( 150 ) prebends, and we shall be no less solicitous to please you. I will dispute that point with every body, being of all persons living, Sir, your most humble and most obedient servant." Lady Bolingbroke died in March 1749-50, and lies buried in the same vault with her lord in Battersea church; on the north wall of which, near the altar, a monument by Roubiliac was erected to their memory, on which are medallions with profiles, in basso relievo, of both of them, well executed in white marble, and the following inscription: "In the days of King George the first and King George the second, ་ 66 Something more and better. "His attachment to Queen Anne Exposed him to a long and severe persecution : "He bore it with firmness of mind. "The enemy of no national party, Distinguished (under the cloud of a proscription, "Bred in the court of Lewis XIVth. by the amiable dignity and grace of her behaviour. "The honour of her own sex, "The delight and admiration of ours : "An object of imitation to both, "With all the resignation that religion, Aged 74, the 18th of March, "1749-50." This high eulogium was without doubt written by her husband, Henry viscount Bolingbroke, who survived her about two years. In some verses addressed by Pope to lord Bolingbroke, which have never been published, and with which we have been favoured by Edmond Malone, Esq. the lady who is the subject of the present memoir, and the place of her residence, are mentioned in such a manner, as shews that the poet was not less delighted with her company than that of his " guide, philosopher and friend." an me ludit amabilis Insania, &c. "What pleasing frenzy steals away my soul! 66 Through thy blest shades, Latour, I seem to rove: "I see thy fountains fall, thy waters roll, "And breathe soft zephyrs that refresh thy grove: "I hear whatever can delight inspire, "VILLETTE'S soft voice, and St, John's silver lyre." Harding delet fculp WILLIAM POWLETT, FIRST MARQUIS of WINCHESTER. From an Original Picture in the Collection of Egerton Brydges Esq Pub May 1, 1993, by E&S Harding, Pall Mall. 1 WILLIAM POWLETT, FIRST MARQUIS OF WINCHESTER. WILLIAM Paulet, or Powlet, first marquis of Winchester, and founder of the greatness of the noble house of BOLTON, was born about 1475, probably at Basing, in Hampshire, being eldest son of Sir John Paulet, by Elizabeth daughter of his cousin Sir Amias Paulet, of Hinton St. George in Somersetshire, which Sir John was son of John, whose father Sir John Paulet got the estate at Basing, by Marriage with Constance, 2d daughter and co-heir of Hugh Poynings, son and heir of Thomas lord St. John of Basing, descended from the Ports, who were Saxon noblemen, and suffered to retain the large barony of Basing at the conquest. William Paulet, the great great grandfather of the marquis, who was serjeant at law 3 Hen. V. and died 1435, having married the heiress of Delamere of Noney castle, in Somersetshire, was 2d son of Sir John Paulet, ancestor fo earl Poulet. The marquis therefore was very nobly descended; but it is not improbable that the family estate was a little decayed; though the seat at Basing still remained in their possession; so that he found it adviseable to have recourse to the court for a revival of the family splendor: and there are few instances of more uniform success than attended him there through a very long life. In 24 Hen. VIII. (being then a knight) he was comptroller of the king's household; and in 25 Hen. VIII. he was sent with the duke of Norfolk to attend Francis I. king of France, upon his intended interview with the pope at Marseilles. In 29 Hen. VIII. he was made treasurer of the king's household, and the next ensuing year, by letters patent bearing date 29 March, 1538-9, advanced to the peerage, by the title of lord St. John of Basing: [tho' he already had a co-claim to the ancient barony of that title by descent, as has been stated.] |