200 Original Letters from Lord Nottingham and Sir Paul Rycaut. his power, which nothing can prevent but the Bill in the Houfe of Commons for confifcating the estates of those who were in armes in Ireland against their Majty; and they feem not now fo earneft in promoting it as they were at firft. However, it is probable the Earle of Cailingford's intereft will be fecured, and the rather, becaufe, as your Lord knows, it has not been ufuall to attaint men after their death. But this I mention to your Lop onely that you may the more confidently affure the Earle of Cailingford of his Majtys favour, and yet that he may take it as a favour twill not be neceflary he should know his right. And indeed if the Parliament fhould interpofe, nothing but his Majys recommendation of his cafe can Tecure him. LoP, that he would have you owne to The King has commanded me to at Lord Pagett. "LETTER VIL. Sir Paul Rycaut to Lord Pagett (marked on the back, A Letter from Paul Rycaut, Efq. Hamburg, Dec. 6, 1690.). My Lord, Hamburg, Dec. 6, thyo. The 22d paft, I wrote to y Lord, finee which I have received the honour of y' Lordses of the 20-30th of the fame month; and am willing thereby to underkand, that I was under a miftake of The King has writ a letter to the Elector of Saxony, to comply with the Emperor in the bufinefs of the winter quarters and the fubfidies; and it is fent to my Lord Durfley, to tranfmit ity Lord meaning touching the toll a to him. Enclosed is a copy of it. The King would have you move the Emperor to give orders to Count Berka at the Hague, to concurre in the liquidation of Prince George's debt, who pretending to above 300,000 crowns, and others affirming it is lefs, it will be neceffary to afcertain the fumme, which can be done at no place fo conveniently as at the Hague, where there are o many Minifters concerned, and verfed in this affaire. Your LoP, however, is fill to continue your endeavours, that whatever the fumme be, the Emperor pay his fhare towards the fatisfaction of the debt. I am, your Lordship's most humble Lervant, NOTTINGHAM. Lord Pagett. LETTER VI. Lord Nottingham to Lord Pagett. My Lord, Gluckstadt, demanded by the Danes. The truth is, I have heard nothing thereof of late, fo I hope that buhheffe is over, and that other wayes will be found out to gratify the Danes, where alliance is become the more neceflary to us, fince the Swedes fhow their intention of breaking off from the Confederates, which appears by many circumstances, and by the common talk of the Swedes themselves, and particularly by the difcourses of Count Bielk, one of the Swedish Generalls, who makes no difficultie to difcourfe in this place plainly thereof, with all freedome, and to fuffer himself to be tranfported with pallion against England and Holland. I was very glad to heare of St Wm Hulley's fafe arrival at Vienna, and that he had received a kind audience - from the Emperor; wch being fo foone and speedy, howes that that Court is willing to treat a peace with the Turke, and that poffibly it may have effect in cafe the Jefuites doe not fpoyle the whole bufineffe, as they did the last yeare. Our fleet of merchantships, under convoy of the Berkly Castle, are still here detained by contrary winds. I have not farther to adde, but that I am, my Lord, your Lordship's most humble and most obedient fervant, Lord Pagett. PAUL RYCAUT, (To be continued.) MR; Character of Mr. Kynafton; and of Mr. John William Kals. 201 MR. URBAN, Bedworth, Dec. 13. THE HE zeal of your correfpondent E. E. (vol. LV. p 847.) to do all poffible honour to the memory of the late Mr. Kynafton, is highly laudable. I had the pleasure of knowing that gentleman well: he was confeffedly a polite fcholar, an amiable man, and an ornament to the learned body of which he was a member; and he who labours to refcue fuch characters from oblivion, and hold them up to the emulation of mankind, is not only doing an act of juftice to the merit of individuals, but rendering a beneficial fervice to fociety. On thefe principles I fhall expect the approbation, if not the applaufe, of your refpectable correfpondent; if, in your ufeful repo. Story, I attempt to rear a fmall monument of refpect to the memory of a learned and valuable friend, of whom he has inadvertently expreffed himself in terms of lefs efteem than I think he was juftly entitled to; I mean Mr. Ky nafton's much esteemed and venerable preceptor in the Hebrew language, to whofe great merit that gentleman, in the very jeu d'efprit which your correfpondent is fo defirous of tranfmitting to pofterity, bears fo ftrong a teftimony. The rev. John William Kals, who offered himself as a teacher of Hebrew at Oxford, in the years 1749, 1750, 1751, and 1752, was a native of the United Provinces, and received a regular academical education at Leyden, where, for feveral years, he attended the lectures of the famous Dr. Albert Schultens. Under the inftructions of that extraordinary man (the greatest Orientalift this century has produced), he acquired fo deep and critical