No. XX.

RIGHT HON. SIR JOHN M MAHON, BART.

A MEMBER OF HIS MAJESTY'S MOST HONOURABLE THE PRIVY COUNCIL; LATE PRIVATE SECRETARY, SECRETARY-EXTRAORDINARY, AND KEEPER OF THE PRIVY PURSE, TO HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCE REGENT, &c. &c. &c.

THE

HE fate and fortune of the subject of this memoir has been not a little extraordinary; for without the possession of any shining talents, or extraordinary accomplishments, either of mind or body; and although unaided by birth, alliances, and family connexions, he attained not only a high rank in the state, but died possessed of no inconsiderable share of wealth, favour, and honours.

Sir John McMahon was a native of Ireland; being the eldest son of Mr. John M'Mahon*, who was originally bred in the family of Robert Clements, Esq. of the county of Leitrim, a gentleman of considerable fortune and influence in the sister island. His mother resided for many years also, in the same house. Thus coming into the world, while perhaps both his parents were in great obscurity, who could have contemplated the future fate of this boy? Who could have dreamed of his future rise? Who would have dared to prognosticate that he himself should have lived to confer places, and titles, and honours? That he, for many years, should have possessed the entire confidence of his Prince; and ranked with privy counsellors, nobles, and grandees? But in a free country, birth is a secondary consideration.

* Mr. McMahon, Senior, afterwards married Miss Mary Stackpole, the daughter of a respectable merchant of Cork, by whom he had two children, now baronets; while his eldest son was both a baronet and a privy counsellor. The father died in 1789, at which period he was Patentee Comptroller of the port of Limerick.

Born about the year 1754, young M'Mahon received such an education as seemed befitting for his station in life. At a riper age, he repaired to Dublin, and we have been informed by one of his cotemporaries, that he obtained, perhaps through the interest of the family of Clements (who were afterwards ennobled, and became in succession, Barons, Viscounts, and Earls of Leitrim), some little post under government. We are ignorant of the cause, but certain it is, that Mr. M'Mahon emigrated soon after to America, and applied to a Scotch gentleman, who was then raising a provincial regiment, afterwards called the "Pennsylvania Rangers," for an ensigncy in that corps. Lieutenant-Colonel James Chalmers (the gentleman alluded to) declined his services, but he, at the same time, pointed out "his countryman Lord Rawdon (since Earl of Moira and Marquis of Hastings) as a more proper person to apply to." This officer lived long enough to see him a great man, and was afterwards accustomed to tell this story at his table in Chelsea, always adding, "my refusal and my hint made this young fellow's fortune."

Having solicited the nobleman mentioned above, Mr. M'Mahon soon after obtained a stand of colours, and in the course of a few months became a great favourite. He was present at all the actions and skirmishes in which Lord Rawdon happened to be engaged in the Trans-Atlantic continent, most of which were fortunate and even successful. At one period, indeed, they penetrated into the southern states, and high hopes were entertained that some great changes might be effected by their gallant achievements. But they did not succeed in any degree equal to their wishes, and, perhaps, to their merits; yet it must be allowed, that their operations were far less disas→ trous than the two armies under Burgoyne and Cornwallis, both of whom were reduced to the necessity of piling their arms.

Mr. McMahon returned to England, and by means of his gallant, kind, and courteous patron, now become Earl of Moira, in due time, attained the rank of a field officer. He afterwards became a lieutenant-colonel in the army, by brevet, and if we are not greatly mistaken, being then married, was

permitted to sell his commission, at the same time, by way of especial favour, retaining his rank in the army. But the good and amiable Earl did not stop here, for he projected something far better for the officer who had been so many years under his protection. Colonel M'Mahon (for so he was now called) seemed to be formed by nature for a courtier. He made a most graceful and elegant bow, which he regulated in due proportion to the rank and influence of those he addressed. His voice was exactly modulated so as to soothe and to please; for it exhibited those under-tones which never disturb the nerves of the great and powerful. He also wrote a letter in the politest style possible, and with all due observance of etiquette : nor was he unacquainted with the arts of rendering himself useful on every possible occasion.

With the full possession of these qualities, he was introduced to his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, at a period when the royal residence of Carlton House, was in a state of eclipse. But he remained long enough in the adjoining mansion in Pall-Mall, to behold all its former splendour revived and augmented; and the Regency conferred on, and enjoyed in full plenitude, by his new protector. One of the first acts of the Prince, after being placed at the head of the executive government, was to reward his fidelity, and from being private secretary, the Colonel accordingly became keeper of the Privy Purse, a Privy-Counsellor, and SecretaryExtraordinary.

