CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

Scconti Scries,
VOL. II.

CELEBRITIES I HAVE MOWN;

WITH

EPISODES, POLITICAL, SOCIAL, SPORTING,
AND THEATRICAL.

BY

LORD WILLIAM PITT LENNOX,
^cconti Series*

Papillon du Parnasse, et semblable aux abeilles,
A qui le bon Platon compare nos merveilles ;
Je suis chose l^gfcre, et vole k tout sujet,
Je vais de fleur en flcur, et d'objet en objet."

LA FONTAINE.

IN TWO VOLUMES.
VOL. IL

LONDON:
HURST AND BLACKETT, PUBLISHERS,

13, GKEAT MARLBOROUGH STREET.

1877.

JU Eights Besened.

CONTENTS

THE SECOND VOLUME.

CHAPTER I.

AUTHORS ANT) WITS.— JAMES AND HORACE SMITH,
ALBERT SMTH.

HORACE AND JAMES SMITH — " THE REJECTED ADDRESSES" — ALBERT
SMITH— ASCENT OF MONT BLANC — PASSPORTS . . .1

CHAPTER II.

AUTHOR. — WALTER SCOTT.

WALTER SCOTT — VISIT TO WATERLOO — A MODERN BATARD —
ATTACKS LEVELLED AGAINST SCOTT — THE SUPPRESSED BOOK —
CAPTAIN rock's LETTERS TO THE KING— VICTOR HUGO . 21

CHAPTER III.

AUTHOR.— WILLIAM JERDAN.

WILLIAM JERDAN — THE LITERARY GAZETTE — CAPTURE OP BEL-
LINGHAM, THE MURDERER OF PERCEVAL— PETER CUNNINGHAM
— THE GARRICK CLUB— SHERIDAN — ANECDOTE OF AN IRISH
PEASANT— SHIRLEY BROOKS— DISTINGUISHED AUTHORS . 35

CHAPTER IV.

HUMOURIST.— GEORGE COLMAN.

GEORGE COLMAN— HIS WIT AND SOCIAL QUALITIES— EPIGRAM ON
MISS FOOTE, AFTERWARDS COUNTESS OF HARRINGTON — HENRY
HARRIS — FREDERICK REYNOLDS — THE LEGITIMATE DRAMA — THE
DOG-STARS . . . . , . .63

VI CONTENTS.

CHAPTER V.

ARCHITECT. — BEAZLEY.

BEA.ZLEY — ARCHITECT AND DRAMATIC WRITER — A FANCY-DRESS
BALL — MRS. ROBINSON, NOT " PERDITA" — A MISUNDERSTAND-
ING— SIR CHARLES FELIX SMITH OF THE ROYAL ENGINEERS —
COFRT-MARTIAL AT CAMBRAY — PUNSTERS AND PUNNING 70

CHAPTER VI.

A DANDY. — THOMAS RAIKES.

RAIKES — "FOP AT THE TOILET, FLATTERER AT THE BOARD" —
THE DANDY LITTERATEUR — HIS FEAR THAT THE CONSTITUTION
WOULD BE UPSET, LORDS AND COMMONS ABOLISHED, AND
ANARCHY REIGN SUPREME . . . . .91

CHAPTER Vn.

VOCALISTS AND DRAMATIC ARTISTS. — MADAME GRASSINI
AND MADAME CATALANI.

GRASSINI — BILLINGTON — CATALANI — ADVENTURE AT PARIS — AN-
ECDOTE OF GABRIELLI — A HOAX— THE KING'S THEATRE IN BY-
GONE TIMES — MY INTRODUCTION TO CATALANI — JANE, DUCHESS
OP GORDON — HOW TO SWEEP A NOBLE HOUSE CLEAN — MAS-
QUERADES— CONCERT AT BRUSSELS — LUDICROUS SCENE AT THE
THEATRE IN THE PARK — CATALANl's ALARM DURING THE O. P.
RIOTS AT COVENT GARDEN . . . . .97

CHAPTER Vni.

A C T R E S S. — R A C H E L.

RACHEL AS AN ACTRESS — DEVOTION OP HER BRETHREN TOWARDS
THE MAID OF JUDAH — DRAWING-ROOM THEATRICALS — RACHEL
AT WINDSOR CASTLE — HER TRIUMPHANT SUCCESS UNDER DIFFI-
CULTIES—MADEMOISELLE MARS — IMPROMPTU ON VOLTAIRE's
TRAGEDY OF " ZULIMA" — FRENCH COUPLETS — LA POLITESSE
FRANfAISE — EMILE DE GIRARDIN'S (NOT SAMUEL LOVER's)
DESCRIPTION OF AN IRISH JAUNTING CAR — A MUSICAL ADVER-
TISEMENT ....... 114

CONTENTS. Vn

CHAPTER IX.

ACTORS AND ACTRESSES.

THE LEGITIMATE AND ILLEGITIMATE DRAMA — BLUE BEARD —
TIMOUR THE TARTAR — THE DESERTER — THE DOG STARS —
JOHN PHILIP KEMBLE — GEORGE FREDERICK COOKE — CHARLES
KEMBLE — CHARLES TOTJNG — EDMUND KEAN — CHARLES KEAN —
COOPER — AN OCCASIONAL ADDRESS — WALLACK — HARLEY— JONES
— BARTLEY — DURUSET — MEADOWS — FARLEY — T. P. COOKE —
YATES — WARD — COLE — BENSON HILL — MRS. BARTLEY — MRS.
NISBET — MISS FOOTE, AFTERWARDS COUNTESS OP HARRING-
TON ........ 124

CHAPTER X.

ACTORS. — JOE KELLY.

JOE KELLY — MASQUERADING SCENE AT CAMBRAY — A LARK AT
VALENCIENNES — SIM FAIRFIELD, OP ^THE 88tH, CONNAUGHT
RANGERS — MISS P. KELLY — A HOAX — THE LADY IN BLUE —
COLONEL CHARRITIE — A LOVE ADVENTURE . . . 141

CHAPTER XL

THE BULLY.

DISRAELI ON QUOTATIONS — DIARY OP CAPTAIN CLAXTON, R.N. —
THE BULLY— KILLING NO MURDER .... 165

CHAPTER XII.

CANADA.
AN ADVENTURE IN CANADA— AN UNEXPECTED MEETING . 188

CHAPTER XIII.

COUNT d'ORSAY.

COUNT D'ORSAY — PARIS IN 1815— ROYAL CHASSE AT FONTAINE-
BLEAU — ALBERT CLEY ON FOREIGN AND ENGLISH SPORT— THE
CHAMP DE MARS — FRENCH RACING — LE MARCHAND DE CHEVAUX
— VISIT TO THE HAGUE — MARIAGE DE CONVENANCE — ADVERTISE-
MENTS— MODERN IMPROVEMENTS IN PARIS — LE CHE VALIER DE
PANNAT— M. RIVAROL — MADAME BOYON . . . 198

Vlll CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XIV.

LE COMTE .

LETTERS FROM A DISTINGUISHED FOREIGNER — HIS VIEW OF
SOCIAL AND SPORTING LIFE IN ENGLAND — THE STATELY HOMES
OF ENGLAND— POX-HUNTING— HARE-HUNTING —DRAG-HUNTING
— A STEEPLE-CHASE — GOODWOOD RACES — LEAMINGTON — THE
WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS — LIVERPOOL STEEPLE-CHASE — EPSOM
RACES — ASCOT RACES — WINDSOR CASTLE — ST.- GEORGES'S HALL —
STATELY BANQUET . . . . . . 225

CHAPTER XV.

RICHARD TATTERSALL.

RICHARD TATTERSALL — HIS FATHER CALLED " THE HONEST MAN"
— HIS EPITAPH :

" Placidaqne ibi domum morte quievit."
" There calm at length he breathed his soul away." — virgil.

HYDE PARK CORNER— SALE OP A FAVOURITE HACK . 274

CHAPTER XVI.

CHARLES DAVIS.

CHARLES DAVIS — HER MAJESTY'S LATE HUNTSMAN — SPORT IN BY-
GONE DAYS— ROYAL MEET AT ASCOT RACE-COURSE — THE QUEEN
AND PRINCE CONSORT PRESENT AT IT— FRANK GOODALL 284

CHAPTER XVII.

LORD FREDERICK BEAUCLERK.

LORD FREDERICK BEAUCLERK — CRICKET — A ROYAL GAME OF
BOWLS — FOUR BOTTLE MEN — CLASSICAL AUTHORITY IN FAVOUR
OP DRINKING — MODERN PRACTICE OF BOWLING — CURIOUS
MATCHES — ONE-ARMED AGAINST ONE-LEGGED PLAYERS — BIPED
V. QUADRUPED ....... 306

AUTHORS AND WITS.

JAMES AND HORACE SMITH, ALBERT SMITH.

CHAPTER I.

HORACE AND JAMES SMITH — " THE REJECTED ADDRESSES" — ALBERT
SMITH— ASCENT OF MONT BLANC — PASSPORTS.

JAiMES SMITH, one of the authors of the
" Hejected Addresses," the son of a solicitor
to the Ordnance, was born in 1775. In 1802 he
joined the staff of the " Pic-Nic" newspaper, which,
after changing its name to the " Cabinet," died the
following year. In 1812 the two Smiths became
famous by their inimitable parodies on the writings
of Wordsworth, Cobbett, Southey, Coleridge,
Crabbe, Byron, Theodore Hook, &c. Never was
anything better hit off than the faults of Words-
worth ; the savage scorn of Cobbett ; the extrava-
gance of theme and unwise experiments in rhythm
of Southey ; the dreamy indistinctness of Cole-
ridge ; the homely pathos of Crabbe ; the poetical
images of Byron ; and the inexhaustible puns of
Hook. The copyright originally offered to that
" Anak of publishers," as Byron called Mr. Murray,
for twenty pounds, was purchased by him in 1819,
VOL. ir. B

2i CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

after the sixteenth edition, for one hundred and
thirty-one pounds. James Smith was the chief
deviser of the elder Mathews' entertainments. He
wrote the *' Country Cousins" in 1820, and in the
two succeeding years the " Trip to France" and the
" Trip to America ;" for the last two works he
received a thousand pounds. Well did he earn it,
for although he was wont to call these entertain-
ments nonsense, they were replete with true touches
of wit and pathos, faithful traits of life and
character, admirably illustrated with songs set to
the most popular tunes. James Smith I knew
intimately, and a more agreeable companion I never
met. He was the essence of good humour, polite-
ness, and witty to the greatest degree. Although
a victim to gout, probably his only enemy, he
never showed the slightest symptoms of irritability.
He was quick at repartee, a clever punster ; per-
haps, however, his most available talent was the
readiness with which he gave epigrammatic point
to ordinary sayings. Many of his best jokes were
attributed to Theodore Hook, who was not over-
scrupulous in adapting them as his own. A few
have never, I believe, appeared in print.

One evening when T had promised to meet him
at the Garrick Club to dine early, I was, owing to
the fosf and the crowded state of the streets, ten
minutes late.

" What you have mist your way in the fog, and
got hemmed in with the crowd ?"

" Yes," I replied, " and am quite out of breath
hurrying here."

JAMES SMITH. 3

" Hemmed in the crowd," he rejoined, " then you
will naturally have a stitch in your side."

Again, rhe conversation turned upon ladies dye-
ing their hair.

" I've often seen a carrotty poll," said Smith,
" converted into ' sweet auburn, loveliest visage of
the plain.' But there's some excuse for it, for we
know, ' Those whom the Gods love dye early.' "

Among the many hon-mots unfairly attributed to
James Smith was the following, which owns its
paternity to Edward Walpole, that gourmand (gour-
met is too refined a word,) who one day at the
Garrick Club helped himself to the whole of the
kidney under a joint of veal. At the above most
delightful of all clubs, he was told that the con-
fectioners had a way of discharging the ink from old
parchment into isinglass for their jellies.

" That being the case," said Walpole, " a man
may now eat his deeds as well as his words."

The fame of the brothers James and Horace
Smith was confined to a limited circle until the
publication of *' The Rejected Addresses." James
used to dwell with much pleasure on a criticism of
a Leicestershire clergyman. " I do not see why
they should have been rejected, I think some of
them very good."

This, the author of " Brambletye House" would
add, is almost as good as the avowal of the Irish
Bishop, that there were some things in " Gulliver's
Travels" which he could not believe.

James Smith died in London in 1839.
Horace Smith, the author of " Brambletye

B 2

4 CELEBEITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

House," "Torr Hill," "Reuben Apsley," " Zillah,"
"Adam Brown," &c., and writer of some of tbe
best of the "Rejected Addresses," was in many
respects superior in literary talent to his brother
James, but in social intercourse the latter bore off
the bell. Here I may remark that the talent of
the family has not been confined to the male portion
of it ; Miss Smith, daughter of Horace, possesses
conversational powers of the highest order, render-
ing her an ornament to society at large.

Of Horace Smith, Percy Bysshe Shelley thus
"wrote ; and the panegyric is true : —

" Wit and sense,
Virtue and human knowledge — all that might
Make this dull world a business of delight,
Are all combined in Horace Smith."

Horace Smith was born in 1779, and died at Tun-
bridge Wells in 1849.

" What's in a name ?" A good deal, for the men-
tion of the Smiths reminds me of another Sydney,
whom I never met except once, and that was at a
dinner given by Colonel and Mrs. Hugh Baillie, in
Mortimer Street, Cavendish Square. Upon that
occasion he was in a merry mood. Many of his
sayings being on local subjects are scarcely worth
recording. He was what is vulgarly called " down "
upon a servant who brought him some salad.
Turning it over with its wooden spoon and fork,
he said in a voice loud enough to be heard by his
hostess,

'' Very crude affair — take it away."

To my mind the best of Smith's witticisms are

ALBERT SMITH. 5

the two following. Upon being asked for a motto
for the collar of a very disagreeable pet pug,
" Spot" by name, he suggested a line from Mac-
beth,

" Out d— d spot."

Upon another occasion, he suggested a motto for
Bishop Burgess's arms, in allusion to his brother
the celebrated fish-sauce projector :

" Gravi jamdudum saucia cura !

My acquaintance with Albert Smith did not com-
mence under very favourable auspices, for when
first introduced to him by a friend, with whom I
was strolling along Piccadilly, the hero of Mont
Blanc looked as cold and frigid as one of the moun-
tains he was wont to discourse upon, and without
deigning to reply to a common-place remark I made,
*' moved on."

" Why, what's up ?" said my companion, " some-
thing has riled Albert, I never saw him look so
cross before."

I own myself that I was surprised, for I was
unconscious of ever having given him cause for
offence.

" Were you present at the ballot when Albert
Smith was black-balled ?" inquired my friend.

" Oh, yes," I replied, " but I certainly did not
give him a black pill, a blue one now would, I
think, do him good."

No further allusion was made to the subject, but
evidently the then rejected of the Garrick continued
his dislike to me, for in a weekly paper with which

6 CELEBEITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

he was connected, I was made the object of ridi-
cule. A few months afterwards, I saw Albert
Smith's name on the list of candidates for the
above-mentioned club, and previous to the ballot
two or three of his friends on the committee
sounded me on the subject, pointing out what an
excellent member he would be, as he was in every
respect a clubbable man. My reply was, " If vindic-
tively disposed, I could resent his rude manner,
as also his attacks upon me in the columns of a
newspaper to which he is a constant contributor,
but no private feeling will induce me to black-ball
anyone, and I will therefore either abstain from
voting, or .put in a white ball."

The ballot proceeded, and when the box was
opened no black ball appeared. When mentioning
the result to Winston, the Secretary, and express-
ing my surprise that his foe (whoever he was) had
not continued his opposition, he replied,

" You may depend upon it, the black ball on the
first occasion was put in by mistake. Every mem-
ber present, except yourself, declared that he was
not the culprit, and as you have stated the same,
there can only be one solution of the mystery."

This was unquestionably the case, and when it
was explained to Albert Smith, " his guilty con-
science smote him " for having given offence to,
and attacked, an innocent man.

At the period I write of, I was acting manager
of the Amateur Theatricals of Campden House,
Kensington, the property of F. Wolley, Esq., and
on the opening night it was suggested to me that

ALBERT SMITH. 7

Albert Smith should enliven the entertainment by
introducing an entr'acte, entitled " A few Sketches
of Character picked up on the Route of the Overland
Mail." Although I was very much averse to any
introduction, I felt that, if I opposed the application,
it would have been looked upon as a still lurking
prejudice against Albert Smith, so I at once as-
sented. At the first rehearsal, Albert himself was
present; anxious to let bygones be bygones, and
wishing to hail him as one of our corjjs dramatique, I
went up to him, extended my liand, assuring him that,
from " information I had received," no member of
the Garrick Committee had rejected the monarch of
Mont Blanc. From that moment we became warm
friends, and the friendship lasted to the day of his
death. Upon one occasion I addressed a few lines
to him, asking him to edit a work for a brother
scribbler, and received the following reply.

" My dear Lord William,
" The name of the author of the work you men-
tion is perfectly familiar to me, although I am not
acquainted with him. I have had many similar
applications with respect to editing books, but the
pressure of my own works has been quite enough
to occupy me at the time ; and, indeed, I am now
on the eve of commencing a new serial with Leech,
which will require every moment I can spare from
the ' Overland Mail.' As long as I can produce
myself, I would rather not take upon myself the
responsibility of another's reputation ; if the work
failed, I should be very sorry ; and if it succeeded

8 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

I should feel that I had but a minute hand in its
fortune. At the same time I can assure j^ou that I
feel compHmented, not only by your polite allusion
to my literary name, but also by your kind con-
gratulations upon the success of my ' show.'
" Allow me to remain,

" My dear Lord William,

" Most truly yours,

" Albert Smith."

I constantly met Albert Smith and his brother
Arthur in the snug dining-room of the Old
Garrick, and always joined his table when not
engaged to any other friend. Nothing could be
more agreeable than the symposiums he gave
annually at the Egyptian Hall, to which the
members of the Garrick and Fielding Clubs, men
of note in the law, in politics, in the literary and
dramatic world, were invited. Oysters from Rule's
in Maiden Lane might have joined in the chorus
" This is our opening day," and the guests were
all called upon to devour the bivalves, the Rule
having been made absolute. Madame Chquot's
and Meet's best champagne was to be had. " The
juice of ripe gooseberries" did not " flow in our
glasses," and the utmost good-humour prevailed.
The invitations were truly eccentric, the passports
being printed on the thin paper usually used before
the free trade of travelling on the Continent took
place, and the writs being of the same size and
shape as those which the sherifi^'s oflScers were wont
to present to debtors after politely tapping them on
their shoulder, looked like the genuine articles.

ALBERT SMITH. 9

"We, Albert Smith, one of Her Britannic
Majesty's Representatives on the Summit of Mont
Blanc, Knight of the most Noble Order of the
Grands Mulets, Baron Galignani of Piccadilly,
Knight of the Grand Crossing from Burlington
Arcade to the Egyptian Hall, Member of the
Society for the Confusion of Useless Knowledge,
Secretary for his own affairs, &c., &c.

*' Request and require in the name of His
Majesty the Monarch of Mountains, all those
whom it may concern, more especially the Police
on the Piccadilly frontier, to allow

" Lord Wilham Pitt Lennox,
" British subject,
" to pass freely in at the street-door of the
Egyptian Hall, and up-stairs to the Mont Blanc
room, on the evening of Saturday, December the
second, 1854, at 8 p.m., and to afford him every
assistance in the way of oysters, stout, champagne,
soda and brandy, and other aid of which he may
stand in need.

" Given at the Box Office, Piccadilly, the 1st
day of December, 1854.

(Signed) Albert Smith.
" God save the Queen.
" Vu au Bureau de la Salle, bon pour entrer Picca-
dilly, par I'Arcade de Burlington. Samedi,
2 Dtembre, 1854.

" (Signed) Bumble.
" Viseed for Waterloo Bridge, Hungerford Market,
Leicester Square, the Garrick and Field-
ing Clubs, the Glacier de Gunter, the Cyder

10 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

Cellars, Kilpack's, Limmer's, Yauxliall
Gardens, Jullien's Bal Masque, and Hamp-
stead Heath. December 2, 1854

" (Signed) Villikins."

The above document was graced with the Koyal
Arms at the head, views of Mont Blanc and the
Egyptian Hall as official seals to Bumble and
Villikins.

In 1858 the same passport was issued, viseed by
Truefit, the celebrated perruquier, and Rule of the
oyster rooms, Maiden Lane. In addition to the
above, a hint was given to those who took advan-
tage of Albert Smith's hospitality in the following
notice : —

" By the recent police enactments regulating
large assemblages in the neighbourhood of Picca-
dilly, this passport must be considered as available
for one 'person only, and does not include the
' friend' who has always been dining w^ith the
bearer."

An additional vis^e was added, including " all
places on the Rhine between Rule's Marine Museum
or Appetising Aquarium, and the • Jolly Grenadier'
public-house, No. ], Ellison Square, Pall Mall, South
Sebastopol." The " Jolly Grenadier" referred to was
Cuthbert, commonly called " Cuddy" Ellison, one
of the best-natured creatures that ever breathed
the breath of life. He was a member and a truly
popular one of the Garrick, and surprised a waiter
not a little when in his accustomed lisp he asked
" What th'luxury can I have for th'sixpence ?"

Never (except upon one occasion to which 1 will

ALBERT SMITH. 11

presently refer) having been served with a writ, I
was rather taken aback when upon entering the old
Garrick Club, a slip of paper was thrust into my
hand, it read as follows : —

" ViCTOEiA, by the Grace of God of the United King-
dom of Great Britain and Ireland, Queen,
Defender of the Faith, to Lord Wilham
Lennox greeting. We command you and every
one of you of the Garrick and Fielding Divans
that you appear before our Proscenium at
8 p.m. on Saturday the 21st day of January,
1855, to try certain Constantinople views,
Ottenitza oysters, Stamboul stout. Champagne,
Sherbet, and Bosphorean beverages generally,
now pending which shall come on for seeing,
tasting, and trying, then and there to receive
and abide by such a Programme as shall then
or thereafter be made and pronounced, upon
pain of Judgment being pronounced against
you by default. Witness ourself at the Egyptian
Hall, this 16th day of January, 1855 in the
fourth year of Mont Blanc.

" (Signed) Albert Smith.
" The only Rule without an exception will attend
from Maiden Lane with an interesting collec-
tion of bivalves. Tatar Khan is expected at
ten p.m. In accordance with Oriental preju-
dice no odahsques will be allowed. Hadji
Hallett and Mackenzie Effendi will provide
some Mahomed's milk."
I have referred to a real writ that was once
issued against me, by an exorbitant money-lending
tailor. A friend of mine who was deeply indebted

12 CELEBRITIES 1 HAVE KNOWN.

to this modern Shylock, iDtroduced me as likely to
prove a good customer, and being unaware of his
fifty per cent propensities, I, in the innocence of
my heart, gave him an order for an undress regi-
mental frock coat, promising him, if he suited me,
my future custom.

The coat came home, but the " small account"
was not sent with it, and it therefore remained unpaid
for about three months. At that period I was
quartered at Staines, when one afternoon driving
over there from Windsor, I found the waters out
near Eunnymede, and observed a man with his
shoes and stockings off wading through them. I
hailed him and said,

" The floods are greater nearer Staines, so if you
like I will give you a lift."

He availed himself of my offer; I set him down in
front of the Bush Inn, and drove on to a cottage
I had rented for the winter. A few days after the
above adventure, when parading my troop, I per-
ceived a man gazing intently at me, and on dis-
missing them he addressed me.

" Can I say a few words to your Lordship in
private ?"

" Certainly," I responded.

" First," he continued, " let me thank you for
your kindness the other evening in giving me a
lift ; I was not aware whom I had the honour of sit-
ting next to." He then paused for a minute or two,
and at last proceeded to tell me he had a painful
duty to perform, namely, to serve me with a writ.

" A writ !" I exclaimed.

"skits" against the FRENCH. 13

" Yes, at the suit of a London tailor."
All I had left me was to send for a solicitor, who
at once took the affair in hand, and settled it ;
the costs amounting to nearly the sum that I was
in the first instance indebted to this " unconscion-
able dog." Shortly afterwards I ascertained that
the money-lender was disappointed at my not ap-
plying to him for a loan, and thus revenged him-
self. It was fortunate for me that the writ fell into
the hands of one I had slightly served, or I might
have been disgraced before the men of my troop.

Albert Smith indulged in many " skits" against
our continental neighbours and excellent allies the
French. Among them was the following, the sen-
timents of which I am far from endorsing.

Le Nouveau Piff-Pafp de Mossoo.

From the amended version of ie.9 Huguenots,
as ordered by the Moniteur to be sung in future at
all representations of that opera. The Emperor
knows nothing about it, and will be sorry, you
can't think, when he finds it has got into the
Government organ. Dedicated to those glorious
French regiments who alone won the battles of
Alma, Inkerman, and everything else in the Crimea,
and are now coming over to take England.
Preface to the 600th Edition.

When this great work was first given to the
world, the author (supposed to be M. de Walewski)
had little idea of the effect it would create. Snug-
in every corner of Mossoodem it caused the army
to push the cries of enthusiasm the most lively ;

14 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

and taken up in an ironical cliorus of men voices
by Mr. Milner Gibson's Derbij-Dizzij-gesang-verein,
it actually sang Lord Palmerston's Administration
out of the House.

Preface to the 1000th Edition.
" Again it is the author's pride and duty to issue
another Edition of the immortal Piff-Paff in
compliment to the Conquerors of Canton (vide
Journal cles Dehats, March 3) and inscribed to them
with every assurance of consideration the highest,
and he humbly hopes that the Army and Navy
Club will not offer Fifty pounds for his apprehen-
sion ; but recollect the words of rather a great man
in one of their lines :

IL FAUT LAYER SA LINGE EN FAMJLLE.
AiK, Marcel.
" A bas les sacres Rosbifs !
Jean Bull a terre !
A bas leurs femmes a vendre !
Au feu Lay-ces-tere-squerre ;
Repaires impurs !
Les Anglais ! Terrassons-les !

Frappons les !
Piflf! pafF! pouf ! Boxons-les !

Qu'ils pleurent,

Qu'ils meurent,
Mais grace .... Goddam !
Jamais la France ne trembla
Aux plumes du Times ?
Malheur au Punch perfide,
Qui vante les crimes.
Brisons Roebuck qui triche —
Qui spik Angleesh !
Docks, Lord Mayor — cassez-les !
Chassez-les !
Piflf! paflf! pouf! Frappez-les !
Aff-an-afF,

Porteres, pafif
Mais grace . . . Goddam."

THE ASCENTS OP MONT ELANO. 15

To change the subject. The following song from
the "Bentley Ballads" may not be here out of place :

THE ASCENTS OF MONT BLANC.
" When Jacques Balmat from his party was thrown,
He found out the summit untauf^ht and alone,
And when he returned to his doctor with glee.
He said, ' For your care you shall go up with me.'
With your baton so sharp, tra la !

" The next who tried was De Saussure, we're told,
Who climbed in a full suit of scarlet and gold ;
Whilst poor M. Bourrit, four times driven back.
In dudgeon returned to Geneva — good lack !
With his baton so sharp, tra la !

" Woodley, Clissold, and Beaufoy, each thought it no lark.
And were followed by Jackson, and Sherwell, and Clarke,
Then Fellowes and Hawes by a new passage went.
And avoided the dangers of Harael's ascent.
With their batons so sharp, tra la !

*' Brave Auldjo next was pulled over a bridge
Of ice-poles laid on the glacier's ridge ;
You will see all his wonderful feats, if you look
At the views drawn by Harding, and placed in his book.
And his baton so sharp, tra la !

" Full forty gentlemen wealthy and bold,
Have climbed up in spite of labour and cold ;
But of all that number there lives not one,
Who speaks of the journey as very good fun,
With their batons so sharp, tra la !"

Albert Smith was born in 1816, died in 1860,
having nine months before his death married the
eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Keeley.

The penalty of living in London, and being
thought to know everyone, gives one an incessant
amount of labour. Connected, as I have been,
with publishers, with editors of newspapers, maga-

16 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

zines, and theatrical managers, I have been inun-
dated with manuscripts of authors, authoresses,
and dramatic writers anxious to appear in print,
coupled with the request that I should wade through
pages often rather unintelligibly written. After
reading the various MSS., I have been pressed to
give an opinion of their merits, a somewhat un-
gracious task. If you praise the work, the author
gets elated, disappointment follows ; and when a
stereotyped answer from the publisher, who com-
mends it with faint praise, but declines to under-
take the publication of it, reaches the would-be
Wilkie Collins, there is no end to his lamentations,
intermingled with severe strictures on the unfortu-
nate publisher. I once heard of an aspirant for
literary fame, who, in an angry mood at having his
MS. returned, rushed off to Conduit Street, to vent
his anger upon the members of a firm famed for the
books they produced. Upon entering the office
the disappointed man said, *' You have rejected my
book of poems, if you are Saunders, d — Otley ; if
you are Otley, d — Saunders."

If the MS. comes under the head of " unmiti-
gated rubbish," " senseless trash," the reader is
placed in a very " unhandsome fix." He is almost
tempted to follow the example of a celebrated critic
by education and nature, but not by profession,
who, upon being asked his impression of a fashion-
able work published more than half a century ago,
replied, " If you want its character I will give it
to you to a T. It is a tawdry tissue of tedious
trumpery, a tessellated texture of threadbare

THE HON. MARY BUTTON. 17

thievery, a trifling transcript of trite twaddle and
trashy tittle-tattle."

" Now you have had your joke," said the other,
*' tell us, and without ' alliteration's artful aid,' what
is your real opinion r"

" My real opinion then, as you call it, is this.
The book, like everything that falls from her lady-
ship's pen (we suppress the name) is pert, shallow,
and conceited. There are anecdotes of various
persons, so outrageously vulgar that they cannot
be true ; and some so atrociously dull that, if they
were true, they ought to have been forgotten.
There are drivellings about philosophy, metaphysics,
and politics, written in the most flippant style, that
most puzzling of all styles, 'no meaning;' pure
unadulterated nonsense, tricked out in the frippery
of words, like a poor idiot dressed in gold and
silver."

Happily I have met with MSS. which have de-
lighted me so much that I have had no difficulty in
getting them published. One of the most notable
of these was " Woman's Temptation," by the Hon-
ourable Mary Dutton, a most charming book, written
in her seventeenth year. Had her life been spared.
Miss Dutton would have been one of the best writers
of the day ; but to the grief of her parents, and to
that of all who came in contact with her, this gifted
young lady was called to her long home before she
had reached the honour due to her literary fame.
When I heard of Miss M. Dutton's death, I felt
that the solemn and touching Requiem of D. M.
Moir, was peculiarly applicable to her : —

VOL. II. . 0

18 CELEERITIES I HAVE ENOWN.

" Gone art thou in youthful sweetness,
limes's short changeful voyage o'er ;
Now thy beauty in completeness,
Blossoms on Heaven's unfading shore.
Mourners, solemn vigil keeping.
Knelt in silence round thy bed.
Could they deem thee only sleeping
When to Heaven thy spirit fled ?
Yes ! that spirit then was winging
Upwards from its shell of-clay,
Guardian angels round it singing,
' Welcome to the realms of day.' "

As a writer of criticisms in various newspapers
I have received the most flattering acknowledg-
ments from Charles Eeade, Harrison Ainsworth,
Albert Smith, Sydney Whiting, Mark Lemon,
Shirley Brooks, Hayward, Albany Fonblanque,
Christopher Idle, Harry Hieover, Tottenham,
Charles Clarke, whose nom de plume was " Uncle
Scribble," Barker, the Old Sailor, Leveson, the
Old Shekarree, W. Jerdan, Editor of the " Literary
Gazette," John W. Clayton, Tankerville Chamber-
layne, &c.

In addition to the above, I have two autograph
letters, which I highly prize ; one from Napoleon III.
thanking me for articles in the " Review," a paper
I once edited; another from the Due d'Aumale,
acknowledging a copy of " Once a Week," in
which appeared a notice I had written of His Royal
Hio:hness' works. It runs as follows :

" 2 Fevrier, 1867,
"Wooduorton, Evesham.

" Le Due d'Aumale presente ses compliments a
Lord William Lennox et regrette qu'une absence ne
lui ait permis de repondre plutot h son aimable
communication.

CUEIOUS DOCUMENT. 19

" II prie Lord William d'agr^er ses remerciments
et I'assurance de la satisfaction avec laquelle il a lu
I'article public dans ' Once a Week.' "

Considered as " an idle man about town," the ap-
plications I have received, have not been confined to
literary matters, for there is scarcely a place about
Court, or an appointment to a public office that I
have not been urged to use ray influence to attain
for some friend or acquaintance. One of the most
curious documents I ever received was from a
Sporting Prophet of the "Era" newspaper. It
ran as follows : —

" My Lord,

'* The gentleman who will deliver this is con-
nected with the old house of sporting fame, Moore,
of West Street. He is anxious for the success of
a dwarf, one Eichard Gurnsey, of Somersetshire
birth, on whom a liberal outlay has been made in
the reasonable hope of recompense through the
public.

" A good start is everything in his race to the
goal of fortune, and the desideratum is to have Her
Majesty's Stamp on his letters of introduction to the
world. I have assured Mr. Pitman you can tell him
the requisite preliminary step to Court introduction,
and if through the Hon. George Anson, or your
brother. Lord George, or other channel, the lad
could get into the Queen's presence, I should really
feel deeply obliged. He is nearly as minute as Tom
Thumb, and is aufait to matters of more moment;

20

CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

in a word he can sing, dance, fence, recite, and
has a wardrobe of infinite extent with the merit of
indigenous Pigmyism ! Pray launch them on the
Windsor Stream, when they must row for their
lives.

*' Very faithfully, my Lord,

" Your obedient Servant,

"John J. Harrison.

" Era Office,
" lOth December, 1845."

21

AUTHOR.

WALTER SCOTT. ^

CHAPTER II.

WALTER SCOTT — VISIT TO WATERLOO — A MODERN BAYARD —
ATTACKS LEVELLED AGAINST SCOTT — THE SUPPRESSED BOOK —
CAPTAIN rock's LETTERS TO THE KING— VICTOR HUGO.

" Fervency, freedom, fluency of thoixght.
Harmony, strength, words exquisitely sought ;
Fancy, that from the bow that spans the sky,
Brings colours dipp'd in Heaven, that never die ;
A soul exalted above earth ; a mind
Skill'd in the characters that form mankind."

COWPEE.

AMONG the distinguished literary characters 1
have met, may be mentioned Sir Walter
Scott, Moore, Byron, Allan Cunningham, Peter
Cunningham, William Jerdan, Theodore Hook,
Reverend Richard Barham (Ingoldsby), and the late
Lord Lytton.

It would be a work of supererogation to dwell on
the life of Sir Walter Scott, I shall therefore confine
myself to two very pleasant days I passed in the
society of this gifted poet, of whom Mackintosh
said, " I am perfectly enchanted with the Lay of
the Last Minstrel. He is surely the man born at

22 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

last to translate the * Iliad.' Are not tlie good
parts of his poem the most Homeric of anything in
our language ?" whose " lofty measure" Jeffrey
praised ; whose " simple pathos and touching pic-
tures" Anna Seward dwells upon ; whom Southey,
Wordsworth, George Elhs, T. Campbell dehghted
to honour. AH, all have done equal justice to the
genius of the Magician of the North.

It was my good fortune to be at Brussels when
Sir Walter arrived there, with a view of making
notes for a poem he was about to write, entitled
" The Field of Waterloo." As my father was inti-
mately acquainted with him, a visit to the " field of
blood," as Southey calls it, was arranged, and
early in a fine morning in Spring we started
on horseback for that —

" Little lowly place,
Obscure till now, when it hath risen to fame,
And given the victory its English name."

Without stopping at the village, we at once pro-
ceeded to the battle-field, where with the aid of a
guide — Sergeant Cotton of the 7th Hussars — every
place of interest was pointed out. Scott dwelt on
the spot where Picton expired, where the poet's
friend, De Lancey —

" Changed Love's bridal wreath,
For laurels from the hand of Death;"

where the gallant Ellis, Ponsonby, and Howard
fell ; where Gordon met the fatal shot that ended
in his death. He then turned to other deeds of
fame of his countrymen ; told us how Colonel
Miller, of the Guards, when mortally wounded in

VISIT WITH SCOTT TO WATERLOO. Zd

the attack on the Bois de Bossu, desired to see the
colours of the regiment once more ere he died ;
how they were waved over his head, and the ex-
piring officer declared himself resigned to his fate.
He mourned over the loss of Cameron of Fassiefern,
so often distinguished in Wellington's despaches
from Spain, and who fell in the action of
Quatre Bras, on the 16th of June, while leading
the 92nd, or Gordon Highlanders, to charge a body
of cavalry supported by infantry. In the poem
that subsequently followed, w^e find a reference to
the above : —

" Period of honour as of woes,
What bright careers 'twas thine to close !
Mark'd on thy roll of blood what naraes
To Britain's memory and to Fame's,
Laid there their last immortal claims !
Thou saw'st in seas of gore expire,
Eedoubted Picton's soul of fire —
Saw'st in the mingled carnage lie
All that of Ponsonby could die —
De Lancey change Love's bridal-wreath,
For laurels from the hand of Death —
Saw'st gallant Miller's failing eye
Still bent where Albion's banners fly.
And Cameron in the shock of steel,
Die like the offspring of Lochiel ;
And generous Gordon 'mid the strife,
Fall, while he watch'd his leader's life —
Ah ! though her guardian angel's shield
Fenced Britain's hero through the field.
Fate not the less her power made known,
Through his friend's heart to pierce his own."

We then visited the ruins of Hougoumont, which
loop-holed battlement was so bravely defended by
Macdonell, Saltoun, and the Guards. Thinking
that Sir Walter might be interested in an anecdote

24 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

wbicli I beard Wellington relate shortly after the
battle of Waterloo, I, on our way back to tbe
village, recounted tbe following: —

" Altbougb Wellington fully appreciated and was
always ready to reward heroic deeds, he was ever
averse to acts of recklessness, by which the lives of
brave men were placed in jeopardy. I remember,
upon one occasion, an enthusiastic guest at his table
vividly describing the daring conduct of a young
French ofiBcer at the battle of Waterloo. ' He was
about to charge a body of the Guards,' said the
narrator, ' previous to their taking possession of
Hougoumont. Before, however, he could carry out
the orders he had received, his adversaries had
gained their stronghold, and had loop-holed the
walls. The dashing Hussar, sword in hand, gal-
loped forward to within a few feet of the building,
challenging the occupants to come forth to single
combat. Many a musket was levelled at him, but,
to the honour of the British soldier, not a tris^o-er
was pulled. After many unsuccessful attempts to
provoke a trial at arms, the gallant knight retired,
and joined his regiment, crestfallen at the failure of
his enterprise.' ' A rash act,' said the Duke ; ' he
ought to have been broke for it.' Napoleon bitterly
reproached General Lannes for haviug uselessly
exposed himself, and sacrificed without any object
a number of brave men ; and his rebuke to Bour-
rieune, at the siege of St. Jean d'Acre, ' Wounded
or killed, I would not have noticed you in the
bulletin, you would have been laughed at, and that
justly,' showed how much he disapproved of foolish
and useless enterprise."

THE FIELD OF WATERLOO. 25

" The Field of Waterloo," so writes Lockhart,
" was published before the end of October, 1815,
in octavo, the profits of the first edition being the
author's contribution to the fund raised for the
relief of the widows and children of the soldiers
slain in the battle. This poem appears to have
disappointed those most disposed to sympathise
with the author's views and feelings. The descent
is indeed heavy from his ^ Bannockburn' to his ' Wa-
terloo ;' the presence of all but the visible reality of
what his dreams cherished, seems to have overawed
his imagination, and tamed it into a weak pom-
posity of movement. The burst of pure native
enthusiasm upon the Scottish heroes that fell around
the " Duke of Wellington's person, bears, however,
the broadest marks of ' The Micrhtv Minstrel,' and
this is far from being the only redeeming passage.
There is one, indeed, in which he illustrates what
he then thought Bonaparte's poorness of spirit in
adversity, which always struck me as pre-eminently
characteristic of Scott's manner of interweaving,
both in prose and verse, the moral energies with
analogous natural description, and combining
thought with imagery : —

" Or is tby soul like mountain tide,
That, Bwell'd by ■winter storm and shower,
Rolls down in turbulence of power,
A torrent fierce and wide ;
Reft of these aids, a rill obscure,
Shrinking unnoticed, mean and poor,
Whose channel shores display'd
The wrecks of its impetuous course,
But not one symptom of the force
By which these wrecks were made."

26

CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

The poem was the first upon a subject likely to
be sufiBciently hackneyed ; and having the advantage
of coming out in a small cheap form (prudently
imitated from Murray's innovation with the tales
of Byron, which was the death-blow to the system
of verse in quarto), it attained rapidly a measure of
circulation above what had been reached either by
"Rokeby," or the "Lord of the Isles." Scott
.himself seemed conscious that the " Field of "Water-
loo" would not add greatly to his fame, for in the
advertisement, he writes : —

" It may be some apology for the imperfections
of this poem that it was composed hastily, and
during a short tour upon the continent, when the
author's labours were liable to frequent interrup-
tion ; but its best apology is that it was written
for the purpose of assisting the Waterloo subscrip-
tion."

Abbotsford, 1815.

There were some severe lines written upon it ;
I forget exactly tlie words, but the point, a most
venomous one, after describiug the death of the
heroes, was : —

" But noue by bullet, shell, or shot,
Fell half as flat as Walter Scott."

Scott, like all men of genius, was open to
attacks ; perhaps the most bitter one was that from
the pen of Byron : —

" Next view in state, proud prancing on his roan,
The golden-crested haughty Marmiou,
Now forging scrolls, now foremost in the fight,
Not quite a felon, yet but half a knight.

BYEON ON SCOTT. 27

The gibbet or the field prepared to griice,
A mighty mixture of the great and base.
And thinic'st thou, Scott ! by vain conceit perchance,
On public taste to foist thy stale romance.
Though Murray with his Miller may combine
To yield thy muse just half-a-crown per line ?
No, when the sons of song descend to trade.
Their bays are sear, their former laurels fade,
Let such forego the poet's sacred name,
"Who rack their brains for lucre, not for fame :
Still for stern Mammon may they toil in vain !
And sadly gaze on gold they cannot gain !
Such be their meed, such still the just reward
Of prostituted muse and hireling bard !
For this we spurn Apollo's venal son,
And bid a long ' good night to Marmion.' "

This is severe enough in verse, let us see what
" Childe Harold" says in prose, when talking of the
"Lay of the Last Minstrel." "Never was any
plan so incongruous and absurd as the ground-
work of this production. The entrance of Thunder
and Lightning, prologuising to Baye's tragedy, un-
fortunately takes away the merit of originality from
the dialogue between Messrs. the Spirits of Flood
and Fell, in the first canto. Then we have the
amiable William of Deloraine, ' a stark moss-trooper,
videlicet, a happy compound of poacher, sheep-
stealer, and highwayman.' The poem was manu-
factured for Messrs. Constable, Murray, and Miller,
w^orshipful booksellers, in consideration of the
receipt of a sum of money ; and truly, considering
the inspiration, it is a very creditable production.
If Mr. Scott will write for hire, let him do his
best for his paymasters, but not disgrace his genius,
which is undoubtedly great, by a repetition of
black-letter ballad imitations." No wonder that

28

CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

the above satire "riled" Scott, who on reading it
said,

" It is funny enough to see a whelp of a young
Lord Byron abusing me, of whose circumstances
he knows nothing, for endeavouring to scratch out
a living with my pen. God help the bear, if, having
little else to eat, he must not even suck his own
paws. I can assure the noble imp of fame it is not
my fault that I was not born to a park and £5000
a-year, as it is not his Lordship's merit, although
it may be his great good fortune that he was not
born to live by his hterary talents or success."

Again in the Introduction to the edition of
"Marmion" in 1830, the author writes : — "The
pubhshers of the 'Lay of the Last Minstrel' em-
boldened by the snccess of that poem, willingly
offered a thousand pounds for ' Marmion.' The
transaction, being no secret, afforded Lord Byron,
who was then at general war with all who blacked
paper, an apology for including me in his satire,
entitled ' English Bards and Scotch Reviewers.'
I never could conceive how an arrangement between
an author and his publishers, if satisfactory to the
persons concerned, could afford matter of censure
to any third party. I had taken no unusual or
ungenerous means of enhancing the value of my
merchandise. I had never hagfo^led a moment about
the bargain, but accepted at once what I considered
the handsome offer of my publishers. These gentle-
men, at least, were not of opinion that they had
been taken advantage of in the transaction, which
indeed was one of their own framing; on the con-

BYRON AND SCOTT. 29

trary, the sale of the poem was so far beyond
their expectation as to induce them to supply the
author's cellars with what is always an acceptable
present to a young Scottish housekeeper, namely,
a hogshead of excellent claret."

Scott evidently was not a man to bear malice,
for we have his authority for stating that he not
only had nothing to do with the offensive criticism
in the " Edinburgh Review," but that he remon-
strated against it with the editor, because he
thought the " Hours of Idleness" was treated
with undue severity. Had Sir Walter Scott
wished to retaliate upon Byron, he might have
referred to the sums he received for the copyright
of his poems, viz : — £23,540, which sura included
£4,275 for " Childe Harold," £3,050 for "Don
Juan," £3,885 for " Hours of Idleness," " English
Bards and Scotch Reviewers," " Hints from
Horace," " Werner," " Deformed Transformed,"
" Heaven and Earth," &c., and £4,200 for the " Life
by Thomas Moore." In justice to Byron, I must
add that he set out with the determination never
to receive money for his writings.

For the liberty to publish *' English Bards and
Scotch Reviewers," he refused four hundred guineas,
and the money paid for the copyright of the first
and second cantos of " Childe Harold," and of the
" Corsair," he presented to Mr. Dallas. In 1816,
to a letter enclosing a draft for one thousand guineas
offered by Mr. Murray for the " Siege of Corinth"
and " Parisina," the noble-minded poet sent this
answer : —

" Your offer is liberal to the extreme, and much

30 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

more than the two poems can possibly be worth,
but I cannot accept it, nor will not. You are most
welcome to them as additions to the collected
volumes, without any demand or expectation on my
part whatever. I have enclosed your draft torn
for fear of accidents; by the way, I wish you would
not throw temptation in mine. It is not from a
disdain of the universal idol, nor from a present
superfluity of his treasures, I can assure you, that
I refuse to worship him ; but what is right is right,
and must not yield to circumstances."

In company with Walter Scott and the Reverend
Richard Barham, I called one day on Jerdan at
Grove House, Brompton. He showed us the sup-
pressed book, of which the whole five hundred
copies were burnt in Ireland, with the exception
of this, and said that he was about to send it as a
present to George IV., having had a hint from Mr.
O'Reilly that it would be acceptable in that quarter.
The book was a tolerably thick duodecimo, neatly
bound, had no title-page, but on the tops of the
pages were printed " Captain Rock's Letters to the
King." The introductory letter commenced, " My
Brother," many of the others, " Sir," " My Cousin."
It was very strongly written, and among other
things contained a list of the then Irish Peers, with
a history of their families, the means by which their
honours were acquired, and especially the conduct
of the representatives of most of the noble families
during the insurrection of 1798, which it depicted
with the greatest bitterness. Jerdan also showed
us a novel entitled the "Anglo-Irish," said to be

SIR WALTER SOOTT. 31

written by Sir J. C. Morgan. He then read us a
key to the characters, where we found that the
Marquis of Londonderry, Lord Farnham, and Arch-
bishop Magee, under the assumed names of the
Minister, Lord Harraer, and the Bishop, were
brought prominently forward. Jerdan then insisted
upon our having some " Athol brose" which he
had brewed especially for us ; it being a hot day
we were nothing loath to taste this Highland
drink. The " Magician of the North" pronounced
it to be perfect, but Barham's lowland stomach
yearned for some port, which was speedily pro-
duced. Upon walking home alone with Barham,
he told me that Murray had informed him that
Walter Scott, on being taxed by him as the author
of " Old Mortality," not only denied having written
it, but added,

" In order to convince you that I am not the
author, I will review the book for you in the
Quarterly.''^

Which he actually did, and Murray held the MS.
in his handwriting.

From the time we parted at Jerdan's, I never
met Sir Walter but once, and that was at a dinner
at Murray's in Albemarle Street, upon which occa-
sion that most liberal of publishers presented me
with autograph letters of Scott and Byron, which un-
fortunately were afterwards stolen from me with an
acorn from the tree the last named poet planted at
Newstead Abbey. These relics, which were placed
carefully away in my writing-desk, with other
articles, were purloined by an area sneak, one Isaac

32 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

Cohen, who was captured, tried at the Clerkenwell
Sessions, and through the able defence of an old
Westminster friend of mine, Clarkson, acquitted.
Within a fortnight Cohen was again taken up for a
robbery, tried and sentenced to seven years' penal
servitude. Every attempt to recover my lost pro-
perty was fruitless, though I offered a handsome
reward for the restoration of the autograph letters.
I cannot conclude my notice of Scott better than
by laying before my readers Victor Hugo's able
criticism :

" II pourrait, a mes sens, jaillir des reflexions
utiles de la comparaison entre les romans de Lesage
et ceux de Walter Scott, tous deux superieurs dans
leur genre. Lesage, ce me semble, est plus spi-
rituel, Walter Scott est plus original ; I'un excelle
a raconter les aventures d'un homme, I'autre raele
a I'histoire d'un individu la peinture de tout un
peuple, de tout un siecle ; le premier se rit de toute
verite de lieux, de moeurs, d'histoire ; le second,
scrupuleusement fidele a cette verite meme, lui
doit I'eclat magique de ses tableaux. Dans tous
les deux les caracteres sont traces avec art ; mais
dans Walter Scott ils paraissent mieux soutenus ;
parcequ'ils sont plus saillants, d'une nature plus
fraiche et moins polie. Lesage sacrifie souvent la
conscience de ses heros au comique d'une intrigue;
Walter Scott donne a ses heros des ames plus
severes; leurs principes, leurs prejuges memes sont
quelque chose de noble en ce qu'ils ne savent point
plier devant les evenements. On s'etonne, apres
avoir lu un reman de Lesage, de la prodigieuse

VICTOR HUGO. 33

variete du plan ; on s'etonne encore plus, en
achevant un roman de Scott, de la simplicite du
cauevas, c'est que le premier met son imagination
dans les faits, et le second dans les details. L'un
peint la vie, I'autre peint le coeur. Enfin, la lecture
des ouvrages de Lesage donne, en quelque sorte,
I'experience du sort ; la lecture de ceux de Walter
Scott donne I'experience des homraes,"

Victor Huofo thus describes his father's career : — '

" Joseph Leopold, Sigisbert Comte Hugo,
" Lieutenant-General des Armees du Roi.

" Neen 1774.

" Volontaire en 179 L

" Colonel en 1803.

" General de Brigade en 1809.

" Gouverneur de Province en 1810.

" Lieutenant-General en 1825.

" Mort en 1828.

" Non inscrit sur I'Arc de I'Etoile, son fils
respectueux. V. H."

Few men were more conscious of any defects in
prosody they might possess than Sir Walter Scott,
and he was ever ready to admit them, as the fol-
lowing letter will show, addressed to the editor of a
morning paper, in consequence of some remarks
which appeared in that paper, respecting a Latin
inscription which Scott had inscribed over the
image of a favourite dog : —

" Sir, — As I am a friend to truth, even in trifles,
I cannot consent to shelter myself under the clas-
sical mantle, which M. Lionel Berquer, and some
unknown friend, have chosen to extend in their

VOL. II. D

34 OELEBIflTIES I HAVE KNOWN.

charity over my faults in prosody. Two lines
were wi'itteu in mere whim, and without the least
intention of their being made public. In the first
line, the word jaces is a mistake of the transcriber
(whoever took that trouble) ; the phrase is dormis,
which, I believe, is good prosody. The error in
the second line, ad januam, certainly exists, and I
bow to the castigation. I must plead the same
apology which was used by the great Doctor John-
son, when he misrepresented a veterinary phrase of
ordinary occurrence — ignorance, pure ignorance,
was the cause of my blunder. Forty years ago,
longs and shorts were little attended to in Scotch
education, and I have, it appears, forgot the little I
may then have learned. I have only to add, that I
am far from undervaluing any branch of scholar-
ship, because I have not the good fortune to
possess it, and heartily wish that those who suc-
ceed us may have the benefit of a more accurate
classical education than was common in my earlier
days. The inscription cannot now be altered ; but
if it remains a memorial of my want of learning, it
shall not, in addition, convey any imputation on my
want of candour. I should have been ashamed, at
a more stirring time, to ask admission for this plea
of guilty; but at present you may think it worth a
place in your paper. Pugna est de paupere regno.
" I remain, your obedient servant,

" Walter Scott."

" Abbotsford, November 12, 1824."

35

AUTHOR.

WILLIAM JERDAN.

CHAPTER III.

WILLIAM JERDAN — THE LITEEAEY GAZETTE— CAPTURE OF BEL-
LINGHAM, THE MURDERER OF PERCEVAL — PETER CUNNINGHAM
— THE GARRICK CLUB— SHERIDAN — ANECDOTE OP AN IRISH
PEASANT— SHIRLEY BROOKS — DISTINGUISHED AUTHORS.

" A journalist is a grumbler, a censurer, a giver of advice, a
regent of sovereigns, a tutor of nations. Four hostile newspapers
are more to be feared than a thousand bayonets." — napoleon i.

DURING the time Jerdan lived at Brompton, his
house was ever open to all the leading literary
men, artists, dramatic authors, and actors of the
day. Nothing could be more dehghtful than his
dinner parties, as I can vouch for, having often
participated in his hospitality. Hook, James
Smith, Frank Fladgate, Peter Cunningham, Bar-
ham, Roberts, Stanfield, Charles Kemble, Edward
Walpole, commonly called " Cupid Walpole,"
Edmund Phipps, Lord Normanby, Cannon, Chief
Baron Pollock, Judge Talfourd, Frank Alills, Lord
Tenterden were constant guests at his table. Jer-
dan was full of anecdote, and his conversational

D 2

36 CELEBEITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

powers were equal to his critical ones. He bad a
fund of Scotch stories, which when told by him with
a strong northern accent lost none of their point.
'No one carried his precepts into practice more
strictly than Jerdan did ; he strenuously advocated
the English, now almost obsolete, custom of sitting
late after dinner, denouncing the foreign habit of
quitting the table with the ladies as a dreadful inno-
vation— a perfect abomination. His sentiments
were embodied in the following passage from a
work he had written, and which he was often in the
habit of quoting.

" We have always thought that 'the one English
custom which raises us immeasurably above all other
races and types of humanity, is that of sitting over
our wine after dinner. In what other portion of
the twenty-four hours have we either time or incli-
nation for more talk ? And is not the faculty of
talk that which denotes the superiority of man over
brutes? To talk, therefore, a certain part of the
day must be devoted. Other nations mix their talk
up with their business, and the consequence is, that
neither talk nor business is done well. We, on the
contrary, work while we are at it, and have all our
talk out just at that very portion of our lives when
it is physically, intellectually, and morally most
beneficial to us. The pleasant talk promotes
digestion, and prevents the mind from dwelling on
the grinding of the digestive mill that is going on
within us. The satisfaction and repose which
follow a full meal tend to check a disposition to
splenetic argument, or too much zeal in supporting

WILLIAM JERDAN. 37

an opinion ; while the freedom and abandon of the
intercourse which is thus kept up is eminently con-
ducive to feelings of general benevolence. It is
not, perhaps, too much to say that our ' glorious
constitution ' (not only as individuals, but as a
body politic) is owing to the habit which the British
Lion observes, ' of sitting over his wine after
dinner.' "

Hood, who knew Jerdan well, in a descrip-
tion of a Greenwich dinner, thus refers to him,
"Jerdan, as Jerdanish as usual on such occasions,
you know how paradoxical he is, quite at home in
dining out."

It has been truly said that, when literature is the
sole business of life, it becomes a drudgery ; when
we are able to resort to it only at certain hours, it
is a charming relaxation. The former is applicable
to Jerdan, for no man worked harder as a literary
man than he did. The late William Jerdan, F.S.A.,
M.R.S.L., and Corresponding Member of the Royal
Society of Madrid, born at Kelso in Roxburgh-
shire, in the year 1782, was educated at the school
of his native place, and afterwards became a pupil
of Doctor Rutherford, author of a " View of
Ancient History." Being intended for the legal
profession, he was for some time in the office of a
Scottish writer. Having at an early age imbibed a
taste for literature, he quitted Scotland and came
to try his fortune in London in 1804. After a time,
he became a reporter on the " Aurora," a short-
lived morning paper, started under the auspices of
the West-end hotel-keepers. He next joined the
staff of the " Morning Post," and subsequently

SS CELEBBITIES 1 HAVE KNOWN.

duriug three Sessions reported for the British Press.
He was also a contributor to the " Satirist," or
Monthly Meteor, the copyright of which he pur-
chased. In 1813, he became editor of the " Sun,"
a post which brought him into confidential relation
with the leaders of the Tory party. In ]817, he
sold his share in that newspaper, and soon after-
w^ards established and became editor of the " Literary
Gazette," the first weekly journal of criticism and
belles lettres, the paper with which his name was
associated for thirty-four years. During the period
that Jerdan had the control of the " Literary
Gazette," it was looked upon as one of the best
written critical works of the day ; since that period,
the " Athenaeum," the " Pali Mall," the " Specta-
tor," the " Saturday Review," have appeared, and
are now unquestionably the journals which can make
or mar the hopes of an author. In 1821, he as-
sisted in founding the Royal Society of Literature,
of which he was one of the earliest members. In
1826, he became a Member of the Society of An-
tiquaries ; the Literary Fund was also an object of
his constant exertions, and in its administration he
for some time took a very prominent part. He was
was one of the founders of the Melodists' Club, and
in 1830 projected and edited the '* Foreign Literary
Gazette," of which, however, only thirteen numbers
were published. In 1850 his connection with the
" Literary Gazette " ceased.

Jerdan contributed occasionally to the *•' Edin-
burh" and " Quarterly Reviews," Bentley's, Fraser's,
and other magazines and periodicals, and to many

ASSASSINATION OF MK. PEECEVAL. 39

of the annuals during their popular careers ; but he
did not confine his talents to periodical literature,
for he wrote four volumes for Fisher's " National
Portrait Gallery of Illustrious and Eminent Person-
ages of the Nineteenth Century ;" in 1852 he pub-
lished his " Autobiography," and subsequently an
interesting volume of his past reminiscences. In
early life he was instrumental in seizing Bellingham,
the murderer of Mr. Perceval. Never shall I forget
the sensation produced at the time, for I happened
to be in the House of Lords when the melancholy
event occurred. Many of the Westminster boys,
and among them myself and mj brother Frederick,
passed many an hour behind the throne in the
Upper House, to which, as Peer's sons, we were
courteously admitted. In attending the debates,
we, I frankly own, had a double motive, and
perhaps the most prominent one was the hope of
meeting our uncle, the late Duke of Gordon, then
Marquis of Huntley, who never failed to " tip" us.
Moreover, in the lobby of the House of Commons
we often met the late Sir Robert Peel, who know-
ing us when he was Secretary for Ireland, generally
presented us with a guinea. On the evening I
refer to, as we were about to wend our way
back to Dean's Yard, we met the late Marquis of
Westmeath, then Lord Delvin, looking the picture
of despair; for a kinder or more warm-hearted
nobleman never existed.

" Have you heard," he asked, " of the dreadful
affair that has just occurred in the lobby of the
House?"

