UNIVERSAL MAGAZINE. No. XXX.-VOL. V.] For MAY, 1806. [NEW SERIES. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF THE RIGHT offer themselves candidates for the emoHONOURABLE LORD HENRY PETTY, luments and honors of the state. The noble subject of the present AND memoir has not entered on the arduous MA- career of politics without some pretensions to public regard. Honourably descended, and early introduced to the notice of eminent compatriots, he has already displayed no unsatisfactory "I am not of opinion that the race of men, and the common-wealths they create, like the bodies of individuals, grow effete and languid and bloodless, and ossify by the necessities of their own conformation, and the fatal operation of longevity and time. These analogies between bodies natural and politic are but too often used to find apologies for the despair of laziness and pusillanimity; and to excuse the want of all manly efforts, when the exigencies of the country call for them the more loudly. How often has public calamity been arrested, on the very brink of ruin, by the seasonable energy of a single man! Have we no such man amongst us? The times are critical. New things in a new world! I see no hopes in the common tracks." EDMUND BURKE. The late celebrated Marquis of lebrated Mar Lansdowne, father of Lord Henry Petty, died at Lansdowne House, in Berkeley Square, on the 7th of May, 1805; and was succeeded by his eldest son, John Henry, who took the oaths, and his seat, early in the present session of parliament. Of the genealogy of this noble family, the following is given as Lansdowne is descended from Walter a correct statement. The Marquis of Fitzother, Constable of the Castle, and Steward of the county of Pembroke, in Wales; whose two grandsons, Maurice and William, went over to Ireland with Richard Strongbow, Earl of Pembroke, T is not without reason, that an and there founded the two noble famiunusual degree of anxiety seems lies of Fitzgerald, Duke of Leinster, manifested, as to those characters who and Fitzmaurice, Earl of Kerry. The appear destined to act a conspicuous adopted name of Petty, with the princepart on the political theatre of the uni- ly estate in Ireland, is derived from his verse. The times are eminently criti- maternal great uncle, Henry, Earl of cal. Of the few illustrious men in Shelburne, a son of the Sir William whom the people have been accustom- Petty, who commemorated himself by ed to confide, and to whose exertions his Survey of Ireland," and by other they have hitherto looked for happiness literary works. In May, 1750, George and glory, some have suddenly and for II. created the first Marquis (then Visever disappeared, while of others it is count Fitzmaurice) an English Peer, not naturally to be expected that they by the title of Baron Wycombe. Early will much longer be continued to the in Mr. Pitt's administration, the late wishes or the prayers of their country. Marquis (till then Earl of Shelburne) If such be the situation of public affairs, was created Marquis of Lansdowne, and the representation is far from being which title he chose after the beautiful exaggerated, if it be not only to new seat, called Lansdowne Hill, at Bath, measures, but also to new men, that a portion of the Granville estates, acwe must eventually, and at no very cruing to him by his first marriage distant time, resort, for the direction of (1765) with Lady Sophia Carteret, national concerns, it is of more than daughter and heiress of the late Earl of ordinary importance to investigate the Granville, and mother to the present qualifications of those who are likely to Marquis of Lansdowne, 3 C VOL. V. 2 proofs of the talents for which he was Chancellor of the Exchequer, Lord Henry fills the same office before the completion of his 26th year: both of these ministers finished their studies at the university of Cambridge; and Lord Henry Petty succeeds Mr. Pitt, not only as chancellor of the Exchequer, but also as representative for the University of Cambridge. It was acknowledged something in favour of Mr. Pitt, at the dawning of his political day, that he was the cherished son of the great Earl of Chatham; it is not a little to the credit of Lord Henry Petty, at a similar time, that he is known as a son of whom the great Marquis of Lansdowne formed considerable expectations. accredited, and which promise one day to reflect the consideration that he at present derives from the lustre of his father's reputation. Elevated situations, if they attract and fix the attention of mankind on the persons who aspire to occupy them, supply, at the same time, powerful incentives to illustrious views and achievements. The post of responsibility is likewise one of distinction. To an exalted mind, what can present a higher stimulus to action, than that the interests of society demand exertion, and that a grateful country anxiously expects the services which it is prepared to reward? Lord Henry Petty, the youngest son Theage is not ascertained at which Lord of the last Marquis of Lansdowne, by Henry became a pupil at Westminster his second lady, Louisa Fitzpatrick, school, whence he was sent to the Unisister to the existing Earl of Upper versity of Cambridge, under the care of Ossory, and to the late Dowager Lady the Rev. Mr. Debarry, who had been Holland (mother of the present Lord his preceptor during the time he was Holland), was born in July, 1780. At placed at Westminster. His lordship nine years old, Lord Henry was de- gave early promise of talents; and his prived of the affection of his accom- oration before the University, exhibited plished mother, Lady Louisa, who died