Page images
PDF
EPUB
[graphic][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

UNIVERSAL MAGAZINE.

No. XX.-VOL. IV.]

For JULY, 1805.

A BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF WIL-
LIAM KERR BELLEnden, duke of
ROXBURGH, &c.

HE true glory of an illustrious

[NEW SERIES,

sists in our improvement of it. Hence we need not wonder that, induced by this consideration, Plutarch made no scruple to compare Aristides with

not merely Philopamen with

external causes, from the pre-emi- tus Flaminius, Pelopidas with Marnent distinctions of rank, dignified cellus, and Agesilaus with Pompey office, or fortune, peculiar to the se- the Great; a common citizen of lected few, (and which are too fre- Athens, Lacedæmon, or Thebes, with quently enjoyed by the frivolous, the a consul of Rome. That excellent superficial, and ignorant) but from writer did not weigh honours in the the known worth, and solid merit, of balance against honours, or great pubthe individual, from principles inhe- lic estates against great public estates, rent in the human soul. Honour is but MEN against MEN; as rightly not always the reward of civil talents judging that the radiance of sovereign and accomplishments, or of a truly power and authority is often eclipsed uniform, beroical military virtue. One by the superior force of a shining species of it may, in many cases, be example, in many a private subtermed accidental, as being derived ject. from antiquity of family, and a long But notwithstanding this difference, line of glorious ancestors, and, in the fortunes and actions of such men others, as being obtained, not by the as figure in the first ranks of society, accomplishing of good, great, and or in the more conspicuous employlaudable actions, but from the favour ments of the state, more forcibly atof monarchs*, and by means which tract our attention, and are generally may be justly considered as infamous, considered as more worthy of our rather than deserving of our imitation, observation, than those who have or of our liberal and ingenuous com- rendered themselves honourable, in a mendation. But although few are contracted sphere of life, however born to the splendid privileges of roy- highly the latter may be esteemed on alty or nobility, to be personages ex- account of their eminent abilities, good alted above others, yet all, from the qualities, and liberal endowments. prince to the peasant, are alike by The history of a great man, whether birth all are equal inheritors of that bad or good, is sometimes that of his rational part or portion, that sacred whole age and nation, and may afford emulation, which prompts and encourages us to tread in the path of equity, consistency, and propriety. This is the general gift of nature and the real and most valuable differ ence amongst us, is that which con

more entertainment and pleasure in the perusal, as being applicable to general things and uses; but the biography of a just and truly honest man, may, nevertheless, convey a character, or inculcate a useful moral, and not

* A striking instance of this kind occurred, not long ago, in the noble case and example of a certain noble lord, whose name, it is presumed, no one can be unacquainted with:-noble let us call him, for so he has been made, and so men deem him-but noble, from one of Fortune's unlucky chances, and not from virtue. This noble lord, who has long distinguished himself in public life, and blazed out in full glory, though, now he appears only as a beclouded sun, shorn of his beams, and who is shrewdly sus pected of having been long fattening by the crimes and follies of the age, is now ar raigned at the bar of national justice, as the public defaulter of unaccounted myriads! O TEMPORA, O MORES! Hic tamen vivit! Vivit! imo vero etiam in Senatum venit I "FIE ON'T, OH FIE!"-" THERE IS SOMETHING ROTTEN IN THE STATE OF DENMARK NOSTRIS MISERIIS MAGNUS EST!

VOL. IV.

B

be inferior to the other, in respect of precept and example.

[ocr errors]

William Kerr Bellenden, Duke of Roxburgh, Marquis of Beaumont and The noble subject of the present Cesford, Earl of Roxburgh and Kelso, Memoir, has received lustre from both Viscount Broxmouth, Baron Kerr of the above-mentioned distinctions. It Roxburgh, and Lord Bellenden, also is natural to an Englishman to be Hereditary Usher of the Exchequer highly pleased with a truly martial in Scotland, and Knight of the Thistle, soul and genius, in our kings, princes, was the only son of the late Honourand nobles; who, in former ages, far able William Bellenden (who died in from continuing the greater part of the month of February, 1759), by Jatheir time, in a state of personal inac- comine his wife, one of the daughters tivity, or, at least, in a fatiguing hurly- and co-heiresses of John Turner, Esq. burly of doing just nothing, (laborio- of Kirby-hall, in the county of Linsus nihil agendo)-far from making a coln. His Grace succeeded to the virtue of idleness, by assuming the dukedom of Roxburgh, August 20, appearance of industry and diligence 1755, on the death of John the late -far from rioting in the lap of an al- duke, when the English honours of most Sardanapalian sloth and luxury Earl and Baron Kerr, of Wakefield, -were found hunting, in their proper in Yorkshire, became extinct. persons, in the field of glory; went Grace succeeded John, the 5th lord, forth cheerfully and valiantly in the as Lord Bellenden, in the month of defence of their country, at the head October, 1796. In the year 1751, of their armies, conquering and to

conquer.

