in the court, answered for us and said, we were Englishmen by our countenances, but not Christians! For you must know that the Irish, or those under that name, are more highly respected than the English; the people being carefully taught that all the Irish are catholics. We of course left those sages as soon as we could have something like a room provided for us alone; and which accommodation, dirty enough, we had great difficulty to obtain. We or dered dinner, and were supplied with nearly a dozen dishes or plates, of different meat, soup, oils, bouilli, fish, fruit, &c. and some good bottled London porter, which is a great rarity here, and costs about 3s. 6d. per bottle; we had a bottle of sherry wine also, and the whole did not cost a dollar each.

The master of the inn told us that the inhabitants were in hourly alarm lest the French prisoners there, who had formed part of Dupont's army, should break from their confinement, and massacre the inhabitants, as they were guarded only by a few volunteers; as had nearly been the case a few days ago at Lebrifa, a town near this, when one hundred and twenty of the Frenchmen were put to

death in the streets by the populace, in consequence of their ill behaviour, and killing the sentry. The interference and activity of the clergy alone restrained them from massacring the whole of the prisoners in confinement; but the people would not at first listen to the priests, and they butchered the French while they were on their knees, unarmed, and begging for mercy, confounding the innocent with those who were guilty of the tumult. But such is the hatred of the lower classes, at least to the French, and especially when they are sure of victory!

We left Port St. Mary soon after din ner, rather disappointed with the place, as from the harbour we were disposed to expect seeing a handsome town, since the houses appeared so lofty, large, and neatly white-limed. The wind had now become contrary again, aud we were three hours getting back to Cadiz, where we arrived just in time to save ourselves from a night's lodging on board some friendly ship, as the drum was beating at the barrier, which would have bcoa closed in a few minutes.

While we were returning, we observed a bustle among some boats in the bay, at a short distance from us; on enquiring the cause of it, pur boatmen coolly replied that two sailors were terminating a dispute with knives; they were lounging at each other from their boats, while the others were looking on; but we could not learn how the affray ended. On my remarking that English sailors would have referred to a more manly method, at least, with their fists instead of to so cowardly a one as theirs, they said, “Oh, but our method of fighting sooner shews which is the most valiant man."

MEMOIRS AND REMAINS OF EMINENT PERSONS. MEMOIRS of the ancient and noble Family of DOUGLAS; with a BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH of the LIFE of the late Most Noble WILLIAM DOUGLAS, LORD DOUGLAS of Ambresbury in England, DUKE of QUEENSBERRY and DUMFRIES, EARL of QUEENSBERRY, MARCH, RUGLEN, &c. in Scotland, and KX1OUT of the most ancient and most noble Order of the

[blocks in formation]

twice in the arms, proves that in it a subject had allied with the blood of the reigning monarch; while the double tressure, granted by Lyon King at Arms, exactly as it is in the Royal Achieve ment, in consequence of special orders from the sovereign, shews the favour in which it was held at a latter period. In short, so far as birth and antiquity may be supposed at this enlightened period to convey greatness, the Douglasses as suredly possess not only a fair claim, but even high pretensions. In them we behold a long train of illustrious ances◄ tors, distinguished by the highest titles, connected

connected with the most noble families in Europe, in consequence of immediate alliances with the greatest houses in England, Scotland, and France; and matched no less than eleven times with the royal house of Stuart. Nor have the sovereigns of these countries been sparing of their honours; for, in addition to a dukedom, marquisate, and earl dom, in one portion of the United Kingdom, and a barony in another, we find them also to have been dukes of Turenne, counts of Longueville, mareschals of France, &c. &c.

Whether this family originally migrated from the continent, or may be considered as in some respects indigenous to the soil, is not perhaps exactly known. Certain it is, that it became conspicuous in Scotland so early as 770, exactly two hundred and ninety-six years before the Norman conquest. At that remote pe riod, there was no other mode than that of the sword to acquire illustration; arts being then utterly unknown, eloquence unpractised, commerce exhibiting only rude beginnings in the form of an interchange of unwrought commodities; while arms alone, that is to say, the law of the strongest, afforded any pretension to superiority, or exhibited any claim to reward. It was to this then that the family just alluded to, is indebted for its lands, its titles, and even its name.

