58 The Life of William, Duke of Newcastle 



estate being then to be sold outright, Sir Charles, his brother, 

 endeavoured, if possible, to save the two chief houses, viz. 

 Welbeck and Bolsover, being resolved rather to part with 

 some more of his land, which he had lately compounded for, 

 than to let them fall into the enemy's hands. But before 

 such time as he could compass the money, somebody had 

 bought Bolsover, with an intention to pull it down, and make 

 money of the materials ; of whom Sir Charles was forced to 

 buy it again at a far greater rate then he might have had it at 

 first, notwithstanding a great part of it was pulled down 

 already ; and though my Lord's eldest son Charles, Lord 

 Mansfield, had those mentioned houses some time in possession 

 after the death of his uncle, yet for want of means he was not 

 able to repair them. 



I having now been in England a year and a half, some 

 intelligence which I received of my Lord's being not very 

 well, and the small hopes I had of getting some relief out of his 

 estate, put me upon design of returning to Antwerp to my 

 Lord, and Sir Charles, his brother, took the same resolution, 

 but was prevented by an ague that seized upon him. Not 

 long had I been with my Lord, but we received the sad news 

 of his brother's death, which was an extreme affliction both 

 to my Lord and myself, for they loved each other entirely. In 

 truth, he was a person of so great worth, such extraordinary 

 civility, so obliging a nature, so full of generosity, justice and 

 charity, besides all manner of learning, especially in the 

 mathematics, that not only his friends, but even his enemies, 

 did much lament his loss K 



p. 1799. Three letters from Newcastle to his son Charles about the means to be adopted 

 to preserve the pictures and furniture at Welbeck and Bolsover are to be found in Port- 

 land MSS., ii, 143. 



► l The death of Sir Charles Cavendish took place on the -4th of February, 1654. Claren- 

 don announces it to Nicholas in a letter dated March 6, 1654 (Clarendon State Papers, 

 hi, 223). In his Life (vi, 29) he draws the following portrait : 



' The conversation the Chancellor took most delight in was that of Sir Charles Caven- 

 dish, brother to the Marquis, who was one of the most extraordinary persons of that 

 age, in all the noble endowments of the mind. He had all the disadvantages imaginable 

 in his person, which was not only of so small a size that it drew the eyes of men upon 

 him, but with such deformity in his little person, and an aspect in his countenance, 

 that was apter to raise contempt than application ; but in this unhandsome or homely 

 habitation, there was a mind and a soul lodged, that was very lovely and beautiful ; 

 cultivated and polished by all the knowledge and wisdom that arts and sciences could 

 supply it with. He was a great philosopher, in the extent of it, and an excellent mathe- 

 matician ; whose correspondence was very dear to Gassendus and Descartes, the last 

 of which dedicated some of his works to him. He had very notable courage, and the 

 vigour of his mind so adorned his body, that being with his brother the Marquis in all 

 the war, he usually went out in all parties, and was present and charged the enemy 

 in all battles, with as keen a courage as could dwell in the heart of man. But then 



