500 
Tn Lincoln’s inn fields, the widow 
of Samuel Ruffey, esq. sister of the 
dowager lady Dukenfield. 
8th. Ather house, in Merchant- 
street, Edinburgh, lady Gibsone, 
relict of the late sir John G. bart. 
of Pentland, and sister to Charles 
Watson, esq. of Slaughton, 
At his town-house, in Cleveland- 
row, about half past 3 o’clock in 
the morning, after a short illness 
from a cold, which brought on the 
complaints accompanying the influ- 
enza, Francis duke of Bridgewater, 
marquis of Brackley, and baron of 
Ellesmere, of Worsley, in Lanca- 
shire, and Ashridge Bucks. He 
was born May 25th, 1726, and suec- 
ceeded the late duke, John, his bro- 
ther, in 1748, and remained unmar- 
ried, Of those illustrious characters 
who have done honour to the British 
' peerage, the duke of Bridgewater 
deserves to be placed in the first 
rank. ‘That time and fortune which 
too many others have devoted to 
purposes, if not injurious to society, 
at least useless, his grace spent in 
pursuits that entitle him to be called 
the benefactor of his country. By 
his active spirit, and his unshaken 
perseverance, he amassed immense 
wealth. But the public grew rich 
with him ; and his labours were not 
more profitable to himself than they 
were to his country. His return to 
the income tax was 110,000. a year ; 
the greatest part acquired by his 
own exertions, and derived from 
circumstances of the highest benefit 
to thenation. He was the third duke 
of Bridgewater, and, dying without 
issue, the dukedom becomes ex- 
tinct; but the earldom of Bridge- 
water devolves to lieut. gen. W. J. 
Egerton, of Grosvenor-square, M. 
P. for Brackley, co. Northampton. 
The late duke was the fifth son of 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803. 
Scroop, first duke of that name, by 
Jady Rachel Russell. His grace was 
not remarkable for any active part 
in politics, though he sometimes ap-— 
peared in the house of lords on party 
questions. He generally followed 
the politics of his relation, the mar- 
quis of Stafford; and was a noble 
patron of many great national insti- 
tutions. To the loyalty-loan he 
subscribed 100,0001. all in ready 
money, at one time. He has died 
amazingly rich, worth large sums of 
ready money. By his will he has 
left most of his houses, his plate, his 
pictures, valued at 150,000]. and 
his estate, lately purchased, at 
Woolmers, in Hertfordshire, to earl 
Gower, together with his canal pro- 
perty in Lancashire, which brings in 
from 50 to 80,0001]. per annum.— 
All this property is entailed on earl 
Gower’s second son, lord Francis 
Levison Gower ; the eldest son will 
inherit the marquis of Stafford’s es- 
tates. To general Egerton, now 
earl Bridgewater, he bequeaths the 
estate of Ashridge, in Hertfordshire, 
and other estates in Bucks, Salop, 
and Yorkshire, to the amount of 
30,0001. per annum. About 
600,0001. in the funds he has left 
chiefly to gen. Egerton, and partly 
among the countess of Carlisle, lady 
Anne Vernon, and lady Louisa 
Macdonald, the chief baron’s lady ; 
all of whom were his relations.— 
Between % and 6 o’clock in the 
morning of the 16th, his remains 
were removed for interment to the 
family vault at Little Gaddesden, in 
Hertfordshire. The funeral was 
conducted in the plainest manner, 
according to his grace’s request.— 
The procession moved from Cleve- 
Jand-row, in the following order: 
a hearse and feathers, with six 
horses; his grace’s carriage, with 
SIX 
