indolence and gaiety every now and then appearing; and his lamentations that he was obliged to leave London in Bartholomew-fair time, while the Bishop of Winchester, and his favourite Chloe appear alternately to divide the poet's thoughts. A letter or two from Lord Hervey recalls to our recollection Pope's inimitably severe, but most cruel, false, and slanderous lines; while a new leaf of Pope's own history is opened for his future biographer, in his pettish dispute with the "fat widow" of Sir Godfrey Kneller. There is a curious and important letter from Steele, which will be incorporated with accounts of him which may be hereafter published; and there are some extracts from the Correspondence of Bolingbroke and Oxford. To bribe some of the softer sex to a perusal of his volume, Sir H. Bunbury has inserted some amusing extracts from the Diary of the Duchess of Grafton,† which would have formed charming subjects for a paper in the Spectator; but which have left us in a confusion of silk aprons, scarlet stockings, black lace hoods, Turkey tabby, green tea, diamond ear-rings, and white steinkerks wrought with silver flowers, that we never knew before. We are got, methinks, into a land "Where heroes' wits are kept in ponderous vases, And beaux in snuff-boxes and tweezer-cases. Yet something is to be learned from it: we not only find, that in the age of Queen Anne fine ladies played deep at ombre and quadrille; that the town patronised Mrs. Barry and Mrs. Oldfield, and gave Mr. Wilks and Mr. Cibber handsome benefits; but that Duchesses indulged in brandy and Atterbury's Sermons; trifled occasionally at noon with orange butter and viper broth; and gave the same price for a quart of usquebaugh, and Cave's Primitive Christianity. We must, however, hasten on from this paradise of coquettes, this land of Dapperwit, and Sir Fopling, and Sir Plume, to give a brief survey of the person whose name stands at the head of the volume; and of whom we should think some of our readers never heard, but as editor of a Shakspeare, which for near a century has slept forgotten on its shelf. The family of Hanmer is of ancient distinction in the Marches of North Wales; they are connected with the Lords of Powys, with Prince Llewellyn, and the renowned Glendwr and the Tudors. The first Lord of Hanmer was a leader of eminence in the armies of Henry the Third; he settled himself at Hanmer, in Flintshire, and his descendants have borne * Had Pope been a better judge of painting than he appears to have been, one would suppose that his epitaph on Sir Godfrey must have been an ironical one. What bombastic common-place is this? 'Living, great Nature feared he might outvie Her works, and dying, feared herself to die." See also the quatrain, justly criticised by Hor. Walpole, on Kneller painting for him three statues! But Vandyck was forgotten, Sir P. Lely was dead, and Kneller and Thornhill were lords of the ascendant. Pope's lines, and Kneller's picture of William the Third at Hampton Court, are not much in harmony. Occasionally, however, he seems stimulated to something, if not excellent, yet certainly pleasing. 46 † In this Diary are some articles purchased by the Duchess, that we do not quite understand, ex. gr. "For a baby," 21. 38.-is this a doll? Orange butter," occurs frequently. "To the mobb," often 5s. For seeing the moving picture (?) 5s. Brandy and usquebaugh are fearful articles of expense. "Point heads," are put down at 40%. and 607. each; while there is an item "To the poor people" 8d.! There is one article," To the mobb, on Queen Elizabeth's birth-day," showing that the anniversary was still kept; when figures of the pope and the devil were burnt: and one "To the poor at the door when his Grace took coach to go to Euston," which serves to show of what importance the annual journey into the country was; how well it was known; how different was the state of things in this respect; and that an indiscriminating charity was then expected and bestowed, the name of the estate which he acquired. Sir Thomas Hanmer, the second Baronet, was cup-bearer" to Charles the First, and his portrait by Vandyck shows him to have been a very handsome man. He left behind him in MS. Notes on the government and condition of France during his exile, and some treatises on gardening, miniature painting, &c. which leave a very favourable impression of him, as a person of taste, acquirements, and observation. Sir John Hanmer succeeded, who served with distinction in the armies of William the Third. William Hanmer, son of Sir Thomas by his second wife, Susan Hervey of Ickworth, married one of the daughters of Sir Henry North of Mildenhall, whose son was the subject of the present memoir. Thomas Hanmer was