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It was in August, 1817, that Mr. Bell first came to England in search of the necessary documents; proceeded first. to that part of Leicestershire in which the Hastings family had formerly flourished, thence to London, and to the seat of Sir Samuel Romilly near Dorking, who, in two days, gave an encouraging report on the case. Soon after his return to Dublin, Mr. Bell, who had devoted his whole heart to the cause, as well as engaged for all pecuniary responIsibility in the event of failure, resolved to remove to London, and, having wound up his affairs, finally left Dublin in the following December. There, after constant and indefatigable exertions, he at length brought the claim before the Attorney-general (Sir Samuel Shepherd), and then, in the comparatively short space of nine months, was successful in proving his case, and, without the usual course of a Committee of Privileges, His Majesty's writ of summons, under the Great Seal, was issued, requiring the attendance in the House of Peers of Hans Francis, Earl of Huntingdon. His Lordship accordingly took the oaths and his seat, Jan. 14, 1819, at the opening of a new Parliament. "Since his Lordship's accession to the senatorial dignity of his family, he has" says Mr. Bell in 1820, "been assiduous in his attendance on the House, and enters into questions of national concern with that animated interest and earnestness, which becomes a Member of the great Legislative Council of the country."

In his subsequent endeavours to recover for the Earl the estates which had formerly supported the title, Mr. Bell did not meet with equal success; the difficulty was increased, from the Marquis of Hastings having sold many of them. The Earl being, therefore, still dependant on his profession, in March, 1821, obtained the rank of Commander, and to command the Chanticleer, in which he proceeded to the Mediterranean. During his absence, on Dec, 13, he was appointed Governor of Dominica, and he was sworn into that post at a Privy Council held at Carlton-house, March 28 following. He held the Government several years; but then, in consequence of misunderstandings with other authorities in the island, resigned, and returned home. On the 24th of May, 1824, his Lordship was promoted to the rank of Post-Captain ; and on the 14th of August following, to command the Valorous, in which he again proceeded to the West Indies. From repeated illness (arising from the climate, which, as before stated, had been fatal to his two elder brothers,) his Lordship

[March,

was compelled to relinquish the command, and went to New York, from whence he arrived as passenger in a merchant-ship in May last.

By his first lady, who has been al ready mentioned, the Earl had issue, 1. Lady Frances-Theophila-Anna, born in 1805, and married in 1822, to Henry Parker, Esq. Commander, R.N.; 2. Lady Selina-Arabella-Lucy ; 3. the Right Hon. Francis-Theophilus-Henry, now Earl of Huntingdon, born in 1808; 4. Lady Ara. bella - Georgina; 5. John - Armstrong, who died an infant; 6. the Hon. GeorgeFowler; 7. Lady Louisa; 8. the Hon. Edward - Plantagenet - Robin - Hood; 9. and 10. a son born March 26, 1820, five days after whose birth the mother died, on Hampsteadheath, near London.

;

The Earl married secondly, Sept. 28, in the same year, Eliza-Mary, eldest daughter of Joseph Bettesworth, esq. of the Isle of Wight, and widow of Alexander Thistlethwayte, esq.

Mr. Bell described Lord Huntingdon as qualified for public business by strong natural sense, and solid judg ment, combined with habits of attention. His character," be adds, "is formed on the strictest principles of honour, and the warmest feelings of humanity; and as, in his early profession, he was always brave and generous, so in every domestic relation is he exemplary, unostenta tiously religious, and nobly hospitable, the most affectionate of fathers and husbands, a social and elegant companion, a humane master, and a steady friend."

The Earl's portrait, engraved by C. Warren, from a painting by W. S. Lethbridge, is prefixed to Mr. Bell's work.

BISHOP STANSER.

Jan. 23. Suddenly, at his residence in Hampton, aged 68, the Right Rev. Robert Stanser, D.D. late Bishop of Nova Scotia.

