BIOGRAPHICAL PARTICULARS OF CELEBRATED PERSONS, LATELY DECEASED. SIR THOMAS LAWRENCE. On the 14th ult. Sir Thomas Lawrence. He was born at the White Hart Inn, Bristol, kept by his father, in Broad Street. When about a year old, his father removed to Devizes, where he kept the Black Bear: he was, however, unsuccessful in this speculation, and failed. Mr. Lawrence, senior, had started in life as an exciseman, and married the daughter of a clergyman, the then incumbent of Tenbury, in Gloucestershire, by whom he had, we believe, three sons (the eldest of whom entered the church) and two daughters. He subsequently took the inn already mentioned; but on his failure, retired to Bath, where he established himself in a house in Alfred-street. Lawrence at a very early period of life manifested a decided talent for the Fine Arts, and particularly for portraiture. When only seven or eight years of age he attracted notice by his imitations of the "human face divine;" and his predilections and abilities in this pursuit led to his being placed as a pupil under the care of Mr. Hoare of Bath. Under this master, Lawrence made a rapid progress. At first he executed crayon likenesses, in the manner of his instructor -portraits of ladies in red jackets, with hats and feathers, the then fashionable though unsightly costume of the fashionable of Bath, have been seen, for which he was paid ten shillings and sixpence each. For a short time the future President confined his exertions almost entirely to the production of small oval portraits in crayons, which were sold at a guinea apiece. He was patronized by the Hon. John Hamilton, a member of the Abercorn family, who resided on Lansdown Hill, and contributed greatly towards the cultivation of the young artist's talents, as well by pecuniary encouragement as by affording him access to some fine scriptural pieces, the production of the old masters, in his possession. Another of his early patrons was Sir Henry Harpur, a Derbyshire baronet of fortune and liberality, who even went so far as to offer to send the lad to Italy at his own expense, and to dedicate a thousand pounds to that purpose; but the proposal was declined by the father, on the alleged ground that "Thomas's genius stood in need of no such aid." But the most remarkable in cident in the life of young Lawrence during his residence at Bath, was his receiving the great silver palette from the Society of Arts-an event of which he spoke at a recent anniversary of that Society in terms of the warmest gratitude, ascribing to this encouragement and honour much of that enthusiastic feeling and love of his art which had raised him to his eminent station. As the documents respecting this transaction are very interesting, they are here copied from the MS proceedings of the Society in the Adelphi. The first entry appears under the date of March 9th, 1784, and is as follows: "Resolved, - That as the drawing marked G. appears, by a date upon it, to have been executed in the year 17:2, it cannot, according to the conditions, page 197, be admitted a candidate." In consequence of this difficulty it appears that enquiries had been instituted; and on the 30th of March is the annexed record. "Took into consideration the drawings of the Transfiguration marked G. and opened the paper containing the name of the candidate, according to the directions of the Society, and it appeared to the committee that the candidate was T. Lawrence, aged 13, 1783, in Alfred Street, Bath. "The committee having received satisfactory information that the production is entirely the work of the young man : "Resolved,-To recommend to the Society to give the greater silver palette gilt, and five guineas, to Mr. T. Lawrence, as a token of the Society's approbation of his abilities." A The grant of five guineas was a very uncommon thing at this period of the Society's history, and shows how highly Lawrence's performance-the Transtigu ration of Raphael, in crayons-was appreciated by his judges. From Bath he appears to have gone to Salisbury, and practised there with considerable success. Mr. Hancock is mentioned as the possessor of portraits, in coloured chalk, of his grandfather Dr.Hancock and his daughter, which were painted at this period, and previous to Lawrence's removal to London, where he flourished more than forty years, nearly ten of which he was at the head of the Fine Arts, as President of the Royal Academy, when his brilliant career was so prematurely terminated. Richly endowed by nature, and gifted with various talents, it was impossible that such a man should not attain to eminent distinction; and concurrent circumstances were also very favourable to him. The opening of the Continent may be reckoned one of the most auspicious events that could have happened to an artist of his celebrity; and the splendid coinmission which he received from the King, to paint the Sovereigns and most exalted individuals of the age, was another of those rare instances of good fortune which it can be