a knowledge of the Hebrew, Arabic, and Sy riac Languages, that the learned Profeffor appointed him his affiftant lecturer in thofe languages; and this too at a time when the university of Leyden had attained an uncommon degree of literary eminence, and the diftinguished names of Boerhaave, Vitringa, and Schultens, had drawn pupils from all parts of Europe. The preference given by Dr. Schultens to Mr. Kals, in this appointment, is the highest atteftation to his fuperior merit, and fufficient of itfelf to establish his reputation as an Oriental scholar. He had moved in this public fphere (in which he gave general fatisfaction) but a very few years, before he had the misfortune to be deprived of his great friend and patron, GENT. MAG. March, 1786. who, to the irreparable lofs of the republic of letters, was cut off by a fudden death, and being withal not very happy in his matrimonial connection, he determined to try his fortune at our celebrated Univerfity; not doubting but a friend and affiftant of fuch a man Schultens, poffeffed too of fo precious a treafure as the Hebrew Lexicon he was compofmg at the time of his death, muft be received with open arms at fo famed a feat of learning. Accordingly, in the fummer of the year 1749, he appeared at Oxford, and obtained from Dr. Hunt, who then fo honourably filled the Oriental chair, the moft cordial and flattering reception. That excellent man, ever zealous to revive and cherish a tafte for Oriental learning, bore a public teftimony to the merit of Mr. Kals, certified the truth of the facts I have now stated, and concluded with recommending him to the University, as a perfon capable of doing it great fervice, as a teacher of Hebrew. The learned Secker, then bithop of Oxford, who had formerly ftudied at Leyden, was in the number of his patrons; nor can I recollect a member of the Univerfity, of rank or eminence (the followers of Mr. Hurchinfon only excepted), who did not honour him with fome mark of esteem. Thus far all was well, and Mr. Kals had reafon to expect fuccefs and encouragement equal to his withes; bur, for the credit of the University, I am forry to add, that the event did by no means correfpond with thefe flattering beginnings. The prevailing taste of that time did not run in favour of Oriental learning. In the eye of a young man, whofe patience and industry had been put to their utmost trial, and perhaps exhaufted, in the acquifition of Latin and Greek, that fpacious field of science put on a terrific appearance; and to study Hebrew in the Schultenfian method de manded a warmer love of biblical knowledge, and a more vigorous fpirit of enterprife and application, than fell to the iot of many; and, I fincerely believe, had Mr. Kals profefied to teach Hebrew in the modern fuperficial mode (the most indulgent to human indolence), and fuffered his fcholars to content themfelves with fkimming over the furface of things, he would have met with a more general acceptance. To whatever cause it might be imputed, the number of gentlemen, who put themfelves under his inftruction, was but inconfiderable } 202 The learned Hebræan, J. W. Kals, his Reception at Oxford. confiderable; and, therefore, after wait- As a teacher, his application and indaftry were equal to his fkill, actuated by an ardent zeal for the promotion of facted learning; he was indefatigable in the fervice of his pupils; and, I verily believe, if he preferred one of them to another, it was he who took the moft pains to profit by his inftructions. Nor muft I forget his qualities as a man. He had not indeed many graces of perfon to attract admiration, nor were his manners or addrefs formed on the model of fathionable life; but he poffeffed what is infinitely better, an open, fincere, and ingenuous mind, a degree of fobriety, modefty, integrity, and piety, That was really exemplary; and his heart was fo benevolent, friendly, and affec tionate, that I very believe he had not a pupil who did not venerate and love him. If my opinion of Mr. Kals's abilities is more favourable than that of You will have the candour to believe that I have advanced nothing more than what appears to me a juft and well earned tribute to the memory and labours of a deferving and learned friend. I could go on to give you a much more accurate account of the gentlemen Mr. Kals fo gratefully and honourably mentions in the preface to his book *; but, as it is a matter of little confequence to the public, I fhall only add, that I am, Yours, &c. J. H. We may venture to pronounce that fuch a communication would be grateful to the generality of our reeders. EDIT. Mr. Lord Arran's Account of the Duke of Buckingham's Death. 