He was of St. John's college, Cambridge, LL. B. 1789; and after nearly 30 years of laborious service as a missionary from the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, in the province of Nova Scotia, North America, was conse crated in the year 1816 Bishop of that province, at the urgent and unanimous desire of the whole community. The highest and the lowest, churchmen and dissenters, on that occasion, were all anxious to testify to his worth, and to evince their affection for him. But short, indeed, was the period allowed him for exertion in the high station he was

chosen to fill; for the diseases contracted in a severe climate from exposure and fatigue, under circumstances very far different from those now in existence, began too soon to prey upon his frame, and rendered him incapable of attending to his arduous charge; in consequence of which his Majesty, in the year 1825, was pleased to allow him to retire; and in humble seclusion has he passed the remainder of his life. Devoid altogether of pride, possessing a benevolent heart, of endearing and affectionate manners, he lived beloved and respected, and died sincerely lamented.

SIR WILLIAM CUNNINGHAME, Bart. Lately. At Caprington Castle, co. Ayr, aged 76, Sir William Cunninghame, fourth Baronet (of Nova Scotia).

Sir William was born, Dec. 19, 1752, the eldest son of Sir John the fourth Baronet, by Lady Elizabeth Montgomery, eldest daughter of Alexander ninth Earl of Eglintoun. He succeeded his father in the Baronetcy, Nov. 3, 1777, and married Nov. 19, 1799, Mrs. Græme, who died in 1810 without issue. We are not aware whether his only brother Alexander, who was an officer in the army, survives to succeed to the title.

SIR WILLIAM Curtis, Bart. Jan. 18. At his house at Ramsgate, aged 77, Sir William Curtis, Baronet, Alderman of Bridge-Ward, and Father of the Corporation of the city of London, and formerly one of its representatives in Parliament, President of the Artillery Company, and of Christ's Hospital. The family of Sir William Curtis was originally from Nottinghamshire. His grand-father and father were settled at Wapping, and established there so extensive a trade in sea-biscuit, as to supply with that article a considerable part of our foreign and domestic trade. The latter at his death, left by Mary, daughter of Timothy Tennant, of Wapping, esq. five sons, Timothy, James, William, George, and Charles. The first and third succeeded to support the firm of the original house. James is now the only survivor, and is distributor of Sea-policy stamps. George was captain in the service of the East India Company, and of the Elder Brethren of the Trinityhouse, and died in 1819. Charles, the youngest, was a clergyman, and rector of Birmingham, and, having deceased only six days before the Alderman, has a brief memoir in our present number, hereafter, p. 275.

A trader with a capital, carrying on an extensive business in a neighbourhood where he has scarcely any competitor, GENT. MAG. March, 1829.

proceeds in the natural road to the acquisition of a large fortune. The house of Curtis, besides employing a great number of their poor neighbours in their business, which of course induced personal attachment, deported themselves with such integrity and affability, that in the year 1785, on the death of Richard Atkinson, esq., a considerable number of the inhabitants of the Tower Ward solicited Mr. William Curtis to take upon him the office of Alderman of that district. He had at that time so little notion of an introduction to corporation honours, that he was not so much as a freeman of London; but, at the instance of his friends, he was induced to qualify, and was accordingly elected to fill that station, which he retained with such eminent honour for the extraordinary period of forty-three years.

Sir William Curtis was one of those characters to whom the motto of fortes fortuna juvat may with great propriety be applied. Early bred to business, under the example of a very industrious parent, he was led to calculate its various and extensive benefits, and to consider it as a duty and a pleasure. He had a constitution equal to his disposition; strong, robust, and active, he was by nature fitted for the bustle of the world; and his plans, so far from freezing under the coldness of deliberation, or yielding to the torpor of indolence, were no sooner properly matured than instantly put into execution. He possessed strong common sense to adopt the right view of a subject, and foresight and promptitude to avail himself of first opportunities. From his original business, he first diverged into the pursuit of the Greenland South Sea fisheries; and when his wealth had considerably accumulated, engaged in the banking-house, formerly known under the firm of Robarts, Curtis, Were, Hornyhold, Berwick, and Co., and latterly as Curtis, Robarts, and Curtis.

Mr. Curtis served sheriff with Sir Benjamin Hamett, in the year 1789-90; and a dissolution of parliament occuring in 1790, he was a successful candidate for the City, and came in at the head of the poll. He was re-elected in 1796, 1802, 1806, 1807, 1812, and 1820.

Mr. Curtis attained the Civic Chair in the year 1795, and was raised to a baronetcy, as of Culland's Grove, Southgate, Middlesex, December 23, 1802. He was Colonel of the ninth regiment of London Volunteers, consisting of 650 rank and file.