His

his Grace married Miss Burroughs, by which lady he had three children, all deceased; and afterwards, in the month of June, 1789, his Grace married Mary, daughter of Captain Bechenoe of the Royal Navy, and niece of Sir John Smith, Bart. of Sedling, in the county of Dorset.

In addition to the advantages of being descended from an ancient family, and possessing the highest rank, with all those circumstances of an adventitious nature which supports the whole fabric of public admiration, with respect to externals, and which com- The house of Roxburgh is a very pose, as it were, a silver pillar of the ancient family, and came originally Corinthian order of society, his Grace from Normandy. Kerr of Kerr-half, the Duke of Roxburgh, according to in Lancashire, was one great ancestor the mode and example of our magna- of it. From him descended two bronimous ancestors, if not in a manner thers, Ralph and Robert, in the counborn a soldier, was certainly very early ty of Roxburgh, Scotland, North initiated in the many glorious toils, Britain, and who stand at the head of and adventurous deeds of war. It is the two branches of Cesford and Fera happy commendation of his Grace, nihurst. We learn from Scottish_re-` to say, that as he is completely form- cords, that the above-mentioned Roed to shine either in arms or a court, bert obtained from King David II. so he has ever blended the gallant the lands of Oultoburn, near the wadisposition, the rough character of a ter of Beaumont, and that he is consoldier, with those finer feelings which sidered as an ancestor of the house of embellish that of the true gentleman, Cesford, from which the Duke of equally exempt from vice, foppery, Roxburgh is descended. From the and ignorance; and where this is the other branch, that of Fernihurst, the ease, no link is wanting in the chain of Marquis of Lothian is descended. It manly dignities, of attractive merits farther appears, that Sir William Kerr nothing is wanting to constitute and of Cesford was knighted at the corocomplete a real example of polite mo- nation of Queen Ann of Denmark, rality. in the year 1590; that he was a Gentleman of the Bedchamber to King James VI. of Scotland, and the First of England; that he was created Lord Kerr, of Cesford, by that king; and, in the year 1616, was farther advanced to the dignity of Earl of Roxburgh. The following are the dates of the creations, in order of time:—

To these general reflections, the spontaneous effusions of our breasts, to the memory of an illustrious character, we annex a brief outline, comprising a few particulars respect ing the Duke's life, transmitted to us from the pen of one of our correspondents.

Nature, at length, my Lord, is kind, Which proves the Goddess is not blind;

Lord Kerr of Cesford, in 1603; Earl The following lines were written of Roxburgh and Kelso, 1616; Lord by Dr. Walcott, and addressed to his Bellenden, 1661; Marquis of Beau- Grace, on his coming to the dukemont and Duke of Roxburgh, April, dom: 1707; and Baron and Earl Kerr, of Wakefield, in the county of York, May 14, 1722. The present Duke's mother was Essex Mostyn, eldest daughter of Sir John Mostyn, Bart. of Flintshire. She died on the 7th of December, 1764.

Allow me then to give you joy: And let me add, I hope when Fame Your wealth and titles shall proclaim, She'll note the field of Fontenoy."

the

The Duke was born in the month Her Grace the Duchess, is one of of April, 1740, and, as before observ- the finest women in Europe, and aped, entered at an early period into the pears, at this moment, to the greatest army, viz. in the year 1744, and was advantage, fascinating from present at the famous battle of Fon- charms of her person, and in the full tenoy, where he carried the colours bloom of beauty and mental accomof the regiment, and highly distin- plishments. Her form has received guished himself by his coolness and the nicest and most finishing touches intrepidity, by not only preserving of Nature's hand; and her exalted his own colours, but those also of a mind and feeling heart, as displayed brother-officer, who was killed in the in her generous, proper conduct, may action, from falling into the hands of be held up as a model well worthy the enemy. Afterwards, entering the the imitation of many in what is callregiment commanded by his uncle, ed high life-and even of the aggre the late Duke of Argyle, he again sig- gate of the ladies in general. Her nalized himself at the battle of Cul- Grace derives her dignity, not from a loden: but being ordered back to haughty carriage, or lofty demeanour, Flanders, with his regiment, to join in her present splendid and elevated the army, his Grace, then still an en- situation, but from those genuine sign, and Mr. Bellenden Kerr, was qualities of mind and character which, present at the battle of Laffelt, in the year 1747. In the month of December, 1755, he was appointed captain in the 54th regiment; and, in the year 1797, he succeeded to the title of Lord Bellenden; and, upon the death of the late Duke of Roxburgh, in 1804, he succeeded to the dukedom, and other honours of the family.

