WILLIAM CURTIS ESQF Alderman and M.P. for the City of London? Published by J. Sewell Cornhill March 1799. THE THE EUROPEAN MAGAZINE, AND LONDON REVIEW, FOR MARCH 1799. WILLIAM CURTIS, ESQ. ALDERMAN AND MEMBER FOR LONDON, HERE is no character which comes more recommended to biographical notice than he who deferves well of his fellow-citizens. The Romans were fo fenfible of this, that they decreed public honours to the man who faved the life of a citizen; thereby acknowledging, by legiflative authority, the value which they fet upon fo useful a member of the community. We have still a higher claim to refpect this character; as, by the wide spread exercife of his talents, his industry, and fortune, an ENGLISH MERCHANT has it in his power to give daily bread to thousands, who grow up under his fupport, and feel all the bleffings of British independence. The good Citizen, whofe portrait appears in this publication, has the fairest claims to public approbation; as he may be aid, literally as well as fubftantially, to give daily bread to thousands-not only in the particular line of his bufinefs, but as a banker and almoft general trader; to thefe may be added his unwearied fervices for the public through the feveral gradations of city offices. The family of Alderman Curtis comes originally from Nottingham; his father fettled at Wapping, where he established himself fo very extensively in the bifcuit line as to fupply a confiderable part of our foreign and domestic trade with this article. At his death he left behind him fix children, viz. Timothy, James, William, George, Charles, and a daughter. The first and third ion (Timothy and the prefent Alderman) fettled in and fupported the firm of the original houfe. James is partner in a very confiderable brewery; George is Captain of an EastIndiaman; Charles, Kector of Birmingham and Solihull, Warwickshire; and the daughter is married to the Rev. Mr. Roberts, a very deferving clergyman, who was chaplain to his brother-in-law during his mayoralty. A man with a good capital, carrying on an extensive bufinets in a neighbourhood, where he has fcarcely any other competitor, has not only an opportunity of making a large fortune, but (what fhould be always equally defirable, and without which fortune is but a dreary fupport) of acquiring the good will and affection of his neighbours. The house of Curtis was wife enough to know and feel," that honesty is the belt policy." Therefore, befides employing a great number of their poor neighbours in their bulinets, which of courfe drew on a perfonal attachment, they deported themfeives to ali with fuch integrity, affabili ty and refpect, that in the year 1785, on the death of Mr. Atkinton, a very confiderable and refpectable number of the inhabitants of the Tower diftrict folicit ed Mr. William Curtis to take upon him the office of Alderman of that relpectable ward. Mr. Curtis at that time had fo little notion of engaging in corporation honours, that he was not fo much as a freeman of the city of London; but at the initance of fuch a refpectable and voluntary an offer, he thought he fhould be wanting in duty to himself, as well as refpect to his fellaw citizens, if he did not accept their . U 2 foliçi folitation; he therefore immediately qualified himself for becoming a candidate, and was foon after accordingly elected an Alderman of the Tower ward. We now find the Alderman engaged in city honours, which he conducied fo much to the credit of his ward and the general fatisfaction of the public, that he was elected fheriff at Michaelmas 1789, in conjunction with Sir Benjamin Hamet. This was a bufy and important year, and the Alderman's exertions were equal to it. He attended his duty upon all occafions, minute as well as important; and by his activity, his zeal, and discretion, confirmed the good opinion of his fellow citizens, A diffolution of parliament taking place in the year 1796, a vacancy for the city of London occurred of courie, when a variety of candidates were talked of, and amongit the reft Mr. Alderman Curtis. Mcft admitted his future claims to this office, but at the prefent thought him too young in the corporation to offer him if as a candidate; particularly as he would joltle with the interefts of fome of the old members. But the Alderman knew the fair hold he had on his fellowcitizens-and "he faw no lion in the way." He made an early canvas, by way of experiment, and this more than anfwering his moft fanguine expectations; he was now decided. He declared himfelf publicly as a candidate for the city of London, resting his pretenfions on his former conduct, and appealing to his heart for the future. He had both claims unequivocally allowed. His fellow-citi. zens crowded to his ftandard; he felt bimfelf rifing in numbers on each days poll, 'till he carried his caufe triumphantly by a confiderable majority. More honours ftill awaited him. In 1795 he was called to that high fituation which fhould be the zealous difideratum of every industrious and refpectable citizen, viz. THE