the lot of few indeed to enjoy. His pleasing manners, too, gave him access to the best and most! polished society-an inestimable advantage to the portrait-painter, and one to the value of which almost all his productions bear striking testimony. The mind of Sir Thomas was stored with a combination of refined and graceful qualities, seldom found united in one person. Of music, the drama, and poetry, he was particularly fond, and no mean adept in their cultivation. A gentleman of judgment, to whom he had read some of his poetical compositions, writes-"Sir Thomas occasionally tried his hand in the sister art of poetry; and some of his pieces he has read to me, which, although in my opinion not devoid of sufficient merit, he was too diffident to make public. Two or three of his addresses to the students of the Royal Academy I have seen in print, but they were only for private distribution." His last public duty was the delivering of the Academy's biennial medals. So late as the Tuesday preceding his decease, Sir Thomas was busily employed in the committee of the Athenæum, making arrangements for the opening of the new house: he was particularly animated on the subject of internal decoration, and took a great interest in directing the works of art designed to adorn the interior. He had himself promised to paint and present a portrait of his Majesty, to be placed in the library; and was at work upon it even on the Wednesday, within thirty hours of his death. Sir Thomas Lawrence was not only an amateur, but an accomplished actor, as he had frequently proved by his performances in private theatricals. His long and close intimacy with the Kemble family may, to a certain degree, be ascribed to congenial feelings on these points; but it is also said, that an attachment to a daughter of Mrs. Siddons (who died in the bloom of beauty) had a strong influence upon his histrionic efforts, as well as upon his real existence. His latest performance affords countenance to this statement: in the Fanny Kemble of another generation he, perhaps, revived his slumbering sympathies. In conversation, Lawrence was most at home in matters connected with the arts. "Almost the last time I was with him," says a frnd, was on a Sunday morning, when I rode with him to church, in Regent-street. The article in the Edinburgh Review' had just appeared, in which there was a comparison made between him and Martin: he observed the article was written by some one who knew but little of the arts; and the comparison put him in mind of the old inquiry-How far is it from the 1st of January to the top of St. Paul's?" Sir Thomas died poor. His noble collection of drawings, however, especially rich in the old masters, is estimated to be worth above 50,0001. That Sir Thomas indulged a passion for play, is a calumny which, to those who knew his habits and feelings on the subject, requires no refutation; at the same time it will not excite surprise, that among others who heard of his large receipts, and were aware of his occasional embarrassments, an opinion should be unadvisedly adopted, affording a ready solution to the questions-what became of his money? His ardent passion was for the Fine Arts in general, and especially for that branch of them to which his own time was more particularly devoted; and it caused him to expend immense sums in their encouragement, and in the purchase of the works of the first masters, of whose drawings he gradually accumulated his unrivalled collection. His benevolence towards the sons of genius, less favoured by fortune, was also dealt out with no stinted allowance. A dear connexion, it is reported, was not long since dissolved by death; and the melancholy which had from that time preyed upon his spirits did not escape the observation of his friends. A noble Marchioness wrote, two months before, that he (who was then on a visit to her) looked deplorably ill, and like a broken hearted man: on another occasion, while conversing about some losses, a friend observed-“This is not enough to account for your depression." The tears started to his eyes, and in profound dejection, he alluded to a severer calamity. The immediate cause of his death, as ascertained by Dr. Holland and Mr. Green, on a post-mortem examination, was an extensive disease of the heart. After bleeding him, the former gentleman left him in an alarming condition; and when sent for again hastily at night, his visit was too late-the patient was no more. Sir Thomas Lawrence's kindness to his dependents may be inferred from the ensuing facts. On the death of his housekeeper, an elderly female, who had superintended the management of his home for several years, he not only incurred a considerable expense in bestowing on her a very handsome funeral, but followed her himself to the grave while towards a man-servant who had spent some time in his employment, his conduct was of a still nobler description; and such, perhaps, as is rarely paralleled. This per ARRANGEMENTS OF THE CHOIR. Pall Bearers. THE