of the meadows, the richness of the fields, and the multitude of houfes, with a dimp. ling ftream, murmuring down a declivity to the fea, form the most delightful profpect fancy can picture to itself. Every inch of ground is converted into ufe, except thofe places destined by nature for pleasure, where the woods spring up Spontaneously in the most exquifite rural fimplicity. A perpetual spring and autumn fucceed each other. No fooner has the husbandman cut his corn, than he again plows and fows the ground. Yet, is it not worn out: the next crop puts forth with the fame vigour as the former, as if nature here were inexhaustible. Certain it is, the kingdom of Whidah is so populous, that one fingle village contains as many inhabitants as several entire petty kingdoms on the coast of Guinea; and yet they ftand fo clofe, that one is amazed how the most fertile land on earth can fupply the number of people contained in fo fmall a compass. The whole kingdom may be compared to à great city, divided by gardens, lawns, and groves, and, in a word, is a true image of what the poets have fung of the Elyfian fields. There are great markets in all the provinces, and much trade carried on every where. That with flaves is the greatest, from whence the coaft takes its name. T A Genealogical Account of Hamilton, Duke of Brandon. HIS nobleman, who is the firft duke of Scotland, defcends by the father from the illuftrious family of Douglas. William earl of Selkirk, fon of William the first marquis of Douglas, by his fecond wife, lady Mary Gordon, espoused Anne dutchefs of Hamilton, daughter of James duke of Hamilton, who was beheaded by Oliver Cromwell, for his attachment to his fovereign Charles I. The earl of Selkirk, on his marriage, adopted the furname of the dutchefs. He was raised to the dignity of duke of Hamilton, by letters patent, dated September 20, 1660, immediately after the reftoration; and afterwads inftalled knight of the garter. He declared, for the prince of Orange at the revolution, was chofen prefident of the convention of eftates of Scotland; and when that convention became a parliament, he fat as high commiffioner; being alfo appointed lord-prefident of the privycouncil, and lord high admiral June 1761. of that kingdom. He was afterwards nominated a fecond time, lord-commiffioner to the Scottish parliament; appointed one of the extraordinary lords of feffion, and one of the lords of the treasury, and died in the year 1694, in the palace of Holy-rood-house, Edinburgh. By Anne his dutchefs, he had feven fons, namely James earl of Arran, who fucceeded to his title and fortune, lord William, who died a batchelor in France, Charles earl of Selkirk, John earl of Ruthergling George earl of Orkney, lord Bafil, and lord Archibald.The eldeft, James earl of Arran, was educated at the univerfity of Glafgow, and travelled for improvement. was appointed by Charles II. one of the gentlemen of his bed-chamber, and afterwards fent as envoy extraordinary to congratulate Lewis XIV. of France on the birth of Philip, duke of Anjou, who in the fequel afcended the throne of Spain. During his refidence in France, he ferved two campaigns as aid du PP He camp camp to the French king, in which tinued in the quality of envoy extraordinary to the French court, by king James II. who at his return, made him knight of the thiffle, master of the ward-robe, and colonel of a regiment of horfe. Tho' he did not approve of that prince's conduct, he continued with him to the last with unshaken loyalty. On the arrival of the prince of Orange, he declared his opinion that the misconduct of his fovereign was not fufficient to diffolve the ties of his allegiance. At a meeting of the Scottish peers in London, at this critical juncture, he ftrenuously oppofed the motion for addreffing the prince of Orange, to affume the fceptre of Scotland; but propofed to call back king James, and that the grievances of the nation might be redreffed by a free parliament. After this revolution, he retired from public business; and was twice fent to the Tower, on fufpicion of holding a correfpondence with the court of St. Germain's. In the year 1697, the dutchefs his mother, made a furrender of her titles in his favour; and he was by patent created duke of Hamilton, with precedency in the fame manner, as if he had fucceeded to the title by his mother's death." In the year 1708, he was taken into cuftody and brought to London, on