THE DEVONSHIRE CLUB AND "CROCKFORD'S" Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2008 with funding from IVIicrosoft Corporation http://www.archive.org/details/devonshireclubanOOwaddrich • • • • -•- • • • • • • • • • • The Devonshire Club. THE DEVONSHIRE CLUB AND " CROCKFORD'S " BY H. T. WADDY LONDON EVELEIGH NASH COMPANY LIMITED 1919 ^\ M, v\ *, • • • * • •*• * « 1 1 . . i » • « • " CONTENTS PAGE Introduction ix I. — Formation of the Devonshire Club ii II. — The History of the Club, 1875-1884 40 III. — The History of the Club, 1885-1917 59 IV. — Crockford's 116 APPENDIX Extracts from the Evidence given by William Crockford before the Select Committee of the Commons, upon "Gaming," in the year 1844 153 Index 163 44895S ILLUSTRATIONS The Devonshire Club . . . Frontispiece The Right Hon. William Adam OF Blairadam, M.P P^g^ 56 The Cabinet (i 870-1 874) ... „ 61 The Eighth Duke of Devonshire „ 67 Lord James of Hereford ... ,> 86 W. Crockford » 116 Crockford's Club-house, St. James's Street »> 128 Crockford*s Original Club-house . ,,151 Vll INTRODUCTION This small book is dedicated to the Committee of the Devonshire Club : it is their fault that it has been written. It makes no pretension to style or elegance, even its punctuation is probably faulty ; but the writer has been happily rendered impervious to criticism since he was elected to the Committee of the Club. Should anything worthy, especially anything florid, be detected, it may be assumed that the passage is borrowed, whether indicated by inverted commas or not. Tribute has been levied upon the " Dictionary of National Biography," "Old and New London,'' " Bentley's Miscellany/' the "Edinburgh Review," "The Times," and other dusty publications — palmam qui meruit fer at. IX Introduction I am under much obligation to Lord Blyth for repeated assistance with this book. It is doubtful whether it would have been completed without his en- couragement. Any suggestions or complaints should be addressed to the Secretary of the Club, or possibly to Mr. Fred Kerr, who under- stands, and on occasion illustrates by anecdote, the humbler uses of a membe of a Club Committee. I hope that the results of such small industry and research as have been required may prove of interest to the Devonshire Club, within whose walls I have formed many and valued friendships. H. T. WADDY. Devonshire Club. THE DEVONSHIRE CLUB- AND " CROCKFORD'S " I FORMATION OF THE DEVONSHIRE CLUB The Devonshire Club, in its earlier years essentially a political organisation, was begotten out of the misfortunes of the Liberal party. Following upon the General Election of February, 1874, a group of prominent Liberal politicians, chief amongst whom were the two Liberal Whips (the Rt. Hon. W. P. Adam, M.P., and Lord Kensington, M.P.), the Marquis of Hartington, and Sir Henry James, were concerned to found a new and aggressive Liberal Club. Mr. Gladstone's first Ministry came to a disastrous end at the General Election of 1874. Whilst in power, he and his II Devonshire Club colleagues had {inter alia) disestablished the Irish Church, carried through an ambitious Irish Land Bill, provided compulsory education, abolished the purchase of commissions in the Army, settled the " Alabama " claims with the United States of America, given mortal offence to the " Trade," disappointed the Temperance party, and estranged the Nonconformists. Such a record has been appropriately described as amounting to " Reformation in a flood.** The Liberal Government was defeated in the House of Commons on March nth, 1873, by three votes upon a division on the Irish University Education Bill. Two days later Mr. Gladstone decided upon resignation. The Queen sent for Mr. Disraeli, who wisely refused to take office whilst in a minority in the Commons, whereupon Mr. Gladstone, with authority destroyed, himself resumed office. Par- liament was ultimately dissolved in 12 Formation of the Devonshire Club January, 1874, and the subsequent General Election resulted in the rout of the Liberal party, who found themselves at its close in a minority of 50 as compared with a previous majority of 120. On March 12th, 1874, Mr. Gladstone wrote his famous letter to Lord Granville announcing his intention to retire from the leadership of the Liberal party. From this somewhat condensed sum- mary of the political events of five strenuous years, it will be recognised that the Liberal party had fallen upon dark days. It was in such times and circum- stances that its chief supporters, intent upon reconstruction, cast about for a new organisation and a new home wherein "to promote and foster the best interests of the Liberal party." In the year 1874, the only West End Liberal club-house of repute was the "Reform,'' with a prestige of forty years* existence and a long waiting list. »3 Devonshire Club In those days it was permissible to be a Liberal and yet to be accepted as a gentleman, even without suspicion of eccentricity. The proposed new Club was intended to be a sort of " chapel-of-ease " to the " Reform '* ; a junior but a more ag- gressive institution. Many members of the Liberal party belonged to both Clubs. There were doubtless informal meetings of those responsible for the new venture, but of these no record can be found. The earliest available Minute is of the " Managing Committee of the new ' West End Liberal Club ' held at Devonshire House on Tuesday, the 14th of July, 1874." Those present were: — The Marquis of Hartington, M.P. The Lord Kensington, M.P. The Earl of Cork. The Right Hon. W. P. Adam, M.P. The Hon. A. Fulke Grcville. Sir Wm. R. Drake. H Formation of the Devonshire Club Sir Henry James, Q.C., M.P. Arthur D. Hayter, Esq., M.P. Charles de la Prynne, Esq. J. W. Pease, Esq., M.P. T. B. Potter, Esq., M.P. E. A. Leatham, Esq., M.P. Craig Sellar, Esq., M.P. {Hon. Sec), At this meeting the Committee ap- proved a series of Resolutions which had been previously passed at a meeting of the Provisional Committee for the establishment of the Club, held at the office of the Liberal Central Association, 43, Parliament Street, Westminster, on the 27th May, 1874. The Resolutions in question dealt with the formation of the Club, the appoint- ment of an Executive Managing Com- mittee, the settlement of the constitution and rules of the Club, and such matters of business detail. One Resolution only needs to be preserved verbatim : " This meeting, having heard the explanation H Devonshire Club given as to the steps which have been taken in reference to securing a site for the Club, and also the means