[THE noble family of Courcy boasts its descent in the male line from the house of Lorrain, of the race of Charlemagne, and in the female line from the sovereign house of Normandy. Its history might form a modern romance. Sir John de Courcy, as champion of England, obtained from king John a privilege that he and his successors, their first obeisance being paid, might be covered in the royal presence—a privilege still retained.

Gerald, the twenty-fourth lord Kinsale, met with some opposition in succeeding to the title, which he removed by his petition to the house of peers, Oct. 1721, and took his seat accordingly. In June following he was presented to George the first, and had the honour to kiss his hand, and to remain covered in his presence; which was afterwards claimed by and granted to his successors. In January 1743 he was called to the privy-council by his sovereign, from whose bounty he received in 1748 a pension of £300 a year 2. His lordship married Margaretta, only daughter and heiress of John Essington, esq. of Ashlyns, Herts; but died without issue male, Dec. 1, 1759.

He is spoken of in lord Orford's Addenda 3, as having left among his common-place books a thin MS. containing Jacobite ballads, panegyrics upon Swift, odes, and rebusses, &c. in very plebeian numbers; and an Epistle on redeeming time, addressed to his father-in-law.]

'See Works, vol. i. p. 525.

HAMILTON BOYLE,

EARL OF CORKE AND ORRERY,

[THE second son of John, earl of Orrery, was born in Feb. 1730, educated at Westminster 2, matriculated at Oxford in June 1748, admitted student of Christ Church in December following, and proceeded regularly to the degree of LL.B. In 1762 he succeeded his father 3 in the earldom; his elder brother having deceased three years before. In 1763 he was created LL.D. by diploma, and at the same time appointed high steward of the university of Oxford. He continued student of Christ Church on a faculty till his death, which happened at Marston House, on the 17th of January 1764. His lordship died unmarried.

He is recorded as an author from having contributed two papers to the World, which are drawn up with vivacity, elegance, and humour; and afford a full proof, says Dr. Kippis, that if this young nobleman's life had been continued, it would have been in his power to have added new literary honour to his

• Dr. Kippis informs us, that the masterly manner in which he acted the part of Ignoramus, and spoke the epilogue, in the dormitory at Westminster, did great credit to his genius. Biog. Brit. vol. ii. p. 525.

The excellent advice given to him by that father, may be perused in the last letter of lord Orrery's Remarks on the Life and Writings of Swift.

4 Biog. Brit. ut sup. p. 524.

illustrious name and family. Nos. 60 and 170 are those written by Mr. H. Boyle, whose design was to expose the folly of giving vails to servants in private families, and the absurdity of an ostentatious and illdirected charity to public hospitals. The extract here made is from the former.

"During my stay in London I have been obliged to fall in with the customs of the place; and have learnt to my cost, that egression as well as admission, must be purchased. I am at length, however, with many more of my acquaintance, reduced to a disagreeable necessity of seeing my friends very seldom ; because I cannot afford (according to a very just and fashionable expression) to pay a visit to them.

"Every man who has had the misfortune to exceed his circumstances, must, in order to recover himself, abstain from certain expences, which in the gross of his disbursements, have made the most formidable articles. The œconomist of the city parts with his country house; the squire disposes of his hounds; and I keep other people's servants in pay no longer. But having an earnest desire of mixing with those friends whom an early intimacy has most endeared to me, and preferring the social hours that are spent at tables to most others of my life, I cannot at all times refuse their invitations, even though I have nothing for their servants. And here, alas! the inconveniencies of an empty pocket are as strongly exhibited as in any case of insolvency that I know of. I am a marked man. If I ask for beer, I am presented with a piece of bread. If I am bold enough to call for wine, after a delay

272 HAMILTON, EARL OF CORKE AND orrery.

which would take away its relish were it good, I receive a mixture of the whole sideboard in a greasy glass. If I hold up my plate nobody sees me; so that I am forced to eat mutton with my fish-sauce, and pickles with my apple-pye. I observe, there is hardly a custom amongst us, be it what it will, that we are not as tenacious and jealous of, as of any national privileges. It is from this consideration that I expect rather to see an increase than an abolition of our follies; an improvement rather than a change. I should not therefore conclude my subject without injustice to a friend, if I did not reveal a new method which he says he intends to propose to some of the leaders of fashions; and which he has no doubt, he assures me, of seeing soon in practice. Let every artificer that has contributed to raise the house you have the honour to dine in, make his appearance when the company is going away. Let the mason, the painter, the joiner, the glazier, the upholsterer, &c. arrange themselves in the same order as the gentlemen in and out of livery do at such junctures and let every guest consider, that he could not have regaled himself that day within his friend's walls, if it had not been for the joint labours of those worthy mechanics. Such a generous reflection would produce three good effects: liberality would have a fresh and noble subject for its exertion; the tradesmen would be satisfied to their utmost wishes; nor could the payment of bills any more than of wages, with reason or propriety, be demanded of the master."]