Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 45.djvu/132

 tion of the house to the rejection of the pacific system which had been inaugurated by the peace of 1782 (ib. xxviii. 939–48), and in the following year he vigorously denounced the policy of maintaining the integrity of the Turkish empire against Russia (ib. xxix. 46–52, 441–8). In the beginning of 1792 the king made an overture to Lansdowne, who replied in a singularly obscure paper on men and manners, and the negotiation abruptly terminated (Life, iii. 500–4). In May Lansdowne expressed his strong disapproval of the proclamation against seditious writings (Parl. Hist. xxix. 1524–7), and in December he warmly opposed the alien bill (ib. xxx. 159, 164–6). In 1793 he unsuccessfully protested against the war with France (ib. xxx. 329–31, 422–3), and vainly opposed the Traitorous Correspondence Bill (ib. xxx. 728–30, 732–6). His motion in favour of peace with France was defeated by 103 votes to thirteen on 17 Feb. 1794 (ib. xxx. 1391–1407, 1424). In the same year he opposed the Habeas Corpus Suspension Bill (ib. xxxi. 598–601), and supported the Duke of Bedford's motion for putting an end to the French war (ib. xxxi. 683–5, 687). In 1795 he opposed the bill for continuing the Habeas Corpus Suspension Act (ib. xxxi. 1287–9), and the Seditious Meetings bill (ib. xxxii. 534–9, 551–2, 554). The estrangement between Lansdowne and Pitt led to a gradual reconciliation between Lansdowne and Fox, who informed Lord Holland in February 1796 that ‘we are indeed now upon a very good footing, and quite sufficiently so to enable us to act cordially together, if any occasion offers to make our doing so useful’ (, Memorials and Correspondence of C. J. Fox, 1854, iii. 129). Lansdowne's motion in favour of reform in the public offices was defeated by a majority of ninety-two on 2 May 1796 (Parl. Hist. xxxii. 1041–1052). In March 1797 he indignantly denied the charge of Jacobinism which had frequently been imputed to him, and declared that he only ‘desired the present system should be changed for a constitutional system’ (ib. xxxiii. 193–4). On 30 May following he expressed a hope that an attempt at parliamentary reform would be made ‘while it could be done gradually, and not to delay its necessity till it would burst all bounds’ (ib. xxxiii. 761–2). During the debate on the address at the opening of the session in November 1797, Lansdowne, in an eloquent speech, insisted on the necessity of making peace with France, and urged the ministers to adopt a policy of conciliation both at home and abroad (ib. xxxiii. 872–9). In March 1798 he supported the Duke of Bedford's motion for the dismissal of the ministers (ib. xxxiii. 1332–6, 1352). In March 1779, and again in April 1800 he declared himself in favour of union with Ireland (ib. xxxiv. 672–680, xxxv. 165–9). When the king's illness, in 1801, seemed likely to necessitate a regency, Lord Moira was instructed by the Prince of Wales to ascertain Lansdowne's views. After several conversations a cabinet was agreed upon, with Lansdowne and Fox as secretaries of state, Sheridan as chancellor of the exchequer, and Moira as first lord of the treasury (Life, iii. 559–62). These arrangements, however, were quickly frustrated by the recovery of the king and the formation of the Addington ministry. On 20 March 1801 Lansdowne made a formal declaration of his altered views on the question of neutral rights (Parl. Hist. xxxv. 1197–9). He spoke for the last time in the House of Lords on 23 May 1803, and once more urged the government to adopt a policy of conciliation with regard to France (ib. xxxvi. 1505–7). He died at Lansdowne House, Berkeley Square, London, on 7 May 1805, and was buried at High Wycombe in the family vault in the north aisle of the chancel of All Saints' Church, without any monument or inscription to his memory.

Lansdowne was appointed major-general on 26 March 1765 (dated 10 July 1762), lieutenant-general on 26 May 1772, and general on 19 Feb. 1783. He was elected and invested a knight of the Garter on 19 April 1782, and was installed by dispensation on 29 May 1801 (, History of the Orders of British Knighthood, 1842, vol. ii. p. lxxiii).

He married, first, on 3 Feb. 1765, Lady Sophia Carteret, only daughter of John, earl Granville, in whose right he acquired large estates, including Lansdowne Hill, near Bath, from which he afterwards took his title of marquis. By her he had two sons, viz.: (1) John Henry, second marquis of Lansdowne, and (2) William Granville, who died on 28 Jan. 1778. Shelburne's first wife died on 5 Jan. 1771, aged 25, and was buried in the mausoleum in Bowood Park. A monument was erected to her memory in the south aisle of All Saints' Church, High Wycombe. He married, secondly, on 9 July 1779, Lady Louisa Fitzpatrick, second daughter of John, first earl of Upper Ossory, by whom he had an only son, Henry, third marquis of Lansdowne [q. v.], and a daughter, born on 8 Dec. 1781, who died an infant. His second wife died on 8 Aug. 1789, aged 34.

Lansdowne was one of the most unpopular statesmen of his time. He was commonly