C Earl of HALIFAX. HARLES MONTAGUE, ticularly excelled. At this school he conthe most diftinguished statesman of his time, was born the 16th of April, 1661, at Horton, in Nor-, thamptonshire, the feat of his father, the honourable George Montague, Esq; younger fon, by a second wife, to Henry earl of Manchester. He had a numerous family, consisting of four fons, and as many daughters; and though poffeffed of no other eftate than his mother's jointure, yet, by an excellent ceconomy, he bred up all his children in the genteeleft manner, and provided handfome fortunes for them. Charles, the youngest, gave very early tokens of an admirable genius. At the age of 14, he was fent to Weftminster school, where he was, two years after, chofen a king's fcholar. That excellent obferver of a boy's genius, Doctor Baby, under whofe immediate care he was, perceiving his inclination towards poetry, took care to improve it by frequently putting him upon making extempore epigrams, in which exercise he parAugust, 1761. 4 tracted a very great friendship with Mr. George Stepney, who, being his fenior, was elected to Trinity college, Cambridge, in 1682. Mr. Montague's election came on the next year, but the apprehenfion of being chofen to Chrift's Church in Oxford, and thereby feparated from his friend, gave him fo much trouble, that he earnestly intreated his relations not to keep him waiting the iffue of his election, but to forego that advantage, and let him now accompany Mr. Stepney to Cambridge. His requeft was granted, and he was admitted at Trinity college there that year, in the ftation of a fellow-commoner; his kinfman Dr. John Montague, then mafter of that college, taking him under his tuition. He quickly made a most extraordinary proficiency in every branch of academical learning, prefently recommended himself to the notice and acquaintance of Mr. (afterwards Sir) Ifaac Newton; and in 1684, joined with him in endeavouring to erect a philofophical fociety at Cambridge, like that established in the fisterDdd univerfity, univerfity. But the poets employed Mr. Montague's brighter hours. The death of king Charles the fecond furnished him, as well as his friend Stepney, with a favourable opportunity of thewing their merit in that way. Mr. Montague's verfes on this occafion, drew the regard of the earl of Dorfet upon their author, who was thereupon invited to London by that noble patron of the muses, and brought into the acquaintance of fome of the choiceft wits of the age. Mr. Stepney had the fame invitation, but declined it out of his love to a retired life. Among thefe, it was not long before Mr. Montague procured himself a place in the first clafs; and his fame in this kind was completely established, by the share he had in tranfverfing Dryden's fable of the Hind and Panther, into the Country Mouse and City Moufe, in 1687. This travesty was undertaken by Mr. Montague and Mr. Prior, at the request of their friends. Our author had the greatest share in it, and the preface was entirely his. It was of fingular fervice to the cause of liberty and proteftantifm. Before this, the univerfity had given their attestation to the distinguished merit of Mr. Montague, by conferring upon him the degree of master of arts, in an extraordinary manner, and he had been alfo elected fellow of his college. In 1688 he figned, among many others, the invitation of the prince of Orange to come over to England. Upon the departure of king James the fecond, he was chofen a member of the convention, where he voted for declaring the throne vacant by that king's abdication. Before the coronation of king William, he married the countess dowager of Manchester, and went to London with a defign to enter into holy orders, but was afterwards diverted from that defign, and purchased the place of one of the clerks of the council for 1500l. Not long after the earl of Dorfet, then lord-chamberlain, who had been very inftrumental in bringing on the revolution, introduced Mr. Montague in the most engaging manner to king William, faying, "May it please your majesty, I have brought a mouse to have the honour of kiffing your hand." The king fmiled, his looks at the fame time seeming to demand an explanation of the earl's meaning in that addrefs; upon which his lordship acquainted him, and his majefty replied, "You will do well to put me in a way of 5 making a man of him ;" and shortly after he had a penfion of 500l. a year, till an opportunity should offer of promoting hm. Accordingly, in the beginning of March 1691, having in the house of commons, difplayed his eminent abilities in the debates upon the bill for regulating, trials, in cafes of high treason; lord Dorfet, though the bill mifcarried, obtained for him the place of one of the commiffioners of the treasury, then vacant by the refignation of Thomas Pelham, Efq. This was the first opening of his talents as a fpeaker in the houfe. The defign of the bill was, amongst other things, to allow counsel to prisoners charged with that of fence, while it was depending. Mr. Montague rofe up in order to speak for it, and having begun his speech, was fuddenly ftruck with such a surprize, that for a while he was not able to go on; but recovering himself, he took occafion from this very furprize, to enforce the neceffity of allowing counsel to prisoners, who were to appear before their judges; fince he, who was not only innocent and unaccused, but one of their own members, was fo dashed when he was to speak before that wife and illuftrious affembly; which turn of wit did no small service in facilitating the paffage of that bill through the house of commons, though it was loft afterwards by an amendment, with which it was clogged in the upper houfe. He was now fworn a privy counsellor, and diftinguished himself fo eminently both at the treasury and council boards, that upon a change in the former, in the beginning of May 1694, he was made fecond commiffioner, chancellor of the exchequer, and