vonshire, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland; but was prevented from attending his Grace thither by the death of his wife, a most amiable woman, whose loss he so deeply regretted, that it incapacitated him for business during several years.

In April, 1774, he sent a letter to the University of Cambridge, declining to solicit again the honour of representing them in consequence of the infirmities of age.

He was one of the first and most elegant scholars of his age. The branches of literature in which he was versed were various. His attainments, joined to great politeness and simplicity of manners, chearfulness and suavity of temper, as well as unspotted integrity of heart, gained him the universal affection and respect of all who had the happiness of knowing him. He lived in acquaintance and familiarity with most of the considerable men of his time, and in strict intimacy and friendship with many of them; particularly Sir R. Walpole, and his brother Horace, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Onslow, &c. He mixed enough in the world to make his character eminent and much admired during his life; but an extraordinary sensibility and delicacy of temper prevented his taking part in the more active scenes of public business, for which he had every possible qualification.

His own invincible reluctance and unfounded diffidence made him decline a high office, which was more than once earnestly pressed upon him by those who held the government, and who were well acquainted with the extent of his abilities.

The latter part of his life was entirely domestic. His society, of which he formed the delight and happiness, was composed in general of his particular friends and his family. In their company he enjoyed and exhibited his great and amiable talents, till within a very few weeks of his death, which happened just upon the close of his seventy-ninth year, in May 1780. a

b

He married, on May 2d, 1730, Albinia, daughter of John Selwyn, of Matson com. Glouc. and Chesilhurst in Kent, by Mary, daughter of Thomas Farrington, Esq. and by her, who died as already mentioned in 1739, had issue,

First, Thomas, first Viscount Sydney.

Second, Charles Townshend, Esq. born 1736, died ....

a This character is copied from Adolphus's British cabinet, vol. ii. where a portrait of him may be seen.

Son of major-general Selwyn, by Albinia, sister and coheir of Sir Edward Betenson, of Chesilhurst, Bart. See Hasted's Kent, 8vo. vol. i. p. 9.

Third, Henry, lieutenant-colonel and captain in the first regiment of foot-guards, eminent for his courage and amiable manners, and the favourite of the whole army, killed at the battle of Willhelmtahl in Germany, 1762.

Fourth, Albinia, married to George Brodrick, Viscount Middleton of Ireland, mother of the present peer.

Fifth, Mrs. Mary Townshend, single.

THOMAS, eldest son, FIRST VISCOUNT SYDNEY, was born in February 1732-3: whilst a commoner, he was representative for the borough of Whitchurch, in the county of Southampton, in four parliaments; one of the clerks of his present Majesty's household, when Prince of Wales, who, on his accession to the throne, appointed him one of the clerks of the Board of Green Cloth, which he resigned in 1762; was made one of the Lords of the Treasury, July 12th, 1765, which he held till December 1767; was appointed one of his Majesty's principal SECRETARIES OF STATE, July 10th, 1782, which he resigned in April, 1783, and was re-appointed, December 23d following; and held that situation till June 1789. He was likewise one of his Majesty's most honourable privy-council, and one of the governors of the Charter House.

b

His Lordship was advanced to the peerage by patent, bearing date, March 6th, 1783, by the name, style, and title, of BARON SYDNEY, of Chislehurst in the county of Kent, to him, and the heirs male of his body; and on June 9th, 1789, was farther advanced to the dignity of VISCOUNT SYDNEY.

On May 19th, 1762, he married Elizabeth, daughter and coheir of Richard Powys, of Hintlesham in the county of Suffolk, Esq. (by his wife Mary, daughter of George, Earl of Cardigan); by whom he had issue six sons, viz.

First, John Thomas, born February 21st, 1764, present peer. Second, Charles Horatio, born December 10th, 1766, and died an infant.

Third, Henry George, who died an infant.

Fourth, Frederic Roger, born April 20th, 1770, and died at Eton, in 1782.

Fifth, William Augustus, born March 10th, 1770, formerly of the first regiment of foot-guards; and now member of parliament for Whitchurch.

b His father's maternal grandfather, Lord Pelham, was son of Sir John Pelham, by Lady Lucy Sydney, daughter of Robert, Earl of Leicester. From his Lordship's pedigree entered in the House of Lords.