Pall Bearers. Royal Academy. BODY. Pr. Mourners. Chief Mourner; Confidential. Servant, standing; the Executors; the Rector; Medical Attendant. The Marshals, with their constables and the undertakers' men, formed a passage proceeding to the vault door. The Chief Mourner proceeded to the centre of the dome; the other Mourners formed a ring; the Academy turning to the right, and the other Mourners to the left son was seized with a lingering illness, the nature of which rendered it evident to the medical attendant, that, though a few months must inevitably put a period to his existence here, his decease might yet be retarded by quiet and country air. Sir Thomas, on the fact being announced to him by the physician he had called in, not only went himself and took a comfortable lodging for the invalid in the neighbourhood of Kilburn, but subsequently gave up no small portion of what to him was more precious than money, his time : and would frequently hurry away from his academi-forming an outward ring, within which cal duties and professional pursuits, to pass - an hour by the bed-side of the sufferer. The President has left many pictures unfinished, which throw much into the hands of his survivors. His prices were very high-six hundred pounds for a whole length, of which a moiety was paid at the first sitting. His heads merely painted in were exquisitely fine. Among his latest portraits thus painted, is one of Moore, for Mr. Murray. The body of Sir T. Lawrence was removed to Somerset House, where it lay in -state in the medal room, on the 21st ult. until twelve o'clock, when the body was taken to St. Paul's Cathedral. The pall bearers were the Earl of Aberdeen, Earl Gower, Mr. Peel, Hon. Agar Ellis, Sir G. Murray, Mr. Croker, Mr. Hart Davis, Earl of Clanwilliam. The Rev. R. Bloxham, eldest nephew, was chief mourner. The officers of the Royal Academy, the Royal Academicians, associates and students, followed, together with the officers of the Society of Painters in water colours, of the British Artists, &c. A number of the nobility and gentry, and the carriages of the nobility and gentry, to the number of seventy-five. In the cathedral the procession took the following order. The two Junior Vergers, the Marshal, the young Gentlemen of the Choir-two and two; the Almoner, the Vicars Choral, two and two; the Junior Minor Canons, two and two; the Feathers, Attendant Pages, and Mutes; the Junior Verger; the Prebends, two by two; the Junior Residentiaries, two and two; the Senior Residentiaries, two and two: the Senior Verger, the Dean Pall Bearers. THE BODY. Pall Bearers. Chief Mourners: the Mourners-two and two; the old Servants; the family Trustees; and Executors; the Rector; the Medical Attendant; the Chaplain to the Royal Academy; the Secretary to the Royal Academy; the Academicians and Associates-two and two; Students-two and two; Private Mourners-two and two. were the Clergy, Choir, and Chief Mourners. The funeral service was performed in the Chapel by the Rev. Dr. Hughes, Canon Residentiary; and in the Choir, the service for the burial of the dead was read by the Bishop of Landaff, who is also Dean of St. Paul's. The service was finished, and the body was deposited in the vault, about half-past three o'clock; afterwards, the Academicians, Associates, and Students of the Royal Academy, returned to Somerset House, where refreshments were provided for them. Sir Thomas Lawrence was a Knight of Napoleon's Legion of Honour. The question of the succession to his chair gave rise to much discussion. Almost every eminent artist in the Academy was mentioned as a fit candidate for the presidency. Turner and Calcott, landscape painters; Pickersgill, who often comes nearest to Sir Thomas in portrait painting, as some of his recent works show. Jackson, Phillips, Wilkie, &c.* were named, as were several architects and sculptors of the Academy, men of deserved celebrity. The difficulty seemed to be to unite the great artist and the man of the world; for the duties of the president require a knowledge of society as well as a prominent station in art. In this union Lawrence was pre-eminently happy; which made the choice more difficult. The President of the Royal Academy derives no emolument from his office, and very little patronage-such as having a few more tickets for the private views of the Exhibition, and the annual dinner. It is a place which demands considerable attention and assiduity, as he has to take the chair at all councils, and generally direct the multifarious business of the Institution, besides addresses, and other pub. lic employment. Sir Thomas Lawrence may be said to have been born with an * Since the above was written, Mr. Shee has been elected to the vacant chair. almost intuitive capacity for portraiture; for he wrought obvious likenesses with the pencil and the pen, whilst a child in petticoats; and before he had completed his tenth year, he drew portraits with decided character, taste, and spirit. Of this early ability