which appeared, by not having made the least accession to his fortune."m

His Lordship married, first, Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Foley, of Witley-court, in the county of Worcester, Esq. and sister to Thomas, the first Lord Foley, by whom he had issue, Edward, his son and heir, second Earl of Oxford, &c. and two daughters;

Lady Abigail, second daughter," married to George, Earl of Kinnoul, in Scotland, and Baron Hay, of Pedwarden, in England; her Ladyship died at Breadsworth, near Doncaster, July 15th, 1750.

And Lady Elizabeth, eldest daughter," married, on Dec. 15th, 1712, to Peregrine-Hyde Osborne, Marquis of Carmarthen, afterwards Duke of Leeds, by whom she died in childbed of the next Duke of Leeds.

His Lordship took to his second wife, Sarah, daughter to Thomas Middleton, Esq. a son of Sir Hugh Middleton, Bart. but by her had no issue: and departing this life in the sixty-fourth year of his age, on May 21st, 1724, was succeeded in honour and estate by Edward, his only son, before mentioned; and his second Lady surviving him, died in June, 1737.

Which EDWARD, SECOND EARL OF OXFORD, &c. married, on October 31st, 1713, the Lady Henrietta Cavendish Holles, only daughter and heir of his Grace John Holles, Duke of Newcastle.

His Lordship was eminently distinguished for his disinterestedness, both in public and private life; and was respected as one of the principal patrons of the age, for his encouragement of literature, and learned men. He made a most valuable addition to the rich magazine of manuscripts, collected by the Lord Treasurer, his father, especially in the history and antiquities of England, both ecclesiastical and civil. He collected besides, an

m He was the rival of Bolingbroke, who has painted him in the blackest colours; but Bolingbroke's authority will not gain unexamined assent. It is true that he does not appear to have been endowed with brilliant, or commanding talents; he trusted too much to intrigue, and management, and expedients, and was reserved and dark in his conduct. His memory has been embalmed by the circle of wits, whom he admitted to his hours of leisure and hospitality. Pope, Swift, Parnell, Gay, and Prior, were among his intimate associates; and whatever dull men may think, there is much worldly wisdom in such a choice. Editor. n Ped. of Milnes of Ebor.

invaluable treasure of original letters and papers of state, written by the greatest Princes, Statesmen, and Scholars, as well of foreign nations as of Great Britain. But I shall be the less particular on this head, as the catalogue of these literary treasures is printed in two large folio volumes. His printed books were the most choice and magnificent that were ever collected in this kingdom. There were in his library the first printed books of all countries, and especially of our own. Many printed upon vellum, and otherwise, in the grandest manner, and enriched with the most costly sculpture. The printed books alone have been reckoned above forty thousand volumes. As none were ever more zealous to collect whatever rarities in literature would be most serviceable, to the learned, ingenious, and knowing part of mankind; so none was more communicative thereof, as may sufficiently appear, in the numbers of authors who have made such respectful references to the volumes in the Harleyan library. The valuable collection of manuscripts was preserved by his Lady, the right honourable Henrietta Cavendish Holles, Countess of Oxford, at her house in Dover-street; till her Ladyship, for the service of the public, consented to the Parliament's making a purchase thereof in 1754, and they are now deposited in the British Museum. His Lordship was a true lover of his country, as his conduct in the senate manifested: and departing this life, aged forty-two, at his house in Dover-street, on Tuesday, June 16th, 1741, was buried in Westminster Abbey. He left issue an only daughter and heir, Lady Margaret-Cavendish Harley, married in 1734, to his Grace, William, second Duke of Portland, a lady well known for her love of the arts, and her patronage of literature, who died July 7th, 1785, leaving issue the present Duke of Portland, &c.

Leaving no male issue by his Lady (who survived him till Dec. 8th, 1755, and lies buried with him), his honours devolved on Edward Harley, Esq. then Knight of the shire for the county of Hereford, son and heir of Edward Harley, of Eywood, in com. Hereford, Esq. before mentioned, one of the Auditors of the Imprest, who was next brother to Robert, first earl of Oxford, and Earl Mortimer, Lord High Treasurer of England, according to the limitation of the patent.

• Lady Mary W. Montague, speaking of his death, says, he refused all remedies, till too late, T

P Yet her friend, Lady Mary W. Montague, speaks of her as alive in a letter, dated June 10th, 1757.

VOL. IV.

The said EDWARD Harley, who thus succeeded as THIRD EARL OF OXFORD, AND EARL MORTIMER, &c. served as one of the Knights in parliament for the county of Hereford, from the first parliament called in 1727, by the late King, inclusive, until be became intitled to a seat in the house of Peers. In 1746, his Lordship was elected High-fteward of the city of Hereford, in the room of Henry Duke of Beaufort, deceased: and on April 12th, 1748, was, in convocation, presented, by the University of Oxford, with the degree of Doctor of the Civil Law. His Lordship, in March 1725, wedded Martha, eldest daughter of John Morgan, of Tredegar, in Monmouthshire, Esq. and sister to the late Sir William Morgan, Knight of the Bath; and by her Ladyship, who departed this life, Jan. 4th, 1774, and was buried at Brampton Bryan, in Herefordshire, had issue five sons, 1. Edward the late Earl of Oxford, &c.

2. The honourable Robert Harley, who was born on September 10th, 1727, and died a bachelor, at Bath, on Jan. 12th, 1760, and was buried at Brampton Bryan.