born 24th Sept. 1677, at Bettisfield Park, and was educated at Westminster and Oxford, where Dr. R. Friend was his tutor. On the death of his uncle, Sir John, in 1701, he succeeded to the title and estates, while, in right of his mother, he had inherited the property of the Norths. Thomas Hanmer is described as being tall and handsome in his person, graceful and dignified in his manners. He carried from Oxford the reputation of being a good classical scholar. Possessing these advantages, on his first entrance into society, he captivated the affections of Isabella, the widow of Charles the first Duke of Grafton, and married her when he was little more than twenty-one. She was ten years older, but still considered as one of the most striking beauties of the court. By her powerful connexions he was introduced to the acquaintance of men of the highest rank, and political and personal importance. The income of the Duchess was considerable, and her youthful husband at once took his station in society as a person of weight with respect to fortune, connexions and character. In 1702, he represented his native county, Flint, in the first Parliament of Queen Anne; he was then in his 25th year. "Already," (says his biographer,) "imbued with that attachment to the Royal Prerogative, and that unlimited reverence for the Church of England, which marked the whole of his political career." He spoke, however, but seldom; cautious and reserved, and probably inclining towards Marlborough and Godolphin, before their complete connexion with the Whigs, he took no active part in politics, till the High Church ferment, and the triumph of the Tories in 1710. Swift, however, two years before, had mentioned a question, as carried without a division against the Court, by Sir T. Hanmer's oratory." He declined an offer from the Duke of Shrewsbury to be one of the five Commissioners, to whom the Treasury was to be confided on the dismissal of Godolphin. When Harley came into power, T. Hanmer joined the October Club, consisting of high ultra Tories, whose ruling prin-ciple was to maintain the ascendancy of the High Church interest, and support the power of the Crown. When this split (as it soon did) into divisions, Hanmer joined that section of it called by Swift "the Hanover Tories," and by Bolingbroke "the Whimsicals." Harley, now Earl of Oxford, expressed a great desire to Hanmer, that he should accept office under him; and, to conciliate him, appointed him Chairman of the Committee to consider and report on the state of the Nation; but all solicitations, however repeated, he rejected. On the first of March, he laid before the House of Commons the celebrated "Representation." This able and elaborate state paper was composed by Hanmer. Swift, speaking of it, says:I believe it will be a pepperer." It came forth as the manifesto of the Tories, and in justification of their conduct towards the Duke of Marlborough and the Allies. Yet, speaking of the various intrigues known, and half known, of this inglorious ministry, the biographer says: "There is no ground for believing, that Hanmer and the High Church Tories entertained at this time any suspicion that the Queen's ministers might treat with the French Court on terms incompatible with the broad interests of the Confederates, with the honour of Great Britain, or with the future security of the Crown under the Act of Settlement. But, giving here full credit for good faith, we cannot help confessing that Hanmer had been made a dupe in this transaction to the arts of two ministers. Availing themselves of that vindictive impulse which drove him to expose the peculations of Marlborough and the prodigality of the former cabinet, they had contrived to make Sir T. Han.. mer, that high and independent leader of the country Tories, the instrument of their secret design to separate England from her Allies, and to conclude a peace useful to themselves, though dishonourable to the kingdom." From some cause, whether suspicion of the ministers, or a dislike to any further committal of himself, Hanmer soon after went into Flanders with the Duke of Ormond, who was one of his dearest friends; at Ghent he received a fresh solicitation to become one of the Queen's ministers, and it appears that Lord Oxford designed to have made him secretary of state in the room of Lord Dartmouth. He broke his appointment to meet Bolingbroke at Dunkirk, and proceeded to Paris. The French ministers do not seem to have well known what to make of him, or of what party to consider him. De Torcy consulted Matthew Prior about him, and says "Il m'a paru qu'il n'étoit pas disposé à s'ouvrir beaucoup !" Gualtier's answer is very curious, and we shall give it from the Mackintosh