numerous anecdotes are in circulation. The following, however, is one very little known. The late Lord Kenyon, some twelve years previous to his elevation to the peerage, was passing with his lady through Devizes, in his way to Bath, and stopped at the Bear, then kept by the father of the embryo President. The host, a remarkably well formed fine-looking man, but with great eccentricity both of dress and manner, was particularly fond of reading aloud the works of Shakspeare and Milton, especially the latter, which he did uncommonly well, and was delighted when he could get any of his guests to listen to him. On this occasion he was very fortunate in his auditors, who not only heard his recitations with approbation, but took a still livelier interest in his son Thomas, then a fine little fellow about six years old, who was riding round the room upon a cane, and whose talent for sketching likenesses had, at that early age, become the theme of his father's panegyric. The skill of the young artist was at once put to the test; and in an almost incredibly short period, he produced two portraits, in profile, of his visitors, no less remarkable for the ease and spirit of their execution than for the accuracy of the resemblance. Indeed, Lady Kenyon always declared, that of all the portraits of her husband which she had ever seen, none came up in point of fidelity to this juvenile sketch. Sir Thomas himself, in after life, was, as is well known, distinguished for the elegance with which he read and recited. Lawrence's first appearance as an exhibitor at Somerset-house was in 1787 (when 666 pictures, &c. formed the collection); and the catalogue was comprised in 26 pages. Here we find T. Lawrence, at No. 4, Leicester-square, with seven productions, namely, No. 184, Mad Girl: 207, Portrait of a Lady; 229, Portrait of a young Lady; 231, Portrait of a Lady; 234, Mrs. Esten, in the character of Belvidera; 255, Vestal Virgin; and 258, Portrait of a young Lady. Next year, the artist resided in Jermyn-street; and sent six of his performances, all traits. In 1789, still at 41, Jermyn-street, he exhibited no fewer than thirteen pieces, and was evidently advancing rapidly in his profession, as three of the portraits are of "Ladies of Quality," besides his Royal Highness the Duke of York, and a head from nature. In 1790, among twelve pictures we notice the Princess Amelia, Her por Feb. 1, Majesty, a Nobleman's Son, a General Officer, and a celebrated Actress. In 1791, his abode was 24, Old Bond-street; and subject we meet with in his name. Homer reciting his Poems, is the first 1792, the prosperous record runs, In "Thodinary to his Majesty ;" and his chief picmas Lawrence, a Principal Painter in ortures are, a Lady of Fashion as La PenseWhen the beautiful whole-length portrait rosa, and a Portrait of his Majesty! of Miss Farren appeared, Lawrence was only in his twenty-first year; it was exhibited at Somerset House as a pendant to Sir Joshua's celebrated whole-length of Mrs. Billington, as St. Cecilia. The noble candour of this great man was then manifested by the unqualified applause which he bestowed on this work of the young painter; and he then predicted the honours which Mr. Lawrence would obtain for himself, his country, and his art. in many respects, be likened to that of his The career of Sir Thomas Lawrence may, great predecessor. They both led a life of celibacy; the talent of each was no sooner demonstrated than it at once was appreciated, and it was throughout life the fortune of each to be honoured and esteemed, not only by all the great and the enlightrience the rare felicity of being equally ened of every rank and class, but to experespected and esteemed by the members of their own profession. No competitor for public favour expressed envy, nor took on the score of their acknowledged preoffence at the praises bestowed upon either, eminence. SIR MILES NIGHTINGALE, K.C.B. &c. Few officers have been engaged in a services than the late Sir Miles Nightingreater variety of active and important gall. He entered the army on the 4th of April, 1787, as an ensign in the 52d regiment of foot, and proceeded immediately to India. On the 12th of November, 1788, he was promoted to a lieutenancy in the employed in the army under the late Sir same corps. Remaining in India, he was William Meadows, in the campaign of 1790, and was present with the grenadiers of the 52d regiment, at the assault of Dendegul. Immediately after that affair, he was appointed major of brigade to the King's troops; and, in that capacity, attached to the first brigade, he was engaged campaigns of 1791 and 1792, under Lord at the siege of Puliganacherry. In the Cornwallis, he was present at the siege and assault of the town and fortress of Bangastrong hill fort of Severndroog; in the lore; at the siege and storming of the general action with Tippoo Saib, near Seringapatam, on the 15th of May, 1791; in the general action of the 6th of Fe bruary, 1792, when the enemy's lines were stormed