544 
him once more to Garrick, and a lasting 
friendship was thenceiorth formed be- 
tween them. 
In the course of the ensuing year, Mr. 
C. paid. a visit to his father in Ireland, 
and laid the plan of his ‘ West Indian.” 
While resident there, he received the 
honorary grant of LL.D. from the Uni- 
versity of Dublin. On his return, he 
entered the field of controversy, and vin- 
dicated the insulted character of his 
grand-father Dr, Benuey, from “ an 
offensive passage in a pamphlet written 
by Bishop Lowth, professedly against 
Warburton, acrimonious enough of all 
conscience, and unepiscopally intempe- 
rate in the highest deyree, even if his 
lordship had not gone out of his course 
to hurl this dirt upon the coffin of my 
ancestor.” He now got acquainted with 
Goldsmith, Burke, Reynolds, Soame 
Jenyus, and also with Dr. Samuel 
Johnson, whom he describes aptly 
enough: 
“‘ Herculean strength, and a stentorian voice, 
Of wit a fund, of words a countless choice: 
In learning rather various than profound, 
Yn truth intrepid, in religion sound : 
A trembling form, and a distorted sight, 
But firm in judgment, and in genius bright ; 
In controversy seldom known to spare; 
But humble as the Publican in prayer ; 
To more than merited his kindness, kind, 
And though in manners harsh, of friendly 
_ Mind 5 
Deep ting'd with melancholy’s blackest shade, 
And, though prepared to die, of death 
‘afraid 
Such Johnson was: of him with justice vain, 
When will this nation see his like again ?”” 
Meanwhile Lord Germaine obtained 
the seals for the colonial department, 
and Mr. Cumberland, still a subaltern at 
the Board of Trade, having accepted of 
an invitation to Stoneland, was enabled 
by the friendship of the new minister to 
become secretary in the place of Mr. 
Pownall. His official fame seems to have 
been lost in the splendour of his literary 
talents. Such indeed was the reputation 
of the subject of this memoir, at the 
present period, that he was applied to 
by Dr. Dodd, for a defence. This task 
however, was assigned to Dr. Samuel 
Johnson,while other pursuits now opened 
to the view, and a diplomatic: mission 
seemed te court the ambition of our au- 
thor. Having discovered in 1780, that 
there was a fair prospect of a secrét ne-~ 
gociation with Count Florida Bianca, 
then minister of Spain, he repaired to 
the peutral port of Lisbon, with the 
Memoirs of the lute Richard Cumberland, esq. [July 1, 
Abbé Hussey,* Chaplain to his Catholic 
Majesty, accompanied by his wife and 
two daughters, Vhence they proceeded 
to Aranjuez, where he was well received 
by the. Spanish premier, and engaged 
soon after in a negociation for a separate 
peace with the court of Madrid.’ This 
project however, completely failed; and 
our author returned to England, where, 
instead of obtaining a suitable reward for 
his exertions, he fuund himself neglected 
and we believe disavowed. : 
On the dissolution of the Board of Trade, 
Mr. C. fixed himselfat Tunbridge Wells, 
where his books and his pen became 
his best associates. There, among 
others, he cultivated an acquaintance 
with the late Earl of Guilford, who had 
become old, infirm, and blind, and who 
in the decline of life appeared infinitely 
more happy, and more amiable, than 
when directing the pointless efforts, and 
lavishing the unavailing wealth, of Britain, 
against a continent inhabited by men, 
who panted after, and at length acquired 
independence. The quondam premier 
now listened with attention for the first 
time, to those complaints which he had 
before spurned at; and the ex-diploma- 
tist began to entertain a resp@ct for the 
ex-statesman who had bereaved himself 
and family of their dearest hopes. He 
also formed a strict friendship with his 
then neighbour, Sir James Bland Bur- 
gess, in conjunction with whom he has 
since written many verses. From this 
favourite spot he retired however for a 
while, and left a beloved residence, since 
called Cumbertand House, by the pro- 
prietor, in honour of him. It was now 
his intention to pass the remainder of 
his days at Ramsgate, where one of his 
daughters, who had been many years 
married to Lord Edward Bentinck, the 
uncle of the present Duke of Portland, 
then dwelt. But he. did not remain 
long there, for the memory of the Wells 
was still dear to him, and he accordingly 
returned thither, and occupied a small 
house on Mount Sion, exactly opposite 
to his former mansion, He was now 
once more in his proper element. Every 
spring brought down a number of the first 
families in the kingdom, and, during the 
winter, he made occasional excursions 
to town. His influence, also, was dis- 
* Mr. Hussey, better Known by the ap= 
pellation of Dr. H. was an Irishman by birth, 
and afterwards obtained an episcopal mitre as 
a titular Roman Catholic bishop, im partibus 
remot, lid. 
3 . ' played 
