When the whole nation was inflamed with exaggerated accounts of injuries sustained by British merchants and seamen from the rapacity and cruelty of the Spaniards, lord Hardwicke opposed in the cabinet the pacific disposition of the prime minister, and in the house of lords made so strenuous a speech for vigorous measures, that Walpole, who stood behind the throne, exclaimed to those around him, "Bravo, colonel Yorke !" "The style of his eloquence," says Mr. Coxe, "was more adapted to the house of lords than to the house of commons. The tone of his voice was pleasing and melodious; his manner was placid and dignified. Precision of arrangement, closeness of argument, fluency of expression, elegance of diction, great knowledge of the subject on which he spoke, were his particular characteristics. He seldom rose into great animation: his chief aim was more to convince than amuse; to appeal to the judgment rather than to the feelings of his auditors. He possessed a perfect command over himself, and his even temper was never ruffled by petulant opposition, or malignant invective 3." It has been affirmed on the authority of Dr. Birch, that lord Hardwicke was the writer of two papers in the Spectator. Only one of these, however, can now be ascertained, and this is a letter on travelling, in No. 364, signed Philip Homebred. If not remarkable 2 Memoirs of Sir Robert Walpole, vol. i. p. 621. 3 Ut sup. p. 428. for originality or depth of thought, it is a sensible and entertaining production, observes the ingenious Dr. Drake, not deficient in humour, and in its style easy and perspicuous 4. From the Preface to Hurd's Life of Bishop Warburton, we learn that lord Hardwicke published anonymously, "The legal Judicature in Chancery stated." Lond. 1727; which was republished with large additions in 1728. This notice was accidentally obtained from the information of his son, the hon. Charles Yorke; and gives an additional plea for the introduction of his lordship on these pages, though it supplies no aid towards their literary embellishment.] Sketches, ut sup. p. 321. GEORGE PARKER, EARL OF MACCLESFIELD, [THE only son of Thomas, first earl of Macclesfield, was in the lifetime of his father constituted one of the tellers of the exchequer durante vitá. His lordship in 1720 set out on a tour through France, Italy, &c. accompanied by Mr. E. Wright, who published an account of places visited and curiosities seen during their travels, in two quarto volumes. Lord Macclesfield had a great share in framing and carrying on the act of parliament for altering the stile, and made a speech on the subject in the house of peers, on March 18, 1750, which he was prevailed upon to publish by desire of his noble auditors. In 1752 he was unanimously elected president of the Royal Society, was chosen a member of several foreign academies, and in 1759 received the honorary degree of L.L.D. from the university of Oxford. His death took place on March 17, 1764 3. Besides the speech mentioned above, lord Macclesfield published "This speech," says his lordship, "was not intended to go any farther than the walls of the house in which it was delivered: but the pressing instances of many lords, for whom the author entertains the greatest honour and esteem, have in a manner compelled him to make it more public; which the candid reader will, it is hoped, consider in the perusal of it.” • Collins's Peerage, vol. v. P. 47. "Remarks upon the solar and the lunar Years, the Cycle of nineteen Years, commonly called the Golden Number, the Epact, and a Method of finding the Time of Easter, as it is now observed in most Parts of Europe. Being Part of a Letter from the Right Hon. George, Earl of Macclesfield, to Martin Folkes, Esq. President of the Royal Society." Lond. 1751, 4to. These Remarks, as well as his lordship's Speech, require to be read in continuity to do the noble author critical justice. Lord Chesterfield was the mover of the bill in the house of peers for a reformation in the calendar, and displayed so much wit and graceful eloquence on the occasion, that he eclipsed lord Macclesfield, who seconded his motion, and who was far better informed on the subject. This lord Chesterfield frankly avows in one of his familiar letters, and attributes entirely to his own artifice of utterance and skilful management of so dry a theme, the superior power of captivating the attention and securing the favour of his hearers.] * See Maty's Memoirs of Lord Chesterfield, p. 199. WILLIAM PULTENEY, EARL O F BATH, [DESCENDED from a very ancient family?, was born in 1682, and educated at Christ Church, Oxford, Being heir to a plentiful fortune, he very early obtained a seat in the house of commons, and distinguished himself as the political opponent of sir Robert Harley and sir Robert Walpole, whose errors he had the sagacity to detect, and the eloquence to expose 3. In 1714 he • The antiquity of his family was thus noticed in sir C. H. Williams's poem of the Statesman: "When you touch on his lordship's high birth, Speak Latin as if you were tipsy; Say, we all are the sons of the earth, * Bramston paid the following compliment to his oratorical powers in the senate: "Pulteney the coldest breast with zeal can fire, Art of Politics. Lord Chesterfield also gave him the character of a complete orator; but added, that he was " a slave to every disorderly passion, and avarice in particular:" while bishop Pearce avers, that, contrary to the opinion of those who were less acquainted with him, he yearly bestowed, out of a very large estate |