18026] 
It does not appear he advifed or encou- 
raged any thing of this kind ; the contrary 
may be prefumed from many circum- 
ftances, and particularly from fo fmall a 
proportion falling to his lot. Befides, are 
not the offices previous to the great feal 
equally faulty? The truth is, the crown 
has full power and right to make grants ; 
if they are fairly and legally executed, 
and there are no objections, pafling them 
is the duty and bufinefs of the great offi- 
cers. 
How weak and wicked all the particu- 
lars of Somers’s impeachment were is 
now allowed by all real pretenders to truth 
and equity. I heard (from Sir R. W, 
1734) an account of his application to 
the Houle of Commons. When the de- 
fign of impeaching was known, he came 
to the Houfe and vindicated his condu& 
with fo much ftrength and clearnefs, that, 
it is fuppofed, if the queftion had been 
put, and none pretended to add any thing 
in his juftification, the majority had been: 
in his favour. Harcourt, therefore, very 
artfully began a debate, Cowper replied, 
and it was carried on by others to fuch a 
length, that the warm impreffions Somers 
a made, grew cool, and were difregard- 
ed. 
THOMAS, MARQUIS OF WHARTON. 
April 24, 1715, died Thomas, Mar- 
quis of Wharton, in the fixty-feventh 
year of hisage ; a name ever endeared to 
the friends of liberty, and to all who have 
a true concern for the Proteftant intereft, 
Could the fervices he performed’ for this 
mation and family be duly enumerated, 
they would appear beyond the beft kill 
and abilities of any fingle man. It is 
not poflible to do juftice to his fignificancy 
and importance. 
Charles II. admitted him to great fa- 
miliarities, and had him for a companion 
in many of his drunken debauches, with 
a defign to make him wholly his own. 
With regard to private virtue, the fuc- 
cefs was notorious; in what related to 
the public, the court was wholly difap- 
pointed, He faw and heard the defigns of 
a Prince, to whofe indolence and luxury 
the nation was obliged for its prefervation. 
This gave him a juft contempt for fuch a 
governor, and an abhorrence of all his 
defigns. 
King William was duly fenfible of his 
fervices before and at the revolution. In 
that reign, he attained to no higher a 
ftation, than that of being Comptroller of 
the Houfehold, which muft be afcribed to 
the unhappy influence of thofe who hated 
him and bis royal’ mafter, He received, 
From the Port-felio of @ Man of Letters. 
417 
however, the utmoft proofs. of confidence 
and refpeét, and had the King’s moft inti- 
mate defigns communicated to him. His 
probity and good affection in what cons 
cerned the government was fo well af 
fured, that it gave him great and conftant 
intereft. Many important meafures were 
afcribed to his fecret advice. 
His great vigour and happy addrefs in 
ferving the good caufe he had ever in 
view, cannot be fully defcribed. With 
men of all ranks, and on all proper occa~ 
fions, his Jabours were infinite: he knew 
how to accommodate himfelf to every 
temper and inclination; what to others 
would have been great pain and trouble, 
afforded him great pleafure and fatisfac- 
tion. The merit of his conduét in the 
country, at court, and in the fenate, was 
equally admirable. 
His enemies, who were only fo on ac- 
count of his public zeal and ufefulnefs, 
have greatly aggravated his immoralities, 
and loaded him with crimes from which 
he was wholly free. But did henot Jearn 
the rudiments of vice under their efteemed 
King Charles, the moft accomplifhed pra- 
feffor and practitioner of all forts of ini- 
quity?. Have not the private lives of 
moft of their leaders been equally faulty ? 
Are they excufable by hypocritically pre- 
tending to the name and noife of religion ? 
Their profeffed principles and behaviour, 
when they have power, have been oppofits 
to all public virtue. 
But to proceed: LordWharton’s defects 
oblige usthe more to admire his excellen- 
cies. Ina life {pent in a libertine manner, 
ufeful knowledge and learning were ne- 
gleéted : but an infinite fund of goad fenfe, 
and great natural abilities, fupplied what- 
ever was wanting. On every emergency 
he difcerned what was proper, and was 
never at a lofs how to act. There was 
not only a readinefs and a propriety in his 
{peeches, but they were weighty and im- 
portant. Nothing can be imagived more 
excellent than his fkill and fagacity im the 
management of a debate. 
In thefe public appearances, he was 
greatly affited by never engaging in the 
fupport of what he did not believe to have 
truth and juftice on its fide. He lived to 
fee the fuccefs of a caule for which he had 
laboured with zeal and integrity ; bur his 
enjoyment of the bleffing of the fuccef- 
fion was very fhort. A misfortune in bis 
family is fuppofed to have préduced the 
fatal event. His fon poffefied fome of his 
parts and abilities, but his very difference 
ufe and application of them are weil. 
known, 
ME. 
Cz 
