:)

Old ''Q." : a Memoir of William Douglas, Fourth Duke of Queens-

berrv, one of the "' Fathers of the Turf," by John Robert Robinson, author
of " The Princely Chandos," *'The Last Earls of Barrymore," «Scc., illus-
trated, crown Svo (pub 7s 6d) Low & Co.

The Same, Edition-de-Luxe, printed on hand-made paper,

the plates coloured by hand, royal Svo, half parchment, edges
uncut (pub 21s net) Low & Co.

Impression of the Edition-de-Luxe limited to 125 copies and numbered.

" No sportsman's library is complete without a copy of Mr Robinson's excellent
' Memoir of William Douglas, Fourth Duke of Queensberry.' 'Old Q.' as the Duke
was familiarly called, was one of the most notable characters of his day, and his connec-
tion with the turf, and passion for making wagers on every conceivable occasion, are dealt
with by the author in a manner both interesting and instructive." — Illust7-ated Sporting
and Dramatic Neii'S.

JOHNA.SEAVERNS

TUFTS UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

3 9090 014 561 597

Webster Family Library of Vetennary IVIedicine

GufTHnings School of Veterinary Medicine at

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200 Westboro Road

Moith Grafton. {yJA 01536

'OLD Q'

This edition is limited to 125 copies only

'OLD q:

Old Q

A MEMOIR OF
WILLIAM DOUGLAS
FOURTH DUKE OF
OUEENSBE RRY
K.T.

ONE OF 'the fathers OF THE TURF,' WITH

A FULL ACCOUNT OF HIS CELEBRATED

MATCHES AND WAGERS, ETC.

JOHN ROBERT ROBINSON

AUTHOR OF 'the PRINCELY CHANDOS,' ' THK LAST
EARLS OF BARRYMORE,' ETC.

Manners with Customs,
Principles luitli Times.'

Pope.

LONDON

SAMPSON LOW, MARSTON AND

COMPANY, LIMITED

St. IBunstan's l^ouse

FETTER LANE, FLEET STREET, E.C.
1895

\All rights reser^'ed]

)6^va^cA3

Edinburgh : T. and A. Constable, Frinters to Her Majesty

PREFATORY NOTE

From ' The Last Earls of Barrymore ' to William,
fourth and last Duke of Queensberry, better known
as * Old Q,' is a bold step. Readers of my last
two works will allow and admit that the latter
must be absolved from the riotous conduct of the
Barrymores. Here comparison ceases.

The career of the Duke of Queensberry is one
that has rarely, if ever, found its parallel in history
or fiction.

To exist for close on ninety years in the enjoyment
of rank and wealth, without accomplishing anything
worthy of a country's praise or gratitude, is a feat
still accomplished by many ; but to be the ' observed
of the observed' for over sixty years, and enjoy as
much notoriety as an eminent statesman or hero,
is accorded to few.

Tl 'OLD q'

On the other hand, if the Duke's hereditary
claims to notoriety are dismissed, he will stand forth
in a light in which his lifelong patronage and
support of the Turf supplies a reason for a tribute
to his memory. In this pursuit he acquired a re-
putation for judgment and astuteness which will
always keep his memory green. Though one of
the Fathers of the Sport, no account exists of his
grace's Turf career except the meagre record of
the Racing Calendar.

Queensberry's passion for laying wagers is amply
recorded in my book.

In my researches, I have come across many
things reported of the Duke which are little better
than idle canards; these have been disregarded as
untrustworthy.

Eccentric as Queensberry's mode of living may
appear to-day, I have been unable to find any
authentic evidence that his grace was other than
a nobleman of polished manners, and endowed with
a much larger share of common-sense than is
allotted to many.

PREFATORY NOTE VU

Among the contemporary persons and topics
chronicled, some account of the Duke's cousin,
Catharine, Duchess of Queensberry, will be found.

The career of ' Old Q ' shows how success on
the Turf was accomplished in his time without
other factors than discretion.

For his grace's foibles I plead no justification,
though he somewhat leavened these by never for-
getting his rank.

J. R. R.

Cricklewood, N.W.
May 1895.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTORY

PAGE

William Douglas, fourth Duke of Queenaberry — His birth
and ancestry, traditional and actual — The Drumlanrig
branch of the Douglas family — Creation of the Earldom
of March, 1

CHAPTER II

Early days of the Earl of March— Traits of the first and
second Earls — the third Earl's guardians — The Earl's
propensities — Favours a town life — Goes to Edinburgh
— Initiated into the mysteries of the Turf — Gambling
propensities — Arrives in London — Awarded compensa-
tion for loss of hereditary rights — Marriage of his
lordship's mother —Her death — The Earl succeeds to
the Ruglen title, 8

CHAPTER III

The Earl of March and Ruglen's first racing essays— Formu-
lates his famous Carriage Match— Excitement over same
— Bets thereon — Descriptions of the vehicle and harness
used — Difficulty in training horses to stand the ordeal —
Names of horses eventually procured — Date and descrip-
tion of the match— Won by six minutes, thirty-three
seconds — Effects on the racing reputation of Lord March, 15

'OLD Q

CHAPTEE IV

PAGE

A doubtful match results in a challenge — The meeting and
its termination — Racing results for 1751 — Lord March
takes a house at Newmarket — His lordship's rule in
selecting jockeys — He disputes the validity of an assign-
ment of a bond made by his mother, .... 25

CHAPTER V

Lord March's racing record for 1752 — Catharine, Duchess of
Queensberry — A witty letter by her and her pi~otege,
John Gay — A second letter of her own writing — Bets
of his lordship's, from 'White's' bet -book — Another
curious match against time, 33

CHAPTER VI

Gay and the Beggars' Opera — Polly, its successor, prohibited
— Results therefrom — Probability of Lord March's in-
heriting the Dukedom of Queensberry — Racing record
and topics — Lord March accepts Lord Orford's cours-
ing challenge — His stud-farm at Saxum, near Bury —
His carefulness in making matches with ' substantial '
persons, .......... 41

CHAPTER VII

Racing engagements, 1755 — W. M. Thackeray's allusions to
Lord March in The Virginians — His lordship's stud of
brood mares oflPered for sale — Anecdote of John Smith,"
alias ' Buckhorse ' — Death of Charles, Earl Drumlan-
rig — Lord March heir-presumptive to the Dukedom of
Queensberry — Anecdotes concerning Catharine, Duchess
of Queensberry, 48

CONTENTS XI

CHAPTER VIII

PAGE

Lord March buys his gaming experience — His rule of play at
public tables — He rides a match against the Duke of
Hamilton — References to racing record and analysis —
His lordship's residence in Piccadilly at this period — Its
structural alterations in Cupid's cause— He makes love
to the Prime Minister's daughter — Pelham's opinion of
him — The match forbidden — Public comments— Miss
Pelham's taste for gambling — Claremont, Surrey — Lord
March's racing record, 1758, 56

CHAPTER IX

Lord March assumes the title of Earl of Cassillis— A brief
account of his claim — Contested by Sir Thomas Kennedy
of Cullean — Sir Thomas's claims in support — Protracted
litigation — Final decree of the Lords against Lord March
— Anecdotes of Catharine, Duchess of Queensberry, . 63

CHAPTER X

The Earl of March and Ruglen's Turf record for 1759— A
racing anecdote which shows his lordship's astuteness
— Duchess Catharine and ' domestic economy ' — Her visit
to the Dean of Lincoln's — Lord March's Turf progress,
1760 — An assumed aggravating circumstance in con-
nection with his lordship's Pelham courtship, . . 71

CHAPTER XI

Lord March's racing results for 1761— Some matches lost and
won by his lordship to and from 'The Duke' — An
' Ixionic ' wager — His lordship all but caught ' napping '
— He turns the tables on his adversaries and wins his
wager — How Lord March sought to ' manage his bets ' on
a race— Mr. Edgeworth lays his lordship £500 that he
can furnish the result quicker; its acceptance— The
result, .80

xii ' OLD Q '

CHAPTER XII

bad racing record — Lord March created a .Lord of the
Bedchamber — His lordship's character — A change of
town residences — Lord March's finendship and corre-
spondence with George Augustus Selwyn,

CHAPTER XIII

Morals of Society in the last century — Some March-Selwyn
correspondence — Chires amies of Lord March — His
chaplain and Wilkes's Essay on Woman — His lordship
enters the lists against Wilkes — Poses ci la St. George
— Wilkes outlawed — Verses on Kidgell, Lord March's
chaplain, . 96

CHAPTER XIV

Mr. Commissioner Selwyn — Lord March's Ascot, 1763 — The
Tondino — Letter dated from ' Hotel de Tondino ' — His
lordship's stockings seized by the Customs — Advice to
Selwyn — Anecdote of Selwyn — Lord March at Fontaine-
bleau — Fox and his lordship — Lord March's racing
record, 1763, 102

CHAPTER XV

Vagaries in wagering — A wager made by Lord March
recorded in the bet-book at ' White's ' — Another singular
bet — Lord March made a K.T. — His lordship and
' Savage ' Roche at a St. James's Street ' hell ' — Another
marriage talked of — Racing record for 1764— Death of
H.R.H. the Duke of Cumberland — Lord March men-
tioned in a letter by Lord Holland — His lordship meets
with ill-fortune — Letters showing March's friendsliip for
Selwyn — Racing record for 1765, 109

CONTENTS Xlll

CHAPTEK XVI

PAOE

Lord March and riding orders — Opera-girls and petit souper.-i
— Selwyu's cash to the rescue — Lord March and high

living — Result of the ' d d races ' for his lordship's

purse — A stomach at forty ! — Mutual obligations of
March and Selwyn — La Rena — The stage — Lord March
takes his little girl to Newmarket — Trepidations — A
commission to Selwyn 116

CHAPTEE XVII

Lord March's racing record for 1766 — His advice to Selwyn
respecting a vis-d-vis — Fans — Zamparini v. Rena — His
lordship on 'letters that go in trunks' — Another 'French
leave' monetary transaction — Lord March made Vice-
Admiral of Scotland — His supposed fitness for the post
— Selwyn's wit in the palace — Intrusted with com-
missions for La Zamparini — Lord March's purchases not
to be confounded with those of her grace — La Rena again
— Anecdote of Catharine, Duchess of Queensberry, . 124

CHAPTER XVIII

A poor racing record — The Turf about 1767 — A worse racing
record for Lord March, 1768 — Stable matters — Lord
March's racing, 1769 and 1770 — The strange case of Lord
March v. Pigot — Result, 132

CHAPTER XIX

Excerpts from letters continued — Lord March and the ' grim
tyrant' — His valetudinarianism — A long list of racing
engagements — Result — His lordship's references to
Colonel Crawford — Not affected by the Colonel's position
— Good advice to Selwyn — Madame la Marchesa Fagniani
and Selwyn — Letter written by her to Selwyn — Remarks
—Lord March's Turf record, 1772, 139

Xiv 'OLD Q'

CHAPTER XX

PAGE

Gossip again marries Lord March — The lady — Verses on
the anticipated marriage — Anecdote of Lord March at
York races — His lordship's Turf records for the years
1773-1776 — Remarks— Death of Catharine, Duchess of
Queensberry— Dick Goodison, alias 'Hell-fire Dick,' and
Lord March — A continuance of the March-SelwjTi cor-
respondence, ......... 147

CHAPTER XXI

Selwyn troubled — The cause — March ' parliamentises ' Selwyn
— His lordship's tui'f record, 1777 — The ducal coronet
looms in the distance — The fourth Duke of Queensberry
— His grace credited with a ' brick-and-mortar phobia ' —
Queensberry recrosses the Border — One of the new order
of things devised by his grace at Drumlanrig — Brief
description of Drumlanrig Castle — The wild herd of
cattle there — Selwyn goes to France — A ' decorative '
letter of Queensberry's to ' George ' — His grace's racing
record for 1778, 153

CHAPTER XXII

Tlie Duke of Queensberry busy — Dr. Warner asked to ex-
postulate with Selwjai on the Fagniani — His grace goes
to Scotland — Writes Selwyn by deputy — Dr. Warren
and his grace — The doctor's opinion of his grace's
characteristics — Amesbury, the Duke's English seat —
His grace's racing record, 1779 — A house-party at
Amesbury, 1780 — Conclusion of the Selwyn correspond-
ence, .......... 161

CHAPTER XXIII

The Duke of Queensberry's new cook — Dr. Warner's opinion
of his grace — He acquires the Earl of Cholmondeley's
residence at Richmond, Surrey — Queensberry's racing

CONTENTS XV

I'AOE

record for 1780-82— Loses appointment as Lord of Police
—Sends racehorses to France— Turf record for 1783— A
political bet made by his grace — A suggestive letter
written at his grace's dictation — Racing, 1784-5— Created
an English peer by the title of Baron Douglas— Walpole's
opinion of his grace's Richmond residence, , . . 170

CHAPTER XXIV

A noteworthy omission from his grace's list of peccadilloes —
A gluttonous wager— Racing in 1786— Goodison and
Chifney— Turf results for 1787-88— A faux pas—Ris
racing record, 1789-90— The Duke and Madame du Barry
—King George in. , Queensberry, and Madame du Barry
—His grace's opinion of Chifney— ' Old Q,' why so
called— Anecdote related of his grace by Lord Brougham, 179

CHAPTEE XXV

Decline of his grace's racing ' star '—Richard, seventh Earl
of Barrymore, and Queensberry compared as Turfites —
Racing, 1791-3 — Lord Grosvenor's losses on the Tuif ; an
equal sum said to have been won by the Duke — The
' Father of the Turf ' : candidates for the honour— Recipe
for making a jockey— Queensberry's Turf record, 1794—
His grace killed by the press— Monody on* his supposed
death— Racing results, 1796— The Duke's appetite, . 188

CHAPTER XXVI

Amesbury becomes a convent— The Duke's racing record for
1798— His renewed delight in music— Collects books,
shells, etc.— Sir Nathaniel Wraxall's references— Racing,
1799-1800— Dines out— Dining then and now— His grace
ill — Engages a resident physician — Purchases the
Countess of Northampton's Richmond villa— Anecdote
of Wilberforce concerning his grace— Orgies at Rich-
mond—The Duke goes to law with the local authorities
as to part of his lawn— Result and effect, . . .196

xvi 'OLD Q'

CHAPTER XXVII

PAGE

A visit to Newmarket, then and now, compared — His grace
at Egham races, 1801 — An eye to the main chance still —
The ways and means adopted by the Duke to fill his
coffers — The estates of Neidpath and Drumlanrig de-
nuded of most of their timber — Burris's verses — His lines
on Queensberry — Wordsworth's sonnet on his grace's
conduct in cutting down the trades — How some of the
trees at Drumlanrig were saved, ..... 205

CHAPTER XXVIII

His grace still indulges his musical tastes— His tact in
bestowing favours upon noble French emigres — Micliael
Kelly's anecdotes concerning the Duke of Queensberry —
His grace's racing record, 1802-3 — Attacked with in-
fluenza, March 1803 — In a critical condition — Recovers
and goes to Bath — Additions to the balcony of his
Piccadilly house, 213

CHAPTER XXIX

The Duke's chair run into by a hackney-coach — Mrs. Billing-
ton and his grace — ' How to live after a ducal recipe ' —
Notes thereon-^The * milk-bath ' fable — Other references
to his grace's regimen — Verses on his supposed death,
1804, -220

CHAPTER XXX

Further reference to a ducal ' recipe ' — The Duke a great
smoker at one time — His grace and the * hack ' —
Charity — The last of the 'deep-red jacket and black
cap ' on the racecourse — Withdraws from the clubs —
On the balcony of his Piccadilly house — Alarming con-
dition of his grace in 1807 — Reported as one of three
who intended to rebuild Drury Lane Theatre — Bets on
his grace's death — He lays a wager on the same himself, 228

CONTENTS XVll

CHAPTER XXXI

FAOK

His grace makes his will, 1809 — His grace and Goodison —
His later ' ways ' at Newmarket — Magnaminous oifer of
the Duke to General Picton, 237

CHAPTER XXXII

The Duke's foibles and the press — Another ' paper ' marriage
prophesied — Illness and death of his grace — Character —
The fair sex and the late Duke — A reason why the Duke
never married — His burial — Alterations of the late
Duke's Piccadilly mansion — A ' running footman,' . . 244

CHAPTER XXXIII

The late Duke senior Knight of the Thistle — Anticipations
respecting his will — The reading — The numerous cocidils
thereto — The beneficiaries, etc. — Litigation — Condition
of his grace's library, bequeathed to E. B. Douglas, Esq.
— Sale of the family plate — The wines — Further litiga-
tion anticipated — Sale of carriages at Tattersall's, . . 252

CHAPTER XXXIV

The Dukedom of Queensberry held for one hundred years by
two persons — A singular coincidence — Mr. Fuller's action
against the late Duke's executors — Result — Caricatures
of the late Duke — Legacies ordered to be paid — Con-
ditions of order — Conclusion 261

Appendix, 265

Racing Analysis, 342

Index, 355

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

' Old Q,' Frontispiece

Lords March and Eglinton's Chaise Match

AGAINST TIME, RUN AT NeWMARKET, AuGUST

29th, 1750, at page 22

SiGNOEA ZaMPABINI, ,, 120

William, Fourth Duke of Queensberry's Mansion

AT Richmond, Surrey, „ 156

William, Fourth Duke of Queensberry, . . ,, 176

The Royal Hunt (time of George hi.), . . ,, 232

CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTORY

William Douglas, fourth Duke of Queensberry — His Birth and Ancestry,
traditional and actual — The Drumlanrig branch of the Douglas
family— Creation of the Earldom of March.

William Douglas, fourth and last Duke of Queens-
berry, in direct descent, was born at Peebles,

\i) December 16th, 1725 — a year almost uneventful in

^ the reign of George i.

The birth of one born to inherit an earldom and
afterwards one of the dukedoms pertaining to his
fortunate clan cannot well be passed over without a
genealogical sketch, which must perforce be concise,
as an ordinary recapitulation of the records of
romance and history relating to the founders of the
noble house of Douglas would fill many chapters.
The relation in a condensed form must sacrifice
much of the poetry of legend with which the earl}^
annals of this family are adorned. If, however, the
founder of Clan Douglas be all but lost in the mystic
shades of Scottish antiquity, that family largely

2 'OLD Q'

shares with other contemporary houses the halo of
legend before their later accession to knighthood,
accompanied by the designation 'of that ilk/ borne
by chieftains until their heads were encircled by the
coronet of nobility.

The earliest tradition concerning the Douglases
goes as far back as a.d. 767 ; and he who is thus
handed down gained renown and fortune by a
practical demonstration of the 'dash' of his race,
afterwards commemorated by their motto — Jamais
arriere.

The first Douglas acquired renown in the highest
and most creditable cause possible — that of king and
country. Tradition claims that this hero succoured
Solvathius, king of Scotland, when most sorely
harassed by an usurper, one Donald Bane or Bayne,
who was utterly routed by the timely advent of one
who bore a then common appellation, derived either
from personal traits or characteristics.

In the latter originated the name of this family;
when Solvathius asked how his zealous partisan was
designated, the answer was, ' Sholto Duglasse — yonder
black, grey man,' as the hero came forward to receive
the thanks and favour of his sovereign.

This legend, fictional as it is, is only one of many
which destroy their own poetry by a singular mis-

ANCESTRY 3

representation of facts; as between the troubles of
Solvathius and Bane's true usurpation four hundred
years actually elapsed — a mere trifle for legend-
mongers !

However, when the space of four hundred years
is bridged with fact, we find that a Douglas did
assist King William, ' the Lion ' (1165-1212), to repel
the usurper Bane.

From about this era the chief records of the House
of Douglas may be traced as fairly authentic. This
Douglas seems entitled to be regarded as the first
bond fide common ancestor of the family; for he was,
beyond dispute, the first owner of Douglasdale,
Lanark, and from that ' ilk ' the later branches of the
clan have sprung.

From Sir WilUam Douglas of Douglasdale de-
scended the friend and companion-in-arms of King
Robert Bruce — Sir James Douglas, surnamed ' the
Good,' who fell on the plains of Andalusia while
carrjdng out his sovereign's behest that he should
bear his heart in a silver casket to the Holy
Sepulchre for burial. Hence the crowned human
heart on the escutcheon of the Douglas family.

Sir James Douglas's brother, William, was the first
of their race to be ennobled. He was created Earl
of Douglas by King David Bruce in 1357. This

4 'OLD Q'

nobleman took strange measures to preserve his title,
which neither law nor custom would now acknowledsre
as vahd: by making a settlement under which the
title and estates were to pass — in default of legitimate
issue of his son and successor, James, second Earl
of Douglas — to Archibald, illegitimate son of his
brother, the 'good' Sir James. Through this
Archibald the elder branch of the Douglas family
was continued, for Earl William's settlement came
into operation owing to the death of his own son,
James, without legitimate male issue. He left
two illegitimate sons; to the eldest, William, was
bequeathed the lands and castle of Drumlanrig, and
from him the most important of the cadet branches
of the Douglases spring, though enjoying the same
birthright as the older. The other son, Archibald,
was ancestor of the Douglases of Cavers.

With the death of James, second Earl of Douglas,
early reference to the family must cease; but the
history of the Douglases will repay independent
study, interwoven as the name is with records of
chivalry and war. Who has not read or heard
of the deeds of Percy ' Hotspur ' and his con-
temporary, the Douglas, who, when falling mortally
wounded, thanked God so few of his ancestors had
died in chambers ! And is not the name of Douglas

THE FIRST DUKE OF QUEENSBERRY 5

inscribed in the chronicle of the famous fields —
Agincourt, Poictiers, Verneuil, Lochmaben, Flodden,
etc. ? Their martial renown and their matrimonial
alUances made them the most ' kingly ' subjects
of Scotland.^ Early in the fourteenth century, the
ramification of these alliances claimed five earldoms
for their house — Douglas, Angus, Ormond, Murray,
and Wigton. Nevertheless, in 1628, by a peculiar
irony of fate, the head of the cadets of the Douglases
is found settled at Drumlanrig as a 'plain' knight.
From which it would seem that the descendants of
Sir William, son of James, second Earl of Douglas,
had not achieved the distinction of the elder and
collateral branches. Many reasons might be given
for the laissez-faire policy of this branch, though
perhaps one and all would be wrong. It is supposed,
however, that the martial disposition of the Douglases
of Drumlanrig occupied them to the exclusion of
other ambition.

During the following sixty years they made rapid
strides in rank and possessions. Charles, third Earl
of Queensberry, was created a duke in 1684 : in
this creation nine lesser titular dignities were in-
cluded. The Earl's influence and possessions were so

^ James vi. of Scotland aud i. of England was descended, on his
mother's side, from the house of Douglas.

6 'OLD Q'

large that he managed to add another peerage to
the dignities abeady possessed by his fortunate race.
The dignity of this new creation was the Earldom of
March, for which his grace's resources provided in
a befitting manner, as he purchased the castle and
possessions at Neidpath, Dumfries, from the Hays.

The second Duke of Queensberry amplified the
dignities of his house, being made Duke of Dover,
Marquis and Earl of Doncaster, in the peerage of
England, for his abihty in concluding the Treaty of
Union, 1707.

He was succeeded by his son, Charles, as third
Duke (his heir, William, having predeceased him),
who married Lady Catherine Hyde, daughter of the
second Earl of tUlarendon, a lady who will be
frequently alluded to in this work.

William Douglas, first Earl of March, died in 1705,
and was succeeded by his son, William, who married
Lady Anne Hamilton, Countess of Ruglen, daughter
and afterwards heiress of Lord John Hamilton, fourth
son of William, Duke of Hamilton, created in 1697
Earl of Ruglen, with remainder to his heirs whom-
soever.

William, second Earl of March, died in 1731, and
was succeeded by his son, William, the subject of
this memoir, then in his sixth year.

EARLS OF MARCH 7

Thus, from very mines of genealogical and historic
lore, I have extracted the descent of my subject, but
that which I have set forth shows how, in default of
living issue of his cousin Charles, third Duke of
Queensberry, William Douglas, third Earl of March,
became the fourth and last Duke of Queensberry.
These facts are necessary to be understood as an
introduction to the narrative that is to follow.

CHAPTER II

Early days of the Earl of March — Traits of the first and second Earls —
The third Earl's guardians— The Earl's propensities— Favours a town
life— Goes to Edinburgh —Initiated into the mysteries of the Turf —
Gambling propensities— Arrives in London — Awarded compensation
for loss of hereditary rights — Marriage of his lordship's mother —
Her death — The Earl succeeds to the Ruglen title.

Of the boyhood of the young Earl of March but
little is known. The death of his father at Barnton,
Edinburgh, on the 7 th ]\tarch 1731, deprived him
of that care which might have had much to do in
shaping his offspring's proclivities.

In justice to the Earl's father, I must here record
that none of the foibles with which the career of his
son was beset were characteristics of his sire. Nor
does going back a generation aid my research for
family idiosyncrasies. Mackay, in his Memoirs, gives
the first Earl of March a commonplace character,
describing him as a person ' of no great genius, but
a good-natured gentleman, handsome in his person.'
These attributes were inherited by his grandson in
some degree.

YOUTHFUL DAYS 9

The guardianship of the young Earl devolved on
his uncle, the Honourable John Douglas of Broughton,
Peebles, member of Parliament for that county from
1722 to 1732. In the latter year he died. A
second guardian had to be found for his nephew.
For this often thankless office his lordship's cousin,
Charles, third Duke of Queensberry, was served
' tutor-at-law ' as his nearest ' agnate.' Little evi-
dence is forthcoming as to what extent his grace
troubled himself concerning his charge. On the other
hand, the Earl was one likely to take full advantage
of his guardian's well-known kind and benevolent
disposition, which a waywardness to please himself
confirms. The young Earl, when but a youth, showed
a dislike to a country life ; indeed, neither the pursuits
of his native vale nor the attractions of his natal town
sufficed to satisfy the cravings of his lordship for a
'nook' of notoriety in the fashionable world. At
last the Modern Athens — Edinburgh — was reached,
as the primary goal of his lordship's desires.

It is hardly worth while to hazard conjectures as
to the young Earl's curriculum, as his lordship got
his knowledge and experience from the most fertile
source of both — the world. Indeed, his well-known
dislike to information gained from books testifies
that he did not care to be esteemed a scholar.

10 'OLD Q'

This, however, must not be taken to show that
his lordship was uneducated, but simply to assert
that, having made acquaintance with the proverbial
' three R's,' combined with the elements of a classical
course, also the ' mincing ' of French, he was left to
complete his education in that ahna mater to which
his birth and rank admitted him — Society.

The allurements of the Northern capital appeased his
lordship's propensities for a time. To be true to his
role, one study he entered upon — of which books never
did nor can impart true knowledge — was the ' free-
masonry ' of the Turf It is a matter for surprise how,
or by whom, his initiation was performed, as ' Auld
Reekie ' was then, as it is now, sternly respectable in
all appertaining to the * sport of kings.' Nevertheless,
the young Earl contrived to learn something of the
' craft,' and a very ' canny ' something, too, of the
' Southron's ' chief pastime. That his knowledge was
sound will be proved beyond doubt, as, when he first
put in an appearance at Newmarket, he was found
less vulnerable than Achilles in the racing novice's
most tender part — his pocket.

So far, the Earl of March was inclined to become
a ' man of the world,' and ' worldly ' he was to the
close of his days. Then, as now, marriageable peers
were as 'marketable' as heiresses of the bourgeois

PROCLIVITIES 11

have since become. It is therefore not surprising to
find his lordship much sought after by match-making
mammas of the Scottish capital. That a love for the
Turf should beget a desire for cards, perhaps, was
in those times a less singular sequence than at
present. Then everybody who was anybody at all
in Society played : from the ' trick-track ' of the ladies
after a 'dish' of tea, to faro of the sterner sex
at the public gambling-hell or the less vicious but
more expensive club.

I think it beyond dispute that the young Earl of
March bought his experience in the playthings of
Charles the ' Fool ' — cards — at Edinburgh, especially
as a noble relation of his lordship, Lady Cassillis, was
or had been co-partner with another aristocratic
dame in a public gaming-house in London,^ so it is

^ On April 29th, 1745, the House of Lords was informed that
* privileges ' of peeresses were made and insisted on by the Ladies
Mordington and Cassillis, as a means to intimidate the officers of
justice from doing their duty in suppressing public gaming-houses
kept by the said ladies in London and Westminster. As only the
claim of Lady Mordington appears on the journals of the House of
Lords, it would seem that this lady was a peeress in her own right,
while her partner was the wife or relict of a peer (possibly she was
the Dowager Countess of Cassillis). Lady Mordington's claim is set
forth as follows : —

' I, Dame Mary, Baroness of Mordington, do hold a house in the
great piazzi, Covent Garden . . . where all persons of credit are at
liberty to frequent, and play at such diversions as are used at other

12 'OLD Q

not a flight of imagination to assert that his lordship
may have learned, say, 'trente et quarante' in his
relative's company.

At last this Alexander of fashion sighed for other
worlds to conquer, and, in the true spirit of the Greek
conqueror, aimed at the capital of the world — London.
His thoughts having tended southwards, his body
soon gravitated thither. This desire was accom-
plished without the aid of Dr. Samuel Johnson's after-
expressed assertion respecting the attractive power
of the road to London for Scotsmen,

The exact year of his lordship's migration is doubt-
ful. It was probably during the year 1746. On arrival
in London, the Earl's rank and powerful connections

assemblies. And I have hired ' [here follow names of various
managers and servants].

' And all the above-mentioned persons I claim as my domestic
servants, and demand all those privileges for them as pertains to
me, as a peeress of Great Britain, personally.

'(Signed) M. MORDINGTON.
* Dated January Sth, 1744.'

That so impudent a perversion of the prerogatives of a peer should
be used, or stretched, to set the law at defiance, was regarded by the
Lords as tending to bring ridicvile on their hereditary chamber, who
— ' Resolved, that no person is entitled to privilege of peerage
against any prosecution for keeping any public or common gaming-
house, or any house, room, or place for playing at any game or
games prohibited by law.'

MARRIAGE OF THE COUNTESS OF RUGLEN 13

gave him the entree everywhere. This influence, allied
to a handsome person/ of which he was particularly
careful, coupled with means and ability to become a
' pink ' of fashion, quickly made the Earl a beau.

In the year following his lordship's majority (1747),
an Act for abolishing the hereditary jurisdictions of
Scottish peers came into force. The Earl of March
claimed five thousand pounds as compensation for
the Sherift'ship of Peebles and the regality of Linton
and Newlands, but was allowed only three thousand
two hundred pounds for the first, and two hundred
and eighteen pounds, four shillings and fivepence for
the latter ; a very good award indeed. On the death
of his lordship's maternal grandfather, his mother had
succeeded him on December 2nd, 1744, as Countess
of Ruglen ; his first title, Earl of Selkirk, descending
to his grandnephew, Dunbar Hamilton, Esq. His
mother, after a widowhood of twelve years, again
entered the bonds of wedlock ; she married, January
2nd, 1747, Anthony Sawyer, Esq., 'late deputy pay-
master to the Forces employed against the rebels,' so
the announcement sets forth, and to this is added the
fortune of the lady — twenty thousand pounds. The
Countess's second essay in matrimony was brief, and
its termination sudden, as she died at York on her

^ He was, however, sparely built, and of medium height.

14 'OLD Q'

way to London, April 21st, 1748. Upon his mother's
decease, her peerage devolved on her son, the Earl
of March, who thus inherited the additional Earldom
of Ruglen, with its estates in the counties of Edin-
burgh and Linlithgow.

CHAPTER III

The Earl of March and Euglen's first racing essays — Formulates his
famous carriage match — Excitement over same — Bets thereon —
Descriptions of the vehicle and harness used — Difficulty in training
horses to stand the ordeal — Names of horses eventually procured^-
Date and description of the match — Won by six minutes, thirty-three
seconds — Effect on the racing reputation of Lord March.

The decease of the Earl's mother does not appear
to have stayed his desire for appearing to advantage
on the Turf. Prior to his succeeding to the Earldom
of Ruglen, he meditated, or had already taken some
steps towards, forming a stud, which appears to have
been of little consequence compared to after achieve-
ments of a similar kind.

The first notices accorded to the Earl in sporting
calendars^ are those of three matches in 1748,^
which he won; a match in 1749, lost; and a
match and sweepstake in 1750, both won. In
these essays he gave proof of that soundness of
judgment in matters of the Turf which has earned for
him an evergreen memory in its annals. Further,

^ See Racing Analysis. ^ Two of these matches he rode himself.

16 'OLD q'

the events just recorded introduce his lordship
to the reader in a new light — that of a jockey,
as it is not every devotee of the 'craft' who has
the nerve or ability to ride his own horses in
races or matches. It was this 'gift' to act in the
'pigskin' that enabled his lordship to know, of his
own ' ken,' what his ' Pegasuses ' could do, and he
doubtless frequently asked them ' a question ' before
committing himself, or them, to a match or the
' market odds.' Indeed, this knowledge of jockey-
ship will be found to have saved him from machina-
tions perhaps not yet wholly unknown in the present
day.

Owing to the defective chronology of racing his-
tory at this period (1748), much remains unrecorded
of the Earl's prowess ; though it Avill be found that,
with a better and more detailed record, which begins
a few years later, enough and sufficient reference to
his lordship's performances and racing career will be
made to satisfy the most enthusiastic turfite.

In support of a former allusion that wagering on
horse-matches or races was not the only form of
gambling his lordship affected, he formed a desire
to make, about 1748-1749, a 'record' — which still
flourishes like a ' green bay tree ' — against time. In
arran^ino" this affair, which resulted in the now

THE CHAISE MATCH 17

historic carriage match, his lordship seems to have
called in the assistance of a brother peer, the Earl
of Eglinton, as the bet accepted by Theobald Taaffe,
Esq. (otherwise known as Count TaafFe), and Andrew
Sprowle, Esq., was made conjointly with Lords
March and Eglinton, who agreed, for the wager oT
one thousand guineas, to provide a four-wheeled
carriage which should carry a man and be drawn
by four horses nineteen miles in one hour !

That an attempt to establish a record of this
kind, which outpaces many, very many, of our
'common' or slow passenger trains, should have
set the racing and sporting world ablaze, was only
to be expected. Clubland, in common with the
more arid regions of Society, was agitated to its
foundations, and it would be an interesting study
in the gamblmg proclivities of the past could some
of the old ' bet-books ' (if in existence) be studied
together with the pocket-book records of the
members of some clubs. An extract from one
recently published^ will and must suffice for the
Avhole. This is dated October 18th, 1749 (some ten
months before the match took place), and records
that ' Colonel Waldegrave betts (sic) Lord March

^ The History of Whitens, publisbed by the Hon. Algernon Bourke,
1892.

18 'OLD Q'

that his lordship does not win the chaise match.
N.B. — Lord Anson goes Colonel Waldegrave halves —
Paid.' The last clause appears to indicate that the
gallant Colonel had at first underrated his shrewd
lordship's ability in mundane affairs of the fleeting
order, and showed some astuteness in displaying a
knowledge of ' gardening pursuits — hedging.'

A match of so novel a character could not be
decided off-hand; long and tedious were the pre-
parations, both in the selecting and training of
the horses, and in the designing and building of the
vehicle. The latter, in these days of pneumatic
tyres and steel ' spider-web ' wheels, would have gone
for nought, but it was very different then, when
persons had to ' educate ' coach-builders themselves
for anything outside a massive chariot. We of the
present day can but little ajjpreciate the difficulties
with which these noble lords had to contend in pro-
ducing, with the mechanical skill then at disposal, a
vehicle that complied with the transporting condi-
tions of the wager, but of so slight a construction as
not to tire either the ' wheelers ' or ' leaders.' It may
then be anticipated that perfection in so unique a
machine was not attained without several failures.
Two or three were constructed by the most eminent
carriage-builders of the day, and found wanting on

DESCRIPTION OF THE CHAISE 19

trial. Wright of Long Acre at last succeeded in
producing a vehicle, of which the following is a
description : —

To satisfy the accommodating terms of the match,
* to carry a man,' it was not requisite to have a bod)-^
fitted on the ' carriage ' ; this, then, was discarded
at once as being unnecessary in weight and require-
ment. Therefore the term 'carriage' was adhered
to pure and simple, and was on lines familiar to all —
the ' break ' used by horsebreakers, etc., but without
the high perch or of the solid character these vehicles
are. The back carriage of Lord March's machine
was united to the fore by means of the usual bar,
which had also cords fixed to springs from small
uprights to keep the bar steady and in line, as well
as to avoid the jolting and swerving of the occupant
of the seat, slung on leather straps, and covered with
velvet, between the two hind wheels. The boxes of
the wheels were brass, to Avhich were fixed oil drop-
cans for lubricating purposes. The pole and bars
were of thin wood lapped with wire to strengthen
them, while steel springs were used in both carriage
and bars. So much for the vehicle, on which much
thought and money were expended before its satis-
factory production.

For harness recourse was had principally to silk

20 'OLD q'

and Avhalebone; the breechings of the horses were
wholly made of the latter, while silk was used
entirely for the traces. The latter were ingeniously
housed in boxes, regulated by a kind of check-spring,
so that should one of the horses — wheelers presumably
— have 'held back,' the 'slack' of the trace would
have run into the box and prevented entanglement.

The total weight of carriage and harness was two
and a half hundredweight ; a mere feather for four
horses to draw, even though ridden by postillions.
The horses by which this match was to be won or
lost gave just as much concern to the noble lords as
the vehicle. Here, again, the favourable conditions of
' time and place ' on which Lord March had based the
difficulties which Avould beset him, gave ample oppor-
tunity for trials and training. This fortunate clause
was ' his own time,' perhaps somewhat hazarded by a
two months' notice as to the week the match should
take place in, but with liberty to select any day or
time specified in that. Therefore, when horses able
to undergo the ordeal were found, the only thing
required was to keep them fit and well for two
months ; not by any means so easy a task as it ap-
pears. It is said that some six or seven horses died
during training, at a loss to the co-partners of six or
seven hvmdred pounds.

THE 'leaders' and ' WHEELERS ' 21

At last, four horses were got together who stood
the ordeal of training ; three of these were platers —
indeed, had obtained winning brackets, or distinguished
themselves otherwise. It appears, by inference, that
to prevent the match falling through by the sickness
of one or other of the horses on or before the day
specified, either five or six horses were kept in
training — a wise precaution.

The four horses who ultimately did battle for Lords
March and Eglinton were : — Tawney, a brown, lately
the property of a Mr. Greville — this animal was
awarded the post of ' near fore ' ; his companion,
Roderick Random, who fortunately belied his cog-
nomen, was a dark grey, late the property of a Mr.
Stanford. These leaders carried about eight stone
each ; this included saddles, harness, etc. The ' near
wheel ' horse. Chance, a chestnut, which had lately
been in the possession of the Duke of Hamilton, a
connection of Lord March, possessed the most appro-
priate name, perhaps, by which a racehorse can be
called. The selection of the fourth, the ' off wheeler,'
testifies that even dignitaries of the Church were
laid under tribute to aid the match, as this
horse, called Little Dan, a grey, was purchased from
' Parson ' Thomson of Beverley, Yorkshire ; though I
shall record that his appearing as a comj)etitor on

22 'OLD q'

the day of the match was not altogether antici-
pated.

The 'wheelers' carried, including trappings, etc.,
about seven stone ; a reference that will serve to bring
the riders of the team into notice. That a match of
this character required a nice judgment of pace goes
without sa}'ing. Therefore William Everatt, Evatt,
Ebertt, or Everett (he has been recorded by all four
names), a groom in the employ of William Panton,
Esq., was selected to regulate the rate of speed by
riding the ' off fore ' horse, Roderick Random. The
riders of the three others were lads in Lord March's
stable. His lordship's groom was the ' passenger,'
who ' sported ' his master's colours ^ in a somewhat
curious manner: red silk stockings and black cap,
while in place of the jacket usually associated
nowadays with colours he wore a white satin
waistcoat. The riders appear to have been looked
upon more as postillions, as they are described as
wearing blue satin waistcoats (jackets), buckskin
breeches, white silk stockings, and black velvet caps ;
while only those who rode the leaders wore spurs.

Before describing the race, I must mention that
Little Dan, of ' Parson Thomson ' fame, was yoked to
the vehicle in place of a grey named Peeper, who had

^ Afterwards registered as 'red aud black.'

THE COURSE, AND RESULT 23

fallen amiss ; so foresight played a great part in the
match ! The post of ' course clearer ' was given to a
then well-known character on Newmarket Heath —
Mr. Tilting — who showed the way, gorgeously ap-
parelled in crimson velvet.

About seven o'clock of the morning of the 29th
of August 1750, this remarkable and curious match ^
was run. The course was via the Warren and Rub-
bing Houses, through the Ditch, then to the right,
three times round a staked piece of ground of four
miles, and then back to the starting-point. It is said
the horses ran away with their riders for the first four
miles, a distance they covered in nine minutes ! This
may possibly have had some effect on the result, as
their lordships upset the odds and won their wager
by six minutes, thirty-three seconds, the actual time
for the performance being fifty-three minutes, twenty-
seven seconds. Three umpires, each with a stop-
watch, testify that everything was done to ensure
accuracy. These watches, on comparison at the
termination of the match, were found not to vary
one second. This proves they could not have been

^ A painting of the match, executed by Seymoin* or Sartorius, with
portraits from life of the persons engaged, changed hands a few
years since. John Pond, of Racing Caleiidar fame, published a view
of the match, with particulars of the articles appended, price
,10s. 6d., shortly after the event.

24 ' OLD Q '

tampered with, as it is safe to assume these gentle-
men were respectively posted at various parts of the
course.

To say that great interest was excited by the result
would be simply repeating my former observations.
The outcome of this match was of more importance
to Lord March than its monetary value, as it at once
raised him to a position of authority in racing
matters, which he retained for fifty years.

CHAPTER IV

A doubtful match results in a challenge — The meeting and its termination
— Racing results for 1751 — Lord March takes a house at Newmarket
— His lordship's rule in selecting jockeys — He disputes the validity of
an assignment of a bond made by his mother.

The reputation thus earned was strangely significant
the next year, which bears also the brunt of the
following singular story : —

I must admit, however, that the story I am about to
tell (though, so far as I can trace, never denied) is
not of undoubted authenticity. True, it was pub-
lished during his lordship's lifetime, and has since
been reproduced; but I make bold to say that the
dishonest conduct alleged does not appear to me
borne out by facts. The most casual reference to
the Earl's turf career will confirm this; also the
honourable manner in which he always met his en-
gagements when he was sometimes, in common with
the most successful votaries of the turf, ' pinched.'

The circumstance referred to resulted — so alleged —
from a match between a bay colt of his lordship's

26 'OLD q'

and a celebrated horse ^ owned by an Irish nobleman
of excitable temper and duelling celebrity. The j ockey
who rode Lord March's horse was of a lighter weight
than he who rode the Irishman's champion, therefore
recourse had to be made to the usual ' loadings ' with
a shotted belt. During the progress of the match
the ' encumbered ' jockey managed to get rid of his
burden, which was picked up by a careful observer
and adroitly slipped by him into the jockey's jacket
on returning to scale. Nevertheless, the quick visual
organs of the Celtic duellist and sportsman caught
sight of this act of racing legerdemain, and with
typical impetuosity he seized Lord March's repre-
sentative by the shoulder and threatened to thrash
him on the spot if he did not at once acknowledge
his guilt as well as at whose instigation he had acted.
The size and wrath of the Irish lord made the ' light-
weight ' tremble in his boots ; who, having returned
to scale as victor, after the usual ' Please, sirs,' and
other hesitancies of that order, 'cast the vile re-
proach ' upon his master ! The now doubly incensed
Hibernian taxed his lordship with the deceit, and
the latter replied to the charge in a way that served
only to increase the wrath of his brother-sportsman.

^ Wrongly described in some versions as PotSos, who was not
foaled till 1773 !

THE 'events' of A DUEL 27

The son of Erin now considered himself insulted
indeed, and, with his characteristic 'fire-eating'
habits, sought to avenge the outrage by the means
gentlemen then used to arrange their little difficulties
of honour by — the duel. He then despatched the
following note to his lordship : —

'My Lord, — I shall be happy to meet you by five

o'clock to-morrow morning at , and if your lordship

will have the goodness to bring a friend, a surgeon, and
a case of pistols with you, I doubt not but our little
misunderstanding will be settled in less than five minutes.
■ — I have the honour to be, etc. etc'

To this summons the Earl of March and Ruglen
returned a reply, in specially courteous and oblig-
ing language, accepting the bloodthirsty invitation.
With a punctuality worthy of a better cause Lord
March appeared on the ground, accompanied by
second, surgeon, and other adjuncts to an exit from
the world. Great, however, was his lordship's
surprise to see his opponent appear on the ground
with a like retinue to his own, but increased by a
third person, who staggered under the weight of a
polished oak coffin, which, sans cerevionie, he de-
posited on the ground, end up, with its lid facing Lord
March and his party ! Surprise, however, gave place
to terror when his lordship read the inscription-plate

28 'OLD q'

ensrraved with his own name and title, and the date
and year of demise, which was the actual day, as yet
scarcely warm !

The Earl at once approached his facetious an-
tagonist, and, in faltering accents, upbraided him
for so unseemly a proceeding. To the tremulous
expressions of his trembling antagonist the ec-
centric Irishman replied: 'Why, my dear fellow,
you are of course aware that I never miss my man ;
and, as I find myself in excellent trim for sport
this morning, I have not a shadow of doubt upon
my mind but this oaken box will shortly be better
calculated for you than your present dress,'

This cool assertion of ' form,' together with the well-
known duelling skill of his opponent, accentuated
by the presence of the gruesome coffin, appealed
more powerfully to his lordship's desire for life than
whatever glory might appertain to the happy de-
spatch of a brother peer.

However, Lord March did not halt for a moment
between two opinions, but at once made a full
and complete apology to his opponent, which was
graciously accepted.

Such is the recorded version of an affair which I
cannot bring myself to believe had any existence
in fact, so far as its base character is concerned.

TAKES A HOUSE AT NEWMARKET 29

On the other hand, this circumstance may have
arisen from some racing quarrel or other, as it is
a singular fact that, beyond the escapade aforesaid,
no proof exists of his lordship having accepted or
made a challenge ; a simple fact that speaks volumes
for his common-sense, to which further tribute will
be accorded.

By referring to the Racing Analysis at the end of
this volume, under date of the year just noticed —
1751 — it will be found that the result of the match
against time gave impetus to the Earl of March and
Ruglen's racing proclivities. True, the success issue
is poor, only one event out of eight gaining a
* winning bracket ' ; but that at this period did not
trouble his lordship much, as it was the acknowledg-
ment he chiefly desired at the hands of the English
devotees of the Turf, that the young Scottish Earl
was at least their equal in the 'mysteries' of the
racing stable. In what better way, then, could this be
shown than accepting or making matches with him ?
Having established himself as a supporter of the
Turf, and, what was more, having obtained public
recognition in that character, he 'capped' both by
indulging in a luxury that very few of the then most
ardent votaries of horse-racing could or did affect —
namely, a house at Newmarket, which he acquired

30 'OLD q'

about this time. Here his perception and judgment
came into play. A house at the birthplace and home
of racing might have been sufficient for a desultory
owner or racegoer, but was not sufficient for Lord
March, without other advantages.

It is therefore no surprise to find that the dwelling
obtained or selected by this very 'wideawake ' sporting
peer overlooked the racecourse ; thus giving him not
only easy access to that arena, but undisturbed means
and opportunities for watching and estimating trials.

I have alluded to his lordship's performances m the
pigskin; but this ability to enact the part of his
own jockey, as occasion or freak required, did not
admit of his placing unbounded, if any, confidence
in his professional brethren of the saddle at this
period. For, although he was almost as particular in
selecting his groom-boys and light-weight riders
(whom he attired in scarlet jackets) as in selecting
his stud, not one of the set knew who was to be in-
trusted with the guidance of a match or race until he
was put in the scale to be weighed. This circumstance
tends to support my belief that little credit can be put
in the contrete'mps which led to the duel just related ;
as, in following this rule, I fail to understand how a
person of so prudent a nature could have rehearsed
so ignoble a part with 'all' his grooms or jockeys

LAW ! 31

as he must have done if he put into practice his ' at
the hour ' selecting rule. And, further, it is against
common-sense to suppose that some half-dozen lads
were made acquainted with a secret for their master
to select — one.

The formation of a racing establishment and a
'villa' at Newmarket no doubt involved a heavy
'embargo' on Lord March's cash. Now, whether
these anticipated and actually made outlays led our
Nimrod to consider that a sum of some ten thousand
pounds would be more useful to him than in the
hands of its assignee, cannot be determined. But
his lordship's contesting the validity of a bond for
£10,575 which his mother had assigned to Mr.
Sawyer, her second husband, on June 26th, 1747,
certainly shows a desire to, at least, keep the money
in the family.

In a work of this character it will be unnecessary
to follow the legal quibbles resulting from Lord
March's action against his stepfather. However,
both commoner and peer carried their cause to its
dernier ressort — the House of Lords, when his lord-
ship or his legal advisers seem to have adopted
procrastinating tactics, as the Earl of March was
ordered to answer peremptorily Sawyer's appeal,
and ultimately judgment was given in Mr. Sawyer's

32 'OLD q'

favour. The point at issue appears to have been
the competence of certain witnesses on Mr. Sawyer's
behalf, whose evidence, once admitted, would have
deprived his lordship from retaining a sum which
his expenses then would have made acceptable.

CHAPTER V

Lord March's racing record for 1752 — Catharine, Duchess of Queensberry
— A witty letter by her and her protege, John Gay — A second letter of
her own writing — Bets of his lordship's, from ' White's ' bet-book —
Another curious match against time.

A GLANCE again at the Racing Analysis appended will
show that his lordship retained in his stable two
out of the four horses that won the chaise match,i
Roderick Random and Chance. The last seems to
have been a good animal, for in the following year,
1752, he won two of six events won by his lordship
out of nine engagements, a fact which speaks well
for the quality of the animals owned. One of these
two events, credited to Chance, was a £40 match at
Newmarket, in which Lord March steered him to
victory.

So far racing matters only have been alluded to,
and perhaps little else might be expected by the
turfite, or even the general reader, of a person who

^ Possibly bought in by Lord March on the sale of the team, etc.,
to close the co-partnery, as it is recorded that a sale was held at
which Taivney fetched 100 guineas, Roderick Random 90 guineas,
and Chance and Peeper 50 guineas each.

C

3-i 'OLD Q'

was one of the ' fathers ' of the sport as we know it at
the present day. But Lord March's tastes, rank, and
connections led him into pursuits and society other
than those of Newmarket, none of which shall escape
notice. I shall have much to narrate that will in-
terest not only the sportsman, the student of old
customs and manners, but also the general reader.

In this place I may advert to a connection of the
Earl of March and Ruglen — his cousin, the eccentric
and historic Catharine, Duchess of Queensberry. His
lordship was often with her ; but, singular to relate,
it is difficult to find any direct reference to their
meetings. Perhaps the matter-of-fact clear-headed-
ness of Lord March did not meet with sympathetic
response from his ducal relative, whose eccentricities
would make a charming book of small-talk for the
boudoir. That this lady had once been one of the
beauties of her time, we have on the authority of
Pope, whose own personal defects gave the usual
accentuated zest to the charm of beauty. Who,
worthy the name of a reader, has not come across
these lines by him on her Grace of Queensberry ? —

' Since Queensberry to strip there 's no compelling,
'Tis from a handmaid we must take our Helen.'

Others, including Prior and Gay, besides the ' note
of interrogation,' sang her praises in choicer language

POPE AND THE DUCHESS 35

than her Twickenham admirer, thousrh I shall not
stop to dilate on their warblings. The last named,
Gay, found kind and beneficent patrons in the Duke
and Duchess of Queensberry. As, however, to cite a
person as either witty or curious, without giving proof
of his idiosyncrasies, is very much like an ex j^arte
application to the Court of Reason without adducing
proofs or citing the opposite party, public opinion,
I lay before my readers two letters.^ The first is a
dual production of the pens of the Duchess and her
protegS, John Gay, addressed to Mrs. Howard,^ and
shows not only wit but fertility of resource, by
making a letter out of little or no news. The in-
cident of the ' blot ' or ' blots ' is very clever, and the
byplay between patroness and protege full of polite
sarcasm.

The second letter, to the same person, is wholly
in her grace's hand, and excels, probably, the former
one. Indeed, the critical references and inferences
stamp the Duchess, in spite of her alleged madness,^
as a keen observer of ' men and things.'

^ Appendices AA and BB.

2 Henrietta Howard, Countess of Suffolk — mistress to George the
Second.

^ It is recorded by Chambers that she had been confined in a
'strait- jacket.' Doubtless insanity is traceable in her composition,
and it was inherited by both her sons.

36 'OLD q'

It is possible that, these communications being
addressed to one credited with reason and wit, a
certain amount of 'sparkle' was imparted to their
composition ; but whether so or not, they are fine
specimens of an almost lost art — letter-writing, in
spite of school boards and — typewriters !

Walpole, who was given to emulating the great,
borrowed, like the jay of fable, some of Prior's heroics
on her grace, to indite some doggerel lines of his
own on her vernal beauty, which, it is said, he left
on her toilet :

' To many a Kitty, fair and young,

Love would his ear engage ;
But Prioi-'s Kitty, ever young,
Bespoke it for an age.'

If the tritons of verse had sung her praises, wh}^
should not the minnows ? — so thought Walpole, who,
with one of the lesser poets. Whitehead, celebrated
her octogenarian charms. In fact, few — very few —
ladies approached nearer a ' century of praise ' than
did Catharine, Duchess of Queensberry.

The aforesaid will suffice to more fully introduce
this eccentric lady to the reader, though much
remains for future reference.

Allusion has been made to the bet-book of ' White's '
— of which club, with others, Lord March was a

'OLD dick' VERNON 37

member. It contains a curious bet made by him ;
curious, that is to say, in the sense that one who was
then unmarried should have made it on the state of
matrimony, into which so many of the young and
inexperienced rush without due consideration of the
responsibiHties it creates. Indeed, the time-worn
advice of ' Mr. Punch ' is quite disregarded. But the
bet I am about to recite would have lost much, if
not all, its singularity had its maker ever married at
any later period. As all the world knows, he never
married, though in due course I shall allude to a
' match ' or ' matches,' real or imaginary, that might
have taken place. His bet, however, proves that at
this period the Earl of March and Kuglen had no
idea whatever of becoming a Benedick. The acceptor
of the wager was one who afterwards became as
shrewd a member of the Turf as his lordship. For
what sportsman learned in racing lore does not know
the name of ' Old Dick ' Vernon, who appears by the
record of the bet to have then earned nicknames,
one of which, 'Reynard' or its more simple term,
' the Fox,' is typical of his racing sagacity. But why
these should be entered in a bet-book of a club
presumed to be an assembly of gentlemen, as if
it were an ' Old Bailey ' calendar, the waggery
of those times must account for; good-breedinu

38 'OLD Q'

cannot. The record of" the transaction is as fol-
lows:

'Lord March wagers Captain Richard Vernon, alias
" Fox," alias " Jubilee Dicky," fifty guineas to twenty that
Mr. St. Leger is married before him.^

'June the 4th, 1751.'

