202 M'jnlhhf Review of Lileralurc. [^August, 



again the new settlement. Soon some relations from England joined them — 

 more negroes were obtained from Jamaica — his plans prospered — and he resolved 

 to go to England, to visit his friends, and make preparations for extending the 

 colony. 



In England he found his money growing at Periry and Child's, the bankers ; 

 and Mrs. Child introduced the wealthy strangers to her fashionable society, for 

 which neither Seaward nor his wife had much taste. Intent upon his purpose. 

 Seaward lost no time in opening a negociation with the government for the 

 purchase of the two islands, of which he had himself taken possession for the 

 crown ; but met with great and apparently insuperable diiKculties — chiefly, as 

 it turned out, from not understanding the minister's particular mode of transact- 

 ing business. He did not readily comprehend the necessity of contributing to 

 Sir Robert's bribe-purse. A curious scene of ministerial tactics is laid open, for 

 which we have unluckily no space. Meanwhile Mrs. Seaward had employed 

 Mrs. Child's mantua-maker, and shewn her some beautiful gold stuff, quite 

 unparalleled in England. Mrs. Child's mantua-maker happened to be the 

 queen's also, and the tale of the gold stuffs quickly reached the royal ears. A 

 visit from the mistress of the robes, Lady Sundon, followed. Mrs. Seaward 

 presented the stuffs to the queen, and was introduced to the royal presence. The 

 adventures of herself and husband became naturally the topic of conversation. 

 The queen was delighted with the story, and with the simple manners of 

 Mrs. Seaward ; and all difficulties in the husband's negociation vanished like 

 lightning. His demands were granted, and himself knighted, to the amazement 

 and vexation of Sir Robert, who could not comprehend the manceuvre. The 

 queen was at that time regent (1736). 



All impediments being thus removed, the new knight accelerated the supplies 

 for his colony, engaged a surgeon and a chaplain, and took under his protection 

 a dozen German families recommended by the queen — investing, before he set 

 out, a portion of his money in the purchase of the Hartland estate in Gloucester- 

 shire, where he established his sisters, &c. Then returning to the colony, he 

 prosecuted his purposes with activity; and both islands were soon in a populous 

 and thriving condition. At home, however. Sir Robert Walpole had not for- 

 gotten him, and took ample revenge for the mortifications he had sustained. He 

 employed Seaward in troublesome negociations with the Spanish commanders on 

 the Spanish main, and finally singled him out to apologize, in the name of the 

 government, for some injuries said to have been committed by British vessels. 

 This was a perilous service. He refused to accede to the humiliating demands 

 of the Spani.sh commander, was thrown into prison, and only rescued by Ver- 

 non's capture of the fort. Again returning to the settlements, he found every 

 thing prospering ; but soon finding himself involved in more business and con- 

 flicts than was agreeable — the same necessity no longer continuing, and perhaps 

 he himself wearying — he finally quitted it for his estate in England. A gap here 

 occurs in the MS. ; but a few closing pages have escaped, which contain his 

 spirited remonstrance with the government relative to their cession of the two 

 little islands to the Spaniards. The Dialogue with the Duke of Newcastle is 

 most characteristic of that addle-headed but obstinate personage. Sir Edward 

 was compelled to submit, and accept of a very inadequate compensation /or him- 

 self and his friends. Tl is was in 1749; and " now, my dear Edward," said 

 his beloved Eliza, at the close of this decisive interview with the Duke of New- 

 castle, " let us return to Hartland, and finish our days in peace." The excel- 

 lent lady died a few months after ; Sir Edward survived till 1774. The MS. 

 was placed, by his representative, in the hands of Miss J. Porter, by whose 

 advice — and nothing could be better — it has been printed. The details .are occa- 

 sionally too minute ; but the story carries with it throughout a deep and a touch- 

 ins interest sufilcient to cover more serious faults. 



Reform, a Poem, by H. I. Paull. 



Hunt told the House the other day that a servant refused to hire herself for 

 more than three months, because, by that time, the Reform Bill would pass. 