40 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

We replied that we had not.

" Poor Perceval has been shot."

He informed us that the examination of the
assassin was beings carried on at the bar of the House.
It was then supposed that Bellingham represented
some political or religious combination, Perceval
having identified himself with those whose names
were associated with rancour and intolerant reli-
gious views. It was, however, afterwards discovered
that he was actuated solely by revenge, on account
of a supposed injury. It appeared that having in a
commercial visit to Russia underofone what he con-
sidered an unjust imprisonment for debt, the re-
fusal of our 2'overnment to take cosfnisance of the
transaction for the purpose of redress, made so
deep an impression on his mind that he resolved to
take the life of one of its most prominent Members.
On his trial he displayed great self-possession, and
when it was attempted to excuse the action under
the plea of insanity, he rejected the application of
it to himself ; though his perseverance in asserting
a right to revenge his private wrongs showed that
his moral perception on that point had been dis-
turbed by long brooding over supposed injuries.
After admitting the fact of assassination, denying
that he felt any malice toward Mr. Perceval, and
declaring that he would rather have shot Lord
Leveson Gower, our late Ambassador to Russia,
Bellingham was found guilty, and underwent the
extreme sentence of the law.

The Earl of Liverpool in the Upper, and Lord
Castlereagh in the Lower House, delivered a mes-

THE GAREICK CLUB. 41

sao^e from the Regent, recommending a parlia-
mentary provision for the family of the late Premier ;
the former of these noblemen paid an affecting
tribute to the memory of his departed friend ; the
latter bore testimony to the numerous virtues of
this lamented victim of man's wild passions, all
parties joining in the eulogium. An annuity of
£2000 was settled on his widow, and the sum of
£50,000 was ordered to be vested in trust for the
benefit and use of his twelve children ; subsequently
an annuity of £1000 was granted to the eldest son,
to be doubled at the death of his mother, and a
monument in Westminster Abbey was erected to
Mr. Perceval at the public expense.

The Garrick Club, formerly Probatt's Hotel,
King Street, Covent Garden, was opened in 1831.
Although Jerdan gave the motto to the Club,
" All the world's a stage," it was mainly through
the exertions of Barham and Frank Mills that the
club was established. The primary object was to con-
stitute a society in which actors and men of educa-
tion and refinement might meet on equal and
independent terms. It was hoped that by pro-
moting friendly intercourse between artists and
patrons, by the collection of a library of reference,
especially of scarce and valuable works on costume,
the following line of the song commemorating the
origin of the club would be realized : —

" To bring back the drama to glory again."

At the opening dinner in November, 1831, the
following lines by Barham, set as a glee by Hawes
were sung-.

42 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

" Let poets of superior parts
Consign to deathless fame,
The larceny of the Knave of Hearts,
"Who spoiled his Eoyal Dame.

" Alack ! my timid muse would quail
Before such thievish cubs,
But plumes a joyous wing to hail
Tuy birth, fair Queen of Clubs."

The object of the promoters, of the club was to
support the drama, but, as Beazley remarked, " the
dram" was not forgotten, and an excellent beverage
called Garrick Punch w^as soon introduced. As
some of my readers may like to know how the
above was concocted I give the recipe. Half a
pint of gin, poured on the outer peel of a lemon,
a small quantity of lemon juice, a glass of Maras-
chino, a pint and a half of water, and two bottles of
iced soda water.

The following letter from Jerdan will show his
feeling for the Garrick Club.

" Bushey Heath, Herts, 28th February, 1862.

" Dear Lord William,
" Taking leave of the stage is always a melan-
choly matter, and it is with something of a similar
regret that I venture to request of your kindness
to withdraw my name from the Garrick Club; I
w'ould not trouble you, but that I am not aware
of the proper step for effecting this object in the
most acceptable manner. The infrequency of my
visits to town, and the increase of the subscription
determined me to forego the pleasant tie (almost
the last) with old and gratifying associations. I
have thought that in forming the new rules an
exception might have been made with regard to

THE GAREICK CLUB. 43

those who, hke yourself and myself, went
through the labour of the foundation. I, in my
case, as you may remember, went to consider-
able expense towards furnishing the cellar, and
other provisional arrangements. I should have
been well content to catch a glimpse of m}^
old friends now and then before the fall of the
curtain, but having laid my small share of ashes in
the original fire, I must now only hope that the
Phoenix about to rise from the nest may flourish
and grow great in the good system of love and
literature, and patronage of the Drama. Your
plate and crockery will still remind you of the
inventor of your symbol, and suggest to the youth-
ful and sanguine that ' All the World's a Stage.'
To yourself personally, my dear Lord William, I
wish many happy years. Our intercourse was
always most agreeable to me; and shall ever
remain, " Very truly yours,

" W. Jeedan."

" The helm may rust, the laurel bough may fade,
Oblivion's gi'asp may blunt the victor's blade,
But that bright holy wreath, which learning gives
Untorn by hate, uncharra'd by envy lives —
Lives through the march of tempest and of time,
Dwells on each shore, and blooms in every clime,
Wide as the space that fills yon airless blue,
Pure as the breeze, and as eternal too.
Fair as the night star's eve — awaken'd ray,
But with no morn to chase its fires away."

So wrote Graham, and the above lines on literary
fame will not be inapplicable to those I am about to
refer.

44 CELEBKITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

I once, as a Westminfcer boy, saw Sheridan
coming out of the House of Commons, but was
unable to get an introduction to him. He was con-
versing with Sir Francis Burdett, and I lingered in
the lobby for a few minutes, in the hopes of
meeting some one who would present me to him.
This delay caused me to be late at the " roll call"
at Mother Pack's, which entailed a four-cutter on
my hand next morning.

As an orator, Sheridan was unrivalled. His
speech on the charges exhibited against Warren
Hastiness in the House of Commons, drew euloories
from Fox, Burke, and Pitt. Mr. Pitt entreated
the House to adjourn, to give time for a calmer
consideration of the question than could then occur
after the immediate effect of that oration.

Gibbon says, " Before my departure from Eng-
land, I was present at the august spectacle of
Mr. Hastings' trial in Westminster Hall. It is not
my province to absolve or condemn the Governor
of India, but Mr. Sheridan's eloquence demanded
my applause; nor could I hear, without emotion,
the personal compliment which he paid me in the
presence of the British nation. This display of
genius blazed four successive days."

On being asked by a brother Whig, at the con-
clusion of the speech, how he came to compliment
Gibbon with the epithet " luminous," Sheridan
answered in a half whisper, " I said ' voluminous.' "

Byron, too, tells us he heard Sheridan only once,
and that briefly, but he liked *' his voice, his man-
ner, and his wit;" adding, " that he was the only

EEV. EICHARD BAEHAM. 45

Member of the House lie wished to hear at greater
length." His " Monody on the death of R. B.
SheridaD," spoken at Drury Lane, is too well known
to be repeated.

I must now refer to some of the literary charac-
ters with whom I have been on terms of the most
intimate friendship, and will commence with the
Keverend Eichard Barham, the author of the " In-
goldsby Legends," whom for many years I was in
the habit of seeing daily.

As his Life has been very ably treated by his
son, I will not dwell upon it further than to say, a
kinder hearted man never existed.

Among other anecdotes related by Barham, was
one told him by Thomas Moore. When George IV.
went to Ireland, one of the " pisantry," delighted
with his affability to the crowd on landing, said to
the toll-keeper as the King passed through : —

" Och, now ! and his Majesty, God bless him,
never paid the turnpike ! an' how's that?"

" Oh ! Kings nes^er does ; we lets 'em go free,"
was the answer.

" Then there's the dirty money for ye," says Pat.
*' It shall never be said that the King came here,
and found nobody to pay the turnpike for him."

Moore, when on a visit to Abbotsford, told this
story to Sir Walter, when they were comparing
notes as to the royal visits.

" Now, Mr. Moore," replied Scott, " there you
have just the advantage of us ; the Scotch folk
would have done anything in the world for His
Majesty but — pay the turnpike."

46 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

" logoldsby" relates another story connected
with the King's visit to Ireland. One man, whom
His Majesty took notice of, and shook hands with,
cried, " There, then, the divil a drop of wather ye
shall ever have to wash that shake o' the hand off
of me." By all accounts the loyal Emeralder re-
mained, at least as far as his hands went,
" unwashed."

Another Garrick friend, Peter Cunningham, was
the eldest son of Allan Cunningham, the author of
a " Memoir of Burns ;" " The Lives of the British
Painters, Sculptors, and Architects;" "Biography
of Sir David Wilkie;" the novel of " Paul Jones,"
and several lyrical poems and ballads.

I once met Allan Cunningham at a dinner given
by Theodore Hook, and was much struck with his
conversational powers. Peter Cunningham I often
met at the Garrick Club, at the house of common
friends, and passed some days in his company,
when we accompanied the late Herbert Ingram to
the borough of Boston, which he so long and so
worthily represented.

Peter Cunningham's writings were both humorous
and voluminous. He was the author of " The Life of
Drummond of Hawthornden," with large selections
from his poetical works ; " Songs of England and
Scotland ;" the single volume editions of " Camp-
bell's Specimens of the British Poets," with addi-
tional lives and specimens ; " The Handbook to
Westminster Abbey ;" " The Life of Inigo Jones,"
for the Shakespeare Society ; " The Handbook of
London" — this book went through two editions;

MR. INGRAM. 47

"Modern London;" " Prefatory Memoirs of J. M.
W. Turner to John Barnet's ' Turner and his
Works ;' " " The Story of Nell Gwynn ;" " The
Works of Oliver Goldsmith," for Murray's Library
of British Classics," and " Johnson's Lives of the
Poets," for the same work ; " Letters of Horace
Walpole;" and in conjunction with the late Right
Hon. J. W. Croker, was engaged on a new edition
of Pope. He was, moreover, a large contributor to
periodical literature — " Frazer's Magazine," " The
Athenaeum," " Illustrated London News," " Notes
and Queries," &c. Mr. Ingram, proprietor of the
" Illustrated London News," whose friendship I
enjoyed for many years, and to which Journal I
was a contributor for a considerable time, had
offended by some vote of his in the House of Com-
mons a few of his former friends at Boston ; he
therefore was anxious to explain his reasons, and
invited me among others to accompany him to
Boston, where a large public dinner was to be got
up at the Corn Exchange. Peter Cunningham,
Shirley Brooks, the late Mr. Tuxford, proprietor of
the " Sporting Review," and " Mark Lane Express,"
with our host, left at an early hour, and on reaching
the borough were most cordially received by a large
number of his supporters. We dined at the hotel,
and after dinner proceeded to an oyster feast (as it
was called), some little distance from the town.
There we met a large party of Ingram's consti-
tuents, and, as a matter of course, a considerable
number of speeches were made, and a large amount
of liquor consumed. This went on for two or

48 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

three days, and except when I canvassed the worthy
inhabitants of King's Lynn, previous to my election
for that borough, I never recollect undergoing so
much political workj or receiving so much hospitality.
At every house we visited, wine or beer was offered
ns ; to decline the offer would have been ungracious,
so with what is termed '* nipping" all day, dining
at six o'clock, attending oyster feasts at night,
spouting at all the meetings, I practically felt in the
morning the truth of Byron's lines : —

" Ring for the waiter — bid him quickly bring
Some hock and soda-water, then you'll know
A pleasure worthy Xerxes the great King :
For not the blest sherbet, sublimed with snow,
Nor the first sparkle of the desert spring,
Nor Burgundy in all its sunset glow,
After long speeches, ennui, love, or slaughter.
Vies with that draught of hock and soda-water."

During our visit all the arrangements were left to
Peter Cunningham, and they could not have fallen
into better hands. The dinner at the Corn Ex-
change went off brilliantly, Ingram put himself
right with his townspeople, and as brother of the
" farmer's friend," the late Duke of Richmond, I
spouted forth a speech in which " Speed the plough,"
and " Success to the sons of the soil" was my
burthen.

Charles Shirley Brooks, or as he was usually
called, Shirley Brooks, was originally intended for
the profession of the law, and having gone through
the usual studies, passed a distinguished examina-
tion before the incorporated Law Society. Pre-
ferring literature to law, he devoted his time to

SHIRLEY BROOKS. 49

dramatic oompositions and journalism. Among his
most successful plays may be mentioned " Our New
Governess," " Honours and Tricks," and the
" Creole." For many Sessions, Shirley Brooks
became the writer of the Parliamentary Summary
for the " Morning Chronicle," and was despatched
by that paper as Special Commissioner to Kussia,
Syria, and Egypt, to inquire into Foreign as well
as British labour, and the poor. His letters,
which appeared in the columns of the " Morning
Chronicle," were reprinted under the title of " The
Russians of the South." As a novelist, he held his
own with many of the best modern writers of
fiction, " Aspen Court," " The Gordian Knot," and
" The Silver Cord," met with great success ; he was
also a contributor to " Punch." To my cost I
know that he occasionally wrote the literary criti-
cisms in the " Morning Chronicle," for a very savage
one appeared in which I was most severely handled.
In a novel entitled, "Percy Hamilton, or the Ad-
ventures of a Westminster Boy," I introduced the
following description. Percy loquitur : " At my
christening an event occurred of rather a sporting
order, and which may, for aught I know to the
contrary, have given me a taste for dogs ever since.
In the private chapel attached to the house, baptisms
were of rare occurrence; but a heavy fall of snow
having blocked up the neighbouring roads, it was
decided that the ceremony should take place at
home. Before, however, it had proceeded very far,
it was discovered that there was no font in the
building. The huntsman, old Tom Prior, soon

VOL. II. E

60 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

detected this, and rushing into the stable-yard,
quickly returned with a small stone basin that had
been placed there for the use of a favourite retriever
— Tip. In this was the ceremony concluded ; and
from that day I received a sobriquet which will be
attached to me to my last hour — that of Tip. The
nurses called me " Master Tip," while my relatives
and friends dropped the former title of courtesy.
In after-life it often puzzled my companions to dis-
cover the origin of this appellation, and which
until explained, sounded as mysterious as those of
Kangaroo, Punch, Bacchus, Teapot, Cupid, Pogey,
Skirmish, Poodle, Ginger, Dodo, and others which
have been attached to bygone and present men
about town." Now altering the words Tom Prior
to Tom Grant, the old Goodwood huntsman, and
inserting my own name instead of that of Percy
Hamilton, the incident is founded on fact, for I
myself was christened out of a dog's basin, and for
some years was called " Tip." At Westminster,
however, being named after my godfather, William
Pitt, Billy Pitt the Tory, was substituted for Tip.
Among other charges brought against me by the
critic of the " Morning Chronicle," was that I had
brought one of our most sacred religious institutions
into ridicule, by a most irreverent allusion to it.
Of course some d good-natured friend for-
warded me the paper, and knowing that all I had
to do was to grin and bear it, I resigned myself to
my fate. Time passed on, when one day at the
Garrick Club finding I was dining alone, Shirley
Brooks prepared to join me. The conversation

SHIRLEY BROOKS. ol

towards the close of the evening turned upon the
"Morning Chronicle," when I remarked that I
firmly believed a familiar friend, mentioning his
name, had treacherously abused me behind my back,
after congratulating me on the success of the
novel.

" It is hard," replied Shirley Brooks, " that your
friend should be falsely accused, he was not the
author of that criticism."

" I rejoice to hear it," T replied, " for I have
made up ray mind, if I meet him to cut him — "

"Painful as it is to me," he continued; "but
sooner than the innocent should suffer for the
guilty, I wrote the article."

I own this took me somewhat aback, when my
companion continued,

" I thought at the time it was a fair criticism,
but our mutual friend, Peter Cunningham, told me
I had gone too far — will you then accept my apology,
for, knowing you now much better than I did when
I wrote the criticism, I regret having caused you
any pain."

By the aid of a glass of Garrick Punch I gulped
this down, and merely said, in future : —

" Be to my virtues very kind,
And to my failings very blind."

From that time we became better friends than
ever, for I could not but be sensible of the honour-
able feeling that prompted him to come forward to
save another, even at his own expense.

Although I am aware that I. lay myself open to
a charge of egotism in referring to the letters of

E 2

52 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

thanks I have received from many distinguished
authors, whose works I have criticised, I cannot
refrain from so doing. The first on the list is a letter
from Winwood Reade, who thanks me for my kind
review of " his much abused book." Mark Lemon
sends me his " big book and his little one" with
best acknowledgments for my . notice of them.
Edward Maitland writes, " The remarks on ' By and
By' are capital, indicating both perception and
ease, and suggesting the need of thoughtfully
reading to get at the author's meaning, instead of
jumping at once to the conclusion that what the
reviewer does not catch in his haste must therefore
be devoid of meaning." George Raymond is warm
in my praise for my notice of his " Life of Ellison ;"
as are Mayne Reid, Charles Clarke, Albany Fon-
blanque, Mrs. C. Mathews, mother of the ever-
green, ever delightful Charles; J. Palgrave Simpson,
M. H. Barker, Shirley Brooks, John Mills, R.
Dalton Barham, son of " Ingoldsby ;" Sydney
Whiting, Theodore Hook, Gronow, Leveson, the
old Shekaree ; Byng Hall, A. Hayward, Albert
Smith, William Selwyn, D.D., W. Mackinnon, late
M.P. for Lymiugton, who says " ' Laudare a laudato
viro' is always peculiarly agreeable to the sons of
humanity in every age;" Rev. A. Morton Brown,
&c. ; while I have many notes from authoresses
w^ritten in the prettiest handwriting, their thanks
expressed in the most glowing terms.

5,3

HUMOURIST.

GEORGE COLMAK

CHAPTER IV.

GEORGE COLMAN— HIS WIT AND SOCIAL QUALITIES — EPIGRA3I ON
MISS FOOTE, AFTERWARDS COUNTESS OF HARRINGTON — HENRY
HARRIS — FREDERICK REYNOLDS — THE LEGITIMATE DRAMA — THE
DOG-STARS.

" Whose humour, as gay as the firefly's light,
Play'd round every subject, and shone as it play'd ;
Whose wit, in the combat, as gentle as bright,
Ne'er carried a heart-staiu away on its blade."

T. MOOEE.

" T HAVE mefc George Colman occasionally, and
J- thought him extremely pleasant and convivial.
Sheridan's humour, or rather wit, was always
saturnine, and sometimes savage ; he never laughed
(at least that I saw, and I watched him), but
Colman did. If I had to chuse, and could not have
both at a time, I should say let me begin the even-
ing with Sheridan and finish it with Colman.
Sheridan for dinner, Colman for supper; Sheridan
for claret or port, but Colman for everything, from
the Madeira and champagne at dinner, the claret
with a layer of j^ort between the glasses up to the
punch of the nighty and down to the grog or gin

54 CELEBRITIES T HAVE KNOWN.

and water of daybreak ; all these I have threaded
with both the same. Sheridan was a Grenadier
company of Life Guards, but Colman was a whole
regiment, of light infantnj, to be sure, but still a
regiment." So wrote Byron in the year 1813, and
as far as George Colman is concerned I quite en-
dorse the sentiment, what Sheridan was, except
that which I have gleaned from his writings, I
know not, never having had the pleasure of meet-
ing this distinguished dramatist. Of the above it
may be truly said in the words of the latter : —

" Sure such a pair were never seen,
So justly formed to meet by nature."

They both commenced the study of the law, but
soon quitted the Middle Temple and another court
for the more attractive business of the stage, and
both became managers, one of Drury Lane, the
other of the Haymarket ; they both wrote comedies
and farces, they were both the life and soul of
every society they joined, they were both extrava-
gant and dissipated — the one, who became licenser
of plays, and who distinguished himself by the
severity with which he censured language less ob-
jectionable than he had used himself, died in tolera-
bly good circumstances in 1836; the other, the
talented dramatic writer, the brilliant orator, the
caustic wit, the boon companion of the " observed
of all observers," the Prince Eegent, abandoned
by friends, hunted by duns and bailiffs, and sunk
low in habits and feelings, died in 181(3. " Those
who had not offered to cheer his death-bed gave him
a grave in Westminster Abbey." So far the com-

OUPID WALPOLE. 55

parison ends, for as a dramatic writer Col man could
not approach Sheridan. " John Bull," " The Iron
Chest," " The Mountaineers," " The Heir-at-Law,"
*' The Poor Gentleman," were all received with
much favour, and " John Bull," " The Heir-at-
Law," and " The Poor Gentleman" still keep pos-
session of the stage ; but less witty in liis plays
than Congreve, less gay than Farquhar, inferior to
Yanbrngh as a delineator of character, Colman
possessed a vigour and good sense, and an
ingenuity in the invention of lively incidents
which rendered his plays successful. None of the
above-mentioned plays can be compared with " The
Rivals," and " The School for Scandal," which for
skill of construction, wit of dialogue, and liveliness in
the portraiture of manners were never excelled.
In addition to the above, Sheridan wrote the clever
opera of " The Duenna," and his brilliant yet ill-
natured farce of '' The Critic," the latter of which
still retains its popularity. Of " Pizarro" the less
that's said the better, it may rank with Colman's
" Iron Chest," " The Mountaineers," " The Battle
of Hexham," and " The Surrender of Calais."

My acquaintance with George Colman com-
menced in the year 1816, when I met him for the
first time at the hospitable board of a friend who
went by the name of "Cupid Walpole ;" he was
then in his fifty-fifth year, was as playful and lively
as a kitten, and never ceased from the moment we
sat down until the hour of departure, which was
not an early one, to keep the table in a roar.
Many of his sayings appeared in " Broad Grins"

56 OFILEERITIES I HAVE KNOWX.

and " Poetical Vagaries, " wbicli though lively
were occasionally coarse. One of his best remarks
was the following. The conversation turned upon
conscription in France, and the ballot of the Militia
in England.

"When called upon to sign a paper," said he,
" to exempt me from service, I wrote under the
head of ' causes of exemption,' Old, lame, and a
coward."

What Colman was in his latter years I know not,
but certainly in his youth he was anything but a
coward. Brave acts are always recognised at
Westminster School, and a tradition existed which
I heard some years after the event occurred, that
George Colman, then quite a small boy, had given
a spectre a sound thrashing for tormenting Frederick
Reynolds, who afterwards became a brother dra-
matist and a warm ally of his youthful cham-
pion. Among other practical jokes which took
place at Jones' Boarding House, and of which
Reynolds was the victim, was tossing in blankets.
After tossing him to the ceiling of the room many
times, he was allowed to seek his bed, but there
his torments did not cease ; for scarcely had the
deep tones of the bell told the hour of midnight,
when he was awoke from his slumbers by the
screams of the younger boys. Starting up in a
paroxysm of fear, he beheld at the foot of the bed
a hideous spectre, bearing a large cross, on which
was written in flaming characters, " Think on
to-morrow." Three times the vision uttered
the above words and then vanished. On its re-

AN ASPIRANT TO THE STAGE. 57

appearance the following niglit, the strong arm of
Colman caused the spectre to cry " Hold, enough."
Every jest book has recorded Colman's witticisms,
so I shall confine myself to a few that occurred in
my presence. Upon one occasion, when a lady
wrote to me saying that, having studied for the
stage, she was most anxious for an engagement on
the London boards, feeling assured (as her friends
told her) that she could do justice to Juliet, Desde-
mona, Rosalind, and other young Shakespearean
characters, I appointed an interview, and wrote to
George Colman to ask him to be present at it.
The morning arrived, the lady appeared, accora-
by a duenna, and certainly, as far as looks and
figure went, she possessed every quality for Capulet's
fair daughter, Othello's ill-fated wife, or " the fair,
the chaste" Rosalind.

"Allow me," I said, "to introduce Mr. George
Colman ; one word from him will have much more
effect with managers than anything I could say,"

" ' On their own merits modest men are dumb,' "
quoted the wit from his own comedy of " The Heir
at Law ;" " and now," turning to the aspirant for
histrionic fame, " perhaps as Shakespeare says,
' you will give us a taste of your quality.' "

'•Willingly," said the latter, "'Othello,' h'act
the first, scene the second.

" ' My noble father,
HI do perceive here a divided duty ;
To you, hi ham bound for life, hand heducation ;
My life and heducation, both do learn me
'Ow to respect you ; you hare the lord of duty,
HI ham 'itherto your daughter; but 'ere's my 'usband !"

58 CELEEEITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

Here Colman slipt iuto ray hand a scrap of paper
with the following written in ])encil " HI, HI, Hi,

d her heyes, HI'ra hoff," so rising, he made

an excuse that an important engagement prevented
him remaining longer, but that no doubt I would
give the lady a patient hearing. All I could do was
to acquiesce, and for nearly an hour I had to listen
to the garden scene in '• Romeo and Juliet," and
that in the Forest of HArdennes, as my fair visitor
pronounced it.

" Hof course," said the lady, " HI should not
like to clash with Miss HO'Neill at Covent Garden,
but there his an hopeniug hat the bother 'ouse."

This placed me in an awful fix, for I could not
bear to wound the feelings of one who, if she could
have conquered her awfully bad pronunciation, had
really strong dramatic talent ; yet to recommend
her to the manager of Drury Lane would have laid
me open to severe strictures, so by way of a com-
promise I gave her a note to Mr. Chapman, who
was a good steady actor and an excellent elocu-
tionist, asking him whether anything could be
done to get rid of the deformity under which she
laboured.

" Impossible," was his brief reply, " I should be
robbing her if I took a farthing to attempt to teach
her that which she can never attain — success in the
profession. This," he continued, " I deeply re-
gret, for the young lady has many qualifications
for the stage; if, like Prince Arthur, her eyes I,I,rs
could remain intact, I could make something of
her,"

COLMANT. 59

Shortly afterwards she communicated to me the
result of her interview with Mr. Chapman, who had
in the kindest manner urged her to relinquish the
object she had so much at heart. I then discovered
that her orthography was not better than her pro-
nunciation and that her first letter to me must have
been written by another hand; the last ran as
follows : —

" Sir,
" HI rite to thank you for your introducshon to
Mr. Chapman, who hassures me there is no hopen-
ing at Drury Lane, owever HI trust the day will
com when I shall be hafforded han opening, feeling
hassured my debut will not disgrace the kind frends
who has hinterested themselves in my bealph.

" Yours hobediently."

To Colman, though it has been attributed to
others, belongs the glory or the shame of having
perpetrated the following. A " fanatico per la
musica," who was enthusiastically extolling a ballad
that some fair amateur had been singing, and boring
everyone with his exagergated eulogies, wound up
by saying, " That song quite carries me away."

" Can anybody whistle it?" was Colman's caus-
tic remark.

Again I remember when describing a thin man,
who was not overwhelmed with brains, he said,
*' He's like a pin without the head or the point."
One day after dinner the conversation turned upon
Conway, who, despite the depreciation of " John

60

CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

Bull" (the newspaper of that name, not the public)
and the unmeasured invectives of Hazlitt, was not
only an amiable man but a good sensible actor, and
whose only misfortune was being too tall.

" What think you of Conway ?" asked Henry
Harris.

" He reminds me," replied Colman, " of Virgil's
lines,

" ' Abietibus juvenes patrus et montibus aequi.'

" Which freely translated means

" Like firs that iu that mother mountain rise."

" Another line," he added, " suggests itself to
me,

" ' He's tall and as straight as a poplar tree.'

" Remember I said poplar, not ijopular tree."

" The only j}c|7?i/ti!r tree," continued Harris, "is
the gentle Maria Tree of Covent Garden Theatre."
Reynolds tells an adventure of his and George
Colraan's, wdien on one half holiday at Westminster
they went to Drury Lane to see the two last acts
of the " Old Bachelor." Entering a box up two
pair of stairs, they discovered two little boys at
the corner of the last row, nestling together,
trembling and sobbing. On asking them the cause,
they timidly whispered " hush," and pointing to a
solitary important personage in the front row, they
informed them that he had thumped and kicked
them whenever they had laughed.

On hearing this, Colman (ever the little cham-
pion of the oppressed, as I have already shown)
descended into the front row and tittered. The

COLMAN. 61

anti-comedy gentleman looking amazingly big at
him, fiercely cried " silence," at the same time
opening his snuff box, and importantly taking
snuff. Colman with much politeness asked him for
a pinch, which, this foe to merriment, this play-
house Herod, indignantly refused.

" Won't you. Sir ?" cried -Colman, " then shall
I have the honour of giving you a pinch ?" and
without waiting for a reply, tweaked the crabbed
oppressor by the nose and instantly vanished. So
did not Reynolds, for in attempting to follow his
friend, he was pulled back, and on the point of
being beaten to a mummy, when Colman, who
never deserted a friend in need, returned with two
of his father's acquaintances; old Killjoy, finding
the party too strong for him, walked off in dudgeon,
and Colman, the assertor of Thalia's rights, Rey-
nolds, and the two little sufferers seated themselves
in his place to laugh freely and heartily at the
" Old Bachelor."

At the time I write of, Westminster pride allowed
no one after leaving to claim acquaintance with a
brother schoolfellow without a formal introduction.
For three years when Colman lived in chambers
close to those of Reynolds in the Temple, they
never spoke ; the spell however was broken, when
on the anniversary meeting on Election Monday
they met, Colman coolly saying,

*' Come, Reynolds, let us toss up who speaks
first," from this moment they became warm friends.

Among other good sayings of Colman was the
following. One night during the performance at

62 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWfT.

Coveiit Garden Theatre of a drama entitled the
" Mysteries of the Castle," Colraan expressed his
surprise at the thinness of the house, and the beg-
garly amount of empty boxes.

" I suppose it is owing to the war," said one of
the actors.

" No," replied the other, " it is owning to the

I occasionally met Colman at Henry Harris's hos-
pitable board, where many of the theatrical wits
of the day were wont to attend — Colraan, Rey-
nolds, Morton, Beazley, and others. Among the
numerous anecdotes told me at one of the above
p-atherino's was the f olio win o- : A traj^ic actor of
Covent Garden Theatre requested a friend to nego-
tiate with Mr. Harris for a renewal of his engage-
ment at a high increase of salary. To this the
manager referred the actor to the foUow^ing laconic
epitaph : —

" Lie still if you're wise,
You'll go down, if you rise."

Another anecdote was mentioned, having refer-
ence to Mrs. Inchbald, the authoress, at the time
a handsome and an entertaining woman. This lady
had a slight impediment in her speech, which rather
imparted an entertaining characteristic to her con-
versation, than diminished its force. Oue morning
waiting on a manager with a new play, the gentle-
man suddenly became so violently enamoured, or
struck on a heap, as it has been vulgarly called,
that, dispensing with the usual preparatory cour-
tesies, he suddenly rushed to the attack, on which

MISS rooTE. 63

the lady seizing him by his pig-tail with one hand,
with the other rang the bell until assistance ap-
peared. Ever afterwards, when speaking of this,
she used to stammer out.

" How f — ortunate for me he did not w — ear a
w — ig." To which a punning brother dramatist
replied.

" I beg your pardon, Mrs. Inchbald, " had your
'gallant gay Lothario' worn a wig, you would have
been wholly saved from this amorous rencontre,
because as the poet says,

" ' Love, light as air, at sight of human ttes.
Spreads his light wings, and in a moment flies.' "

Here I am reminded of a poetical effusion upon
the subject of Miss Foote, which went the round
of the newspapers, and which though claimed by
others, was the production of an American actor
named Graham. Graham joined Mr. Foote's com-
pany at the Plymouth Theatre, playing Romeo to
Miss Foote's Juliet, and became as much enamoured
of her in real life as he had been in that passion
represented on the mimic boards. The whole pith of
the effusion is to be found in the foUowino; verse : —

" Had I the land that's in the Strand,
Gentles, I beg jour pardon —
I'd give each foot, and more to boot,
For one of Covent Garden."

Beazley told us a story of a friend of his (I won't
mention his name, as he became a better and a
wiser man, having entered the church) who said
he thought he had wit enough to produce a book
of good sayings.

64 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

" That will do very well," remarked Colman,
" provided he inserts very few of bis own."

In consequence of Captain Watlien, proprietor of
tlie Theatre Royal Richmond, playing " The
Agreeable Surprise" without Colman's sanction, he
having purchased the copyright of that once popular
farce, an action for damages was brought in the
King's Bench against Wathen. . Mr., afterwards
Lord, Erskine, was counsel for the plaintiff, and
Mr. Law, afterwards Lord Ellenborough, for the
defendant ; Lord Kenyon was on the bench. The
author, O'Keeffe, was called as principal witness.
Mr. Law, in cross-examination, had the music-book
in his hand, and read in a full kind of burlesque
style the burden of one of Lingo's songs : —

" Tag rag merry derry periwig and hatband,
Hie hoc horum genitivo."

"Mr. O'Keeffe, did you write these words?
Speak out, that his Lordship and the gentlemen of
the jury may hear you."

The answer, amidst a titter of laughter from the
" strangers in the gallery," was " I did."

Lord Kenyon, who saw the embarrassment of
the author of this nonsense, immediately relieved
him from it by observing, "Oh, that is nothing;
Shakespeare, for his clowns, had recourse to the
same humorous expedient."

Mr. Erskine read letters between Messrs. Colman
and Wathen, the Captain saying that " Lingo was
a hobby of his." "Yes," replied Manager Colman,
" but you should not take a hobby out of my
stable."

EICHARD BRINSLEY SHERIDAN. 65

Sheridan's oratorical, poetical, and dramatic
talents were so great, and had interested me so
much, that I was only too happy to hear second-
hand anything connected with this great man. An
opportunity shortly occurred, for meeting Reynolds
one morning, he invited me to a friendly dinner, to
meet Henry Harris and Colman.

"We dine punctually at half-past four," he said,
" as there is a new piece at Covent Garden."

Punctually at that somewhat gothic hour I found
myself at his house, his two other guests having
just preceded me. Leading up to the subject, for
it was one Harris delighted in, he told me many
anecdotes of the great Richard Brinsley Sheridan.
Among others was one relating to the first night's
performance of " The Rivals," and which he had
from the author himself. During the violent oppo-
sition in the fifth act, an apple hitting Lee, who
performed Sir Lucius 0' Trigger, he stepped for-
ward, and with a genuine rich brogue, angrily cried
out, " By the powers, is it personal ? Is it to me, or
the matter ?" A cheer followed this extempo-
raneous appeal.

" Appeal — apple peel you mean !" exclaimed
Colman.

I have already referred to " Pizarro" as being
unworthy of Sheridan's talent, which, on its first
appearance, gave little presage of its future tri-
umphant career. On the second night, however,
after certain alterations and omissions, heightened
by the splendid acting of John Kemble as Rolla,
and Mrs. Siddons as Elvira, the drama so far suc-

VOL. II. P

66

CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

ceeded, as to produce to the treasury on its first
sixty nights the enormous sum of sixty thousand
pounds.

Many actors and actresses have rendered im-
mortal certain passages in plays. Mrs. Bartley, in
" Jane Shore," drew forth tears, when in her dying
scene she uttered the following pathetic line : —

" Forgive me ! — but forgive me !"

Macready was applauded to the echo when, as
Coriolanus, he exclaimed : —

" Boy ! false hound !
If you have writ your annals true, 'tis there
That, like an eagle in a dove-cot, I
riutter'd your Volscians in Corioli.
Alone I did it — boy !"

What could exceed the impressive manner in
which Mrs Siddons, as Queen Katherine, delivered
the line : —

" Lord Cardinal to you I speak."

Miss O'Neill riveted the attention of the audience,
when, as Belvidera, she exclaimed : —

" Farewell ! remember twelve."

Edmund Kean electrified his audience when, as the
crook-backed tyrant, he received the news that the
Duke of Buckingham was taken : —

" Off with his head, so much for Buckingham."

And great as was the eff'ect produced by the above
passages, I doubt much whether any came up to
the touching reply of Rolla, in " Pizarro," when
Kemble, in answer to Cora's exclamation : —

" My child and bloody ;"

delivered the simple line : —

" Cora, it is my blood."

Harris told us that so popular was Sheridan that,

GEOEGE COLMAN. Ql

when travelling with him on a visit to a friend at
Portsmouth, an innkeeper on the road where they
dined, declined to take any money from the author
of the " Duenna," either for dinner or wine; pro-
bably the latter, like Falstaff's bill at the Boar's
Head Tavern, Eastcheap, was the largest item.

It has been said by captious critics, in diminution
of his talents, that Sheridan wrote with extreme
difficulty. What then ? Whether each of his jokes
cost him an hour or a month, are they therefore the
less entertaining ? Probably it would neither injure
the discrimination nor the judgment of Sheridan's
censurers on this point, if they occasionally repeated
to themselves those two old sayings — " Slow and
sure," and " Easy writing is difficult reading."

In the " School for Scandal," Sheridan declined
to use that prominent commodity in the comedies
of Congreve and Vanbrugh — double entendre, which
is rather a mild term for gross indecency ; thus he
wrote without the aid of the most efficient ally his
predecessors possessed. Surely then as his diffi-
culties were greatly increased, greater fame ought
to be awarded to the man who so triumphantly
surmounted them. Sheridan, too, carefully avoided
the fault of another school, " clap-trap." Not a
word in the " School for Scandal" is to be found
in praise of laws, Jack tars, innocence, females in
distress, an Englishman's castle, or " liberty,"
that plant of English growth.

George Colman, when appointed deputy licenser
of plays under the Lord Chamberlain, was severely
handled for his more than puritanical severity in

F 2

6S CELEBKITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

the censorship of the language of the dramas he
had to read ; and assuredly such severity did not
come with a very good grace from an author who
had himself so much transgressed in his own
writings. There can be no doubt that a censor
w^as required to put a stop to the continual
nse of words which ought never to be mentioned,
as Pope saySj " at least to ears polite ;" and if wo
required an example of the indiscriminate use of
those words, we should find it in a farce entitled
" Darkness Visible," by Theodore Edward Hook,
which is thus dedicated to George Colman, Esq. : —

" My dear Sir — As I take it, you and I are the
two most distinguished dramatists of the age — 3"0U
as the lest and I as the ivorst. With this convic-
tion, it may be called presumption in me to dedicate
one of my farces to you ; therefore, notwithstanding
our parity of eminence at opposite extremes, pray
understand that I offer you the following piece, not
as an autJior, but as a sincere friend, and as a
trifling mark of my respect and esteem for genuine
talent, liberality of heart, brilliancy of wit, and
suavity of manners ; all of which, since I have had
the happiness of your acquaintance, I have most
sincerely admired in you. With every wish for
your happiness, believe me, my dear Sir,

*' Yours respectfully,

" T. E. Hook."

Now in the printed edition of the above farce, I

find twenty-five d u's, seventeen " devils," three

curses ; one of the speeches running as follows : —

" She said she'd be d — d if she'd marry him."

GEOEGE COLMAN. 69

Whether the future deputy-licenser was shocked at
the above imprecations I am not informed.

In the " Memoirs of the Margravine of Anspach,"
I find the following notice of the elder Colman : —

" Mr. Colman, the manao^er of the theatre in the
Haymarket, was a most agreeable companion; his
humility and good-nature were equal to his wit and
sprightly conversation.

" He was the natural son of Lord Bath (Sir James
Pulteney ;) and his father, perceiving in the son a
passion for plays, asked him fairly if he never
intended to turn his thoughts to politics ; as it was
his desire to see him a Minister, which with his
natural endowments, and the expense and pains he
had bestowed on his education, he had reason to
imagine, with his interest, he might become. His
father desired to know if he would give up the
Muses for diplomacy, and plays for politics ; as, in
that case, he meant to give him his whole fortune.
Colman thanked Lord Bath for his kind communica-
tion ; but candidly said that he preferred Thalia
and Melpomene to ambition of any kind, for the
height of his wishes was to become at some future
time the manager of a theatre. Lord Bath left
him £1,500 a-year, instead of all his immense
wealth."

70

AECHITECT AND AUTHOR.

BEAZLET.

CHAPTER V.

BEAZLEY — AECHITECT AND DRAMATIC WRITER — A FANCY-DRESS
BALL — MRS. ROBINSON, NOT " PERDITA" — A MISUNDERSTAND-
ING— SIR CHARLES FELIX SMITH OF THE ROYAL ENGINEERS —
COURT-MARTIAL AT CAMBRAY — PUNSTERS AND PUNNING.

" Lively and brilliant, frank and free ;
Author of many a repartee,
His wit to scandal never stooping
His mirth ne'er to buffoonery drooping."

ANTHONY HAMILTON.

Epistle to the Count de Graraynont.

AMONG tlieatrical persons the name of Samuel
Beazley, architect, dramatist, epilogue, song-
writer, and wit, was familiar as household words.
A more active, energetic man was never known,
and there was one peculiarity about him, he was
always in a hurry — a sort of human armadillo. If
you met him in Regent Street, he would declare he
was just come up from Hastings, was off to Theo-
balds, but should be back for dinner. If you met
him at Brighton, he would say he had just arrived,
that he should have to proceed immediately to
Bognor, but that at seven he was due at the

MES. EOBINSON. • 71

Garrick to dine with his friend Arabin. He was
the author of the " Boarding House," a popular
farce of the day, and other dramatic pieces, open-
ing addresses, epilogues, &c. ; but his energies were
devoted to building theatres, more than to furnish
them with pieces. My acquaintance with him was
brought about as follows, commencing with the
' Rivals," nearly followed by " Un Duel par
I'Amour," concluding with " All's well that ends
well."

Upon one occasion I attended a fancy dress-ball
given at the then fashionable Argyll Kooms in
Regent Street, by a lady who assumed a title of
rank to which she had no legal claim, but who
from her wealth and ladylike manners attracted a
large but rather mixed set about her. In going
into the supper-room, the door of which, as usual,
was inconveniently crowded, my attention was
arrested by a very handsome woman dressed in a
splendid Eastern costume, and who had evidently
got separated from her party. I approached,
offered her my arm, which she took, when I im-
mediately recognised her as Mrs. Robinson whom
the previous evening I had seen at Drury Lane per-
forming " Rosalie" to Kean's " Reuben Glenroy."
Though equally handsome, she must not be taken
for George the Fourth's ill-fated, neglected " Per-
dita," Mary Robinson, who lived before my time.

" If we do not secure a seat," I said, for in those
days people sat comfortably down to enjoy a supper
after a comparatively early dinner, and not as now
scramble for their food like the wild beasts at the

72 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN

Zoological Gardens, " we sball have to stand all
the evening."

" Thank you," she replied iu the most winning
tones, " and I have no doubt the gentleman I was
with will soon join me."

" Shall I seek him ?" I asked. " Tell me his
costume, and I will bring him to you."

Another " Thank you," and we took our seats.
Then commenced, if not the '* feast of reason,"
assuredly the " flow of 6o?y/," for it was no formal
affair; the champagne went round rapidly, and
what is now termed " chaffing" was carried on to
an alarming extent.

While enjoying the conversation of ray newly-
formed acquaintance, I saw opposite to me a man
simply dressed in an evening costume, with a pink
silk domino over it, and a small black crape mask
in his hand, who hopped about like a sparrow on
a twig. He was evidently in search of a lost one;
after a time, he seemed to have gained his object,
for he gave a familiar nod to my partner, and then
hurried off to join a lady he had left. Delighted
that he did not join us, and feeling what in modern
phraseology is called " spoony," I made myself
very ridiculous with protestations of love at first
sight, urging the fair object of it to permit me to
call, or at least to have the unutterable privilege
of addressing her in writing. Before there was
time for a response, the man in the pink domino
approached, gave a cabalistic sign, which was
acknowledged by the lady, who, rising, thanked me
for having been of such service to " a female in

MES. EOBINSON. 73

distress," took hold of my rival's arm, and darted
out of the room. Early next morning I rose, and
immediately set to work to indite a letter to the
" enchantress of my soul," expressing a fond hope
that " those eyes which had proved so fatal to my
comfort, would one day smile upon me with the
beam of satisfaction, and raise me from the misery
love had plunged me in." I hope the reader will
bear in mind that I was then only in my eighteenth
year. Attaching a beautiful bouquet to the note,
I proceeded to the stage door of Drury Lane
Theatre, where in a very humble voice, for the
Cerberus looked with unutterable contempt at me,
I requested him to convey the letter and flowers to
Mrs. Robinson.

" She mayn't be here to-day. Sir," he grunted,
*' but I see she's called for a two o'clock rehearsal
to-morrow."

" Can you give me her address ?" I rejoined.

" Why, Sir, I ain't quite sure I know it."

Acting upon the Shakespearean principle, " Win
him with gifts, if he respects not words," I pro-
duced a crown piece, which at once had the desired
efifect, although it at the same time convicted him
of mendacity, for he said,

" One of our stage-carpenters passes Mrs. Robin-
son's door, and he shall leave the letter and bucket,''^
so he pronounced my cadeau of camehas and violets.

In my letter, I had requested my inamorata to
wear one of the camelias the following evening ; so
accordingly I went early to the box-office, secured
a seat in the front row of the stage box, there as I

74 CELEBEITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

had remarked, to gaze ray eyes away. Before the
rising of the curtain I was at my post, and on
" RosaHe" making her appearance, I applauded her
so loudly as to attract her attention. She looked
for a second, evidently recognised her admirer,
and then never again turned her eyes to the box.
To my despair, my lovely camelia did not grace her,
to my mind, " fairy form ;" but I consoled myself
with the idea that it had been preserved at home.
Two days elapsed, without receiving any reply to
my impassioned letter, when one afternoon, when
I went home to dress, the old porter at Richmond
House told me that a gentleman had called twice,
being most anxious to see me, that he would not
mention his business, but had left his card. On
looking at it, I saw simply Mr. Beazley, with no
address. Not having a remote idea who my visitor
was, and fancying it might be some one anxious
that I should convey a message to a friend in
Canada, for I was about to proceed to Quebec in
about a mouth, I thought no more of Mr. Beazley.

" I omitted to say, my Lord, that the gentleman
will call again to-morrow at twelve o'clock, as he
wishes to see you on an important matter."

It so happened that I was engaged to dine that
day with the late Duke of Beaufort, then Marquis
of Worcester ; upon reaching his house I found a
small party assembled, consisting of the Marquis of
Hertford, then Lord Yarmouth, Sir George Womb-
well, and " Teapot" Crawford, as he was irre-
verently called by his intimate friends. During
dinner I asked Lord Hertford if he happened to

GETTING INTO A SCRAPE. 75

know Mr. Beazley, as I was rather curious to
ascertain the object of his visit.

"You've been addressing his chere amie, Mrs.
Robinson," he repHed. " Be careful, he's a danger-
ous rival, cool, collected, and madly attached,
though a married man, to the namesake of the
frail but fair Perdita."

" A pretty scrape you have got into," remarked
Crawford, " you'll be paraded at twelve paces ' on
the daisies,' as the Irish say."

" It's no joking matter," I responded, " I have
been foolish enough to write her a love-letter, and
forwarded it to her with some flowers."

" I don't think she would have shown you up,"
said Worcester, "probably Mr. Beazley was with
her when the bouquet was delivered ; I hear he
has the * green-eyed monster' as strong upon hira
as Othello had."

" What's to be done?" I asked, " for to-morrow,
at twelve, he is to call upon me."

" What say you, George," suggested my host,
" to your being with me at Richmond House to-
morrow, when the pugnacious gentleman calls ?"

" I've no objection," replied Wombwell, " and
will do all in my power to appease his wrath."

It was then arranged that my friends were to
call upon me the following morning, as if accident-
ally, so as to be present at the interview.

" You're alone, I believe, at Richmond House r"
continued Worcester; "if not, we must be careful
that the affair does not get wind."

" All my family are at Goodwood," I rejoined,

7Q

CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

" waiting until the ' Tphigenia' frigate is ready at
Portsmouth to convey us to Quebec."

I cannot say I felt very comfortable that evening,
and thought of Byron's lines,

" It has a strange quick jar upon the ear,
That cocking of a pistol, when you know
A moment more will bring the sight
Upon your person, twelve yards off or so."

Next day at half-past eleven punctually, my
friends were announced, when it was arranged that
Worcester should be the spokesman, and Wombwell
a mere looker-on.

" Here's a book about gunnery, and here's the
trial of Major Munro for killing his adversary in a
duel," said the light-hearted ex-Tenth Hussar.
'' I'll lay them on the table."

As the clock of the Horse Guards struck twelve
Mr. Beazley was announced ; he entered the room
with a hurried step, appearing somewhat taken
aback when he saw the trio.

" I wish to have a few words with Lord William
Lennox," he said, at the same time taking from his
breast-pocket the letter, which I immediately recog-
nised as my own. I stepped forward and said,

" Let me introduce my friend the Marquis of
Worcester, anything you have to say to me can be
said before him."

In the meantime Wombwell had retired to the end
of the room, and was looking out of the window,
catching a side view of the Thames, and the
numerous barges sailing upon it, for in those days
it was not as it now is studded with steamers float-
ins; about like fire-flies.

NO JOKING MATTER. 77

" I believe," said my rival, in a calm yet deter-
mined voice, " you addressed this letter to Mrs.
Robinson ?"

I was about to answer, when Worcester inter-
rupted me by saying,

" May I ask, Mr. Beazley, whether you are con-
nected by marriage or relationship to the lady you
refer to ?"

" Only a friend," he replied, in rather a hurried
tone, " and as a friend I must insist, that is on her
part, I must insist that she is not again pestered
with such — "

Worcester stopped him before he had finished
the probably obnoxious syllable, " Pray is that your
remark or the lady's ?"
'' Oh, the lady's."

"Very well, then," proceeded my champion, "we
will pass that over, and as Lord William had no
intention of oflfending the lady, to whom I consider
he is alone responsible, I have no hesitation in
assuring you on his part that against her wishes he
will never address her again."

My rival seemed pacified, and in the most gen-
tlemanlike manner declared that as a friend he was,
and felt sure that Mrs. Robinson would be perfectly
satisfied with the declaration. Here Wombwell
finding that peace had been proclaimed gave a
significant cough, thus insinuating the nature of
the friendship.

" I thought a personal interview would be better
than a correspondence, and hero I must do Mrs.
Robinson the justice to say that she would have

78 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

treated the letter with silence," — from the look I
feared " silent contempt" was about to be uttered —
" had not some jealous rival declared in the green-
room that she was carrying on a correspondence
with, and receiving presents from a young oflBcer."
Mr. Beazley then retired, and I was not a little
gratified at finding the object of my admiration had
not shown me up, doubly so that the affair had
terminated without recourse to the duello, and
that " All's well that ends well" had followed my
" All for Love." Strange to say, the above lady,
albeit I was never in her company but once, nearly
involved me in another affair of honour. Some
years afterwards, when returning to England from
paying a flying visit to the so called " city of
frivolity," Paris, 1 happened on returning to Dover
to meet an old friend, the late Sir Charles Felix
Smith of the Royal Engineers, at that time in com-
mand of the garrison.

" You will stay and dine with us," he said, " I can
give you a bed, and plenty of beefsteaks and porter
for breakfast, if you are now as fond of them as
you were when you visited me at Valenciennes."

I must here remark that Sir Charles, then
Colonel Smith had the character of being a pro-
fessed duellist, that he had killed two men in the
West Indies, and was the hero of a court-martial
held durino; the time I was on Wellino^ton's staff at
Canbray, to try him for kicking a Valenciennes
tradesman out of his house, for obtruding himself
and dunning Smith for a small account, when he
was particularly engaged in furnishing plans of the

SIR OHAELES FELIX SMITH. 79

fortifications in tbe Netherlands for the Commander-
in-Chief. The principal feature of the court-martial
was the Colonel's defence. Everyone had urged
him to tender an apology, so as to heal the
wounded pride of his victim, but with little success.
When called upon for his defence, Smith, who was
of gigantic stature, rose, and looking down with
ineffable contempt upon the diminutive Frenchman
who had fallen under his displeasure, thus com-
menced :

" Mr. President and Gentlemen,"
The Court were all attention and augured well
from the opening remarks that an apology would
follow. Great was their surprise when Smith pro-
ceeded : —

" * Rude am I in my speech,
And little blesg'd with the set phrase of peace ;
For since these arms of mine had seven years' pith
Till now, some nine moons wasted, they have us'd
Their dearest action in the tented field ;
And little of this great world can I speak,
More than pertains to feats of broil and battle ;
And therefore little shall I grace ray cause,
In speaking for myself. Yet, by your gracious patience
I will a round unvarnish'd tale deliver.'

"If there is a circumstance in my life which I
regret, deeply regret, it is — " here was a pause,
and a smile of satisfaction beamed on the counte-
nances of the members of the Court, " and that is —
that I did not murder the insolent wretch."

It was some time before the President and the
members of the Court could restore their eyes and
mouths to the usual dimensions. Smith finished his
address, the Frenchman shrugged his shoulders

80 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

exclaiming, " Ma foi, qiiil est monstre /" The
room was cleared, and the result was a severe re-
primand to the gallant officer for having with ex-
tenuating circumstances taken the law into his own
hands.

I have digressed, a fault I am constantly com-
mitting, and must return to my own adventure with
this fire-eater. Being required to join my regiment
at Windsor, I was reluctantly obliged to decline
Smith's hospitable invitation, and did not meet him
until the following autumn, when one day in
Regent Street I fell in with him. After a conver-
sation upon general topics, my companion, after re-
ferring to Drury Lane Theatre, to which I asked
him to accompany me after dining with me at
Limners, where I was staying, in a casual off-
hand manner asked me whether I had ever met
Mrs. Robinson.

" Yes," I responded, " once at a ball, a rather pro-
miscuous lot."

" At a ball — promiscuous lot. Respectable, I
suppose."

" Oh, yes," I carelessly responded. " But why
do you take such an interest in that lady ?"

" Why, she's my missus. I married her. You
would have seen her at Dover."

Need I say that I felt relieved, when I remem-
bered that not a word had escaped my lips which
might have hurt the feelings of an unsuspecting
husband. Had I mentioned my affair with Beazley,
Smith would have been made acquainted with the
liaison that had existed between him and the fair

BEAZLEY AND THEODORE HOOK. 81

artiste, and an unpleasant result might have ensued.
Indeed, I might in those days, when the slio^htest
affront led to a hostile meeting, have been called to
account for having- written the love-letter. I never
pass the spot, nearly opposite the Pall Mall Restau-
rant, without congratulating myself on my escape.

In the art of punning, whatever be its merits or
demerits, Beazley was nearly equal to Theodore
Hook. There was, however, a wonderful difference
in the manner in which they uttered a smart
thing. Hook's fun was exuberant and spon-
taneous. Coleridge, when he heard him, said, " I
have before in my time met with men of admirable
promptitude of intellectual power and play of wit,
* the rays of which,' as StiUingfleet says, ' gild
whatever they strike;' but I never could have con-
ceived such readiness of mind and resources of
genius to be poured out on the mere subject and
impulse of the moment." In addition to which, in
Hook there was the joyous laugh, the smiling lip,
the eye sparkling at the dazzling thought that was
about to find utterance in jest or repartee, while
Beazley was content to utter his jokes in a quiet,
quaint manner, the result of which was that, clever
as they were, they occasionally missed fire,

Richard Barham, son of *' Ingoldsby," tells us,
and tells us truly, that " a pun, when repeated, loses
somewhat of its relish ; that you want it hot from
the intellectual furnace ; like an omelette, pancake,
or fond'U it becomes heavy as it grows cold."

Many of Beazley's sallies of humour were made
upon local subjects and topics of the day, and would

VOL. II. G

S2 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

lose much of their point if repeated after so long a
lapse, when the subjects themselves are forgotten.
Moreover, humour has its instant moment for its
real enjoyment ; for everyone must be aware that
a witty conversation will not bear repeating, and
that the pleasantry which has kept a small company
in roars of laughter at the right time, is tasteless
and insipid when renewed.

I have often thoucrht that there oug-ht to be a
register office for jokes and bon-mots. Some of
the wittiest sayings, after going the round of
society, are immediately attributed to the wit of the
day, and many have fallen to the share of Jekyll,
George Colman, Theodore Hook, Lords Norbury
and Alvanley, all of whom were guiltless of perpe-
trating them. Old jokes, even from the pages of
Joe Miller, if well applied by a clever fm^geior, are
born anew by a species of metempsychosis, and again
appear under a different form and another pa-
rentage.

When Dr. Pusey, in 1843, was suspended from
the office of preaching before the University, on
account of a sermon in which he urged the necessity
of confession, and the value of sacerdotal abso-
lution, a new party entitled '' Puseyites" sprang up.
Well do I remember two sayings of Beazley's upon
the subject, at a dinner given by Sir William
Bowyer Smijth, who married a daughter of
Sir Henry Meux. I give the sayings, not on
account of their merits, but because I have recently
heard them applied as original to the Ritualistic
proceedings of the present day. " You know,"

WIT AND PUNNING. 83

said Beazley, " why no seats are to be had in the
new Pewsey churches ?" " No," we replied. " Be-
cause they stand upon forms."" This was followed
by his declaring Eve to have been the first Ritu-
alist, " inasmuch as she was originally Eve-angelic^
and afterwards appeared irb^ vestments ^

Beazley was a constant visitor at " Theobalds,"
the seat of Sir Henry Meux. As an architect he
designed a new staircase, which he appropriately
called gradus ad Parnassum ; Meux being pro-
nounced Muse. To a very impertinent letter,
Beazley made the following pertinent reply : — " If
a sound caning could be transmitted by writing, I
should beg you to apply this letter to your back."
Talking of a then popular individual famed for his
liberality, Beazley said, " That's a man who carries
his aversion to niggardliness so far as to even
detest a mean temperature."

While on the subject of punning, I may remark
that there is a wonderful difference between a mere
play upon words and genuine wit, and I will call
Dr. Barrow to my aid to confirm what I have
stated, who in a sermon against foolish talking
and jesting gives the following definition of
wit : —

" Wit is indeed," says this great Divine, " a
thing so versatile and multiform, appearing in so
many shapes, so many postures, so many garbs, so
variously apprehended by several eyes and judg-
ments, that it seemeth no less hard to settle a clear
and settled notion thereof than to make a portrait
of Proteus, or to define the figure of the fleeting air.

Q 2

84 CELEBEITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

Sometimes it lieth in pat allusion to a known story,
or in seasonable application of a trivial saying, or
in forging an apposite tale ; sometimes it playeth
in words and phrases, taking advantage from
the ambiguity of their sense, or the affinity of their
sound ; sometimes it is wrapped up in a dress of
humorous expression ; sometimes it lurketh under
an old similitude; sometimes it is lodged in a sly
question, in a smart answer, in a quirkish reason,
in a shrewd intimation, in cunningly diverting or
cleverly retorting an objection ; sometimes it is
couched in a bold scheme of speech, in a tart irony,
in a lusty hyperbole, in a startling metaphor, in
a plausible reconciling of contradictions, or in acute
nonsense; sometimes a scenical representation of
persons or things, a counterfeit speech, a mimical
look or gesture, passeth for it; sometimes an
affected simplicity, sometimes a presumptuous
bluntness giveth it being ; sometimes it riseth only
from a lucky hitting upon what is strange, some-
times from a crafty wresting obvious matter to the
purpose ; often it consists in one knows not what,
and springeth up one can hardly tell how. Its
ways are unaccountable and inexplicable, being
answerable to the numberless rovings of fancy and
windings of language. It is, in short, a manner of
speaking out of the simple and plain way (such as
reason teacheth, and proveth things by), which, by
a pretty surprising uncouthness in conceit or
expression, doth affect and amuse the fancy,
stirring in it some wonder, and breeding some
delight thereto. It raiseth admiration, as signifying

PUNNING. 85

a nimble sagacity of apprehension, a special felicity
of invention, a vivacity of spirit and reach of wit
more than vulgar ; it seemeth to argue a rare quick-
ness of parts, that one can fetch in remote conceits
applicable, a notable skill that he can dexterously
accommodate them to the purpose before him,
together with a lively briskness of humour, not
apt to damp those sportful flashes of imagina-
tion ; whence in Aristotle such persons are called
dexterous men, and men of facile and versatile
manners, who can easily turn themselves to all
things, or turn all things to themselves. It also
promoteth delight by gratifying curiosity with its
rareness, or semblance of difiiculty, as monsters,
not for their beauty, but their rarity; as jug-
gling tricks, not for their use, but their abstruse-
ness, are beheld with pleasure, by diverting the
mind from its road of serious thoughts ; by in-
stilling gaiety and airiness of spirit ; by provoking
to such dispositions of spirit in way of emulation or
complaisance; and by seasoning matters, otherwise
distasteful or insipid, with an unusual and thence
grateful tang."

