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returned to England, and as a reward for his many signal services, his Majesty was pleased to invest him with the insignia of the order of the Bath, which he so well merited.

In 1783, his regiment (the eighty-ninth) was disbanded, in consequence of the reduction of the army at the peace; but his Majesty gave him the command of the seventy-third, or Highland regiment, one of the five new corps raised in 1787 to serve in the East Indies.

On the 12th of October, 1793, he was made a lieutenant-general, and in November 1796 he was removed from the seventy-third to the command of the seventh dragoon guards, in which he had served both as a captain and major. At the brevet promotion of the 1st of January 1798 he was made a general, and governor of the Isle of Wight. During the late war he was constantly on the staff, and commanded one of the districts in England.

After the Marquis Cornwallis had resigned the viceroyship of Ireland, and the command of the forces in that part of the united kingdom, it was necessary he should be succeeded in the latter situation by an officer of talents and reputation. His Majesty accordingly thought none more worthy of that appointment than General Sir William Medows: his commission bears date June 9, 1801. He soon after went to Ireland, and was sworn in a member of his Majesty's most honourable privy council there.

In that country he remained until a short time since, when we believe at his own request he was

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allowed to resign, and has been succeeded by Lieutenant-general Fox. While in the high office alluded to, his attention to the duties of it, and that too at the conclusion of a long war, was unremitting, and, as on former occasions, highly honourable to him.

By his appointment as commander of the forces, he became governor of Kilmainham hospital, near Dublin, where he resided; and on every occasion shewed that humane disposition he is conspicuous for, to relieve or anticipate the wants of the pensioners in it. His frequent visits to them when at dinner, and the inspection of the messes, bedding, and interior œconomy of these brave veterans, forms a noble trait in the character of this gallant officer, and must make his retirement justly regretted.

Such are the actions of General Sir William Medows, during a period of near fifty years that he has served his King and country, and his character well merits a place in this work, as it is eminently conspicuous for honour, courage, humanity, and virtue.

MR. ALMON.

In arbitrary monarchies we hear only of statesmen, nobles, and men of the sword, because ministers and generals alone occupy situations of eminence, and engage the attention of the public. But in mixed or free governments, the case is widely different; for every one who contributes to the benefit of the state, or adds to the stock of knowledge, by his talents or his information, becomes an object of consideration and curiosity

curiosity on the part of the people. In the course of this publication we have frequently brought forward men from the shade of retirement, whose works were far better known than their characters; upon the present occasion, we introduce a man connected by his writings and his abilities with the politics of this country, and who, like Nicolai of Berlin, has united the profession of a man of letters with that of a bookseller.

Mr. John Almon was born at Liverpool, in Lancashire, about the year 1738, and received his education at Warrington, near Liverpool. In or about the year 1748 he was put apprentice to Mr. Williamson, bookseller, of Liverpool, by his uncle, his parents dying when he was very young. In 1756 he went abroad, and visited several parts of Holland, France, Italy, Spain, and Africa. In 1758 or 1759 he returned to England, and came to London, where he soon became known to several of the wits of the day. His first literary acquaintance was Dr. Goldsmith, who at this time was writing his "Bee," which none of the writers of Goldsmith's life have mentioned. It was published in numbers by J. Wilkie, in St. Paul's Church-yard. Mr. Almon was afterwards intimate with the Rev. Mr. Charles Churchill the poet, Mr. Robert Lloyd, together with the celebrated John Wilkes, Esq. and many more.

His first literary production, at least the first that was acknowled by him, was a pamphlet entitled "The Conduct of a late noble Commander examined ;" alluding to the behaviour of Lord George Sackville at

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the battle of Minden. It was published in the month of September, 1759, by S. Fuller, near St. Martin'sle-grand, and went through two editions.

His next work was "A Military Dictionary," a volume in folio, published in weekly numbers; "containing a circumstantial account of the most remarkable battles and sieges, by sea and land, from the reign of Charlemagne to the year 1760."

At the beginning of the year 1760, the late Mr. John Newberry and other booksellers entered into a resolution to bring out a new daily newspaper. At that time there were only three of this description in London, viz. the Daily Advertiser, printed by J. Jenour; the Gazetteer, by C. Say; and the Public Advertiser, by W. Woodfall; all sold at twopencehalfpenny each. The new paper alluded to was called "The Public Ledger," the first number of which was published on the 12th day of January 1760. Mr. Newberry engaged Dr. Goldsmith to furnish articles, and in it originated his "Chinese Letters;" the first letter was printed on the 24th day of January 1760.

The design of this new paper was acknowledged by its proprietors to rival the Gazetteer. This avowal alarmed Mr. Say, the printer, very much; he therefore, without any loss of time, engaged Mr. Almon, at a handsome salary, to assist him, That gentleman accordingly wrote much, under various signatures. The letters signed "An Independent Whig" were all his productions, as well as many of those on the resignation of Mr. Legge, Lord Temple,

Mr.

Mr. Pitt, afterwards Earl of Chatham, the Duke of Newcastle, the Duke of Devonshire, and upon other political topics. These, with many others connected with them, were collected and reprinted twice, first in four volumes small duodecimo, and next in two volumes octavo, under the title of "A Collection of interesting Letters from the Public Papers."

His pen, however, was not entirely confined to the newspaper. Upon the death of King George the Second, which happened in the month of October 1760, he wrote " A Review of his Majesty's Reign," which was published in February 1761, in one volume octavo, and went through two editions. A few days after the publication of it, the Duke of Bedford sent Mr. Butcher, one of his stewards, to Mr. Wilkie, bookseller, in St. Paul's Church-yard, who was the publisher, on purpose to find out the author. Mr. Wilkie answered, that he was not at liberty to disclose the name, but would inform him of the Duke's message; however, Mr. Almon did not chuse to go to his Grace, because the Duke had recently attached himself to Lord Bute, and Mr. Almon had already espoused the other side.

In the month of October 1761, Mr. Pitt, afterwards Lord Chatham, resigned the office of secretary of state. The success which the Review of the Reign of George the Second had met with, induced Mr. Almon to write " A Review of Mr. Pitt's Administration," which he dedicated to Earl Temple; it was a thin volume in octavo, and went through no less than four editions. His Lordship was so well pleased

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