tinguished success with which he presided at the Admiralty, if we had not the recorded testimony of one of the most able and ardent political opponents of the ministry, who, while he denounced the feebleness, and mismanagement, and indecision exhibited in the general conduct of the war, expressed his marked approbation of the manner in which our naval affairs had been administered. It was in the selection of men for command that Lord Spencer exhibited his discrimination and judgment: he called into action the talents of Jervis, Duncan, Nelson, Hood, and Hallowell; and the victories of St. Vincent, Camperdown, and the Nile, adorn the naval annals of that eventful period. It was then that Bonaparte, in his despatches to the Directory, declared, "To England is decreed the empire of the seas-to France that of the land." While at the Admiralty Lord Spencer lived in a style of splendid hospitality, his table being daily graced by distinguished naval officers who had occasion to visit London in the course of their duty. Besides the pleasure which he derived from the exercise of such hospitality, it was his object, by collecting around him so many naval men, to be able to form his own judgment of the character and talent of the different officers, and to learn in what degree of estimation their services and fitness for command were held by their professional brethren. The spirit of cordiality and good taste which was displayed on those occasions is illustrated in the following extract from some unpublished MSS. (written by a gentleman well known in the literary world) to which we have been permitted access. The writer says, "On the 15th of October, 1797, I was present at a dinner given by Lord Spencer to the hero of Camperdown and his distinguished prisoners. Admiral de Winter conducted himself, under trying circumstances, with politeness and good humour. The conversation, in which her Ladyship took an active part, was animated and interesting; and, as the relative situation of the parties required, the bravery of the vanquished was the prevailing theme of applause."

Lord Spencer was an enlightened and liberal patron of those ingenious men whose suggestions and inventions have contributed to improve the construction and equipment of ships. Among these we need only mention Brunel, at that time little known, and whose genius he was among the first to perceive in the invention of that beautiful and most effective piece of mechanism the "block machinery." His Lordship has all the credit of its erection at Portsmouth: although he left office too soon to see it carried into execution, he introduced Brunel to his successor, Lord St. Vincent, to whom he so strongly recommended the project, that it was executed in 1802.

True it is that during Lord Spencer's administration of naval affairs the mutinies at Portsmouth and the Nore broke out, but it is not less true that the measures which he adopted to suppress these formidable revolts were at once firm, just, and merciful. He advised an acquiescence in the demand of the seamen for an increase of wages, and he had the satisfaction of seeing them return with alacrity to their duty: but when he observed the same spirit manifest itself in the Channel fleet at the Nore, notwithstanding the knowledge of the concession made at Portsmouth, he adopted the most prompt and energetic measures; directed the immediate removal of the buoys, by which the fleet was effectually prevented from putting to sea; and, cutting off all the intercourse between the mutineers and the shore, he forced them in a short time to an unconditional surrender. We look in vain in the alleged grievances of the mutineers for causes sufficient to explain or justify the desperate course in which they embarked; and we are disposed to believe that there is much truth in the following remarks of an accurate observer, himself deeply interested in the events to which he alludes: "The minds of men of all classes and descriptions had been more or less affected by the principles and success of the French revolution, where the paramount efficiency of physical force was exemplified, and encouragement given at the same time to the adventurous exercise of talent. The leaven of insubordination set to work in France had insensibly spread, the ideas of what are termed national rights were disseminated in numerous cheap or gratuitous publications, the discussion of bold opinion became fashionable in public houses, and our honest and open-hearted seamen were seized with the contagion."

In 1801 a change of ministry took place. Lord Spencer retired with his immediate friends, and the Addington administration came into office. He renewed his political connection with Lord Grey and Mr. Fox, and from that time till the day of his death he continued cordially to support the measures of liberal and enlightened policy which those two great men from time to time brought forward. When Mr. Fox was called to assume the government in 1806, Lord Spencer accepted the office of Secretary for the Home Department. Upon the death of Mr. Fox, the administration being dissolved, his Lordship's official life terminated.

