Letitia Elizabeth Landon (L. E. L.) in Fisher's Drawing Room Scrap Book, 1838/Earl of Egremont
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GEORGE-O’BRIEN WYNDHAM F.R.S.&F.R.A., EARL OF EGREMONT.
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THE RIGHT HONOURABLE GEORGE O'BRIEN WYNDHAM,
EARL OF EGREMONT.
BORN DECEMBER 18th, 1759. LORD-LIEUTENANT AND VICE-ADMIRAL OF THE COUNTY OF SUSSEX,
FELLOW OF THE ROYAL AND ANTIQUARIES' SOCIETIES, &c. &c.
To do justice to the character of Lord Egremont, we must separate him from the interest of general affairs, and contemplate his individual efforts as the patron and encourager of every thing which could tend to the good of the community. His seat, truly denominated "The Princely Petworth," may be esteemed the head-quarters, whence improvement has been spread around, without interruption or pause, during a period happily continued beyond the common lot of man. The temple of all that can grace and refine our nature, rich in the noblest productions of genius—whatever the scholar, the sculptor, and the painter could produce. The noble owner has not been less mindful of the benevolent and the useful: under his auspices, the labours of agriculture have flourished, the condition of the lower orders has been ameliorated, and ingenious discoveries and inventions have been applied to promote the progress of this the first of sciences—the foundation of all others.
In his patronage of living artists and our native school, the munificence of the noble Earl has been equally conspicuous; many of the finest pictures produced in our day in England, are the results of his unlimited commissions. The Earl of Egremont has taken hundreds by the hand, whom circumstances had previously repressed, and brought them forward into notice and independence. To this day his house is the abode of several artists, engaged in the production of various works under his liberal patronage.
In all other relations of society, his Lordship is equally liberal and munificent. His charities are as prompt and ample as their occasions are numerous; and there is too much of want and affliction in our world, to render this a lightly-won praise. Much of human misery must have been alleviated, much of human comfort bestowed, much of suffering solaced, and much of happiness conferred, by the man of superior rank and fortune, who has, during more than half a century, deserved a title far above that of the highest nobility, by being, throughout so wide a sphere, the charitable benefactor of his species.