The Miscellaneous Works in Prose aud Verse, of George Hardinge, Esq. M.A. F. R. S. F. S. A. Senior Justice of the Counties of Brecon, Glamorgan, and Radnor. 3 volumes. 8vo. 1818. Nichols and Son.

FROM

ROM the Preface to these volumes we learn that the publick owes them to Mr. John Nichols, from whose "Illustrations of Literary History" (vol. III.) we formerly extracted some specimens of Mr. Hardinge's Epistolary Correspondence. What we then copied is here very properly reprinted, and indeed without these specimens the present work would have been incomplete, as Mr. Hardinge was peculiarly happy in letter-writing. We are now favoured with a more detailed account of Mr. Hardinge's Life, from the pen of Mr. Nichols, whom he left the guardian of his fame, and who has executed that important trust with delicacy, fidelity, and judgment. Mr. Hardinge's choice in this respect has been amply confirmed, by the obliging communications Mr. Nichols has received from his brother Sir Richard Hardinge, bart. and from his nephew the Rev. Charles Hardinge.

With Mr. Hardinge's ancestors' our readers are already acquainted, or may be referred to his elegant publication of his father's truly classical Poems, which recently appeared under Mr. Nichols's editorship. He was born June 22, 1744, at Cambury, a famiTy mansion in Kingston-upon-Thames. He was educated partly at home, and partly under Mr. Woodeson of Kingston, but chiefly at Eton, where Dr. Barnard then presided. From Eton he was, in January 1761, admitted pensioner at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he particularly distinguished himself in the University Gratulatory Poems on the King's marriage, the birth of the Prince of Wales, and the Peace of 1763. He appears to have attended to his studies; but, as afterwards throughout life, he was frequently diverted into amusements incident to a youth of a lively turn; nor did he take his degrees in the regular way, but in 1769 was made M. A. by Royal Mandate. Whatever might be the cause of this, it is certain that GENT. MAG. November, 1819.

very few of his legal predecessors, or of the greater Luminaries of the Law, have taken their degrees at the sta tutable periods, or with honours, in either University.

Mr. Hardinge passed immediately to the Middle Temple, and was in the last-mentioned year called to the Bar, and obtained a silk gown, with a patent of precedence. Considerable practice followed; his eloquence drew attention, and, what might have assisted him, he was nephew to the celebrated Lord Camden. In 1771 he began a work, entitled," An Enquiry into the Competency and Duty of Juries in the case of a public Libel; introduced by a more general investigation of their competency and duty wherever law and fact are comprized in the general issue." From a short fragment of this work printed here, we may surmise that his opinions on this subject were derived from his uncle: but he afterwards destroyed the whole.

In the long vacation of 1776, Mr. H. made a tour through France and Switzerland, of which he has left an interesting account in MS. On his return, he appears to have cultivated the Muses with more assiduity than the Year Book," yet not without dedicating a considerable portion of his time to professional studies. He became about this time acquainted with Mr. (afterwards Sir William) Jones, who endeavoured to dissuade him from trifling pursuits, and to point out the way to future professional fame. But Mr. Hardinge then wanted ambition. When he went first to the Temple, our Editor informs us, that "he aspired to be Lord Chancellor;" but, from the time we are now speaking of (circa 1776), the Bench and the Coronet appear to have lost their charms.

In 1777 he married Lucy, daughter and heiress of Richard Long, esq. of Hinxton in Cambridgeshire; and soon after became a resident in Ragman's Castle, a pleasant cottage, situate in the meadows of Twickenham, was a neighbourhood exactly to his taste; and, among others, he associated with Mr. Owen Cambridge, and Mr. Horace Walpole. Of the latter,

This

as

as we shall soon see, he lived to change his opinion.

In April 1782, he was appointed Solicitor-general to the Queen, at a period, says our Editor, when other Counsel of the same standing were forced to be content with far inferior distinctions. Mr. Hardinge was a favourite with the King and Queen, as appears by the pleasant interview recorded in Mr. Nichols's "Illustra tions," and reprinted in this collection of Mr. Hardinge's Works.

In 1783, when Sir Thomas Rumbold was attacked on account of his supposed malversations in India, he found an able defender in Mr. Har dinge; and when Mr. Hastings was brought to the Bar of the House of Lords, he also advocated the cause of that gentleman, and in our opinion with great effect. But his best Speech, which is printed here at large (vol. I.) was that he delivered in the House of Lords, as Counsel for the East India Company, against that monstrous production of Mr. Fox's East India Bill. The success of these specimens of his eloquence made him desirous of a seat in the House of Commons; and in 1784 he was returned for Old Sarum, for which he continued to sit until the first Imperial Parliament. In Parliament he spoke seldom, but always with effect.

