reign of Charles I. Sir George Rawdon also, the first baronet, went to Ireland with Strafford, and was famous for his loyalty and eminent services in Ireland during the great rebellion. As a mark of the royal favour, he was, in May, 1665, created baronet of Moira, in the county of Down. Sir John Rawdon, in March, 1717, married Dorothy, daughter of Sir Richard Levinge, speaker of the Irish house of commons, and afterwards chief-justice of Common pleas in that kingdom. By this marriage he had four sons and a daughter; and, dying February 2d, 1724, in the 34th year of his age, he was succeeded by his son John, who was created Lord Rawdon in 1750, and earl of Moira in 1761. He married in 1741, Helena Percival, youngest sister of the earl of Egmont, by whom he had two daughters. On her death, in 1746, he married Anne, daughter of Trevor, Viscount Hillsborough, who, dying without issue in 1751, he married the following year Elizabeth Hastings, eldest daughter of Theophilus, earl of Huntingdon, by whom he had seven sons and four daughters. The present earl was born December 9th, 1754, at his family-seat in Down.

His education was liberal, and on quitting school he made a short tour on the continent; but the war with America breaking out, his lordship immediately embraced the opportunity of indulging his passion for a military life, and embarked for that country. He was lieutenant in the fifth regiment of grenadiers, at the memorable battle of Bunker'shill, where he received two shots in his cap, and was one out of seven, only, of his company who escaped unhurt. The conduct of our young soldier on this occasion was so conspicuous as to make a strong impression upon the mind of General Burgoyne, who, in his despatches to the British government, observed, "Lord Rawdon has this day stamped his fame for life." He was, afterwards, present at the storming of Fort Clinton.

In 1778, before he was four-and-twenty, he was advanced to the rank of lieutenant-colonel in the army, and General Howe having resigned, he was appointed adjutant-general to the British forces commanded by Sir Henry Clinton. In this capacity he proved himself not only brave, but active and judicious; and rendered most essential service in the hazardous retreat of the British army through the Jerseys, from Philadelphia to New York, and also in the action of Monmouth. He afterwards embarked with his troops for Charlestown, and served during the siege of that place. On this occasion he conducted himself with so much judgment, and exhibited so many proofs of distinguished valour, that he was appointed to the command of a separate corps in the province of South Carolina. The American general, Gates, had invaded this province, and Lord Rawdon's object was to maintain his position there till the arrival of Lord Cornwallis, in which he completely succeeded. Soon after, the battle of Camden was fought, in which Lord Rawdon by his intrepidity and promptitude of resolution acquired new laurels. Lord Cornwallis marching northward with a considerable force, Lord Rawdon was left with a very small division in South Carolina, where he had occasion, in February, 1781, to oppose two American generals who possessed independent commands. By the activity. and skill of his manœuvres, however, the efforts of the enemy were baffled, and in a few days they were obliged to retreat. In April following, another American army, under General Greene, advanced

against the British troops. While Greene kept his army encamped on Hobkirk-hill, waiting for reinforcements, his lordship determined upon attacking the hostile camp, though with an inferior force. The superiority of regular discipline and military skill was never more conspicuous than upon this occasion. The choice of a circuitous line of march concealed the approach of the British from the enemy. His lordship reached the most accessible side of the hill on which they lay before they were aware of an assault; Greene, however, with great alertness, drew out his forces; and when he perceived with what narrowness of front the British advanced to the attack, he confidently expected a decisive victory. Lord Rawdon instantly discerned the intentions of the American general, and at once formed such a plan of arrangement as was fitted to defeat them. The Americans came down the hill under the protection of a very heavy fire of grape-shot from their artillery ; but the sudden extension of the British front line utterly disconcerted them, and, after a sharp action, they were totally routed.

