a meeting of the gentlemen then in town, at the Freemasons' Tavern, to take into consideration some means of affording relief to their Christian brethren. The meeting was most numerous and respectable; the Archbishop of Canterbury, many Bishops, and most of the nobility then in London, attending; and Mr. Wilmot being called to the chair, and having stated his object in calling them together, subscriptions to a large amount were immediately entered into; and a fund created, which, with the assistance of Parliament, and the contributions of every parish in the kingdom, relieved, and continued to relieve, until the return of peace rendered a continuance unnecessary, those unhappy exiles from their native shores. Mr. Wilmot continued, till he retired into the country a few years ago, to dispense under government this national bounty;a task well suited to that universal benevolence and kindness of heart which so eminently distinguished him, and in which he had few equals, and none superior.

In 1793 he married a second wife, Sarah-Anne, daughter of Colonel Haslam ; by this lady he had a son and a daughter, both of whom died in their infancy.

It was in the spring of 1804, that, finding himself ill able, from bodily infirmity, to continue the various employments he had so long zealously fulfilled, as also from an innate and hereditary love of retirement and study, he resolved to quit London entirely, and live in the country. He accordingly resigned his Mastership in Chancery, his situation as Distributor of Relief to the French Refugees, and some of the many important trusts which his own kindness and the importunity of friends had induced him to accept. He bought Bruce Castle, formerly the seat of the Coleraine family, situated at Tottenham, about five miles from London; near enough to town to continue what remained of the

duty of Commissioner of the American Claims, and to discharge several trusts which were of a family

nature.

He passed his time in his favourite employments, reading and study; to which may be added, active benevolence; and having been one of the best of sons as well as the best of fathers, he employed himself in writing the Life of Sir Eardley, whose memory he revered to adoration; and published with it several letters from that great man to different members of his family, which are universally acknowledged to be some of the finest models of sound morality and nervous composition that were ever edited for the training up of youth in virtue and honour. He also printed with his Life. several Opinions and Judgments of Sir Eardley, abridged indeed in the Law Reports of the day, but copied more at large from the manuscript papers of that great Judge.

He soon after engaged again in biography, of which he was always remarkably fond, and pub· lished a Life, with original Letters, of Bishop Hough, a character not unlike Sir Eardley's, for benevolence, learning, and a love of independence.

Besides the above publications, Mr. Wilmot published in 1779, "A Short Defence of the Opposition," in answer to a pamphlet intituled, "A Short History of the Opposition." He also published in 1780 a re-publication, in duodecimo, of Glanville, which he had carefully collated from the Harl. Cott. Bodl. and Mill. MSS.

The last publication which his labours bestowed on the public, was a History of the Commission of American Claims, printed in the beginning of 1815, and which gives a luminous and concise account of that noble monument of national gratitude.

Being repeatedly attacked by a paralytic affection, which undermined his health and strength, his constitution, never strong, gradually gave way;

and for the last two or three years of his life he was not equal to much exertion. It was in the beginning of June 1815 that he was attacked by a bilious complaint, which greatly debilitated him; but, having in some measure recovered, he carried into effect a resolution he had much at heart, of visiting his son and grandchildren in Warwickshire. This journey much weakened him; but the cause of his death was a disease which must have been some time increasing, water in the chest. On the day of his death, which occurred at Tottenham, June 23, 1815, in his 67th year, he was apparently in better bealth than he had been for years; his countenance had resumed the benevolent mildness which characterised it, less tinctured by disease, and more animated; his spirits were excellent, even joyous; and his family anticipated with delight a return of health . and happiness. But these symptoms were a presage of that eternal happiness, which, we trust, through the mercy of God, awaited him; for, after passing the evening in mirth and gaiety in the bosom of his family, as he was stepping into bed, without a sigh or murtnur, or any external sign of dissolution, he suddenly breathed his last, and seemed to fall asleep rather than to die.

After the preceding account, it is almost unnecessary to write the character of so good a man. As a son, father, husband, and brother, he was most tender and most affectionate; as a friend, unremittingly zealous, sincere, and benevolent; as a master, liberal and kind; to all most courteous and attentive; in every thing preferring the happiness of others to his own, and suffering no obstacle, however difficult, nor any repulse, however ungrateful, to overcome his exertions to do good. To the poor he was a liberal, and often an unknown, benefactor; and always increased the obligation of his charitable beneficence, by the affectionate sympathy with which he bestowed it. As long as humi

lity and benevolence shall be esteemed two of the greatest as well as rarest of human virtues, the name of Mr. Wilmot will be endeared to posterity, and his example looked up to by the followers of true Christianity.

