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Samuel Pegge, Esq. the only surviving Son[50] of the venerable Antiquary whose Life has just been recorded, was born in 1731. After an excellent classical education, at St. John's College, Cambridge, he was admitted a Barrister of the Middle Temple; and was soon after, by the favour of the Duke of Devonshire, then Lord Chamberlain, appointed one of the Grooms of His Majesty's Privy-Chamber, and an Esquire of the King's Household.

Mr. Pegge married Martha, daughter of Dr. Henry Bourne, an eminent Physician, of Spital, near Chesterfield, in Derbyshire[51], and sister to the Rev. John Bourne[52], Rector of Sutton, and Vicar of South Wingfield, co. Derby.

By this lady, who was born in 1732, and died in 1767, he had one son, Christopher, of whom hereafter; and one daughter, Charlotte-Anne, who died, unmarried, March 17, 1793.

Mr. Pegge married, secondly, Goodeth Belt, daughter of Robert Belt, Esq. of Bossall, co. York, by whom he had no issue[53].

After the death of his Father, Mr. Pegge, though somewhat advanced in life, was desirous of becoming a Member of the Society of Antiquaries. He was accordingly elected in 1796; having previously shewn that he was well deserving of that distinction, by the accuracy and intelligence displayed in the "Curialia."

He survived his Father little more than four years; during which period he enjoyed but an indifferent state of bodily health. His mental faculties, however, were, to the last, strong and unimpaired; his manners truly elegant; his conversation always sensible and pleasant; and his epistolary correspondence[54] lively and facetious.

His death is thus recorded on an upright stone on the West side of Kensington church-yard:

"Samuel Pegge, Esq.

died May the 22d, 1800, aged 67 years.

Martha, Wife of Samuel Pegge, Esq.

died June 28, 1767, aged 35 years.

Charlotte-Anne, the only Daughter

of Samuel and Martha Pegge,

died March 17, 1793, aged 31 years.

Mrs. Christiana Pegge died July 1, 1790."

To Mr. Pegge, we are indebted for the foregoing circumstantial Memoir or his very learned Father; and for several occasional communications to the Gentleman's Magazine.

But his principal Work Was intituled, "Curialia; or, an Historical Account of some Branches of the Royal Household[55];" Three Portions of which he published in his life-time:

Part I. consisted of "Two Dissertations, addressed to the President of the Society of Antiquaries, London; viz. 1. On the obsolete Office of the Esquires of the King's Body. 2. On the original Nature, Duty, &c. of the Gentlemen of the King's Most Honourable Privy Chamber, 1782."

Part II. contains "A Memoir regarding the King's Honourable Band of Gentlemen Pensioners, from its Establishment to the present Time, 1784."

Part III. is "A Memoir respecting the King's Body-Guard of Yeomen of his Guard, from its Institution, AD 1485; 1791."

During the remaining period of his life, Mr. Pegge amused himself in preparing several other Numbers of his "Curialia" for the press; the materials for which, and also his "Anecdotes of the English Language," he bequeathed to Mr. Nichols; who printed "The Anecdotes of the English Language" in 1803. This Work having been noticed with much approbation in the principal Reviews, and very favourably received by the Publick at large, a Second Edition (corrected and improved from his own detached MSS.) was published in 1814. To this Edition was added, "A Supplement to the Provincial Glossary of Francis Grose, Esq." compiled by Mr. Pegge.

In 1806 Mr. Nichols published Two additional Numbers of the "Curialia:"

Part IV. "A History of Somerset House[56], from the Commencement of its Erection in 1549."

Part V. "A Dissertation[57] on the ancient Establishment and Function of the Serjeant at Arms."

The further continuation of that interesting work was broken off by the melancholy accident mentioned in page v.

In the early part of his life Mr. Pegge was a considerable proficient in Musick. He composed a complete Melo-Drama, both the words and the musick in score, which still remains in MS. Many Catches and Glees also, and several of the most popular Songs for Vauxhall Gardens were written and set to music by him.

His Muse was very fertile; and though his modesty forbade the avowal, he was the Author of some occasional Prologues and Epilogues which were favourably received by the Publick: a Prologue, particularly, spoken by Mr. Yates at Birmingham in 1760, on taking the Theatre into his own hands; an Epilogue spoken by the same excellent Actor, at Drury Lane, on his return from France, and another Epilogue, filled with pertinent allusions to the Game of Quadrille, spoken by Mrs. Yates, at her Benefit, in three different seasons, 1769, 1770, and 1774. He was the Author also of a pathetic Elegy on his own Recovery from a dangerous Illness; and of some pleasant Tales and Epigrammatic Poems.

His other acknowledged writings were,

1. "An Elegy on the Death of Godfrey Bagnall Clerke, Esq. (late one of the Representatives in Parliament for the County of Derby), who died Dec. 26, 1774.[58]"

2. "Memoirs of Edward Capell, Esq."[59]

3. "Illustrations of the Churchwardens' Accompts of St. Michael Spurrier Gate, York," in the "Illustrations of the Manners and Expences of Antient Times, 1797."

4. "On a Custom observed by the Lord Lieutenants of Ireland." (Antiquarian Repertory, Edit. 1809, vol. IV. p. 622.)

5. "Historical Anecdotes of the French Word Carosse." (Ibid. p. 642.)—The two last mentioned Tracts are re-printed in the present volume.

Mr. Pegge also superintended through the Press the greater part of his Father's "History of Beauchief Abbey;" but died before it was completed.

His only Son, the present Sir Christopher Pegge, was admitted a Commoner at Christ Church, Oxford, in 1782; took the Degree of B. A. there in 1786; was elected Fellow of Oriel College in 1788; resigned his Fellowship in 1790, and was re-admitted of Christ Church, having been appointed, through favour of the Dean and Chapter, Dr. Lee's Reader in Anatomy (which situation he resigned in 1816, an asthmatic complaint having rendered change of residence adviseable); took the Degrees of M. A. and M. B. 1789, and that of M. D. 1792. He was elected one of the Physicians to the Radcliffe Infirmary in 1791 (which he resigned in 1803); F. L. S. 1792; F.R.S. 1795; and Fellow of the College of Physicians 1796; received from his Majesty the Honour of Knighthood in 1799, and the Dignity of Regius Professor of Physic in 1801.

Sir Christopher Pegge married, in 1791, Amey, the eldest daughter of Kenton Couse, Esq. of Whitehall; by whom he has issue one daughter, Mary, married in 1816 to the Rev. Richard Moore Boultbee, of Merton College, Oxford (second son of Joseph Boultbee, Esq. of Springfield House, near Knowle, Warwickshire), and had a daughter, born Dec. 9, 1817.