(Francis, Esq.; F.A.S.) was born, we believe, in 1731. He was the son of Mr Francis Grose of Richmond, jeweller, who filled up the coronation crown of George II. and died 1769. By his father he was left an independent fortune, which he was not of a disposition to add to, or even to preserve. He early entered into the Surrey militia, of which he became adjutant and paymaster; but so much had dissipation taken possession of him, that in a situation which above all others required attention, he was so careless as to have for some time (as he used pleasantly to tell) only two books of accounts, viz., his right and left hand pockets. In the one he received, and from the other paid; and this too with a want of circumspection which may be readily supposed from such a mode of book-keeping. His losses on this occasion ruined his latent talents. With a good classical education he united a fine taste for drawing; and encouraged by his friends, as well as prompted by his situation, he undertook the work from which he derived both profit and reputation; we mean, his Views of Antiquities in England and Wales, which he first began to publish in numbers in the year 1773, and finished in the year 1776. The next year he added two more volumes to his English Views, in which he included the islands of Guernsey and Jersey, which were completed in 1787. This work answered his most sanguine expectations; and, from the time he began it to the end of his life, he continued without intermission to publish various works (a list of which we subjoin), generally to the advantage of his literary reputation, and almost always to the benefit of his finances. His wit and good humour were the abundant source of satisfaction to himself, and entertainment to his friends. He visited almost every part of the kingdom, and was well received wherever he went. In the summer of 1789 he set out on a tour in Scotland; the result of which he began to communicate to the public in 1790 in numbers. Before he had concluded this work, he proceeded to Ireland, intending to furnish that kingdom with views and descriptions of her antiquities, in the same manner he had executed those of Great Britain; but soon after his arrival in Dublin, being at the house of Mr Hone there, he suddenly was seized at table with an apoplectic fit, on the 6th May 1791, and died immediately. He was interred in Dublin.
"His literary history (says a friend), respectable as it is, was exceeded by his good humour, conviviality, and friendship. Living much abroad, and in the best company at home, he had the easiest habits of adapting himself to all tempers; and, being a man of general knowledge, perpetually drew out some conversation that was either useful to himself or agreeable to the party. He could observe upon most things with precision and judgment; but his natural tendency was to humour, in which he excelled both by the selection of anecdotes and his manner of telling them: it may be said, too, that his figure rather assisted him, which was in fact the very title page to a joke. He had neither the pride nor malignity of authorship: he felt the independency of his own talents, and was satisfied with them, without degrading others. His friendships were of the same cast; constant and sincere, overlooking some faults, and seeking out greater virtues. He had a good heart; and, abating those little indiscretions natural to most men, could do no wrong."
He married at Canterbury, and resided there some years, much beloved and respected for his wit and vivacity; "which (another friend observes), though he possessed in an extreme degree, was but little tinged with the cautious spirit so prevalent among spirits of that class. His humour was of that nature which exhilarates and enlivens, without leaving behind it a fling; and though perhaps none possessed more than himself the faculty of 'setting the table in a roar,' it was never at the expense of virtue or good manners. Of him indeed may be said in the words of Shakespeare,
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Within the limits of becoming mirth, I never spent an hour's talk withal: His eye begets occasion for his wit; And every object that the one doth catch, The other turns to a mirth-moving jest.
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"Of the most careless, open, and artless disposition, he was often (particularly in the early part of his life) the prey of the designing; and has more than once (it is believed) embarrassed himself by too implicit confidence in the probity of others. A tale of distress never failed to draw commiseration from his heart; and often has the tear been discovered gliding down that cheek which a moment before was flushed with jocularity."
He was father of Daniel Grose, Esq., captain of the royal regiment of artillery (who, after several campaigns in America, was appointed in 1790 deputy governor of the new settlement at Botany Bay), and some other children.
His works are as follow:
1. The Antiquities of England and Wales, 8 vols. 4to and 8vo. 2. The Antiquities of Scotland, 2 vols. 4to and 8vo. 3. The Antiquities of Ireland, 2 vols. 4to and 8vo. 4. A Treatise on ancient Armour and Weapons, 4to, 1785. 5. A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, 8vo, 1785. 6. Military Antiquities; being a History of the English Army from... This dissertation was so much to the taste of the humane legislature, that they rewarded Mr Louis with 2000 livres, and published it in the Paris Journals. As to the inventor, he reaped all the benefit from it which he so kindly intended for the nation, by the trial of it on his own person, when he fell under the displeasure of Robespierre.
We acknowledge, that in as far as this instrument lessens the duration of the horrid conflict with the king of terrors, and probably diminishes the corporeal sufferance, it may be called merciful (alas! the day!) but we question much, whether the dreadful agitation of soul is not rather increased by the long train of preparatory operations. The hands of the convict are tied behind his back; he is then stretched along on his face on a strong plank, and his precise position adjusted to the instrument. When fastened to the plank, it is pushed forward into its place under the fatal edge, his neck adjusted to the block, and a basket placed just before his eyes (for the face of Louis XVI. was not covered) to receive his head. This must employ a good deal of time, and every moment is terrible.
The construction has received many alterations and refinements; and has at last been made so commodious and portable, as to become part of the travelling equipage of a commissioner from the National Assembly, sent on a provincial or special visitation. Thus did the sovereign people become terrible in majesty. So terrible was the Assembly of the advantages of this awful impression, or so intoxicated with the enjoyment of irresistible power, that they have thought their coins ornamented by this attribute of their supremacy; and as Jupiter is distinguished by his thunderbolt, so the majesty of the people is distinguished by the no less fatal axe. We have seen a piece of ten sous, struck at Mentz in 1793, and issued as current money, at the very time that they were planting the tree of liberty in that illuminated city by the hands of Culline and his troops. The device is the fasces and axe of ancient Rome, crowned with the red cap, and surrounded by a laurel wreath. The inscription is, Republique Françoise, 1793, an. 21. Fully impressed with the same sentiments, Lequino, the sentimental novellist of France, whom Mercier compares with the tender, heart-touching Sterne—Lequino, now commissioner, sent by the National Assembly to regenerate Normandy and Brittany, writes to his masters, that "he is very successful in conversions from superstition to sound reason." He opposes to the Bible and the relics of the saints the constitution and the guillotine. "And you would wonder (says he) at my success—The wife (but they are few) give up their prejudices at once; but the multitude, the stupid worshippers of Notre Dame, look at our lady the guillotine; are silent, become serious, and their doubts vanish—they are converted. This is your labarum—in hoc signo vinces."