When Sir John Jervis was raised to the peerage, and the other flag-officers under his command were created baronets for their conduct in the battle off Cape St. Vincent, the latter rank was offered to Vice Admiral Waldegrave; this, however, he declined, as being inferior to that which he then held as an earl's younger son.

He received the freedom of the City of London for his distinguished services, and on the 29th of December 1800, previous to the Union, was created a peer of Ireland by the title of Baron Radstock. *

His lordship was promoted to the rank of admiral, April 29, 1802, from which time he was not employed. At the public funeral of the gallant Nelson, Lord Radstock attended the body by water from Greenwich, and was one of the supporters of the chief mourner, the late Sir Peter Parker, Admiral of the Fleet. He was nominated a G. C. B. January 2, 1815.

The honours conferred upon Lord Radstock prove how distinguished he was in his profession; yet there not having been any recent demand for his services, he of late years shone more brightly as a private than as a public character. No man was ever more conscientiously bent upon doing good than his lordship. A zealous advocate for the established church and government, the whole impulse of his warm feelings urged him towards their support. Of an active disposition, which would not allow him to be unemployed, he was constantly engaged either in patriotically contributing to the public welfare, or in benevolently promoting the welfare of his fellow-creatures. The earnestness which he evinced in these laudable pursuits was so remarkable as occasionally to call forth the remonstrances of his friends, who were apprehensive that he might seriously injure himself by his exertions and sacrifices for the benefit of others. During the period at which the partizans of the French revolution were endeavour

* Radstock, in the county of Somerset, was possessed by his family since the reign of Henry the Eighth, by the marriage of his ancestor, Sir Edward Waldegrave.

ing to disseminate in this country doctrines subversive of all social order, Lord Radstock's pen was busily employed in writing loyal hand-bills, pamphlets, songs, &c. which he distributed himself among all classes of the people. Many articles in the same spirit were also furnished by him to the newspapers of that day; and when the country, many years afterwards, was threatened with invasion, Lord Radstock again exerted his whole powers in a similar manner, to stimulate the patriotic feeling which was so universally displayed. In the intervals of professional service at sea during the war, he devoted his leisure to the alleviation of the distresses of the poor, by procuring the distribution of food to them at a cheap rate, in times of scarcity. When the Constitutional Association was formed, he became a warm friend to it, and prevailed upon many individuals of distinction to join in opposing the efforts of infidelity and disloyalty to seduce the people. Strenuously attached to the church, he always gave the Protestant cause his utmost support against the dangers with which, in his opinion, it was menaced by the growing influence of the advocates of the Catholics. His strong and never shaken sentiments on this point, led him to seek and cultivate the acquaintance of Dr. Bell; and, convinced that early religious principles are the only foundation for the improvement of mankind, he was for many years a most active member of the committee of the National Central School. His regard for the church equally induced him to promote the interests of the Clergy Orphan Society, of which he was vice-president. He was also vice-president of the Society for the Suppression of Vice, and of the Asylum for Female Orphans; both of which, for some years, derived influence from his support. He was likewise vice-president of the Blind Asylum (in the welfare of which he was much interested), and of the Maryle-bone General Dispensary. Connected as he was with the navy, he was ever desirous of inculcating religious knowledge among seamen. In the year 1797, as president of a courtmartial which sentenced several mutineers to death, he made a serious and impressive address on the occasion, which was

afterwards printed and circulated through the fleet. After the victory of Trafalgar, he promoted a large subscription for distributing to seamen, gratis, the Gazettes of our various naval victories, under the title of "The Wooden Walls of Old England, or the British Flag triumphant;" with an appropriate address, in which their piety and their patriotism were equally excited; the one as urging them to gratitude to their God for the mercies they had experienced, the other as stimulating them to further exertions in the glorious cause of their king and country. The improvement which has of late years taken place in the habits and morals of that large and valuable class of the community, the seamen, may be principally ascribed to the benevolent exertions of several distinguished and respectable individuals, on whom the laudable example set by Lord Radstock was not lost. To the interests of the officers of the navy, the noble lord was equally attentive. He availed himself of the national exultation and gratitude consequent on a succession of splendid naval victories to promote the regeneration of the Naval Charitable Society for the relief of naval officers and their families reduced to indigence. At the time of Lord Radstock's interference, the funds of this Society were so low that very few applicants could be relieved. By urging the whole navy to subscribe, and by procuring extensive assistance among his friends, the capital of the society has, within these few years, been increased to upwards of 30,000l., besides a large annual subscription. On an average, about two hundred and sixty families are annually relieved, so that, while the British navy exists, this society will be a lasting monument to the memory of Lord Radstock, its re-founder and president.