" Charles Lamb among " Popular Fallacies," has
the following : — " That the worst puns are the
best."

If by worst he only meant the most far-fetched
and startling, we agree to it, " A pun is not bound
by the laws which limit nicer wit. It is a pistol let
off at the ear ; not a feather to tickle the intellect.
It is an antic which does not stand upon manners, but
comes bounding into the presence, and does not
show the less comic for being dragged in sometimes

86 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

by the head and shoulders. What though it hmp
a httle, or prove defective in one leg ? All the
better, a pun may easily be too curious and arti-
ficial. Who has not at one time or other been at
a party of professors (himself perhaps an old
offender in that line) where, after ringing a round
of the most ingenious conceits, every man con-
tributing his shot, and some there the most expert
shooters of the day ; after making a poor ivoixi run
the gauntlet till it is ready to drop ; after hunting
and winding it through all the possible ambages of
similar sounds; after squeezing, and hauling, and
tugging at it, till the very milk of it will not yield
a drop further, suddenly some obscure, unthought
of fellow in a corner, who was never 'prentice to
the trade, whom the company for very pity passed
over, as we do by a known poor man when a money
subscription is going round, no one calling upon
him for his quota — has all at once come out with
something so whimsical, yet so pertinent; so
brazen in its pretensions, yet so impossible to be
denied ; so exquisitely good, and so deplorably bad,
at the same time — that it has proved a Robin
Hood's shot, anything ulterior to that is despaired
of; and the party breaks up, unanimously voting
it to be the very worst (that is best) pun of the
evening. This species of wit is the better for not
being perfect in all its parts. What it gains in
completeness, it loses in naturalness. The more
exactly it satisfies the critical, the less hold it has
upon some other faculties. The puns which are
most entertaining are those which will least bear an
analysis."

SHAKESPilAEEAN PUNS. 87

Some of our best English jokes have been trans-
lated into French, and among them may be men-
tioned the following^. The recommendation of Dr.
Johnson to an authoress, who sent him a manu-
script poem, and told him she had other irons in the
fire, " I advise you to put the poem with the
irons," thus appears in a " Collection of Bon Mots,"
"M. N — , a qui le ciel a donn^ lemalheureux talent
d'ecrire, sans penser, tons les mois un volume,
consultait le tres-franc et le tres-malin P — sur un
ouvrage nouveau dont il menace le public. ' Parlez
moi francheraent,' lui disait-il, ' car si cela ne vaut
rien j'ai d'autres fers au feu.' ' Dans ce cas,' lui
repondit P — , ' je vous conseille de mettre voire
manuscrit oil vous avez mis vos fers."

Shakespeare was a punster, as will be seen by
the following play upon words,

King Bichard. How is it with old Gaunt ?
Gaunt. Oh, how that name befits my composition.
Old Gaimt indeed, and gaunt in being old.

Again Falstafi" is fertile in puns,

" Master Silence, it well befits you should be of the peace.'
" I do see the bottom of this Justice Shallow."
" Discharge yourself of our company, ristol."

" Would ye be taught, ye feathered throng.
With love's sweet notes to grace your song,
To pierce the heart with thrilling lay,
Listen to mine Ann Hathaway !
She hath a way to sing so clear,
Phoebus might wondering stop to hear.
To melt the sad, make blithe the gay,
And nature charm, Ann hath a way,
She hath a way
Ann Hathaway,
To breathe delight. Ann hath a way."

88 CELEERITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

To would-be punsters I beg to offer the following
piece of advice, let them search ancient volumes,
for there can be no doubt that those who gloat
over dust and black leather will find that the best
of modern jests are almost literally from the antique ;
and that those which are passed off as original
in the present day, were employed by the
wise men of old to enliven their cups deep and
strong; that to jest was a part of their Platonic
philosophy, and that the excellent fancies, the
flashes of merriment of our forefathers, are nightly,
nay hourly, re-echoed for our amusement. To
prove the above, the sceptical reader is referred to
the works of Hierocles.

To return to Beazley ; our early rivalship termi-
nated in a lasting friendship. In my literary labours
he was ever ready to give me a turn, as will be
seen by the two following letters : —

" Soho Square, Wednesday night.

" My Dear Lord William,
" From your leaving your note at the Garrick,
where I seldom go except when I am wanted, I
did not receive your note till to-night, though I see
it is dated on Saturday. Your book is just delivered,
and I only wish that it had come before, for all our
literature, from the regulation of our paper, goes to
press on the Wednesday morning, so that it is too
late for this week, excepting for a very short notice
which I send because the next week is the mao^azine
week ; but I will read it, and give it a more elaborate
notice in the very first paper I can. Being still

S. BEAZLET. 89

as anxious as I always have been, ever since I
had the pleasure of knowing you, to do everything
in my humble power to forward your wishes.

" Believe me your sincere friend,

" S. Beazlby."

Upon the receipt of another novel I received the
following note : —

"Soho Square, Thursday night.

" My dear Lord Wilham,
" On coming to town I have just received your
book, for which I thank you. My connection with
the press has thawed, and resolved itself into a
deiu (adieu,) but I will hunt up my old friends in
that way. When you formerly pubUshed I was the
unfortunate and deluded proprietor of a newspaper.
But that Era has passed ; you are as welcome as
the Flowers in May to all the jokes I ever per-
petrated, and I therefore confer on your lordship
the perpetual copyright of them. But pray never
print my name, for somehow or other I have a
most inveterate aversion to seeing my name in
print, and my greatest wish living is that I may
be forgotten the instant I am dead. How ' Auld
Lang Syne' comes on me, and again subscribing
myself

" Ever yours,
"S. Beazley."

The allusion to his jokes was caused by my insert-
ing one in a work of fiction, giving his name as
the perpetrator. In reference to the above novel

90 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWX.

" Percy Hamilton, or the Westminster Boy," he
wrote as follows : —

" My dear Lord William,
"I have read the * Westminster Boy' with a
great deal of pleasure, and wish you had mixed
up more of your personal narration, which of course
I recognise in the Blues, Waterloo, the Army of
Occupation, &c. Your graphic delineation of

* Hookem' and ' Ginems' brought lots of reminis-
cences to my mind. Theodore Hook was one of
my earliest and most intimate companions, and I
smuggled him out to the Mauritius in spite of

* Debtors and Duns.' What buoyant spirits were
his in those days. I wish you had carried the
soi-disant Percy further into his life. It would
well have afforded it.

" Ever, dear Lord William,

"S. Beazley."

Beazley often told me that, suffering as he did
from a heart complaint, he was prepared at any
moment to fall down dead, and that he alwavs
carried about with him a paper on which was
written his address, and a request that his body
might be conveyed to it, should his life be thus
unexpectedly cut off.

91

A DANDY.

THOMAS EAIKES.

CHAPTER VII.

EAIKES — "POP AT THE TOILET, FLATTERER AT THE BOARD" —
THE DANDY LITTERATEUR — HIS FEAR THAT THE CONSTITUTION
WOULD BE UPSET, LORDS AND COMMONS ABOLISHED, AND
ANARCHY REIGN SUPREME.

" Would you a modern beau commence,
Shake off that foe to pleasure, sense;
Be trifling, talkative, and vain ;
Of every absent friend complain.
Their worth contemn, their faults deride,
With all the insolence of pride.
Scorn real unaffected worth
That claims no ancestry by birth.
******

Harangue on fashions, point and lace,
On this one's errors, t'other's face ;
Talk much of Italy and France,
Of a new song, and country dance :
Be vers'd in politics and news ;
Ail statesmen, ministers abuse.
Affect to know each reigning belle.
That through the playhouse or the Mell,
Declare you're intimate with all
You once have met with at a ball.

•Tf "^F ^ ^ ^ •??

Be versed in folly's ample school.
Learn all her various schemes, her arts
To show your merit, wit, and parts.
These rules observ'd, each foppish elf
May view an emblem of himself."

LONDON CHRONICLE, 17o7.

92 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

" f\^ ^^^ useless beings," so writes Professor
\J Gresley, " the mere man of fashion is per-
haps the most useless ; and of all modes of living,
the most idle and unsatisfactory is the life of those
who spend their days in ambitious endeavours to
maintain themselves in a higher position of society
than their station warrants."
And Pope tells us :

" Oh, 'tis the sweetest of all earthly things
To gaze on princes and to talk of kings.
Sir, I have lived a courtier all my days,
And studied men, their manners, and their ways;
And have observ'd this useful maxim still
To let my betters always have their will.
Nay, if my lord aflfirm'd that black was white,
My word was this ' Your honour's in the right.' "

The above mottoes are not inapplicable to the
celebrity to whom I am about to refer,

Among the dandies of London, no one was held
in greater estimation, at least by himself, than
Thomas Raikes, Esq. No one appeared oftener at
White's bay-window than he did, no one was a
more servile tuft-hunter than he was, no one a
greater gohemouche, or gossip, or flaneur, and no
one a greater alarmist than the subject of this
memoir. Some have been bold enough to denounce
him as " an old Torified prig, and an extremely
self-contented and self-important chatterbox. A
Spence maundering about continually without a
Pope. A Boswell never stumbling upon his John-
son, but ever and ever self-conscious, as though he
stood always in the midst of a cluster of cheval
glasses, full of his own reflections ! Briefly and

THOMAS EAIKES, ESQ. 93

more accurately, Mr. Pepys's shadow modernised."
Wbetlier the above accusations are true or false I
will not stop to inquire, all I knew of Mr. Raikes
was that he was a dandy of the first water, never
condescending to notice any but those of his own
clique — with the exception of the aristocracy, to
whom he became a complete hanger on. Foote
thus describes a tuft-hunter.

Charlotte. Besides, Sir, I have other proofs of your hero's vanity.

Serjeant Circuit. Cite them,

Charlotte. The paltry ambition of levying and following titles.

Serjeant, I don't understand you.

Charlotte. I mean the poverty of fastening in public upon men of

distinction, for no other reason but because of their rank ;

adhering to Sir John till the baronet is superseded by my

lord ; quitting the puny peer for an earl ; and sacrificing all

three for a duke."

A being of this M^Sycophant order, once favoured
by an auspicious opening into society, is sure of
rising to its highest point. " It is an eagle only,
or creeping things innumerable," says the philoso-
pher, " which attains the summit of the pyramid."
The above satire is too severe as applied to Raikes,
still he laid himself open to a portion of it, as may
be seen in many parts of his journal, where he in-
troduces his " tres-afTectionn^e amie et servante,"
the Duchess of York, his familiar friend the Duke
of York, and " faithfully yours " Wellington, his
sympathising correspondent Count Fred Matus-
cewitz ; his ally the Speaker, and the object of his
admiration Peel.

Now the Diary of Thomas Raikes, Esq., is
full of tittle-tattle, gossip, canards, Gallic idioms,

94 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

and worn-out Joe Miller jokes. The above may be
as harmless as his predictions, that trades-unions
would '* fright the isle from its propriety ; that
if the Reform Bill became law there would be a
rebeUion in the country ; that the political unions
would eventually overturn every government ; that
the repeal of the Corn Laws would, reduce the in-
come from land one half, that annual parliaments
must follow, that the House of Peers, as a deliber-
ative body, was trampled under foot, that royalty
is become a mere cypher ; that the British Constitu-
tion of King, Lords, and Commons, which for
ages had been the admiration of the world, had
been destroyed by a stroke of the pen ; that " the
only government which remained for England was
the reformed House of Commons, or, in other words,
a democracy." None of the above prognostications
have been realized, and the Constitution has lasted
longer than he who foretold its destruction, Raikes
having died at Brighton in the year 1848, aged 70.
Raikes was immortalized by Robert Deighton, who
Lit off his manner, gait, and dress inimitably well.
He is represented walking steadily and stately down
St. James's Street, dressed in a faultless cut brown
frock-coat, with huge velvet collar, a rather showy
silk waistcoat, neat trowsers, highly polished boots,
with no end of yards of cambric lapped about his
throat ; his face, far from good-looking, was slightly
pitted with the small-pox. This gave rise to a
savage witticism of Count d'Orsay, who, upon
receiving an anonymous letter sealed with an old-
fashioned wafer seal, said, " Cher Raikes must have

THOMAS EAIKES, ESQ. 95

written this, and sealed it with his nose." In
society Raikes was a pleasant companion, a good
listener, an agreeable retailer of anecdotes, hon mots,
and calembours, not of the newest sort, but usually
well applied to the topics of the day. His conceit,
however, was great when strutting down St.
James's Street, no peacock was ever grander ; he
reminded me of the pompous gentleman Theodore
Hook once met in the Strand, whom he addressed
in the following manner, " Pray, sir, may I take
the liberty of asking if you are anyone in par-
ticular ?" Raikes aped Brummell, and a very sorry
representation it was ; Beau Brummell, with all his
follies, gained the height of his ambition, which
was to lord it over royalty and all mankind, and
become what he became, the king of fashion — and
the arbiter elegantiarum of society. Raikes was
obliged to content himself with being a satellite to
the great, the chronicler of their sayings and doings.
Sir Henry Mildmay, another of the dandy school,
was a high-bred gentleman, full of information,
with only a slight tinge of puppyism ; John Mills,
called the Mosaic dandy from his Hebrew look,
would have shone in Parliament, had his energies
been turned in that direction, but he preferred the
frivolity of the club to the applause of the Senate.
Alvanley, who possessed a fund of genuine humour,
far superior to any man of his day, was a kind-
hearted creature, and albeit in the " set" was free
from many of its follies. Kmg Allen always re-
minded one of the hero of some burlesque, a sort
of dandy " Count Pomposo;" had he remained in
the army some of the nonsense would have been

96 CELEBRTTIES I HAVE KNOWN.

knocked out of him. Upon one occasion, when
nearly being captured in a gaming-house, a friendly
police-sergeant who had known " his majesty " in
the Guards, said, " Be off, ray Lord, it's the first
time you ever turned your back to the enemy."
Will it be believed then in the present day that the
above clique governed the West end of London,
and not to know them was not to be known at all.
Edward Montagu, the black dandy, was a well-
informed man, and had travelled a good deal abroad.
Rufus Lloyd, the red dandy, named after the
colour of his hair, had little or no talent.

One word more, Raikes, in his diary tells a story
of a lady of high rank who took her daughter to
the Chapel Royal, St. James's on a Sunday morning.
The Chapel was crowded to hear one of the late
Dean of Chichester's sermons, and to have a look
at the Queen who had recently come to the throne.
Every place in the Peeresses' seats was filled, and
the lady in question had to leave. As she was
going awa}?^, she remarked to her daughter, " Well,
at all events, we have done the civil thing." Now
assuming for a moment that this was true, it is
difficult to understand how it became known to
Raikes. It is not very likely that either the mother
or daugchter would mention it, so it must be set
down as a piece of club gossip, probably invented
by the diarist himself. The fact is Raikes was one
of those flaneurs who sat at White's bay-window
listening to every canard and scandal. Of him
and Charles Greville it may be said, " Arcades
ambo." I will not give Byron's translation of the
above saying.

97

VOCALISTS AND DRAMATIC ARTISTS.

MADAME GRASSIXI AND MADAME CATALANI.

CHAPTER VITI.

GRASSINI—BILLINGTON— CATALANI — ADVENTURE AT PARIS — AN-
ECDOTE OF GABRIELLI— A HOAX— THE KING's THEATRE IN BY-
GONE TIMES — MY INTRODUCTION TO CATALANI — JANE, DUCHESS
OF GORDON — HOW TO SWEEP A NOBLE HOUSE CLEAN — MAS-
QUERADES—CONCERT AT BRUSSELS— LUDICROUS SCENE AT THE
THEATRE IN THE PARK — CATALANl'S ALARM DURING THE O. P.
RIOTS AT COVENT GARDEN.

" '\^T2en thro' life unblest we rove,
Losing all that made life dear,
Should some notes we used to love,
In days of boyhood meet our ear,
Oh ! how welcome breathes the strain !
Wakening thoughts that long have slept ;
Kindling former smiles again
In faded eyes that long have wept.
******

Music, oh how faint, how weak.

Language fades before thy spell !

Why should feeling ever speak,

When thou canst breathe her soul so well?

Friendship's balmy words may feign.

Love's are e'en more false than they.

Oh ! 'tis only music's strain

Can sweetly soothe and not betray."

T. MOORE.

To Mtisic, hy Herrick.
" Begin to charme, and as thou stroak'st mine eares
With thy enchantment melt me into tears,
VOL. II. H

93 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

Then let thy active hand send o'er thy lyre ;
And make my spirits frantick with the fire :
That done, sink down into a silvrie straine,
And make me smooth as balme and oile againe."

AFTER three years of divided reign, Grassini
and Mrs. Billiugton retired from the stage,
and Catalani supplied the place of both. Mrs. Bil-
lington I never saw, but by all accounts she was a
splendid musician and singer. Grassini I heard
once at the Opera House, and was greatly struck,
not only by her musical talent, but by her appearance.
Her voice, w^hich it was said had been a high
soprano, was by some accident reduced to a low
and confined contralto, possessing little more than
one octave of good natural notes ; her acting was
splendid, her face beautiful, and her manner
graceful. Her deep tones were unquestionably fine.
In a room Grassini was a perfect singer.

During the time I was an attache to the late
Duke of Wellington in Paris in 1814, she was a
constant visitor at the Hotel Borghese, at that
period occupied by the first English ambassador
after the restoration of Louis XVIII. to the throne
of France. A curious adventure happened to me
connected with this gifted lady. Meeting her so
often at my chief's, and knowing the influence she
had over him — for she had kindly got me out of one or
two boyish scrapes — I became most intimate with
her, and occasionally paid her a morning visit at
her beautifully furnished apartments on the Boule-
vard des Italieus. One afternoon, having called
upon her with a message from the Duke and

CURIOUS ADVENTURE. 99

Duchess, iavitingr her to dine with them the fol-
lowing day, to meet another talented artist in his
way — Anacreou Moore, who had unexpectedly
arrived in Paris — I was startled by a loud alter-
cation in the ante-room, evidently proceeding from
an enraged Frenchman and my hostess's femme
de cliamhre.

" Monsieur le General, je yous assure que Ma-
dame est indisposee, elle souffre beaucoup, mais peut-
etre qu'elle voudrait vous voir."

" C'est bien, j'ai su qu'elle etait a I'Opera hier
soir."

" C'est vrai, Monsieur le General, mais Madame
est entree fort malade."

In the meantime Grassini seemed dreadfully put
out. " It's that jealous monster the General," she
said, " who is always taunting me about the kind
Duke ; if he meets you he will be furious. Stay, I
must hide you until he has left."

Being young and thrice-armed, from the fact that
I had done nothing to cause any hostile feeling,
I proposed to meet and beard the roaring lion ; but
she would not hear of such a proposition, so hur-
rying me behind a large china jar which stood be-
fore the windows, and enveloping it partly with the
muslin curtains, " Therese," she said, in a loud but
rather tremulous voice, " you may show the General
in, my head feels better."

Breathless, I remained as this distinguished war-
rior stalked through the room. What occurred
during the interview I know not, but as this
Parisian Othello took his leave, I overheard words

H 2

100 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

not very flattering to " ce due de Yellanton." No
sooner did the outward door bang; than I was
emancipated from my hiding place, thankful that I
had escaped detection, for a cartel to meet the
General the followins: morninof with a second and a
brace of pistols in the Bois de Boulogne would
have probably been the result.

To return to Catalani. I heard her more than
once on the operatic boards, and next met her at
the York Musical Festival, in the month of Sep-
tember, 1828, upon which occasion she received six
hundred guineas for her services. The receipts on
the above occasion (including two balls — one a
fancy-dress ball) were £14,623 12s. 7d. ; the ex-
penses were estimated at from £12,000 to £13,000.

Her voice was of a most uncommon. quality, and
capable of exertions almost supernatural. When
she threw out all her voice to the utmost, it had a
volume and strength quite surprising. So lavish
was she in the display of these wonderful powers,
that she caused more surprise than pleasure. Her
excessive love of ornament marred every simple air,
but in songs of a bold and spirited character, her
ad libitum passages were splendid. I believe that
she was the first to sing words to Rode's
Variations composed for the violin, which song
afterwards became so popular with leading artists
that Mademoiselle Sontag introduced it in the
singing lesson in " II Barbiere de Siviglia," an ex-
ample now very often followed by others.

Catalani's display of execution reminded one of
the oft quoted remark attributed to Dr. Johnson,

CATALANI. 101

who, being told of the difficulty of some perform-
ance, observed that he wished it was impossible ;
and. which I refer to merely for the purpose of
remarking that, although the saying is attributed to
the surly lexicographer, I believe it was uttered by
a noble statesman, more famed for his wit than
love of music, and of whom the following anecdote
is told. Being asked why he did not subscribe to
the Ancient Concerts, and it being urged as a
reason for it that his brother the Bishop of Win-
chester did, " Oh !" replied his Lordship, "if I was
as deaf as my brother I would subscribe too."

Catalani's face and figure were suited to both
serious and comic parts ; she was very handsome,
with a countenance well adapted for the stage, and
capable of great variety of expression. The out-
line of Catalani's features reminded one of the great
Mrs. Siddons, yet she could relax them into
" wreathed smiles," charming gaiety, or arch sim-
plicity. Her husband, M. Valabreque, had so ex-
alted an opinion of his sposa's talent, that he is
reported to have said, " Ma femme, et quatre ou
cinque poup^es, voila tout ce qu'il faut."

In her first year, Catalani's salary at the Opera
House, then called the King's Theatre, was two
thousand guineas for the season, at that time con-
sidered a very high one, though according to her
ideas ridiculously low ; so low, indeed, that she
exclaimed, *' Gi vogliono molte mila lire sterline ! "
To this the manager acceded, and the prima donna
of prima donnas obtained five thousand.

The above reminds me of an anecdote told of

]02 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

Gabrielli, a celebrated singer, who in the year
1770 demanded an honorarium of five thousand
ducats for her services at St. Petersburg. " Five
thousand ducats !" said the Empress Catherine II.,
" I do not pay that sum to any of my field-
marshals." " If that's the case," responded the
cantatrice, " Your Majesty has nothing to do but to
make these field-marshals sing." This audacious
answer had such an effect upon Catherine that she
gave way to the exorbitant demands of the syren.

Here I am reminded that in the year 1807
Madame Catalani's name was made use of to carry
out a senseless hoax at Liverpool. Early in the
month of November bills were stuck up in difi'erent
parts of the town, announcing that the model of a
98-gun ship, on Lord Stanhope's new plan, and
magnificently decorated, would reach Chiserhall
Street Bridge from Wigan on that day. To give
additional interest to the scene, it was stated that a
band of choice vocal performers, stationed on the
deck, would sing " Rule Britannia," in which the
celebrated performer, Madame Catalani, was to
assist ; and the cotq) d'ceil was to be heightened by
Mr. Polito's hippopotamus, or river-horse, preceding
the man-of-war in an elegant barge. As might be
expected, great numbers hastened to the spot at
the appointed hour to witness the arrival of this
grand novel marine spectacle, and to be charmed at
so low a rate with the melodious strains of Cata-
lani. For several miles the banks and brido-es of
the canal were covered with the credulous multi-
tude, and as the day was fine, many remained in

OATALANI. 103

anxious expectafcion, till, by the arrival of the daily
packet from Wigan, they were convinced that no
such vessel as they expected had ever been heard
of at that place.

As in the days I write of, all the leaders of
fashion had private boxes at the King's Theatre I
constantly had a silver ticket given me. The
system at that time was for two ladies of la crime
de la creme of society to take a box, which would
now be termed an omnibus box, when certain gentle-
men were put under requisition, who, as subscribers
to the box, had a transferable silver ticket. These
gentlemen, however, were unable to act on the
principle ascribed to the late Duke of Newcastle,
that of " doing what they liked with their own,"
for they were never expected to occupy their seats
during any great portion of the evening, but merely
to pay visits to it like other acquaintances ; so that
when not occupied in these rounds of visits, they
had to take shelter in " Fop's Alley," a portion of
the pit being so called, stalls not having been then
introduced.

One evening, when paying a visit to the Duchess
of Gordon in her box, I met the Honorable Edmund
Phipps, who asked me if I would like to go behind
the scenes and be introduced to Madame Catalani,
with whom he was on the most friendly terms. I,
then a Westminster boy, was delighted with the
idea, and the moment the opera was over we has-
tened to pay our respects to the Queen of Song.

Nothing could be more amiable than she was ;
she asked me if I was fond of music, to which I

104 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

replied, " Passionately, especially with your singing."

" Bravo, mon petit, you know how to make de
compliments. Do you play any instrument?" she
inquired.

" Unfortunately not," I responded. " I wished to
have lessons on the flute, but my mother objected,
saying I might learn to play the viohn if I liked ;
but I should be nicely laughed at in Dean's Yard
if I turned fiddler."

" It is very cruel of the madre, for in after-life it
would be une grande source of amusement."

Never were truer words spoken ; had I been
allowed to learn the flute when a boy, I might have
been now a proficient with that beautiful instru-
ment. As for the fiddle or violin (for I hardly know
when the fiddle ends and the viohn begins) I should
have been scouted by all my comrades. Probably,
though my nasal organ is not conspicuously large,
I should have been known as " nosey," for such was
the opprobrious name given to such professional
performers in my early days. During our visit to
the prima donna's attiring room, a foreign singer
made his appearance ; it was the celebrated Naldi,
of whom Byron a few years afterwards wrote : —

" Well may the nobles of our present race
Watch each distortion of a Naldi' s face :
Well may they smile on Italy's buffoons.
And worship Catalaui's pantaloons,
Since their own drama yields no fairer trace,
Of wit than puns, of humour than grimace."

To the above the author, probably under the
influence of a bilious attack, added the following
note. " Naldi and Catalani require little notice ;
for the visage of the one and the salary of the other

JANBj DUCHESS OP GORDON. 105

will enable us long to recollect these amusing vaga-
bonds. Besides we are still black and blue from
the squeeze on the first night of the lady's appear-
ance in trousers."

When Catalani appeared in what she termed
*' ma-le attira" the lampooners and caricaturists
were unusually severe upon her ; this was unfair, as
the costume she adopted could not have been offen-
sive to the most fastidious eye. Upon returning to
the box, the Duchess, my grandmother, made the
most tender inquiries after the great singer, whom
she was anxious to ens^aofe for a concert about to
be given for charitable purposes. A few weeks
afterwards the Duchess was attacked with a serious
illness from which she never recovered ; she was then
staying at the Pulteney Hotel, Piccadilly, now the
site of Sir Richard Wallace's mansion, where the
day before her decease she requested to see as
many of her grandchildren as were within reach.
I and my brother Frederick were taken from West-
minster to bid her a long farewell ; up to the last
she was the kindest-hearted creature imaginable,
and as we shook hands with her, she, with a faint
smile, placed a couple of guineas in our palms, and
uttered a prayer for our welfare. There were few
more brilliant members of the fashionable world
than Jane, Duchess of Gordon. Of her it was said,
that having- married three of her dauQ^hters to
Dukes — Richmond, Bedford, and Manchester, and
one to Lord Browne, afterwards Marquis Cornwallis,
she after placing these ducal coronets on her
daughters' heads, had swept the house out with a

106 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

broom. The author of the biographical memoir of
the last Duchess of Gordon has been very severe
upon her mother-in-law, laying before the public
her faults, but keeping back her virtues. I think
the Reverend writer w^ould have done himself more
credit if he had followed that old but excellent
precept, " De mortuis nil nisi bonum."

At the period I write of, masquerades took place
at the King's Theatre, presenting a spectacle at
once so tiresome and so disgraceful that it was not
easy to tell whether fatigue or disgust was the
strongest feeling which they excited — of merriment,
even of the lowest kind, there was not a shadow ;
the dullest of all dull scenes w^as only varied by the
different shapes assumed by vulgarity and effron-
tery. About three hundred persons were congre-
gated upon the only occasion T, from a private box,
witnessed the orgies. Many of them appeared to
be of the lowest class of performers, scene-shifters,
ballet girls, and the hangers-on of the theatre,
decked out in the shabbiest trumpery which a
dramatic wardrobe or a second rate costumier
could furnish. These, who w^ere evidently on the
" free list," disported themselves as clowns, pan-
taloons, pierrots, harlequins, columbines, and
flower-girls ; to the above were added a host of
inferior clerks dressed in Spanish, Greek, Turkish,
or Italian dresses, with ladies in pink and blue
tunics, spangled trousers, and fanciful head-dresses,
looking more like modern " bloomers " than dam-
sels of the Zenana, which they professed to repre-
sent. A sprinkling of fashionable men about town

MASQUEEADES. 107

in dominoes, with fair ones on their arms, may be
added to the group. At one side of the stage there
was a sort of tap, or refreshment bar, where port
and sherry were retailed at seven shilHngs, Madeira
at twelve shillings, and champagne at seventeen shil-
lings the bottle, " to be drunk (as were many of
the bibbers) oq the premises." So that in addition
to the poison of morals, for shameless profligacy
appeared naked to the eye, was added the poison
of the body by adulterated trash called wine. For
many years these iniquitous scenes were tolerated
at the King's Theatre, Covent Garden, and Drury
Lane. The fire at Covent Garden, which took place
after a masquerade, put an end to them at that
theatre, and the Comniittee of Proprietors of Drury
Lane, of which I have the honour to be one, not
wishing to perpetuate scenes which lowered their
establishment, abolished them entirely.

While upon the subject of the Italian Opera
House, I may mention that in the year 1825, when
removing a portion of one of the walls, the work-
men discovered the first stone of the old building,
laid in 1704. The stone was in a perfect state, and
in the cavity formed for the purpose of receiving
them were found several coins of the reign of Queen
Anne. A brass plate which covered the cavity
bears the following inscription, " April 18th, 1704,
in the third year of the happy reign of Our Sovereign
Lady, Queen Anne, this corner stone of the Queen's
Theatre was laid, by His Grace Charles, Duke of
Somerset, Master of the Horse to Her Most Sacred
Majesty."

The next time I met Catalani was at Brussels in

lOS CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

August 1814, when accompanying my chief, the
late Duke of Welhngtou, to Paris, he having been
appointed ambassador to the Court of the newly
restored monarch, Louis XVIIT. Among other
entertainments got up in that city, was a concert
given by Madame Catalani, which was attended
by the Queen of the Netherlands, Welhngton, and
a large concourse of English, Belgian, Prussian,
and Hanoverian officers. The Duke was gay even
to sportiveness, conversing with everyone around
him. He never was seated, and seemed enthusias-
tically charmed with Catalani, ardently applauding
whatever she sang, with the exception of " Rule
Britannia," and then with sagacious reserve he
listened in utter silence. Who ordered it I know
not, but he felt it was injudicious in any country
but our own to give out a chorus, " Britannia rules
the waves," and when an encore began to be voci-
ferated from his officers, he instantly crushed it by
a commanding air of disapprobation, and thus
afforded me an opportunity of seeing how magni-
ficently he could quit his convivial familiarity for
imperious sway, when occasion might call for the
transformation. The prima donna looked evidently
put out by being deprived of the honour of an
encore, but her mind was soon set at rest, when I
conveyed to her from the Duke the reason he had
interfered, adding, upon his part, the delight he
had experienced in listening to the first artist in
Europe. This charmed Catalani, who came for-
ward and volunteered another patriotic song ; one
which had been sung by her rival Grassini at the

A LUDICROUS MTSTAKfc]. 109

King's Theatre, on the evening when the "Iron
Duke" had attended this performance. I do not
remember the words, further than it commenced
with " Esulta Britannia di Wellinsfton madre."

The following evening Madame Catalan! attended
the theatre in the Park, which had been opened by
a company of English players, when an incident
occurred which occasioned much amusement.
Anxious to display their loyalty, " John Bull" had
been selected, and throughout the morning it was
hinted at the box-office, that Wellington had ac-
ceded to the request of the manager, and would
honour the performance with his presence. Under
this hope, and to give colour to the rumour a
private box had been reserved. Although there
was not a shadow of pretence for the rumour, it
spread like wild-fire, and led to the following
ludicrous mistake. A young Guardsman and my-
self having dined in company with the Duke, his
Grace told us that if we liked to go to the theatre,
we might make use of his carriage, after it had set
him down at home. Upon reaching the Park, the
carriage was recognised, and a crowd immediately
followed it. As we gained the entrance of the
theatre, the name of Wellington rent the air. This
was communicated to the manager, who thrust
his head out from behind the curtain to give a signal
to the leader of the band to play " See the Con-
quering Hero comes." The report that his Grace was
about to make his appearance reached the occupiers
of boxes, pit, and gallery, and all eyes were turned
on the vacant stage-box. In the meantime my

110 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

companion and myself had jumped out of the car-
riage, and were not a little surprised at the obse-
quiousness of the box-keeper, who thinking we
were the precursors of the Duke, begged us at
once to walk into the lobby. The play-bills always
announce " No money returned," this was the only
instance in which I found money refused. The
manager had rushed into the private box, and there,
candles in hand, awaited the welcome visitor. It
was now easy to see the mistake we had unwittingly
caused, and anxious to explain it, we approached
the now open box-door. No sooner were our
uniforms visible than the orchestra struck up *' See
the Conquering Hero comes." In vain did we
strive to correct the error, the audience had risen
671 masse, shouts re-echoed throughout the house,
the curtain was drawn up, the company came for-
ward to welcome the Duke by singing the above
popular air, Madame Catalani rose from her seat in
the opposite private box, when her splendid voice
was heard above the rest, but no conquering hero
appeared. For some minutes the cheering con-
tinued, when at length the mistake was explained,
and after the excitement had a little subsided, my
young friend and myself sneaked into the box,
placing ourselves behind the curtain, fearful of
calling the attention of the public to two mere
urchins who, unintentionally, were on the point of
receiving honours due to their chief. In the after-
piece of " Tom Thumb," the following allusion was
made to the event of the evening, which elicited a
round of applause. After eulogising the valour

A PIC-NIC TO VERSAILLES. Ill

of the Tioy Thumb, Qaeeu Dollabella spoke as
follows : —

" Can you compare this Lilliputian mite
To him we fondly hoped to see to-night ?
That warrior chief for valorous deeds renowned,
Whose battle fields have been with victory crowned.
{Turning to Tom Thumb.) What says my hero?
Tojn Thumb. — To Wellington T succumb

His mighty arm could crush my mitg thumb."

I again met Madame Catalan! at Paris shortly
after the Allied Army marched into that city. I was
then on Wellington's staff, and as my chief was
devoted to music there was scarcely an evening
that we had not a concert ; the two rivals, Catalan!
and Grassini, albeit very jealous of one another,
always met upon apparently the most amicable
terms. In addition to the above, Walter Scott,
Moore, John Kemble, and Talma were at Paris,
and were constant guests at Wellington's hotel ;
they often joined in a pic-nic to witness the beauties
of the neighbourhood. Never shall I forget a party
to Versailles, arranged by the Duke, and graced by
two of the loveliest of England's daughters, the
late Lady Abdy, and Mrs., afterwards Lady Lyttle-
ton. In addition to which there was present talent
scarcely to be excelled. In those gardens laid out
with the most exquisite taste by Le Notre, who
converted rivers into lakes, fountains, and water-
falls, whose banks were peopled with nymphs,
tritons, satyrs, mermaids, bacchantes, and various
monsters from the classical studios of Pierre Puget,
Corsevox, and Girardon, it was a treat of the
highest intellectual order to listen to the deep re-
search of the " Magician of the North," as he

112 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

brought with the greatest simplicity of manner to
your " mind's eye," the deeds of Bayard, Du
Guesclin, Turenne, and Conde ; to hear from Erin's
own poet, anecdotes of the lovely La Yalliere, her
ambitious rival, Madame de Montespan, the proud
de Maintenon, the far-famed Ninon de I'Euclos,
Madame de Pompadour, and Henrietta of England ;
to attend to the two greatest actors of their or any
day, as they expatiated upon the respective merits
of Shakespeare, Corneille, Racine, Moliere, Far-
quhar, and other men of dramatic genius of
England and France.

Nor were the pleasures of the day confined to
the above ; for after an al fresco luncheon in a
sequestered shady spot, it was delightful to have
one's ears ravished with the enchanting notes of
the Queen of Song the Italian nightingale Catalani,
the deep-toned voice of the beauteous Grassini, or
the pathetic strains of " Anacreon Moore," as he
warbled some of his own native melodies.

Frederick Reynolds tells a good story of Madame
Catalani. Shortly after the opening of the new
Theatre Royal, Covent Garden, at the termination
of the first O.P. riots, called the " Sixpenny War,"
from the fact that the clamour arose from raising
the prices of the pit from three-and-sixpence to
four shillings, Catalani was engaged to appear in a
new play, entitled " The Free Knights." Reynolds,
the author, used frequently to visit her and her
husband. Monsieur Valabreque, on business relative
to the subject. Accustomed to universal homage,
the great prima donna naturally shrunk with alarm,
almost amounting to horror, from the nightly

CATALANI. 113

attacks offered to ber name by the hostile anti-
foreign talent partisans. One day she was so much
agitated by the account of the placards exhibited
against her on the previous evening, that she talked
of building a watchbox in the garden at the back of
her house in the New Road, and engaging an
athletic watchman, armed with a blunderbuss, to
defend them against " les harhares O^Pih.'^

Another time, when she and Monsieur Vala-
breque were informed by one of their countrymen
that on the first night of her appearance she would
certainly be pelted with apples, she exclaimed with
the greatest earnestness and naivete, " Ah, ma foi,
Sare, I hope dey vill be roasted,"

Catalani, however, did not appear in this new
opera; luckily for herself, the manager, and the
author ; for, the character intended for her was so
unnecessary an introduction that, as the manager
said, she would have ruined the piece, and the piece
would have ruined Catalani.

After the restoration of the Bourbons, Catalani
undertook the management of the Opera Buffa at
Paris, a speculation which unfortunately failed. To
repair her loss, she made a professional tour
through all the capitals of Continental Europe,
returning to England in 1822, when the enthu-
siasm of her reception suffered no abatement. Here
she remained three years. In 1825 she again
visited Paris, and after once more going the round
of Europe, she returned to Italy in 1830, where she
purchased a villa near Florence. This Queen of
Song died of cholera at Paris in 1S49.

VOL. II. I

114

ACTRESSES.

EACHEL,

CHAPTER VIII.

RACHEL AS AN ACTRESS— DEVOTION OP HER BRETHREN TOWARDS
THE MAID OF JUDAH — DRAWING-ROOM THEATRICALS — RACHEL
AT WINDSOR CASTLE — HER TRIUMPHANT SUCCESS UNDER DIFFI-
CULTIES—MADEMOISELLE MARS — IMPROMPTU ON VOLTAIRE's
TRAGEDY OF " ZULIMA" — FRENCH COUPLETS — LA POLITESSE
FRANpAISE — EMILE DE GIRARDIN'S (NOT SAMUEL LOVER's)
DESCRIPTION OF AN IRISH JAUNTING CAR — A MUSICAL ADVER-
TISEMENT.

" Genius to you what most you value gave,
The noisy forum and the glittering mart,
The solid goods and mammon of the world,
In these your life — and these with life depart !
Grudge not what Genius to itself shall claim —
A life that lived but in the dreams of Art,
A world whose sunshine was the smile from Fame.
These die not. Moralist, when all are hurl'd.
Fasces and sceptre in the common grave : —
Genius, in life or death, is still the same —
Death but makes deathless what Life ask'd — the Name."

LYTTON.

" "p ACHEL, tes talents enchauteurs

Chaque jour te font des conquetes !
Tu fais soupirer tons les cceurs,
Tu fais tourner toutes les tetes.
Tu joins aux prestiges de I'art
Le charme heureux de la nature,

EACHEL. 115

Et la victoire toujours sure
Se range sous ton etendard.
Es-tu Didon ? es-tu Monime?
Avec toi nous verrons des pleurs ;
Nous gemissons de tes malheurs,
Et du sort cruel qui t'opprime."

So wrote Madame de Grassigny on the celebrated
Mademoiselle Raucourt, and they appear to me to
be equally applicable to Madame Rachel.

Again, another French author thus addresses the
great tragedienne : —

" Eh ! Mademoiselle Rachel !

" Nous ne I'avons pas encore vue, mais d'avance
notre bienveillance lui est acquise ; ses detracteurs
pretendent que son immense succes est une affaire
d'association nationale. Mademoiselle Rachel est
juive, disent-ils, et chaque fois qu'elle joue la moitie
de la salle est occupee par ses coreligionnaires. lis
agissent avec elle comme avec Meyerbeer, avec
Halevy. A I'Op^ra, voyez les jours ou Ton donne
les Huguenots, et la Juive, toutes les places qui ne
sont pas louees a I'annee sont prises par les juifs.
Gela est vrai, et nous ne pouvons nous empecher
d'admirer cette belle union de tout ce peuple qui
se parle et se repond d'un bout du monde a I'autre,
qui se comprend avec une si prodigieuse rapidity,
qui releve un de ses fils malheureux a son premier
cri, et qui court chaque soir applaudir en foule
celui de ses enfants qui se distingue par son genie.
Cela fait rever. N'avoir point de patrie, et garder
un sentiment national si parfait ! Quelle le^on
pour nous, qui nous desservons mutuellement sans
cesse, qui nous detestons si bien, et qui pourtant

1 2

116 CELEHEITIKS 1 HAVE KNOWN.

sommes si jBers de notre belle France ! Faut-il
done des siecles d'exil et de persecution pour que
les enfants d'une meme terra apprennent a s'aimer
entre eux? Peut-etre ! Quoi qu'il en soit, Made-
moiselle Hachel obtient un succes merite, les
triompbes factices n'ont pas cet ensemble et cette
duree; d'ailleurs, nous entendons chaque soir
vanter la jeune tragedienne par des juges qui nous
inspirent la glus graude confiance; de vieux ama-
teurs de tragedie, qui ont vu Talma, qui ont
applaudi Mademoiselle Raucourt, Mademoiselle
Duchesnois, et qui ne sont pas juifs du tout."

Rachel was born at Mumf in Switzerland, in
1820. Her father whose name was Felix, was a
poor Jewish pedlar whose avocations led him into
France, wdiere his daughters, Rachel and Sarah,
gained a precarious living by singing in the streets.
In ]832 the voices of the two sisters having at-
tracted notice, they were placed by the kindness of
some connoisseurs under Choron, a celebrated sing-
ing master, and in 1833 the elder sister Rachel,
having shown great tragic power, was admitted into
the Conservatoire at Paris, where she was carefully
trained by Messrs. St. Aulaire and Samson. In
1838 she made her first appearance at the Theatre
Fran^ais.

The play chosen for Rachel's first appearance was
the "Andromache" of Racine, in which she took the
part of Hermione. Hermione appears in the second
act, and the impression made by the debutante was
at once favourable. The melody of her voice, the
dignity of her manner, the firmness of her delivery,
the clearness of her articulation, established her

MADEMOISELLE MARS. 117

genius at tbe very first sentence. Her greatest scene
was that with Pyrrhus; the cool, collected, severe
irony with which she addressed her faithless be-
trothed, the evident force with which rage was
confined within her heart, while her speech was
fearfully calm and deliberate, was a noble concep-
tion, and a sign of the highest genius. The burst
of passion which followed the touching line,

" Je t'airaois, inconstant, qu'aurais-je fait fidele."

electrified the audience. Her yearly salary at the
the period of her debut was four thousand francs,
she stipulated for " un ultimatum de vingt-sept mille
francs de fixe, soixaute-quatre feux de deux cent
quatre-vingt-un francs, vingt centimes, chacun ;
a free benefit, estimated at fifteen thousand francs,
three months' holiday," which was not the least
profitable part of the engagement. What a con-
trast did the above form to another . celebrated
artiste then in the decline of her career, but not of
her talent. Mademoiselle Mars, whose yearly re-
ceipts amounted to about forty thousand francs.

Of Mademoiselle Mars it may be truly said that
her countenance always intelligent was equally
eloquent, her voice was the most delightful that
could be imagined, sweet in tone, combining dis-
tinctness with continuity in the highest degree.
Truly did she realize the words of the poet :

" And she had smiles before unknown ;
Smiles that with motion of their own.
Do sink, and fall, and rise.
That circle round with endless play,
And ever as they pass away
Are hidden in her eyes."

118 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

One of the greatest dramatic triumphs I ever
witnessed was achieved by Madame Rachel.
Upon one occasion when I had the honour of re-
ceivinor a command to dine at Windsor Castle,
during- the lifetime of the late Prince Consort,
she was engaged to go through the princi-
pal scenes from " Marie Stuart," " Phedre,"
*' Oreste," and " Les Horaces," supported by two
or three of the French company then acting in
London. There were no accessoires, no stage, no
scenery, no costumes ; the performance took place
in an alcove in the large drawing-room, where
nothing could have riveted the attention of the
audience but the consummate skill of the artiste,
who so thorouglily identified herself with the re-
spective characters that all minor details were driven
out of the minds of her attentive listeners. At the
conclusion,. Her Majesty warmly complimented
Rachel on her exquisite performance. In the course
of the evening I had the pleasure of bemg intro-
duced to this great artiste, and conducted her to
the refreshment-room. That and a formal visit I paid
her in Loudon were the only opportunities I had
of conversing with her. During those brief inter-
views I found her most amiable and spirituelle to
the greatest degree. In 1855 she made a profes-
sional visit to the United States, which was under-
stood to be a failure both in a financial and artistic
point of view. Soon after her return she fell into
a decline and died at Carmet, near Toulon, at the
early age of thirty-eight. This child of poor Hebrew
parents, who by her talents had raised herself to

SIKGULAR CIRCUMSTANCE. 119

the highest piDiiacle of histrionic fame, and created
such a furore as seldom falls to the lot of artistes,
was not without her detractors. By them she was
accused of avarice, which they asserted was her
predominant passion. Be that as it may, there
was one redeeming quality, Rachel employed its
results liberally in behalf of the poor family from
whom she sprang. How often has this charge been
brought against members of the operatic and dra-
matic profession, by those who forget how preca-
rious is their position — the caprice of the pubhc, the
wild vicissitudes of taste ; a sudden and severe
illness may deprive them of that support they have
hitherto received ; then if no provision has been
made, their only resort is to one of the societies
which have been established for the support of
those who have become destitute or grown old in
our service. The following singular circumstance
took place at the Comedie Francaise, Paris, during
my visit to that city. Baptiste, who was playing
the part of a bailiff, drew from his pocket a paper
to represent the warrant, by virtue of which he
exercised his authority. What was his astonish-
ment on reading the name of one of his female
relations, who, through ignorance of a will that had
been made in her favour at Dresden, was deprived
of a considerable fortune bequeathed to her by her
uncle. The paper was a true copy of this will.
Baptiste uttered several exclamations of surprise,
accompanied by such comic gestures, that the
theatre resounded with applause. This strange
adventure was afterwards explained as follows : —

120 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

Some time previous, a party of tlie performers of
the Comedie Fran^aise proceeded to Dresden to
play in the presence of the sovereigns who were
assembled in that city, Among other scenic acces-
saries, theatrically called " properties" they found
it necessary to procure a number of old parchments ;
and it is probable that the document in question
had ever since remained in the pocket of the dress
worn by Baptiste when he made the fortunate dis-
covery.

While on the subject of theatricals I am reminded
of the following anecdote, after the representation
of Voltaire's tragedy " Zulima," which ends with
the following line : —

" Souvenez-vous de moi, mais oubliez raon crime."

Some one asked the author what he thouo-ht of

o

the tragedy. The latter replied,

" Du temps, qui detruit tout, Voltaire est la victirae,
Souvenez-vous de lui; mais oubliez Zulime."

Unquestionably France is conspicuous for having
produced great artists, both dramatic and literary.
Moreover, in private life the conversational powers
of our volatile neighbours are second to none, and
they shine pre-eminently in bout rimes and epigrams ;
let me offer a few specimens : —

What can be neater than the following couplets
of the Chevalier, afterwards Marquis de Chauvelin.
Seven handsome women forming part of a supper
party were compared to " Sept Chateaux du Diable,"
namely the following capital sins — Luxury, Gluttony,
Avarice, Anger, Pride, Idleness, and Envy. Each was
to draw lots, when the following was the result : —

SMART SAYINGS. 121

Madame de Montrond. La Luxure.
Dut-il vous en colter qiielque pen d'innocence,
Un si joli peche doit-il vous alarmer ?

Vous savez trop le faire aimer,
Pour ne pas lui devoir de la reconnaissance.

Madame de Chanvelin. La Gourmandise.
En songeant a votre peche,
Et vous vojant les traits d'un ange.
En verite je suis fache
De n'etre pas quelque chose qu'on mange.

Madame de Surgeres. L' Avarice.
Quoique votre peche paraisse un peu bizarre,
Si vous vouliez, il deviendrait le mien :
Iris, si vous etiez mon bien,
Je sens que je serais avare.

Madame de Courteilles. La Colere.
Sans vous defendre la colere,
Je vous obligerai, Cbloris, d'y renoncer,
II ne vous sera plus permis de I'exercer,
Que contre ceux a qui vous u'avez pas su plaire.

Madame de 3Iaulevrier. L'Orgueil.
L'orgueil vous doit un changement bien doux,

Jadis il passait pour un vice ;
Depuis qu'il a le bonheur d'etre a vous.

On le prendra pour la justice.

Mademoiselle de Cice. La Paresse.
Ala paresse vous pouvez vous livrer;
Iris, lorsqu'on est sur de plaire.
On fait bien de se reposer ;
II ne reste plus rien a faire.

Madame L'Agenois. L'Envie.
Peut-etre je suis indulgent;
Mais a votre peche, Theraire, je fais grace,
Ne faut-il pas que je vous passe
(Je que j'eprouve en vous vojant ?

The next smart saying I shall quote is, I believe,
a translation of an old English joke, but it is
pointedly returned. 1 fancy, however, that for
Shaftesbury we should read Rochester.

122 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

•'A Shaftsbury* Charles Secondf
Disoit, dans sa colere:
Je te crois le pins grand fripon
Qui soit en Angleterre.

" On pourroit gager, en effet ;
Sire (dit il) peut-etre,
Qu'en ma qualite de sujet
Cela pourroit bien etre !"

Of a Politesse Fran^aise we have the following
specimen :

" Dans un combat, tres chaud, tres meurtrier,
Un General, ayant porte defense
Qu'aux furieux qui ravageoient la France,
Dans la deroute on fit aucun quartier;
Certain Anglais, sous la lance enneraie
De son vainqueur, lui demandait la vie,
' J'en suis fuebe !' (dit I'autre) ' hormis cela
Demandez-moi tout ce qui vous plaira! ' "

Madame Emile de Girardin's description of an
Irish jaunting car, merits a place : —

" Quel doraraage que nous ne sachions pas dessiner.
Une invention pareille est difficile a expliquer avec
des phrases. Figurez-vous une immense table
carree lougue, posee en travers sur quatre roues,
et trainee par un cheval. A I'un des bouts de cette
table est assis le domestique, les pieds suspendus
dans I'espace; a I'autre bout est place le maitre;
ils se tournent le dos, ils se boudent comme les
amants de Moliere. Cependant le maitre fait des
avances, c'est evident, pour conduire le cheval
il se contourne de la facon la plus affreuse; vous
comprenez, il est assis de profil dans la voiture, et

* Ce Shaftesbury n'est point I'auteur des caracteres.
f Roi d' Angleterre.

AN ADVERTISEMENT. 123

il faut qu'il mene de face ; alors il se penche
gracieusement comme un fleuve sur son urne, ou
comme un joueur de billard qui a un coup difficile
a executer. Sa situation est deplorable, elle con-
traste avec celle du groom qui se laisse conduire
de cote avec une grande insouciance, et qui, les
bras croises, regarde tranquilleraent ce qui se passe
dans le fond des boutiques. Les badauds du
boulevard s'amusent fort de cette singuliere facon
de voyager ; mais aussi, quelle idee de faire un
tilbury parisien d'une voiture de transport qui ne
sert en Angleterre que pour aller a la campagne."

I must conclude this chapter with an advertise-
ment which appeared in a Parisian journal : —

" Voulez-vous prendre des lecons de musique?
M. Delamaire, Rue de la Lune No. 16, vous en
donnera d'excellentes. Sa fille vous donnera aussi
des lecons de piano, de harpe, et de solfege. Elle
a beaucoup de talent, et elle est fort jolie, ce qui
ne gate rien."

124

ACTORS AND ACTRESSES.

CHAPTER IX.

THE LEGITIMATE AND ILLEGITIMATE DRAMA — BLUE BEARD—
TIMOUR THE TARTAR— THE DESERTER — THE DOG STARS —
JOHN PHILIP KEMBLE — GEORGE FREDERICK COOKE — CHARLES
KEMBLE — CHARLES YOUNG— EDMUND KEAN — CHARLES KEAN —
COOPER — AN OCCASIONAL ADDRESS — WALLACK — HARLET— JONES
— BARTLET — DURUSET — MEADOWS — FARLEY — T. P. COOKE —
YATES — WARD — COLE — BENSON HILL— MRS. BARTLEY — MRS.
NISBET — MISS FOOTE, AFTERWARDS COUNTESS OF HARRINGTON.

Polonius. The actors are come hither, my lord. The best actors in
the world, either for tragedy, comedy, history, pastoral, pas-
toral-comical, historical-pastoral, tragical-historical, tragical-
comical-historical-pastoral, scene individable, or poem unlimited.
Seneca cannot be too heavy or Plautus too light.
{Enter four or five Play em.)

Hamlet. You are welcome. Masters, welcome all. {To Folonius)
Good, my lord, will you see the players well bestowed. Do you
hear, let them be well used, for they are the abstract and brief
chronicles of the time.

Polonius. My lord, I will use them according to their desert.

Hamlet. Odds bodikin, man, much better. Use every man after
his desert, and who shall scape whipping ? Use them after your
own honour and dignity. The less they deserve the more merit
is in your bounty.

SHAKESPEARE.

A GREAT deal has been written on the subject
of the legitimate drama, when John Kemble
and Mrs. Siddons were the stars of the theatrical

CANINE PERFORMERS. 125

sphere, and much censure has been lavished upon
the illegitimate purposes to which the stage
has lent itself in our days. It must, however, be
borne in mind, that " Bhie Beard," and " Timour
the Tartar," with real horses, were brought out at
Covent Garden Theatre before the Kemble dynasty
ceased to exist.

This reminds me of a wonderful performance that
took place at Sadler's Wells Theatre towards the
end of the last century. A subordinate but enter-
prising actor of the name of Costello, collected at
the great fairs of Frankfort and Leipsic a complete
company of canine performers, and arriving with
them in England, Wroughton, the manager of
Sadler's Wells, engaged him and his wonderful
troupe ; they were fourteen in all. Unlike those
straggling, dancing dogs occasionally seen in the
streets, they all acted respondently and conjointly,
with a truth that appeared almost the effect of
reason. The star of the company was named
" Moustache," and the piece produced was " The
Deserter." Such was the rag^e for these dog-stars
(as they were wittingly called), that all London
flocked to see them ; princes, peers, princesses,
peeresses, puppies, and pickpockets graced the
boxes to witness the performance. Indeed so great
was the attraction, that the manager cleared seven
thousand pounds by these four-legged lloscii.

Let me now welcome the players : — " Do you
know him at home ?" was a question often asked
me when I was a Westminster boy, and simple as it
appears it was extremely pertinent, inasmuch as it

126 CELEBRTTTES I HAVE KNOWN.

defined friendship and acquaintancesliip. Now,
although I have known few actors at home, I was
on terms of very agreeable acquaintanceship with
many. To commence with John Philip Kemble, to
whom I was introduced at a public dinner. Though
dignified, if I may use the expression, he was
stilty, pompous, and pedantic, forming a great
contrast to George Frederick Cooke, whom I had
previously met, and whose kindly joyous spirits had
captivated me as a boy. With Charles Kemble I
formed a friendship which lasted until his latest
day; indeed, not long before his demise, I had the
pleasure of dining with him in Saville Row, when on
proposing his health I said, " Thou last of all the
Romans, fare thee well !" Little did I think at
the time that my farewell words would come so
soon true ; we never met afterwards.

Charles Kemble was upon very intimate terms
with the late Earl Fitzhardinge, and often took
part in the amateur theatricals got up at Chelten-
ham, Gloucester, Birmingham, Tewkesbury, and
other places. Upon many of these occasions I
formed one of the audience, and as the performance
always wound up with a supper, I had considerable
opportunities of judging of Kemble's social cha-
racter. Both on and off the stage he was the
high-bred gentleman, and as a boon companion
Falstaff" would have taken him to his " heart of
hearts."

Charles Young was a follower of the Kemble
school, dignified on the boards, and highly gifted
both on and off* the stage. Of him it can be truly
said, as it was of Quin : —

EDMUND KEAN. 127

" Hia words bore sterling weight; nervous and strong
In many tides of sense, they roll'd along,
Happy in art, he chiefly had pretence
To keep up numbers, yet not forfeit sense ;
No actor ever greater heights could reach
In all the labour'd artifice of speech."

As I have already said in a previous chapter, I
was introduced to Edmund Kean behind the scenes
at Drury Lane Theatre, and I afterwards met him
on more than one occasion at dinner parties given
by Earl Fitzhardinge at the " Ship," Greenwich.
There, after the bottle had circulated freely, he
told us anecdotes of his early theatrical days, of
his first appearance at Drury Lane Theatre, of the
ovations paid him. He would then delight us by
singing the " Storm," " Farewell my trim-built
wherry," and " Tom Bowline ;" his acting when
describing the storm was of the highest dramatic
order.

A year or two before his retirement from the
stage, a rumour was spread that I was about to
join a friend in taking Drury Lane Theatre. Al-
though there was not the slightest ground for such
a rumour, it spread like wildfire, and brought me
no end of letters from ambitious novices, anxious to
" fret their hour on the boards." It also brought
an invitation for me to dine with Edmund Kean, to
meet Theodore Hook and the Reverend Edward
Cannon. *' You must go," said the latter, " Hookems
can't come, but Kean counts upon you and me."

Among the party assembled, it was perfectly
clear to me that I was looked upon as the future
lessee ; so much so, that in that capacity my health

128 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

was proposed and drunk, as the newspapers say,
*' with the greatest enthusiasm." This afforded
me an opportunity of contradicting the report, and
from that moment, like Jacques in the " Honey-
moon," I felt my dignity had dwindled down to
nothing^.

Charles Kean was an accomplished scholar and
gentleman ; one who exalted the character of the
English theatre, and elevated the profession of
which he was so distinguished an ornament. To
him alone we owe the bringing of Tragedy nearer
to nature than it ever was before, and rendering
the stage " a source of the highest and most
rational amusement." Often have T enjoyed his
hospitality, and upon one occasion he talked over
with me the question of his becoming the lessee of
the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. As a member of
the Committee of that theatre, I of course felt
anxious for its success, and thinking the stage of
Drury Lane much better calculated for those
brilliant and classical introductions of pageant and
scenery than the limited arena of the Princess's, I
urged him to consider the expediency of becoming
lessee.

