ROCHEJACQUELEIN. See La Rochejacquelein.

ROCHESTER, John Wilmot, Earl of, was the son of Henry, first earl of Rochester of this family, and was born in 1647. He received his early education at the grammar-school of Burford, and entered Wadham college in 1659, when he was only twelve years old. Like most of the courtiers of his day, Rochester travelled in France and Italy. On his return he became an attendant on the gay and profligate court of Charles II. In 1665 he went to sea with the earl of Sandwich, and distinguished himself at Bergen by his remarkable intrepidity; and the next summer, under Sir Edward Spragge, who sent him on a message to one of his captains in the heat of an engagement. Wilmot went and returned in an open boat amidst a storm of shot. At a later period, however, he lost his reputation for courage and manliness of character, and was accused of leaving his companions to shift for themselves when they became involved in street quarrels—probably his nerves being shaken by his continual debauchery. His inclination to intemperance showed itself at an early age; and when he became a courtier he was regarded as the most profligate of all the dissolute and vicious men who at that time basked in the sunshine of royalty. He confessed to Bishop Burnet that he was for four years together either in a state of intoxication, or so much inflamed by drink as at no time to be master of himself. His intrigues, low amours, and disguises, his erecting a stage on Towerhill and playing the mountebank, his acting the fortune-teller and astonishing the courtiers by his revelations, are incidents in his life that have been often related; but as Campbell remarks, "to tell all the stories that are told of this dissolute but witty nobleman would be to collect what few would believe, and what the good would refrain from reading." Pepys calls him "an idle rogue;" the excellent Evelyn "a very profane wit." He was both, and something more. It is remarkable, however, that his letters to his wife and son show him to have been "tender, playful, and alive to all the affections of a husband, a father, and a son." His excesses ultimately ruined his health. As Johnson remarks, he "blazed out his youth and his health in lavish voluptuousness," and died from physical exhaustion and decay at the age of thirty-three, 26th July, 1680. His death, however, was preceded by a repentance equally remarkable with his unexampled profligacy. This extraordinary change was brought about by the instrumentality of Bishop Burnet, who has given an account of Rochester's conversion, which, says Dr. Johnson, "the critic ought to read for its elegance, the philosopher for its arguments, and the saint for its piety." His poems consist for the most part of slight effusions thrown off without labour. His songs are sweet and musical; his satires are lively, felicitous, witty, and pointed. Many of his pieces are unfit for publication, and as Walpole remarks, "contain more obscenity than wit, more wit than poetry, and more poetry than politeness."—J. T. ROCHESTER See Hyde. ROCHLITZ, Dr. Friedrich, a writer on music, was born at Leipsic in 1770, and died in 1842. His early fondness for music was discouraged by his parents; but finding that he had gained some facility on the pianoforte without instruction, they at last gave him a teacher. His progress was further assisted by his obtaining, on account of his fine soprano voice, a scholarship in St. Thomas school, where Doles was then cantor. This accomplished musician, born at Steinbach in 1715, a pupil of J. S. Bach, a skilful organist and an elaborate composer, was a kind friend to the young enthusiast, and gave him lessons in composition; he died in 1797. Rochlitz became a student of theology in Leipsic university, being intended for this profession; he devoted his nights, however, to music, and composed some cantatas, of which he also wrote the words, that were performed in several churches with success. Not daring to acknowledge these to his father, he produced them under the name of Leopold Kozeluch. When Mozart visited Leipsic in 1788, he took particular notice of young Rochlitz, who, notwithstanding this encouragement, was obliged to abandon his favourite art, and he had sufficient self-control to abstain entirely from music for two years. Having obtained his degree in philosophy, he made a compromise between his own and his father's wishes by writing a didactic work, "Blicke in das Gebiet der Künste," in which his æsthetical reading is brought to bear upon music with admirable intelligence. Another ingenious treatise on the aim and the means of music appeared in the Deutsche Merkur in 1798, and much raised the reputation Rochlitz had gained by his previous publication. He was then engaged by Breitkopf and Härtel