A34 
and the Queen, by whom he has had ma- 
ny children, but none alive. He has nei- 
ther many friendsnor enemies in England. 
On the Queen’s acceffion to the throne he 
was towards fifty years old. ' 
REAR-ADMIRAL EDWARD RUSSELL, 
EARL OF ORFORD, 
Isa brother’s fon of the late Duke of 
Bedford, and bred up to fea, was Cap- 
tain of a fhip in the reign of King 
Charles II. and a Groom of the Bed- 
chamber to the Duke of York ; but upon 
my Lord Ruffell’s being beheaded, he 
left firft the Duke of York’s family, and 
at the Revolution came over with King 
William. 
He commanded the fleet when the 
French were burnt at La Hogue, as alfo 
the grand fleet that wintered at Cadiz in 
Spain ; was made a Peer by the name of 
the Earl of Orford, and often of the Ca- 
binet, and one of the Lords Juftices in the 
King’s abfence. 
No gentleman was ever better beloved 
by the Englith failors than he was, when 
he had the firft command of the fleet ; but 
he foon loft all by his pride, paffion, and 
covetoufnefs. He was a good patron to 
thofe who depended immediately upon 
him, and loved to be flattered, but irre- 
concileable to thofe whom he fufpected in 
any other intereft: this created him a 
great many enemies in the Parliament, as 
well as the navy. They called him to 
account for the adminiftration of the na- 
vy in the Mediterranean, and the King 
faved him by a Privy Seal. He was one 
of the four Lords impeached for the Parti- 
tion, and thrown out of all his employ- 
ments. 
Since the Queen’s acceffion to the throne, 
he has been little taken notice of ; nor is 
he pitied by people of his own profeffion. 
He has purchafed a vaft eftate, and knows 
well how to improve it. 
He has a very good underftanding, but 
very paffionate—of a fanguine complex- 
ion, inclining to fat—middle ftature—was 
Proceedings of Learned Societies. 
(Dec. tj 
always in the intereft of the people by his 
votes in both Houfes—near fifty years 
old. 
HERBERT, EARL OF ToR« 
RINGTON, 
Is a branch of the family of Herbert— 
came over Admiral of the fleet with King 
William, with whom he was in favour, 
and who made him an Ear]. He com- 
manded at the Beachy-head engagement, 
where we were beaten ; and he was dif- 
graced for his conduét in this matter, and 
never came into play fince. Heis a very 
fat man, fifty years old. 
ARTHUR 
SIR DAVID MITCHELL, VICE~ADMIRAL, 
Was born in a little fifhing-town in 
Scotland, and was preffed into the Eng- 
lifh fervice when but a boy. He has paff- 
ed all the degrees of a failor; and, with- 
out any recommendation but his own me- 
rit; he has railed himfelf to the honour- 
able poft he now enjoys, and had rifen 
Safter, perhaps, had he been an Englifp- 
MAN. 
He taught Admiral Ruffell, now Lord 
Orford, navigation ; and it is to this gen- 
tleman, in a great meafure, that his Lord- 
fhip owes moft of his knowledge in naval 
affairs. 
King William, befides this preferment 
at fea, created him Uther of the Black 
Rod; and, on the Queen’s acceffion to 
the throne,he was continued in all his pofts, 
and made one of the Counfellors to Prince 
George, in his office of Lord High Admi- 
tal. He is a very juft, worthy man, with 
good folid fenfe, but extremely troubled 
with the fpleen, which makes him trou- 
blefome to others as well as to himfelf.—- 
He was the author cf that commendable 
rule in the navy, of preferring officers 
according to their feniority ; which re- 
moves the powerful folicitations of great 
men for commands for their creatures, to 
the prejudice of the fervice. He isa fat, 
fangcuine-complexioned man, towards 6 
years old. 
PROCEEDINGS OF LEARNED SOCIETIES. 
“THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF 
FRANCE. 
ITIZEN Devis~e DE Sates has 
commenced a labour on that period 
of the French hiftory which followed the 
reign of Louis XIV. He has likewife 
traced a fketch of the Regency of the 
Duke of Orleans, which may ferve asan in- 
troduétionto that of the reign of Louis XV. 
According to the obfervation of Citizen 
de Sales, the reign of that Prince, who 
quickly loft the’ title of Bienm- Aime (Well- 
beloved), 