"I own," he replied, "there is much in what
you say, still it would be a gigantic undertaking.
It would interfere with many English and trans-
atlantic engagements, and although I hope that I
shall always be as I have ever been, far more actuated
by an enthusiastic love of my art than by any
expectation of personal emolument, still I should
not like to risk so much on the chance of success.
Failure would be ruin."

COOPER. 129

After that I could say no more, so I suggested
that Mrs. Charles Kean should be called into the
counci], and soon ascertained that so great was her
anxiety for her husband's health, that she felt the
responsibility of a large concern would much inter-
fere with the rest which his mind and body re-
quired, after such active exercise for nine years as
actor and manager of the Princess's. Sir William
de Bathe, then also a member of the Committee,
had previously suggested the idea to Charles Kean,
but without success.

At that period, Drury Lane was let for ten
thousand pounds a year — a heavy rental ; latterly
it has been reduced to nearly half that sum, and
the lessee has had the advantao^e of underlettino^
the theatre for the operatic season, thus recouping
a considerable portion of the rent.

Cooper, though not a brilliant actor, was excel-
lent in some parts. As Mr. Bromley, in " Simpson
and Co ," and Tristram Sappy, in " Deaf as a Post,"
he was unrivalled ; moreover, he was most pains-
taking, and acquitted himself respectably in many
Shakesperian characters. He was the victim of a
Green-Room hoax, having been called upon by a
letter from the stage-manager to study at a short
notice the following address : —

" When first the Drama's muse, by Freedom reared,
la Grecian splendour unadorn'd appeared,
Her eagle glance, high poised in buoyant hope,
O'er realms restricted by no partial scope.
Saw one vast desert horrify the scene ;
No bright oasis showed its mingling green.
But all around, in colours darkly rude,
Scowled forth the intellectual solitude !
VOL. II. K

130 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

And vain her art till Time's translucent tide,

Like some sweet stream that scarcely seems to glide,

The heaven engendered embers fanned to flame,

The ray burst forth ! Immortal Shakespeare came !

'Twas his with renovated warmth to glow.

To feel that fire within ' that passeth show,'

And nobly daring in a dastard age

To raise, reform, and dignify the stage !

To force from lids unsullied by a tear,

The pensive drops that bathe fond Juliet's bier,

Bow the duped Moor o'er Desdemona's corse,

Or bid the blood-stained tyrant cry ' a horse !'

Waft the rapt soul with more than seraph flight

From fair Italia's realms of soft delight,

To mourn with Imogen her murdered lord.

Or bare the patriot stoic's vengeful sword.

To raise the poet's noblest cry ' be free !'

To breath the tocsin blast of Liberty !"

Wallack was an excellent melodramatic actor,
good in comedy, and not deficient in many Shakes-
perian characters. I recollect once unintentionally
wounding his theatrical pride. We met at the
Garrick Club, when T warmly congratulated him on
his successful performance of Goldfinch in the
*' Road to Ruin," the previous evening. He turned
up his head, gave a contemptuous look, and said,

" If you wish to see what I can do, come to
Leamiugton next Thursday, when I act Macbeth."

To Wallack I am indebted for my first lesson in
the histrionic Art. When quartered at Windsor
many years ago, some officers of the 3rd — now
Fusilier Guards — and myself agreed to get up a
series of amateur performances ; as I had acted
" Young Norval" at Brussels, and fancied myself
a second Master Betty, we selected that play.
Anxious to be " coached" a little in the part, I

HAHLEY. 131

wrote to Wallack, whom I had previously met, to
ask him kindly to let me recite the character before
him. To this he assented, naming an hour when
he would receive me at his lodgings in Piccadilly.
With book in hand I attended the appointment,
and certainly had the pride knocked out of me, for,
after a very patient hearing, he told me I had much
to learn, and much to unlearn ; he then showed
me how the character should be acted, which was
as diametrically opposite to my version as the
north is to the south.

Harley had a natural animation, an overflowing
exuberance of spirits, which never tired on or off
the boards. The very sound of his voice at the
wing, before he entered, was the signal for mirth,
which flaofo-ed no more until the curtain fell. I
often met him at the hospitable board of the late
Samuel Cartwright, where he delighted all by that
hilarity which belonged to him, generall}'' winding
up the evening by singing a song, entitled the
" Blue Bottle." At one time it was reported that
Harley was about to be married to a Mrs. Quin,
who, during her early dramatic career, had repre-
sented the graceful Colombine. " What a panto-
mimic alliance," remarked a wit, the joke has
been given to many — " Mrs. Harley-Quin !"

Eichard Jones was a lively, agreeable, gentleman-
like, animated actor, and a very pleasant com-
panion in private society.

I knew Bartley in Canada; he came to Quebec
during: the time our garrison amateur theatricals
were going on, and he kindly gave me a few hints

K 2

132 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

for the part I was then studying, " Charles Sur-
face" in the " School for Scandal." He was a good,
careful, steady actor, and in private life most exem-
plary. I knew his wife in Dublin many years ago,
then Miss Smith. She was of the Siddonian school,
and as distinguished on the stage as she was
respected by all who came within the circle of her
acquaintance.

Abbott was a most agreeable, gentlemanlike man
in private life, and a most useful actor. His
walking gentlemen were gentlemen, and when en-
trusted with Shaksperian characters, he did ample
justice to them.

Duruset had a pleasing voice. Meadows was the
quaintest of actors. Farley was honest and blunt.
T. P. Cooke was " every inch a sailor," both on the
mimic boards and on board a man-of-war, where he
had served with distinction.

One and all of the above were truly respected in
private life. Frederick Yates, Warde, Cole, and
Benson Hill proved that amateurs could become
good actors, ay, and first-rate actors too. I knew
them all well when serving in the army, in which
profession they were all highly esteemed.

I first knew Mrs. Nisbet when, as Miss Mac-
namara, she was playing at the Southampton
Theatre. Her father called upon me, with a request
that I would exert any influence I might have to
procure his daughter an appearance on the metro-
politan boards ; this I promised to do, and men-
tioned her name to Charles Kemble. Other friends
of her family backed this recommendation, which

MISS FOOTE. 133

eventually proved successful. Her dehiit was most
triumphant.

I lately met some beautiful lines in " Tinsley's
Magazine" of August, 1876, signed G. F., which
are truly applicable to this lady : —

"Hark the merry peals of laughter,
Mark the captivating glance ;
See the halo softened round her
By the smiles that all entrance.

" Artless, yet of art the mistress ;
Careless, yet of care the cause ;
Conscious, yet appearing listless
Of the scarce restrained applause.

" Every eager face is bending
To her voice's mellow sound ;
From her lips the never ending
Gems of wit fall sparkling round."

My acquaintance with Miss Foote, afterwards
Countess of Harrington, was brought about by an
unexpected adventure. One morning when walking
in Pall Mall, I saw a lady, whom I did not at first re-
cognise, evidently attempting to put an end to the im-
portunities of a gentleman who was forcing himself
on her society. I followed them for some little dis-
tance, and when I saw the lady run up to the door
of a milliner's in Bond Street to escape from her
tormentor, I approached, and immediately found I
was addressing the " Maria Darlington" of the
previous evening. Apologising for my intrusion, I
offered to conduct her to a hackney-coach, or if she
preferred it to escort her home on foot. She
thanked me warmly, and accepted the former. A
few days afterwards Mr. Foote called to thank me

134 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

for my attention to his daughter. Of her it may be
truly said : —

" Cliild of fancy's bright creation,
Centre of a gazing throng,
Born to rivet admiration,
Beauty-lighted theme of song."

As the Countess of Harrington she was beloved
by all.

Among other charges brought against actors is
that of dissipation ; and knowing then, as we all do,
that dissipation shortens life, it appears strange
that actors, generally speaking, reach and often
pass threescore years and ten. Killigrew died at
the age of eighty-eight ; Quin, seventy-three ; Gar-
rick, ninety-eight ; Mrs. Clive, seventy-five ; Beard,
seventy-four; Eich, seventy; Betterton, seventy-
five ; Quick, eighty-three ; King, seventy-six ;
Charles Dibdin, seventy-four, and, nautically speak-
ing, a brave old seventy-four was he ; Murphy,
seventy-eight ; Barrymore, seventy-one ; Wycher-
ley, seventy-five ; Southern, eighty-six ; Moody,
eighty-five; Mrs. Bracegirdle. eighty-five; Macklin,
one hundred and seven ; Gibber, eighty-six ; Cum-
berland, seventy-nine ; Hull, seventy-six ; Yares,
eighty-nine; Munden, seventy-four ; Mrs, Abington,
eighty-four ; " Gentleman" Smith, eighty-nine ;
John Johnstone, eighty-two ; Pope, seventy-three ;
Mrs. Hartley, seventy-three; John Bannister,
seventy-six ; Mrs. Bannister, ninety-two ; Fawcett,
seventy-two ; Powell, eighty-two ; George Colraan,
"the younger," seventy-four; Gattie, seventy;
Mrs. John Kemble, eighty-eight ; Mrs. Sparks,

THEATRICAL ANECDOTES. 135

eighty-three ; O'Keefe, eighty-six ; Wroughton,
seventy-four; Mrs. Glover, seventy; Betterton,
eighty-three; Madame Mara, eighty-four; Mrs.
Siddons, seventy-six ; Mrs. Mattocks, eighty-one ;
Charles Abbott, eighty-nine; Mrs. Pitt, seventy-
two; John Kemble, eighty-two; Brunton, eighty-
two ; Wewitzer, seventy-six ; Mrs. Davenport,
eighty-four; Miss Pope, seventy-five; Thomas Dib-
din, seventy ; Packer, seventy-eight ; Byrne, ninety ;
Saunders (the celebrated showman, said to have
fostered Edmund Kean and Ducrow), ninety ; H.
Johnston, seventy; Dowton, eighty-eight; Mrs.
Harlow, eighty-seven ; Charles Kemble, seventy-
nine ; Richard Jones, seventy-three ; Mrs. Edwin,
eighty-two.

While " i' the vein," I will give a few theatrical
anecdotes.

1 remember being present at Drury Lane Theatre
in the month of August, 1820, when the excitement
in favour of or against Queen Caroline was at fever
heat. On the occasion I refer to, " Othello" was
performed, and such was the enthusiasm of the
audience in favour of Her Majesty, that every allu-
sion to the trial about to take place was received
with cheers. When Emilia spoke the following
lines : —

" T will be hang'd if some eternal villain,
Some busy and insinuating rogue,
Some cogging cozening slave, to get some office.
Have not devis'd this slander :
I'll be hang'd else."

applause came from all parts of the house. Then
again, when lago says,

136 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

" Fie, there is no such man, it is impossible."

and DesdemoDa adds —

" If any such there be, Heaven pardon him ;"

which causes Emilia to burst forth —

" A halter pardon him ! and hell gnaw his bones !"

the thunders of applause marked the feelings of the
audience. The climax was, when Emilia, evidently
inspired by the occasion, said

" The Moor's abus'd by some most villainous knave,
Some base notorious knave, some scurvy fellow —
Oh, Heavens, that such companions thou'dst unfold;
And put in every honest hand a whip
To lash the rascal naked through the world.
Even from the East to the West."

The whole pit stood up, the men waved their hats,
the women their handkerchiefs, while the acclama-
tions throughout the whole house, which were loud
and general, lasted for several minutes.

A good story is told of an actor named Hatton,
who was a great favourite at the Haymarket
Theatre, especially in the part of Jack Junk. One
night when performing the character of Barbarossa
at Gosport, in the scene where the tyrant makes
love to Zapphira, and reminds her of his services
against the enemies of her kingdom, he was at a
loss for the word, and appealed to the prompter in
vain. Another moment, and that sibilation so " un-
pleasant to the actor's ear" would have driven him
from the stage, when seeing the gallery crowded
with sailors, and regardless of the anachronism,
he exclaimed with tragic energy : —

MRS. BUTLER. 137

" Did not I
By that brave knight, Sir Sidney Smith, assisted,
And in conjunction with the gallant Nelson,
Drive Bonaparte and his fierce marauders
From Egypt's shores ?"

Three cheers from the jolly tars rewarded this
impromptu interpolation.

An American item runs as follows ; whether
founded on fact, I cannot take upon myself to
assert : —

While Mrs. Butler was playing Juliet at Phila-
delphia, and just when she had exclaimed —

" What's here ? a cup, clos'd in my true love's hand?
Poison, I say, hath been his timeless end."

a tall, lean, gaunt, sandy-haired medical student in
the stage-box, deeply absorbed in the scene, thrust
down his hat on his head with a convulsive effort,
crying out in a voice of thunder at the same time,
" Keep him up, Juliet, I'll run and fetch the
stomach-pump."

To show how stringent were the laws respecting
any infringement of the patent right of the two
national theatres, Covent Garden and Drury Lane,
I give the following extract : —

" At the Guildford Assizes held on the 30th of
July, 1828, a qui tarn action was brought by Mr.
Dunn, Secretary to the Committee of Proprietors of
Drury Lane Theatre, against Mr. Davidge, of the
Coburg, afterwards Victoria Theatre, to recover
penalties for performing the regular drama in a place
not duly licensed, under the 25th George IL, which
enacts that, for every performance of the Drama
in a place not privileged by patent, or by the

138 CRLEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

Chamberlain's liceose, the party so offending should
forfeit fifty pounds. The declaration stated that two
performances of ' Douglas,' and two of ' Richard III.'
had taken place. A witness proved the performances.
He had with him, when he went to the Ooburg, a
copy of the pieces as performed at Drury Lane,
and found them nearly word for word the same.
The jury found for the plaintiffs on the first and
third counts. Penalties £100."

Of the comparative salaries given to performers
about the year ] 750 and the present time, there
can hardly be a better illustration than by that
received by Miss Lavinia Fenton, afterwards Dachess
of Bolton. "When this lady's performance of Polly
Peachum had obtained the unqualified applause of
the town, the manager, Rich, augmented her salary
from fifteen to thirty shillings per week, that he
might ensure her continuance at his theatre. We
now read of artists receiving as many pounds for
one night's performance ; and in the case of Master
Betty, it was said that the young Roscius, at the
age of thirteen, received six thousand guineas for
fifty-one performances. Novelty and fashion were
the great incentives for supporting this prodigy. But
to be just. Master Betty, as Young Nerval, was all
that could be desired, but in grown-up parts, it was
simply ridiculous to see a stripling performing such
characters.

Edmund Kean ought to have received a very
considerable remuneration for his services during
his first season at Drury Lane ; for I find that in
1S14 he played sixty-eight nights. The total

EDMUND KEAN.

139

amount of money received at Drury Lane Theatre
on the sixty-eight nights of his performance, was
£32,642 12's. 6d. When he came to the theatre,
the receipts averaged £212 per night. During his
nights the general average was £500 per night.

The largest receipts on the repre-
sentation of Shylock was . . 531 2
Ditto of Richard III. . . . 655 13
Ditto of Hamlet . . . . 660 2
Ditto of lago . . . . 573 6
Ditto of Othello . . . . 673 18

d-

0
6
0
6
6

and the number of persons who visited the theatre
on the sixty-eight nights of his performance, was
166,742.

It is generally understood that the theatre
cleared, by his services alone, upwards of twenty
thousand pounds.

At the rival house I find the following statement
of receipts : —

Theatre Royal Covent Garden.

£ s. d.

1809-10 .

96,051 14 4

1810-11 .

106,177 8 10

1811-12 .

95,001 6 2

1812-13 . . . .

78,209 3 8

1813-14 . . . .

87,160 14 11

1814-15 .

93,613 17 9

1815-16 .

. 83,780 7 9

1816-17 .

. 77,603 1 3

Carried forward

£717,597 14 8

140 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

Brought forward £717,597 14 8
1817-18 .... 75,149 9 8
1818-19 .... 74,121 12 4
1819-20 .... 55,833 14 0
1820-21 .... 69,108 15 10

£991,81 L 6 6

Average per season . . £82,650 18 10|-

141

ACTOES.

JOE KELLY.

CHAPTER X.

JOE KELLY — MASQUERADING SCENE AT CAMBEAY — A LABK AT
VALENCIENNES — SIM FAIEFIELD, OF THE 88tH, CONNAUGHT
RANGERS — MISS P. KELLY— A HOAX — THE LADY IN BLUE —
COLONEL CHAREITIE — A LOVE ADVENTURE.

" None better knew the feast to sway,
Or keep mirth's boat in better trim ;
For nature had but little clay
Like that of which she moulded him.

" He kept at true good-humour's mark,
The social flow of pleasure's tide ;
He never made a brow look dark,
Nor caused a tear but when he died."

THOMAS LOVE PEACOCK.

AMONG the celebrities that I became acquainted
with during the occupation of France by the
AUied Armies, was Major, or as he was usually called
" Joe Kelly." No sooner had Welhngton entered
Paris, after the peace of 1815, than Kelly made
his appearance at head-quarters, and the Duke
having known him in the Peninsula, he was an
occasional guest at his Grace's board. When head-
quarters were removed to Carabray, Joe Kelly again

142 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

turned up ; being a jovial companion, and an ex-
cellent singer, he was welcome at the messes of all
the regiments quartered there and at Valenciennes.
He was brother of Michael Kelly, who, born in
1 762, possessed a fine tenor voice, and made his first
appearance at Drury Lane in 1787. Michael Kelly
composed the music of Monk-Lewis's " Castle
Spectre," "Blue Beard," "Of Age To-morrow,"
" Deaf and Dumb ;" he also wrote many songs.
Parkes accuses him of a want of knowledge of
harmony, and of stealing from the Italians. The
march in "Blue Beard," if original, would falsify
the first charge. He was highly patronised by
George IV. ; being both a wine merchant and com-
poser, some ill-natured wag declared that Michael
Kelly " was a composer of wine and importer of
music."

A cruel hoax was played upon Kelly one night
at Cambray, A little distance beyond the outward
works there was a large saloon, in which balls
were occasionally given by the bourgeois, and
sometimes by less respectable parties. During Lont
a sort of Carnival was held there, terminating in a
hal masque. To this Kelly had made up his mind
not only to go himself, but to take under his charge
two of the demi-monde^ recently imported from
Paris, the regulation being that no ladies could be
admitted except accompanied by gentlemen. On
the night of the ball Kelly dined at the mess of
the Guards, where he was to be called for by the
ladies, and on his way to the masquerade was to
don his costume as the Grand Turk, not an iuap-

MAJOE KELLY. 143

propriate role when we consider his companions.
As a matter of course, Kelly was asked to sing after
dinner, one song led to another, the hour arrived
at which he was to be called for, still no ladies.
At last they arrived. *' Make the best of your way
to Le Grand Canard," shouted the hero of this
adventure to the coachman — " I shall scarcely have
time to dress myself." They approached the gate
of the town just as it was about to be closed for the
night, passed on, and reached the outer gate, when
to their dismay they found it was actually closed,
and that nothing but a special order from the
Governor could open it before the following morn-
ing. To return to the town was equally impossible,
so the Grand Turk and his fair friends had to
remain in their carriage until the reveille was
sounded.

During the above period the ladies were furious,
and vented their rage in not very measured terms.
It was " infdme," " degoutant,^' " a mauvaise plai-
santerie" an " insuUe,'^ to tell them to be ready at
a certain hour, and then to write and name a later,
it was a ]polissonnerie worthy of a cochon Anglais.
^^ Quelle lettre?^' asked the victim of the hoax.
" Voici /" exclaimed a lady, dressed as a Vivandiere,
" prenez le." To Kelly's astonishment, he read as
follows : —

" Chere Mademoiselle,

" Ne venez pas avant dix heures, un quart d'heure
de plus ou de moins ne fait pas une grand difference.

" Tout a vous,
'' J. Kelly."

144 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

" G'est unefaussete /" shouted Kelly. " If I could
only find the rascal that wrote it, I'd shoot him
like a dog."

Happily for the enraged and engaged party, the
fair Vivandiere had filled her canteen with Cognac,
which helped to while away the tedious hours.

A practical joke was played upon some French
oflQcers at Valenciennes, which, if the perpetrators
had been discovered, would have led to very serious
consequences. Every night after the amateur play,
the oflScers of the 1 st Royals, 83th Connaught
Rangers, or the 21st Fusiliers, gave a supper to
the corps dramatique and their friends, and after a
rather late sitting, Sim Fairfield of the 88th, and
a few congenial spirits, who had realized the line of
the song, " Of keeping their spirits up by pouring
spirits down," sallied forth for a lark. The Hotel
de Commerce was at the time I write of patronised
by the visitors from (^ambray, and on play nights
was always kept open to a late hour. Seeing a
light in the coffee-room, the party bent on mischief
entered, and ascertaining that a detachment of
heavy cavalry were billeted there for the night, held
a council of war as to how they could play off a
practical joke upon them. *'If I can only get hold
of a trumpet, I will sound the boots and saddle in
about an hour," said Fairfield. " Capital !" shouted
the rest. " Fancy," cried another, " on going up-
stairs to make a reconnoisance, I saw at least half
a dozen pah's of boots left out to be polished."
" We'll polish them," chimed in a third. " Here's
a find," said Fairfield, pointing to a trumpet which

A CONSPIRACY. 145

was hanging upon a peg in tlie room, " the very
article I'm in search of."

Two of the conspirators walking stealthily up-
stairs, changed the boots from one door to another,
leaving two rights at one and two lefts at another,
depositing in one a sponge dipped in red, in another
a sponge dipped in black ink. All arrangements
having been concluded, the party left the hotel,
and proceeded to the stable-yard, where Fairfield
sounded " boots and saddle," and then replaced
the trumpet. Of course the result was not known
until the following day, but from the waiter's
account, the effect produced must have been terrific.
At the sound of the trumpet, officers and men turned
out, then there was a rush and scramble for boots
amidst the hundred cries of " Sacre," " Mille
tonnerres," " Les coquins," " Les sc^lerats." The
most vociferous, it appeared, were those who all of
a sudden found their feet soaked with red or black
ink ; the captain too was highly irate when trying
in vain to get his colossal legs into the major's small
boots. Fortunately for the real delinquents, some
travellers, or " bagmen," as they are called, had
supped at the hotel, and being unable to get accom-
modation for the night had sought it elsewhere,
and upon these innocents the blame was laid.
Luckily for them, for the officers had vowed ven-
geance against their tormentors, the *' bagmen"
had left the town before the victims were aware
of the cruel trick that had been played them. The
waiters, who were always liberally paid by the
English officers, and who had received an extra

VOL. II. L

146 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

gratuity upon tlie above occasion kept the affair
dark, as far as the real offenders were concerned.
Inquiries by the local authorities were set on foot,
a reward was offered, but not a word escaped Fair-
field or his partners in guilt, and the whole affair
soon ceased to become the topic of conversation.
A few nights after the above mad trick had been
practised, *' Bombastes Furioso" was acted, and when
the General exclaimed :

" Who dares this pair of boots displace
Must raeet Bombastes face to face."

There was a shout throughout the house, which
was not a little increased when the King replies : —

" I'll make thy boots as bootless as thyself."

For a considerable time practical jokes were
carried on in the army, but happily of late years
they have been put a stop to. " A joke's a joke !
and even practical jests are very capital in their
way, if you can only see the fun of them," so wrote
one who is no mean authority on these matters ; and
in too many cases the victim may exclaim in the
words of Persian,

" Nimis uncis
Naribus indulges."

" You drive the jest too far," for as Mrs. Opie
says, "jokes are like sky-rockets, which though they
are meant only to amuse, yet are often, according
to the place or object on which they light, the cause
of mischief and of pain, if not of destruction."

One of Joe Kelly's greatest " pals" (I adopt the
phrase now introduced into high society) was Sim
Fairfield, of the 88th, Connaught Rangers, who was

SIM FAERFIELD. 147

quartered at Valenciennes when Kelly was " loafing"
between that garrison and Cambray. Fairfield was
a splendid singer, though his songs partook more
of the public-house school than that of the drawing-
room ; still he was very popular as a diner-out, and,
to use a common expression, was the life and soul
of the mess of his gallant corps. At the amateur
garrison theatricals at Valenciennes, he and Kelly
appeared in the " Beggar's Opera ;" Kelly as Cap-
tain Macheath, Fairfield as the leader of the thieves,
in their fine chorus from " Rugantino," " Let us
take the road ;" they also sang " Glorious Apollo"
and other glees between the play and farce. As
I constantly attended the above performances, I
got acquainted with Fairfield, though I never took
kindly to him, as he was rather coarse in his lan-
guage, and very quarrelsome in his cups — so we
never became great chums.

One day, after my return to England to join my
regiment at Windsor, I accidentally met Fairfield
in the Strand ; he had quitted the service, and
evidently showed signs of decay, both constitution-
ally and outwardly. His face was bloated, his
breath was very redolent, not of sweet scent, but of
brandy ; his toilet was equally in a state of dilapi-
dation, the well-brushed beaver hat was napless,
the frock coat, like the wearer, a " little out at the
elbows," the waistcoat, once bright, now faded, the
old regimental trowsers showed evident signs of
having been mended, and the only smart things
left were the white leather gloves and a silver-

L 2

148 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

headed cane, wliicli had been presented to Fairfield
by some admirers of his vocal talents.

Not wishing to drop an old acquaintance, espe-
cially in his reduced state, I crossed the street, and
shook him warmly by the hand. We talked over
bygone days, of the symposiums after the plays at
Valenciennes, of the Connaught Rangers. Before
leaving, he urged me to take an early chop with him
at the Golden Cross, Charing Cross, where he was
staying, and to end the evening at the Adelphi,
where, through the kindness of his old friend
Frederick Yates, he had free access. At that period
there were few clubs open in London, and the only
one I belonged to was White's, where no visitors
were admitted. Even had they been, I fear I
should scarcely have had sufficient moral courage to
have taken my " seedy "-looking friend into that
fashionable club. To get out of the difficulty, 1
told what is termed a white lie (it would be an
interesting subject to trace the different hues of
mendacity), and said I had ordered dinner at the
Piazza, and hoped he would join me there.

" I too," he replied, " have told the waiter at the
Golden Cross that I should dine at home, and
should not like at this late hour to counter-order
my dinner. So I shall expect you at five o'clock,
military time."

" Upon one condition," I rejoined ; " that you
will be my guest upon this occasion."

" Agreed," he said ; " if such be your ultimatum,
I cannot refuse."

In less than two minutes I was in the coffee-

SIM FAIRFIELD. 149

room of the Golden Cross. " Waiter," I said,
" Mr. Fairfield will dine with me at five. Let us
Lave tlie best dinner you can provide, and a bottle
of the Beeswing port."

The waiter looked rather surprised, and not a
little pleased. The order was attended to, and in
that snug coffee-room, immortalised in verse by
poor Maginn, we fared sumptuously.

"No more I'll eat the juicy steak
Within its boxes pent,
When in the mail my place I take
For Bath or Brighton bent.

" No more the coaches I shall see
Come trundling from the yard,
Nor hear the horn blown cheerily
By brandy-sipping guard.

"King Charles, I think, must sorrow sore.
E'en were he made of stone,
When left by all his friends of yore,
(Like Tom Moore's rose) alone.

" No wonder the triumphant Turk
O'er Missoloughi treads,
E/oasts bishops, and in bloody work
Snips off some thousand's heads !

"No wonder that the crescent gains,
When we the fact can't gloss,
That we ourselves are at such pains
To trample down the Cross !"

The dinner passed off pleasantly enough, and we
proceeded to the Adelphi Theatre, where I paid a
visit to my old Cambray commissariat friend,
Frederick Yates. At the conclusion of the play,
Fairfield suggested an adjournment to a neigh-
bouring tavern, where we could have a broiled bone
or kidney for supper. To this I agreed, and we

150 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

drove off to a house recommended by him in Lei-
cester Square. " There is a little play going on,"
he said, " but we can have some supper."

The room we were ushered into was a
tolerably spacious one ; in the centre was a hazard-
table, at which two or three very flashily-dressed
men were playing, and in the alcove was a side-
board, on which was displayed cald ham and beef,
brandy and sherry.

"Will you try your luck?" said my companion,
" the stakes are limited to silver." Suiting the
action to the word he threw down half-a-crown,
called " Seven's the main !" it came up four.

" Four the caster has to seven. Two to one
ao-ainst the caster," said one of the croupiers,
evidently of the Hebrew persuasion.

Another half-crown was thrown on the board of
green cloth, and soon a three and a one appears on
the dice. " Four ! the caster wins."

My friend pocketed his winnings, and again
appealed to me to try my luck ; adding, " Of course,
you understand the supper is given by the pro-
prietors."

Not wishing to sup at their expense, I, though
never a gambler, risked a crown piece, which was
immediately swept away ; another speedily followed
it. I then retired to the sideboard, and had a glass
of brandy and water, for which I had already dearly
paid. Fairfield followed suit, with this exception,
that he did not attempt to mix the stronger with
the purer element, the result was that, after swal-
lowing a large tumbler of fiery brandy, he became

THE " SILVER HELL." 151

intoxicated. Knowing the effect this would pro-
duce on his temper, I proposed that we should go
home.

" Go home at this early hour !" he exclaimed.
" You may if you like." Then in a theatrical tone
shouted : —

" Slave, I have set my life upon the cast,
And I will stand the hazard of the die."

He then continued playing, occasionally winning,
but more often losing ; at last he turned to me, to
ask me to lend him five pounds. Fortunately I
had not that sum with me ; if I had, most assuredly
I should not have parted with it. My refusal
infuriated him, and when I urged him to leave the
low house, his anger burst out. " Low house !"
he exclaimed; "do you mean to insult me ?" then
rushing to the door, he was out of the house before I
could explain my somewhat unguarded expression.

No sooner had he left, and I was preparing to
follow, when one of the proprietors addressed me
in rather a defiant manner, and wished to know
whether it was my intention to continue play. I
replied in the negative. " Well," continued he,
" most gentlemen" (layiug a great stress upon the
word " gentlemen ") " after supping here patronise
the game. Your friend always acts an honourable
part."

Not wishing to listen to any more impertinences,
and feeling I had amply paid for the glass of
brandy and water, I walked towards the door,
when sounds anything but pleasant reached my
ears. " Shame ! Shabby ! Call himself a gentle-

152 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

man !" Fortunately for me, at this moment two
strangers entered the room, for I verily believe
that I should have been assaulted and probably
robbed by the proprietor of this " Silver Hell"
(as I afterwards heard it was called), aided by his
" bonnets." To the uninitiated I must explain,
*' bonnet" means a man belonging to the gang who
plays to tempt others on.

Early next morning a card was brought to me
by the waiter at the Gloucester Coffee-house, with
Mr. Kelly's name on it. He was ushered in, and
soon informed me that he was deputed by his
friend, Mr. Fairfield, to demand an apology for an
offensive remark that I had made on the previous
night.

'• If there was any offence," I replied, " it was
not on my part. Mr. Fairfield took me to a low
gambling-house, and, from what I saw there, I felt
perfectly justified in denouncing it as one."

" Sim is a good-natured fellow," replied Kelly,
*' but rather hot-headed, more especially so since
his losses at play. You know I have always tried
to prove myself a peace-maker, and I will take
upon myself to say that, if you will only tell me
you meant no personal offence, all will end ami-
cably."

" I can have no hesitation in doing so," I an-
swered ; " nothing was farther from my thoughts."

" All right," responded Kelly ; " and now come
and meet poor old Sim at breakfast with me at the
Tavistock. Shake hands, all will be serene again."

JOE KELLY. 153

The kind-hearted " Joe" then burst forth into
one of Moore's Irish melodies : —

"And doth not a meeting like this make amends,
For all the long years I've been wand' ring away ;
To see thus around me my youth's early friends,
As smiling and kind as in that happy day ?"

Although I own I would much rather have pre-
ferred staying away from the breakfast than
attending it, I agreed to accompany Kelly to the
Tavistock. There I shook hands with one who, an
hour before, was ready prepared to meet me with
pistol in hand at twelve paces " on the daisies."
This was the last time I ever saw Fairfield ; a few
years afterwards I heard of his death, brought pre-
maturely on by reckless dissipation.

Kelly, albeit not a quarrelsome fellow, was ever
ready to resent any slight, and to stand up for
those of his friends who were unfairly attacked. I
recollect once at Cambray, when the conversation
after dinner turned upon the English stage and
English artistes, the name of Miss F. Kelly was
mentioned, and reference was made to the fact of
her having been twice shot at while acting, in both
cases by rejected admirers.

" Perhaps in a fit of jealousy," chimed in Horace
Churchill, " against some more favoured lover."

" Favoured lover !" echoed Kelly, really misin-
terpreting the remark ; " I cannot listen to any
scandal against so near a relative." Saying this
he abruptly left the room.

In those pugnacious days, when the slightest real
or often supposed offence led to a hostile meeting,

] 54 CELEBRITIES I HATE KNOWX.

everyone present felt that a duel would be the
inevitable result, especially as Churchill was as
brave as a lion, as his military prowess afterwards
in India (where he was killed) proved, and Kelly
was not wanting in pluck. Happily through the
mediation of friends the affair was amicably ar-
ranged, the belligerent parties shook hands, and
the evening passed off pleasantly. -

Miss Kelly might fairly be called the heroine of
domestic tragedy ; she was equally good in comedy,
and being gifted with a remarkably sweet voice,
often took part in operas and operettas. Her
romps were all exuberance and grace ; full of
girlish gaiety and unrestrained wildness ; her
waiting-maids were inimitable. Charles Lamb, in
1818, wrote of her as follows : —

" Your tears have passion in them, and a grace,
A genuine freshness which our hearts avow ;
Your smiles are winds whose ways we cannot trace,
That vanish and retm'n we know not how."

Miss Kelly after a brilliant career retired from
the stage, and then turned her mind to the esta-
blishment of a Dramatic School, as the following
letter which she addressed me will show : —

'* Dean Street, June 6,

" My Lord,

" Many of my friends, amongst whom I am
proud to name Mr. Serjeant Talfourd and Mr.
Charles Dickens, have suggested my return to the
public for a fortnight, as the readiest and most
proper means for the renovation of the funds neces-
sary for the support and furtherance of my Dramatic

PRACTICAL JOKES. 155

School. I propose, therefore, to give a series of
Dramatic Evenings, and with a view to render them
strictly private and select for the patronage of the
nobility and gentry, I prefer to solicit as a personal
favour that which I might, perhaps, venture to
flatter myself would now, as on former occasions,
be kindly responded to through the medium of a
public announcement. Hoping then to excuse, or
at least account for this intrusion, I have the
honour to subscribe myself,

" Yours faithfully,

" M. F. Kelly."

It was with the above view that Miss Kelly con-
verted some houses in Dean Street, Soho, into a
theatre — now known as the Royalty — and the
greatest credit is due to her for her endeavours to
form what has long been required in England — a
Dramatic School. It is true that, at the present
time, many highly-gifted professional ladies and
gentlemen devote their time to instructing pupils
for the stage, but beneficial as that is it does not
meet the requirements. We want a Dramatic
School on the same principle as the Royal Academy
of Music.

To return to practical jokes which in bygone days
distinguished the manners of the citizens of London;
these were generally innocent, and generally very
silly, but one of the contrary description marked the
autumn of 1737. A well-dressed man rode down the
King's Road from Fulham, at a most furious rate,
commanding each turnpike-gate to be thrown open,

3 56 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

as he was a messenger, conveying the news of the
Queen's sudden death. The alarm instantly spread
into every quarter of the city ; the trained bands,
who were on their parade, desisted from their exer-
cise, furled their colours and returned home with
their arms reversed ; the shopkeepers began to
collect sables, when the jest was discovered, but
not the author of it.

" There are certain wags," so writes a chronicler
of the above date, " who find great amusement in
contriving wonderful stories for the public, which
are sometimes circulated verbally, and frequently
inserted in the newspapers. This waggery has
recently received the elegant term of hoaxing.
Twice very lately crowds have been sent to the
ship-yards below London to witness the launching
of men-of-war and Indiaraen which were not ready to
launch ; and last winter an old story was reproduced
of a gardener digging a pit to receive the body of a
servant he had seduced, whom he intended to have
murdered had not his master luckily discovered the
play, by the intervention of a dream."

That practical jokes are often attended with the
most fatal consequences cannot be doubted, I might
refer to one at least, if not more, that have oc-
curred in our days, but prefer quoting an anecdote
that establishes the fact. Mrs. Hutchinson, in the
Memoirs of her husband, relates an anecdote to
prove that practical wit, as it is falsely called, had
arrived to a very shameful degree of indulgence in
the reign of Queen Elizabeth. Speaking of a branch
of the family of Birou, she proceeds, " That mar-

PRACTICAL JOKES. 157

riage, wherein the father had not been obeyed, was
fruitless ; and the young gentleman himself being
given to youthful vanity, as he was one day to go
out a hunting with his father, had commanded that
something should be put under the saddle of a
young serving man that was to go out with them,
to make sport at his affright, when his horse should
prove unquiet. The thing succeeded as it was
designed, and made them such sport that the
young gentleman in the passion of laughter died,
and turned their mirth into mourning; leaving a
sad caveat, hy his exaonjjle, to take heed of hazarding
men^s precious lives for a little sjport^ The lines in
italics are thus in the original.

Theodore Hook's practical jokes, inexcusable as
they must be considered, were so inexpressibly
ludicrous in effect as well as original in conception,
and were carried out with so unparalleled a degree of
impudence as to provoke the dullest mortals to
mirth ; not so the practical jokes of many of his
followers, which were tame, mischievous, and
devoid of fun. Well do I recollect the time when
men of high position amused themselves after a
drunken bout with breaking windows and lamps,
" flooring Charleys," as the so-called guardians of
the night were named, wrenching off knockers and
bell-pulls. Nor does it seem that this aristocratic
amusement was confined to London, for in a recent
publication, " The Memoirs of the Life and Times
of Lord Brougham," I find that the same exploits
were carried on to a great extent in Edinburgh early
in the present century. Brougham himself makes

158 CELEBRITIES T HAVE KNOWN.

the following confession, " One of our constant
exploits, after an evening at the Apollo Club, was
to parade the streets of the New Town, and wrench
the brass knockers off the doors, or tear out the
brass handles of the bells. No such ornaments
existed in the Old Town ; but the New Town, lately
built, abounded in sea-green doors and huge brazen
devices, which were more than our youthful hands
could resist. The numbers we tore off must have
been prodigious, for I remember a large dark closet
in my father's house, of which I kept the key,
being literally filled with our spoUa ojnma. We
had no choice but to hoard them, for it is pretty
obvious we could not exhibit or otherwise dispose
of them. It was a strange fancy, and must have
possessed some extraordinary fascination, for it will
scarcely be credited, and yet it is perfectly true, that
as late as March, 1803, when we gave a farewell
banquet to Horner- on his leaving Edinburgh for
ever to settle in London, we sallied forth to the
North Bridge, and then halted in front of Mr.
Manderson, the druggist's shop, where I, hoisted
on the shoulders of the tallest of the company,
placed myself on the top of the doorway, held on
by the sign, and twisted off the enormous brazen
serpent which formed the explanatory announce-
ment of the business that was carried on within. I
forget the end of the adventure, but I rather think
the city guard exhibited unusual activity on that
occasion, and that we had a hard run for it."

A practical joke was played upon an old friend of
mine, the late John Spalding, than whom a kinder-

JACK SPALDING. 159

hearted creature did not exist. If Jack Spalding,
as he was usually called, had a fault it was that of
vanity. Being extremely good-looking, full of life and
animation, with an ofl-hand manner, he had in early
life been spoilt, and when he entered the army and
joined the 9th Lancers, and subsequently the Life
Guards he was made much of, and if not in reality
so, fancied himself Venfant cheri des dames, a
regular creve-coeur. During his temporary residence
at Brussels, a gallant colonel of the Guards, now
no more, to whom Spalding had boasted that he
had captivated the Queen of the Belgians, turned
over in his mind how he might cure the ex-Lancer
and Life-Guardsman of his folly. Here I may
remark, although it is scarcely necessary so to do,
that the only grounds Spalding had for supposing
he had inspired any feeling in the breast of Her
Majesty, was that the Queen's attention had been
attracted by a wonderful fancy uniform that her
gallant admirer had appeared in at a court ball. To
carry out the hoax, the colonel got some lady ac-
quaintance of his to address a note to Spalding,
saying that a certain illustrious lady would be en
voiture in the Alice Verte the following day at four
o'clock, that she would appear in a blue dress, a bon-
net ornamented with. 2^ ens ees, and a white veil. The
highly scented note contained the following couplet :

" C'est une si bonne et si douce chose
De pouvoir dire : j'aime, je suis aime."

Upon receipt of the above billet-doux Spalding was
in a state of ecstasy, and the next day mounted on
the colonel's hack, which he borrowed for the occa-

160 CELEBEITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

sion, wended his way to the appointed spot. Car-
riage after carriage passed, but no blue dress was
to be seen. At last the victim of the hoax caught
a glimpse of one, and to his delight saw a lady
sitting back in a close carriage, fully answering the
description. Cantering up to the door of it, with the
note very redolent of patchouly betwixt finger and
thiimb to prove his identity, he gracefully took off
his hat, and said, " Madame, j'ai I'honneur,
Madame — " At that instant the note was snatched
out of his hand, and a voice which heimmediatly re-
cognised as that of his wife, his " dear Mary," as
he called her, exclaimed, '* So I've discovered your
goings on at last." Spalding stammered out an
excuse, when the lady in blue came to his rescue,
and a reconciliation took place. Spalding vowed
vengeance against the perpetrator of the hoax,
should he ever discover him, which happily he never
did. It was generally supposed that the colonel
had a confederate, no less a person than Mrs.
Spalding, who, though the best of wives and
devoted to her husband, was anxious to put an end
to his fantastic illusions.

Colonel Charretie of the 2nd Life Guards was
in some degree a celebrity about town ; he was what
is called a " knowing fellow," a good shot, especi-
ally at pigeons, and with pistols, a first-rate
amateur jockey, and a foremost rider to hounds,
good-humoured and agreeable when all went well ;
but queer-tempered when put out. He was the
hero of an adventure, the recital of which may
prove amusing. About five-and-twenty years ago

COLONEL OHARRETIE. 161

some friends of mine were staying at Bognor for
Goodwood races ; the party consisted of a father
and mother, a daughter, and an aspirant for the
fair young lady's hand. I, who was made a con-
fidant of the love affair, was at Goodwood House,
and of course did all I could to encourage the lovers,
feeling assured that they were worthy of one
another. The girl was not out of her teens, and
her prudent father wished her to see a little more
of the world before she entered the matrimonial
state; the mamma, probably remembering her "love's
young dream," was more disposed to make her
daughter happy. On the Cup day my friend ap-
proached me with a very woe-begone face, and said
that paterfamilias had made up his mind to leave
Bognor on the following day ; that if that plan was
carried out he would not meet his inamorata until
the following season, and besought me to exert my
influence to keep the party at Bognor until the
following Tuesday, the house having been taken up
to that period. I promised to do all in my power,
and approaching the mamma said she must see
Goodwood House and gardens before she left; that
during the races every room was occupied, but that
on the Monday I should be delighted to show her
over it.

" I fear," she replied, " we must leave to-morrow,
for we are going to Scotland earlier than I ex-
pected, and my husband must be in London for a
day or two."

" To-morrow," I responded, " impossible ! You

VOL. II. M

162 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

will miss one of the best days' racing. Lots of
gentlemen-riders to-morrow."

" I assure you I regret it much," she continued,
" but when once my husband has made up his
mind, his law, like that of the Modes and Persians,
cannot be broken."

Greatly disheartened, I sought my friend to com-
municate the failure I had met with. At that
moment Charretie came up. " Why, what has
happened ?" said he, addressing the disconsolate
youth. *' You have not been dropping your money
on the Cup ; if you have, I'll give you a tip for
to-morrow. Let me see you before the first race,
and I'll let you stand a ' poney.' I've a large
stake, and it's a dead certainty."

" It is a love affair," I replied.

" I'm not a bad hand at that," rejoined Charretie.
" Tell me all about it, and I'll see if I can pull you
through."

We told him the case, as far as the projected
movement to London was concerned.

" All right," he continued, " I see my way.
Only point out the cruel parent, leave the rest
to me."

At all times the colonel had what is termed a
" horsy" look about him, and by raising his shoul-
ders, turning his toes in, and smoothing down his
hair on his forehead, he added greatly to that look.
Without saying more than " Follow me," he went
straight up to the spot where the mother of the
young lady was standing, took off his hat, made an
awkward salaam, and thus began : —

COLONEL CHAREETIE. 163

" Please, ma'am, I understand you wish to have
post 'osses to take you up to town to-morrow."

" Yes, yes, we do," interrupted the pater.

" Quite impossible, Sir; all the 'osses at Bognor
is engaged for to-morrow, and on Saturday, after a
week's 'ard work, they won't be up to much,
much less to take you to Pet'orth or Midhurst."

" How unfortunate !" exclaimed the dupe.
" What is to be done ?"

" Well, sir, if I may be so bold," proceeded Cbar-
retie, " I should advise you remaining over Monday.
Squire Gratwick was going up to London on Tues-
day" (this was a pure invention), " but he has
been unexpectedly called upon to remain at home
all next week, and if you like. Sir, you can have the
'osses I have ordered for him at Midhurst, Godalm-
ing, Haslemere, Cobham, and Kingston."

" I feel very much obliged to you," responded
pater, " but perhaps by writing I may secure horses
for to-morrow,"

" Unpossible, Sir; howerer Pve done my best,
and hope you won't get into no quandar?/. Good
day, ma'am. Good day. Sir."

" Stop ! stop ! Would it do if I gave you a
decided answer to-morrow ?"

" With every wish to 'commodate you. Sir, I've a
gent waiting, who I've promised to give the re-
fusal, if you declined."

" Under those circumstances, I agree. You'll be
sure to have everything right."

" Eight as a trivet, Sir. Your servant. Sir."

I had been a witness to this interview, and could

M 2

164 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

scarcely refrain from laugluDg outright at Char-
retie's imperturbable manner. Off I ran to my friend.
" It's all settled," I said, " they remain until
Tuesday. You may thank Charretie for this."

The result was, that during the next four days
there were constant meetings on the beach, at Miss
Binstead's library and emporium for fancy goods,
in an excursion to Arundel Castle and Chichester
Cathedral, and all went swimmingly well. I joined
the party, and while the young people were billing
and cooing, I occupied the attention of the mother;
the father, poor fellow, was laid up with an attack
of his old and only enemy — the gout.

On the evening before departure we sat on the
beach ; it was a lovely moonlight night. Had we
asked, in the words of the song, " What are the
wild waves saying ?" they would have replied,
" Two fond hearts have pledged their faith to love
until death do them part."

The marriage took place shortly afterwards, upon
which occasion I was " best man." In proposing
the health of the father and mother of the " bride,"
I referred to their hospitality and philanthropy,
slyly adding, that without Love and Charretie little
earthly happiness could be expected. Both bride
and bridegroom took the allusion, and coloured up.
I ought to add, that the colonel had arranged to
have the horses ready, so that the plot remained
undiscovered.

165

THE EULLY.

CHAPTER XL

DISRAELI ON QUOTATIONS — DIARY OF CAPTAIN CLAXTON, R N. —
THE BULLY— KILLING NO MURDER.

" A brave man is sometimes a desperado ; a bully is always a
coward."

HALIBURTON.

DISRAELI, the elder, ia the '' Curiosities of
Literature," remarks, " Whenever we would
prepare the mind by a forcible appeal, an opening
quotation is a symphony preluding on the chords
whose tones we are about to harmonise;" and he
adds, " To make a happy quotation is a thing not
easily to be done." Cardinal du Perron used to
say that the application of a verse from Virgil was
worth a talent ; and Bayly declared " that there is
not less invention in a just and happy application
of thought found in a book than in being the
first author of that thoua;ht."

Following at a humble distance in the same
track, I think a more appropriate motto than the
following cannot be found to illustrate an adven-
ture I am about to record. I quote from Dryden :

166 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

" 'Tis so ridiculous, but so true withal,
A bully cannot sleep without a brawl."

A gallant old " Salt" and friend of mine,
alas ! now no more, Captain Claxton, of the Royal
Navv, who distinofuished himself in the American
war, lent me one of his journals, with permission to
make use of the following incidents, which I tran-
scribe literally, with one reservation which will be
seen at the end : —

" I often look with singular pleasure over the
many pages of my Journal, filled to overflowing
with anecdotes and occurrences, which now strikes
me as most marvellous to have come under ray
observation, and with many transactions in which
circumstances — the love of fun strong upon me
then — induced, led, or almost compelled me to take
part.

" I had some idea of publishing them, but passed
them over, because * Logs' of one ship, ' Cruises' of
another, ' Scenes in the Cockpit' of a third, and
novels of all degrees up to a high number, have
repeated, usque ad nauseam, similar events ; mate-
rials for which were never wanting with a fleet like
ours, of above one thousand pendants, and still no
doubt are to be witnessed in the cockpit of every
man-of-war in the service, in the steerage of every
frigate or sloop, in most ward-rooms and gun-
rooms.

" In all ships which, like the one I sailed in,
could boast messmates gentlemenlike as well as
jolly, with a wag or a sea-wit or two, and a good
' butt' in the shape of an idler, neither ward-rooms

CAPTAIN CLAXTON. 167

nor gun-rooms lacked amusement, but in the berth
of the ' Mids,' where if there were two or three
tolerably steady, the rest were sure to be a lively,
frolicsome set of youngsters, mischievous as mon-
keys, playful as kittens, with wits sharp and always
wary, there were never wanting incidents for an
observer like myself, determined to be industrious
in noting down all I could collect.

" Marryat has so well told similar events, and
they are become so stale, that I pass over most;
but one or two I cannot resist giving. I dwell not
on many which I took part in : the frequent wear-
ing of cocked hats, to mark the last dealer at whist,
amidst noise, tricks, and roars of laughter from
ourselves — irresistible bursts, however anxious we
might be to be serious, so as not only to recollect
that oue's partner was not one's oppoueut, but also
what cards were trumps.

" I dwell not on cutting down hammocks, in
which I myself had on one occasion a hand against
a mischievous brother reefer, who more than once
made me the laughing-stock of the captain and all
the quarter-deck, by pretending to teach me to
give the word of command in backing ship, having
previously blackened the trumpet all round the
mouthpiece, with the clearly marked impression
of which I went on deck ; and a second time, of
pinning to my jacket tail the very dirtiest knife-
cloth that the filthiest of stewards, in the worst-
ordered of midshipmen's berths ever used, and
going in it to dine with the captain, ay, and sitting
on it too.

168 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

*' I dwell not on the game of able whackets, in
wliich I was initiated with more force than was
agreeable to my softer hands ; but I cannot resist
my notices of a duel — not a three-cornered one,
like that so inimitably told by the author of ' Peter
Simple' — but one which actually did take place,
showing, I opine, in most clear colours, the stuff
that the animal bully is made of ; for be it known
that our youngsters had in a midshipman of some
standing, as far as years went, an animal of that
sort to deal with, and there is seldom a mess or a
school without one. He had for some reason,
which is unimportant, quarrelled with Sims, who
was the best of good fellows, his senior in age and
seniority of rating. He challenged Sims to fight
with pistols for having pommelled him well with
fists. The blustering hero vowed he would have
the youngster out, directly we arrived at Gi-
braltar.

" 'Why not here?' asked one of the oldsters.

"'Ah, why not?' responded Bully, knowing it
was unlikely to come off on board.

" The wink was passed to Sims, who, catching
the idea, immediately said, ' Why not ? Be it so,
in the cable tier.'

" Away went one of the youngsters for pistols,
which were brought with a cartouche box into the
captain's clerk's berth, where others soon followed
to hold a consultation. I happened to come down,
and was called in, and told what was going on.

" ' Frank Tyrrel, who washes to act as your
second,' said a larking middy, 'is in the foretop,

DUEIi WITH A BULLY. 169

whether he has gone aloft to reef a sail, or has
taken a hatchet with him to cut the clouds for to
make the wind blow, I can't exactly say.' The
youth, who was brimful of merriment, continued,
' You had better, Sims, bring yourself to an anchor,
and suppose you take this pin to prick for a soft
board to sit upon.'

" ' Less chaff, you audacious radical,' said a more
sedate messmate.

" Sims was now shown two cork balls, beautifully
cut, and well black-leaded, that no one could tell
them from the real ones that rolled about in a
saucer on the table with the ship's motion. It was
now settled that the joke should be carried on, and
bets ran high that Curtle — for I must give him a
name — would not come to the scratch, or, if he did,
that he would run before the word was given.

" Two were appointed to load the pistols ; only
half a charge was to be put in, so tJiat the noise
might not be heard on deck ; an nnnecessary pre-
caution, as the ship was going fast, and the sea
highish and noisy. We all went into the midship-
men's berth, where Curtle and all hands took their
seats. A solemn discussion began on the enormity
and consequence of duelling. Curtle cared not; he
had been insulted, and had made up his mind to
receive satisfaction.

"'But,* said the Doctor, (a Scotchman), 'think
of the saarveece, mon, sic a thing never before took
place at sea.'

" ' Ah !' responded Curtle, 'you want to stop it,'
and believing fully that it would be stopped, ' but

170

CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

I say no, ray honour is concerned, liave it out I
will'

" * Then !' exclaimed Sims, ' bear witness, all of
you ; I was challenged, called a coward. If I fall,
or he falls by ray hand, it is through his act. Give
me a sheet of paper.'

" Seizing a somewhat stumpy pen, and a greasy
slip of foolscap, he wrote rapidly, saying at the
"same time,

" ' Load the pistols. The sooner all is over, the
better;' then folding the letter, he handed it to the
Doctor's mate, who promised that bis requests
should be attended to.

" With great formality, preparations were made
for loading the pistols.

" ' Wrap the bullets in flannel,' said Sims, ' paper
may light, and get between the coils of the cable.
But first blow them off, to make sure they are
clean.'

" That done, the loading commenced, and in due
time was completed. 1, trembling, lest a mistake
should be made, rendered surety doubly sure by
taking the half-dozen leaden bullets one after the
other out of the saucer, putting them in my pocket
and remarking,

" ' We may want these presently.'
" Curtle, for the first time, looked ' dashed.'
" ' Doctor,' interrupted the clerk, ' have you
brought your tourniquets ?'

" Doctor Balquidder — the names I give are ficti-
tious, as I have said before — was a North Briton, a
native of Aberdeenshire, and had more than usual

DOCTOR BALQUIDDER. 171

of the Scotch accent. Ours was liis second ship, he
had only been three years at sea, and had been
assistant-surgeon of Sir Pulteney Malcohn's flag-
ship the ' Royal Oak.' In that capacity, he had
been sent to assist the army-surgeons on board one
of the transports which was conveying the poor
fellows that had been wounded at New Orleans to
England. There, in half-a-dozen weeks or so, he
had seen more of gun-shot and musket wounds than
he would have seen for a whole life in an Edin-
burgh, London, or any other hospital, except, per-
haps, a Parisian one.

" He was clever in his profession, dry, and a wag
withal, entering with great zest into the fun that
was going on, as he would have entered into any
plot that was intended to annoy the bully who was
his especial aversion. He disliked Curtle for many
causes, but most of all for taunting him, as a Scot,
with the crime of his countrymen for selling King
Charley; in which it must be owned, he was ably
assisted by most of the wags of the mess, when
once it was found that a tender place had been
established, and how easy it was to raise the
Doctor's choler.

" It would be quite impossible to tell, where so
many were speaking at the same time, or in rapid
succession, a tithe of what passed on that never to
be forgotten occasion — every one chiming in with
some dry, witty, or shrewd remark ; the whole
bearing of which was intended to alarm the bully
more and more. Balquidder was the principal actor,
and him alone I can attempt to follow, the more

172 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

particularly as because, whenever he spoke, some-
thing to raise the cachinnatory muscles was ex-
pected, and he was listened to when no one else
had even a chance of getting in a word edge-
ways.

" ' Ah, weel ! ah, weel !' said he, ' if wilfu' mon
will be wilfu' here as in ane place else, he must e'en
hae his way. All that we puir mortals can do, is to
tak' heed that we do our ain duties on the melan-
choly occasion. Where's the gilly ? Gang and tell
the loblolly boy to bring a large basin o' warm
water, the large and the wee sponges, and
that, in all human probabeelity, I shall stand in
need o' his assistance. Will ane o' you younkers
just bring me my marking irons ? You ken the
box — mahogaue, bound in brass; it stands in the
dispensary.'

"Away flew one of them.

" ' It's maist a pity, I did nae buy a fu' surgeon's
case ; that ane cost me seventeen pounds, ten
shillings, besides the carriage, and five-and-sex-
pence for a leather case t'it, and one and two-pence
for a box to put it in — two-pence more than was
right. The fu' surgeon's wud ha' cost just five
poonds more; but poonds were nae so plenty — the
journey fra' Aberdeen, considered all the way to
Portsmouth, where I joined ; so after joining, seven-
teen poonds sixteen and eightpence just cleared me
oot, for little did I think I had to find my ain
instruments to cut up His Majesty's lieges ; but they
told me t'was the regulations, so I hope the laddie
won't require my assistance.'

DOCTOR BALQUIDDER. 173

" Here the case was brouglit ; as the Doctor took
off the leather coating, and applied the key to un-
lock it, he proceeded.

" To think of a' those tools that ha' done sic
saarveece,' takinof out the two blades of saws, and
commencing to screw the handle on the largest,
wiping the ointment off with a piece of rag, 'just at
the finish o' a bluidy war, should noo be wanted,
mair than likely, in consequence o' a feud between
mon and mon, now in time o' peace, just too, after
the teeth ha' been set, after o'er meikle practice in
that abominable transport, where I experienced
banyan days enough to last for a life. I'd thank
ye, gentlemen, just to keep your mou's a wee bit
further fra' the instruments ; your breath contains
moisture, more or less, althay in this murky place
it is nae veesible.'

*' Balquidder here carefully laid the saw, now
with its handle on, down, and taking out a probe,
about seven or eight inches in length, soliloquised
as follows,

" ' You, too, my trusty probe ! mony and mony
was the bullet you found after that awfu' affair, New
Orleans, laarge ones, too, some o' them were. The
Yankees, I was told, were over fond o' rifles ; but
I can tell you they ha' muskets with large bores
enough ; after all, if not too large, a ba' of decent
dimensions is nae so dangerous as a wee one is
after it is lodged. You can find the large ane
easily with the probe, even if it be three or four
inches buried ; but a' the college canna find the
buck shot things, or the wee ones used wi'

174 OELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

duellers. I hope gentlemen, you're putting good
sixed ba's in ; the wee anes get round corners o'
banes, and altho' you may probe five or sax inches,
it's all to nae purpose ; the ba' must be left to its
ain billet for aye, or till the body is handed o'er
for dissection ; then it is ta'en oot, covered wi'
substance would surpreese you to look on, and
mak' you wonder hoo the patient could ha' lived
sae long as mony do with ba's in a' sorts o'
places.'

" ' What's this, Doctor ?' inquired the clerk.

" 'That? Why, mon, it comes into use after we
ha' found the ba' with the probe ; it is naething
more or less than the forceps, difficult enoo' to
use when the ba' is buried far in ; for you ken
we must ha' room to open the handles wide eneugh
for the nipping parts to tak' the ba' in its clutch,
and if deep-seated we're obleeged to inceese for the
purpose.'

" ' Inceese ! what the dickens is that ?'

" ' Why, just to widen oot the hole, so as to
spread the handles so' (suiting the action to the
word), 'and that we do wi' this,' (taking out the
amputating knife) ' or this,' (producing a smaller
one). ' Awfy trying to my feelings when I had
cut ower deep — nae doot, for the matter o' that,
to the feelings of the patient too — before I got used
to it. Sometimes we had to cut where there is an
airtery, that we catch up with this ane, the airtery
forceps ; and when we have got it, we hae it held
up by an assistant o' ane side oot of the way, and
up highish, with this, call tenaculum,' (wiping

DOCTOR BALQUIDDEK. 175

away as before, amid deep silence, most ' of us
being deeply interested.