That his lordship won this bet my former remarks
show.

Following this in the bet-book is another wager.
His lordship is an acceptor, not the maker, though
nothing peculiar enters into its composition, being but
a simple race, or match, bet. It is, nevertheless,
worthy of reference, as an instance, on undoubted
authority, of his lordship's proclivities :

•July 15th, 1751. Colonel Vane wagers Lord March
fifty guineas that the horse to which Mr. Vernon^ gives a
stone in October next wins his match.

'N.B. — This is understood to be the match with Lord
Treuthara. This bet is to be play or pay.'

These 'recorded' bets were mere trifles in his
lordship's record of betting and gaming ; a statement
which shall be supported by the best of all proof —
his own testimony — as I proceed.

Having attained notoriety by one contest with

' The History of While's, 1892, vol. ii. p. 22.
2 Captain Richard Vernon aforesaid.

ANOTHER MATCH AGAINST TIME 39

Father Time, by whose defeat he had earned racing
fame, Lord March entered, in 1753, on another
attempt again to lower the colours of the synchron-
ising deity. In this neither horse nor vehicle played
a part, though the conditions of the wager make it
difficult, at first sight, to see how either was to be
dispensed with. Indeed, its performance in these
days of train and electric or pneumatic traction
would not be bad.

The contest with earthly man's greatest enemy.
Time, by which his lordship sought to attain further
eclat, was a match he made with another noble sports-
man, for a large stake, that he would cause a letter to
be conveyed fifty miles ^ in an hour. To accomplish
this almost seeming impossibility. Lord March en-
gaged twenty expert cricketers, famed for their skill
in throwing and catching. The letter was enclosed
in a cricket-ball, and a rough calculation was made
how far the cricketers should stand apart by his lord-
ship, with the necessary number of throws each would
have to make in circuit to fully cover the distance
named. This being computed, on an appointed day
Lord March's agile cricketers stood in a circle and
nimbly threw the ball containing the letter one to
another ; but their dexterity was so great that, on the

^ Some records say a hundred.

40 'OLD q'

stated period elapsing, the number ol times the ball
had travelled the circuit being recorded, and the
ground carefully re-measured, it was found that the
letter had traversed many miles over the allotted
distance — a result which increased the fame of his
lordship's shrewdness.

In 1753, Lord March, although he ran more horses,
and made double figures of his engagements, did not
achieve the success of the previous year, winning
but three events.^

^ Vide Racing Analysis, under date.

CHAPTER VI

Gay and the Beggars^ Opera — Polly, its successor, prohibited — Results
therefrom — Probability of Lord March's inheriting the Dukedom of
Queensberry — Racing record and topics — Lord March accepts Lord
Orford's coursing challenge — His stud-farm at Saxum, near Bury
— His carefulness in making matches with ' substantial ' persons.

Protection and asylum were afforded by the Duke
and Duchess of Queensberry to Gay upon the suppres-
sion of the second part of the Beggars' Opera (first
produced in 1728), called Polly, which (though not
deemed so vivacious as the first) was prohibited by
the Lord Chamberlain, who affected to see in it a
satire on the Ministry. The Lord Chamberlain's
action made a literary martyr of the poet, who, to
revenge himself, had the prohibited production pub-
lished and circulated by subscription. The share their
graces took in this matter gave such offence in high
places that they were forbidden to appear at Court,
to which prohibition her grace returned a sarcastic
answer. For Gay the result was decidedly advan-
tageous, as, besides 'netting' some £3000 from the
sale of the suppressed play, he gained powerful
friends.

42 'OLD q'

It was during 1754 that the Earl of March and
Ruglen's chance of succeeding to the Dukedom of
Queensberry brought him more prominently than ever
into public notice. The contingency arose through
the death of the Earl Drumlanrig, Duchess Catharine's
eldest son, who beyond doubt was afflicted with his
mother's malady. The cause of the death of Henry,
Earl Drumlanrig, is stated in most genealogies to
have been the accidental discharge of his pistol on a
journey from Scotland to London, October 20th, 1754.
The following facts may tend to suggest whether this
is correct, or if another account, that he died by his
own hand, is more probable.

Henry, Earl Drumlanrig, married, in the July pre-
ceding his death. Lady Mary Hope, daughter of the
Earl of Hopetoun ; a lady who had a most amiable
disposition. The Earl loved her passionately. Whether
it was this attachment that led Lord Drumlanrig to
forego a contract he had previously entered into with
another lady, results can only suggest, as authentic
proofs are not forthcoming. It is said, however, that
this broken promise weighed heavily on the Earl's
conscience and created much unhappiness between
the newly wed pair, who were frequently seen together
in the grounds of Drumlanrig Castle, both weeping.
This circumstance, preying on a delicate temperament,

DEATH OF EARL DRUMLANRIG 43

it is believed, produced the fatal result narrated,
though the version I am about to give differs from
that usually received. According to this his lordship
appears to have ridden on for some little distance
before the coach in which his mother, and probably
his wife, travelled, and shot himself^

On the death of his brother Charles, their graces'
second son, born July 17th, 1726, became Earl
Drumlanrig and heir to the dukedom of Queensberry.
The young man was in delicate health, a fact well
known at that period ; very soon after the demise
of his elder brother, he went to Lisbon to recruit,
where he narrowly escaped the effects of the earth-
quake, fatal to so many. The knowledge that an
invalid life only stood between Lord March and the
Dukedom of Queensberry, with its vast possessions,
increased his lordship's vogue at this time.

It may not be out of place to suggest that her
troubles with her own sons gave Duchess Catharine
just as much concern as she wished to bestow on the
younger branches of the Douglas family, which mar-
riage had connected her with ; as it appears certain
she did not care, even had opportunity offered, to add
the racing foible of her relative, the Earl of March and
Ruglen, to either her own or her son's idiosyncrasies.

^ Traditions of Edinburgh.

44 ' OLD Q

Lord March's racing record in 1754 is a poor one,
as he won only two out of fifteen engagements ; ^ but
there is no knowing how much so wary a follower
of the sport may have benefited by ' performances
in the ring.'

Opportunity is now taken to allude to a general
omission. The disciple of the Turf will remark an
absence of stud-book chronology in dealing with
Lord March's equine favourites, either in the text
or Kacing Analysis appended. This is omitted in
the interest of the general reader, who does not
desire it; while its appearance would add but little
to the knowledge of the turfite, who, if not letter
perfect, knows where to put his hand on equine
pedigrees. Therefore, except in certain instances, I
have omitted reference to racehorse genealogy when
mentioning, generally, his lordship's racers, either
here or in the Analysis. The names of all his lord-
ship's horses engaged during any one year are, how-
ever, to be found in the last-mentioned.

Lord March, though a firm supporter of the Turf,
was not entirely absorbed by that form of sport ; as it
was only necessary to boast of some 'crack' per-
former, or assert some seemingly impossible condition,
for this shrewd Scotsman to attempt its beating or

^ Vide Racing Analysis, under date.

ACCEPTS LORD ORFORD S CHALLENGE 4y

accomplishment. Thus, when Lord Orford challenged
the world — at all times a 'large order' — to produce
a greyhound to beat a famous dog he owned of that
breed, who should step forward and accept his lord-
ship's challenge but Lord March. At that time he
did not possess a dog of that breed, and probably had
never done so. The Earl of March, on completion of
the conditions, resorted to a gentleman whose name
frequently occurs in sporting anecdotes of this
period — as an owner of racehorses ? No, for that
luxury was not included in the rule of life 'Old
Elwes,' the miser, had laid down for himself; although,
before his vice had grown on him, he kept at Stoke,
his Suffolk residence, a pack of foxhounds and a
stable full of hunters. It may be that the sight of
sport, gratis, and seeing that dross he so highly
prized in sometimes too rapid circulation, led this
close-fisted eccentric to Newmarket. However that
may have been, he is said to have been frequently
seen there ; and on one occasion so far forgot his part
as nobly to assist a sporting peer to make up his
money for a match, which he would have had to
forego for the want of a ready few thousand guineas.

To this singular personage Lord March turned for
advice; why, it is difficult to say. However, it is
possible that Lord March had heard of a famous

46 'OLD q'

courser who resided in Berkshire, to whom he was
unknown, but desired an introduction. Elwes had for
some time before his removal to Stoke Hved at
Marcham in Berkshire, a fact with which his lordship
appears to have been acquainted, as he at once asked
Ehves if he knew of an owner of greyhounds in Berk-
shire who could supply him with a first-rate dog.
Lord March was happy in his selection ; as Elwes at
once recommended him to a Captain Hatt, from
whom his lordship procured a dog that beat his rival's
crack, and put Lord Orford's ideas of coursing empire
very much out of order !

At this period Lord March laid another onerous
burden on his purse — the establishment of a stud-
farm at Saxum, near Bury, ten miles from NcAvmarket.
This, an interesting fact, appears to have escaped both
notice and record by those who have written short
biographical notices on his lordship's life, as well as
those who have compiled records of the Turf, in which,
naturally. Lord March's racing career comes under
review. I will, however, admit that although my
authority is undeniable,^ it appears in a portion of a
book likely to escape any but thorough examination.
I must defer now further allusion, as it deals with the
sale of the stud of brood mares a year or so hence.

^ John Pond.

VANQUISHES H.R.H. 'THE DUKE ' 47

The Earl of March and Ruglen was particularly
careful to make his engagements and matches with
those who would not be wanting on the day of settle-
ment, when fortune favoured either his superior
knowledge or prowess. He is said to have frequently
laid under tribute the uncle of his Majesty George
III., the ' great ' Duke of Cumberland, a prefix bestowed
for two reasons — his large size and his military
celebrity. But the Duke found that, unlike that of
CuUoden, the ' field ' of Newmarket did not favour his
fortunes; defeat almost always attended his elforts
to vanquish the Scottish Earl.

Another owner whom his lordship took delight in
vanquishing later was a Mr. Jennings of antiquarian
fame, who prided himself on his Chillaby ^ strain of
racers. These nevertheless ' went down ' one after the
other before his lordship's horses of less noteworthy
strains, but judiciously crossed. By this last it must
not be inferred that Lord March's stable was not
select, for so it undoubtedly was ; and, though small
in proportion to others, it was always choice and care-
fully selected.

' The Chillaby barb, the ancestors of Mr. Jennings's famous
horses, was a white barb, brought with another, by Mr. Marshall,
from Barbary, for his Majesty King William the Third.

CHAPTER VII

Racing eugagements, 1755 — W. M. Thackeray's allusions to Lord March iu
The Virginians — His lordship's stud of brood mares offered for sale
— Anecdote of John Smith, alias ' Buckhorse ' — Death of Charles,
Earl of Drumlanrig — Lord March heir-presumptive to the Dukedom
of Queensberry — Anecdotes concerning Catharine, Duchess of Queens-
berry,

The year 1755 shows a marked decrease in his lord-
ship's racing engagements, which numbered only
eight, as against fifteen in the previous year ; but the
result was better from the smaller entries than the
larger : he obtained three winning brackets to two.

It may be that the death of his lordship's relative,
Earl Drumlanrig, dictated a less prominent appear-
ance on the turf in 1755; but, however it was, this
fact remains — a diminution of his racing engagements
for that season.

One who earned so much notoriety in all circles —
for his lordship's rank permitted him to enter any,
although his good sense always dictated prudence
and caution, which our latter-day erratics generally
honour by their breach — it is a matter of surprise

'THE VIRGINIANS' 49

that the career of the Earl of March and Ruglen
has not been more fully used by writers of fiction.
William Makepeace Thackeray, who has laid tribute
on almost every person of note, eccentric or staid,
that flourished during the time of the ' Four Georges,'
marked down his lordship for record.

In his Virginians, Thackeray boldly alludes to his
lordship by name and reputation. What led the
novelist to record the Earl of March and Ruglen by
his titles, without recourse to the usual wrapping as
my Lord ' Racecourse ' or ' Pasteboard,' I cannot say,
unless it was to ensure that the mantle of Lord
March's achievements should hang from the proper
shoulders.

It would be beyond my province to give ver-
batim that which many have read, or could read,
in Thackeray's notable novel. Nevertheless, a brief
quotation from even a work of fiction will tend to
show that my record indorses the old truism, ' Truth
is stranger than fiction.' To make the reference
suggested, Thackeray, in chapter xxvi., introduces
Mr. Warrington at the ' White House Tavern,' where
are Lord Chesterfield and Lord March : —

' " My Lord Chesterfield's deuce is deuce-ace," says
my Lord March. " His lordship can't keep away from
the cards or dice."

D

50 'OLD q'

' " My Lord March has not one, but several devils.
He loves gambling, he loves horse-racing, he loves
betting, he loves drinking, he loves eating, he loves
money, he loves women, and you have fallen into bad
company, Mr. Warrington, when you lighted upon his
lordship. He will play you for every acre you have in
Virginia."

' " With the greatest pleasure in life, Mr. Warring-
ton ! " interposes my lord.

' " And for all your tobacco, and for all your spices,
and for all your slaves, and for all your oxen and asses,"

'"Unfortunately, my lord, the tobacco, and the
slaves, and the asses, and the oxen are not mine, as
yet. I am just of age, and my mother — scarce twenty
years older — has quite as good chance of long life as I
have."

' " I will bet you that you survive her. I will pay
you a sum now against four times the sum to be paid
at her death. I will set you a fair sum over this table
against the reversion of your estate in Virginia at the
old lady's departure," ' etc.

This extract is sufficient to show that Lord March's
propensities did not escape Thackeray's research for
imparting into works of fiction by the celebrated

SELLS A STUD 51

novelist. Whether all his lordship's ' loves ' catalogued
by Thackeray will be found proven, I shall leave to
my reader on the termination of my task

The year 1756 does not appear to have been of
much significance in his lordship's career. True, he
resumed his position in the racing world ; in fact,
entered upon the largest number of engagements as
yet recorded — sixteen. By reference to the Racing
Analysis ^ it will be found that he won four events.

During this year the Earl of March and Ruglen's
entire stud of brood mares ^ was offered for sale.
These numbered eleven, and a cursory glance at the
Appendix will show not only what their pedigrees
were, but the prices they were offered at. Some of
those prices were tolerably good, if the difference in
the purchasing power of gold, then and now, be borne
in mind. Why his lordship should have disposed
of what, on the face of it, was a likely lot of animals
for racing purposes, can only be guessed; either its
monetary results did not answer Lord March's expec-
tations, or his dislike to any pursuit of a farming or
agricultural nature, which stock-raising of any de-
scription certainly is, influenced him.

One of the throe lads who rode in his Carriage
Match afterwards became a notability of the prize-

1 Appendix. 2 ggg p^gg 45.

52 'OLD q'

ring, so tradition says. This was John Smith, alias
' Buckhorse,' born circa 1736, who from scahng to
ride scaled to tight. In his latter days this worthy
became one of the eccentricities of the London
Streets. He was in fact a real Cockney, being born
in the salubrious Lewkner's Lane, now Charles Street,
Drury Lane. The means this ex-prizefighter used to
obtain a living were singular. One was permitting
a person to play a tune on his chin for a penny;
another Avay, scarcely so humorous, though it was
mimicked by Shuter the comedian on the boards by
his cry of ' Here 's pretty switches to beat your wives.'
These luxuries he retailed at one halfpenny each.
The foregoing constituted his only sources of income,
though of the two the real ' chin music ' paid best.

During October 1756, the probability of the Earl
of March and Ruglen's succeeding to the Dukedom
of Queensberry was increased by the death of Charles,
Earl Drumlanrig, in his thirtieth year. This, to the
Duke and Duchess of Queensberry, was another mark
of the favour which Fortune so persistently showered
on Lord March. What he had done, or ever did do,
to deserve the fickle goddess's favours it is difficult to
discern. That he did enjoy them for a period beyond
the ordinary term of human existence remains an
indisputable fact.

fortune's favourite 53

True, Lord March was only legally heir-presump-
tive, as many instances are known of heir-presump-
tives being disappointed in their accession by the
birth of an heir-apparent. Charles James Fox is an
instance in particular. Lord March, however, accepted
the situation as it stood, and, meanwhile, continued to
take the care of his health he appears to have ever
exercised, and which many of his contemporaries
neglected, as their early deaths confirm. That this
precaution of his lordship's was a wise one will be
seen, as he had to wait over twenty-one years before
the strawberry leaves decked his brow.

It is not improbable that the knowledge of this
exceeding good thing in store for him, as well as
those reasons which his better sense dictated, had a
great deal to do with Lord March's antipathy to the
senseless practice of duelling.

Catharine, Duchess of Queensberry, does not seem
to have come, on her son's decease, into much closer
relations with her husband's heir-presumptive. Nor
does Lord March appear to have cultivated, further
than prudence and kinship dictated, his eccentric
relative's society.

Her grace still maintained her position and charac-
ter. Her extravagances of conduct and speech were
attributed out of politeness to an agreeable freedom

54 'OLD q'

of carriage and vivacity of mind. Though married
to a Scottish noble, she did not conceal her antipathy
to the manners and customs of the Duke's native
land. One social fault troubled this singular creature
immensely — the scarcely polite custom of eating off"
the end of a knife which many of her guests, who
ought to have known better, practised when dining at
Drumlanrig Castle. If the Duchess observed any
guest eating his food in this fashion, she would
scream out and beseech him ' not to cut his throat.'
But such a warning was only prefatory to a lesson in
gentle manners, as the Duchess would call a footman
and bid him carry a fork or spoon on a salver to the
offender, already bountifully supplied with fork and
spoon laid for his use, in order to call his attention
to the fact that those articles had been placed for
use, not for ornament.

This strange woman also affected singularity in
attire, always dressing as a peasant-girl when so-
journing in the ' Land of Cakes.' This garb she wore
to show her scorn of the grand costumes and the
hauteur of certain Scottish ladies whose position
entitled them to visit. A trick she played a more
than usually bedizened party shows that there was
a deal of method in her grace's alleged madness.
The Duchess proposed a walk, she, of course, dressed

A 'nasty' trick 55

as usual; and this invitation the ladies were con-
strained to accept. Off the party went, and wended
their way through the grounds, greatly to the dis-
comfiture of those who wore highly starched frills
and flounces. The Duchess led them on towards
the farm buildings of the castle, and, affecting to be
tired, she sat down on the dirtiest dunghill she could
find, upon which she suggested, with the utmost
nonchalance, her companions should rest themselves.
The latter held their hostess in such fear that they
obeyed her grace's malicious request, and thus she
had the unwomanly satisfaction of spoiling her
guests' handsome gowns. It will perhaps be wise
to draw a curtain over the anger of those injured
dames when they found themselves alone or had
departed for home.

CHAPTEK VIII

Lord March buys his gaming experience — His rule of play at public
tables — He rides a match against the Duke of Hamilton — References
to racing record and analysis — His lordship's residence in Piccadilly
at this period — Its structural alterations in Cupid's cause— He makes
love to the Prime Minister's daughter — Pelham's opinion of him
— The match forbidden — Public comments — Miss Pelham's taste for
gambling — Claremont, Surrey — Lord March's racing record, 1758.

The Earl of March and Ruglen, shrewd as he was,
did not pass through the ordeal of ' play,' as practised
in the last century, unscathed; for he, in common
with all who then indulged in that passion, had to
buy his experience. But his lordship was fortunate
in knowing when to stop, especially at public tables,
though this knowledge was no doubt acquired at
an early date. It is alleged that on his first entry
into life he lost a large portion of those accumula-
tions which young men of family and wealth often
find themselves blessed — or cursed — with, when of
age, resulting from careful ' nursing' by their trustees
or guardians during their minority. Whatever those
early losses were, Lord March wisely meant to profit
by the knowledge and judgment he had gained.

A CAREFUL GAMBLER 57

Therefore he always followed one rule when playing
at any of the public 'hells' which then infested
London from St. James's to St. Giles's — i.e. to start
from home with just fifty guineas in his pocket if
bent on playing at the public hazard-tables. If in
a ' lucky vein ' he would follow the advice sometimes
offered by those whom many regard as the descend-
ants of the last-century ' hell ' proprietors — viz. the
present-day ' bucket-shop keepers ' — ' to run a profit
and cut a loss.' Thus, if his lordship was winning,
he would play till Aurora peeped through the blinds.
If, on the contrary, he was not in ' vein,' he would
depart from the temple of Chance on the loss of his
last guinea. But his caution at public hazard-tables
was not so rigidly observed Avhen he was playing
among his own ' set ' at his various clubs or the
house of a friend : then he fully bore out what
Thackeray records, that when sure of his company
he would cover almost any stake, trusting to his skill
and knowledge to win.

At Newmarket, on May 5th, 1757, Lord March rode
his famous match against a brother peer and sports-
man, the Duke of Hamilton, whose descendant is still
a supporter of the Turf. True, the match was not
for a large stake (fifty guineas); but it was the then
uncommon spectacle of seeing two peers in the ' pig-

58 'OLD q'

skin ' which commended it to more than usual racing
notice. The horse his lordship rode ^ was a grey geld-
ing. The Duke of Hamilton bestrode a chestnut
gelding; weights respectively list. 3|lbs. ^ and
list. 71bs. The betting on this event afforded but
a poor market for his lordship, being 4 to 1 on his
winning — a price justified by Lord March dashing
first past the post. On returning to scale, his
lordship wanted half a pound to draw ' the scale,'
and this caused the match to be awarded to the
Duke.

I cannot find in published records an account of
his lordship's explanation of this circumstance. It
is, nevertheless, obvious that the discrepancy was
scarcely sufiicient to be attributed to an inten-
tional action. It was probably due, perhaps, to
some accidental escape of shot from extra weight
carried.

This match, deducted from those recorded in the
Racing Analysis under the year 1757, gives Lord
March's winning record as three out of fifteen en-
gagements.

Lord March took a house in Piccadilly some
time about the year 1752. To account for his

^ Racing Analysis, under date.

2 It is recorded that his lordship could ride lOst. about this time.

THE HONOURABLE HENRY PELHAM 59

lordship's occupancy of the mansion^ next to that
of the Honourable Henry Pelham's — who was for
some time First Lord of the Treasury, and whose
death caused his king to assert, " Now I shall have
no more peace " — something more attractive than
a daily recurring opportunity of seeing a portentous
Minister depart in his chariot, surrounded by syco-
phants and despatch-boxes, actuated Lord March
in his choice of this abode : no other than the bright
eyes of Miss Frances Pelham, who had smitten the
heart of this noble ' macaroni.' The connections
of this lady, niece to the Duke of Newcastle, were
as noble as his own; an alliance with her was
eminently desirable, more particularly as that family
was in a powerful position in the Government of
the day.

The career of Lord March shows him to have
been a man of expedients; it is no matter for
surprise to find that he had a bow -window added
to his house, which commanded the window side
of Mr. Pelham's residence. By this means he could
converse with his fair one, as he had not created
such an impression on Mr. Pelham as to be free
of his domicile. The courtship flourished for a

^ This was in Arlington Street, therefore Lord March's must have
been there at this period.

60 'OLD q'

time : at last his lordship received his conge from
the ' moral and regular ' Mr. Pelham, who recognised
in the Earl of March and Ruglen (who was not
at that period heir-presumptive to possessions as
large as those of the Pelhams, if not larger) ' a
nobleman of dissipated habits, character, and
fortune.' These are the words of one^ who should
know.

One result could but ensue from this decision of a
father with regard to a suitor for his daughter's hand
— an interdiction to their union.

This appears to be the true version of his lord-
ship's first and last attempt to enter the bonds of
matrimony. On the other hand, there was scarcely
a person more ' given in marriage ' than Lord March
during his long career — by the diurnal papers. It
was said that Lord March, on the death of Miss
Pelham 's father, withdrew his attentions, all chance
of obtaining office in the Administration having
ceased at Mr. Pelham's decease. This assertion is
quite without warrant, for he cherished an ' ardent
and permanent passion during seven years ' for Miss
Pelham.

Why Lord March did not marry Miss Pelham after
her father's death must remain in doubt ; many

* Sir Nathaniel Wraxall.

RUMOURS OF MARRIAGE 61

reasons were suggested, but the real circumstances
which kept this couple asunder have never been
publicly known.

The Earl of March and Ruglen's marriage at this
time would have exercised a marked effect on his
future career in one instance — much curtailed my
narrative. But whatever prevented the marriage,
a singular fact remains — that neither ever married.

Lord March was thought to be fortunate in having
escaped the union, as Miss Pelham possessed
gaming propensities to a marked degree, but was
destitute of his prudence and caution. In fact,
this lady became one of the most infatuated
gamblers of her day, and dissipated her fortune at
the card -table — so hopelessly, that in her latter
days^ she became dependent for support on her
relatives,

Claremont, at Esher, in Surrey, is said to have
been left by Mr. Pelham ^ to his two unmarried
daughters, Frances and Mary.

Lord March's racing record for 1758 does not
come up to the average either in entries or per-

^ She predeceased her old lover five years — 1805.

" This may be correct, although the estate is generallj^ recorded
as belonging to Thomas, Duke of Newcastle, who, on his brother,
Mr. Pelham's marriage, in 1726, generously assigned him half the
property he inherited from his father.

62 'OLD q'

formances; these number thirteen and two re-
spectively. A glance at the names of the horses
engaged will show that his lordship was running
some new animals, and these may not have answered
his expectations.

In framing the Racing Appendix I have departed
from the stereotyped plan of giving the matches
and other entries in extenso. The reasons already
advanced for omitting, in a measure, stud-book re-
ferences again applies — a want of interest to the
general reader. I therefore give, during the period
his lordship owned racehorses, an analysis showing
what horses he ran, the number of engagements, and
events won in any one year. This at a glance shows
what he owned in the way of horseflesh and the value
of their performances, sufficient to deal in a popular
way with his lordship's turf career. On the other
hand, the sportsman desirous of further particulars —
having the dates — has only to turn to records he
knows either by repute or familiarity, and see what
animals his lordship's stable was competing against.
However, any important racing event his lordship
was interested in will be found chronicled in the
text.

CHAPTER IX

Lord March assumes the title of Earl of Cassillis— A brief account of his
claim — Contested by Sir Thomas Kennedy of Cullean — Sir Thomas's
claims in support — Protracted litigation — Final decree of the Lords
against Lord March — Anecdotes of Catharine, Duchess of Queens-
berry.

It is curious that Lord March, whose acumen was
as marked as his foibles, should have so often
entered that fools' paradise — litigation. True, he
brought or defended an action only when the matter
in dispute was worth contesting, or when he was
sure of his case. Thus, when John, eighth Earl of
Cassillis, a family connection already mentioned,
died after a lingering illness in Arlington Street,
Piccadilly, on August 7th, 1759, without issue. Lord
March purchased ' brieves ' for having himself served
heir of ' tailzie ' and ' provision ' to the late Earl.

To follow the legal intricacies that this claim
involved would be quite foreign to my purpose, but
it is necessary to explain on what grounds his
lordship based his right. His lordship, William,
Earl of March and Ruglen, was grandson of Lady

64 'OLD Q

Anne Kennedy, Countess of Ruglen, daughter of
John, seventh Earl of Cassilhs. The last owner of
this title married his cousin-germane, Lady Susan
Hamilton, daughter of John, Earl of Selkirk and
Ruglen, his stepfather ; upon this several ' particular
substitutions' in the Cassillis entail of 1698 were
thereupon almost determined by the Ruglen family
having a near prospect of succeeding to the estate of
Cassillis, under the limitation, ' to the heirs whatso-
ever ' of John, Lord Kennedy.

The intent of this deed was to eventually secure
the Cassillis property and honours to the descendants
of Anne Kennedy, Countess of Ruglen. This suc-
cession might have run its intended course, but for
the faculty of perpetuation common to all mankind,
which prompted John, eighth Earl of Cassillis, to
execute a deed nullifying the previous settlement,
which is borne out by the fact that Lord Cassillis did
privately sign such an instrument on March 29th,
1759, when his Countess was at a ball, by which
deed a settlement in nature of a strict entail of the
whole lands and possessions of Cassillis was made in
favour of Sir Thomas Kennedy, Bart, of CuUean (his
lordship's nearest male relative) ; by which deed, in
default of his surviving the grantor, several other
heirs and substitutes were named therein.

THE CASSILLIS ENTAIL 65

This, in brief, is the history of the Utigation which
ensued, though the lawyers on both sides, as they
frequently do, enlarged upon both the appellant's
and respondent's case.

Lord March was not the man to let titles and
' bawbees ' elude his grasp for want of trying to secure
them ; he therefore proceeded in the manner related.
But, though his lordship claimed as 'general heir,'
and assumed the Cassillis title — which, being an
older creation than his own, he placed first, styling
himself in his legal petitions and other documents
Wilham, Earl of Cassillis, March, and Ruglen — Sir
Thomas Kennedy of Cullean also considered the
prize worth contesting ; so at it peer and commoner
went, in the strict spirit of the motto of the family
whose dignities they were fighting over — ' Avisez la
fin ' — Consider the cause or end.

Having cited on what grounds Lord March based
his claim, I now briefly relate how, other than by
the deed aforesaid, Sir Thomas Kennedy sought to
prove his title. This astute Scot and his legal ad-
visers imparted a ' leetle ' more ancestry into the case,
whether to prolong the cause or to fatten the lawyers
I leave for surmise. They therefore began with a
charter dated 1404, by which the lands of Cassillis
were granted by Robert iii., King of Scotland, to Sir

E

66 'OLD q'

Gilbert Kennedy; and after wading through a few
grants and regrants from that period to the date
of the deed^ upon which Lord March chiefly based
his claim, began to do what might have been done or
urged at the outset — i.e. point out that the appellant,
Lord March, was 'excluded by the most clear and
express words from its benefits ' ; also, that the late
Earl of Cassillis was bound by his own marriage
settlement (which was an onerous deed) not to alter
the order of succession established by the entail of
1698, and, therefore, could not cancel his own deed
by making a gratuitous settlement in favour of the
respondent. This is briefly the sum and substance
of both sides of the case for which his lordship and
the baronet Utigated until January 27th, 1762, when
the House of Lords dismissed Lord March's claim,
and adjudged the Earldom of Cassillis to Sir Thomas
Kennedy. Though unsuccessful. Lord March still
' considered the cause ' worth contesting, and changed
his tactics by litigating for the estates of the Earl-
dom of Cassillis. Defeat again awaited his lord-
ship's second visit to the House of Lords as a
Htigant.

It would be interesting to know what part, either
by advice or monetary assistance (assuming one or

1 The entail of 1698.

THE CASSILLIS LITIGATION 67

both to have been given), was played by his lord-
ship's relative, Charles, third Duke of Queensberry,
in aiding his heir-presumptive to add another dignity
to the already long list of honours enjoyed by his
fortunate family. Or possibly his grace may have
deprecated his kinsman's attempt to triple his
already dual coronet. Nor is any opinion of the
Duchess's recorded on this matter, although she
appears to have been well qualified for those duties
which pertain to the sterner sex in the business
affairs of everyday life.

This lady, though she had a shrewd regard for her
own dignity and privileges, would no doubt have
done her best to thwart even a baronet's acceding
to an earldom; as she seems to have shown in a
peculiar way her dislike to gentry either appearing
to be more than they were, or ' aping ' nobility.
That her actions Avere hardly polite I have already
recorded; the following will illustrate her views
more fully.

If, while visiting, she was entertained with a
'dish of tea' served in a fashion she deemed too
grand for the status of her hostess, she would some-
times manage to overturn the table and break
the china. So skilfully was this done, and so much
sorrow expressed at her carelessness, that few of her

68 'OLD q'

injured friends perceived the malice aforethought
that had prompted the action.

On the other hand, while dressing like a peasant,
she expected her due, whether she was recognised
or not. She frequently encountered unpleasantness
at public meetings, by being taken for what she
appeared to be by her attire. Thus, she attempted
once at a review to cross the parade-ground to
communicate with her husband, the Duke, who
was present in his official capacity; but she was
rudely pushed back by some of the soldiers keep-
ing the ground. This threw her into such a
passion that it was with difficulty the Duke
could appease her, and then only by assuring her
that the man, or men, who had prevented her
passage had been placed under arrest and would be
flogged !

So far did she carry her peculiarity of attire, that
she sought to disobey Court etiquette by appearing
in her apron, after an order had been issued that
aprons should not be worn by ladies attending
Drawing - Rooms. This the Duchess considered
herself privileged to disobey, and at the next
Drawing -Room she presented herself clad d la
paysanne, apron and all; a garment which no
doubt ' toned ' down the scantiness of her rustic

DUCHESS Catharine's eccentricities 69

costume. On approaching the anteroom, the lord-
in- waiting informed the Duchess that he could
not possibly grant her admission with that garb.
The Duchess apparently knew to what portion of
her attire the lord-in-waiting's remarks more par-
ticularly referred, as she immediately pulled off the
offending apron, threw it into that official's face,
and marched into the presence-chamber in brown
stuff-gown and petticoats — a very 'daw' among
' peacocks.'

The foregoing are only specimens of many that
could be recited concerning the vagaries of a woman
who, it is said, was as brilliant in her conversation
as she was witty in her letters. Nor was it only
those of would-be rank who suffered from her satire ;
persons of her own station also came in both for
her plain speaking and dealing.^ A little passage -
of- arms between her grace and the Duchess of
Richmond will suffice as an instance. Duchess
Catharine sent an invitation for Lady Emily Lennox
to attend a ball she was about to give; but the
Duchess of Richmond could not, or did not, make up
her mind to let her daughter go — it is suggested
partly on account of the recent elopement of her

1 Walpole makes many allusions to this singular woman in his
works.

70 'OLD q'

daughter, Lady Caroline, with Mr, Fox. Therefore
she gave a somewhat curious answer to her sister
Duchess's invitation: 'She could not determine.'
The Duchess of Queensberry appears to have
thought this a singular reply, so again sent the
same day for another, when a similar answer was
returned. This piqued her Grace of Queensberry,
who surmised the reason, and, not caring to be
thought an abettor of runaway matches, sent a
message that ' she had made up her company,
and desired to be excused Lady Emily's,' adding a
postscript which fully proves her quickness of wit
and perception : ' Too great a trust,' are the simple
words recorded, a home -thrust which conveyed to
the Duchess of Richmond the full force of Duchess
Catharine's sarcastic wit. This incident, it was
thought, might be attended by a 'declaration of
war ' between partisans of the houses of Queensberry
and Richmond.

CHAPTER X

The Earl of March and Ruglen's Turf record for 1769— A racing anecdote
which shows his lordship's astuteness — Ducliess Catharine and
' domestic economy ' — Her visit to the Dean of Lincoln's — Lord
March's Turf progress, 1760 — An assumed aggravating circumstance
in connection with his lordship's Pelham courtship.

The luxury of tlae law did not prevent Lord
March from still indulging his passion for the Turf ;
a fact which would almost prove that the Duke
of Queensberry had sup^ilied the sinews of war
for legal matters connected with the Cassillis pro-
perty. Reference to the Racing Analysis for 1759
shows that his lordship made the largest number
of engagements as yet recorded in his Turf career
— viz. nineteen. Of these he won six. In one
race, a subscription of twenty guineas each, eleven
subscribers, run at Newmarket, May 7th, he rode
his own horse to victory. In this year's record
confirmation of his lordship's gaming experiences
will also be found in his racing. Following a
'lucky vein' at the October meeting, Newmarket,
he followed up a match of 500 guineas, won by

72 ' OLD Q '

his chestnut fill}- on the 5th, by another for the
same sum the day followmg, and a further one on
the 18th. These feats, allied to his other gambling,
will make the present-day 'purist' assert his lord-
ship had climbed with a vengeance into 'Satan's
coach.'

Lord March's fortune on the Turf depended solely
on his own ability and knowledge. Indeed, at this
period few professional jockeys were his equal in
the saddle, and none excelled him in judgment. So
far did his lordship's initiation into the mysteries
of the Turf bear fruit, that at times, and on certain
important occasions, he would not trust one of his
racing retinue. It was no doubt by these tactics
that he obtained good service ; for the glorious halo
of uncertainty which he now and again saw fit
to assume in ' working ' his stable would appear
to have caused his lads to steal a feather from
their master's cap. In support of this I relate
the following, which shows that the jockey knew
that if he tried to ' dish ' his lordship, his triumph
would be short-lived, and assuredly retaliated. He,
therefore, in obedience to the old saw, ' Like master,
like man,' left the punishment of a Turf schemer to
his wily patron.

Prior to a match, for some time looked forward

TURF REVELATIONS 73

to, and concerning which certain speculators had
taken liberties with Lord March's representative,
these individuals, to save themselves and make a
coup, managed to find out which of his lordship's
lads would most probably have the mount: then a
large sum was otfered the latter to lose the match.^
The jockey fortunately knew his lordship better than
the blackleg ; he also knew on what side his ' bread
Avas buttered.' With a shrewdness that speaks well
for his lordship's racing tuition, the jockey at once
acquainted his master of the affair. ' Take it,' said
the astute March ; ' I will hold you blameless.'
Though this is all the conversation recorded, it is
possible that Lord March counselled caution ; but
here steps in his lordship's own 'bump.' He did
not vouchsafe a word to his jockey or racing friends
respecting what his modus operandi would be for
thwarting the race ' speculator.' Therefore the jockey
thought he was to ride, though he may have relied
on his lordship forestalling, by some means, the
confederacy who imagined themselves to have a
good thing on.

All went well until the day of the race, for which

^ The lad was said by some to be Dick Goodison. This I consider
more than doubtful, as Dick and Lord March did not become in-
terested in each other till some years after.

"74 'OLD q'

the jockey was attired to ride. During the saddling
process in the paddock, who should stroll leisurely up
to inspect the operation but Lord March, attired in a
long coat similar to those worn in the paddock at the
present day ? ' Ha ! ' exclaimed his lordship, running
his hand over the animal about to do battle for him,
' this seems a nice horse to ride ! I think 1 11 ride
him myself,' and, stripping off his coat, he was found
to be fully accoutred in racing attire, with the
exception of the cap, which was at once suppHed.
He mounted, went to the post, and won his match
' hands down.' As quiet and as smart a rap over
the knuckles as ever racing blackleg had administered
to him !

On the coronation of his Majesty, George iii., during
1760, Catharine, Duchess of Queensberry, walked
in the procession 'in her white locks,' a statement
which presupposes that her grace did not follow
the then prevailing fashion ; but on so great an
occasion she departed from her costume a la
paysanne, and was richly attired. Indeed, although
the Duchess upheld her station nobly, her sub-
sequent conduct proves how deeply rooted her dis-
like was to outward show and ostentation. The
morning after, she called her attendants round her,
and, scattering the whole of her precious attire on

THE DUCHESS AND LADY SOPHIA THOMAS 75

the floor, said : ' There, my good friends, I hope
never to see another coronation, so share them
amongst you.' In fact, she condescended to sit
down with her maids, and assisted in ripping the
point-lace, pearls, and other valuable ornaments from
the dress and train.

The Duke and Duchess of Queensberry now found
themselves in high favour, on the accession of
George iii., to whom they had transferred their
allegiance, when Prince of Wales, over the Gay
affair.

The Duchess's attention, with all her oddities,
was not given entirely to the demands of fashion-
able life, as she would often take a journey to
inform a friend of any little domestic hint. One
day she drove post to Parson's Green,^ where
Lady Sophia Thomas resided, on whom she called
to relate something of importance. ' What is it ? '
asked her ladyship. 'Why, take a couple of beef-
steaks, chop them together as if they were for a
dumplmg, and eat them with pepper and salt;
it is the best thing you have ever tasted. I
could not help coming to tell you this ! ' After
narrating this ' matter of little importance,' this
'woman of some importance' posted back to

1 Walpole Letters, edit. 1857.

76 'OLD q'

Queeusberry House, Burlington Street, having no
doubt relieved herself by this ' mountain in labour '
episode.

Another good story is related of this eccentric
lady by the same authority, Walpole.

The circumstances happened at the Dean of
Lincoln's, whose guest she, with other noble dames,
had been. On the ladies retiring, they were ushered
into a drawing-room which had an only entrance
from the dining-room, and was destitute of those
necessaries polite society demands. The Duchess and
her companions bore this species of confinement as
long as their patience allowed. At last the Duchess
took upon herself the part of 'spokeswoman,' and,
opening the door leading to the dining-room, said :
' " Mr." Dean, you have given us an admirable dinner,
good wine, and an excellent dessert, but you must
remember that we are not residentiaries.' A more
pointed rebuke than this might have been expected
from so outspoken a dame as her grace.

The Earl of March and Ruglen raced during 1760
as if he had the whole of the Cassillis property in
possession ; but neither the adverse result of this
litigation nor any other circumstance affected the
buoyancy of his lordship's spirits. True, as he
advanced in years his temperament became a little

LORD MARCH IN COURT FAVOUR 77

irritable, due more to the infirmity of age than to
his natural disposition.

To return to his lordship's Turf record : this shows
twenty engagements contested by sixteen different
horses, a number which, so far, outvies any previous
year both as regards engagements and horses running.
Nevertheless, the results were not so good as the last
year,^ as the events won amounted to six only, and
these were of a less monetary value than those for
1759. By this it is proved that his lordship still rode
his hobby hard, irrespective of the Cassillis ' Stakes,'
for which he could only be a spectator ; that ' event '
being ridden for by 'legal' jockeys, who often ride
as hard as the professional 'jockey' when the
saddle-bags are money-bags !

The year 1760-1761 was passed by Lord March in
much his customary manner. Indeed, the coronation
of his Majesty King George iii. brought with it
the usual rejoicings, together with opportunity for his
lordship to advance himself in Court favour by his
cousin's (the Duke of Queensberry) restoration to
Royal good graces.

There is a circumstance connected with the career
of Lord March which I would rather not have men-
tioned, as I had determined to allude only to his

^ Vide Racing Analysis, under year 1760.

78 'OLD q'

lordship's liaisons upon his own authority. To this
course I still purpose to adhere; for a reason will
be duly set forth. However, there is an incident I
am bound to mention briefly, as it may have been
regarded as aggravating circumstances in preventing
Lord March's marriage with Miss Pelham when all
opposition or other reasons had been removed, and
may be accordingly judged. About 1757 or 1758,

an Italian lady, a Countess L , wife, it is said,

of a Count of the Holy Roman Empire, appeared
in London. The Count had deserted his wife in a
fit of jealousy while visiting Paris. The deserted
Countess was befriended by a wealthy French official,
who settled an annuity on her. Further it would
be unwise to follow her career in the gay city ; she is
next found following an English nobleman who had
once been enamoured of her to London. But her
arrival here was a little tardy, as her English ad-
mirer, to her great chagrin and dilemma, had just
married.

Soon after her advent. Lord March met the
Countess at the ridotto in the Haymarket. To beg
an introduction at the hands of a common ac-
quaintance was the work of a few moments for the
captivated March, who found favour with the Countess
by asking her to walk a minuet with him. This

COUNTESS L 79

ceremony both accomplished so gracefully that it
was considered the best performance of the minuet
ever witnessed in those rooms.

The result of this meeting was the establishment of
relations between the parties which lasted for some
time.

CHAPTER XI

Lord March's racing results for 1761 — Some matclies lost and won by
his lordship to and from ' The Duke ' — An ' Ixiouic ' wager — His
lordship all but caught ' napping ' — He turns the tables on his adver-
saries and wins his wager — How Lord March sought to 'manage
his bets ' on a race — Mr. Edgeworth lays his lordship £500 that he
can furnish the result quicker; its acceptance — The result.

The racing engagements of Lord March for the year
1761 show a dnninution. The decrease is only two;
but, though his lordship had lessened his engage-
ments, as well as decreased his winning record, by this
number, the results show a much larger monetary
benefit than he had yet made. On the other hand,
his stable appears to have been kept in a condition
of statu quo — as a reference to the Analysis will
show — only four horses not recorded amongst those
running in 1760 competing. Although the Earl
won only four out of eighteen engagements, these
ran into near £4000. One match, run at New-
market, March 1761, for 2000 guineas, was won by
Lord March's Beechwood, carrying 9st., over the try-
ing Beacon Course, against Sir John Moor's Grey

THE DUKE OF CUMBERLAND 81

Colt, 8st. But the gilt of this victory was some-
what taken off by two matches his lordship lost to
an old racing antagonist, the Duke of Cumberland.
As one of these, combined with another race, was
the harbinger of a match for 1000 guineas against
another of his lordship's representatives at the ' back
end ' of this racing season, I record it :

'March 25. — H.R.H. the Duke's ^ bay horse Cato
beat Lord March's Gaul'evi, 8st. 71bs. ex.; 500 guineas,
play or pay. B. C

This, taken with his lordship's previous defeat in
a match for 300 guineas against another horse of
H.R.H., made the latter think he had commenced
the Turf year well against his racing competitor,
Lord March.

The meeting at Newmarket, September 29, assisted
his lordship to regain his 'laurels' from the 'great'
Duke, whose crack Cato went down before Lord
March's dun horse Creampot, over four miles of the
Beacon Course; though Cato was giving his an-
tagonist a start, 9st. 71bs. against 8st. 71bs. By this
race 500 guineas passed from H.RH. to the Scottish
Earl.

It was, however, on November 13, at Newmarket,

^ H.R.H. ia often named in sporting records of the period by
this laconic term.

F

82 'OLD q'

that his lordship made up his book against the
Duke, who appears to have been caught in the
racing-net of the shrewd jockey-lord. Good a
'horse as H.R.H.'s old servant Cato appears to have
been, it was asking too much of him to carry lOst.
over the Beacon Course four miles against his lord-
ship's bay filly by Skim, late Lord Portmore's, three
years old, carrying a feather. By this, Lord March's
loss of 800 guineas in the spring to the Duke was
turned into a profit of 700 guineas in his matches
with H.R.H. alone, not counting bets which, it is
very certain, his lordship indulged in.

The reader by this time has gained a clear in-
sight into Lord March's gambling ways, together
with his shrewdness in those pursuits. Indeed,
chance seems to have entered but little into his
schemes or original wagers, as he invariably thought
a bet, other than a turf one, well out before com-
mitting himself. But even if at fault in his cal-
culation, he invariably found some means that had
not entered his opponent's mind, whereby possible
or assured defeat was turned into victory. In
support of my assertion, I will now relate a wager
made by his lordship which fully substantiates
his acuteness and resource, but is not generally
known.

THE WHEEL WAGER 83

A journeyman coaclibuilder had often been noticed
by Lord March trundling a wheel — a common sight
of every day even now; one which would hardly
furnish 'food for reflection' to an ordinary person.
His lordship, however, saw 'something' in it. An
acquaintance having been struck up between March
and the journeyman, the former discovered that the
man was singularly deft in running with the wheel
on a smooth surface such as the footpath ; this he
quickly tested by his stop-watch. Lord March also
knew a waiter at Betty's fruit-shop, St. James Street,
famed for his running ; and this man's speed he had
ascertained by personal observation. Here, then,
was the basis for a future wager when opportunity
served. This came in due course (as everything
does to the man who knows how to wait), when
his lordship broached the matter of his journeyman
coachbuilder. He spoke of this as though he were
convinced that the wheel assisted instead of retard-
ing the speed. The discussion led, as was intended,
to an argument, whereupon Lord March offered to
stake a large sum of money that the journeyman
would run with the hind- wheel of his carriage, then
at the door, faster than the waiter aforesaid.

The bet was taken up by those present to a con-
siderable amount, and the time and place arranged.

84 'OLD q'

His lordship likewise knew that large sums
would depend on the contest outside those im-
mediately concerned, as he, like other gamesters,
had a following ; so had his antagonists. He
therefore correctly surmised that his competitors
would be certain to try the pace of the waiter,
whom he had quietly watched and his speed care-
fully ascertained when running trials. Having
these data, he commenced experiments with his
journeyman, and felt certain of success — a result
which he communicated to his friends, who increased
their bets accordingly.

Nevertheless, the most shrewd and calculating
err sometimes. His lordship, in testing his flying
wheelman's performance with the wheel, had not based
his calculations on the hind-wheel of his carriage.
Though overlooked by so wideawake a person as
his lordship, this circumstance had played a very
great part in deciding his competitors to accept
the conditions. They noticed that the wheel the
coachmaker usually ran with was much higher
than the one upon which the match was to be
decided. Visits by those interested to several
coachbuilders confirmed their impressions that a
man could not get up so great a speed with a small
wheel as with a large one. Woe to March, thought

THE WHEEL WAGER 85

they, as the hind-wheel of his lordship's carriage
happened to be uncommonly small.

The acceptors of this singular wager were jubilant ;
so much so that the cause of their exultation
reached the ears of the ' canny ' March, who appears
to have been singularly dense on a matter which
would have occurred to others with less quickness
of perception.

Until the day before the match did Lord March
dwell in blissful ignorance of the defeat awaiting
him. With his lordship, however, to be forewarned
was to be forearmed, and he therefore did that
which prudence should have dictated before — he
tried his Ixion with the wheel he was to use in
the match, and found him wanting. Here, then,
was a dilemma — his sporting or wagering acumen
was at stake, and not twenty-four hours wherein
to avert defeat ; what was to be done ? In his
distress his lordship appealed to an eccentric fellow-
sportsman, Sir Francis Delaval — whose name often
occurs in chronicles of the period — and he sug-
gested the 'skeleton' of a remedy, which his
lordship quickly put into form. He then applied
to a friend in the Board of Works for the loan of
a sufficient number of planks to make a pathway
upon the course where the match was to be de-

86 'OLD q'

cided. By the aid of a small army of workmen,
and the rays of the moon, these planks were raised
on blocks to make a road for the wheel; by this
the nave of the low wheel was raised to the height
of the one which the coachbuilder ordinarily used.
That so singular an expedient was allowed appears
strange ; but a reference to the Jockey Club de-
cided that the match should take place — why, it
is difficult to say, unless the Earl pointed out that
no agreement had been made as to either the
path or its height, but only that the man was
to run with the wheel of his coach. This he did,
and (owing to the altered condition of affairs) won
easily.

Sometimes, however. Lord March was led to
backing an opinion in which horses had not en-
tered into the calculation of his opponent. One
evening, at Ranelagh, his lordship met Mr. R. L.
Edgeworth, F.R.S., to whom he expressed regret
at being unable to attend Newmarket the next
meeting. ' I am obliged/ said he, ' to stay in
London. I shall, however, be at the Turf Coffee
House, and I shall station fleet horses on the
road to bring me the earliest intelligence of the
result of a race; and I shall manage my bets ac-
cordingly.' Comment on this last assertion would

WAGER WITH MR. EDGEWORTH 87

be superfluous. Mr. Edgeworth asked at what time
he expected to know the winner. 'About nine o'clock,'
replied his lordship. Edgeworth then asserted his
abiHty to name the winner at four o'clock in the after-
noon. This appeared so incredible that his lordship
expressed his doubts of Mr. Edgeworth's ability. He
thereupon laid Lord March £500 he would name the
winner at five o'clock on the day of the race. Sir
Francis Delaval, who was present, went 'another'
£500 on Mr. Edgeworth's side; Lord Eglinton and
others did the same.

The following day the wagerers met at the Turf
Coffee House to reduce their bet to writing; and
this having got wind, they were quickly supported
by friends of both opponents; while Mr. Edge-
worth and his party offered to double his stakes.
But Mr. Edgeworth's candour spoiled a lesson to
Lord March (who wondered where Edgeworth was
going to obtain his winged horses) by stating that
he did not rely on horses to acquaint him with
the name of the victor ; whereupon Lord March
and his friends wisely declined the wager,

Mr. Edgeworth was going to adopt means after-
wards improved upon and used for Government pur-
poses— a semaphore apparatus.

CHAPTER XII

A bad racing record— Lord Marcli created a Lord of the Bedchamber — His
lordship's character — A change of town residences — Lord March's
friendship and correspondence with George Augustus Selwyn.

Whether the result of the Cassillis litigation upset
Lord March's equilibrium this year (1762), or other
causes tended to make his Turf record meagre and
the results nil, can only be surmised. That some-
thing was "\vrong or wanting is certain, as seven
entries bearing a duck's-egg testify.

Nevertheless, the Earl of March and Ruglen made
a notable divergence, this year, from his ordmary
mode of life ; he accepted office. His countryman,
John Stuart, Earl of Bute, had acceded to power
as Prime Minister; and, with 'correct' party
diplomacy, set about creating supporters, as the in-
crease of the Lords of the Bedchamber from twelve
to eighteen can scarcely be considered merely a
supplement to his Majesty's state. However, Lord
Bute made the addition, and bestowed on Lord
March one of the new creations, which carried with
it £1000 per annum. The duties involved cannot

HIS lordship's character 89

be called onerous ; but his lordship's attendance, in
rota, on the King naturally occupied time he had
previously devoted to other purposes. It is said that
the Earl of Bute took a special interest in Lord
March, and this may account for his being selected,
though his relative the Duke of Queensberry's in-
fluence no doubt played some part in the affair.

This appointment gives me an opportunity to
allude to his lordship's character, which neither
tradition nor the diurnal writers ^ of this period
have spared. This, however, is not prefatory to
an attempt to ' whitewash ' his reputation, as, what-
ever my record may show him to have been, I have
omitted all but substantial facts.

It is said that a certain ' gentleman ' is not so black
as he has been painted, a truism the charitable will
admit; therefore, it appears singular that the most
well-' subdued ' of the 'Four Georges' should have
tolerated for near thirty years (the period his lordship
retained his office) close communion with one who,
some would have us believe, was all but a fiend in
human form. This fact alone, then, tends to qualify
much of the common report concerning the Earl of
March.

' Some of these are said to have ' lived ' on the copy they made,
or invented, concerning his lordship's doings.

90 'OLD q'

Nor must the different conditions of social life be
forgotten — those which abetted Lord March's pro-
pensities as much as they led those sworn ' to love
and cherish ' to forget their vows, a peccadillo from
which his lordship must be absolved. Whatever
life he led, he broke no vows, nor posed as a ' Joseph
Surface.'

Nevertheless, a singular choice, alteration, or re-
gistration of his racing colours in this year points
to a desire to be thought spotless. At a meeting
of the Jockey Club, on the 2nd of October 1762,
a resolution was passed that jockeys should wear
colours ; ^ thereon Lord March selected the emblem
of that cardinal virtue, purity — white.^ A happy
exposition of Shakespeare's hne : ' Assume a virtue,
if you have it not.'

About this period Lord March changed his town
residence from Piccadilly to Marylebone, a neigh-
bourhood then becoming fashionable. His house is
not said to have been erected by his old acquaint-
ance, ' Miser ' Elwes, who built several houses in

^ It would hence appear that distinctive colours were not com-
pulsory before this date.

