cern for the libertinism of his youth, especially
regarding the fair sex, in which he had indulged himself himself very
freely. He was survived only by one legitimate son, but left several
natural children;

Our noble author has been charged by some of his enemies, with the
sordid vice of covetousness, but without foundation; for, as a strong
indication that he was not avaritious, he lost a considerable part of
his fortune, merely by not taking the pains to visit, during the space
of 40 years, his estates at some distance from London; and whoever is
acquainted with human nature knows, that indolence and covetousness are
incompatible.

His grace died the 24th of February 1720, in the 75th year of his age,
and after lying in state for some days at Buckingham-House, was
carried from thence with great funeral solemnity, and interred in
Westminster-Abbey, where a monument is erected to his memory, upon which
the following epitaph is engraved, by his own direction, as appears from
a passage in his will.

'Since something is usually written on monuments, I direct that the
following lines shall be put on mine, viz.

'In one place.

Pro Rege saepe, pro Republica semper.

'In another.

Dubius, sed non improbus vixi.
Incertus morior, sed inturbatus.
Humanum est nescire & errare.
Christum adveneror, Deo confido
Omnipotenti, benevolentissimo.
Ens Entium miserere mihi.'

The words Christum adveneror are omitted at the desire of the late
bishop Atterbury, who thought them not strong enough in regard to
Christ; under the whole are the following words,

Catharina Buckinghamicae: Ducissa
Maerens extrui curavit Anno MDCCXXI.

Edmund, the duke's eldest son, already mentioned, was snatched away
in his bloom; a youth from whom the greatest things might have been
expected, as he was untainted with the vices of the age: he was very
remarkable for his modesty, which vulgar minds imputed to want of
powers, but those who knew him best, have given a different testimony
concerning him, and have represented him as possessed of all the genius
of his father, with more strict and inviolable morals. With this young
nobleman the titles of the Sheffield family expired.

The duke, his father, informs us of a duel he was to have fought with
the witty earl of Rochester, which he thus relates; after telling us
that the cause of the quarrel happened between the first and second
Dutch war.

'I was inform'd (says his grace) th