In August 1787, he obtained the respectable situation of Senior Justice of the Counties of Brecon, Glamorgan, and Radnor. Why he did not rise higher is thus accounted for by his Biographer: "His independ ence in Parliament, which was a main feature of his character, impeded his professional career." Generally, however, he sided with his Majesty's Ministers, and particularly on the important Regency question. In 1791, he published "A series of Letters to Mr. Burke, in which are contained Inquiries into the constitútional existence of an impeachment against Mr. Hastings." In these Letters (of which an epitome is given in vol. 1.) Mr. Hardinge has enlivened a very dry subject by his accustomed vivacity of diction, and by a profusion of historical and classical illustration.

In March 1794, he was appointed Attorney-General to the Queen, his last professional rise; after which he appears to have sought but very little

for practice. The circuit in Wales appearsto have been the only engagement which kept alive his legal knowledge.

In 1800, he published "The Essence of Malone;" and in 1801 "Another Essence of Malone." Nothing has appeared more pointed in sarcasm than these tracts, since Edwardes's celebrated "Canons of Criticism;" but, as Mr. Hardinge seems to have apologized for such an attack on a very deserving and ingenious writer, they are not added to the present collection of his Works.

In 1800, Mr. Hardinge had made considerable progress in a series of letters to Mr. Walpole on Chatterton and Rowley; and had some time before written an Essay on the character of Richard III. in a series of remarks on Mr. Walpole's "Historic Doubts:" but Mr. Nichols has not been able to find more than a single leaf of either.

The relative affections were always strong in Mr. Hardinge. In 1807, on the loss of his venerable mother, be commemorated her death in several elegant little poems, which were printed in a neat small volume, as a present to his friends. Having no children, he had determined to adopt his nephew and godson, George Nicholas Hardinge, of the Royal Navy, as his heir, and accordingly took the proper steps for that purpose: but this gallant young Officer was unfortunately killed in 1808, during an action with the French, in the East Indies. On this occasion Mr. H. compiled an affectionate memoir of that heroic youth, already printed in Mr. Nichols's "Illustrations of Literary History." (vol. III.); but it was long before he recovered this shock.

The remainder of his life was occupied in various literary undertakings; and in 1813, he became a copious and truly-valuable contributor to Mr. Nichols's "Literary Anecdotes," and "Illustration's." Few men, indeed, were better qualified. His acquaintance with the eminent scholars of his age was most extensive, and his discrimination of cha

racter most exact.

Of his last days and character, we have the following account from Mr. Nichols:

"In the latter end of March 1816, Mr. Justice Hardinge set out on the business of the Circuit. In some Letters previous to

to his quitting home, he told his friends, that he was suffering from a heavy cold; which, to use his own words, had not separated his nose from the fire:' but he was first taken seriously ill at Ross.

"The immediate cause of his decease was an inflammation of the Pleura; aud it is probable that his personal exposure to the Easterly winds then prevalent was the inducing cause of the unfortunate attack. He had also suffered much by a fall from his horse (being partial to that exercise, he often took long journeys on horseback, attended only by his valet), which was supposed to have hastened his death.

"On his journey to Cardiff, he increased his cold in that degree that he could not act in his judicial capacity. Yet he went on his Circuit, through Brecon, to Presteigne; where, on his arrival, he was attended by a physician: but the disorder had become a confirmed Pleurisy, and was at such a height that relief from bleeding was ineffectual. It was tried; but the fever was at this time very great, and he complained of it.

"He died at Presteigne, April 26, 1816, in the 72d year of his age; leaving behind him the character of possessing, rather than profiting by, great talents.

"From his father, he enjoyed a very good hereditary estate; and with his wife, who still survives him, he obtained a very handsome dower. Either, or both, of these circumstances, united with a strong love for independence, might have rendered him less anxious for advancement.

"Mr. Hardinge seems to have had some forebodings of the melancholy event which took him from his friends and the world.

"In one of his latest letters to Lady Knowles, he says, 'I despair of taking leave of Davies, until the Undertaker is waiting for me.' He had proposed to visit at Kingsland the shrine of Dr. Davies. His remains passed through Kingsland, to be interred with those of his family at Kingston-upon-Thames.

"A melancholy association with the recollection of the intended visit to the tomb of his last favoured hero of Taste and Virtue is formed in the mind; and painful moral feelings of regret arise, which teach us more forcibly to remember that-man proposes, but God disposes.

"Mr. Hardinge was rather short of sta ture, but very handsome, with a counte

nance expressive of the good qualities he possessed. His temper was admirable, and his perseverance in the cause of those he protected most extraordinary and exemplary.

"There is a good portrait of him, when he was 30, by Mr. N. Dance; which, at the time it was painted, was very like him; and a faithful copy of it, from a drawing made by John Jackson, esq. R. A. accompanies this Memoir *.

"When we consider that few live to the advanced age Mr. Hardinge attained without sustaining a loss in some material faculty, we shall more highly prize the rare gifts he enjoyed, both mentally and bodily; for, excepting the wrinkles and grey hairs which hoary time by its iron grasp will leave on the strongest, his life may be said to have been mental youth, and his death a short interruption and passage to that blessed state of perfection which his goodness and philanthropy sought after while on earth.

