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CHAP.
CLXI.

Character

of him by Bishop Watson.

By Sir Nathaniel Wraxall.

House of Lords, he was domineering and insincere. It was said of him in the Cabinet, he opposed every thing, proposed nothing, and was ready to support any thing. I remember Lord Camden's saying to me one night when the Chancellor was speaking contrary, as I thought, to his own conviction: "There now, I could not do that; he is supporting what he does not believe a word of." * "Few," says Colton, "have combined more talent with more decision than Lord Thurlow. Nature seems to have given him a head of crystal and nerves of brass." t

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Sir Nathaniel Wraxall, describing the state of parties in the year 1781, says, "Lord Thurlow, who at this time had held the Great Seal between two and three years, though in point of age the youngest member of the Cabinet, enjoyed in many respects greater consideration than almost any other individual composing it. Lord North had derived the greatest assistance from his eloquence and ability. His removal to the House of Peers would have left an awful blank on the Treasury bench in the midst of the American war, if his place had not, during the two succeeding years, been ably, perhaps fully, supplied by Wedderburn. As Speaker of the Upper House, Lord Thurlow fulfilled all the expectations previously entertained of him. His very person, figure, voice, and manner, were formed to lend dignity to the woolsack. Of a dark complexion, and harsh but regular features, with a severe and commanding demeanour, which might be sometimes denominated stern, he impressed his auditors with awe before he opened his lips. Energy, acuteness, and prodigious powers of argument characterised him in debate. His comprehensive mind enabled him to embrace the question under discussion, whatever it might be, in all its bearings and relations. Nor, if we except Lord Camden, who was already far advanced in life, did the opposition possess any legal talents in the House of Peers that could justly be put in competition with those of Lord Thurlow. These admirable points were, nevertheless, by no means unaccompanied by corresponding defects. As Lord Chancellor, he was accused of procrastination in suffering the causes brought before him

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in his court to accumulate without end. Perhaps this charge, so frequently made against those who have held the Great Seal, was not more true as applied to him, than of others who succeeded him in his office. But even in parliament his temper, which was morose, sullen, and untractable, sometimes mastering his reason, prevented him from always exerting the faculties with which Nature had endowed him, or at least clouded and obscured their effect. In the Cabinet, these defects of character, which rendered him often impracticable, were not to be surmounted by any efforts or remonstrances. It can hardly be believed, that at ministerial dinners, where, after the cloth was removed, measures of state were often discussed or agitated, Lord Thurlow would frequently refuse to take any part. He has even more than once left his colleagues to deliberate, whilst he sullenly stretched himself along the chairs, and fell, or appeared to fall, fast asleep. If I had not received this fact from an eye-witness, and a member of the Cabinet, I should not, indeed, venture to report so improbable a circumstance. Notwithstanding the ruggedness and asperity which he displayed, qualities that procured him the nickname of the tiger,-no man could at times appear more pleasing, affable, and communicative in conversation. I have once or twice seen him on such occasions, which were more highly valued because they were rare or unexpected. Possessed of faculties so transcendent, however mingled with human weakness and infirmity, he must always be considered as one of the most eminent individuals who sat in the Councils of George III. at any period of his reign."*

CHAP.

CLXI.

In 1796, Bishop Horsley thus dedicated to Thurlow his By Bishop Horsley. "Prosodies of the Greek and Latin Language." "Although, I wish at present to be concealed, I cannot persuade myself to send this Tract abroad without an acknowledgment, which perhaps may betray me, of how much my mind has been informed, and my own opinions upon this subject have been confirmed, by conversations which many things in this Essay will bring to your recollection. Were I to form a wish for my

* Wraxall's Memoirs, vol i. p. 527.

CHAP.
CLXI.

By Dr. Parr.

country, it should be that your Lordship might again be called to take part in her councils, where you would display that wisdom, firmness of principle, and integrity, with which you so long adorned one of the highest public stations. A better wish, perhaps, for you may be, that you may enjoy many years of learned leisure."