Those who may be at the trouble, like the author of this article, to read the ponderous but elegant folio edition of the learned and accomplished Buchanan, edited by Ruddiman, will there see that the Douglases occupied the highest stations in the state, were surrounded by a numerous body of follow ers, and sometimes attained even the rank of protector, under the appellation of Pro-Rex. According to a remote tradition, the original ancestor towards the latter end of the eighth century, having restored the fallen fortunes of his king, by gaining a great victory, was rewarded, in compliance with the custom of those times, by a grant of land in the county of Lanark, most probably on the banks of the stream at this day called the Douglas, or Douglas-water, which runs into the Clyde.* Thence we are told was derived the appellation, first of the barony, and then, by a very cominon

"Post Baroniam est Glottiana, (the Clyde.) Amnes nobiliores fundit: a læva Avennum, et Duglassem, qui in Glottam decurrunt, &c.-Rerum Scot. lib. i, 1.9, A.

transition, of the name. Thereto, accord ing to the custom of those early days was built a castle.*

But to proceed to more modern times? in 1888, we find Archibald Douglas denominated, by an eloquent Scottish historian, "Austerus," exhibiting great magnanimity in war, and what was then, and even now is, still more rare, great moderation after victory. He is styled "Duglassiæ Comes;" and we are told, that in 1996, when king David, during a convention of the states, at Perth, made the duke of Rothesay his son, and Robert his brother, dukes, he offered this title in vain to the head of the noble family just alluded to. Here follows the

text:

"Hic vani honoris titulus cum pri mum inter Scotos, magno ambitionis, nullo virtutis incremento est celebratus: nec cuiquam postea feliciter cessit. Comitem etium Duglassic rex voluit eodem titulo afficere, sed ille, ut erat severus, constanter speciem supervacui honoris recusavit."

In 1420, we find another earl of Douglas of the name of Archibald, invited into France by the dauphin, by whom he was acknowledged "Dax Tu ronensis." In 1430, Archibald V. was shut up in the same castle in the same lake (Loch Leven) where Mary, in aftertimes, happened to be confined; he was at length liberated, and in a republican speech addressed to the chancellor, which is denominated "superba respon sio," he denounced both the reigning king and his competitor as tyrants; the elevation of neither of whom could prove serviceable to the state. We afterwards find his successors powerful enough to contend with the Hamiltons, with whom they at length intermarried; but in 1455, one of them was obliged to take refuge in England. Under James IV. they proved once more triumphant; for the earldom of Angus appears to have been annexed to their other titles. At a latter period, we perceive the head of this tribe or clan, nobly refusing to swear fidelity to Edward the First, who cast him into prison. The next heir, soon after fought and overcame a body of English,

1

"Duglassius, Douglas, cognomen Scoticum in multas nobilissimas et fortissimas familias propagatum, quarum omnium olim princeps erat Duglassæ comes, eoque extincto Comes Angusiæ, postea ad Marchionis, ae! non ita pridem Ducis Duglassiæ dignationem, evectus."-Prop. Nom, interpret, ad fin. Buc.

during the feeble reign of his successor; the Scotch parliament, on the accession

in consequence of which, he re-conquered his former possessions: and we behold the family afterwards taking part with Robert Bruce. During the reign of the unfortunate, but too guilty, Mary, George Douglas, earl of Morton, entered into the conspiracy against Rizzio, and acted a most conspicuous part during those unhappy times: in fine, some branch of this family appears to have thenceforth intermingled in all the intrigues, the conspiracies, the tumults, and the wars, of those days, during which, the chiefs seldom died in their beds; while the great body of the people were condemned to spill their blood in quarrels from which they could not possibly derive any profit whatsoever.

On the accession of James I. to the throne of England, the Douglases were courted by that crafty monarch; and we find his majesty sumptuously entertained at Drumlaurig, on his return to the south, in 1617. This residence, sometimes termed a palace, gave a title to its possessor, Charles I. having created him viscount Drumlanrig, April 1, 1628: he was afterwards made earl of Queensberry, June 13, 1633. His second son, sir William Douglas, of Kilhead, was created a baronet in 1663; and from him is descended the heir to, and now the possessor of, the earldom.

Meanwhile, on the death of the first William, the second earl displayed great loyalty to Charles I. on which account he suffered many hardships. On his demise, in 1671, William, the third carl, made a conspicuous figure as a statesman during the reign of Charles II. by whom he was nominated justicegeneral. By James II. he was created, first, marquis in 1632; and in 1684, duke of Queensberry; before which period, he obtained the post of lord treasurer of Scotland: according to Burnet, he was attached to despotic principles, and "loved to be absolute and direct every thing."

James, the second duke, either perceiving the falling fortunes of the house of Stuart, or being actuated by far different principles from the rest of his family, advocated the cause of William III. and, in consequence of this, was taken into favour; for he obtained the office of lord privy seal, and became one of the extraordinary lords of session, and a knight of the garter, in succession. Having exhibited great talents, or at least great adroitness, in the management of MONTHLY MAC. No. 209.

of Anne, we find him a secretary of state. Ile fell into disgrace, however, soon after, on which he and his adherents joined the faction termed the squadrone volante, which was supposed capable at any time of rendering either of the other two parties preponderant. In 1705, however, when the union was resolved upon, both he and the earl of Roxborough, each of whom possessed great influence, and had numerous partisans, were taken once more into favour; and when that grand and most salutary measure was achieved, chiefly by their means, they were eath rewarded with a dukedom. Accordingly, the latter became duke of Roxborough, in Scotland, while the former obtained the English dukedom of Dover; he also exercised the office of third secretary of state, was assigned a pension of three thousand pounds per annum, and had the patronage of all Scotland confided to his charge.

