Page:The Annual Register 1758.djvu/272

 253 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1758.

are in the highed degree courteons his time amufcth himfelf with and complaifant, wherein h? fet an illiterate chaplain, an humble an excellent txample to his col- companion, or a favourite fcr- leagues, which llicy did not think vant.

fit to follow; but this extreme Thefe are fome few diflinguifh- civility is univerfal and undif- ing marks in the charader of that linguilhed, and in private con- perfon who now prefideth over verfation, where he obferveth it the difcontented party: although as inviolably as if he were in the he be not anfwerable for all their grcatell aflcmbly, it is fometimes milhikes; and if his precepts had cenfiired as formal : two re^fcns been more llriftly followed, per- are alhgned for this behaviour ; haps their power would not have iirll, from the cnnfcioufnefs of his been fo eafily (hakcn. I have h'jmhle original, he keepcth all been afTured, and heard him pro- fjmiliarity at the utmotl diltance, fcfs, that he was againft engaging which otherwife might be apt to in that fooli(h profecution of Dr. intrude; the fccond, that being Sacheverel, as what he forefaw fenfible how fubjed he is to was likely to end in their ruin; violent pafiions, he avoideth all that he blamed the rough de- incitements to them, by teaching meanour of fome perfons to the thofe he converfes with, from his queen, as a great failure in pru- own example, to keep a great way dcnce; and that when it appeared, within the bounds of decency and her majefty was firmly xefolved refped, and it is, indeed, true, upon a treaty of peace, he ad- that no man is more apt to take vifed his friends not to oppofe it fire upon the leaft appearance of in its progrcfs, but find fault with provocation, which temper he it after it was made, which would ftrives to fubdue with the utmoll be a copy of the like ufage violence to himfelf: fo that his themfelves h£.d met with after the bread has been feen to heave, treaty of Ryfwick ; and the fafefi, and his eves to fparkle with rage, as well as the moft probable wav in thofe very moments, when his of difgracing the promoters and words, and the cadence of his advifers. I have been the larger voice were in the humblelt and in reprefenting to the reader fome fofteft manner; perhaps that force idea of this extraordinary genius, upon his nature, may caufe that becaufe whatever attempt hath infatiable love of revenge, which hitherto been made with any ap- his dctradors lay to his charge, pearance of condud, or probabi- who confequently reckon difiimu- jity of fuccefs, to reftore the de- lation among his chief perfections, minion of that party, was infal- Avarice he hath none ; and his libly contrived by him : and I Ambition is gratified, by being the prophefy the fame for the future, uncontelled head of his party, as long as his age and infirmi- With an excellent underftanding, ties will leave him capable of bu- adorned by all the polite parts of finefs. learning, he hath very little talle

for converfation, to which he pre- The Duke of Marlborough's fers the plerifure of reading and charader hath been fo varioufly thinking; aad ia the intervals of drawn, and is indeed of i'o mixed

a nature