Gents Mag 1825 part 2 p.370

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	Gentleman's Magazine 1825 part 2 p.370 In 1789, during the disputes relative to the Regency Bill, in consequence of the severe illness of his late Majesty, Lord Carlisle took an active part against the restrictions imposed on the heir-apparent, and when it came before the House of Peers, Dec. 23, 1789, his Lordship in a brief but elegant speech, asserted the claims of the Prince of Wales. On Monday, March 28, 1791, we find his Lordship once more acting in opposition to Mr. Pitt's administration, in a very powerful speech, on the King's message respecting the failure of the pacification between Russia and the Porte. He declared that in the course of parliamentary attendance, he had often witnessed the contemptuous behaviour of the ministry, but never in so insulting a manner as on this occasion. In 1793 he was honoured with the Order of the Garter. In 1794, he published a 'Letter to Lord Fitzwilliam, in reply to his Lordship's two Letters;' and in 1798 a spirited tract entitled 'Unite or Fall,' for general distribution. It now remains to speak of Lord Carlisle as a votary of the Muses and a patron of the Arts. At a very early period he was inspired with and cultivated a taste for poetry; indeed, if we are rightly informed, he may be said to 'have lisped in numbers.' Many of these compositions may be found in 'The Foundling Hospital for Wit;' and 'The Asylum,' both published by Mr. Almon. Four Poems written by his Lordship were published in 1773 in a 4to volume; the first of these was an Ode on the death of Gray; the second and third, verses destined for the monument of a favourite spaniel; and the fourth a translation from Dante. The Ode appears to have been written in 1771, when the noble author had scarcely attained his twenty-third year, and contains a recapitulation of all the works of that rapture-breathing bard. The translation from Dante contains an account of Count Ugolino. In 1783 appeared 'The Father's Revenge, a Tragedy, and other Poems,' 8vo; and a new edition, 4to, 1800. This tragedy is founded on an incident so interwoven with our passions, and followed by a punishment so disproportionate to the offence, that human nature shudders at the catastrophe. The scenery, consisting of palaces, gothic chapels, &c. with a view of Mount Vesuvious in the back ground, is grand, suitable to the occasion, and calculated to inspire awe; while the dramatic characters are formed to keep up the interest and prepare the mind for some important event. Some if his Lordship's friends applied to Mrs. Chapone to prevail on Dr. Johnson to read and give his opinion of this tragedy, which he did in a letter to that lady, dated Nov. 28,1783; printed in Boswell's Life, vol.II. p.470. A limited impression of the 4to edition of this tragedy, decorated with engravings from the pencil of Westall, was circulated by the noble author among his friends. In 1800 appeared the tragedy of 'The Step-mother;' in five acts. The plot of this is less involved than that of the former; but the catastrophe is equally shocking. In the one we behold a parent presenting the fresh torn heart from the bosom of her lover to the agonized sight of a distracted daughter. In the other we find a father and son, instigated by a cruel and revengeful woman, inflicting mutual death. In both cases the scene, perhaps, is too afflicting for representation. In 1801 appeared a splendid edition, from the press of Bulmer, of the 'Tragedies and Poems of Frederick Earl of Carlisle, K.G.' One of his Lordship's best poetical productions in this collection is that inscribed to Sir J. Reynolds on his resignation of the President's chair of the Royal Academy; but it is much to be lamented that he should have concluded this pretty little Poem with a line from Churchill, as it exhibits a poverty of thought wholly inconsistent with his acknowledged talents. In 1804 he addressed some lines to the Archbishop of York, on inclosing the tomb of Archbishop Grey with a beautiful gothic railing of cast iron. See vol.LXXIV, p.954. In 1806 he published Verses on the death of Lord Nelson; and in 1808 'Thoughts on the present condition of the stage, and the construction of a new theatre,' anonymous. His Lordship also wrote some lines advising Lady Holland not to accept of the snuff-box left her by Napoleon. A copy of these eight stanzas, 'written,' as Lord Byron says, 'by a bore,' may be seen in vol.XCI. ii. p.457. In the 'Hours of Idleness,' published by Lord Byron in 1808, his noble relative's works are said 'to have long received the meed of public applause; to which, by their intrinsic worth, they were entitled.' This forms a striking contrast to Lord Byron's subsequent asperity. On his coming of age, Lord Byron, wishing to take his seat in the House of Lords, wrote to Lord Carlisle to introduce him. Just at that moment Byron was engaged in writing his satire 'The English Bards,' &c. and he introduced these lines into his manuscript: On one alone Apollo deigns to smile, And crowns a new Roscommon in Carlisle. The noble subject of this adulation, how-
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