1. JOHN WILMOT, Esq. to RICHARD GOUGH, Esq.

“ SIR, Bedford-row, June 14, 1798. "I waited a few days to answer your obliging letters, in hopes of being able to do it more satisfactorily. Upon inquiry I find there are not many of the French Clergy who are conversant in the particular branches that you mention, and fortunately few of them are in a situation of need and distress; in fact, not above one half of the French Clergy refugees in these dominions are upon our relief list. There are two now employed at the Museum; and one ecclesiastic, very well versed in antiquities, Mons. Bevy, is lately returned to Brabant. At the same time there are undoubtedly many who might be employed, and are qualified, as transcribers; and I have already got some of them to teach French in private families. These of course are few in comparison of the great number who are in want; but still every thing of this sort is both a benefit and an amusement to the individual, and a source to the general fund. If, therefore, you should know of any opportunity of employing one or more in any line whatever, I have no doubt of finding persons qualified in the capacity you may have occasion for.

"I have the honour to be, Sir, with great respect, your most faithful and obedient servant, JOHN WILMOT.

"I think it will give you pleasure to hear that we have already received above £.15,000 for the use of the French Clergy."

2. J. E. WILMOT, Esq. to Mr. NICHOLS.

"Tottenham, April 15, 1807. "Mr. Wilmot's compliments to Messrs. Nichols and Son, and sends them the remainder of his Biographical Sketch *, which he is afraid cannot be got into the next Magazine. He has sent also a plate of a head, which he has had altered, &c. It has cost more than he expected. He wishes to have the plate again when quite done with.

"Messrs. Nichols may use the plate either next month or the ensuing, as they think best. Mr. Wilmot would be glad to see the proofs."

This was a memoir of the Bishop of St. Pol de Leon, which extended through several numbers of the Gentleman's Magazine, and was accompanied by a portrait of that benevolent Prelate.

3. DEAR SIR, Sept. 1, 1812. "I would with pleasure send you a copy of the letter you allude to of Bishop of Warburton, had not a particular friend of his desired me not to print the whole of it, which I presume is what you wish; but any others I have shall be at your service. "We got home safe (as I hope you did) after seeing Althorpe, Woburn, and Luton-park, with all which, particularly the latter, and indeed all the rest, we were much gratified.

"Yours very sincerely,

4. "DEAR SIR,

J. E. WILMOT."

Tottenham, Jan. 16, 1813.

"I have been very ill, which will account to you for my using another hand. I am preparing a letter for your Magazine of next month, which I hope to send you in a few days at furthest. It is an answer to a letter signed N. S. in your December Magazine, p. 499*. I know I can depend upon your taciturnity during my life at least, though I shall say nothing in it I shall be ashained to avow. I am an old Correspondent.

"When I get better, V. Deo, I will send one or two original letters. J. E. W."

5. "DEAR SIR,

Tottenham, Jan. 19, 1813.

"I was struck with the first letter, signed N. S. in your last Magazine, p. 499; and it occurred to me, ill as I was, to answer the substance of it. At the same time I had not then read, as I since have done, more than one volume of Woodfall's late edition of Junius's Letters, which would have afforded many other, and still stronger reasons, against N. S.'s conjecture. I do not see, however, any thing to retract in my observations; but as I used another hand, and have not been well, I beg you to exercise your judgment as to the substance and inditing of it, as well as to any other errata you may perceive. I wish you to insert or not, in your next number, as you think proper.

"If you have marked any of the many errata in the Life of Bishop Hough, I should be obliged to you for them. I received lately some prints from Dr. Disney from Bath; if you ever write to him, please to say my illness has prevented my sending him thanks sooner. I am glad you are pretty well. Mine and the ladies' respects to you and your daughters.

"Yours very faithfully,

J. E. W."

It is an article, by Mr. Nichols, suggesting that Junius was the Earl of Shelburne, afterwards Marquis of Lansdowne. Mr. Wilmot's answer was signed JUNIOR in the January Magazine, p. 3.