such a display of excellence as to confirm the favorable opinion at first enter August 2, 1789. tained of his abilities. mont, a gentleman high in political estimation, and a native of Switzerland, visited that once happy and admired country, going first to Paris, and then to Geneva. The superintendance of the instrucA nobler theatre was soon presented tion of Lord Henry having now devolyed exclusively on the Marquis of Lans- for his lordship's exertions, on his bedowne, that nobleman entered, with ing returned a member of Parliament redoubled ardor,' on the " delightful for Calne, in Wiltshire, at the general task." With him, as with the great election for 1802, and about the twenLord Holland, in the education of the ty-second year of his age. Previously present Mr. Fox, and as with the great to this event, and immediately after the. Earl of Chatham, in the education of pacification treaty of Amiens, Lord the late Mr. Pitt, the formation of the Henry Petty, accompanied by M. Dumind of his youngest son appears to have constituted his primary gratification. All these noble statesmen, each of them honourably remembered for their talents and measures, are remarkaThe first subject that particularly ble for the attention bestowed by them on their younger sons, and the anticipa- excited his lordship's attention, after tions they entertained as to the future becoming a member of the national re ominence of their favorite offspring. presentation, was the Irish Bank-ReBetween the fortunes of Lord Henry striction Bill, on the discussion of which Petty and the late William Pitt, there measure (February 13th, 1804) he exists, indeed, as far as it can be carried, delivered his "maiden speech." He a striking parallel. Both were the was followed by the celebrated Mr. youngest sons of statesmen, celebrated Foster, who expressed great deference for patriotism and abilities, who evinced for the remarks made by his lordship. equal assiduity in the tuition of their During this session of parliament, Lord respective children, with similar pre- Henry voted in favour of an Inquiry sentiments of success. Like the late into the Conduct of the Irish GovernMr. Pitt, Lord Henry early distinguish- ment pending the Rebellion in that couned himself as a parliamentary advocate try; he also divided with Mr. Fox and for the liberties of the country: if at Mr. Pitt, on the motion respecting the the age of 24 years Mr. Pitt became inefficacy of our naval force, and on exchequer; and on the 12th of the same month, he was sworn, and took his seat, on his election to represent the university of Cambridge, in the room of Mr. Pitt that against the Irish milttia-augmenta- only in consideration of Mr. Pitt's illtion bill: his lordship afterwards voted ness*, pledging himself,notwithstanding, (June 8th) against Mr. Pitt's (then to a future discussion of the subjects minister) additional force bill; and, on comprised in his amendment. This inthe 22d of the same month, he gave his quiry, it is almost needless to observe, hearty assent" to the motion against has not been prosecuted. the lord advocate of Scotland. After much and various consultation, Nothing of senatorial importance again the new ministerial arrangements, renoccurred till the motion for criminating dered necessary by the death of Mr. Lord Melville, as treasurer of the navy, Pitt, were finally settled at Buckingham which was agitated in the House of house, on Sunday, Feb. 2, 1806. On Commons on the night of April the the 5th of February, a new writ was 8th, 1805. It was on this occasion, moved for Calne, in the room of Lord that Lord Henry Petty distinguished Henry Petty by Mr. Fox, his lordship himself in such a manner as afterwards having accepted the offices of chancelentitled him (Feb. 12, 1806,) to be lor and under-treasurer of his Majesty's added to the committee for managing the impeachment of Lord Melville. recollect, (said Mr. Fox, taking this opportunity of calling the attention of the House to the brilliant efforts of his lordship) when Mr. Pitt made his first Lord H. Petty took no part (Jan. 27) essay in this House. I recollect the in the debate on awarding funeral hojust pride which we all felt to see him, nours to the merits of Mr. Pitt'; nor did much at the same age then that the he take any concern (Feb. 3) in the Noble Lord (Petty) now is, distinguish- motion for the payment of Mr. Pitt's ing himself in hunting down corruption, dehts. His lordship was, perhaps, at in unmasking abuses in the public ex- this time, actively engaged in canvasspenditure, in proposing and enforcing ing for his university election. His reforms of various kinds 1" Perhaps it first official notice (Feb. 171) was, that is worth remark, that on this occasion the House should adjourn for a week; Lord Henry Petty rose immediately af- and announcing his resolution, at the ter Mr. Pitt, whom he has immediately succeeded in office, had sat down. our peculiar duty, when we call for these The death of that eminent minister, extraordinary efforts, to provide that the however, who has been panegyrized resources we furnish, and the powers and abused and lamented by his adver- we confer, may not in future be so em saries, soon afterwards terminated the ployed as to increase the perils they were splendid career of opposition politicians. intended to avert; and to aggrandize Lord Henry's last proceeding, as a par- that power to which it is the common liamentary antagonist of administration, interest of all Europe, as well as of took place on January the 21st, 1806, Great Britain, to set proper limits." when he proposed an amendinent to the customary address *, which