la Grande Bretagne, tels gou- fixée, et le Prince savoit alors à verneurs et gouvernantes et au- quoi s'en tenir; au lieu que sous tres domestiques qu'il jugera ne- pretexte d'avoir accepté ce 5 Arcessaires, comme aussi de regler ticle on pourroit lui demander 50 et d'ordonner ainsi que bon lui à 60 mille livres par an, et même semblera tout ce qui regarde les- tout ce qu'il a pourroit lui être dits enfans, Monseigneur le Prince ôté. se conformera là-dessus aux vo- Janvier

1718. lontez du Roi son Pere.

OFFICE TRANSLATIONS OF THE ABOVE. THE KING'S PROPOSITIONS.

THE PRINCE'S REPLIES. The King is persuaded that The Prince's verbal replies comif the intentions of his Royal municated by the Speaker of the Highness, as to the submissions House of Commons to the Baron to be made to his Majesty, are de Bernsdorff (and by him to the such as ought to be expected King). from a good son, the Prince will not fail to agree to the following articles :

I. Not to take any person into I. That with regard to the first his service, but with the King's Article, he does not presume to approbation, nor to entertain in take any person into his service his family, such persons as are without first having informed the disagreeable to his Majesty. King, and if his Majesty had any

good objection against such person or persons he would name others. But that his Royal Highness would not, in respect to this first Article, in any manner be willing to admit simple (unexplained) objections, namely, that such or such person is disagree

able to the King. II. Not to hold any correspond- II. With regard to this second ence with such as the King shall Article the Prince says, that he cause to be declared to him to has never maintained any correbe disagreeable to his Majesty. spondence with any one who was

not affectionately disposed towards the King and his family, and never would maintain any with others. But that the word disagreeable was so general that he did know in what manner to

understand it. III. To use in a decent man- III. That he replied to the

servants.

ner the King's ministers and third Article, that he had always

treated in a decent manner the ministers and servants of the King, excepting those who had offended his Royal Highness in such delicate points as are fami

liar to all the world. IV. To pay the civilities that IV. That with regard to the are requisite to the Dukes of fourth Article the Prince says, Newcastle and Roxburgh. that he had already acquitted

himself of his duty in the matter of the Duke of Newcastle, and that with respect to the Duke of Roxburgh he never had any in

tention of offending him. V. It being the King's un- V. That the fifth Article had doubted right to appoint for his appeared severer to the Prince grandchildren (as being children than the preceding message from of the Crown of Great Britain) the King, since in that the sum such governors and governesses, had been fixed, and the Prince and other servants, as He shall then knew what to depend upon; judge necessary; as also to set- whereas, under pretext of his tle and order, as He shall think having accepted this fifth Article, fit, all that concerns the said chil- fifty or sixty thousand pounds a dren,—the Prince his son will year might be demanded of him, therein comply with the pleasure and even all he has be taken of the King his father.

away.

CRAGGS TO MR. WORSLEY.

SIR,

Whitehall, 18th March, 1717-18. Mr. Addison having humbly represented to the King, that the bad state of his health will not permit him to attend the business of his office, as Secretary of State, his Majesty has been pleased to honour me with the seals, and has assigned to my care the affairs of the southern province ; I take the first opportunity of acquainting you therewith, that you may please to transmit to me, from time to time, such advices as you shall judge to be for his Majesty's service; and according as I shall receive his Majesty's directions upon them, I will not fail to communicate the same to you. As this will give me the pleasure of corresponding with you, I shall be extremely glad, if it may, at the same time, furnish me with occasions of being useful in anything relating to your own particular.

I am, very sincerely, sir,

Your most humble servant, Mr. Worsley.

J. CRAGGS.

ADDISON TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE JAMES CRAGGS, ESQ.,

HIS MAJESTY'S PRINCIPAL SECRETARY OF STATE. DEAR SIR,

June 4th, 1719. I cannot wish that any of my writings should last longer than the memory of our friendship, and therefore I thus publicly bequeath them to you, in return for the many valuable instances of

your

affection. That they may come to you with as little disadvantage as possible, I have left the care of them to one whom, by the experience of some years, I know well qualified to answer my intentions. He has already the honour and happiness of being under your protection, and, as he will very much stand in need of it, I cannot wish him better than that he may continue to deserve the favour and countenance of such a patron.