' I have mentioned that he previously adopted scarlet ; indeed,
he appears to have changed his colours once or twice before he
settled down into the ' deep ' red and black cap he is best
known by.

GEORGE AUGUSTUS SELWYN 91

Portman Square and its vicinity. Probably Lord
March found his friend ' Skinflint's ' habitations un-
desirable, though these were close to his lordship's
residence in Seymour Place.

This year commences a correspondence with one
with whom his lordship enjoyed a long and strange
friendship — George Augustus Selwyn, whose careful
keeping of his letters has permitted me to judge
him by his own actions and words. However,
I must disclaim the privilege of first making this
singular correspondence public; as that pertains to
the late J. H. Jesse, who, over fifty years ago, edited
Selwyn's correspondence in a work entitled George
Selwyn and his Contemporaries, in which many
of Lord March's letters are found. To place these
together in an Appendix, in conjunction with my
own research and explanation, has been my task;
one which sheds a considerable light on his lord-
ship's sayings and doings, stripped from all error,
miscalculation, or judgment of reporters or chro-
niclers. At this point I purpose to enlighten the
reader, not versed in biographies, as to who George
Augustus Selwyn was.

This eighteenth -century wit was senior to Lord
March by six years : he was born at Matson, Glou-
cester, on the 11th of August 1719; the second son

92 'OLD q'

of Colonel John Selwyn, at one time aide-de-camp to
John Churcliill, Duke of Marlborough. At twenty-
six, young Selwyn, rightly or wrongly, was expelled
from Oxford (though he had previously taken his
name off the books of his college) for an ' irreverent
jest,' which would seem to have been levied against
a creed, but not against religion.

This gave Selwyn opportunity (had the ' custom ' of
those times permitted certain officials to do the work
for which they were paid) of attending to his appoint-
ment as Clerk of the Irons, and Surveyor of the
Meltings at the Mint — a post his father's influence
had procured for him on entering his twenty-second
year. The duties of this office being, however,
executed by deputy, entailed no greater labour on
young Selwyn than drawing his emoluments and
condescending to present himself, when in town, at
the weekly dinner of the Mint officials, which a
then grateful and indulgent public provided gratis.
Whether the performance of these arduous duties
counselled the ' relaxation ' of Parliament, his chro-
nicler does not record. But in 1747 he ' graduated ' at
St. Stephen's, Westminster ; his father's proprietorial
interests in the county of Gloucester enabled him to
sit as one of its members for some years, and even
to influence the return of the second representative.

HIS MORBID TASTES 93^

On the death of his eldest brother, who had repre-
sented the city of Gloucester, George Augustus
took this 'pocket' seat in the conclaves of his
country, as he now did in the inheritances of his
family.

In 1755, Selwyn duly proved the truth of the asser-
tion that many men of mediocre abilities advance
to fame and fortune by having once got into the
' groove ' ; for he was appointed paymaster of the
Board of Works. The fact, although not recorded
in his memoir, is substantiated by his re-election
for Gloucester during that year on accepting the
office.

Selwyn's public or private fortunes do not, how-
ever, concern my subject; neither do his singular
characteristics, which were strangely contradictory.
For, tender and kind-hearted as Selwyn is said to
have been — indeed, to 'know and love' him were
almost synonymous — yet no person of his station
seems to have taken greater interest in seeing a
malefactor meet his fate at the hands of the public
executioner. Many anecdotes concerning this morbid
taste of Selwyn's are told. Perhaps the following
will show his friends' appreciation of this singular
trait. Fox, the first Lord Holland, during his last
illness was informed that his old friend Selwyn had

94 'OLD q'

called to inquire how he was progressing. ' The
next time Mr. Selwyn calls,' replied his lordship,
'show him up. If I am alive I shall be delighted
to see him, and if I am dead he will be glad to
see me.'

But the witty Selwyn — and no man of his time
possessed a purer vein of wit — frequently turned
the point of a ' deadly ' joke against the perpetrator.
Thus, when the brilliant but prodigal relative of the
aforesaid nobleman asked Selwyn if he had witnessed
the execution of a criminal who bore the same
cognomen as his questioner, Fox — ' No,' answered
George Augustus, ' I make a point of never attend-
ing rehearsals.'

Whatever was the nature of the ' bond ' that united
two men so similar and dissimilar as Lord March
and Selwyn, the fact remains they were firm and
' singular ' friends from the period under notice until
Death deprived the younger man, March, of the
other's society. Selwyn's passion for gambling may
have been the first cause of this friendship; but
that venality did not enter * his soul ' deeper than the
length of a pasteboard ' deuce,' whereas Lord March's
was empiric.

The reading of his lordship's correspondence ^ not

' See Appendices.

HIS lordship's correspondence 95

only throws considerable light on Lord March's char-
acteristics, but shows Avho and what his connections
and surroundings were. This series of epistles does
not exhibit him as a proficient in the art, for no
man esteemed education more lightly than his lord-
ship.

But, for a singular combination of sense, good feel-
ing, and a thorough insight into character, evinced
with natural shrewdness, they will compare favour-
ably, in time to come, with the epistles of young
men of fashion of to-day.

On the other hand, the matter-of-fact sensuality
and profligacy set forth in them must be deplored.

CHAPTER XIII

Morals of Society in the last century — Some March-Selw3rn correspondence
— Chires amies of Lord March — His chaplain and Wilkes's Essay on
Woinan — His lordship enters the lists against Wilkes — Poses d la
St. George — Wilkes outlawed — Verses on Kidgell, Lord March s
chaplain.

A CIRCUMSTANCE precedes the firsfc published letter
of the March-Sehvyn correspondence which testifies
that singular doings were permitted in Society at
this time, even by those who considered themselves
beyond reproach. Horace Walpole writes as follows
in a letter addressed to General Conway from
Strawberry Hill, September 9th, 1762 : ' I have
had Lord March and the Rena here for one
night, which does not raise my reputation in the
neighbourhood, and may usher me again into the
North Briton.' It is unnecessary to dwell further
on this incident, which shows the prevailing latitude.
In the letter to Selwyn noticed,^ an allusion is
made by Lord March to his relatives, the Duke
and Duchess of Queensberry, who were evidently

^ Appendix A.

JOHN WILKES 97

on terms of friendship with the Gloucestershire wit,
as he refers his correspondent to their graces for
political information — a circumstance which confirms
Lord March's dislike to these matters, though now
and again he throws light on some incident then on
the political horizon. Indeed, the epistle is little
else than a gossip as to how the world was wagging
in the neighbourhood of St. James's. But his lord-
ship, to be true to himself, ' drags ' another chere
amie into the society of her betters — a native of
sunny Italy, as was her contemporary, the Rena.
This person, the ' Tondino,' informs her friend of a
circumstance which one would think he would have
heard direct.

The aforesaid allusions to Lord March's mode of
life form a curious preamble to his posing as the
defender of decency. True, he may have assumed
this part out of gallantry to the fair sex ; a reason
advanced in the preceding chapter, and now to be
more fully discussed.

His lordship's opponent in this was John Wilkes,
whose labours in the cause of liberty were no more
notorious than his libertine character. His, how-
ever, was commonplace dissipation, and not tempered
with either the novelty or refinement of his rival in
the worship of pleasure.

G

98 'OLD q'

What led Wilkes to indite and put in print his
Essay on Woman nothing but a debauched mind
could suggest. The few lines I have found, after a
prolonged search, convince me that only a heartless
roue could have compiled so indecent a pamphlet.
Only twelve or thirteen copies were printed; but
these were too many. Let us hope all were de-
stroyed. Had, however, this immoral publication
been issued from Grub Street, or similar founts of
inferior and indecent literature, it would, perhaps,
in those days have attracted little notice ; but its
emanating from one who posed as a patriot, and
being brought to the notice of the authorities by
Lord March, made not only the ' essay ' famous, but
that which its author did not bargain for — infamous.

The discovery was brought about in a singular
way. Wilkes had intrusted the MS. of this precious
essay to his own foreman to strike off; one of his
subordinates, with more charity than judgment,
gave a fellow-typist — presumably during his dinner-
hour — employed at one Faden's, some butter in a
pull of one of the sheets. It is not assumed that
this was done purposely; but his friend, on un-
wrapping the butter, glanced at the matter contained
on the sheet, which so interested him that he
showed it to his fellow- workmen. At last it reached

Wilkes's 'essay on woman' 99

the foreman's hands, who suggested that the re-
cipient should prevail on his friend at Wilkes's to
secure proofs of the other sheets; indeed, went so
far as to give money wherewith to bribe the man
if necessary. These wiles having succeeded, a com-
plete copy was put by Faden into the hands of

the Rev. Kidgell, to whom Faden seems to

have mentioned his find, and who, probably,
suggested the plan, and supplied the means for its
execution.

So far, I have not shown how this matter concerns
the Earl of March and Ruglen. The following will
make that clear. The Earl added to his other
luxuries a chaplain, and the office was filled by

the divine just mentioned, ' the Rev. Kidgell,

A.M., Rector of Heme, Surrey, preacher of Berkeley
Chapel, and Chaplain to the Earl of March and
Ruglen ' ; his own statement of fact is so described
in an essay on the libellous tract of Wilkes written
by him. He says therein that his patron, ' my Lord
March, was extremely offended ' at the obnoxious
essay, and promised his assistance to discountenance
so shameful a production. This he accomplished
by placing the copy in the hands of one of the
Secretaries of State. Lord March then informed
his zealous chaplain that proper steps would be

100 'OLD Q'

taken to punish this enemy to society — Wilkes. In
fact, all that could should be done, as he was one
of the three chosen to form a committee to investi-
gate the matter. His lordship's coadjutors were
the Bishop of Gloucester and Lord Sandwich, who
was almost as free a liver as his brother temporal
peer.

The result of this combination against the pro-
prietor of the North Briton — who ' ran ' Bute, allied
to an animus which regarded the whole Scotch
nation as good copy — is historic. Hence an invita-
tion by writ to meet Lord Mansfield in the Court
of King's Bench, in official audience, Wilkes declined
by flying the country ; whereon he was condemned
as contumacious, and outlawed.

That the part played by Lord March in this matter
caused much comment goes without saying. Nor
did his chaplain escape satire. One who styles
himself an 'M.P., and a friend to Wilkes and
Liberty,' published some doggerel verses on Kidgell's
narrative.

The title-page bears these references :

' Why should a reverend priest submit to fawn? '

' Pope has answered :

' " A saint in crape is twice a saint in lawn." '

JOHN WILKES FLIES THE COUNTRY 101

In the text, the author is supposed to enter, reading
the title-page of Kidgell's essay :

' I, Kidgell, Artiuvi Magister,
For Wilkes's back have spread this blister.
Of Heme, in Surrey, am I rector,
And preach the Berkeley chapel lecture.
And, as you see me, stiff and starch,
Am chaplain to the Earl of March —
Believe me, gentry, here 's no juggling —
My master's other title, Euglen.'

Then follow a few pages in similar metre, satiris-
ing him as informer against Wilkes. The incident
caused so great a stir, that even the journeyman
printer who pulled this chestnut out of the fire for
Kidgell rushed into print to give the plain truth
of the methods used to procure a copy of the Essay
on Wortian. Here I take leave of a subject which
did not do his lordship's reputation the good so
prominent a posing as St. George might have
implied.

CHAPTER XIV

Mr. Commissioner Selwyn — Lord March's Ascot, 1763 — The Tondino —
Letter dated from 'Hotel de Tondino' — His lordship's stockings
seized by the Customs— Advice to Selwyn— Anecdote of Selwyn—
Lord March at Fontainebleau — Fox and his lordship — Lord March's
racing record, 1763.

The close intimacy which existed between Lord
March and Selwyn is evident from the Httle com-
missions the peer gave his witty friend. A brace
given in a communication from Newmarket ^ also
testify to the correctness of my previous statement
as to Lord March's dislike of Wilkes; and likewise
that he did not always leave Newmarket with his
pocket-book well filled. But the next communication
to his * dear George ' tells another tale (racing Hope
is always so) from Ascot, which, then as now, seems
to have been well entitled to its mournful prefix —
' Black ' ; although in this instance Fortune smiled
on the Earl of March and Ruglen, as he managed to
win £2000 the first day of the meeting, and bring off
about £1500.2

^ Appendix B. . * Appendix C.

THE TONDINO 103

This news, and some fashionable gossip, Lord March
addresses to Selwyn at Paris ; though his conckiding
remarks are worth remembering for the future — his
gastronomic capabilities, and a reference in Italian to
the Tondino !

That March's commissions were duly executed by
Selwyn his lordship's thanks prove ;i at the same
time he praises his correspondent's talent for letter-
writing. Lord March does not seem to have en-
grossed all the little Tondino's attention, for he
alludes to her as then writing Selwyn a letter.

Between the aforesaid communication and the sub-
sequent one^ Sehvyn had returned from Paris. At
first sight, the superscription of Lord March's letter
might convey the idea that he had changed his
habitation from London to Paris, as the address
— Hotel de Tondino — might imply this to the un-
initiated in his lordship's Cyprian wit. But little
Society gossip is forthcoming in this foreign-dated
letter, while that which concerns himself and his
surroundings is confined to the facts that he was going
to Newmarket, had not risen till near two p.m., and
that the Tondino was much better; items of in-
formation which probably caused 'George' much
gratification.

1 Appendix D. 2 Appendix E.

104 'OLD q'

On his lordship's return he found his very obliging
friend gone to the French capital, whether to witness
an execution or for other purposes can only be sur-
mised ; nevertheless, he appears to have been anxious
to have his noble friend's company, who could not be
made to make a definite promise.^ The next letter ^
affords some curious information as to how wealthy
and noble persons tried to defraud H.M, Customs.
His lordship laments the seizure of some silk stock-
ings his good Selwyn had sent him, that had been
seized by the Custom-house officers. But, says this
law-abiding peer, had they been taken out of the
paper and rolled up, it ' would have made them pass
for old stockings ' ! This letter imparts information
seldom found in contemporary records — viz. his lord-
ship's entertainment of his ducal relative.

The Earl of March and Ruglen, after the July
Meeting, Newmarket, found time to make up his
mind to go to France, where, from Fontainebleau,^
he addresses Selwyn, to whom he recites a circum-
stance that concerns his ' dear George.' The Queen
of France had asked Madame de Mirepoix 'si elle
n'avoit pas beaucoup entendu medire de Monsieur
Selwyn, et elle ? Elle a repondu : " Oui, beaucoup,
Madame." "J 'en suis bien aise," dit la Reine.'

^ Appendix F. ^ Appendix G. * Appeudii: H.

LORD march's stockings SEIZED 105

The last paragraph shows how much his lordship
could rely on his friend's good offices, as he asks,
'Pray say something for me to the little Tondino,'
pleading illness in excuse for inability to write both
his friends at that time. March probably wished to
acquire as much rest as possible prior to the arrival
of Stephen Fox, for whom he had taken a room. Fox
shared to the full the gambling proclivities of Lord
March. But whether Lord Holland intrusted to
him the worldly tuition of his boys or not, March
gambled and raced with both Stephen and Charles
James Fox.

Eccentric as Catharine, Duchess of Queensberry,
was, both she and her husband were truly benevolent.
A chronicler^ of these days states that, as late as
1798, many of the Duke and Duchess's old retainers
were alive, living in comfort on their bounty. This
writer had special means of learning chit-chat about
her gTace through the medium of a former maid, one
of her pensioners, a worthy spinster then bordering on
the eighties, who was for ever lisping, ' Our dear Lord
Duke,' ' the dear Lady Duchess,' expressions which
she varied with contempt for ' that Lord March,' who
succeeded to the title and fortune of my ' dear Lord
Duke, though not to the dignities (sic) of the dear

^ Angelo.

106 'OLD q'

Lord Duke.' "What his lordship had done to displease
this retired lady's-maid or her old fellow-servants is
unknown, but that he was not popular among his
relative's retinue appears evident. Some of these
fossils of servitude used to recount their recollections
of her grace's evening coteries, when Pope, Handel,
Swift, Prior, Dr. Arbuthnot, Kent, Jervas the painter,
and other professors of literature and art would
match their wit and raillery with those of the proud
Duchess, as her Majesty Queen Caroline used to
term her.

A little episode that occurred once between the
Duchess and Swift may be recounted here ; one which
the admirers of Swift may thank me for, though he
plays but a secondary part. One of the Duke of
Queensberry's gardeners — presumably at Amesbury —
wooed and won the daughter of her grace's dairy-
maid. Parental consent having been granted, their
graces' wishes were then consulted, and permission
given; a course which no doubt meant more than
the mere ' Yes.' On the wedding-day the Dean of
St. Patrick's arrived, and observed to her grace : ' So
you have a wedding to-day, my Lady Duchess ? '
adding, ' Why, all the village is up in arms ! '

' Yes, Mr. Dean,' was her reply ; ' silly, silly young
people to choose this of all days in the year —

MASTER SOUJ3ISE 107

' " St. Barnaby bright,
The longest day and the shortest night ! " '

The marriage took place on the 21st of June.

The Duchess's proteges were numerous: neither
colour nor race seems to have affected her selection,
as she took an uncommon interest in a negro lad
brought from Jamaica by a relative of the Duke's, who
informed her that 'he had an uncommonly smart
and intelligent Mungo," Her grace expressed a desire
to see him, and then begged the orphan of his
master, promising to provide for and educate him.
This she did, naming him Soubise. The lad, after his
curriculum, as became a Duchess's protege, aimed
at entering the fashionable world, talked of be-
coming a general, and followed the footsteps of
his patron's relative. Lord March, in gallantry:
indeed, her grace's maids called him Othello. At
last the good old Duke was taken with Master
Soubise's martial vapourings ; had him taught
fencing and riding, in both of which he became
proficient. Then allusion was made to one of the
universities to finish his education; this was too
much for Soubise -Othello's balance, who thereon
assumed airs, boasting he was the son of an African
prince. The Duchess's dislike of assumption and
presumption has already been mentioned ; so, when

108 'OLD Q'

her nigger wanted to assume the purple by descent
and not by charity, she quickly said, ' Oh ! if that is
so, Master Soubise, I must lower your crest,' and
immediately articled him to a professor of fencing.
I need not follow any further this Ethiopian gentle-
man, who faithfully portrayed the old, old adage,
' Set a beggar on horseback,' etc.

From a racing point of view, the year 1763 was a
great improvement on the preceding one, as Lord
March, out of thirteen engagements, won four
matches, which in stakes alone brought him thirteen
hundred guineas.

But that some cause must have prevented Lord
March from pursuing his Turf career with his usual
spirit, the next few years' records will make evident.
What that cause was must remain a matter of doubt,
although his correspondence with Selwyn may offer
some suggestion.

CHAPTER XV

Vagaries in wagering — A wager made by Lord March recorded in tlie bet-
book at 'White's' — Another singular bet — Lord March made a K.T.
— His lordship and ' Savage ' Roche at a St. James's Street ' hell ' —
Another marriage talked of — Racing record for 1764 — Death of H. R. H.
the Duke of Cumberland — Lord March mentioned in a letter by Lord
Holland — His lordship meets with ill-fortune — Letters showing
March's friendship for Selwyn — Racing record for 1765.

Lord March spread his bets over men, quadrupeds,
and things ; in fact, to use a sporting expression, the
'dead-meat market' had no terror for him, if the
wager concerned so fleeting a thing as life, in man or
beast. Whether living or dead, he made his fellow-
creatures bring grist to his mill, as the following
curious bet shows — not his last of this description
by any means. Nor did he fear staking his own
life against time, an assertion which I shall prove in
due course. To return to the wager ^ referred to :

'Lord March bets Lord Orford that Sir Robert Rich,
Lord Ligonier, and General Guise are not all living on the
15th day of January 1765.

'^Yhite's, July 15th, 1764.'

' ITisfory of Whita's.

110 'OLD Q'

Bets of this nature were not then taken to in-
dicate a morbid condition of mind, but simply
something novel. Indeed, the difficulty seems to
have been in obtaining new matters of chance to
keep the circulating medium active with the bloods
of those times. Walpole relates a story which,
singularly enough, has for its venue White's. A
passer-by happening unfortunately to be seized with
a fit near the door, was carried into the hall, when
the members hurried out to ascertain the man's
condition. This was too good an opportunity for a
wager to be let hghtly pass ; so at it they went, some
betting the man was dead, others he was only in a
swoon caused by his fall and fit. ' Send for a surgeon
and have him bled,' said one with a little more
feeling than the gamblers. ' No ! no ! ' exclaimed the
backers of the man's death, ' that may perhaps lose us
our bets by bringing him to life ! ' And yet some of
us sigh for the ' good old times ' ! !

The Earl of March and Ruglen obtained further
favours this year, 1764 : whether as an acknowledg-
ment of his services to his Majesty, or on the
further recommendation of his countryman, Lord
Bute, cannot be stated, although the bestowal of the
Order of the Thistle indicates Court and Govern-
ment favour.

AN AFFRONT 111

Unfortunately — or, then, fortunately — Lord March
did not always act up to the motto that surrounded
the glittering star on his breast : ' Ne7)io me impune
lacessit' but perhaps his previous forswearing of the
jDinking- irons and hair-triggers of Honour — poor
oft-shot, riddled jade ! — had something to do with his
pocketing an affront that was inflicted on him at
Kenny's ' hell,' St. James's Street, where many other
similar places flourished at this period. During the
progress of play between his lordship and an Irish-
man who had earned the prefix of ' Savage ' to his
patronymic Roche, a dispute ensued relative to the
cast of a die. An altercation being started, March
somewhat peremptorily contradicted his ' Savage '
companion, who, true to his appellation, and with
little ado, deliberately lifted his lordship out of his
chair by the ears, and raising him above his head
held him up to the derision of a crowded room. ' See,
gentlemen,' exclaimed the irate Hibernian Hercules,
'how I treat this contemptuous little cock-sparrow.
As a man he is too beneath me, or I would treat him
like a gentleman ! ' An exhibition of mere brute
strength, on a smaller and weaker person, even were
he in fault, does not, nor did not, entitle Roche to be
esteemed a gentleman. Indeed, this ruffian had a
name for indulging in acts of brutality, and March

112 'OLD q'

was perhaps wise in enduring the insult without
recourse to gunpowder, steel, or law.

My statement that Lord March would have been
a very much married man, had every report of his
forthcoming nuptials been true, is substantiated by
the following, which was current towards the close of
the year 1764. The Honourable Thomas Townshend,
a common friend of March's and Selwyn's, alludes to
this in a communication to Selwj^n, dated the 11th of
November :

'. . . You have omitted informing me of a marriage
which is here said to be agreed on between Lord March
to Lady Anne Conway,^ and we give that reason for his
[March's] being absent at Newmarket last meeting, though
we shall not be surprised if the report is contradicted.'

This was only a baseless rumour, as others had
been, for it seems pretty certain that his lordship
meant to remain a bachelor, however much the world
married him.

Other reasons must then have accounted for Lord
March's partial neglect of his hobby, the Turf. This
year he only incurred ten engagements,^ of which he
won three, all at Ascot ; where the preceding year he
had also done well.

^ Daughter of the first Marquis of Hertford.
- Racing Analysis, under date.

MARCH-SELWYN LETTERS 113

The next year Lord March lost one of his most
persistent Turf opponents — H.R.H. the Duke of
Cumberland.

Some curious light is thrown on the character of
the Earl of March and Rugien by a letter addressed
to George Selwyn by Lord Holland, from Kingsgate
near Margate, July 19th, 1765. Perhaps the exact
recital of the part which refers to his lordship will
prevent misconception :

'. . . As to Lord March, I believe him to be a man of as
much honour as any man, but every one who was at Paris
lays the playing of Affligio to his door, and I hear his lord-
ship still defends him. God forbid I should suspect any
ill designs, upon my honour I do not; but I have no
patience with such a iravers, as there must be in his way of
thinking, who can doubt of Affligio being a sharper, and I
heartily wish Stephen ^ had never heard it doubted. . . .'

Direct attempt to explain this letter had, perhaps,
be better left alone; it will convey, however, to the
reader's imagination that Stephen Fox had lost heavily
to one Affligio in Paris ; also, probably, to Lord March.

The year 1765 was doubtless unpropitious to the
gaming fortunes of Lord March, who, in common
with other votaries of the goddess or devil, Chance,
had a run of ill-luck which he deplores in a letter

^ His eldest son, died 1774.
H

114 'OLD Q'

to Selwyn, following one ^ concerning ' scruples ' and
the Tondino, etc. In this last, March regrets that
Selwyn is still, as well as himself, 'throwing out,'^
which he expresses, 'If luck does not come soon,
it will find us at five-pound stakes, and it must be a

d d long run to bring us home at that.'^ This

is from Newmarket, Avhere both the gee-gees, the
pasteboards, and the dice-box were harrowing his
lordship's soul.

The next letter,^ undated as to the month, but
closely following the last, shows the bond of friend-
ship that existed between March and Selwyn. It
also goes far to show that his lordship was not so
sordid as many have stated, and could prove his
friendship by acts, not by platitudes of S3rmpathy,
when hard cash was wanted. This letter also proves
that March's coffers had been replenished either by
his steward or at the board of green cloth, as, after
trying to cheer ' George ' up over the loss of a
thousand pounds — a thing he had done twenty
times before, and might again — he manfully offers his
assistance, saying, ' I have three thousand pounds
now at Coutts' ; there will be no bankruptcy with-
out we both are ruined at the same time.' Selwyn's
loss seems to have been sustained at Paris, as his

^ Appendix H. - At hazard. ^ Appendix I. * Appendix J.

MARCH-SELWYN LETTERS 115

lordship assures ' George ' that ' Almack's or White's
will bring it all back again/ and with a wish for
the continuance of their friendship concludes a
letter very characteristic of his own and Selwyn's
mutual sentiments.

The few following letters^ of the March-Selwyn
correspondence being undated, it is useless to attempt
chronological reference, but it is evident they followed
closely on the last-mentioned. I therefore leave the
reader to follow them until less vague grounds are
reached for direct reference.

The results of his lordship's Turf engagements in
1765 were meagre indeed; of ten engagements two
were rewarded with a brace of .£50 plates, meaning,
no doubt, little pecuniary benefit in bets.

^ Appendices K — R.

CHAPTER XVI

Lord March and riding orders — Opera-girls and petit soupers —
Selwyn's cash to the rescue— Lord March and high living — Result

of the ' d d races ' for his lordship's purse — A stomach at forty ! —

Mutual obligations of March and Sehvyn — La Rena — The stage — Lord
March takes his ' little girl ' to Newmarket — Trepidations — A com-
mission to Selwyn.

Whether Lord March is to be credited with the
initiation of riding to order on the Turf, is dubious ;
but that this latter-day practice was not then con-
sidered comme il faut the following anecdote proves.
When asked ' too soon ' and ' too loud ' by a light-
weight at a race meeting, while Lord March was
conversing with some fellow-members of the Jockey
Club, ' how he was to ride to-day ? ' his lordship,
knowing he was overheard, turned sharply round
and exclaimed : ' Why, take the lead and keep it, to
be sure ! How the devil would you ride ? ' a clear
proof that riding to order was then not common;
also that his lordship did not gratuitously supply
racing craft to bystanders.

A letter ^ of his lordship's to Selwyn, dated October

^ Appendix S.

LORD MARCH AND ACTRESSES 117

1766, shows that Royalty then indulged in petit
soupers with opera -girls, to use his own words, as
well as himself. Indeed, the opera -girls of those
times have since become in name, to the jeunesse
doree of our days, actresses ! Heaven save the mark !
These in their turn become the milliners and
dressmakers of the bourgeois.

The confidence existing between Lord March
and Selwyn must have been very firm, as his
lordship, with characteristic nonchalance, coolly in-
forms his correspondent that he is going to New-
market, and being deeply engaged (on ' his book,'
assuredly, as the racing records do not bear the
statement out) 'shall perhaps be obliged to make
use of your money.' No doubt March Imew how
far he might trespass on his obliging friend's
purse; besides, the reason given was laudable — to
escape becoming a ' lame duck.' This equivalent for
a defaulter his lordship, to his credit, never earned.

It is also singular that so accomplished an epicure
as Lord March is generally acknowledged to have
been — though he tempered this with moderation —
should complain of the Duke of Northumberland's
' high living ' ; as a dinner he had partaken of at that
nobleman's had given him ' an indigestion.'

Nevertheless, in the same letter his lordship, in

118 'OLD q'

spite of his indisposition, records his being at
Delaval's ^ to supper with the ' opera -girls, who
are very pretty,' and asserts, ' We live high,' informa-
tion scarcely foreign to his 'dear George.' With
tender regards to la cava Luisina, his lordship con-
cludes a very typical man-about-town letter.

The next communication to Selwyn^ March dates
from Piccadilly, perhaps from the house of a friend,
as the after correspondence is written from Seymour
Place, In this his lordship hopes that after ' these

d d races' (at Newmarket) he will have money

and spirits to set out for Paris, where he had long
purposed going. This letter is followed by one ten

days later, ^ after his return from ' those d d

races ' with both pelf and spirits, for he says : ' I
am returned with my pockets full by the second
meeting, clear gain four thousand one hundred
guineas ! ' plus the pleasure of being indebted to his
' dear George ' for it, ' as without your money,' he
coolly tells Selwyn, ' I could not have risked so much.'
This proves Lord March to have been not only a
shrewd, but a bold speculator in the ring ; though
in his jubilation he remarks, with true philosophy,
that he ' does not forget he may be poor again.'

^ Sir Francis Delaval, a singular character of those times.
2 Appendix T. ^ Appendix U.

VISIT TO THE HOUSE OF LORDS 119

This letter also testifies to the Duke of Queens-
berry's seeking his lordship's services on some election
matter, a fact which shows a better state of feeling
between his grace and his presumptive heir than
was supposed to exist. This letter is well worth
reading in extenso.

The communication ^ which follows is one of doubts
and fears regarding the much-promised trip to Paris ;
it also hints of le nialade imaginaire — March at
forty-one found out that he had a stomach, after
more than a generation of 'high living.' But this
is only in accordance with the established order of
things: 'A man is either a physician or a fool at
forty.' The latter his lordship certainly was not ;
and he showed some knowledge of the healing art
by taking a good dose of Nature's own restorer —
fresh air and exercise. However, in spite of his
ailment, his lordship manages to conclude with
some very chatty gossip, and a desire to be re-
membered to the Rena, who evidently was in Paris.

Following is a very ' rara avis ' of a letter ; for his
lordship — in as great a political age as our own,
without its careless tendency — writes from White's ^
of a visit to the House of Lords, where he had sat out
a long sitting, as one of the sixteen representative

^ Appendix V. 2 Appendix W.

120 'OLD q'

peers for Scotland, on a Bill to lay an embargo on the
export of wheat and flour. It is possible that he was
asked to attend by Selwyn, who, as M.P. for Gloucester,
desired March to acquaint him of the result, which
he certainly did, as little if anything but legislation
is mentioned.

Selwyn appreciated his friend's services by send-
ing a muff, which his lordship, in acknowledg-
ing, ^ likes prodigiously, better than tigre or any
glaring colour. Then follows a reference to certain
commissions, and an expression of despair at visiting
Paris. This, March believes he would have done,
but for a violent fancy he had taken for one of the
'opera- girls,' ^ which he hopes will abate before the
advent of George and the Rena, to whom his lordship
is prepared to show ' every mark of regard and con-
sideration, and be vastly happy to see her ' ; but his
other remarks concerning her had better be taken
from the Appendix, as also the topical chatter of that
day mentioned in the subsequent letters.^

Lord March's study of opera -girls was not con-
fined to dalliance at the coulisses or lounging in
the green-room or box-lobbies. Strange as it may
seem, this Maicenas of the gambling world had an
ear for music ; indeed, for a member of the haut ton

1 Appendix X. ^ The Zamparini. ^ Appendix Z and A 1.

SIGNORA ZAMPARINI

MARCH-SELWYN CORRESPONDENCE 121

of those times, he was singularly proficient, for he
could hum the airs of an opera almost through
by ear, and, though he never boasted of his musical
accomplishments, would sometimes be prevailed
upon to sing a solo, accompanying himself on the
harpsichord. The opera itself was indeed almost as
great an attraction to his lordship as the artistes;
moreover, in his times greater privileges were ex-
tended to patrician and wealthy supporters of the
opera and drama than they enjoy in ours ; hence the
very true lines then :

* Now on the stage no modest woman goes,
But 'gainst some lounging lord she runs her nose.'

Indeed, such privileges were almost looked upon
as a right. That they were abused is proved by the
fact that the bated breath with which many singers
and actresses were then mentioned earned for the
stage a stigma that their abohtion has even yet not
altogether removed.

Small wonder, then, that a man of ]\Iarch's gallant
propensities found quarry when the boards were
scarce so white as they are in these days of
grace.

This year, 1766, is abnormally rich in March-
Selwyn correspondence, which throws more Hght

122 'OLD q'

on his lordship's mode of living than any of later
date. Part of a communication/ dated November,
sets forth some further little commissions requested
of Selwyn. But what will they who dimly re-
member the solid magnificence of furniture in the
early part of the century, when George the ' Mag-
nificent' flourished, say of this remark of March's
when seeking his friend's assistance in procuring a
chest of drawers for him : ' Don't let it be too much
ornamented — J'aime le grand simple comme le
Prince ' ?

To those familiar with the advice as to not marry-
ing the family as well, the taking ' his httle girl ' ^
out with her whole family to Newmarket seems a
smgular freak of good -nature ; though he slyly
adds, ' The beauty went with me in my chaise, and
the rest in the old landau.' Who will say, then,
that his lordship did not to the utmost endeavour
to please the family as well ! Happy as Lord March
appears to have been in the society of his new
charmer, his letter shows a vein of regret at not
being really off with ' the old love before he, etc'

Complexions in those times were as much matters
of art as now; for does not a modern high priest
of sestheticism say there are only two sorts of

^ Appendix B 1. ^ La Zamparini.

HIS lordship's cellar 123

women, ' plain and coloured ' ? But will the following
reference satisfy the colourist, as white is said to be
no colour ? Thus March writes : ' Lady Fortrose is so
ill that they do not expect her to last many days
longer. She has killed herself by putting on white '
(white lead powder) : so fashion then had its victims
as now !

The next paragraph exhibits his lordship a votary
of Bacchus as he was of Venus, Diana, and Nimrod ;
though his bottle capacity I have not been able to
ascertain. But it is only just to state that no
mention is to be found of his over-indulgence in
wine or spirits. In drinking, as in eating, March
was a veritable Lord Mayor's fool — ' The best of
everything did for him.' Thus 'George' is com-
missioned to procure ' the best Chambertin . . . and
you may give any price for it.' A carte blanche his
lordship was wise in giving, for, on his lordship's
decease, hon vivants had their eyes on his cellar,
as I shall duly record.

CHAPTER XVII

Lord March's racing record for 1766 — His advice to Selwyn respecting a vis-
d-vis — Fans — Zamparini v. Kena — His lordship on ' letters that go in
trunks ' — Another ' French leave ' monetary transaction — Lord March
made Vice-Admiral of Scotland — His supposed fitness for the post —
Selwyn's wit in the palace — Intrusted with commissions for La
Zamparini — Lord March's purchases not to be confounded with
those for her grace — La Rena again— Anecdote of Catharine,
Duchess of Queensberry.

The preceding chapter shows that Lord March's
racing record is not an incontrovertible proof of either
his gains or losses, as in this year, 1766, out of fourteen
engagements he won three; the stakes from these
show that they did not equal the result of one
meeting that he acknowledges to.

That the Earl still kept his friend Selwyn posted
up on political topics ^ we learn from allusions in
his correspondence to official changes made or antici-
pated.

From what has been recorded, it must not be
thought that his lordship was not a highly polished
nobleman and courtier, as, whatever his idiosyncrasies

^ Appendices C 1 and D 1.

ADVISING SELWYN 125

or proclivities were, he ever conducted himself to the
outside world as a man of breeding, sense, and taste.
In this respect he presented a marked contrast to
many of his contemporaries.

March is found advising ^ Selwyn on a vis-d-vis
he thought of importing from Paris. His lordship's
advice is pertment: 'Don't have a very fine one
made, as it will not look well unless your horses
and servants are very fine too ' — sound counsel, pithily
put, by one who knew Selwyn's resources did not
warrant a turnout d la Due de Queensberry. But
the next piece of information given by his lord-
ship is, that the Parisian coachbuilders of four-
wheel carriages in those days were as far behind
their London competitors as the latter are now in
the rear of their Parisian brethren.

Lord March afterwards tempers his strictures by
special reference to the body, its fittings and
painting. 'You may then have your carriage -
made here, which will be beyond all comparison
better.'

Another export of coals to Newcastle — to use an
expression now relegated to the shades of fiction
since the use of Welsh coal for steamship purposes
— is exemplified in this correspondence — viz. sending

^ Appendix El. " The under part, springs, wheels, etc.

126 'OLD q'

SelwjTi fans as presents, no doubt for his fair French
friends. These, one would think, could have been
better procured in the French capital; though per-
haps their value consisted in their coming from
noble dames in London, as his lordship sets forth
that Lady Townshend was eager to get back two
she had intrusted to his care for Selwyn.^

In the letter just alluded to, Lord March betrays
some trepidation as to how the Kena will take his
liaison with the Zamparini; and suggests that
Selw3ni should break the news to her. What's the
use of a friend unless you can make use of him ?
March doubtless asked himself.

The next letter,^ however, shows a storm was brew-
ing of ' Renatic ' depression ; however, his lordship
determines to have his own way, and, with another
string to his bow, to go on as he did. But, if the
lady objects, then, he coolly informs his go-between,
Selwjm, 'there is an end to our society,' and pro-
ceeds, with the utmost sangfroid, to speculate whether
his present inclination may or may not last.

The foregoing topic is pursued ad nauseam in
the next letter 3 the Earl indites to his obliging
friend; indeed, this is so open a confession of his
lordship's career at this period, that it would be

^ Appendix F 1. - Appendix G 1, ^ Appendix I 1.

VICE-ADMIRAL OF SCOTLAND 127

unwise to attempt its analysis ; I therefore leave the
reader its perusal in extenso in the Appendix.

An undated communication ^ which follows com-
mences with a statement that 'letters that go in
trunks never arrive,' a reason, as the shrewd March
opines, for one of six sheets not reaching him, a
' penny- wise and pound-foolish ' mode of dealing with
correspondence then, as now. His lordship was a
true prophet when he foretold that, ' because he was
rich now [after his four thousand guineas haul], he
should never be poor again,' as he purposes using
a cool thousand of his ' dear George's ' to go to
Newmarket; but what to do, supposing the date
(December) to be correct, is uncertain. Something
of a speculating character was on, either in paste-
board or horseflesh ; though March, in taking French
leave, locks the stable door before the departure
of the steed Fortune, as, come ill- or good-luck,
he had taken precautions to recoup Selwyn from
another source, did his 'filly' Fortune break down
in her gallop. This letter his lordship interlards
with political gossip for his parliamentary corre-
spondent, studying political economy at Paris !

During the year 1766^ Lord March received
further honour at the hands of his Majesty King

^ Appendix J 1. ^ August 31st.

128 'OLD q'

Georsfe iii. — tlie office of Vice- Admiral of Scotland.
The technical knowledge his lordship possessed for
this office was nil. Perhaps the influence of his
ducal relative (who had held the appointment some
years previously) was brought to bear. March's
knowledge of the office was then, as now, of little
importance, as it is generally admitted that the
administration of some Government offices is best
effected by lay persons.

While the flat-racing season was in the dim future,
and other chronological facts in the career of his
lordship are yet out of view, recourse must be again
had to the March-Selwyn correspondence.

On January 12th, 1767,^ March addresses Selwjm
from ' White's,' and, after alluding to the ' Rena,'
endeavours to put his friend in good -humour by
stating that his Majesty had related a bon mot of
Selwyn's while dressing. By this, Selwyn's wit had
penetrated the walls of the palace, and reached King
George's ear. What the ' good thing ' was, his lord-
ship does not say, as he leaves this subject and turns
to the topic, ' la cara Luisina ' ; an effort which
appears to have created an appetite, as he then
leaves reference to French affairs, and wants his
dinner some four hours before the now fashionable

^ Appendix K 1.

'MEUBLES' FOR LORD MARCH 129

hour, eight, a fact ahnost too plebeian for record.
Nevertheless, 'good digestion' waited on appetite,
for Lord March adds a commercial footnote,^ after
appeasing the inner man. This shows a hankering
still for Parisian wear; he asks Selwyn to forward
a dozen pairs of silk stockings for the Zamparini — ' a
very small size,' says his lordship. Having provided
for the lady's nether extremities, he turns attention
to her head-gear, ' I should be glad to have some
riband, a cap, or something or other for her of that
sort.' But the confession he makes immediately
after, ' She is but fifteen,' will make many readers
start with indignation. His last reference to this
poor child would imply a strange condition of
affairs in Society of those days, for he requests
Selwyn to consult Lady Rochford in his selection
of the articles desired, ' who will choose somethinsr
that will be fit for her.' This communication ex-
plains or prepares for the two which follow.^

So little is to be found referring to her grace,
Catharine, Duchess of Queensberry, by her relative.
Lord March, that, when found, a note should be
made of it. Thus, in the following letter ^ to Selwyn,
a wish is expressed that his meubles, ordered in

^ Appendix LI. ^ Appendices M 1 and N L

^ Appendix 0 L

I

130 'OLD q'

Paris, "will not be confounded with those of the
Duchess of Queensberry, who doubtless did not
require 'un lit d la polonaise,'^ etc. Indeed, the
way this is conveyed scarcely implies that the
entente cordiale between them existed. His letter
shows that his lordship's trepidations concerning
the Rena were unfounded, as they appear to have
been reconciled ; for she adds a postscript to his
lordship's letter, asking une petite commission of
her ' caro Georgino.'

The Duchess, however, seems to have often heard
Court secrets which his lordship, though in close
attendance on the King, could not find out, as she
informs March — possibly in reference to another
appointment which he sought — that she ' thinks it
decided against him,' information he faithfully im-
parts to Selwyn.2 The Duchess prefaces her obser-
vation with, she ' does not like delays,' a fact scarcely
so patent as her dislike to 'betterment'; a further
instance of which may now be given, though one
which shows her to have been charitable as well as
eccentric. It was this virtue that often dulled the
edge of her sarcasm by salving with 'golden' oint-
ment the wound her reproach had made.

Mrs. Bellamy, a celebrated actress of those days,

^ Appendix El. ^ Appendix P 1.

MRS. BELLAMY 131

went a few days previous to the date fixed for her
benefit to request her grace's patronage. Though
at home, the Duchess refused to see her, ' because
she was dressed in a silk gown, and came in a
chair.' But, notwithstanding her displeasure at Mrs.
Bellamy's grandeur, the Duchess engaged almost all
the boxes for the night of her benefit. Whether the
actress's performance on that evening mollified her
grace is not known, but she asked Mrs. Bellamy to
call upon her the following morning, who no doubt
went apparelled more in accordance with her patron-
ess's views. Her grace then presented the actress
with 270 guineas, a bill ^ for a considerable sum, and
afterwards sent her home in her own coach — ' Kitty's
coach,' as the handsome vehicle was called.

^ A cash bill.

CHAPTER XVIII

A poor racing record — The Turf about 1767 — A worse racing record for
Lord March, 1768 — Stable matters — Lord March's racing, 1769 and
1770 — The strange case of Lord March v. Pigot — Result.

We are indebted to Lord Marcla's correspondence
with Selw3An in the year 1767 for what is known of
his lordship's doings during that period. The com-
munications ^ following those last mentioned do not,
however, contain any matter worthy of reference,
although they should be read in detail.

What has been recorded proves Lord March had
but little time to engross himself with making racing
engagements ; but that did not by any means involve
a resolution to quit the Turf At this period he had
scarcely warmed to the sport, as future records
will show. Nevertheless, the fact remains that the
' opera-girls,' coupled with official duties, prevented
that personal attention to his racing stable he had
hitherto found leisure for. This is all but confirmed
by only two of his horses running this year ; indeed,
he only incurred that number of engagements.

^ Appendices Q 1 and T 1.

THE JOCKEY CLUB 133

The turf had not then become the ' Tom Tiddler's
ground ' it has since become for peer and pleb ; true,
there was a fringe of 'blacklegs,' etc., round the
noble sport as at the present day, but a glance at the
Calendar will show that racing, at Newmarket in
particular, was carried on by the elite. Further, the
classic races, such as the 'Two Thousand,' 'Derby,'
' Oaks,' etc., are now termed, did not exist ; so that
if an owner desired to win a big stake, he had to
provide it himself by making a match. Again, that
ruler of the turf, the Jockey Club, was scarcely out of
leading strings. True, it had then been established
several years ; but its members were few in number,
and its rules and regulations nothing like the code
now in existence, while many of its London meetings
were held at the Star and Garter Tavern, Pall Mall.
Such, then, was the condition of both the Turf and its
'master.' Nor would the Turf have reached the
popularity accorded to it at the close of the last
century, but for the exertions of men devoted to the
sport, as the Dukes of Cumberland and Grafton,
and Lords March, Clermont, Grosvenor, and Barry-
more.

The year 1768 was a desultory one in his lordship's
career; even his correspondence with Selwyn does
not take it out of the ' rut ' of commonplace. In

134 'OLD q'

fact, Lord March's virtues or vices might be said
to have run in the same groove — not a horse did he
run this year except at exercise on the Heath ; nor
is anything recorded by his pen as to how his
operatic 'flames' were flourishing, or as to his
gains or losses in the betting or gaming world.
Indeed, the letters ^ to his ' dear George ' are almost
tiresome in character, mixed with just enough
fashionable chatter to tone them to Selwyn's palate.
In the last, however, his lordship mentions having
returned from hunting, a sport he is said to have
been as great an adept in as horse- racing, but little
if any record exists of his prowess in the hunting-
field.

A thorough examination of the Racing Analysis
appended will prove that his lordship had been
reorganising or weeding-out his racing stable; as,
with the advent of the year 1769, he resumed
running horses. Only three engagements were made,
and a £50 plate secured as trophy for this ' giddy '
record. What his operations were in the ring or
subscription-rooms cannot be even guessed ; nor does
he permit a surmise from his correspondence, which,
during this year and the next, is conspicuous by
its absence from the epistolary hoards of Selwyn.

^ Appendices U 1 and V 1.

'weeds' his stud 135

With the commencement of 1770, the Earl of
March and Ruglen began racing with a vengeance.
From May to November/ twenty-eight engagements
were incurred; of these he carried off eight, value
some fifteen hundred pounds, which, no doubt, was
much increased by judicious bets.

From this period, and for many years after, his
lordship raced in earnest, if his engagements are to
be considered as the measure of his desire to excel
in a sport he had already won laurels in. But Lord
March never prided himself on the extent of his
racing stable (which was small compared in quantity
to some of his contemporaries), but its excellence
in quality. So, if an animal did not come up to his
expectations, after a few trials, out it went to make
room for another that could at least earn its keep, if
not ' pocket-money ' for its owner.

The year 1771 is interesting, as it shows that
Lord March looked upon wagering with a true
commercial spirit. Then the subtle chicanery of the
law had not arrived at the nice discrimination it
has since, nor the subterfuge which until recently
existed. A bet or wager, though considered an illegal
debt, was, if made and paid by an agent, recover-
able as money paid to the use of the loser. At the

^ Vide Racing Analysis.

136 'OLD q'

period under review, as now, all gaming debts were
considered debts of honour ; but record is not want-
ing of some of these being sued for and allowed by
the blind goddess, Justice, who, though metaphorically
blind for all time, nevertheless finds her balance fre-
quently disturbed by that which was just at one time
being unjust at another. Perhaps her distant — very
distant — relative. Charity, assists to delude her leaden
but sure-footed sister into believing that what is is,
and that laws made by man can be unmade by the
same authority; also, that statesmen and laAvyers
must live, whether they be law-makers or law-breakers.
For these reasons the following would be con-
sidered a nice point, if otherwise actionable, at the
present day, and shows Lord March was not to be
deterred from his own by any moralising on the
subject of the wager, which was another of the ante-
or post-mortem character. The Earl of March and
Euglen laid Mr. Pigot five hundred guineas upon
whether Sir William Codington or old Mr. Pigot
would die first. By a singular coincidence, old
Mr. Pigot had died, presumably unknown to both
parties, on the morning of the day on which the
wager was made. His lordship thereon claimed ful-
filment of the obligation. To this Mr. Pigot de-
murred, setting forth the well-known condition

LORD MARCH V. PIGOT 137

relative to bets on the turf, when a horse dies before
the day of a race. Lord March did not consider the
cases analogous ; and, failing to get his due, brought
an action in the King's Bench against Mr. Pigot for
the amount in dispute. The case came before Lord
Mansfield, and the defendant's counsel adopted the
aforesaid line of defence — that the bet was annulled
by the death of old Mr. Pigot prior to the making of
the bet, though the event was unknown at the time.
A host of witnesses versed in the rules of Turf and
other gaming were heard on both sides. Noble and
ignoble authorities were examined and cross-exa-
mined. Lord March, accommodated with a seat on
the bench, sat quiet, observant, and apparently with-
out much fear for the ultimate issue. Lord Mans-
field, in addressing the jury, failed to see any
similitude between the ' man and beast ' aspect of the
wager, which the defendant's counsel set forth, as both
parties believed old Mr. Pigot to be in tolerably fair
health when the bet was made ; for, had either party
known that he had died suddenly on the morning of
that day from gout in the head, it was preposterous
to imagine that the bet would have been made. On
this the jury found for the plaintiff, for whom judg-
ment was entered with costs.

The foregoing shows that Lord March did not

138 'OLD q'

study feelings or any ' old-world craze ' of that sort ;
a bet was an obligation in his eyes of almost — well,
commercial character. What the subject was, little
troubled him, so long as it was a chance to attract
the circulating medium to his pockets.

CHAPTER XIX

Excerpts from letters continued— Lord March and the 'grim tyrant'—
His valetudinarianism — A long list of racing engagements — Result
— His lordship's references to Colonel Crawford — Not affected by the
Colonel's position — Good advice to Selwyn — Madame la Marchesa
Fagniani and Selwyn — Letter written by her to Selwyn — Remarks
—Lord March's Turf record, 1772.

References are made in a letter ^ wliicli may assist
the reader to form an opinion of tlie characters of
Lord March and his friend Selwyn. Thus, the
remark of Lady Townshend that Selwyn would be
a good exponent of the great surgeon John Hunter's
philosophy of death, gives opportunity for an allusion
to the stoical disposition of his lordship. Though
the allusion is some years antedated, it is scarcely
out of place at this point to record Lord March's
fearlessness of man's greatest physical enemy — Death.
Those who have formed, perhaps, a prejudiced
opinion of Lord March's character, and condemned
him as moralty, socially, and intrinsically bad, have
been struck with this nonchalance of his, so different

^ Appendix W 1.

140 'OLD q'

from the written and pictured deathbeds of sinners.
This many have been led to remark on most em-
phatically by the great fear one of his contemporaries,
Dr. Johnson — recognised as a good man — had of the
grim tyrant.

The Earl of March and Ruglen, whatever may be
thought to the contrary, was always a valetudinarian ;
thus, in the letter under notice, he is found sympa-
thising with a common friend, 'poor James,' who
was confined to his room with an inflammation of
the gums. This gives Lord March an opportunity
of telling his friend George Selwyn that he was
suffering from a like complaint, and was likely to
lose his fore-teeth. To prevent this he had given
' March fifty guineas to cure him, which he behoves
he will do, as he considers this a very serious thing.'
But this was only what might be expected from one
endowed with so great a share of that uncommon
commodity — common-sense. Many might do worse
than emulate his lordship by obtaining the best
advice when their fore-teeth ache, instead of seeking
it when the whole jaws are affected ; in other words,
he took things in time, and, if his finger ached, did
not wait till his arm shared the same pain before
seeking surgical or medical skill, and that the best
money could procure. Indeed, Lord March's career

A RED-LETTER TURF YEAR 141

is typical of how much our common mother, Dame
Nature, will do for us if we only obey haK her
laws.

The year 1771 was a red-letter one in the Turf
career of Lord March (though afterwards beaten), as
he made forty-one ^ racing engagements, winning
nine, which brought him over three thousand pounds
in stakes, without bets. So, whatever had previously
perturbed his racing tastes proves to have been only
transient.

In February 1772, ' M. and R.,' as his lordship sub-
scribes so many of his letters to Selwyn, writes ^ that
much-epistled person : ' There is no news, every-
thing is much as you left it ' — poor ' everything ' !
He then relates how one of their gambling friends,
Colonel Crawford, continues to lose, and has all
but arrived at that common bourne of the habitual
gamester — impecuniosity ; having scarce 'anything
now remaining of all his riches but bad debts ; a crop
always abundant and without season.' But this
example did not deter his lordship, who still gambled
and played without any fear of the ' shades ' to
which his militant friend had gone. But Lord
March, as I have shown, knew the golden rule of
gambling — when to stop. He likewise appears to

^ Vide Racing Analysis. ^ Appendix X 1.

142 'OLD q'

have compared games of chance very much after
the conduct of the average racehorse, ' Win to-day,
lose to-morrow,' or vice versd. Therefore, whether
at the board of green cloth or in the betting ring,
he seems to have always seen these talismanic words
before him, ' Sufficient unto the day, etc' Prudence,
always prudence, was the maxim with which he
tempered the motto of his house, afterwards reduced
to one plain Anglo-Saxon word — ' Forward/

The next letter March addresses from Ware,i where
he had stayed the night ; but whether in the ' great
bed ' is not recorded. This communication is typical
of his lordship's clear, sound sense, as, after congra-
tulating ' George ' on obtaining from Lord Orford ^
(waiting only his Majesty's consent) a villa in the
Green Park, he gives Selwyn counsel on matters
sorely vexing his ' dear George,' to whom he gives
this sensible advice : ' Pray do not plague your-
self about imaginary evils. It is time enough when
they really happen.' Which George's mother- wit
could not gainsay.

Whatever was the relation, if any, that existed
between March, Selwyn, and the Marchesa Fagniani,
one indisputable action, which was asserted to have
been done with the purest motive, was sufficient in

^ Appendix A 2. ^ Ranger of St. James's and Hyde Parks.

