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. THE DORMANT AND EXTINCT BARONAGE oF ENGLAND. ‘TO HIS’ MOST BROULLENT MAJESTY: GEORGE THE THIRD, BY THE GRACE OF GOD ‘OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND KING, DEFENDER OF THE FAITH, Be. ke. Se. SIRE, "Ov all the atudies to which men are drawn, either by inclination or interest, perhaps no one can pretend to such a gratifying pleasure as the commemoration of the families and deeds of worth of our illustrious ancestors; the more especially so, when at this day, it is proba- ble, we owe our ownhappiness, prosperity, and the for- mation and preservation of our excellent and enviable Constitution to their noble actions, their exertions, and their meritorious services, \ ‘That such characters should be buried in oblivion, merely because their titles have ceased (or may bé, are’ erroneously imagined to have terminated), would be casting a stigma upon the gratitude of succeeding ages for the benefits they were inberiting; whilst, on the contrary, an historic continuation to the present time, of the descendants from such a line, must awa~ ge vvadken a ken the géuerous mind to imitate the glorious examples of their wrétt progenitors, and ander that stimulus cre- ate a yéneration for the blued that pervades their veins, with au carneat desire to deserve so well of their Sove- reign and of Lhcir Country, as to afford both aweleome opportunity to revive and recognize the honours of an ancient house, or confer new ones, as it were, to recoi- peuse the achievements of a Nelson, a St. Vincent, or an Ahercrombie. . To your Majesty, therefore, as the fountain of all honour, under whose happy reign we are enjoying so many blessings (when surrounding Nations a volsed or overturned); whose parental care has ever ex- teuded to promote the welfare of your subjects, and to reward thei deserts; 1 lLumbly presume to offer the following pages of my labour, in the flattering hope, that whilst your Majesty shuil deign to accept the de- dication of them to your reyal person, they may prove not unworthy so great a favour and distinguished a protection. © COM> With all umility and deference, am, Siew, Your Margsry's most dutiful, and loyal Snbject and Servant, T. C. BANKS. Tx the feveral publications which ave hitherto becn made of Extingt Pcerages, the enumeration of the ties, with the fuceettion of perfous and of families, has been the chief point of information con- tained in them, It mutt therefore be clearly evident to the reflecting, and contemplative mind, that a little Further accouut of such illuftrious charaGters as many of our carly nobility were, is not ouly much wanted, and defirable, but is of as much fatisfaétion ta perufe as their mere names. For whatavails it being told, that Cafar, Pompey, and Lucullus, of that Hratus and Caffius lived, unfefs we are at the fame time made acquainted with the reafon of their names Leing at all worth the recording. If they were celebrated or confpicuous for any glorious aétion; for their talents, their bieth, or their rank in the commonwealth, it confequently follows, the Roman who coufd derive hinsfelf from fach blood, had an honour to boat, and a lineage to be proud of. Shall it then in the prefint day be faid, it is a matter of little confequence who our auceftors were; that the name, and not the merit is fafficient? If £3, why thoutd we hold dear the memory of a Sidney, or a Ruffil? It might be enough, that pofterity thould Jearm that fuch men lived; but that they died, is the moft material pert to be handed down, for, although their lives were honourable, their deaths, and the canfe thereof, were mare f. som gem, tpn eta son fei ip Viren ontia von oun, M, + Saree can thofe decd of ime, be cl’ oor ow, “Which by our fies, anno ourfeles were ene” Such indecd were the words of Ajax, whea contending with Ulyffes for the armour of Achilles; and well might they be apphed when a2 the