Next comes the portrait of Thurlow by Dr. Parr, which, although the features he exaggerated, almost to caricature, certainly presents a very striking likeness:-"Minas possumus contemnere vocemque fulmineam Thrasonici istius oratoris τοῦ τὰς ὀφρῦς κυανέας ἐπηρκότος, cujus vultum, uti Noviorum istius minoris, ferre posse se negat quadruplatorum genus omne et subscriptorum. Quid enim? truculentus semper incedit, teterque, et terribilis aspectu. De supercilio autem isto quid dicendum est? annon reipublicæ illud quasi pignus quoddam videtur? annon senatus illo, tanquam Atlante cœlum, innititur?-Profecto non desunt qui Novium existiment in 'summa feritate esse versutissimum, promtumque ingenio ultra Barbarum.' Quod si demseris illi aut σpoδρότητα quanta in Bruto fuit, aut πικρότητα vere Menippeam, aut πроσάжоν σкveρóтηта propriam et suam, facile ejus vel prudentiæ vel fidei juris nodos legumque ænigmata ad solvendum permiseris. -Fervido quodam et petulanti genere dicendi utitur, eodemque, nec valde nitenti, nec plane horrido. Solutos irridentium cachinnos ita commovet, ut lepores ejus, scurriles et prorsus veteratorios diceres. Omnia loquitur verborum sane bonorum cursu quodam incitato, itemque voce, qua ne subsellia quidem ipsa desiderant pleniorem et grandiorem. In adversariis autem lacerandis ita causidicorum figuras jaculatur, ita callida et malitiosa juris interpretatione utitur, ita furere et bacchari solet, ut sæpe mirere tam alias res agere optimates, ut sit pene insano inter disertos locus.Fuit ei, perinde atque aliis, fortuna pro virtutibus. Didicit autem a Muciano, satis clarum esse apud timentem, quisquis timeatur. Corpore ipse ingens, animi immodicus, verbis magnificus, et specie inanium magis quam sapientia validus, studia ad se Optimatium illexit, eamque adeptus est auctoritatem, quæ homini novo pro facundia esse posset. Scilicet, quæ bonis Titio, Seioque turpissima forent, Novium

CLXI.

nostrum maxime decent, siquidem e subselliis elapsus de Tri- CHAP bunali nunc pronuntiet, et ex præcone actionum factus sit institor eloquentiæ senatoriæ. Quam igitur in civitate gratiam dicendi facultate Q. Varius consecutus est, vastus homo atque fœdus, eandem Novius intelligit, illa ipsa facultate, quamcunque habet, se esse in Senatu consecutum

Ellum, confidens, catus:

Cum faciem videas, videtur esse quantivis pretî:

Tristis severitas inest in voltu, atque in verbis fides.'"*

Pindar

After the effort of perusing this somewhat pedantic pro- By Peter duction, the reader may be relieved by a few characteristic notices of our hero from the pen of Dr. Wolcot, a lively though scurrilous poet, who, under the title of PETER PINDAR, amused the latter end of the eighteenth century: in his Ode "to the Royal Academicians," on portrait painting, he gives them this caution:

"Copy not Nature's form too closely Whene'er she treats your sitter grossly. As, for example, let us now suppose

Thurlow's black scowl and Pepper Arden's nose."

In another satirical ode, he thus refers to Thurlow's rough manners and habit of swearing:

"How pithy 'twas in Pitt, what great good sense,

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Not to give Majesty the least offence!

Whereas the Chancellor, had he been there,
Whose tutor, one would say, had been a bear;
Thinking a Briton to no forms confin'd,
But born with privilege to speak his mind,
Had answer'd with a thundering tongue,

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I think your Majesty d- -n wrong."

And he is made to go on to swear still more profanely.

In enumerating those who assisted in the public Thanksgiving at St. Paul's, on the King's recovery, this satirist describes

"A great Law Chief, whom God nor demon scares,
Compell'd to kneel and pray, who swore his prayers;
The devil behind him pleas'd and grinning;

Patting the angry lawyer on the shoulder,

Declaring aught was never bolder,

Admiring such a novel mode of sinning."

* Preface to Bellendenus.

CHAP.
CLXI.

By a sur

tive.

By reason of Peter Pindar's violent attacks on Thurlow and other Peers, there was a proposal to bring him to the bar of the House for a breach of privilege to which Peter in his "Ode to the Peers" refers:

"Yes! yes! I hear that you have watch'd my note,
And wish'd to squeeze my tuneful throat;

When Thurlow your designs most wisely scouted,
Swearing the poet should not yet be knouted."

The Ex-chancellor's intimacy with the Prince attracting the attention of the public, was celebrated in an Epistle from Peter Pindar, thus beginning

"Thurlow now is the Carlton House Mentor:

You know him, Nic; bony and big,

With a voice like the voice of a Stentor,

His old phiz in a bushel of wig.

All the pages, and footmen, and maids,

As his Wisdom march'd solemnly in,

(The impudent varlets and jades !)

Gather'd round him with wonder and grin.”

In conclusion there is this softening stanza:

"Yet this in his praise I will say,

That whether he's sober or mellow,
Though as blunt as a bear in his way,

True Genius admires the old fellow."

I have now much pleasure in giving a sketch of him by a viving rela- surviving kinsman who knew him well, and was tenderly attached to him: "His countenance was that of a man of the strongest sense, and his eye most penetrating and commanding. His stature was lofty and full of dignity, and his manners and address highly polished. He could assume the sternest character if necessary, or the sweetest smile I ever beheld. This stern exterior was, I have often thought, put on to cover the most kind and feeling heart, and his real nature was but little known but to those who had the happiness of living in his society. I remember hearing Lord Thurlow read from Shakspeare's play of the Merchant of Venice, that beautiful scene of the judgment of Portia. Then must the Jew be merciful.'-Shylock. On what compulsion must I? tell me that.'- Portia. The quality of mercy is not strained, it droppeth as the gentle dew from Heaven upon the place beneath,' &c.; and perceiving a slight tremu

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