His

During his residence there he was introduced to the British Ambassador, in whose more immediate circle he continued to move for several years. society was courted by the highest and most enlightened circies; and many and lasting were the tributes of respect and attachment he afterwards received from those Nobles, who saw the work of destruction which the blind policy of their government was preparing for their devoted country, and which their talents and influence were not sufficient to prevent. It was here, in England, under the agis of true liberty, that they had time to deplore those fatal councils, and that want of firmness, which drove them from their native land, and reduced them from power and affluence to indigence and misery. Many an able article on the previously unknown causes of their misfortunes, proceeded from the pens of those noble exiles, and appeared in a work alone sufficient to immortalize the name of Gifford !

It was as the historian of his own country that Mr. Gifford must put forth his claims as a public writer; the History of England, which bears his name, came down only to the reign of Elizabeth. The death of his publisher intervened before the completion of the work, and it is to be regretted that that circumstance should have put an end to his labours in a field where his talents had such ample scope for their display.

The violence of the French revolution obliged him to return to England. It was shortly after his return from the Continent that Mr. Gifford next appeared in the field of literature, by publishing his elaborate and truly legiti. mate History of France. It appeared in the year 1792; and it is not a little surprising, that till that period we had no authentic history of a country for so many centuries regarded as our natural enemy-a sentiment which it is earnestly to be hoped will henceforth give way to the more liberal feelings of the present age, and that France and England will, for the future, appear only as rivals in diffusing amongst mankind the arts and blessings of peace and humanity.

The principles of the Jacobin Club having found their way into this country, he published a “ Plain Address to the common sense of the People of England; being an exposure of Paine's Life and Writings." (1792.)

On the breaking out of the war in 1794, Mr. Gifford's abilities took a more active and ample range; and his sound principles, historical and constitutional knowledge, and vigorous style, displayed at once, to the admiration of thousands, the true friend of his King and Country, and the consummate politician.

His next work was "An Address to the Members of the Loyal Associations." This most interesting publication first appeared, we believe, in the year 1796. We have before us the ninth edition, published by Longman, in 1798. It was reprinted ten different times, and we have been credibly informed that upwards of 100,000 copies were circulated! the effect it must have produced may easily be conceived.

Having obtained a high reputation as an author, he continued to write with much celebrity. In 1795, he published a "Letter to the Earl of Lauderdale,” in answer to a Pamphlet of his Lordship on the Finance Measures of the Admi. nistration. This went through several editions: it consisted of 144 closely printed pages, and was constantly republished till the year 1800.

Shortly after appeared his Description of a residence in France during the year 1792 and 1795, in a series of letters. In the following year he published the "Banditti Unmasked, or Historical Memoirs of the Present Times."

About this time, public opinion was much divided upon the propriety of the contest.

The Hon. Thomas Erskine, afterwards Lord Chancellor, having in a letter expressed his sentiments in direct opposition to the views of the then ministry, on the causes and consequences of the war, was answered by Mr. Gifford, which is the most impor tant of all his pamphlets, and is entitled an "Answer to Lord (then Mr.) Erskine's Causes and Consequences of the War with France," which had an unprecedented circulation, and was deemed by many competent judges little inferior to the best productions of the celebrated Burke.

With this valuable and important publication, every prediction in which the author had the happiness to live to see verified, Mr. Gilford, we are informed, closed his career as a writer of detached political tracis. He had previously, however, translated the Memoirs of General Danican, and several other political works, all of which he

illustrated with elaborate prefaces and notes. In the same year followed his Defence of the French Emigrants.

About this time (1796) he was invited to take the editorial management of two loyal daily newspapers, a morning and an evening one, where his talents had a wide field for exertion; and in this Occupation he continued to employ himself till the cessation of the famed "Anti-Jacobin, or Weekly Examiner," which set out with the profession of being continued only during the session of Parlament (1798), induced him to establish on its basis the "Anti-Jacobin Review." Here he had the pleasure of seeing assembled round him many of the most eminent literary characters of that day. Such was the unprecedented success of this valuable publication, that had Mr. Gifford confined his attention solely to the work, there can be no doubt that it would have had an extensive circulation, and that he would have realized by it a splendid fortune, the just reward of his talents, independeuce, and perseverance; but in the year 1800, he was so unfortunate as to be honoured by the late Duke of Portland, without any solicitation, either by himself or his friends, with the appointment of a Police Magistracy at Worship-street; an appointment certainly highly flattering to the ambition of any man of loyalty and talents, but producing at that time only the inadequate compensation of 4001. a year (it is now 6007.). The arduous and incessant duties of this situation gradually affected his health, and rendered it impossible for him to continue that supreme and powerful direction of his Review, which was necessary to maintain it in the high altitude which it had previously reached. Mr. Gifford, however, continued occa. sionally to write for it till a late period of his life, and it still retains a respectable circulation: but it is several years since he resigned its editorial superintendence, on account of his undeviating firmness of principle having drawn down upon him the threatenings of prosecutions from a certain Administration in 1806; in which case, if conviction had followed, he must have resigned his Magisterial appointment! The attempt had been previously tried, by a prosecution against the printer and publisher, in an action for damages, for certain articles on the Catholic Question: but by the splendid abilities of Messrs. Garrow and Park, the indepen