under-treasurer. The exigence of the public affairs called for the utmost skill of the ableft ftatesmen at this juncture. However, Mr. Montague fhewed his abilities to be equal to the neceflity of the state; and conducted the govern ment fafe through dangers, that were thought by many to be utterly infurmountable. In 1695 he entered into the defign of recoining all the current money of the nation, which, notwithstanding the extreme difficulties that attended it, he undertook, and perfectly completed in the compass of two years; an affair, which was looked upon with aftonishment and wonder by our enemies, as we were then engaged in a difficult and expenfive war, and, as Mr. Montague had foreseen, intimidated midated them not a little. In the fame degree it raised the admiration of the EngHith people, who had regarded this fcheme as the highest temerity, and that it would have been productive of greater evils than the grievance it was intended to remedy, fuppofing it practicable, which was what many good men thought impoffible to be; but the conftancy, perfeverance, and indefatigable industry of Mr. Montague furmounted all difficulties. In 1696 he projected the scheme, and procured the establishment of a general fund, in order to retrieve the public credit, and be a discharge to national incumbrances. It is well known that this general fund was the firft ftone that was laid towards erecting the finking fund, the great boast of Sir Robert Walpole; which might be of great benefit towards difcharging the national debt, if the neceffities of the times would permit this depofit to be regarded more facred, and appropriated folely to that use for which it was originally intended. The fame year Mr. Montague found out a method to fupport the credit of the bank of England; and the following year he prevented the mifchiefs arifing from the fcarcity of money, by raifing for the service of the government above two millions in exchequer notes. Before the end of this parliament, on an inspection into king William's grants in Ireland, and one being found in favour of Mr. Montague, a warm debate arofe in the houfe of commons, wherein it was moved that he should withdraw; but the motion paffed in the negative; and thereupon it was refolved, that Charles Montague Efq; chancellor of the exchequer, did deferve his majesty's favour: a very remarkable vote, and which will render his name famous to all fucceeding ages. In 1698 he had the chief hand in managing the project for erecting a new EastIndia company, and the fame year was made first commiffioner of the treasury; and July 16th appointed one of the lords juftices of England during his majesty's abfence; as he was alfo in 1699, in which last mentioned year he was made auditor of the exchequer. On the 13th of December 1700, having refigned his poft in the treasury, he was erected a peer of England, by the title of baron Halifax of Halifax, in the county of York : but fo tranfient As the preamble to his patent, which was drawn up in very elegant Latin by Mr. Prior, is remarkable, it may not be amifs to transcribe it. It was as follows: "If it be accounted honourable to be defcended from a moft ancient family of noblemen; if it be any glory to grow illuftrious by great actions, proceeding from perfonal and inherent merit, our right well-beloved, and very faithful counsellor, Charles Montague, Efq; on both accounts recommends himself to our fingular good opinion and esteem, who derives his fplendor from a house, which at once very plentifully provides for the ornament and support of our kingdom, in three earls, and eight members of parliament: a gentleman adorned with thofe virtues, to which no good citizen can envy any increase of honour, and which a juft prince cannot but freely offer. Nature has endued him with a genius to manage affairs of the highest concern, and which being cultivated by learning, and by a continual practice of speaking well, and acting wifely, we have found him ftrenuous and eloquent in parliament, in council faithful and prudent, in determining caufes relating to the exchequer, upright and penetrating. We gratefully acknowledge ourfelves altogether indebted to the parliament, for the fupplies we have received to carry on a nine years war, in fighting for religion and liberty, and the common welfare of Europe: but we must not pafs over in filence the fagacity of this excellent gentleman, who took care, that in the greatest scarcity the public credit should net fink, by being overburthened with exceffive intereft. We must likewife reckon it a happiness, that he was at that time chancellor of our exchequer, when, to our admiration, we beheld the current money, which was adulterated and debased by the fraud and villainy of wicked men, in the space of two years (though accounted the work of an age) coined anew, and restored to its intrinsic value: an attempt as fortunate as it was bold. And the demands of money increafing upon us, by his counfel and advice we entered upon a new and unusual method of establishing a paper credit, whereby we made provision to advance the riches of the nation. For these good offices he gained the love and esteem of the people; and for the benefit which they received by Dd da his tranfient is human grandeur, and fo fluctuating is the public favour, more efpecially in the times when merit is overwhelmed in the rage of parties, that lord Halifax, notwithstanding all his fervices, was in the parliament, which met the 6th of February this year, attacked by the house of commons, who addretfed his majefty to remove him from his prefence and council, and afterwards impeached him of high crimes and mifdemeanors, in fix articles. He was taxed with poffeffing a grant in Ireland, without paying the produce of it into the exchequer of that kingdom, according to the law lately enacted concerning thofe grants: with enjoying another grant out of the forest of Dean, to the waste of the timber and the prejudice