of Lord George. I considered it, therefore, as an opportunity gone by, and entertained no further hopes of succeeding. A very short time sufficed to confirm the idea I had entertained of Lord George's character for decision and dispatch in business there was at once an end to all our circumlocutory reports and inefficient forms, that had only impeded business, and substituted ambiguity for precision: there was (as William Gerard Hamilton, speaking of Lord George, truly observed to me) no trash in his mind; he studied no choice phrases, no superfluous words, nor ever suffered the clearness of his conceptions to be clouded by the obscurity of his expressions, for these were the simplest and most unequivocal that could be made use of for explaining his opinions, or dictating his instructions. In the mean while he was so momentarily punctual to his time, so religiously observant of his engagements, that we, who served under him in office, felt the sweets of the exchange we had so lately made in the person of our chief.

"I had now no other prospect but that of serving in my subordinate situation under an easy master with security and comfort, for as I was not flattered with the show of any notices from him, but such as I might reasonably expect, I built no hopes upon his favour, nor allowed myself to think I was in any train of succeeding in my treaty with our secretary for his office; and as I had reason to

believe he was equally happy with myself in serving under such a principal, I took for granted he would move no further in the business.

"One day, as Lord George was leaving the office, he stopt me on the outside of the door, at the head of the stairs, and invited me to pass some days with him and his family at Stoneland near Tunbridge Wells. It was on my part so unexpected, that I doubted if I had rightly understood him, as he had spoken in a low and submitted voice, as his manner was, and I consulted his confidential secretary, Mr. Doyley, whether he would advise me to the journey. He told me that he knew the house was filled from top to bottom with a large party, that he was sure there would be no room for me, and dissuaded me from the undertaking. I did not quite follow his advice by neglecting to present myself, but I resolved to secure my retreat to Tunbridge Wells, and kept my chaise in waiting to make good my quarters. When I arrived at Stoneland I was met at the door by Lord George, who soon discovered the precaution I had taken, and himself conducting me to my bed-chamber, told me it had been reserved for me, and ever after would be set apart as mine, where he hoped I would consent to find myself at home. This was the man I had esteemed so cold, and thus was I at once introduced to the commencement of a friendship, which day by day improved,

and which no one word or action of his life to come ever for an instant interrupted or diminished.

(6

Shortly after this, it came to his knowledge that there had been a treaty between Mr. Pownall and me for his resignation of the place of secretary, and he asked me what had passed; I told him how it stood, and what the conditions were, that my superior in office expected for the accommodation. I had not yet mentioned this to him, and probably never should. He said he would take it into his own hands, and in a few days signified the king's pleasure that Mr. Pownall's resignation was accepted, and that I should succeed him as secretary in clear and full enjoyment of the place, without any compensation whatsoever. Thus was I, beyond all hope and without a word said to me, that could lead me to expect a favour of that sort, promoted by surprise to a very advantageous and desirable situation. I came to my office at the hour appointed, not dreaming of such an event, and took my seat at the adjoining table, when, Mr. Pownall being called out of the room, Lord George turned round to me and bade me take his chair at the bottom of the table, announcing to the Board his majesty's commands, as above recited, with a positive prohibition of all stipulations. When I had endeavoured to express myself as properly on the occasion as my agitated state of spirits would allow

of, I remember Lord George made answer, That if I was as well pleased upon receiving his majesty's commands, as he was in being the bearer of them, I was indeed very happy.'—If I served him truly, honestly, and ardently ever after, till I followed him to the grave, where is my merit? How could I do otherwise?"

CHAP. XVI.

Cumberland produces the opera of CALYPSOAnd afterwards the WIDOW OF DELPHI.Exerts himself in behalf of the unfortunate PERREAU.-Solicited to do the same for Dr. DODD, but declines when he hears that JOHNSON undertook his cause.-Anecdotes of LORD RODNEY.-A maxim of that gallant Admiral's.Lines addressed to LORD MANSFIELD, by Cumberland, in reference to a transaction of RODNEY'S.

IN 1779 Cumberland produced the opera of Calypso, of which the dedication, to the Duchess of Manchester, is elegantly encomiastic. The opera itself requires little notice. Telemachus and Mentor singing songs is something too much; it is as bad as Garrrick's alteration of Shakspeare's Tempest, in which all the characters were degraded to the mummery of musical recitative. The images, in this piece, are sufficiently classical, and the poetry is a little above the ordinary level of such compositions: but, like the Battle of Hastings, it is compounded of shreds and patches, stolen from all sources. These thefts, however, I do not mean to detect, as I have those in the tragedy: it is enough to allude to them: the fact will require no voucher.