HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE. [221 



held him in conversation till the cowardly assassin Hill came behind 

 him, first struck him on the head with his left hand, and before he 

 could draw his sword and stand on his defence, the villain ran him 

 through the body. This circumstance was declared by Mr. Mountfort 

 while expiring. Hill made his escape, but Lord Mohun was seized, 

 tried for the murder as an accomplice, and acquitted. He was after- 

 wards killed in a duel with the Duke of Hamilton about the Sandon 

 estate, in which similar treachery was practised against him to that 

 which he so villainously resorted to for the destruction of poor 

 Mountfort. 



The body of Mr. Mountfort was interred in the church-yard of 

 St. Clement Danes. His dramatic works consist of six pieces, none 

 of them remarkable for excellence. As a player, however, he had 

 great merit. He is described by Colley Gibber as " tall, well-made, 

 fair, and of an agreeable aspect. His voice was clear, full, and me- 

 lodious ; a most affecting lover in tragedy ; and in comedy gave 

 the truest life to the character of a fine gentleman. In scenes of 

 gaiety he never broke into that respect that was due to the presence 

 of equal or superior characters, though inferior actors played them, 

 nor sought to acquire any advantage over other performers, by 

 finesse or stage tricks, but only by surpassing them in true and 

 masterly touches of nature. He might perhaps have obtained a 

 higher degree of excellence and fame, had he not been untimely 

 cut off by the hands of an assassin in the 33d year of his age." 



ELIJAH FENTON. 



ELIJAH, the youngest son of John Fenton, was born at Shelton, 

 in this county, on the 20th day of May, 1683. His father was an 

 Attorney, and Coroner for the County of Stafford : he was de- 

 scended from an ancient family, but the chief means for the support 

 of eleven children were derived from his professional labours. He 

 died in the year 1694, consequently the care of the education of 

 Elijah devolved on his guardians. From the early indications of 

 intellectual superiority evinced by young Fenton, he was intended 

 by his friends for the clerical profession, and removed from school 

 to Jesus College, Cambridge, where he took a Bachelor's degree 

 in the year 1704, but removed in 1706 to Trinity Hall. 



Having refused to take the oaths to qualify him for public em- 

 ployment, he left the University without proceeding, A.M. but it is not 



F F 



