Such was the author in his private walk of life; and the principles on which that conduct was founded, when expanded as motives for his public character in a larger sphere of action, rendered him equally praise-worthy in that as in the former.

When he was in the country, he constantly acted as a magiftrate in his own district, and attended all thofe meetings which were holden for the purposes of public justice.

From the general opinion that was entertained of his inflexible integrity, and superior understanding, he was much reforted to in that character at home. From his natural fagacity, quick difcernment, and long experience, on hearing and examining the parties, he feldom failed of obtaining a compleat knowledge of the cafes that came before him and was thereby enabled to determine according to the rules of compleat justice; always giving his reafons for what he did, VOL. I. with

with a clearness and perfpicuity peculiar to himself, and those reasons expreffed in words fo accommodated to the understanding of all who heard him, that few or none departed diffatisfied with his decifions. Though he was not bred to the study of the law, his understanding, likẹ old Cato* in his character by Livy, was fuch, that he could apply it to every purpose for which it was wanted. When in the course of conversation, among other topics that arofe, the duty of a magistrate had its place, and the pains attending it, as alfo the difficulties from the number and variety of powers with which the legislature had entrusted him were afferted, he used to fay, that he thought himself fingularly happy, that, on a recollection of the many years he had acted in the commiffion of the peace, he had never been called to the Court of

Huic verfatile ingenium fic pariter ad omnia fuit, ut natum ad id unum diceres quodcunque ageret-Liv. lib. 39. cap. 40.

King's Bench to account for his not understanding an act of parliament, of which he was often one of the makers; which had sometimes happened to those in his fituation; and that he had been amply compenfated for the pains he had taken, and the difficulties he had met with during his long exercise of that civil office, by the many opportunities which he had been gratified with of reconciling those who came before him inflamed with the highest degree of hatred to each other; for he confidered that beatitude, which is pronounced on the peace-makers, as an effential part of the internal evidence of the truth of the Chriftian religion.

His firft entrance into parliament was in the last year of the adminiftration of that able and honeft minifter Sir Robert Walpole, whofe memory hath a title to be enrolled amongst the faithfulleft fervants of the crown, and trueft friends to the liberties and real interefts of the people, that the British empire hath been blessed

with during the prefent or any former century.

Through this year our author attended all long days and nights in the House of Commons, which the oppofition spent in hunting that minifter into the toils, which they had made to take him, under the hackneyed and fpecious colour of purfuing the enemies to the happiness and interests of the country.

Unknown to Sir Robert, and unconnected with him by acquaintance or private regard, he fupported him to the utmost of his power, till he retired from his high station, making room for those who foon fhewed the lofs the nation fuftained by the fad exchange. After he had retired, and received the strongest mark of his royal master's favour he could beftow, as a teftimony of the sense he entertained of his faithful fervices to him and his kingdoms, our author waited upon Sir Robert at his houfe at Chelsea, to congratulate him on his having re

ceived fo gracious a mark of what he had deferved for his unwearied zeal and abilities in the long fervice of his country; when, amongst other things which then paffed in converfation, Lord Orford acknowledged the support he had given him, during the short time he had fitten in parliament, and that, in expreffions of great thankfulness; at the fame time declaring, that had those to whom he had, during his meridian of power, fhewn the greatest friendship, and loaded with all the favours he could confer on them, but borne as kind difpofitions to him as he had done, who had not been diftinguished by any particular regard, he would not then have paid a vifit to an ex-minister.

Long before he came into parliament, he had lived in the world with those of the best fashion, from which fociety the hiftory of those who took the most active part in both Houses of Parliament, their connections, principles, and objects, might

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