STEPNEY. GR EORGE STEPNEY, defcended from the Stepneys of Pendegraft in Pembrokeshire, was born at Westminster in 1663. Of his father's condition or fortune I have no account. Having received the first part of his education at Westminster, he went to Cambridge, where he continued a friendfhip begun at school with Mr. Montague, afterwards Earl of Halifax. They came to London together, and are faid to have been invited into publick life by the Duke of Dorfet. His qualifications recommended him to many foreign employments, fo that his time feems to have been spent in negotiations. In 1692 he was fent envoy to the Elector of Branden Brandenburgh; in 1693 to the Imperial Court; in 1694 to the Elector of Saxony; in 1696 to the Electors of Mentz and Cologne, and the Congress at Francfort; in 1698 a second time to Brandenburgh; in 1699 to the King of Poland; in 1701 again to the Emperor; and in 1706 to the States General. In 1697 he was made one of the commiffioners of trade. His life was bufy, and not long. He died in 1707; and is buried in Westminster-Abbey with this epitaph, which Jacob transcribed. H. S. E. GEORGIUS STEPNEIUS, Armiger, Vir Ob Ingenii acumen, Morum Suavitatem, Rerum Ufum, Virorum Ampliffimorum Confuetudinem, Sua ætate multum celebratus, Ea Fide, Diligentia, ac Felicitate, Spem in illo repofitam Poft longum honorum Curfum Cum Naturæ parvæ Fama fatis vixerat, On the Left Hand: G. S. Ex Equeftri Familia Stepneiorum, Sancti Petri Weftmonaft. A. 1676. Frequentia huc elatus, 1707. It is reported that the juvenile compofitions of Stepney made grey authors blush. I know not whether his poems will appear fuch wonders to the prefent age. One cannot always eafily find the reason for which I the |