SEVERAL OF THE MOST DISTINGUISHED PERSONS OF HIS TIME, WITH WHOM HE
HAS HAD INTERCOURSE AND CONNECTION.

WITH ILLUSTRATIVE NOTES.

BY

HENRY FLANDERS,

AUTHOR OF "THE LIVES AND TIMES OF THE CHIEF JUSTICES."

PHILADELPHIA:

PARRY AND MCMILLAN.

1856.

2.33.5

HARVARD COLLEGE LIBRARY
GIFT OF THE

CAMBRIDGE HISTORICAL SOCIETY
FEB 1 1938

Entered according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1856, by

PARRY AND MCMILLAN,

in the Office of the Clerk of the District Court of the United States in and for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

PHILADELPHIA:

T. K. AND P. G. COLLINS, PRINTERS.

L

38-107

ربي

EDITOR'S PREFACE.

THE author of the following pages held a conspicuous place in London literary society; and was on familiar terms with many of the most eminent men of his time and country. "The sketches and anecdotes which he has introduced into his Memoirs are in the highest degree interesting; whilst his habits of observing and discriminating character give to his delineations an authority, and consequently a value, which it is difficult to over-estimate."1

The career of Cumberland in Spain is a curious episode in his life; and, in connection with Jay's mission to that country, of especial interest to the student of American history.

The Editor has divided the narrative into chapters, and added notes, illustrative of the text, which he ventures to hope has enhanced the value and interest of the work.

PHILADELPHIA, March, 1856.

1 Encyclopædia Britannica.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

Author's Preface-His ancestors-Doctor Richard Cumberland-Doctor Richard

Bentley-Swift's Battle of the Books-Anecdotes of Bentley-Collins-His

controversy with Bentley-Roger Cotes-Character of Bentley-Mrs. Bentley

-Richard Bentley, the younger-His connection with Horace Walpole-

Character of Walpole-Elizabeth Bentley-Joanna Bentley, Cumberland's

mother-Author's reflections-His boyhood-His teacher, Arthur Kinsman—

Anecdote of-Cumberland at school-Joshua Barnes-Warburton-Death of

Dr. Bentley-Cumberland's success in his studies-Attempts English verse

-His home-His mother forms his taste in poetry-Goes to Westminster-

Vincent Bourne Warren Hastings-Colman Hinchliffe, Smith, and Vincent

-Dr. Nichols-Execution of Lords Kilmarnock and Balmerino-Anecdote of

Selwyn-Progress of the rebels-Westminster school-Eton school-Edmund

Ashby-Cumberland goes to the play-Garrick-Death of Cumberland's

sister-Enters Trinity College

page 9

a

CHAPTER II.

His studies His habits-His style of reading-A present of books-Doctor

Richard Walker-Disputation-Ill-health-Advantages of the system of in-

struction at Cambridge-Collectanea-Plan of reading-Mason's Elfrida

Politics Change of life-Excursion to York-Elegiac verses-Candidate for

fellowship-Appointed Lord Halifax's private secretary-Sketch of Halifax

-Dr. Crane-Cumberland goes to London-John Pownall-Visit to the Duke

of Newcastle-Bishop of Peterborough-Charles Mason-Cumberland's exa-

mination for a fellowship-His success-His competitors-His course of life

in London-Not fitted for public life-Demagogues-Charles Townshend—

Lord and Lady Halifax-Ambrose Isted-Mr. Eskins-Jeffrey-Richard Rey-

nolds-Poem on India-Death of Lady Halifax-Her character-Cumber-

land's father removes to Fulham-His popularity-Bishop Sherlock-Mrs.

Sherlock-Richard Glover-Bubb Dodington-Cumberland's visit to—Cha-

racter of Henry Fox-Alderman Beckford-Lay-fellowship at Trinity Col-

lege The banishment of Cicero-Praised by Warburton-Recommended to

Garrick by Lord Halifax-Garrick's refusal to put it on the stage-Cumber-

land's marriage