your conduct in the Douglas cause, which I am sorry to learn are still circulated with some industry. It is not to be doubted, but that all imputations which are not founded in truth will be forgot, as soon as the animosity which gave birth to them has subsided. In the mean while, though the best consolation is the consciousness of not having deserved them, it may perhaps be matter of some consolation to you, that those, who have had the most occasion to examine them, think of them as you would wish ;-perhaps too, some of them may be referable to the want of a sufficient explanation at the bar of particular passages, which have been made the ground of censure; and if so, it is more peculiarly a debt of justice to you from the council in the cause, thinking of it as I do, to declare, that after the fullest investigation which in that character it was my duty to make into every part of the cause, it appeared to me to have been conducted on your part, in a manner not only altogether irreproachable, but distinguished throughout by a degree of candour and delicacy, of which I have met with few examples. I am, with real esteem and regard, J. DUNNING." From Mr. Wedderburn. "MY DEAR STUART, Broomhall, 22 May, 1769. "I have read over here the news-paper account of Lord Chancellor's speech in the Douglas cause, which, in my opinion, he has more reason to be of fended fended with than you have: it is the publication of. one, who had only capacity enough to retain those parts of the speech, which, I am persuaded, the Chancellor would wish to be least remembered. Nothing ever was worse founded than any aspersions upon your conduct in that cause, which, in its whole progress, was carried on, not only with the strictest probity on your part, but with a candour and delicacy that very few men would have thought themselves bound to observe. I have more than once thought, in the course of the inquiry, that you acted with too nice a sense of honour, in a contention with people who made no scruple to take every advantage, though I respected the principle upon which it proceeded. It was impossible you could escape abuse (let your conduct be ever so correct) at a time, when, for much less interests, all characters are daily traduced, and personal invective is become a standing mode of argument.-I am sorry, upon their own account, that it should be adopied by those, who having felt what calumny is, should be cautious how they give a sanction to it. Upon your account, I feel very little anxiety; because, besides the testimony of your own mind, you have the satisfaction to know, that all those, who have been eye-witnesses of your conduct, not only justify it, but applaud it; that of the many judicious people who have studied the cause, very few indeed join in the reflections upon you; and that even your adversaries do your conduct that justice in private, which in public they have sacrificed to the interests of their cause. They have succeeded, and the decision must compel our submission; but assent can only flow from conviction; and the opinion I had entertained of the cause is not altered by any reasoning I have heard heard upon it. My ideas of justice are a little perplexed by the decision, and I consider it as a striking example, that no cause is certain or desperate. You will probably be gone from London before I return to it; and I could not help writing to you, as I shall not have an opportunity for some time of meeting you. Adieu, my dear Stuart, and believe me ever, Your's most sincerely, "I cannot express the indignation I have felt at the attempts which have been made, especially since the appeal was entered in the House of Lords, to throw out aspersions on your conduct in the management of the Douglas cause. If these attempts had proceeded alone from your adversaries, or from the mere vulgar, I should have disregarded them, and thought them unworthy of notice; because in the one I should have considered them as arts made use of to support their cause; in the other, as owing to want of proper information. But when I have seen them supported by those whose situation naturally gives weight to their assertions, how void soever they may be of any foundation in evidence, or even destitute of common candour, I look upon them in a very different light. It is for this reason, Sir, that I consider it as a testimony I I cannot say this authority is of as much weight, as the others. The character of Lord Rosslyn was not much calculated to procure confidence in his opinions. Editor, Owe owe to truth, to declare, that having had the fullest opportunity of considering every particular relative to the conduct of that cause, I have not only the most thorough conviction of the uprightness and integrity of your proceeding in every part of it, but think the whole has been conducted, not only with remarkable ability, but with a degree of candour, moderation, and temper, of which I know very few men who are capable. This is a piece of justice which I have not the smallest doubt will, sooner or later, be done you' by the world. In the mean time, if a declaration of my sentiments can be of the least use to you, I chose to express them in this manner; and am, with the most real esteem, founded on those very qualities which have been so unjustifiably traduced. Dear Sir, Your most obedient humble servant, St. James's Place, March 11, 1769. AD. FERGUSSON." I have now probably said enough on this subject. I will, however, neither bind myself to drop it here, nor to pursue it further. ART. XX. Lives of Modern Poets. No. VIII. MRS. LEFROY. Í ENTER with hesitation upon a task of much delicacy; yet love and duty impel me not to throw away the opportunity of giving a memorial of one, most dear to me, whose merits deserve a lasting record. VOL. VI. G Anne, Anne, the wife of the late Rev. George Lefroy of Ash, in Hampshire, was born at Wootton in Kent, in March 1748. She was the eldest child of Edward Brydges, Esq. of Wootton Court, who died in Nov. 1780, by Jemima, (who still survives) the youngest daughter and at length coheir of William Egerton, LL.D. Prebendary of Canterbury, Chancellor of Hereford, and Rector of Penshurst in Kent, younger son of the Hon. Thomas Egerton of Tatton Park, in Cheshire, who was younger son of John, second Earl of Bridgewater, by Lady Elizabeth, daughter of William Cavendish, Duke of Newcastle. From her earliest infancy she discovered a quickness of apprehension, and a rapidity of memory, which astonished all, who knew her. These were rendered still more attractive by a sweetness of temper; and an overflowing benevolence of heart, which was almost too exuberant for the rough world to which she was destined. Her conversation, and her command of language were as voluble and copious, as her ideas were instantaneous and brilliant. Her speaking countenance, more especially the smiling radiance of her eyes, added powerfully to her astonishing eloquence. Thus endowed, she early displayed an insatiable love of reading-more especially works which addressed * Here Dr. Egerton passed his time in the strictest intimacy with his cousin John Sydney, Earl of Leicester, to whom he owed the rectory; and, perhaps, it was from the groves of Penshurst, where The musing wanderer loves to linger near, While History points to all its glories past," that that enthusiasm for literature, which has marked one or two of hi descendants, was transmitted by him. Mrs. Smith. themselves |