No. XXV.

THE RIGHT HON. PATRICK EARL OF ROSCOMMON,

BARON OF KILKENNY-WEST, &c. &c. &c.

THE Dillons have been long settled in Ireland and were at one period considered a very warlike family, and at another, distinguished for talents of a very different kind. Henry their ancestor, accompanied King John into the sister island; and one of his descendants was created a baron in 1619, and ob tained an earldom in 1622.

Wentworth Dillon, Earl of Roscommon, born in Ireland, in 1638, and educated at his uncle's the Earl of Stafford, in Yorkshire, was afterwards sent to Caen, in Normandy, where he had the celebrated Bochart for his tutor. He became Master of the Horse to the Duchess of York, and having addicted himself to the Muses, began to be considered one of the best poets of his day.

Robert, ninth Earl of Roscommon, rose to be a Marshal of France; in the service of which country he possessed a proprie tary regiment, that bore his own name.

Patrick Dillon, the eleventh Earl of Roscommon, was born March 15, 1769. He succeeded his father, John, the former Earl, and on July 10, 1797, married Barbara, youngest daughter of Ignatius Begg, of Belrea, in the county of Ros common. As his sole surviving issue is Maria, born in 1798, his titles most probably may become a subject of dispute. They are now claimed by his cousin, Michael James Dillon, Esq, a minor, son of Captain Michael Dillon, late of the county of Dublin Militia, who was killed at the battle of Ross, during the Rebellion.

Lord Roscommon died at his seat called Barbara-villa, in the county of Roscommon, Jan. 1, 1817.

No. XXI.

BENJAMIN TRAVERS, Esq.

THIS gentleman, born in 1752, was destined for trade from his early youth. Accordingly, after attaining some previous knowledge in a counting-house, he soon became a very distinguished merchant, in the city of London; but it appears that the bent and direction of his mind and pursuits were unfitted both to his character and condition. He possessed a bold, speculative, and ardent mind; he was fond of books as well as of philosophy; and he was utterly incapable of following that cold, calculating, and unvarying career, by means of which the sons of commerce almost invariably attain wealth and consequence. In this predicament there is but little wonder if he should fail in obtaining the object of his wishes; although eminent for his virtues and his patriotism, as well as for his talents and his eloquence.

"His reverse of fortune," we are told, "he bore with firmness and fortitude, though at the same time touched with deep concern for those who had unhappily suffered with him. His character, indeed, had in it no small portion of sympathetic and benevolent feeling, which rendered him a pattern of con`jugal and parental affection; and which, united with his natu

ral ardour and enthusiasm, formed him to be the sincere and zealous friend. Of the justice of this remark there are living witnesses, who attribute the origin of their worldly prosperity and comfort to his unsolicited and disinterested exertions.

"Among the subjects which engaged his inquisitive mind, religion always occupied a primary place,-and on this subject he strictly and truly thought for himself; and his reflections led him to entertain the most reverential, and at the same

time the most encouraging views of the Divine Being, which were highly consolatory to him in the time of affliction, and on which he reposed with a cheerful and steady confidence both for this life and for the next.

"Few characters have been more strongly marked than those of this excellent man. Ardour of mind, combined with warmth of feeling, independence of thought which disdained to yield to authority, decision in forming resolutions, followed by equal promptitude in action, were his most prominent and conspicuous features; and these must have forced themselves on the observation of all who knew him.

"But he possessed other qualities which, as is the case with most men, could be remarked only by his intimates and friends. Among these, one of the most striking was an insatiable thirst after knowledge, which the labours and anxieties of a busy commercial life were unable to extinguish, and which he indulged, for a few years before his decease, with an eagerness and interest, by no means common at the period of life to which he had then advanced."

Mr. Travers died at Tunbridge Wells, in the spring of 1817, aged sixty-five.

by his biographer, the Honourable Roger North, a " gross calumny !" Sir Dudley North, brother to the Lord Keeper, was bound apprentice to a Turkey merchant, and is said, while residing at Constantinople, to have acted the part of a Cadi or Judge, having tried upwards of five hundred causes, there, in consequence of his knowledge both of the Turkish language, and the Mahomedan law,

Francis, Lord North, was created Earl of Guilford, by George II. on April 8, 1752; his son, Francis Lord North, K. G. acted for many years as Prime Minister, until obliged to retire, in consequence of the unpopularity attached to the war with America, of which he was accustomed to declare to his confidential friends, "that he was neither the author nor adviser." He, however, returned to power in conjunction with Mr. Fox, and they with their adherents were known by the appellation of "the coalition administration." He succeeded to the family honours and estates on the demise of his father: and although assailed at one period with all the eloquence of & Burke, and a Fox, his character was vindicated by their subse quent alliance; and he is represented by his friend Mr. Gibbon, ❝as a statesman of spotless integrity, and a consummate master of debate, who could wield with equal dexterity, the arms of reason, and of ridicule." On his return from Switzerland, this celebrated historian observes," the house in London, which I frequented with most pleasure, and assiduity, was that of Lord North. After the loss of power and of sight, he was still happy in himself and his friends, and my tribute of gratitude, and esteem, could no longer be suspected of any interested motive."

Francis North Earl of Guilford, of whom we are now to treat, was the second son of this nobleman. On his demise his lordship was succeeded by his eldest son, George Augustus; but the latter having died in 1802, without leaving any issue, by Miss Coutts, his Countess, the family honours and estates, of course devolved on him.

He'v was born, Dec. 25, 1761, and after receiving a public education, at a proper age, obtained a commission in the

army. He was soon promoted to a Majority in the 84th regiment of foot, and in due time obtained the rank of a Lieutenant-Colonel by brevet. He was also Captain of Deal Castle, a post conferred by his father in early life, in virtue of his office of Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports.

When a young man, he was particularly known by the appellation of "honest Frank North," among all his acquaintances. Unlike his father, however, he was no orator, and we believe never spoke in the House of Lords. He attended occasionally, however, and voted in favour of the Roman Catholic Bill, both in 1807, and in 1808. This nobleman, greatly addicted himself to theatrical performances; and was the author of a dramatic work of some merit: the Kentish Barons," a play published in 1791. He always evinced a great esteem for, and attachment to Mr. Kemble, and when his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, paid him a visit at Wroxton Abbey, in Oxfordshire; the Earl got up the cele brated tragedy of Richard III., in which the actor just named, personified the character of that monarch, with his usual skill and success.

On July 19, 1810, his lordship married Maria, sixth daughter of the late Thomas Bycott, of Rudge-Hall, in the county of Salop, Esq., by whom he had no issue,

He repaired sometime since to the Continent, with his Countess, and died at Pisa, in January 1817. The Earl was succeeded in both titles and estates, by his sole surviving brother, Frederick, now Earl of Guilford. The following character has been transmitted by a friend:

"His lordship was the second son of Frederick Earl of Guilford, and inherited from his father, the invariable benevolence that formed the foundation of all his character; a benevolence, not confined to the more ostensible exertions of generosity and charity, but extending itself through all the unpretending kindnesses of social life. It was never overlooked in the exultation of wit and spirits; and it will be well remembered by his acquaintance, that he never could hear