of the navy: with being at one and the fame time auditor of the exchequer, as well as chancellor, under-treasurer, and first commiffioner, places that were inconfiftent, and ought to have been a check on each other: and with having advised the two treaties of partition. He anfwered, that his grant in Ireland was of debts and fums of money, not within the act concerning confifcated eftates: that all he had ever received from it did not exceed four hundred pounds, which he had been advised by counfel, before he received it, he might justly take; but if he was bound to repay it, he faid a common action would Jie against him; though every man was not to be impeached, who did not difcharge his debts at the very day of payment. He obferved, that as his grant in the forest of Dean extended to weedings only, it could occafion no wafte of timber, nor prejudice to the navy: that the auditor's place was held by another perfon, until he obtained the king's leave of refigning thofe in the treasury; which he had fince done, and that it was procured with that intent that he never faw the first treaty of partition, nor was his advice asked upon the fubject: that he had never heard of the fecond but once before it was concluded, and then he spoke his fentiments freely, and made many objections to it. The defign of the commons in this im : his means, he has easily obtained ours. peachment of lord Halifax, as well as of the earls of Portland and Orford, and the lord Somers, who all shared the fame fate, was to hurt the reputation of these noblemen; for they were well fenfible that it would produce nothing in the house of lords, where the oppofite interest predominated. The lords were incenfed at this ftep of the commons, and addreffed the king that he would not pafs any cenfure upon the accufed lords, until they fhould be tried, and judgment given according to the ufage of parliament. At length the commons not appearing against them, the impeachments were dismissed for want of profecution. And thus ended this affair, in the courfe of which the commons certainly acted from motives of faction and revenge; for nothing could be more unjust, frivolous, and partial, than the charge exhibited in the articles of impeachment, their anticipating address to the king, and their affected delay in the profecution; and fo it was esteemed by the nation in general. He continued in king William's favour till the death of that prince: but not long after the acceffion of queen Anne, his name was left out of the privy council; and in the queen's firft parliament, in the year 1702, he was once more attacked by the house of commons, who voted him guilty of a breach of truft, in the execution of his office of auditor, in not tranfmitting the impreffed rolls half yearly to the king's remembrancer, and addreffed her majefty to give directions to the attorney-general for his profecution, and The promised to comply with their request. But this was foon afterwrds dropt by order of the queen and council; the house of lords having before refolved, that Charles lord Halifax had performed the duty of his office, and that he had not been guilty of any neglect or breach of truft whatsoever. This proceeding of the lords was pronounced unparliamentary by the lower-houfe, and at length a fierce flame of difcord arofe between them, and they manifefted their mutual animotity in speeches, votes, refolutions, and confe Wherefore, as we are always inclined to com ply with the frequent withes of our good fubjects, we willingly, and with all chearful nefs, call him to the house of peers, whom the commons, by a public vote for his eni pen: fervices, have pronounced deferving of our royal favour. Now know ye, &c." rences rences, till the queen interpofed, and by a meffage to the lords defired they would difpatch the national business. Notwith standing which, the difpute continued without any hopes of accommodation for a long time after, till both parties were wearied, and fo it dropped. He constantly opposed, and was greatly inftrumental in defeating, the attempts of the house of commons upon the occafional conformity-bill; and in 1704 he wrote an answer to Mr. Bromley's speech upon that fubject. Before the rifing of the parliament, he made the first proposal for the union of England and Scotland; and upon the return of the writs for a new parliament, which met September the 10th, 1705, was received into her majesty's favour, and recalled to his feat at the councilboard. He likewife attended her majefty to Cambridge, and was there created doctor of laws. In the parliament that met September the 6th this year, he made the first motion for the famous enquiry into the danger of the church. The queen was prefent in the houfe to hear the debates, which were opened by the earl of Rochefter. After a proper preface of regard to the queen's prefence, the earl obferved that the fear of the church's danger arofe from three caufes: the act of fecurity in Scotland; the heir of the houfe of Hanover not being fent for over; and the not paffing the occafional bill. Upon the first, the earl faid, the Prefbyterian church in Scotland was established without a toleration for the Epifcopalians. That to arm thefe people, was to give them a power to invade England; where they had a powerful party for their friends, who never wanted will to destroy the church. Secondly, That he thought the heir to the crown ought to be prefent among us, in order to be fully acquainted with us and our conftitution, and thereby be enabled to prevent any evil defigns upon the church and state. And thirdly, that the occafional bill was in itself fo reasonable, and the church's request in it fo fmall, that the industry in oppofing it gave the greater grounds for fufpicion. When the ear! of Rochefter had ended, the houfe was filent a quarer of an hour, expecting fomebody would fecond him; but no one else speak- The lord Godolphin, the duke of Marlborough, and the earl of Sunderland. |