66 
November 1795. It is impoffible for the can- 
did obferver to attributé the fpirited conduct 
of Mr. Lambton, to any other motive than 
a generous impulfe of difinterefted patriotifm, © 
for though his ardent attachment to the wel- 
fare of his country induced him to exert 
himfelf in the great theatre of political tranf- 
a€tions, his own conviétion led him to place 
real happinefs in the enjoyments of domeftic 
life. In this he was peculiarly fortunate, 
and admirably calculated to fhine, for in ad- 
dition to a valuable fociety of friends and ac- 
quaintance, his felicity was ctowned by the 
endearing relations of a hufband and a father. 
Hie married June 19th, 1791, the amiable 
and accomplifhed Lady Anne Villiers, whofe 
beauty, however attractive, was the leaft of 
her charms, and their union was bleft with 
four fons and a daughter. In’an‘age when 
gallantry is faid to be fo generally prevalent 
among the fafhionable circles, the connu- 
bial felicity of this amiable pair was uncloud- 
ed and ferene, and their conjugal virtues 
were their own reward. In his connection 
with the public, as a member of fociety, he 
was benevolent and hofpitable; and though 
his deportment conveyed an idea of hauteur, 
it vanished on the flighteft acquaintance. His 
general converfation was lively and intelli- 
gent, his information extenfive, his refources 
various. By thofe, who have paxtaken the 
hofpitality of his table, and enjoyed the plea- 
fure of his fociety, an oftentatious difplay 
of fuperiority was never perceived. His be- 
haviour was fuch as to gain continually upon 
the efteem, and the moft virulent of his po- 
litical opponents would allow the blamelefs 
tenor of his private life. By the death of his 
father, on the 23d of March, 1794, he be- 
came pofleffed of a very confiderable fortune, 
together withthe family eftate of Lambton, 
beautifully fituated on the banks of the Dear, 
about nine miles from Durham. In the ufe 
of riches, he difplayed liberality without pro- 
fufion, and was ever ready to give a generous 
fupport to ufeful and beneficent undertakings. 
As an inttance of this, we with pleafure re- 
cord, that when a gentleman, of great abi- 
lities and public fpirit, propofed to hima plan 
for the eftablifhment of an experimental farm 
“ig the county of Durham, he handfomely 
sontributed 2001. to the original fund, with 
an annual fwbfcription of rool. and added’a 
general offer ef any farm on his eftates, which 
“might fuit the purpofes of the inftitution. 
Hitherto fortune feems to have favoured him 
with her choiceft bleffings, wealth, rank, 
and talents, to fhine, if he chofe, in public; 
the efteem of his friends and connubial feli- 
city to enhance the more congenial moments 
ef his private life.—But the favours of fortune 
are precarious, and the lot of manKind daily 
informe ue of the inffabiity of human great-_ 
nets, 
_ 
for 
Biographical Notice of Mr. Lambton, 
¢ Linguenda tettus, et domus, et placené 
“6 Uxor: neque harum, quas colis arborum 
ce f 
eee ee @ 8 ¢ ite 
Hor. 
firft year, when his friends were alarmed by 
the fymptoms of a confumption, ‘a complaint 
which nearly at the fame age had carried off 
hismother. Retiring to the north, from the - 
buftle of parliamentary exertion, in Decem- 
ber 1795, he was unable to refume his feat 
after the winter recefs. In the fpring (1796} 
he returned towards the fouth, for the advice 
of fome diftinguifhed pliyficians, and con- 
fulted thofe ornaments of the profeffion, Dy. 
Beddoes and Dr. Darwin. Being advifed to 
try the effeéts of a warmer climate, he em- 
barked with his wife and family at Wool- 
wich, on board a Swedith vefiel, (29th of 
Auguft) and after a two months voyage landed 
(26th of Odtober} at Naples, fortunately 
efcaping the dangers and inconveniences to 
which even neutral veffels are expofed, from 
the confliéts of contending nations. On his 
arrival in Italy, his health was fo apparently 
recovered, that little doubt was entertained 
of his perfeét reftoration. At Naples he was 
introduced to whatever was valuable in fo- 
ciety, and the force of his perfonal merit 
foon attra€ted a very general admiration. In 
a country, which boafts the nobleft remnants 
of the clafiic ages, the choiceft productions of 
Italian genius, and the wonders of volcanic 
nature, Mr, Lambton found ample exercife 
for his capacious mind; ‘where, too, the 
boaftly degradation of the human fpecies, 
proclaimed the evils of defpotifm, even under 
a benevolent monarch; and proved the necef= 
fary refult of that corruption he was fo anxi- 
ous to award from his country. From Naples 
Mr. Lambton procéeded to Rome, to furvey 
the curiofities of that celebrated capital of 
the ancient wofld, and emporium of the tin- 
fel pageantry of catholic fuperftition. Ina 
“city which Beheld the fall and encouraged _ 
the revival of literature and the arts, as a 
man of obferyation, he would doubtlefs have 
enlarged the fphere of his intelle€tual acqui- 
&itions; and to have furveyed the expiring © 
ftruggtes of the papal power, as an awful 
leffon of human mutability, was worthy of 
the liberal politican. But the return of his 
complaint put a period to his further pro- 
fpeéts, and declining health convinced him of 
the approach of an early diffolution. In Rome 
his health was vifibly impairing, add he de- 
parted thence to try the effects of a more — 
congenial air in Tufcany. After being de- 
tained fome days by illnefs at Sienna, he at 
length reached Pifa, where his life was clofed 
on the 30th of November, at the early age - 
of thirty-three years; and four days after he 
was interred, at his own requeft, in the bury-_ 
ing-ground of the English fattory at Leghorn. } 
ALPHA 