LETTER FROM COSTANZA FAjGNIANI 143

those days (as it would be now) to furnish scandal.
This was the adoption of the Fagniani's daughter by
Selwyn, a bachelor. What led to this strange pro-
ceeding must ever remain in doubt. Nevertheless,
Jesse, who was privileged to go over Selwyn's corre-
spondence, though refusing as a false affectation of
dehcacy to pass over in complete silence the mys-
terious reports respecting the true parentage of
Selwyn's infantine charge, asserts that, although
references occur in the 'most private papers' of
Selw3Ti which unquestionably lead to the supposi-
tion that either Lord March or Selwyn was — or,
rather, that each severally beheved himself to be —
the father of the child, yet no certain proofs exist.
Further, a letter addressed by Madame Fagniani to
Selwyn, July 31st, 1772 (of which Jesse gives a
translation) does not express any but the most poUte
feelings of friendship for the guardian of her child.
Lest I may be misrepresented in alluding to a matter
that a faithful record of established facts, incident to
my subject, warrants, Madame Fagniani's letter is
inserted, in justice to all parties concerned :

'July 31st, 1772,

*My very Dear and Eespectable Friend, — I can-
not find terms sufficiently expressive to thank you for all
your kindness, and more particularly for the pains you take

144 'OLD q'

in regard to my daughter. I can assure you that nothing
is more sensibly felt by me than the proofs of friendship
which I have received from you on this occasion. The
more I know the world, the more I perceive the difficulty
of finding a person who resembles you ; and I consider
myself the happiest of mortals, solely from the happiness I
have had in forming your acquaintance and obtaining your
friendship.

I am enchanted in learning that my daughter is in good
health, though I fear she will suffer much in cutting her
teeth. I venture to beg of you to continue to give me
tidings of her, as, without your kindness in writing to me
from time to time, I should have been ignorant for the
last three months of the fate of ma petite. My lord, on
his part, is a little indolent, but I forgive him this little
fault on account of the many good qualities of his heart
which he has to counterbalance it.

I hope that your health is good. Pray present my
compliments to Lord March, and tell him that I expect to
hear from him. Preserve your friendship for me, and do
not forget the most grateful and affectionate of all 3'our
friends, who makes it her duty and pleasure to be, — Your
very sincere servant and friend,

'COSTANZA FaGNIANI.'

This must suffice for direct allusion now to la petite
Fagniani, although it will be shown how both Selwyn
and March befriended this fortunate child.

His lordship's racing record for this year, 1772,
although showing additions to his stud, does not

A 'give-and-take' sportsman 145

equal his record for the previous year, as his en-
gagements dropped to thirty-eight, while the winning
brackets only numbered seven — value about seven-
teen hundred pounds. Nevertheless, March was no
butterfly owner, but a thorough good old-fashioned
'give-and-take' sportsman, who stuck almost as
close to his hobby as the proverbial shoemaker is
supposed to do to his last.

E

CHAPTER XX

Gossip again marries Lord March — The lady — Verses on the anticipated
marriage— Anecdote of Lord March at York races — His lordship's
Turf records for the years 1773-1776— Remarks — Death of Catharine,
Duchess of Queensberry — Dick Goodison, alias ' Helliire Dick,' and
Lord March — A continuance of the March-Selwyn correspondence.

About the period now under notice (1773), gossip
again added another wedding to the matrimonial hst.
The lady Lord March was supposed this time to
lead to the altar was the daughter of Lady Harring-
ton, a family he often alludes to in his correspondence.
This choice of the busybodies fell on her eldest
daughter ^ — Lady Henrietta Stanhope. But what-
ever may have led to the report, it is certain that
no overtures were made by Lord March for the
lady's hand ; unless his visits to the family were
thought to be rather in the interest of Cupid than
friendship. The report, however, did not trouble
March, who did not care a jot how often the world
married him, as long as he himself was not present at
the ceremony.

^ Afterwards Lady Foley.

VERSES ON THE ANTICIPATED MARRIAGE 147

In accordance with custom, the aspirants to the
Laureateship rushed into verse on the occasion ; ^
indeed, his lordship furnished matter for their muse
not only on this occasion but for many a year after.

The return of Selwyn to England naturally created
a hiatus in the March-Selwyn correspondence, which
for the next few years does not amount (among those
previously published) to more than three letters. Of
these the period of two is difficult to fix, for the};^ are
undated. Probably the one headed Wakefield ^ refers

^ * Say, Jockey Lord, adventurous Macaroni,

So spruce, so old, so dapper, stiff, and starch,
Why quit the amble of thy pacing pony ?
Why on a filly risk the name of March ?

' Consult the equestrian bard, wise Chiron Beever,

Or Dr. Hebers' learned sybil leaves,
And they, true members of the savoir-vivre,

Will tell the wondrous things that love receives.

' Why in the spavin of your days, sweet sir,
Attempt to draw on Cupid\s little boot ?
Let Jockey Grosvenor's fate, alas ! deter ;
Ah ! think, Newmarket Lord, what things may sprout !

' Stick to the Jockey Club, attend your bard ;

Nor ever think of dancing love's cotillon.
For Ligonier, who galloped quite as hard.
Was doubly distanced by his own postillion. '

- Appendix B 2.

* Two verses omitted here.

148 'OLD q'

to occurrences during 1773. In this Lord March
speaks of going to York for the races, a meeting he
hardly missed during fifty years.

During one of these visits to the ' Minster ' city,
racing bound (than which city or Castle Howard he
seldom went further ' towards his native heath '), he
met a sturdy Yorkshire farmer in the betting-ring,
who desired to bet with his lordship. The latter
shrewdly replied, 'I do not know you; I am Lord
March.' The farmer, nothing dismayed, rattled his
money in his pockets and passed on. A little time
after, his lordship was exceedingly anxious to get
a bet covered for a race, at which the professional or
amateur bookmakers looked askance. The farmer,
who had overheard March, now approached and
offered to take the bet, though he confessed he
was doubtful about his money, as he had only his
word for his being Lord March. This tit-for-tat so
tickled his lordship that he soon proved who he
was ; and for many a year after, as the race meet-
ing came round, March and the ' tyke ' had their
* little bit ' on together.

His lordship's Turf performances in 1773 show a
considerable diminution from the two preceding years
— fifteen engagements, though credited with an ab-
normally large winning record in proportion — seven ;

FIRST LORD OF POLICE 149

but the monetary results in stakes were sparse —
only about eight hundred pounds.^ To attempt any
explanation at this lapse of time, unless quoted by
competent authority, or from all but indisputable
deductions, would be unwise. The next two years,^
1774-75, may likewise be passed over, as few, if
any, facts of social interest occur in his lordship's
Ufe to warrant record. In 1774,^ he ran five horses
in sixteen engagements; but won only three races
— value a little over two hundred and sixty pounds.
Nor do the twenty-three engagements, run by eight
horses in the following year, 1775, show a better
result; but indeed, in proportion to the entries, a
poorer one than any of the three previous years, as
four winning brackets, value three hundred and
sixty pounds, prove.

In 1776, Lord March vacated the office of Vice-
Admiral of Scotland, when he was nominated First
Lord of Police, an office which then, as now, demands
any amount of shrewdness or tact; an office where
his lordship's acumen might j&nd a better field than
in the naval service.

The unsatisfactory results of his lordship's Turf
career the past few years appear to have made him
bestir himself to revive his seemingly falling prestige.

^ Fide Racing Analysis. -Ibid. '^ Ibid,

150 'OLD Q

Thus, in 1776, lie arranged forty-one engagements, of
which he won twenty-two — a magniticent result from
a racing point of view. Nor were the stakes meagre
for those days, as they brought nearly four thousand
pounds to his lordship's coffers.

In July 1777, Lord March was bereft of his witty
but eccentric relative, Catharine, Duchess of Queens-
berry, who died from a surfeit of cherries, aged nearly
eighty. This event Walpole compares to the death
of the old Countess of Desmond, who died from the
effects of a fall from a walnut-tree at 140 ! Both
ladies were remarkable for the retentioti of their
beauty to an advanced age.

It is during this year that reference is first found to
a jockey, one Dick Goodison, or, in the Newmarket
parlance of those times, ' Hellfire Dick ' — a sobriquet
earned by his ' flash of lightning ' finishes. How Lord
March and the Yorkshire ^ jockey became acquainted
I have been unable to discover. The Earl soon found
he had met one whom he could and did all but
implicitly trust for the remainder of his racing career ;
though the real connection between them, as master
and servant, afterwards became debatable matter.
Nevertheless, Goodison served March weU, and, though
many of his professional brethren had a better seat,

^ He came from Selby.

DICK GOODISON 151

and were finer judges of a horse's points, no one was
then, and few since have been, his equal in getting a
horse on his legs, or in throwing him in at the finish,
a knack the late Fred Archer possessed. It was on
his lordship's Rocket gelding that Goodison earned
his sulphurous sobriquet in quarter and half-mile
matches which Lord March and he formulated about
this period. Whatever Turf lore ' Dick' learned from
his master, it is certain he did not imitate that
dapper lord in neatness of attire, for ' Dick ' was
terribly slovenly, and not either choice or particular
in his language. The reader will make his acquaint-
ance later on in this volume. I dismiss him for the
present with one anecdote. ' Dick ' to the day of
his death never appeared on a racecourse without a
greasy old wallet containmg several hundreds in notes.
The reason he gave for thus incommoding himself
was that he had once lost a ' sure thing ' through
being unable to cover a bet of £500. 'I lost that,'
was his never-faihng lament ; an opportunity he never
purposed to let pass again for want of the ' ready.'

Selwyn, toujours Selwyn, next claims attention ; as
in this year, 1777, March actually seems to have
written his ' dear George ' ^ at least twice. In the first
letter his lordship finds fault with his friend for an

' Appendix C 2.

152 'OLD q'

attack of brick -and -mortar mania — a disease still
common, though contracted mostly by parvenus or
successful traders — blaming him for spending money
on a place he so rarely visits as his seat in Gloucester-
shire. It was no doubt his official capacity that
permitted his lordship to convey to his correspondent
early information of the discontented news from
America, which after developed into the historic
Boston riots, and later into the American War of
Independence.

The next communication^ was evidently quite to
Selwyn's taste, if not in all, at least in one particular.
After promising to write to Madame Fagniani at
Selwyn's dictation, his lordship relates how the felon
Dodd met his fate that morning, evidently to whet
Selwyn's appetite for the more detailed account of
how Dodd suffered, which was to be sent by their
common friend, one Storer. Lord March, who claimed
and enjoyed the services of a chaplain, could not help
adding that the culprit prayed very earnestly . . , ' but
that was his profession ' !

^ Appendix D 2.

CHAPTER XXI

Selwyn troubled — The cause — March ' parliamentises ' Selwyn — His
lordship's Turf record, 1777 — The ducal coronet looms in the distance
— The fourth Duke of Queensberry — His grace credited with a
' brick-and-mortar phobia' — Queensberry recrosses the Border— One
of the new order of things devised by his grace at Drumlanrig —
Brief description of Drumlanrig Castle — The herd of wild cattle there
— Selwyn goes to France— A ' decorative ' letter of Qiieensberry's to
' George ' — His grace's racing record for 1778.

A LETTER from Lord March to Selwyn, dated New-
market, July 9tli, 1777, shows concern for the unhap-
piness of one who was ' wont to set the table on a
roar ' ; a proof that the greatest wits are not always
the happiest of mortals, even when possessed in
abundance of the good things of this life. Who has
not heard of the physician's advice to a woebegone-
looking patient, who ' wanted taking out of himself,'
as it were ? ' Go and see Grimaldi, man ! ' And the
sufferer answered : ' Alas, doctor, I am Grimaldi ! '

What ' George's ' troubles were is difficult to say ;
but reference to the text ^ suggests that the Fagniani

^ Appendix E 2.

154 'OLD q'

affair was the cause of Selwyn's grief. That this is not
far from the truth is proved by a letter of Madame
Fagniani's from Brussels, September 3, expressing re-
gret at not having heard from her daughter's custodian
before, and desiring that the girl shall be returned to
her. The last paragraph of this letter refers to the ob-
ligation Madame Fagniani and her husband consider
themselves under for his kindness to their daughter ;
but, for all this and other expressions of gratitude
and esteem, much irritation is betrayed by the lady.

In his next letter,^ Lord March expresses pleasure
at his friend being so much better ; and then rushes
into political gossip. One of his lordship's references

shows that ' the honourable member for ' was

not always the parliamentary cognomen of members
of the Lower House, as reference will show; while
those who wish for more of March's political small-
talk will lind it in his next two letters - to Selwyn.

The Turf record of his lordship for 1777 shows
an increase as to engagements, which numbered
forty-eight; but the results were only one winning
bracket out of every four races, as compared to one
out of two the year preceding. This is also singular,
as showing that but little love or respect had existed
between him and his then lately deceased relative,

^ Appendix F 2. - Appendices G 2 and H 2.

I

TURF RECORD, 1777 155

the Duchess of Queensberry. But he who hardly made
little difference, if any, in his sporting, racing, or other
amusements on the death of his mother, would
scarcely do so on the death of a not too well-beloved
cousin. Lord March allowed no conventional ideas
of mourning to trouble or interfere with his pursuits.

The results in stakes of his lordship's thirteen
winning brackets ^ this year were about two thousand
six himdred pounds. This sum he no doubt fructified
by judicious bets, on his own or others' horses.

Lord March at this period was very near the ducal
goal, as the relative he hoped to succeed was then in
his eightieth year, and since his Duchess's death had
been in indifferent health. No wonder, then, I find
through one of Selwyn's numerous correspondents
information that his friend ' M. and R.' was in better
health and spirits ' than he remembers to have seen
him for some time ' ; adding, ' his lordship gener-
ally dines with the Duke of Queensberry,' a con-
descension that ' my dear Lord Duke ' must have
been proud of.

His lordship had not long to bore himself with
his benevolent cousin's society, as that worthy noble-
man was gathered to his fathers on October 22nd,
1778, when the Earl of March and Rugien succeeded

^ Racing Analysis.

156 'OLD q'

as the fourth and last Duke of Queensberry,^ then
one of the richest dukedoms in the kingdom. The
accession of his lordship to the dignities of his
house placed him in a position to mdulge his
sportive and other pursuits to their utmost extent.

Miss Mary Townshend, another of Selwyn's corre-
spondents, writes him under date of Guy Fawkes's
Day this year (1778), in which she expresses concern
regarding what the ' new ' Duke of Queensberry may
do with his late cousin's mansion in Burlington
Gardens or Street, saying : ' His own is so much
pleasanter, as to prospect and disposition of the
rooms, that I do not suppose he will live in it him-
self, and I feel a little interest that he should not,
as there will be " bricks and mortar " without end.'
The lady resided, or her family did, near to the late
Duke; but why she should fear the 'bricks and
mortar,' I cannot say, as, except in the pulling out
of the front of his house at Piccadilly some years
previously, I cannot find that his grace's (for so
the third Earl of March and Ruglen must now be
styled) pockets were ever placed at the mercy of
builders.

^ This title is perpetuated through the female line by the
Buccleuch family, who do not, however, possess the then * concrete '
possessions of Queensberry.

DRUMLANRIG CASTLE 157

With the decease of his cousin, the ' new ' Duke
seems to have actually crossed the Border again, just
to see how his late relative's affairs were being con-
ducted, as well as to alter certain old-fashioned but
kind-hearted ways the good old Duke had devised.
Perhaps the most callous alteration be effected was
turning out and selling several of his cousin's old
equine pensioners, who had been superannuated in the
domains of Drumlanrig, where, well housed and fed in
winter, and with untethered liberty in summer, this
good, kind-hearted Duke let his old horses live their
natural lives ; nor on any account would he permit
one to be sold or killed. His successor looked on one
of man's ' best friends ' with a very different eye. A
horse to him seems to have been merely a quadruped,
plus its money-earning power. Therefore, seeing a
portion of the park at Drumlanrig dotted with his
deceased cousin's old coach and other horses, enjoying
well-earned repose, he looked upon them as so much
capital lying idle. To order his 'factor' to turn
these poor brutes into money were words of small
moment to his grace, but of incalculable suffering
to the poor animals, who, after being dispersed at
auction, were seen dragging overladen carts until
death put an end to their half-starved and other
miseries.

158 'OLD q'

It Avill not be out of place to give a short descrip-
tion here of the castle and demesne of Drumlanrig.
The design of this noble pile is attributed to Inigo
Jones ; it was erected for the first Duke of Queens-
berry, who, it is said, spent so much on it during the
ten years it was building (1679-1689), that he indorsed
upon the accounts a strange curse, to prevent his
descendants examining them. The outside appear-
ance of Drumlanrig Castle is not unlike Heriot's
Hospital, Edinburgh ; but here the comparison ends,
as the interior of Drumlanrig, as might be expected,
differs widely from the whitewashed plainness of the
hospital. Grinlin Gibbons, the celebrated carver in
wood, is said to have executed the carving in the
gallery, which contained a fine collection of family
and other portraits.

Perhaps the most interesting sight at Drumlanrig,
after the castle, was, in 1778, a herd of white cattle
descended from the primaeval herds which at one time
roamed wild in these parts, and retained all their
wildness and ferocity. As shy as deer, they were
' stalked ' in much the same way, having to be shot
when any were required for use. They are reported to
have been of middle size, with rather long legs, while
the orbits of the eyes and the tip of the nose were
black; but, at this date (1778), the bulls had lost the

FOURTH DUKE OF QUEENSBERRY 159

manes attributed to them by Boethius, It is not
assumed that the fourth Duke of Queensberry got rid
of this ancient herd, but they do not exist there
now; indeed, have not existed since the end of the
last century.

The third Duke of Queensberry did very much for
Drumlanrig and its neighbourhood — in fact, it might
be said for the county — as he made a road between
twenty and thirty miles long, at his own expense, be-
sides fostering the woollen industries.

On acceding to the title of Queensberry, the Earl of
March was in his fifty-fourth year — an age at which
a man should be as good as he is ever likely to be
— and, although he had waited nearly a quarter of
a century for the honours he inherited, at one time
little anticipated that he would possess the fortunes
of the head of his house.

Having attained by sheer luck the highest dignity
in the peerage, his grace intended to enjoy to the
utmost its privileges and wealth, by a still careful
regard to his living and health.

A letter ^ from Queensberry to Selwyn, evidently of
this year, though undated, shows that Selwyn was
about to leave, or had already left, England for
France. In this his grace exhibits a little more of

^ Appendix I 2.

160 'OLD q'

the taste he is generally accorded to have possessed :
here it descends to bras, or candle-sconces ; but to let
his ' dear George ' have the very best fashionable
advice, his grace consults the Duke of Northumber-
land on this question of vertu. On the other hand,
Selwyn is asked to show his taste by bringing Queens-
berry patterns of silks for 'fur clothes' and some
' spring velvets ' ; which makes one almost think, in
these days, that it must have been a duchess, not
a duke, who wrote. But at this period the upper
classes had not begun to clothe themselves in Aus-
tralian wool or German rags.

A reference to the Racing Analysis for 1778 shows
that the Duke did not this year make any engage-
ments after the death of his cousin, Charles, Duke of
Queensberry. This is so remarkable a departure from
his usual conduct on these occasions as to merit notice.
For this reason his grace's engagements number only
twenty-nine, of which he won nine; value some
eighteen hundred pounds. But his famous horse
Rocket, with, doubtless, Goodison up, only won one
match in this, against four the previous year.

CHAPTER XXII

The Duke of Queensberry busy — Dr. Warner asked to expostulate witli
Selwyn on the Fagniani — His grace goes to Scotland — Writes Selwyn
by deputy — Dr. Warner and his grace — The doctor's opinion of his
grace's characteristics — Amesbury, the Duke's English seat — His
grace's racing record, 1779 — A house-party at Amesbury, 1780 — Con-
clusion of the Selwyn correspondence.

During the year 1779 tlie Duke of Queensberry
was still occupied with business in connection with
the Queensberry estates. About this time he was
much troubled at his 'dear George's' grief concern-
ing the loss of ' Mie-Mie,' ^ to which he alludes in
a letter dated April,^ as well as keeps his correspon-
dent au courant with fashionable and political topics.
The following communication ^ shows the Duke was
somewhat annoyed at Selwyn's conduct concerning
the Fagnianis and 'Mie-Mie.' In this he suggests
seeking the services of their common friend, a Dr.
Warner, to expostulate with ' George,' to whom he
writes: 'How impossible it is for me to be of any

1 A pet name for Mile. Fagniani.

2 Appendix J 2. ^ Appendix K 2.

L

162 'OLD q'

use to you.' Other references are made in relation to
this matter, which, though they do not throw much
fresh light on this controversy, show that Madame
Fagniani was inchned to be wilful where his grace's
wishes were concerned.

A subsequent letter^ of Queensberry's emphasises
all I have recited, as well as begging Selwyn to
return to London, and cease vexing himself over a
matter that ' will ruin your health,' says the valetu-
dinarian Duke, who also informs his friend of his
proposed journey to Scotland the following month.
This visit to his principal Scotch seat the Duke
seems to have looked upon as a fortunate means of
ridding himself for a time from Selwyn's continued
importunities respecting the affair Fagniani. That
this was so a letter ^ dated Drumlanrig, September 8,
confirms. This, however, is not indited by his grace,
but written at his instance by Alexander Crawford,
a person well known to Selwyn, who sets forth
Queensberry's regret at being so occupied that he
had been deprived of the pleasure of correspond-
ing with Selwyn himself — manifestly a white lie.
Then follows a page of political gossip, concluding
with the usual expression of concern and kind feeling
for ' George ' and ' dear Mie-Mie.'

' Appendix L 2. - Appendix M 2.

STRAINED RELATIONS WITH SELWYN 163

I should be wanting in my endeavours to place
before the reader the characteristics of ' Old Q ' if I
failed to record what his intimates thought of him.
Dr. John Warner, for some years rector of Barnes,
Surrey, was a divine almost as broad in sentiment
and language as the 'fox-hunting parsons' of that
period. Nevertheless Warner, if a little worldly, was
not what every Simon Pure of the Church is — a
learned and eloquent preacher. Possibly his reputa-
tion as a wit led him into the society of men of the
Selwyn-Queensberry type, though it must not be
supposed that their company led him to forget the
respect due to his cloth. That he knew both the
Duke of Queensberry and his 'dear George' inti-
mately his letters prove; indeed, I have already
mentioned that his grace asked his services in re-
questing Selwyn to desist from importuning the
Fagnianis concerning Mie-Mie.

Therefore Warner, in his character of 'plain' if
not witty correspondent, writes to Selwyn the 12th
October of this year, 1779, that he had been with
his grace (Queensberry) that morning for nearly
two hours, who is exceedingly well, and heartier
than, he thought, he had ever seen hmi. ' Indeed,
I made him confess as much,' says the examining
divine ; who continues : ' We ran over the whole

164 'OLD q'

house '^ (to which had been made back additions),
and then walked to a Mr. March's ^ in Grosvenor
Place. This communication has another point of
interest — the recital by a common friend of what
the Duke's regard, hojoes, and fears for Mie-Mie were.
Warner then goes on to say :

' At ray abord, in which he was very gracious and .shook
me heartily by the hand, he asked : " Well, and how is
George ? "

'And, as soon as we were alone, "Well, and how does Mie-
Mie go on ? " I thanked him in my heart for the question,
as it gave me so fair an opportunity of telling him what I
thought, and what an accomplished woman she would make,
in the fond hope to please him. But he baffled and
laughed at me, till I was mortified to the quick. "What
would she learn 1 What could she learn ? " " Why, every-
thing." " Pshaw ! she will be praised for what the child of
a poor person would be punished." — (So that it should
seem, when she comes to music, if she should mistake a
note in Voi Amanti, he would have her stripped and
whipped.) — "Such sort of education is all nonsense, and
such people never learn anything as they should do ; and
if they turn out at all well, it depends upon the acquaint-
ance they have at entering into the world." '

This conversation is representative of his grace's
cynicism and disregard for letters. Humanity and the
World were his schoolhouse and college ; and to him

^ Piccadilly, pi-esumably. - His grace's surgeon.

MISS MIE-MIE 165

talent depended upon whether that arbiter of half
mankind, Fashion, regarded it to be conime il faut or
not. His grace's views, though fortunately not exact,
are far from being devoid of truth. But what has been
set forth, together with a lot more of the doctor's
catechisations in a similar strain, at last attempts to
force a confession from the Duke as to his real feeling
towards Mie-Mie and her accomplishments, which
was fenced by the wily Queensberry, who, though
loving the child as the apple of his eye, was far
too cautious to give it expression against himself as
Selwyn did. That his grace intended Mie-Mie
should have his regard, whether professed or not,
will be proved.

In reference to this letter of Warner's, his grace's
well- acted nonchalance brought forth this epitome of
his character :

' I must do him justice to say that he seemed to rejoice
in your happiness, and, as I doubt not but that you have
received many marks of his sympathy, it is a just cause for
your loving him. But as to myself, I have many acquaint-
ances in an humbler sphere of life, with as much informa-
tion, with as strong sense, and, as far as appears to me,
with abundantly more amiable qualities of the heart than
his Grace of Queensberry.'

Dr. Warner's estimate of his grace, derived from

166 'OLD q'

irritation at being outmanceuvred by a man of the
world, are not far from the truth, except that he
somewhat underrated the Duke's common -sense,
on which a far better authority later lays great
stress.

In October, Queensberry paid a visit to his English
country seat — Amesbury, in Wilts, a handsome pile,
built after designs by Inigo Jones. This estate of the
Queensberrys then consisted of about five thousand
two hundred acres ^ of arable and other land, of which
the mansion and its demesne occupied one thousand
acres. It was here that Catharine, Duchess of
Queensberry, spent most of her time; while the
late Duke favoured this seat as well. By his suc-
cessor the place appears to have been little cared
for ; indeed, he subsequently dismantled it to furnish
a villa on the Thames, which Walpole describes as a
palace. However, I am departing from chronological
order in mentioning this now.

Though Queensberry made thirty-one racing en-
gagements this year, he only won the same number
of events as in the previous year — nine. The
monetary value of these was all but insignificant
to his grace — only some seven hundred pounds.
Indeed, this and the two following years, Queens-

1 Sold after his grace's death.

THE DUKE AT NEWMARKET 167

berry's Turf star was on the decline both as to
engagements, events won, and stakes.

Early in 1780, the Duke of Queensberry^ writes
to Selwyn from Tunbridge, whither he had gone
for the waters; although he seems dubious of their
efficacy, but determines to give them a fair trial. By
this his grace was unwell, not seriously, as he
speaks of a visit to Brighthelmstone a few days
later, and a return to London and its festivities
shortly after.

In July the Duke went to Newmarket, and, though
one of his horses won a fifty-guinea match on the 11th,
he writes 2 on the 15th to Selwyn, speaking of his
good luck the previous day. In spite of his losing four
hundred pounds by a horse of the Duke of Grafton's
breaking its leg, he had had success; indeed, but
for that accident he would ' have made a very great
day of it.' The match referred to was the only one
his grace's stable won that meeting. These remarks
clearly prove that if his horses were not making
money by winning races or matches, their owner
was in the ring. Hence it is difficult to judge
the exact results of his racing, as, though I have
just referred to the poorness of his racing re-
cords for this and the next year, his grace's own

^ Appendix N 2. ■' Appendix 0 2.

168 'OLD q'

statement shows he was satisfied with his Turf
speculations.

In a subsequent communication/ which is un-
dated, his grace refers to losing at the beginning of
the week, 'but won yesterday, and, if I have the
same good -fortune to-day, I shall be at home with
a " duck." ' These prove that the Queensberry rent-
roll and honours had not the slightest effect in
allaying his grace's love of wagering, or very much
effect on his ordinary manner of living. True, he was
able to maintain a larger establishment, but his
additional expenses appear to have stayed there, as I
cannot find that his racing establishment was much
increased, if at all, after his accession to the dukedom :
while the stake value of his matches and other
racing engagements was much as usual; though,
probably, extra metal told in his favour in the
betting-ring or at the gaming-table — i.e. he could
make larger bets, wagers, or stakes than when
dependent only on the revenues of March and
Ruglen.

A reference to the letter dated August 31st, 1780,^
shows that Queensberry was preparing for a house-
party at Amesbury, whither he was going, accompanied
by several friends who had been fellow-guests with

^ Appendix P 2. ^ Appendix Q 2.

ENTERTAINS CHARLES JAMES FOX 1G9

him at Becket. This ktter is important in many
ways, as it shows that Charles James Fox had dined
with his grace at Amesbury on his way to Bridgewater,
as well as showing, by events that followed, that this
was almost the last time Queensberry entertained at
Amesbury. Lastly, this letter concludes the Selwyn-
March-Queensberry correspondence.

CHAPTER XXIII

The Duke of Queensberry's new cook — Dr. Warner's opinion of his grace —
He acquires the Earl of Cholmondeley's residence at Richmond,
Surrey — Queensberry's racing record for 1780-82 — Loses appointment
as Lord of Police — Sends racehorses to France — Turf record for 1783
— A political bet made by his grace — A suggestive letter written at
his grace's dictation — Racing, 1784-5 — Created an English peer by the
title of Baron Douglas — Walpole's opinion of his grace's Richmond
residence.

A LUXURY his grace indulged in as part and parcel
of an increased entourage was a cook at ninety
guineas a year — a large sum in those times, but
one a present-day chef de cuisine would consider
journeyman's pay. Selwyn retained a cook at fifty-
two guineas, on which Warner naively remarks, ' and
yet we could live with her,' when alluding to his
grace's higher-priced article, who he suggests ought
to be twice as good as the Matson artist.

Another reference to his grace by the observant
Warner is worthy of remark, as his blunt recitals
afford considerable insight into Queensberry's char-
acter. In a letter dated September 13th, 1780, to
Selwyn, he makes the following reference : * ... I

DR. WARNER AND 'OLD Q' 171

forgot to tell you that, when I wrote to the Duke
of Queensberry according to your directions, after
giving him the information you desired, I ended
with, " I should be glad to give your grace any piece
of news I might now and then pick up, if I thought
it would be agreeable to you ; but I am rather short
of paper, and, when your grace gives up your claim
upon Mr. Selwyn's stationer, he says it shall be
transferred to me." I hope you will think that the
hint was a very gentle and very distant one, and
by no means improper, as it cannot be supposed,
with his princely fortune, that he would hold this
claim but from mere inattention. But I have
not heard from his grace, which, you will say, I
had no need to tell you.' That this letter was
a reproach on some matter now uncognisable is
evident ; but to place any construction on it without
further evidence or facts being adduced, would be
unjust.

The fourth Duke of Queensberry is an unique
instance of a nobleman, with seats sufficient to keep
up a peregrination round the calendar, localising
himself almost as soon as the concrete possessions
of his family devolved on him. Thus, this year,
1780, he purchased from the descendants of George,
third Earl of Cholmondeley, the mansion which that

172 'OLD q'

nobleman had erected at Richmond, Surrey, in 1708,
upon part of the ground occupied by the old palace.
Hither his grace removed the furniture and paint-
ings from Amesbury, In the hall was hung the
tapestry which screened the walls of the Court of
Chancery where the father of his eccentric cousin,
Earl Clarendon, had presided. Between this villa,
Piccadilly, and his house ^ at Newmarket, his grace
spent most of his time, deserting his ancestral seats.
The world of London was quite good enough for his
grace ; indeed, he was once asked if he did not find
London dull out of season, there being so few people
about ? when he replied, ' There 's more people about
London than in the country.'

The Duke of Queensberry's racing engagements for
the year 1780 numbered twenty-two, with a winning-
record of three; value about three hundred pounds
in stakes : which, a 'priori, gives no guide to
the actual monetary results of his grace's Turf
transactions for this or any year. A glance at the
appended Racing Analysis for 1781 does not show a
much better condition of affairs either for engage-
ments or events won.

^ Known as Queensberry House ; it stood on the side of the town
nearest the London road, and, fifty years since, was in a very woe-
begone condition.

SENDS RACERS TO FRANCE 173

In 1782, Queensberry lost his office as Lord of
Police, consequent on the abolition of that depart-
ment; this gave him a little more leisure for his
favourite pursuits. A portion of this time was
devoted to overhauling his racing stable, when he
came up to quite his old 'M. and R' form, as, out
of thirty-three engagements, he won thirteen ; value
about three thousand guineas in stakes alone. The
most important event won was the Revolution Stakes
of twelve subs., two hundred guineas each, won by
his horse Guido.

The year following, Queensberry is credited with
sending racehorses to France. Our volatile neigh-
bours were then taking to the sport as a half-and-
half sort of national pastime ; though the stakes just
referred to by name was a much more national
' amusement ' to them, though not always won
by ' shortened heads ' ; though racehorses win by
lengths or heads. This, however, is too historical
and political for these pages. What success his grace
had across the Channel I cannot say. But his Turf
record here did not equal that of the previous years.
Out of thirty-six engagements, only seven were
' carried to credit ' ; value about thirteen hundred
pounds.

In March 1784, Queensberry showed his contempt

174 'OLD q'

for politics by ' punting,' or laying a bet he would
not have ' insulted ' any horse in his racing stable or
on the Turf by laying. This appears in the 'bet-
book ' of White's, where is recorded :

'The Duke of Queensberry bets Mr. Grenville ten
guineas to five, that Mr. Fox does not stand a poll for
Westminster, if the Parliament should be dissolved within
a month from the date hereof.

' N.B. — If a coalition takes place between Mr. Pitt and
Mr. Fox, this bet to be off.

' March 3rd, 17 8i. Paid.'

' Politics ' was evidently a species of chicanery that
his grace, as a Turf and gambling professor, could or
did not comprehend. Therefore, a desultory ten was
quite enough for the 'black animal'^ to carry of
his money for any Parliamentary Handicap. But I
doubt if Queensberry would have offered or accepted
a similar stake to or from Fox on the racecourse,
subscriptions-rooms, or at the gaming-table.

A month prior to the above — February 10th —
Queensberry instructed his steward to write to his
Scottish factor concerning a petition he had received
by letter from Thornhill (near Drumlanrig) respecting
a piece of land for a site to build a meeting-house.

1 A term by which Charles James Fox was known.

A GRANTED PETITION 175

The Duke grants the desire, but assigns quite a
curious reason for not contributing towards the
edifice. As the letter is brief, I insert it to show
the point :

' Piccadilly, 10th February 1784.

' Sir, — I have orders from the Duke of Queensberry to
send you the enclosed petition, and to tell you, that, as he
formally promised, so he now agrees to give the peti-
tioners a bit of ground at Thornhill to build them [sic] a
meeting-house ; and the Duke desires you will set off to
them a bit of ground for that purpose. But his grace is
not inclined to contribute anything more towards it,
thinking it would be better to conform themselves to the
Established Church.' ^

Reasons good and sufficient from one who was
not a pillar nor an ornament of any religious sect :
though, as I have shown, he at one time kept a
' guide, philosopher, and friend ' in the form of a
chaplain.

The racing form of Queensberry's stable this year,
1784, was poor, as five winning results out of thirty-
two engagements prove. The principal event won
was the Claret Stakes, at Newmarket, which con-
sisted of seven subs., two hundred guineas each,
though without this the value of the stakes otherwise
won would not exceed seven hundred pounds.

^ From Drumlanrig and the Douglases, by C. T. Ramage, 1876.

176 ' OLD Q '

Nor did the year following repay his grace, viewed
from a simple ' stake ' point of view, for the increased
number of engagements he incurred amounted to
forty-four. Of these only eight ' obtained winning
brackets ' ; value about eleven hundred pounds.
Queensberry, however, was now in a position to well
afford the pastime of racing, without troubling him-
self as to the monetary results. But did he ever
say Jam satis ? I think not : for he certainly never
kept horses to look at.

It was not until 1786 that his grace was made an
English peer, for which purpose he was created Baron
Douglas of Amesbury, Wilts. This was the lowest
honour that would entitle him to a seat in the Lords
by right, independent of selection as one of the six-
teen representative peers for Scotland. To one so
betitled as his grace, baronage was, perhaps, the
least burdensome of the various degrees of nobility
the Crown could grant. However, it answered the
purpose as well as if its recipient had been created
Duke of Newmarket.

Everything was in order by this time at Queens-
berry House, Richmond, as Walpole ^ went over this
year, 1786, under the chaperonage of Selwyn, a visit
he records in one of his gossiping letters :

^ Walpole's Memoirs and Lttlers.

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WILLIAM, FOURTH DUKE OF QUEENSBERRY.

THE RICHMOND ' VILLA ' 177

'. . . I went 3''esterday to see the Duke of Queensberry's
palace at Richmond, under the conduct of George Selwyn
" the concierge " [sic]. You cannot imagine how noble it
looks now all the Cornbury pictures from Amesbury are
hung up there. The great hall, the eating-room, and the
corridor are covered with whole and half lengths of the
Royal family, favourites, ministers, peers, and judges of
the reign of Charles the First. Not one are original, I
think 1 — at least, not one fine ; yet altogether they look very
respectable. And the house is so handsome, and the views
so rich, and the day so fine, that I could have been more
pleased if — for half an hour — I could have seen the real
palace that once stood on that spot, and the persons repre-
sented walking about . . .'

In a subsequent letter, Walpole mentions the
Prince of Wales and. Mrs. Fitzherbert dining with his
grace, of which Queensberry had told him, and who
also remarked, ' On the very spot where Hved Charles
the First, and where all the portraits of his principal
courtiers hang. Queensberry has taken to that palace
at last, and frequently has company and music there
of an evening. I intend to go.' A Queensberry
House now stands at Richmond; but, although
erected on part of the site of his grace's palace, it
is only the shadow of what once stood there, though

1 This can scarcely be correct, as many of the art treasures
of Cornbury were vei-y fine.

M

178 'OLD q'

almost a resurgam in some details of Queensberry's
once famous villa.^

^ Queensberry House must not be confounded with the then
existent Petersham Lodge, where Catharine, Duchess of Queens-
berry, had dwelt, and under whose protection Gay there wrote his
fables. Petersham Lodge was demolished long ago, and its grounds
incorporated with Richmond Park.

I

CHAPTER XXIV

A noteworthy omission from Iiis grace's list of peccadilloes — A gluttonous
wager — Racing in 1786 — Goodison and Cliifney — Turf results for
1787-88 — A. faux pas — His racing record, 1789-90 — The Duke and
Madame du Barry — King George in., Queensberry, and Madame du
Barry — His grace's opinion of Chifney — ' Old Q ' : why so called —
Anecdote related of his grace by Lord Brougham.

Of the various forms of gaming and wagering the
fourth Duke of Queensberry indulged in, it is to his
credit that I have not found that he accorded any
support to the ' noble ' or ' ignoble ' art of self-defence
— alias pugihsm. To assert positively that he never
interested himself in the ' fancy ' would be a difficult
statement to corroborate. But I have not come
across a reference which points to even a predilection
for this 'sport.' Nor do I find his grace a patron
of cocking, bull-baiting, ratting, dog-fighting, or any
pursuit of a similar gentle nature (?), in which many
of our hereditary legislators then sought recreation.

Perhaps the most bestial wager his grace made
was that of a thousand guineas with Sir John Lade,
as to which of the two could produce a man to eat

180 'OLD q'

the most at one sitting. Sir John accepted the bet,
and a day was appointed for the match, of which
exact details are wanting, to test the capacity of the
contesting gluttons. The Duke was prevented from
being present, but appointed a deputy to look after
his interests and acquaint him with the result. This
person wrote the followmg laconic letter :

' My Lord, — I have not time to state particulars, but
merely to acquaint your grace that your man beat his
antagonist by a pig and an apple-pie. (Signed) J. P.'

What other articles were consumed to permit the
victor to win by the aforesaid dainty morsels, good-
ness only knows !

Queensberry made a desperate effort in this year,
1786, to increase his Turf success, so far as mere
racing is concerned. He incurred fifty engagements ;
but only won seven, and these did not much exceed
seven hundred pounds in stakes. Independent of
bets on other horses or matches, his grace can
scarcely be said to have made his stable pay its way
by this. But, for former reasons, that did or need
not have troubled him.

In July 1787, Goodison (no doubt by his grace's
instructions) engaged the then celebrated jockey,
Chifney, to ride his horse Mulberry in a match against

CHIFNEY AND GOODISON 181

Lord Clermont's Markho; though, good horse as
Mulberry had run (and did run after), he was beaten.
Chifhey asserts that in this race he could not get him
out, but ' Hell-fire Dick,' who had been watching the
race, declared to several patrons of the Turf who were
present that Chifney had ridden his mount ' booty.'
This a certain James Barton, styled ' esquire,' re-
sented, saying he ' would ram his stick down his
(Goodison's) throat if he dared to say so again,' a
threat this esquire should have left the performance
of to his knight. However, Barton told Chifney what
Goodison had said of the performance, and the latter
henceforth, rightly or Avrongly, never missed an op-
portunity of abusing Chifney.

Most of his grace's races in 1787 were won by
Mulberry, four out of seven being placed to his
winning record out of fifty-one engagements. The
four events won by the latter horse amounted to
some seventeen hundred pounds, out of about two
thousand pounds m the aggregate. Next year, 1788,
the Duke reduced his racing engagements to thirty-
five ; though he showed a far better record, winning
seven events, value over three thousand pounds. It
was in this year that his celebrated horse. Dash, first
ran.

During 1789 the health of his Majesty King

182 'OLD q'

George iii. created much concern. The madness that
unhappily ensued is historic; nor would that sad
condition be alluded to except for its after-con-
sequences to my subject.

Many were the speculations as to whether his
Majesty would or could recover his mental equili-
brium. Therefore, in a sense of the paradox, ' The
king is dead, long live the king ! ' many paid their
court to the Prince of Wales. Among those who
made their way to this new fountain of honour was
his Grace of Queensberry, who, though perhaps a
Uttle 'previous' in not waiting for Dr. Nature to
solve the problem of his royal master's malady,
did, however, that which a cautious and prudent
Scot would do under similar circumstances. He
journeyed to Windsor and made personal inquiries
as to how his Majesty's health was progressing, and
what hopes were entertained of his recovery. Nay,
he even took professional advice on the King's malady,
seeking Dr. Warren's opinion. Finally he reached
the conclusion that his Majesty's condition was in-
curable, when he gave his allegiance to the Prince
of Wales's party, and even went to the York meeting
with him in the August of that year.

Eventually, when the King recovered, Queensberry
was dismissed from office at the instance of the

DISMISSED FROM OFFICE 183

Queen and Pitt. The loss of a thousand per annum
was nothing to this Dives, but his amour propre
was profoundly hurt. Nevertheless, other officials of
noble birth, including the Marquis of Lothian, Lord
Carteret, and Lord Malmesbury, received their conge
for the same reasons. The Duke's desertion of his
sovereign does not seem to have parted their friend-
ship, for, in spite of this little peccadillo of his old
lord -in -waiting, the King remained on good terms
with him.

1789 has been recorded by superficial Turf writers
as Queensberry's ' red-letter racing year,' an assertion
which the reader could, if he hked, deny. True, the
results 1 are better, if the stake values are alone con-
sidered, than for some few years past, amounting to
over three thousand six hundred pounds, though the
average of the events won to engagements is much
as the past years — eight to thirty-two. However, the
year under review records some good matches for
fairly large sums, two thousand five hundred guineas
alone being credited to three events won by Bash.
The subsequent year, 1790, shows how fitful a
thing even a cleverly managed racing establishment
is ; as, though he started at sixty-six with an intention
to uphold his racing laurels, the Duke of Queensberry

^ Vide Eacing Analysis.

184 'OLD q'

had to sit down at its termination and reflect whether
nine hundred guineas made by winning four out of
thirty-nine engagements incurred was worth ' th'
pother,' though he had made up the difference
between the cost and maintenance of his stud and
its winnings in other ways.

Whoever sought and obtained Queensberry's ser-
vices in committing the following breach of etiquette,
the fact is indisputable that no better nor more
appropriate choice could have been made than his
grace to introduce Madame du Barry to his Majesty
King George iii. That this was done during Sep-
tember 1791 we learn from Walpole : ^ ' . . . " Old Q "
— Queensberry — presented Madame du Barry to the
King on the terrace at Windsor, and the King of
England did not turn the same side that the late King
of France used to turn to her, but the reverse, as he
told Lord Onslow himself. It was a strange oblivion
of etiquette in an ancien gentilhomvie de la chambre,
and more so of one dismissed.' By this, there may
have been no instigator, except that the dashing
courtesan had prevailed on the Duke to commit an
act of folly. But what shall be said for the lady's
savoir faire ? The scribe of Marble Hill intimates
that although his Majesty George iii. turned his back

' Letters and Memoirs of Walpole.

REASONS FOR THE TERM — 'OLD Q' 185

on his late brother -monarch's favourite, his better -
bred (?) son and heir did not.

That neither Goodison nor Queensberry considered
Chifney a very ' clean potato ' the former's assertion
that he played ' booty ' on Escape proves, while the
latter always condemned his conduct in that race.
Perhaps this expression of his grace will tend to
throw further light on that miserable affair.

As allusion has recently been made to his grace's
popular nickname, ' Old Q,' it may not therefore be
out of place to now explain its origin; a task I
have not seen attempted by any latter-day reference
to the eccentric Duke. On most of his vehicles his
grace contented himself with displaying in place of
armorial bearings a well-developed Q, surmounted by
a ducal coronet. A passer-by, seeing a little old man
snugly ensconced in a carriage thus distinguished,
naturally concluded it was ' Old Q ' himself. How-
ever, his grace had other nicknames which, with
the exception of one bestowed by H.R.H. the Prince
of Wales, need no mention. Nor can I fully explain
why H.R.H. called the Duke ' Old Tick.' The nick-
name, in a measure, was suggested by a dame of Po-
mona— an applewoman — then a more privileged class
at the entrance to clubs than their descendants have
since been ; but further reference is here impossible.

186 'OLD q'

The Duke of Queensberry is not the only noble-
man who then, or has since, disdained the outward
display of heraldic insignia, as Lord Brougham had
the same simple taste, and the initial on his carriage
gave rise to the saying that though a B was outside
there was a wasp within. Mentioning this great
lawyer reminds me of an anecdote related by him
when before the Lords' Committee on ' Lord Camp-
bell's Libel Act,' in reference to the Duke :

' The Duke of Queensberry,' he said, ' was greatly
alarmed, like many others, at the condition of affairs
here and on the Continent in 1792, and thought the
great climax was at hand. He used to abuse the
seditious writings of that day, calling them and
their authors very naughty names. One day some
toad-eater who accompanied his grace added, " Ay,
indeed, and full of such falsehoods too," animad-
verting on his patron's favourite theme. " No ! "
exclaimed the Duke, "not falsehoods. They are all
so true ; that is what makes them so abominable and
dangerous." '

In 1791, his grace lost the only real friend he ever
had, from whom he had not been above asking or
receiving assistance, and one to whom he had tendered
much sound advice — George Augustus Selwyn. The
death of this old friend, at the age of seventy-two,

DEATH OF GEORGE AUGUSTUS SELWYN 187

bereft Queensberry of a link with the past. But what
of Mie-Mie in this affliction, of whom Sehryu had
again obtained possession from the Fagnianis ? The
loss of her father by adoption, though it deprived the
girl of one of the most tender and kind-hearted of
foster-parents, did not- deprive Mie-Mie of her bene-
factor's thoughtful care. Selwyn left her the bulk of
his private fortune — some £33,000. Whether this
magnanimous bequest had any effect on his grace's
future conduct, after events must show.

CHAPTER XXV

Decline of his grace's racing 'star' — Richard, seventh Earl of Barrymore,
and Queensberry compared as Turfites — Racing, 1791-3 — Lord Gros-
venor's losses on the Turf : an equal sum said to have been won by
the Duke — The ' Father of the Turf ' : candidates for the honour —
Recipe for making a jockey — Queensben-y's Turf record, 1794 — His
grace killed by the press — Monody on his supposed death — Racing
results, 1796 — The Duke's appetite.

The racing star of William, fourth. Duke of Queens-
berry, may now be said to have reached its zenith, and
began surely though slowly to decline.

In all outdoor pastimes, whether of sport or pleasure,
where the physical powers of man or beast play an
important part, age is a never-failing factor. There-
fore Queensberry, 'within hail' of seventy, was not
' M. and R.' at forty as regards his ability to ride in
matches or trials and to test first-hand the ' paces '
of his racing prodigies.

The Duke of Grafton's remark to John Day, whom
he accused of being a disciple of Hermes, by saying,
' You 're a thief, John Day, you stole that race,' may
be twisted into Father Time robbing 'Old Q' of

RICHARD, SEVENTH EARL OF EARRYMORE 189

his racing energies, as well as some of his Turf
acumen.

I have therefore to chronicle a blank as a winning
record for his grace's stable in the year 1791, though
he incurred twenty-one engagements.

But, among other shrewd owners, there existed at
this period perhaps the best racing Proteus New-
market had seen, Richard, seventh Earl of Barrymore,^
who intuitively possessed as much racing knowledge
as Queensberry, without having served so long an
apprenticeship as the Duke had. Here the com-
parison ends, as the qualities that made his grace
one of the authorities of the Turf — forethought,
calculation, and judgment — were entirely lacking in
the Irish Earl. Nevertheless, his grace's deep-red
with black cap went down many a time before the
blue-and-yellow jacket of Barry more. On the other
hand, when Queensberry thought he had the slightest
chance, neither he nor his racing factotum, Goodison,
left any means unused to secure success if they could
not command it.

The result of the Duke's racing in 1791 seems to
have had a chilling effect on his ardour — (at nigh
threescore years and ten) — for the sport, as, in 1792,

^ See The Last Earls of Barrymore, by John Robert Robinson,
Sampson, Low and Co.: London, 1894.

190 'OLD q'

he only incurred eight engagements ; though he made
a respectable show as to results, winning three. This
led him to add four the next year, 1793, as to en-
gagements, making twelve. Of these he won only a
miserable £50 plate at Epsom.

A writer in the New Sporting Magazine of 1793
alludes to Lord Grosvenor's persistency in the ' sport
of kings,' though the following of the pursuit was
estimated to have then cost him £300,000 — i.e.
money actually lost. The Duke of Queensberry had
been, I should think, a winner of a similar amount
during his racing career.

The subsequent year, 1794, a discussion arose as
to who should be called the 'Father of the Turf,'
since Lord George Cavendish's decease. The com-
petitors for this distinction were soon winnowed down
to two — the Duke of Queensberry and Lord Clermont,
who, singularly, were both ' built ' on the same lines as
to certain moral or immoral tendencies. However,
zealous a sportsman as the head of the Fortescues
was, he cannot be compared to ' Old Q ' for thorough
knowledge in the 'art and mysteries' of racing.
What says the poetic prescription, How to make a
Jockey ? —

* Take a pestle and mortar of moderate size.
Into Queensberry's head put Bunbury's eyes ;

HOW TO MAKE A JOCKEY 191

Cut Dick Vernon's throat and save all the blood —
To answer the purpose there 's none half so good ;
Pound Clermont to dust, you '11 find it expedient,
The world cannot furnish a better ingredient.
From Derby and Bedford take plenty of spirit —
Successful or not, they have always that merit.
Tommy Paston's address ; John Wastell's advice ;
And a touch of Prometheus, it 's done in a trice. '

This clearly shows what sporting men thought of
Queensberry's ability. Lord Clermont, nevertheless,
followed his grace in some respects; like him, he
was not above going round his own stable, and pre-
ferred his own eyesight to others' tongues. Indeed,
whether in the spirit of emulation or not, he even
stuck religiously to the same form of headgear as his
grace — the three-cornered hat, then out of vogue.

1794 was as a racing year humiliating to the Duke,
as, out of seventeen engagements, not one caught the
judge's eye ; but ' win or lose,' he stuck manfully to
the sport, and increased his engagements to twenty-
three the following year ; of these he won four — value
about six hundred pounds.

The world — or that portion of it represented by
penny-a-liners, many of whom are now honoured with
the term journalists — thought ' Old Q ' had lived
long enough; they therefore began this year, and
for many a one after, to kill him with common con-

192 'OLD q'

sent and printers' ink — a painless, impli3'^sical sort of
death, to which one becomes accustomed in time.
Now, whether these manufacturers of events were
either tired of the ill-success of their former ink-
slinging, or whether they had as much nauseated
their public as they had given pleasure to his 'do'
and 'go-as-you-please' grace, I will not stop to
decide : evidently, they felt that they had worn their
subject bare for copy, and they now thought he
might be worth more to them dead than alive.

Therefore, one of the ' fourth estate ' wrote a monody
on the Duke's death. This, it is affirmed, was recited
at the Jockey Club, though a saving clause is inserted
by my authority — On the Supposed Death of Old Q.
Many of these rhymes and jests exist. I shall insert
two or three of the best in due course; but the
following is a somewhat scarcer, if not choicer, pro-
duction than many :

*Non mortes, sed mores, facient martyres.'—^r. Austin.

* Snug, but done up, a shepherd grey

Must rot beneath the sod ;
Cherubs in cotton wrap his heart,
And bear it to his God.

* The " gem " of Piccadilly 's lost,

The first, or last, of men.
" Take him, bright Heaven," Newmarket roared,
And Epsom groaned, "Amen !"

RETRIBUTION IN RHYME 193

' Spadilli and Banti hung their ears ;

Pam snivelled and looked sad ;
The " Queen of Hearts " with horror gazed,
And all the " Knaves " went mad.

' " He 's borrow'd," " he 's gone home," " he 's dished,"
" He 's thrown," " his race is done,"
"He's had," "he's smash'd," "he's tipt all Nine,"
" He 's spilt," " he 's cut and run ! "

' He 's wUIed Dame " Phillips " all his skin,
To "Liptrap" all his spirit,
His brains " St. Luke's," his blood to " Brooks,"
To "Boothby" all his merit.

' When ragged virtue 'neath a hedge
His dexter eye surveyed,
Begashed and gored by sportive fate,
He cheered the half-clad maid.

' Oh ! lifeless, luckless, starless Q !
C^ipid's bonne louche and dread.
The Nymphs 'clept Cyprian shall trim,
And make him decent — dead !

' That is if Death, or Hell, or Jove,
Or Tipstaff, which you will :
While ladies finger his remains,
Can the peer lie still 1 '

The customs — I cannot say manners — of those days,
no doubt, called for this and similar tributes in verse
and prose to those worthy or unworthy of public notice

N

194- 'OLD Q'

or comment. It is almost certain that Queensbeny's
shortcomings would have been less pronounced, had
they not been made just a little too much of for
copy. The eager curiosity with which his move-
ments and doings were watched, by both sexes of
all classes, demanded reports concerning the object
of their notice, true or false. For it remains an in-
disputable fact, that no man of those times did so
little worthy of emulation, and yet had received
so much notice, as his grace, as for nearly the
allotted span of man's earthly career he was the
observed of all observed. But enough — I am antici-
pating his funeral exordium.

In 1796, though the journals had killed him,
Queensberry made fourteen racing engagements —
result, a cipher; a condition of racing affairs he
must have become accustomed to. Though he ran
some half-dozen new horses in the year following, in
twenty-four engagements he only secured a ' verdict '
for three events, value £150.

The Duke's study of health found him at seventy-
three with almost unimpaired appetite, if not digestion.
Mrs. Trench, who dined with him in 1798, remarks,
' He is very ill, has a violent cough, but will eat an
immense dinner, and then complains of a digestion
penible.' This lady gives some tittle-tattle concern-

WHY STOCKS FELL IN 1798 195

ing Sheridan's translation of The Death of Rolla,
under tlie name of Pizarro, which brought him
£5000 a week for five weeks. The sentiments of
loyalty uttered by Rolla were supposed to have had
so good an effect, that his Grace of Queensberry, on
asking his broker why stocks had fallen, received for
answer : ' Because they have left off playing Pizarro
at Drury Lane.' Who will say that the 'sock and
buskin' is not a power even amongst 'bulls and
bears ' ?