dence of a British jury, and above all, by the cause of the British constitution being properly appreciated, it failed, inasmuch as the damages against the publisher being laid at ten thousand pounds, the Jury gave a verdict of 50%. and nominal damages against the printer of one shilling! The Catholic Dr. Troy was the plaintiff, and Mr. Erskine was his leading counsel. This trial took place in the year 1805. In this year Mr. Gifford was visited by a severe domestic calamity, in the loss of his first wife, a most amiable and accomplished lady, with whom he had lived in a state of the most perfect domestic happiness, but by whom te had no children.

He married, secondly, Miss Georgiana Gullifer, second daughter of the late Walter Gullifer, Esq. of Witham, Essex, and by whom he has left seven children to deplore his irreparable loss. In private life he was distinguished by the most ardent, conjugal, and paternal affection, and by the warmth and steadiness of his friendships. As a public character, his loss will be deeply regretted by all who have the true in. terests of society at heart. He was a firm and strenuous supporter of the genuine principles of the constitution in church and state. The independence of his mind concurred with his real patriotism to render him superior to the influence of political attachments, and in his views of men and measures be was governed solely by his solicitude for the public good. As a magistrate, he was characterized by sagacity and penetration, by activity and prompti tude, while, by his energy, decision, and intrepidity, he was eminently fitted for the magisterial station in disturbed and perilous times. In a word, by the death of Mr. Gifford, the King has lost a most loyal subject, the constitution a most zealous friend, and the country a most excellent magistrate. And certainly the pen of no public writer was more constantly and usefully employed than that of Mr. Gifford, in stimulating his countrymen to those strenuous and persevering efforts, the success of which is now a just subject of exultation throughout the civilized world.

In 1809, he gave the world his History of the Political Life of the Saviour of his Country, the immortal and Right Hon. William Pitt, in 3 vols. royal 410. and in 6 vols. 8vo. Of this work it is not intended here to speak at any length. An eminent prelate now living,

and to whom Mr. Pitt stood in some degree indebted for the superintending charge of his education, did not hesitate to declare, that if any one thing more than another added to its value, it was its singular correctness in relation to all matters of fact. As his grand object in composing it was the establishment and the propagation of TRUTH, his mind was not biassed by the feelings or warped by the prejudices of any party spirit, and it is almost impossible to peruse it without being strongly impressed with a conviction of the integrity and the independence of his principles.

The rest of his life was not confined to the active duties of his official occupation, his literary pursuits were numerous and extensive. His avocations, as honorary secretary of the Pitt Club, engrossed a considerable share of his attention. In fact, there was no one object of his public life in which he felt more warmly interested, than in propagating the principles and in supporting the purposes for which that club was avowedly instituted. He felt it, to use the expression of Mr. Perceval, to be the "rallying point round which the loyal and good might with confidence assemble."

Though many have been the times when he has exposed his person to quell the turbulence of the disaffected disturbers of the public peace, yet at the riots in Piccadilly, in the spring of 1810, he acted a more than usually conspicuous part, which, as it has never been publicly mentioned, it would now be useless to detail. But there is one point more recently connected with the discharge of his public duties as a magistrate so important from its merits and its consequences, that it would almost be unjust to his memory, in any sketch of his life, to omit the mention of it; we mean the active part which he displayed in defeating the wicked attack on the sacred person of His Royal Highness the Prince Regent, at a time when he was fulfilling one of the highest functions of his royal office. Had it not been for the timely aid which Mr. Gifford with great intrepidity afforded to the posse comitatus, on that day, the atrocious plans of the disaffected in the Park would, there is strong reason to believe, have been carried into entire effect. The longer Mr. Gifford lived, the more did public business accumulate upon him, particularly in his own populous district, where the weight of his

authority, the influence of his name, and the value of his services, were thoroughly known and appreciated: from this circumstance he was prevented from paying that attention to his health which previous exertious had rendered. so highly necessary. The vigour of his general frame became latterly much impaired from the unwearied assiduity with which he devoted himself to the business of his office. A violent attack of bilious fever, in August last, was the consequence of his over exertions, from which he only partially recovered, and he sunk, at last, exhausted from its effects, a few months after the disease had made its first inroads in his constitution. The death of Mr. Gifford took place rather suddenly, on the 6th of March, in the 60th year of his age, at Bromley in Kent, whither he had been removed, that he might be nearer to his medical advisers, in whose skill, under Providence, he placed the firmest reliance, and who resided in that town.