After having represented the city of London for twenty-eight years, during five successive parliaments, he suffered

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in 1818 the mortification of being distanced on the poll. In the following year he was returned for Blechingly, when it was remarked by C. Tennyson, esq. M.P. for Grimsby, who seconded his nomination, that the case of Sir William bore a resemblance to that of Sir William Clayton, who, he said, was one of the representatives for the City of London in several parliaments for thirty years, and twice served the office of Lord Mayor, but was then rejected for the great City, and was returned for Blechingly.

A large body of the merchants, &c., of London could not tacitly endure the loss which they considered the City had sustained by the issue of the election of 1818. At a meeting at Drapers' Hall, in which George Hibbert, esq. took the chair, they presented to Sir William a gold snuff-box worth 200 guineas, rontaining their sentiments in a most affectionate address.

At the next general election, however, in the year 1820, the liverymen of London retrieved their character, and returned their faithful and long-tried servant. On that occasion Sir William polled 4887 votes, being 651 more than he had obtained at the preceding election; while it was remarkable that Alderman Bridges was returned with 4236 votes, the very identical number with which Sir William had before lost. On the dissolution in 1826, Sir William declined his re-election for the City, but was returned for Hastings. In the following year, however, he retired entirely from the House of Commons. He succeeded as senior Alderman to the Ward of Bridge Without, on the death of Sir Watkin Lewes, in 1821.

In his public character, Sir William Curtis presented a complete specimen of a loyal, patriotic, munificent, and socially benevolent citizen. Born and educated near the city, and early acquainted with commerce in a variety of its branches, he became a very active and serviceable Member of Parliament. He was not a polished orator, and he would have scorned the affectation of one; plain, simple, and energetic in the delivery of his sentiments, he trusted to the substance of what he had to say; and, as he was known to be well-informed, and to have no sinister views, he always obtained an attentive audience. His politics were once expressed to his constituents in the brief sentence, "I FEAR GOD AND HONOUR THE KING;" and such was their epitome, both as expressed on many other occasions, and as acted upon throughout his life. He was generally the first to propose the addresses of the Corporation of London

[March,

to the Sovereign on subjects of congratulation. In the yacht which he kept at Ramsgate, he was accustomed to accompany the favourite cruizes of bis present Majesty; and his attentions were graciously accepted with a reciprocal personal attachment. On his way to Hanover in 1821, the King embarked at Ramsgate, and was pleased to honour Sir William's own roof with his presence, both dining and sleeping in the house. In the following year the Baronet attended on his Royal master in Scotland; and, from his personal appearance, excited no little merriment, (in which he good humouredly joined,) by his imitation of the Monarch in adopting the Highland philebeg. (see our vol. xc. ii. 174, 606.) So high was the King's appreciation of Sir William's worth known to be, that upon his rejection as M. P. in 1818, it was confidently reported that he would be raised to the Upper House; but his Majesty gave at a subsequent period a more appropriate as well as unequivocal mark of his regard, in presenting to Sir William his own portrait by Sir Thomas Lawrence, with this endorsement, "G. R. to his faithful and loyal subject, Sir William Curtis," at the same time requesting one of his faithful citizen by the same band.

master

A more honourable upright character than Sir William Curtis never existed. In private life the urbanity of his manners and generosity of his temper rendered him universally respected and beloved, as well by a very numerous body of friends and admirers, as by his children and relatives, themselves form. ing an extensive circle. He married, Nov. 9, 1776, Anne, the posthumous daughter and co-heiress of Edward Constable, esq.; and had issue, 1. Sir William, who has succeeded to the Baronetcy; he married in 1803, MaryAnne, only daughter of George Lear, of Laytonstone, esq., and has a son and heir, William, born in 1804, and sixteen other children; 2. George, who died in India in 1804; 3. TimothyAbraham, who married in 1809, Harriett-Margaret, youngest daughter of Young Green, of Poole in Dorsetshire, esq., and has nine children; 4. CharlesBerwick, who also is married and has a family; 5. Emma, married to Henry Cadwallader Adams, of Ansty Hall, near Coventry, esq.; and 6. RebeccaMary, married to her cousin Captain Timothy Curtis, R. N. son of the Rev. Charles Curtis.

