1803.] 
repeal of the American Stamp-aét was in agi- 
tation, his Grace was a ftrong oppofer of that 
meafure; and in 1784 ,when a certain powerful 
intereft was made ule of to prevent Mr. Fox’s 
Inaia bill from pafling into a law, the Duke 
was active therein. If general his politics 
were guided by that of his noble brother- 
in-law the Marquis of Stafford. mit 
At an obfcure lodging in the Rules of the 
King’s Bench, on the firft of February laft, 
Major Leefon, well known for many years on 
the turf, and all places of fathionable refort.— 
Thofe who have only heard of the irregu- 
larities of the latter days of the late Major, 
might fuppofe that filence would be the beft 
tribute that could be paid to his memory. 
This confideration, however, would defeat 
the principal end of biography—inftrution. 
Patrick Leefon, the fubje& ‘of this fketch, 
was born at Nenagh, in the county of Tip- 
perary, inthe year 1754. It cannot be faid, 
that fortune fmiled deceitful on his birth, 
for the wealth of the family confifted of only 
a few cows and horfes, anda farm, on which 
three generations had fubfifted with peace 
and competence. Patrick’s father had re- 
ceived an education beyond that of a hufband- 
man, who was obliged to till the ground 
with his own hands; but as his fober wnhes 
never ftrayed beyond the bounds of his own 
farm, he was, at firft determined, that his 
fon fhould tread im his own fteps, and that he 
fhould not be fpoiled by an education beyond 
his humble views. Patrick, however, was 
foon diftinguifhed by a quicknefs of percep- 
tion, and a promptitude of expreffion, be- 
yond his years; and in order that thefe qua- 
lities might be improved to a certain extent, 
he was fent to learn the Latin tongue under 
the inftru€tion of a relation, who looked up- 
on all fcience and human excellence to be 
treafured up in that language, with which 
he was very well acquainted, for he had 
made it his ftudy from his boyifh days up to 
his grand climateric. Our young pupil made 
fo rapid a progrefs in his grammar, that his 
preceptor and father began to conceive the 
higheft hopes of his talents; and as they 
were’ both very pious men, they thought 
fuch a ftar fhould fhine only in the hemi- 
{phere of the church, to ufe the pedago- 
gical expreffion. Patrick, itfeems, was not 
fo deeply enamoured with abftinence and 
prayer, for he was already put upon this re- 
gimen ; he thought that youth might in- 
dulge, without criminality, in fome of thofe 
amufements which are peculiar to that fea- 
fon; fuch as dancing, wreftling, riding, &c. 
in each of which he excelled, nature having 
favoured him with a fine perfon, and a 
healthy conftitution. He had now nearly 
accompanied the prince of Roman hiftorians 
through all] his battles, fieges, &c. when a 
circumftance happened which put a ftop to 
his claflical career :—a recruiting party came 
to Nenagh, the ‘* ear-piercing fife, and the 
fpirit ftirring drum” were not loft in fuch a 
beoyant mind, and Patrick protefted that he 
Major Leefon. 
279 
would rather carry a mufquet as a private, 
than rule a fcore of parifhes with the nod 
of a mitre. His grand-uncle, a Catholic 
prieft, was confulted on the occafion. The 
good old man, after fome confideration, gaye 
it as his opinion, that his nephew was de~ 
ftined by nature to wear a red coat inftead 
of a black one; and that examples were not 
wanting in his own family of thofe that had 
rifen to unenvied honours in the tented field. 
Patrick’s views were liberally feconded by a 
Scottifh nobleman, At the age of feventeen, 
he came to London, as ignorant of the world 
as if he had juft dropped into it. As he had 
fpent, er rather wafted, his time, (to ufe his 
own phrafe) in the ftudy of words, he began 
to find it was neceflary to ftudy things; for 
this purpofe he was fent to Mr. Alexander’s 
academy at Hampftead, where in a very fhort, 
time he laid in a tolerable ftock of mathe- 
matical knowledge. He was now tranfplanted, 
through the munificence of his noble patron, 
to the celebrated academy of Angers, in 
France; where he had the double advantage 
of finifhing his military ftudies, and, at the 
fame time, of learning the French language, 
which he fpoke, ever after, with fluency. 
Whilt at this feminary he fought a duel with 
Sir W: M 3 the courage exerted by thefe 
two gentlemen on that occafion, hss been 
always {poken of to the honour of both, He 
was foon after appointed a lieutenant in a re= 
giment of foot, in which he conduéted him- 
felf with the propriety of a man who confi- 
ders the words foldier and gentleman as fyno- 
nimous terms. The only aét of indifcretion 
that can be laid to his charge, if it can be 
called by that name, will find a ready apology 
in the impetuolity of youthful blood, and 
the affection which he bore to every man . 
in the regiment, which was reciprocal. The 
Serjeant, a fober fteady man, was wantonly 
attacked by a blackfmith, who was the ter= 
ror of the town. The Serjeant defended him- 
felf as long as he was able with great fpirity 
but was obliged, after a hard conteft, to yield 
to his athletic antagonift. ‘This intelligence 
reached Mr. Leefon’s ears the next morning 5 
without delay he fet out in purfuit of the 
victor, whom he found boatting of the tri- 
umph he had gained over the /odjfer, as he 
called the ferjeant. The very expreffion kin- 
died Leefon’s indignation into fuch a flame, : 
that he aimed a blow at the fellow’s temple, 
which he warded off, and returned with 
fuch force, that Leefon lay for fome minutes 
extended on the ground, Leefon, however, 
renewed theattack; victory, for a confidera~ 
ble time, feemed to declare on the fide of his 
antagonift ; but as foon as the fcale turned in 
favour of the Leutenant, he followed one 
blow after the other with fuch rapidity and 
fuccefs, that the fon of Vulcan funk at laft, 
and yielded up the palm, with a copious ef- 
fufion of blood, the lofs of feven or eight 
teeth, and eyes beat toa jelly. In order to 
complete the triumph, Leefon placed him in 
a whe¢l-barrow, and in this fituation he was 
wueeled 
