feated, to find they muft pafs thro' a gate, before which too, there was a dangerous bridge; but however, those who advanced near enough to fee her in full luftre, were not at all dismayed, but went over the bridge with ferenity and firmnefs, tho' the water under it caft up a thick humidity, which caused a cold sweat to overspread their bodies while they paffed; but having prayed for af fiftance in that cold paffage, and guides being fent, the gates were thrown wide open, and they were received with foft mufic and hymns, fetting forth theirs and others praises; and they were furprifed to find feveral of their friends there, whom they had formerly left, as thinking them gone quite into a Wrong and melancholy path. I was just rejcicing at their arrival and enjoy ment of Happiness, when the dismal groans of at least an hundred poor wretches called off my attention. I foon perceived they all had been led by their different miftreffes to the brink of a pit, where fhe left them without help, upbraiding them with their folly; and they fell down together into this bottomlefs pit, each lamenting their own mistaken purfuit, and finding, had they liftened to Reafon or Religion in time, they fhould have attained their end. Their reiterated groans and miferies waked me; pleafed to find that tho' I bad not gone through the gate to Happinefs, it was yet in my power to get into the path that leads to it. Genealogical Account of BENNET, Earl of TANKERVILLE. THIS HIS noble earl is defcended from the family of the Bennets, who were anciently feated at Clopcot, near Wallingford, Berks, and who flourished fo early as the reign of Edward III.' William Harrison of London, and had two daughters, who died unmarried; zdly, Thomafine, daughter and coheir of George Dethick, Efq; counsellor at law, fon of Sir William Dethick, garter king at arms, and had a fon Thomas Bennet of Salthorp in Wiltshire, Efq; who married Martha, daughter of John Smith of Tidworth in Hampthire, Efq. Matthew, third fon of Sir John, died unmarried. Sir John Bennet, the immediate ancestor of the prefent noble Earl, was feated at Dawley, in Middlefex, and was judge of the Prerogative Court, doctor of laws, chancellor to queen Anne, confort of king James 1. and member of parliament for Sir John the eldest fucceeded his fathe city of York, and died in 1627. ther. He married Dorothy, daughter He married Anne, daughter to to Sir John Crofts of Saxham in NorChristopher Weeks of Salisbury, folk, knt. and had fix fons and two Efq; and had three fons, Sir John, daughters, Dorothy married to BenSir Thomas, and Matthew. Sir jamin Bacon, merchant in London, Thomas was doctor of the civil law, and Elizabeth, which latter was marand mafter in Chancery. He married to Sir Robert Carr of Sleeford ried first Charlotte, daughter of in Lincolnshire, knt, and bart. And January, 1766, E of of the fons, who were John, Henry, Robert, Charles, Thomas, and Edward; the fecond, in 1672, was created earl of ARLINGTON, but died without iffue male, leaving only one daughter, the lady Ifabella, countess of Arlington in her own right, mother of Charles, fecond duke of Grafton; Charles, the third, married Anne, daughter of Richard Wigmore of Upton-court in Herefordshire, Efq; and had a fon and two daughters; Robert, Thomas, and Edward, died without iffue. (ift L.) John, the eldeft, was made knight of the Bath at the coronation of king Charles II. in whofe reign he was alfo created baron of Offulton, and made captain of the band of Penfioners, and died in 1683, aged 70. He married firft Elizabeth, countess of Mulgrave, mother of John Sheffield, late duke of Buckinghamshire, daughter to Lionel Cranfield, earl of Middlefex, but by her had no iffue; zdly, Bridget, daughter to John How, of Longor-caftle in the county of Nottingham, Efq; and fifter to Scrope, vif count How in Ireland, had Charles his heir, and Annabella, married to John Cecil, the 6th earl of Exeter. (ft E) Charles, who fucceeded, was in the ft of Geo. I. created carl of Tankerville, having in July 1695, married the lady Mary, only daughter to Ford, lord Grey of Wark, and earl of Tankerville, (by Mary his wife, fourth daughter to George, the first earl of Berkley) and was alfo on the 16th of February 1720-21, made a knight of the Thiftle. He was likewife in that reign made chief juftice in Eyre fouth of Trent; and dying on the 21ft of May 1722, in the 48th year of his age, left iffue four fons and threẹ daughters; the ladies Bridget, Mary, and Annabella, of which the later married to William Powlett, Efq; fon of the late lord William Powlett; the fecond to William Wilmer of Sywell in the county of Northampton, Efq; member in feveral parliaments for Northampton; and the lady Bridget to John Wallop, firft earl of Portfmouth. Of the fons, who were Charles, John, Henry, and