I have no time to lay out in forming such compliments as would but ill suit that familiarity between us which was once my greatest pleasure and will be my greatest honour hereafter. Instead of them, accept of my hearty wishes, that the great reputation you have acquired so early may increase more and more, and that you may long serve your country with those excellent talents, and unblemished integrity, which have so powerfully recommended you to the most gracious and amiable monarch that ever filled a throne. May the frankness and generosity of your spirit continue to soften and subdue your enemies, and gain you many friends, if possible as sincere as yourself. When you have found such, they cannot wish you more true happiness than 1, who am, with the greatest zeal, Dear sir, your most affectionate friend, And faithful, obedient servant,

J. ADDISON.

DEATH OF ADDISON. Extract from the Chronological Diary of the Historical Register for the

year 1719.

JUNE the 17th, died Joseph Addison, Esq.; he was son of Dr. Lancelot Addison, Dean of Lichfield; and being educated

This letter was originally prefixed to his Dialogue on Medals, first published after his death in 1719. It will be found in our vol. i. at the commencement, but as it essentially belongs here, as being probably the last which Addison wrote, we repeat it.

at the Charter-House School, was sent from thence to the University of Oxford, where he finished his studies in Magdalen College. He became first known to the world by the excellency of his Latin Poems, which he published in the Musæ Anglicanæ, and dedicated to Charles Montague, Earl of Halifax, who together with the Lord Somers, then Lord Keeper, (to whom he inscribed the first piece he published in English, viz. a Peem to His Majesty King William III., on the taking of Namur, in the year 1695,) recommended him to that Prince, who gave him a pension of £300 per annum, and sent him to travel. At his return from his travels, he was made Commissioner of Appeals in the Excise ; afterwards he was Under-Secretary to two Secretaries of State, and Secretary of State himself in Ireland under two Lord-Lieutenants. Upon the death of Queen Anne he was made Secretary to the Regency, after that one of the Lords Commissioners for Trade and Plantations, and then advanced to be one of the Principal Secretaries of State to King George; which office, by reason of his ill state of health, he was obliged to resign some time before his death. In 1718, March 18, a pension of £1500 per annum was settled on him. He married Charlotte, daughter of Sir Thomas Middleton, of Chirk Castle in the county of Denbigh, Bart., and relict of Edward Rich, Earl of Warwick, by whom he left issue only one daughter. The asthmatic disorder, to which he had been long subject, now terminated in a dropsy; and it became evident to himself, and to all around him, that the hour of his dissolution could not be far distant. The deathbed of Addison was the triumph of religion and virtue. Reposing on the merits of his Redeemer, and conscious of a life well spent in the service of his fellow-creatures, he waited with tranquillity and resignation the moment of departure. The dying accents of the virtuous man have frequently, when other means have failed, produced the happiest effect; and Addison, anxious that a scene so awful might make its due impression, demanded the attendance of his son-in-law, Lord Warwick. This young nobleman was amiable, but dissipated; and Addison, for whom he still retained a high respect, had often, though in vain, endeavoured to correct his principles, and to curb the impetuosity of his passions. He now required his attendance to behold the reward of him who had obeyed his God. “He came," says Dr. Young,

a

:

who first related this affecting circumstance, “but life now

“ glimmering in the socket, the dying friend was silent:' after a decent and proper pause, the youth said, “Dear Sir, you sent for me; I believe, I hope that you have some commands ; I shall hold them most sacred.' May distant ages not only hear, but feel the reply! Forcibly grasping the youth's hand, he softly said, 'See in what peace a Christian can die.' He spoke with difficulty, and soon expired." I

1

A TRUE COPY OF THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT

OF JOSEPH ADDISON ESQR. In the name of God Amen. I Joseph Addison now of the parish of Kensington in the county of Middlesex Esq. being of sound and disposing mind and memory yet considering the uncertainty of this mortal life do think it necessary to make and ordain this my last will and testament which is as followeth.

Imprimis I give and bequeath unto my dear and loving wife the Countess of Warwick and Holland her heirs executors and assigns all and singular my real and personal estate whatsoever and wheresoever of which I am now seized or possessed or entitled unto upon this condition that my said dear wife shall out of my said estates pay within half a year after

my

decease the sum of five hundred pounds to my sister Mrs. Combes and the yearly sum of fifty pounds to my mother now living at Coventry during her life by half yearly payments (viz.) at Michaelmas and Lady day the first of the said payments to be made at the first of the said Feasts that shall happen next after my decease and I do make and ordain my said dear wife executrix of this my last will and I do also appoint her to be guardian of my dear child Charlotte Addison, until she shall attain her age of one and twenty, being well assured that she will take due care of her education and maintenance and provide for her in case she live to be married.

Item I do hereby revoke all former wills by me made In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this fourteenth day of May in the fifth year of our Sovereign Lord King George and in the

year

of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and nineteen.

J. ADDISON. See Young on Original Composition, Works, v. 179, edit. 1767.