MAYORALTY OF THE CITY OF LONDON; an office which has ever been important in the eye of Government and can boaft hereditary honours coeval with the English Conftitution. This office the Alderman undertook in times which required much vigour, activity, and circumfpection; as not only provifions of every kind were very dear (a great touchitone of popular temper), but republican opinions, through the influence of fome buty democratic fpirits, had been disseminated amongst the lower orders of the people. He faw both these difficulties before him, and briefly ftated them at the farewell dinner given by his predecelior Mr. Alderman Skinner; wherein, after paying a handfome compliment to Mr. Skinner as Lord Mayor, he with every becoming diffidence called upon him and the reft of the corporation to fupport his good intentions in the courte of his entuing magiftracy. Thefe difficulties however only quickened his exertions; he met them and removed them. His zeal and circumfpection looked every where, by being unremittingly on duty himself, and feeing the laws duly executed in every department under him. To thefe more fubftantial duties he added all the graces and fplendours of hofpitality. He lived as the first man in the first city in the world should live; an emblem of the confequences of INVIOLABLE GOOD FAITH and UNBOUNDED COMMERCE; the Manfionhoufe was the receptacle of the princes and great officers of ftate, together with the nobility and gentry of all countries This, no doubt, was a proud day not who refided in, or visited the capital in only to himself and family, but to his the course of that year; the feveral defriends in general. The latter teftified it partments of the corporation, with the by every mark of the moft cordial atis-nerati, &c. &c. fhared in the feftivities faction, and concluded a number of pri- of this fcene, fo that the fplendours of the vate feftivities by giving their fuccefsiul country, like the fun, fccmed to burit candidate a public dinner at the London from the aftern horizon. Tavern, where above three hundred of the livery attended, befides a number of other respectable characters. Among it the varieties of the fealon, which ornamented the dinner of this day, was a firloin of beef of that quality and magnitude that did equal honour to the feed of Old England as to the zeal of his conftituents; the center difplaying a blue flag wherein the exact amount of the livery men who voted for him were embroidered in gold characters. In 1796 another diffolution of parlia ment took place, when the Alderman had fo fully established his character, that in offering himself as a candidate he met no difficulties in his canvas. His conftituents knew him by experience, and on this experience they again elected him as one of their members, which fituation he now refpe&tably fills, and fuch are the happy and friendly communications between him and his conftituents, that there is every every probability of his being called upon to reprefent the city of London as long as he chootes, which in all probability will be as long as he lives. The Alderman feems to be one of thefe characters to which the motto of fertis fortuna juvat may, with great propriety, be applied. Early bred to bunners, under the example of a very induftrious parent, he was led to calculate its various and extenfive benefits; hence, what to other young men of his family expectations might be looked upon as a drudgery, to him was a duty and a pleasure. He had a conftitution equal to his inclinations, ftrong, robuft, and active; he was, by nature, fitted for the buttie of the world; fo that his plans, inftead of freezing under the coldnefs of deliberation, or yielding to the torper of indolence, (as is the condition of too many) were no fooner properly matured than inftantly put in practice; and as he has a good frong common fenfe to fee the right of an object, he has been in the language of the world, generally called "A lucky man," but in the language of men who know the world better, one who has fortune more under his command than to be her fport, and forelight and promptness to avail himself of firft opportunities. This appears by his laying the foundation of his fortune before he ever thought of entering into any of the city offices. By his ftill continuing in the firm of that bufinets (notwithlanding other profitable avocations) when the fortune of that houfe was made, and which, under careful partners in a commercial line, may be confidered as an hereditary ellate. By his pushing his city intereft from the moment he found Le had this voluntary bank established for han till he obtained its highest dignity; and finally by timely ufing that confidence which his fellow Citizens placed in him, in offering himself as a candidate to reprefent them in Parliament. Others, upon this occalion, would have been content to take the goods of fortune from one band, but he law he could obtain her" with both hands full," and by judicious and laudable exertions, he became a fucceistul fuitor. As a