As a

Lord Spencer's parliamentary career was not distinguished by any extraordinary manifestations of eloquence, but rather by continuous energy in the service of the country. speaker, he was brief, clear, cogent, and always sensible: as a politician, he was distinguished by sagacity and integrity; his views were direct and honest; the expression of his opinions was never influenced by circumstances, nor his judgment prejudiced by position; and he was always prepared, with equal alacrity, to sacrifice either power or popularity for the maintenance of truth. He continued to attend in his place in the House of Lords, took part occasionally in the debates, and when Lord Grey came into office at the close of 1830 Lord Spencer gave that noble Lord's government his full and entire support. When the great measure of Reform was communicated to him, it met with his entire concurrence: he saw that it was sufficiently comprehensive to give general satisfaction; and the franchise being based on property, he did not doubt that the intelligence of his countrymen would insure its being exercised with discrimination and prudence. Becoming unable to attend, from increasing age and growing infirmities, he placed his proxy in the hands of Earl Grey,

with whom it remained till that noble Lord resigned his high

office.

But the private life of Lord Spencer was not less entitled to our admiration than his political career. Inheriting a splendid fortune, he spent it generously and rationally. It was his delight to collect around him the most distinguished literary and scientific men of the age, and to associate with them on terms of easy familiarity. The society of Spencer House will long be remembered. There the highest in rank, and the most distinguished in politics, literature, and science, were accustomed to meet. Sir Joseph Bankes, Sir Humphry Davy, Wollaston, Young, Hatchett, Reynell, Mackintosh, Rogers, and Marsden, were among the number who contributed to the attractions of that delightful society, which owed, however, much of its peculiar ease and charm to Lady Spencer, a lady of extraordinary information and talents, and who possessed the happy art of rendering her house agreeable to all her visiters, various as were their habits, manners, and pursuits. It is to be lamented that the houses of our nobility should not be more frequently devoted to such rational purposes. These re-unions are common in Paris, and. exert a happy and beneficial influence on society at large. In this country they are unfortunately rare. Since the death of Lady Spencer, when Spencer House was closed, we believe that Holland House is now alone distinguished for society of this agreeable character.

In bibliographical knowledge Lord Spencer was justly considered equal to any man of his time; and the noble library which he collected at Althorp ranks among the most perfect and valuable of its kind in Europe. He was a Fellow of the Royal Society, and was among the number who established the Royal Institution, of which he was chosen the first president, and continued so for many years. He was connected with many other societies; and wherever his patronage could be of use in promoting and extending literary or scientific knowledge it was liberally and munificently given.

After the death of Lady Spencer, he resided chiefly at

Althorp, in the bosom of his family - the pursuits of his early life had lost no part of their charm, and his active benevo lence found employment in promoting those local institutions which have for their object to relieve the distress of the industrious poor. It was his pride to see his tenantry prosperous and comfortable; and it is only a few years since that they presented him, as a token of their gratitude and respect, with a piece of plate, which is one of the ornaments of Althorp, and which this kind-hearted and excellent nobleman always regarded with peculiar satisfaction. For many years Lord Spencer had suffered severely from the gout, and as his strength declined these attacks became more frequent and more dangerous. The prospect of death never for a moment disturbed the serenity of his mind: his religion was Christianity in the truest sense of the word - entire reliance on his Redeemer, and charity to all mankind.

The Earl married, in 1781, the Honourable Lavinia Bingham, eldest daughter of Charles, first Lord Lucan, and by her had issue John Charles, Lord Viscount Althorp (now Earl Spencer); Lady Sarah, married to Lord Lyttleton; the Honourable Sir R. Cavendish Spencer of the royal navy, and K. C. H., who died in 1830; Lady Georgiana Charlotte, married to Lord George Quin; the Honourable Frederick Spencer, M. P., and captain in the royal navy; and the Honourable George Spencer, in holy orders in the church of Rome.

Surrounded by a family affectionately devoted to him, this venerable nobleman, after a short but severe illness, expired at Althorp, on Monday, the 10th of November, 1834.

:

" Lord Spencer," says one of his biographers, describing his character, " possessed a sound, vigorous, and reflecting mind; though enfeebled by age, and suffering from disease, he retained till his last illness the same clearness of intellect and soundness of judgment which distinguished him in the more active and brighter period of his life. Firm in his opinions, yet mild in asserting them, his opposition was never tinctured with acrimony, nor debased by personal invective.