" ' And i' by cbance,' he proceeded, * and it's
nae uncommon the ba' sticks against a bane, as I
fervently hope ane o' they you've wrapt so care-
fully in swaddling flannels, and put into they fire
weapons may not, we tak' this, the bane clipper,
and grope awa'. If we find the bone shattered,
we clip awa' the splintered bits, it's always ower
bad surgery to have bits o' bane behind ; to mak'
a' right we smooth the damaged bane, after de-
nuding it with this, the raspatory, you see, nae
unlike a file, having something o' the properties
of that article; and if ba's mak holes in heads, as
Selby's did in Stackpole's, the great dueller at
Jamaica, where I was twa years or sae gone by,
which guid Providence forbid either o' they may
in the heads o' you poor sinners, then these
trephines come into request; and this the head
saw and the frocars — a beautiful pair they are —
and the scalpels, a' which by the regulations we're
obleeged to ha' sax. Noo wi' the sceessars, and
the spatola, I think I hae got oot all I can possibly
want, and I am well proveeded against casualties
which must inevitably occur when apologies are
scoorn nae to be made, worse luck, and fiyhts g-ano-
on till bluid flows on one side or the other. Mind
you, gentlemen, the loblolly boy will borrow the
loan o' your tablecloth, which is nae ower clean,
having been in use nearly a fortnight. He will
spread it on the table, nae sic a bad one for an
operation wi' candles anew.' Looking up the rest

17o CELEBRITIES 1 HAVE KNOWN.

of the instruments, ' You'll get down as quick as
you can, for time is precious noo' (addressing the
loblolly boy) ' a can o' hot water, auither of cauld,
and pit the sponges in a bason here, and the tour-
niquets,' (pointing to a seat on a locker), ' and a
roll of Baynton's adhesive plaister, a matterin o'
lint, a sma' modicum o' white cerate, and I think
all is provided.'

" Bully had shown no sign of flinching, and I
felt quite sure he either had pluck, was wide awake,
or expected the whole affair would explode before
the pistols did.

" ' And noo, gentlemen, aince mair a's ready ;
and if there's to be cutting, slashing, probing, nip-
ping, sewing up or plastering, I'm the lad — ay !
or bane setting either. Put two spleents on the
locker.'

" ' Ay, ay, Sir,' responded Lob.

" ' And the sooner we gang to business the better,
for time grows precious.'

" There was a general move, Curtle at last turning
very pale, while two pearls of perspiration oozed
out just in the centre of his forehead. At this
moment came down my gallant cousin (now an
honoured admiral,) who guessing from the move —
the liofhts ordered to the cable tier — and the sigfht
of the pistols, that a duel was in the wind, called
me on one side.

" ' Oh !' he exclaimed, ' how could you assist in
such a matter as this ? Stop it ! stop it ! or I will,
at all hazards, tell the first lieutenant, cost me
what it may. Stop it, pray ! I hate the beast.

CONCOCTING A PRACTICAL JOKE. 177

mucli reason have I, if bruises many and oft could
speak for me ; but oh ! all unprepared without a
moment's reflection — oh, let it not happen ! — and
poor dear Sims, too, to be led into such an aff'air
— the bravest and the best, oh ! put an end to it !'

" Real, genuine, honest tears coursed themselves
down the lad's handsome face. I could have hugged
him to my heart of hearts. 1 whispered, ' 'Tis all
fun. Curtle is the only person not in the secret.
The pistols are not loaded with balls — only cork,
which can't hurt much.'

" To describe the transition !

*' * Capital ! glorious ! won't I help r Tell Bray-
ley (the second to one of them, I forget which) to
keep them talking till 1 come down ; they're killing
one of the captain's sheep.'

" Away he rushed, I told Brayley that my cousin
was gone for some sheep's blood. As we proceeded
along the wing, where a few dips were being stuck
to the stanchions, for, as the doctor said, 'In
deeds of daarkness, the daarker the better, sae lang
as they can jist see one another,' my coz arrived
with a small pannikin, such as the men drink their
grog from, and in a low tone of voice said,

" ' All ready ; let the play go on.'

" The clerk heard, and became spokesman.

"'They must toss for choice; one must sit on
the cable forward, the other aft. The cable will
deaden the sound more than the wins^. Here run
this line along' (it was just eight yards), 'they
must not be too far apart, as there is only half a
charge of powder.'

VOL. II. N

178 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

" ' Quite enough for that distauce,' chimed iu
my cousin, ' I sent a ball through an inch plank
the other day, with only half a charge at ten yards ;

and you too, Tom '

"'Yes,' responded the one addressed, 'and I
picked up my ball fourteen yards from the place,
all battered by the brick wall, you know.'

" Of course, I need hardly say, there was not
one word of truth in these remarks.

" I was then asked to ' toss,' Curtle was to cry,
which he did in a husky voice, 'Heads!' I turned
over the half-crown and said ' Tails,' so that his
adversary might choose the darkest place. Sims,
not intending to aim at all, had provided himself
with his cap, having some regard for his eyes, and
a misgiving as to whether a piece of cork might not
be disagreeably propelled a few yards ; mean-
ing, as I saw he did, when the time came, to turn
his face away. The seats were chalked, for the
belligerents were compelled to sit on the cable, it
being too raised for standing room.

"'Now,' said Brayley, taking his station in the
wing, ' instead of looking to me to drop this hand-
kerchief, which you may not see in the light, and
which always diverts attention, I think it best to
give the words, " One," two," " fire." You will
be able to take better aim at one another, instead
of peering for the handkerchief. At " one" you
will each cock your pistol,' — one being now handed
to each — ' at " two" you will take aim, and when I
say " fire," but on no account till then, and 1 will

A SHAM DUEL. 179

give you plenty of time to cover one another, you
will know what to do.'

" Curtle here showed signs of a move, looking
behind him over my cousin's head, who had
crunched himself into the smallest possible space
abaft the cable, pannikin in hand.

" ' Gallant fellow !' exclaimed he, ' covers Sims
well. I think he is going to run. Stand to your
guns.'

" ' Now, gentlemen,' said Brayley, ' please to keep
out of the line of fire, balls are apt to glance. Is
it yet too late to make apologies P'

" ' I have none to offer,' replied Sims.
" Curtle seemed not to hear.

" ' Then, once more, recollect the word — I will
repeat it again — " one," a pause, " two," a longer
one than the last; "fire." When that comes may

evil consequences be averted, but if not '

" Here the clerk pretended to be overcome by
his feelings, as he muttered some unintelligible
words. He soon recovered.
" ' Stand by—" one ?" '

" CHck went both pistols, and down went Sims'
averted head.
"'Two!'

" Over spun Curtle on his seat, rolling on to the
deck. In his fall, off went his pistol ; he scramb-
ling up, left it behind, and darted for the hatchway
several yards away.

" Sims heard the report, looked round, saw his
adversary gathering himself up, thought he had

N 2

ISO CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

fired without tlie word, and rushed after him, ex-
claiming,

" * Coward and murderer to boot !'

" * Pull foot !' cried my cousin, rushing alongside
of Sims, ' pull foot ! pink him ! pink him on the
ladder !'

" Curtle had a good start, but stumbled at the
third step, by which untoward accident Sims came
up before he cleared the top, just in time to fire
his pistol within a few feet of the flying foe. Over
went the bully, likely enough from the impetus of
the explosion, or from tripping over the combing
flat on the deck. Before he could rise, my cousin,
without being discovered, had contrived to drop
about half a gill of the sheep's blood on the white
trousers of the prostrate coward, exactly where it
ought to have been, the place being clearly defined
by the smoke, and the flannel wadding wedged in
by the cork. Had it not been from the load of
flannel, and a slight obliquity in the aim, I verily
believe the cork would have taken eflect ; as it was,
the blow timt Curtle had received was a stinger.

" Clearing himself from my hopeful coz, who
tried to push him down the ladder, away rushed
the wounded Curtle; but nob before Mr. Train, the
officer of the watch, had come down from the
quarter-deck. The captain made his appearance
from the cabin, close to which all this had taken
place. The first-lieutenant, who was taking a nap
in the gun-room, followed by all the officers and
men of the watch, had gathered aft; and those
below were turning up with all speed. Bully saw

A BULLY HOAXED. 181

not, heeded not, but made for the quarter-deck

ladder, crying,

" ' Murder ! murder !' both hands clapped behind

(I and others had sneaked up the middle hatchway,

and were spectators in the crowd), but his way was

barred by numbers.

" ' I'm shot,' he exclaimed, beginning to dance

first on one leg, then on the other, when down fell
the cork, rolling towards the captain, who imme-
diately demanded what had happened.

" ' I'm dead — I'm dying !' bellowed Curtle, who
began to perspire and looked deadly white indeed.
Seeing the ball picked up by Train, as it rolled
away, he faintly exclaimed, ' Thank Heaven it is
out!' and fell into the nearest arms in a real fit;
not, however, before he had answered the captain's
question, " Who did it ?"

" ' Sims ! Sims ! my murderer !'
" I may here remark, although the denouement is
yet to come, that Curtle was taken below; the
ship's surgeon now attending, as in duty bound, by
the captain's orders; that Train, who from the first
had suspected the trick, had shown the cork to the
captain and first-lieutenant, that the breach of dis-
cipline, in using firearms below, made a great sen-
sation, that examinations took place, that the
gallant mids never allowed my name to be even
mentioned ; that Sims was disrated and in disgrace ;
that he would have been kept so long, perhaps,
but for the kindness of the captain, who was posi-
tively uproarious with merriment when he heard
from me much more of what took place than I have
indited here.

]S2 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

" My note-book contains only the following words,
' The doctor operated on Curtle — an event impos-
sible to be described, but never to be forgotten. I
must try my band, nevertheless, although I feel it
quite beyond my power to do more than give a
slight outline — a pen and ink sketch — of that
memorable transaction.

" While descending with the body to the steerage,
our Scot told his superior the facts as they had
occurred ; and the superior went into the gun-room,
where we, who had followed him, were within ear-
shot of no small amount of merriment.

" ' Of course,' said the Doctor, ' I have left
the wounded man to my assistant; you may depend
upon it those devils of middies have more in store
for the bully yet.'

"First one, then another, said they would go and
see; so the berth to which Curtle had been re-
moved was soon quite filled with anxious gazers.
The frightened youth, who had been brought to
consciousness through the aid of buckets-full of salt
water splashed in his face, was told his wound must
be examined as soon as he felt himself sufiQciently
recovered. Some brandy and water having been
given him, he proceeded to interrogate the surgeon.
" ' Is it much. Doctor ? Did the ball go through ?
I saw it drop out. You won't have to use that
horrid probe you showed me, will you ?'

"'Why, mon, as to that nae one can say till he
looks. I speene that the bullet struck the end o'
the vertebra o' the back-bone, but as I told you
before, the sooner shot wounds are looked into the

curtle's wound. 183

better. If you feel equal to it we'll just com-
mence.'

" Curtle submitted, and was assisted by no lack of
volunteers on to the table. The inside of the berth
was crammed, and outside the lattice were heads
and pairs of eyes, wherever a view could be ob-
tained. The poor wretch, face downwards, could
of course see nothing ; and his groans, as the
Doctor lectured, prevented him from hearing the
suppressed laughter of all around him.

" ' Gi' me the large bent sceessars. I see you've
lost a guid deal o' bluid, so there will be no occa-
sion to phlebotomize.'

" Upon inspection, it was ascertained that a
slight contusion had taken place, as was apparent
from a red mark larger than a shilling, blue in the
middle, and which, while the lecture went on, and
long before it was over, had got to the size of half-
a-crown.

" ' Sure eneugh,' said Balquidder, 'you ha had
a haard hit, and you may bless your stars there was
sic a lot o' my best flannel o'er the ba'. An un-
gainly shot it was, you see it went in here,' press-
ing the bruise so hard as to cause pain and a groan,
' and it came out here,' another groan and wince ;
' and as I said before, nae doot it was turned by
the bane at that point. I hope it's nae shattered,
but I doot. Do you feel pain hereabout !' pushing
hard agfainst the bruise.

" ' Oh, yes — murder, murder ! I feel it, is that
the bone ?'

" ' Oh yes, 'tis just it, and we hae some sair wark

184 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

afore us. Gi' him a wee drap mair brandy and
water, for I see we must hae an operation ; for you
must ken it's an unco bad piece of surgery to leave
two holes open to ane and the same wound. Now
as the ba' entered here,' a push, wince, and groan,
' and cam oot here,' ditto, ditto, ditto, ' it will be
necessary to join the twa. The distance is nae so
great between — barely five inches, and while we
mak that slittuck, we must try to lay the bane
bare, sae as to examine it too, afore we sew our
plaister all up comfortably and nice. Just tak my
key and bring twa o' the sewing needles. You'll
ken them, crooked things — bring twa oot, for ane
may break. I fear now there is raather too much
fat here about for me to see ; but nae matter, I
shall be able to feel. Noo, hand the sponge here
aboot. I'm ganging to cut !' taking the gold
spatula in his hand, and holding the end of it short
between his thumb and fingers, so as to be able to
press with some weight.

" Some of us outside thought he had a knife,
and a murmur actually'' began, but seeing that no
blood followed, it was suppressed. My cousin held
a dip lighted, and fancying the Doctor did not
punish enough, at this point of the operation put
the flame close to the point of the spatula, actually
touching the skin (groaning now and wincing
enough). Balquidder himself, almost bursting
with restrained laughter, was for some time unable
to speak.

" ' That was raather a shaarpish touch — a vara

A SHAM OPERATION. 185

wicked ane, I'm after thinking. Did it smart?'
(groan, groan, groan).

" The surgeon here poked a stick through the
lattice-work, for he could not get nearer, and made
signs to the sub to desist and finish ; but humanity
to Curtle, who had been his tormentor, formed no
part of the assistant's thoughts. He was intent on
punishment; knowing he should never have another
chance, for he was aware what was in store for
himself, when the bubble should burst. He told
me afterwards, when I taxed him with being over
cruel, that, having had the whip-hand, he deter-
mined to keep it as long as he could over a man so
savage to the youngsters, and his bitter enemy.

" Not, however, liking to disregard his superior's
warnino; altoofether, he remarked.

" ' Ah, weel, there's nae sae much amiss after
a' ; you see, gentlemen, for yourselves, the bane's
nae shattered, so now we'll sew all up, and hermeti-
cally seal the wound. No doot, in a week or sae,
the patient will aince more be able to sit down
comfortably. Gie me ane o' the needles, and thread
it fust wi' a double thread — no cotton mind you,
it's nae strong eneugh.'

" A very pretty sham operation was now carried
on, through the needle slightly pricking first on
one side then on the other, by the now clearly
defined red mark. Each puncture was followed by
groans, when down came a hand upon the doctor's,
who immediately dropped the needle, but not before
the efi*ect of his chirurgery was apparent.

" And from the wound appeared the trickling

186 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

blood. There was a murmur, it was rather in
human, and because it was so I forbear' saying
whose hand it was that came to the unfortunate
youth's rescue.

" ' Now a' is complete, except the adhesive
plaister. Hand me the sponge. That tying the
knot was sharpish pain, but you'll nae sufiPer mair.
Have you got the soldering iron ?'

" ' Yes, sir, here it is, all hot !'

" ' Oh !' groans and wincing.

" ' Bide still, mon, it's only to warm the plaister !'

" Strip upon strip of Baynton's adhesive plaister
were put on hot enough to cause more wincing,
until the w^hole of the part resembled an overgrown
star-fish.

" The operation was now pronounced over ; as
strangers left the scene of action, the loblolly boy
was ordered to wipe dry and re-annoint the instru-
ments, and the patient was carried as he lay, face
downwards, and in that position placed on a
mattress in a cot, which was to be hoisted into its
place outside the berth where he was in. Curtle
was told to keep himself in that position, and if
hemorrhage did not come on for four or five hours.
* By which time,' said the Doctor sotto voce, ' I
shall give him something to prevent fever.' Then
came the hoisting up, in which work all the
youngsters took part.

" The cot was no sooner up than down it went
at the foot, my cousin declaring the lanyard had
broken. When the end was up, down came the
other; but some of us interfered, and Curtle was

CUETLE DISCHAEGED. 187

placed as the Doctor Lad ordered, told to keep
quiet, and there we left him. Sure enough, the
disciple of Galen did administer to his patient as
nauseous a draught as was ever concocted, with a
view of preventing fever — a precaution rendered
necessary, after so much fear and excitement.

" In the course of a few hours the patient was
allowed to turn over, and without being enlightened,
passed the night, and would have passed many
days probably in this state of ignorance, had it not
been for the Captain's inquiries, when it became
necessary to inform the victim of the hoax, of the
practical joke that had been played upon him.
Curtle did not long remain in the ship after her
arrival at Quebec. He found her too hot to hold
him, and the Captain giving him his discharge, he
left the service for the backwoods, where we after-
wards heard he became a settler, assisted by his
family in England. It was a good riddance for all
hands. He left without one expression of regret,
for he was without a friend."

I have given fictitious names, not wishing to
wound the feelings of anyone wdio participated in
this truly practical joke.

188

CANADA. .
CHAPTER XII.

AN ADVENTURE IN CANADA— AN UNEXPECTED MEETING.

" The ouce fallen woman must for ever fall ;
For vice must have variety, while virtue
Stands like the sun, and all which rolls around
Drinks life and light and glory from her aspect."

BYEON.

AN incident occurred in Quebec, when in conjunc-
tion with Colonel, now Field-Marshal, Fitz-
gerald, I was manager of the amateur garrison thea-
tricals. Upon arriving in that city, at that period the
residence of the Governor-General, we found the
theatre open with a small and very indififerent corps
dramatique, who for some time had been struggling
unsuccessfully to obtain a livelihood. The manager,
Mr. Baker, had married against the consent of
her parents, who moved in a highly respectable
circle, a young girl of exquisite beauty and lady-
like manners ; of a romantic nature she readily
assented to her husband's proposition to make the
stage her profession, he having already trod the
provincial boards with fair success. As Mrs. Baker's

GAERISON THEATRICALS. 189

parents and friends refused to notice lier, the
happy couple, before the honeymoon had passed,
proceeded to the United States in the hope of
gettin;^ an engagement at New York. FaiHng in
this, they got together a few other disappointed
members of the theatrical profession, and left the
States for Canada. Upon reaching Montreal they
found the ground occupied, so they journeyed on
to Quebec, where they opened a small theatre in
the square where then stood the Governor-General's
chateau, as it was called. My brother Frederick
and myself, being devoted to theatricals, took the
earliest opportunity of visiting the theatre, accom-
panied by an equally great lover of the sock and
buskin, the late Frederick Tolfrey, author of the
" Sportsman in Canada," and other works. We
were introduced to the manager, who, finding
nightly a " beggarly account of empt}'' boxes,"
had given notice that the theatre would close after
a bespeak from my father, the Governor-General.
He then suggested that, in the event of our wishing
to get up garrison theatricals, the females of his
company would be happy to join us ; adding that
with a word from us he could obtain a clerkship
near Kingstown in the upper country, leaving Mrs.
Baker to take the principal roles. In consequence
of the above intimation, a meeting was held at the
Union Hotel, when the subject of having a series
of amateur performances was discussed, a resolu-
tion passed to form a corps dramatique, and Fitz-
gerald, then Colonel of the 60th Rifles, and myself
appointed joint managers. No sooner was the

190 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

above arranged, and my father's consent gained,
not only to patronize the performances, but to
take a hirge private box for the season, than we
commenced operations by having the theatre newly
painted and decorated. With the aid of some non-
commissioned ofiBcers and soldiers of the 60th
Rifles, under the superintendence of Captain, after-
wards Sir Joshua Jebb of the Royal Engineers,
we soon completed the work, and thou commenced
those difSculties which managers, whether amateur
or professional, are heirs to. The first difficulty was
selecting pieces, the second was to cast the pieces,
for the capabilities of the actors were unknown to
my colleague and myself. At last all was arranged,
and the " Honeymoon" and " Raising the AVind"
were announced for the opening night.

Then commenced the rehearsals ; as usual nobody
attended punctually, nobody remembered the sides
at which they were to go on the stage, and nobody
observed the directions of the prompter, that useful
functionary, ^' tho' lost to sight to memory dear."

The night arrived, the theatre was crowded
in every part, and the Juliana of Mrs. Baker elicited
the warmest applause ; she afterwards performed
Lady Teazle, Mrs. Oakley, Lydia Languish, Miss
Hardcastle with the greatest eclat. All went well,
until one morning when Mrs. Baker sent to Colonel
Fitzgerald and myself to say she had received a
letter from her husband, who was seriously ill, and
at once required her presence. " A Cure for the
Heartache" had been announced, in which Mrs.
Baker was to perform the principal female charac-

J[RS. BAKER. 191

ter, so losing no time we proceeded to the tlieatro,
sent for the lady, and pointed out the great incon-
venience we should be put to if she left us so
abruptly. From a rumour that had reached us,
which afterwards we found to be untrue, we fancied
that the reason assigned was not the real one, and
that jealousy of another actress had caused her to
" strike." Our persuasions were met with no re-
sponse, and amidst tears and sighs, Mrs. Baker
declared she must leave the following morning.
We then beo-an to blame ourselves for our hard-

o

heartedness in not having sympathised with the
sufferer, and to make up for it proposed to pay her
expenses to Kingstown. This she gratefully de-
clined, having realized a very fair sum for a benefit
we had recently granted her. As the weather was
intensely cold, I offered her my regimental cloak,
the use of which she gladly accepted. She then
left us to visit the cemetery where her only child
had been buried, and early the next day started on
her journey. Fortunately we found a substitute,
and all went off well, albeit everyone regretted the
loss of one who both in private and in public had
conducted herself so admirably well.

On the afternoon of the performance I found, on
my writing-table, a letter from Mrs. Baker full of
gratitude, and expressing a hope that if she found
her husband better she mig;'ht be allowed to re-
sume her post, adding that anxiety for her dear
husband, and grief at visiting the grave of her
beloved child, had so completely upset her that
she was compelled to remain one night at a small

192 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

village not more than fifteen miles from Quebec.
Wishing to communicate the above to Colonel
Fitzgerald, for we had previously written to a
young American artiste, a Miss Denny, then
starring at Montreal, to ask her if she could at the
end of her engagement join our company, I pro-
ceeded to his house.

" Have you seen Dr. Halket ?" he asked, " I have
sent everywhere and cannot find him."

"I met him," I replied, "on my way; by the
appearance of his horse, he must have been some
distance away, for I never saw an animal so dis-
tressed."

I must here remark that Dr. Halket was the
*' gallant gay Lothario" of Quebec ; previous to our
arrival at Quebec, he had been wounded in the arm
by a brother officer for an affair of gallantry, and
for months seemed proud of having his arm in a
sling. Nothing more occurred, but on casually
looking at Mrs. Baker's letter, I saw no post-mark,
and was at a loss to know how it had been con-
veyed to me. At that moment an officer of the
60th entered the room to report his return from
Montreal to the Colonel. Turning to me, he said,

" I saw a lady enveloped in your regimental
cloak, in company with Halket, she was en route to
Kingstown — he was returning home. The parting
was quite a case of Romeo and Juliet."

So then the mystery was cleared up, Halket, the
lady-killer, had sacrificed another victim to his illicit
passion. As Mrs. Baker had been greatly patronised
by the ladies at Quebec, and I was anxious as

VISIT TO KINGSTOWN. 193

far as possible to avoid a scandal, I took the officer
aside, and requested liim not again to refer to the
subject, as if once any female members of our corps
dramatique were known to be bad, there would
probably be a veto against married men, at least,
acting with them. The affair, fortunately not coming
to the Colonel's ears, was hushed up. A few
months afterwards I paid a visit to Kingstown,
where I was most hospitably entertained by the
officers of the 70th Regiment.

" You are just come in time," said the Colonel,
" to see our amateur play. We dine early to-day,
so as to be present at the commencement. I
believe some of my young fellows will have a supper
after the play."

Of course, I could not refuse so polite an invita-
tion, though 1 felt anxious to avoid both Mr. and
Mrs. Baker, especially the former, for fear some-
thing unpleasant might ooze out. No sooner had I
entered the stage-box than I saw the frail but fair
lady peeping through the green curtain, and
shortly afterwards I received a hasty scrawl written
in pencil, urging me not to condemn the writer
unheard, and expressing a wish to see me the
following morning at ten o'clock, on the subject of
renewing the engagement at Quebec for the follow-
ing season. There was a postscript, which, as usual
in a lady's letter, contained the pith of it.

" What will my husband think if, after the kind-
ness you bestowed on him and myself at Quebec,
you should leave Kingstown without seeing us."

My reply was that I would call upon Mr. and

VOL. II. o

194 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

Mrs. Baker the followiog morning, at the hour
named. I need not dwell upon the interview which
took place between the lady and myself, for " urgent
private affairs" had called the husband from home;
suffice it to say, with hair dishevelled and weeping
eyes, she told me how, in a weak moment, she had
fallen from her high estate, had become a victim to
Halket's " winning tongue ;" throwing herself at my
knees, she quoted, in a theatrical strain, and with
all the tragic powers she possessed, the not inappro-
priate lines from " Jane Shore :" —

" Why should I think that man will do for me,
What yet he never did for wretches like me ?
]\Jark by what partial justice we are judg'd.
Such is the fate unhappy women find,
And such the curse entail'd upon our kind,
That man, the lawless libertine, may rove
Free and unquestion'd through the wilds of love;
While woman, sense and nature's easy fool,
If poor weak woman swerve from virtue's rule,
If, strongly charm'd, she leave the thorny way,
And in the softer paths of pleasure stray,
Ruin ensues, reproach and endless shame,
And one false step entirely damns her fame ;
In vain with tears the loss she may deplore,
In vain looks back on what she was before.
She sets, like stars that fall, to rise no more."

Dreading the return of Mr. Baker, who, finding
his wife in tears, might arrive at a natural but
wrong conclusion as to the cause of them, and who,
Othello-like, might have denounced me as the Moor
did Cassio, I begged Mrs. Baker to dry her tears,
promising that her secret should never be divulged.
At parting, I pointed out that her husband was
devoted to her, and warned her as to the future.

ONE FALSE STEP. ] 95

Time circled on, the scandal had reached Quebec,
and Colonel Oockburn, our newly-appointed mana-
ger, had made arrangements for the ensuing season,
irrespective of our former leading lady. Unfor-
tunately, the death of my father put an end to the
theatricals, and I returned to England.

In the following year, I received a letter from
Mr. Baker, asking for some temporary assistance,
as his lodgings at New York had been burnt down,
and all his wife's wardrobe destroyed ; moreover his
only remaining child was seriously ill, and not
likely to recover. There was a postscript in pencil
to the following effect.

" My sin has found me out. Everything goes
wrong ; some malignant wretch has poisone d my
husband against me. I am nearly driven to des-
peration.

*' Augusta Baker."

From the time I replied to the above letter in
1821, until the year 1832, I heard no more of this
unfortunate couple, when one night, on returning
late from the House of Commons, and about to
enter my chambers in Regent Street, I was accosted
by a female, evidently in a state of intoxication,
who placed herself between me and the door.

"I want a word with you," she said, "give me
a shilling, I must have more drink."

"You must let me pass," I replied, in rather
an angry tone, " you have evidently had drink
enough."

0 2

196 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWX.

" Yon would not have said so," she hiccoughed
out, " ten years ago to Augusta Baker."

"Augusta Baker!" I exclaimed. "Impossible !"

" Yes."

At that moment she turned her face towards the
lamp, and then despite the dissipated look, the
attenuated face, I recognised the heroine of our
Quebec theatricals.

" Here," said I, offering her some silver, " take
this ; tell me your address, and I will send to you
to-morrow."

" Address," she replied, " I've no address. My
landlady turned me into the streets, as I was un-
able to pay the rent, but when I show her this
she will take me in again."

" What street and number ?" I asked.

She gave me the address. I then left her, and on
the following morning, requested the porter's wife,
a kind, good-natured creature, to proceed to No. 4
Oakley Street, Lambeth, and ascertain whether the
unfortunate woman would avail herself of one of
those refuges for the fallen, and what sum would
be required for her immediate wants. The result
was most unsatisfactory ; upon the return of my
emissary, she informed me that Mrs. Baker, who
had passed under the name of Mrs. Burton, had
not gone home that night ; and that she had been
seen in a hopeless state of intoxication at a neigh-
bouring public house, denouncing vehemently the
landlady, and declaring that she never would put
her foot in the house again. From that day to this,
though I had left my address with the landlady, no

END OF A LIFE OF SHAME. 197

communicatioD ever reached me. Whether the
meeting with me had brought back to her memory
the remembrance of happier days, and that, in-
fluenced by remorse, she had sought a rehef from
her worldly sorrows and shame in the cold and
foetid waters of the Thames, I know not, but from
what I afterwards heard I fear that such was the
case.

198

COUNT D'ORSAY.

CHAPTER XIII.

COUNT D'OESAY— PARIS IN 1815— BOYAL CHASSE AT FONTAINE-
BLEAU — ALBERT CLEY ON FOREIGN AND ENGLISH SPORT— THE
CHAMP DE MARS— FRENCH RACING — LE MARCHAND DE CHEVAUX
— VISIT TO THE HAGUE — MARIAGE DE CONVENANCE — ADVERTISE-
MENTS— MODERN IMPROVEMENTS IN PARIS— LE CHEVALIER DE
PANNAT — M. RIVAROL — MADAME BOYON.

" The English have a scornful insular way
Of calling the French light."

" May God save France !"

" So, I mused
Up and down, up and down, the terraced streets,
The glittering boulevards, the white colonnades,
Of fair fantastic Paris who wears trees
Like plumes, as if man made them, spire and tower,
As if they had grown by nature, tossing up
Her fountains in the sunshine of the squares,
As if in beauty's game she tossed the dice.
Or blew the silver down-balls of her dreams
To sow futurity with seeds of thought
And count the passage of her festive hours.

" The city swims in verdure, beautiful
As Venice on the waters, the sea swan.
What bosky gardens dropped in close-walled courts
Like plums in ladies' laps who stand and laugh ;
What miles of streets that run on after trees,
Still carrying all the necessary shops.
Those open caskets with the jewels seen !
And trade is art, and art's philosophy,
Li Paris." — Elizabeth barrett BROwNiiSG.

COUNT d'orsay. 199

FEW men were more popular in England than
Count d'Orsay. I had the good fortune to
form his acquaintance at Paris in 1814; that
acquaintance sprang up into a friendship which
lasted during his life. Alfred was the son of
General d'Orsay, and was born in Paris in 1798.
He entered the army at an early age, and was
quartered at Valence in 1822, where he first met
Lord and Lady Blessington. Renouncing his
military career, he accompanied them to Florence
and other places in Italy, eventually marrying Lord
Blessington's only daughter by a first marriage.
This marriage unfortunately did not turn out well ;
a separation ensued, and in 1829 Count d'Orsay
returned to England with Lady Blessington, where
they became tlie centre of a brilliant circle, dis-
tinguished for art, science, literature, and rank.

Having shown the greatest kindness and hos-
pitality to Louis Napoleon when an exile in London,
the Prince President was not forgetful of his former
friend, and in 1852, soon after the coup tVetat,
d'Orsay was appointed " Directeur des Beaux Arts,"
for which he, being himself an accomplished artist,
was eminently qualified ; but he did not live long to
enjoy it, as he died in the same year. Had he been
spared, d'Orsay would have been broken-hearted at
the fatal result of the war with Prussia. He who
was devoted to Napoleon III., would have lamented
his captivity, and to his last hour would have
mourned over the treatment the Empress Eugenie
met with from, some, happily few, of her adopted
countrymen. One cannot think of the cruel per-

200 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

secution she met with, the insults that were heaped
upon her when escaping^ from an infuriated popu-
lace, without being reminded of Burke's splendid
oration on an equally unfortunate illustrious lady : —

" It is now," said he, " sixteen or seventeen
years since I saw the Queen of France, then the
Dauphiness, at Versailles, and surely never lighted
on this orb, which she hardly seemed to touch, a
more delightful vision. I saw her just above the
horizon, decorating and cheering the elevated
sphere she had just begun to move in ; glittering like
the morning star, and full of life and splendour and
joy. Little did I think that I should live to see
such disasters fall upon her in a nation of gallant
men, in a nation of men of honour and of cavaliers.
1 thought a thousand swords must have leaped
from their scabbards to avenge a look that threat-
ened her with insult, but the age of chivalry is
gone."

Upon my first visit to Paris in 1814, as an
attache to Wellington, I was placed under d'Orsay's
care, who, by the Duke's desire, engaged a French
master and a fencing-master. In the hours of
recreation, he showed me all the sights of the
'* City of Frivolity," as Paris has been not inaptly
termed.

One of our first visits was to Le Cafe des Milles
Colonnes, which was, at the period I write of, the
most attractive cafe in Paris. Large as it was, it
was scarcely capable of containing the vast crowds
who besieged it every evening, to admire its saloons
decorated with unprecedented magnificence. An-

EONS MOTS. " 201

other cause of attraction was that the young lady
who did the honours of the establishment, dis-
pensing ogles and orgeat, sighs and sherbet,
amorous looks and absinthe, glances and glaces,
united to beauty and the most graceful manners,
the splendour of a rich and most elegant dress.

Wellington had a private box at the Theatre
Francais, which d'Orsay and myself constantly
occupied to witness the splendid acting of Talma,
Madame Georges, Mademoiselle Duchesnois in tra-
gedy, and of that daughter of nature. Mademoiselle
Mars, in comedy. The Ambassador had also a box
at the Italian Opera House, where the ballets were
magnificent. I own I preferred the melodramas of
the Porte St. Martin, and the comic pieces of the
Yarietes Theatre, to the more legitimate perform-
ances. Upon witnessing Perlet in " Le Comedien
d'Etampes," d'Orsay said,

" Is not Perlet superletoive ?"

At that period the Government proposed that a
new wall should be built round Paris, so as to in-
crease the imposts, which announcement gave rise
to the following play of words, " Mur murant a
Paris, rend Paris murmurant." While upon the
subject of witty sayings and clever repartee, I am
reminded of two anecdotes told me by Count
d'Orsay, of which, had he lived in the period
referred to, he might have been the hero. An
officer of the Regiment d'Orl^ans, sent to the
Court with despatches of an agreeable purport,
solicited from the Monarch the Cross of St. Louis.

" You are very young, my friend," said Louis XIV.

202 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

" Sire," replied the officer, " we do not live long
in your regiment d'Orleans."

The other was of a complimentary nature, which
none but one of the most polite nations under the
sun could have thought of. A French officer having:
presented himself at the Court of Vienna, the
Empress, knowing that he Inad met the Princesse

de , asked him if he thought that the Princess

was, as report said, the most beautiful woman in
the world.

"Madame," replied the officer, "I thought so
then."

Among the sporting sights of Paris which we
visited, was the " Combat des Animaux " at the
Barri^re St. Martin ; had the Irish Patron Saint of
animals, the late Martin of Galway, and M.P. for
that county, been present, he would have been
thoroughly disgusted, as I was, at the exhibition.
A tolerably-sized arena, comprising pit and boxes,
formed the scene of action, and a guard of gen-
darmes was on duty to preserve order. The sports
consisted of dog-fighting, where any gentleman
could try the courage of his quadruped from a pack
of mastiffs and bulldogs kept for the occasion.
Occasionally a wolf, or stag, or bull was turned
out to be attacked and baited by dogs ; two bears
were on high days and holidays brought into the
ring, but it was quite clear to the spectators that
there was no mischief brewing (Bruin) between
them, as they danced and posturized in the most
amicable manner. The entertainments wound up
with a splendid display of fireworks, in which a

OHASSE AT FONTAINEBLEAU. 203

mastiff was drawn a considerable height in the air,
holding fast by a rope, amidst a shower of sparks,
blue flames, squibs, and crackers.

Here I cannot refrain from alluding, and with the
utmost good feeling, to a work emanating from the
Parisian press, which treats of horses and horse-
men. It is entitled " La Com^die a Cheval ; ou
Le Monde Equestre." The author, Albert Cley,
lashes out pretty considerably at the absur-
dities of his own countrymen, who metamorphose
themselves into " Centaurs" and " Phaetons," and
who hunt, ride races, steeple chases, drive four-in-
hand, form jockey clubs, bet, wear leathers and
tops, leap fences and ditches, break their necks —
all to follow at a distance the example of their in-
sular neighbours. So far so good ; yet I think the
author greatly underrates his own countrymen ; for
I was present at a brilliant chasse which took place
at Fontainebleau. Nothing but the intended hunt
had been talked of for several days, and on the
morning of the meet, Fontainebleau was crowded
with sportsmen. The Due de Nemours (the above
took place during the reign of Louis Philippe)
arrived at an early hour from Paris, dressed in
grand hunting costume, a red coat a la Louis XV.
ornamented with gold stripes and gilt buttons. A
brilliant sun, too brilliant, was shining, and the
rendezvous was graced with many carriages filled
with elegantly dressed ladies. A four year old
stag was found, and the hounds laid on, followed
by the Due de Nemours, his brother-in-law, the
Duke of Saxe-Cobourg, Prince de Wagram, Count

204 CELKBLilTJES I HAVE KNOWN.

Walewski, Baron Vidil, MM. Jules, A. de I'Aigle,
d'Albufera, De Chabannes, De Keild, De La-
rocbette, De GrefFulle, De Caumont, De Vatri,
Caccia, Dupin, and De Bernis, Colonel d'Oraison,
and several other officers. After a burst of three
quarters of an hour the stag rushed towards the
Seine, and crossed it. He ran for some time along
the bank, followed by the hounds, and then re-
crossed the river and entered the forest. The heat
was now so great, and the dust so oppressive, that
the hounds came to a check ; unable to hit oflp the
scent, another stag was found who adopted the
same course as that which had been so successful
with the other. He crossed the river twice, and
the hunt was prolonged until darkness set in,
when the hounds were taken home. The Due de
Nemours rode well, and with MM. De Chabannes,
De Reil, De Larochette, De Caumont, Jules, and
De I'Aigle was always among the first flight.

In the evening I had the honour of attending
a grand dinner of four-and-twenty at the chateau.

Some of the " skits" on " La Com^die a Cheval"
against the English are amusing enough, but I must
protest against the following sarcasm. The author,
in pointing out to what an extent the Anglomania
has been carried, says, " that some of the French
dandies * font brunir ' their teeth to make them
look more like real Englishmen." The following
remarks upon our love of equitation, are in a great
measure correct, though the latter part is highly
caricatured. Monsieur Cley says :

^^ In England, everyone, without exception

A EACING IN FRANCE. 205

rides ; ladies pay their morning visits on horseback,
attended by a single groom. The Members of both
Houses of Parliament usually adopt this mode of
locomotion, and hundreds of horses may be seen
at the doors of the Houses of Lords and Commons.
The lawyers ride to the courts on horseback,
spurred and booted, whip in hand ; the grave pro-
fessors of the University pique themselves upon
being mettlesome cavaliers. Jurisprudence shows
itself in a gallop ; philosophy executes the most
graceful curvettings, and theology caracoles."

Racing in France has improved wonderfully of
late, and now the Grand Prix at Paris creates as
much interest with our continental neighbours as
the Derby does with our islanders. Never shall I
forget accompanying a young Frenchman, some
three and thirty years ago, to a meeting in the
Champ de Mars. At an early hour, upon a lovely
day in summer, my friend drove up to the door of
the Hotel Bristol, in the Place Vendome, where I
was residing. Taking my seat in his tilbury, a
gaudy coloured vehicle, picked out with red, lined
with morocco leather of a light blue colour, orna-
mented with a huge coat of arms, with lamps and
harness covered with silver, we proceeded over the
Pont de Jena to the racecourse. The " tiger,"
whose place I had taken, was mounted on a high-
stepping English horse, and was as extraordinary
specimen of the genus as ever was seen. The
youth, about fourteen years of age, whose growth
had been considerably stunted, would not have been
a very inappropriate pendant for General Tom

206 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

Thumb. He was decked out in a pair of top-boots,
the tops being about the size of a wristband, and
nearly as white as driven snow, thus contrasting
beautifully with the highly polished boots, shining
in all the brilliancy of day — French Day and Martin ;
a pair of smalls, literally smalls of white leather,
a red and white striped waistcoat, Prussian blue
coatee, black velvet collar, huge livery buttons,
white stock, so tightly fastened that it looked as if
it was giving the wearer the first lesson in hanging,
and a Parisian velvet napped hat, with a broad
gold band, and gold cord " ratlines," terminating
at the " main top" in an elaborately worked button.
Upon reaching the Champ de Mars, we found
hundreds already assembled there. The sloping
embankment was covered with spectators, while
groups of well-dressed Parisians, gathered under
the avenues of fine trees, gave a picturesque and
pleasing appearance to the scene.

The course was marked out with posts and cords,
the centre of the oblong space (2,700 feet by 1,320
feet) was open to the public, and was filled with a
most heterogeneous mass. There was aristocratic
and plebeian life — the Royal cortege, with the arms
of France emblazoned upon the panels, hammer-
cloths, and harness of sundry huge lumbering car-
riages ; the English barouche, with four as neat
iron greys as ever trotted ; horses that any member
of the four-in-hand club would have delighted to
have driven from the Magazine in Hyde Park to
Greenwich or the Alexandra Palace ; the heavy
caVeclie, with its corded springs, just ofi" a long

FRENCH EACING. 207

journey ; the glass-coacli freighted with frail
beauties from the neighbourhood of the Palais
Royal ; the gaudy omnibus decorated with laurels
and bay -leaves, reminding one of the road to Hamp-
ton Court upon a holiday ; the light tilbury with
nothing plain about it, except itself and the harness,
with a stepper in it that would have gratified the
fastidious eye of a Beaufort; the Anglo-French
dennet, a contrast to the latter, the horse being
plain, and the carriage and harness as gaudy as
paint and brass could make them. But it would be
tedious to enumerate the numerous vehicles that
were put into requisition upon that occasion ; suffice
it to say there was a goodly show of berhnes,
landaus, demi-fortunes, phaetons, britschkas, kibit-
kas, fiacres, cabriolets, coupes, and boggys — id. est
buggies. The equestrians were " plentiful as black-
berries," consisting of gentlemen-sportsmen of
every civilised nation under the sun — French,
German, Italian, Belgian, Russian, Polish, American,
and last not least English, with not a small
sprinkling of " Greeks." There might be seen the
French dandy, beautifully got up, in a green cut-a-
way coat a I'Anglais, tastefully ornamented with
buttons representing every species of sport — shoot-
ing, hunting, coaching, coursing, and cock-fighting
— leather " unmentionables," highly French-polished
top-boots, with cream-coloured tops, a fanciful
waistcoat, gaudy cravat, gloves the colour of early
violets, hat well cocked over the right ear, display-
ing under it ringlets of the raven hue, face covered
with hair, huge favoris, and a goatish-looking tuft

208 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN. •

of hair on the chin. Next might be observed one
of the ancien regime, a veteran, one of the first
Napoleon's gallant heroes, in a blue military frock-
coat ; the red ribbon in the button-hole, and the
empty coat-sleeve looped up showing how dearly he
had bought the distinction. Next came a coterie
of young men, aping notoriety, and calling them-
selves " Young France." Now might be seen a
party of Englishmen, galloping their steeds down
some green alley to the terror of sundry grisettes,
who had made it the scene of a rural pic-nic. Then
came the English horse-dealer, and the French
Marchand de Chevaux trying to dispose of some
splendid importations from England.

I must now give a sketch of a veritable French
MarcJiand de chevaux of that day, not in my own
words, but in those of one of his countrymen.

" In order to prosper, a Marchand de chevaux must
be a deep diplomatist and a great philosopher. He
must be perfectly an fait with the weaknesses of
bipeds, and the qualities of quadrupeds. His for-
tune depends upon the knowledge of the human
heart. Let him have the finest stud in the world,
if he does not flatter his customers, his stables will
remain full. Just see how gently he caresses and
picks the feathers of a young pigeon just eman-
cipated from college, and to whom are transiently
vouchsafed the good graces of some Palais Royal
actress.

" That horse, Monsieur le Comte, (for every
buyer, to the dealer is a Count) has carried a
lady, quiet as a lamb, perfect action. Mademoiselle

MAKCHANDS DE CHEVAUX. 209

Josephine of the Palais Royal Theatre admires
him greatly ; indeed I cannot dispose of him, with-
out giving her the refusal."

"Really," replies the infatuated victim, "if
Mademoiselle Josephine declines, you may send
him to me, but I cannot give more than five thou-
sand francs."

Need I add, the horse that the previous day had
been purchased for fifteen hundred francs, is upon
the next morning transferred to the Count's stables.
The horse-dealer has not always to deal with
such easy folks, but nothing daunts him ; he has
an irresistible argument and a piece of flattery in
store for every character. To sportsmen he says,
" If you buy that hunter, you will beat the whole
field." To the exquisite he remarks, " That iron-
grey mare is a perfect lady-killer — there's nothing
in Paris that can come up to her." To the Colonel
of Hussars he recommends an English charger
that was the admiration of the Court of St. James's.
The daily routine of one of these horse-dealers is
as follows : — Of a morning they go forth to receive
their money, but are patterns of creditors, as they
never " dun ;" they run to their bankers, discount
bills that are to fall due, fly about in quest of un-
known horses, bargain for them, bring them back
to their stables ; when, as if touched by the wand
of a magician, they become worth more than ten
times what was paid for them an hour before. At
two, the crowd arrive, and to receive these fashion-
able visitors, the dealer is curled, pommaded,
and dressed in the neatest order, spurred and

VOL. II. p

210 CELEBRITIES T HAVE KNOWN.

booted, like a lion de pur sang ; while the exquisites
are exploring the stables, the " master of the
horse" smokes, laughs, chats, and flatters. He is
called by his Christian name, and " good-
fellowed" to a great degree. But this intimacy is
no bar to a deal being carried on. The horses are
walked and trotted out, highly pufifed, and usually
disposed of. To listen to the horse-dealer's rhetoric,
you would imagine the horses were actually given
away.

When a string arrives from England, the dealer
apprizes a few chosen favourites, only those with
coeurs hien oies, easy minds, and full purses. To be
admitted to a first inspection of these " terrible
high-bred cattle" is a favour not easily forgotten.

" Vous ne dites pas, Monsieur le Comte, que je
refais mes chevaux, que je les pare; vous les voijez
en robe de chamhre ; ils out ni hlanc ni rouge. Avec
tout autre, je n^oserais 2)as jouer si gros jeu de cartes
sur la table, mais vous. Monsieur le Comte, vous etes
un connoisseur y The horses are at Bourget ; the
darkness of the stables prevents your distinguishing
anything ; the weary horses can scarcely stand,
much less walk, trot, or gallop ; some cough, some
are lame, some look blind. You have your suspi-
cions, make your remarks, express your apprehen-
sions, and to every word there is but one and the
same answer, " It's the journey. Monsieur le
Comte." "The horse coughs." "It's the journey."
" His legs are bad." " It's the journey." " He's
Boman-nosed." " It's the journey." " His hind-
quarters are bad." " It's the journey, it's the

AN ADVENTURE. 211

journey." " In ten days, Monsieur le Corate, that
horse will be perfect." In these times of general
cozening, the marchand de cheuaux is a splendid
specimen of the cozening tribe ; you reproach him
with his knavery — he ever continues polite and
respectful. What a superiority the present race
boast over the past ! Formerly, horse-dealers
robbed and insulted you ; now, they are well-bred,
give long credit, never " dun," often sell you a
bargain, and sometimes a good horse. My remarks
on the superiority of the present race of French
marchands do clievaux are equally applicable to our
own countrymen, for where can one fiud a more
civil, obliofino;', well-mannered man than the English
horse-dealer.

An adventure occurred to me just before I left
Paris, which if well worked up, and properly em-
bellished, would make a tolerably effective incident
for a modern farce. It fell to my lot to be the
bearer of despatches from the Duke of Wellington
to the King of Holland at the Hague, containing
the Treaty of Paris. At the time I write of, the
costume of staff officers, especially that of aides-de-
camp, was not very strictly attended to, and I had
sported a fancy Hussar waistcoat, a braided mili-
tary frock-coat, gold-laced trousers, and a highly
ornamented cap. In a britzska and four, which
the badness of the roads had made necessary, I left
Paris. No adventure occurred on the road, except
the usual vexatious delays at the fortified towns, the
bribery of douaniers, the grumbling of postilions,
the importunities of the large begging fraternity

p 2

212 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

that infested the wayside, and all the usual desagre-
w,ents of continental travelling, until I reached the
gates of the Hague. The day had been raw, cold,
and wet, a regular soft day, as they say in Scotland,
when at a little before ten o'clock at nig-ht, muffled
up in my military cloak, I stopped at the outward
barrier where there was a guard-house. " The
bearer, of despatches for His Majesty the King of
Holland," said I, in tolerably good French. The
officer saluted, the sentry carried arms; an orderly
entered the guard-room hastily ; and in a moment,
a staff officer, one of His Majesty's aides-de-camp,
was on horseback by the side of the carriage.

" Mon Colonel (Colonel, brevet rank with a
vengeance, thought T, for a youth of sixteen) Sa
Majeste le roi, mon maitre, mordonne de vous informer
qu'a voire arrivee en ville il vous recevra a quelle
heure que ce soit.^^ (I bowed) " Fostillon, a Vhotel de
Belle Vue ; tout est deja prepare pour vous recevoir,
Colonel:'

I had no time for explanation or thanks, as T
was rapidly whirled away towards the hotel. At
the entrance two sentries were posted, who received
me with military honours. The landlord with a
smiling face, attended by numerous waiters,
chambermaids, cnisiniers, and concierges was at
the door to welcome me. As I descended from the
carriage, a party assembled outside gave three loud
cheers, " Vive le Roi ! — Vive le Prince d' Orange ! —
Orange Boven /" Knowing the admiration the
Dutch felt for the gallant conduct of their Prince
at Waterloo, I attributed this furore to the pre-

ADVENTURE AT THE HAGDE. 213

sence of a brother in arms. Le Colonel Von U

was now announced, and evidently looked greatly-
surprised when he saw the stripling that stood
before him ; he, however, informed me that his
roval master was ready to receive me. I requested
a quarter of an hour to make my toilet, which was
immediately granted. Just as I was about to
descend from my bedroom, a gentle knock was
heard at the door.

" Entrez." The landlord made his appearance
with a passport in his hand, which on presenting to
me I found to be ray own, and which I had left at
the gate where I had been received with such
honours.

" Mllle pardons, est-ce la voire passejport ?**

" Assureinent,^^ I answered.

Mine host left the room ; I fancied some slight
alteration in his manner. On re-entering my former
sitting-room, the waiter, after indulging in a very
suspicious-looking stare, begged ray pardon, and
requested I would follow him to another apartment,
as that one was engaged. My surprise and con-
fusion increased. I evidently saw the previous
high tide of respect was rapidly ebbing. Left to
myself I paced the room, the sound of marching
off the guard attracted my attention, and I fancied
I heard some expressions in Dutch, which translated
would sound very much like " a trick — an impostor
— no colonel." At length, after some little delay,
the mystery was solved by the return of the royal
aide-de-camp, who most good-humouredly explained
that the King had for soaie days been anxiously

214 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

expecting the arrival of a distinguished Russian
officer from the city of the Czar, with the contract
of marriage between the sister of the Emperor and
the Prince of Orange ; that the greatest anxiety
had been manifested throughout the country at so
important and long wished for an event as an alli-
ance with the House of Russia. He explained that
the mistake occurred by the over-zeal of the cap-
tain of the guard, in not having ascertained the
name of the bearer of the despatches, and that the
passport had first thrown a light upon the subject.
It now only remained for him to assure me that His
Majesty would receive me on the following morning
at eleven o'clock, and that every attention would
be paid to me as an English officer. Of course I
made a suitable reply, and retired to my room,
"where fatigue and excitement were soon drowned
in sleep. On the following day I presented m^-self
at the Palace, where I was most graciously re-
ceived, and had the honour of dining with their
Majesties at the somewhat early hour of two. Be-
fore dinner I strolled through the town, anxious to
purchase some books to read on my journey home ;
will it be believed that in 1815, the only English
work I could find was an odd volume of the Gentle-
man's Magazine for 1796? Now in 1877, there is
scarcely an English book that I could not purchase
at the Hague, owing to the system which enables
foreign publishers to republish every work of value
that emanates from the British press, at a cost of
little more than the price of the paper. The above
adventure, amusing as it was in some respects to

AN AWKWARD SCRAPE. 215

me the hero of it, nearly got me into a terrible
scrape. My journey from the Hague was " flat,
stale, and unprofitable," for the roads being under
water a considerable portion of the way T was
compelled to take four horses, which T was not
permitted to charge for in my small account. On
reaching Paris about four o'clock in the afternoon,
I immediately proceeded to Wellington's residence,
where I was an inmate, to report my return, and
give the acknowledgment from the Dutch secretary
of the receipt of the despatches. His Grace was
from home, and I ascertained that he was to attend
a grand banquet and ball at the Austrian ambas-
sador's. In the meantime I went to my own room,
found a pressing invitation to dine early with some
young friends, for the purpose of going to the
theatre to see " Les Anglaises pour rire," which
had only lately come out, and to wind up our
night's amusements at the above ball.

The dinner at Beauvillier's was most recherche ;
the farce truly laughable, the acting of Brunet and
Potier perfect, and the ball most splendid.
Whether the champagne had elated me a little I
know not, but all thoughts of the despatches had
quite gone out of my head, and when standing up
for a quadrille, I caught the quick eye of Welling-
ton gazing intently upon me ; there was anger in
his look, and he took not the slightest notice of
me. It then for the first time came across my
mind that I had reversed the saying of " duty first
and pleasure afterwards;" and that I had been
guilty of gross neglect in not having waited to

216 CELEBEITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

report my return personally and the result of my
mission to my chief.

My anxiety was increased by a brother aide-de-
camp telling me that the Duke had not been made
aware of my return. As for dancing the quadrille
(for in the days I write of men really went through
certain steps, and did not shuffle through it in the
slipshod manner they now do) I found it impossible.
I mistook Vete for la poule, chasseed to the right
when I ought to have gone to the left, attempted
my pas cle zephyr (of which I was extremely proud)
and failed, offered my hand to my partner and the
lady on ray other side for le grand rond when I
ought to have advanced as a cavalier seul.

No sooner had the music ceased than I hastily
left my partner, and tried to fall in the way of the
great man ; but I saw that he avoided me. Dis-
heartened, I soon left the festive scene, and re-
turned home to " chew the cud of bitter fancy."
After a restless night, I was awoke by an orderly,
who handed me an oflBcial letter, which I imme-
diately recognised as coming from the Duke's
military secretary. It was an order to attend his
Grace at ten o'clock in uniform.

At that hour, with a trembling step and beating
heart, I was ushered into his presence, and at
once saw by his manner that he was highly dis-
pleased. In a firm yet dignified tone, he pointed
out my error, told me that his own staff ought to set
an example to the rest of the army in the fulfilment
of their duties ; and that although upon this occa-
sion, no evil might arise from my disobedience of

A WELL-MERITED REPROOF. 217

geoeral orders in not reporting myself, if once
officers employed by him were to judge for them-
selves as to the importance or unimportance of a
mission, their utility would be destroyed, and the
most serious consequences might ensue. " Obe-
dience to orders," he added, "is the first duty of
a soldier. I hope I shall have no further occasion
to revert to the subject."

T then retired, grateful that an order to join my
regiment had not followed the reproof ; still I felt
vexed and annoyed, and my embarrassment was
not a little increased at the fact of its being my
day's waiting, when, as a matter of course, I should
be thrown more in the Duke's way. But Welling-
ton, as I soon discovered, was not of a resentful
nature; the moment he had spoken and had seen
a disposition on the part of the offender to reform,
he treated him as if nothing had occurred.

Durinsf the raornin": I had made a resolution of
being particularly attentive to my duties, and when
I was released at four o'clock until dinner time, I
was happy to find that there was no longer any
mark of displeasure left upon the Duke's counte-
nance. As the aide-de-camp in waiting, my post
was at the top of the table; and although some-
what restored to my usual peace of mind, I coukl
not help feeling greatly depressed at having so
justly incurred my chief's disapproval.

The party was small, so the conversation was
general; and as a matter of course — when is it
otherwise ? — my recent visit to the Hague was
started by a young man fresh from Oxford,

218 CELEBRITIES 1 HAVE KNOWN.

who was not aware of the cause of my late disgrace.
In vain did I try to change the subject, not wish-
ing the Duke to know what pursuits had occupied
me on my return ; but as soon as I made the
attempt, the persevering youth again came back
to the cliargfe.

" And when did you return ? Did I not catch a
gHmpse of you at Beauvilliers ?" -
" I fancy I saw you at the Vari^tes."
" How came you to leave the ball so early ?"
" Shall I mount you at the review to-morrow?"
said one of my good-natured brother officers, ad-
dressing the talkative mischief-maker, anxious to
give a new direction to his thoughts.

" I shall be greatly obliged," he responded.
Then turning to me he continued, " I called upon
you at four, and your servant told me — "

What this disclosure was I never knew, for
Wellington, seeing my perplexity and anxious
not to be made acquainted with more of my pro-
ceedings, abruptly put an end to further disserta-
tion by asking me to drink a glass of wine with
him, and then inquired how the new piece had
been received at the theatre. This entirely drove
the Hague out of the heads of all the party, and I
could not but feel most grateful at the noble con-
duct of the Duke, who disdaining upon this as
upon all other occasions to get information in an
underhand manner, had most kindly come to my
rescue, had shown his forgiveness in pledging rae
in a bumper of claret, and had terminated a con-
versation which might have led to most unpleasant

DRINKING WINE AT DINNEE. 219

consequences, through the want of tact of an idle
guest.

It was by such acts of kindness, affabihty and
consideration, that WelUngton won the hearts of
his officers. Upon points of raihtary discipline he
was firm and strict ; but the instant the duties were
performed, he entered fully and freely with his per-
sonal statf' into all their amusements, promoting as
far as lay in his power, hunting shooting, fishing,
and other manly sports.

I have referred to Wellino^ton drinkiufy a o-lass
of wine with me, a custom very prevalent at the
period I write of, now in disuse. Great as has
been the march of intellect (and in many instances
of improvement) I consider the discontinuance of
the above custom to be a change for the worse.
The simple action of asking a man to drink a glass
of wine with you often led to an amicable result
where there had previously been a coolness ; it was
a gratifying mode of noticing an old friend whom
you might have failed to see before dinner ; it was
a compliment to a stranger ; it was a courteous
manner of recognising merit in anyone of note with
whom you were not personally acquainted.

I was very much amused with reading the follow-
ing notice, which appeared in " La Saison Gazette,"
published at Boulogne : —

" Afin de justifier en vogue dont elle jouit, la
Saison se propose aussi rendre un signal service a
ses lectrices. On fait en ce moment, pour notre
gazette reconsement, rues par rues, de toutes les
demoiselles a marier; la liste sera publico pro-

220 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

chainement et un tableau qui coraprendra outre le
uom et les petits iioms, I'age, la dot, les esperances,
les qualites, et defauts de chacune d'elles. Dans la
colonne d'observations on entablera ime balance de
proportion eutre les avantages et les inconvenients,
et Ton dira surtout s'il y a une belle-mere k
craiudre. Corame malgre tons nos soins, il peut se
glisser quelques erreurs, ou quelques oublis dans
cette nomenclature, nous prions les interessees de
fournir les renseigneraents qa'elles desirent faire res-
sortir. Si cette innovation — il n'est pas besoin de
faire valoir I'excellence — produit quelques mariages,
nous nous contenterons des beu(^Jictions que du
fond du coeiir nous adresseront celles qui nous
devront le bonbeur."