that seem open for obtaining temporary accommoda- tion for its members, is of opinion that if a satisfactory arrangement can be made with the owners of the premises in St. James's Street, that position and the accommodation which there could be obtained would suffice for the present. . . " The premises in St. James's Street were the former club house of Crockford. At this same meeting the Marquis of Hartington was elected Chairman of the Managing Committee, the entrance fee was fixed at thirty guineas, and the annual subscription at ten. Circulars had been sent out on June 24th, 1874, above the signature of Mr. Adam, the senior Liberal " Whip," to prominent members of the Liberal party inviting them to join the Club ; a special and separate appeal having been sent to the members of the 16 Formation of the Devonshire Club Cobden Club. To this first meeting of the Managing Committee it was reported that 3 1 3 gentlemen had responded favour- ably, and it was decided to send a second circular to those (numbering 8io) who had not replied to the original circular. The Managing Committee persisted by circulars and advertisements in " 345 Liberal newspapers throughout the coun- try '* in their effort to obtain the desired membership of 1500. The earlier meetings of the Committee were held at Devonshire House, with the Marquis of Hartington regularly in the chair ; but by the 1 2th of November, 1874, the negotiations for the St. James's Street premises had sufficiently advanced for the Managing Committee to be accommodated in some room within the premises themselves, and as the Com- mittee at this meeting resolved " That the Club should bear the name of its first President, His Grace the Duke of 17 Devonshire Club Devonshire, and be called the ' Devonshire Club/ " this date, viz., November 1 2th, 1874, may be considered as the earliest date of use and occupation by the Devon- shire Club of its present premises. Up to that time the proposed Club had always been designated " The Liberal Club.** In November, 1874, the Club entered into an agreement with Messrs. Lawson and Beer, the owners of the property, for a four years* tenancy, as from the ist of January, 1875, of the St. James*s Street premises at an annual rent of ^4000 with an option for a lease for a further fifty years at a rent of ^4500. The Minute Books of this period consistently described the St. James's Street premises as " the temporary premises of the Club.** It had been intended to open the Club to members on New Year's Day, 1875. Delays took place for which the responsi- bility was variously attributed, and finally the house was opened on the ist of 18 Lord Blyth's Recollections March, 1875, with a Club membership of 1 1 00, and a credit balance at the bank of over ^40,000 ; the first President, Chairman, and Secretary being the Duke of Devonshire, the Marquis of Hartington and Captain Russell England, respectively. An inaugural banquet was given at the opening of the Club, with regard to which Lord Blyth, one of the original members of the Club, and to-day a Vice- President, has been good enough to supply the following interesting recollections : — The opening banquet of the Devonshire Club in March, 1875, was an occasion to be well remembered by each of the three hundred guests, who, like myself, were privileged to share in its celebration. The Chair was occupied by the popular Lord Granville, then approaching his sixtieth year, who had long been the recognised leader of the Liberal party in the House of Lords, and whose loyalty c 2 19 Devonshire Club never wavered during a period which saw change after change in party politics and party allegiance. All the principal leaders of Liberal opinion were present from every quarter of the kingdom, including Mr. Gladstone, whose impending retire- ment from the leadership he had but recently announced, and the banqueting room was crowded to its utmost capacity with a thoroughly representative gathering. Lord Granville's speech fully satisfied the requirements of the best after-dinner oratory. It was genial and facetious, light as the dessert and sparkling as the cham- pagne ; and it is regrettable that the custom of the times or the decision of the Committee did not permit of its repro- duction in the Press. It became, indeed, the principal topic of conversation both in Liberal and Conservative circles and in the Clubs for many a day afterwards, and has been indelibly stamped upon my memory. 20 Lord Blyth's Recollections Referring to the low ebb to which the Liberal party had been brought by the defection of what were called the " upper classes," and the effort then being made to resuscitate it, he dwelt on the need of another Liberal Club, the urgency of which had been pressed on the leaders, particularly on Lord Hartington as re- presenting the House of Commons, and upon himself on behalf of his friends in the House of Lords. Lord Granville, it is interesting to note, never had the satisfaction of leading more than a small minority of the then six hundred members of the Upper House ; and the gathering was much amused by his lament that he had scarcely ever been privileged, on a purely party question, to lead a majority there ; nor, as it was his custom jocularly to remark, had he often had the happiness of being among a majority at all except occasionally in divisions on the then perennially-discussed 21 Devonshire Club Deceased Wife's Sister Bill, a vexed question which had his warm support, but which, it may be added, was only set at rest nearly thirty years after Lord Granville's death. Speaking of the present building where the Devonshire Club was being inaugu- rated, he thought it bore some comparison to himself, whether by way of a bio- graphical sketch or, perhaps, a romance in three volumes, his hearers might de- termine — the first volume covering the period of childhood, as first volumes should do, the second dealing with middle age, and the third being then in course of preparation. He descanted on the fact of the Devonshire Club occupying the building at one time known as Crockford's, where, during the height of its popularity, all the well-known members of Society with gaming propensities assembled nightly. He believed he was about twelve years old when brought to this 22 Lord Blyth's Recollections club by his father, the first Lord Granville, our Ambassador to France, and in the very room where the banquet was then being held, green covered tables were placed from end to end. His father sat next a gentleman who appeared to be a croupier and