Grey; the youngest died Nov. 19, 1724; the fecond died an infant, and the third died also unmarried; but (zd E.) Charles, the eldeft, fucceeded his father; and on the 28th of February 1728-9. was appointed one of the lords of the bedchamber to the prince of Wales, which he refigned in June 1733; and on the 16th of May 1730, he was invested with the order of the Thiftle. In September 1731, he was appointed captain of the yeomen of the guard, and in June 1733, mafter of the buck-hounds, which he refigned in June 1737, when he was made a lord of the bedchamber to his late majefty, which he foon refigned. In May 1740, he was fworn lord lieutenant of the county of Northumberland; and his lordship marrying Camilla, daughter to Edward Col ville of Whitehoufe in the bishoprick of Durham, Efq; who died June the 13th, 1750, aged 105, by her, who was lady of the bedchamber to queen Caroline, had two fons and one daughter, viz. first, Charles Lord Offulton; 2dly, the lady Camilla, married Jan. 14, 1754, to Gilbert Fane Fleming, Efq; 3dly, George, born in 1727; and his lordship dying March 14, 1753, was fucceeded by his eldest fon (3d (3d E.) Charles, now earl of Tankerville, who married on the 23d of September 1742, Alicia, third daughter of Sir John Aftley of Pattehall in Staffordshire, bart. knight of the shire for the county of Salop, and hath had iffue Charles lord Offulton, born Nov. 15, 1743; John-Grey, who died in the fecond year of his age; lady Camilla-Elizabeth, married in 1764 to count Donkoff, who was nearly related to the prefent king of Poland, but died about a month after marriage; and lady Frances-Alicia, and a fon born April 3, 1757. Her lady ship was lady of the bedchamber to her royal highnefs the princess Augufta, now prin cefs of Brunswick, and acted as chief mourner at the funeral of her royal highnefs the princess Elizabeth-Caroline, Sept. 14, 1759. Arms.] Gules, a bezant between three demi lions rampant, argent. Creft.] On a wreath a fcaling→ ladder, or. Supporters.] Two lions, argent, each charged on its fhoulder with a bezant, and crowned ducally, or. Motto.] De bon vouloir fervir le roy. "Serve the king voluntarily.” Chief Seats.] At Chillinghamcaftle in Northumberland; and St. James's-fquare, London. To the Authors of the BRITISH MAGAZINE. For this caufe ought the Woman to have Power on her head. Corinthians, GENTLEMEN, THE ear of the public has for fome years paft been daily ftunned with loud and violent complaints of maleadministration; I would, therefore, humbly propofe (if it was but for the fake of variety) that a femaleadministration should for once take its turn, and be allowed a fair and candid trial on the flippery pinnacle of power. The worshipful Company of Bar bers have familiarly approached the throne, and offered advice in marters of capital concern. The fill more worshipful the C-m-n C-n-l have likewife, on several occafions, conveyed their difiuterefted Counfels to the Royal Ear. I fay difinterefled, becaufe frequently relating to matters, in which they had no earthly concern; but in the prefent cafe, as fo near, fo dear, and fo confiderable a part of them, (viz. their wives) are very deeply interefted, I make no doubt but that refpectable body will ufe its utmost influence to promote this moft falutary and patriotic scheme. I need not point out to the intelligent leaders of that body in what manner its influence may be most effectually exerted. Some occafion of congratulation or condolance may foon offer, when they can introduce a recommendation of this fcheme with their ufual propriety; and its being entirely foreign to the purpofe of fuch congratulation, or condolance, will only make it the more remarkable, and lefs liable to be overlooked. No man can deny, that England' ous figure during two female reigns, and therefore it is naturally to be prefumed, that a female miniftry may reftore our decayed conftitution, and enable it to exert its priftine vigour. made its greatest and most illuftri- tax on BATCHELORS; as also on dogs and horfes for sport, which would contribute more to the prefervation of the game, than any method our male adminiftrators have yet difcovered, though they feem to have confidered this point as a matter of greater national importance than the increase of popularity. I forefee many good confequences refulting from this fcheme: one of which is, that it will infallibly put a ftop to thofe political bickerings, which, to the difgrace of the prefent age, have been carried on with a virulence and malignity unknown to former times. I take it for granted, Gentlemen, that most of the prefent writers against the miniftry confift of difcarded courtiers, or military gentlemen difappointed of preferment. Now, all thefe perfonages, being remarkable for their complaisance to the fair fex, can't in