The affairs of the English in America now began to decline, and it was deemed necessary to retreat from Carolina. The conduct of this business devolved upon Lord Rawdon, on account of the severe illness of Lord Cornwallis. He retired first to Camden, which he was soon obliged to evacuate. He next pursued the route to Charlestown. Dur ing his command at this place, an unpleasing act of public justice was executed, which made a considerable noise. Isaac Haynes, an American, had been taken prisoner when Charlestown fell into the hands of the British troops. This man voluntarily took the oath of allegiance to the British government, and was set at liberty; but, in violation of his oaths, he soon after began to intrigue, and obtained the rank of a colonel of militia in the enemy's army. He corrupted a battalion of our militia which had been enrolled and attested, and was detected carrying them off at the very moment when the enemy were coming down upon us. He was tried by a court of inquiry, and executed. Lord Rawdon endeavoured privately to procure the pardon of Haynes, and encouraged Mr Alexander Wright and Mr Powell, two eminent loyalists. to get a petition from their body in his favour; but his humane efforts were over-ruled. Yet, with singular injustice, the execution of this man was not only represented at home as a wanton act of military despotism, but the whole of it was ascribed to his lordship. A methodist preacher at Plymouth, who carried on a secret correspondence with the Americans, wrote an exaggerated account of this affair to the duke of Richmond; and his grace, believing the narrative, was so imprudent as to animadvert upon the transaction in the house of lords. For this he was called to account in a spirited manner by Lord Rawdon, after his lordship's return, and at length his grace made an apology for what he had thus rashly advanced. When it had become necessary to remove the troops, his lordship was severely affected through the excessive heat of the climate: but, sacrificing all personal convenience, he gave orders to march. His weakness, however, was so great, that he was under the necessity of being conveyed in a cart, and from thence issued his orders to the troops. Finding that the disorder increased upon him, he embarked for England: but, on his passage, the vessel was captured by the Glorieuse, and carried into Brest. Shortly after he recovered his liberty, and landed in England, where, in acknowledg

He

put on only for the perils of warfare, and the darings of battle; they easily, and without affectation, accompany him in all the incidents of ordinary life. The tenor of his lordship's familiar life has in it much unaffected dignity. He is an early riser; and his mornings, before the hour for breakfast, are allotted to the despatch of business, to the care o f answering letters, as he receives them, and to the benign task of paying the most gracious attention to those numberless applications for patronage or relief, which the reputation of his benevolence naturally invites. His forenoons are in the country chiefly dedicated to the amusements of agriculture, into all the details of which he enters with great eagerness and intelligence. Formerly when he used to take more frequently the diversion of hunting, he was distinguished as a singularly fearless rider, and used to outstrip all the country gentlemen in the chase. keeps house with the liberal hospitality becoming an English nobleman. His table is splendidly and sumptuously served; but be himself partakes of its pleasures with extraordinary temperance. His company usually withdraw from the dining-room to the library, and the evening is then given either to conversation, such as unites the feast of reason and the flow of soul, or perhaps by every different person to private study. Lord Moira himself has, by reading, by converse, by an extensive observation of nature and society, acquired a store of knowledge so various, so just, and so profound, as to have been very rarely equalled among men of his rank and habits of life. He is remarkable as a voracious reader. A new book, falling into his hands, seldom fails to engross and absorb his attention, till he has thoroughly mastered its contents, and, as it were, has torn the heart out of it. In conversation he displays a mingled pride and modesty; willing to express his sentiments, but scorning to obtrude, and rarely deigning to defend them; never dictatorial nor pertinaciously disputative; but shunning, with a dignity which sometimes borders on haughtiness, to descend to the level of common conversational discussions. Into the details of business of all sorts, he is capable of entering with uncommon patience, discernment, and perseverance. If interrupted, however often, by the calls of friendship or of other business, he is ever ready to leave his unfinished task to enter with the most obliging and entire attention into the new avocation, while it presents itself; and then, when this interruption has ceased, to return to that from which he had been called, with a mind as completely in possession of its former part, as if nothing had interposed to divert him from it. Even his enemies have never been able to withhold their reluctant homage from his talents and public virtues."

George Canning.

BORN A. D. 1770.-DIED A. D. 1827.

MR CANNING was born in London on the 11th of April, 1770. Descended from honourable ancestry, an imprudent marriage had separated his father from the protection and countenance of his immediate ancestor, who left him to struggle as he might, with his disastrous and sinking fortunes. Disappointment and chagrin sent him to a prema