On his demise, his eldest son, who in 1706 had been created earl of Solway, succeeded to the titles and estates; but the. house of lords would not admit him to a seat, in right of his English peerage, as it was then deemed contrary to the articles of Union, although this has been since decided otherwise. By George L. that same nobleman was nominated a lord of the bed-chainber. By George II. he was appointed vice-admiral of Scot land; and in 1762, received from George III. the valuable office of lord justice-general of Scotland. But such is the influence of literature, that the patronage which his duchess lady Catharine Hyde, daughter of Henry earl of Clarendon and Rochester, bestowed on Gay the poet, will be recollected perhaps when the wealth of the Dou glases shall have been dissipated; their titles have become extinct, and their boasted ancestry is forgotten: so much more grateful in the eyes of posterity is the odour of one generous action, cal culated to relieve genius from penury, than the unavailing boast of wealth, the pompous profusion of titles, and all the vain pretensions of blood!

On the death of the duke, without issue (having survived two earls of Drumlanrig, his first and second sons,) October 22, 1778, the titles and entailed estates devolved on his colateral heir male, whose life is the subject of the present memoir. William, earl of March, who, without the wit, seems to

E

Luve

have enjoyed somewhat of the reputation, of the famous earl of Rochester, appears by all the books describing the peerage, to have been born in 1730; but 1724 or 1725, is the more probable epoch. He was third earl of March, a title* created in 1697, expressly for the purpose of ennobling a junior branch of the Douglases, son and heir of William second earl of March, who was second son of William, first duke of Queensberry. This nobleman was a native of Scotland, and resided for some time, while a young man, at Edinburgh: but we never heard that he was brought up at the famous university of that city, or obtained a degree there! Indeed, the reputed gallantries of half a century, have cast a shade on the education of his carlier years, and we have not found any grave presbyterian clergyman standing forth to claim the honour of having been his tutor! Some trivial and paltry accidental circumstance has often given birth, according to the most celebrated biographers, to the pursuits of a great genius; and with an eye to this perhaps, it might be curious to learn from what incident, and under what master, the future hero of the turf imbibed the rudiments of his art. For this branch of knowledge, he was most probably indebted to England, where he came up while yet a youth, and was introduced to court as earl of March. He was immediately taken under the special protection of his countryman, the earl of Bute, who having encreased the bed-chamber lords from twelve to eighteen, either for the purpose of additional state or influence, or perhaps both, lord March was chosen one of that number. He was also nearly at the same time elected one of the sixteen peers of Scotland,, by which a vote was attached to a dependent office, that might be taken away at pleasure. With that condition, his lordship was content; for he never aspired to the palm of eloquence, or the hardihood of independence; being sa tisfied with a simple affirmative to the propositions of all the ministers of the day; and indeed, when he departed from so prudential a line of conduct, it will be found that an immediate dismission en

*This, like other honours, was originally the name of an office, and not a mere titular appellation, as at present. The Douglases were formerly Lords Marches, or, in other words, entrusted with the defences of the Scottish boundaries on the side of England.

sued. Thus, like his ancestors, while yet young, he participated in the forms ană emoluments of the times, with a single exception only; one of them, at least ever since the union, had usually represented the person of his majesty, as commissioner to the general assembly of the kirk of Scotland; but it was not deemed prudent to hazard presbyterian gravity, and we may add, insult presbyterian morals, by such a nomination in regard to their successor. Far different scenes and more congenial prospects opened to his lordship's view: but so degrading have certain pursuits become, that they who might have been crowned with the victor's wreath during the times of the Olympic games, are now considered rather as the appropriate companions of their own stable-boys, than the associate of men of talents.

Sunt quos curriculo pulverem Olympicum
Collegisse juvat: metaque fervidis
Evitata rotis, palmaque nobilis,
Terrarum Dominos evehit ad Deos.

