a a certain sum, at least, per sheet. wrote, it is said, to the Chancellor, On one occasion, a gentleman, requesting a small living for a holding office under govern distressed relative of his first patron: ment, sent him an article, which, his request was not complied with. after undergoing some serious It is true, his independence of mutilations at his hands preparatory opinion might seem to be interfered to being ushered into the world, with by the situations he held; was accepted. But the usual sum but they were bestowed on him being sent to the author, he rejected unsolicited, and from motives of it with disdain, conceiving it a personal regard. He enjoyed a high dishonour to be paid for any very close intimacy with Mr. Pitt: thing-Gifford, in answer, inform- he used to mention that when he ed him of the invariable rule of the dined with the minister tête à tête, Review, adding, that he could send or with but a few chosen others, a the money to any charitable insti- servant was never permitted to tution, or dispose of it in any remain in the room. The minismanner he should direct-but that ter's “dumb waiters" were as servicethe money must be paid. The able in his private as in any other doughty official, convinced that the house. virtue of his article would force it Amongst other engaging tainto the Review at all events, stood lents, Gifford possessed that very firm in his refusal :-greatly to his agreeable one of telling a story dismay, the article was returned. well, in singular perfection. The He revenged himself by never gest of trifles of this kind depends sending another. Gifford in re- principally on the manner in which lating this afterwards, observed they are told. Many people acquire with a smile, “Poor man! the ' a right over particular stories; truth was, he did not like my alter- which, from their peculiar happiations: and I'm sure, I didn't like ness in relating them, become his articles; so there was soon an exclusively their own: but Gifford end of our connexion." had an inexhaustible supply, and His objection to asking a pere his arch drollery rendered all almost sonal favour was, owing to the equally good. same principle, exceedingly strong. Gifford, for the last twenty His services formed a very power- years of his life, dined at four, and ful claim to any moderate favour drank tea at six, and for several in the power of ministers to bestow; years, slept immediately after dinand yet, though anxious at all ner till tea-time. Then he was times to gratify the wants of his always glad to see his private needier friends to his utmost ability, friends. He was for many years his aversion to soliciting the bounty exceedingly feeble, and so dreadof government was seldom over- fully oppressed with asthma, as very come: on one occasion, indeed, in often to be entirely deprived of particular, he exerted his influence speech. The fatigue of business in favour of the son of a deceased entailed on him by the Review, friend; but undoubtedly, not with- and the various calls with which he out being driven to it by such was incessantly harassed during the importunity as left an application morning, produced an overpowerto ministers the less of two evils. ing exhaustion, which tends to About two years before his death, he sour the temper or excite irrita e а bility. And if, when suffering under the complicated misery of distressing bodily disease and mental exhaustion, he occasionally be came fretful or peevish, the most illiberal cannot withhold indul gence, nor the most malignant affect surprise. He continued the editorship of the Quarterly much longer than a just regard for his health authorized but no suceessor that was proposed pleased him; and nothing but a bodily decay, little short of dissolution, compelled him to resign. He never stipulated for any salary as editor: at first he received 2004, and at last 900l. per annum, but never engaged for a particular sum. He several times returned money to the publisher, Mr. Murray, saying "he had been too liberal." He was perfectly indifferent about wealth. In unison with his contempt of money was his disregard of any external distinction: he had a natural aversion to any thing like pomp or parade. * *Yet he was by no means insensible to an honourable distinction; and when the University of Oxford, about two years before his death, offered to give him a doctor's degree, he observed, "Twenty years ago it would have been gratifying, but now it would only be written on my coffin." Mr. Gifford was short in person; his hair was of a remarkably handsome brown colour, and was as glossy and full at the time of his death, as at any previous period. He lost the use of his right eye, I believe, by gradual and natural decay but the remaining one made ample amends for the absence of its fellow, having a remarkable quickness and brilliancy, and a power of expressing every variety of feeling, His head was of a very singular shape; being by no means high, if measured from the chin to the crown; but of great horizontal length from the forehead to the back of the head. His forehead projected at a right angle from his face, in a very uncommon manner. A few days before his death he said, I shall not trouble myself with taking any more medicineit's of no use-I shall not get up again.' As his last hour drew nearer, his mind occasionally wandered; he said once These books have driven me mad-I must read my prayers singular words, coming from a man deeply impressed with religious feeling. Some have seen in his library what appeared to be a paraphrase, or translation, of the Book of Job, in his own hand-writing. Soon after, all power of motion failed him, he could not raise a tea-spoon to his mouth, nor stir in his bed. His breath became very low, and interrupted by long pauses; his pulse had ceased to beat five hours before his death. was continually inquiring what time it was. He once faltered forth, "When will this be over?" At last, on his nurse coming into the room, he said, "Now I'm ready; (words he generally used when he was ready to be moved) very well! -you may go." These were his last words; on retiring, the nurse listened behind the door; she observed the intervals of his breathing to grow longer;-she re-entered the room just in time to catch a breath that had a little of the strength of a sigh-it was his last! The few who saw him afterwards, agreed that the usual serenity of death was exceeded by the placid composure of his countenance. He Mr. Gifford died at his house No. 6, James Street, Buckingham Gate, on the 31st of Dec. 