592 Memoirs of the late 
Windham, which took place. It was 
then, in particular, that, in a new breed 
of informers, a symptom of the ancient 
arbitrary government during the days of 
Imperial Rome, was for awhile fully 
disclosed. 
«© Sic delatores genus hominum publico 
exitio repertum, et penis nunquam Satis Cco- 
ercitum, per premia elicebantur.””* 
The power, fortune, and consequence, 
of certain individuals, were however 
greatly enlarged and improved, although 
we are doubtful, whether the insinuations 
of the Marquis of Lansdowne, originating 
perhaps in the spirit of ancient rivalship, 
were ever realized. 
‘No sooner was his political alliance 
with Mr. Pitt made known, than the 
Duke’s popularity evaporated, in conse- 
quence of the outcry of his quondain 
associates, and it is no less remarkable 
than true, that the man, in whose praise 
the tongues of half a nation had vibrated, 
no longer received any homage but from 
his own immediate friends and depend- 
ents. Notwithstanding this, his influ- 
ence was now become so extensive, as 
to occasion a multitude of applications 
for preferment, and uot a few of a very 
ous iciie, unusual, and equivocal kind. 
Under his name, but without either his 
authority or knowledge, a multitude of 
places were publicly and impudently of- 
fered to sale, particularly in an office 
epened in the city, expressly on purpose 
for this species of traffic.f As 
Grace’s finances were supposed to be 
rather deranged, he himself was fre- 
quently pestered with applications of all 
sorts, for patronage, both civil and ec- 
clesiastical, and corrupt offers were ac- 
tually made in a most barefaced and dis- 
gusting manner, to obtain his protection. 
On this occasion, he displayed great, and, 
perhaps, blameable, moderation; and it 
is believed, that the utmost stretch of 
his revenge—for he was always eminently 
placable—consisted in recommending an 
oficious clergyman to the notice of his 
- Bishop. 
At length, in 1801, the subject of this 
memoir, finding his health decline, re- 
signed the office of Secretary of State for 
* Tacitus Annal. 
+ He observed, in 1794, in the House of 
Peers, ‘* That it was to be hoped, the lease of 
the Mary-le-bone estate had not been re- 
newed !”” 
¢ It is but candid here to remark, that the 
parties have been since prosecuted, and pu- 
nished. 
his - 
Duke of Poriland. 
the Home Department, and acted as 
President of the Council’ until 1805, a 
situation in which less labour and appli- 
cation were required. On the forma- 
tion of the Fox and Grenville Administra- 
tion, his Grace thought fit to withdraw, 
as he had not, fur some time, been on 
terms of intimacy with Mr. Fox. After. 
the death of that gentleman, and the 
sudden dismission of his colleagues, in 
Consequence of a supposed attempt to 
restore their civil and ecclesiastical pri- 
vileges to the Irish nation, his Grace once 
more appeared on the scene, and that 
too in an oficial character, which to 
some appeared unsuitable, im conse- 
quence of his declining years and infir- 
mities. Accordingly, in 1807, under 
the name of First Lord of the Treasury, 
he became ostensible Minister; but as 
he was for the most part unable to attend, 
the parliamentary part of the business 
was conducted by Mr. Perceval in one 
House, and Lord Liverpool in another. 
At length, after a severe struggle with 
disease, his Grace determined to’ retire 
wholly from the political world ; this 
was accordingly effected in the autumn 
of 1809, and but a few weeks anterior 
to his demise, which took place in the 
72d year of hisage. 
It’ now remains, after such an ample 
[Jan. 1, 
_account of his public conduct, to con- 
sider the Duke of Portland asa private 
nobleman. In this point. of view, the 
early part of his life was peculiarly amia= 
ble. During that period, he supported, 
for many years, the splendour of his dig- 
nified rank, with a very moderate for- 
tune. Although never considered as an 
orator, yet what he said was listened to, 
as the suggestions of an honest man, ~ 
springing directly from the heart. He 
was but little adapted, perhaps, to busi- 
ness, yet itis well known, that no gen- 
tleman in the kingdom could write a bet- 
ter letter, After his coalition with Mrs 
Pitt, his equanimity at times forsook 
him, and his order to exclude a distin- 
guished Commoner from any of his 
Majesty’s jails, on account of the de~ 
nunciation of certain supposed abuses, 
in which he has been supported by the 
concurring testimony of more than one 
Grand Jury, savoured but little of his 
usual urhanity. | 
During the youthful portion of his ca~ 
reer, the Duke lived in habits of great in= 
timacy with the celebrated Chace Price, 
M. P. for Radnor, aman of infinite hu- 
mour and jest, the very ‘* Yorick” of 
society. Money negociations, to a very 
great 
\ 