magiftrate, in all its gradations, he has proved himself active, vigilant, and impartial; much beloved by his fellow Citizens in general, but more particularly in the ward where he prefides; where, from being more intimately acquainted with his conduct, every year confirms to them the judgment of their firft choice. Born and educated in the city, and early acquainted with business in a variety of branches, he came fitted to reprefent that city in Parliament, which, in our opinion, should be always filled by a commercial man, who it is prefumed belt understands her intereft, and which is in a great degree connected with all the great trading intereft of the kingdom. He has, in confequence of this knowledge, his own zeal, and the gratitude with which he always fpeaks of his conftituents, became a very active and ferviceable Member of Parliament, as appears by his introducing many petitions, acts, and claufes of acts, which have been of very material fervice to his fellow Citizens. He is not what political critics would call an Orator, nor has he the leaft affectation of one; plain, fimple, and energetic in his fpeeches; he trulls to his matter, and as he fpeaks well informed upon his fubject, and is known to have no left-handed views, he is always well attended to. As to his politics, they are like his oratory, plain, yet energetic. He has lately told his conftituents what they were in one fhort fentence, "I FEAR COD, AND HONOUR THE KING;" and his actions confirm this declaration, by equally fupporting the just prerogative of the Crown, and the rights of the people. To his In the duties of private life, every man that knows him must bear teftimony to the propriety of his character. Sur. rounded by a numerous family of children and relatives he is kind and affectionate, and confequently derives all that happinefs which ever nows from a participation of thote tender connexions. friends and acquaintances he is open, cordial, and ferviceable, relaxing in none of thofe duties which led him to fortune and popularity, wifely knowing that the fame exertions which at firit were necelfary to eftablish, are, in a great degree, neceffary to preferve both fuch valuable acquifition. STAINS, THE following Extracts of two Let ters from the venerable Father of our heroic defender, and from the Admiral himfelf, in a very trying fituation, deferve to be handed down to pofterity; together with the Memorial which custom required to be delivered previous to his receiving the merited reward for his fervices done prior to his great victory. Extract of a Letter from the Rev. Mr. NELSON to the Rev. BRIAN ALLOT (who has a living in the neighbourhood of Burnham), in answer to a Congratulary Epiftle on the late Villory. Dated October, 1798. My great and good Son went into the world without fortune, but with a heart replete with every moral and religious virtue-thefe have been his compafs to fteer by; and it has pleafed God to be his fhield in the day of battle, and to give fuccefs to his wifes, to be of fervice to his country. on His country feems fenfible of his fervices-but fould he ever meet with ingratitude, his fears will cry out and plead his caule; for, at the fiege of Baltia, he loit an eye; at Tene iffe, an arm; the memorable 14th of February, he received a fevere blow on his body, which he till feels, and now a wound on the head. After all this,you will believe his bloom of countenance inuft be faded; but the spirit beareth up yet as vigorous as ever. On the 29th of September he completed his 40th year; cheerful, generous, and good; fearing no evil, becaufe he has done none; an honour to my grey hairs, which, with every mark of old age, creep faft upon me. COPY OF A LETTER FROM LORD NEL Vanguard, St. Peter's Ifland, off My Dearest Fanny, I ought not to call what has happened to the Vanguard by the cold name of accident; I believe firmly it was the Almighty's goodness to check my confummate vanity. I hope it has made me a better Officer, as I feel it has made me a better man. I kifs with all humility the rod. Figure to yourfelf on Sunday evening, at fun fet, a vain man walking in his cabin with a fquadron around him, who looked up to their Chief to lead them to glory, and in whom their Chief placed the firmeft reliance, that the proudeft fhips of equal numbers belonging to France would have bowed their flags; and with a very rich prize lying by him-Figure to yourfelf on Monday morning, when the Sun rofe, this proud conceited man, his fhip difmafted, his fleet difperfed, and himself in fuch dif trefs, that the meaneft frigate out of France would have been an unwelcome guelt. But it has pleafed Almighty God to bring us into a fafe port, where, although we are refufed the rights of humanity, yet the Vanguard will, in two days, get to fea again as an English man of war. (COPY.) "To the King's Mott Excellent Majefty, the Memorial of Sir Horatio Nelfon, K. B. and a Rear Admiral in your Majetty's fervice. That during the prefent war your Memorialilt has been in four actions with the |