could arise only from the probability of embarrassment, by the crowds that would rush forth to accomplish a sacred duty. In fine, in every ward, parish, and street of London, the people are only waiting with impatience until His Majesty shall be pleased to point out the means of organizing their courage."

On another occasion (March 19. 1804) Mr. Alderman Combe stated, "that the volunteer force, furnished in and about the metropolis, then amounted to about 2000 men. There was not a single individual of these, who, in case of an invasion, did not consider himself liable to be placed under the command of a general officer, and marched to any part of the kingdom. No one could presume to doubt of the well-known loyalty and zeal of the city of London, because, being expressly exempt by their charter from those military duties to which the rest of England is liable, they had no manner of occasion to seek for refuge from the ballot. It was accordingly evident, that the offer of their services, their zeal, and their energy, could alone originate in a pure and patriotic spirit."

When Mr. Pitt came a second time into place, Mr. Combe divided against his "Additional Force bill," and founded his objections both on constitutional and political grounds. In the Spring of 1805 he joined Mr. Grey, in his motion for papers, with a view to censure Ministers relative to their conduct towards Spain. He also supported Mr. Brand in his motion for the removal of the Cabinet, and voted with Mr. Grey (then become Lord Howick), against the address to the Crown.

There were two occasions, and we believe two only, about this period, on which Mr. Combe happened not to vote in a minority; on the former of these, he acted in direct unison with all the other city representatives, who declared themselves decidedly of opinion, that the supposed malversation of Mr. Dundas (afterwards Lord Melville), while treasurer of the navy, demanded immediate investigation; and they accordingly contributed to form the celebrated majority of one. The other included a subject of much personal delicacy, and he

must have made a great sacrifice to his private feelings, by his vote on that day. We now allude to the parliamentary accusation again his Royal Highness the Duke of York, during the first time he acted as commander-in-chief. On this occasion, notwithstanding a certain degree of intercourse, and even intimacy, with this Prince of the Blood, yet Mr. Combe, listening to the voice of his constituents only, joined in the proposition for an enquiry, and was the only one of the four members who obtained the thanks of the Common-hall upon that occasion.

It now remains to mention one peculiarity respecting the subject of this memoir. After the death of his friend Mr. Sawbridge, he began to be considered the best whist player in London. Having at length been admitted a member of Brookes's, he there, of course, associated with some of the first personages in the kingdom, and was not unfrequently accustomed, at other times and places, to try his skill with one of the Royal Dukes. On these occasions, the Alderman is allowed to have displayed a wonderful degree of recollection and selfcommand; and this was not a little aided by his temperance, and even abstemiousness, previously to any grand match. We have yet to learn that he ever suffered this attachment to interfere with his duties, either public or domestic; and there is 'reason to suppose, that on the whole, his fortune did not suffer any diminution by an occasional love of play. It may be questioned, however, whether late hours, and long and intense application, did not prove prejudicial to his health. The truth is, that he was seized with a paralytic affection, exactly in the same manner, and perhaps from expressly the same cause, as the late Alderman Sawbridge; and, like him, experienced a long and lingering illness for some years before his death. But although his lower limbs were debilitated, yet the vigour of his mind remained almost wholly unimpaired until the summer of 1817, when he was greatly affected by an event of a public nature. tion of a Common Hall, which was very thinly attended, pur

This was the resolu

porting that this member should be invited to resign his seat in

parliament, as he was no longer capable of fulfilling its duties. Like Mr. Wilkes, Mr. Combe undoubtedly wished "to die in harness." Accordingly, his health was visibly affected by this measure; and his enfeebled constitution proved unable to surmount the shock of what he deemed not only an injury, but an insult, to a man who expected a far different return for his long and faithful services. On this occasion, he not only complied, as to his share in the representation*, but at the same time actually resigned all his civic honours.

The subject of this memoir did not long survive this mortification, having died at Cobham Park, on the 4th July, 1818, in the sixty-seventh year of his age. In private life, Mr. Combe was a good husband, and the fond father of a very numerous family of ten children, chiefly consisting of daughters. To his eldest son he gave an excellent education at Eton, after which he placed him in his brewery, with a view of giving stability to his early habits, and instead of pursuing folly and frivolity, making him a man of business, an useful citizen, a good subject, and an opulent and independent commercial man.

In his attention to the duties of the magistracy, the Alderman was impartial and upright. His attendance, too, was constant and unremitting, while health would permit, being always ready to sacrifice his time, and even his pleasures, to the performance of his duties.

In respect to political opinions, he not unfrequently differed from the principal merchants of London, both as to the justice and mode of prosecuting the late war; but his principles were marked by decision and consistency, and he was gratified with the full and frequent approbation of his constituents, who took every opportunity of evincing their respect, gratitude, and

esteem.

In his temper, he was ardent; in his practice, resolute; in his manners, frank, open, and courteous. His constitution

* His resignation took place June 10th, 1817 ; and at the election for a new member, The Rt. Hon. The Lord Mayor (Mr. Alderman Wood) was returned without opposition.

too, which for a long series of years was robust, enabled him to undergo fatigues which few other men were capable of enduring. With these qualities he united a vigorous understanding and a correct judgment; and it was happily observed of him, "that no man had more personal friends, or deserved them better."

The success of this gentleman in life was great and extraordinary; for, in the language of the city, he died worth "a double plumb." He seemed to flourish, indeed, while all around him was bankruptcy and ruin. Mr. Boyce Combe, his eldest son, who was nominated sole executor, on proving his will, stated his personal effects at 140,000l.; and having real estates to the amount of at least 60,000%. more, he has thus left to his family the immense sum of at least 200,000l.!

VOL. IV.

No. III.

SIR RICHARD MUSGRAVE, BART.

OF TURIN, IN THE COUNTY OF WEXFORD; M. P. IN THE LATE IRISH PARLIAMENT.

THE family, of which this gentleman was a younger branch, is supposed to have come over from the continent with William the Conqueror, and to have settled at Musgrave in Westmoreland, whence they derive their appellation.* But, although the Musgraves are of English, or rather Norman descent, a branch of them has been long settled in the sister island, where they obtained very considerable possessions.

Of these, Richard Musgrave, the subject of the present memoir, has made a considerable figure in the history of Ireland. The exact year of his birth is unknown to the writer of this narrative, but it was, most probably, about 1757 or 1758. After receiving a good education, he entered early into the world, and was speedily enabled to gratify his youthful ambition, by means of an alliance that pointed out the path both to honour and fortune. Having paid his addresses to the Honourable Deborah Cavendish + the daughter of a great heiress, descended paternally from the "Lord President Bradshaw," as he is usually called, who presided over the tribunal that presumed to decide on the fate of Charles I., he became the husband of that lady, December 20, 1780. She was a younger daughter of the late Sarah, Baroness Waterpark in her own right, by the Right Honourable Sir Henry Cavendish, of Doveridge Hall in the county of Derby, Bart., who, for many

* The first of this name noticed in ancient records, was Peter Musgrave, who lived during the reign of King Stephen. The present English baronet is the eighteenth or nineteenth in descent from this common ancestor.

This lady was then Miss Deborah Cavendish, her mother not having been ennobled until many years after. Ed.