he waved * William Pitt died, as our readers may remember, on the morning of January the 23d, 1806, scarcely two days *The following was the amendment, after the meeting of Parliament. He as proposed to the Address to the Throne, was on his dying bed even at the moby Lord Henry Petty :-"That this ment when the senate was convened. house feels the deepest concern at the Those who then questioned the reality series of disasters which have attended of his sufferings, and went so far as to the arms of your Majesty's allies on the represent them feigned by him, in order continent, and will, without delay, pro- to defer the investigation of his conduct, ceed to inquire into the cause of such surely felt themselves a little humiliated, disasters, as far as they may be connect- as men, when his death was ed with the conduct of your Majesty's nounced! an ministers. This house is perfectly sen- This day the right hon. C. J. Fox, sible, that the alarming and unexampled as secretary of state, and on his re-electate of public affairs renders the most tion for Westminster, was introduced to igorous exertions necessary for the pre- the House of Commons by Lord Henre servation of the empire; and we feel it Petty and Mr. Whitbread. expiration of the time thus specified their burdens should not be unnecessarily increased, it must be my anxious wish that every species of inquiry should take place, that they shall see their inDuring the debate on Lord Ellenbo- terests are upheld."-This principle will. rough's seat in the cabinet (March 3) be found to have pervaded the principal the new chancellor of the exchequer measures submitted by his lordship to rose to rectify Mr. Canning, as to a the house, since he came into authostatement on the authority of the rity. To these sentiments the country parliamentary reports, respecting the late is indebted for his various plans for Marquis of Lansdowne, for whose re- regulating and controuling the treasurers putation he evinced a laudable and filial of the public purse, for the investigasolicitude. Mr. Canning had stated, in tion he has already made as to the state support of his resistance to the practice of the national accountants, and for the of admitting the chief justice of the determination he has manifested to reKing's Bench to a seat in the cabinet medy the mismanagement that may council, that "Lord Mansfield's hav- formerly have attended the application ing sat in the cabinet, while lord chief of our financial resources. So far, injustice, was thirteen years afterwards deed, the new ministers are entitled to imputed to him as a charge, by the the thanks of all disinterested men. In father of a noble lord opposite to him proportion to the difficulty of augment (Petty) and the question directly put to ing our supplies, on which they so rehim, whether or not the thing was peatedly and forcibly insist, ought to be true?" This was contested by Lord the vigilance exercised by them over the Henry, who observed, with peculiar persons to whom the expenditure of effect, that the correctness of the publi- government is entrusted. cation quoted by Mr. Canning, might, On the 28th of March, the present for various reasons, be disputed, parti- chancellor of the exchequer opened his cularly in giving an account of senti- first budget, in the committee of ways ments, where, in order to do justice to and means. While stating the nature them, it was necessary to preserve the and extent of the burdens already susvery words." It was impossible," his tained by the country, the calls to be lordship added, that his noble and made for further support, and describing revered relation could be ignorant that the sources whence it was proposed to be Lord Mansfield had been a member of derived, he entered freely into the disthe cabinet, because, in point of fact, cussion of political facts, and, from a his noble relation had, in the year 1763, view of existing circumstances, forcibly when in the board of trade, been fre- inferred the necessity of the measures quently summoned to cabinet councils, which he recommended to the represen at which Lord Mansfield sat. That tatives of the people. The princi could be no discovery in the year 1775; pal," affirmed his lordship," and the and, if he knew it, he could not have only great feature in the state of the considered it unconstitutional, without, finance of the country, is the amount at the same time, expressing that opi- of its burden, or annual debt, funded nion, which Lord Chatham and others, and unfunded; and the next considera. had they thought so, would like- tion is, the means the country is in wise in all probability have done." possession of to meet that debt, with a -He concluded with defending the ad- view to discharging the interest, and missibility of Lord Ellenborough into also that which I trust the house will the cabinet. never lose sight of, namely, its final and "It will be my lot," said Lord ultimate extinction."-He relied for the Henry Petty, in supporting the motion extinction of the debt on the sinking (March 26, 1806) for impeaching Lord fund, of which his lordship spoke in Melville in Westminster Hall, and terms of particular commendation. Of arduons will the lot be, to propose, in a the property tax, he declared, comparafew days, a large augmentation of the tively at least, and notwithstanding public burdens. If I may be allowed certain objections against it, that it was to feel, more than any other man, the an equitable tax, to which the house importance of convincing the public were justified in resorting. The protheir money is rightly applied, and that posed duty on pig iron, which his |