who was directing the game. Lord Granville continued : " While I was sitting beside my father, who was having extraordinarily good luck, and had a huge pile of sovereigns before him. Count d'Orsay came up and said, ' Granville, old boy, Fm having terribly bad luck, do lend me some of your money.' And, without waiting for an answer, seized a handful from his pile of gold and was going off with it, when my father said, ' All right, old fellow, but let me know how much you are taking.' " Whether the borrowed money brought the Count good fortune, or whether it was ever returned. Lord Granville said he had no opportunity of 23 Devonshire Club knowing, but it gave him a curious idea of the customs of that time among the aristocracy of London. He believed he had frequently been again to Crockford*s, but nothing worth recalling remained in his memory. The second volume of his reminiscences in reference to the building was when Crockford's had become a thing of the past. It was later taken over by a company which was promoted to establish a fine art gallery there, as a primary means of assisting artists, both oil and water-colour, who were then doing very badly. Lord Granville said he was, on public grounds, urged to take shares, being assured it would be a great com- mercial success, while doing an immense amount of good to the artist-profession, and would, it was whispered to him, "knock Christie and Manson's into a cocked hat." This company scarcely lasted a twelvemonth and every penny 24 Lord Blyth's Recollections of the money he had subscribed was lost. (It is gratifying to reflect that not only have Messrs. Christie, Manson and Woods survived all efforts at rivalry, they have also always been in the foremost rank of those who have shown their practical interest in artists, and have manifested marked patriotism and un- sparing generosity throughout the war.) Referring to the past, Lord Granville drew an impressive picture of the ad- vantages that had been conferred upon the population by the legislation that had taken place in the previous Parlia- ment of 1 868-1 874, and explained that the momentous Acts which had been passed in those six years, during Mr. Gladstone's first Premiership, and which would ensure so much happiness for the people, had really frightened many into the belief that we were going a bit too fast; and the General Election, which had just taken place as a consequence. 25 Devonshire Club gave a large majority to the party of repose if not of reaction. Having spent so much of his youth at the Embassy in Paris, Lord Granville enjoyed the advantage of speaking French with the same fluency as he did his mother tongue, and, it is said, with the purest of Parisian accents. On this occa- sion he referred with becoming modesty to the great satisfaction he should always feel in having had (so he said, suiting the action to the word by pointing to the little finger of his left hand) a very small finger in the framing of the then existing Commercial Treaty between France and England, which had already brought the two countries closer together, adding much to the prosperity of each, and, he was confident, would confer still greater benefits on both every succeeding year. Lord Granville then spoke of the third volume which had still to be written. z6 Lord Blyth's Recollections and which would encompass the founding of this new Liberal Club from its first chapter. Dwelling upon the great ad- vantages that would accrue from such a social home and meeting-place for exchange of view between leaders and supporters of the Liberal party, he stated that out of compliment to the Marquis of Hartington, as the son of an honoured father, it had been on all sides agreed that it should be called " The Devonshire Club." He concluded a most interesting and memorable address by emphasising all that could be accomplished by the timely adoption of Liberal principles, if only they were united in their aims, and recognised the claims of the toiling millions of this country, merely a moiety of whom had so far been enfranchised. When these were realised, the third volume of his reminiscences would have a far more abiding and compelling value than either of its predecessors. 27 Devonshire Club Strange to say that, although from my youth up an ardent devotee of Mr. Gladstone, and sharing the deep regret of the whole Liberal party at what, as sub- sequent events proved, was erroneously thought to be but a natural retirement at the zenith of his fame, nothing in my mind occurred at this Banquet to en^ courage the slightest hope that he might ever be induced to reconsider his decision. It was felt that the palpable reason for his presence was a simple desire to manifest his goodwill in coming to say farewell and endorse the credentials of whomsoever should succeed to his leadership. His resolve to retire was regarded as so irrevocable that the whole gathering seemed solely occupied with the Party *s future to the exclusion of its past. Indeed it was only at a late hour in the evening that Mr. Gladstone's health was proposed by Lord Cork, who in their name spoke of the priceless services Mr. Gladstone 28 Lord Blyth's Recollections had rendered to the Empire and to the world, and declared that no man had ever more worthily earned a period of rest, but not a word was said about his returning to Paliamentary life or reconsidering his decision. I can to this day in my mind's eye picture Mr. Gladstone standing slightly bowed ; and although remembering but few of his words, these remain an unforgettable memory among the epoch-making events in which he subsequently played a com- manding and almost superhuman part. On rising, Mr. Gladstone pointed his finger to the clock, which still hangs in its old place, and remarking that that monitor reminded him that it was too late to occupy them long, he at once touched all hearts when in placing a hand on his breast he added that he also had within a " silent monitor " which told him that for the sake of the nation as well as himself, while expressing profound 29 Devonshire Club gratitude for their long and loyal support, he felt it his bounden duty to leave to another the task of leading the Liberal party. In view of after events, it is interesting to reflect that v^hile this attitude wsls then ac- cepted as conclusive, the follow^ing years, by reason of his own abounding energy, were fated to be if possible even more eventful and strenuous ; and that moreover all Europe should witness the develop- ment of his activities in the wider sphere of international affairs in place of national and for the most part domestic politics. Undoubtedly there are but few if any parallel instances where a statesman of great eminence, feeling his life's task was over, has of his own free will formally renounced all active participation in public affairs, and after a while has returned at what appeared to be the call of his country in order to play, if not a more useful, at least an equally brilliant part for nearly another twenty years on a world-wide stage. 