203 YOUR correfpondent V. (p. 19) is "My Lord, Yunder a mistake. It is proved, uncontrovertibly, that the Duke ended hisdays in Yorkshire, by the following letter to Bifhop Spratt, tranferibed from authentic memoirs of the Villiers family, and firft printed by Mr. Maty, in Dec. 1783. Kerny-moor Syde, April 17, 1687. "MERE chance having thrown me into thofe parts by accident, as I was at York, in my journey towards Sodand I heard of the Duke of Buckingham's illness here, which made me takea refolution of waiting upon his Grace, to fee what condition he was in. I arrived here on Friday in the afternoon, where I found him in a very low condition: he had been long ill of an ague, which had made him weak; but his understanding was as good as ever, and his noble parts were fo entire, that though I faw death in his looks, at first fight, he would by no means think of it. He told me he was on horfeback but two days before, and that he found himself fo well at heart, that he was fure he could be in no danger of his life. He told me he had a mighty defcent fallen upon his privities, with an inflammation and great (welling, but he thought by applying warm medicines the fwelling would fall, and then he would be at eafe; but it proved otherwife, for a mortification came on those parts, which run up upon his belly, and fo mounted, which was the occafion of his death. So foon as I arrived, I fent to York for one Dr. Waler, for I found him here in a moft miferable condition: he defired me to ftay with him, which I very willingly obeyed. I confefs it made my heart bleed to fee the Duke of Buckingham, in fo pitiful a place, and in fo bad a condition; and, what made it worfe, he was not at all fenfible of it, for he thought in a day or two he thould be well; and when we minded him of his condition, he faid it was not fo as we apprehended. The doctors told me his cafe was defperate, and though he enjoyed the free exercife of his fenfes, that in a day or two at moft it would kill him; but they durf not tell him of it; fo they put a hard part on me to pronounce dath to him, which I faw approaching fo fat, that I thought it was high time for him to think of another world, for it was impoffible for him to continue long in this. So I fent for a very worthy gentle.nan, Mr. Gibfon, a neighbour of his Grace's, who lives but a mile from this place, to be an affilant to me in this work; fo we jointly together reprefented his condition to him, which I saw was at firß very uneafy; but I think we fhould not have difcharged the duty of honeft men, or I of a faithful kinfman, if we fhould have fuffered him to go out of this world without defiring him to prepare for death, and to look into his confcience. "After having plainly told him his condition, I asked him whom I fhould fend for to be affiftant to him during the fmall time he had to live: he would make me no answer, which made me conjecture, and having formerly heard that he had been inclining to be a Roman Catholic, I asked him if I fhould fend for a prieft; for I thought any act that could be like a chriftian, was what his condition now wanted moft; but he po fitively told me that he was not of that perfuafion, and fo would not hear any more of that fubject, for he was of the church of England; but hitherto he would not hear of a parion, though he had declared his averfion for my offering him to fend for a priest. But, after fome time, beginning to feel his diffemper mount, he defired me to fend for the parfon of this parith, who faid prayers for him, which he joined in very freely, but ftill did not think he thould die; though this was yesterday, at feven in the morning, and he died about eleven at night. "Mr. Gibfon afked him if he had made a will, or if he would declare who was to be his heir. But to the first he anfwered that he had made none; and, to the laft, whoever was named, he always antwered, No. Fuit, my Lady Duchefs was named, and then I think almoft every body that had any relation to him, but his anfwer was always, No. And to fee if he would change any way the aniwer or manner of it, they afked him if my Lord Purbeck was? but to that he faid, by no means. I did fully reprefent my Lady Duchefs's condition to him, and told him it was abfolutely fit, dur ing the time he had the excrcite of his reafon, to do fomething to fettle his affairs; but nothing that could be faid to him could make him come to any point. "I then faid, that fince he would do nothing in his worldly affairs, I defired he might die like a chriftian; and fince he called himself of the church of England, the parfon was ready here to adminifter the facrament to him, which he faid he would take. So accordingly I gave orders for it; and two other honeft gentlemen received with him, Mr. Gbfon and Colonel Lifton, an old fervant of his Grace's. At first he called out three or four times; for he thought the ceremony looked as if death was near, which for the ftrength of his noble parts (they act being yet affected) he could not eafily believe: for all this time he was not willing to take death to him. But, in a few moments after, he became calm and received the facrament with all the decency imaginable, and in an hour after he lost his 1peech, and continued fo till eleven at night, when he ded. * In the Prerogative Office it appeart, that George Duke of Buckingham died withour a will, and that the Duchefs