THE LIFE OF LORD BOLINGBROKE. THERE are fome characters that feem formed by Nature to take delight in ftruggling with oppofition, and whofe most agreeable hours are paffed in ftorms of their own creating. The fubject of the prefent sketch was perhaps of all others the most indefatigable in raifing himself enemies, to fhew his power in fubduing them; and was not lefs employed in improving his fuperior talents, than in finding objects on which to exercife their activity. His life was spent in a continual conflict of politics, and as if that was too fhort for the combat, he has left his memory as a fubject of lafting contention. It is indeed no eafy matter to preserve an acknowledged impartiality, in talking of a man fo differently regarded on account of his political, as well as his religious principles. Thofe, whom his politics may please, will be fure to condemn him for his religion; and on the contrary, those most strongly attached to his theological opinions, are the most likely to decry his politics. On whatever fide he is regarded, he is fure to have oppofers; and this was perhaps what he moft defired, having from nature a mind better pleafed with the struggle than the victory. Henry St. John, Lord Viscount Bolingbroke, was born in the year 1672, at Batterfea in Surrey, at a feat feat that had been in the poffeffion of his ancestors for ages before. His family was of the firft rank, equally confpicuous for its antiquity, dignity, and large poffeffions. It is found to trace its original as high as Adam de Port, Baron of Bafing in Hampfhire, before the conqueft; and in a fucceffion of ages to have produced warriors, patriots, and statesmen, fome of whom were confpicuous for their loyalty, and others for their defending the rights of the people. His grandfather Sir Walter St. John, of Batterfea, marrying one of the daughters of lord chief juftice St. John, who as all know was ftrongly attached to the republican party, Henry, the fubject of the prefent memoir, was brought up in his family, and confequently imbibed the first principles of his education amongst the diffenters. At that time Daniel Burgefs, a fanatic of a very peculiar kind, being at once poffeffed of zeal and humour, and as well known for the archness of his conceits as the furious obftinacy of his principles, was confeffor in the prefbyterian way to his grandmother, and was appointed to direct our author's firft ftudies. Nothing is fo apt to disguft a feeling mind as mistaken zeal; and perhaps the abfurdity of the firft lectures he received might have given him that contempt for all religions, which he might have juftly conceived against one. Indeed, no talk can be more mortifying than what he was condemned to undergo: "I was obliged," fays he, in one place, "while yet a boy, to read over the commentaries of Dr. Manton, whose pride it was "to have made an hundred and nineteen fermons, "on the hundred and nineteenth pfalm." Dr. Manton and his fermons were not likely to prevail much on one, who was, perhaps, the moft fharp-fighted in the world at difcovering the abfurdities of others, however he might have been guilty of establishing many of his own. But But these dreary inftitutions were of no very long continuance; as foon as it was fit to take him out of the hands of the women, he was fent to Eton school, and removed thence to Chrift-church college in Oxford. His genius and understanding were seen and admired in both these feminaries, but his love of pleasure had fo much the ascendency, that he seemed contented rather with the confcioufnefs of his own great powers, than their exertion. However his friends, and those who knew him most intimately, were thoroughly fenfible of the extent of his mind; and when he left the univerfity, he was confidered as one who had the fairest opportunity of making a Thining figure in active life. Nature feemed not lefs kind to him in her externál embellishments, than in adorning his mind. With the graces of an handfome perfon, and a face in which dignity was happily blended with sweetness, he had a manner of addrefs that was very engaging. His vivacity was always awake, his apprehenfion was quick, his wit refined, and his memory amazing : his fubtlety in thinking and reafoning was profound, and all these talents were adorned with an elocution that was irrefiftible. To the affemblage of fo many gifts from nature, it was expected that art would foon give her finishing hand; and that a youth, begun in excellence, would foon arrive at perfection: but fuch is the perverfeness of human nature, that an age which fhould have been employed in the acquifition of knowledge, was diffipated in pleasure, and inftead of aiming to excel in praifé-worthy purfuits, Bolingbroke feemed more ambitious of being thought the greatest rake about town. This period might have been compared to that of fermentation in liquors, which grow muddy before they brighten; but it muft alfo be confeffed, that thofe liquors which never ferment are feldom VOL. IV, D clear. |