to organize the Allgemeine Musikalische Zeitung, of which journal he was the editor and the principal writer until 1818, and which owes its very high standing to his judicious direction and his admirable articles. After this he lived for some time quite privately at Leipsic, but the duke of Weimar gave him the honorary title of court councillor as a compliment to his labours in the cause of art. In 1824 he published "Für Freunde der Tonkunst," a collection of biographical, critical, and general essays on music, including some of the most important papers he had contributed to the Musikalische Zeitung. His last publication was a large selection of classical vocal music, with historical and analytical commentaries. Rochlitz was also the author of the German version of Mozart's Don Juan.—G. A. M. ROCKINGHAM, Charles Watson Wentworth, second marquis of, who twice held the office of prime minister to George III., was born in 1730. The family from which he was descended had originally acquired importance from the marriage of one of them with the sister of the celebrated earl of Strafford, whose large estates they ultimately inherited. They were first barons, and then earls of Rockingham. The father of the second marquis was created Baron Malton in 1728, Earl Malton in 1734; and having succeeded his cousin in the earldom of Rockingham and the family estates in 1746, he was elevated to the rank of marquis the same year. The subject of the present article was created Earl of Malton in the Irish peerage in 1750, and a few months later, the death of his father placed him in possession of the marquisate. Young as he was, he soon began to take part in the debates in the house of lords; but his speeches, if we may credit Horace Walpole, displayed oratorical powers of no high order. His vast wealth and independent position however, combined with his upright and honourable character, and the moderation and consistency of his political opinions, gave him great influence both in the house and in the country. Though his attachment to whig principles was well known, the king and his ministers were anxious to conciliate a nobleman, who was regarded as one of the chiefs of his party; and in 1760 he was made a knight of the garter, and was soon after appointed to a place in the royal household. Dissatisfied, however, with Lord Bute's administration and with the peace of Paris, he resigned his office in 1762, and as a mark of the royal displeasure was, like some other great whig lords, dismissed from his lord-lieutenancy. But in 1765, when the king had been so humiliated by the Grenville ministry that he could no longer endure their yoke, and Pitt, to whom he applied in his extremity, had refused to take office, the marquis was induced by the duke of Cumberland to accept the post of first lord of the treasury. His government was composed almost entirely of worn-out veterans and of raw recruits. It was weak both in oratorical talents and in official experience, and held out little prospect of stability. Lord Chesterfield pronounced it "a jumble of youth and caducity which could not be efficient;" and Charles Townshend when asked what he thought of the new administration replied, "It is a mere lutestring, pretty summer wear, but it will not stand the winter." Lord Rockingham, however, had the wisdom and good fortune to strengthen his ministry by the accession of Edmund Burke, whom he appointed his private secretary, and brought into parliament. Meanwhile, fierce popular tumults had broken out in America against the notorious stamp act of Grenville, and the colonists seemed on the brink of rebellion. After some hesitation, the government, encouraged by the brilliant declamation of Pitt, but much to the annoyance of the king, resolved to repeal the obnoxious measure, and at the same time to declare that the power of parliament over the colonies was supreme. The latter measure was carried with scarcely a dissentient voice, but the former was violently opposed by Temple, Grenville, and the Bedfords, and by a base faction which now sprung into existence, composed of a knot of courtiers and placemen termed the king's friends, and who were believed to make the personal wishes of the sovereign the sole rule of their political proceedings. The ministry, however, triumphed by a large majority; but this victory did not add to their strength and stability. They had been deprived by death of their powerful patron, the duke of Cumberland. Pitt though earnestly entreated again and again to join them, not as an associate but as a leader, had haughtily refused. The king disliked them, and his friends in both houses opposed and thwarted them at every turn. At length his majesty having, by lavish praises and caresses gained over the great commoner once more to enter