30 Lord Blyth's Recollections There could hardly have been a more representative gathering of the Liberal party than was present at this inaugural banquet. Supporters who had held most opposite views in all other respects were side by side on this historic occasion. By a happy accident. Sir Wilfrid Lawson, the great apostle of prohibition, was placed next to the late Mr. Henry Parry Gilbey, the elder brother of the late Sir Walter Gilbey. Their equal admiration of Mr. Gladstone removed all barriers, and they had a most convivial evening together. Sir Wilfrid Lawson dashed off squibs from time to time, which were passed round to friends seated in various parts of the room. He sent one to Mr. Leatham, the Member for Wakefield, which was afterwards found on the floor of the Devonshire Club. It ran as follows : — Dear Leatham, your place at the table, I think, Is not half such a good one as mine. For I sit in the very best quarter for drink, By Gilbey, the seller of wine. 31 Devonshire Club And I gaze upon Potter and you from afar, Like a man just aroused from a dream, Such a couple of thundering swells you both are, That I call you real ** Devonshire cream " ! The late Sir Arthur Bass, afterwards created Lord Burton, was also the recipi- ent of a few amusing lines to the effect that in spite of his association with Beer, he, Sir Wilfrid Lawson, " would stick to him to the Bitter end," and Mr. Gladstone himself, with Sir Joseph Pease and Lord Cork, were the subjects of the following little effusion : — This dinner must Mr. Gladstone well please, In eating and drinking and talk ; On his left I see him devouring his Peas^ On his right he is drawing out Cork. and to his neighbour, Mr. Henry Gilbey, the following lines were addressed : — How pleasant it is with friend Gilbey to dine, You can fancy how happy I am, While I drink my water, he drinks his wine. So the lion lies down with the lamb. 32 Lord Blyth's Recollections The note of good fellowship and toler- ance, sounded at this notable gathering by- chairman and members alike, seems to have found an echo in each succeeding generation of members of the Devonshire Club, for, notwithstanding the many and great changes in political views and political parties, I believe I am right in saying that the same harmony and camaraderie have prevailed during the whole of the forty-four years of the Club's existence, until at this moment, I am told, there is no difference whatever between the political views of its now full complement of twelve hundred members, their sole desire, during the war, having been to win as speedily as possible for our arms a glorious and consummate victory. Blyth. The Devonshire Club. Something must be said as to the history of the Club site. 33 Devonshire Club It occupies the ground once covered by Nos. 50, 51, 52 and 53, St. James*s Street. By reference to the Post Office Directory, it will be seen that the Club is given as No. 50, St. James's Street, and the next number is 54, the premises now occupied by Messrs. Hooper & Co., Ltd. The same source of information will show that to-day there are no premises from 40 to 47 in St. James's Street. So that eight houses have disappeared by absorption, in the immediate neighbourhood of the Club. In the year 1 8 1 3 the houses numbered 50-54 inclusive were in the ownership of Mr. John Guilton, of Southampton. In 18 18, Mr. Guilton seems to have sold No. 54, and in 1823 he granted a lease to William Crockford, as from March, 1823, of the premises Nos. 50-53 inclusive, for a term of 42 years at a yearly rental of >C4oo. No copy of this lease is available, but there was, no doubt, some covenant as to the " Mansion house " 34 Formation of the Devonshire Club which Crockford was to erect upon the site. Crockford must have met with some difficulties — possibly in evicting some of the occupiers — for the building of the gaming-house only commenced in 1827. The Abstract of Title of the Devon- shire Club ownership has only become available after the present volume was in type. It is a fearsome document of some hundred closely written " Brief " sheets. An experienced Conveyancer, with much time upon his hands, and gifted with that dull patience which is said to be the hand- maid of Equity, could, no doubt, after painful research in this Abstract, say what happened to the building and into whose hands it passed, with dates and names of each transaction. The ensuing account professes to be no more than the result of an honest but bewildered search after the truth by an unskilled seeker. As will be found in the chapter upon Crockford^s, the gaming-house finally D 2 35 Devonshire Club closed about the year 1845, and Crock- ford's representatives were therefore still in possession of the premises for an un- expired term of 20 years, at a rental of j^400. They, no doubt, found some tenant for the premises, possibly the persons who were responsible for founding the Naval, Military, and Civil Service Club, who, on good authority, certainly occupied the premises at one date or another. Mr. John Guilton died in 1855, and he, in his will of 1852, refers to "the Man- sion House in St. James's Street now held on lease from me by the representatives of the late WiUiam Crockford, Esqre." The unexpired lease, either by surrender or forfeiture or otherwise, seems to have reverted to the Guilton estate, and the premises came, possibly about the year 1855, into the possession of some person or persons who converted the house into a refreshment or eating house known as " The Wellington." 