Sixth, Horatio George Powys, born February 6th, 1780; lieutenant-colonel and captain in the first regiment of footguards.

Also six daughters,

First, Georgina, born June 1st, 1761

Second, Mary Elizabeth, born September 2d, 1762, and married, July 10th, 1783, to John, Earl of Chatham, Knight of the Garter.

Third, Albinia Ann, born October 9th, 1765, who died an infant.

Fourth, Frances, born February 20th, 1772; married, October 13th, 1794, George, Lord Dynevor.

Fifth, Harriot Catherine, born November 27th, 1773; married, March 24th, 1795, Charles, Earl of Dalkeith, son of Henry, Duke of Buccleuch.

Sixth, Sophia Charlotte, who died an infant.

His Lordship dying June 13th, 1800, was succeeded by his eldest son

JOHN THOMAS, present and SECOND VISCOUNT SYDNEY, Who was born February 21st, 1764; educated at Clare-Hall, Cambridge; sat in several parliaments for Whitchurch; and was appointed a lord of the admiralty 1790; and again 1791, which he retained till 1793, when he was appointed a lord of the trea sury, which he retained till his father's death. In July, 1800, his Lordship was appointed a lord of the bed-chamber on the death of the Earl of Denbigh.

His Lordship married, first, April 12th, 1790, Sophia, third sister of Edward, Lord de Clifford, by whom (who died November 9th, 1795) he had two daughters.

His Lordship married, secondly, May 27th, 1802, Lady Caroline Clements, youngest daughter of Robert, Earl of Leitrim, by Lady Elizabeth Skeffington, eldest daughter of Clotworthy, the first Earl of Massareene, and by her (who died August 9th, 1805) has issue

A son and heir.

Title. John Thomas Townshend, Viscount Sydney, Baron Sydney, of Chislehurst in Kent.

Creation. Viscount Sydney, June 9th, 1789; Baron Sydney, of Chislehurst, March 6th, 1783, 23 Geo. III.

Arms. Azure, a chevron ermine between three escallop shells, Argent, for Townshend; a crescent for difference.

Crest. On a wreath a buck tripping, Sable, attired proper, and charged on the shoulder with a crescent, Or.

Supporters. On the dexter side, a lion, Or, collared, chained, and charged on the shoulder with a pheon's head, Azure; on the sinister a buck, Sable attired Or, collared and chained Or, and charged on the shoulder with an escallop shell, Argent.

Motto. DROIT ET AVANT.

Chief Seat. At Frognal, near Foot's Cray in Kent.

His Lordship is descended from a respectable family in the county of Dorset, where, at the time of the civil wars, they possessed a considerable landed property.

ALEXANDER HOOn, of Mosterton in Dorsetshire, married Elizabeth, daughter of the Rev. Mr. Beach, and had issue two daughters, Elizabeth and Hannah; and three sons.

First, Alexander, who succeeded at Mosterton, and marrying Anne Way, had issue two sons; first, Arthur, who sold the estate at Mosterton, and died unmarried; second, Samuel, of Kingsland, com. Dorset, who by Anne, daughter of James Bern, of Westbury, com. Wilts, had issue, first, Arthur, lieutenant of the Pomona, lost in a hurricane in the West Indies; second, Alexander, a captain in the navy, was killed on board the Mars, April 21st, 1796, having married Elizabeth Periam, an heiress, by whom he left an only son, Alexander, on whom the first Barony of Bridport is entailed; third, the present admiral, Sir Samuel Hood, Bart. and K. B. well known for his distinguished services, who married, in 1804, Juliana, eldest daughter of Francis, Lord Seaforth.

Second, Arthur, in holy orders, died unmarried.

Third, the Rev. Samuel Hood, was vicar of Butleigh in Somersetshire, and afterwards of Thorncombe, com. Devon. He married Mary, daughter of Richard Hoskins, Esq. of Beaminster, com. Dors. and had issue by her, (who died October 10th, 1766) two daughters, and two sons.

Anne, died unmarried.

Elizabeth, married Edward Walker, alderman of Exeter, by