If translated into English, it "would, I think, cause
no little surprise. Fancy the following appearing
in one of our journals : —

*' A list of marriageable young ladies will be fur-
nished, with their names, age, fortune, expecta-
tions, with a brief account of their good qualities
and faults. The advantages will be set off against
the disadvantages, and above all, every information
will be given as to whether the mother-in-law is to
be feared or not."

The above reminds one of those mariages de
convenance which were so prevalent during the
eighteenth century, wlien, as Shakespeare says : —

" The hands of old gave hearts ;
But our new heraldry is — hands, not hearts."

In too many instances Voltaire's line was
realized : —

" Un tel hymen est I'enfer de ce monde."

MAEIAGES DE CONVENANCES. 221

What could girls, fresh from convents or schools,
expect ? Never, in the marriages made up for them,
were their inclinations or even their reason con-
sulted. In almost all those alliances, all that was to
be seen were scenealoo'ical trees mino;linof their
branches, in order to perpetuate their families, or
old escutcheons, tarnished by dissipation and extra-
vagance, rei^ilding themselves in the Pactolus of
commerce or finance. Pride, convenaiice, and in-
terest alone formed those ties. People married
without knowing, and almost without seeing one
another. Could such unions engage heart and
faith ? The wedded pair lived under the same roof,
perfect strangers to one another, but they met in
society with politeness, egard, and sometimes with
pleasure ; a tacit, verbal, and often even a written
agreement secured to equal wrongs mutual indul-
gence. Those marriages without tenderness, with-
out affection, without a home, relaxed the social tie
in the high families, yet such unions were con-
tinually formed. In the " Souvenirs de M. Despres,"
I find the following : —

'* M. de Puisignieux, nephew to Marshal de
Segur, Minister of War, called one morning on
Mademoiselle de Santo Domingo, whose eldest
sister he had married.

" * Chere soeur,' said he, ' parlous un peu d'affaires
s^rieuses. II s'agit de votre main. Deux hommes
aspirent a I'obtenir ; qui ne serait heureux d'y pre-
tendre ? I'un est le Marquis de la Suze, Colonel du
regiment de Dauphine. L'autre est M. le Comte
de qui a une charge a la cour.'

222 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

*' ' Je ne connais ni I'un ni I'autre,' replied the
lady.

'' * Si fait, si fait ; vous avec dii les voir cliez raon
oncle.'

" ' 11 y va tant de monde ! comment aurais-je pu
les remarquer ?'

" ' La Suze est uu grand homrae qui a I'air un

peu bete, mais le Comte de — est un homme

d'esprit. lis sont assez mal tous deux. Mais qu'im-
porte, il s'agit de vous marier. Rien de plus.'

" ' Laissez-moi done au moins le temps de me
decider.'

*' ' Pour vous decider, oui sans doute, il le faut ;
mais pour le temps, vous n'en avez guere. J'ai
promis de porter votre response aujourd'hui
meme ?'

" ' Comment, si tot ?'

" ' Mon Dieu, rien de plus simple. Sommes
nous plus sages que le hazard ? en bien des choses
ne decide-t-il pas mieux que nous ? Tenez,' added
he, drawing a five-franc piece from his pocket,
' face pour la Suze, et pile pour le Comte.'

*' He tossed the coin up. It was La Suze whom
choice favoured ; the marriage took place, and
turned out a miserable one."

As late as the year 1850 the following announce-
ment appeared in " Le Journal des Debats : —

" A recompense of 50,000 francs is offered to any
one who will point out a young lady of a good con-
stitution and ample fortune desirous of becoming
the wife of a man who can confer upon her the title
of Duchess. The advertiser is good-looking and

IMPROVEMENTS IN EEENCH HOTELS. 22-3

amiable. Eelations, friends, or acquaintances are
invited to reply to this proposition. The above-
mentioned sum v^ill be paid the moment the mar-
riage contract is signed. Address, post paid, to
P. R. du Chil, Poste Restante, Paris."

Before I take leave of Paris, I must say that a
wonderful improvement has taken place in hotels
since the period I first visited that city. English com-
forts have been introduced, and are to be met with
everywhere. Well do I remember the time when
at Dessin's Hotel, Calais, at the Hotel des Bains,
Boulogne, at the Hotel Tete de Boeuf, Abbeville,
or at the Grand Hotel du Rhin at Amiens, the usual
places for English travellers to rest at on their way
to Paris, good as the dinners were, the arrange-
ments for the toilet were wretched — a dampish
towel about the size of a napkin, a small porcelain
jug and basin were all that were provided for the
usual ablutions. With baths in the house, or in
the immediate neighbourhood, the evil could be
remedied, but a miserable traveller reaching Calais
or Boulogfne late at night, after a disagreeable sea
passage, was terribly put to it when he saw on his
wash-hand stand about as much of the liquid element
as would fill three finger-glasses at a London dinner-
table. Not that I wish to denounce the French as
an untidy race, they made up for the scant supply
of water, when dressing, by frequent immersions in
hot and cold baths.

Of course there are exceptions, for I lately read
of a French gentleman, the old Chevalier de Pannat,
who flourished under the Restoration — that great

224 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

gourmand, so witty and so dirty. It is he who
said to M. Rivarol one day, " II fait si chaud,
laisse-moi jeter mon habit sur ton Ut." When
Eivarol rephed, " Mais, apres, ou jetterai-je mon lit,
Chevaher ?" He was always dirty, and his maxims
were of a very lax description, as the following
dialogue between a young woman of fashion and
himself will show,

" Monsieur Bozon vous rend des soins ; il vous
regarde, il soupire, il vous aime !"

" Vous revez, Monsieur de Pannat," replied the
lady, " il n'en est rieu, je vous assure."

"Madame, je persiste," continued Pannat, " il a
pour vous de I'amour, et vous n'y etes pas tout-a-
fait insensible. Prenez-garde ! La vertu ne vaut
pas grand prix, mais elle vaut encore mieux que
Bozon."

This is what he called moral talk. I saw a great
deal of d'Orsay during his residence in England, and
was a constant guest at Gore House, Kensington,
where I first had the honour of meeting Napo-
leon III.

225

LE COMTE

CHAPTER XIV.

LETTERS FROM A DISTINGUISHED FOREIGNER — HIS VIEW OF
SOCIAL AND SPORTING LIFE IN ENGLAND — THE STATELY HOMES
OF ENGLAND— FOX-HUNTING— HARE-HUNTING— DRAG-HUNTING
— A STEEPLE-CHASE — GOODWOOD RACES — LEAMINGTON — THE
WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS — LIVERPOOL STEEPLE-CHASE — EPSOM
RACES — ASCOT RACES — WINDSOR CASTLE — ST. GEORGES'S HALL —
STATELY BANQUET.

" The pen of a ready writer, whereunto shall it be likened ?
Ask of the scholar, he shall know.

It fixeth, expoundeth, and disseminateth sentiment.

Chaining up a thought, clearing it of mystery, and sending it

bright into the world.
To think rightly is of knowledge, to speak fluently is of nature ;
To read with profit, is of care ; but to write aptly, is of practise.
No talent among men hatli more scholars, and fewer masters ;
For to write is to speak beyond hearing, and none stand by to

explain.
To be accurate, write ; to remember, write."

MARTIN F. TUPPER.

HAVING given my impression of foreign sports,
I must lay before my readers some letters
from a French nobleman, in whicli he describes, in a
most graphic manner, his reminiscences of England.
As he strictly enjoined me not to let his name
appear, I implicitly follow his wishes, albeit with

VOL. II. Q

226 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOW.V.

regret, as his name would add much weight to his
valuable contributions. He writes as follows :

" My dear Lord,
" I am now about to give you an account of the
sports and pastimes that I met with in the ' free
fair homes of England,' and in so doing I shall
studiously and carefully avoid that personality which
has been too often introduced into the works of
foreign travellers ; with this flourish of trumpets,
I ' throw off,' and if occasionally I fall into a false
idiom, I must claim your indulgence, and remind
you of a letter of one of your countrymen to me,
who, having a card of the hotel he resided in at Paris
before him, thus dated his letter, ' Hotel de Wag-
ram, Men meuble.' To proceed, I know nothing
more striking to a foreigner than the country-house
life of an English nobleman ; the comfort, magnifi-
cence, liberality, and gaiety that is carried on is
unknown in France; Woburn, Beaudesert, Knowsley,
Berkeley Castle, Belvoir, Badminton, Goodwood
are the beau ideal of princely munificence ; and it
astonished my weak mind not a little, when I was
first initiated into the delights of many of the above
mentioned chateaux. Where all are agreeable it
would be invidious to select one for notice, I shall
therefore say that on a mild drizzling morning in

December, I left the Clarendon Hotel for

Park. The first part of my journey was performed
by rail, and securing a coiipe to myself, I revelled
in one of Eus^ene Sue's volumes during the hours I
was thus confined. Upon reaching the station,
where I was to transfer my precious self into a

THE STATELY HOMES OF ENGLAND. 227

yellow post-cLaise, or dice-box on wheels, as you
once felicitously called it, I was agreeably surprised
to find a carriage and four, with two outriders,
waiting my arrival ; a note was placed in my hand,
saying that it would convey me to the seat of my
noble correspondent and host.

" After a most delightful drive I entered the park ;
at the end of about a mile the mansion was laid
open to view; a fine extensive wooded plantation
screened the domain from the cutting east wind ; a
herd of deer were at the extremity of the well-
trimmed lawn, which extended from the southern
part of the house. The day was setting in, and I
passed the labourer returning from his day's work,
looking cheerful and happy ; a group of sportsmen,
with guns in hand, attracted my attention, who
seemed elated with the success of their day's sport,
and which I soon found was not without sufficient
cause, as the game-cart which I met was filled with
hares, pheasants, and rabbits.

*' The carriage now stopped at the principal en-
trance, and almost simultaneously with the bell
ringing the doors were thrown open, and some
two or three servants in livery, headed by one of the
upper class, received me on alighting. "Without the
slightest noise or bustle, orders were given to un-
pack the carriage at the stables, to show my servant
to my room, and I was conducted to the warm and
well-furnished library, where my host and many of
the gentlemen staying in the house were occupied
reading the newspapers, finishing their letters, or

Q 2

228 CELEBRITIES I JIAV^E KNOWN.

talking over the run witli the foxhounds in the
morning.

" After a most kind, hospitable, and unaffected
welcome, I took my seat before the huge wood fire,
and entered into general conversation. We were
now joined by the shooters, who declaimed at con-
siderable length on their prowess — four guns ; the
return of the killed amounting to three hundred
pheasants, twenty hares, and a dozen rabbits. A
huge gong now sounded, which was the signal for
dressing. As I proceeded to my room, escorted by
a groom of the chambers, I passed through a large
hall, where some young Englanders, male and
female, were dancing a new polka, and who seemed
not a little scared at my presence ; the graceful and
beautiful Lady Caroline, the daughter of the house,
rose from her seat at the pianoforte, and welcomed
me with a modest warmth of manner that she
felt was due to one of her father's friends and guests.
The room that I was ushered into was the quint-
essence of comfort ; a large blazing fire on the
hearth-stone shed its influence over me, and as I
looked at the well-lit and beautifully furnished
apartment, I could not help contrasting it with
some of the cold, cheerless country-houses of La
belle France, and gave the palm to your native
land.

"At 7 o'clock the gong was again sounded, and
following a well dressed lacquey, who had been sent
to pilot me through the long passages, I was shown
into the drawing-room, where the hostess, after a
kind greeting, introduced me to the ladies as-

DINNER AND CONVERSATION. 229

sembled around her. In a few seconds dinner was
announced, and offering; my band, which I soon
found ought to have been my arm, to the beautiful
mistress of the domain, we passed through a hue of
servants in hvery on one side, and the well dressed
' gentlemen's gentlemen' on the other, into the
dining-room, which was splendidly illuminated.
The side-board, which reached nearly to the summit
of the apartment, was stored with gold and silver
plate, including vases and prizes which had been
won by the noble owner and his ancestors upon the
turf and at agricultural shows, or which had been
presented to him by the farmers on his estate, in
consideration of the great estimation he was held in
both as a landlord and friend to the soil.

The dinner was excellent, the wine splendid —
every sort from " humble port to Imperial Tokay."
The long sitting after the ladies had retired, was to
me the only drawback, for during that tedious
period, the poor and corn laws were so prosingly
discussed, that I own I almost wished myself in
the Union workhouse to escape the dullness of the
conversation. An anecdote told me by a young
guardsman, amused me not a little ; at a large
dinner-party in London, which was honoured by
the presence of some of the royal family, a some-
what gouty old nobleman, to reheve his foot, had
taken off his boot, trusting that after the fair sex
had left the room, he would be able to put it on
again. A royal lady, when the signal was given to
retire, suggested that on this occasion, as the con-
cert above was to begin early, the gentlemen should

230 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

adopt the foreign custom, and hand their respective
ladies upstairs. The horror of the bootless noble-
man can be better conceived than expressed, he had
to grope under the table for the object of his search,
and on finding it he had to encase his swollen foot
in it, the lady, whom he had taken down to dinner,
waiting patiently for her gouty cavalier, amidst the
roars of laughter of those around her.

" Upon joining the ladies the evening passed off
delightfully ; there was no formality, everyone
amused himself or herself according to their own
fancies. Some strolled into the billiard-room, others
played at whist, or at ecarte; a few grouped
themselves round the pianoforte, to hear the sweet
strains of Rossini, Mozart, Verdi, and Haydn sung
by a most exquisite voice ; while a larger party of
the young retired to a spacious gallery, where polkas
waltzes were the order of the evening. At eleven
o'clock, the stately butler, accompanied by two
powdered and pampered footmen, entered the
drawing-room, and deposited a tray with sand-
wiches, wine, negus, whisky and water ; from that
hour the party separated according to their own
pleasure.

'* I was awoke from my ' rosy dreams ' by the
loud-toned stable-bell tolling the hour of eight, and
getting up, strolled inro the picture-gallery to admire
the mellow touch, the glowing and lively colouring,
the exquisite finishing of a Rubens, the elegance,
grace, and natural animation of a Vandyck ; the
unrivalled brilliancy of a Titian ; the faithful por-
traiture of a Rembrandt ; the beautiful expression

THE PICTURE-GALLERY. 231

of a Guido ; the bold and grand expression of a
Salvator Rosa ; the warmth of a Lely, who

" On animated canvas stole
The sleepy eye, that spoke the melting soul."

the admirable delineations of a Teniers and an
Ostade; the finished perspective of a Canaletti; and
the rich vein of satire of a Hogarth. Whilst thus
amusing myself, a gentleman of most agreeable
manners and deportment, whom I afterwards ascer-
tained to be the librarian, accosted me, and volun-
teering his services, entered at great length into
the art of painting.

" ' Plato, who flourished four hundred years
before the Christian era,' said the talented book-
worm, ' assures us that the Egyptians practised
painting a thousand years before he wrote, both on
the bandages of mummies, on the walls of the
temples, in the tombs at Thebes, Denderah, and
other places in Upper Egypt. Cleanthes of Corinth
was the first Greek painter of simple outline ; Tele-
phanus of Sicyon, and Ardices of Corinth, improved
on outlines, though still without colour.'

" Finding I was deeply interested at the research
of my newly-formed acquaintance, he continued.

" ' Bularchus painted the battle of the Mangerians
seven hundred years before the Christian era, and
this picture was bought by the King of Lydia for
its weight in gold. Anacreon, who lived five hun-
dred years before our era, mentions the practice of
the art, which was effected by mixing wax with
their colours, called encaustic painting. Pliny is
lavish in his eulogy on the powers of Polygustus,

232 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

who lived four hundred and thirty years before the
birth of our Saviour ; aud we find that during this
and the three following generations, the names of
Aglaophon, Cephisodones, Phyrylus, Evenor, Apollo-
dorus, Zeuxis, Timanthes, Pamphilus, Euxenidas,
and Apelles, as artists of no mean renown. After
the founding of Rome, Aurellius, Ludius, Araulius,
in Nero's reign ; Purpilius, Cornelius Pinus, Ac-
cius Priscus, in the days of Vespasian, were the
painters of the period.'

" Thanking my guide for his information, and
besforinor that he would not devote his attention to
so unworthy an amateur as myself, he replied by
assuring me that it would give him the greatest
pleasure to show me all that was worth seeing in
the house at any time. This courteous offer I
gladly accepted, when I was shortly afterwards
summoned to the breakfast-table. From what I
had heard of this repast in England, as compared
with our dejeuner a la fourchette, I own I was not
prepared for the luxury, comfort, and independence
of this meal. In addition to a long table covered
with the finest Irish damask cloth, there were two
or three smaller ones placed near the windows ; no
sooner had you entered the room, and selected your
party, or taken your solitary place, than a servant,
out of livery, brought you a small bill of fare, on
which was written a variety of the most dainty
dishes, the piquant cutlet, the well-flavoured rognons
au vin de Madere, the stimulating grilled pheasant,
the simple eggs and bacon, the savoury omelette aux
fines herbes, the slices of dried salmon, the unpre-

PLANS FOB THE DAY. 233

tending fried sole ; the sideboard literally groaning
under the weight (I give the usual newspaper
phrase) of cold eatables ; the baron of beef, the
pheasant, partridge, fowl, ham, and game pies, the
pate de foie gras, thon marine, and every other
luxury of native and foreign produce. The purest
white bread in every size and form, tea, coffee,
chocolate, the newest cream, the best-tasted butter,
finished a meal that would have gladdened the
heart of an Apicius, of our late gormandising king,
Louis XVIII., or any other ho7i vivant of ancient or
modern times.

" During breakfast my noble host begged that his
guests would arrange their plans for the day. The
hounds were to meet within three miles of the
house, and there were horses for those that liked
to join in the chase, or accompany some of the
young ladies to see the hounds throw off. There
were pony carriages for those who preferred driving
to equestrian exercise. The keepers were to be at
the lodije g^ate at eleven o'clock for those who
patronised shooting ; and the parties, if they ex-
ceeded eight, were to be divided into two beats.
The race-horse stable was to be open immediately
after breakfast, and the tennis-court and billiard-
table ready throughout the day for those who pre-
ferred indoor amusements. The ladies were to fill
up their time in little ' nothings,' playing, singing,
working, and sauntering in the summer-houses,
orangeries, and conservatories until that all import-
ant female meal, luncheon, the early dinner of
your ancestors, who supped at the hour you now

234 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

dine, was announced. No sooner was that meal
finished, than the carriages were to be at the door
to take anyone who liked shopping to the neigh-
bouring county town. Such was the routine of
the day.

" Being myself devoted to horses and the sports
of the field, I availed myself of nay host's kindness,
to walk throug^h the racing^ stable, and afterwards
accepted a mount with the hounds. The stable
was a splendid building, forming a large quadrangle,
the stalls and the loose boxes the most perfect I
ever saw. The trainer was a downright good
honest man, who had the pedigree of every horse
of note at his tongue's end, from the days of ' Fly-
ing Childers' down to the last winner of the Derby.
He had an anecdote of every sporting character
that had flourished at Newmarket during his time;
but as I was reminded that the hounds met at half-
past eleven, I was compelled to curtail my visit at
the stables. The hounds met at a small wood not
more than three miles from the house, and upon
reaching the covert's side, I was presented to
the master of the pack, a plain-spoken English
country gentleman, a staunch Conservative, more
especially of foxes, and a thoroughbred sportsman.
The field was not numerous ; it consisted of some
dozen gentlemen in pink, and a few farmers, well-
mounted, and anxious to display the powers of their
steeds, with a view of pocketing a couple of hun-
dred pounds for their young, though promising
hunters.

" A party of ladies from the park arrived on

A FOX-HUNT. 235

horseback, and we were indulging in wbat j^our
clever authoress, Mrs. Gore, calls ' the coffee-house
part of hunting,' when aery was heard, and away
we all scurried at an awful pace,

" ' Gently, gentlemen, hold hard if you please,'
exclaimed the huntsman. ' Woodman has it ! good
old dog ! Hark to Woodman.'

" The fox made first for Warbleton Gorse, went
through it, away to Eastdean Brake, and then over
some fine grass fields in the direction of Beacon
Hill, but being hard pressed, dechned facing it,
turned, and went to ground in a drain. From the
drain he was quickly bolted, and then made his
point at once for the covert where he was found,
went through it, and on to Warbleton over nearly
the same line as the first ring. Here a long check
occurred ; the hounds hit oft' the scent again, and
after a run of forty-five minutes we killed in the
open. As a foreigner I was presented with the
brush ; an honour, which though I say it, as should
not, was fairly won by me, for being admirably
mounted, I went all day, as one of my most popular
countrymen now naturalized in England, I refer
to Count d'Orsay, said, 'as if I had a letter for the
fox, and was in a great hurry to deliver it.'

" Upon my return home I visited the kennel, and
was delighted with the management of it, there was
a place for everything, and everything was in its
place. Warm baths for hounds and horses, with
every other comfort and luxury that modern art and
science have brought to bear for the benefit of the
canine race. After seeing the hounds fed, I began

236 CELKBEITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

to feel that my own inward man required some
refreshment ; whether I looked half-starved and
hungry, or whether the huntsman wished to try
"what effect a few glasses of strong ale would pro-
duce upon a Frenchman's head, I know not, but
he begged me to walk into his snug parlour, w^here
I found the table laid out ready for his dinner.
Upon the sideboard was a huge loaf of bread, a
Stilton cheese, with a brown jug of frothing October
ale. I drank success to the hounds, then to the
huntsman, and taking my leave of him, walked
across the park. One of the greatest modern
luxuries in England is a warm bath, which is kept
ready at all hours during the day and night. At

Park this was the case; both in the ladies

and gentlemen's galleries were three baths, cold,
warm, and shower, enabling one to indulge in this
Eastern fashion at any moment.

" It would be tedious to recapitulate ray evenings,
I shall therefore pass over them, and proceed to
give a sketch of the next day's hattne. At eleven
o'clock we met at the keeper's lodge, about a mile
from the house, mustering six guns. A party of
fine stalwart youths, amounting to about five-and-
twenty, with large sticks in their liauds, were drawn
up as beaters ; while to every ' gunner ' three men
were allotted, one to carry his ammunition, the
other two to pick up and convey the game to the cart,
they at the same time acting as beaters. In addi-
tion to the above, we each had our own man with a
second gun, wliich he loaded throughout the day,
as also a ' pocket-pistol,' as it is called, well charged

A day's battue. 237

with Glenlivat whiskey or sherry. The beaters were
then put into the wood, half the gunners accom-
panying them, the others going to the spot they
were to beat up to. At the end of every cover the
game was collected and placed in the cart. About
two o'clock we suspended our warfare against the
feathered race for half-an-hour, during which period
cold meat, bread-and-cheeso, and ale were distri-
buted to all the party, gentle and simple; those
who are apt to talk of the proud aristocracy of
England, would have seen dukes, lords, and pea-
sants enjoying the frugal meal, each partaking of
the same quality both of eatables and buvahles.
The shepherd's boys who were placed to guard the
game over the walls of the preserve, fared as well
as the proprietor of many thousands of acres. It
is thus that the aristocracy of your country win the
hearts of the rural population. They mix in their
sports, patronize their recreations, get familiarly
acquainted with them and their wants, cherish and
support them in their hour of distress, sympathising
with their griefs, and alleviating, as far as lies in
their power, the miseries and ills which human
nature is heir to. After luncheon we renewed our
sport. Upon our return to the park the game was
laid out upon the lawn ; it consisted of seven hun-
dred pheasants, one hundred and fifty hares, six
partridges, fifty rabbits, four woodcocks ; total, nine
hundred and ten.

" Tout a vous."

Thus ends the first letter. I entirely endorse my

238 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

friend's opinion as to the general lunch, but I
regret to say the above is the exception to the rule.
Generally speaking there is a hot luncheon prepared
for the shooters; the keepers, beaters, and watchers,
who have toiled heavily, and to whom a hot meal
would be a treat, are obliged to content themselves
with bread-and-cheese and beer.

" Mon cher Lord,

" The morning after the one referred to in my
last letter, the harriers, a small pack belonging to
one of the sons of my host, were to meet in the
park ; and, to the delight of those who underrate
the " currant jelly " pack, on finding the hare, the
hounds ran nearly ten miles over a magnificent
grass country without a check, forming nearly a
circle round the park and home-farm. The fencing
was very severe, not a gate was kept unlocked ; in
fact, it was one of the fastest skurries I ever saw,
and we killed nearly in front of the stables, where
a host of grooms and racing boys were assembled
to witness the death of poor puss. Being well-
mounted, I was fortunate enough to be in the first
flight ; indeed, as the field was confined to the
party staying in the house, with the addition of the
farm-bailiffs and stewards' sons, we all got an equal
start ; it resembled a steeple-chase more than a
hunt.

" I was delighted with my day's sport, but re-
membered that, whenever I talked of it as a won-
derful run for harriers, a smile appeared on the face
of my listener. There was a mystery, evidently,

GULLING A FOREIGNER. 239

which I was unable to solve. At last the secret
came out, by one of the boys remarking (out of
heai^ing, as he thought) ' how they had done the
foreigner.' Upon further investigation, I found
that our magnificent run, the sport which I had
entered in my journal as decidedly the best I had
almost ever seen, was not after even a timid hare,
but — a red herring ! The fact was, the young
master of the harriers having had his pack dis-
paraged, determined to show us a run. He had
dipped a red herring in aniseed, which, after select-
ing a very stiflp course, he gave to an active son of
the soil to carry nearly a circle round the park,
ending near the stable, where a live hare was turned
out, or rather turned into the park. No wonder
then that the foreigner was gulled ; and I firmly
believe I was not the only dupe, for one or two
yeomen talked to me in downright earnestness of
the splendid sport. So well was the affair managed,
that wherever the red-herring bearer made a gap in
a hedge, a labourer was placed there for the purpose
of repairing it, who, prompted what to say, declared
' that he had " see'd " the hare cross close by,
pressed by the hounds.' Our biped game had
selected not only the stiffest bull-finches, but also
the highest gates and rails ; and I very much doubt
whether the same number of miles over so severe
and stiff a country was ever performed in so short a
space of time.

" This gallant, though vetther fishj run (as it was
called by some) gave rise to a conversation upon
the merits of the horses and men that had taken

240 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

part in it, and led a spirited individual to propose
giving a whip, value forty guineas, open for any
horse that had been present at the red herring hunt ;
four miles over a stiff country with an artificial
brook; same weights as ridden on that occasion,
posts to be placed with flags at a distance of a
hundred yards, within which the horsemen were to
go. An entrance of two sovereigns p.p., was to
be paid to the second horse, and the owner of the
last was to pay an additional two sovereigns to the
gallant ploughman who had so successfully dragged
us over a most sporting country. The entrances
were fourteen ; one only of the whole field having
paid forfeit, and that for a very efficient reason —
his horse had not yet recovered his appetite, still
less his soundness.

" It has often been said that a wager is an
Englishman's argument, and unquestionably the
assertion is founded on fact. 1 well remember
hearing, during the presence of Royalty at your
brother's house at Goodwood, when the King of
Holland, upon one occasion, and the Duke de
Nemours, upon another, honoured his Grace with
their presence during the races, the list of the
following day's sport was read aloud, the moment
the ladies had quitted the dining-room. The
betting-books were then taken out, followed by
that Babel-like confusion of tongues, which neces-
sarily attaches itself to the " done and done "
system. Upon the entry for our steeple-chase
being declared, scarcely any conversation took
place between the lords of the creation, except as

WAGERS. 241

to the winner ; nor were the ladies quite exempt
from this feeling, as was proved during the evening
by the numerous wagers made for gloves, studs,
whips, pencil-cases, and gold pins.

" ' I'll take ten to one,' exclaimed a young
scion of the house, the moment the gentlemen were
left to themselves to enjoy (or be bored as the case
might be) their own society, ' that Paul Clifford
wins.'

" ' Done," responded a sporting baronet, * two
hundred to twenty.'

" ' Done."

" The bet was entered, and Lytton's hero be-
came first favourite.

" ' What odds against Polka ?' inquired the
master of the harriers.

" ' What do you want ?' asked a good-humoured
elderly gentleman, anxious to give the young sports-
man a pull in the odds.

" ' I want fifteen to one to a ten-ponnd note."

*' ' You shall have it, book me a hundred and fifty
to ten.'

" The youth left the room to communicate to the
stud-groom that he had taken the odds of which he
was to stand half.

" Nell Gwyune, Moonraker, Coeur de Lion, Faul-
conbridge, were all backed at thirteen to one, while
the remaining seven, myself included, were scarcely
mentioned. Strange, thought I, considering the
place I had in the run ; so modestly addressing the
company, I inquired what odds to twenty pounds
they would bet against Marmion. Scarcely had the

VOL. II. E

242 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

question escaped my lips than a dozen voices afc
least responded; but there was such a confusion
of sounds, ' "Wliat do you want ?' ' I'll bet you the
odds,' ' Three hundred and twenty to twenty,' that
I could scarcely understand who addressed me and
who did not.

My opposite neighbour, however, an old hand on
the turf, quietly wrote on his- betting-book, 'I'll
bet you three hundred and forty to twenty,'
passing it across the table.

" ' Done,' I wrote in reply.

" ' What do you want. Count ?' again exclaimed
a majority of the party.

" ' I've made the bet,' I rephed, ' three hundred
and forty to twenty.'

" ' I'll bet the same odds to five or ten.'

" ' To five,' I replied, and closing my book, shut
it and myself up for the evening.

" The important morning arrived when the
steeple-chase was to take place. The whip, splen-
didly mounted by Hancock, had been sent down,
cards were printed with the names and colours of
the horses and riders, for we were all bound to ride
in caps and jackets, the manufacturing of which
had been entrusted to the ladies' maids, all of whom
had been put into requisition. The odds still con-
tinued at seventeen to one against my gallant steed
Marmion, while Paul Clifford, an infinitely slower
animal, was backed freely at seven and eight to
one. This was a riddle I could not at first solve,
until the trainer told me, in reply to my asking
him who he thought would win, ' that it was quite

A STEEPLE-CHASE. 243

impossible to say with gentleman jocks, as tliey
were, generally speaking, such a bad lot, all legs
and arras flying about like railway signals,' adding
that *what with tumbling off, or pumping their
horses out in half the distance, it was quite a
lottery. Moonraker ought to win, but Sir Francis
knows no more about race-riding than my old
woman does, and as for your lordship, we ain't
seen many foreigneering gentlemen distinguish
themselves much upon the race-course or across
country.'

" Flattering, thought I, while the trainer con-
tinued : —

" ' Lord Alfred on Paul Clifford won't be far
behind, he is an undeniable good one for a gentle-
man ; a good judge of pace and never gets flurried.
Lord George on Polker, as they call the grey mare,
will take a deal to beat him ; he goes as straight as
an arrow, and the heavy ground is in his favour,
besides he gets a matter of two or three stone from
some of you.'

" This statement was not very encouraging, still
it did not unnerve me in the slightest degree, and
having risen at daylight to take a gallop just to get
my hand and seat in, after partaking of a slight
breakfast, I found myself at eleven o'clock decked
out in a black jacket and cap, booted and spurred
at the starting-post. When I saw the concourse of
people assembled, I began to think that steeple-
chase riding was a more nervous affair than I had
imagined. All being drawn up in a line, the articles
were read to us, the principal one was that we were

li 2

244 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

to keep within the posts, and upon no account were we
to have a gate opened or a fence broken down for us,
save and except such as might be smashed by some
of those in the race. We were then led back about
forty yards behind the starting-post, and having
previously decided by lot our respective places, the
word 'off' was given. Away we went racing pace
across the first field, at the end of which was as
stiff a post and rail, with a ditch from it, as ever I
wish to encounter. Our steeds were however fresh,
and we were all not a little inspired by the presence
of the ladies from the Park, who had placed them-
selves near this awful ox-rail ; so ' screwing up our
courage,' as Lady Macbeth says, ' to the stick-
ing place ' we put in ' lots of powder ' and took it
without a mistake. We now all began to settle
down to our work ; Polka, with her light weight,
shot a-head, followed by Nell Gwynne, Paul Clifford,
Coeur de Lion, and last the gallant Marmion, the
rest waiting patiently on us. At the fourth fence
tlie undaunted Richard came down, floored his
rider, and the lion-hearted animal was put liors de
combat. We now approached the artificial brook,
a regular yawner ; here again were the same party
assembled to see whether we took to the water
kindly — Polka cleared it like a deer, followed by
Paul Clifford, Marmion third, and an outsider,
Bacchus, fourth. My orders at starting were to
wait upon Paul Clifford until the last field, and then
try ray speed with him. Polka, it was imagined,
would dance herself out with the severe play her
rider had determined to make. All got well over

A STEEPLE-OHASE. 245

the brook with the exception of Monkey, a horse
not mentioned in the betting, who, on leading,
missed his footing and fell back into it. I own my
courao^e beo^an too oze out a little when I first saw the
water, and had it not been for the undaunted pluck
of my steed T should inevitably have got a good
ducking. Do you remember telling me a good story
of Mat Milton, he of the mews, not Muse, who when
he was selling a hunter to a cockney sportsman,
after extolling the merits, said,

" ' He has only one fault, Sir.'

"* ' A fault !' responded the other.

" ' Yes, Sir, if he does see water he will have it,
there's no stopping him ; be it ever so wide, he'll
take no denial.'

"Now, whether Maimion was a descendant of
this wonderful horse I know not, but certainly no
sooner did he see the brook than he went at it with
such downright earnestness that, resigning myself
to my fate, I let him have his own way, and greatly
to my surprise and dehght found myself safely
landed on terra firma. We kept our respective
places for the next two fields, when symptoms of dis-
tress began to be felt by King Charles's beauty Nell,
Faulconbridge, Moonraker, and the others. The
race now was between Polka, Paul Clifford, Bacchus,
and Marmion, the former still leading at a terrible
pace. There were now only two fences to be
jumped before the last flight of hurdles in the
winning field. At the first of these. Polka's lungs
seemed to be a little disordered by the killing pace ;
and although she got over it, she floundered upon

246 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN

landing, the young jockey giving ber a pull to re-
cover her wind. Paul Clifford then tried to take
her place, but ' bellows to mend' (you see I have
adopted your slang) was also his cry. I now made
all the running I could, and was closely pressed by
the Bacchanalian monarch ; we took the second
fence together. Polka, slightly recovered, following
a few yards behind us with Paul Clifford still going.
As we approached the hurdles, a voice that I
recognised as that of the trainer, exclaimed, * Hold
him together, and you've a good chance.' Un-
fortunately the advice came too late ; whether I or
my steed was flurried I know not, but he made a
rush at them, got entangled in a broken hurdle and
the furze that was placed round it ; this gave
Bacchus and Polka a chance, for Paul Clifford was
quite pumped out. The two now set to work in
earnest, and the outsider being the freshest of the
two finally won a fine race by a neck. Polka second,
Marmion third. The fun, however, was not over ;
for a desperate struggle took place between the
rear-rank, no one liking to pay the additional
penalty attached to the last horse. Coeur de Lion,
Monkey, and Faulconbridge, were neck and neck at
the fence before the hurdles, they cleared it to-
gether; Monkey rushing through the gap I had
made was first in the winning field. The two other
riders went gallantly at the hurdles, knee to knee
they landed at the same moment, and setting to
work in real Newmarket fashion ran a dead heat
for last ; thus dividing equally the penalty and
mutually sharing the disgrace. The result of this

A SWEEPSTAKE. 247

steeple-chase amazed me not a little, for the still
' small voice ' of conscience told me that, had I or
my horse not blundered, the first or at all events
the second prize must have been mine ; nor could
I honestly attribute the untoward event to my steed ;
the fact is I for a moment lost my head and the
race. I was, however, dehghted that the youngster
ran second, as he pocketed the eight-and-twenty
guineas. As a matter of course, no other conver-
sation took place the rest of that day, or during
the evening, and I could plainly see the general
opinion was in favour of Marmion, had he been
properly piloted. My disappointment was greatly
lessened by the owner presenting me with a silver-
mounted whip, which he said I had fairly earned.

" No sooner had the ladies left the room after
dinner, than the whole race was run over again.
This led to an animated discussion, which ended in
a sweepstake of twenty sovereigns, each carrying
ten stone seven pounds, between Bacchus, Marmion
and Polka, the only variation being that the crack
rider of Paul Clifford on the first occasion, was on the
second one to take my place, as I could not reduce
myself to that weight, the other jockeys as before.
Some imagined that the rider of Bacchus had not
in the early part of the race sufficiently nursed his
horse, or he would have won easier ; Lord George
on Polka was fancied by many, the continuance of
rain, with the heaviness of the country, being in
favour of that animal, while Marmion, with a first-
rate jockey on his back, was considered a good
thing.

248 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

" The race was to come off in a week, and as the
wet weather continued, Polka became first favourite.
The eventful day arrived, the sun shone out beau-
tifully, and an immense concourse of people flocked
through the Park at an early hour towards the
course. The fences had all been made up, gates
and hurdles repaired, and the brook was somewhat
swelled out by the rain.

" ' Don't take too much out of your mare at
starting,' said the trainer to Lord George, as he
walked by the side of him; 'the country is very
heavy; make steady running to the brook, nurse
her over the two next fields, and then get home as
quick as you can without flurrying her or your-
self.'

" The horses were now drawn up in their places,
the word 'Off*' given, and away went Polka, lead-
ing at a smartish pace, Marmion waiting upon her
at the distance of about two horses' lengths, the
'rosy monarch of the vine' acting as a sort of
squire to the ' Lord of Fontenaye.' It was evident
from the line Lord George took that he had not
allowed the grass to grow under his feet, for since
the last steeplechase, morning, noon, and afternoon
had he walked over the course, selecting the lightest
ground ; this, then, accounted for his steed not
sinking fetlock high as the others did. They ap-
proached the brook ; the respective jockeys, collect-
ing their horses' strength, took it gallantly, Polka
still leading, the others lying close behind. Here
the youthful sportsman, remembering his instruc-
tions of getting home as quick as he could, coursed

GOODWOOD RACES. 249

away at an awful pace. For a few fields his com-
petitors kept still well in the race ; when within
half-a-mile from home it was quite clear that
Bacchus was beat — he had fully proved the truth of
the Leicestershire saying, ' It's the pace that kills.'
Still he went on, upon the chance of any accident
happening to the leading horses. They now neared
the last fence ; Marmion, ' wet with sweat and
mire,' took it, but not without a fall — Polka still
some twenty yards ahead. The hurdles were alone
to be got over ; the mare flew at them like a deer ;
shouts re-echoed throug^h the Park as Lord Geors^e
passed the winning-post. But where was the flower
of English land ? Of him we might say, in the
words of ' untutored Blount,' ' Good night to Mar-
mion ;' for so dead beat was he at the last hurdle,
that he floundered at it, fell, and was some minutes
before he could recover sufficient strength even to
make a walk of it. This, I am ill-natured enough
to admit, pleased me much, for it clearly proved
that accidents will occur, not only as the proverb
says, * in the best-regulated families,' but also to
first as well as to second rate gentlemen jockeys.
In the latter, or rather in a third class, I must
rank myself; I lost the first race by one fatal error
towards the finish ; and Lord Alfred, who was
number One, letter A, in the pigskin, was beat in
the second by taking too much out of his horse at
starting.

" I must here put on my seven-league boots,
and step from my winter country-life to the Good-
wood Races of the following summer; suffice it to

250 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

say that my aDticipations, great as they were, were
more than realized, for there 1 found the elite of
company, the elite of horses, and the most perfect
of all courses in England, both as to beauty of
scenery and the excellence of the turf. There was
everything that could be wished for ; a galaxy of
beauty that no other country could produce, and a
superabundance of sport for the million. The
arrangements, too, were of the first order; there
were no unnecessary delays ; at the moment fixed
for the weighing and starting, woe to the trainer
or jockey who was late ; a heavy fine, or, worse than
that, the certainty of not being waited for, attended
the offender. There was something too about the
noble owner's manner that delighted me, he was
gracious and affable to all, from the Prince of the
Blood to the most humble labourer — your brother,
the Duke of Richmond, had a kind word for each.
To say that his Grace is popular in his own county
is to say little ; he is adored and respected by every
friend to the soil, and it was highly gratifying to
hear his praises echoed forth wherever I went in
the county of Sussex. One tribute, though couched
in simple language, emanating from a tiller of the
land, made a lasting impression upon my mind.
On mentioning the name of the Duke, the peasant
said,

" ' He's a brave man, a good, generous and liberal
landlord. He fought and bled for his country when
others of his class were eating the bread of idle-
ness at home ; and now he clings to the soil from
which he derives his wealth, like a limpet to the

OPEN HOUSE AT GOODWOOD. 251

rock ; moreover, lie is as kind-hearted to the
plougli-boy as lie is to his richest tenant.'

" This sentiment, which, although varied in letter,
is kept up in spirit throughout the county, has
entitled the Duke to the name of the ' Farmer's
Friend,' and never was an appellation more truly
deserved. I must now return to the races, which
certainly were conducted in the most admirable
manner. The sport was first-rate, and could not
be surpassed. Without entering into the detail of
the sport itself, I will merely remark that there
were forty well-contested races, that the sums run
for during the four days amounted to £34,900.
Open house is kept at Goodwood, and there are few
of the ancestral homes of England where unostenta-
tious hospitality is more carried on than at the
above mansion. Your sister-in-law, the noble and,
distinguished hostess, daughter of the gallant
Marquis of Anglesey, is endowed with that natural
graceful manner which wins the hearts of all, and
added to her extreme beauty, renders her an object
of universal admiration. The Duke, too, is the
very essence of affabihty, possessing a peculiar
charm, that of interesting his hearers by discoursing
to them on subjects nearest their hearts ; thus
whether the questions of racing, hunting, shooting,
farming, politics, corn-laws, poor-rates, military
affairs are agitated, his Grace, to use a sporting
phrase, is ' sure to be there or thereabouts.' During
this gay week, covers were daily laid for sixty in
the ball-room, and the manner in which the feasts
were conducted reminded one of the Philoxenia of

252 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

former days, with the additional refinement of those
we live in. The temporary banquet-room is a
noble apartment, ninety feet in length and thirty
in width. The marble mantle-pieces came from
the palace of the modern Sardanapalus, George the
Fourth ; if they could speak, what tales would they
tell us of the royal orgies kept up at Carlton House
by the Prince — 'the prince of princes at the time.'
Return we to the banquet. The plate is gorgeous ;
in the centre may be seen a superb candelabrum, pre-
sented by the farmers of Sussex to the Duke. By
its side is a vase, formed of the gold snuff-boxes
which were given to his late noble father during his
Lord-Lieutenancy of Ireland, from the corporations
of the following towns : — Bandon Bridge, Cork,
Clonmel, Dundalk, Kilkenny, Limerick, London-
derry, Youghall, Waterford, and the Goldsmith's
Company of Edinburgh.

" The names and arms of the above towns are
engraved upon the vase. Among the pieces of plate
that grace the table are the Orleans Cup, given by
his late lamented Royal Highness, which was won
in 1841 by the Duke of Richmond's celebrated
horse Mus, the Mazeppa Plateau won by Lord
George Bentinck's Yorkshire Lady in 1843, and
presented by that truly popular and liberal noble-
man to the Duke ; the Goodwood Cup, 1825, won
by Pantomime, ridden by Captain F. Berkeley,
afterwards Lord Fitzhardinge, and a variety of
other gold cups. The race-horses are kept not only
at the stables belonging to the house, but also at
the far-famed dog-kennel where the trainer, John

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS. 253

Kent, resides. It is not my intention to bore you
with a further description of a house you are so well
acquainted with, but I cannot refrain from giving
my impression of a meeting which afforded me so
much pleasure.

" For the present farewell.

" Tout a vous."

" Regent Hotel, Leamington.

"Mon cher Lord William,
" Here I am at this far famed Spa, the head-
quarters of the Warwickshire hunt. For a man that
wishes to unite society and hunting, there are few
places equal to Leamington ; the hotels are excel-
lent, the stabling first-rate, and the meets within
easy distances. There are numerous dinners, balls,
concerts, plays, and whist parties. Having taken
up my quarters at the Kegent Hotel, I immediately
sent for the local newspaper, and found that the
hounds were to meet the following day at Mitford
Bridge; there I found myself at eleven o'clock,
having joined a party who were leaving the hotel
at the same time I did, and who, seeing I was a
stranger, politely volunteered to show me the
nearest road to the place of meeting. ' A well
mounted foreigner from Melton,' was very soon
bruited about ; and I received not only the greatest
attention from the popular master of the hounds,
but from all the principal gentlemen of the hunt.
Not much time was left for an exchange of civilities,
for a gallant fox was shortly found. We had a
splendid run, fifteen miles from point to point,
killing in the open. Upon the above occasion I

254 CELEBEITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

was mounted by Solloway, of Warwick, to whom
you gave me au introduction, who did full justice
to your recommendation.

" Leaving Leamington, I proceed to Liverpool,
arriving there in excellent time for dinner. To the
gourmet, the Waterloo Hotel has peculiar charms,
for the turtle is super-excellent. There is a deli-
cacy of flavour about it that L have never seen
equalled. The soup is the very essence of turtle,
free from those thick clammy ingredients that so
often spoil the taste of this occidental luxury, and
which makes one fear that instead of beinor real it
is only a mochevy. The punch is as piquant as its
witty literary namesake, in which by all ac-
counts a considerable quantity of sjoirit and lemon
(Mark Lemon) is introduced.

" Upon the following morning the great national
steeplechase took place ; at an early hour the
whole town was in a state of bustle and confusion.
Strangers were pouring in from all quarters, Dale
Street was full of life. Here at the club-house
door might be seen a well-appointed team, upon
the box and roof of which might be recognised the
elite of the sporting community. Before the Water-
loo Hotel appeared the Earl of Sefton, with a turn
out worthy of the noble owner, and by its side was
the phaeton of that truly popular Cheshire baronet,
Sir William Massey Stanley; his brother John, who
hunts the hounds, is in a neat travelling chariot
with his young and pretty wife, who being a native
of France, I, as a countryman, may well be proud
of.

EAELY EACE-MEETINGS. 255

" No sooner did the owner of Hooton hear that I
was in the hotel than a waiter brought in the card
of Sir WilHara, who welcomed me most kindly, in-
viting me to his home. After expressing my thanks
and regrets at being unable to avail myself of his
hospitality, he inquired how I was about to proceed
to the race-course, and ascertaining that I had no
other conveyance save that provided by the pro-
prietor of the ' Waterloo' — a Liverpool fly, he imme-
diately transferred me to the box of a coach and
four, belonging to one of his friends. I will not
attempt to give an account of the steeple-chase,
which is most graphically described in ' Bell's
Life' and the ' Sporting Review,' suffice it to say
it was one of the finest spectacles I ever witnessed.

" Upon my return to London, ' the season,' as it
is called, par excellence^ was setting in, balls,
operas and dinners were the order of the day.
May arrived, and with it came many of the early
race-meetings, Hampton Spring and Gorhambury,
both of which I made a point of attending. At the
former we had some good gentlemen riders, when
for the first time in England I appeared in the
racing-saddle. As I was not fortunate enough to
be placed, I will not further allude to the com-
mencement of my career as a jockey.

" The Derby, which is quite a national fete in
England, was shortly to come ofi"; and I was about
to make arrangements with Newman for a carriage
and pair to take me to Epsom, when a young Melton
friend called upon me, and asked how I was going
to the Derby.

266 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

*' * By the road,' I responded. ' I have already
writteD to Newman on the subject.'

" * Oh, come with us,' repHed the young noble-
man, just emancipated from Eton, and only a
month previously appointed to a cornetcy in one of
the crack regiments of the Household Brigade, * we
have a team, we start from the Barracks at eleven,
have a relay at Sutton. I'll book you for an out-
side place, and you'll see lots of life, only I advise
you to insure your neck.'

" Thanking my young friend for his kind offer,
■which I gladly availed myself of, I promised to be
at the Regent's Park Barracks the following morn-
ing at the hour named.

" ' You'll find breakfast from ten upwards, only
recollect we start punctually at eleven.'

" At ten o'clock the next morning I found my-
self at the barracks, where a most substantial
breakfast was laid out in the mess-room. Two
teams were to start from there, the regimental one,
and that of a sporting nobleman who had served in
the corps.

" A guard, or ' shooter,' as he was called, was
appointed to each, whose business it was to blow
the horn, play the key-bugle, fasten a buckle, bear
up a leader, alter a curb-chain, or, as the adver-
tisements say, ' make himself generally useful.'

" The ' shooters ' on the present occasion were
Sir St. Vincent Cotton, a right good-hearted
sporting baronet, formerly an officer in the 10th,
or Prince of Wales' Own Hussars, and a young
oflficer of the Life Guards.

GOING TO THE DERBY. 257

" * I've kept the box-seat for you,' said Sir St.
Vincent to me, taking out a paper made to resemble
a regular way-bill in the days that stage-coaches
flourished.

'* ' Let's have it read,' shouted a dozen voices.

" ' Here it is,' responded the ex-Hussar, ' out-
sides,' and he gave a list of those who had been
booked for the day. ' Insides,' he continued, ' the
mess-man, four dozen of champagne, four pails of
Wenham Lake ice, four cold pies, eight tongues and
fowls, four quarters of lamb, four bowls of salad,
four dozen bottles of soda water, four jugs of
cyder cup, two of claret ditto, four dozen plovers'
eggs, two jugs of sherry cobbler and mint
julep.'

" Ample provisions, thought I, for the day, and
then began to think that my young friend's warning
as to insuring my neck, might, on our return, not
be quite so much of a joke as I had treated it.

" At five minutes before eleven, both teams were
at the door.

" ' Gentlemen, take your seats !" exclaimed the
guard, ' all right,' and as the clock struck eleven,
we trotted across the yard, both guards playing
*Away, away to the mountain's brow,' upon their
keyed instruments.

" No very hair-breadth escapes occurred upon our
journey down ; we now and then grazed the bars of
the leaders, frightened an old apple-woman near the
Vauxhall turnpike, nearly took the linch-pin out
of the wheel of a cockney's dennet, almost upset a
light taxed cart, and scared the wits, if he hap-

VOL. II. s

258 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

pened to Lave any, of a young East End swell, with
a gaudily-dressed damsel by his side, who was
driving a tandem with a refractory leader, which
said leader so turned round to stare at us in the
face, that we gave him a broadside, and nearly
threw the whole concern into a miry and foetid
ditch. The road was replete with life ; there was
every sort of vehicle ; the well-appointed thorough-
bred team, the barouche and four, the post-boys
decked out in satin jackets and white hats ; the
phaeton and pair, the light dennet, the unassuming
tilbury, the snug britzka, the overloaded coach, the
heavy ' bus,' the gaudy van covered with green
boughs, forming a sort of perambulating arbour,
the ' Hansom ' cab, the tilted cart, the ' cat's meat '
barrow, horsed, or rather ' dogged ' by two fine
specimens of the mongrel breed, while the owner
fully realized the lines of the late Horace Twiss's
song : —

" ' And tbe very next day at Epsom be was seen,
In a nice new suit of velveteen ;
How well he's dressed, so spick and span,
My eye, wot a swell is the dog's-meat man.'

" I know not if I have quoted the lines correctly ;
I give them from memory, having once heard them
sung by the author, who not only possessed every
requisite for a great lawyer, but who in private
society was one of the most agreeable companions
I ever had the good fortune to meet.

" Then there were stage coaches of every descrip-
tion, with every sort of horse, from the ten mile an
hour trotter down to the limping pacer, who was

ox THE EOAD TO THE DERBY.

259

evidently making ^his last appearance on any
stage' previous to a visit to the knacker's yard.
Equestrians and pedestrians swarmed along the
road. There was to be seen the three hundred
guinea park hack, the strong cob ; there trotted
along an East-ender on a hired horse, with a blue
saddle cloth, a snaffle bridle, a nose-band. Now
came a young Life Guardsman, pounding along the
road upon his high mettled steed, a stripling from
Eton on a ' fiery Pegasus,' one of Tilbury's best.
A party now dashed past, consisting of three sport-
ing looking men accompanied by two dashing
Amazons ; then a gent with a smart four and six-
penny ' Gossamer' hat, a green cut-away coat from
the emporium of that poetical Schneider Moses,
mounted upon (as far as knees went) a well hrohe
charger. Next came a regular swell with mus-
tachios, an Albert paletot, from a ' reach me down'
shop in Fleet Street, his red and black satin necktie
ornamented with a huge diamond pin, a pair of
trowsers with large black and white check, looking
for all the world like a draughtboard ; his cos-
tume being between that of a Leicester Square
lounger and a levanting blackleg at Boulogne — he
is a keeper of a roulette table. His nag is rather a
spicy-looking one, the present owner having pro-
bably taken it for a bad debt. Numerous grazier-
looking men from the purlieus of Smithfield now
appear, mounted on strong useful animals. The
pedestrians consisting of gipsies, tramps, thimble-
riggers, and sharpers, shop-boys, cads, touters,
beggars, ballad-singers, Jew boys, ostlers, prize-

s 2

260 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

fighters, black-legs, and a class of seedy-looking
sporting gents, often to be seen hanging about
Tattersall's or Aldridge's yards.

" After a ratlier dusty journey we reached the
course, taking up a position on the hill ; we then
mounted our hacks and galloped off to the betting
ring, where the scene baffled all description. Amidst
such a confusion of tongues it is quite a miracle
how anyone could make up his book. We then
proceeded to the post, where, as Dibdin sings, ' All
on the doivns the fleet were met.' The knowing
ones now take a look at their favourites, and shut-
ting up their books, resign themselves to their fate.

" The word is given, and away start the horses
to decide an event upon which so many thousands
are depending; the equestrians, unmindful of danger
to themselves, or to the less fortunate trampers on
foot, gallop across the hill. Everyone is in a
state of breathless anxiety. ' The favourite is
beat !' shouts one, as they pass Tattenham Corner.
' He beats anything for a thousand !' cries another,
anxious to hedge some of his money. ' Yellow
wins !' ' There's an outsider coming up !' ' Peel
wins !' * Forth for a pony !' ' Grully's beat !' and
such cries, rend the air. Now they approach the
distance post ; for a moment there is a dead silence,
which is broken by a shout from assembled thou-
sands, as the winner passes the post. Out come
the betting-books ; as the gamester runs his eye
down the winning and losing sheet, he either breaks
out in noisy excitement ' I win a thousand,' or
utters anathemas, deep, not loud, against the fickle

SCENE AFTER THE EACE. 261

goddess Fortune, who has now left him in the lurch
minus many more thousands than his exchequer
holds. ' Well, the Oaks will bring me home,' cries
the now desperate better ; alas for his peace of
mind, and that of his creditors, it leaves him in a
worse plight.

" No sooner is the race over than the whole
course is converted into one huo^e luncheon-room.
The roofs of all the coaches, the seats of all the
vehicles are covered with the snowy damask, or
the dirty-looking dowlas, according to the quality
of the owners, and every sort of eatable and drink-
able is laid out. The drag I was upon, furnished
a fair specimen of the aristocratic meal ; while a
Whitechapel cart, which was drawn up next to us,
gave a good idea of humble life. Whilst we were
enjoying our pate de foie gras, iced champagne, and
claret-cup, our neighbours, consisting of two swell
butchers, with their better halves, were indulging
their appetites with a highly garlicked ' polony'
sausage, a cold crab and salad, quenching their
thirst with Barclay and Perkins' bottled stout.
Eating and drinking for the million was thus carried
on for a good hour, and the poor gained consider-
ably by the quantity as well as the quality of the
repast, which their richer brethren furnished them
with. It was curious to see some half-starved
mendicant devouring a slice of a P^rigord pie, to
witness a tattered fortune-teller revelling in the
remains of a bottle of iced champagne, to watch
the countenance of a sturdy tramp as he demolished
the half of a cold fowl smothered with sauce a la

262 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

Tartare; to bear the remark of an omnibus cad on
helping himself to a tumbler of cyder-cup, ' Rather
sweetish and wishy-washy stuff, very cold to the
stomach, it ain't to be mentioned the same day
with a glass of gin ;' and to look at the wry faces
made by some swarthy imps of the gipsy tribe as
they tasted a remnant of a pate de foie gras, or
sipped from a broken bottle some Johannisberg
hock of the finest vintage. To one and all of these
unpampered appetites, a crust of bread and cheese,
a slice of cold meat, a glass of malt liquor, would
have been far more gratifying than the choicest
delicacies. One party alone seemed to relish our
scraps, and that was a band of Italian men and
boys with white mice, hurdygurdies, and organs ;
who having favoured us with all the most popular
airs of the day, from ' Smile as thou wert wont to
smile,' to the serenade from 'Don Pasquale,' were
rewarded with a very handsome lunch ; their
countenances beamed with delight, their eyes
sparkled with joy at the sumptuous viands. The
sky was blue and serene, the sun scorching hot,
and a thought of their own loved Italia probably
came across them, as they expressed their grati-
tude in the following simple strain, ' Tante grazie,
Signori miei.'

" As the object of our party in the two teams was
to make a day of it, we did not leave the course
until near six o'clock ; during which period we
indulged in the aristocratic amusements of shying
sticks, pricking the garter, playing at roulette,
risking half-crowns on the red or black. The result

RETURN FROM THE DERBY. 263

was, at the end of the day we found ourselves
minus nearly all our funds, and -plus some six
dozen toys, consisting of wooden apples, pears,
nutmeg-graters, jacks-in-tlie-box, pincushions, tin
snuff-boxes, thimbles, all of which would have
nearly furnished a shop for some modern Tackleton,
and would have gladdened the heart of that inimi-
table creation of Charles Dickens, the worthy
Caleb Plummer. At ten minutes before six, the
' shooter's' horn gave notice that we were about
to start; about five minutes from that time the
' dragsman' cried out ' All right, let them go, I've
got them,' and away we bowled at a rattling pace
across the Downs. No sooner had we reached the
road than we found that the fun had begun in
downright good earnest, for such a scene of
confusion I never before witnessed. It is no exag-
geration to say that nearly every driver, and the
majority of post-boys, were considerably elevated.
The gradations from dead drunk to what is called
slightly inebriated were fully exemplified. See that
swell-looking sporting ' gent' in the dennet, who
has won a hundred by one of the Derby sweeps ; he
is as drunk as a lord. Why your aristocracy are
thus libelled I know not, but I give a phrase very
frequently in use. He has got his thoroughbred nag
into a gallop, and is recklessly dashing by every-
thing; now one wheel is against our leaders, then
the other is in the ditch ; the crazy vehicle is nearly
overturned, when the driver's friend, who is only
' ten sheets in the wind,' gives the horse a pull to
the right, and again lands him on the road. Now

264 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

an open barouche and four, filled with ladies of
very questionable appearance, trots by ; the leading
post-boy is rather the worse for liquor, while the
wheel one is what Bardolph calls awfully ' fap ;'
two ' horse chaunters' gallop furiously past in a
light Whitechapel cart, and thread the crowd with
amazing dexterity; like the horses they deal in,
they are considerably ' screwed.' Next comes a
sporting nobleman, rather fresh, in a phaeton and
pair, going ' in and out' of the line of carriages,
as his lordship was wont to do when taking a
double ox-rail in Leicestershire. A van full of
Bacchanalians now grazes our bars, while our
' shooter,' who could boast of a classical education,
exclaimed, rather (ior/matically at least so far as
his Latin went on this occasion, ' Cave cui incurras,
inepte,' ' Mind whom you run against, stupid.'