The loss of a man so eminently calculated to fulfil every public and pri vate duty, so inflexible in his attachment to the King, the Church, and the State, so sincere a Christian, and so powerful an advocate and defender of the real liberties of Great Britain against the attacks of every class of schismatics, infidels, and democrats, leaves a vacuum in civilized society, which in these turbulent times every thinking mind must deeply deplore.

For the EUROPEAN MAGAZINE.
EMMA.

A TALE FOUNDED ON FACT.

MILITARY Officer, who had distinguished himself in several battles during the late war, had been married to a most amiable lady. She had borne him three children, two of whom died, leaving an only daughter, named Emma. The education of this object of parental affection was conducted under the eve of her mother, so long as her mother lived; but, alas! she died of a consumption, while Emma was only in the 15th year of her age, and before she had completed her education. The father being abroad with his regiment when this event took place, Emma was taken under the protection of au aunt, who lived at a short distance from London. After the father had been informed of the affliction that had befallen him, he desired to have his daughter

sent to one of the first boarding schools in the metropolis, and that she should spend the holidays with her aunt. These directions were complied with.

To a beautiful and most expressive countenance, a fine figure, and a healthy constitution, were united in Emma a lively and open turn of mind, with astonishing quickness of perception. She was fond of reading, was well acquainted with history and geography, could speak French and read Italian. She had also a taste for music. There was but one drawback to these recom mendations, and that was a hasty and uneven temper.

During the first half year nothing particular occurred, and she returned to school at the expiration of the midsummer holidays. After a few weeks had elapsed, a change was visible in ber habits and manners. Sometimes she was hurried and confused; at other times she appeared to be in a reverie. From activity she fell into indolence. She bad of late complained of being indisposed on Sundays, and had kept from church. The medical attendant could not discover any bodily ailment, and concluded she was uneasy in her mind in consequence of the loss of her mother.

One Sunday, when Mis L. was staying from church, owing to real indisposition, not however so great as to prevent her from walking about the house, she saw from the top of the stairs, Instep, the shoe maker, coming up, accompanied by the maid servant. She instantly retreated, before she was observed by either of them; but she kept her room door half open to make observation. The maid, after she had shewn the tradesman into Emma's room, went down stairs again, and it was a considerable time before lustep followed her.

About a fortnight afterwards, when Miss L. was quite recovered, and had been measured for a new pair of shoes, she remarked in the hearing of Emma, that she thought Instep was a very impudent man, taking hold of the foot, and placing it in the manner he often tried to do. "How can you say so," exclaimed Emma, reddening all the wile; "I am sure he is very civil to me.""I suppose he is," replyed the other, "for he stayed with you a long time last Sunday. I should have thought there were plenty of days in the week,

without his coming to fit you on a Sunday." Emma burst into tears, and covered with confusion, left the room, the governness following her; Miss L.'s words were heard by most of the party present-the alarm was taken by the Jady of the establishment, and the truth of the statement being ascertained, the maid servant was dismissed. Instep's bill was paid off, and he was ordered never more to enter the house again. It appeared that he had gained over the servant maid by a promise of marriage; he pretended he was all the while visiting her, (the maid) and that he only seized that opportunity of trying on the young lady's shoes, who, he said, was always wanting them altered.

It was hoped the discovery of this infamous intrigue, had been made in due time, Alas! it was not so-Emma -the beautiful, the accomplished Enr ma-gifted with the finest talents, having a considerable fortune in expec tancy, and qualified to enliven and adorn the highest stations in societybut yielding to the warmth of a youthful constitution, had let the thrillings of voluptuous desire, basely excited by a mean mechanic, overcame her pride, and extinguished every sense of virtue and religion!-The offspring of this odious connexion was still-born; but the mother survived her shame. The enraged father disowned her as his daughter. He settled in the hands of trustees just enough for a bare maintenance. She lived-but her reason left her. MENTORIA.