fufpicion of favouring the intend ed defcent of the pretender; but he was foon admitted to bail, and acquired a confiderable fhare of queen Anne's favour. In the year 1710, fhe appointed him lord-lieutenant of the county palatine of Lancaster, cuftos rotulorum for the fame county, ranger of her majefty's forefts there admiral of the fea-coafts, and that fame year he was fworn one of her privy-council. In 1711, he was created a peer of Great-Britain, by the title of duke of Brandon, in Com. Suff, and baron of Dutton, in Com. Ceft. by letters patent, fpecifying, that his ancestors had greatly recommended themselves to her majefty's royal predeceffors of moft glorious memory, by the nobleness of their birth, eminent fervices, their umfpotted loyalty even unto death, and alfo proximity of blood: that the prefent duke of Hamilon trod in the fteps of his moft noble family, and by his virtue, unfhaken conftancy, and fidelity, had continued to illuftrate that affinity, by which he was related to her majesty's royal lineage. In 1712, on the death of earl Rivers, he was conftituted mastergeneral of the ordnance, and elected one of the knights companions. of the most noble order of the garter; fo that he wore at one time the orders of the garter and thistle. At the peace of Utrecht, he was appointed ambaffador extraordinary to the court of France; but before he fet out for that kingdom, he fell in a duel with Charles lord Mohun, whom he killed upon the spot, he himself dying in a few minutes, not without fufpicion of foul play from lord Mohun's fecond, Mr. Macartney. A proclamation was iffued, offering a reward of five hundred pounds for apprehending this man and the dutchefs promifed a fur-. ther recompence of three hundred pounds. pounds. The peers of North Britain joined in an addrefs to the queen, defiring her majefty would please to write to all the kings and states that were in alliance with her, not to shelter the infamous affaffin; but, if in their power, ap. prehend and fend him over to Great-Britain, that he might be brought to public juftice. He retired to Hanover, from whence he returned with king George I. ftood his trial at the Old-Baily, where he was acquitted, and died a general in the fervice. Such was the fate of James duke of Hamilton, an accomplished nobleman, who had upon all occafions, and with uncommon abilities, vigorously fupported what he took to be the true intereft and honour of his native country. By his frft wife, lady Anne Spencer, daughter to Robert earl of Sunderland, he had two daughters, who died young. His fecond wife Elizabeth Gerard, daughter and fole heir to Digby, lord Gerard of Bromley, brought him a confiderable eftate in Lancashire and Staffordshire, and several fons and daughters, viz. lady Elizabeth and lady Catherine, who died young; James, who fucceeded him; lady Charlotte; lord William ; lady Charlotte, married to Charles Edwin, Efq; lady Sufan, married to Anthony Keck, Efq; and lord Anne. His fucceffor, James duke of Brandon and Hamilton, was inftalled a knight of the thistle, and appointed gentleman of the bed-chamber to king George H. He first married lady Anne Cochran, daughter to the earl of Dundonald, by whom he had one fon, who fucceeded him in title. and eftate. His fecond dutchefs was Elizabeth, daughter and coheir of Thomas Strangeways of MelburgSandford, in the county of Dorset, Efq; but he had no iffae. He afterwards efpoufed Elizabeth, daughter and heir of Edward Spencer of Rendleftium, in Suffolk, Efq; by whom he had lord Archibald, born at Edinburgh in the year 1740. His grace dying in 1743,at Bath, was fucceeded by his eldeft fon James, duke of Hamilton and Brandon, who efpoufed Elizabeth, fecond daughter of John Gunning, Efq; by whom he had two fons, and one daughter. He died in the year 1758, and was fucceeded by his eldeft fon George, an infant, now duke of Hamilton and Brandon, and baron of Dutton. Armorial Bearings. Quarterly, first and fourth, gules, three cinque foils, ermine; fecond and third, argent, a fhip having her fails furled, fable. Creft. Or, an oak fructed, proper, having a frame-faw, transversely fixed in the body of the first. Supporters. Two antelopes, argent, armed and gorged with ducal coronets, or, chains affixed to to the coronets, and their hoofs of the second. Motto. Through. Chief Seats. At Hamilton, in the county of Lanerk; and Kenngil in the fhire of Sterling, both in North-Britain. |