Papers. "Le Chevalier Hanmer est un gentilhomme de mérite, a qu'on destine ici à de grands emploies. Il sera fait sécretaire d'état à son retour, et orateur de la Chambre Basse, dans le premier parlement, c'est à dire, dans un an. Il est extrêmement des amis du Comte d'Oxford, de Milord Bolingbroke, du Duc d'Ormond, et de tous ceux de ce parti là. Vous ne devez attendre aucune confidence de sa part, et de notre coste vous ne lui en devez faire aucune, car il n'est absolument point dans notre secret. Il scait que les choses s'avancent, et se feront, mais il ne scait ny quand, ny comment, et vous pouvez conter qu'il ny a rien de mysterieux dans son voyage et dans son séjour à Paris; voilà, a peu-pres tous ce je puis vous dire à la sujet." Hanmer remained some time in Paris, observed, courted, and the subject of much correspondence; but he appears to have maintained a reserve which would not give way. When he returned to England, on the subject of the new Treaty of Commerce, to the surprise of the House, he not only voted with the Whigs, but in a long and elaborate speech supported their opposition. The ministers were beaten, and Lord Oxford was in consternation. Hanmer followed up his first blow, almost vindictively, and the Tories were again defeated. The effect of this conduct was, that he was solicited by both parties: by the ministry, to return to them, with the offer of chancellor of the exchequer, or the speaker's chair. He consented to take the chair when the new parliament assembled; but on the debate on the Protestant succession, spoke and voted against ministers; and he entered into a correspondence with the Electress Sophia. When George the First mounted the throne, Hanmer's services were not overlooked, but whatever was promised to him could not induce him to join the Whigs, for he had calculated on the King forming his government * * What was offered appears to have been, by the letters in the Mackintosh Papers, "la charge de première dame d'honneur de la Princesse pour Madame la Duchesse de Grafton, son épouse, et deux charges pour lui qui rapportent 3000 pieces. Mais celuici a refusé jusque present, pour zèle pour les intérêts de l'église Anglicane.' 22 See also the note, p. 55. It appears that Lord Halifax wished, and Lord Townshend and Walpole opposed, Hanmer's being in the first cabinet of George I. out of the different parties that had secured his peacable occupation of the throne. This parliament was dissolved in 1715; in the following, Hanmer was elected for Suffolk, but no attempt was made to replace him in the Speaker's chair. The Mackintosh Papers have thrown great light on the views and designs of the different parties at this time. "I have," says the editor of this volume," pronounced a verdict of guilty' against Bolingbroke;" and it appears that Sir T. Hanmer could not have been ignorant of the designs of that party in favour of the Pretender. His great object was the security of the Church, but his hatred of the Dissenters constituted his horror of a Papist Sovereign. He now appears to have joined himself to the Prince of Wales's party, until in 1727, all hope of tory ascendancy being relinquished, he resigned his seat in parliament and retired altogether from public life-procul urbano strepitu. From this period he lived chiefly in the secessibus altis' of his Suffolk seat, amusing himself with gardening and literature. His wife the Duchess had died two years previously; and, wanting an help meet for him, he looked out for a second Eve to adorn his Suffolk paradise, and married Elizabeth, the only child of T. Folkes, of Great Barton. She was very young compared to him, and probably liked neither gardening nor literature; neither collating Shakspeare, nor concocting dill and Hungary water; and so, while he was amusing himself with the Merry Wives of Windsor, she added to his list of Errata, and eloped with her husband's cousin, the Hon. Thomas Hervey, “ a man full of talents, but wilder than the winds." Sir Thomas lost his wife, but went on with his collations, and kept possession of her property; and though he was in after life much pestered by the Paris who had carried off his Helen, he, as his kinsman tells us,-"maintained his calm dignity, and baffled every assault!" To console himself, he is supposed to have printed notes on Paradise Lost,* and remarks on Hamlet ; and afterwards projected a new edition of Shakspeare's Plays. A copy of Theobald's edition of 1733 is extant, with his corrections and notes on every play, in his own writing. He disparaged Pope's edition, and Pope, in return, placed him in the Dunciad. Behold his picture! "There moved Montalto, with superior air; His stretch'd-out arm display'd a volume fair. But as in graceful act, with awful eye, Composed he stood, bold Benson thrust him by. The decent knight retired with sober rage, Withdrew his hand, and closed the pompous page. On whom three hundred gold-capt youths await, * Sir H. Bunbury attributes to Sir T. Hanmer the work, "the Review of the Text of Paradise Lost, in which Bentley's emendations are considered. 