OF

MR. BARBER BEAUMONT is one of the many persons in this country, who have been less indebted for opulence and distinction to adventitious circumstances or fortuitous events, than to their own genius and industry. His mind early exhibited that germ of independent principle, without which nothing great is likely to be attempted, and nothing good to be produced. On his first entrance into life, Mr. Beaumont had to contend with difficulties, and to make his way through obstructions; but those difficulties and obstructions only exalted his courage, animated his exertions, and strengthened his per

severance.

In his youth, Mr. Beaumont manifested a strong desire to obtain eminence as a painter; and it is probable that if he had confined his talents to the use of his pencil, few persons would have risen to a higher degree of celebrity. The Royal Academy at Somerset House honoured some of his performances, in the historical line, with the most flattering approbation; and he received several medals from the Society of Arts.

Mr. Beaumont had early resolved to acquire a fund of general knowledge, which he might convert to purposes of utility. This caused, in some measure, a dispersion of his faculties; and though it prevented him from acquiring the highest excellence in his first profession, yet it has more than compensated for that loss by other great and numerous advantages.

In 1802, Mr. Beaumont made his first appearance as an author; when he published an account of a tour in South Wales; to which his skill in drawing enabled him to add many appropriate and elegant embellishments. This work was very favourably received by the public, and went through two editions. Soon after this period, Mr. Beaumont had an opportunity of obtaining distinction, and meriting applause, by exertions of a very different kind; but which strikingly proved the versatility of his talents, and the energetic activity of his character. The country was threatened with an invasion from France; and the government either felt, or affected to feel, considerable alarm. At any rate, whatever might be the real feelings of the ministry, it cannot be doubted but that the alarm was really felt among the people. Many who went to bed at night, expected to hear of the landing of the French before the morning. It was in this unquiet and agitated state of the public mind, that Mr. Beaumont, with all the ardour of patriotism, co-operated with the government in exhorting the people to associate for the defence of the country, in case the enemy should succeed in putting his threats of invasion into execution. For this purpose, the subject of this memoir published several tracts, in which he particularly recommended, that the people should be armed as sharp-shooters and as pikemen, in which mode, he argued, that the mass of the population

be

most success, and to

harrass his regular troops by the most galling and destructive war. The works which issued from the pen of Mr. Beaumont, at this important crisis, were,— a paper in the British Patriot for July, 1803," Considerations upon Internal Defence,"-" Instructions for Sharpshooters,' "Arcanum of National Defence." And in order to keep the public attention at that time incessantly alive to the ambitious projects of Buonaparte, and to the spirit of vengeance, with which he was actuated against the prosperity of this country, Mr. Beaumont established a newspaper, called "The Weekly Register." Nor were his patriotic exertions confined exclusively to these literary efforts, for Mr. Beaumont actually put in practice what he so earnestly recommended to others, and exhibited to the country a memora

ble example of a truly disinterested and a highly praiseworthy patriotism. He not only projected but organised a rifle corps of singular efficiency and unrivalled skill. Of this corps, which was known by the name of the Duke of Cumberland's sharp-shooters, Mr. Barber Beaumont was the Major-Commandant. These troops acquired such a talent for ball-firing, and had become such accurate marksmen, that Mr. Beaumont, on one occasion in Hyde Park, evinced his confidence in their extraordinary skill, by actually holding the target while his men discharged their guns, and successively perforated the bull's-eye, though at the distance of one hundred and fifty yards. Whether Mr. Beaumont did not, in this instance, exhibit a little more temerity than right reason will approve, may be a question; but no one can doubt the confidence he felt in the skill of his corps, or the tranquil intrepidity which must have predominated in his own breast.

During the late war, a trial of skill was continued for the space of eight days, between the different rifle corps in and near the metropolis. In this contest, the corps which Mr. Beaumont commanded far surpassed all their competitors for distinction; and Mr. Beaumont himself obtained the first prize, by putting more shots in the target than any other man.

We are now to contemplate Mr. Beaumont, acting with the same ardour, and distinguished by the same earnestness, in another department, but one more

of greater general

Even the

arts of destruction may be honourable, when they are practised for truly patriotic purposes, and are designed to vindicate the liberty and independence of our native land. But the highest species of distinction, the least questionable kind of glory, is that which is obtained by alleviating the wretchedness, by diminishing the vice, and by adding to the virtue and the happiness of mankind. The life of Mr. Beaumont will exhibit several instances in which he has shewn himself the true friend of the poor, and has been singularly instrumental in promoting the moral habits and domestic comfort of persons in humble life.

In the Spring of 1806, he was successful in establishing what he denominated the "Provident Institution, or Bank for Savings." This was the first institution of the kind; and it has since given birth to numerous similar establishments in different parts of the kingdom, by which the condition of the poor has been considerobly improved, and by which, perhaps, more than by any other contrivance, habits of industry have been invigorated, a spirit of frugality diffused, and the virtue and happiness of the community consequently augmented. The following works on this subject have issued from the pen of Mr. Beaumont :-"An Account of the Provident Institution," &c.-Cadell and Davies, 1806. "An Essay on Provident Banks," with "A detailed Account of the Plan, Regulations and routine of Management of the Provident Bank, in the parish of Covent-garden." Mr. Beaumont gave striking proofs of his zeab in the same cause, by a variety of addresses on the subject, in which he adapted his language and sentiments to the comprehension of the less informed part of the community; and, in a very forcible manner, impressed them with the importance, and convinced them of the advantages, of a constant and persevering economy in early life. To make the poor provident is the best way to improve their condition, and to augment their happiness. If Mr. Beaumont had dropped into the grave, the moment after he had instituted the first Savings-Bank, he would well have merited to have had his tomb inscribed with the honourable name of a benefactor to his species.

Of the numerous companies, or