36 Formation of the Devonshire Club On May 20th, 1856, an agreement was entered into between Guilton's Trustees and other parties which mentions " that capital messuage or mansion house then lately known as Crockford's Club house, then ' The Wellington,' in St. James's Street." As against the speculation that the Naval, Military, and Civil Service Club preceded " The Wellington " in occupa- tion, it will be noticed that this agreement makes no mention of such a Club. In August, 1868, Guilton's Trustees leased the property to " The London and Paris Hotel Co., Ltd. " for a term of 15 years at a rental of ^(^1500 per annum, and for a present payment of jCsOjOOO sold to the same Company the reversion of such lease. Whether this Company was connected with " The Wellington " or had dealings with the " Fine Art Gallery " mentioned by Lord Granville in his speech at the 37 Devonshire Club opening of the Club, or with the auction sale rooms mentioned in several works of reference as having occupied the premises, are matters which must of necessity be left for future research. And so, unfor- tunately, must be left the more interesting question as to which of the various occu- piers of the building was responsible for the addition of the present top-floor, now used as billiard-room, card-room and library, and secretary's offices. Comparison is invited between the re- produced engraving of Crockford's and the photograph of the Club in its present state. The writer has not been able to find a single mention of this addition in any document or work of reference. In the year 1872, the London and Paris Hotel Co., Ltd., sold the freehold of " the premises formerly known as ' The Wellington ' " to Messrs. Beer & Lawson for the sum of ^46,000. On the 28th of March, 1874, Messrs. 38 Formation of the Devonshire Club Beer & Lawson entered into the agree- ment with the Marquis of Hartington and Lord Kensington which has been already- mentioned as the first step towards the ownership of the Devonshire Club. 39 II THE HISTORY OF THE CLUB, I 875— I 884 During the period whilst the Club house was being prepared for the recep- tion of members, a small sub-Committee of four, with Lord Kensington as Chair- man, had been entrusted with the tiresome duties of arranging for the furnishing and equipment of the new Club. This same Committee was, on April loth, 1875, appointed as the first House Committee of the Club. The first Managing Com- mittee, which had carried out the pre- liminaries before the opening of the Club, was re-appointed en bloc at the first 40 History of the Club, 1875-1884 Annual General Meeting, held on May ist, 1875. The names of the first Com- mittee may be of interest ; they were as follows : — The Marquis of Hartington, M.P. [Chairman), The Marquis of Huntly. The Earl of Cork and Orrery. Lord Wolverton. Lord Kensington, M.P. Capt. the Hon. A. Fulke Grevillc. The Rt. Hon. W. P. Adam, M.P. The Rt. Hon. H. C. E. Childers, M.P. The Rt. Hon. W. H. Cogan, M.P. Sir Henry James, Q.C.,'M.P. Sir Wm. Drake. Mr. Julian Goldsmid, M.P. Mr. Montague J. Guest. Mr. Arthur D. Hayter, M.P. Mr. E. A. Leatham, M.P. Mr. Saml. Morley, M.P. Mr. J. W. Pease, M.P. Mr. T. B. Potter, M.P. 41 Devonshire Club Mr. Chas. de la Prynne. Mr. W. Rathbone. Mr. S. D. Waddy, Q.C., M.P. Up to March ist, 1875, members were practically co-opted by the Managing Committee, any willing member of the Cobden Club being ipso facto elected. Upon the opening of the Club a Candi- dates' Book was provided and the system of election by the Committee after a formal proposing, seconding, and screen- ing was instituted, the procedure which still survives. The original Candidates' Book is to-day kept in what was till recently the Silence Room on the ground floor. By the end of the year 1875, 232 names had been entered, and by February, 1879, there were 500 names in the Candidates' Book. Of the original members of the Club, there are sixteen surviving, all of whom have therefore been members for more than forty-three years. The names are as follows : — 42 History of the Club, 1 8 75-1 884 E. P. Arnold-Forster. F. W. Ashby. J. H. Beddington. Lord Blyth. E. Carter. E. Cooper. J. W. Cross. R. Jardine. Sir David Brynmor Jones. Theodore Lumley. Sir Wm. Mather. Sir Walter Murton. Isaac Seligman. - Lord Southwark. S. Thompson. H. J. Turner. Amongst frequent proposers and seconders of Candidates will be found Lord Hartington, Lord Frederick Caven- dish, Mr. Goschen, Sir Henry James and Sir Wm. Harcourt. No. 14 in the Candidates' Book, entered under the date ist March, 1875, is John Shortt, 43 Devonshire Club Barrister-at-Law, still happily a regular habitue of the Club, though with added professional distinction. Numbers 133 and 134 (in odd juxtaposition) are Jabez Spencer Balfour and John Gorell Barnes. Of other early names are W. C. Gully, Henry Irving, G. W. E. Russell, Robt. T. Reid and Charles Santley. Mr. Joseph Chamberlain was elected in January, 1883, and in May following appears as the proposer of Sir Charles Dilkc. Mr. Richard Chamberlain and Mr. Austen Chamberlain were elected some years later. After a year's working the Club had a membership of 1200. It should be remembered that the Club premises con- sisted at that time of the St. James's Street house (Crockford's) and No. 8, Bennett Street only. The extension into Arlington Street was of later date. It is not surprising, therefore, to find that the Club premises were soon found to be 44 History of the Club, 187 5-1 8 84 inadequate for an active membership of 1200. At the back of the St. James's Street site, being No. 4, Arlington Street, were premises then in lease to the Arlington Club with an unexpired term of 75 years at a yearly rent of ^^560. The Arlington Club was disposed to sell this unexpired term for the sum of ^10,000 and made their offer to the Committee of the Devonshire Club. Mr. Wyatt, the architect acting for the Devonshire Club, reported favourably on the scheme, and advised that a sum of ^22,000 would provide for the purchase of the lease, for the adapting of the pre- mises, and for the expenses of decoration and of the additional requisite furnishing. A General Meeting of the Club received the proposition with enthusiasm and the bargain was struck. The same General Meeting authorised the Committee to ex- ercise its option for the extended term of 50 years of the lease of the St. James's 45 Devonshire Club Street premises. No difficulty arose with regard to the Arlington Street Club property and the matter was readily carried through. It is of interest to remember that this portion of the present Club premises is still held by the Devon- shire Club on the terms of the Arlington Club lease, and that such lease expires on Lady Day, 1951. The proposal to take an extended lease of the St. James's Street site was, however, found to be impracticable. When the members of the Club or Committee, who were approached to become the lessees of premises at a yearly rent of >C45oo ^^^ ^ term of 53 years, realised the burden of the personal covenants into which they would have