1810.] 
ing-house, his father had died at Gaiway, in 
Treland, colonel of the 5th regiment of foot, 
bequeathing the principal part of his fortune 
to him and his daughcer, Mrs. Smith. With 
this patrimony, on the expiration of his mino- 
rity, he commenced business in Craven-streets 
in the Strand, in partnership with Mr, Thomas 
Brown, a gentleman uhiversally esteemed for 
his amiable qualities and convivial disposition. 
Mr. W. early in life evinced a lively wit, 
combined with a certain peculiarity of humour, 
which rendered hiscompany and conversation 
desirable to the most celebrated beaux esprits 
of his time. Nor was it only in conversation 
that his talents were conspicuous. His essays 
were equally admired for novelty of idea, 
‘ correctness of style, and sprightliness of satire 5 
and to those we are in some measure indebted 
for the emancipation of our diurnal prints 
from that dullness which tiil then universally 
pervaded them. Mr. Whitéfoord having con- 
ceived a great friendship for Mr. Henry 
Woedfall, sent his productions to the Public 
Advertiser, which soon became the political 
arena where all the combatants engaged, and 
all the squibs of party were thrown. He 
turned and moulded the various topics of the 
day intoall sorts of shapes 3 horse-races, play- 
bills, auctions, exhibitions, and female ad- 
ministrations, became the whimsical vehicles 
of his humour. The mirth excited by these, 
as well as by his Cross Readings, Ship News 
Extraordinary, Errors of the Press, é&c. pro- 
duced many imitators; but they have sel. 
dom equalled, and never excelled, the ori- 
ginal. The author was extremely careless of 
literary reputation. Ue amused himself in 
the moments of conception and composition ; 
but afterwards paid no manner of attention to 
those children of his brain: he left them ex- 
osed and deserted sur /e pave, till Almon and 
Wieticsee took them up, and gave them an 
asylum in the Foundling Hospital for Wit, 
where at least a score may be found. The 
shafts of his ridicule were so happily directed 
against the petitions, remonstrances, and 
grievances, of Wilkes, and other pseudo patriots 
of the day, as to attract the notice, and to 
obtain the approbation, of administration. Mr, 
W. had given a humourous history of peti. 
tions, from the first petition of the peruke- 
makers to the king, praying him to wear a 
wig for the benefit of their trade; he then 
took up the subject of more modern grievan- 
ces and apprehensions, answered all these 
grievances, and advertised fora new griev- 
ance! His success on this occasiun wes so 
great, that he was requested by a verson high 
in office to write a pamphlet on the subject of 
the. misunderstanding which subsisted betwixt 
this country aid Spain, relative to the Falk~ 
jand Islands. That task, however, he de- 
clined; but recommended Doctor Sanuel 
Johnson as the ablest and properest person 
who could be selected for this purpose. Mr. 
W. was accordingly authorized to negotiate 
this matter with the doctor, which he at length 
happily concluded in concert with the late 
Account of ihe late Caleb Whitefoord, esq. 3387 
Mr. Strahan, the king’s printer, one of John- 
son’s most intimate and most useful friends. 
The doctor soon after produced his celebrated 
publication, entitled The False Alarm; by 
which he gained both money and reputation. 
At this period he had conceived a high opi- 
nion of Mr. Whitefoord’s taste and political 
influence, and often expressed his approbation 
of his essays and squibs, pronouncing them 
superior even to those of Dean Swift. But 
Mr. W.’s pen was not limited to prose compo- 
sitions ; his verses on-various subjects, and 
on different occasions, possess equal spirit and 
point, It has been asserted that the fine arts 
have such an affinity to each other, that to 
have a relish for one is to be susceptible of all. 
Whether this be generally true or not, we 
shall not here dispute, but content ourselves 
with observing that this combination is re+ 
markably exemplified in Mz. W. who in his 
youth was at once a respectable proficient both 
in music and drawing: but other avocations 
did not permit him to cultivate these to the 
extent which his genius was capable of attains 
ing. Although prevented from reaching 
practical excellence, he did not fail however 
to improve in taste; and his judgment as 2 
connoisseur has frequently been appealed to in 
doubtful cases; when even artists have been 
divided in their opinions. His collection of 
prints and pictures, chiefly of the Italian 
school, do honour te the possessor, both from 
their number and merit ; but his admiration 
has not, like that ef some wvirtuosi, been cone 
fined to the ancient masters, for many living - 
artists have experienced the benefit of his pa- 
tronage and advice. Such acquirements na- 
tatally pointed him out to theSociety for the 
Encouragement ef Arts, Manufactures, and 
Commerce, as 2 proper person to preside in 
the committee of fine arts. He was accords 
ingly elected chairman, and executed the of- 
fice for several years with equal advantage to 
the institution, and credit to himself, until 
he was chosen a Vice-president, an honour 
‘generally conferred on persons of elevated rank 
Nor was this the only distinction he - 
alone, 
obtained. The Royal Societies of Lendon and 
Edinburgh, the Society of Antiquaries, the 
Philosophical Society of Philadelphia, and 
the Arcadian. Society of Rome, ail admitted 
him a member of their respective bodies, 
Few men have passed their time more agree- 
ably than Mr. W. for he lived in habits of 
intimacy with some of the wisest and best 
men of the age. Inthe list of his friends may 
be enumerated many dignitaries of the church, 
more than one statesman, and some of the 
most eminent geniuses which our nation hag 
produced. Adam Smith used to say, that the 
junto of wits and authors hated one another 
heartily, but that they all hada regard for 
Mr. W. who, by his conciliatory manners, 
kept them together. When any quarrel or 
disagreement occurred, he was accustomed’ to 
invite the parties to callon him in Craven- 
treet, to givethem a very good dinner, and 
drigk a glass to reconciliation. Garrick and 
Foote 
\ 
Pei st Di es Gey Fg 
Caer ae 
‘ 
i 
f 
: 
i 