Nor, while he was thus engaged in promoting public charity, was Lord Radstock for a moment inattentive to the claims of private distress. Among many instances in which his benevolence was powerfully exerted in succouring the unfortunate, one of the most striking was that of the widow and family of a clergyman who actually died in the pulpit, in the discharge of his sacred functions. Principally through Lord Radstock's

zeal, the widow obtained no less a sum in various contributions than 6000l.; and her children were all provided for.

Lord Radstock had great taste in the fine arts, and his love of pictures became an irresistible passion. Even when the walls of his house in Portland Place were filled, he still continued to purchase, so that he has left a very extensive and valuable collection. As he always considered inferior pictures as rubbish, and the money expended upon them as thrown away, he bought only such as were of high intrinsic merit; and for these he frequently gave such sums as astonished those who were aware of his limited means as a younger brother. He was a great patron of young artists. Many have had the benefit of studying the fine works in his collection; and many in all departments of the art, whose merit was unknown, have experienced the warmth of his friendship in his endeavours to bring them into public notice. If there be any pursuit in which a man can be happier than that of following the plough, the poetical peasant of Northamptonshire, Clare, must also feel deeply obliged to Lord Radstock for his kind zeal in his favour.

His lordship's death was occasioned by apoplexy; and occurred at his house in Portland Place, on the 20th of August 1825. On the 26th his remains were interred in the vault adjoining the north wall of the chancel of Navestock church, Essex; where his father and grandfather, Earls of Waldegrave, and other members of his noble and ancient family, are likewise buried.

In 1785, his lordship married at Smyrna, Cornelia-Jacoba, second daughter of David Van Lennep, Esq. chief of the Dutch factory at that place, by whom he had a numerous issue. Two of his sons are in the navy; the elder of whom, Captain the Honourable George Granville Waldegrave, C. B. succeeds to the title.

Lord Radstock frequently sat for his portrait; chiefly for the purpose of encouraging and employing young artists. The best resemblance of him is a picture by Hayter; which has been engraved.

The noble lord's will was proved, with eleven codicils, in the Prerogative Court, Doctors' Commons, on the 12th of September, by the oaths of the Right Honourable Granville George Waldegrave, Lord Radstock, his son, and the Honourable Sir James Allan Park, Knight, two of his executors; Sir Abraham Hume, Bart., the other executor, having renounced the trust. The personal property was sworn under 80,000l. One of the codicils contains particular directions as to the sale of his lordship's pictures. A portrait of Charles I. by Vandyke, brought direct from the cabinet of the King of Spain, and one of Henrietta Maria, nearly matchless in beauty and expression, also by Vandyke; and a landscape by A. Vandevelde, are to be sold for Lady Radstock's benefit; if by auction, to be placed below the twentieth lot, and all friends to be apprised of it, who, the noble testator trusts, will not let them be disposed of below their real value. But, upon the subject of sale, he desires that Mr. Emmerson, of Stratford Place, (whose skill in the arts, and whose integrity, he has for many years experienced,) may be consulted, who, if he cannot procure private purchasers, or an offer from Government, may consign the pictures to Christie for the hammer. His lordship values them at 51,000 guineas. They consist of Italian, French, Spanish, Dutch, and Flemish masters. Some honourable testimonies of his lordship's services to his country are directed to remain in the family as heir-looms; amongst others, a gold snuff-box and the freedom of the City of London, on occasion of the battle of St. Vincent's; a gold medal from His Majesty on the same occasion, when he commanded the third division; the engravings thereof; a gilt sword from his friend Admiral Lord Nelson; a steel ditto, &c. Of other bequests, there is a cameo of an Ajax (once the pride of the celebrated Jennings) to his son, with various miniatures and enamels; fifteen guineas for a family bible to Sir Allan Park, for his life only, and then to revert to the testator's family; many rings, and small sums to servants. The will is dated the 25th of January, 1820. There is no mention made of any real estates.