B O O K: II. CHAP. XIII. ^2 



fingle note, are known to play twenty or thirty tunes, country- 

 dances, minuets, airs, and even fonatas, on the violin ; and catch, 

 with an aflonifliing readinefs, whatever they hear played or lung, 

 efpecially if it is lively and flriking. 



There are no people in the world that exceed the gentlemen of 

 ' this idaud in a noble and dihnterelled munificence. Such a dif- 

 pofition deferves to be commemorated ; and I fliall therefore think 

 it incumbent on me to give Ibme examples of it. After the de- 

 ceafe of the duke of Portland, it was well known that he died in 

 very iiidil^-'erent circumftances. From the time of his death, the 

 dutchefs and her fiunily were provided with a regular and fplendid 

 table, fuitable to her rank, at the public charge ; and, as flie could 

 not have the convenience of returning home in a man of war, 

 the aflembly caufed a fliip to be equipped for her with every proper 

 accommodation, and added to this mark of refped a very con- 

 liderable prelent in money. They have been often accufed, and 

 very unjufrly, of wilfully feeking occafions to quarrel with their 

 governors. On the contrary, they have never failed in liberality 

 and a juft deference to thofe governors who have deferved well bv 

 the mildnefs and equity of their adminiftratlon. 



They made an augmentation of 2500/. per annum to the go- 

 vernor's ufual falary ; erected a magnificent houle for his reiideijce ; 

 and purchafed lands, for his better convenience, at no lefs expence 

 than 1 2,000. Their gratitude to their governors would have been 

 manifefted more frequently, if more occafions had been given for 

 exciting it. Among other inflances of this fenfe they have of good 

 ufage, let me mention, that, upon the death of the Jate worthy 

 governor Sir William Trelawny, the allembly paid no trivial com- 

 pliment to his merit, by giving his remains an honourable interment 

 at the public charge; the expence amounted to 1000/. fterling. 

 But, what was a more confpicuous indication of their regret for 

 the lofs of fo efleemed a man, there was not a peribn of any con- 

 fideratlon, in the county where he died, who did not attend him to 

 the grave, and with looks that befpoke the the finecrity of their 

 affli£lion. But this natural propenfity to fuch a<Slions of benevo- 

 lence as do honour to mankind cannot fhew itfelf fo often in a public 

 manner, as in the more filent walks of private life. 



An 