under the walls of Seringapatam, and at the siege of that capital, the surrender of which led to a termination of the war on the 19th of the ensuing month. In the peace which followed, he continued as Major of Brigade to the King's forces. On the breaking out of the war with France, in 1793, he served at the siege and capture of Pondicherry. He remained in India till August 1794, when, in consequence of severe illness, he was under the necessity of returning to England; where, on his arrival, he was appointed Aide-de-camp to the Marquess Cornwallis, then commanding the eastern district. Previously to this, however, on the 1st of September, 1794, he had obtained a company in the 125th Foot. On the 28th of February, 1795, Capt. Nightingall was promoted to a Majority in the 121st Foot, and appointed Brigade Major. general to the eastern district. On the 9th of September, in the same year, he procured, by purchase, a Lieutenant-Colonelcy in the 115th regiment; and, on the 28th of October, also in 1795, he was removed to the 38th regiment of Foot. In the two succeeding years, he served with the latter regiment in the West Indies. Owing to a severe attack of the yellow fever, he was compelled to return to England; but having recovered during the voyage home, he was, immediately after his arrival, appointed Deputy Adjutant-general to the forces in St. Domingo. He sailed for that island early in 1798, and held his appointment till July, when he was sent home with despatches to Government. In February 1799, Lieutenant-colonel Nightingall again proceeded to St. Domingo, accompanied by Lieutenant-general Maitland, on a mission of considerable importance to Toussaint L'Ouverture, the celebrated black chief. On his return to England, in the month of July following, he was made Assistant Adjutant-general to the army under the Duke of York in Holland. There he was engaged in the actions of the 19th of September, and the 2d of October. He was next employed on the coast of France, under Lieutenant-general Maitland. In January 1800, he sailed for Quiberon Bay; in February, he returned to England, to take out troops for an attack upon Belleisler; and soon afterwards he sailed from Cork, with the 36th regiment of Foot, with the view of taking possession of Honati as a preparatory measure. The object, however, was abandoned; and, in July, he returned home with despatches. In 1801, he was appointed Assistant Quartermaster-general to the eastern district: a post which he enjoyed until the cessation of hostilities between France and England, when he accompanied the Marquess of Cornwallis to Amiens and Paris, as private secretary. In July 1802, this officer was appointed to a Lieutenant-colonelcy in the 51st Foot. On the 25th of September, 1803, he obtained the rank of colonel in the army. Having been appointed Quartermaster-general to the King's troops in India, Colonel Nightingall sailed, in 1803, for Bengal. On his arrival there, he found that the army under Lord Lake had taken the field against the Mahrattas. He joined immediately; reached headquarters previously to the attack on Agra, and served in the attack of à body of infantry posted under the walls of that town, and at the siege and capture of the fortress. He was afterwards in the general and decisive action at Laswaree; and he continued to serve with the army in the field till the termination of the war with Scindeah. In 1805, Colonel Nightingall was appointed military secretary to the Marquess Cornwallis. On the 8th of May, 1806, he was removed from the 51st to the 69th regiment. On the death of the Marquess Cornwallis, he remained in Bengal, in the office of Quartermastergeneral, until February 1807. His health being much impaired, he then returned to England, and soon afterwards resigned his staff appointment. Colonel Nightingall's interval of relaxation was very brief. Within four months after his return, he was appointed to serve as Brigadier-general, with the forces under Major-general Spencer. He accordingly proceeded to Gibraltar, and was employed on the coast of Spain, until General Spence's division joined the army under Sir Arthur Wellesley, at Mondego Bay. He was then ap pointed to command the third brigade, with which he served during the campaign of 1808. He was consequently în the actions of Roleia and Vimiera, for his gallant conduct in which he received the thanks of Parliament. Early in July 1809, he was placed on the staff of the Kent district, as Brigadier-general. Ill health detained him from active service till the month of January 1810, when, with the rank of Major-general, he returned to Portugal, joined the army at Cartaxo, and distinguished himself in the battle of Fuentes d'Onor. In 1812, Major-general Nightingall once more visited Bengal, and was sent by Lord Minto to take the chief command of Java and its dependencies. In that station, he reduced the Rajah of Boni, and also esta blished the British supremacy in Celebes. On the 14th of June, 1814, he was made |