had to enter, they or their lawyers not unnaturally objected. Had they consented, there would in later years have been many anxious moments for the covenantors ! Accordingly, negotiations were opened with the owners for the 46 History of the Club, 1875-1884 purchase of the freehold. The price ultimately agreed was ^100,000, to include the properties in St. James's Street and the house No. 8, Bennett Street. This contract was effected in May, 1876, and it was arranged that ^50,000 should remain on mortgage at 4 per cent., and that the remaining ^50,000 should be raised by the issue of 5 per cent, de- bentures offered within the Club. In fact, the debentures were not taken up with sufficient enthusiasm, and only jr22,5oo were applied for. But the Club found a generous supporter in Mr. Joseph Laycock, who agreed to take himself the whole of the ^50,000 debentures, secured by a second mortgage on the Club premises. Mr. Laycock duly found the money, the conveyance to the Club was completed on September 30th, 1876, and at the Annual General Meeting in May, 1877, ^^e Committee was able to report to the Club that they were the freeholders of 47 Devonshire Club '* Crockford's " and No. 8, Bennett Street, and the holders of a long lease of the Arlington Street premises at a total cost of some ^120,000. Only an expert could speak as to the present improved value of the property; it must surely be something very considerable. To conclude the story of the premises, it should be said that the cost of altera- tions, furnishing, etc., of the Arlington Street premises exceeded the estimated figure by nearly ^10,000, a fact v^hich seems to have given no satisfaction to anyone — except to the contractors. This portion of the Club premises was opened to mernbers in February, 1878. The policy of the Committee had been from the outset to keep separate accounts of entrance fees and subscriptions and to appropriate the former to capital ex- penditure only. In this way they had at their bankers' in 1876 and 1877 on deposit account a sum of approximately ^40,000 derived from entrance fees. 48 History of the Club, 187 5-1 8 84 By the end of 1877 it was found that the total cost of acquiring the Arlington Street lease, together with the alterations and the furnishing of the entire Club premises, amounted to about >C55'^^^* By February, 1878, the Committee had exhausted its capital funds and was short of ^Cs^oo. An unsuccessful endeavour was made to let No. 8, Bennett Street, and as the ordinary income of the Club derived from subscriptions was so early found, in accordance with the best traditions of the best clubs, to be insufficient to meet the current expenditure, troubles arose which will be found to have periodically recurred ever since. In 1 879, in order apparently to avoid a hostile vote at the Annual General Meeting, the Committee found it necessary to agree to the appointment of a special sub-Committee to consider Finance, such sub-Committee being com- posed of equal numbers of the General Committee and of non-official members of the Club. At this meeting there were 49 Devonshire Club evidently plain words from certain mem- bers, who reflected resentfully over a position of financial embarrassment in a Club which was but four years old and to which each of them had then con- tributed seventy guineas apiece in entrance fees and subscriptions. Lord Hartington is recorded at this meeting to have *' deprecated several of the comments that had been made as tending to injure the Club and the best interests of the Liberal party, to promote and foster which the Club had been established." It is at this juncture that the observant historian finds the precedent for the good- humoured practice which has been con- sistently followed ever since of unfettered criticism upon the unsuitability and in- competence of the General Committee, which the members themselves have so unfortunately elected. There is, strangely, no reference in any subsequent Minute to the thankless task of this special 50 History of the Club, 1875-1884 Finance Committee and no record of how the crisis was passed. It may be that Finance and its worries were postponed for the season, in face of urgent political conflict, for in March, 1880, is a Minute that, upon the suggestion of the House Committee (whose labours one would have expected to be otherwise exacting), it was decided that, having regard to the approaching election, it is expedient that a Political Committee be constituted. It will be remembered that Lord Beacons- field dissolved Parliament suddenly on March 24th, 1880. In the available books nothing further appears to have been done at this period as to the consti- tution of a Political Committee, though the proposal came very much to life some two years later. In June of 1880 appears a quaint Minute illustrative of the truth that one may learn even from one's enemies : — " Referring to a report that the purchase of wine direct from the £2 51 Devonshire Club growers should be gradually introduced by the Club, the Secretary reported that he had called at several sherry houses in the City, all of whom objected to forward samples except through some West End merchant, the • etiquette of the trade forbidding it. He was then instructed to call upon the Secretary of the Junior Carlton, who could, no doubt, give him any necessary information." Again, the records of the Club are exasperatingly silent as to the sequel of such call. And in the same June in the Agenda for the House Committee is another curious entry : " To consider the alteration of Bye-law XV as to strangers playing at cards in the Club ; and as to round games." Shades of Crockford ! In the year 1882 the Club became a subscriber to the United Telephone Co. About this date, or only a little earlier, the Club had started upon a course of monthly house dinners, given to some 52 History of the Club, 1 875-1 884 prominent member of the Liberal party, and presided over by some distinguished member of the Club. The following statesmen at one time or another took part at such dinners, either as guest or chairman : — Marquis of Hartington, Earl of Rosebery, Mr. Bright, Sir Wm. Har- court, Mr. Chamberlain, Lord Granville, Mr. Henry Fawcett, Lord Northbrook, Lord Ripon and Lord Carrington. Possibly stimulated by the political fare provided at such dinners, the Com- mittee revived in July, 1882, the sug- gestion for the constitution of a Political Committee, and the matter was now, at any rate, seriously entertained. The formal Minute of July 31st, 1882, is as