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in the circumstance, that, whatever doctrines one may broach, whatever predictions one may hazard, and whatever surprise and disapprobation one's sentiments may excite, it is impos募 sible for any novice to come off worse, as to the result, than some of those who were considered among the most distinguished authorities living for every thing connected with the study of political economy. I am very far, indeed, from making this remark in the way of hostility to, or disparagement of, the persons to whom I am alluding. I use it simply to show how little right any one has, of whatever consequenee for his knowledge and abilities, to expect to settle questions of this description by his own individual opinion; and how improvident as well as indecorous, it would be, in a great and delicate matter like this, that so divides and agitates the community, for such an assembly to be governed by a theorist; and how impossible to justify our refusal to have recourse to those large means which the appointment of a committee presents, of sifting the subject to the bottom; and by collecting and bringing under one view all possible information, and every conflicting opinion, of finally setting the question at rest, and satisfying the public mind.

"But, while solacing one's self with the reflection, that experience has confounded to so great a degree some of the most eminent of the economists, and that any person of slender abilities, and narrow information, can meet with no discomfiture so great as to inflict any very severe humiliation; there is, on the other hand, a most discouraging circumstance in this that people generally are so uninformed on these points, that in discussing them, unless one set out with the plainest and most elementary remarks, there is little chance of being understood by the greater portion of hearers or readers; while, on the other hand, by advancing axioms and evident truths, there is a danger of being ridiculed by others, for occupying them with truisms. This latter danger, however, I shall make bold to defy; sheltering myself under the fact, that, notwithstanding all the discussion this subject has undergone, it may still be heard any day in society, from

*

persons otherwise intelligent, that, in their opinion, to talk of the depreciation of the currency, must be nonsense; for that they are unable to comprehend how a pound-note at one time can differ from a pound-note at another; that a pound-note must be a pound-note always; and that it is impossible the same piece of paper, with the same characters marked upon it, can be more valuable at one time than at another. When, above all, the famous resolution of 1811 is recollected, I think it will be perfectly excusable for me, even in this assembly, said to be so enlightened, to set out with the mathematical axiom, that 'a part is less than the whole ;'— an axiom which, now that the late chancellor of the exchequer is no longer among us, I apprehend no one will be found hardy enough to dispute. In mentioning that extraordinary person, I must lament my inability to do justice to the merits of so great a master of reasoning and eloquence; who so confounded the philosophers of 1811, by unfolding to his admiring audience, that the old favourite axiom of Euclid was nothing but a popular delusion; that, in reality, a part might be easily equal to the whole; and, therefore, that there was no reason for doubting that the pound-note which required the assistance of eight shillings to procure a guinea, was equal to the pound-note which required the assistance of but a single shilling, of precisely the same value with those of which eight had become necessary!"

n.

The noble marquis then entered into an elaborate argument in support of the proposition before the house, in the course of which he rendered it abundantly evident that he had inquired and thought very deeply on the subject. His speech elicited general admiration, and he was particularly complimented upon it by the late Mr. Ricardo, although that gentleman was decidedly hostile to the motion.

The disorder which unhappily deprived his country of a young statesman of such fair promise was an abscess in the brain, the acute suffering of which he bore with manly for

* Mr. Vansittart, then recently created Lord Bexley.

titude. His decease took place at Portland House, in St. James' Square, on the 5th of March, 1824. On the 13th his remains were interred in a vault formerly belonging to the family of Faucet, (anciently lords of Mary-le-bone) in the old parish church; where, also, the late Duke and Duchess of Portland, and several branches of the families of Coates, Greville, and Bentinck, have been likewise buried. The funeral procession was solemn, and appropriate to the station of the deceased. The hearse was drawn by six horses, and the coffin splendidly covered with crimson velvet and gilt nails. On a gold plate were the arms, coronet, and supporters. In the first coach were Lords William and Frederic Bentinck, and the Right Honourable George Canning, his uncles, who attended as chief mourners, followed by other relations and friends in a numerous train of carriages.

If, in all the relations of private life, a strictly moral and honourable conduct; if, in public life, a pure disinterested patriotism, and an ardent attachment to English liberty, are just claims to respect and honour, then has the Marquis of Titchfield descended to the grave amply deserving the sincere though unavailing sorrow with which his loss has been contemplated by thousands of his fellow-countrymen.

127

No. VIII.

MRS. SOPHIA LEE.

THE biographical account of an individual so much attached to domestic duties as the lady who is our present subject must, of necessity, be rather the history of her literary career than that of her private life. The close of the last century and the beginning of this have been, indeed, fertile in female authors, justly esteemed in both points of view. Of these many still remain to us; some are lost. It is our melancholy, but we hope meritorious, office to commemorate the latter.

Sophia Lee was born in London, May 1750; her mother (whose family were engaged in the wine trade) though of Scotch parentage, was a native of Oporto. Her father, Mr. Lee, was among the many young men of his day who had been allured to the stage by the talents and celebrity of Garrick, and was said greatly to resemble him in features and voice. Being a man of considerable acquirements * and of unblemished moral character, he was strictly attentive to the education of his children; the more so, as that care early devolved upon him by the loss of his wife. It was, however, most affectionately lightened by his eldest daughter, Sophia, who, after attending her mother through a lingering illness, undertook the arduous office of supplying her place to the younger branches of the family. She had begun, even at that period, however, to indulge a secret passion for writing, which a trifling circumstance unexpectedly betrayed.

It happened that Dr. Elliot, afterwards Sir John, who at

* Mr. Lee received his education at Merchant Taylors', but not being in circumstances to follow it up at the university was afterwards articled to an eminent solicitor.

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tended Mrs. Lee, was not duly furnished with a sheet of paper, on which to write his prescription. The young nurse hastily opened a small trunk, in which all her hidden treasures were deposited, and its contents caught the eye of the doctor. "You seem to have a vary voluminous work there, my dear,” observed he, in his Scotch accent, and with a smile. She hesitated, returned some confused answer, and then ventured to add, in the overflowing of a heart grateful for his attention to her mother, "If I ever should write a book, doctor, I will dedicate it to you." An engagement that was fulfilled many years after. "The Recess was inscribed to Sir John Elliot, in terms characteristic of the sensibility of the author, at a time when, far from expecting such a tribute, he must have totally forgotten the promise,-a promise probably, indeed, never remembered; the compliment was acknowledged by him, however, in a very flattering letter.

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The work which had thus attracted observation, although her first essay in writing, was among the latest of her publications. Its original title was "Cecilia," a name to which she was very partial, and afterwards brought forward in the "Chapter of Accidents;" but, as it had since that time been distinguished by the pen of Miss Burney, Miss Lee, contrary to the simplicity of her first intention, called her own novel "The Life of a Lover."

This work, with much of the alloy which belongs to youth and inexperience, is, nevertheless, remarkable for richness of mind, and happiness of expression. It contains, also, many acute observations upon life and character, such as would excite wonder, when the age and circumstances of the writer are considered, did we not daily see that there is an instinctive penetration in genius that foreruns experience, and seems almost to supply its place.

This "voluminous production," which Sir John Elliot had noticed, and such by degrees it really became (as she often retouched it) was not the only one that employed the fancy of the author. The comedy of "The Chapter of Accidents" was not long after sketched out, in the midst of narrow circum

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