"As a Christian, Mr. Hardinge, in all circumstances, and in every part of his life, appears to have been a steady Believer; and, at times, pious and devout in the extreme.

"In the character of a Judge he was irreproachable; and his various Charges for many years, at the different assizes in Wales, are admirable.

"

"In that respectable function, one of the latest acts of his life was the sifting to the bottom the grounds upon which all Judges before his time had charged Juries in cases of child-murder †. Some excellent Notes for a Charge were prepared by the benevolent Judge in April 1816, not many days before his decease; but he did not live to deliver it ‡.

"Mr. Hardinge's ideas on this subject were fully confirmed by the unquestionable concurrent opinions of several professional gentlemen of first-rate eminence; and that this important subject had long before excited bis attention, will appear from a letter addressed in 1805 to Dr. Horsley, then Bishop of St. Asaph §.

"Mr. Hardinge had brilliant talents, and a power of shewing them so as to afford to his companions and correspondents the greatest gratification.

"The talent of society he possessed in an eminent degree; and the rank which he held among the Wits of this day, and

the

the Illustrious personages by whom he was admitted into familiarity, sufficiently evince how much, in conversation at least, he must have displayed the gentleman and the scholar.

"In conversation indeed he had few equals; as he had an astonishing flow and choice of words, and an animated delivery of them, such as few persons possess. He delighted in pleasantries, and always afforded to his auditors an abundance of mirth and entertainment, as well as information.

"His passion for the Muses commenced in infancy; and continued till the close of life.

"The Correspondence of Mr. Hardinge was most extensive, His Letters were extraordinary, from their wit, fancy, and gaiety. They seemed to be the productions of a youth of twenty, rather than a man upwards of sixty years of age. Of his various compositions his Letters were pre-eminent.

"Those who were in habits of intimacy with him must have experienced the fre quency with which he requested the loan of books and sometimes the difficulty of recovering them from what he called the Chaos of his Library.'

"When in Parliament, he was often reminded that he had overloaded his franks.

"His hand-writing also, in the latter part of his life, was with much difficulty to be decyphered.

"But, whatever were his merits or his defects, they were greatly overbalanced by his active benevolence. By ardent zeal and perserverance in the service of those persons whom he thought worthy of protection, he was able to obtain immense sums by subscription. Many are now alive to bless his memory. The sums he collected for such persons amounted to near 10,0007.; and he was not apparently in a situation to command success. rebuffs checked him: no obstacles prevented his constant pursuit of his meritorious object. This activity of friendship, almost always successful, was the principal feature in his character. It was wholly disinterested; it was noble; and ought to be held forth to general example."

No

wallis, Fisher, Horsley, Hurd, Madan, Mansell, Newcome, North, Porteus, Shipley, and Watson; Sir Joseph Banks, Sir John Nicholl, Sir William Scott, Sir William Jones, and Sir William Ouseley; Lady Knowles; Deans Ekins, Graves, Powis, Shipley, and Vincent; Dr. GlynneClobery, Dr. Martin Madan, Dr. Wil. liam Wynne; Mr. Bryant, Mr. Cumberland, Mr. Matthias, Mr. Perceval, Mr. Walpole, and Mr. Wilberforce.

"Notwithstanding his talents and acquirements, he had a rare humility for an Author, being ready at all times to adopt the suggestions of his friends, in preference to his own expressions. Of this he gave a striking proof, in permitting me to expunge some unpleasant reflections on a deceased Commentator on Shakespeare, for whom I had a great respect, and whom he had treated somewhat too cavalierly.

"On the suggestion of a gentleman on whose judgment he had great reliance, he destroyed one of his early productions, on which he had bestowed much labour.

"Mr. Hardinge, like the generality of mankind, was not without his failings. Men of genius are often negligent in concerns they deem trivial. Anxious as he was that his own literary productions should be preserved, his inattention to their preservation is much to be lamented.

We shall take an early opportunity of giving an account of the various entertaining productions of Mr. Har

[To be continued.]

70. Memoirs of Her Most Excellent Majesty Sophia-Charlotte, Queen of Great Britain, from authentic Documents. By John Watkins, LL.D. 8vo. pp. 626. .

THE practice of connecting the history of a particular period with a signal event, or an eminent character, is not novel, though it has recently grown more frequent, and has been exercised with a more progressive disregard to the restrictions within which the earlier writers confined themselves. But on the present occasion the Author of the volume now before us appears to have followed a judicious plan, by keeping the prin cipal character constantly in view, and by relating the events in strict chronological order.

The house of Mechlenberg may vie in point of antiquity, and succession of sovereignty, with the first monarchies of Europe, being enabled to trace an uninterrupted course to the Vandalian Kings, whose early history is lost in the darkness of tra dition.

It was from this antient family that

our