Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 32.djvu/424

Legge of great severity (, Memoirs of the Reign of George III. i, 384). On being urged by the Duke of Newcastle to reconsider his refusal to take office in Rockingham's first administration (Hist. MSS. Comm. 11th Rep. pt. V. p. 331), Dartmouth was appointed president of the board of trade and foreign plantations on 19 July 1765, and was admitted to the privy council on the 26th of the same month. He resigned office on the formation of the Duke of Grafton's ministry (30 July 1766), and in August 1772 succeeded Lord Hillsborough as Secretary of state for the colonies and president of the board of trade and foreign plantations in Lord North's administration, posts which he retained until Norember 1775, when he was the American troubles, on 1 Feb. 1773, Dartmouth declared himself unable to make up his mind,' owing to the variety of matter it contained' (Parl. Hist. xviii. 501), but before the debate closed announced that he had decided to vote for its immediate rejection (Life of Benjamin Franklin, ii. 307). Writing a few months afterwards to William Franklin. Benjamin Franklin says Dartmouth 'is a truly good man, and wishes sincerely a good understanding with the colonies, but does not seem to have strength equal to his wishes' (ib. ii. 154). In March 1775 Dartmouth recommended Lord North's conciliatory propositions to the governors of the American colonies, 'in language of much force and evident sincerity' (, Hist. of England, 1882, iii.424-5). On 1 Sept. 1775 he received the 'Olive Branch' from Richard Penn, and subsequently intimated that no notice could be taken of it. In this year also he carried the bill for restraining the trade of the American colonies through the House of Lords, and succeasfully opposed Lord Camden's bill for the repeal of the Quebec Government Act (Part. Hist. xviii. 430. 465. 457, 662). He opposed the Duke of Grafton's proposal for conciliation with America at some length on 14 Match 1776, declaring that the only remedy was an over-powering force (ib. xviii. 1264-6). In December 1779 he spoke against the Duke of Richmond's motion for a reform of the civil list estabishment, and 'imagined every member of that House beheld with satisfaction the increase of bis Majesty's family, and consequently the greater necessity of an ample revenue.' (ib. xx. 1259-60). Upon the downfall of Lord North's administration, in March 1782, Dartmouth resigned the privy seal. From April to December 1783 he served as lord steward of the household in the coalition ministry. He held no further political office. Dartmouth was appointed by Lord North, in Julv 1788, high steward of Oxford Universitv (Hist. MSS. Comm. 11th Rep. pt. v. p. 424). He died at Blackheath, Kent, on 15 July 1801, in the seventy-first year of his age, and was buried in Trinity Church in the Minories on 3 Aug. following.

Dartmouth was an amiable, pious man. He spoke but rarely in the House of Lords, and was entirely without any administrative capacity. George III was greatly attached to him, and in a letter dated 27 March 1782 avows 'how very dear he will always be to my heart,' adding, 'What days has it pleased the Almighty to place me in when Lord Dartmouth can be a man to be removed but at his own request!' (ib. p. 443). He was an intimate friend of Selina, countess of Huntingdon, and during her serious illness, in November 1787, it appears that he was selected as 'the fittest person' to continue her work in the event of her death (Life and Times of Selena, Countess of Huntingdon, ii. 13-13). Owing to his strong attachment to the methodists, Dartmouth acquired the nickname of 'The Psalm-singer' (, Hist. and Posth. Memoirs, 1884, iii. 268), and Cowper alludes to him in 'Truth' as 'one who wears a coronet and prays' (line 378). John Newton, whom Dartmouth nominated to the curacy of Olney, addressed to him the 'Twenty-six Letters to a Nobleman,' which were subsequently published in 'Cardiphonia,' London, 1781, 12mo. In a letter to Hannah More, dated 7 April 1799, Newton repeats the story that Richardson, when asked for the original of Sir Charles Grandison, said he might apply the portrait to Lord Dartmouth if he were not a methodist (, Memoirs of Mrs. Hannah More, 1885. iii. 78). Dartmouth College, in the United States, incorporated by charter on 13 Aug. 1769, and was so named in honour of the earl, 'who was one of the most jealous promoters of the enterprise in Great Britain' (Encycl. Americana, 1885, ii. 541 ). Dartmouth was appointed recorder of Lichfield in 1767, acting-lieutenant of Alice Holt and Woolmer forests 11 March 1773, and governor of the Charterhouse 23 Nov. 1781. He was elected F.S.A. on 7 Nov. 1754.

Dartmouth married, on 11 June 1756), Frances Catherine, only daughter and heiress of Sir Charles Gunter Nicholl. K.B., by whom he had eight sons, vii, (1) George [q. v.], who succeded him as the third earl; (2) William, barrister-at-law of the Temple, and groom of the bedchamber prince of Wales, who died 19 Oct. 1784;