CHAPTER XXVI

Amesbury becomes a convent — The Duke's racing record for 1798 — His
renewed delight in music — Collects books, shells, etc. — Sir Nathaniel
Wraxall's references— Racing, 1799-1800 — Dines out — Dining then
and now — His grace ill — Engages a resident physician — Purchases
the Countess of Northampton's Eichmond villa — Anecdote of Wil-
berforce concerning his grace— Orgies at Richmond — The Duke
goes to law with the local authorities as to part of his lawn — Result
and effect.

Soon after the dismantlement of Amesbury House,
his grace either gave the mansion or let it at a nomi-
nal rent to a society of exiled nuns of the Augustine
order, who had fled from Louvain on the breaking
out of the French Revolution. Here they flourished
for many years (until the beginning of the nine-
teenth century, when they removed into Dorsetshire)*
receiving what was then a great privilege — liberty to
wear their proper habits, and to practise the duties
enjoined by their vows.

On May the 18th, 1798, a quiet matrimonial
alliance took place ; quiet in the sense that the
fashionable world did not array itself in the ' war-
paint ' of ' weddings,' and fill to overflowing the then

MARRIAGE OF MLLE. FAGNIANI 197

favourite sanctuary for those ceremonies — St. George's,
Hanover Square. No, the then little town of South-
ampton sufficed for Lord Yarmouth (commonly knoAvn
by the scarcely aristocratic nickname of ' Herrings,'
to which some — in allusion, it is said, to his auburn
complexion — prefixed 'Red'), to enter the bonds of
matrimony with Mile. Fagniani. I need not stop to
inquire whether simple love dictated this match —
very simple in its pure, unalloyed form — or the young
lady's expectations, which gossip assumed were to be
large — far in excess of Selwyn's legacy. To assert the
latter motive might be uncharitable ; therefore, for
fear of injustice, I will assume that pure love and
affection did dictate this match, and likewise in-
fluenced Lord and Lady Yarmouth to secure the
next residence in Piccadilly to that of the Duke of
Queensberry !

The year 1798 only brought one racing result, out
of sixteen entries, to his grace's stud. But Queens-
berry had found consolation in other amusements
than cards or horses. About this period he took
great pleasure in attending the opera, oratorios, and
concerts. Besides having his amusement largely
administered to by 'prima donnas and other artistes,
his grace took up the collection of books, shells, and
such other bric-d-brac as a long purse and leisure

198 'OLD q'

can procure. "What he saw in tomes to make him
undertake forming a library, can best be proved by a
remark he made to Sir Nathaniel Wraxall, which I
am about to relate. Or, perhaps, Pope's allusion,

' In books, not authors, curious is my lord,'

may explain his fancy for collecting volumes together.
That he placed no special value on their contents is
well known.

Sir Nathaniel Wraxall, traveller and historian,
states in his Memoirs that about this time he lived
in almost daily intercourse with the Duke of Queens-
berry, certainly during the last seven years of his
lengthy existence ; and that, although his frame had
become all but a wreck, his mind was fresh and
vigorous — another proof of the sword (the mind)
wearing out its scabbard (the body). Wraxall re-
cords that no man ever retained sounder judgment,
or displayed more animation, for his years, than his
grace ; that his manners were noble and polished, and
his conversation was gay and entertaining, frequently
original, though, adds the perspicuous writer,
' rarely instructive, frequently libertine.' But, for all
that, sufficient might be gained from his conversation
to show a strong, sagacious, masculine intellect, com-
bined with a thorough knowledge of the world and

SIR NATHANIEL WRAXALL's RECORD 199

man. To sum up, this authority proceeds to say, if
asked to name an individual who had been endowed
by Nature with the keenest common-sense of his
kind, he would have unhesitatingly selected the
Duke of Queensberry. And this in spite of the
then scarce faultless purity of his founts of
knowledge — the turf, the theatre, the drawing-room,
the gambling-table, and that portion of the civilised
world called Society. For the study or reading of
books his grace at all times manifested to Wraxall
a great and unconcealed contempt, and he once put a
poser to Sir Nathaniel by asking ' what advantage or
solid benefit he had ever derived from their study ? '
(this was asked with more immediate reference to
Wraxall's historical knowledge). Wraxall confesses
that he was unable to answer this satisfactorily
either to himself or his questioner. Sometimes his
grace and his newly made friend would fall out,
brought about by the octogenarian being rendered
irritable from some one or other of his numerous
infirmities, but these tiffs were merely passing 'ripples '
upon his otherwise placid temperament, caused by the
ills of age. When they occurred, Wraxall knew they
would be speedily forgotten and atoned for, as a note
in pencil he received from Queensberry after one of
these little ebullitions of irritability testifies : ' I hope,'

200 'OLD q'

writes the Duke, ' you will accept this as an apology
for my irritable behaviour when you called this
morning. I will explain all when I see you.'

The reader who has followed me thus far in my
tribute to his grace's racing career will not be
surprised to find that the 'winter of discontent'
had now set in as to his racing. In 1799 he
ran two horses in five engagements, winning one;
while the following year saw eight races contested
by two of his grace's horses ; of these they won two
— value about eighty pounds.

Though deprived in a great measure of abiUty to
frequent races, as heretofore, in all weathers, his
grace determined to appear in the fashionable
world as long as he possibly could. On Sunday,
February 2, 1801, 1 find his grace at a grand dinner
given by the Duke of Norfolk at his house in
St. James's Square, followed by a brilhant concert in
the evening, ' which afforded a delicious treat to
numerous amateurs his grace had gathered for the
occasion'; among these were H.R.H. the Prince
of Wales. That this concert was of the highest
excellence, the names of Madame Banti, Viganoni,
Rosedino, and others attest.

A grand dinner at the commencement of the
present century, given by a great nobleman to whom

A GRAND DINNER IN THE LAST CENTURY 201

expense was no consideration, was a portentous
function, and one wonders at the valetudinarian
Queensberry attending sucli a feast at a period when
good manners obliged the guests then to both eat
and drink more than most modern men and women
could stand for one season, while some of these
bibulous gourmands passed through their fifties or
sixties before they found, like ' Old Q,' an ' indigestion
p^nihle.' Any one of these would have considered
the nine o'clock dinner of to-day a pastrycook's
repast, unworthy of an honest desire on the part of
a host to give his best, and time to eat, drink, and
enjoy it in. Why, some of our forefathers could not
have got drunk in the three hours left before mid-
night. ' 0 tempora ! 0 mores ! '

The Duke survived safely ; but, on the 10th, I find
him 'gazetted' in the fashionable news of those
times as having been much indisposed, though
now in a fair way of recovery. This incident permits
me to refer to his medical attendant at this period —
one he is said to have specially retained, though
others were called in as necessity or occasion required.
This person is thought to have been a Frenchman,
named Elvizee, or Elisee,^ to whom the Duke gave
£600 per annum so long as he should live, but who

^ Formerly physician to Louis xv.

202 'OLD q'

was to expect nothing at his death : ^ a modern
version of the ancient wisdom of the Chinese, who
only pay a doctor while he keeps them in health,
and nothing when they are iU. If this was carried
into practice here, it would be interesting to know
how many extra sales of physicians' carriages and
horses would be held the first twelve months at the
numerous repositories in London alone.

Already possessed of a beautiful villa at Richmond,
I fail to understand why his grace, when nigh on
eighty, should want to purchase another. If a
speculation, then little can be said; but to one so
well-housed as Queensberry was, this would appear
a wrong construction. The residence purchased, for
which the Duke gave four thousand guineas, was
described as the beautiful villa of the Countess of
Northampton, near Richmond. Nor was its situation
in proximity enough to his grace's 'palace' to
assume its being made an addition for purposes of
enlargement. The Duke of Queensberry entertained
largely in the early days of his Richmond residence.
Some of these entertainments were offered to his
peers, others to certain operatic and musical artists,
and some were of a mixed character — so mixed,
indeed, that Wilberforce, when a young man, is re-

^ A legacy was, however, codiciled to him.

HIS OPINION OF 'FATHER THAMES' 203

corded as being a guest at them. Surely his grace
was latitudinarian in his company.

Wilberforce, however, asserts that the party of
which he was a member was small and select, con-
sisting of Pitt, Lord and Lady Chatham, the Duchess
of Gordon, George Selwyn, and a few others. Dinner
was served early, to enable some of the party to
attend the opera. But, though he adds that the
dinner was sumptuous, he tells how the Duke looked
unconcernedly at the magnificent prospect from the
windows of the dining-room, and, upon some one
uttering an exclamation of delight at the beauty of
the view and river, said : ' What is there to make so
much of in the Thames ? I am quite tired of it ;
there it goes — flow, flow, flow, always the same.' To
one satiated with all the good and bad things of this
life, such comment would come naturally.

Other tales are told, or hinted, of orgies indulged
in by his grace at Richmond. Whether these are
true or not is of small moment, as they would not
find admittance here. What does it concern us if
Queensberry enacted the part of Paris in his own
drawing-room, or thought of building a seraglio on
the Eastern plan as an adjunct to his Richmond
establishment ? Many of these statements may be
regarded as 'copy,' especially the last, although its

204 'OLD q'

author states he had seen plans for the proposed
harem.

If any reason be assignable for his grace's purchase
of the Countess of Northampton's villa, a dispute he
had about this period with the local authorities,
respecting part of his lawn, might be advanced.
Queensberry was not the man to give up any sup-
posed right without a struggle, and this one resulted
in the ground he claimed being adjudicated the
property of the town authorities. The result of this
action led his grace to content himself with an occa-
sional drive to Richmond, and thenceforth to almost
entirely reside — year in, year out — in Piccadilly. So
the project of a change of residence at Richmond,
if ever entertained, came to naught, and must be
dismissed.

CHAPTER XXVII

A visit to Newmarket, then and now, compared — His grace at Egham Races,
1801 — An eye to the main chance still — The ways and means
adopted by the Duke to fill his coffers — The estates of Neidpath and
Drumlanrig denuded of most of their timber — Burns's verses — His
lines on Queensberry — Wordsworth's sonnet on his grace's conduct
in cutting down the trees — How some of the trees at Drumlanrig
were saved.

The times of which I am writing did not permit of
one lying in bed till nine o'clock in London on the
morning of a race at Newmarket, and yet arrivmg
there in fair time for the day's sport. Preparations
had to be made long beforehand, and, if the weather
was unpropitious, the delays of broken chaises and
quagmires called roads had to be taken into careful
consideration.

The Duke of Queensberry, of course, journeyed in
his own travelling carriage. The spirits of the vener-
able peer were as yet scarcely dulled by Father Time.
But spirits simply were not equal (by reason of
bodily infirmities- —ossification of bones, stiffness of
joints, and other trifling complaints of the ' church-
yard mould-cure ' order of things) to the racking of

206 'OLD q'

a journey to the Mecca of the Turf — Newinarket.
' One visit, to be taken occasionally/ very occasion-
ally, was the measure of his grace's flights to New-
market Heath now.

Nevertheless, he continued to get what racing
amusement he could near the metropolis, within an
easy drive of Piccadilly. On Friday, September 4th,
1801, we find his grace at Egham Races, in a
' landau and six,' watching his horse Egham, 6 years,
8st. ISlbs., run fourth in the Town Plate — a race he
had backed him heavily to win. This was one of
the five engagements competed for in this year by
Egham and a filly by Whisky, Avho fully upheld the
cipher record of Queensberry's then Avaning Turf
career. Indeed, he could with truth have exclaimed
' Ichabod, Ichabod ! ' as his horse Egham crawled into
fourth place for a £50 Town Plate. To witness this
humiliation he had journeyed down in a 'landau
and six.'

Though not making money on the Turf, nor adding
to that already acquired by a lifelong pursuit of that
pastime, his grace, at an age when most men give
up its pursuit, could not be happy without adding
to his store. It must not be thought that the
Duke was an Elwes in living or character; but his
careful attention to the main chance was as much

ANTICIPATES THE 'UNEARNED INCREMENT' 207

' part and parcel ' of his nature as the Scotch groats
upon which he had been fed in childhood.

But why should the gathering of wealth trouble one
without wife, child, or even near relative ? To answer
this now would be anticipatory. Therefore, the reader
must be contented with knowing that, in his grace's
mind, a reason existed for ' riding ' the Queensberry
and his other titular estates hard.

As tenant for life, without impeachment for waste,
and with an almost moral, if not legal, possibility of
issue extinct (and similar English law sophistries for
which, no doubt, the Scotch law provides, either
express or implied), the Duke enjoyed a singularly
favourable position. I therefore recite the means
used by Queensberry to 'sweat' his estates in Scotland,
to assist in piling up the magnificent fortune he left.
To show cause for my statement, I am bound to take
the reader a few years ahead of events. After the
decease of his grace, the Earl of Wemyss, who had
succeeded as heir to the estates and dignities of the
Earldom of March, brought an action ^ against the
executors of the then late Duke of Queensberry to
recover and reclaim lands alleged by the plaintiff to
belong to the Earldom of March at Neidpath. Dur-

^ Heard before the FirsV Division of the Court of Session, Edin-
burgh, June 21st, 1820.

208 'OLD q'

ing the hearing it was proved beyond doubt that his
grace had gi*anted tacks (a power the Earl of Wemyss
contended he did not possess by the entail), partly
for a yearly rent, and partly for sums of money paid
down. The case went through the various Courts of
Appeal ; but the final result was singular, ' that both
sides might recover if they could.' In this way the
court found the late Duke's mode of granting leases
wrong. But whether the executors ' have to relief the
Earl of Wemyss or the tenants of the property in
dispute ' was reserved for further deliberation. This
is sufficient for my purpose — to prove how, in one
way, Queensberry forestalled the unearned increment.
Another procedure adopted by him was scarcely so
unique as that just referred to ; it was, indeed, but
a mere conventional method by which impecunious
noblemen and gentry ' raise the wind ' — by denuding
their estates of their timber.

Queensberry did this with a vengeance, indeed, the
wholesale stripping of his lands of centuries of growth
was neither more nor less than greedy Vandahsm.
Burns, in his day, saw a part of this destruction done,
both at Drumlanrig and Neidpath, and bewailed it in
verse :

' As on the banks o' wandering Nith
Ae snailing summer morn I strayed,

THE LAMENT OF ROBERT BURNS 209

And traced its bonnie howes and Laughs,
Where Unties sang and lambkins play'd :

I sat me doun upon a craig,
And drank my fill o' fancy's dream,

When, from the eddying deep below,
Uprose the genius of the stream.

' Dark, like the frowning rock, his brow,
And troubled, like his wintry wave.
And deep, as sughs the boding wind
Among his eaves, the sigh he gave.
" And came ye here, my son," he cried,

" To wander in my birken shade ?
To muse some favourite Scottish theme.
Or sing some favourite Scottish maid ?

' " There was a time, it 's nae lang syne,

Ye might hae seen me in my pride,
When a' my banks sae bravely saw

Their woody pictures in my tide ;
When hanging beech and spreading elm

Shaded my stream sae clear and cool ;
And stately oaks their twisted arms

Threw broad and dark across the pool.

* " When, glinting through the trees, appear'd
The wee white cot aboon the mill,
And peacefu' rose its ingle reek.
That slowly curled up the hill.
But now the cot is bare and cauld,

Its branchy shelter 's lost and gane,
And scarce a stinted birk is left
To shiver in the blast its lane."
O

210 'OLD Q'

' " Alas ! " said I, " what ruefu' chance

Has twined ye o' your stately trees 1
Has laid your rocky bosom bare ?

Has stripp'd the deeding o' your braes ?
Was it the bitter eastern blast

That scatters blight in early spring ?
Or was 't the wil'-fire scorch'd their boughs ?

Or canker-worm wi' secret sting ? "

' " Nae eastlan' blast," the sprite replied ;

" It blew na here sae fierce and fell,
And on my dry and halesome banks

Nae canker-worms get leave to dwell.
Man ! cruel man ! " the genius sigh'd,

As through the clifis he sank him down,
" The worm that gnaw'd my bonnie trees —

That reptile wears a ducal crown ! " '

This reference and others appear in Burns's poems on
his grace, whom the poet's admirers thought not worthy
of his verse. Burns was twitted once for not seeking
a subject more worthy of his muse; whereon Robbie
took out his pencil and dashed off the followmg stanzas
on the Duke of Queensberry, as being one who was
deemed particularly unworthy of the poet's notice :

' How shall I sing Drumlanrig's Grace,
Discarded remnant of a race

Once great in martial story ?
His forbears' virtues all contrasted.
The very name of Douglas blasted —

His that inverted glory.

WORDSWORTH'S LINES OX HIS GRACE 211

' Hate, euvy, oft the Douglas bore ;
But he has superadded uiore,

And sunk them in contempt.
Follies and crimes have stain'd the name ;
But, Queensberry, thine the virgin claim —

From aught that 's good exempt.'

These lines are a slight departure from my subject
— the destruction of the woods of Drumlanrig and
Neidpath. But let us see what an English poet says
on the Duke's conduct — Wordsworth, who sets forth
in a sonnet, composed presumably at either one of
the denuded estates :

' Degenerate Douglas ! oh, the unworthy lord !
Whom mere despite of heart could so far please
And love of havoc (for with such disease
Fame taxes him), that he could send forth word
To level with the dust a noble horde,
A brotherhood of venerable trees,
Leaving an ancient dome, and towers like these,
Beggared and outraged ! Many hearts deplored
The fate of those old trees ; and oft with pain
The traveller, at this day, will stop and gaze

On wrongs which Nature scarcely seems to heed ;
For sheltered places, bosoms, nooks, and bays.
And the pure mountains, and the gentle Tweed,
And the green silent pastures, yet remain.'

Wordsworth's lines lack the fire and poetic genius
of Burns's denunciation. Smollett, when journeying
northwards, was attracted by the beauty of the woods

212 'OLD q'

of Drumlanrig, as they were then. The spoliation^
would have been more complete on the demesne of
Drumlanrig than it eventually became. Shortly
before 'Old Q's' death, the Earl of Dalkeith, after-
wards Duke of Buccleuch, when commanding the
Dumfriesshire militia, was in Dumfries, and heard
that an English company had bought all the remain-
ing trees in Drumlanrig park for cutting down as
a commercial speculation. This the Earl desired to
avoid, as heir to the property ; he therefore bought
back the timber from the company, who, no doubt,
made this spirited nobleman pay dearly for his in-
terference with what might one day become his own.

1 Drtmilanrig and the Douglases, C. T. Ramage.

CHAPTER XXVIII

His grace still indulges his musical tastes — His tact in bestowing favours
upon noble French emigres — Michael Kelly's anecdotes concerning the
Duke of Queensberry — His grace's racing record, 1802-3 — Attacked
with influenza, March 1803 — In a critical condition — Recovers and
goes to Bath — Additions to the balcony of his Piccadilly house.

To support his passion for music, his grace went to
the 'Ladies' Amateur Concert,' under the direction
of Signor Sapio, held at Lady Coil's, in Portman
Square, on May 16th, 1802, at which the '^Duke of
Clarence, Prince William of Gloucester, the Prince of
Orange, and others were present.

At this time, and for many a year after, London was
frequented by French emigrds of all ranks. Many
of the old nobihty of France, with genealogical trees
emanating from Chilperic, or the more fictional but
better known Count Robert of Paris, all but starved
in neighbourhoods less fashionable than 'Laycestar
Square.' True, some of them managed to keep up
a decent appearance, and were to be met with in
Society; many of whose not actually wealthy but
good-hearted members did all they could to make

214 'OLD q'

the lot of these unfortunate exiles less bitter than it
was. It was, however, thought that the sensitive
nature of these French aristocrats prevented many
more openly proffering assistance.

The Duke of Queensberry did much, perhaps more
than many expected him to do, in assisting these un-
fortunate members of the nobility of France, and
for a considerable period — indeed, almost as long as
his health permitted — gave two large dinner-parties
a iweek, on Tuesdays and Saturdays, which mostly
consisted of these exiled French nobles.

Michael Kelly, actor and theatrical manager, has
left us a record of his grace's tact in dealing with
these aristocrat emigres. Kelly long enjoyed the
Duke's friendship ; while probably his position at the
Opera House brought him into close contact with him,
and no doubt he was discerning enough to show him
a little attention, which was seldom lost on Queens-
berry. It is, further, refreshing to find that KeUy's
opinion of Queensberry's character corroborates what
others record of his grace. He comments on his
taste for music and the opera, recording that, when it
was fashionable for subscribers to the Opera to attend
rehearsals, the Duke seldom if ever missed being
present ; if otherwise able, no weather deterred him
from attending and taking his favourite seat on the

A FAMILY PRIVILEGE 215

Stage, 'muff and all.' Kelly, who possessed an extensive
acquaintance with mankind in general, says he never
met Queensberry's superior for astuteness and sheer
knowledge of the world, nor any who excelled him in
the 'polished manners of the vieille cour.' These
remarks are made with a due regard to the Duke's
faults, but the charitable Kelly dismisses the latter
with a ' Who has not weaknesses ? '

The manner Queensberry ministered to the plea-
sures of his French friends, without hurting their
amour propre, was quite in keeping with his char-
acter. Knowing that the generality of French men
and women are desespdri without a tolerably fair
share of amusement, he hit on the following scheme.
After coffee had been handed round, his grace
would say, ' Who is going to the opera to-night ? I
long to use my family privilege.' Kelly was present
at dinner one evening, when the Duchesse de la
Pienna asked what this privilege was. The Duke
replied, * That of writing admissions to the theatres,
for any number I please, without entailing any
expense.' These were words of comfort and joy
to the despoiled French aristocrats, and many, on
hearing this explanation, went with his grace's
written admissions, thinking they were under no
pecuniary obligation, as he had only exercised a

216 'OLD q'

prerogative. Had they known the real facts, scarcely
one would have placed himself under obligation to
their host.

Queensberry's 'family privilege' was one that
custom has bestowed equally on peer and peasant
— the pleasure of paying for what you may order or
require. To give the appearance of truth to his state-
ment, his grace had arranged with the managers of
the opera-houses and the principal theatres that his
written admissions were to pass for current coin,
his steward having orders to discharge them on being
re-presented. A more delicate method of conferring
a favour, and making light of it at the same time,
could hardly have been contrived.

The observant Michael Kelly also bears testimony
to his grace's gastronomic taste, for he mentions he
never was present at more comfortable dinners than
those Queensberry gave ; these were served a la Russe
— a person at a buffet to carve each joint. Three
dishes at a time on the table were then the Duke's
limit, all recherche, and of the best money could buy
or the skill of his French cook (whom he termed his
' offi^eier de bouche ' ) could devise.

Kelly considers the Duke's musical accomplish-
ments beyond those of most amateurs ; indeed, he was
an excellent judge of the art. A favourite amuse-

HIS GRACE AS A SINGING INSTRUCTOR 217

ment of his was to give instruction in singing. To
Mrs. Billington and Kelly he was kind enough to
offer his services, who no doubt enjoyed the fun
immensely, for he desired to make them proficient
in the roles of Polly and Macheath in the Beggars
Opera. To humour their patron, both actress and
actor would frequently ask his grace for a song,
which he would sing to the accompaniment of a paid
pianist, Ireland by name, who was a member of his
grace's establishment, but whom Kelly calls ' Job.'

At last the failure' of his grace's sight and hearing
led to the cessation of his dinner-parties, as he told
Kelly that his hearing was so bad he could not follow
the conversation at table, which made him think of
reducing his dinner company to a Ute-a-Ute. At one
of these ' strictly -limited -to -two' entertainments,
Michael Kelly was his guest. His grace thus
recorded his increasing aural infirmity : ' Had I
at table more than one person now, they would be
talking one to the other and I sitting by not able to
hear what they were talking about, which would be
extremely aggravating ; now, if I have but one to dine
with me, that one must either talk to me or hold his
tongue.' In other words, his grace did not believe in
affording entertainment, in the form of ' paying the
piper and not being allowed to dance.'

218 'OLD q'

The racing performances of the Duke of Queens-
berry's stable for the year 1802-3 may be briefly
summed up — two engagements incurred, result nil;
in the subsequent year he did not run a horse, though
he still kept a few in training.

On March 10th, 1803, the Duke of Queensberry was
reported dangerously ill ; and the following day a
statement was current that he was dead. This
caused some members of the press to make inquiries
at his grace's house, when they were informed that,
though he was still alive, little hope of his recovery
was entertained. A few days later, his grace is re-
corded as being still alive 'and merry,' indeed, had
eaten a very hearty supper the previous evening;
while he was so much better during the day that,
with his wonted gallantry, he had sent a footman to
the Opera House to inquire if Madame Rolla had
arrived. Later on the improvement was still main-
tained, and he was reported as laughing heartily at
those newsmongers who would prematurely send him
to that ' bourne from whence no traveller returns.'

Further reports set forth that it was that scourge,
the influenza, that had laid his grace low, but he man-
aged, at near eighty, to elude its grasp. Indeed, the
Duke was so much better toAvards the end of March
as to 'sport his nightcap' to the promenaders in

A NEW LEASE OF LIFE 210

Piccadilly, as well as to talk of a ' renewal ' for ' ten
more jolly years.' 'Never say die/ was certainly
Queensberry's motto at this period.

As a means of accomplishing his desire for a new
lease of life, he went to Bath, on the 4th of April, to
see what effect the waters would have in aiding his
recovery to health.

During his visit to Bath, additions or alterations
were made to the famous balcony of his house in
Piccadilly; wherein he sat observing all, and being
the observed of all — particularly by members of the
demi-monde, to whom his grace was always a lode-
stone of attraction.

Perhaps I may be pardoned this suggestion — does
Queensberry's ghost haunt Piccadilly still ? The
addition made to the balcony appears, by the de-
scription, to have been a white canvas screen or
awning, made somewhat after the fashion of a Vene-
tian blind; that is, it could be so arranged as to
permit his grace to see the passers-by while he was
protected from the sun, or, as it were, place himself
i7i camera. Or, as was suggested by the reporter,
' enable his grace to play snugly therein at " bhnd
man's buff," or " peep-bo," as best suited the taste of
the moment.'

CHAPTER XXIX

The Duke's cliair ruu into by a hackney-coach — Mrs. Billington and his
grace — ' How to live, after a ducal recipe ' — Notes thereon — The
'milk-bath' fable — Other references to his grace's regimen — Verses
on his supposed death, 1804.

During March 1804, tlie Duke narrowly escaped
being upset and injured by a hackney-coach, which
was driven against his chair as he was returning from
the opera. This accident was humorously treated by
a writer of that time, who suggested highway robbery
as the motive for the attempt to upset his grace, who
was going home enriched with the ' notes ' of Mrs.
Billington.

The friendship which existed between his grace
and Mrs. Billington was also a favourite theme of
many journalists of those times. A few days sub-
sequent to the event just narrated, one of these
remarks : ' The noble duke, who is learning his sol-fa
of Mrs. Billington, has not entered the musical school
at his advanced period of life with any view of reach-
ing the con amove style of execution; his grace,

'HOW TO LIVE, AFTER A DUCAL RECIPE' 221

though he may have devoted himself to this har-
monic study, has done it solely upon political
principles, aware that, in sceptical times like the
present, the best-intentioned statesman may fall
under the malediction of the poet who has impres-
sively declared :

* " The man that hath no music in his soul
Is fit for treasons, stratagems and spoils.
Let no such man be trusted.' "

I have already referred to his grace's powers of
eating. These were exercised with more caution and
care for his health than might be anticipated ; he was
supposed for that by some to be a sort of human
ostrich, if the following ironical essay on his mode
of living is regarded. This I must give in extenso,
as to curtail the dietetic programme would rob it of
half its point : —

'HOW TO LIVE, AFTER A DUCAL RECIPE.

' If the D of Q does not extend his life to a still longer

period, it will not be for the want of culinary comforts and those
other succulent arts by which longevity is best promoted.

' His grace's sustenance is thus daily administered : at seven in
the morning he regales in a warm milk-bath, perfumed with almond
powder, where he takes his coffee and a buttered muffin, and after-
wards retires to bed ; he rises about nine, and breakfasts on caf^

222 'OLD q'

au lait, with new-laid eggs just parboiled ; at eleven he is presented
with two warm jellies and rusks ; at one he eats a veal cutlet a la
Maintenon ; at three, jellies and eggs repeated ; at five, a cup of
chocolate and rusks ; at seven he takes a hearty dinner from high-
seasoned dishes, and makes suitable libations of claret and madeira ;
at ten, tea, coffee, and muffins ; at twelve sups off a roast pullet,
with a plentiful dilution of lime-punch. At one a.m. he retires to
bed in high spirits and sleeps till three, when his man-cook, to the
moment, waits upon him in person with a hot and savoury veal
cutlet, which, with a potation of wine and water, prepares him for
his further repose, that continues generally uninterrupted till the
morning summons to his lactean bath. In this routine of loving
comforts are the four-and-twenty hours invariably divided ; so
that, if his grace does not know with Sir Toby Belch that " our life
is composed of the four elements," he knows at least with Sir
Andrew Aguecheek "that it consists in eating and drinking" !'

This is a verbatim copy of his grace's daily regi-
men, pubHshed in one of the leading journals of that
day. Those who may choose to believe it may do so ;
but a moment's reflection will make it clear that a
'machine' would be required to assimilate the con-
stant succession of ' messes ' poured down the Duke's
throat during the twenty-four hours. It is certain
that the digestive organs of an octogenarian could
not do so.

One or two matters to which I have referred
require further comment. The milk -bath was long
reported one of his grace's many luxuries; but no
real proof can be found that it existed anywhere

THE MILK -BATH 223

except in the imagination of the populace. Indeed,
persons were Uving a few years since who could re-
member the objection many had who resided in the
neighbourhood of his grace's residence to using milk,
for fear of drinking that which had been used for the
Duke's ablutions, which, it was supposed, the purveyor
bought back ; though perhaps those pure-milk desir-
ing persons were unaware of the 'flavouring' used,
which, supposing these lactean ablutions to have been
true, would have prevented the milk being retailed
for household purposes. Many allusions to this exist,
but one more will suffice. A wit of those times
declared that his grace's real reason for bathing in
milk was that he believed the nearest way to Heaven
was via the ' Milky Way,'

Another point in the ' ducal recipe ' worthy of
comment is that no wine nor spirits find a place in
it before seven in the evening, a wise and discreet
observance — assuming, for the sake of argiunQnt, the
regimen to be one really lived up to. Though his
grace, having been accustomed to take alcoholic
liquors, may have needed them at his time of life,
it appears that whatever, if any, benefit he derived
from them was meant to supply Nature during
the day by their absorption the previous evening;
therefore wisely, very wisely, he seldom resorted

224 'OLD q'

to that ' flick of the whip ' — alcohol taken during
the day.

Cramming his grace like a turkey-cock was part of
the journalists' and others' method of killing him;
this they again did in 1804. The fresh report again
stirred the muse of some would-be Laureate to quote
a scrap of Horace and then rush into verse :

ELEGY

On the Supposed Death of the Duke of Queensberry in 1804.
' Longa Tythonum minuit Senedus.' — Horace.

' And what is all this grand to do
That runs each street and alley through ?
'Tis the departure of ' Old Q,'
The star of Piccadilly.

' The king, God bless him ! gave a whew !
" Two dukes just dead — a third gone too,
What ! what ! could nothing save ' Old Q ' 1
The star of Piccadilly."

' " Thank Heaven ! thank Heaven 1 " exclaims Miss Prue ;
' My mother, and grandmother too,
Can now walk safe from that vile ' Q,'
The star of Piccadilly."

' The jockey boys, Newmarket's crew,
Who know a " little thing — or two,"
Cry out : " He 's done ! We 've done ' Old Q ' !
The star of Piccadilly."

-THE STAR OF PICCADILLY' 225

On Richmond's sunny bank there grew
'Midst violets sweet, a wanton yew,
Crabbed and old ; and that mourns " Q,"

The star of Piccadilly.
' The Monsieurs and Signoras too,
Like cats in love set up their mew,
" Ah morto, morto, pov'ro ' Q ' !

The star of Piccadilly."

' Townshends, Macmanus, all the hue
And cry of Bow Street, each purlieu,
Each little corner, wants its " Q " ;
The star of Piccadilly.

' Poll, Peggy, Cath'rine, Patty, Sue,
Descendants of old dames he knew.
All mourn your tutor, ancient " Q,"
The star of Piccadilly.

' Old Nick he whisked his tail so blue.
And grinn'd, and leer'd, and look'd askew —
" Oho ! " says he, " I 've got my ' Q,'
The star of Piccadilly."

' On wings of sulphur down he flew ;
All London take your last adieu.
There, there away he claws " Old Q,"
The star of Piccadilly.

' And now this may be said of " Q,"
That long he ran all Folly thro',
For ever seeking something new :
He never cared for me, nor you.
But, to engagements strictly true,
At last he gave the Devil his due ;
And died a boy — at eighty-two —
Poor "Q" of Piccadilly.'
P

226 'OLD q'

While on this subject I may allude to other
productions written after his grace's natural, not
newspaper, decease. The following is more sporting
than the former, which only illustrated the saying,
' Threatened men Hve long ' : —

To the popular time of ' Come listen awhile to my lay,' etc.

' You 've heard of the once sporting fame

Of him who has now run his race,
I mean that blood stallion, by name

" Old Q," or some call'd him, " Your Grace."
No meeting in youth would he shun ;

Nay, the dog was so knowing and arch,
He was " bang up " at all, was his fun ;
And he tipp'd knowing jockeys — the March.
Sing tol de rol lol, etc.

' As fix'd as the starting-post he,

On Knavesmire and Epsom appeared ;
He knew how to bribe with a fee,

But he ne'er was himself to be — " queer'd."
Well-train'd were his blood horses — fleet ;

Like wind o'er the course they would scud ;
While each rider so firm in his seat,

Did honour to Queensberry's stud.

' But if for the sweepstake or plate,

" Old Q " would with energy start ;
'Twas equally order'd by Fate,

He should race after every girl's heart.
On the charms of dear woman he 'd doat ;

Nay, to speak plain, I '11 tell ye, between us —
O'er a post had you clapp'd petticoat,

He 'd have instantly sworn 'twas some Venus.

POST-MORTEM 227

' But age, that will weaken the limbs,

And check the bold speed of Eclipse,
Dous'd one of this rare stallion's flims,^

And made him grow stiff in the hips.
Ne'ertheless he would not yield an inch,

In loosening bright Beauty's dear zone,
'Twas his maxim — " The dog that can flinch,

Is not prime — But I 'm blood to the bone."

' Well, what though the old buck 's done up.

He dash'd away while he was able ;
So his mem'ry ensures him Fame's cup.

With every true friend to the stable.
As for daughters of Oythera's isle,

They '11 drain all the sluices of grief ;
Till " Four-in-hand blades " make 'em smile,

"Prime" — "bang-up-boys" — will bring them relief.'

The constant report of his decease, and other
scurrilous shafts levelled at the Duke, never moved
him to more than a — chuckle.

^ He had a speck in one of his eyes which in old age caused
partial blindness.

CHAPTER XXX

Further reference to ' a ducal recipe ' — The Duke a great smoker at one
time — His grace and the ' hack ' — Charity — The last of the ' deep-
red jacket and black cap ' on the racecourse— Withdrawal from
the clubs — On the balcony of his Piccadilly house — Alarmiug con-
dition of his grace in 1807 — Reported as one of three who intended
to rebuild Drury Lane Theatre — Bets on his grace's death — He lays
a wager on the same himself.

To return for a moment to 'a ducal recipe/ there
would seem to have been some truth in the midnight
meal administered. If the Duke awoke, an attendant
had some restorative in readiness, either to aid nature
or induce sleep. But I cannot discover that the
restorative took anything in the shape of a veal
cutlet at 3 o'clock a.m.

Equally destitute of proof is the popular legend
that ' Old Q ' covered his face with raw veal at night
in the interest of his complexion. No doubt the latter
owed something to rouge.

The chroniclers — and their name was legion — of
the Duke of Queensberry's movements do not men-
tion whether he adhered to a habit to which he
had been addicted to a great extent in his 'salad'

I

WAYS AND MANNERS 229

days — smoking — a vice much less general then
than it is now. However, it would seem that the
discretion of age, or physical disabilities, prevented
his continued indulgence in the 'weed.' Nor can
I trace that his grace indulged in the then more
fashionable habit of snufif-taking, now happily almost
out of vogue.

The Duke's racing in 1804 was represented by one
horse, a colt by Mobrcock, who belied his origin by
persistently laying or earning ' duck's-eggs ' in the
five essays made to establish his character as a race-
horse. Enough has been recorded to show that his
grace was now unable to give that personal attention
to the stable which had been his hobby for so many
years. Nor did his racing right-hand, Goodison,
wield the sceptre with the skill of the master. Indeed,
' Hell-fire Dick ' had become rich under the Duke's
auspices, and was now taking a good deal of ease on
a farm of some three hundred acres which he owned
or leased. No doubt Goodison could afford to rest
on the Turf laurels of Queensberry.

Much has been made of the Duke's charitable
disposition during his last years. That he did
bestow large sums on various objects, assist some
friend in a difiiculty, or aid a candidate ^ in his parlia-

^ He gave £1000 towards the Westminster election.

230 'OLD Q

mentary election, are too authentically recorded to be
denied. But these acts seem to me more sudden
outbursts of generosity by his grace than emanating
from the command of the apostle, in. its benevolent
meaning, ' Above all things charity.' This never had
been Queensberry's maxim, except in a ' homely sense,'
where it often stays. Nevertheless, if we cannot do
great mercies, let us be content with small ones, seems
to have been the spirit in which the Duke regarded
his charitable contributions, which leads to the sup-
position : if a generous gift was made now and again
by him who no more missed the douceur than the
ocean a drop of water. Now, whether these few and
far-between offerings can be deemed worthy of the
name of that cloak, charity, which covers a ' multi-
tude of sins,' I will not venture to say. If it should
be so, then his grace was certainly endeavouring to
' macadamise ' the narrow but thorny path of virtue
with a vengeance.

One of the most popular of those charitable out-
bursts of his grace was his subscribing to the Patriotic
Fund, a fund to which some little notice has been ac-
corded of late by those ' nasty, prying papers.' Thus,
on November 25th, 1805, he subscribed one thousand
pounds, or, rather, his name appears for that sum in
the list of subscribers issued on that date ; while that

CHARITABLE ACTS ! 231

of the 28th shows that even his grace's conscience
had pricked him for giving so small a sum, for one
of his great wealth, to so good and righteous a cause.
He therefore added another thousand to his former
benefaction — one he could have made ten, or twenty,
without depriving himself of the slightest luxury or
suffering the least inconvenience. The Duke, who
kept the largest balance at his bankers' of any of
his peers — a hundred thousand pounds — as well as
being, vulgarly speaking, ' consoUed up to the eyes,'
could have afforded to be magnanimous in those
times. Nevertheless, the journals of the day acted
upon the poet's hint —

* Praise the proud peacock and he spreads his train,'

in the hope, perhaps, of future favours from the little
millionaire of Piccadilly ; and resorted to comparison,
placing his grace's donation against that of a naval
officer :

'The Duke of Queensberry has munificently sub-
scribed another £1000 to the Patriotic Fund at Lloyd's
towards the sufferers in the late glorious action —
Trafalgar ; while Admiral Peter Kainier, who has had
all the rich naval gleanings of the Indian seas for these
ten years, seems to have satisfied his professional
feelings by a benevolence of ten guineas.' This thin

232 'OLD q'

and shallow comparison did not escape the censure
of toadyism.

The year 1805 saw the last of the ' deep-red jacket
and black cap ' of Queensberry on the Turf : the colt
by Competitor was the last animal that bore his
popular colours, and then, alas ! not to victory. One
engagement, and that lost, was the closing event of
the Turf career of his grace, who had owned and run
racehorses close on sixty years.

I think I may safely assert that the Duke had
been de facto leader of the Turf for at least half
a century. From a broad point of view, he had
never been excelled, or perhaps equalled, during
that period for a thorough knowledge of the sport,
from stud-farm to winning-post. Associated in his
mind, as the pursuit was, with the making or
earning of money, he did not obtrude its cash
character to the detriment of the sporting spirit
which possessed him. The way in which the Duke of
Queensberry met his engagements, while often, in
his earlier days, hard pushed, testifies to a desire
not to lower the name of Douglas by becoming a
Turf-defaulter, a scruple which, then or since, has
scarcely troubled the minds of many noblemen and
gentlemen so much as it did one they would, in
many ways, scorn comparison with.

THE LAST RACING RECORD 233

About this time the Duke withdrew almost entirely
from the society of the various clubs which bore his
name on their books.

His grace's name last appears in the Racing
Calendar of 1806 as an active member of the Jockey
Club. His increasing infirmities, aural and visual,
doubtless dictated a course which must have been a
great hardship to one who had enjoyed club life for
over fifty years, with all its attractions of gaming and
high living. To sun in his balcony at Piccadilly, to
take an occasional drive, and receive the visits of his
friends, and go when able to the opera or concert, was
all that was left ' Old Q ' of his former ' measure of
pleasure.' But the 'Star of Piccadilly' was still an
object of attraction on his balcony; though dwind-
ling, he still scintillated, faultlessly dressed, while
his dignity was not in any way lessened by a parasol,
which was held by a stalwart footman in the Queens-
berry livery over his wizened head, encased in the,
to him, unchangeable three-cornered hat of George
the Second's time. Close at hand was his head
groom, 'Jack Radford,' booted and spurred, on his
master's pony, waiting to take a message or missive
to any of his grace's numerous friends or acquaint-
ances, male or female, who constantly passed. Thus
did his grace pass the most of his time, except

234 'OLD q'

when ill-health or the English cUmate prevented his
appearing on the balcony.

In January 1807 the following announcement
was made : ' The Duke of Queensberry has de-
clined in health so rapidly within the last month
that his physicians have but little hope of his
survivLQg through the winter.' But Hfe 'there was
in the " old dog " yet,' as on the 5th of April follow-
ing he was at his window, seemingly in ' high spirits,'
again surveying through his glasses the fair visitants
to and from Hyde Park.

In 1808 the Opera House, Drury Lane, was destroyed
by fire. To assist the unfortunate proprietors many
of the box-holders at this and Covent Garden gave
up their boxes. H.R.H. the Prince of Wales set the
example, which was foUowed by the Duke of Queens-
berry, the Marchionesses of Sahsbury and Headfort,
Lord Kinnaird, the Ladies Vernon and Louisa
M'Donald, etc. etc. This was prefatory to an an-
nouncement that the Dukes of Queensberry and
Bedford, together with Lord Kimiaird, would, it
was anticipated, come forward and rebuild Drury
Lane Theatre. Rumour added there were three
plans almost completed for their selection, and odds
were being laid at many of the clubs that the building
would be erected, finished, and opened to the pubhc

DRURY LANE 235

before the 1st of January 1810. I cannot find any-
thing more substantial than the assertion made by
the press of this pro bono publico poUcy. It probably
never had any other existence. All the world knows
that these noblemen did not build the present Drury
Lane Theatre at their cost, although they may have
assisted the rebuilding of the ' National ' Theatre by
giving subscriptions.

From betting on others' decease, the Duke had to
submit to being the subject of such ghastly wagers :
I record two bets from the History of Whites —

' Mr. G. Talbot bets Lord Charles Manners ten guineas
that the Duke of Queensberry is not alive this day two
years. May 8th, 1809. G. Talbot.— C. Manners.'

Here is another —

' Mr. C. H. Bouverie bets Mr. Blackford that the Duke
of Queensberry outlives the Duke of Grafton.

' Chas. H. Bouverie.— B. P. Blackford.

'Paid:

But even had his grace been acquainted with
these, it would not have rufHed his serenity, for he
shortly before his death in the next year thought he
heard the ' footstep ' of the tyrant — Death ; this idea
took so great a hold on him that he made a wager
of five hundred pounds that he would die at a

236 'OLD q'

certain hour on a certain actual Saturday (shortly
before his decease), which he lost and paid. To
one so callous it could have little mattered had the
betting on his decease appeared in the papers among
the sporting inteUigence.

CHAPTER XXXI

The Duke makes his will, 1809 — His grace and Goodison — His later
' ways ' at Newmarket — Magnanimous offer of the Duke to General
Picton.

Sporting witla Death did not, however, delay the
stealthy march of the conqueror who outmanoeuvres
all. ' Old Q,' with all his nonchalance, knew he was
but mortal, 'dodge' 'Dr. Everlasting Sleep' as he
would. On the sixteenth of January 1809 he made
or subscribed the body of his subsequent much-
codiciled will. I, however, need not at present refer
to that instrument, as, in the spirit of a true old
EngHsh culinary proverb, 'first catch your hare' —
that is, from a biographic point of view, ' first kill
your subject ' before discussing his will.

Many of my sporting readers will miss a reference
to the sale of the Queensberry stud, which had been
disposed of privately year by year, so that when
the Duke finally retired from the Turf little re-
mained to seU. Possibly Goodison secured what
was left, as that worthy was racing in his own name

238 'OLD q'

at this period ; indeed, for some years prior to these
events, many Turf patrons failed to solve the real
relations between the Duke and his trainer. I do
not myself attach much importance to this state-
ment : Queensberry knew he was well served by the
' tyke,' rough diamond though he was. Perhaps the
following anecdote, which shows Goodison's inde-
pendence, may account in some way for the rumoured
partnership just hinted at: — 'His grace and " Hell-fire
Dick" fell out over some stable matter, when both
went their way ; three weeks, however, was the longest
his grace could do without his racing factotum's
" report " of Turf gossip, etc. He therefore went to
Newmarket and made it up with Dick by asking
him to come and see "a horse sweat," which Dick,
nothing loth, did.'

Before taking leave of Turf matters, I must mention
his grace's presence at Newmarket towards the close
of his racing career. Though not so active as in
his younger days, he would ride about the town
and round the stables on a favourite old pony or
diminutive cob; nor were his excursions restricted
to the road, as, if anything handsome in a mob-
cap and ribbons appeared at the bar windows of
any of the numerous hostelries, he would put his
mount at it, pull up, and ogle from the outside the

SIR THOMAS PICTON 239

fair one who had caught the eye of this ancient
* Judge Clark ' of the ' all aged ' Venus Stakes.

Among the individuals who were benefited un-
consciously by Queensberry's bursts of generosity was
that fine old soldier, Sir Thomas Picton. I take from
a Memoir of Sir Thomas, by a relative, Heaton Bow-
stead Robinson, the following anecdote of his grace's
eccentric charity. This took place a few years prior
to the period now under review, 1806, when Picton
was proceeded against for alleged abuses, the chief
of which was his ordering torture to be applied to a
female slave while acting as Governor of Trinidad
after its capture in 1791. But, though morally
innocent of the charge, he was legally guilty in
signing the order to torture the woman at the in-
stance of a Spanish magistrate, who told Picton it
was the 'custom of the country,' while he should
have substantiated the assertion of the Spaniard,
and also not have forgotten whose uniform he wore.
Having briefly described the case for Picton's prose-
cution, which, I must add, was being conducted with
all the rancour of party spirit, Mr. Robinson pro-
ceeds : ' A few staunch friends, however, still clung
to him; some of whom had opportunities of wit-
nessing his conduct in the West Indies, and others
who knew him too well to believe for one moment

240 'OLD Q'

the charges which were brought against him. These
were yet unchanged, though assailed with reproach
for holding communion with a man whom the world
condemned.'

During the progress of this prosecution, General
Picton was one day dining at the Grosvenor Coffee
House, in company with some of these friends, when
Colonel Darling, who highly honoured General Picton,
and was intimate with the Duke of Queensberry,
joined the party. After some general conversation
Colonel Darling observed: 'Picton, I have just left
the Duke of Queensberry, and he has charged me
with a message for you.' ' Indeed ! ' replied Picton ;
'I am certainly much honoured, more especially as
I never had the pleasure of being introduced to his
grace.' 'I know it,' said the Colonel, 'but he has
often spoken of you and your affairs in the most
friendly and liberal manner.'

General Picton expressed his sense of the honour
conferred upon him by the Duke. ' And now,' con-
tinued the Colonel, 'he wishes to show you his
feelings with regard to the proceedings instituted
against you by a more decided mark of his considera-
tion.' 'What do you mean, Darling?' inquired the
General with some surprise.

'Simply this,' rejoined the Colonel. 'The Duke

A BENEFACTOR 241

has watched the whole course of your prosecution
with much interest, and he has now desired me to
express to you his entire conviction of your innocence,
together with the high sense which he entertains of
your character.' General Picton bowed an acknow-
ledgment of this compliment.

' But that 's not all,' continued the Colonel. ' I have
just parted with him, and, to be brief, he has desired
me to say that, as he is aware of the great expenses
which you must incur in defending yourself against
a Government prosecution, and uncertain whether
your fortune can support the heavy demands upon
you, he is desirous that you should make him your
banker during the remainder of the proceedings.
He offers you the use of any sum under ten thousand
pounds.'

Picton was for a moment silent, for this mark of
consideration from a stranger astonished him. He
could not immediately express his feehngs; but at
length he expatiated with much earnestness on the
munificent generosity of the Duke, to whom he
immediately wrote a brief note, afterwards handed
to Colonel Darling for perusal. In this he stated
how highly flattered he was by the opinion which
his grace had expressed of him ; while, in reference
to his proffered munificence he added : * Had it not

Q

242 'OLD q'

been for the kindness and generosity of a near
relation [his uncle], who has lent me his fortune to
defend my character, I should most assuredly have
availed myself of your disinterested liberality. At
present I am in no want of pecuniary aid, but shall
ever feel grateful for the considerate manner in
which you offered me your assistance.' ^

Picton had no further communication with
his eccentric but generous benefactor until two
days before the departure of the General for the
Peninsula. He was again at the Grosvenor Coffee
House, making preparations for his journey, when
the Duke of Queensberry's card was brought in,
with a request from his grace that he would oblige
him by coming to his carriage-door for one moment.
The General immediately complied, and the Duke,
shaking him warmly by the hand, after having
apologised on the ground of his infirmity for not
getting out of his carriage, said : ' General Picton, I
have ventured out expressly to shake you by the hand,
and bid you farewell before you leave the country ;
and there is one request which I have to make
which I hope you will oblige me in.' The General
expressed in warm terms the satisfaction which he

^ General Picton was found guilty, but judgment was reserved.
A new trial being ordered, he was acquitted of legal guilt.

THE DUKES REQUEST 243

would experience in obliging the Duke in any
possible manner.

' Well, then/ observed the Duke, ' it is this : you
know what vague and contradictory accounts we get
in the newspapers about the proceedings of our
army ; now, I want you to write me a letter occasion-
ally— that is, whenever you can find leisure — just
that I may know the truth.'

General Picton promised to comply with his
wishes by sending him the particulars of every affair
of importance. This he did punctually ; and when-
ever a letter arrived from the General, the Duke used
to observe, 'Ah! this is a letter from Picton; now
we shall have the truth.'

The Duke's death prevented any lengthy continu-
ance of this correspondence; and on its occurrence
Picton found himself the possessor of five thousand
pounds, left him by his unsought noble friend.

CHAPTER XXXII

The Duke's foibles and the press — Another ' paper ' marriage prophesied —
Illness and death of his grace — Character — The fair sex and the late
Duke — A reason why the Duke never married — His Inirial— Altera-
tions of the late Duke's Piccadilly mansion — A ' running footman.'

The times to which I am alluding were then as rife
in ' freaks of Nature ' as at present, but the bolder
front (to place as nice a construction as possible on
the coarseness of that period) which Society showed
permitted many of these objects of a perverse curi-
osity to be either visited by the elite, or exhibited in
their houses, in much the same way as some of their
descendants have since admitted dancing-girls and
prize-fighters. However, for these and other reasons
I refer the reader to the quotation from Pope on the
title-page of this work. For the aforesaid reasons,
combined with Queensberry's tastes, it is not surpris-
ing to find it recorded by the journals of that day
that he was still a connoisseur in all things pertain-
ing to the flesh — horse or biped. Though eighty-five,
he no doubt created in the journalistic mind a belief

THE HOTTENTOT VENUS 245

which Mr. Gladstone is now said to profess : ' A man
is of service, at least to the State, till he is ninety ' —
or words to that effect.

With this confidence in the Duke's power of per-
ception and diagnosis, a daily paper relates the visit of
the then well-known ' Hottentot Venus ' to his house,
where his grace had ' a select party of amateurs of
natural production ' to see the black damsel. Whether
this be true or not little concerns me, as it is the
liberty with which Queensberry was treated I wish to
show.

It is almost a matter of course that the papers
should record his grace as giving his opinion on
another puzzle of the early years of this century,
the Chevalier D'Eon. The Morning Herald of
June 2nd, 1810, has the following paragraph : —
' The Duke of Queensberry, it seems, does not give
credit to the discovery of the ChevaHer D'Eon's being
of the male sex, his grace having declared that they
might as well attempt to prove him to be of the
feminine gender ; though he is ready to admit, with
Mr. Garrick's song, that " Old women can do as much
as old men." '

Many who have followed me thus far will think
that Queensberry had already been sufficiently
'guyed'; nevertheless, the organ of the Prince of

246 'OLD q'

Wales's party (to wliicli Queensberry had given liis
allegiance at one time) — the Morning Herald —
thought the anniversary of Guy Fawkes a good
opportunity for the following squib : ' The Duke of
Queensberry, so far from any intention of bidding this
■world " good-night," intends to take a more pleasant
course and bid " good-morning " to the night-cap of
a jolly dame, whom he means immediately to raise to
the rank of a Duchess ! '

But these and all similar witticisms were now
to be brought to a termination by the decease of
the ever-verdant butt, who, for so long a period,
had proved the very ' Eclipse ' of canards and space-
fillers ; indeed, ' gigantic gooseberries, the first
cuckoo,' etc. etc., were nowhere, compared to
William, fourth Duke of Queensberry, as journalistic
prizes.

On December 23rd, 1810, at about half-past three
o'clock P.M., the last male descendant of the cadet
branch of the noble House of Douglas expired.
The malady to which his grace succumbed was
said to have been a stranguary, which he fought
against for a fortnight, assisted by the best medical
and surgical skill money could procure or Britain
produce. Operation succeeded operation, but neither
medical skill nor the unremitting care of his

THE duke's death 247

attendants could save the patient. It was believed
that although his grace's organs were impaired by
that decay which all who attain so lengthy a span
of existence must endure, he might have lived a
few years longer, could he have refrained from over-
indulgence in eating fruit.

William, fourth Duke of Queensberry, will ever
stand conspicuous in the annals of this country as
one who reached the height of notoriety without
having done more than one single act worthy of a
nation's praise. The much- vaunted contributions to
the ' Patriotic Fund ' excepted, nothing remains.