" ' Halloa, Shooter,' cries a young Life Guards-
man, ' you're coming it strong with your University
education,'

"'AH right, old fellow,' responded the other
fresh from Trinity College, ' concessi Gantabrigium
ad capiendum ingenii cuUum, which in English means
I went to Cambridge to become a fast man.'

" What with music, joke, song, repartee, and
looking at upsets, overthrows, tumbles, break-
downs, fights, and wrangles, we approached Rich-
mond, where the ' shooter,' having played ' The
Lass of Richmond Hill,' gave us another specimen
of his dog Latin by exclaiming, ' Fords volentibus,
lactissime ejpulahimur. Please the pigs we'll have
a jolly good dinner.' We then drove up to the

END 01^ MY TRIP TO EPSOM. 265

Star and Garter where the landlord and a bevy of
waiters were in readiness to receive us. The order
* dinner at half past eight for four and twenty' had
been attended to, and we were ushered into a large
room overlooking the river and the green meadows
of Twickenham.

*' No sooner had we got rid of the dust, which,
despite the surveyor's notice, we had carried away
from the roads without permission, than the bugle
played ' The Roast Beef of Old England,' and din-
ner was announced. Instead of attempting turtle
and difficult entrees, the spirited proprietor of this
celebrated hotellerie gave us a good plain repast —
freshwater fish of every kind, in the highest per-
fection, stewed and spitchcock ells, water zuchet
of all the diff'erent tribes of the river finny race,
with flesh and fowl dressed in the best manner.
The wines too were of the first quality, and I never
remember passing a more agreeable evening.

" At twelve o'clock, the teams were at the door,
and after an hour's drive, we were safely landed at
Crockford's ; around the supper-table were gathered
all the choice spirits of the day. The Badminton,
Horace Twiss's and other mixtures, formed of all
the choicest concoctions of claret, cura^oa, orange
juice, iced soda water, quite the modern nectar,
passed freely round, keeping up the hearts of those
who had been losers by the day, while it almost
maddened with joy those who had come ofi^ winners.
It was nearly daylight before I reached the Claren-
don, highly delighted with my trip to Epsom.

" By way of a change, I accompanied a party by

266 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

the Brighton rail to the Oaks ; it was, however, a
dull, flat, uDyjrofitable affair. There was no fun,
bustle, or excitement ; instead of the humours of the
road, nothing was to be seen but a dingy workman,
or a gaunt signalman waving a dirt-stained red flag,
as we passed the different stations, I was rather
amused with an elderly gentleman who sat opposite
me, remarking that he was a great railway-traveller,
and who expatiated not a little on the charms of
steam-power over horse-flesh. Among other draw-
backs, I ventured to remark that getting one's
eyes filled with iron- dust was not the most agree-
able thing in the world.

" * Wear goggles, as I do,' responded the bluster-
ing railer, ' and carry a magnet with you, which
will extract every particle of metal that may happen
to get within your eyelids.'

" Upon reaching the course, we found the scene
far diff'erent from that of the previous Wednesday ;
there was an absence of life, and there were fewer
persons by some thousands. Having a dinner en-
gagement in London, I left immediately after the
Ladies' race, and was safely landed at my hotel in
ample time for dressing. Certainly few sights
strike a foreigner so much as Epsom races ; Ascot and
Goodwood are more aristocratic, and it is truly
pleasing to see at the former the Queen surrounded
by elegant and lovely women, radiant in beauty,
honouring the people with their presence. All,
however, falls short of the Derby, which has the
power of wresting the Englishman of every degree
from his lethargic gravity, which makes him look

ASCOT EACES. 267

upon the event as one that, in a national point of
view, must be kept up. You may as well attempt
to deprive him of his ' rosbif ' and plum-pudding
on a Sunday as to debar him from this annual
f^te.

Ascot races were now approaching, unfortunately
some legal business of importance compelled me to
decline a most kind and pressing invitation to pass
the week at a friend's house, near Sunning Hill. I
was, however, in some degree compensated for my
disappointment, by receiving a command to dine
with your gracious Queen at Windsor Castle on the
Cup day. Accordingly I made my arrangements,
and ordering four of Newman's best horses to my
travelling chariot, and four to be in readiness at
Hounslow to take me to the course, and bring me
back at night, I started at an early hour on the
Thursday, so as to be in time for the Cup race.
My expectations were more than realized, the
weather was brilliant, the company numerous, and
the racing excellent. After partaking of a most
sumptuous lunch in Her Majesty's stand, I pro-
ceeded to Windsor, where, after some diflBculty, I
ensfaofed a room to dress in. At the time named
on the card I was at the Castle, and having occupied
myself during the usual tedious half hour before
dinner, as also during the evening, in looking over
this splendid regal residence, I must give you a
few rough notes of the impression it made on my
mind.

" St. George's Hall is upwards of two hundred
feet in length, and about thirty-five in width.

268 CELEBEITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

The ceiling is divided throughout its whole length
into compartments, whereon are emblazoned the
armorial bearings of all the knights of the Garter,
from the first institution of the Order. The knights
on the corbels, in complete suits of mail, are Ed-
ward the Third and his son the Black Prince, in
addition to which there are portraits from the first
James to the last George. Along the sides of the
hall, on shields, are emblazoned the arms of the
various knights ; in other spaces are large brass
shields, bearing the cross of St. George, encircled
by the garter and its well-known motto, " Honi soit
qui mal y pense." A hall more likely to revive
associations of by-gone days, and bring to the
mind's eye a review of the stirring times and wai*-
like deeds of the proud aristocra/y of which your
country may so truly boast, does not exist. It
brought to my remembrance some bitter reflections
connected with my own native land.

*' At each end of the apartment, arranged as a ban-
queting hall, were buffets, seventeen feet in height
and forty in breadth, covered with crimson cloth,
and encompassed by carved gothic framework upon
which the massive gold plate was tastefully ar-
ranged. Immediately opposite the seat appropriated
to Her Majesty, within a recess, was a pyramid of
plate, comprising the tiger's head captured at Se-
ringapatam ; over it the Tluma, formed of precious
stones, presented by the late Marquis of Wellesley
to George the Third. Above the Tluma was a cup,
made out of a shell, mcmnted in gold and silver,
surmounted by the figure of Jupiter resting on an

ST. George's hall, windsoe. 269

eagle, the base supported by Hippocampi, several
vases rich in precious stones and ivory ; and the
national cup, with figures of St. George, St. An-
drew, and St. Patrick, the patron saints of Eng-
land, Scotland, and Ireland, the emblems being
formed of rare jewels. The tables extended the
whole length of the room, and covers were laid for
a hundred. Gold epergnes, vases, cups, and can-
delabra, the latter containing a profusion of wax-
lights, were ranged down the centre of the table.
The celebrated St. George's candelabra was placed
opposite the Queen ; it is perhaps the most beau-
tiful specimen of plate in the world. The upper
division contains the combat of England's patron
saint with the dragon ; the lower has four figures
in full relief, supporting shields bearing the arms of
England, Scotland, Ireland, and the plume of the
Prince of Wales. In describing the plate, I must
not omit to mention the shield of Achilles, and the
massive gold salt-cellar made to represent the White
Tower of Windsor's proud castle. The wine-coolers
are copies of the Warwick and other well-known
classical vases. The hall was splendidly illumi-
nated ; on duty at the entrance were the yeomen of
the guard, now called ' beefeaters' from the word
* bouffetiers ;' the bands of a cavalry and infantry
regiment, quartered at Windsor, were stationed in
one of the galleries. The company assembled in
the drawing room by half-past seven ; from a pre-
arranged official list, made out by the lord in wait-
ing, each person knew whom he was to take in to
dinner; my lot fell to a distinguished foreign

270 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

minister's wife. Precisely at a quarter before eiglit,
Her Majesty entered the drawing-room, and after
graciously recognising her guests, took the arm of
the Duke of Cambridge, and, followed by Prince
Albert and the Duchess of Kent, led the way to the
banquetting hall ; the remainder of the company
in succession according to their respective rank.
During dinner the band played some popular
marches, overtures, waltzes, and quadrilles from
the works of Mendlessohn, Beethoven, Labitsky,
Mozart, Pies, and Musard. The repast, served en-
tirely on gold plate, was faultless.

" The attendance was complete, there was less
bustle and confusion in this party of one hundred
than I have often seen in a small circle of eight
or ten. The wine of every description was handed
round during dinner ; while that first-rate artist,
Francatelli, who presided over the culinary depart-
ment, walked about to see that his respective 'plciis
were served in due order. At a quarter before nine,
grace was said, the cloth removed, and the dessert
placed upon the table. No sooner did the wine
* sparkle on the board,' than the Lord Steward
gave ' The Queen.' All stood up with the excep-
tion of Her Majesty, who gracefully bowed her
acknowledgments. The National Anthem was
then played. Again the Lord Steward rose, and
gave * His Poyal Highness Prince Albert,' the
toast was drunk standing, the band playing the
' Coburg March.' The sight was most imposing,
the martial strains of the music, a hall replete with
every attribute of regal magnificence, a well-dressed

THE WATERLOO CHAMBER. 271

company of the elite of society the ladies sparkling
with diamonds and other jewels, encircling a table
one hundred and thirty feet long, produced an effect
more like that of a fairy dream than a substantial
pageant. At half-past nine Her Majesty rose from
table, the ladies of the company grouping round
her, and proceeded to the drawing room. His
Royal Highness again took his seat, the wine was
passed round, in five-and-twenty minutes the Prince
and the guests joined Her Majesty. The Waterloo
Chamber was thrown open for music and refresh-
ments. Its pictorial treasures are historically con-
nected with the deeds of your countrymen during
the last fifty years. I took the deepest interest in
the north corridor, which is arranged with much
taste ; in it is a fine collection of arms, consisting
of Oriental matchlocks, helmets, shields, spears and
swords. Among the latter are those worn by the
Chevalier St. George in 1715, and by the Pretender
in the fatal year 1 746.

" In the guard chamber are whole length figures
clothed in armour. The coats of mail include those
worn by Charles, Prince of Wales in 1620; Lord
Howard in 1588; Duke of Brunswick in 1530,
Lord Essex in 1596 ; and Prince Rupert in 1G35.
At the north end, on part of the mast of the
* Victory,' stands Chantrey's bust of Nelson.
There are also busts of Marlborough and Welling-
ton, with the banners from Blenheim and Strath-
fieldsaye ; one of which their representatives are
bound annually to place in Windsor Castle. In
failing so to do, on the anniversaries of their two

272 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

great victories, their English estates would be for-
feited. I gazed with extreme delight at the exqui-
site silver shield inlaid with gold, executed by
CelUni, presented by our monarch, Francis the
First, to Henry the Eighth of England, on the far
famed Field of the Cloth of Gold. The concert of
instrumental music was all that could be desired,
it consisted of the chef-d'muvres of Mozart, Beetho-
ven, Lindpainter, Mendlessohn, and Marschner; at
a little after eleven o'clock. Her Majesty, bending
gracefully to the assembled guests, retired, leaning
on the arm of the Prince Consort.

*' I now entered my carriage, and throwing my-
self into the corner, soon fell into a profound sleep.
The race for the cup, the splendid banquet in St.
George's Hall, the dignified affability of your
Queen, the strains of Mozart, all flitted before my
eyes and sounded in my ears, when I was suddenly
awakened by an altercation carried on in a most
angry tone; putting down the window I found
myself at the door of the George Inn, Hounslow.

" ' Ten pounds for de horses,' exclaimed my
valet Hippolyte, ' vy dat is von grand sheet.'

" ' Cheat, mounseer !' responded a stout burly
ostler, ' we are not to be bamboozled by your
foreigneering folks, master always charges ten
pounds for horses on the Cup day.'

" My enraged ' help,' as the Americans would
say, * was getting awfully ryled,' when I put my
head out of the window and called the ostler to me.
' If the charge is usual,' I said, ' of course I have no
objection to pay it ; here are ten pounds.'

FRANCATELLI. 273

" ' The boys and gates are paid," cliiraed in Hjp-
polyte.

*' 'Please to remember the ostler,' said the now-
humble man. I was about to give him something
when the excited valet shouted,

" ' Go on, all right, or no pay.'

" The latter sentence seemed to act like magic
upon the postboys, who started off at a rattling
trot, leaving the ostler to anathematise upon ' them
'ere French coves wot don't understand how to do
the handsome thing.'

" In rather more than an hour I found myself at
the door of the Clarendon Hotel, not a little
fatigued with my day's pleasure, but highly gratified
with my visit to Ascot and Windsor. Adieu, mon
cher Lord, je pars apres demain pour Paris, demain
vous pouvez disposer de moi, et si vous ne venez
pas me voir le matin, j'irai certainement vous
trouver le soir au club."

Francatelli, to whom my correspondent refers,
was at that period in the service of Her Majesty.
It is within a few days that I have heard of his
death. Born in London, of Italian extraction, he
was trained in France under the celebrated Careme.
He afterwards became successively chef de cuisine
to the Earl of Chesterfield, Earl of Dudley, Lord
Kinnaird, Mr. Rowland Errington. Subsequently
he managed Crockford's, the St. James's, and
Reform Clubs, and more recently the Freemason's
Tavern.

VOL. ir. T

274

EICHAED TATTERSALL.

CHAPTER XV.

EICHARD TATTERSALL — HIS FATHER CALLED " THE HONEST MAN"
— HIS EPITAPH:

" Placidaque ibi domum morte quievit."
"There calm at lenj^th he breathed his soul away." — virgil.

HYDE PARK CORNER— SALE OP A FAVOURITE HACK.

" An honest man he is, and hates the slime
That sticks on filthy deeds."

SHAKESPEARE.

yiEW men were better known or more highly res-
J- pected than the late Richard Tattersall,
grandson to the man who by never-flagging indus-
try, strict integrity in all his dealings, and a
spirit of genuine philanthrophy gained for him-
self the proud appellation of " Honest Richard
Tattersall." Honest Richard came from the
western borders of Yorkshire, upon the edge of
Lancashire, about the year 1743. Possessing all
the acute faculties of those born in the first men-
tioned county, and the business habits of those
brought up in the latter, he lived to the green old
age of seventy-one ; ending his days at the Corner
on the 21st of February, 1795. The following is

tattersall's. 275

a copy of an epitaph written on him by some
friendly pen ; which I have no doubt he fully
merited :

" Sacred to the ashes of Richard Tattersall, Esq.,
late of Hyde Park Corner, in the county of Middle-
sex, who by his indefatigable industry, irreproach-
able character, and unassuming manners raised
himself (from an humble though respectable origin)
to independence and affluence. To the rare excel-
lence of bearing prosperity with moderation, he,
by his inflexible integrity, united (as he justly
acquired) the exalted appellation of Honest Man,
and continued uncorrupted even by riches. Thus
universally respected and beloved by all who knew
him, he lived ; and died as universally regretted.
But though his perishable part together with this
final tribute to his ashes shall decay, yet, as long
as the recollection of honest worth, social manners,
and hospitality unbounded shall be dear to the
memory of man, the remembrance of him shall live ;
surviving the slender aid of the proud pyramid, the
boasted durability of brass, and the wreck of
ages."

The spirit if not the letter of the above would be
equally applicable to the subject of my memoir.
The original premises were opened about the year
1775, and underwent little change until removed
from the site of St. George's Hospital to Knights-
bridge Green — a green with a vengeance, " Lucus
a uon lucendo." In the centre of the old yard
stood a pump (now removed to the new building)
surmounted by a dome, supported by stone pillars,

T 2

276 CELEBRITIES T HAVE KNOWN.

on the top of the dome or cupola is a bust of Prince
George, afterwards George IV. He appears in
the fashion of the day, with his hair and toiipet as
worn at the end of the last century and early part
of the present. The Subscription room in the yard
was opened about the year 1789, when the number
of subscribers did not amount to eighty ; but
amongst that small and select body were the names
of all the most distinguished patrons of the turf.
The Dukes of Grafton, Kingston, Portland, and
Beaufort; Lords Darlington, Scarborough, Fitz-
william, Foley, Clarendon, Oxford ; Sir Charles
Bunbury, Major O'Kelly ; Messrs. Mellish, Delm^
Radcliffe, and all the racing aristocracy of that
day.

One of the most distinguished turfites of that
day was Mellish, who might be seen at every
gathering of sporting men. He often betted largely
with the Prince of Wales, with whom he was on
terms of great intimacy. About the year J 800 the
betting ring was established at Tattersall's, and was
supported by all the professional speculators of the
day, then amounting to about twelve or fourteen ;
for the lordly breeder or owner of the racer never
at that period dreamed of making a book, he only
backed his own horses, or others he took a fancy
to, thus supporting the turf as it ought to be sup-
ported, not alone for lucre but as a noble and
national amusement. There was no " plunging "
as it is now termed in those days ; with the excep-
tion perhaps of Epsom and Doncaster the meetings
were more or less private, confined to the resident

THE "CORNEIi." 277

noblemen and gentlemen of the county, the
yeomen, the farmers, and their families. Races
for gentlemen-riders were much in vogue, but
these races were strictly conjBned to officers of the
army and navy, and members of the leading clubs.
Bibury was the most fashionable gathering for
amateurs — next to that. Goodwood, Lewes and
Brighton.

A writer in " Household "Words" gives a very
graphic description of " the Corner," as Tatter-
sail's was formerly called, as will be seen by the
following extract :

" Few people are so serious in their amusements
and so easy in their business* transactions as the
English. A Frenchman buys or sells stock, or mer-
chandise, in gross with the air of being engaged in
a deadly duel; while Capel, who concludes an
affair of ten thousand pounds with apparent indif-
ference and perfect good humour, is only to be
found truly grave and unhappy at a ball or con-
cert.

" Even the Germans, the most industrious and
penetrating of foreign travellers, who dive into
cellars, study life in temperance coffee-houses,
coalheavers' taps, and other resorts still less known,
but not less worth the studying by the common
race of travellers generally, miss an exchange or
mart, which combines to a large class of English-
men all the charms of gambling on the Bourse, of
lounging on the Boulevards of Paris, the casinos
and gardens of Hamburg and Baden-Baden, at
once a place of business and of speculation to the

278 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

extent of hundreds of thousands ; while to an un-
limited number who neither buy nor bet, it is a
regular promenade and lounge at least twice a
week.

" This place, hitherto overlooked by bookmaking
visitors from abroad, is Tattersall's. The Garra-
way's of horses, and the Stock Exchange of racing
men ; where the supporters of two leading national
institutions, fox-hunting and horse-racing, most
do congregate.*'

The writer is unjustly severe in his comments
upon the Subscription room.

" Here," he says, " the vilest and the proudest
meet on equal terms, equality and fraternity can
only exist in and be created by the spirit of gam-
bling. The man on your right was boots at an
inn, the man on your left is a peer ; the man
opposite to you keeps a gambling house ; the man
behind you talking to an M.P. has been tried, con-
victed, and sent to Newgate for fraud. Every
crime and every grade has here its representative;
but all pay honourably, the greater the scamp the
safer the bet."

The above is evidently written by one who has
never entered the Subscription room, which I
should strongly recommend him to keep away
from. There are many most honourable men con-
nected with the betting ring, and although occa-
sionally a black sheep may be found among them,
what profession is there free from blemish. It is
rather hard lines that the good should be censured
for the faults of a few.

PUECHASE OP A HOrxSE. 279

The late Richard Tattersall was a very good
judge of a horse, and was ever ready to be of
assistance to a friend. I can speak from personal
experience, for on two occasions I was indebted to
him for his advice. It is now some forty years ago
that I saw advertised a splendid park hack, and
being anxious to possess one, I immediately pro-
ceeded to the Corner. I saw the animal, and as
far as appearance and action went he was faultless.
I sought Tattersall, who told me that the animal
was for sale by private contract, and that if no
purchaser was found he was to be sold by public
auction on the following Monday. The price asked
was one hundred guineas, in those days a fair price
for a park hack. I own myself that I do not agree
with many who say " Oh, almost any horse, pro-
vided he is good-looking, will do for the park," for
an animal that you are in the habit of riding every
day should, in ray opinion, not alone be good look-
ing, but have what the dealers call "good man-
ners." What can be more annoying that a fidgetty,
hot, fretful brute, especially in a crowded Rotten
Row on a hot summer's day. As I only kept one
horse, and worked him pretty well the whole year
round in London and in the country, I made up my
mind to purchase the splendid park hack. The
next point for consideration was whether I should
buy him at once, or risk getting him at the sale.

'* What say you, Tattersall ?" said I.

" I can hardly give an opinion," he replied, " I
don't consider the horse dear at one hundred
guineas, for he is young and warranted sound.

280 CELEBEITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

He may go for ninety guineas, or he may be run
up to one hundred and twenty or one hundred and
thirty guineas. I ought to tell you he has carried
a lady."

After turning the affair over in my mind, and
remembering what Tattersall had said about his not
being dear at the money, I gave a cheque for the
amount, and became the possessor of the horse,
whom I named Amulet ; never did I repent my bar-
gain, for in addition to my having been offered
one hundred and twenty pounds for him before he
left the yard, he carried me for five years, at the end
of which time I sold him for one hundred pounds.
I believe, however, I was indebted more to my
friend d'Orsay for the high sum I received, than to
the merits of Amulet, who though still perfectly
sound had done much work. At that time there
was a man about town, well known in turf circles,
who had been the proprietor of a gambling house,
and who aped the manners of the Upper Ten. This
gentleman happened to mention to the Count that
he was looking out for a handsome park horse.

"I know just the animal," responded d'Orsay,
" Lord William Lennox wishes to sell his, and he
is well worth the money, 100 guineas."

The following morning I received a letter, offer-
ing me a hundred pounds for Amulet, saying the
writer would call upon me for an answer at twelve
o'clock. He came, mentioned the recommendation
he had received from the Count, and tendered me
a cheque.

" I told d'Orsay a hundred guineas," I said,

SALE OF "amulet.". 281

but I am willing to take your cheque for a hundred
pounds."

The bargain was completed, the horse handed
over, when in less than an hour my friend re-ap-
peared.

•' I forgot, my lord, to say that my wife is so
much struck with the beauty of Amulet that she is
very anxious to possess a painting of him, and as
I saw one over your mantelpiece, I mentioned it to
her. Perhaps you would throw that in."

Not caring very much for the painting, I con-
sented, adding, " I do not think the Count told you
to ofifer me pounds instead of guineas, or to ask for
an additional boon."

"You are too obliging," responded my com-
panion. '' I'll take it home with me if you will allow
me. My wife will be charmed."

Nothing more occurred that day ; but upon the
next I found that the purchaser of Amulet was one
of those who, " if you gave him an inch would take
an ell," for he coolly wrote to say that, as he had
not a saddle or bridle that would suit the horse, he
trusted I would throw them both in. I took no
notice of the letter, but when I met my grasping
friend in Rotten Row, " witching the world," as he
thought, " with noble horsemanship," I merely said,
" Although Count d'Orsay recommended you to buy
my horse, I do not think he suggested my throwing
the saddle and bridle in."

My other transaction with Tattersall was as fol-
lows : I was anxious to buy a good useful harness
horse, and consulted him. He told me that I might

282 CELEBEITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

pick up a very good cue at his weekly sales ; but
that if I preferred purchasing one from a dealer, he
knew one that would suit me.

" I have had him on job for two months, and a
better or sounder animal I never drove. He belongs
to Kirby of Upper Berkeley Street West, and if
you can get him for seventy guineas you will do
well."

Off I started to Kirby's, having previously re-
ceived a description of the horse, and begged he
would let me look at any horse he had to dispose of
quiet in single harness.

" That's a nice roan mare," he said, " a splendid
stepper, cheap at a hundred guineas."

" I don't quite fancy the colour " I responded.

" Well," he continued, " there's that brown horse.
I call him ' The Drum ;' he's rather tucked up — just
off a job."

" And what do you ask for him ?" I carelessly
asked.

" Eighty guineas ; warranted sound, and quiet in
double or single harness."

" He's done some work," I responded, " but I
tell you what I will do, I'll give you seventy
pound outright, and ask no question."

" Impossible," said Mr. Kirby ; " I fancy there's
a oreutleman after him."

" Good morning," I said, " I'm sorry we cannot
have a deal."

Before I got out of the yard, Mr. Kirby caught
me up, and after remarking that I was rather hard
upon him, accepted my offer. The purchase turned

THE "DRUM." 283

out well. Why lie was called " The Drum" I know
not, for " Rataplan" was not then in existence, or
he might have claimed kindred with him. For a
horse that was always heat, " The Drum" would not
be an inappropriate name.

Although Richard Tattersall has ceased to exist,
the establishment is still carried on in a manner
worthy of its most palmy days.

284

CHARLES DAVIS.

CHAPTER XVI.

CHARLES DAVIS — HER MAJESTY'S LATE HUNTSMAN — SPORT IN BY-
GONE DAYS— ROYAL MEET AT ASCOT RACE-COURSE — THE QUEEN
AND PRINCE CONSORT PRESENT AT IT— FRANK GOODALL.

"What shall he have that killed the deer?
His leather skin and horns to wear,
Then sing him home,
Take thou no scorn, to wear the horn ;
It was a crest 'ere thou wast born,
Thy father's father wore it,
And thy father bore it.
The horn, the horn, the lusty horn,
Is not a thing to laugh to scorn."

SHAKESPEARE.

AMONG the old familiar faces of the hunting-
field, few were better known than that of
Charles Davis, Her Majesty's huntsman. Before,
however, I enter into his merits, it may not be out
of place to refer to hunting in olden times. In
every age of the world, men have, not only in their
savage, but also in their civiUsed state, been de-
voted to it. In the heathen mythology we find the
sports of the field constantly alluded to, as in the
cases of Diana, the goddess of hunters, Apollo,

HUNTING IN OLDEN TBIES. 285

Cephalus, Actceon, Chiron, Meleager, Adonis, and
Sason. Perseus was looked upon by the Greeks as
the oldest hunter, although Castor and Pollux dis-
puted this title ; the first of those twin brothers
being a horse, and the other a dog breaker.

Return we to mortals. Alexander the Great was
fond of hunting, as was Cyrus. In the piping
times of peace, the latter monarch not only took all
the officers of his court out on hunting occasions,
but ordered the soldiers of his army to accompany
him that, by so doing, they might become active
on horseback, dexterous, agile, and vigorous. More
than two thousand years afterwards, another great
hero emulated the example of the son of Cambyses,
for it is well known that the late Duke of WeHinsf-
ton encouraged field sports among his officers for
the same reason that Cyrus did. Before the reign
of Artaxerxes, no one but the master had the ri^ht
to kill or to maim the animal pursued. That
prince permitted all to strike, and to kill if they
could, the game they had in pursuit. Xenophon,
the philosopher and general, after his famous re-
treat, retired to Solontum, where he amused him-
self, his sons, and his friends with the pleasures
of the chase. It was here also that he wrote his
works upon that subject. He looked upon this
exercise as best calculated to form a good soldier ;
that it habituated man to cold, heat, and fatigue;
that it kindled couras^e, elevated the soul, invio-o-
rated the body, made the senses more acute, and
retarded old age. The Romans made field-sports
an important concern ; it was the school in which

286 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

their warrior chiefs were formed. *' The amuse-
ment of the Roman youth," writes PHny, " was
the chase. Courage made them hunters, and am-
bition heroes." Julius Caesar praised the people of
the north, as being expert, both in the pursuit of
game and war. Pompey, after having " larruped
the niggers," introduced among them the sports
of the chase. In short, the encomiums that have
been bestowed upon hunting even in its wildest
state by .Plato, Xenophon, Cicero, Appian, Virgil,
Horace, Seneca, Pliny the Younger, Grotius, and
others, clearly demonstrate how highly it was re-
garded in those days.

Homer perpetually alludes and derives similes
from the different modes of hunting, and Virgil
frequently mentions the subject. 1 shall quote one
passage to show how it was looked upon in those
days :

" Natos ad fluraina primum,
Deferimus, saevoque gelu duraraus et uudis ;
Venatu invigilant pueri, sylvasque fatigant;
Flectere ludus equos, et spicula tenders cornu."

The Greeks entertained their friends with that
noble pursuit as one of their highest amusements.
Cicero, speaking of intrepidity, thus writes : "But
those persons who wish to become illustrious as
sportsmen, regard no danger or inconvenience.

Pliny thus alludes to the hound : " His dexterity
and sagacity are pre-eminent; he diligently seeks
out the track, and pursues the game, drawing on
the accompanying huntsmen to his prey ; which
as soon as he perceives, how silent he is ! how still !

PRAISE OF HUNTING. 287

how significant is his discovery ! his tail is first em-
ployed, then his nose." Shakespeare writes as
follows :

" Huntsman, I charge thee, tender well my hounds ;
Brach, Merriman, — the poor cur is emboss'd ;
And couple Clowder with the deep-mouth'd brach.
Saw'st thou not, boy, how Silver made it good
At the hedge corner, in the coldest fault ?
I would not lose the dog for twenty pound.
Why, Bellman is as good as he, my lordj
He cried upon it at the merest loss,
And twice to-day pick'd out the dullest scent
Trust me, I take him for the better dog."

Ben Jonson also eulogises the chase :

" Hunting is the noblest exercise ;
Makes men laborious, active, wise ;
Brings health, and doth the soul delight
It helps the hearing and the sight.
It teacheth arts that never slip
The memory — good horsemanship,
Search, sharpness, courage, and defence,
And chaseth all ill habits thence."

In the " Spectator" it is prescribed as the best
kind of physic for mending a bad constitution and
preserving a good one. Dryden confirms the
above :

"The first physicians by debauch were made;
Excess began, and sloth sustains the trade ;
By chase our long-lived fathers earned their food,
Toil strung the nerves and purified the blood ;
Better to hunt in fields for health unbought.
Than fee the doctor for a nauseous draught."

Addison says: "We find that those parts are
most healthy where they subsist by hunting, and
that men lived longest when their lives are so em-
ployed." Somerville, who writes with all the spirit

288 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

and fire of an eager sportsman, gives the most ani-
mated description of the chase :

" Delightful scene !
When all around is gay — men, horses, dogs ;
And in each blooming countenance appears
Fresh blooming health and universal joy."

To refer to more modern days. The Laplanders
live almost entirely on fish and game. The Tartars
too, according to the authority of one of their his-
torians, " draw the whole of their subsistence from
the chase ; when there is a scarcity of game, they
eat their horses and drink the milh of their mares."
This, I presume, must be the real cream of Tartar.
Reader, look out for your pockets ; I have perpe-
trated a pun. In France, from the days of Charle-
magne, the monarchs of that country have been
" mighty Nimrods." The fete of St. Hubert, the
patron saint of hunting, is still kept up annually
in that country.

Jacques de Fouilleux and Robert de Salnove.
whose w^orks upon the chase ought to be in every
sportsman's library, give most interesting details of
forei(]:n hunting-. The former describes Francis I.
as the father of hunters, and in his dedication of
" La Venerie," the author, addressing Charles IX.,
says, " that among the various pursuits of men,
whether in the arts, or in high or occult sciences,
or in the study of philosophy, none can be com-
pared in his estimation to the delights of the chase.
St. Foix gives an anecdote of Francis I., which
proves the daring conduct of that prince. When
this monarch was at Amboise, among other diver-

EOYAL SPORTSMEN. 289

sions for the ladies, he ordered an enormous wild
boar he had caught in the forest to be let loose in
the court before the castle. The animal, enraged
by the small darts thrown at him from the windows,
ran furiously up the grand staircase, and burst open
the door of the ladies' apartment. Francis ordered
his oflQcers not to attack him, and waited deliber-
ately to receive him with the point of his sword,
which he dexterously plunged between his eyes, and
with a forcible grasp turned the boar upon his back.
This prince was then only in his one-and-twentieth
year.

The partiality of many of our kings for the
amusements of the field is well known, and among
the royal sportsmen of " Merrie England" may be
mentioned Edward the Martyr, whose tragic end
near Corfe Castle is well known. Edward the
Confessor was strongly devoted to hunting. " There
was only one diversion," says the historian, "in
which he took the greatest possible delight, namely,
to follow a pack of fleet hounds in pursuit of their
game, and to cheer them with his voice. Every
day, after divine service, he took the field, and
spent his life in these beloved sports." William
the Conqueror was a most tyrannical master of
hounds, having desolated and dispeopled a great
part of Hampshire to form the New Forest, then
called Yteue. Some idea of the Norman's enjoy-
ment of this manly exercise may be formed from
the princely donations he bestowed upon his ser-
vants. Domesday book records that Wateran, the
huntsman, possessed fifteen manors in Wiltshire,

VOL. II. u

290 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

eight in Dorsetshire, with several in Hampshire;
the same authority gives the names of other hunts-
men, Croe, Godwin, Williamus, as the owners of
extensive possessions. In those days, the fairer
portion of the creation caught the prevailing pas-
sion ; even the mitre deserted its functions, and
the cowl quitted the retirement of the monastery
to join in the pleasures of the chase. William
Rufus fell a victim to the sport he was so attached
to; King John, amid the turmoil of a distracted
and inglorious reign, found frequent opportunities
of indulging his passion for it; Edward I. may also
take a prominent place among the royal hunters of
England.

The following account of the comptrollers of the
wardrobe of this monarch, a.d. 1299, will give the
reader some little insight into the habits and cus-
toms of those days :

£ s. d.
Paid to WiUiam de Foxhunte, the King's

huntsman of foxes in divers forests
and parks, for his own wages and the
wages of his two boys ; and to the
care of the dogs from November 20th
to the 19th of November following,
for 366 days, it being leap year, to each
per day two pence . . . .930
Paid to the same, for the keep of twelve
foxhounds belonging to the King for
the same time, each dog per day a half-
penny . . . . . .930

Carried forward £18 6 0

SPORT IN THE OLDEN TIMES. 291

£ s. d.

Brought forward £18 6 0

Paid to the same, the expense of a horse
to carry the nets from September 20th
to the last day of April, L63 days,
threepence per day . . . .209

Paid the same, the expense of the horse
from September 1st, on which day the
hunting season, after the dead season,
to the 19th of November, 80 days,
threepence per day . . . .10 0

Paid to William d'Blatherwyck, hunts-
man of the King's foxhounds, for shoes
for himself, and two boys, to each of
them two shillings and fourpence .070

Paid to the same for his habit during the

present year . . . . .0134

Paid to the same, for habits for his two

boys, ten shillings each . . .10 0

£23 7 1

If these sums are multiplied by fifteen, there will
be nearly the due allowance made for the difference
in the value of money between that and the present
time, and consequently the whole of the King's
annual expense, under this article, amounted to
somewhat more than £350 of our money. Nearly
two hundred years afterwards, about the year 1481,
Juliana Berners, sister of Lord Berners, wrote three
English tracts on hunting, hawking, and heraldry.

D 2

292 CELEBEITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

From an edition of this book, printed by Wynken
de Worde in 1496, I give the following extracts :
" The proprytees of a good horse — a good horse
sholde have fifteen good proprytees and condycions,
that is to wyte, three of a man, three of a woman,
three of a foxe, three of a haare, and three of an
asse. Of a man, bolde, prowde, and hardye; of a
woman, fayre-breasted, fayre of heere, and easy to
move; of a foxe, a fair taylle, short eers, with a
good trotte; of a haare, a grate eye, a dry head,
and well rennynge ; of an asse, a bygge chynn, a
flat legge, and a good hoof."

Return we to our sporting monarchs. Edward II.,
though effeminate in some respects, was particu-
larly fond of horses ; and the warlike character of
his son, the third of that name, induced him to
procure them from foreign countries. In the year
1363, this monarch invited the Kings of Scotland,
France, and Cyprus to a royal hunt, which equalled
a tournament in expense and magnificence. In the
reign of Henry VII. little mention is mode of
hunting, although all orders of the community kept
a certain number of horses, in proportion to their
rank and circumstances. His successor, " Bluff
Harry," paid particular attention to the breed of
horses, which, considering his Blue Beard pro-
pensities, was highly to be wondered at. While
upon the subject of this regal Giovanni, I cannot
refrain from giving an epigram, which I met a short
time ago, in an old work, and which is attributed to
the Kiuof :

SPORTING MONAROHS. 293

" Three Kates, two !N"ans, and one dear Lady Jane I wedded,
One Dutch, one Spanish, and four English wives.
From two I was divorced, two I beheaded,
One died in childhood, and one me survives."

Edward VI., convinced of the value of horses,
was the first monarch who made steahng them a
capital offence. Queen EHzabeth was extremely
fond of the chase, and Yery frequently indulged
herself in following the hounds ; for this reason
the nobility, who entertained her in her different
progresses, formed large parties, which she usually
joined when the weather permitted. Her Majesty,"
says Rowland White, in a letter to Sir Robert
Sidney, dated September 12, 1600, " is well and
exceedingly disposed to hunting, for every second
day she is on horseback, and continues the sport
long." It must be borne in mind that the virgin
Queen had at that time just entered her seventy-
seventh year, and the interest she took in the sport
proves her fondness of it. Her successor, James VI.
of Scotland and I. of England, was a thoroughbred
sportsman, at least in theory, if not in practice, as
may be gleaned from the following letter addressed
to his son :

Deare Son, — Amono^st all unnecessarie thinsfes
that are lawful and expedient, I think exercises
of the bodie most commendable to be used by a
young prince in suche honest games or pastimes as
may further abilitie and maintaine health. Bodilie
exercises and games are verie commendable as well
for banishing of idlenesse (the mother of all vice)
as for making the bodie able and durable for
travell, which is very necessarie for a king. The

294 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

exercises I would have you to use are running,
leaping, wrestling, fencing, dancing, and playing at
the cacoche, or tenisse, archery, palle malle, and
such other like faire and pleasant field games ; and
the honorablest and most commendable games that
ye can use are on horseback, for it becometh a
prince best of anie man to be a faire and good
horseman. I cannot omit here the hunting,
namelie, with running houndes, which is the most
honorable and noblest sort thereof ; but because I
would not be thought a partiall praiser of this
sport, I remit to you Xenophon, an olde and
famous writer, who had no mind of flattering you
or me in this purpose ; and who also setteth down
a faire pattern for the education of a young king
under the supposed name of Cyrus. As for
hawking, I condemne it not, but I must praise it
more spariuglie, because it neither resembleth the
warrs so neer as hunting doth, in making a man
hardie."

During the above reign, horsemanship was much
encouraged ; public races were established about
this period, and it is probable that some kind of
meeting existed at Newmarket, where the monarch
erected a house which was destroyed in the Civil
Wars, but afterwards rebuilt by that distinguished
supporter of the turf, Charles II. According to
Well wood, James I., already referred to, divided
his time between his standish, his bottle, and
hunting. His son, Henry, Prince of Wales, was
devotedly attached to equestrian exercises. The
reign of the first Charles was too much distracted

EOYAL SrOKTSMEN. 295

to permit him to take part in the pleasures of the
field. According, however, to the testimonies of
historians, he was an accomplished horseman. The
Merry Monarch patronised the turf, James II. was
fond of hunting; WilHam III. encouraged the
manege, under the able direction of a Frenchman,
Major Foubert ; Queen Anne and her consort,
Prince George of Denmark, took great delight in
horse-racing : Georg^e I. and 11. were not devoted
to hunting; George III. was greatly attached to
the chase, and the royal staghounds in his day
were well kept up. "When Sir John Cope's hounds,
in 1839, killed a fox in the preserves of Windsor,
the brush was forwarded to Her Majesty, who re-
ceived it most graciously and forwarded ten pounds
to the huntsman.

I have now given a slight sketch of the royal
lovers of sport, and have endeavoured to trace the
delights of the hunting field from the days of

" Nirarod the founder
Of Empire and chase,
Who made the woods wonder
And quake for their race,"

down to the present time ; and it must be a high
source of gratification to all true sportsmen to
know that the heir to the throne extends his
royal patronage to what the poet terms " the
sport of Britain's kings." There is no character
that stands in higher estimation among all classes
of Her Majesty's liege subjects, than the man of
exalted rank, who not only feels for and sym-
pathises with the distresses of his less fortunate

296 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWX.

brethren, bub who does his best to promote the
amusement of his neighbours ; and in this the
Prince of Wales shines forth pre-eminently great.

I must now return to my subject ; but before I
speak of Davis, I must offer a few remarks upon
stao--huntine. Stag-hunting has in all ages and in
all countries been considered as a sport of the
noblest kind. I allude to that of the wild stag,
which afforded infinitely more excitement than the
tame uncarting system of our days does. In by-
gone times, large tracts of land and immense
forests were given up as chases, in which the
antlered monarch might roam at large. The
arbitrary manner of making royal forests was as
follows : " The King sends out his commission
under the Great Seal of England, directed to certain
discreet persons, for the view, perambulation,
meeting, and bounding of the place he mindeth
to be a forest ; which being returned in the chan-
cery, proclamation is made throughout all the
shire where the ground lieth, that none shall hunt
or chase any manner of wild beasts in that pre-
cinct without the King's special licence; after
which he appointeth ordinances, laws, and officers
fit for the preservation of the vert {id est, every-
thing which bears green leaves) and venison ; and
thus it becometh a forest by matter of record." So
writes Manwood in his " Forest Laws."

The Norman kings punished those who killed
any beasts of the forest with the greatest severity.
William I. caused the eyes of those to be pulled
out who took either a buck or a boar; while his

TYRANNICAL GAxME-LAWS. 297

no less brutal son Rufus would Lang a man for
taking a doe. Henry I. drew no distinction be-
tween killing a man or a buck, both were punish-
able by death ; and to destroy game, even out of
the royal preserve, called down from the humane
monarch either loss of limb or forfeiture of goods.
Henry II. amended the tyrannical code instituting
imprisonment for the offence ; but his son Richard I.
revived the savage laws of the first William, for
punishing those convicted of poaching in the royal
domains, but which he eventually changed to ex-
patriation. The historians of those times inform
us that the New Forest, Hampshire, was formed
by the destruction of twenty-two parish churches,
and many villages and manors, to the extent of
thirty miles ; and to his royal depredations many
attribute the misfortunes that befell several of the
princes in that forest. It was here that Richard,
brother of Henry I., was killed by a soldier; Rufus
by AYat Tyrrell; and Henry I., the nephew of
Robert, the eldest son of the Conqueror, was hung
in the boughs of the trees. At one period there
were sixty-nine royal forests in England ; but
these scenes of desolation and tyranny have been
gradually contracted. Art, science, commerce,
and agriculture have spread themselves over those
wide-extended tracts, and the savage quadrupeds
of those days, like their more ferocious monarchs,
have long been swept from the face of the earth.
The stag, in the present cultivated state of this
country, is now no longer found in his original
wild state, but is kept in parks among the

298 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

fallow-deer. In the Highlands of Scotland the
red-deer still abound, and rove abroad over their
native wilds, untrammelled by park fences. Of
the fallow-deer, I will merely remark that there
are two varieties, both of foreign extraction. I
allude to the spotted kind, said to have been
imported from Bengal, and those of a dark-
brown colour, which came from Norway, and
which James I. introduced into Scotland, and
afterwards removed to the then celebrated chases
of Enfield and Epping. An historical fact con-
nected with a white buck may not be uninterest-
ing, and it will prove the tyranny of our ancient
monarchs. When Edward IV. was hunting in the
park of Thomas Burdett, Esq., of Arrow, War-
wickshire, he killed a store of deer, and amongst
them a white buck. When Burdett heard of this,
he wished the horns in his belly that counselled
the king to kill it, for which words he was beheaded
at Tyburn.

With respect to deer, they ought not to be
hunted until they are three years old, and should
be kept on good corn, beans, and clover. The
paddocks should be dry and well sheltered from
the weather, with a hovel in one corner, from
which a door ought to be made to correspond
with the opening of the deer cart, and into which
the stag can be driven without any trouble. In a
grass country deer may be hunted once a fort-
night , but in a flinty country it may be as well
to save their legs, by turning them out only once
a month. The night before tliey are hunted the

CHARLES DAVIS. 299

muzzle must figuratively, if not literally, be put
on ; prison allowance being requisite — little food
and no water. The horns of the stag^ should be
sawed off before the hunting season commences, as
it prevents mischief to men and hounds.

I ^now return to Charles Davis, than whom a
better man in the kennel or field never existed.
He possessed judgment, quickness, patience, ability,
forbearance, and good temper, indeed, the two
latter virtues were pre-eminently conspicuous in
his character, and were often put to the test ; to
wit, upon some of the days when the meet was at
Salt Hill, and consisted principally of London
horse-dealers of the lowest grade, who hunted
to sell their horses, and who cared little whether
they sacrificed the whole pack so long as they
found themselves in the first flight. No sooner
was the deer uncarted than away started some
dozen flying roadsters, riding over the hounds —
the only thing they did ride over — galloping in
every direction, hallooing and shouting, and the
moment the hounds were laid on, such a charge
of cavalry took place that it required the practice
of a man like Davis to settle down at all to his
work. As a rider, both for hand and seat, Davis
was first-ratCj and for talent and popularity he was
second to none. He was born and bred to the
chase, the ofiice of royal huntsman being, as it
were, hereditary in his family. Were all hereditary
honours similarly supported, it would be a boon
for which we should have cause to be grateful. In
the field, Charles Davis was the best-mannered man

300 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

I ever met with ; although often provoked by cock-
ney sportsmen, he never uttered an oath ; a mild
appeal to the gentlemen to " hold hard" and not
" ride over his hounds," was all that escaped his
lips. What a contrast to that of a celebrated
master of foxhounds, who swore so dreadfully at a
young sportsman for an act of unpremeditated mis-
chief, that the latter remonstrated, and in a bland
voice said,

" I didn't come out to be d — d."

" Then go home and be d — d," was the curt
reply.

Stag hunting in Davis's days was very different
from what it was in those " when George the Third
was King." The state in which the field was then
taken was very imposing. The royal party arrayed
in grey frocks with black collars and cuffs ; the
huntsmen and whippers-in in scarlet and gold, and
the yeomen prickers, six in number, in similar
liveries, with French horns slung over their shoul-
ders, constituted the cavalcade. These yeomen
prickers were the representatives of an influential
body of yeomen, selected from men of substance,
living adjacent to Windsor Castle, who found their
own hunters, and who were required to attend
regularly whenever the hounds met. The changes
in the nature of the country and in the character
of the chase by degrees rendered the services of these
officials less and less necessary, till at length they
became a part of things that were. But the buck-
hounds of the above reign were by no means fitted
for the princely pageant in which they appeared.

THE KOTAL STAG-HOUNDS. 301

They were leggy, lathy, ill-coupled, and long-
eared, with good heads, but of an abominable
colour. They were fast for a burst, but that over,
a hand-canter enabled their followers to keep up
with them. About the commencement of the
present century, George III. gave up hunting, and
the splendour of the royal hounds fell somewhat
into eclipse till the year 1813, when my father
presented his pack of fox-hounds to the Prince
Regent. George Sharpe, huntsman to His Royal
Highness when the Prince hunted Hampshire, was
appointed to that office with the buck-hounds, and
three whippers-in took the place of the old yeomen
prickers. At that time the Marquis Cornwallis
was Master of the Buckhounds ; he was succeeded
by Lord Maryborough in ] 823. Among others who
hav€ held this post may be mentioned Lords Jersey,
Hinchingbrook, Albemarle, Lichfield, Chesterfield,
Erroll, Kinnaird, Ptosslyn, Bessborough, Cork, and
the present popular Master, the Earl of Hard-
wicke.

One of the most memorable events connected
with the Royal Stag-hounds took place on Easter
Monday, 1840. A public announcement having
been made, that it was the gracious intention of
Her Majesty and Prince Albert to honour the meet
at Ascot Heath with their presence, it is needless
to say that thousands were attracted that had not
been led to the field by the music of horn or
hound. The morning dawned as became it on so
auspicious an occasion, and a day followed in every
way worthy the scene. A breakfast on a scale of

302 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

true English liberality was given by Davis at liis
beautiful lodge at the Royal Kennels, where long
before noon was assembled as gay and aristocratic
a party as ever was seen before at a hunting
meet.

At one o'clock, Her Majesty, driven in a pony
phaeton by Prince Ernest, afterwards King of
Hanover, and accompanied by a right royal escort,
was seen approaching the heath, which was literally
thronged by a multitude in holiday array. On
arriving at the grand stand the Queen was met by
her Royal Consort and his cortege, and being
handed from her carriage by the Prince, ascended
to the drawing-room and appeared on the balcony.
At this moment the coup-d'oeil was the most ani-
mating and national that it has been my fortune to
witness.

In the balcony of the Grand Stand stood Her
Majesty, the Duchess of Kent, Prince Ernest,
Lord Melbourne, the Duke and Duchess of Suther-
land, Lady Kinnaird, the Ladies Paget, and a
large suite, while the roof was peopled with a gay
assemblage. In front, a large semicircular area
was kept clear, and after the hounds had been
shown on the lawn to the royal party, thither the
deer cart was drawn, and the quarry enlarged.
As the doors were thrown open, out bounded a
superb hind ; a moment she paused, as fixed by
the most unaccustomed sights and sounds — a
moment gazed, more in wonder than alarm, upon
such worshipful good company.

" Then onward stretch'd, nor rested till
She made the shades of Hawthorn Hill."

FRANK GOODALL. 303

His Roj^al Highness went well to Maidenliead
Bridge, where he left, the scent growing weak
and the deer beginning to run short. There was
one feature in the Prince Consort's character,
which was obvious to the most casual observer.
His Royal Highness never forgot an act of respect-
ful attention, and in proof of it invariably acknow-
ledged it in a way not only delicate but gratifying.
On the occasion of the Easter Monday hunt the
Prince made Davis a splendid present of plate.

To follow such a huntsman as Charles Davis was
no easy task ; fortunately however a successor was
found in the person of Frank Goodall, who now
hunts the Queen's stag-hounds. Like his predeces-
sor he possesses judgment, quickness, patience,
and good temper, with a large amount of the
" suaviter in modo," ay, and the " fortiter in re,"
when men who know as much about hunting as an
Ojibeway Indian does of a polka, over-ride the
hounds, or in other ways spoil the sport. The
hounds are in first rate condition, as I can vouch
for, having recently paid a visit to the kennels ;
Goodall keeps up the traditional hospitality of the
Lodge in the true old English manner, as I can
also bear testimony to ; for no sooner had the gal-
lant pack enjoyed their equine feast than we sat
down to a midday meal which reminded one of a
poem of Moore's slightly altered : —

" A side-board decked out where one's eye roves about,
Like a Turk's in a harem, and then singles out,
A nice pigeon-pie just to tune up your throat.
And a hundred more things I shall ne'er have by rote ;
Cold sirloin of beef, potatoes dressed plaiu.
With tankards of home-brewed and cups of Champagne."

304 CELEBRITIES 1 HAVE KNOWN.

During the time Lord Rosslyn was Master of
Her Majesty's Buckliounds I applied to him for
information as to the estabHshment, and received
the following reply : —

" Dear William Lennox,
" Her Majesty's present pack of stag-hounds
originally the property of Charles, fourth Duke of
Richmond, have since, particularly within the last
four years been crossed with hounds from the packs
of the Dukes of Rutland and Grafton, Lord Yar-
borough, Sir Richard Sutton, Mr. Foljambe, Mr.
Assheton Smith, &c. Talisman, the sire of many
of the best hounds, was by the Belvoir Factor,
out of their Timely. Fairplay, another sire, was by
Mr. Foljambe's Rummager out of his Faithful.
The average number of working hounds is about
fifty couples. Average of horses for the men about
eighteen, and for the master from six to eight.
The stable is in beautiful order in every respect.
Mr. Charles Bryant, the stud-groom is worthy of
every praise. Mr. Charles Davis, the huntsman, is
a beautiful rider, he commenced his career under
George the Third, when he began by riding the
second horse of the equerry-in-waiting. Robert
Bartlett is first whipper-in, Henry Freeman,
second ditto, Henry King third ditto, all excellent
servants, knowing their duties right well. There
are usually about twenty deer in the paddocks at
Swiuley. It is to be regretted that such an estab-
lishment is not in a better country. It was for-
merly contemplated to have changed them into

HEE majesty's BUCK-HOUNDS 305

foxhounds, and to have hunted the Quoru country.
Northamptonshire now vacant would be a splendid
country. It is fully believed that the Prince of
Wales will inherit the taste of his great grand-
father, George III., for this national amusement.
Since the termination of the hunting season on
Easter Monday, the usual annual draft has been
selected from Her Majesty's buck-hounds, which
with some few casualties through the season has
reduced the number to forty-two couples. To
replace the draft there are at present eleven couples
of young hounds which have been selected and put
forward, many of them already through the distem-
per. They are bred chiefly from the Duke of
Rutland's, Assheton Smith's, and Foljambe's blood.
Her Majesty's hounds are from fox-hounds, and
have no cross of blood-hounds in them, as has
lately been stated in some of the daily news-
papers.

*' Yours ever and truly.

" ROSSLYN."
April 18th.

From all I hear and see, the estabhshment is in
the same satisfactory state that it was in Lord
Rosslyn's time.

VOL. II.

306

LORD FREDERICK BEAUCLERK.

CHAPTER XVIT.

LOED FREDERICK BEAUCLERK — CRICKET — A ROYAL GAME OF
BOWLS — FOUR BOTTLE MEN — CLASSICAL AUTHORITY IN FAVOUR
OF DRINKING — MODERN PRACTICE OF BOWLING — CURIOUS
MATCHES— ONE-ARMED AGAINST ONE-LEGGED PLAYERS— BIPED
V. QUADRUPED.

" Hur was the prettiest fellow,
At foot-ball or at cricket,
At hunting, chase, or nimble race,
How featly Hur could prick it !"

d'urfey.

" The youthful train
Who move in joy, and dance along the plain,
In scattered groups each favoured haunt pursue,
Kepeat old pastimes, and discover new.
Flush'd with his rays, beneath the noon-tide sun,
In rival bands, between the wickets run,
Drive o'er the sward the ball with active force.
Or chase, with nimble feet, its rapid course."

BYRON.

" Come on, lads ! come on, come on, one and all ;
Now shoulder the bat, and spin up the ball.
Take the field like young Trojans, your prowess essay.
While the batsman cries ' ready,' the bowler says ' play.'
Then run like wild deer pursued by the hounds.
And ground your bat proudly just over the bounds."

IN early life I became acquainted with Lord
Frederick Beauclerk, fourth son of the fifth
Duke of St. Albans. During the Westminster

CRICKET. 307

holidays I was playing in a match of cricket in
Goodwood Park, the parish of Boxgrove against
that of Berstead, when a party sallied forth from
the house, headed by my father, including Lord
Winchelsea, Lord Frederick Beauclerk, Sir Horace
Mann, General Bligh, the Honourable Henry and
John Tufton, and Ricbard Leigh. They had
quitted the dining-room after imbibing a fair quan-
tity of port wine, leaving instructions with the
butler that clean glasses, deviled buiscuits, and a
magnum of " beeswing" should be ready on their
return from the cricket field. There was only one
wicket to go down on the Berstead side, which
was disposed of as the above choice spirits and
excellent cricketers joined us.

" How stands the match, youngsters ?" said Lord
Frederick addressing my brother George and myself.

" Oh, we've beat them by twenty runs," I re-
sponded.

" I suppose you Westminster fellows are in pretty
good form ?"

Of course we answered " Yes."

" Look here," he added, " I'll put you to the
test, you shall each have two overs (at that period
six was the number instead of four as at present),
and if you get me out I'll tip you a guinea."

We agreed, upon which he doffed his coat, bor-
rowed a bat from Lillywhite our umpire, and
stood manfully up at his wicket.

" You shall begin," said I to my brother.

We quickly discovered that great as we imagined
our prowess to be, it came far short of that of our

X 2

308 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

opponent. Undoubtedly Lord Frederick was the first
gentleman cricketer of his day, for although he
could not equal David Harris in bowling, surpass
Tom Walker in batting, or Hammond in wicket-
keeping, he united in his own person all those
three great points in the game to such a consider-
able degree as to be pronounced the Crichton of
cricket. My brother and myself soon found that
we might as well have endeavoured to bowl down
the Monument as Lord Frederick's wicket, and
were in despair that we should never see the golden
reward, when fortunately at the last ball but one,
he was caught out, bowled by myself.

" Well bowled, well caught," he exclaimed,
" there's a guinea a piece for you, you have earned
it fairly."

Our delight at beating the great player was only
equalled by that of my father, who throughout life
was devoted to this our national game.

" You must stay for to-morrow's match," said
he, " I'll write to Dr. Dodd to tell him I have
kept you. Sussex against Kent will be a match
worth seeing, and after your exertions a glass of
port wine will do you no harm."

We all retired to the house and passed a most
delightful evening. Lord Winchelsea, who had been
my father's second in his memorable duel with the
Duke of York, was a good cricketer, a most liberal
supporter of the game, and a man of elegant and
accomplished manners ; Henry Tufton was a re-
markable good-looking young fellow, as agreeable
as he was handsome ; his brother John was full of

LORD FREDERICK BEAUCLERK. '^^09

fun, the life and soul of every party ; General or
Skirmish Bligh, as he was usually called, possessed
every quality to make him a worthy member of the
above society ; Sir Horace Mann called the king of
cricket, principal maker of the different matches,
who kept open house for the members of the club
at his seat near Maidstone, was a high-bred gentle-
man of the old school. His rival in making matches
at cricket was Richard Leigh of Wilmington, who
substantiated his claim by my grandmother, the
Duchess of Gordon, publicly saying, " Mr. Leigh,
though I am the first, you are the second match-
maker in England." I have in a previous chapter
alluded to the Duchess's talent in the above line.

Lord Frederick was one of the best bowlers of
his day at Cambridge, and it was said that the Earl
of Winchelsea seeing him bowl there, brought him
out at the Marylebone Club. His bowling, though
extremely slow, was very effective ; knowing exactly
where to pitch the ball, he so delivered it as to
cause a quick and abrupt rise. He was also a
good batter, a fair fieldsman, and a wonderful fast
runner. At the period I write of, the members of
the Marylebone Cricket Club always appeared in
their sky blue club dress.

