CHARLES SACKVILLE, DUKE OF DORSET, POSSESSE OSSESSED the hereditary talent of his family; and though a poet of no eminence, had a genteel style in his verses, that spoke the man of quality, without subjecting him to the ridicule that has been so justly lavished on what were formerly called Poems by a Person of Honour. This duke wrote, "Verses on the Beauties." "A Poem," printed in Dodsley's Museum. "Arno's Vale :" a song on the death of John Gaston, great duke of Tuscany, written at Florence. 2 "Anacreontic on the Death of Sir Henry Bellendine," in 1764. A choice composition in its way, as bacchanalian. "A Treatise on the Militia." 2 And addressed, says Mr. Ritson, to signora Muscovita, a singer, and a favourite of the author's. See English Songs, vol. i. p. 225. [This duke was the eldest son of Lionel Cranfield, seventh earl and first duke of Dorset, was born in 1711, and in 1734 made governor of Walmer Castle, and elected to parliament for East Grinsted, Sussex; for which county, and for Kent, he was successively chosen knight of the shire. In December 1743 he accepted the place of a lord of the treasury, on the resignation of which, in 1747, he was constituted master of the horse to Frederick prince of Wales. On the death of his father in 1765, he succeeded to the family titles and estates; was appointed lord lieutenant, vice-admiral, and custos rotulorum of the county of Kent and city of Canterbury; elected high-steward of Stratford-upon-Avon, and sworn of the privy-council. His grace died, without issue, Jan. 6, 1769 3, and is recorded in the Gentleman's Magazine as a lover of learning, a patron of learned men, and the author of several esteemed pieces in prose and verse. 4 The following prose production by this nobleman was in the library of the late Mr. Reed: "A Treatise concerning the Militia, in four Sections: 1. Of the Militia in general. 2. Of the Roman Militia. 3. Of the proper Plan of a Militia for this Country. 4. Observations upon this Plan. By C. S." Lond. 1752. 8vo. His grace's poetical effusions are numerous, and 3 Collins's Peerage, vol. ii. p. 223. 5th edition. • Vol. xxxix. p. 54. his style is polished, though familiar. They consist, in addition to lord Orford's enumeration, of "Britain's Isle a Song on the Death of Frederic, Prince of Wales." Printed in the Gentleman's Ma gazine for 1751. "Verses to Mr. Pope, on reading Mr. Addison's Account of the English Poets." "Translation of the twenty-first Ode of the third Book of Horace." "Verses on Lady Abergavenny." "Verses upon a Goose." The above four pieces are printed in Baldwin's " two supplemental volumes to Pope's Works. Lond. 1776, 8vo. Another short piece is entitled "The British Toasts." Mr. Reed has pointed out the following, in Dr. Maty's Review, vol. iii. "Verses to a Friend, who pressed the Author to marry for the sake of a great Fortune." "Two Epigrams." "Encore; or the Lady-Volunteers Request from the Isle of Wight, May 26. 1748." A song. "The Girl that's made for me." A song. "The happy Husband." ⚫ Baldwin, the publisher, compiled those volumes from Mr. Stevens's communications to the St. James's Chronicle, as I was told by Mr. Reed. Mr. Cooke supplied the preface, who has written the life of Foote, and any other productions. |