If, however, the Duke's worth be measured by the
standard of the Turf, the Club, the Drawing-room,
and Society, then the fourth Duke of Queensberry must
rank facile princeps of his time. That this was so
contemporary writers admit — ' He was long considered
the first figure in the brilliant circle of Fashion.'

Lacking his wealth and honours, he might have
achieved considerable distinction as a jockey, gambler,
and roue, but his name would never have been
heard outside a racecourse, a ' hell,' or worse ; but his
high rank and his great wealth, allied to his polished
exterior and his abounding vices, made of the Duke a
centre of attraction for over sixty years.

Many of both sexes were found to offer sacrifice to

248 'OLD q'

this 18-1 9tli century Baal, Qiieensberry. Seventy
letters and billets-doux lay unopened on the coverlet
of his death-bed, from women of all sorts and condi-
tions, from duchesses to members of the deDii-monde,
and for all kinds of requests, from the loan of a few
hundreds or thousands to assignations. In this re-
pulsive worship of gold did all that is best in human
kmd — Woman — join. Enough has been recorded to
prove that the Duke was a devotee of the sex, though
a matrimonial disappointment had grafted cynicism
on to dissolute morals. For, whatever polite
' nothings ' he might charm his fair admirers with,
his perverted and debauched tastes never had a
behef in the purity of their minds. His associations
with frail daughters of Eve made him ignorant of the
pure love of one woman, or he would never have de-
clared ' he did not marry, because he would not place
his honour in any woman's keeping.'

' Let the dead bury their dead ' is an exhortation all
have heard, but in these days this and other gospel
aphorisms are disregarded, in the spirit of them.
I therefore proceed to bury the earthly remains of
' Old Q.'

Though the bones of many of his species, as bad,
good, or worse, rest in the national receptacle, West-
minster Abbey, the lasb Duke of Queensberry's were

/

THE duke's burial 249

not suffered to add to nor detract from the sacredness
of these relics. Why he is not interred there, if it was
ever suggested, need not trouble the reader, who may-
or may not think the suggestion all but ridiculous.
Nevertheless, the late Duke's family or executors
seem to have thought his remains far too precious to
rest among ' commoner ' clay, and, in default of the
vaulted shrines of Edward the Confessor's pile, the
interior of his parish church, St.- James's, Piccadilly,
was selected. Here was interred, on December
31st, 1810, in a vault under the communion table,
the body of William Douglas, fourth Duke of
Queensberry. Let us hope his soul found as hallowed
a resting-place.

Those of my readers not conversant with London
who expect to find, on visiting the Modern Babylon,
any trace of ' Old Q's ' famed balcony in Piccadilly
will be disappointed, as the Duke's domicile under-
went extensive alterations soon after his decease. The
house was first made into two — Nos. 138-139;^ for
this purpose it became necessary to remove the portico
and balcony, though a greater alteration since has
taken place — a whole or partial pulling down and re-
building of the property.

^ At this house Lord Byron spent the London season of his brief
married life.

250 'OLD q'

Some good traits exist in all, whether saints or
sinners; it is therefore with pleasure I record that
Qiieensberry was a good master. He never dis-
charged, nor permitted to be discharged, any servant at
his various estabhshments without positive acquaint-
ance with his or her shortcomings, nor were these
judged too severely till after reprimand had been
found useless.

Allusion to the late Duke's household warrants
a reference to his having retained the then almost,
but now quite, extinct ' running footman ' — now only
to be seen on public-house signs. The incident I am
about to relate has often been told, but if I omitted
it from these pages I might be thought to have
overlooked one of the commonest ' stories ' of the
Duke, much after the manner of the star-gazing
philosopher, who, seeking galaxies, forgets the
common objects under his feet. The ' running foot-
man ' was an institution long, long before ' Comet '
coaches had displaced the more ponderous stagers.
In 1730 they were generally employed, and many
records exist of their exploits and endurance. The
term was significant of their function — running with
messages or letters to or from their master's town or
country residences. When the man was running,
the clothes worn, if so singular an attire can be

A RUNNING FOOTMAN 251

called by that definition, consisted of a short silk
petticoat (no breeches) kept down by a deep gold
fringe ; in his hand was carried a long pole or cane,
surmounted by a large silver ball containing a
preparation of white wine and eggs to sustain him
on a journey. ' Old Q ' was very particular about the
' paces ' of his running footman, and generally tried
them himself with his stop-watch. In his latter days,
he was only able to witness their performance from
his balcony, and on a certain occasion one of the
applicants for the post was paraded before the Duke
in the Queensberry livery. His grace was pleased
with the candidate, and said, 'You'll do very well
for me.' ' And your hvery will do very well for me,'
replied the smart fellow, as he ran off, giving the
Duke further proof of his capacity, and a last ghmpse
to his grace of his livery !

CHAPTER XXXIII

The late Duke senior Knight of the Thistle — Anticipations resi^ecting
his will — The reading — The numerous codicils — The beneficiaries,
etc. — Litigation — Condition of his grace's library, bequeathed to
E. B. Douglas, Esq. — Sale of the family plate — The wines — Further
litigation anticipated— Sale of carriages at Tattersall's.

At the time of his decease the Duke of Queensberry
was senior Kjiight of the Thistle. Decorations of this
character were then more worn, as suiting the attire
of the period, than now. Once, shortly after its be-
stowal, his grace was returning from some place of
entertainment in the small hours of the morning
accompanied by a brother-peer, when an incident
occurred somewhat like that recorded by Lord
Brougham. As the two noblemen wended their
way homeward, gorgeous in attire and decorations,
the sight of them raised a guffaw from some dis-
penser of the pure and unadulterated, etc. ' Ah ! '
exclaimed his grace to his companion, at the same
time tapping the star on his breast, 'have they
found out this humbug at last ? ' — a sentiment, though

THE WILL 253

heartfelt by the Duke, he never intended to go
further, for no man conformed more to the etiquette
of the Court and Society than the last Duke of
Queensberry.

The reading of the will of this modern Dives was
awaited with solicitude by a numerous body of rela-
tives, friends, and acquaintances, all expectant ' to
be remembered,' if not enriched for life, by the ducal
Croesus of their time.

At last the portentous document was opened and
read, but, alas ! for many expectant legatees, the Duke
had departed so far from the intentions first ex-
pressed in the instrument as to execute (in many
cases imperfectly) some twenty -five codicils, many
of which were written on half-sheets of notepaper.
These either modified, struck out, or enlarged various
legacies or annuities. As it is possible that this work
may prove of value for future reference, I append the
principal bequests : —

To Maria, nee Fagniani, Lady Yarmouth, . . . ^150,000
(Together with his residence in Piccadilly, stab-
ling in Brick Street, his villa at Richmond,
together with aU furniture therein.)

„ Lord Douglas, 100,000

„ the Duchess of Somerset, 10,000

„ the Countess of Dunmare, 10,000

254

'OLD Q'

To Lady Anne Hamilton,^

„ Lady Hamilton,^ .... per annum,

(And ^1000 ; by a previous codicil, this was

JIOOO per annum, and ^2000.)
Mr. James,
General Crawfurd, .

General R. W. Crawford, . . per annum,

M. Pere Elvizee, his French surgeon.
General the Honourable R. Fitzpatrick, per annum

(In a former codicil it stood J 10,000.)
General Sir Thomas Picton,
Colonel Thomas,
Viscount Sidmouth,
Lady Wm. Gordon, .
Sir James Montgomery,
the Lock Hospital, .
St. George's Hospital,

the Clerk at Coutts' who kept his account, per annum
Du Bois, his steward, ... » »>

John Radford, his head groom, . „ „

(With all his horses and carriages.)

£10,000
400

5000

10,000

500

5000

500

5000

20,000

5000

10,000

10,000

5000

5000

600

300

200

^ Sister to the 10th Duke of Hamilton. This lady's well-known
devotion to Queen Charlotte is historic. She was also the reputed
authoress of The Secret History of the Court of England. Though in
reduced circumstances when this legacy was paid, she gave it intact
to her brother, Lord Archibald Douglas.

- Not to be confounded with Lady Anne Hamilton, though a
relative by marriage : the wife of Sir William Hamilton — Nelson's
' Emma.' Nelson, it is said, was jealous of ' Old Q,' who certainly
liked the society of his notorious family connection ; but his grace
was too wary for her extravagant wiles. One of these was imploring
the Duke to purchase Merton Place to aid her in discharging her
debts.

HIS OWN LAWYER 255

To Burrell, his confectioner, . . . per annum, £200
„ Michael, his footman, ... » j> 200

„ his Italian valet, .... » » 100

„ Signer Salpeitro, formerly leader of the orchestra

at the Italian Opera, . . . per annum, 100

To three French ladies of some celebrity, each, 1000

„ Weekly allowances to poor people, etc., amounting

per annum to, ...... . 300

(Wages to be continued, also, to ' Old Joe,' the

gardener.) Etc. etc.

Lord Yarmouth was left residuary legatee, by which
it is thought some £200,000 further accrued to Maria
Fagniani and her descendants.

Though the will shows much thought and consider-
ation for many who either served or pleased his grace
in some way, as well as providing bounteously for
many of his male domestics, no female member of his
household received the slightest acknowledgment.
The same applies to his constant medical attendant,
Mr. Fuller, who brought an action against the execu-
tors for his charges. However, that matter will be
dealt with in due course.

The executors by the will, Sir James Montgomery,
Bart., Edward Bullock Douglas, and William Murray,
were desired to discharge all legacies within three
months of the testator's decease. The annuitants
were to be paid half-yearly; for this purpose the
executors were empowered to invest such a sum from

256 'OLD Q'

the personal estate as would produce the income of
the charge devised.

Unfortunately, his grace had defeated his own desire
and practice of prompt settlements, by being forgetful
of the fact that a man who acts as his own lawyer
has a fool for a client. Therefore the estate was
dragged into Chancery.

The wishes of his grace, sharp and expeditious as
they may seem now to the common administrator or
executor, could and would have been carried out. No
mortgages or debts troubled the Duke's estate, nor
did his executors have anything to do with the descent
of the estates, which devolved by the laws of inherit-
ance on the Duke of Buccleuch, Sir Charles Douglas
of Kilhead — afterwards first Marquis of Queensberry
— Lord Douglas of Douglas, and the Earl of Wemyss.
The additions to the possessions of those famihes were
not unimportant, as the income from any one of them
would have sufficed its possessor to support its dignity.

The executors, then, had only the late Duke's per-
sonalty to deal with, or freeholds not attachable to
any of his many titles. Thus, with personalty valued
at one million sterling, or verging closely on it, of
which sum four hundred thousand pounds was in
cash, it would have been perfectly easy to accomplish
the Duke's testamentary wishes, had he not defeated

THE duke's library 257

his own intentions. The legacy-duty amounted to
£120,000. List to this, ye owners of wealth, with the
terror, ' Death Duties,' before you !

The reader need not now ask — Why were Drum-
lanrig and Neidpath denuded of timber, the estates
of March leased for cash at nominal rents, Charles,
third Duke of Queensberry's old equine pensioners
sold, or large but ' canny ' wagers made, or covered,
in the ring or at the gaming-table ? The result of one
and all point, 'pour y parvenir,' and that to benefit
the daughter of Madame Fagniani, her husband and
children. True, he might have left them all his ever-
accumulating wealth, but he evidently did not wish
to act in so pronounced a fashion as his deceased
friend Selwyn. He had never encouraged the notion
of the ' adopted ' daughter in his case.

As residuary legatee Lord Yarmouth (who after-
wards, on the death of his father, became third Marquis
of Hertford ^) took the initiative in the legal proceed-
ings. But notwithstanding the law's delays, many
things could be and were done by the executors,
under the eye of the court — the realisation of the
deceased's personal property, as well as handing over
specific legacies, if not 'codiciled' out of legal formality.
Therefore I find as early as February 19th, 1811, the

^ The Lord Steyne of Thackeray's scathing Vanity Fair.
R

25vS 'OLD Q'

founts of public information were running over with
news of his grace's property changing hands.

The instance referred to is the Duke's library, which
he left E. B. Douglas, Esq. The condition in which that
gentleman found the books proves his grace's love of
books was scarcely binding deep ; for hardly one set of
volumes was perfect. Some familiar friends had either
purloined or borrowed copies, which never found
their way back to their owner's shelves.

On April 4th, 1811, the late Duke of Queensberry's
plate, etc., was sold. This gave opportunity for many
who desired a memento of that singular personage to
acquire one ; therefore competition was the order of
the day. So eager were persons to secure anything,
that old family plate, out of fashion, massive and fit
only for the melting-pot, fetched eight shillings an
ounce, while everything else brought far more than
its value, and this in a time when money was very
scarce, not only with the middle but upper classes.
On the 22nd the executors thought the public interest
so keen that they, with true mercantile spirit, had
another sale. This time the bait offered to those athirst
for Queensberry 'ware' was Queensberry's wine. The
result shows what it is to be thought a connoisseur :
thus. Noyau his grace liad purchased from the ' manu-
facturer,' in London, at six guineas a dozen, found

THE QUEENSBERRY WIXE 259

an eager purchaser at £16, 4s. — a transaction which
would have greatly delighted the Duke in his lifetime.
The cellar was scarcely so well furnished as was an-
ticipated ; this was due, no doubt, to the infirmities of
his grace having prevented his hitherto lavish dinners
and entertainments. However, Mr. Christie offered
for competition twelve lots of ' veritable ' Tokay, which
the auctioneer in his harangue said ' had cost the
Duke three guineas a bottle fifty years previous.' The
precious Hquor was then offered in lots of one dozen
at fifty guineas ; this was quickly run up to ninety-
six, at which sum the first dozen was laaocked down.
The next lot had also reached that figure, when two
gentlemen who had been bidding came forward and
agreed to take the remainder at the same price, as
they had no opponents. It was afterwards found that
one of these gentlemen represented the Prince of
Wales,^ the other a Mr. S , ' a patrician cabinet-
maker of the City,' who wisely let H.K.H, have eight
lots (dozens), being content with four.

Other wines were offered of no particular merit,
except ' his grace's selection ' ; these one and all sold
for immense prices. The sale terminated with the offer
of a couple of dozens of liqueur, which no one knew,

^ Another report states that some of this wine was purchased by
the then Marquis of Blandford, but whether from H.R.H. or
Mr. S , I cannot say.

260 'OLD q'

till a Scottish gentleman pronounced it an infu-
sion of whisky, lemon, and some bitter ingredients,
called, so he affirmed, north of the Tweed, the ' house-
keeper's dram.' This Mr. Christie soon twisted into
the ' liqiieiir de Drumlanrig,' which so mystified some
of the gapers round that it fetched a guinea a bottle.

I find it reported, the month following, that the
heir-at-law, Lord Douglas, objected to the late Duke's
personal legacies on the same grounds as I have al-
ready alluded to when relating the Earl of Wemyss's
action against his grace's executors — letting the en-
tailed estates at low annual rents in order to raise
feus on the tenants, from which it was said his grace's
immense personal property had sprung. But it will
be found that, though some years elapsed before an
amicable arrangement was made, all eventually ob-
tained their legacies and annuities.

'Jack' Radford, as a specific legatee, thought to
benefit by the ' craze ' for souvenirs of Queensberry,
but the realisation of his hopes was disappointed
when his grace's string of vehicles were offered. These,
although of the best taste and workmanship, were then
old-fashioned, even the famous green vis-d-vis, usually
drawn by long-tailed black horses, in which Raikes
says he saw a little old man with a muff — ' Q ' —
who swore like ' ten thousand troopers.'

CHAPTER XXXIV

The Dukedom of Queensberry held for one hundred years by two persons
— A singular coincidence — Mr. Fuller's action against the late Duke's
executors — Result — Caricatures of the late Duke — Legacies ordered to
be paid— Conditions of order — Conclusion.

There is a curious circumstance in connection with
the honours of Queensberry ; its ducal dignities had
been enjoyed by two persons only for the period of
one hundred years.

Another remarkable incident is that about the
period of his decease four dukes died, all inhabitants
of Piccadilly: to this, as the reader will remember,
his Majesty King George iii. is supposed to refer in
the verses on ' Old .Q ' — ' Two dukes just dead,' etc.
etc., though this is scarcely chronologically correct,
as the decease of these noblemen occurred in the
following order :

1. The Duke of Portland.

2. The Duke of Queensberry.

3. The Duke of Grafton.

4. The Duke of Devonshire.

262 *oLD q'

On Thursday, June llth, 1811, Mr. Fuller's (the
apothecary of Piccadilly) action against the late
Duke of Queensberry's executors was heard in the
Court of Common Pleas. The statement of claim
set forth for professional services rendered from 1803
to 1810, which included 9340 visits, besides 1700
night calls, out of which he remained with his grace
1215 nights. For these attendances, etc., he claimed
£10,000 — a charge which would seem to have been
disputed by the executors, though the claimant
had on his side Lord Yarmouth, the most interested
person among his late grace's numerous legatees,
who, with Dr. Home, Sir Henry Halford, Dr. Ainslie,
testified to the reasonableness of the charge, when
called upon by Sergeant Vaughan for the plaintiff,
considering the sacrifice he had made of his business
on his grace's behalf. Further, Lord Yarmouth and
Dr. Home affirmed that the Duke had told them
Mr. Fuller should be paid by his executors; this
was corroborated by Mr. E. B. Douglas's answer in
Chancery. But for their admissions, Mr. Justice
Mansfield would not have deemed the action tenable
in a court of justice, as he did not consider
an apothecary could claim for attendance, a fact
generally known. However, considering the justice
of the case, and the testified wishes and admissions

CARICATURISTS AT WORK 263

he had heard, the judge left the award to the
jury, who returned a verdict for the plaintiff for
£7500.

Gillray, one of the most notable caricaturists of
his day, and other wielders of the style, improved
upon the late Duke's doings as much as their
brethren of the pen. On April 17th, 1797, was
issued his caricature plate of 'Old Q' playing
pushpin with a Mrs. Windsor, a lady of unenviable
notoriety. This was followed by ' Dilettanti Theatri-
cals, or a peep at the Green-room,' in Avhich his

grace is seen behind the screen saluting Lady .

These will suffice, though many others may be found
among the satirical productions of those times.

In 1816 the good news came to the legatees under
the late Duke of Queensberry's will that their legacies
would be paid by order of the Court of Chancery
from the funds paid into court by the executors,
subject to the claims of the tenants, who had paid
large sums, some of which had been reduced, for the
renewal of their leases. This order had nothing to
do with a cause pending between Lady Yarmouth
and two of her children as plaintiffs, and Lord
Yarmouth and others as defendants, probably an
amicable suit to prevent others from instituting
claims.

204, 'OLD q'

The first order could only affect the residuary
legatee, Lord Yarmouth, who, it is urged, took indem-
nities from the various legatees more as matter of
form than anything else, as the accumulations of
interest on a sum close upon a million sterling,
for the six years it had lain in Chancery, would
not only satisfy the interest on the legacies, pay the
costs, but go very far towards indemnifying those
tenants who still held under the leases wrongly
granted by the Duke.

With this I bring my task to a close. Though
not so pure as could be desired, my subject is the
career of one of the most curious men of the last
and the early part of this century, one whose memory
will always be green to every supporter of the Turf,
but of whom no proper nor trustworthy record has as
yet appeared. From further reference to the Duke of
Queensberry's character I forbear, merely observing
that, though Lord Lytton says, ' Man is born to be
deceived,' his grace never was the dupe of that
portion of the female sex with which his name was
chiefly associated.

FINIS

APPENDIX {to page 51).

TO BE SOLD

The Earl of March's entire stud of brood mares, crossed,
and supposed to be in foal by Blossom, Othello, and his
lordship's Barb. To be seen at Saxum, near Bury, within
ten miles of Newmarket.

1. Grey Snip, price 220 guineas, in foal by Blossom. A
grey mare, nine years old, got by Snip ; her dam by the
Earl of Godolphin's Arabian, her grandam by Conyer's
Arabian, her great-grandam by Curven's bay Barb.

2. Barj Roundhead, 70 guineas, in foal by the Earl of
March's Barb. A bay mare, ten years old, got by Round-
head ; her dam by Jig, her grandam by MaJceless, her great-
grandam by Brimmer, her great-great-grandam by Place's
White Turk, her great-great-great-grandam by Dodsworth,
out of a Layton Barb mare. This mare was bred by Mr.
Crofts, and this is a copy of his certificate.

3. Bay Bajazet, 150 guineas, in foal by Blossom. A bay
filly, six years old, she was got by Bajazet ; her dam by
Lord Lonsdale's bay Arabian, her grandam by Bay Bolton,
her great-grandara by Darley's Arabian, her great-great-
grandam by the Byerley Turk, her great-great-great-grandam
by the Paffolet Barb, her great-great-great-great-grandam
by Place's white Arabian, out of a Barb mare.

266 'OLD q'

4. Nonesuch, 60 guineas, in foal by Blossom. A brown
mare, six years old this grass, got by Nonesuch ; her dam
by the Bampton Court Childers, out of a mare called Bushy
Molly. Bushy Molly was got by the King's chestnut
Arabian, her dam by the Chillaby Barb, out of Sir Wil-
liam Eamsden's famous Byerley mare ; Nonesuch was got
by Fox, out of the Earl of Portmore's Lugs mare ; Lugs
was got by Dadow's Arabian, out of Bay Bolton's dam.

5. Chestnut Starling, 100 guineas, in foal by the Earl of
March's Barb. Five years old, got by Young Starling;
her dam by Grasshopper, her grandam by Sir M. Newton's
bay Arabian, her great-grandam by Pert, her great-great-
grandam by St. Martins.

6. Blacklegs, 150 guineas, in foal by Blossom. She was
got by a full-brother to the famous Conqueror, out of a full-
sister to Partner.

7. Dainty, 220 guineas, in foal by the Earl of March's
Barb. A brown mare, five years old, got by the Earl of
Godolphin's Arabian ; her dam by Crab, her grandam by
Hobgoblin, out of Bajazefs dam.

8. Chestnut Soundhead, 70 guineas, in foal by the Earl
of March's Barb. A chestnut mare, twelve years old, got
by Roundhead, out of Metcalfs old mare, which was the
dam of Squirt.

9. Godolphin filly, 70 guineas, in foal by Blossom. A
bay mare, four years old, got by the Earl of Godolphin's
Barb, out of Brown Snip. Brown Snip was got by Snip,
her dam out of the Godolphin Arabian, her grandam by
the Bald Galloway, her great-grandara by the Ancaster
Turk.

APPENDICES 267

10. Black Barb filhj, 40 guineas, in foal by Othello. A
black mare, got by the Earl of March's Barb, three years
old, out of Brown Snip.

11. Grey Barh filly, 40 guineas, in foal by Blossom. A
grey mare, four years old, got by the Earl of March's
Barb ; her dam by a son ^ of the Bloody-shouldered Arabian,
her grandam by Terror, her great-grandam by the Pelham
bay Barb, out of a natural mare.

APPENDIX AA.

MiDDLETON, Aug. 9, 1729.

My dear Mrs. Howard, —

{a blot liere)
You are resolved not to send the first
blot, so you see I do : pray write something by the first
opportunity, for though I am as fully employed as heart
can wish, I find I have time to think of you. I am
surprised you would not send me the good news of Lord
Herbert's safe return, and a great deal of him. For
though he has had nothing to say for himself, there must
undoubtedly be a great deal to be said of him. What
can be said for his inhuman usage to so many persons of
wit is past imagination. Pray, tell me if Mrs. Herbert is

^ The son of the Bloody -shouldered Arabian was out of a well-
bred daughter of Mixhury. Blossom was got by the Godolphin
Arabian, his dam by Crab, his grandam by Childers, his great-
grandam by Grantham, his great-great-grandam by the Duke of
Rutland's Paget Turk, and out of a daughter of Lord's Arabian
called Betty Percival.

268 'OLD q'

in waiting. If she is, pray make her say anything to me
that she pleases ; and pray, to please me, and tell me true,
that Mrs. Howard is perfectly well. Now that I have
written, I think I cannot fail of your answering, unless
you are very ungrateful, which I will never believe till I
have your own word for it. Finis.

Say something for me very obliging to Mrs. Meadows
and Mrs. Casteret.

Mr. Gay borrows the rest of the paper for his use.

C. Q.

I think it may be of use to let you know that Middle-
ton is near Bicester, Oxfordshire.

(The same blot that appeared on the other side has sunk
through the paper.)

That blot ^ was of my making, and not on purpose, as
witness. Queensberry.^

Now you know everything about the blot, I will go on
with my letter. We do not play at cards, and yet the
days are too short for us. I know that this Avill scarce be
credited ; yet it is true. We do not want one another's
company, nor are we tired of one another. This, too,
sounds a little incredible ; yet it is true. You see that
we that live in the country speak truth and are willing
that others should think we do so. I wish this may
not be interpreted a reflection^ by somebody that does
not understand it : I will not say any more about truth.

1 Paragraph written by Gay.

2 The duke's signature appended to it.

' An allusion to the interpretations given to passages of Gay's
works, particularly the Beggars^ Opera.

APPENDICES 2G9

The Duchess made these blots/ and values herself
upon it.

I desire you would send word whether white currants
be proper to make tarts : it is a point that we dispute
upon every day, and will never be ended unless you
decide it.

The Duchess would be extremely glad if you could
come here this day se'nnight; but if you cannot, come
this day fortnight at farthest, and bring as many unlikely
people as you can to keep you company. Have you lain
at Marble Hill since we left Petersham 1 Hath the
Duchess an aunt Thanet alive again 1 She says there are
but two people in the world that love and fear me — and
those are. Lord Drum(lanrig) and Lord Charles.^ If
they were awake, I would make them love those that
I love, and say something civil to you. The Duchess hath
left oflF taking snuff ever since you have ; but she takes a
little every day. I have not left it off, and yet take
none ; my resolution not being so strong, Though you
are a water-drinker yourself, I dare say you will be sorry
to hear that your friends have strictly adhered to that
liquor ; for you may be sure their heads cannot be affected
by that.

General Dormer refused to eat a wheat-ear, because
they call it a fern-knacker ; but since he knew it was a
wheat-ear, he is extremely concerned. You are desired to
acquaint Mrs. Smith that the Duchess was upon the brink
of leaving off painting the first week she came here, but
hath since taken it up with great success. She hopes she
will never think of her and my Lord Castlemain of the

^ The paper is here smeared with blots.

- Her two children, born respectively 1722 and 1726.

270 'OLD q'

same day. The Duke hath rung the bell for supper, and
says, 'How can you write such stuft"?'

' And as we conclude,
As 'tis fitting we should,
For the sake of our food ;
So don't think this rude.
Would my name was " Gertrude,"
Or, Simon and Jude.'

P.S. — The writers of this employ great part of their
time in reading Les Contes Tartades, and like them ex-
tremely— I mean the two principal writers.

For my part, I am forced to say I like them, to flatter
the Duchess.

Duke Disney ^ is not yet come to Mr. Dormer's. The
old soldier (General Dormer) is there, and can now lend
you better fun. There is a cock pheasant at Child Grove
that is certainly a witch ; Mr. White cannot kill it, though
he shoots in a Portuguese habit.

There is a gentleman, that shall be nameless, that hath
turned two or three brace of foxes into his garden to
prevent being overstocked with poultry. The Duchess
would not venture to keep a peacock here, if anybody
would give her one. We liked our mushrooms here very
well, till General Dormer told us they were tame ones.

J. G.

It is a pitty — I should spell pity with a double t. It
is a pity, I say, that so much plain paper should lie waste.
We have a great deal more wit, but no more time. There
is proper care taken that this may not be thought plain
paper. C. Q.

' A nickname given to Colonel Henry Disney.

APPENDICES 271

APPENDIX BB.

Edinburgh, the, \st of June, I may say
the first of Summer, 1734.

My dear, dear Lady Suffolk, — The pleasantest
thing I have met with a great while was your letter
yesterday noon. I devoured that instead of my dinner,
and found it better support than all the Scotch beef in the
country. Ap^vpos, you have half your wish : the cook
maid is very dirty about herself; but she says it is her
way ; she was never otherwise. I ought to be satisfied, for
I have known many so in a worse case, and convinced by
arguments no better founded ; a common excuse for folly,
pride, impertinence, and a long et cetera of those pretty
vices you mentioned — it is their way. God help them out
of yours ! for though disagreeable events give a filip to
nature, the continuance is mighty wearing to the spirits,
and by no means to be wished for.

0 had I wings like a dove, for then I would fly away
to Marble Hill ^ and be at rest ! I mean at rest in my
mind. I am tired to death with politics and elections ;
they ought in conscience to be but once in an age : and I
have not met with any one in this country who doth not
eat with a knife, and drink a dish of tea. This, added to
many other cutting things, you must own, makes a dread-
ful account. My girl and I have been at an assembly ;
mighty happy she, and I much amused, by the many very
extraordinary fashions. Notwithstanding, I can assure you
my tail makes a notable appearance. Pray tell me your
friend's name, for I know none here, except myself, who I

1 Built by Lady Suffolk at Twickenham in 1724, who thua had
Pope for a neighbour.

272 'OLD q'

am sure is so. I have not seen the Duke of Argyll ; he
has been out of town with his aunt, Lady Mary ; but his
brother and I are great as two inkle-weavers. He has
made me a visit.^ I assure you my child is very sleepy,
or she would answer Miss Hobart's letter to-night. She
desires her service. She is improved, and danced mighty
well. I was pleased much altogether : she was a very
genteel pretty figure. I hope Master Hobart is quite
recovered. Pray, with my best respects to Mrs. Carteret,
tell her it is a terrible thing that my words have no
weight. You say nothing of Mrs. Meadows ; has she run
away with her brother and Lady Fanny 1 She puts me in
mind of some play, where the lady cannot bear the thoughts
of being married, unless the man steals her out of window.
The girl was in her own disposal to all intents and
purposes. The Duchess of Leeds is an unhandsome beauty,
and rather disagreeable than otherwise. My Lord Port-
more is like Lord Essex and Lord Henry, which is saying
all that man can deserve ; yet one word more. He is
about building a house ; they proposed to him a very fine
situation, where he might have a very fine view of the sea ;
but the fine gentleman cried out, ' 0 Christ ! the sea looks
so fierce it frights one.'

I write just on the style that Lady Dysart talks — very
incoherent stuff; but remember I have your licence, that
I believe you love me, and that I had no patience to stay
till the next post, though I have not time to write so as to
be read. If you can to the end you will rejoice with me,
that the sun has shone to-day — that I am in hopes it will
on Monday, that I may ride out ; for on Sundays no such

^ The Hon. Jane Leveson Gower, third daughter of the Duche.ss'a
first cousin, Lord Gower.

APPENDICES 273

things are allowed in this country, though we lie, and
swear, and steal, and do all sort of villainy every other day
the week round. I shall be delighted to see you, though
I believe not till next month. If you let me hear from
you again, my time will pass the pleasanter ; for I am, if
I know my own heart, — Most sincerely and affectionately
yours.

APPENDIX A.i

Seymour Place, W., 20th October 1762.

My dear George, — I have received your letters.
You make me wish very much to be with you, though I
should like to come, were I to stay but a week. The
Rena^ has not quite fixed her setting out, but I believe it
will be in ten days at furthest.

As to any news from here concerning politics or ad-
ministration, you are sure to have better information from
the Duke and Duchess, than I can give you. I shall let
Lord Huntingdon know, that you are thought to have a
better pronounciation than any one that ever came from
this country. Augustus Hervey will be appointed Colonel
of Marines, and Keppel will have a flag. I dine to-day
with Lady Hervey,- have visited Lady Mary Chabeau, and
had a note from her. How monstrously you envy me !
This is all you can do at your return, and perhaps more.

^ From George Selu-yn and his Contemporaries. 1843.

2 Uiie chere aniie of Lord March, a beautiful Italian woman.
Horace Walpole, writing to General Conway, 9th Sept. 1762, from
Strawberry Hill, says, ' I have had Lord March and the Rena here
for one night, which does not raise my reputation,' etc.

S

274 'OLD Q'

This cursed peace, that I have expected every day for these
two months, I begin now to despair of. Hervey is waiting
for me, so I shall finish this epistle after dinner.

I have just returned from the Hcitel de Milady
(Hervey). At dinner, Lord and Lady Stormont, Mrs.
Dives, Stanley, Morris, Augustus (Hervey) and myself.
Never Avas anything so French as her dinner, and the
manner of its being served. It is a charming home, and
as I have rather a partiality for the French, I am very
glad to have the entnK Horace Walpole, who was in town
3"esterday, tells me I am in great favour, and I always
have a great deal of prejudice for those that like me, which
is one of the reasons why I love you more than anybody
else. I intend sending your gazettes of the King and
Queen by Stanley, if he goes before the Tondino.^

Monsieur de Nivernois is the most agreeable man in the
world. The more I see him the more I like him. He is
not yet got into his new house. I never had an oppor-
tunity of seeing Miss Newton, so I have not been able to
make your excuses.

Metliam recruits but slowly. He assures us he is to
be married to Miss ... (I forget her name — Lady Jane
Coke's heir) as soon as he is recovered, and has told the
Tondino, that he will immediately ask for a peerage.
Perhaps he may be satisfied with an Irish one — Lord
Viscount Montgomery, and Baron Metham of North Cove.
None of your acquaintances are in town ; scarce a number
of any sort to make either a dinner or a supper here. I
am just now going to Duchess Hamilton's, who is much
better. — Yours most afl'ectionately, M. AND E.^

^ Another cMre amie of Lord March's.
^ March and Rvifflen.

APPENDICES 27i

APPENDIX B.

Newmakket, Wednesday morning
{April 1763).

My dear George, — It is decided to stay here to-day,

to-morrow, and Friday, in order to dine in London with

you at Old Almack's if you are not engaged, or at your

own house, whichever you like best. Let them know at

my house that I shall be in town between three and four.

You talk to me of Wilkes's affair as if I had been in

London. I only know that he deserves to be put in the

pillory for his abuse of Government, and I shall be very

glad to hear that he is severely punished. I have lost a

little, on the whole, by the last meeting. Adieu ! till

Friday. — Yours most affectionately,

M. AND E.

P.S. — As my post horses will not be in town, I wish
you would order your servant to have a coach for the
Tondino, that she may have an equipage for Ranelagh.

APPENDIX C.

Tuesday after dinner,
June 1763.

My dear George, — I received your letters from Paris
at the lodge, where I stayed the whole week. I won the
first day above £2000, of which I brought off about
£1500. As all things are exaggerated, I am supposed to
have won at least twice as much.

I can say nothing to you about Paris or Spa, because I

276 'OLD q'

am quite undetermined, and there is always something
to do here that I wish to stay for. The Duchess of
Hamilton sets out for Paris Wednesday-week, and the
Duke and Duchess of Ancaster will go about the same
time. I was to-day at Leicester House, to kiss hands for
the rilmnd. Lady Augusta inquired after you in the most
gracious and good-humoured manner that can be imagined.
She said you had saved your fine coat for the king's birth-
day. I told her I was sure you would not be so econo-
mical upon another occasion, and that you intended to return
on purpose to pay your respects to her. The masquerade
was very numerous and very fine. Old Gunning was
there in a running footman's habit, with Lady Coventry's
picture hung at his button-hole, like a croix de St. Louis.
Tom Hervey has advertised his wife, which advertisement
Williams ^ is to give you an account of. The Bedfords
are all arrived. Lord Tavistock dined here to-day, with
d'Uson and M. de Henry. Madame de Boufilers was at
Lady Mary Coke's for two days in the Ascot week ; she
is now at Sion Hill.

I have eat so much dinner that what I have already
written makes my head ache, so I am just going to take a
walk in the Park, it being now past eight, and the finest
evening that ever was. I will write you again soon, and
more intelligibly, and when I know what I intend doing,
I will let you know it. Tondino h in collera, dicendo che
la littera non k andato suhito. Farewell, my dear George. —
Yours most affectionately,

March and R.

1 ' Gilly ' Williams.— J. R. R.

APPENDICES 277

APPENDIX D.

Seymour Place,
Tuesday, 21 June, 1763.

My dear George, — Vous etes charmant pour les commis-
sions, and the best correspondent in the world-; I like
everything you have sent me as well as if I had chose
them myself.

My tailor, Davenport, is going to Paris in a few days.
I have given him directions about my clothes, and I have
desired he will consult you, which I do that he may not
impose upon me, as to the price, which you will take care
of. My going abroad appears every day more uncertain,
so that I am very glad you went without staying for me.

I have not seen the Duchess of Bedford and the Duke,
only for a few minutes at Court. They are now at
Woburn. Madame de Boufflers went there last Sunday,
and from thence she goes to the Duke of Grafton at
Wakefield. I have some thoughts of going to Woburn on
Thursday : that is a visit I must absolutely take, and I
should like to have done it when Madame de Boufflers
was there : perhaps I may find her. The Margravine
d'Anspach and a great many foreigners are to dine here
to-morrow. I believe you was gone before the Margrave
came. You know he is nearly related to the royal family,
and a sovereign prince. My dinner is a rebound of one
we had at Eglinton's.

I saw Williams this morning at White's ; he inquired
after you. Coventry is going in a few days to the country
to entertain the Duke of York, who is to make him a
visit in his way to Scarborough. Pray make my best

278 'OLD Q'

compliments to M. de Nivernois. The little Tondino is
now writing you a letter. She has had a spriti hassini.
Adieu, my dear George ; I have a visit to make the Duke
of Queensberry, who goes to-morrow to Scotland. It is
past six, and I am not yet dressed. — Yours,

March and R.

APPENDIX E.

Hotel de Tondino,
Saturday Morning.

My dear George, — When I returned from Lord Shel-
burne's I was quite surprised to find that you were gone.
I did not get up till near two, and I promised to be there
at three; dinner being ordered at that time, that Madame de
Boufflers might be in time for the play. I found them at
dinner when I came ; Lady Mary C. and Monsieur and
Madame d'Uson. I expected it would have been a larger
party.

I am now setting out for Newmarket. The Tondino is
a good deal better; and, as she thinks the air of the
country will do her good, I shall take her with me,
though I return to-morrow. I have called on M, de
Nivernois to take leave, but he was not up, so I shall call
again. The d'Usons and Boufflers are set out this morn-
ing upon their progress. Adieu, my dear George. —
Yours very sincerely and affectionately.

I

APPENDICES 279

APPENDIX F.

Seymour Place, Is;: Jvly 1763.

My dear George, — Upon my return from Newmarket
last Wednesday I found your letter, by which I finU you
wholly despair of me. Whether I shall come or not is
rather uncertain. If I do, it will be immediately after
Huntingdon, which is the last week in this month.

I did not go to Woburn, so I have that visit to make.
This week I have been in waiting, and to-day, being
Friday, I have nothing further to do. The king did not
take his Lord of the Bedchamber to the review last
Monday, so that I had that day and Tuesday at New-
market. The horse-guards are to be reviewed next Mon-
day ; Elliott's the Monday following.

Since this letter was begun I have been at Madame de
Boufflers, who returned last night from her expedition to
Woburn and Wakefield, and seems perfectly satisfied with
everything here. Beauclerk was at Woburn. She goes
on Sunday to stay a week with Lady Holderness at Sion
Hill in Lord H.'s absence, who sets out to-morrow for
Yorkshire, and the 23rd for Paris. Williams suspects
you begin to be a little seccatmed, and that you would like
as well to sit down to Saunders' turtle, which is just
going to be served up, as to any dinner you can have
where you are. I know of nothing new or entertaining to
send you. Everything goes on as when you left us, and I
am always as much as possible, — Your faithful and affec-
tionate friend,

M. AND E.

280 'OLD q'

APPENDIX G.

Tuesday, July I9th, 1763.

My dearest George, — I shall send the message and
things by Lady Holderness, who sets out on Thursday, and
has promised to take them.

Madame de Boufflers goes on Saturday. They all dine
with me to-morrow, and I go the next day to Newmarket,
and from thence to Huntingdon, Avhich begins next
Monday. There is no such thing as lampreys at this
time of the year, and they will keep, to be sent here, as
the cherubim assures me, upon thorough information.

All my stockings have been seized, by not being taken
out of the paper and rolled up, which would have made
them pass for old stockings.

It is extremely uncertain when the marriage ^ will be,
but I think undoubtedly not sooner than the latter end of
September, therefore do not order any clothes for me till
I write you again.

I have fixed nothing about moving to France. Lord
Coventry talks of being at Paris in three weeks. I have
been all the morning at Petersham with Madame de
Boufflers. She dined at Sion Hill. The Duke of Queens-
berry, Essex, and Hervey dined with me, so that I have
not had a minute to myself all day, and for fear this should
be too late for the post, I have only time to add, that I am
always yours most affectionately,

M. AND R.

^ Between Princess Augusta and the Prince of Brunswick.

APPENDICES 281

APPENDIX H.

FONTAINEBLEAU.

You desire to know what I intend to do, which is
more than I can tell myself, but I shall certainly be here
on Sunday, and for some days afterwards. I supped at
Bruinghen's the first night, the next day made my visits,
but found nobody but Mother Praslin. She asked me to
supper, and has sent me another card since, so that I find
I am quite well there. I sup to-night with the Prince
Soubize, to-morrow, with Madame de Choiseul, and
Monday, with the Due de Chartres ; in short, there is
business for every night, and I am in no danger of being
on the pav4. I dined to-day at what is called no dinner
at Madame de Coingnie's. The Queen ^ asked Madame
de Mirepoix si elle n'avoit pas beaucoup entendu mddire de
Monsieur Selwyn, et elle ? Elle a ripondu : ' Oui, beaucoup,
Madame.^ ' Ten suis bien aise,' dit la Heine. Monin will be
excessively glad to see you. I have not had time to go
to see him, though he is but a mile from here, and has
pressed me much to come. Pray say something for me to
the little Tondino, if I should not have time to write. I
was not quite well this morning, and could not get up, or
I should have wrote to you both. Farewell, for I must go
out. — Yours, etc. etc.,

M. AND E.

P.S. — There was no room taken for you, so I have
taken the best I could get in this house, which is not a
very good one, but there are lodgings enough to be had.

^ Consort of Louis xv.

282 'OLD q'

APPENDIX HI.

Seymour Place, September 2^th, 1765.

My dear George, — I enclose a letter from the Tondino,
who is very sensible of your attention. There would
have been no scruple of remaining in your house, for
we both know you too well for that, but she wanted to
get back to all her Chiffons, contrary to my inclination.

Lord Folkestone has kissed hands as Earl of Malmes-
bury,i Lord Spencer as Earl Spencer. Lord de Spencer is
to be an earl ; ^ but by what title I do not know, as he
has not kissed hands. There is a great entertainment to-
day at Clermont. The Duke of Newcastle is very angry
that neither the Duke of York nor Gloucester be of it.
They are, I hear, much displeased at his free manner of
inviting them to meet the prince, instead of his meeting tliem.
So much for Panto ! But I think our Princes much in the
right.

The great B.^ was yesterday at the dressing, comme un
homme de quality qui a les entris. Neither he nor any of his
family were at the balls ; they were only invited to the
Duke of York's. Lady Hertford arrived last night with
the leau Richard. Fortescue and his wife came with
them. . . .

^ ? Radnor. ^ Not correct.

3 Apparently the Duke of Bedford.

APPENDICES 283

APPENDIX I.

Newmakket, Thursday, Oct. 1765.

My dear George, — I had your letter yesterday, and
you would have heard from me sooner had I any good
news to send you. Sir J. Lowther has won above seven
thousand. Maxwell will bring you an account of our bad
success with Scapeflood, It cost me much less than I
expected, but more than I can afford, for I am at this
time, as you know, exceeding poor.

I am sorry to hear you are still throwing out^ as well
as me. I fear, if luck does not come soon, it will only find

us at five-pound stakes, and it must be a d d long run

to bring us home at that rate'. Adieu ! my dear George !
I will not think of desiring you to come here, because I
shall see you in London on Monday. I have one little
push to make on Saturday. Adieu ! — Yours,

M. AND R.

APPENDIX J.

Sunday Morning, 1765.

. . . When I came home last night, I found your letter
on my table. So you have lost a thousand pounds, which
you have done twenty times in your lifetime, and won it
again as often, and why should not the same thing happen

' At hazard.

284 'OLD q'

again 1 I make no doubt that it will. I am sorry, how-
ever, that you have lost your money ; it is unpleasant. In
the meantime, what the devil signify the lefahle deparisor [?]
the nonsense of White's ! You may be sure they will be
glad you have lost your money ; not because they dislike
you, but because they like to laugh. They shall certainly
not have that pleasure from me, for I will even deny that
I know anything of it.

As to your banker, I will call there to-morrow ; make
yourself easy about that, for I have three thousand pounds
now at Coutts'. There will be no bankruptcy, without we
both are ruined at the same time. You may be sure all
this will soon be known here, since everybody knows it at
Paris ; but if you come as soon as you intend, perhaps you
may be here first. All that signifies nothing ; the dis-
agreeable part is having lost your money; Almack's or
White's will bring all back again.

How can you think, my dear George, and I hope you
do not think, that anybody, or anything, can make a
tracasserie between you and me 1 I take it ill that you
even talked about it, which you do in the letter I had by
Ligonier. I must be the poorest creature upon earth —
after having known you so long and always as the best
and sincerest friend that any one ever had — if any one
alive can make any impression upon me, when you are
concerned. I told you, in a letter I wrote some time ago,
that I depended more upon the continuance of our friend-
ship than anything else in the world, which I certainly
do, because I have so many reasons to know you, and I
am sure I know myself.

APPENDICES 285

T'uesday, after the Opera.

By your letter, which I had this morning, I find you
were to set out last Sunday. I fear the roads are so very
bad that you will not be here so soon as you imagine. A
rebound of our dinners with Ch**- Townshend is to be at
my house on Saturday ; we shall all be happy if you come
in time to make one. Farewell, my dear George. I am
afraid of being too late for the post.

Etc. etc. etc.

APPENDIX K.

My dear George, — I have received from Bob, as I
imagine, for I had no letter, but a cover in which there
was nine hundred and fifty guineas in notes, payable to
my order. As these wanted another £50 to make up
the thousand, I was afraid there might have been some
mistake, but as I shall pay none of them without endors-
ing, it will be of no consequence whether it is so, or not.
I continue to lose everything I play for. I dine at
Guerchy's on Sunday. — Yours,

M. AND R.

APPENDIX L.

My dear George, — I have lost my match, and am
quite broke. I cannot tell you how much I am obliged
to you for thinking of my diflliculties, and providing for
them in the midst of all your own. Let me hear soon. —
Yours very affectionately,

March and R.

286 'OLD q'

APPENDIX M.

Newmarket, Moiiday Morning.

My dear George, — Lord Edward brought me your
letter yesterday. I was always afraid of having some
bad accounts of you, though Bunbury told me you was
higher than ever ; but your bill of play lately has been
so very desperate, that half an hour's bad luck was more
than sufficient to lose a greater sum than you have lost,

I should be sorry, indeed, if I thought anything I could
have done would have saved you. If you imagine it
would, I believe you are mistaken, and then it only would
have been an additional mortification.

The weather has been so very fine, that I have con-
tinued here in hopes it would do me good. My intention
is to be in town on Wednesday ; to leave Newmarket
after the race on Tuesday, and sleep at Hockerel. Think
of the cento pensieri ! The having debts to pay does not
make the present worse, and in the midst of your mis-
fortunes, if you compare yourself to those you meet at
Almack's, you are, perhaps, the luckiest man there in
point of play. Adieu ! — ^Yours very sincerely,

M. AND R.

APPENDIX N.

Wednesday ituyrning, 6 o'clock.

My dear George, — I am just preparing to conduct the
poor little Tondino to Dover, and as I shall hardly be able

APPENDICES 287

to write to you tliere, I shall endeavour to say two or
tliree words to you while she is getting ready. I am sure
you will be good to her, for I know you love me ; and I
can desire nothing of you that I shall feel so sensibly as
your notice of her.

She will tell you all my intentions, and I shall write to
you when I am more composed. My heart is so full that
I can neither think, speak, or write. How I shall be able
to part with her, or bear to come back to this house, I do
not know. The sound of her voice fills my eyes with
fresh tears. My dear George, fai le caur si serrd que je ne
suis bon a present qu'd pleurer. Farewell ! I hear her coming,
and this is perhaps the last time I shall see her here.

Take all the care you can of her. Je la recommande ci
WHS, my best and only real friend. Farewell ! Farewell !
What she will tell you is really what I intend. . . .

APPENDIX 0.

White's, Friday Night, Post-time.

My dear George, — I have this moment received your
letter from Newark. I wrote to you last night, but I
quite forgot Raton. I have not had him to see me to-day,
having been the whole morning in the City with Lady H.,
but I have sent to your maid, and she says that her little
king is perfectly well, and in great spirits.

Lord H. dined to-day at Petersham; and H. St. John,
Col. Craigs, and myself, dined with her ladyship, to try a
cook Lord Barrymore ^ has sent from Paris, and he is an
excellent one. Le Chevalier and his nurse are still at your

^ Sixth Earl of Barrymore.

28S 'OLD q'

house. I am in liaste to return to tlie coterie, having left
them to write to Newmarlcet, and to send you this scrawl ;
so farewell, my dear George. . . .

APPENDIX P.

Monday Morning.

My dear George, — I had your letter last night. The
letters come here generally about supper-time. I showed
Lady Spencer that part of your letter where you preach
against poor Voltaire, who, by the bye, has done more
real good by his writings upon tolerance than all the
priests in Europe. Your sermon has had one good effect,
though it has not converted me, for it has gained you
some favour with Lady Spencer, which is a much better
thing.

I have a card to dine with the Duke of Grafton on the
Queen's birthday, but I am engaged to the Duke of
Ancaster; at least, I suppose so. I shall set out on
Wednesday or Thursday, but I will write to you to-
morrow. Farewell, my dear George. — Yours most truly
and affectionately,

M. AND R.

APPENDIX Q.

Newmarket, Monday.

My dear George, — I take my chance of your putting

off your journey another day ; if not, you will receive this

in France. The Duke of Grafton goes on Wednesday to

the wedding, and I shall certainly go with him. We shall

APPENDICES 289

be in town about six, and I shall set out the next day for
this place.

The meeting begins well. How it ends is more to the
purpose ; but I think I shall have certainly won, in about
two hours, two hundred at least. The odds are three to
one on my side. Lords Gower, Bridgewater, and the
usual Newmarket people are here. I expect to hear of
the arrival of the Russians every minute, and have invited
them to dinner, which is the only dinner I shall have at
home this meeting.

Lord Northumberland is to be a duke by that title,
and Lord Cardigan gives up his place, and is likewise to
be a duke. If this is not known yet, it will be very soon.
If you are in town, don't tell it as my news ; but you
may whisper it to some of our politicians. I wish you a
good journey, and intend nothing so much as to be with
you. Di quelqioe cJiose bien tendre pour moi a la caret
Luisina, et donnez hit mille baisers de ma part. Adieu,
my dear George ! . . .

APPENDIX R.

The Monday after the Meeting.

My dear George, — I had your letter yesterday, and
was in some hopes that you might have received the one
I wrote to you from hence last Wednesday, because I
directed it to the Cherubim,^ to be forwarded to you, accord-
ing to the time you left London, either to Dover or Paris.

The meeting has ended very ill, and I am now near a

^ A sobriquet for the then proprietor of 'White's,' of whose late
proprietor, R. Mackeith, he was a relative. — J. R. R.

T

290 'OLD q'

milk lower in cash than when we parted. Most of the
W^iite's people are gone to Sir J. Moore's. Bully, Lord
Wilmington, and myself are left here to reflect coolly upon
our losses, and the nonsense of keeping running horses;
and yet, notwithstanding all our resolutions, if we make
any, they will end as yours do, after being doved at
Almack's. Scott has lost near three thousand.

Lord Northumberland has kissed hands, and is Duke
of Northumberland ; but the most extraordinary thing in
the world is that Lord Cardigan wrote to the Duke of
Grafton declining the offer that was made him of being a
Duke. What his reasons are I don't know ; I only know
that he had desired it, and that he had the King's promise
that whenever any were made, that he should be one.

Bully dines here, and I think of going to-night to Bury
to the ball and fair. Farewell, my dear George ; I wish
with all my heart that I was with you instead of in this

d d place. 3IiUe choses h la cara Tondino. Tell her I

have had her letter, and will write to her soon. . . .

APPENDIX S.

October 13th, 1766.

My dear George, — I suppose that the wind has been
contrary and prevented me from hearing anything from
you since you left Boulogne. I stayed at Newmarket with
Bully till last Friday, and was to have gone back there to-
day in my way to Lord Orford's, where all the Newmarket
people are gone, if the Duke of York had not asked me to
dine with him to-day, which I thought I could not refuse,

APPENDICES 291

liaviug supped with him last night en parti fin, with some
of the opera-girls. I am going this morning to Watts', in
order to be prepared for the next meeting, which begins
this day fortniglit. As I am very deeply engaged I shall
perhaps be obliged to make use of your money, that in
case of the worst I may not be a lame duck; but if I do,
you may be sure that you need not be under any appre-
hension of confining yourself in any shape where you are,
on that account, I shall be able, after Newmarket, to be
more certain about my journey to Paris, which I still
intend. The Duke of Northumberland does not go till
after the meeting of Parliament, and wants me to stay for
him, but I think that will make it too late. Lord and
Lady Rochford set out next week. There are very few
people in town. To-morrow morning I set out for Lord
Orford's. The Duke of Northumberland's high living,
where I dined last Friday, has given me an indigestion,
which I have had ever since. I am something better now,
or I should not venture to dine with the Duke of York ;
but I have been as bad as you were when you dined with
Madame de Villais.

I long to hear from you from Paris, and to have your
account of the little Teresina. Tell the Rena that I have
had three of her letters, and will write to her either by this
post or the next.

I had not time to finish this morning, so I give you
two or three words after dinner. The Duke of Cumberland
dined with his brother. Pembroke, General Harvey, and
Sir Francis Delaval, with their families, made up the rest
of the company. Delaval lights up Lord Leaborough's
house who is in the country, and gives us a supper with
the opera-girls, who are very pretty. Tfe live high ; but I

292 'OLD Q'

wish more to be where you are than anywhere else.
Mille choses de plus honnete et de plus tendre ii la cara
Luisina. Tell her that there are great expectations about
the opera, and that the connoisseurs like Giardini better
than Manzoli. — Yours very affectionately,

M. AND R,

APPENDIX T.

Piccadilly, ISth October 1766.

My dear George, — Yesterday morning I received
both your letters. I went after dinner to Guerchy's,
where I found the Marquis de Fitzjames, and we have
agreed to go together to Newmarket. They talked a great
deal about you, and I took an opportunity of saying how
much you thought yourself indebted to them for the
civilities you receive at Paris. There is no harm in a
word of that kind now and then, which, I hope, you will
remember for me where you are, that I may be received
well, if, after these d— — d races, I should have money and
spirits to set out.

