1 Soame Jenyns was a man of delicate and refined wit, an elegant writer, and a shrewd observer of manners and men. His attachment to the government was rewarded by his post at the Board of Trade, which he held for five-and-twenty years, maintaining a high character for political integrity. Mr. Jenyns was the author of " Poems,' in 2 vols.; "A Free Inquiry into the Origin of Evil;" and "A View of the Internal Evidence of the Christian Religion." But these form only a portion of his works. In early life he was of a religious turn of mind, but he subsequently wandered into deism. It is gratifying to add, however, that a closer inquiry brought him out of the dangerous path of scepticism, and that he remained ever afterwards a firm and pious Christian He died at the age of 84. The work last mentioned was, it is supposed, written as some atonement (and it is valuable upon that account) for his previous infidelity.

Aug. 31, 1772.

Soame Jenyns.

Edward Eliot.

George, lord Greville, afterwards earl of Warwick.

Bamber Gascoyne.

William Jolliffe.

John, lord Garlies, afterwards earl of Galloway.
Lord Robert Spencer, vice Roberts.

Andrew Stuart.

Edward Gibbon.

WILLIAM, earl of DARTMOUTH, vice lord Hills-Hans Sloane, vice Jenyns. borough.

Benjamin L'Anglois, vice Greville.

The historian. A greater number of the literary luminaries of their time belonged to this Board than, perhaps, to any other division of the state. We have already noticed Locke, Prior, Addison, and Soame Jenyns; and to this brilliant galaxy is now to be added the illustrious author of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire; a work that (despite its one great fault, a grievous fault no doubt) will eternize his name. Gibbon obtained a commission at this board for the Manifesto (the ablest state paper of the day), which he was employed to draw up on the occasion of the war with France, in 1778. He lost his place on the suppression of the Board in 1782.

THOMAS, lord SYDNEY, one of the principal secretaries of state, president.

Sir Adam Fergusson, bart., vice lord Walsing- Heneage, earl of Aylesford.

ESTABLISHMENT OF THE PRESENT BOARD OF TRADE. LORDS of the COMMITTEE of PRIVY COUNCIL appointed by His Majesty (GEORGE III.) for the consideration of all matters relating to TRADE and FOREIGN PLANTATIONS.

August 23, 1786.

"His Majesty having thought fit to revoke his Order in Council, bearing date the 5th day of March, 1784, appointing a Committee of Privy Council for the consideration of all matters relating to Trade and Foreign Plantations, and to declare the said Committee dissolved, was pleased to appoint a New Committee of Privy Council for the business above-mentioned, to consist of the following members :·

"And also such of the persons of His Majesty's most honourable Privy Council as shall hold any of the following offices:

The Paymaster or Paymaster-general of His The Master of His Majesty's Mint.

"And His Majesty was at the same time pleased to order, that the Speaker of the House of Commons of Ireland, and such persons as shall hold offices in His Majesty's kingdom of Ireland, and shall be members of His Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council in this kingdom, shall be members of this Committee; and also that

"be members of this Committee. And that the Rt. hon. Charles Lord Hawkesbury, chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster, and, in his absence, the Rt. hon. William

Wyndham Grenville, joint paymaster-general of the forces (vice-president of the Board, &c.), be President of the Committee."

SUBSEQUENT MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

1788. Dr. Beilby Porteus, lord bishop of London. | 1805. Rt. hon. John Smyth.

PRESIDENTS OF THE BOARD OF TRADE FROM 1786.

Charles, lord Hawkesbury; afterwards earl of Rt. hon. John-Charles Herries.
Liverpool, first president.

1 The eminent naturalist, and president of the Royal Society, and member of the National Institute of France. This illustrious name may well be associated with the names already noticed. Sir Joseph Banks's enthusiasm in the study of natural history led him to accompany Captain Cook in his first circumnavigation of the world: he died in 1820.

Feb. 5, 1845.

July 22, 1847. James Andrew, earl (afterwards marquess) of Rt. hon. Henry Labouchere, again. The NOW Dalhousie. (1850) President of the Board.

July 6, 1846.

George-William Frederick, earl of Clarendon.

Rt. hon. William Wyndham Grenville; after- Rt. hon. Thomas Peregrine Courtenay. wards lord Grenville.

Dec. 20, 1834.

Rt. hon. Dudley Ryder; afterwards successively Rt. hon. William, viscount Lowther. lord and earl of Harrowby.

May 6, 1835.

Rt. hon. Henry Labouchere; afterwards president.

QUEEN VICTORIA.

Aug. 29, 1839.

Rt. hon. Richard Lalor Sheil.

Jan. 28, 1818.

June 28, 1841.

Rt. hon. Fox Maule.

Sept. 3, 1841.

Rt. hon. William Ewart Gladstone; afterwards president.

June 13, 1843.

James-Andrew, earl of Dalhousie; afterwards president. Now Marquess of Dalhousie.

Feb. 5, 1845.

Rt. hon. Thomas Wallace; afterwards lord Rt. hon. sir George Clerk, bart.

In virtue of their | 1841. John-George Shaw Lefevre; appointed
office of clerks of
to succeed Mr. Le Marchant, on his
going to the treasury. June 19.
George Richardson Porter; appointed to
succeed Mr. Mac Gregor. Aug. 6.
Sir Denis Le Marchant, bart.; appointed
to succeed Mr. Lefevre, on his going to
the house of lords. May 14.
James Booth; appointed to succeed Sir
Denis le Marchant on his going to the
house of commons. Oct. 10.

1810. Thomas Lack, appointed assistant secretary. Aug. 25.

1829. Joseph Deacon Hume, second assistant secretary; new appointment. July 15. 1836. Denis le Marchant (afterwards sir Denis, bart.) appointed to succeed Mr. Lack. Feb. 8.

1840. John Mac Gregor; appointed to succeed

Mr. Hume. Jan. 24.

1847.

1848.

1850.

The Board of Trade consisted of six or more members from the time of its reinstitution in 1786 (as it had previously done), besides the ex officio commissioners. But the business of late years has been wholly conducted by the president, the vice