honour draw their pens against a female adminiftration; fo that we shall no longer be distracted with reading the feveral fides of political controverfy; the wheels of government will be unclogged, the business of the state will go fmoothly on, commerce will flourish anew, and the weavers, inftead of idly parading in Bloomsburyfquare, will find fufficient employment in Spitalfields. The real ftrength and riches of a ftate confist in the number and induftry of its inhabitants. To increase the number of people, and to find them fufficient employment, will naturally be the great obje&ts of a female adminiftration. All finecure places will be abolished, all unneceffary restrictions and bars on the matrimonial road will be removed; the marriage-act be repealed, with fome other ads, which moftly affect the poor; and the deficiency in the funds made up, by a heavy I am very fenfible that many objections may be brought against every fcheme that is offered for the public good. As to this my scheme, I fhall be told that women in general want learning, and have no heads for business. In aufwer to the first, I have never heard much of the learning of any one of our minifters during three adminiftrations; fome of them, indeed, have at different times written letters, which have been published and figned with their names, explaining fome parts of their conduct, or returning thanks for favours received. In order to do the men all manner of juftice, I fhall inftance two very illuftrious and popular perfonages, viz. the Great Commoner, and his friend the C-J—, who have both of them written to the public fuch letters, as (whether we confider the ftile or matter) moft females of my acquaintance would have been ashamed of. The second objection is, that women have no heads for business. We all know (whatever the men may pretend) it requires "no conjuration or mighty magic," to go through the common routine bufinefs of office. 'Tis true, that difficult negociations may fometimes occur, in the conduct of which, fine and intrigue are neceflary. But furely the men will not pretend to excel us in either of thofe arts. Some political writers have lately objected objected to us, as being of * levelling principles; but, indeed, that feems to be the humour of the prefeat times, and therefore we should have the mob on our fide. For which reason a female miniftry is the only one that can allay the heats, and quell the rifings in the body politic. It may be urged, perhaps, in behalf of fome veteran Minifters and Placemen, that having spent the greatest part of their lives in fome office or other about the court, they have contracted certain habits, which had become as it were fecond na ture; and therefore it would be cruel at their years to fend them back into the wide world. In anfwer to which, let thefe veterans ftill continue about Court, and have places! there will be openings enough for them, and it will make no material alteration in my plan. As for example: They can very pro perly fucceed thofe Ladies of the Bedchamber, Maids of Honour, Housekeepers, Neceffary Women, or dry Nurfes, who fhall vacate their places, by accepting any of the great offices of ftate. and their nomination was applauded by the voice of the people. I have not heard that they have yet done any thing to forfeit our good opinion; they have not yet planned any extenfion of excife laws; they have not iffued General Warrants; they have not attacked the liberty of the prefs; they have not thrown impolitic reftrictions on trade; they have not endeavoured to alienate the affections of the colonies; they have not fuffered the jettees of Dunkirk to ftand in defiance of the most folemn treaties. But notwithstanding all this, yet, from the natural fickleness of our tempers, and the inftability of human affairs, a change of Minifters must happen fome time or other. Whenever through these, or any other caufes, a change fhall be judged neceflary, then would I humbly propofe to make trial of a female adminiftration, and fubmit to the judgment of the public, whether the feveral departments and offices of the state wonld not be very ably and properly filled in the following manner: Frft Lady of the Treasury, Mifs Ch-dl-gh. I do not mean, Gentlemen, that this my offered scheme fhould take immediate effe&t. I have no objection to the prefent Minifters, whom our amiable S-n has entrusted with the reins of government. They were recommended by a Prince, whofe memory will be ever dear to Southern department, Mrs. George all the friends of liberty. They had acquired the esteem and confidence of the nation by a fpirited oppofition to the unconstitutional meafures of their predeceffors in power, P-tt. Lady High Chancellor, Duchefs of Q-nfb-y. Lady Privy-Seal, Lady Ayl-b-y. See the Remarks on Mrs. Macaulay's Hiftory. Steward |