his widow adminiftered." MATY. "The 204 Duke of Buckingham's Death defcribed. The Defcription confirmed. The confufion he has left his affairs in will make his heir, whoever he be, very uneafy. To tell you truly, I believe there is no other will in being but what they fay is in the truftees hands; for all the fervants fay, they knew there was a parchant fealed, which my Lord faid he would alter, which they looked upon to be his will: whether he has cancelled it, I cannot find; fome fay one Mr. Burrell has it; but nobody here can give any diftinét account of it. But my Lord himself faid pofitively, in the prefence of feveral, that he had no will in being, fo what to make of this, I cannot tell you. We fuppofed that it might be Sir William Villars that he intended for his heir, but he, faid feveral times before us all, No: fo that I cannot imagine, if he has any will, to whom he has given it, I myself being as nearly related to him as any by the full blood. Mr. Brian Fairfax and Mr. Gibfon have been witneffes of my proceedings fince my being here; I hope they will give an account of it. I thought in honour I could not leave him in this condition, be ing fo nearly related to him; efpecially his Grace being in fuch a retired corner, where there was nobody but myfelf, till I fent for this Mr. Gibfon. My Lord Fairfax of Gullin came yesterday in the afternoon, but he was fpeechiefs when he came. "I have ordered the corpfe to be embalmed and carried to Helmfley cattle, and there to remain till my Lady Duchefs her pleafure fball be known. There must be speedy care taken for there is nothing here but confufion, not to be expreffed. Though his ftew ards have received vaft fums, there is not fo much as one farthing, as they tell me, for defraying the leaft expence. But I have ordered his inteftines to be buried at Helmiley, where his body is to remain till farther orders. "Being the neareft kinfman upon the place, I have taken the liberty to give his Majefty an account of his death, and fent his George and blue ribbon to be difpofed as his Majefty fhall think fit. I have addreffed it under cover to my Lord Prefident, to whom I beg you would carry the bearer the minute he arrives. "I have given orders that nothing should be embezzled, and for that reafon, as foon as my Lord died, I called to fee his strong box. but before Mr. Bryan Fairfax and Mr. Giufon : I found nothing of moment in it but fome loofe letters of no concern; but fuch as they are, I have ordered them to be locked up and delivered to my Lady Duchefs; as alfo the fall plate and linen he had, I have committed to the care of Lord Fairfax. "So now that I have given your Lordship this particular account of every thing, I have nothing more to do but to affure your Lordfhip, that I am, my Lord, your Lordfhip's most affured friend and humble fervant, ARRAN." Mr. URBAN, THO Kirkby-Moorfide, Feb. 24, 1786. HOUGH to fome it may appear of no confequence where the Duke of who may be defirous of having it af Buckingham died, yet there are others certained; and as your correfpondent V. p. 19, fays, his Grace died at Emping ham (though the writer brings no cirs cumftance to prove the truth thereof), you may infert, if you please, the following account. In the Parish Regifter of this place is the following entry, copied literatim : "Gorge uiluas, Lord dooke of bookingam', buried Ap. 17th, 1687." The houfe in which the Duke died is the next houfe to my own. I have been many times permitted, by my refpectable neighbour, who inhabits it, to fhew the very room where he died; in which, (though in other parts modernzed) the fame floor ftill remains; not indeed of plaster (for it is a chamber); but I can forgive the poet that licenfe, as well as the mistake of the place. Since I have refided here, the grandmother of the prefent pofleflor of the houfe was alive, who remembered the event. I myfelf (being born in the neighbourhood) have converfed with an old man, who, to the bett of my remembrance, fat up with his Grace dur ing his laft illnets. His Grace's large eliates, at this and fome neighbouring manors, were then under fequeftration, and he was drawing what he could from his tenants, which occcafioned his being at this place. I ule as a fignature W. C. my real initials. Mr. URBAN, March 10. YOUR correfpondent, p. 19, is greatly miftaken, and Mr. Pope was not well informed, in regard to the death of Villiers, Duke of Buckingham. He moft certainly died in a small cottage, at or near to Stonegrave, between Helmfley and Hovingham, in Yorkfhire; and it happened in this manner. He was taken very ill at his feat at Helmfley (a fine eftate there, and in the neighbourhood, now the property of Charles Duncombe, Efq.); and, for better remedy, he was refolutely determined, contrary to the advice of the doctors about him, to make for London. He was accordingly put into his coach, and by the time he reached Stonegrove, about four or five miles off, his attendants perceived he was dying; upon which he was taken out of the coach, |