After Guerchy's, I went to Lady Shelburne's, where
were all the people that can be gathered together at this
time of the year. Lady Hertford made a thousand
enquiries about you ; asked how long you intended to
stay, and hoped you would soon be tired of blind women,
old presidents, and premiers. Mademoiselle Guerchy gave
me an account of the little Teresina, but I long to hear
what you think of her, and I know you will be so par-
ticular, that it will be like having seen her myself. I

APPENDICES 293

shall stay for the first night of the opera, which is next
Tuesday, and shall go to Newmarket on Wednesday.
Lord Cardigan has kissed hands for being Duke of
Montagu, and keeps his place. There is no news. Lady
Townshend has sent me a fan for you, which I will send
you by the first opportunity, if I don't bring it myself. I
shall see the Duke of Grafton at Newmarket, and will find
out what they expect about your coming to the meeting of
Parliament, The Duke of Northumberland intends set-
ting out the day after the Parliament meets. I have had
a very civil letter from Monsieur du Barri : say something
for me in case I should not write.

I shall write to the Tondino by the post to-morrow.
Adieu, my dear George, it begins to grow late, and I must
go to bed. . . .

APPENDIX U.

2&th October 1766.

My dear George, — This time, my dear George, your
money has been lucky indeed. I am returned with my
pockets full ; by the second meeting, clear gain four
thousand one hundred guineas. This good fortune has
come very apropos, and I have the pleasure of being in-
debted to you for it, which makes it still more welcome,
for without your money I could not have risked near so
much. Shafts and Parker have been the chief losers.
In these high circumstances I must remember Dick
Edgecombe, and not think because I am rich now, that I
shall never be poor again. I have ordered the Cherubim

294 'OLD q'

to replace your money. If you had occasion for any, I
should offer to be your banker. Pray let the Tondino
know these lucky events, in case I should not have time
to write to her by this post.

The Marquis de Fitzjames liked Newmarket, and
everybody liked him. I hesitate a good deal about the
journey to Paris, and have determined, if I go at all, not
to go till after the meeting of Parliament. All the French
expeditions are put off till that time. The Duke of
Northumberland, and Sir Charles and Lady Sarah,^
certainly go then. I have two fans for you from Lady
Townshend, which you shall have by the first opportunity.

This moment your two letters are arrived. If you
mean Fish Crawford, he is in perfect health, so you may
comfort your blind woman. I shall take care to send her
the tea you desire, as soon as I can get anybody to carry
it. I hear and believe that the Bedfords are coming in.
The Duchess of Hamilton has gone to Scotland for six
weeks upon election business. I don't hear Grenville's name
mentioned. Lord Gower and Rigby are gone to Bath to
the Duke of Bedford. Farewell, my dear George ! I must
go to the Duke of Queensberry this morning. He desired
that I would call upon him, I believe to talk to me about
some election business. He interests himself for Captain
Ross, so that I fear Murray of Philiphaugh will have a
bad chance. I told the Duke of Grafton that you would
be here whenever he thought it necessary. I found that
he did not expect much opposition. Adieu, my dear
George ! — Yours very affectionately,

M. AND R.

^ Bunbury.

APPENDICES 295

APPENDIX V.

4th November 1766.

... I had your two letters last night, and I suppose
you have had mine with an account of my success at
Newmarket.

The Duke of Northumberland still continues his resolu-
tion of going to Paris immediately after the meeting of
Parliament, and presses me to go with him ; whether I shall
or not, I 'm sure I don't know. I dined yesterday with
the Marquis of Fitzjames at the Duke of Grafton's, and
dine to-day at the Duke of York's. The town is very
empty yet. Bully is not in spirits with the world, and
continues at Newmarket with his girl, though he is as
much tired of her as of anything else. The weather is
excessively fine. I am just going to ride out to see if air
and exercise will get me a stomach, which I have not had
for several days. I don't know what the devil 's a matter.
Ifais j'ai I'estomac cUrangS, et avec cela Us grands diners
ne valent rien, et je ne puis pas rester a un coin de la
table comme voiis faites. In case I have not time to add
anything to you in the afternoon, farewell ! Eemember
me to the Eena.

We had at dinner the Prince of Anhault and some
Germans with him ; Lord Huntingdon and myself, the
Princess of B. and Lady Susan ; and the Duke's family.
It was a very agreeable dinner without any form.

Lord Spenser and Lord Hilsborough are to move and
second in the House of Lords, and Lord Lisburne and
Augustus Hervey in the House of Commons. Lord
Chatham and the Duke of Bedford have had a great deal
of communication at Bath, and people expect the Bedfords

296 'OLD q'

will certainly come in. I don't hear Mr. Grenville men-
tioned, and very little politics. Adieu.

P.S. — Vernon^ wishes that you would send him a
velvet, something of this pattern, for a coat, waistcoat,
and breeches, and send it to M. Pierre Grandin a Calais,
to be kept there till he has orders how to send it.

APPENDIX W.

White's, Friday, Novr. 1766.

My dear George, — I intended to have written to you
last Tuesday, but we sat so late at the House of Lords
that I had no time. It was a dull debate, though it lasted
a great while. Lord Chatham spoke very well, and with
a great deal of temper, and great civility towards the
Duke of Bedford ; who spoke and approved of the measure,
at the time of laying the embargo,'^ because of the neces-
sity, but complained of Parliament not being called sooner,
because what had been done was illegal, and only to be
justified from necessity, which was the turn of the whole
debate. Lord Mansfield trimmed in his usual manner, and
avoided declaring his opinion, though he argued for the
illegality. Lord Camden attacked him very close upon
not speaking out his opinion, and declared strongly for
the illegality. Upon the whole, I think we shall have
very little to do in Parliament, and your attendance will

' The notorious ' Old Dick ' Vernon, one of the Fathers of the
Txirf in those daj^s. — J. R. R.

* Embargo on the export of wheat and wheat flour owing to its
ecarcity ; a memorable enactment. — J. R. R.

APPENDICES 297

be very little wanted. Coventry is not in town. I
suppose he waits to see the turn that things are likely to
take ; so much so that I am persuaded he will be more
attached to his old friend Pitt than ever. Farewell ! my
dear George ; I have only time to add that I am always,
— Very affectionately yours,

M. AND E.

APPENDIX X.

nth November 1766.
My dear GeoPvGE, — The muff you sent me by the
Duke of Richmond I like prodigiously ; vastly better than
if it had been tigr^, or of any glaring colour : several are
now making after it. I send you by this post full direc-
tions about all my commissions, as I quite despair of
coming to you. I wish I had set out immediately after
Newmarket, which I believe I should have done if I had not
taken a violent fancy for one of the opera-girls.^ This
passion is a little abated, and I hope it will be quite so
before you and the Eena come over, else I fear it will
interrupt our society. But whatever is the case, as I have
a real friendship and affection for the Eena, I shall show
her every mark of regard and consideration, and be vastly
happy to see her. I consider her as a friend, and certainly
as one that I love very much, and as such I hope she will
have some indulgence for my follies. A contrary behaviour
will only separate us entirely, which I should be sorry for,
and upon the footing that we have lived for some time
^ The Zamparini.

298 'OLD q'

past it would be quite ridiculous and affected. You may
talk to her a little about this at a distance.

I spoke to the Duke of Grafton about your being in
France, and I will take an opportunity of saying some-
thing about it to him again, only to show your attention
as to the Parliament, This moment my servant brings
me your letter by le Boi. I will enquire for a lodging for
the Eena, for I agree with you entirely, that you have no
room for her in your house, and it is as well to avoid all
the nonsense that would be said about it. I shall have
everything in readiness, that she may immediately go to
her own hotel, for she certainly cannot come either to
yours or mine. — Etc. etc. . . .

APPENDIX Y.

Bully inquires^ after you very often. Milady Bully ^
came last Sunday to Guerchy's, where I dined with the
Bedfords and Lord G. I suppose she was not invited
upon his account. Women are so much more impudent
than men ; I never saw anything like it. She came just
after we had drunk coffee ; handsomer than ever I saw
her, and not the least abashed. Pauvre Milor Gower, il ne
savait que faire de sa personne. I was sorry for him, because
I know what he suffered.

^ Lord Bolingbroke.

" Lady Bolingbroke, nee Lady Diana Spencer, afterwards Lady
Diana Beauclerk.

APPENDICES 299

Bully is coming again into the world, and swears he
will seduce some modest woman, I have no doubt he
will, Williams never meets me without abusing you for
being so affected, as to stay at Paris. We both agree that
Coventry has stayed in the country to see what turn
politics will take. Between Temple and Pitt, he is like
Captain Macheath. ' How happy could I be with either ! '
The Bladens were at Crome when Williams was there,
and is more enchanted with them than you can possibly
imagine. Farewell ! my dear George ; I am determined
to write to you every post, if only to say that I am always,
— Your very affectionate friend,

M. AND R.

APPENDIX Z.

Friday, 2\st November 1766.

To town last night. Williams is in love with the
Bladens ; he found them at Crome. I have long known
that they are the most agreeable women in London ; but
you know he never thinks anything can be so, but what
he is accustomed to see every day.

Cadogan and Thomond are gone in the country to shoot.
Lord Farnham ^ is gone to Ireland. Say something for
me to the Rena, that she may not think she is forgot,
which she certainly is not, and don't lose an opportunity,
when it offers, of remembering me to my friends at Paris.

' Robert, first Earl of Farnham.

300 'OLD q'

I told the Duke of Grafton that you was ready to order
your post-horses whenever you were really wanted. Fare-
well, ray dear George. — Yours very truly and affectionately,

March and R.

APPENDIX Al.

November 1766.

My dear George, — Jack Shelley has kissed hands for
Lord Edgecombe's place. He was offered to be of the
Bedchamber, which he has refused, and wants to have
the Post Office, which they won't give him.

I find it is arranged that we shall be obliged to send
troops into North America,^ to bring them to a proper
state of obedience. It is whispered about that the
Cavendish's and Rockingham's friends will take the first
opportunity they can to be hostile to Government, and
likewise that Norton and Wedderburne will certainly
oppose : if these things are so, we may perhaps have some
more convulsions in the state.

The Duke and Duchess of Bedford are gone to Woburn.
That set seems to be quite separated from Granville, but
have made no bargain yet. I suppose we shall not know
much what turn these things will take till after the holi-
days. I wish every day more and more that I had come
to you.

I have not yet received some champagne that Monsieur
de Prissieux has sent me, but I expect it every day, and

^ The eve of the American War of Independence. — J. II. R.

APPENDICES 301

I am looking out for a horse to send him. It is a difficult
commission, though I have a great many that I wish he
had, if I thought he would like them. — Etc. etc. . . .

APPENDIX BI.

November 17G6.

At the Custom-house there is a red bed upon my list,
which I have not made use of, and which you may take
if you want anything of that sort, and think it worth
while. Send my shoes to Mademoiselle Morel, at Calais,
in case you find no opportunity of sending them directly
from Paris, and I will find some method of getting them
over.

Pray, don't let the commode be too much ornamented.
J'aime le grand simple comme le Prince ; but as it will be a
principal piece at the end of the room, between the two
windows, it must be handsome, so as to be an object.

Bunbury and Lady Sarah set out next week, and I will
get them to take you tea and fans. I wish I could muster
up resolution to come to you, if it was but for ten days.
Besides French resources, you have a very good English
set, which is always a great comfort.

I was prevented from writing to you last Friday, being
at- Newmarket with my little girl. I had the whole family
and Cocch^. The beauty went with me in my chaise,
and the rest in the old landau. I have intended a
thousand times to have wrote to the Rena ; something or

302 'OLD q'

other, however, has always prevented me, but I certainly
will write by this post. I would not for the world give
her any mortification, for I really love her much, and it is
for that reason that I wish her not to come here just now.
Pray, say something to her for me for not writing, which
I certainly should not have put off so long if I had not
always said something about her in my letters to you.
Contrive anything rather than she should appear to be
neglected.

I shall endeavour to negotiate the £500, provided I
can do it with Guerchy or Fitzjames. He has been con-
fined for some days with a little fever, but is now much
better.

Lady Fortrose is so ill that they do not expect her to
last many days longer. She has killed herself by putting
on white ; ^ and I suppose has hastened her end a great
deal by lying constantly with little Gimcrack. Though
she has been up this great while, she is so weak that she
has hardly been able to walk or speak.

Get me the best Chambertin you can, and you may give
any price for it. Chavigny, I should think, will be able
to advise you as well as anybody.

All I have learnt here is, that Keppel is turned out of
the Bedchamber — he meant only to have resigned the
Admiralty; and that Lord Harcourt's son is appointed.
Augustus Hervey and Cadogan are in a long bore. When
they have finished, if they tell me anything, you shall know
it. T. Pelham does not resign, and everybody thinks that

those who have are now d d sorry for what they have

done. Hervey tells me that Sir Edward Hawke is to be
First Lord of the Admiralty.

1 White lead powder.— J. R. R.

APPENDICES 303

I cannot learn one word about the Bedfords ; I suppose
they make difficulties in order to have a better bargain.
I wrote a short letter to the Eena last week, but will write
her two or three words by this post. Farewell, my dear
George. — Yours very affectionately,

March and K.

APPENDIX C 1.

3rd Decemher 1766.

My dear George, — I send you four fans and some
tea by Lord Fitzwilliam, and shall send you two or three
more fans by the Bunburys, who set out the end of this
week, or the beginning of the next.

Sir Edward Hawke kissed hands to-day ; Sir Piercy
Brett and Jenkinson, Lords of the Admiralty, which does
not look as if Bute was quite out of the question. The
Duke of Ancaster is to be Master of the Horse. The
Bedfords want to come in, but they would not give them
the places they wanted. — Yours, etc.,

March and E,.

After the Opera.
Vernon tells me that there is an end of the Bedford
negotiation. Lord Chatham has filled all the places. Lord
Lisburne is to be of the Admiralty Board. I have not
heard who is to be Master of the Horse. I am quite
astonished that Lord Chatham should have sent for the
Duke of Bedford, and that negotiation not take place ;
surely our old friends are not very well treated.

804 'OLD Q'

The King was at the Opera, which he scarce ever
misses, and Coventry was in waiting. Lord Temple has
told him that this Administration will not last two months,
but that he is quite attached to the King, and will go with
it as long as it lasts. I think there is no danger, for if the
King is in earnest there will be support enough. By the
next post I shall let you know how everything is settled.
My dear George, adieu !

APPENDIX D L

The Duke of Bedford is gone back to Woburn, so that
negotiation is at an end ; I am sorry for it, and so are they
too. The Duke of Bedford wanted Lord Lome to be made
a peer/ and I believe would have stood out for that as
much as for any other thing ; but, in short, he could have
nothing in his own way. Wedderburne does better than
ever in the House of Commons ; he and Norton both
oppose. I fancy, by Jenkinson coming into the Admiralty,
that none of Lord Bute's friends will be long in opposition.
Lord Beauchamp, they say, is to have the other Windsor.
Egmont is more gloomy than ever.

Pray bring me a dozen of the kind of gloves I bought
at Dulais. They are lined with a kind of wash-leather,
and the tops were lined in the inside with silk. I am
sure they will remember them, for they sent me some of
them after I left Paris. I am going to ride out, and will

^ Made an English peer, by the title of Baron Sundridge of Coomb
Bank in Kent.

APPENDICES 305

finish my letter at White's, and send you the news of
the day.

Arthur's.
Lord Hillsborough has kissed hands for the Post
Office ; Stanley, CoflFerer ; Nugent, Board of Trade. The
Duke of Bolton is named for the Government of the Isle
of Wight. — Adieu, my dear George ! . . .

APPENDIX El.

Friday Morning.

My dear George, — Yesterday I received your letter,
dated Thursday morning, which I suppose came by Mr.
Granville. Pray let them keep to the first directions
about the lit ci la polonaise. They may vary as to the
height, provided it will mend the proportions ; in short,
what I desire is, to have it of a good proportion, so that
it may look well ; and you will be so good as to give
directions accordingly.

I sent you some tea and four fans by Lord Fitzwilliam,
and I shall send you two more fans by the Bunburys,
who set out to-morrow. Pray do not forget my vin de
Chambertin ; I only desire a packet of sixty bottles ; send
it directly to Calais.

I would not advise you to make a very fine ws-d-m,
because it will not look very well unless your horses and
servants are very fine too. It can only come here by the
means of some Foreign Minister. I suppose you will be
able to get one cheaper than you could make it here, and
if you think it worth while, I imagine you may depend

U

306 'OLD q'

upon getting it over. But if you do not give very
particular directions, it will appear very clumsy when you
come to see it with our equipages. Certainly I would
only have the body made in France, and that with par-
ticular directions to keep it as light as possible. You
may then have your carriage made here, which will be
beyond all comparison better, and your equipage will then
be very handsome. The painting, and the fitting it up
with cushions in the inside, will be better done in France,
but I would avoid much finery, as the grand simple is the
thing.

The Duke of Ancaster is Master of the Horse to the
King, and Lord Delawar to the Queen. . . .

APPENDIX F 1.

^th December 1766.
My dear George, — I received this morning your letter
from Versailles. I have wrote to you very constantly
lately, and do not recollect to have missed any post but
when I was at Newmarket. I like your letters prodigi-
ously, they are so descriptive. All our old Paris friends
come round in their turn, but you never mention Madame
de Jourlin. ... I suppose she is not at Paris. By the
neglect of my servant you did not receive two fans that I
intended to have sent you by the Bunburys. They are
finer than those which I hope you have received by Lord
Fitzwilliam, but I shall have an opportunity soon of send-
ing them. Did you ever get any from Lady Townshend ?
She sent me two when she thought I was going to Paris,

APPENDICES 307

but she was in great haste to get them back again ; I
believe she was afraid they might be seized upon by some
of the opera people if they remained in my house.

Charles Townshend, I hear, is to be Secretary of State
in the room of Mr. Conway. Elliot thinks there is no
danger from the Opposition. If Lord Chatham is strong
in the closet, which in all appearance he is, and likely to
be so, he will certainly be strong everywhere else. I
think the Bedfords were wrong. They might have come
in. There was no room for everybody. Gower was to
have been Master of the Horse ; Rigby, Cofferer ; Wey-
mouth, Postmaster. I would rather you did not speak to
Lauregais' brother, it is not worth while ; I shall meet
Lauregais himself some time or other. Sir J. Moor and
Thynne are just returned from Longleat, where they have
been living in the usual manner. Sandwich has not been
in town this winter, and does not come till after Christ-
mas. I never heard his name or Lord Halifax's in all these
negotiations. I am in waiting for Orford. I suppose
Nugent and Shelley will kiss hands to-morrow.

Pray let me know exactly the day you are to set out,
that I may secure a lodging for the Rena. I shall be very
glad to see her. I hope she will have more sense than to
affect any ill-humour about this opera-girl. There is no
harm in your saying that you hear I am very fond of her,
and that they have been down with me at Newmarket,
which Avill prepare her for a hundred stories. — Etc. etc.

308 'OLD q'

APPENDIX G 1.

Tuesday, near Four.

My dear George, — I did not write to you by the last
post, as some accident or other prevented me, but I cer-
tainly should have written to you if I had received your
letter in the morning, but I only got it when I came home
at night. For God's sake do not stay one minute where
you are upon any idea you may have about what will
happen when you arrive. The Eena must be mad if she
takes anything of this sort in a serious way. If she does
there is an end of our society ; if she does not, we shall
go on as we did. I am sure I have all the regard in the
world for her, for I love her vastly, and I shall certainly
contrive to make her as easy and happy as I can. I like
this little girl, but how long this liking will last I cannot
tell ; it may increase, or be quite at an end before you
arrive.

I am just dressed, and going to dine at Lord R Bertie's,
and am afraid of being too late, so farewell. Pray do not
let anything prevent us having the pleasure of seeing you
here, without you like to be better where you are.
Adieu ! . . .

APPENDIX 1 1.

23rd December 1766.
My dear George, — I never read your letters without
wishing myself in Paris, which is a very vain wish indeed,
when I am so fond of this little girl that I have not

APPENDICES 309

resolution to go out of town for two or three days to Lord
Spencer's, though I promised to go there. I still intend
going. If I do, I must stop at Woburn, as it would not
be decent to go by without making them a visit.

You see what a situation I am in with my little Buffa.
She is the prettiest creature that ever was seen : in short,
I like her vastly, and she likes me because I give her
money. I wish I had never met with her, because I
should then have been at Paris with you, where I am
sure I should have been much happier than I have been
here. As to the little Tondino's coming, I should wish it
vastly, if I thought she would like it ; but I am persuaded
she diverts herself much better where she is than she
would here.

The Zamparini has a father, mother, and sisters, but
they all like their own dirt better than anything else, so
that we dine very little together. They sometimes dine
here, but not often; and we shall therefore have our
dinners as usual, though perhaps not quite so frequently.
I have had a letter from the Tondino to-day. She tells
me that she never passed her time so well in Paris as she
does now. ' Monsieur clu Barri est un homme charmant, et nous
donne des hals avec des princesses.' Pray, my dear George,
find out something that will be agreeable to the little
Teresina. Consult the Eena about it ; une joUe rohe, or
anything else she likes ; and let her have it from me, pour
la nouvelle annie. I would send her something from here,
but you will be able to get her something that will please
her better where you are.

I shall write two or three words to the Rena by this
post. I told her, in my last letter, that I was supposed
to be very much in love with the Zamparini, which would

310 'OLD q'

not prevent me from being very happy to see her. Our
attachment as lovers has long been at an end, and when
people live at as great a distance as we have done for
some time past, it is ridiculous to think of it ; but I have
really the greatest friendship and regard for her, more
than I have for anybody in the world, except yourself, and
there is nothing I would not do for her. I have been too
long accustomed to live with her not to like her, or to be
able to forget her, and there is nothing that would give
me more pain than not to be able to live with her upon a
footing of great intimacy and friendship ; but I am always
afraid of every event where women are concerned, they are
all so exceedingly wrong-headed.

I am just come from White's. I found nobody there ;
everybody is gone out of town. Pray bring me two or
three bottles of perfume to put amongst poAvder, but do
not let me have anything that has the least smell of amber
or musk. I wish also you would bring me some patterns
of spring velvets and silks for furs, and that you would
make inquiry at Calais about my black silk coat lined
with an astraJcaii; you have a memorandum about it.
Farewell ! my dear George. — Yours very affectionately,

March and R.

APPENDIX Jl.

Piccadilly, Thursday.
My dear George, — Letters that go in trunks never
arrive, and consequently I have not yet got the one you
say you have sent of six sheets of paper, which I long for

APPENDICES 311

exceedingly. I have only received the one from Paris,
which is dated from your bed, early in the morning, and
in that you say nothing of the Teresina, so that I know
not whether you have seen her or not. There is also little
about the Eena, only that she is in good spirits and well.

Your letter, however, is charming, and I like vastly
your account of everything. I see you like Paris better
than ever, and even if I had no inclination to come, which
I really have, you would make me wish to do so by your
description, but I can come to no resolution till after
Newmarket. If I have bad luck, there will be no money.
I shall bo obliged to take a thousand of yours to go down,
but it will be replaced in a few days, let what will happen,
the Cherubim having found a person Avho can let me
have it.

Since I wrote to you last, I have continued here, and
lived chiefly with his Eoyal Highness, le Chevalier Delaval,
and the opera people, and now I do not propose going to
Newmarket till Sunday. Everybody is at Orford's, but it
would be too far to go there for one day.

I received yesterday the enclosed letter from Thynne.
Jonathan Bray, who once lived with the Duke of Kingston,
and understands horses well, is set out this morning with
a horse for the Duke of B., which Charles Townshend
sends him. I have given him a packet of mustard for
you, and if you can do him any service I wish you would,
for he is a very honest fellow, and you may venture to
recommend him as such. Monsieur de Guerchy is ex-
pected to-day. I do not hwar any news. Lord Chatham
is at Bath, and there is very little talk about him here. I
am told they want Huntingdon to go to Spain, but he
likes to be where he is, which nobody wonders at, if he

312 'OLD q'

can keep there. Our Spaniards are frightened lest some
person should be sent that is not of their rank. Lady
Rochfort is in great spirits about Paris.

APPENDIX Kl.

White's,
Tuesday, January 1767.

I conclude the foreign mail has not arrived, because I
had no letter ; and I am impatient to have one, because I
■want to know if you left Paris as you intended. I have
not taken the old lodging for the Rena, because I waited
for your letter ; however, I saw a bill upon the door, and
if I do not hear from you before night, I shall order it to
be taken to-morrow.

The King talked of you at his dressing, and told me
something that you had said of the Macaronis, that he
thought very good. Voilh de quoi vous encourager a vous
presenter a la cour mille compliments des plus honnUes b,
la cara Luisina, and many happy years to you both. I do
not expect you before Saturday. I have a nervous head-
ache and want my dinner, so farewell, for it is past four.

Just come from the opera : the King was there. The
foreign mail arrived and no letters ; at least, I have not
had any. Thomond and Cadogan are returned from their
Christmas gambols. Adieu ! my dear George.

APPENDICES 313

APPENDIX LI.

Tuesday Night.

My dear George, — I want a dozen pairs of silk
stockings for the Zamparini, of a very small size, and with
embroidered clocks. I should also be glad to have some
riband, a cap, or something or other for her of that sort.
She is but fifteen. You may advise with Lady Rochford,
who will choose something that will be fit for her, and
that she will like.

Panton dined with me to-day with the Zamparini, and
I write this from her house, with such ink and pens that
it will not be easy to read it. Adieu ! my dear George ;
pray remember to bring any patterns that are new and
pretty.

APPENDIX ML

Monday Morning, I2th January 1767.
My dear George, — By the last post, and the post
before, I received several of your letters, by which I find
your setting out is now rather uncertain as to the day,
and that it may be still put ofi" if the Rena does not come.
The best way is to let her follow her own inclination, for
if she should dislike her situation, and be very much eimui,
which may possibly be the case, you will be blamed for
having persuaded her to come ; and though I shall certainly
be, as I told you, very glad to see her, it is impossible to
live both with her and the Zamparini, and that passion at
this time is not at all abated.

314 'OLD q'

You say that you saw my letter, and that I do not
encourage her to come. I do not recollect what I said,
but I meant, as gently as possible, to let her know that
she must not expect that I can be as much with her as I
used to be. After she has had the trouble of such a
journey, I would not have her disappointed and vexed ; in
short, if she comes, we must endeavour to make her as
happy and as easy as we can, for you know that there is
not much resource for her here.

I promised to go to Lord Spencer's, but staid in town
expecting that you would arrive. I intend going to-day,
and shall return on Thursday, which will certainly be
before you arrive. I would not go at this time if I had
not a very particular reason, Avhich I will explain to you
when we meet. If this finds you at Paris, remember the
commission I gave you about a cap or something for the
Zamparini. I said that I wished you would get Lady
Eochford to choose it. Adieu ! my dear George.

P.S. — We had a dinner last week at Charles Town-
shend's, with Cadogan, Soame Jenyns, Lord Lisburne, etc.
Coventry was there, and there is to be a rebound at his
house on Sunday. . . .

APPENDICES 315

APPENDIX Nl.

Friday, \5th January 1767.

My dear George, — The weather is so excessive bad
that I do not know when to expect you, particularly as I
know you are a miserable traveller. I went as far as
Woburn in my way to Lord Spencer's, but I found so
much snow, and such roads, that I returned. I met Mrs.
Pitt and Meynel at the inn at Woburn, and I went back
with them to Dunstable that night, and came here the
next morning.

Lord Lome took his seat to-day in the House of Lords,
and Lord Northington is given over with the gout in his
head and stomach. People are gathering together as fast
as snow and bad roads will let them. Everybody wishes
to see you again, and I am sure no one so much as myself,
comme de raison, for I am sure you love me more than any-
body else does. There is but one thing that I depend
upon in this world, which is that you and I shall always
love another as long as we remain in it.

Farewell ! my dear George ; I am going to the Zam-
parini. Nous avons houdi un peu pour deux jours, but we
shall make it up. This is an unlucky passion ; I wish I
had never seen her. She is the prettiest creature in the
world, but the most complete coquette that ever existed.
It is her trade, and she knows it very well. I had taken
the old lodgings for the Eena, but I shall put them off.
It is always best to let women have their own way. — Yours
most affectionately,

M. AND R.

316 'OLD q'

APPENDIX 01.

Wednesdayy 12 o'clock.

The letters have just arrived.

By one, which Lady Spencer had yesterday by the
coach, we had the melancholy news of poor Tavistock's
death, which gives everybody the greatest concern. I pity
the Duke of Bedford very much.

What do you mean by my things being at Calais'? —
What things ? — My furniture is to come by water from
Paris, and I have had no letter from le tapissier, so I
imagine that the mcuhles are not sent, or he would other-
wise have sent me a letter. He must likewise send one to
Mons. Eoussac, as they must be claimed at the Custom-house
in his name, specifying what there is. I hope he will not
confound the Duchess of Queensberry's with mine.

I have had a bad night, but I have been better since I
got up. My doctor thinks it was something which dis-
agreed with my stomach. Farewell, my dear George ! I
cannot write any more now, as I am going to pour down
more water, and then go out in the coach till three, for the
weather is too bad for riding. Hervey keeps pretty well,
and the Rena desires milk compliments.

(Here is inserted in the almost illegible handAvriting of
the Rena : ' Caro Georgino, vi prego di postarmi una di
quelle piccole veste bianche, die vi compro la nostra vecchia
per tenervi caldo la uotte.'^) I believe she means a bed-
gown, such a one as you had upon the road. Farewell, my
dear George. . . .

^ ' Dear George, I beg you to bring me one of those little white
vests, which our old servant (vecchia) bought for you to keep you
warm at night. '

APPENDICES 317

APPENDIX PI.

White's, past Nine o'clock.

My dear George, — When I left you I went to Court,
where I learnt nothing either concerning my own affair ^ or
anything else that can interest either you or me. The Duke
of Grafton dined at Panton's, and took Carlisle aside to tell
him he is to have the Order given him at Turin,^ with
which he seems perfectly satisfied, as I think ne ought to
be. I am glad it is done, and that the Duke of Grafton
has had an opportunity of obliging him.

Billy Vernon and Sir J. Moor are come from Bedford,
and Ossory comes to-morrow. Carlisle is just gone to Lady
Ailesbury's to meet the little B. I do not think he will
wait there much longer than he has for his green riband.
I would not bet high odds that he has not been already
installed. I have deposited your cash as you desired. I
am just going to Vauxhall, so farewell. — Yours most affec-
tionately, M. AND E.

P.S. — The Duchess of Queensberry says that she does not
like delays, and thinks it is decided against me ; otherwise,
if it was intended, it would have been done with a good
grace.

^ Evidently some office that Lord March anticipated receiving.
—J. R. R.

- The Order of the Thistle, with which Lord Carlisle was subse-
quently invested by the King of Sardinia.

318 'OLD Q'

APPENDIX Ql.

Saturday Night.

My dear George, — I wrote to you to let you know
that Carlisle's affair is settled. I wish mine was also, but
I hear nothing of it. Vernon tells me that Miss Wriot-
tesley says I am beat, and I say she knows nothing of the
matter.

There are a great many people at White's every night.
Bully has lost £700 at quinze. I was last night at Vaux-
hall with the Princess, Carlisle, and Lady B. We go to-
morrow to walk in Richmond Gardens, and they are all
to dine here at three o'clock, that we may be in time.
Adieu! — Yours, etc.,

M, AND R

APPENDIX El.

Piccadilly, Monday.

Mademoiselle Kobel is to be married to a Mr. Paine,
a rich West.^ The Princess^ talked with so much concern
for the loss of her friend, and showed such a real affection
for her, that I am sure she loves her very much. I
pitied her extremely. They have ahvays lived together
and love one another prodigiously, and it is hard to part
when that 's the case. They really suffer very much. It
was all settled last Saturday, and the Princess was not
prepared for such a stroke. She talked to me as if I had

1 West Indian.— J. R. R. ^ Amelia.

APPENDICES 319

known her all my life, and her confidence and manner
afi'ected me extremely.

They all dined here yesterday. We were to have gone
to Eichmond to walk in the garden, but the weather was
too bad ; so they stayed and supped.^ The little Barrymore
was to have been with us ; but we had an excuse, so the
little lover went, after dinner, to see Lord Holland.

About nine o'clock, in the midst of these new acquaint-
ances, Allen brought me Avord that Lord Townshend was
below, and wanted to speak to me. What he had to say
was not easy to guess, and I am sure I had not the least
idea. I found him in my dining-room with one of his
aide-de-camps. I defy you to guess what it was. It was
the civilest thing in the world. He had heard that Lord
F. C.^ was my competitor; and said that he had taken
him out of my way, by having appointed him his
secretary, and that he was desirous that I should know it
as soon as possible. He enquired very much about you ;
in short, he was determined to be as civil as possible, and
I hope he thought I was very much obliged, which I
really was.

I have been at Petersham to give this information to my
friends there,^ and I would not let the post go without
your knowing it, who are my best of all friends, as I hope
you believe I am always yours at all times, and upon all
occasions. Farewell, my dear George.

^ Lady Emilia Stanhope, wife of the sixth Earl of Barrj'more, and
mother of that extraordinary quartette that flourished in the days
of the Regency. — J. R. R.

^ Cavendish. ^ Lord Harrington's.

320 'OLD Q'

APPENDIX S 1.

Friday, Uh July 1767.

My dear George, — I have this day received my
account from Foley, and a letter from you. The
Tondino has likewise received one, by which I find you
are to have the caps she gave me completed. Since that
can be done, I desire they may be made up a dozen, by
which they will really be of use. Cadogan and Vernon
dined here to-day, and were very glad to hear that you
were well, and that you think of being here soon.

I do not know if I told you, that at the last review
Lord Talbot's horse reared up and fell back with him.
In rising, he struck the Chevalier Breton in the face, and
cut his nose so that he was all over blood, not much hurt.
The King advised Lord Talbot to be let blood, which he
said he would be upon the field, if the King insisted upon
it, but desired leave rather to go home, which he did.
He was only bruised by the fall, but not otherwise hurt.

Williams and Lord Thomond went into the country this
morning. The town is very thin, and there is nothing
new of any sort. My coach is at the door, and I am
going with Cadogan to visit Lady Hervey. — Yours, etc.,

March and R.

APPENDIX Tl.

Thursday, 31s< December 1767.
My dear George, — I have had both your letters ; so
that I suppose you will be in town the end of the week.
I have fixed no time for my return. I want to make a

APPENDICES 321

visit to the Duke of Grafton, but I like everything here so
much, that I have no inclination to leave the place. I
wish you were here. It is just the house you would wish
to be in. There is an excellent library ; a good parson ;
the best English and French cookery you ever tasted;
strong coffee, and half-a-crown whist. The mo^e I see of
the mistress of the house, the more I admire her, and our
landlord improves very much upon acquaintance.^ They
are really the happiest people I think I ever saw in the
marriage system. Enfin c'est le meilleur manage possible. I
wish every hour of the day that you was with us. They
would like you, and I am sure you would like them.

We are now all going on the ice, which is quite like a
fair. There is a tent, Avith strong beer, cold meat, etc.,
where Lady Spencer and our ladies go an airing. Lord
Villiers left us this morning. Adieu, my dear George !
I am in haste to go to the great rendezvous upon the
coral. — Yours very sincerely and affectionately,

March and E.

APPENDIX Ul.

Wednesday Morning, 1768.

My dear George, — I had your letter yesterday. I
wish you had come, because I think you would have liked
it. The little king^ is, I believe, perfectly satisfied with

^ Lord March does not say who this hajipy pair were : probably
Lord and Lady Spencer. — J. R. R.
^ Christian, King of Denmark.

X

322 'OLD q'

his expedition. When he arrived, which was about ten
o'clock, every window in the town was lighted ; and as
the street is very broad, you cannot conceive how well it
looked.

He was yesterday fox-hunting ; the Duke of Grafton
carried him in his coach. We had a great deal of leaping,
and he would go over everything. I was very glad when
we got him safe home, and he was mightily pleased with
the chase, which put him in better spirits than I ever saw
him. He has been magnificently and well served. I
believe we have been both days about six-and-twenty at
table. As we dine, you know, very late, he retired to his
own apartment after coflfee, and we all to the Coffee-house.
He is to see a cock-match this morning, and sets out for
London about one. I believe I shall be at the Duke of
Northumberland's ; I have got a great many tickets, and
between three and four hundred by the horses. — Yours,

March and R

APPENDIX VI.

HiNCHiNBROKE, Thursday Morning.

My dear George, — Our party at Wakefield^ went off
very well. We had hunting, racing, whist, and quinze.
My horse won, as I expected, but the odds were upon him,
so that I betted little.

After hunting on Monday I went to Ossory's, where I
lay in my way here. He came with me and went back
yesterday. I imagine he would have liked to have stayed

^ The Duke of Grafton's seat.

APPENDICES 323

if Lady Ossory had not been alone. Tliey live but a dull
life, and there must be a great deal of love on both sides
not to tire. I almost promised for Bedford Races, but I
believe I shall not. I go to Newmarket to-night, and to
London to-morrow.

Sandwich's house is full of people, and all sorts of things
going forward. Miss Ray does the honours perfectly well.
While I am writing they are all upon the grass plot at a
foot race. The Duke of Grafton and Lord Villiers were
here on Tuesday, and Lord Farnham, Orford, Shafto,
Blake, Bunbury, Lord Spencer, Hamilton, and Sir J. Hinde
Cotton, are here now. The horse I ran at Wakefield runs
to-day, but I think he will be beat. Vernon is expected
from London. Farewell ! my dear George ; when I have
absolutely determined about York, you may be sure that
I will let you know. I rather think I shall not come,
though I long very much to make Carlisle a visit, and
therefore rather wish to persuade myself that I shall.
God bless you, my dear George. — Yours,

M. AND R.

APPENDIX Wl.

White's, Monday post,

11 o'clock, 25th Aug. 1771.

Last night M*^™^' Fagniaui was brought to bed. They

wished it had been a boy ; however, cette petite princesse

MriUra les liens de la famille ; so that they are all very

happy. She is vastly so, to have it all over, and to find

324 'OLD q'

herself quite well, after having suffered a great deal, which
I believe women do on these occasions, but particularly
with their first child.

I dined to-day with the Spanish Ambassador, Pem-
broke, Hamilton, and myself were the only Englishmen,
and Mrs. Hamilton and the beautiful Mrs. Matthews, and
Madame Poustin, the women ; the rest, foreign ministers.

I saw Lady Townshend the other day airing in Hyde
Park. She made a great many enquiries about you, with
all the usual affectation. She says that you will perform
Dr. Hunter's^ part better than you would Lord Carlisle's.

Poor James is confined with an inflammation in his
gums, that gives him a great deal of pain. I have had
something of that sort, without pain, which put me in
danger of losing my fore teeth. I have given March fifty
guineas to cure me, which he promises to do, and I believe
will perform. As I consider this a very serious thing, I
shall give him a fair trial, and as I find myself much better,
I have no doubt of getting perfectly well, though I have
been very much alarmed, and not without reason. Pray
make my best compliments to Carlisle ; I am sorry to hear
that he has had such bad success at York. Adieu ! my
dear George. — Yours very sincerely and affectionately,

March and E.

P.S. — Lord Harrington is returned. The water at
Paris almost killed him ; he thinks, if he had continued
there, that he certainly should have died.

^ The celebrated surgeon, who in his last moments observed to
Dr. Combe, * If I had strength enough to hold a pen, I would write
how easy and pleasant a thing it is to die. '

APPENDICES 325

APPENDIX XI.

Fehruari/ 1772.

My dear George, — I thought that I should have heard
from you before this. I set out on Friday or Saturday
for Newmarket. I intend going to Rigby's for Ipswich
races, to meet the Duke of Grafton, Vernon, Panton,
Bunbury, etc. We shall go on Thursday se'night to
Euston, and the week afterwards to Newmarket, for the
July meeting.^

There is no news. Everything is much as you left it.
The Fish says that Colonel Crawford continues to lose,
and that he complains he has no money, nor anything now
remaining of all his riches but bad debts.

Adieu ! mon chcr ami. Let me hear from you what you
are doing, and how you are. The Spanish Amhassadrice
breakfasted at my house this morning, and went with me
to see the Queen's house, which was a great ho7'e, but they
liked it. I hear that Mrs. St. John is enceinte. I will
write to you from Newmarket when I return, and may,
perhaps, make you a visit to Matson. Adieu !

Almack's, Monday after dinner.

At dinner, Lord "William, Sir W. Boothby, Lord George
Cavendish, and myself, Bunbury ^ gives a dinner to-day
to the Duchess of Devonshire and Lady Melbourne.

^ Correctly recorded, but no doubt an eiTor^of his lordship's.
^ Sir Charles Bunbury.

326 'OLD q'

APPENDIX A 2.

Ware,
Wednesday Afternoon.

I came yesterday from Newmarket, and lay at Calvert's
to hunt this morning. I have now just dined, and am
waiting till Panton is dressed, to set forward for London.
I should have written to you from Newmarket, but I did
not know where to direct.

Orford has had many applications for the Deputy-
Eangership, and one from the Duke of Gloucester. But he
intends to give it to Shirley, which he has told his Eoyal
Highness : so far that is settled ; but you do not know
what is settled likewise, which is, that you are to have the
house,^ provided his Majesty approves of it, which I am
sure he will. I imagine that Orford means that you
should give Shirley a hundred : by that means Orford
gives him two hundred a year, which will be very con-
venient to him, as he is quite undone. You cannot think
how happy I am that you are to have a house, and so
pretty a one, so very near mine. It is, you know, what
we have both wished so much. Orford was vastly obliging,
and expressed a great deal of pleasure in having an oppor-
tunity of obliging both you and me.

You think much too seriously concerning what you
talked to me about when we parted. It is impossible that

^ Supposed to have been the house in the Green Park, till then
recently occupied by Lady William Gordon ; pulled down, 1S43.
Subsequent events show that George Selwyn was disappointed in
obtaining this house, as no trace exists of his having lived there.
Lord March's house was nearly opposite to it.

APPENDICES 327

the D. of G. [Grafton] can mean to deal hardly by you.
He can have no motive for so doing, but on the contrary,
I am sure his inclinations must be to show you favour. I
think, therefore, that you see all that business with a great
deal too much warmth and quite in a wrong light, and I
am persuaded it will end well. The chaise is ready. I
shall add a word or two when 1 come to London.

Past seven : just going to Lady Harrington's. I go to-
morrow morning to examine the house ; I am sure I shall
look at it Avith more pleasure than I have ever done before.
I want to see how long it will be before you can get into it.
It is a charming house : how everybody will hate you for
having got it ! Adieu ! my dear George, I have lost my
money, but that is nothing ; I shall win some other time.
Pray do not plague yourself about imaginary evils. It is time
enough when they really happen. Good-bye to you. . . ,

APPENDIX B2.

Wakefield, Friday Morning.

On Wednesday morning we had a party to see Wanstead.
We dined at the Spread Eagle upon the Forest, and at our
return home, between eight and nine, Ave saw a most
violent fire which had just broken out in Marylebone
Street, at the upper end of the Haymarket. It lasted till
one in the morning, and has burnt a great many houses.
I never saAV anything so violent, and the croAvd of people in
the streets all round was beyond conception. The fire

328 'OLD q'

burnt with such fury that no one could have any idea how
far it would go.

We went afterwards to sup with Lady H. as usual,
where your letter was brought me. I am glad to find you
are safe and Avell at Castle Howard, and in possession of
your pony. I hope you will make use of him, for you
want riding and exercise. Whether I shall be at York or
not, I do not know ; but I should like to be there more
for the pleasure of going to Castle Howard, than anything
else.

Lord Bute was at the levee on Wednesday, and yester-
day at the drawing-room. Lord Villiers tells me that he
looks very well, but rather thin. I have not seen him,
but I called at his house and saw his valet de chamhre,
who lived with mad Scrope, who has something of the
manner of your Swiss you got from Williams. Upon my
asking him after Lord Bute, he said, ' Heaven be praised,
we have brought his lordship safe home.' I have not seen
Eaton, but I sent yesterday to take leave of him before I
left London, and he was perfectly well. My best compli-
ments to your landlord. Farewell ! my dear George. . . .

APPENDIX C2.

Almack's, Thursday Night.
My dear George, — I had your letter yesterday from
Gloucester, and am glad, since you are at Matson, that you
are pleased Avith it. What you are doing there would cer-
tainly be well worth while if it were near London, but con-

APPENDICES 329

sidering how little you are there, it is a pleasure that is a
very expensive one,

Bunbury is returned, and was last night at Ranelagh
with Lady Sarah, He has bought Gimcrack of Lauragais.
Lord Harrington sets out on Saturday for Paris. Her lady-
ship takes it very ill that he does not take her and the
daughters Avith him, and proposes that we should attend
them upon some party abroad.

I find that there is some bad news to-day from Boston,
They will not allow the Customs-house officers to do their
duty ; have used them excessively ill, and have almost, if
not quite killed the collector ; in short, they are in a state
of rebellion. There are people here and at White's every
night. Bully enquires very much when you are to be here
again. Farewell, my dear George, . . .

APPENDIX D2.

Almack's, Friday Night.

My dear George, — I have just now received your
second letter.^ As to what you said to me in your first
about Madame Fagniani, I will certainly do what you like,
though you know I have no opinion of my credit there ; but
send me the letter you wish that I should write, and I will
send it. I do not go till Sunday morning.

Dodd was executed this morning. I saw nothing of it,
and have no accounts but from a constable who had been
there, and very near. He said that he never saw a man

1 Endorsed by Selwyn, ' Ld. March, 27 June 1777.'

330 'OLD q'

behave better, or die with more courage. He prayed very
earnestly, that is true, but that was in his profession. Storer
was there, and has promised to send you an account of
what happened. He had three clergymen with him on the
coach. Carlisle has won since you went, but not much.
This place is very full every night, and constant play. I
am glad to hear that Mie-Mie is so well. I am just going
to Kanelagh. — Yours very sincerely,

March and E.

APPENDIX E2.

Newmarket,
Wednesday, ^th July 1777.

My dear George, — I had your melancholy letter
yesterday. It is the greatest concern in the world to find
you so very unhappy, and not to have the least hopes of
doing you any service. To be sure I will write to
Madame Fagniani, or do anything else that you desire.
After all that has been said, what to say I don't know, or
what hopes to hold out to you, when all that can be done
has already been tried. I am sure, say or do what I will,
she will be persuaded it can only be to please you that I
write or mention the subject, after so much conversation
as I have had with her upon it when she was here, and her
having so often repeated to me the impossibility, whatever
their own dispositions were, on account of their family.

I am in waiting next week, and shall be in town Sunday
or Monday. I wish I could say or do anything to give
you comfort, or show you any mark of that affection and

APPENDICES 331

friendship with which I am always, — Very sincerely
y«^^«' M. AND R.

APPENDIX F2.

Almack's, Tuesday Night.

My dear George, — I have had both your letters, and
am very glad to hear that you find yourself so much better.
We have nothing here but bad news, for Burgoyne's
capitulation is believed by all people, though Government
has not received any authentic accounts of it. To-day
there is a report that he is dead, which comes by a letter

from Franklin. B has made an opposition speech in

his usual manner, full of damned metaphors and simile, that
do not apply. In one part of his speech he said, addressing
himself to Wedderburne, that though a squalling starling,
he thought he had a right to reply to the learned canary
bird. In another part he said, that though a poor apothe-
cary and quack, he might prescribe a remedy with success,
when the regular physician had failed : — that he should
recommend anodyne plasters rather than corrosive blisters.
The whole was in this style, and Burke said, that his
honourable friend had spoken like an independent country
gentleman, and a very accomplished orator.

Lord Gower made a most incomparable reply to Lord
Chatham.^ They oppose the adjournment to-morrow. I
have lived at your house almost ever since you left London.
My house smells of paint, and I thought it made me ill.
Farewell. — Yours very affectionately,

March and R.

^ Ou a motion to inquire into the state of the country.

332 'OLD q'

APPENDIX G2.

Almack's, Wednesday.

My dear George, — I wrote to you last night after I
came from the Opera. No accounts to Government ; but
all the bad news about Burgoyne continues to be believed.
I do not hear positively that anybody has seen Franklin's
letter, so that I hope it is not true.

Lord Onslow has Sir W. Meredith's white stick ; Lord
Palmerston the Treasury ; Lord Mulgrave the Admiralty ;
and Sir R. Worseley the green cloth in the room of
Hopkins. They are now at the House of Commons upon
the adjournment, and to-morrow we are to have it in the
House of Lords. I believe I did not tell you that
Galloway attempted to speak ; stopped short ; and desired
to read his speech, which he had in his pocket. Crawford
has come to town. He tells me that Foley will be enabled
to pay his debts ; there being a clause in the will giving
the trustees that power, if they think fit to make use of it,
which they are inclined to do.

Adieu ! mon cher et bon ami. Take care of yourself and
endeavour to regain your spirits and health, which will
make all your friends haj)py, but no one so much so as
myself, who am always, — Most sincerely and affectionately

y°^^^' M.ANDR.

APPENDIX H2.

Almack's, Thursday.

Lord Carmarthen is to be Chamberlain ; Lord Jersey

APPENDICES 333

is out. Lords Winchelsea and Guernsey are to have the
Bedchamber ; Lord Cranbourne is to have Fitzroy's place.
He is to have something else ; I do not know what. Ko
intelligence is come to Government, but everybody believes,
what you have in the papers, to be the Convention.

We had a short debate about the adjournment, which
was carried by a very great majority. The house was very
thin, and Lord Hillsborough voted against us by mistake.
Adieu ! mon cher, je nen vais diner. — Yours very sincerely,

M. AND R.

APPENDIX I 2.

My dear George, — Yesterday I had your two letters
of the 23rd. I shall write to you by the next post to
Calais ; so that, if you alter your plan, write to Dessein to
forward your letters ; but if you do, I conclude you will
let me know by the next post.

Upon talking with the Duke of Northumberland about
the bras, I believe it will be much the best way to have
them, as I told you, in the rufj^ [1 rough — J. R. E.], and
so have them lacquered in England, as the ormolu will
never stand here, and it is very dear ; yours, you know, are
grown quite black. However, I leave all this to you, and
to the result of the inquiries you can make. The Duke
of Northumberland is of my opinion, that the ormolu will
not answer, though the patterns are much better than any
we have here.

Pray, bring some patterns of silks for fur clothes, and
some spring velvets. Also, try if my Astracan, that was

334 'OLD q'

left in Calais, can be recovered : it was a very fine one.
I send you enclosed a memorandum from the Duchess of
Hamilton. Adieu, my dear George. If you see old
Poliguiac, tell him I have sent him a horse, as I don't
know if I shall have time to write to him by this post. . . .

APPENDIX J 2.

[Circa April 1779.^]

My dear George, — I have had three of your letters,
and this is my first. If it was not very disagreeable to
me to write, I should certainly write to you.

I was in waiting last week. The King talked a great
deal about you. As he knows everything, he is perfectly
well acquainted with your passion for Mie-Mie. I am
sorry you did not find her at Paris, and I hope that you
will settle all your matters so as to come back soon.
Everything here is as you left it. We had the same
motion made by Lord Bristol that Charles ^ made in the
House of Commons, to remove Lord Sandwich. Lord
Bristol was allowed to have a chair, and he spoke sitting.
I went with the King to the play, but was in time after-
wards for the division, which was not till between twelve
and one. Lord Lytteltou spoke against us, but did not
divide. Derby and Egremont went to Eanelagh, and
were too late for the division. I do not hear who is to
be Secretary of State.

1 J. R. R.

- Charles James Fox : for dismissing Lord Sandwich from his
Majesty's councils for ever.

APPENDICES 335

The usual people are here. I have little to do, aud
shall certainly not lose as much as I did last meeting.
Farewell, my dear friend. — Yours very sincerely,

QUEENSBERRY.

P.S. — Pembroke voted against us. Coventry said that
he had no particular dislike to any one part of the
Administration, and that he should have liked the motion
better if it had been to remove the whole, I think
Coventry right, for that is certainly what they mean.
Our numbers were 88 to 39.

APPENDIX K2.

June 1779.

You are always thinking of the same thing, but it is to
no purpose to think, because you can do yourself no good,
and if you let the Fagnianis alone, the child will certainly
remain for the present where she is. This is as much as
you can expect, and perhaps more than you would have
been able to have brought about with most other people.
I desired Warner to write to you, and to try and persuade
you how very impossible it is for me to be of any use to
you. If you thought one moment, and had any know-
ledge of Madame Fagniani, you must think that, at this
time, if she knew anything that I wished, she would do
directly the contrary. I am sure, in the present circum-
stances of things, you had better come here and be quiet
for some time, for I think the mother perfectly capable to

336 'OLD Q'

send for the child to Milan, merely to plague you, if you
continue your correspondence.

I have always understood, that when the child was to
be educated in a convent at Paris, you were to be satis-
fied ; and now you seem more distressed than ever. I am
sure, if you continue where you are, no constitution can
resist the agitation you must go through, and you will
certainly bring yourself to a situation of health not to be
retrieved. Everybody inquires when you are to return :
I wish I knew when that was to be. It is necessary in all
situations to determine something, and, I am sure, the
worst thing you can do is to remain where you are.
Farewell, my dear friend, — -Yours, etc., Q.

APPENDIX L2.

Piccadilly, June 15, 1779.

Your letter, which I have just received, gives me the
greatest concern. I plainly see that, if you continue
where you are, your health will be irretrievably gone.
You certainly cannot remain long in the situation you are
in at present. You were well when you were here ; you
may be so again, if you would have resolution enough to
leave Paris. I wish I could say anything that would
make you take any care of yourself. You will ruin your
health, and then all happiness is gone ; and, besides, you
are more likely, by what you are doing, to have Mie-Mie
sent for back to Milan than by anything else you can do.
Everybody inquires after you and wants to know when

APPENDICES 337

you are to be here; I wish I could tell them. I go to
Scotland some time towards the end of July. That would
be a journey that would do you a great deal of good. I
can send you nothing from here that would interest you.
Carlisle and I talk very often about you, and wish you
here. We are much afraid of a Spanish war. The letters
from America bring good news. They are very tired of
the war, and the Congress much divided. My dear
George, do let me hear that you are coming to us again. —
Always most affectionately yours, etc.

APPENDIX M2.

Dkumlanrig, 8 Septr. 1779.

My dear Sir, — The Duke of Queensberry desires
me to write to you, and to assure you that he regrets
having been prevented for some time past from having the
pleasure of corresponding with you himself. He has been
engaged in a great variety of business, and what is most
material for you to know, he has preserved his health and
spirits surprisingly.