The great respect and regard which Sir William had acquired at Ramsgate was most conspicuously displayed on his

1829.]

decease. Every shop was closed during the whole week his remains lay in the town; and his funeral was numerously followed half-way to Canterbury. His remains rest at Wanstead in Essex, where his father and uncles were buried.

Sir William Curtis is supposed to have died possessed of property to the value of 300,000. His will has been proved in Doctors' commons, and probate granted to the executors under 140,000l. personal property. The freehold estates are in general entailed upon his family, commencing with his eldest son. Sir William has left a variety of legacies2001. to his brother, James Curtis, esq., and 50%. to his "very dear and noble friend, Lord Sidmouth." His own portrait, likewise the portrait of his father, the former painted by Sir Thomas Lawrence, and the latter by Mason Chamberlain; the Coronation Medal given to Sir William by his Majesty George IV., when in Ireland, accompanied by the following words, "Take this in remembrance of me"; and the box presented by the City merchants; are to remain at his house at Southgate, as heir-looms; as is the portrait of the King at Ramsgate. He leaves his widow 2,000. in money, an annuity of 2,0001. a year, and the house at Ramsgate. Rings are bequeathed to every member of the Court of Aldermen, a characteristic confirmation that, although he had strong political antipathies, yet they were without rancour, and that he lived upon the most sociable footing with men of all parties.

Of this active citizen and highly es teemed individual, there are, as it would be supposed, several portraits. A print by Bromley from a painting by Drummond, was published in the European Magazine for March 1799. Sir Thomas Lawrence's excellent whole-length, has been beautifully engraved by the late celebrated W. Sharpe, and is imitated in the Costumes of London in the robes of Lord Mayor, a large quarto, by Busby. There is a good profile, in lithography, by Taylor.

REV. CHARLES CURTIS.

Jan. 12. At Solihull, Warwickshire, aged 72, the Rev. Charles Curtis, M. A. Rector of that parish and of St. Martin's, Birmingham.

The Rev. Charles Curtis was the youngest brother of the worthy Alderman and Baronet, who died only six days after him, and who has been already commemorated in the preceding pages of this Obituary. The subject of the present article was a member of St. John's college, Cambridge, where he proceeded B. A. 1779, M. A. 1782. He was presented to his Birmingham church

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in 1781 by W. Tennant, esq., and to Solihull in 1789, by the Earl of Plymouth and others.

Dr.

Mr. Curtis was not an author; but in 1792 his name became known from the title-page of a pamphlet by Dr. Parr, which that great polemic contributed as his share to the stormy discussions on the French revolution, and which he was pleased to entitle, "A Sequel to the printed Paper lately circulated in Warwickshire, by the Rev. Charles Curtis, brother to Alderman Curtis, a Birmingham Rector." A Reply was published under the title of "Quintus Curtius rescued from the Gulph; or, the Retort Courteous to the Rev. Dr. Parr, in answer to his learned Pamphlet, intitled, 'A Sequel,' &c." (see vol. LXII. p. 646.) Johnstone, the biographer of Dr. Parr, bas observed, that "As to the controversy introduced and carried on in The Sequel, I fear few persons at the time deemed it of much importance. Most men, indeed, thought the solemn asseveration of a gentleman should be admitted; and, after all, there was not much dignity in drawing together this artillery of learning and argument, if there were no solidity to be crushed, and only feebleness to be annoyed. And let me add that, in the introduction of the name of Alderman Curtis, and of the subsequent remark about his personal appearance, there was not only no dignity, but there was great indecorum and petulance. As a party man, Sir William Curtis had risen to eminence among his fellow citizens, and to high reputation as an Englishman. By a popular election, in the most populous and most commercial city of the most enlightened country of the civilized world, he was chosen to represent the liverymen of London in Parliament; and for thirty-six years, with the exception of one Parliament only, he continued their representative. By his activity in business, his deep-searching sagacity, and his native powers of intellect, he gained their confidence, and deserved it. With manly boldness he avowed his opinions, and his constitutents were never deluded by false colours or hypocritical pretences. During the whole of his political life, he was a Tory in principle and practise; and with a firm step, and unaltered steadiness, he supported the measures of the Government during the perilous times of the French war. I hope he will long enjoy, in health and peace, the honours and the fortune he acquired by consistency and integrity; and if this page should ever meet his eye, that he will consider it as a tribute of affection, as well as a declaration ef the truth."