Anthor'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

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

a 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 :

54

CHAPTER III.

Lord Halifax, first lord of trade and plantations—Earl of Bute at the head of

affairs-Dodington-Lord Halifax, lord-lieutenant of Ireland-His arrange-

ments — William Gerard Hamilton — Cumberland, Ulster secretary—“The

Banishment of Cicero'-Lord Melcombe-Bentley—The Wishes'—Opening

speech of the Lord Lieutenant-Edmund Burke—Mr. Roseingrave-Cumber-

land's disinterestedness—Offered a baronetcy–Hamilton as an orator-Quar-

rel with Burke—Cumberland's father raised to the bishopric—Society in

Dublin-Primate Stone-Dr. Robinson-Colonel Ford-George Faulkner-

Mrs. Dancer–Cumberland returns to England—Health of his family-Bishop

Cumberland-Cumberland's disappointment-Situation at the Board of Trade

-Cumberland's estimate of Halifax-The Summer's tale-Bickerstaff-Smith

the actor-Cumberland visits his father—The brothers'--Garrick-Fitzher-

bert—The West Indian-Mr. Talbot-Lord Eyre-Anecdote of a Catholic

priest—The O’Roukes—Sir Thomas Cuffee—Mr. Geoghegan-Doctor of laws

108

CHAPTER IV.

The West Indian-Garrick–Vindication of Dr. Bentley-Pride-Duke of Alva-

The Rev. Mr. Reynolds-His will-Society-Garrick-Reynolds-Johnson-

Jenyns—Anecdote of Garrick-Foote-Anecdote of Thomas Mills-The Fash-

ionable Lover-Anonymous defamation—Oliver Goldsmith-Dr. Johnson-

Goldsmith's comedies—Retaliation, Goldsmith's poems—Bishop Cumberland,

transferred to Kilmore-Death of—The choleric man-Mrs. Abington-Hen-

derson-Death of the Earl of Halifax-Lord George Germain-Cumberland's

promotion

150

CHAPTER V.

The American contest–Services to Lord George Sackville-His children-

Opera of Calypso—The Widow of Delphi'—Lady Frances Burgoyne-Robert

Perreau—Dr. Dodd—Rodney-Anecdote of Germain-Anecdote of Rodney-

Character of—His nautical maneuvre-Lines to Lord Mansfield

203

CHAPTER VI.

Mission to Spain-Occasion and incidents of—Storm at sea-Sea fight-Mr.

Lucas—A prize-Sea song—Arrival at Lisbon-Letters to Hillsborough-Visit

to Cintra-Sets out for Spain-Incidents of the journey-Appearance of the

country-Arrival at Madrid

. 212
CONTENTS.

vii

CHAPTER VII.

News of Lord George Gordon's riots—Influence of on the court of Spain-Pro-

gress of negotiations—Count D'Estaing—Florida Blanca–Galvez_Uncomfort-

able situation-Mr. Hussey-Departure of D'Estaing-Character of Hussey

– Thrown from his mule - His surgeons—Anecdote-Patrick Curtis-Letter

from Del Campo-Return of Hussey to England-Letters of Brutus— Visit to

the Escurial-Paintings—Interview with the king

. 232

CHAPTER VIII.

The Prince of Asturias-His pavilion-Present of horses-Anecdote of Cum-

berland's daughter-Honors to the English monarch-The Princess Asturias

-Mode of life at Madrid-Count Kaunitz-Giusti-Pallavicini-Foreign

ambassador-His visitors-Tiranna—The Duke of Osuna-Anthony Smith

Recalled-Generous offer of the Spanish king-Bills dishonored-Bad treat-

ment-Memoirs-Official letters.

. 252

.

CHAPTER IX.

Leaves Spain-Madrid-Progress and incidents of his homeward journey 277

CHAPTER X.

Secretary Robinson-Lord North-Lord George Germain-Sir Edward Sackville

-Duelling—Loses his situation at the Board of Trade-Removes to Tun.

bridge Wells—The men of Kent-Description of his house-Merciful to ani-

mals—His children-His books—The Observer? — Anecdotes of eminent

painters in Spain'-Offence to Sir Joshua Reynolds—The Walloons'—“The

Mysterious Husband'-Henderson—The Observer-Habits of composition-

“The Clouds'- Anecdote of Henderson—"The Arabi-Garrick-Anecdote of

Dr. Johnson-Reynolds—Romney-Lines to

289

6

.

CHAPTER X I.

His dramas—Mrs. Siddons-Kemble-Reflections on theatrical fame-Contro-

versy with the Bishop of Llandaff—With Dr. Parr—Mr. Dilly-Boswell-

Rogers-Lines to Richard Sharpe—Sir James Bland Burges-Miss Farren-

John Palmer-Lord Sackville-His interview with Lord Mansfield-His

death—The Impostor'—' Arundel —Principles on which a novel should be

conducted — Paradise Lost' - Calvary'- Tristram Shandy'—*Junius'-

Burke's reflections on the French Revolution—Variety of Cumberland's

writings-His dramatic labors— The Jew'-Bannister-Dowton-Mrs. Blud -

worth-Fugitive compositions

312

CHAPTER XII.

Military preparations—Major Commandant-Drills—Presented with a sword-

The volunteer system-His family-Lines to the Princess Amelia-Conclu-

sion

345

CHAPTER XIII.

Supplement—Reasons for writing—Difficulties in speaking of living characters

-His unpublished writings—Anecdote of his son and the seaman-Collision

with Mr. Hayley-Cowper-Dr. Bentley-Pitt-Cicero-Lines to Pitt-Nel-

son-Lord Collingwood-Commemorates the victory and death of Nelson-

Sharon Turner-Earl of Dorchester-Reform in the newspapers-Love of

books--His health at Tunbridge Wells-Rev. Martin Benson—The men of

Kent–Volunteer companies-Captain of infantry—Residents at Tunbridge

Wells—Death of friends-Mr. Badcock-His children-Erskine—Answers to

letters-Lord Mansfield-Anecdote of Charles Townshend_Conversational

talents of Mansfield-Andrew Stuart-Lord North-Primate Robinson-Cath-

edral of Armagh—Sir William Robinson-Archbishop Moore-Doctor Moss-

Anecdote of—Consequences of old age—Sir James Bland Burges-Moore—Sir

William Spencer-Eccentricities of eminent men-Edinburgh reviewers

Rodney's nautical manæuvre-Rev. Mr. Higgs-Doctor Drake-Epic poem-

“The Exodiad'-His wife-His daughter-Apology to Mr. Smith-Drury Lane

and Covent Garden-Garrick—The stage—The profession of actor—Death

of Fox-Mr. Higgs—Mistakes in his ‘Memoirs'-Sir William Pepys—A Hint

to Husbands'-Napoleon-Conclusion

351