follows : — " It being proposed to form a Political Committee, the method of action contemplated is to promote in connection with the Club the objects and interests of the Liberal party. This it is proposed to carry out by the publication and circu- 53 Devonshire Club lation of political literature, the holding of meetings, the delivery of lectures and other steps by means of which the principles of the Liberal party may be extended." Such a Committee was almost immedi- ately appointed with its own officers, machinery and funds. It actually made contributions in aid, to constituencies where the local Liberal organisations were in need of help, and it sent its own missionaries (members of the Club) on tours of weeks at a time, to East SuffiDlk, South Norfolk and North Hants, the constituencies selected for special help. The Political Committee justly enough took itself very much in earnest, and in the country it was in some instances treated with marked respect. But it had with evident regret to refuse help in one instance, to a gentleman in Kent who sought its assistance to get him appointed a county magistrate ! 54 History of the Club, 1875-1884 In July, 1883, the Club was offered, at the price of 1000 guineas, the oil painting of the Gladstone Cabinet 1870--1874 by Dickinson. A subscription list was opened in the Club, but by December, 1883, £s53 ^"ly ^^^ '^^^^ promised. Thereupon the Committee decided to return the picture to the vendor (it had been temporarily hung in the Club, practically on sale or return). To save the picture for the Club, Lord Carling- ford, in February, 1884, generously made up the sum required and the picture was then hung in the position it still occupies. Whilst on the subject of pictures, it may be mentioned that in April, 1882, the Committee had commissioned Mr. John Moffat, of Edinburgh, to paint the full- length portrait of the late Right Hon. W. P. Adam which now hangs in the coffee-room. The inscription upon the frame of the portrait reads as follows : — 55 Devonshire Club The Right Hon. William Adam of Blairadam, Governor of Madras For twenty-one years represented the counties of Clackmannan and Kinross Born 14th September, 1823. Died 24th May, 1 88 1 As Liberal Whip he was mainly instrumental in reorganising the Party after their disastrous defeat in 1874, and in preparing the constitu- encies for the great Liberal victory at the General Election in 1880. This portrait was painted at the instance of the members of the Devonshire Club, in the formation of which Mr. Adam took a very prominent part. Early in 1884, a General Meeting of the Club reduced the authorised member- ship from 2500 to 1500. The larger figure had apparently been fixed after the extension of the Club house by the addition of the Arlington Street premises. At no time in the history of the Club had the membership reached the figure of 1500, though the Club was doing well enough as to finance on the membership of about 1300 which it in fact had. 56 The Right Hon. William Adam of Blairadam, M.P. {Painted by G. J. Moffat, 1883.) History of the Club, 1 875-1 884 In July, 1884, a house dinner, at which Mr. Joseph Chamberlain was the guest of the evening, led to double trouble. It had been the invariable practice of the Club to exclude reporters at these dinners. This was not at all to Mr. Chamberlain^s liking. He had a message to deliver to a wider circle than a few fellow-members of the Devon- shire Club, and he consequently intimated to the Political Committee that his desire was that representatives of the Press should attend the dinner. The Political Committee assented without reference to the Managing Committee. The latter authority was angry, and though it was too late to alter the arrangements, they solemnly put it on record by Minute of July 17th that "This Committee is of opinion that the Political Committee have exceeded their powers in assenting to admit reporters to a house dinner of the Club without the sanction of the 57 Devonshire Club House or General Committee first ob- tained." In this conflict of authority, the Politi- cal Committee came out on top, and Mr. Chamberlain made an important political pronouncement, duly and fully reported in the Press. The second incident arising out of the dinner was a personal one. At the dinner there were present both sym- pathisers with and dissentients from the views which Mr. Chamberlain expressed. His eloquence apparently provoked feel- ing, for on August 4th is a Minute : " That Mr. having written a letter expressing his regret for the expressions applied by him to Mr. in the excite- ment of the moment on the evening of the last house dinner on the 23rd July, the matter be allowed to drop." The reporters, with their usual discretion, avoided any reference to this part of the evening's festivities. 58 Ill THE HISTORY OF THE CLUB, 1885-I917 The fortunes of the Devonshire Club were much affected by the political events of the year 1885 and the two or three succeeding years. Once more a few lines of " potted *' history may be of assistance. The Home Rule agitation in Ireland had been active for some years, and by the year 1885 it had become acute. In Eng- land, Mr. Parnell was leading the Irish Home Rule party in the Commons, and had there developed his policy of ob- struction in a fashion which startled and shocked public opinion. The open de- fiance of law and order achieves one result at least — it attracts public attention 59 Devonshire Club to the cause which the law-breakers have at heart. "The Women's Social and Political Union " went one better than Mr. Parnell thirty years later, and achieved more striking success. In the years 1884 and 1885 there were indications that, included in the ranks of the Liberal party, were many who, though they disapproved of Mr. Parnell's methods, gave an intellectual assent to his move- ment. Mr. Gladstone himself was one such, and it was an open secret long be- fore the 8th April, 1886, when the first Home Rule Bill was introduced, that the " Old Parliamentary hand " was intending to make the Home Rule cause his own. The " split " in the Liberal party was really in process of gestation in the year 1885. When it matured, it rent the party in twain and, incidentally, it gravely jeopardised the continued existence of the Devonshire Club. At the Annual Meeting on May 12th, 60 00 § CO Ci History of the Club, 1885-1917 1885, the Club had committed itself to an elaborate scheme for the reconstitution of the Political Committee and had carefully defined its powers and duties. The