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GEORGE SAVILE,

MARQUIS OF HALIFAX,

A MAN more remarkable for his wit than his steadiness, and whom an ingenious modern historian has erected into a principal character in the reign of Charles the second. But when old histories are re-written, it is necessary to set persons and facts in new lights from what they were seen by cotemporaries 3. Voltaire, speaking of Dupleix, says, that he was the first who introduced the custom of quoting his authorities in the margin, "précaution absolument nécessaire, quand on n'écrit pas l'histoire de son

• Mr. Hume, who observes that the marquis's variations might be the effects of his integrity, rather than of his ambition. They might; but it is doubtful. [Dryden seemed to be of Hume's opinion, for he is described

of piercing wit and pregnant thought,
Endued by nature, and by learning taught
To move assemblies; who but only try'd
The worse awhile, then chose the better side:
Nor chose alone, but turn'd the balance too;
So much the weight of one brave man can do.
Absalom and Achitophel.]

In order to which, it is best to omit referring even to those

authors that are used in the compilation.

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tems." However, the dictator of this sentence, and author of that beautiful Essay on universal History, has totally forgot his own rule; and has indeed left that work a most charming bird's-eye landscape, where one views the whole in picturesque confusion, and imagines the objects more delightful than they are in reality, and when examined separately. The marquis wrote,

"The Anatomy of an Equivalents."

"A Letter to a Dissenter, upon Occasion of his Majesty's late gracious Declaration of Indulgence," 1687 °.

"An Essay upon Taxes, calculated for the present Juncture of Affairs in England." 16937. "Advice to a Daughter 8."

"The Character of a Trimmer."

• Printed in the Collection of State Tracts, vol. ii. p. 300. " Printed among Somers's Tracts, vol. ii. p. 364.

Ib. vol. iv. p. 63.

[Republished under the title of "The Lady's New Year's Gift," in 1705. Philip, lord Stanhope, son to the earl of Chesterfield, married Elizabeth, daughter of the marquis of Halifax. The marquis and the earl quarrelled, and the latter made his son bring his wife to Lichfield; breaking off all intercourse between the families. Lady Stanhope had always on her toilette her father's "Advice to a Daughter:" her fatherin-law took it up one day, and wrote in the title-page, “Labour in vain." Walpoliana, vol. ii. p. 9.

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