1733. 8vo." generally presumed to be Dr. Pearce's: we do not know on what ground. Our copy was Farmer's, who has himself written the name of Zach. Pearce in it; and Farmer was accurately acquainted with literary history. We think that Hanmer would not have written the note at p. 399, on Fagius, the old commentator on the Bible, and on the force of épyáleobal, and that Pearce would. There is also a note on the sense of dikálos in the New Testament, which one might expect from Pearce, but not from the quondam Speaker. In short, we do not think that there is the least ground for this supposition. At p. 383 there is a note on Par. Lost, xii. 409 : "His merits, To save them, not their own, though legal works." Bentley would read Do, to which Pearce rightly objects, but acknowledges a difficulty in the original, which seems, however, to us, to be correct. This edition of Shakspeare also involved him in a quarrel with Warburton,* πaρadókaros,† who accused him of stealing his notes, and using them as his own. Hanmer addressed a letter on the subject to Dr. Smith, the Provost of Queen's College, Oxford, which was prepared for the press, and which was intended for the Biographia Britannica. It was, however, omitted, but has since been printed in Nichols's Literary Anecdotes. Sir Thomas Hanmer retaliates on the churchman, and says that "Warburton came to his house on purpose to see his books; staid a week, and had the inspecting of them." The Bishop answered this, and affirmed that Hanmer's letter was a continued falsehood from beginning to end; and that he made use of many of Warburton's notes without his knowledge or consent. But it must be remarked that the Bishop wisely kept this answer secret, till Hanmer had been fifteen years in his grave. He escaped at length from the anger of poets and the fickleness of jilts, on the 7th May, 1746, in the sixty-ninth year of his age. His epitaph was written in Latin prose by Friend, and paraphrased in English verse by Johnson, of which the last line is "And Virtue's sorrow dignified his tomb." In private life he was loved and respected, was a good landlord, and kind to his poor dependents. An old yeoman of Mildenhall, whose father was his tenant, describes him much as he appears in the Dunciad: as a portly old gentleman, of a very stately carriage, accustomed to walk twice a day to church solemnly on every Sunday, followed by all his servants, and moving from his iron gates to the porch of the church between two ranks of his tenants and adherents, who stood hat in hand, bowing reverently low, while the great man acknowledged their salutations by a few words and a dignified consideration. As a critic, he has received very high praise from the highest authority. Johnson says, he had that intuition by which the poet's intention is immediately discerned, and that dexterity of intellect, which despatches its work by the easiest means. He says that he retained all Hanmer's notes, and believes that every reader will wish for more. Upon the whole, he seems to have lived a respected and honourable life. Happy if he had escaped the acquaintance of Dr. and Miss Elizabeth Folkes ! William Warburton, 66 For, 'faith, 'twas difficult discerning Which hurt him most, his love or learning." As we advance in the volume we next meet with some letters from Pope, in which he vents his spleen against Sir Godfrey Kneller's fat widow in no very measured terms; for she had threatened to build a magnificent monument to her husband's memory, by destroying one previously erected by the poet. He tells Lord Stafford, to whom he is complaining,you may find it very inconvenient on a Sunday (your usual day of rest here), not only to be prest in upon in an evening by me, but shouldered in a morning at church by Sir G. Kneller and his huge lady into the bargain. If your lordship should really chance to take no great pleasure in beholding 66 * Bishop Hoadley used to express some contempt for the Universities, and observed, as an instance of their great progress in learning, that the one had published Shakspeare, and the other Hudibras. See Walpoliana, i. p. 63, a work, by-the-by, which, from internal evidence, we should pronounce, in great part, to be a forgery by Pink. erton. + See Epitaph on P. Hardouin, it is said by Atterbury, but which was written by Vernet, in Palissot, Mém. de Littérature, ii. p. 452. |