As His Royal Highness, in his capacity of Duke of Cornwall, had himself been for several years in opposition, Sir John had a delicate task to perform, when he beheld his patron dismiss the whigs, and take other men to his bosom, and his councils. The Earl of Moira and he, were of course no longer of the same party; and all the Right Honourable Secretary's quondam friends, seemed to have bid an eternal adieu to Carlton House. A feeble and inefficacious attempt, was, however, at one period made, to nominate the above-mentioned nobleman, Premier: but, as it proved difficult, if not impossible, to arrange the subordinate characters, this ap

pointment never took place. His lordship, notwithstanding this, was offered the Viceroyship of Ireland,; but Lord Moira refused to return to his native country, unless he could carry the olive-branch thither to the Catholics. At length, he repaired to India, as Governor-General, with a great salary, and an immense patronage; and has been lately advanced in the peerage, to a marquisate. How far Sir John M⭑Mahon, may have contributed to the latter event, we know not; but it is most likely, as he has never been accused of ingratitude, that he did all in his power to return the numerous good offices conferred on himself, while a poor, unknown, and unfriended youth. For the patriots, with whom he had leagued in former times, he always had at command, a handsome bow, an undeviating smile, and an uniform compliment. We have known him, not only disclaim any pretensions to influence himself, but jocularly to assert that "his Royal Highness possessed little or none!" Another courtier, of still older date, carried this much further; for reversing the noble saying of a King of France, “that he forgot all the injuries done him as Duke of Orleans;" this bold statesman observed on one occasion, to a most meritorious, and much injured officer: "that George II., was not bound. by the promises of the Prince of Wales !" We are sure that the Monarch himself would most heartily have disdained so base and so mean a sentiment, and we are conscious, that the subject of this memoir, always endeavoured to reflect honour on the Regent.. .....

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At length, after the lapse of many years, Sir John M.Mahon, began to feel the pressure of disease, if not of old age; and the demise of his wife, a few months before, was the forerunner of his own fate. He had resigned his station about the person of the Prince, some time previously to his demise, but he appears still to have retained no inconsiderable share of influence, which he exercised in behalf of several respectable branches of his family. In 1814, he procured for his halfbrother, now the Right Honourable Sir William McMahon, a baronetcy, and also provided for him handsomely, by meansTM

of a negotiation with the late Right Honourable John P. Curran, who was prevailed upon to resign the Mastership of the Rolls, in consequence of obtaining a very large pension. Another half-brother, who had acquired considerable rank in the army, was honoured with the high and confidential station of Aide-de-Camp, to the Prince of Wales, with a re-version of his own title.

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Having retired to Bath, for the benefit of the air and waters, Sir John M'Mahon died there, September 12, 1817, leaving behind him a large fortune, which could never possibly have been obtained from the income of his several places, all of which did not exceed the sum of 3000l., or 400OZ. per The assertion, however, is ridiculous, that at the time of his demise, he had," a floating balance at his banker's, of 70,000l.," for he was too well acquainted with the value of money, to lose the interest of so large a sum. A little before his last illness, he built a beautiful little villa, in Kent, on an estate which he had purchased, within ten or twelve miles of town. In his person, he was small, and devoid of beauty. His face too, was seamed and scarred with the smallpox; but as his conversation was pleasant, and he possessed all the graces, any impression arising from a transient view, soon wore off, and was obliterated. By his will, dated April 26, 1816; the Right Honourable Sir William M'Mahon, Master of the Rolls in Ireland, is left his sole executor, and residuary legatee, with a bequest of 20,000l. The personal property, is sworn to be under 90,000l. ten thousand pounds are given to Colonel (now) Sir Thomas M'Mahon, Bart.; to SusanElizabeth Wylde, otherwise Mitford, 5000l.; "to Thomas Marrable, Esq., a dear and esteemed friend, 2000, and with my last prayers," adds he, "for the glory and happiness of the best-hearted man in the world, the Prince Regent, I bequeath him, the said Thomas Marrable, an invaluable servant."

"To Sir Walter Farquhar, Bart., the preserver of my life for many years, 600 guineas ;" and to another medical attendant, "500"