EPITAPH in EYAM CHURCH-YARD.

HERE is a curious cemetery in Eyam church-yard, formed by eight stone columus, and surmounted with urns. A whimsical Epitaph (among many, for this is a favourite resort of the Elegiac Muse) is thus occupied :—

HERE LITH THE BODY OF ANN SELLARS BURIED BY THIS STONE-WHO

DYED ON JAN. 15th DAY, 1781

LIKEWISE HERE LISE DEAR ISAAC SELLARS, MY HUSBAND AND MY RIGHT, WHO WAS BURIED ON THAT SAME DAY COME SEVEN YEARS, 1738. IN SEVEN YEARS TIME THERE COMES A CHANGEOBSERVE, AND HERE YOU'LL SEE ON THAT SAME DAY COME SEVEN YEARS MY HUSBAND'S LAID BY ME.

MEMOIR

OF

PATRICK COLQUHOUN, Esq. LL.D.

(Concluded from page 413.)

Dent tibi ætatem Dii adhuc provectiorem quam mereris, serventque animum quem dederunt.-PLINIUS de Trajano.

COLQUHOUN's writings and MR. public character having made him known on the Continent of Europe, he was solicited, in 1804, to accept the honorable situation of Diplomatic Agent for the Republic of Hamburgh, which he accepted on the express condition, which was afterwards inserted in his patent, that he should never be requested to do any act in his new character, which might militate against the interest of his own country."-His Majesty, by his exequator, confirmed and approved of this unsolicited appointment; and Mr Colquhoun has since executed the duties assigned to him, so much to the satisfaction of his constituents, that they have testified their sense of his services, by presenting to him, at different times, two valuable pieces of plate. Such was the fidelity and exact promptitude with which Mr. Colquhoun discharged the functions of his diplomacy for Hamburgh, that the whole of the Hans Towns were also induced to appoint him their Diplomatic Representative in this Country.

In the month of August 1806, with a view to the improvement of the Free School established in Orchard-street, Westminster, and for the assistance and encouragement of similar Institutions in the Metropolis, Mr. Colquhoun published a work on the education of the poor, entitled, A new System of Education for the labouring People, explaining the Plan which has been established for the religious and moral Instruction of Male and Female Children, admitted into the Free School, Orchard-street, Westminster, and containing an Exposition of the Nature of the Design, as it affects the great Interests of the Community."

This work has been very generally circulated; and from the attention since bestowed on the establishment of Public Schools, sanguine hopes are entertained that it may have proved useful.-For many years previous to 1805, Mr. Colquhoun had frequently occupied bis mind, as far as his other numerous and urgent avocations would allow, in reflecting on the laws respecting the Europ. Mag. Vol. LXXIII. June 1818.

poor, and on their practical effects; and he had proceeded so far as to have collected materials, with an intention at some future period of communicating his thoughts on this important subject to the public. Thus had Mr. Colquhoun, foreseeing that the subject, from its pressing magnitude, must be soon taken up. partly digested an arrangement, when this year an eminent and leading Member of Parliament gave notice, that he meant to introduce a Bill for the improvement of the Pauper System.-Without delay, Mr. Colquhoun attended more closely and particularly to the subject; and in the month of November in the ensuing year, 1806, published a work, entitled, "A Treatise on Indigence, exhibiting a General View of the National Resources for productive Labour, with Propositions for meliorating the Condition of the Poor, and for improving the moral Habits, and increasing the Comforts of the labouring People, particularly the Rising Generation, by Regulations of Political Economy, calculated to prevent them from descending into Indigence, to produce Sobriety and Industry, to reduce the Parochial Rates, and generally to promote the Happiness and Security of the Community at large, by the Diminution of Moral and Penal Offences, and by the future Prevention of Crimes."

In looking into this important work, we shall find that its great object is to shew, that it is not only an improvement of the poor laws, that is required to attain the ends in view, but that many collateral aids are necessary to produce that beneficial practical effect, which is so desirable. These aids are fully pointed out and explained; and, among others, the Institution of a Provident Bank is strongly urged as a great national good. I am the more disposed to advert with peculiar force to these Institutions, on account of the just popularity they have acquired, and as they unquestionably originated with the author of the Treatise on Indigence, and were actually recommended for adoption in Parliament in 1806. Whoever will take the trouble of perusing the fourth chapter of this work, will be amply gratified in finding not only a National Provident Bank proposed for the poor, but all the ramifica tions and means detailed, by which such a Godlike Institution, as it is truly termed, may be carried into effect.

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