death; that he should despise all little views, al mean retrospects, and should (as he could) make the world look after him, not with pity, but with esteem and admiration, And it is much to be lamented, that this advice was no better followed, that such talents and faculties were no better employed, and that he was still dealing in politics, instead of writing some work of genius and learning, of which he was very capable. He wrote only two or three little pieces, his Essay on the character of Iapis in Virgil, his vindication of Dr. Aldrich, Dr. Smalrige, and himself from the charge of interpolating Lord Clarendon's history, and little or nothing besides but a few criticisms on some French authors. For though he would never venture to talk or converse in French, yet as Mons. Rollin and Thiriot, to whom Voltaire addressed his Letters on the English Nation, have assured us, he was as able a critic in the language as any Frenchman. After the Westminster elec tion in 1723 was over, some of the King's Scholars thought it a proper piece of respect to wait upon their late Dean'in the tower, as every body had then free admittance to see and to take leave of him and among other things which he said to them, he applied to himself those lines of Milton, as he did likewise in a letter to Mr. Pope; The world is all before me, where to choose During During the time that Newton was in West minster College, there were perhaps more young men, who made a distinguished figure afterwards in the world, than at any other period either be fore or since. There were particularly Walter Titley, a very ingenious man, at first secretary to the embassy at Turin, afterwards for many years His Majesty's Envoy at the court of Denmark During the time that he was King's Scholar, he lived in the house with Bishop Atterbury as tutor to his son, and his taste and learning were much improved by the Bishop's conversation. His plan of life, as laid down by himself, was to prosecuté his studies at Cambridge till he should be thirty, from thirty to sixty to be employed in publie business, at sixty to retire and return to college, for which 'purpose he would keep his fellowship. This plan he nearly pursued, he kept his fellowship, he resigned his public employment, but instead of returning to College, where in great measure there was a new society, and few or none were left of his own age and standing, he remained at Copenhagen, where by his long residence he was in a manner naturalized, and there lived and died greatly respected and lamented by all ranks of people. Besides Titley, whom there will not be occasion to mention again, there was also Thomas Clarke, afterwards Sir Thomas Clarke and Master of the Rolls: Andrew Stone, afterwards Under Secretary Secretary of State, and Sub-governor to the king when Prince of Wales, and Treasurer to the Queen; William Murray, afterwards Lord Mans. field, the greatest character of the age; James Johnson, afterwards Bishop of Worcester; George Stone, the late Primate of Ireland; and Richard Robinson, the present Primate. One more should not be forgotten, less fortunate indeed than the preceding, but not less deserving, Peirson Lloyd, who was Usher and Second Master of Westminster School for the space of forty-seven years; in both stations acquitted himself with fidelity and honor, and to universal satisfaction; was beloved, esteemed, and commended by all the noblemen and gentlemen who had been under him or had sons under him. But yet not one of them ever made a point of promoting him, though others of less merit had livings and prebends given them; and in all probability he might have labored on at that oar till his death, if the late Earl of Egremont, who was then Secretary of State, had not, upon the representation of the Bishop of Bristol, compassionated his case, contributed something handsome himself, and procured a pension for him, which was to have been redeemed by some dignity in the church. He would certainly have had good preferment if Lord Egremont had lived; but that Lord dying he obtained nothing more from the Crown than an augmentation of Hi Majesty's Majesty's bounty to 5001. a year paid without deduction. This was no more than he had merited by his long and faithful services to the public; but it would be more for the credit and honor of Ministers, to bestow the King's preferments on the most deserving men rather than burden the civil list with pensions. It was said before that the Lord Chancellor Northington was educated at Westminster; he was of the School, when Lloyd and Newton were in the College. It happened that he and his Lady were married by Mr. Newton at the Chapel in South Audley Street, at which time they were a very handsome couple. Several years afterwards Mr. Newton went one day into Lincoln's Inn hall, while the court was sitting, to speak with Mr. Murray upon some business, Mr. Henley being next to him and reading a brief. When he had dispatched his business, and was coming away; what, said Murray to Henley, have you forgotten your old friend Newton, or have you never forgiven the great injury that he did you? Upon which he started as out of a dream, and was wonderfully gracious to his old school-fellow, acknowleging that he owed all his happiness in life to him. And indeed he had good reason to be happy in his wife and family. While he continued at the bar, he went the western circuit, and being of lively parts and a warm temper, he was like some other lawyers, too apt to take indecent liberties in examining witnesses. An extraordi> nary incident of this kind happened at Bristol. In a cause of some consequence Mr. Reeve, a cont siderable merchant, and one of the people called Quakers, was cross-examined by him with much raillery and ridicule. Mr. Reeve complained of it at the time; and when the Court had adjourned, and the lawyers were all together at the White Lion, Mr. Reeve sent one of the waiters to let Mr. Henley know, that a gentleman wanted to speak to him in a room adjoining. As soon as Mr. Henley had entered into the room, Mr. Reeve locked the door, and put the key into his pocket. "Friend Henley," said he, "I cannot call * thee, for thou hast used me most scurrilously? "thou mightest think perhaps that a quaker might be insulted with impunity, but I am a 66 man of spirit, and am come to demand, and "will have satisfaction. Here are two swords, "here are two pistols, choose thy weapons, or fight me at fisty cuffs, if thou hadst rather ; but "fight me thou shalt before we leave this room, "or beg my pardon." Mr. Henley pleaded in excuse, that it was nothing more than the usual language at the bar, that what was said in court should not be questioned out of court; lawyers sometimes advanced things to serve their clients perhaps beyond the truth, but such speeches died |