3. "Theological Treatises," the first being the "Discourse on Repentance," written at Olney, and published in 1785. 4. "The Commentary," first published between the years 1788 5. and 1792. Works directed against the Infidelity and Disaffection of 6. Other Controversial Works, as "The Answer to Bishop Tomline's Refutation of Calvinism," and "The History of the Synod of Dort." 66 IX. THE SECOND EARL OF DARTMOUTH. "We boast some rich ones whom the Gospel sways, -COWPER: Truth. THE nobleman alluded to in the above lines of Cowper as one who wears a coronet and prays" was, it is scarcely necessary to say, William Legge, second Earl of Dartmouth; and at a time when the practice of religion was very much more unusual among the nobility than it now is, it argued a man of no common mould to declare for Christ, to brave the sneers and ridicule of the great and wealthy, and to openly befriend the most faithful ministers of the day. "The good Lord Dartmouth," as he has been affectionately called, was born in the year 1731. Early in life deprived of his father, his education devolved on his surviving parent, and he continued to reside with her after her marriage with Francis, first Earl of Guildford. After the death of his mother he left England to make a tour on the Continent. In 1750 he succeeded his grandfather as Earl of Dartmouth, and three years after espoused the only daughter and heiress of Sir Charles Gunter Nicholl, by whom he acquired the Manor of Olney and other considerable additions to his fortune. Shortly after his marriage he was introduced to the Countess of Huntingdon, of whom he soon became the intimate friend; and at her house made the acquaintance of Whitefield, Romaine, the Wesleys, and other distinguished men of the same class. Indeed, Lord and Lady Dartmouth very soon attracted general attention for the profession of religion they made and the countenance they afforded to faithful ministers suspected of what was called Methodism. "I have not the honour of Lord Dartmouth's acquaintance," wrote Hervey of Weston Favell in 1757, "but I hear he is full of grace and valiant for the truth-a lover of Christ and an ornament to His Gospel." Lady Fanny Shirley, a reigning beauty of the court of George I., and aunt to Lady Huntingdon, was extremely intimate with Lord and Lady Dartmouth, and frequently corresponded with them. Receiving a letter from his Lordship with which she was particularly delighted, she enclosed it to Mr. Hervey, who in reply said "It is indeed a delightful sight to see a person of Lord Dartmouth's dignity and politeness closing a letter with the name of Jesus Christ. May we all know more and more of that just One! Then it will appear meet and right, not a pious extravagance, but a most rational determination, to count all things but loss for the excellency of Jesus Christ our Lord." At Lord Dartmouth's residence at Sandwell that faithful and laborious minister of the Gospel, Henry Venn, frequently took duty, and always received a warm welcome, and in 1759, at his Lordship's solicitation, he was appointed vicar of Huddersfield, in Yorkshire. Of Mr. Venn's immense labours during the twelve years of his residence in this place, and the good work subsequently performed by him at Yelling, where he became the pastor of pastors, Simeon of Cambridge and scores of less distinguished men have borne grateful testimony. Lord Dartmouth now began to experience a portion of that contempt and ridicule which all who live a godly life must expect some time or other to encounter, one of his greatest trials being the conduct towards him of his uncle, the Honourable Henry Bilson Legge, then Chancellor of the Exchequer, who treated him with unmerited severity, and for a time refused to hold intercourse with him. "But through the kind interference of Lady Huntingdon, who obtained several private interviews with his Lordship's aunt, the Baroness Stawell, he was restored to the friendship of his relations, who ever after entertained a more favourable opinion of him and of the sentiments which he espoused.1 . . . Indeed, for some years after, the Chancellor of the Exchequer and Lady Stawell were not Life and Times of Lady Huntingdon." 1 See the " infrequently to be found amongst the circle who attended Mr. Whitefield's preaching at Lady Huntingdon's residence; and so much did his Lordship conciliate the esteem of his noble relatives, by a prudent and consistent line of conduct, that several of them became of the congregation at the Countess's. His Lordship was considered a tolerable speaker in the House of Lords. He connected himself early in life with the Rockingham party, and when they came into power in 1765 he was made First Lord of Trade and sworn of the Privy Council." Few persons, we are told, were more highly esteemed by his Majesty George III., who appointed him principal Secretary of State for the American Department, which office his Lordship afterwards exchanged for the place of Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal; and some years after was constituted Lord Steward of his Majesty's household. "They call my Lord Dartmouth an enthusiast," observed the King, "but surely he says nothing on the subject of religion but what any Christian may and ought to say." His Lordship patronised the college for American Indians, and contributed largely towards Whitefield's orphan-house in Georgia. He was also one of the chief patrons of the evangelical preaching at the Lock Chapel. How deeply he felt himself indebted to Lady Huntingdon will be seen by the following letter of sympathy addressed to her, under date Blackheath, May 18, 1763, shortly after the death of her daughter, Lady Selina Hastings: "MY DEAR MADAM,-Permit Lady Dartmouth and myself to sympathise with you on the recent departure of the amiable and excellent Lady Selina Hastings. Mr. Romaine was so good as to let me see your Ladyship's letter to him, announcing the solemn event, and detailing the supports and Divine consolations which she enjoyed in her last moments. Little did we imagine when we had the pleasure of seeing her so lately in London that she was so near the confines of the eternal world. Lady Dartmouth feels most sensibly for your Ladyship on this occasion, and has been deeply affected by the touching close of your daughter's earthly course. We are deeply indebted to your Ladyship-more deeply than we can express. Our obligations are of a nature never to be repaid by us; but you will be rewarded openly before an assembled world, when we shall swell that innumerable train of children which the Lord hath given you. There, Madam, we shall hope to meet you and join your beatified child. God grant you grace to feel resigned and submissive under this event. To His never-failing kindness and mercy we commend you-living and dying may you be the Lord's ! "With a grateful sense of your kindness, I remain, my dear Madam, your very affectionate humble servant, "DARTMOUTH." The connection of the Rev. John Newton with Lord Dartmouth commences in 1759, when the former acquainted his Lordship of his design of episcopal ordination. Five years later Mr. Browne, the vicar of Olney, removed to Morden College, Blackheath, in the vicinity of Lord Dartmouth's seat, and the curacy of Olney was offered to Dr. Haweis, who at the time he declined it drew his Lordship's attention to Newton. "How much," exclaims the author of the "Life and Times of Lady Huntingdon," "the Church of Christ owes to this introduction and his Lordship's kindness!" Newton, as we have seen, had preached a good deal in Warwickshire and Yorkshire, and, from his previous connection with the Dissenters and Methodists, had been refused ordination by the Archbishop of York. Lord Dartmouth, however, not only prevailed on Dr. Green, Bishop of London, to ordain him, but in a dozen other different ways exhibited great kindness towards him. Of the letters written by Newton to Lord Dartmouth, twentysix, extending from March 1765 to July 1777, are published in the "Cardiphonia." In June 1766 his Lordship paid a long-expected visit to Olney. "It was a good time!" writes Newton. "What do I owe the Lord for such countenance on every side! My house is now to be enlarged to my mind. I preached twice on Sunday, and Mr. Madan" (Rev. Martin Madan, who had accompanied Lord Dartmouth) "in the evening-a great auditory and an excellent sermon. My noble guest left us on Tuesday. Much affected with his kindness and generosity and the Lord's goodness to us." Lord Dartmouth was an ardent admirer of Whitefield. On |