It may shock the feelings of those who in the
present day wish, to deprive the humbler classes of
their Sunday amusements, that my father encou-
raged cricket after the services of the day were
over, as he considered a healthy manly game in
the open air infinitely more conducive to their
spiritual and temporal welfare than the polluted

3J0 CELEBRITIKS I HAVE KNOWX.

atmosphere of the tap-room, and thought it was
bub fair that those who had toiled heavily through-
out the week should have one day for that recrea-
tion the higher order could so uninterruptedly
enjoy. He wished to see the Sabbath passed in a
pious, not puritanical manner, not as a day of
ascetic gloom, but one of grateful acknowledgment ;
he was opposed to legislative enactments for the
better observance of the holy day, feeling that
*' the witness in the breast" of everyone would
produce its legitimate influence. He was an enemy
to the cant and hypocrisy of those who preached
one doctrine and practised another, who indulging
in frivolity, controversies, and animosities, put on
their religion as they did their Sunday garb, and
loudly censured those who with less profession and
form, manifested the sincerity of their devotions by
the spontaneous offerings of a grateful heart. He
could not reconcile to his ideas the monstrous
anomaly that excludes the labourer and mechanic
from innocent places of recreation, while it enables
the wealthy to enjoy their rides, drives, clubs,
boating, and dining. I entirely endorse my father's
sentiments ; let me illustrate my case. A mechanic
in humble life, or a drover arriving in London in
the exercise of his duties, reaching the metropolis
late on a Saturday night, houses of entertainment
are closed upon him ; and if upon the following day
he enters a public house during worship a police
report notices the circumstance. I should not object
so much to the system if it was universally carried
out, but it is partial. What then can be the feeling

OBSERVANCE OF SUNDAY. 311

of the humble-minded countryman, wbo has suffered
from the above stringent regulations when he takse
his walk through the West End on a Sunday.
The first thing that strikes him is the employment
of many men and horses in watering the Parks that
the olfactory senses of the higher classes may not
suffer from the dust. He passes the clubs in Pall
Mall, Piccadilly, St. James's, and Regent Street,
and hears that eatino^ and drinkinof are sfoing*
on throughout the day ; if he had the Asmodean
power of looking through the walls he might per-
chance see a pool of billiards or game of cards
being played at some of these fashionable reunions.
If he bends his steps to the Regent's Park, crowds
of carriages, phaetons, and cabs, will tell hira that
the Zoo on Sunday is a favourite resort of the
Upper Ten ; if he enters Hyde Park, he will meet
a few "drags" heavily freighted with the gentler
and sterner sex about to start for a whitebait or
turtle feast at Greenwich or Richmond. Let not
my remarks be misunderstood. I wish no Phari-
saical observance of the Sabbath, all I require is,
that the humbler classes should not be deprived of
that rational recreation enjoyed by their more
prosperous brethren. While giving credit to the
promoters of the Sunday Trading Bill, and to the
late Sir Andrew Agnew's repeated attempts to in-
fringe upon the rights of the working people for
their honest but mistaken notions, I would, if in
Parliament, have opposed them to the last. I feel
that in closing shops devoted to the wants and
necessaries of the public, such as barbers and

312 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

bakers, the work of a few would extend to hun-
dreds, and it appears hard that a man who receives
his wages on a Saturday should not be allowed
before the hour of Divine service to purchase a
bloater or some sprats in the New Cut, while an
aristocrat can have his salmon or turbot from
many a West End tradesman early on the Sabbath
day. Nor do I see why cigar and pastrycook shops
should be allowed to carry on their trade on Sunday
when other more useful establishments are closed.
My principle would be to protect those who wish
strictly to observe the Sabbath by no compulsory
measures, and to leave the rest as a question of
conscience between the creature and the Creator
to whom the secrets of the heart are known.

As a boon companion, my father was ever a
welcome guest at the table of the master-spirits of
the age ; and if he had a faihng, perhaps I ought
to call it a vice, it was one looked upon as venial
in those days, that of hard drinking.

I remember upon one occasion the question of the
four bottle men was agitated at Goodwood, when
one of the party from the Emerald Isle, a gallant
colonel, thus defended it upon classical authority.

" Bedad !" said he, ''you must all remember
that Caius Piso, who flourished under Tiberius,
was raised to a post of honour in Rome, because he
sat two days and two nights enjoying the sumptu-
ous feasts of his patron, eating and drinking con-
tinually at the festive board."

" Why you speak like a book," said Lord Frederick
Beauclerk.

FOUR-BOTTLE MEN. 313

" And Pliny too," continued the other, " writes
of one Novellius Torquatus, a Milanese, who was
dubbed a knight by the name of Tricongius for
drinking (uno haustu) a most incredible quantity
of wine; and the Roman historian tells us that
* Hortensius left ten thousand barrels of Chian wine
(so called from the Island Ohio) to his heir.' "

" Pass the bottle, Colonel," said my father,
" it's dry work telling, ay, and listening to such
classical lore."

" Horace, too, mentions the same propensity of
hoarding wine for the successor ; I wish my governor
had followed that excellent precept."

The warm-hearted Irishman, having filled his
glass, proceeded to say that Tergilla challenged M.
Cicero, son of M. T. Cicero, the celebrated orator,
to a drinking bout.

*' Ah ! bedad, I should like to have made one of
them. Marc Anthony was no teetotaller, and
among the Greeks Abuliades was one of the four-
bottle men of his day."

"Here's your health. Colonel, may your shadow
never be less !" exclaimed one of the party, *' but
in contradistinction to the above boosers, you've
forgot to mention the reply of Demosthenes to the
ambassadors who boasted of the potations the
Macedonian King could imbibe, * That laudable
faculty he has in common with a sponge.' "

" Well, then," proceeded the Colonel, " that
Athenian orator ought to have been a member of
the Temperance Society."

Foremost among national sports I place the noble

314 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

game of cricket, which requires strength, grace,
quickness of eye and hand, activity and skill. It
is, moreover, one that can be played by high and
low, rich and poor, man and boy ; and there is no
recreation more calculated to cement a kindly feel-
ing between the high-born patrician, the wealthy
farmer, and the laborious tiller of the soil, the rich
yeoman and the humble farm-servant, the gallant
officer and the equally brave sergeant, corporal, and
private, than this truly English pastime, which for
fairness, manliness, and healthfulness cannot be
excelled. Tom Brown writes : —

" The true charm of cricket is, that it is still
more or less sociable and universal ; there's a place
for every man who will come and take his part."

How cheering it is to the young, the middle-aged,
and the old.

What can be more delightful than to see some
stripling with a pile of hats for a wicket, commencing
his first lesson, or to witness the veteran, who no
longer can take the field, " shouldering" his bat to
show how " scores" were won. In this manly game
a nobleman's stumps may be lowered without any
levelling system following such an event ; men may
be caught out without any slur to their character,
may run for their lives without an impeachment of
cowardice; may "chalk up a long score" regard-
less of the consequences ; may be " bowled out"
withont suffering more than a temporary defeat,
and may forfeit their hail free from the fear of legal
consequences. Despite the remark attributed to
the French Countess, wlio after sitting out some

CRICKET. 315

dozen *' overs" exclaimed, " When does de game
of creekit begin ?" ifc is one that has been intro-
duced with the greatest satisfaction in all countries
in which Englishmen congregate. I myself have
played in a match at Enghien, near Brussels, a
week or two before another species of hall practice
was got up between Wellington and Napoleon the
First. I have made a fair score within a few miles
of Paris, after the Allies had occupied that city.
I have had an innings in the Prater at Vienna,
have " gone in" on the plains of Abraham near
Quebec, where Wolfe died victorious, have handled
a bat within sound of the mighty cataract of
Niagara, much to the amusement of the inhabitants
of the countries I have referred to. Les braves
Beiges, the light-hearted French, the quiet Aus-
trians, the loyal Canadians, and the wild North
American Indians, were not a little surprised at
seeing Englishmen of all grades taking part in this
national recreation. I consider then that the game
of cricket has a peculiar claim to patronage for the
reasons I have given ; it moreover possesses another
advantage, that of bestowing upon mortal man that
inestimable gift " mens sana in corpore sano."

Like every other institution and amusement,
cricket has its detractors. In the " Connoisseur"
of 1756, Mr. Toby Bamper's vulgarities are thus
described : " Drinking purl in the morning, eating
black pudding at Bartholomew Fair, boxing with
Buckhouse, and playing at cricket in the Artillery
Ground with Faulkner and Dingate, Mr. Toby
Bumper is esteemed as good a bat as any of the

316 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

Bennets." As a set-off to the above, I find that
previous to this, cricket was looked upon as a game
in which the clergy might take part, for Horace
Walpole, writing in 1 749, says, " I would tell you
of Lord Montford's making cricket matches, and
fetching up parsons by express from different parts
of England to play on Richmond Green." In 1806,
I can bear testimony to the support given to cricket
by the then Bishop of Chichester, the Right Rev.
John Buckner.

The ball presents itself in many varied forms.
In early youth we have cricket, hockey, trap-ball,
fives, and football. As we enter manhood, it de-
lights in the old-fashioned bowling-green, flies over
the smooth green baize of the billiard table, or the
less exciting bagatelle-board, golfing, rackets, tennis
diversifying the amusement, while of late years that
most delightful out-door amusement, lawn tennis,
has been introduced. Thus, in every form, the ball
may be kept up with the greatest satisfaction as one
of the games of Old England.

China is famed for its ball practice. Homer
sang of it as it was played by the maidens of
Corcyra. Strutt informs us that hand-ball was
from very early times a favourite pastime in Great
Britain among young persons of both sexes, and
in many parts of the kingdom it was customary
for them to play at this game during the Easter
holidays for tansy cakes. The last-mentioned
authority gives a plate from an ancient MS., in
the Royal Library, of the date of the twentieth
year of the reign of Edward IV., which represents

BOWLS. 317

bowls as early as the thirteenth century. It
was at one time a fashionable game, and even in
our day there are well-frequented bowling-greens
in many principal towns, which are attended by
the most respectable residents. Some of our
former monarchs took part in this recreation, as
may be seen from the following extract from the
" Life of Mrs. Elizabeth Thomas," written by her-
self, in which mention is made of a house at
Barking, called Barking Hall, belonging to her
great grandfather, Richard Shute, Esq., a Turkey
merchant, and one of the members for the City
of London. It is described as an antique build-
ing of a castellated form, situated at the end of
a long avenue of elms, near the town of that
name.

"Here," she writes, "Mr. Shute made one of
the prettiest and most commodious bowling-greens
ever seen ; and Charles I., who was partial to the
amusement, having heard of the fame of this new
bowling-green, told Mr. Shute, when he next came
to Court, that he would dine with him the follow-
ing day and have a game. Mr. Shute made the
best preparation that the shortness of the time
would allow ; and the King was so well pleased
with his entertainment, that he would frequently
lay aside his state and resort thither with only
two or three gentlemen as his attendants. They
generally played high, and punctually paid their
losings ; and though Mr. Shute often won, yet the
King would at one time bet higher than usual,
and having lost several games, gave over.

318 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

" '' An if it please Your Majesty,' said Mr. Shute,
* one thousand pounds ; some rubbers more, perhaps
luck may turn.'

" ' No, no,' replied Charles, laying his hand
gently on his shoulder, * thou hast won the day,
and much good may it do thee ; but I must re-
member I have a wife and children.'

" How happy would it have been for this country
if every monarch had followed this wise remark.

In the " Memoirs of Count Grammont" I find
the following allusion to bowls : " The game of
bowls, which in France is the pastime of mechanics
and servants only, is quite the contrary in England,
where it is the exercise of gentlemen, and requires
both art and address. It is only in use during the
fair and dry part of the season, and the places
where it is practised are charming, delicious walks,
called bowling-greens, which are little square grass
plots, where the turf is almost as smooth and level
as the cloth of a billiard table. As soon as the
heat of the day is over, all the company assemble
there ; they play deep, and spectators are at liberty
to make what bets they please."

I have referred to Mr. Shute, a Turkey mer-
chant, which reminds me of an anecdote of Home
Tooke, who was the son of a poulterer. When
called upon by some proud stripling at Eton to
describe himself, " I am," said young Home, " the
son of an eminent Turkey merchant."

Much attention has been called to the modern
practise of hurling instead of bowling the ball at
cricket, an innovation not only truly dangerous,

CRICKET AS NOW PLAYED. 319

but one that in a great measure destroys the science
of the game. The players of bygone times did not
think it necessary to encase themselves in tubular
india-rubber gloves and leg-guards, but appeared
in their white duck trousers and jackets, with no
other implements of defence against the flying ball
save those which nature had given them ; yet the
game was quite as well played as it is in the pre-
sent day. A man now goes in with the fear of
having his human stumps shattered, an arm
broken, teeth knocked out, or one of his optics
damaged; and unless his temperament is entirely
free from all nervous apprehension, I question much
whether he could attend to the first rule in batting,
which according to a well-known authority runs as
follows : —

" Fix your right foot just near enough to the
crease to be put in your ground, and as near the
black hole as you can without being before either
stump ; then fix your left foot slightly on the
ground, as wide as you conveniently can, imme-
diately between yourself and the bowler." This
quaint author then proceeds : — "Now stand up on
the carpet for attitudinizing ; take some mark in
the seam as the spot for fixing your right foot, and
place the left on another part of the same seam ;
never mind appearing awkward. You will now find
that you have more power to hit on the ' off" side'
than on the ' on.' Secondly, that your left shoulder
will be sufficiently forward to prevent you from
swinging up your bat towards the cieling. Now,
probably, it seems to you that you are cramped.

320 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

and not as free as you used to be. Quite so ;
before you were free to play badly, now you are
constrained to play correctly. This, then, will be
the first lesson. Stand fixed according to these
directions, and poke away as clumsily as may be,
day after day, till you have played some eight or
nine hundred balls, taking care never once to
allow the point of your bat to be turned the least
upward. A little of this exercise will lead you into
old Nysen's rule of keeping the left elbow well up,
and nearly in the direction of the bowler. Now I
think I hear you say, ' Did ever any one see a
good player in such an attitude, poking and push-
ing, rather than hitting freely ?' You must know
that a man of elegant deportment never puts him-
self into the attitudes of the drill-sergeant ; yet,
however forced and awkward these movements at
first appear, the habits they produce are consistent
at once with elegance and ease. The case is the
same with cricket; the movements enjoined will
at first seem awkward enough, yet the habits pro-
ceeding from them will give great power and faciUty
in hitting. So much then for my first rule, attempt
nothing till this, which I call my drilling exercise,
has taught you to hit with your bat upright, and
its point never as near the bowler as its shoulder.
It teaches to cover the ball, a point in which the
best players occasionally err." I now subjoin the
able letter of the late Mr. Bishop, of Bond Street,
with this remark that, if the present system of
bowling is continued, I should strongly advise that
suits of armour from the Tower of Londgn be for-

LETTER ON CRICKET. 321

warded to the members of * Princes's,' 'Lords/ ' and
other cricket clubs. Indeed, the Household Bri-
gade might turn out in jack-boots, gauntlets, cuir-
asses, and helmets to contend against the Zingari
in chain hauberks, steel head-pieces, and iron
armlets."

"Dear Bell,
" I have seen many letters in your paper of late
on the system of bowling now in fashion ; and, as
this is a subject which has occupied much of my
attention, I shall feel obliged by your letting me
have my say. That the over-hand throwing is
dangerous to the batsmen, I think nobody, even
among the professional players who are interested
in the continuance of that system, will attempt to
deny. Nothing more forcibly illustrates this fact
than does the universal repugnance to stand before
an over-hand bowler, except in a regular match.
A gentleman who is a member of ' Lords,' and a
first-rate player to boot, told me that once at prac-
tise one of these high bowlers asked whether he
would like to take a few balls. ' Oh ! dear no !' was
the answer, * if I have to meet you in the field, I
must take my chance. That would be another
matter entirely.' The feeling among amateurs in
general is accurately represented by the reply.
There are many who like to play cricket as a game,
but decline to practise it as a science involving
considerable personal risk. Those who may have
a fancy for incurring bodily injuries may do so to
better efiect in a stand-up fight. How many

VOL. II. Y

322 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

fathers do I know, who without desiring to see
their sons milksops, pray that they may never take
a bat in hand until an alteration in the laws of
cricket shall have taken place. The Hon. Robert
'Grimston, than whom no one is better qualified to
take the matter in hand, has given notice of his
intention to propose a change in the law No. 10.
The terms of his suggestion are as follows : — The
ball must be bowled. If thrown or jerked, or if
the bowler, in preparing to deliver, or in the actual
delivery of the ball, shall raise his hand or arm
above his shoulder, the umpire shall call * no ball.*
To this proposition, I see your correspondent, Mr.
Letby, only in part gives his assent. He thinks
that the ball should be delivered with the hand below
the shoulder, but that no restraint ought to be put
on the bowler beyond the enforcement of this rule ;
that is to say before the actual moment of delivery,
the hand may be above the point indicated. Mr.
Letby, in effect, contends that the bowler has a
right to exercise any peculiar knack he may possess
of giving the ball a greater impetus, and that, so
long as he adheres to the principle of delivering
the ball with the low hand, he may in the act of
giving it force, lift his hand as high above the
shoulder as he pleases. Why, Sir, than is the very
point of the objection ! It is this mode of giving
terrific power to the jerk or throw which we con-
demn. As a fact, very few of the high-bowlers
deliver the ball from a point above the line of the
shoulder, nor is it of any great consequence whether

LETTER ON CRICKET. 323

they do or not. It is in the way of acquiring the
momentum that their dano^erous advantao;e lies.
As for the argument that round bowling is neces-
sary in order to give the acceptive bias, I do not
see that it has anything to do with the question of
high bowling. This is entirely a matter of giving
force to the ball. When this terrible custom is
practised by a left-handed bowler the danger is in-
creased. The batsman cannot tell how the ball is
to come ; for standing before a left-handed bowler
is like sparring with a cross-eyed man. I trust,
Sir, that the names of those noblemen and gentle-
men who have interested themselves in the pro-
jected alteration will have their due influence. It
is from such quarters that we must look for the
laws of the game. With the utmost good-feeling
to professional players I say that the patrons of
cricket are those best qualified to form and amend
its rules. Among the prominent advocates of the
change of system are Sir Frederick Bathurst, the
Earl of Stamford and Warrington, and the gentle-
man I have named as the proposer of a new law to
supersede that which is now in operation. Let us,
then, hope to see cricket once again as it deserves
to be, the foremost of national games. Let us
hope, I say, that under an improved, or rather a
restored system, umpires will do their duty honestly
and fearlessly. Let players go to the wicket as
they used years ago, cheerfully, and with their
limbs and bodies unencumbered by pads and guards
of every conceivable description. The sight of a

Y 2

324 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

man so encased is in itself a sufficient suggestion
of the danger he is about to tempt.

"Yours &c.,

*' William Bishop."

170, New Bond Street.

The " Bishop of Bond Street" (as he was fami-
liarly called) had evidently the best of the argu-
ment with Mr. Letby — what an ominous name for a
longstop, let-bye ? — for the above sensible letter
met the full approbation of the Marylebone Club,
and was greatly influential in bringing about a
change in the law of cricketing therein referred to.
The meeting at Lord's, to take into consideration
the proposal of the Honourable Eobert Grimston,
was unanimous on the subject, not a single hand
being held up in favour of the practice so strongly
reprehended by Mr. Bishop, who gave utterance to
common sense when he argued that a gentleman
who may wish to play the manly game of cricket,
cannot reasonably be expected to pay a professional
bowler for the mere privilege of standing in jeo-
pardy of life and limb from that bowler's violent
and unfair hurling of the ball.

While upon the subject of cricket, I cannot re-
frain from laying before my readers the account of
two curious matches at which in early days I was
present. The first was for a thousand guineas, as
was stated in the sporting prints (albeit I fancy it
was not for as many shillings), between the one-
armed and one-legged pensioners of Greenwich
Hospital. It took place at Montpelier Gardens,
Walworth, and created much diversion, as several

CRICKET MATCHES. 325

lost or broke their wooden walls. The following is
the return of the match :

One-Armed Players.

First Innings . . . .

20

Second do

65

Third do

32

Total

, 117

One-Legged Players.

First Innings . . . .

, 31

Second do

, 25

Third do. ... ,

. 21

Total . .77

As soon as the umpire declared the match to be
in favour of the " fewest hands," the winners drove
off to Greenwich in a triumphal car, ornamented
with flags, banners, and laurel leaves, " laughing,"
I presume, " in their empty sleeves" at the dis-
comfiture of the one-legged fraternity. The losers
speedily followed them, and consoled themselves
with " splicing the main-brace" with prog and grog
that had not undergone the scrutiny of the purser,
and which left them (to follow out the nautical meta-
phor) " three sheets in the wind."

The other match was between Lord Charles
Kerr and J. Cock, junior, Esq., to play a game of
cricket; his lordship backing his servant, James
Bridger, and his water spaniel " Drake," against
Mr. Cock with Mr. Weatherell. The match, which
was for fifty guineas a side, was played at Holt

326 CELEBRITIES I HAVE KNOWN.

Pond cricketing ground, near Farnham. The post
assigned to Drake was that of fagging out for the
ball, the only way in which his services could be
rendered available, and as he always caught it at
the first bound, he proved himself quite as good a
fieldsman as many a biped. The following was the
result of the game :

First Innings.

Lord C. Kerr.
J. Bridger . . 50 — Caught out by J. Cock.
*' Drake . . . 0 — Instead of " not out," I may

say, " never in."

J. Cock, Esq.
J. Cock . . . 6 — Caught by J. Bridger.
W. Weatherell . 0 — Run out by Drake.

Mr. Cock then turned " shy" and gave up the
match. The way in which the spaniel ran Weath-
erell out was this. Weatherell hit the ball smartly
for a run, but " Drake" played across the ball so
much faster than the former expected, stopped it
so well, and delivered it so quickly to his partner
Bridger, that Weatherell's stumps went down with-
out a run.

In conclusion, I am indebted to the author of
that excellent book, " Cricketana," for the following
statement :

" The Laws of Cricket were first revised at the Star
and Garter, Pall Mall, February 25, 1774, by a Com-
mittee of Noblemen and Gentlemen of Kent, Hamp-
shire, Surrey, Middlesex, and London.

EEVISION OF LAWS OP CRICKET. 327

Committee.
In the Chair — Sir William Draper. Present —
His Grace the Duke of Dorset, Right Honourable
Earl Tankerville, Sir Horace Mann, Philip Dehany,
John Brewer Davis, Henry Peckham, Francis Vin-
cent, John Cooke, Charles Coles, Richard James,
Esquires ; Reverend Charles Pawlet.

THE END.

London: Printed hy A. Schulze, 13, Poland Street.

13, Great Marlborough Street.

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MESSRS. HURST AND BLACKETT'S
NEW WOB.KS— Continued.

HISTORY OF TWO QUEENS: CATHARINE

OF ARAGON and ANNE BOLEYN. By W. Hepworth Dixon,

Second Edition. Vols. 1 & 2. Demy 8vo. 30s.

" In two handsome volumes Mr. Dixon here gives us the first instalment of a
new historical work on a most attractive subject. The book is in many respects a
favourable specimen of Mr. Dixon's powers. It is the most painstaking and
elaborate that he has yet written. .... On the whole, we may say that the book
is one which will sustain the reputation of its author as a writer of great power
and versatility, that it gives a new aspect to many an old subject, and presents in
a very striking light some of the most recent discoveries in English history." —
Athenxum.

"In these volumes the author exhibits in a signal manner his special powers
and finest endowments. It is obvious that the historian has been at especial pains
to justify his reputation, to strengthen his hold upon the learned, and also to
extend his sway over the many who prize an attractive style and interesting narra-
tive more highly than laborious research and philosophic insight." — Morning Post.

" The thanks of all students of English history are due to Mr. Hepworth Dixon
for his clever and original work, 'History of two Queens.' The book is a valuable
contribution to English history. The author has consulted a number of original
sources of information — in particular the archives at Simancas, Alcala, and Venice.
Mr. Dixon is a skilful writer. His style, singularly vivid, graphic, and dramatic —
is alive with human and artistic interest. Some of the incidental descriptions
veach a very high level of picturesque power." — Daily News.

" Mr. Hepworth DLxon, in his new work, has chosen a theme at once intrinsi-
cally interesting and admirably fit for illustration by his practised and brilliant
pen. The lives of Catharine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn give ample scope to a
writer so clear and vivid in his descriptions, so lifelike in his portraiture, so de-
cided in his judgment, and whose sparkling vivacity of style can be shaded off,
when necessary, by such delicate touches of tenderness and pathos. For pleasant
reading and very effective vriting we can warmly commend ilr. Dixon's volumes."
Daily Telegraph.

VOLS. III. 8g IV. OF THE HISTORY OF TWO

QUEENS : CATHARINE OF ARAGON and ANNE BOLEYN.
By W. Hepworth DrsoN. Second Edition. Demy 8vo. Price 30s.
Completing the Work.

" These concluding volumes of Mr. Dixon's ' History of two Queens ' will be per-
used with keen interest by thousands of readers. Whilst no less valuable to the
student, they will be far more enthralling to the general reader than the earlier
half of the history. Everj- page of what may be termed Anne Boleyn's story affords
a happy illusti'ation of the author's vivid and picturesque style. The work should
be found in every library." — Post.

" Mr. Dixon has pre-eminently the art of interesting his readers. He has pro-
duced a narrative of considerable value, conceived in a spirit of fairness, and
written with power and picturesque effect." — Daily News.

"Mr. Dixon has completed in these volumes the two stories which he has narrat-
ed with so much grace and vigour. Better still, he has cast the light of truth upon
incidents that have not been seen under that light before. Full of romantic and
dramatic sentiment as the story of Catharine is, we think that the more absorbing
interest is concentrated in the story of Anne BolejTi. Never has it been told so
fully, so fairly, or so attractively." — Notes and Queries.

HISTORY OF WILLIAM PENN, Founder of

Pennsylvania. By W. Hef'worth Dixon. A New Library EomoN.

1 vol. demy 8vo, with Portrait. 12s.
" Mr. Dixon's ' 'William Penn ' is, perhaps, the best of his hooks. He has now re-
vised and issued it with the addition of much fresh matter. It is now offered in a
sumptuous volume, matching with Mr. Dixon's recent books, to a new generation of
readers, who will thank Mi Dixon for his interesting and instructive memoir of
one of the worthies of England." — Examiner

13, Gbeat Maklborough Street.

MESSRS. HURST AND BLACKETT'S
NEW WORKS— Continuecl

LIFE OF THE RT. HON. SPENCER PERCEVAL ;

Including His Correspondence. By His Grandson, Spencer Wal-
POLE. 2 vols. 8vo, with Portrait. 30s.
" Mr. Walpole's work reflects credit not only on his industry in compiling an
important biography from authentic material, but also on his eloquence, power of
interpreting political change, and general literary address. The biography will take
rank in our literature, both as a faithful reflection of the statesman and his period,
as also for its philosophic, logical, and dramatic completeness." — Morning Post.

" In Mr. Perceval's biography his grandson has undoubtedly made a valuable
addition to om- Parliamentary history. The book is full of interest." — Daily News.

COSITAS ESPANOLAS ; or, Every-day Life in

Spain. By Mrs. Harvey, of Ickwell-Bury, Author of " Turkish
Harems and Circassian Homes." Second Edition. 1 vol. 8vo. 15s.
" A charming book ; fresh, lively, and amusing. It may confidently be recom-
mended to all readers who want to know something about the inner life of Spain.
Mrs. Harvey describes Gibraltar, Madrid, the Escurial, the Alhambra, Seville,
and many other places ; and there is a freshness and sincerity about the account
which causes it to seem as new as if the topic had never been treated before. The
descriptive faculty is very largely developed in our author, and some of the pass-
ages relating to scenery are extremely tine, and lay the view before the eyes to
perfection. What makes the book still more attractive is the keen sense of
humour manifested throughout.'' — Post.

LIFE OF MOSCHELES ; with Selections from

HIS DIARIES AND CORRESPONDENCE. By His Wife.
2 vols, large post 8vo, with Portrait. 24s.

"This life of Moscheles will be a valuable book of reference for the musical his-
torian, for the contents extend over a period of threescore years., commencing with
1794, and ending at 1870. 'We need scai'cely state that all the portions of Mosche-
les' diary which refer to his intercourse with Beethoven, Hummel, Weber, Czemy,
Spontini, Rossini, Auber, HaMvy, Schumann, Cherulnni, Spohr, Mendelssohn, F.
David, Chopin, J B. Cramer. Clementi, John Field, Habeneck, Hauptmann, Kalk-
brenner, Kiesewetter, C. Klingemann, Lablache, Dragonetti, Soutag, Persian!,
Malibran, Paganini, Kachel, Eonzi de Begnis, De Beriot, Ernst, Donzelli, Cinti-
Damoreau, Chelard, Bochsa, Laporte, Charles Kemble, Paton (Mrs. Wood),
Schroder-Devrient, Mrs. Siddons, Sir H. Bishop, Sir G. Smart, Staudigl, Thalberg,
Berlioz, 'Velluti, C. Young, Balfe, Braham, and many other artists of note in their
time, will recall a flood of recollections. It was a delicate task for Madame Mos-
cheles to select from the diaries in reference to living persons, but her extracts have
been judiciously made. Moscheles writes fairly of what is called the ' Music of the
Future ' and its disciples, and his judgments on Herr Wagner, Dr. Liszt, Ruben-
stein, Dr. von Biilow, Litolff, &c., whether as composers or executants, are in a
liberal spirit. He recognizes cheerfully the talents of our native artists. Sir Stem-
dale Bennett, Mr. Macfarren, Madame Arabella Goddard, Mr. John Barnett, Mr.
Hullah, Mrs. Shaw, Mr. A. Sullivan, &c. The celebrities with whom Moscheles
came in contact, include Sir Walter Scott, Sir Robert Peel, the late Duke of Cam-
bridge, the Bunsens, Louis Philippe, Napoleon the Third, Humboldt, Henry Heine,
Thomas More, Count Nesselrode, the Duchess of Orleans, Prof. Wolf, &c. In-
deed, the two volumes are full of amusing anecdotes." — Atfienceum.

RECOLLECTIONS OF SOCIETY IN FRANCE

AND ENGLAND. By Lady Clementina Da vies. 2nd Edition. 2 v.

" Two charming volumes, full of the most interesting and entertaining matter,
and written in plain, elegant English. Lady Clementina Davies has seen much,
heard much, and remembered well Her unique and brilliant recollections have the
nterest of a romance, wherein no character is fictitious, no incident untrue." — Post.

13, Great Marlborough Street.

MESSRS. HURST AND BLACKETT'S

NEW "W 0?vKS— Continued.

VOLS. I. & II. OF HER MAJESTY'S TOWER.

By W. HEPWORTH DIXON. DEDICATED BY EXPRESS
PERMISSION TO THE QUEEN. Sixth Edition. 8vo. 30s.
From the Times:— "All the civilized world— English, Continental, and Ame-
rican—takes an interest in the Tower of London. The Tower is the stage
upon which has been enacted some of the grandest dramas and saddest tragedies
in our national annals. If, in imagination, we take our stand on those time-worn
walls, and let century after century flit past us, we shall see in duo succession the
majority of the most famous men and lovely women of England in the olden time.
We shall see them jesting, jousting, love-making, plotting, and then anon, per-
haps, commending their souls to God in the presence of a hideous masked figure,
bearing an axe in his hands. It is such pictures as these that Sir. Dixon, with
considerable skill as an historical limner, has set before us in these volumes. Mr.
Dixon dashes oil the scenes of Tower history with great spirit His descriptions
are given with such terseness and vigour that we should spoil them by any attempt
at condensation. As favourable examples of his narrative powers we may call at-
tention to the story of the beautiful but unpopular Elinor, Queen of Henry III., and
the description of Anne Boleyn's first and second arrivals at the Tower. Then we
have the story of the bold Bishop of Durham, who escapes by the aid of a cord
hidden in a wine-jar; and the tale of Maud Fitzwalter, imprisoned and murdered
by the caitiff John. Passing onwards, we meet Charles of Orleans, the poetic
French Prince, captured at AgLncourt, and detained for flve-and-twenty years a
prisoner in the Tower. Nextweencounter the baleful form of Richard of Gloucester,
and are filled with indignation at the blackest of the black Tower deeds. As we
draw nearer to modern times, we have the sorrowful story of the Nine Days'
Queen, poor little Lady Jane Grey. The chapter entitled "No Cross, no Crown "
is one of the most affecting in the book. A mature man can scarcely read it with-
out feeling the tears ready to trickle from his eyes. No part of the first volume
yields in interest to the chapters which are devoted to the story of Sir Walter
Raleigh. The greater part of the second volume is occupied with the story of the
Gunpowder Plot. The narrative is extremely interesting, and will repay perusal.
Another cause celebre possessed of a perennial interest, is the murder of Sir Thomas
Overbury by Lord and Lady Somerset. Mr. Dixon tells the tale skilfully. In con-
clusion, we may congratulate the author on this work. Both volumes are decided-
ly attractive, and throw much light on our national history."

VOLS. III. & IV. OF HER MAJESTY'S TOWER.

By W. HEPWORTH DIXON. DEDICATED BY EXPRESS
PERMISSION TO THE QUEEN. Completing the Work. Third
Edition. Demy 8vo. 30s.
"These volumes are two galleries of richly painted portraits of the noblest
men and most brilliant women, besides others, commemorated by English
history. The grand old Royal Keep, palace and prison by turns, is revivified in
these volumes, which close the narrative, extending from the era of Sir John Eliot,
who saw Raleigh die in Palace Yard, to that of Thistlewood, the last prisoner im-
mured in the Tower. Few works are given to us, in these days, so abundant in
originality and research as Mr. Dixon's." — Standard.

FREE RUSSIA. By W. Hepworth Dixon. Third

Edition. 2 vols. 8vo, -with Coloured Illustrations. 30s.
"Mr. Dixon's book wiU be certain not only to interest but to please its readers
and it deserves to do so. It contains a great deal that is worthy of attention, and
is likely to produce a very useful effect" — Saturday Review.

THE SWITZERS. By W. Hepworth Dixon.

Third Edition. 1 vol. demy 8vo. 15s.
"A lively, interesting, and altogether novel book on Switzerland. It is full of
valuable information on social, political, and ecclesiastical questions, and, like all
Mr. Dixon's books, is eminently readable."— i)ai'?2/ i\'«fs.

6

13, Great Marlborough Street.

MESSRS. HURST AND BLACKETT'S
NEW WOUKS— Continued.

WORDS OF HOPE AND COMFORT TO

THOSE IN SORROW. Dedicated by Permission to The Queen.
Third Edition. 1 vol. small "tto, 5s. bomid.

"These letters, the work of a pure and devout spirit, deserve to find many
readers. They are greatly superior to the average of what is galled religious
literature." — Athenxum.

"The writer of the tenderly-conceived letters in this volume was Mrs. Julius
Hare, a sister of Mr. Maurice. They are instinct with the devout submissivenesa
and tine sympathy which we associate with the name of Maurice ; but in her there
is added a wiuningness of tact, and sometimes, too, a directness of language, which
we hardly find even in the brother. The letters were privately printed and circu-
lated, and were found to be the source of much comfort, which they cannot fail
to afford now to a wide circle. A sweetly-conceived memorial poem, bearing
the well-known initials, 'E. H. P.', gives a very faithful outline of the life." — British
Quarter!!/ Review.

" This touching and most comforting work is dedicated to The Qceen, who took
a gracious interest in its first appearance, when printed for private circulation, and
found comfort in its pages, and has now commanded its jiublication, that the
world in general may profit by it. A more practical and heart-stirring appeal to
the afflicted we have never examined." — Standard.

" These letters are exceptionally graceful and touching, and may be read with
profit." — Graphic.

RAMBLES IN ISTRIA, DALMATIA, and MON-

TENEGRO. By R. H. R. 1 vol. 8vo. 14s.

"The author has the knack of hitting off those light sketches of picturesque
life, which are none the less telling for Ijeing done by a passing observer. The
really iiisti-uctive part of his book relates to Montenegro, and it has especial inter-
est at the present time." — Pall Mall Gazette.

" The author describes his wanderings brightly and pleasantly, and his account
will probably induce many to visit one of the most picturesque and interesting
corners of Europe." — Standard.

" A handsome and trustworthy volume. The book is pleasantly written, and
may prove useful to all taking the author's advice with reference to their next
vacation trip." — Athenxum.

" What with his sprightly anecdotes, his clever sketches, and his instructive
scraps of history and description, R. H. E. weaves together a pleasant and vei-y
entertaining book." — Examiner.

"Montenegro and Dalmatia may certainly be commended to all who are weary
of the beaten tracks, and E. H. E. is a well-informed and entertaining guide to
their scenery, legends, and antiquities." — Graphic.

" The most readable portion of this interesting work is that devoted to a descrip-
tion of life in Montenegro, which the author sketches in a very bright and lively
fashion." — Globe.

PEARLS OF THE PACIFIC. By J. W. Boddam-

Whetham. 1 vol. Demy 8vo, with 8 Illustrations. 15s.

" The literary merits of Mr. "Whetham's work are of a very high order. _ His
descriptions are vivid, the comments upon what he saw judicious, and there is an
occasional dash of hmnour and of pathos which stirs our sympathies." — Athenxum.

" Mr. Whetham is evidently an intelligent and well-informed man; he writes
pleasantly, and it should be strange if every one in a volume of this size does not
find much that is fresh and novel." — Pall Mall Gazette.

" Mr. Whetham is scarcely behind Hermann Melville in powers of vivid descrip-
tion. There is much of the strange and beautiful in his graphic and adventurous
narrative." — Telegraph.

" Mr. Whetham's descriptions of scenery are picturesque, and his accounts of
native manners and customs humorous and entertaining." — Standard

13, Great Marlborough Street.

MESSRS. HUEST AND BLACKETT'S
VJJBLlCATlOm— Continued.

A BOOK ABOUT THE TABLE. By J. C.

Jeaffreson. 2 vols. 8vo. 30s.

" This book is readable and amusing from first to last. No one ought to be
without it. No point of interest concerning the table or its appurtenances is left
untouched. Racy anecdotes coruscate on every page."' — Morning Post.

" Mr. Jeaffreson chats pleasantly about meats and manners. We cordially
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" This work ought to be in every library and on every drawing-room and clnb
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NOTES OF TRAVEL IN SOUTH AFRICA.

By C. J. Andersson, Author of " Lake Ngami," &c. Edited by
L. Lloyd, Author of " Field Sjoorts of the North." 1 volume
demy 8vo. With Portrait of the Author. 15s. bound.
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WILD LIFE IN FLORIDA ; With a Visit to Cuba.

By Captain F. T. Townshend, F.R.G.S., 2nd Life Guards. 1 vol.
8vo, with Map and Illustrations. 15s.
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"Captain Townshend's work is instructive and entertaining. It contains chap-
ters for all readers, racy narratives, abundance of incident, compendious history,
important statistics, and many a page which will be perused with pleasure by the
sportsman and naturalist." — Court Journal.

SPAIN AND THE SPANIARDS. By Azamat

Batuk. 2 vols, crown 8vo. 21s.
" By the aid of this really entertaining book the Corns de Espana of the moment

may be brought before the mind's eye It would be too much to say that this

is the most interesting book upon Spain and the Spaniards that has appeared
of late years, but many may think so after reading it." — Athenmum.

ON THE WING ; A Southern Flight. By the

Hon. Mrs. Alfred Montgomery. ] vol. 8vo. 14s.
" A most entertaining and instructive work, which holds the attention spell-bound.
It contains the following chapters : — La Belle Provence, Monaco, Bologna, Florence,
Eome, Naples, Italian Life, Pompeii, Sorrento, Capri, Amalfl, &c." — Court Journal.

TURKISH HAREMS & CIRCASSIAN HOMES.

By Mrs. Harvey, of IckweU Bury. 8vo. Second Edition. 15s.
" Mrs. Harvey not only saw a great deal, but saw all that she did see to the
best advantage. In noticing the intrinsic interest of Mrs. Harvey's book, we must
not forget to say a word for her abiUty as a writer." — Times.

MEMOIRS OF QUEEN HORTENSE, MOTHER

OF NAPOLEON III. Cheaper Edition, in 1 vol. 6s.
" A biography of the beautiful and unhappy Queen, more satisfactory than any we
have yet met with." — Daily News.

THE EXILES AT ST. GERMAINS. By the

Author of " The Ladye Shakerley." 1 vol. 7s. 6d. bound,
" ' The Exiles at St. Germains ' will be every whit as popular as ' The Ladye
Shakerley.' "—Standard.

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WOEKS BY THE AUTHOR OF 'JOHN HALIFAX.

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JOHN HALIFAX, GENTLEMAN.

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NATURE AND HUMAN

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WOEKS BY GEOEGE MAC DONALD, LL.D.

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ALEC FORBES OF
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THE XEW AND POPULAR NOVELS.

PUBLISHED BY HURST & BLACKETT.

DIANA, LADY LYLE. By W. Hepworth Dixon.

Second Edition. 3 vols.
" A book of extraordinary merits. A vivid and vigorous romance of real life.
To say that this remarkable story is 'original' would convey no adequate idea of
its sterling newness and imconventionality of conception, design, and treatment."
— M<yming Post.

MR. CHARLTON. By the Author of "Anne Dysart,"

&c. 3 vols.

MIGNON, By Mrs. Forrester, Author of "Dolores,"

"Fair Women,"' "Diana Cai-ew," &c. 3 vols.

BRIDGET. By M. Beth A:\r-EDWARDS, Author of

" Kitty," &c. 3 vols. (^Jiist Ready.)

ALL FOR HERSELF. By Shirley Smith.

3 vols. (Just Ready.)

TWO LILIES. By Julia Kavaxagh, Author of

" Xathalie," "AJele," &c. 3 vols.

"A well written stoi-y. The rival Lilies are admirably contrasted." — Athenxum.
" A pleasant, clever story, which will add to Bliss Kavanagh's well won reputa-
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ONE GOLDEN SUMMER. By Mrs. Mackenzie

Daniel, Author of " Esther Dudley's Wooers," &c. 3 vols.
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— Court Journal.

HER PLIGHTED TROTH. By Mrs. Alexander

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" There is interest in every page." — Court Journal.

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GLENCAIRN. By Iza Duffus Hardy. 3 vols.

"A distinctly clever novel, with a bold and striking plot, and at least four
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ners are excellent Some of the characters the reader will never forget." —
Morning Post.

" A good novel. The story is admirably told, and has a romantic interest that
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Journal.

ANNE WARWICK. By Georgiana M. Craik. 2 v.

" This book is, in our judgment, most unusually good. It deserves to be read.
The truth and delicacy of the character-drawing are most remarkable." — Academy.

"An exceptionally pleasant story. The characters stand out as real living
human beings." — Morning Post.

" A first-rate novel The plot is original and deeply interesting. The style is
pure and clear." — Court Journal.

10

THE NEW AND POPULAR NOVELS.

PUBLISHED BY HURST & BLACKETT.

THOMAS WINGFOLD, CURATE. By Geokge

Mac Donald, LL.D., Author of "Alec Forbes," " Robert Falconer,"
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"Its nobility of purpose, its keen insight into human nature, and its poetry,
place this book in the first rank of novels of the year." — John Bull.

"A very flue story. One of the books most worth reading that has been pub-
lished for many a day." — Standard,

MARK EYLMER'S REVENGE. By Mrs. J. K.

Spender, Author of " Jocelyn's Mistake," &c. 3 vols.

"A thoroughly good and well written book, which both deserves and wOl repay
perusal.'' — British Quarterly Review.

"There is a good deal that is readable in this story." — Athenxum.

"A bright and entertaining novel.'' — John Bull.

"A very well written and readable novel." — Vanity Fair.

NORA'S LOVE TEST. By Mary Cecil Hay,

Author of " Old Myddelton's Money," &c. Second Edition. 3 vols.
" A very powerful storj- — bright, fresh, and sparkling, and written in an agree-
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MAJOR VANDERMERE. By the Author of

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PHCEBE, JUNIOR ; A Last Chronicle of Car-

UNGFORD. By ]Mrs. Oliphant. Second Edition. 3 vols.

" This novel shows great knowledge of human nature. The interest goes on
growing to the end. Phoebe is excellently drawn." — Times.

ERSILIA. By the Author of "My Little Lady."

Second Edition. 3 vols.

" A novel of more than common merit Ersilia is a character of much beauty,
and her story holds the reader with an unrelaxing interest.'' — Spectator.

EFFIE MAXWELL. By Agnes Smith, Author of

" Eastern Pilgrims." 3 vols.

"A very interesting, sensible, and wholesome story. The characters are natural
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GRIFFITH'S DOUBLE. By Mrs. Cashel Hoey,

Author of " A Golden Sorrow," &c. 3 vols.
"A remarkably clever and powerful novel" — World.

POWER'S PARTNER. By May Byrne, Author

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" A good novel in all respects. It deserves success." — Post.

AZALEA. By Cecil Clayton. 3 vols.

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LINKED LIVES. By Lady Gertrude Douglas. 3v.

" A deeply interesting, pure, and very able novel, true to human nature."— Tad/e^
11

Wintitt i)^t ^spmal patronage oi p^r S^aj^stg.

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LODGERS PEERAGE

AXD BARONETAGE,

CORRECTED BY THE NOBILITY.

THE rOETY-SIXTH EDITION FOR 1877 IS NOW READY.

Lodge's Peerage and Baronetage is acknowledged to be the most
complete, as weU as the most elegant, work of the kind. As an esta-
blished and authentic authority on all questions respecting the family
histories, honours, and connections of the titled aristocracy, no work has
ever stood so high. It is published under the especial patronage of Her
Majesty, and is annually corrected throughout, from the personal com-
munications of the Nobility. It is the only work of its class in which, the
type being kept constantly standing, every correction is made in its proper
place to the date of publication, an advantage which gives it supremacy
over all its competitors. Independently of its full and authentic informa-
tion respecting the existing Peers and Baronets of the realm, the most
sedulous attention is given in its pages to the collateral branches of the
various noble families, and the names of many thousand individuals are
introduced, which do not appear in other records of the titled classes. For
its authority, correctness, and facility of arrangement, and the beauty of
its typography and binding, the work is justly entitled to the place it
occupies on the tables of Her Majesty and the Nobility.

LIST OF THE PRIN

Historical View of the Peerage.

Parliamentary Roll of the House of Lords.

EngUsh, Scotch, and Irish Peers, in their
orders of Precedence.

Alphabetical List of Peers of Great Britain
and the United KiBgdom, holding supe-
rior rank in the Scotch or Irish Peerage.

Alphabetical list of Scotch and Irish Peers,
holding superior titles in the Peerage of
Great Britain and the United Kingdom.

A Collective list of Peers, in their order of
Precedence.

Table of Precedency among Men.

Table of Precedency among Women.

The Queen and the Royal Family.

Peers of the Blood Royal

The Peerage, alphabetically arranged.

Families of such Extinct Peers as have left
Widows or Issue.

Alphabetical List of the Surnames of all the
Peers.

CIPAL CONTENTS.

The Archbishops and Bishops of England,
Ireland, and the Colonies.

The Baronetage alphabetically arranged.

Alphabetical List of Surnames assumed by
members of Noble Families.

Alphabetical List of the Second Titles of
Peers, usually borne by their Eldest
Sons.

Alphabetical Index to the Daughters of
Dukes, Marquises, and Earls, who, hav-
ing married Commoners, retain the title
of Lady before their own Christian and
their Husband's Surnames.

Alphabetical Index to the Daughters_ of
Viscounts and Barons, who, having
married Commoners, are styled Honour-
able Mrs. ; and, in case of the husband
being a Baronet or Knight, Honourable
Lady.

Mottoes alphabetically arranged and trans-
lated.

"A work which corrects all errors of former works. It is a most useful publication.
We are happy to bear testimony to the fact that scrupulous accuracy is a distinguish-
ing feature of this book." — Times.

"Lodge's Peerage must supersede all other works of the kind, for two reasons: first. It
is on a better plan ; and secondly, it is better executed. We can safely pronounce it to be
the readiest, the most useful, and exactest of modem works on the subject." — Spectator.

"A work of great value. It is the most faithful record we possess of the aristo-
cracy of the day." — Post.

" The best existing, and, we believe, the best possible Peerage. It is the standard
authority on the subject." — Standard.

13

EMST & BLACKETT'S STANDARD LIBRARY

OF CHEAP EDITIONS OF

POPULAR MODERN WORKS,

ILLUSTRATED BY SIR J. GILBERT, MILLAIS, HUNT, LEECH, FOSTER,
POYNTER, TENNIEL, SANDTS, HUGHES, SAMBOURNE, &C.

Each in a Single Volume, elegantly printed, bound, and illustrated, price 5s.

I.— SAM SLICK'S NATURE AND HUMAN NATURE.

"The first volume of Messrs. Hurst and Blackett's Standard Library of Cheap Editiona
forms a very good beginning to what will doubtless be a very successful uudertaking.
'Nature and Human Nature' is one of the best of Sam Slick's witty and humorous
productions, and is well entitled to the large circulation which it cannot fail to obtain
in its present convenient and cheap shape. The volume combines with the great recom-
mendations of a clear, bold type, and good paper, the lesser but attractive merits of
being well illustrated and elegantly bound." — Post.

n.— JOHN HALIFAX, GENTLEMAN.

" This is a very good and a very interesting work. It is designed to trace the career
from boyhood to age of a perfect man — a Christian gentleman; and it abounds in inci-
dent both well and highly wrought. Throughout it is conceived in a high spirit, and
written with great ability. This cheap and handsome new edition is worthy to pass
freely from hand to hand as a gift book in many households." — Examiner.

III.— THE CRESCENT AND THE CROSS.

BY ELIOT WARBURTON.
"Independent of its value as an original narrative, and its useful and interesting
information, this work is remarkable for the colouring power and play of fancy with
which its descriptions are enlivened. Among its greatest and most lasting charms is
its reverent and serious spirit" — Quarterly Review.

IV.— NATHALIE. By JULIA KAVANAGH.

" 'Nathalie' is Miss Kavanagh's best imaginative effort. Its manner is gracious and
attractive. Its matter is good. A sentiment, a tenderness, are commanded by her
which are as individual as they are elegant." — At/wnieum.

v.— A WOMAN'S THOUGHTS ABOUT WOMEN.

BY THE AUTHOR OF "JOHN HALIFAX, GENTLEMAN."

" A book of sound counsel. It is one of the most sensible works of its kind, well-
written, true-hearted, and altogether practical. Whoever wishes to give advice to a
young lady may thank the author for means of doing so." — Examiner.

VI.— ADAM GRAEME. By MRS. OLIPHANT.

" A Story awakening genuine emotions of interest and delight by its admirable pic-
tures of Scottish life and scenery. The author sets before us the essential attributes of
Christian virtue, with a delicacy, power, and truth which can hardly be surpassed. "-/'os<.

VII.— SAM SLICK'S WISE SAWS AND MODERN
INSTANCES.

"The reputation of this book will stand as long as that of Scott's or Bulwer's Novels.
Its remarkable originality and happy descriptions of American life still continue the
subject of universal admiratioa" — Messenger.

Vin.— CARDINAL WISEMAN'S RECOLLECTIONS OF
THE LAST FOUR POPES.

" A picturesque book on Rome and its ecclesiastical sovereigns, by an eloquent Roman
Catholic. Cardinal "Wiseman has treated a special subject with so much geniality, that
his recollections will excite no ill-feeling in those who are most conscientiously opposed
to every idea of human infallibility represented in Papal domination." — Athenxwn.

IX.— A LIFE FOR A LIFE.

BY THE AUTHOR OF " JOHN HALIFAX, GENTLEMAN."
"In 'A Life for a Life ' the author is fortunate in a good subject, and has produced a
work of strong effect" — Athenseum.

13

HURST & BLACKETT'S STANDARD LIBRARY

(continued.)

X.— THE OLD COURT SUBURB. By LEIGH HUNT.

" A delightful book, that will be welcome to all readers, and most welcome to those
who have a love for the best kinds of reading." — Examiner.

"A more agreeable and entertaining book has not been published since Boswell pro-
duced his reminiscences of Johnson." — Observer.

XI.— MARGARET AND HER BRIDESMAIDS.

" We recommend all who are in search of a fascinating novel to read this work for
themselves. They will find it well worth their while. There are a freshness and ori-
ginality about it quite charming." — Athensemn.

XII.— THE OLD JUDGE. By SAM SLICK.

" The publications included in this Library have all been of good quality ; many give
information while they entertain, and of that class the-book before us is a specimen.
The manner in which the Cheap Editions forming the series is produced, deserves
especial mention. The paper and print are unexceptionable ; there is a steel engraving
in each volume, and the outsides of them will satisfy the purchaser who likes to see
books la handsome uniform." — Examiner.

Xm.— DARIEN. By ELIOT WARBURTON.

" This last production of the author of ' The Crescent and the Cross ' has the same
elements of a very wide popularity. It will please its thousands." — Globe.

XIV.— FAMILY ROMANCE ; OR, DOMESTIC ANNALS
OF THE ARISTOCRACY.

BY SIR BERNARD BURKE, ULSTER KING OF ARMS.

" It were impossible to praise too highly this most interesting book. It ought to be
found on every drawing-room table." — Standard.

XV.— THE LAIRD OF NORLAW. By MRS. OLIPHANT.

"The 'Laird of Norlaw' fully sustains the author's high reputation." — Sunday Times.

XVI.— THE ENGLISHWOMAN IN ITALY.

" We can praise Mrs. Gretton's book as interesting, unexaggerated, and full of oppor-
tune instruction" — Times.

XVn.— NOTHING NEW.

BY THE AUTHOR OF " JOHN HALIFAX, GENTLEMAN."

" ' Nothing New ' displays all those superior merits which have made ' John Halifax
one of the most popular works of the day." — Post.

XVni.— FREER'S LIFE OF JEANNE D'ALBRET.

"Nothing can be more interesting than Miss Freer's story of the Ufe of Jeanne
D'Albret, and the narrative is as trustworthy as it is attractive." — Post.

XIX.— THE VALLEY OF A HUNDRED FIRES.

BY THE AUTHOR OF "MARGARET AND HER BRIDESMAIDS."

"If asked to classify this work, we should give it a place between 'John Halifax 'and
'The Oaxtons.' " — Standard.

XX.— THE ROMANCE OF THE FORUM.

BY PETER BURKE, SERGEANT AT LAW.

" A work of singular interest, which can never fail to charm. The present cheap and
elegant edition includes the true story of the Colleen Bawn." — Illustrated News.

XXI.— ADELE. By JULIA KAVANAGH.

" ' Adele ' is the best work we have read by Miss Kavanagh ; it is a charming Btory
full of delicate character-painting."— ^W€7!«m;«.

14

HURST & BLACKETT'S STANDARD LIBRARY

XXn.— STUDIES FROM LIFE.

BY THE AUTHOR OF " JOHN HALIFAX, GENTLEMAN."

"These ' Studies from Life ' are remarkable for graphic power and observation. The
book will not diminish the reputation of the accomplished author." — Saturday Review.

XXm.— GRANDMOTHER'S MONEY.

"We commend 'Grandmother's Money' to readers in search of a good novel The
characters are true to human nature, and the story is interesting." — Athenxum.

XXIV.— A BOOK ABOUT DOCTORS.

BY J. C. JEAFFRESON.
" A delightful book." — Athenxum. " A book to be read and re-read ; fit for the study
GB well as the drawing-room table and the circulating library." — Lancet.

XXV.— NO CHURCH.

"■We advise all who have the opportunity to read this book." — Athenxum.

XXVI.— MISTRESS AND MAID.

BY THE AUTHOR OF " JOHN HALIFAX, GENTLEMAN."
" A good wholesome book, gracefully written, and as pleasant to read as it is instruc-
tive."— Athenmum. " A charming tale charmingly told," — Standard.

XXVII.— LOST AND SAVED. By HON. MRS. NORTON.

" 'Lost and Saved ' will be read with eager interest. It is a vigorous novel" — Times.
"A novel of rare excellence. It is Mrs. Norton's best prose work." — Examiner.

XXVin.— LES MISERABLES. By VICTOR HUGO.

AUTHORISED COPYRIGHT ENGLISH TRANSLATION.
" The merits of ' Les Miserables ' do not merely consist in the conception of it aa a
whole ; it abounds with details of unequalled beauty. IL Victor Hugo has stamped upon
every page the hall-mark of genius." — Quarterly Review.

XXIX.— BARBARA'S HISTORY.

BY AMELIA B. EDWARDS.

" It is not often that we light upon a novel of so much merit and interest as ' Barbara's

History.' It is a work conspicuous for taste and literary culture. It is a very graceful

and charming book, with a well-managed story, clearly-cut characters, and sentiments

expressed with an exquisite elocution. It is a book which the world will like." — Times.

XXX.— LIFE OF THE REV. EDWARD IRVING.

BY MRS. OLIPHANT.

"A good book on a most interesting theme." — Times.

" A truly interesting and most affecting memoir. Irving's Life ought to have a niche
in every gallery of religious biography. There are few lives that will be fuller of in-
Btruction, interest, and consolation." — Saturday Review.

XXXI.— ST. OLAVE'S.

"This charming novel is the work of one who possesses a great talent for writing, aa
well as experience and knowledge of the world. ' — Atftenoeunu

XXXn,— SAM SLICK'S AMERICAN HUMOUR.

"Dip where you will into this lottery of fun, you are sure to draw out a -prize." ^Po St.

XXXIII.— CHRISTIAN'S MISTAKE.

BY THE AUTHOR OF " JOHN HALIFAX, GENTLEMAN."
" A more charming story has rarely been written. Even if tried by the standard of
the Archbishop of York, we should expect that even he would pronounce ' Christian's
Mistake ' a novel without a {a,vdt"— Times.

XXXIV.— ALEC FORBES OF HOWGLEN.

BY GEORGE MAC DONALD, LL.D.

"No account of this story would give any idea of the profound interest that pervades
the work from the first page to the \a,st."—Athenceum.

15

HURST & BLACKETT'S STANDARD LIBRARY

XXXV.— AGNES. By MRS. OLIPHANT.

" ' Agnes ' is a novel superior to any of Mrs. Oliphant's former works." — Athenoeum.
"A story whose pathetic beauty will appeal irresistibly to all readers." — Post.

XXXVI.— A NOBLE LIFE.

BY THE AUTHOR OF "JOHN HALIFAX, GENTLEMAN."

"This is one of those pleasant tales In which the author of 'John Halifax' speaks
out of a generous heart the purest truths of life." — Examiner.

XXXVII.— NEW AMERICA. By HEPWORTH DIXON.

" A very interesting book. Mr. Dixon has written thoughtfully and weli" — Times.
"We recommend every one who feels any interest in human nature to read Mr.
Dixon's very interesting book." — Saturday Review.

XXXVIII.— ROBERT FALCONER.

BY GEORGE MAC DONALD, LL.D.
" ' Kober'. Falconer ' is a work brimful of life and humour and of the deepest human
interest. It is a book to be returned to again and again for the deep and searching
knowledge it evinces of human thoughts and feelings." — Athenoeum.

XXXIX.— THE WOMAN'S KINGDOM

BY THE AUTHOR OF "JOHN HALIFAX, GENTLEMAN."

" ' The Woman's Kingdom ' sustains the author's reputation as a writer of the
purest and noblest kind of domestic stories. — Athenseum.

XL.— ANNALS OF AN EVENTFUL LIFE.

BY GEORGE WEBBE DASENT, D.C.L.

"A racy, well- written, and original novel. The interest never flags. The whole
work sparkles with wit and humour." — Quarterly Review.

XLL— DAVID ELGINBROD.

BY GEORGE MAG DONALD, LL.D.
" The work of a man of genius. It will attract the highest class of readers." — Times.

XLII.— A BRAVE LADY.

BY THE AUTHOR OF " JOHN HALIFAX, GENTLEMAN."

"A very good novel; a thoughtful, well-written book, showing a tender, sympathy
with human nature, and permeated by a pure and noble spirit."' — Examiner.

XLIII. -HANNAH.

BY THE AUTHOR OF " JOHN HALIFAX, GENTLEMAN."

' ' A very pleasant, healthy story, well and artistically told. The book is sure of a
wide circle of readers. The character of Hannah is one of rare beauty." — Standard.

XLIV.— SAM SLICK'S AMERICANS AT HOME.

"This is one of the most amusing books that we ever read." — Standard.

XLV.— THE UNKIND WORD.

BY THE AUTHOR OF " JOHN HALIFAX, GENTLEMAN."
"The author of 'John Halifax 'has written many fascinating stories, but wo can
call to mind nothing from her pen that has a more enduring charm than the graceful
sketches in this work." — United Service Magazine.

XL VI.— A ROSE IN JUNE. By MRS. OLIPHANT.

" ' A Kose in June ' is as pretty as its title. The story is one of the best and most
touching which we owe to the industry and talent of Mrs. OUphant, and may hold it3
own with even ' 'The Chronicles of Carlingford.' " — Times.

XLVn.— MY LITTLE LADY. By E. F. POYNTER.

" There is a great deal of fascination about this book. The author writes in a clear,
unaffected style; she has a decided gift for depicting character, while the descriptions
of scenery convey a distinct pictorial impression to the reader." — Times.

16