Hor. Od. I, ad Mæcens

In ancient days, the contest was for glory; and although the means were not very noble, yet the object was legitimate: during the present times they are both equally undignified-Money-sordid pell being the sole end and aim. It is now full sixty years since the earl of March distinguished himself by a wager with the celebrated Count Taafe, an Irish catholic, who had spent some time in the service of the house of Austria, and finally beggared himself by this and similar follies. His lordship on that occasion, exhibited the presage at least of that superior skill, enterprize, and saccess, which rendered him conspicuous on the turf during half a century; for, having undertaken to obtain a fourwheeled machine which should travel the space of nineteen miles within sixty minutes, he applied to Wright, in Long Acre, who, by the diminution of weight and friction, the substitution of silk and whalebone for leather, and also in part for wood, contrived a carriage so light, and yet so strong, as to be deemed exactly suitable for the purpose. As for the blood horses, the selection of them, as well as the grooms, was confided to his own judgment, and to prevent sccidents, he took care to conceal the names of both descriptions of animals until the appointed day, when they were regularly entered by the clerk of the course.

Meanwhile, Newmarket having been selected for the experiment, the smooth

est

est mile of the whole race-ground was staked out, and eight or ten horses regularly trained there, to prevent a possibility of disappointment from laineness, accident, or design. On the 29th of August 1750, this contest, on the event of which many thousands were dependent, was finally decided; and the result was, as had been expected, that the Scotch peer proved an over-match for the Irish commoner, who soon after retired in embarrassed circumstances to bis native country. It is to this original match against time, that we are to at tribute all the discreditable attempts of a similar kind in our own days, such as gallopping horses until they are lamed, and trotting ponies until their hearts break, for the gratification of that in. human desire of wealth, which would sacrifice a favourite hackney, or sell a fellow-creature, with equal apathy!

and celebrity, lost large sums, as the victor of Culloden was regularly vanquished by the Scottish courtier. Nor did his learning and skill in vertu exempt Mr. Jennings, the distinguished antiquary, from a similar fate; for notwithstanding the feasibility of the speculation, his Chillaby colts were all beaten by the English crosses of a remoter origin: the latter indeed, does not seem to have profited much by approaching nearer to the fountain-head. Since that period, he has addicted himself to far more noble, because more rational, speculations; the study of books and coins, the enjoyment of pictures and statues, and the acquisition of one of the noblest and most expensive collection of shells that this country has ever witnessed.

In 1756, the earl of March condescended to ride a match in person. Accordingly he appeared on the ground, dressed in his own running-stable livery, consisting of a red silk jacket, a velvet cap, and buckskin inexpressibles; and here again he proved victorious, and came in first at the winning-post, amidst the congratulations of grooms, roughriders, stable-keepers, sharpers, and gainblers, both noble and ignoble.

By the demise of his relative, in 1778, he was elevated to the ducal honours; yet, by this time, his manners were fixed, and his habits had become so inveterate, that the accession of a

Lord March from this moment was considered an adept; and about the same time took a house at Newmarket, which overlooked the race-ground, and not only gave him an easy access to the course, but afforded the ready means of estimating the effect of comparative trials, and thus approximating at least to a knowledge of the muscular powers and constitutional strength, denominated bottom by the cognoscenti, of his four-legged favourites. The earl accordingly colJected a choice stud, and was equally particular in the selection of his groom-splendid fortune, superadded to the highboys, whom he dressed in scarlet; none of whom knew who was to be entrusted, until put into the scales to be weighed. In this particular he acted precisely like many of his contemporaries, but in another circumstance he completely deviated from them. At Newmarket, as well as at Hounslow and Bagshot, the peculiarly apt term of confederate designates a partner in the booty: Charles Fox, we quote the name with reluctance! was connected in this point of view with the late lord Foley; but in respect to the subject of this memoir, we believe he never admitted of any partner; in short, like the present India Company in respect to its ships, and the late Mr. John Manners with his annuities, he was ever his own insurer, running all risks, and concentrating all profits in his own person. Several persons of distinction proved the victims of his superior skill; for to him the great duke of Cumberland, as he was called, both on account of his size

Uncle to his present Majesty.

est dignity in the peerage, could not wean from the low, and it may be fairly added, the avaricious, pursuits of the turf, the representative of a family which could boast of being descended from one namesake of his own, William, created lord de Douglas by Malcolm Caninore, in 1057; and from another, William lord Douglas, who died gallantly at the battle of Agincourt, October 25, 1415.

The current of his life now flowed slowly along in one dull, monotonous, undeviating, undistinguished, course. His winters were spent in town; the spring was dedicated chiefly to the races at Egham, Ascott, Epsom, and Newmarket; while his summers were passed at his seat called Amesbury, in Wiltshire. This ancient house is seated on the banks of the Avon, almost within sight of a Roman camp, and in the immediate vi emity of the stupendous Druid temple called Stonehenge. This would have been a congenial and consecrated soil for the antiquary; and, as Addison was born in the parsonage, and Gay occa❤ sionally

« ZurückWeiter »