4802.) Memuirs of the late Mof? Noble Francis Duke of Bedford. 455 
however not more fuccefsful than the for- 
mer, and it was decided that an immediate 
operation was neceflary. With a cheer- 
fulnefs and fortitude which is rarely ma~ 
nifefted’ on fuch occafions, his Grace 
agreed to fubmit 5 but requefted a refpite 
of two hours to make fome neceffary ar- 
rangements. That {pace of time he {pent 
in his ftudy, and fealed up two large 
_packets, directed to each of his brothers, 
Lord Johnand Lord William Roffel. The 
painful operation was then performed, 
without a ftruggle and almoft without a 
groan from the patient. After this his 
Grace appeared in fome mealure relieved, 
and enjoyed two hour’s fleep. On Sunday 
at noon however fome alarming fymptoms 
appeared, which ended. ina mortification ; 
and on Monday his life was defpaired of. 
His Grace retained his mental faculties in 
full perfe€tion to the laft, and awaited his 
fate not merely with refignation, but with 
magnanimity. He converied freely with 
his brothers and his folicitor concerning 
the arrangements to take place on his 
deceafe; but when Lord Lauderdale (his 
moit intimate friend, who was himfelf in 
a very ill ftate of. health, and had gone 
down from London to fee him,) requefted 
admiffion, the Duke obftinately refufed, 
alleging that fuch a fcene would be 
equally injurious to both. A little before 
his death, it is faid, he ferioufly queftioned 
his phyficians refpedting the period of ex- 
aitence which might {till be remaining; and 
on afking their opinion if he had yet half an 
hour to live, he was anfwered in the nega- 
tive. He then raifed his head, and defired 
that his brether Jchn might be immedi- 
ately fent for ; and after converfingwith him 
for fome time, and taking an affectionate 
leave of both his brothers, and Lord Hol- 
land, who was alfo ptefent, he expired. in 
the arms of his brother, Lord John, at the 
hour of twelve, on Tuefday the fecond of 
March, in the 37th year of his age. 
He is fucceeded in his title and eftates 
by Lord John Ruffell, now Duke of Bed- 
ford, to whom by a fhort will he alfo be- 
queathed his perfonal property, fubject 
however to fome arrangements which he 
made in a paper not yet before the public. 
It has been judicioufly remarked that 
the chara&ter of every man is beft under- 
ftood from a fair furvey of his life and 
conduct, his objects and purfuits; and 
after the mafterly eulogium which was 
pronounced upon the Duke in the great 
council of the nation, by one who was the 
beft qualified to publifh lis virtues to the 
world, it may feem bold, at leaft, if not im- 
pertinent, to enter upon the fubjet. A 
few obfervations however we fhall fubjoin, 
rather to indulge a cherifhed melancholy, 
than in the hope of adding one laurel to 
grace lis tomb. 
The univerfal forrow, the deep and 
general regret, which was exprefled by all 
ranks on the lofs of this truly exeellent 
young man, is above all ftudied panegyriey 
and marks his value better than volumes 
written in his praife. Without having 
filled any public fituation, without having 
enjoyed or difpented the national patro- 
nage—having rather courted privacy and 
purfued the pleafures of retirement; to 
have died at fo early an age, fo univerfally 
lamented, argues no common merit ;though 
neither a warrior nor a ftatefman, to have 
deferved monumental honours, publicly 
beftowed, is certainly a decifive proof that 
there muft have been fomething extraordi- 
nary in a character which could excite fuch 
general attention. Many rich men—many 
of the higheft rank, defcend to their graves 
with almoft as little notice as their inferiors 
in wealth and ftation ; and that they have 
exifted, is only known by the enumeraiton 
of their titles and pofleffions infcribed upon 
their tombs. 
His Grace’s perfon. was tall and well- 
proportioned, his countenance correfpond- 
ed with the franknefs and liberality of his 
difpofition; it was handfome, and had a 
pleafing expreffion. His external deport- 
ment was eafy and unaffected, and in his 
drefs, if he was inclined to any extreme, 
it was that ef plainnefs—it was charac- 
teriltic of the wearer. His manners were 
generally agreeable to all ranks of fociety ; 
and he could adapt himfelf with equal eafe 
to a circle of the firft nobility, or a com- 
pany of graziers and farmers. 
We have already obferved that his 
judgment was remarkably clear—his un- 
deritanding was indeed ali aeeiiee trong 
and mafculine. He feldom failed to fee 
the right,in any queftion the moft intricate, 
and he difcevered at once the flrong and 
the weak points of every argument. He 
was fond of converfing upon ufeful topics, 
ancl preferred in all cafes. the practical to 
the {peculative. From his native good 
temper, and a cheerful difpofition, he oc- 
cafionally indulged in the pleafantries of 
conyerfation, and was always agreeable ; 
but he was moft inftruétive upon ferious 
fubje&ts. He was not however loquacious, 
but always liftened attentively to others, 
and feemed indeed eager to receive infor- 
mation upon any fubject. 
What rendered his company particu- 
larly acceptable was, that he was equally 
free from vanity and pride, Whatever 
the 