When the Duke came into this country, he found that
there had been two very ineffectual meetings of the
gentlemen of the county, called together for the purpose
of supporting Government as far as their abilities would
admit ; but, like most other assemblies of that kind, they
broke up without determining anything. Soon after his
arrival he had a meeting of the county again called, and
laid before them in a very masterly manner a proposal, in
which he was seconded by Lord Stormont, and carried it

Y

338 'OLD q'

unanimously. Upon this a subscription was opened, to
which the Duke put down, his name for three hundred
pounds, and Lord Stormont put down his for one hundred,
and all the gentlemen belonging to the county, who were
present, subscribed handsomely. The meeting was said to
be fuller than they had had in the county for a long time ;
and so great is the ardour of the people to sign the
association paper, which I enclose, that there are above
four hundred who have already put their names to it. By
fjir the greater number are the Duke's tenants, and it
seemed to be the opinion of the gentlemen in general, that
he might get a thousand people to follow him whitherso-
ever he might think it necessary to lead them. The result
of the meeting, and the proposal as it noAV stands, are sent
up to town to be laid before the King, and his Majesty's
answer is expected next week.

I have given you a pretty full account of this business,
as I know it will give you pleasure to be informed of how
much consequence your friend is in his own country. Let
me beg of you to write to me by the return of the post,
and inform me particularly how you are ; how dear Mie-
Mie is ; and whether you continue to enjoy your own place.

I am with the greatest regard, my dear sir, your most
affectionate and obedient servant,

Alexander Crawford.

APPENDIX N2.

TUNBRIDGE.

My dear George, — I am much obliged to you for
being so very exact in writing. I continue to gain ground.

APPENDICES 339

I am, however, in some doubt whether the waters do me
good or not, but I shall be satisfied on that point in a few
days, and if I find that they are not doing me any service,
I shall certainly not remain here.

I propose, when I return to London, to live at the house
I have taken near my own, which I hope will be ready,
and that I shall find you in your own house. I am now
going to an Assembly at Mrs. Macartney's, a sister of
Mrs. Greville's, where I shall meet Mrs. Murray and Mrs.
Calender, two sisters that are very pretty and very agree-
able. They are Scotch, which makes us quite well
acquainted, though we have not known one another very
long. Crawford and I dine generally tete-a-tete. I do not
like the trouble of getting people to dine with us, and
being obliged to do the honours of our hotel.

10th.
I am still here, but shall certainly go to Brighthelm-
stone to-morrow, and as surely be in London either on
Friday or Saturday. The weather grows cold, and this
place will thin very fast. The Duchess of Hamilton talks
of staying till she is obliged to come to attend the Queen.
Wedderburne and his sister came yesterday. I dine with
them to-day ; and little Selwyn, who is the only man here
you know except Charles Price and Lord L. He would
have been very glad to have seen you. You are quite well
in that family, and they are all angry you did not come
down. I should have persuaded you very much to have
come, if I had thought of staying till this time. Upon the
whole, I like my expedition very much, and should certainly
have liked it better if you had been here. Adieu ! my
dear George. I expect to find something from you at
Brighthelmstone, for my letters have been there since

340 'OLD q'

Monday. Abergavenny pressed me very much to dine at
Kidbroke, in my way to London, but it will make it so
late that I believe I shall not. You see how dangerous it
is to touch upon a tender point, even in joke. If you had

not talked of , you would have been sure of him at

Matson. — Yours, etc. . . .

APPENDIX 0 2.

Friday.

My dear George, — I desired Lauragais to send you
most of my success yesterday. I lost £400 by a horse of
the Duke of Grafton's breaking his leg ; otherwise I should
have made a very great day of it ; however, I have done
pretty well.

The French are very well pleased with Newmarket.
I wish you had been here, as you would have liked it
better than the last meeting. I think I shall be in town
on Sunday or Monday morning. — Yours, etc. . . .

APPENDIX P2.

Satrirday.
My dear George, — I have had your letter, and am
much obliged to you. We shall set out on Monday, and
will dine with you if you like to give us a dinner at your
house ; if not, order some at Almack's, that we may dine
together.

APPENDICES 341

I lost a great deal in the beginning of the week, but I
won yesterday, and if I have the same good fortune to-
day, I shall be at home with a ' duck.' — Yours, etc.

APPENDIX Q2.

Becket, 3lst August 1780.

I have had both your letters. I saw Warner last
Saturday when I was in London ; he was to write you last
night. I desired him to tell you I was glad to find you
had made up your mind about Gloucester. The less trouble,
I think, about all things, the better, as so few seem to me
worth any.

I left London on Sunday. Charles Fox dined with me
at Amesbury on Tuesday, on his way to Bridgewater.
He thinks himself the better for Bath, but he has not
recovered his voice. Lady Harrington, Lady Anna
Maria, Lady Archer, the Crawfords, and all that are
here, go to-morrow to Amesbury. I am glad to hear that
you are so much better, and that Mie-Mie is well. I saw
Carlisle in town, where he stays, I suppose preparing for
Ireland. When do you go to Luggershall 1 I am afraid
I shall be gone from Amesbury before that time. — Yours,
etc.,

QUEENSBERRY.

George Selwyn, Esq.,
Matson, in Gloucester.

RACING ANALYSIS

jjgf No. of

Year. Horses Running, better. Engage-

ments.

1
1

1748 Chestnut gelding, .

1749 Grey gelding,

...

1750 Bay mare, .

• ■•

Ches. gelding Boh-

tail, .

A,

1751 Roderick Random,

B.

Brown horse,

C.

Osmyn,

D.

Staring Robin, i .

E.

Snip, .

F.

Chestnut filly, .

G.

Chance,

H.

1752 Chance,2

H.

Camilia,

I.

Wanton,

J.

)

1753 Grey colt, .

K.

Dandy Cade,

L.

Wanton,

I.

Smokeface, .

M

Blossom,

N.

Pleasant,

0.

Events Won. By Date.

100 gs. Match, Newmarket, ... April 13.

„ ... April 23.

May 1.

4.

60 gs. Match, Newmarket, G. April 9.

20 gs. Match, Newmarket,
150 gs. Sweepstake, New-
market, . . .A. Oct.

£40 Match, Newmarket, .

H.

Mar.

£50 Plate, Peterboro,

J.

July 1.

3J » J •

I.

., 2.

,, Nottingham, .

H.

.. 8

,, The "Whim'

'

Plate,Bomkt,,

I.

Aug. 4

,, Great Harlow,

I.

Oct. 10.

20 gs. Match, Newmarket,

K.

May 16

£50 Plate, Dunstable, .

J.

June 3

)> )>

N.

June 6.

10

1 This horse was ridden in a match at Newmarket, September 23rd of this year, against
the Duke of Hamilton's Yellow Jack, for which the Duke rode his own horse and won
stakes 100 guineas. 2 Ridden by his lordship.

RACING ANALYSIS

343

Ref.

No. of

Year. Horses Eunning.

Letter.

Engage
ments.

1754 Pleasant,

0. >i

Bay gelding, i

P.

Grey horse, .

Q.

Matchet,

R.

Grey gelding,

S.

Macbeth,

T.

. 15

Blossom,

U.

Smart, .

V.

Wanton,

J.

Chestnut horse.

W.

Bay filly, ,

X. J

1755 Wanton,

J. ^

Bay filly, .

X.

Grey horse, .

Q.

■ 8

Macbeth,

T.

Comfort,

Y. J

1756 Wanton,

J. ^

Fair Maid, .

Z.

Scrub, .

Al.

Grey filly, .

Bl.

Trial, .

CI.

. 16

James, .

Dl.

Fearnought, .

EL

Bay horse, .

Fl.

White Legs, .

Gl.

Bay mare, .

HI. ,

1757 Wanton, .

J. ^

Wellbred, .

11.

Janus, .

Dl.

Grey colt, .

Jl.

Grey gelding,^

Kl.

. 15

Slender,

LI.

Bay horse, .

Fl.

White Legs, .

Gl.

Alfred, .

ML

Events Won.

By Date.

45 gs. Match, Newmarket, 0. April 18.
40 „ „ S. Sep. 5.

40 gs. Match, Newmarket, Y.

50 „ „ Y.

100 „ „ X.

Sep.

40 gs. Match, Newmarket, A 1. May 12.

£40
100 gs.
300

El. Oct. 6,
HI. „ 9,
Bl. ,, 19.

300 gs. Match, Newmarket, J. April 16.

50 „ „ K I.May 5.

200 „ „ DL „ 3.

40 „ „ F I.July 28.

1 Ridden by his lordship.

2 The Match is recorded on page 58.

344

'OLD Q'

Ref

No. of

Year. Horses Running. Letter.

Engage
ments.

Events Won. By Date.

1758 Wellbred,

. 11. ")

lOOgs. Match, Newmarket, 0 1. April 26

Wiggem,

. Nl.

500 „ „ 1 1. Oct. 2.

Gallant,

. 0 1.

Fox, .

. PI.

■ 13

Rose, .

. Ql.

Raven, .

. Rl.

Brown Betty

. SI. J

1759 Brown Betty

. SI. .

200 gs. Match, Newmarket, 0 1. April 19.

Gallant,

. 0 1.

A Subscription, 20 gs. each ;

Bravo,! .

. Tl.

11 Subs. , Newmarket, . P 1. May 7.

Rose, .

. Ql.

200 gs. Match, Newmarket, R 1. „ 9.

Fox, .

. PI.

- 19

500 ,, „ VI. Oct. 5.

Raven, .

. Rl.

500 „ „ Tl. „ 6.

Grey colt,

. Ul.

500 „ „ Q „ 18.

Chestnut fill;

f, .VI.

Creampot,

. W\.J

1760 Colt, .

. XI. V

200 gs. Match, Newmarket, XI. April 4.

Bay colt.

. Yl

300 „ „ Wl. „ 15.

Cream Pot,

. Wl.

100 „ ,, T I.May 1

Bravo, .

. Tl.

100 „ „ Wl. „ 9

Mystery,

. Zl,

100 „ „ A2. „ 13

Gaul'em,

. A 2.

200 „ „ D2.Aug. 1

Tarquin,

. B2.

Beechwood,

. C2.

1 20

Grey horse,

. D2.

Spotless,

. E2.

Terrible,

. F2.

Plowboy,

. G2.

Rose, .

. Ql.

Bay Colt,

. H2.

Fair Play,

. 12.

Blossom filly

, . J2. )

1761 Beechwood,

. C2. ^

2000 gs. Match, New-

Fairplay,

. 12.

market, . . . C 2. Mar. 16

Grey Colt,

. K2.

£50 Plate, Enfield, . . B 2. Sep. 16

Plowboy,2

. G2.

- 18

500gs. Match, Newmarket, Wl. „ 29

Cinnamon,

. L2.

1000 „ „ M2. Nov. 15

1 Bidden by his lordship.

2 Carrying a feather against H.R.H. the Duke of Cumberland's horse Caio, aged,
carrying lOst. over the trying Beacon Course.

RACING ANALYSIS

345

Ref.

No. of

Year. Horses Running.

■Letter.

Engage
ments.

1761 Cream Pot, .

Wl.

cont. Bay filly,

M2.

'

Gaul'em,

A 2.

colt, .

N2,

Tarquin,

B2. -J

1762 Tartar, .

0 2. ]

Top, . . .

P2.

Plowboy,

G2.

7

Adonis,

Q2.

fl

Grey Legs, .

R2.

Top, .

S2. -

1763 Top, .

P2. >.

Chestnut filly.

T2.

Squire, .

V2.

Filly (grey), .

W2.

Cerberus,

X2.

. 13

Bay colt.

Y2.

Bay filly, .

Z2.

Rosemary, .

A3.

Young Hermione,

B3. .

1764 Young Hermione,

B3. >>

Victory,

C3.

Chestnut hunter.

D3.

Tip-Top,

E3.

r 10

Squire, .

V2.

Proteus,

F3.

Scampton Cade, .

G3. J

1765 Young Hermione,

B3. ^

Squire, .

V2.

Messalina, .

H3.

■ 10

Grey colt, .

13.

Vandyke,

J 3.

Turnpike,

K3. J

1766 Young Hermione,

B3. ^

Turnpike,

K3.

Squire, .

V2.

Grey horse, .

L3.

. 14

Sly, . . .

M3.

Events Won.

By Date.

400 gs. Match, Newmarket, V2. Apr. 13.
200 „ Ascot, . V 2. June 6.
500 „ Newmarket, B 3. Oct. 10.

200 „ „ V2. „ IL

300 gs. Match, Ascot,

500

£50 Plate, Ascot, .

£50 Plate, Ascot,
£50 „ Beccles,

V 2. June 25.
P 3. „ 25.
B3. „ 28.

B 3. June 13.
H3. „ 25.

lOOOgs. Match, Newmarket,V 2. April 24.
£50 Plate, Brentwood, . M3. Aug. 4.
200 gs. Match, Newmarket, P3. Oct. 24.

'OLD Q'

Year. Horses Running.

1766 Pucella,
C07it. Squirt, .

Shy, . .

Ref. No. of
Letter. Engage-
ments.

N3.
0 3.
P3.

Events Won.

By Date.

1767 Pucella,
Shy, .

N3.
P3.

1768

1769 Matchless,

. NN.

Plata, .

. PP.

Sportsman, .

. W3.

1770 Warbler,

. Q3.

Bay filly.

. R3.

Minos, .

. S3.

Bellina,

. T3.

Cataline,

. U3.

Carina,

. V3.

Sportsman,

. W3.

Shy, .

. P3.

Bosetta,

. X3.

Ramjam,

. Y3.

Piccadilly,

. Z3.

Regina,

. A 4.

Sober, .

. B4.

1771 Sportsman,

. W3.

Rosetta,

. X3.

Ramjam,

. Y3.

Piccadilly,

. Z3.

Cataline,

. U3.

Sober, .

. B4.

Pall Mall,

. C4.

Regina,

. A 4.

Chestnut fill

Y, . D4.

Baashaw,

. E4.

Cynthia,

. F4.

Benuevento,

. G4.

Lady Thigh,

. H4.

V 28

> 41

£50 Plate, Huntingdon, . NN. Aug. 4.

200 gs. Match, Newmarket, U 3. May 24.
£50 Plate, Whittlebury, . W3, July 27.
£50 „ Huntingdon, . W3. Aug. 2.
£50 „ Egham, . . X 3. Sep. 14.
100 gs. Match, Newmarket, T3. Oct. 23.
300 „ „ Z3. „ 23.

500 „ ,, Z3. „ 27.

200 „ ., B4. Nov, 10.

500 gs. Match, Newmarket, T3. April 2.
200 „ „ U3. „ 2.

100 „ „ Y3. „ 6.

200 „ forfeit, pp. B4. „ 27.

£50 Plate, Chelmsford, . X 3. June 18.
500gs. Match, Newmarket, T 3. July 9.
1000 „ „ Z3. Oct. 5.

200 „ „ B4. Nov. 6.

200 gs. Sweepstake, New-
market, . . . Y3. ,, ,,

RACING ANALYSIS

347

Year. Horses Running.

Eef. No. of
Letter. Engage

Events Won. By Date.

ments.

1772 Cataline, .

U3. ^

200 gs. Match, Newmarket, Z 3. April 23.

Piccadilly, .

Z3.

300 „ „ Y 3. May 11.

Ramjam,

Y3.

£50 Plate, Guildford. . 14. June 11.

Benuevento,

G4.

300gs. Match, Newmarket, Z 3. July 8.

Mist, .

14.

300 „ „ M4. Sep. 28.

Miss Gibson,

J 4.

'38

300 „ „ N 4, Oct. 12.

Sister to Grey Gib-

200 „ „ Z3. Nov. 7.

son, .

K4.

Skyrocket, .

L4.

Larrpi, .

M4.

Pan, .

N4.

Omar, .

0 4. .

1773 Chestnut filly, ,

Pi. \

300 gs. Match, Newmarket, Y3. April 12.

Ramjam,

Y3.

200 „ „ Z3. „ 16.

Piccadilly, .

Z3.

£50 Plate, Epsom, . , Z3. May 19.

Chestnut filly,

R4.

■ 15

£50 „ Burford, . . Z3. July 21.

— by Rocket,

£50 gs. Handicap, Burford, Z 3. „ 27.

Miss Gibson,

J 4.

£50 Handicap, Egham, . Z 3. Sep. 13.

Treasurer,! ,

S4. .

45 gs. Match, Newmarket, S 4. Nov. 4.

1774 Pan, .

N4. ^

50 gs. Match, Newmarket, T 4. Nov. 4.

Slim bay colt,

T4.

100 „ „ W4. „ 5.

Rex, .

U4.

. 16

100 „ „ W4. „ 7.

Slender,

V4.

Rocket,

W4. _

1775 Grey colt, . „ .

X4. ^

200 gs. Match, Newmarket, Z 4. April 7.

Slim, .

T4.

£50 Handicap, Peterboro, C 5. June 18.

Kouli-Khan,

Z4.f

£50 „ Chelmsford, D 5. „ 23.

Valiant,

A 5.

£50 „ Lilly-Hoo, D 5. Aug. 9.

Grey colt, by

. 23

Sweepstakes, .

B5.

Roan Horse,

C5.

Harbinger, .

D5.

Rocket,

W4.

1776 Slim, . . . T 4.
Bay filly, by Herod, E 5.
Rocket, . . ■W4.

£50 Plate, Newmarket, . Y4. April 12.
100 gs. Sweepstake, New-
market, . . . E5. ,,12.

1 Ridden by Lord March.

348

'OLD q'

Year. Horses Running.

Ref.

Letter.

No. of
Engage
ments.

1776 Elk, .

F5.

emit. Skirmish,

G5.

Lydia, .
Shylock,
Kouli-Khan,

H5.
15.
L4.

■ 41

Rosalba,

K5.

Smart, .

L5. J

Events Won.

By Date.

100 gs. Match, Newmarket, W4.
100 „ „ W4.

150 „ „ T4.

100 „ „ T4.

100 „ „ W4.

50 gs . Handicap, , , T 4.

50 gs. Fourplate, „ G 5.

100 f. „ T4.

£50 Handicap, Chelmsford,T 4.
£50 „ Huntingdon, F 5.
500 gs. Match, Newmarket, W4.
300 „ „ W4.

50 gs. Match, Newmarket, G5.
450 ,, Compromise, . W4.

Match, Newmarket, J 5.
. K5.

200
300
200
100
200
200

Sweepstake, , ,

f.

f.

J 5.
G5.
T4.
15.

Mar. 5.

„ IL

„ 13.

„ 13.

„ 13.
July 8.

» 9.
„ 13.

„ 22.
Aug. 6.

Oct. 1.

,. 3.

Oct. 5.

„ 14.

„ 14.

„ 15.

,. 2L

„ 22.

„ 28.

„ 30.

1777 Lydia, .

. H5.

Rocket,

. W4.

Slim, .

. T4.

Smart, .

. L5.

Blast, .

. M5.

Skirmish,

. G5.

Kouli-Khan,

. J 5.

Glory, .

. N5.

Rosalba,

. K5.

Pointer,

. 0 5.

Pleasant,

. P5.

Prodigal,

. Q5.

>■ 48

500 gs. Match, Newmarket, 'W4. Mar. 31.

200 „ „ „ . W4.April21.

300 „ „ „ . J 5. „ 28.

£50 Handicap, Ascot, . T 4. June 3.
40 gs. Subscription, Thet-

ford, . . . . T 4. July 5.

£50 Town Plate, Thetford, T 4. ,, 5.

200 gs. Match, Newmarket, W4. ,, 10.

100 ,, King's Plate, Not-
tingham, . . . T 4. Aug. 5.

£50 Handicap, Notting-
ham, . . . . T 4. „ 6.

200 gs. Match, Newmarket, P 5. Oct. 3.

200 „ „ „ . K5. „ 4.

200 „ „ „ . K5. „ 28.

300 ,, „ ,, . W4. „ 29.

1778 Slim, .

. T4.

Rocket,

. W4.

Rosalba,

. K5.

200 gs. Match, Newmarket, "Wi. April 20.
500 „ f. „ . K5. „ 22.

200 „ Match, „ . S 5. „ 26.

RACING ANALYSIS

Tear. Horses Running.

1778 Fulmine,
cont. Hydaspes, .

Pleasant,

Bauble,

Ref N°- °*'
Letter. E.-i-F-

R5.
S5.
P6.
T5.
U5.

Harlequin, .

B. C, by Dapper, V 5.

Raspberry, . . W 5. ^

29

Events Won.

By Date.

50 gs. Match, Newmarket, P 5. May 25.
£50 Town Plate, Thetford, T 4. July 4.
£50 Hdcp., Peterborough, T 4. ,, 21.
£50 „ Huntingdon, . T 4. ,, 29.
300gs. f., Newmarket, . R5.Sep. 29,

200 „ Match,

K5.0ct. 16.

1779 Rosalba,

K5. '

100 gs. Match, Newmarket, K 5. April 6.

Slim, .

T4.

40 „ „ „ . R 5- „ 26.

Colt, by Dapper, .

V5.

200 „ (forfeit), „ . U5. „ 29,

Rocket,

W4.

£50 Plate, Epsom, . . T 4. May 12.

Fulmine,

R5.

. 31 £50 „ „ . . K5. „ 12,
£50 „ Ascot, . . T 4. June 8.

Harlequin, .

U5.

Agis, .

X5.

£50 „ Salisbury, . T 4.July 2.

Vengeance, .

Y5.

50 gs. M^tch, Newmarket, Y 5. , , 6.

Grey Legs, .

Z5.

100 „ „ „ , W4.N0V, 2.

Grosvenor Square,

A 6. J

1780 Tycho, .

B6. ^

200 gs. Match, Newmarket, B 6. April 17.

B.C., by Herod, .

C6.

50 „ „ „ .D6.JulylL

Grey Legs, .

Z5.

£50 Hdcp., Huntingdon, Z 5. „ 25.

Hammer,

D6.

Slim, .

T4.

• 22

Rocket gelding, .

E6.

Br. C, .

F6.

Phillidor, .

G6.

Thunderer, .

H6. J

1781 Golden Dun,

I . \

200 gs. Match, Newmarket, I 6. April 2.

Grey Legs .

Z5.

£50 Plate, „ . Z 5. „ 20.

Phillidor, .

G6.

200 gs. Match. „ . WG. „ 20.

B. C, by Sweet-

100 „ f. „ . I 6. May 7.

william, .

J 6.

£50 Plate, Ascot, . .Z 5. June 19.

Drowsy,

K6.

29 £50 Town Plate,i Chelms- I 6. Jiily 18.

Pineafter,

L6.

ford,.

Whitenose, .

M6.

100 gs. Match, Newmarket, J 6. Oct. 18.

Filly, by Protector,

N6.

100 „ ,, ,, . J 6. „ 20.

Bro. horse, by
Dapper, .

0 6. >

1 Entered in his grace's trainer's name, R. Goodison.

850

'OLD Q'

Tear. Horses Running.

Ref.

Letter.

No. of
Engage-
ments.

1782 Drowsy,

K6. ^

Guido, .

P6.

Br. C, by Herod,

Q6.

Sweetwilliam,

R6.

Slender,

S6.

Pineafter,

L6.

- 33

Piccinino,

T6.

Henley,

U6.

Whitenose,

V6.

Chub, .

W6.

Brutus,

X6. J

Events Won.

Revolution Stakes, of 200

By Date.

gs. each, 12 subs.,

P 6. April

1.

20 gs. Match, Newmarket,

K6. „

6.

70 „ Plate,

S 6. „

24.

50 ,. f.

R6. „

26.

£50 Plate, Ascot, .

P 6. June

5.

£50 „ Stockbridge, .

P6. „

21.

His Majesty's Purse of 100

gs., Ipswich,

P 6. July

1.

200 gs. Match, Newmarket

U6. „

9.

£50 Town Plate, „

S 6. „

10.

£50 ,, Egham, .

P 6. Sep.

5.

£50, Gent's Purse of, ,, .

U6. „

6.

150 gs. f., Match, New-

market,

W6. Oct.

28.

90 gs. Sweepstake, , , .

W6. Nov.

14.

1783 Quicksand, .

Y6.

Guido, .

P6.

Slender,

S6.

Brutus,

X6.

Gonzales,

Z6.

Piccinino,

T6.

Regent,

A 7.

Knight Errant, .

B7.

Drowsy,

K6.

Wisdom,

C7.

Pleasant,

D7.

Br. Colt, by Atey

Bey, . .

E7.

1784 Quicksand, .

F7.

Gonzales,

Z6.

Pleasant,

D7.

Fulmine,

G7.

Wisdom,

C7.

B. C.,by Florizel,

H7.

Ch. C, .

17.

Regent,

A 7.

Arrow, .

J 7.

Collector,

K7.

Cutter,

L7.

V 36

32

360 gs. Match, Newmarket, P 6. April 7.
100 ,, ea., 4 Subs., Sweep-
stake, at Newmarket, S 6. ,, 21.
150 „ f.. Match, „ . P6, „ 23.
£50 Subscription, ,, . P 6. „ 24.
£50 Plate, Epsom, . . A 7. May 28.
£50, Stockbridge, . . S 6. July 14.
600 gs. Match, Newmarket, D 7. Oct. 18.

Claret Stakes of 200 gs.
each, 7 Subs., Newmar-
ket, .... Z 6. April 12.

£50 Plate, Egham, . . C 7. Aug. 26.

250 gs. Match, Newmarket, M7. Oct. 20.

100 „ forfeit, ,, K7. „ 23.

300 „ „ „ C 7. Nov. 6.

RACING ANALYSIS

351

Year. Horses Running.

1784 Bonduca,
cont. Mopsqueezer,
rurioso,

Ref. No- of
Letter. Engage-
ments.

M7.
N7.
0 7.

Events Won.

By Date.

B. F., by Fulmine, P 7.

1785 Fortunatus,
Collector,
Pleasant,
Gonzales,

Q7.
K7.
D7.
Z6.

B.C., by Pumpkin, R 7.

Arrow, . . . J 7.

Wisdom, . . C7.

Cutter, . . . L 7.

Champion, , . S 7.

B.F., by Highflyer, T 7.

Young Giant, . U 7.

Ambrosia, .

W7.

Nerina,

X7.

Guide, .

P6.

1786 Nectar,

V7.

Collector,

K7.

Nerina,

X7.

Wisdom,

C7.

Cutter, .

L7.

Young Giant,

U7.

Hackwood, .

Y7.

Ch. G.,.

Z7.

Ch. F.,

A 8.

B. C, by Amber,

B8.

Ambrosia, .

W7.

Magnesia,

C8.

Mulberry, ,

D8.

1787 Magnesia, .

C8.

Inca,

E8.

Mulberry,

1)8.

Young Giant,

U7.

Lampo,

F8.

Amber,

G8

Buir, .

H8.

)■ 44

V 50

200 gs. Match, Newmarket, K7. Mar, 28.
£50 Handicap, ,, C7. May 11,

£50 Plate, Guildford, . J 7. „ 18.
£50 „ Reading . . J 7. Aug. 23.
300 gs. Match, Newmarket, U 7. Nov. 1.
200 „ „ K7. „ 1,

200 „ „ K7. „ 5.

200 gs. Match, Newmarket, K7. April 18.
100 „ „ K7. May 15.

100 „ „ Y7, „ 19,

50 „ „ K7. „ 20.

£50 Plate, Salisbury, . W7.Aug. 9.

50 gs. Match, Newmarket, C 8. Oct. 6,
200 ,, „ D 8, Nov. 13.

200 gs. Match, Newmarket, C 8. April 28.

200 „ ,, DS.May 12,

A Sweepstake of 100 gs,
each, 4 Subs., Newmar-
ket, .... D 8. July 9.

100gs.M4tch, Newmarket, J 8. Oct. 3.

200 „ . MS. Nov. 1.

352

'OLD Q'

Tear. Horses Running.

1787 B. M. by Highflyer,
cont. Dash, .

Daphne,

Flirtilla,

Goliah,

B, C, by Mamgot,

Prodigal,

1788 Goliah,
Magnesia, .
Cheveley,
Mulberry, .
Roscius,

Ch, Mare, .
Trusty,

Filly, by Highflyer,
B. C, by Conun-
drum,
Toss, .
Dash, .

1789 Dash, .
Goliah,
Mulberry, .
Magnesia, .
Feenow,

Grey gelding, by
Juniper, .

B. C, by Conun-
drum,

Ref. No. of
Letter. Engage-
ments.

18. 1-51

J 8.

K8.

L8.

M8,

N8.

0 8.

Events Won.

By Date.

M8.
C8.
P8.
D8.
Q8.
US.
S8.
T8.

U8.
V8.
W8.

W8.
M8.
D8.
C8.
X8.

Y8.

U8.

Ch. F., by Florizel, Z 8.

Ralpho,

B. C, by Garrick,

Burgundy, .

Gaillard,

Stag, .

1790 Amaranthe, .
Cheveley,
Mulberry, .
Bashful,
Bro. to Mousetrap,

35

- 32

A 9.
B9.
C9.
D9.
E9.

F9.
P8.
D8.
G9.
H9.

A Sweepstake of 300 gs.

each, 3 Subs. , run by, . D 8. Nov. 1.
A Sweepstake of 50 gs.

each, 3 Subs., run by, . D8. ,, 10.

500 gs. Match, Newmarket, P 8. April 8.

1000

300

200 „ ,,

100 f. „

300 „ „

500

Q8. „

22.

P8. „

22.

P 8. May

2.

V8. Sep.

29.

D8. „

30.

W8.0ct.

2.

1000 gs. Match, Newmar-
ket, .... W8. April 25.
300 gs. Match, Newmarket, D 8. May 11.
£50 Handicap, Brighton, M8. July 24.
£50 County Plate, Lewes, M8. Aug. 4.
600 gs. Match, Newmarket, D 8. Sep. 28.
900 „ „ W8.0ct. 5.

200 „ „ C9. „ 17.

600 „ „ W8. „ 27.

P. of W. Plate, 50 gs.. Ascot, G 9. June 9.
500 gs. Match, Newmarket, M9. Oct. 15.
300 „ „ „ . M9. „ 19.

£50 Town Plate, „ . M9. ,, 20.

RACING ANALYSIS

353

Ref.

Letter.

W8.
19.
C9.
J 9.
K9.

L9.
M9. J

N9,
0 9.

Year. Horses Running.

1790 Dash, .
cont. Phalanx,

Burgundy, .

Sister to Dash,

Sandiver,

Gr. filly, by Mans-

trino,
Bustler,

1791 Mouse,
FiUy, by Bordeaux,
B. H., by Conun-
drum, . P9.

Bashful, . . G9.
Burgundy, . . C 9.
Bustler, . . M 9.
B.C., by King Fer-
gus, . . . Q9.
Hermione, . . R 9.

1792 Bustler, . . M 9.
Dash. . . . W8.
Bl. C, by Phara-

mond, . .3 9.

1793 Brush, . . . T 9.
Fei-gus, . . U 9,
Bustler, . . M 9.
Gr.C, by Bordeaux, V 9,

No. of
Engage-
ments.

1
I 39

Events Won.

By Date.

} 21

::/

12

1794 Bustler,

Ch. filly, by Pot 80s,

Quicksilver, .

Luna, .

Woodman, .

William,

B. F., by Diomed,

1795 B.C., by Highflyer,
William,

Pecker, late Wood-
man, .

Whitenose, .
Gr. F., by Magog,
Ch. C, by Falcon,
Crawler,
Cripple,

9. ^

M

W9.

X9.

Y9.

Z9.

A 10.

BIO..

CIO.
A 10.

Z9.
D 10.
E 10.
F 10.
G 10.
HIO.

> 17

£50 Handicap, Epsom, . M9. May 22.

300 gs. Match, Newmarket, M9. Oct. 29.

50 ., ,, ,, . M9. Nov. 5.

£50 Hdcp. Plate, Ep.som, M9. May 18.

500 gs. Match, Newmarket, Z 9. May 5.

£50 Plate, Ascot, . . A 10. July 12.

£50 „ Hdcp., Ascot, A 10. „ 13.

50 gs. Mivtch, Newmvket, A 10. Oct. 27.

\ 23

354

'OLD Q'

Year. Horses Running.

1796 William,
Pecker,
Ch. C, by King

Fergiis,
B. F., by Pumpkin,
Piccinino,

1797 Ch. C, by King

Fergus,
Parrot, .
• Crawler,
William,

Br. C, by Balloon,
Br. C, brother to

above,
Molly Mog, .
B. F. , by Meteor,
B.M., by Highflyer,

1798 Young Peg, .

B. C, by Pumpkin,

Br. C, by Balloon,

Molly Mog, .

Egham,

Admiral,

Br. G., by Fidget,

1799 Admiral,
Egham,

1800 Egham,
Hearts of Oak,

1801 Egham,

B. F., by Whisky,

] 802 Sister to Grey Pilot,
1803

1804 B. C, by Moorcock,

1805 B.C., by Competitor,

Ref. No. of

Letter. Engage-
ments.

A 10.

Z9.

Events Won.

By Date.

14

110.
J 10.
KIO.

J 10.
LIO.
GIO.
AID.
M 10. y 24

NIO.
0 10.
PIO.
QIO. ^

niQA
SIO.
M 10.
OlO.
T 10.
UIO.

vio.;

£50 Sub. Plate, Newmarket, A 10. May 3.
£50 Hdcp. Plate, Ascot, . A 10. June 22.
£50 „ „ A 10. ,, 24.

£50 To\vn
market.

Plate, New-

T 10. Oct. 4.

V 16

UIO
T 10

T 10.

WIO,

T 10
UIO.

L \ r Sweepstake of 100 gs. each,
'. / 5 Subs., Newmarket, .

. \ g £50 Hdcp., Newmarket, . W
'. / 30 gs. Match, Newmarket, T

UIO. Mar. 26.

W 10. May 16.
10. Oct. 30.

VIO. 2

WIO. 5
XIO

INDEX

Achilles, third Earl of March
compared to, 10.

Agincourt, Douglas at, 5.

Ainslie, Dr., physician, 262.

Almack's, reference to, 115.

Amesbury, Dean Swift at, 106 ;
William, fourth Duke of
Queensberry at, 166 ; let to
nuns of the Augustine Order,
196.

Angus, Earls of, 5.

Anson, Lord, 18.

Arbuthnot, Dr., 106.

Barnton, the second Earl of
March dies at, 8.

Barton, James, 'Esquire,' 181.

Barrymore, Lord, 133 ; Richard,
seventh Earl of, compared to
' Old Q,' 189.

Barry, Madame du, and King
George in., 184, 185.

Bayne, Donald, 2, 3.

Beggars^ Opera, 41.

Bellamy, Mrs., 130.

Bet, a singular, 110.

Billington, Mrs., and 'Old Q,'
217, 220.

Brougham, Lord, anecdote re-
lated by, of 'OldQ,' 186.

Bruce, King Robert, 3.

David, 3,

' Buckhorse,' pugilist, 52.
Burns, Robert, lines by, 208, 210.

Caroline, Queen, 106.

Carteret, Lord, 183.

Cassillis, John, eighth Earl of, 64 ;
settlement made by, 64 ; death
of, 63 ; litigation concerning
Earldom of, 66, 67; Lady,
partner in a gambling-house, 11.

Cavendish, Lord George, 190.

Chaise match, Lords Eglinton and
March's noted, 17 ; description
of vehicle used, 18, 19 ; colours
worn by riders in, 22 ; time run
in, 23 ; date of, 23 ; picture and
prints of, 23 ; sale of horses
engaged in, 32.

Chesterfield, Lord, 49.

Chifney, Sam, the jockey, 185.

Chillaby racehorses, the strain of,
47.

Chronology, stud-book, absence of,
44.

Claremont, Esher, Surrey, the
residence of Miss Frances
Pelham, 61.

356

OLD Q

Clermont, Lord, 133 ; compared

with 'OldQ,' 190, 191.
Codington, Sir William, 136.
Conwaj% General, 96.

Lady Anne, 112.

Crawford, Colonel, gambling

losses of, 141.
Cricketers, curious use made of,

by Lord March, 39.
Cumberland, H.R.H. the Duke

of, and Lord March, 47, 82,

133; death of, 113,

Dalkeith, the Earl of, and trees
at Drumlanrig, 212,

Darling, Colonel, and the ' Picton '
incident, 240.

Day, John, the jockey, 188.

Delaval, Sir Francis, 118.

Desmond, the Countess of, 150.

Dodd, Dr., execution of, 152.

D'Eon, the Chevalier, and ' Old Q,'
245.

Doncaster, Earl and Marquis of, 6.

Douglas, ancestry of house of,
1-7 ; peerages held by, 5 ; Sir
James, ' the Good,' 3 ; Sir
William of Douglasdale, 3 ;
first Earl of, 3, 4 ; second Earl
of, 4 ; Charles, third Earl of
Queensberry, 5 ; William, first
Earl of March, 6; William,
second Earl of March, 6 ;
William, succeeds as third Earl
of March, 6 ; relationship to
Duke of Queensberry, 7 ; suc-
ceeds as Earl of Ruglen, 14;
Duke of Queensberry, 1 ; Hon-
ourable John, of Broughton, 9 ;
Mr. E. B., 262; left library by

'Old Q,' 258; Lord, and 'Old
Q's ' legacies, 260.

Dover, Duke of, 6.

'Duglasse, Sholto,' 2.

Dukes, singular fatality among,
261.

Drumlanrig, death of Charles,
Earl, 52 ; Henry, Earl, mar-
riage of, 42 ; unhappiness of,
42 ; death of, 43 ; lands and
castle of, 4; wild cattle at, 158;
castle of, erected, 158 ; Liqueur
de, 260.

EuGEwoRTH, Mr. R. L., F.R.S.,

and Lord March, 86, 87.
Eglinton, Earl of, and chaise

match, 17.
Elvizee or Elise, P^re, medical

attendant, 201.
Emigres, French, and the Duke of

Queensberry, 214.
Elwes, 'Miser,' erects houses in

Portman Square, 90.
Entail, the Cassillis, 64.
Everatt, William, groom, 22.

Fagniani, Madame la Marchesa,
43, 144; Mile., marriage to

Lord Yarmouth, 197-
Fitzherbert, Mrs., at Queensberry

House, Richmond, 177.
Flodden, Douglas at, 5.
Fox, Mr., and the Richmond

family, 70; Stephen, 105, 113;

Charles James, 105, 169.
Fortrose, Lady, and face powder,

123.
Fuller, Mr., his action against

' Old Q's ' executors, 262.

Gay, John, and Catharme, Duchess

INDEX

357

of Queensberry, 35 ; results of
his opera, Polly, 41.

George, H. R. H. , Prince of Wales
at Queensberry House, Rich-
mond, 177 ; receives support of
' Old Q ' to form a regency, 182;
bestows a new nickname on
• Old Q,' 185.

Gibbons, Grmlin, wood -carver,
158.

Gloucester, the Bishop of, and
John Wilkes, 101.

Goodison, Dick, alias 'Hell-fire
Dick,' jockey, 150; anecdote of,
151 ; engages Sam Chifney for
•Old Q,' 180; his opinion of
Sam Chifney, 181; turns farmer,
229 ; references to, 237 ; anec-
dote of, and • Old Q,' 238.

Grafton, the Duke of, 134 ; and
John Day, the jockey, 188.

Greville, Mr., 21.

Grosvenor, Lord, 134 ; his losses
on the turf, 190.

Halford, Sir Henry, s^^rgeon,
262.

Hamilton, Lady Anne, 6 ; Dunbar,
succeeds to the Earldom of Sel-
kii'k, 13 ; Duke of, a connection
of Lord March's, 21 ; rides a
match with Loi'd March, 57.

Handel, G. F., composer, 106.

Harness, description of the, used
in chaise match, 20.

Han-ington, Lady, 146.

Hatt, Captain, a celebrated owner
of greyhounds, 46.

Hays, the, sell the castle and
estates of Neidpath, 6.

History, The, of White's, 38.

Holland, Lcird, and George Augus-
tus Selwyn, 93, 113.

Home, Dr., physician, 262.

Hopetoun, the Karl of, 42.

Hope, Lady Mary, Countess Drum-
lanrig, 42.

' Hotspur,' Percy, 4.

' Hottentot Venus,' the, 245.

' How to live, after a ducal recipe,'
221.

Hyde, Lady Catherine, 6.

James vi. of Scotland and the
House of Douglas, 5.

Jennings, Mr., and the Chillaby
strain of racehorses, 47 ; re-
ceives defeat at the hands of
Lord March, 47.

Jesse, J. H., author of George
Sdwyn and his Contemporaries,
91.

Jervas, Mr,, the artist, 106.

Jockey Club, reference to, 133.

Jockey, How to make a, 190.

Johnsonic loadstone, the, 12.

Jones, Inigo, and Drumlanrig
Castle, 158.

Kelly, Michael, actor, his opinion

of and anecdotes concerning

' Old Q,' 214-217.
Kennedy, Six* Thomas, of CuUean,

65.
Kent, Mr,, 106.
Kidgell, the Rev. Mr., Lord

March's chaplain, 99, 100 ; lines

on, 101.
King William, 'The Lion,' 3.

Lade, Sir John, makes a glut-
tonous wager with ' Old Q,' 179,

358

' OLD Q

Lennox, Lady Emily, 69.
Lewkner's Lane, Drury, 52.
Lochmaben, Douglas at, 5.
Lothian, the Marquis of, dismissed

from office, 183.
Louis XV. 's Consort and Madame

de Mirepoix, 104.

Mackay, Memoirs of, 8.

Malmesbury, Lord, dismissed from
office, 183.

Mansfield, Lord, and the March-
Pigot case, 137.

March, creation of the Earldom
of, 6 ; death of first Earl of, 6 ;
Mackay's opinion of, 8 ; mar-
riage of second Earl of, 6 ; death
of second Earl of, 6 ; third Earl
of, and the Queensberry Duke-
dom, 7 ; boyhood of third Earl
of, 8 ; guardians of the third
Earl of, 9 ; his curriculum, 9 ;
proclivities of, 9, 10 ; initiated
in the 'Freemasonry' of the
Turf, 10; as a 'man of the
world,' 10 ; and Lady Cassillis,
1 1 ; love for cards, 1 1 ; sighs
for a London life, 12 ; becomes
a London 'lion,' 13; death of
the mother of, 13; receives com-
pensation for loss of hereditary
rights, 13 ; succeeds to the
Ruglen dignities, 13 ; the Earl
of, and Wemyss's action against
' Old Q's ' executors, 207.

March and Ruglen, the Earl of,
first racing efforts, 15 ; first
notice of the, in racing calen-
dars, 15 ; his jockeyship, 16
formulates the chaise match, 17
difficulties concerning, 18-21

racing reputation established,
24 ; doubtful racing anecdote,
25 ; accepts a challenge, 26-29 ;
takes a house at Newmarket,
29 ; I'acing discretion, 30 ; v.
Sawyer, 31 ; and Catharine,
Duchess of Queensberry, 34 ; a
matrimonial bet by, 37 ; another
bet, 38 ; enters into another
match against time, 39 ; probabi-
lity of, 39 ; accepts Lord Orford's
challenge, 45 ; starts a stud farm,
46 ; care in making matches, 47 ;
noticed by W. M. Thackeray,
49 ; sells his stud of brood mares,
51 ; heir-apparent to the Qiieens-
berry honours, 52 ; precaution-
ary measures adopted by, when
gambling, 56, 57 ; rides a match
against the Duke of Hamilton,
57 ; takes a hoiise in Piccadilly,
59 ; and the Honourable Henry
Pelham, 59 ; captivated by Miss
Frances Pelham, 60 ; result
thereof, 61 ; claims the Earldom
of Cassillis, 63 ; litigation there-
on, 65 ; Turf ' diplomacy,' 72 ;
racing affairs of, 72; anecdote

of, 73 ; and the Countess L ,

78; and H.R.H. the Duke of
Cumberland, 81; an 'Ixionic'
wager by, 83-86 ; wager with
Mr. R. L. Edge worth, 86 ; made
a Lord of the Bedchamber, 88 ;
the diurnal writers and, 89 ; re-
moves to Marylebone, 90 ; first
racing colours of, 90 ; and the
then conditions of life, 90 ;
George Augustus Selwyn and,
91 ; commencement of corre-
spondence with Selwyn by, 94 ;

INDEX

359

and the Rena, 66 ; stays with
Horace Walpole one night, 96 ;
the Tondino, 97 ; and his chap-
lain, 98 ; contretemjis with
Wilkes, 97-100 ; at Ascot 1763,
102 ; at Fontainebleau, 104 ;
silk stockings seized, 104 ; vari-
ous wagers by, 109 ; made a
K.T., 110; insulted by 'Savage
Roche,' 112; marriage rumour
concerning, 112 ; Lord Holland's
opinion of, 113; gives 'riding

orders,' 116 ; the 'd d races'

and, lis ; 'opera-girls,' 118, 120,
132 ; 'high living' and, 118, 119;
at forty-one, 119 ; ear for music,
120 ; le grand simple, etc., 122 ;
rendering of 'noblesse oblige,'
122; valetudinarianism of, 123;
polished mamiers of, 125 ; in-
trusts a delicate commission to
Selwyn, 126 ; monetary affairs
of, 127 ; monetary matters
with Selwyn, 127 ; made Vice-
Admiral of Scotland, 127,
128 ; orders stockings for La
Zamparini, 129 ; meuhles for,
130; racing, etc., 133, 134; in-
creases racing engagements, 135;
curious bet by, 136 ; sues Mr.
Pigot, 138 ; and fear of death,
139 ; illness of, 140 ; wins £3000,
141 ; golden rule for gaming, 142;
a zealous sportsman, 145 ; an-
other marriage rumour concern-
ing, 146 ; verses on, 147 ; anec-
dote of, at York, 149 ; dimin-
ishes racing engagements, 1773,
etc., 148; made first Lord of
Police, 149 ; succeeds as fourth
Duke of Queensberry, 155, 156.

March, Mr., surgeon, 164.

Mirepoix, Madame de, and Queen
of Louis XV., 104.

Mordington, Baroness, and ques-
tion of privilege, 11, 12.

Newcastle, Duke of, Thomas,
generous conduct of, 61.

Norfolk, the Duke of, grand din-
ner given by, 200.

' Old Elwes ' assists Lord March

to procure a greyliound, 45 ;

miser and sportsman, 45.
' Old Q,' why so termed, 185.
' Old Tick,' another nickname

given 'OldQ,' 185.
Opera House, Drury Lane, burnt,

234.
Orford, Lord, Ranger of St. James's

and Hyde Parks, 142 ; makes a

coursing match with Lord March,

45.

Panton, William, 22.

Patriotic Fund, the, 'Old Q's '
subscription thereto, 230.

Pelham, the Honourable Henry,
and Lord March, 59.

Miss Frances, 60-61 ; her

gambling propensities, 62 ; sup-
ported by relatives, 62 ; death
of, 62.

Petersham Lodge, Richmond, 178.

Picton, General, Sir Thomas and
'Old Q,' 239; legacy left by
'OldQ,' 243.

Pigot, Mr., loses 500 guineas to
Lord March, 137 ; action against,
by Lord March, 138, 139.

Poictiers, Douglas at, 5.

Polly, an opera by Gay, 41.

360

'OLD Q'

Pond, John, and Racing Calendar,
23.

Pope, Alexander, lines by, on
Catharine, Duchess of Queens-
berry, 34, 106.

PotSos, when foaled, 26.

Prior, Matthew, poet, 35, 106.

Privilege, curious question of, 11.

QuEENSBERRY, Catharine, Duchess
of, lines upon, 34 ; letters by,
35 ; lines by Horace Walpole on,
36 ; and ' a century of praise,'
36 ; idiosyncrasies of, 43, 53, 54 ;
and Lord March, 53 ; and
Duchess of Richmond, 70 ; at
coronation of George iii., 74 ;
gives away her robes, 75 ; and
domestic economy, 76 ; re-
stored to Court favour, 75 ;
and the Dean of Lincoln, 76 ;
kindness to servants, 105; anec-
dote of, 106 ; adopts a negro,
107 ; hears Court secrets, 130 ;
and Mrs. Bellamy the actress,
131 ; death of, 150.

Charles, third Duke of, 67 ;

death of, 155.

William, fourth Duke of,

his callous conduct, 157 ; vi-
sits Drumlanrig, 157 ; and
spring velvets, 160 ; and the
education of ' Mie-Mie,' 164 ;
his seat at Amesbury, 166 ;
racing success at Newmarket,
1780, 168 ; entertains at
Amesbury, 169; engages a new
chef, 170; his claim on Selwyn's
stationer, 171 ; purchases a
Richmond residence, 171 ; opin-
ion of, as to London out of the

season, 172 ; wins Revolution
Stakes, 1782, 173 ; sends race-
horses to France, 173 ; a politi.-
cal bet by, 174 ; and the
Scotch Kirk, 175; wins Claret
Stakes, 1784, 175 ; made an
English peer, 176 ; a gluttonous
wager made by, 179 ; his horses,
Mulberry and Dash, 181 ; and
George iii.'s mental illness, 182 ;
receives his cong4 from George
III., 183 ; and Madame du
Barry, 184 ; his opinion of the
' Escape ' affair, 185 ; given
another sobriquet, 185 ; * racing
star' declines, 188 ; compared
to Richard, seventh Earl of
Barrymore, 189 ; estimated
racing gains, 195 ; competes
with Lord Clermont for father-
ship of Turf, 190; reference to.
In Hoiv to make a Jockey, 190 ;
reported death of, 192 ; lines
on same, 192 ; at seventy-three,
194 ; finds out why stocks fell
in 1798, 198 ; collects bric-a-
brac, etc., 197 ; Sir Nathaniel
Wraxall and, 198-200 ; dines at
the Duke of Norfolk's, 200 ;
singular fact relating to, 201 ;
retains Pere Elvizee as physi-
cian, 201 ; pTirchases the Coun-
tess of Northampton's residence
at Richmond, 202 ; a dinner-
party at Queensberry House,
Richmond, 203 ; orgies at Rich-
mond, 203 ; opinion on ' Father
Thames,' 203 ; patronises local
horse-races, 206 ; anticipates
the unearned increment, 207
and Michael Kelly, actor, 214-

INDEX

361

217; kindness to the French emi-
oris, 214 ; illness of, 1803, 218 ;
chair collided with, 220 ; Mrs.
Billington and, 220 ; daily regi-
mcn of, 221 ; and tlie milk-bath,
223 ; elegy on his supposed
death, 224 ; lines on death of,
226 ; charity of, 230 ; balance
at Coutts' of, 230 ; close of Turf
career, 232 ; ilhiess of, 1807,
234 ; and rebuilding of Drury
Lane Theatre, 234 • makes his
will, 1809, 237; his last pursuits
at Newmarket, 238 ; desire to
assist General Sir Thomas Pic-
ton, 239 ; freaks of Nature and,
244 ; death of, 246 ; remarks on
his career, 247 ; where buried,
249; as a master, 250; legatees,
annuitants, and executors of,
253, 254 ; estates, how descend-
ed, 256 ; legacy-duty on per-
sonalty, 256 ; why estates were
denuded of timber^ 257 ; price
his Tokay wine fetched, 259 ;
legacies of, ordered to be paid,
263 ; caricatures concerning,
263 ; Lord Lytton's axiom ap-
plied to, 264 ; complete racing
analysis of, vide Appendix ;
House, Richmond, 276.

Radford, Jack, ' Old Q's ' head

groom, 233 ; sells the late Duke's

carriages, 260.
Raikes, Mr. , reference to ' Old Q,'

266.
' Red Herrings,' a nickname given

Lord Yarmouth, 197.
Ren^y's 'Hell,' St. James's Street,

in.

Richmond, the Duchess of, 70, 7L
Roche, ' Savuge,' and Lord March,

111.
Rochford, Lady, 129.
Ruglen, Aime, Comitess of, 6 ;

marriage of, 13 ; death of, 14.
Running footmen, 250 ; ' Old Q's,'

251 ; anecdote of, 251.

Selwyn, George Augustus, and
Lord March, 91 j birth and
career, 92 ; anecdotes of, 94
gambling propensities of, 94
and the Duchess of Queensberry
97 ; Madame de Mirepoix, 104
and losses at cards made by
114 ; monetary matters be
tween, and Lord March, 117
gifts by, to Lord March, 120
his new carriage, 125 ; and
Madame Fagniani, 143 ; grief of,
153; and 'Old Q,' re Fagniani
aflfair, 162; at Mataon, 170
death of, 186 ; his legacy to
'Mie-Mie,'187.

Sheridan, R. B., 195.

St. James's, Piccadilly, ' Old Q's '
place of burial, 249.

Sandwicli, Lord, 100,

Sartorius, Mr., and picture of
chaise match, 23.

Sawyer, Anthony, second husband
of Amie, Countess of Ruglen,
13 ; V. Lord March, 31.

Saxum, Lord March's stud-farm
at, 46.

Smith, John, alias ' Buckhorse,'
52.

Solvathius, King of Scotland, 2, 3,

Soubise, Master, a negro, 107.

Sprowle, Andrew, 17.

362

' OLD Q '

Stauhope, Lady Henrietta, 146.
Star and-. Garter Tavern, Pall

Mall, meeting-place of Jockey

Club, 133.
Swift, Dean, and the Duchess of

Queensberry, 106.

Taafe, Count Theobald, 17.
Thackeray, W. M., 49.
Toudino, the, and Lord March,

97 ; references to, 103, 104.
Townshend, Honourable Thomas,

112; Lady, 126; Miss Mary,

156,
Trench, Mrs., and ' Old Q,' 194.
Tuting, Mr., of Newmarket, 23.

Vane, Colonel, his bet with Lord

March, 38.
Verneuil, Douglas at, 5.
Vernon, 'Old Dick,' 37; his

aliases, 38 ; bet by, 38 ; Captain

Richard (z'cZcm), 38.
Virginians, The, reference to

Lord March in, 49.

Warner, the Rev. Dr., 162 ; cor-
responds with Selwyn, 163 ; his
opinion of ' Old Q,' 164 ; letters
concerning 'Mie-Mie,' 165.

Waldegrave, Colonel, bet by, 18.

Walpole, Horace, lines on
Catharine, Duchess of Queens-
berry, 36 ; shelters Lord March
and the Eena for a night, 96;
story by, 1 10 ; references to
Qiieensberry House, 176 ; and
the Du Barry incident, 185.

Warren, Dr., King George iii.'s
physician, 182.

White's, The History of, 17 ; bet-
book at, 37 ; reference to

Club, 110, 128.

Wilkes, John, and Lord March,
97 ; his Essay on Woman, 97,
100 ; flies country, 100.

Wordsworth, the poet, lines on
' Old Q,' 211.

Wraxall, Sir Nathaniel, opinion of
' Old Q,' 198.

Wright, Long Acre, builds car-
riage for chaise match, 19.

Yarmouth, Lord, marriage of,
to Mile. Fagniani, 197; re-
siduary legatee under ' Old Q's '
will, 257.

Zamparini, La, and the Rena,
126-129.

Printed by T. and A. Constable, Printers to Her Majesty
at the Edinburgli University Press

7

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