3. The honourable and rev. John Harley, who was born on Sept. 29th, 1728, and appointed Dean of Windsor in Jan. 1778; and Bishop of Hereford, 1787. He was also Rector of Mary-lebone, Middlesex, and Presteign, in Radnorshire; and died, Jan. 7th, 1788. He married, February 23d, 1770, Roach, daughter and heir of Gwynne Vaughan, of Trebarry, com. Radnor, Esq. by whom he had two sons; Edward, born in Harley-street, London, Feb. 20th, 1773, now Earl of Oxford; and John, born in Harley-strect, Dec. 31st, 1774; also two daughters, Frances and Martha.

4. The hon. Thomas Harley, Esq. the fourth son, before-mentioned, of Edward, third Earl of Oxford, was born on August 24th, 1730; and on March 15th, 1752, married Anne, daughter of Edward Bangham, Esq. Deputy Auditor of the Impresis, and member for Leominster, in 1710. By this Lady, who died Jan. 15th, 1798, aged sixty six, he had two sons, and five daughters; viz. Thomas, who died on Jan. 17th, 1763; 2. Edward, who died July 11th, 1768; 3. Henrietta, who died on July 4th, 1759; 4. Martha, married by special licence, at St. Mary-le-bone, Middlesex, Dec. 30th, 1779, to George Drummond, of Stanmore, in Middlesex, Esq. and died in Aug. 1788, as did Mr. Drummond, in March 1789, leaving issue. 5. Anne, born March 13th, 1759, married, April 10th, 1781, George, second Lord Rodney, who died 1802, and by whom she had issue the present Lord Rodney,

&c. 6. Sarah, born Oct. 19th, 1760, married, July 1781, Robert, ninth Earl of Kinnoul, who died 1804, and by whom she bad issue the present Earl of Kinnoul, &c. 7. Elizabeth, born in April 1763, married, Oct. 8th, 1783, David Murray, Esq. brother to the present Lord Elibank: he died May 7th, 1794, leaving issue by her. 8. Margaret, born July 4th, 1765, married, Feb. 26th, 1784, Sir John Boyd, Bart.

At the general election, in April 1761, being an eminent merchant, he was chofen one of the four citizens of London, to the 12th parliament of Great Britain; and again in 1768 and on May 5th, 1761, was elected Alderman of Portsoken-ward, in the city of London. On June 33d, he was chosen one of the Sheriffs of London and Middlesex; and having been sworn in at Guildhall, on Sept. 26th, following, was sworn at the Exchequer on the 29th, when he entered into his office, which he discharged with spirit and integrity. In 1768, he served the high office of Lord Mayor of the said city; and in 1776, was chosen Knight of the Shire for Hereford, which county he continued to represent till his death. He was also one of his Majesty's most honourable Privy Council. He was one of the Governors of the London Lying-in Hospital in Aldersgate-street, of which he was elected Treasurer in 1762, and President in 1764. He died Dec. 1st, 1804.

5. The hon. and rev. William Harley, who was born on May 30th, 1733, was Vicar of Uffington, in Berkshire, Rector of Everley, in Wiltshire, and Prebendary of Worcester, died July 8th, 1769, and was buried at Brampton Bryan.

This Earl of Oxford had also, by the same Lady, two daughters; viz. Lady Sarah, who died unmarried, on April 29th, 1737, in the fixth year of her age, and is buried at St. Mary-le-bone, near London; and Lady Martha, who was born on Nov. 28th, 1736, and married, on April 20th, 1764, to Charles Milborne, of the Priory, near Abergavenny, in the county of Monmouth, Esq.

The Earl of Oxford died at Bath, on April 11th, 1755, having, through the whole course of his years, behaved with great honour and integrity, in public as well as private life. He was succeeded by his eldest son,

F.DWARD, Lord Harley, the FOURTH EARL OF OXFORD, &c. who was born on Sept. 2d, 1726, and on July 15th, 1747, was elected to the 10th parliament of Great Britain, one of the Knights for the county of Hereford, for which he was also returned to the next parliament, which first met on business, May 31st, 1754, and sat till his father's death. On April 12th, 1748, he had the

degree of Doctor of the Civil Law conferred on him, in convoca、. tion of the University of Oxford. Soon after the accession of the present King, he was made one of the Lords of the bed-chamber, and was also Lord Lieutenant and Custos Rotulorum of the Counties of Hereford and Radnor; a Fellow of the Royal Society, and one of the Trustees of the British Museum, and LL.D.

His Lordship married, on July 11th, Susannah, eldest daughter of William Archer, of Welford, in Berkshire, Esq. who represented that county in the parliament of Great Britain, with great honour and fidelity, until he died, on June 30th, 1739, aged fiftynine; but had no issue by her Ladyship; who died Nov. 10th, 1804. His Lordship dying October 8th, 1790, was succeeded by his nephew, the eldest son of his brother John, Bishop of Hereford, viz.

EDWARD, present and FIFTH EARL OF OXFORD, &c. who married, Mar. 3d, 1794, Miss Scott, daughter of the late rev. James Scott, A. M. Rector of Stokin, near Southampton, by whom he has issue;

1. A daughter, born Mar. 9th, 1796.

2. Lord Harley, his son and heir, born Jan. 10th, 1800.

3. A daughter, born Dec. 12th, 1801.

Titles.] Edward Harley, Earl of Oxford, and Earl Mortimer, and Baron Harley, of Wigmore.

Creations.] Baron Harley, of Wigmore, in com. Hereford, Earl Mortimer (the name of a family), and Earl of the city of Oxford, May 24th, 1711, 10 Queen Anne.

Arms.] Or, a Bend cotised Sable.

Crest.] On a Wreath, a Castle, Argent, Triple-towered, with a Demi-lion rampant, Gules, issuing out of the battlements of the middle tower.

Supporters.] Two Angels, proper, habited in long Robes, their Hair and Wings, Or.

Motto.] VIRtute et Fide.

Chief Seat.] Eywood House, in the county of Hereford.