1822. ] 
whom he afterwards was attached. His 
first favour bestowed on this lady is said to 
have been a present of ten thousand 
pounds. The possession of such a sum of 
money enabled her to live in a manner so 
far beyend what her salary as a performer 
would allow, that her friends gaye out she 
had gained a prize of ten thousand in the 
lottery. She afterwards purchased property 
at Cheltenham and the estate she has long 
enjoyed at Highgate. Whether any thing 
more than platonic love existed between 
them, cannot be determined, but the scan- 
dalous Chronicles began to whisper, and 
Mr. Coutts is said to have introduced Miss 
Mellon to his family as his natural daughter. 
In three days after his first wife died, he led 
Miss Mellon to the altar, whese beneyo- 
lent and generous conduct, as Mrs. Coutts, 
is wellknown. Many years ago Mr. Coutts 
purchased the house at the corner of Strat- 
ton-street, which, whenhiseldest daughter, 
Lady Guilford, lost her husband, he much 
enlarged, so that she lived some time under 
the same roof with him. Although in this 
splendid mansion, as his first wife was ra- 
ther of a penurious disposition, he did not 
live in a very splendid manner, yet on his 
second marriage he began to exhibit the 
highest style of living ; his present Majesty 
and the princes of the blood often visiting 
him. As a man of business Mr. Coutts 
was indefatigable, and at the age of eighty 
he conducted the chief correspondence of 
the concern himself. He had three gentle- 
men concerned with him, Sic Edmund An- 
trobus, Sir Coutts Trotter and Mr. Majori- 
banks; bui he still would be the active 
man, and used to go to the banking house 
every morning at 9,and there employ himself 
until the business of the day was over. By 
an arrangement he made some time hefore 
his death, he !eft his share ofthe banking 
house to Mrs. Coutts, to whom he also left 
all his property, which it is said amounts to 
upwards of 700,000]. exclusive of a very 
large fortune which had been beforesettled 
upon her. This distribution of his pro- 
perty to the exclusion of his children has, 
of course, been much canvassed, and many 
reports have prevailed which it is not our 
business to record. The lady is said by 
some to consider herself merely as a trustee 
with sole powers, while others relate that 
she has made offers of contingent advan- 
tages to the daughters, which they have 
not judged it proper to accept. From our 
knowledge, however, of her liberal charac- 
ter, we are persuaded that if a reaction of 
feelings does not take place, the results will 
be satisfactory and honourable toall parties. 
Be it as it may, the rise of an actress, the 
daughter of the post-master of Cheltenbam 
‘to be the moat wealthy female of her time, 
is a social phenomenon. 
On Friday, March 8th, at his seat 
Burton Hall, in Yorkshire, 83, — that 
Christopher Wyvill.—-A. VW. Devis, Esq. 
2795 
venerable and enlightened patriot, the Rev” 
Christopher Wyvill. Ue was educated 
at Cambridge, where he became acquaint- 
ed with the late Dr. Jebb. On being 
admitted into holy orders, he was pr e- 
sented with the rectory of Black Notley, 
in Essex. He has long been at the 
head of the active votaries for a reform in 
Parliament. After being rector of Notley 
for about thirty years, and after exerting 
himself to procure relief to the clergy in 
the subscription to the Thirty-nine Arti- 
cles, on finding his efforts unavailing, he, 
in a letter to the Bishop of London, resign- 
ed his living, a measure which honoured 
his principles. Mr. Wyvill was, like Maj. 
Cartwright, a great advocate for parliamen- 
tary reform, but certainly on a more prac- 
ticable plan. On this subject he has pub- 
lished many works, as will be seen by the 
following list of his publications. Heat 
one time was in so much fayour with the 
people of Yorkshire, that he might with 
ease haye carried his election for the coun- 
ty, had he not been in holy orders. The 
freeholders, however, shewed their attach- 
ment to him by electing to the present Par- 
liament Marmaduke Wyvill, esq. his near 
relation. His writings are— 
Thoughts on the Thirty-nine Articles, 4to. 1772. 
Letter to the Committee of Belfast on the Pro- 
posed Reformation in the Parliament of Ireland. 
1783. 
Summary Explanation of Mr. Pitt’s intended Bill 
for Amending the Representation. 1786. 
A Defence of Dr. Price and the Reformers of 
England. 1792. 
A State of the Representation of the People of 
England. 1793. 
Political Papers, chiefly respecting the attempts 
of the County of York, &c. toeffect a Reformation 
of the Parliament, 4 vols. 8yo. 1794; to which 
two more volumes were added in 1806, 
Consideration on the Two-fold mode of Election 
adopted by France. 1804. 
A more extended Discussion in favour of Liberty 
of Conscience recommended. 1803. _ 
Iniolerance the Disgrace of Christians, not the 
fault of Religion. 1809. . 
An Apology for the Petitioners for Liberty of 
Conscience. 
Papers on Toleration. 1801. 
Political Arguments for Reform. 1811. 
A Dispassionate Address to the Subjects of Great 
Britain. 1793. : 
Familiar Letters on a variety of Subjects. 1793. 
The Friendly Call of Truth and Reason to a new 
Species of Dissenters. y 
Observations on the Expediency of Parliamentary 
Interpretation of the Toleration Act. 1799. 
The Esculapian Monitor; or, Guide to the His- 
tory of the Human Species, and the most important 
Branches of Medical Philosophy, 181]. 
With many single Sermons, &c. 
On Monday, Feb. 11, at his house in Ca- 
roline-street, Bedford Square, Arthur Wil- 
liam Devis, esq. On the 19th his remains 
were deposited in the front church-yard of 
St. Giles’ im the Fields, on which occasion 
many of his brother artists, who respected 
soth the man and his talents, attended his 
funeral to pay the last tribute to departed, 
worth. Mr. Devis, at an early period of 
life, was distinguished ag an historical and 
portrait painter of considerable talent. On’ 
some 