1826. It was his original wish to be buried in South Audley Chapel; but his friend Dr. Ireland procured his consent to have his body deposited in Westminster Abbey; where his interment took place on the 8th of January, 1827. The probate of Mr. Gifford's will was taken out under 25,000l. personal property. He left the bulk of his fortune to the Rev. Mr. Cookesley (the son of his original benefactor), who is likewise his residuary legatee. He left his house in James Street, for the remainder of the term, nearly thirty years, to Mrs. Hoppner, widow of the eminent portrait-painter, and legacies of a few hundreds to her children. He left a sum of money, the interest of which is to be distributed annually amongst the poor of Ashburton. He left likewise to Exeter College another sum, the foundation of two scholarships. Three thousand pounds are left to the relatives of his beloved maid servant. He left to Mr. Heber his edition of Maittaire's Classics, and any other books Mr. Heber might choose to select. To Mr. Murray, the bookseller, he left 100%. as a memorial; likewise five hundred guineas, to enable him to reimburse a military gentleman, with whom he appears to have become jointly bound for the advance of that sum for Mr. Cookesley, at a former period. He left to his executor, Dr. Ireland, fifty guineas for a ring, and any of his books the Dean might select; and he requested his Executor to destroy all confidential papers, especially those relating to the Review. Other legacies to individuals werelikewise left. There were various codicils to the will. The whole was in his own handwriting. 1 MANNERS, CUSTOMS, &c. & CALCUTTA. a [From Alexander's Travels from India to England.] THE first appearance of Cala vernment, and bounded on two grand and imposing: the public buildings of Chowsinghee. It buildings, mostly of the Grecian commands a view of the river and order, are extremely handsome ; of Fort William. porticoes, colonnades, and piazzas, The appearance of lord Amherst abound every where. The river on this scene did not exactly corwas crowded with shipping, chiefly respond with what might have European, with budgerows, bolios, been expected from the Governor and other Indian craft; the whole general of India, though it accorded indicating the commercial prosperity with his unassuming character. He of this flourishing capital of our rode in plain clothes, on a white Eastern empire. horse, not remarkable for its The vehicles for transporting beauty, attended by a single aidethe natives from one part of the de-camp, and couple of troopers city to the other, called Karaun- of the body-guard, who were Chees, are paltry conveyances, and dressed in red hússar jackets, would be a disgrace to any city: with silver-lace, leather breeches they have large clumsy bodies, and long boots, caps and feathers. painted in a tawdry manner, with- Lady Amherst appeared in a better out glazed windows, exceedingly style, accompanied by her daughdirty, and are drawn by two miser- ter and an aide-de-camp, in a smart able tatoes, or ponies, urged into a carriage and four: an escort of the jog-trot by the voice and chabook body-guard attended in front and of a naked coachman. Men with The vehicles on the course huge umbrellas were running about, were of every build, from the offering their friendly shade to dashing landau to the humble pedestrians who chose to hire buggy. Some of the ladies sported them. bare arms, and were unbonneted: In the evening the course was a few of the gentlemen promenaded crowded with gay equipages till in white jackets, without hats. sunset. The course is a broad Rich natives, baboos and others, road round a grass quadrangle ad- were lounging in their coaches; joining the splendid palace of go- among them were the representas rear. was tives of the Pacha of Egypt, the Baboo Russum Doss Moolk (reImaun of Muscat, &c. The Strand ported to be worth one hundred is a street which leads along the lakhs), on occasion of the marriage river, and is resorted to by the more of his son. The saloon in which sober and unostentatious portion of we assembled brilliantly the inhabitants. Here were several lighted up with wax candles in beautiful Armenian ladies with expensive cut-glass chandeliers. golden diadems, the lower part of The natives sat on chairs and their faces muffled in white veils, couches; many of them wore Engwho were enjoying in their carriages lish stockings, shoes, and kid gloves, the cool breeze from the river. which made a ridiculous addition Close to the Strand is a steam- to their Oriental costumes. The engine for raising water from the son of one of the baboos, a boy of Hooghly, and distributing it over eight years of age, was dressed in the city. This is a recent im- the full uniform of a general offiprovement, and attended with cer, with cocked hat aiguillette, great benefit and comfort to the &c. The master of the house inhabitants of Calcutta. There having handed round the attar, are now runs of water along the and sprinkled the company with streets, which are daily watered. rose-water, was succeeded by do During this month (February) mestics offering cool sherbets, plays were occasionally performed fruit, and patisserie. The enterby amateurs; balls and parties tainments consisted of dancingwerefrequentamong the Europeans, girls succeeded by Persian boys, and nautches among the natives. who performed various feats of One of the latter was given by agility with swords. Visit of the ENGLISH ENVOY (COLONEL MACDONALD KINNEIR) lo the Camp of the Shah of PERSIA. In approaching the camp we hundred of them, with the Nasackhad a delightful ride through a chee Bashee in their front, accommost romantic valley. It was panied by other grandees and very narrow, and at the bottom khans. The royal standard was rushed a tumultuous stream ; the displayed in their centre, having banks were clothed with low the device of the Lion and Sun. jungle, and in many places were We proceeded towards the camp, little millet fields. and passed the royal tents, surThe glen widened into a broad rounded by a lofty serai purdah. * valley. At a distance was seen a The tents were white, with red white mass of tents, stretching stripes. In front of the enclosure quite across the valley, and over- was the tent in which the king shadowed by lofty mountains ; holds his salaam or levee, and sits nearer us was a black line of The serai purdah is a tent-wall of horsemen. They formed the Istak- canvass, surrounding the tents of the ball, and advanced in line, six king and nobles. Vol. LXIX. 2 K a |