BA THURST, ALLEN, Earl Bathurst, was born in Westminster in the year 1684, His father was Sir Benjamin Bathurst of Pauler's Perry ; and his mother was Frances, daughter of Sir Allen Apsley of Apsley. Having completed his grammatical edu cation, he was entered, at 15 years of age, in Trinity college, Oxford, of which his uncle, the celebrated Dean Bathurst, was then president. Under the di rection of this eminent scholar, he acquired that ele gance of taste by which he was so much distinguish ed ; and successfully• applied his mind to those more solid attainments, which are requisite to form the character of a statesman. When he was only 21 years of age, he was called to the service of his coun try, as member for the borough of Cirencester, which he continued to represent in two successive parlia ments. He distinguished himself by his spirit and eloquence in the debates respecting the union between England and Scotland, of which measure he was a firm supporter ; and was also of great service to Har ley and St John, in their opposition to the Duke of Marlborough. Amidst the numerous changes, how ever, which were made in the public offices, after the dissolution of the ‘Vhig ministry, he accepted no place under government ; but, in the 10th year of Queen Anne's reign, when the administration brought 12 new lords into the Upper House in one day, he was created a peer, by the style and title of Lord Ba thurst, Baron Bathurst of Battlesden.
Upon the accession of George I, when Lord Ba thurst's political friends were in disgrace, his attach ment remained unshaken ; and he did not hesitate to lift his voice in opposition to the measures which were adopted against them, and which he regarded as most vindictive and severe. The first of his speeches mentioned in the common accounts of public transac tions, was in Feb. 1717, on the bill for preventing mutiny and desertion ; and, from that time, he took a distinguished part in every important measure, which came before the House of Lords. He was one of the most eminent leaders, in that House, of the opposition which was made to Sir Robert 'Walpole ; and the ge neral tenor of sentiments may be made apparent by the following short statement of the principal measures which he advocated or opposed. He strongly resisted the act for septennial parliaments in 1716, and was one of those, who entered their rea sons of dissent from that bill. He was very favour ble to the plans, which were proposed for relieving the scruples of the Quakers respecting oaths ; and was a zealous advocate of Bishop Atterbury, in all the pro ceedings against that ingenious prelate. In Feb. 1730, he strenuously supported the bill, which pro hibited pensioners from sitting in the House of Com mons ; and in May following moved an address to the king, praying for the discharge of the 12,000 Hes sian troops, then in the pay of Great Britain ; though he afterwards, in 174.3, vindicated the propriety of continuing the Hanoverian troops, on account of the peculiarly critical situation of affairs at that time. He opposed the bill for reviving the salt duty, as an undue taxation upon the poor ; supported the Earl of Oxford's motion for reducing the standing army ; and vindicated the utility of a national militia, as the most proper and constitutional defence in a free coun try. He constantly resisted all application of the sinking fund to any other purpose than the liquida tion of the public debts. In the transactions which took place respecting the Spanish depredations, he bore an active part in arranging the conduct of those who were in power ; and particularly exerted himself in the memorable debate upon an address to the king, for the removal of Sir Robert Walpole from his councils and presence for ever.
In 1740 Lord Bathurst was chosen a privy coun sellor ; and in 1757 was appointed treasurer to the Prince of Wales. Upon the accession of his present majesty in 1760, he was continued in the privy coun cil ; and, as he declined, on account of his advanced age, to accept of any public employment, he received a pension of Ac22000 per annum. He spent the re mainder of his life in dignified retirement, employing himself chiefly in agricultural improvements, and other rural relaxations. The following extract from one of his letters to Dr Swift, furnishes a very pleasing pic ture both of his lordship's country occupations, and of his amiable disposition of mind :—" I Kaye enter ed upon a new scheme of life, and am determined to look to my own affairs a little. I am now in a small farm-house in Derbyshire ; and my chief business is to take care, that my agents do not impose upon my tenants. I am for letting them all good bargains, that my rents may be paid, as long as any rents can be paid ; and when the time comes, that there is no mo ney, they arc honest fellows, and will bring me in what corn and cattle I shall want." He had married very early in life, Catherine, the daughter and heir of Sir Peter Apsley, his maternal uncle, by whom he had four sons and five daughters ; and he lived to sec his eldest surviving son several years lord high chancellor of Great Britain. He retained his and vivacity to the last ; and died, after a few days illness, at his seat near Cirencester, in the 9Ist year of his age, on the 16th of Sept. 1775.
Earl Bathurst was considered, even by his contem poraries, as one of the most consistent and disinterest ed public characters of the period in which he lived ; and is represented, as having chosen his principles of government so happily from what was commendable in both parties, that, upon whatever side he spoke, he was never observed to lean to the extremes of either. His abilities and integrity gained him the esteem even of his political adversaries ; nor was he, on the other hand, insensible to the merits of many of his opponents ; but often treated them, when divested of their public offices, with so much delicacy and tenderness, as to secure their personal friendship and regard. He was distinguished in private life by humanity, politeness, and elegance of manners ; and was always accessible, hospitable, and beneficent. He was intimately ac quainted with the most eminent literary characters, who adorned the beginning of the 18th century ; ma ny of whom were happy to cultivate his friendship, and proud to have the honour of his correspondence. To Lord Bathurst Mr Pope addressed one of his Epistles on the use of riches ; and the following lines from that poem may be given as a very good summa ry of his lordship's character, as well as a very suit able conclusion to this sketch of his life : The sense to value riches, with the art T'enjoy them, and the virtue to impart, Not meanly nor ambitiously pursu'd, Not sunk by sloth, nor rais'd by servitude ; To balance fortune by a just expence, Join with ceconomy magnificence ; With splendour, charity : with plenty, health : Oh! teach us, Bathurst ! yet unspoil'd by wealth! That secret rare, between th' extremes to move, Of mad good nature, and of mean self love.