in the very nature of things, can alone confer it-sweet simplicity, an amiable temper, and the graces of sprightly, engaging, condescending manners. Reading and music are her Grace's most favourite pursuits and she has ever preferred the cultivation and enjoyment of these, amidst the rural scenes to which they are most congenial, to the noise, tumult, and The Duke of Roxburgh is about bustle, of the beau monde. In the the middle size, of polished manners, select circles which she forms, ease, pleasing, graceful, and elegant, in per- elegance, lively sallies of wit, a luxu son and address, and perfectly desti- rious imagination, and all the agre tute of that hauteur which too fre- mens that render female conversation quently accompanies elevated situa- so delightful, are enjoyed in their tions. The Duke is never deficient highest perfection.

in patronizing and remunerating men The following lines breathe a spirit of genius. He is particularly attach- of ingenuous admiration, and are the ed to the study and practice of music, production of an author not accusand is a pleasing performer. His tomed to address the "flattering line" Grace is extensive but judicious in his to high rank, destitute of other reliberalities, and select and unshaken commendations: in his friendships.

"O blest with beauty, wit, and taste,
Having said thus much of the Duke Fortune has paid her court at last;
of Roxburgh, we must necessarily re- - And yet the muse believe-
gard him as the antipodes of most of
the great men of the present day.
The Duke has no heir to any of his
titles.

Who scorns the mean, the flatt'ring line-
More worth is ev'ry charm of thine,
Than all the GODDESS has to give.

ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS.

ON METEORS OR FALLING STONES. two phenomena of meteors and falling IN the sixth volume of the Abridge- stones; and indeed it has of late been ment of the Philosophical Transac- taken for granted, or concluded, that tions, now publishing, there is a pa- every such meteor-like appearance is per of the great Dr. Halley's, con- attended by the fall of a stone or taining his thoughts on Extraordinary stones, although we do not always see Meteors. From this we learn that the the place of the fall, nor can discover luminous bodies sometimes seen in the falling bodies or stones themthe atmosphere, are, in the Doctor's selves.

opinion, merely unkindled vapours. This conclusion, however, has conAn objection to this, however, is tributed nothing towards enabling us started by the ingenious Dr. Hutton, to discover the origin of these bodies, in his notes on the said paper, (from at least as to their generation in the which notes the following observa- atmosphere; on the contrary, it seems tions are taken, with some verbal al- still more difficult to account for the terations, adapted to the state of a po- production of stones, than of gaseous pular miscellany) that the difficulty, meteors in the atmosphere, as well as not to say apparent impossibility, of to inflame and give them such violent conceiving how exhalations could be projectile force. In fact, philosophers raised so high, seems insurmountable, have given up the idea of regularly and requires some other origin to ac- accounting for the origin of these count for it satisfactorily. Indeed a phenomena, as hopeless. One idea, number of later observations, parti- however, both possible and probable, cularly some recent and well-attested has been suggested on the subject, by facts in France, have induced a be- some of the French mathematicians, lief that these luminous appearances particularly by M. La Place; an idea are allied to, if not the very same as, of so extraordinary a nature, as both the stones which have frequently been to astonish and gratify us with its noknown to have fallen from the at- velty and boldness of conception. This mosphere, at different times, and in is no less than the conjecture that all parts of the globe. these stony masses are projected from These luminous bodies are seen to our sister-planet, the moon! None move with very great velocities, in but a philosophical astronomer could oblique directions, descending some- have proposed such a conjecture, and times, if not commonly, with a loud at the same time proved its possibility. hissing noise, resembling that of a This, however, M. La Place has been mortar shell, or cannon ball, when enabled to perform by the rules of exploded, or rather, perhaps, like strict mathematical calculation. He that of an irregular hard mass projected violently through the air. It is always surrounded by a blaze or flame, tapering off to a narrow stream in the hinder part of it.

These said bodies or masses are seen, or at least heard, to burst and to fly in pieces; the larger parts going foremost, and the smaller following in succession. They then fall on the earth, and strike it with great violence, and on examining the place where they fall, the parts of the above masses will be found scattered about in all directions, being still considerably warm, and most of them will have forced their way into the earth, several inches deep. After so many facts and concurring circumstances, it is difficult for the most incredulous to refuse assent to the identity of the

has demonstrated, that a mass, if projected from a volcano in the moon, with a certain degree of velocity, of. about a mile and a half per second, (which is not impossible to be done), it will thence be thrown beyond the sphere of the moon's attraction, and of course descend into the confines of the earth's; so that the mass must presently fall to the earth, and become a part of it.

Moreover, we may safely conclude, that the bodies in question were not projected by any terrestrial volcanoes, and still farther, that we have no right, judging according to the established laws and analogies of nature, to suppose that they were formed in the upper regions of the atmosphere. To a body placed on the surface of the moon, the attraction towards its

« PreviousContinue »