Com- mittee was duly formed and once again it started upon an active propagandist career. It came to an abrupt end on the ist July, 1885, destroyed by the bacillus of Home Rule. The two most prominent statesmen who, from the formation of the Club, had taken a leading part in its concerns were Lord Hartington and Sir Henry James. A late and influential recruit was Mr. Joseph Chamberlain. All these took what came to be known as the " Liberal Unionist " view, and their influence upon the political tendencies of the members of the Club was undoubtedly considerable. It is impossible to say in what pro- portion members were divided, but there was certainly a very large number who followed Mr. Gladstone in his Irish policy 61 Devonshire Club as in all else. By what was really an extraordinary token of loyalty to the Club, a compromise was effected as a result of which, despite logic or labels, all the members of both camps were still to be considered for Club purposes as "Liberals,*' and civil war, though waged bitterly enough outside, was to be banished from the Club house. This arrangement saved many with- drawals and an actual split in the Club, but the compromise, as may be imagined, was not capable of being either perman- ently or literally observed. There is internal evidence that the elections to the Managing Committee were conducted on party — the new party — lines. At the Committee Election in May, 1886, Mr. J. Chamberlain was second on the list of successful candidates. In the preceding February the Political Committee had been revived and Mr. Chamberlain had been appointed one of its members. By 62 History of the Club, 1885-1917 good fortune the two camps were suffi- ciently equal in numbers upon this Com- mittee, so that neither could dictate the policy of the Committee, and once again disaster was averted. Nevertheless, as one recalls to-day the bitterness which marked the controversies of these times, the Club can hardly have been a congenial spot for quiet people of moderate views. In the two years 1886 and 1887, the Club, despite the compromise, lost more than 200 members and must assuredly have closed but for the constant efforts of Lord Hartington in the direction of peace. In May, 1886, Lord Hartington even expressed a wish that a substitute of less strenuous convictions than he entertained, should be found for the chair in place of himself at the Annual General Meeting ; a suggestion which the Managing Com- mittee had the good taste and sense not to adopt. It is due entirely to the unselfish offices of Lord Hartington and Sir Henry 63 Devonshire Club James in these anxious and critical times that the Club survives to-day. In March, 1887, the Committee elected as honorary members fourteen of the Colonial representatives to the Imperial Conference. The following year would appear to have brought a number of distinguished visitors from the United States. In June, July and August, 1888, the Club elected as honorary members Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes, the Hon. Chauncey Depew and Mr. Bret Harte, conferring a similar distinction upon Mr. H. M. Stanley in 1890. The defection of members following upon the " split '* was not made up by the election of new members, and finance gave trouble over and over again, in spite of the fact that in June, 1888, the General Committee sanc- tioned the reduction of the entrance fee from thirty to ten guineas, and that in January, 1889, for the first time in the history of the Club, the entrance fee was 64 History of the Club, 1885-19 17 suspended altogether. In the interests of the Club compromise, the Political Com- mittee in March, 1889, resolved that " it is undesirable under existing circum- stances to hold political dinners." About this time a proposal to make an entrance to the Club in Arlington Street " in order that the members may have the privilege of entertaining ladies at dinner and supper in that part of the building " was referred for report to a sub-Committee. When the report was made, the Managing Committee resolved that no further action be taken. A similar proposition, submitted to the General Meeting following, met with no better support. In the year 1891 the first mortgage of jr5o,ooo upon the St. James's Street pre- mises was transferred by the representa- tives of the mortgagees (Messrs. Beer and Lawson) to the Alliance Assurance Com- pany, who still hold the mortgage. 6s Devonshire Club The membership of the Club showed year by year a small but continuous de- crease, and by the year 1892 it was below 1 100. The Auditor's report, submitted to the Committee in March of that year, disclosed an anxious position. The year's accounts showed an excess of expenditure over income of ^900, and the Club had to meet a further liability of some ^2000 for renovation and repairs. Before the General Meeting, the Committee circu- larised the members, explaining the de- ficiency of >C900 ^s being due {a) to dim- inished membership, and (i) to an unex- pected increase in the cost of lighting caused by the substitution of electric light for gas, an improvement made in the year 1890. The members in General Meeting faced the difHculty by agreeing to a " whip " of ^5 per member, and so raised jr3293. The Committee reported to the members that this sum was more than sufficient to discharge existing liabilities, 66 History of the Club, 1885-1917 and that, " owing to diminution of interest on debentures and various economies effected, the expense of the coming year will be fully met by the revenue" — a some- what sanguine forecast as events proved. It was decided to re-impose an entrance fee of fifteen guineas as from January ist, 1893, ^^^ ^^^^ ^^^ done. The member- ship then stood at 1056. One of the economies effected had been the letting of the house No. 8, Bennett Street, but here again the Club was unfortunate, for the tenant defaulted in his rent, where- upon the proposal to use the house as a Ladies' Club was once more revived, sub- mitted to a General Meeting, and again rejected. In 1893 ^^^ Duke of Devonshire (so long associated with the Committee as. the Marquis of Hartington) succeeded the late Duke as President of the Club. On the 3rd May, 1893, M^- Austen Chamberlain joined the General Com- F 2 67 Devonshire Club mittee. At the end of this year the membership was less than a thousand, tost hoc^ not propter hoc. On February 21st, 1894, the Auditor's report on the Club figures for 1893 was presented to the Committee. It will be remembered that sixteen months earlier the members had been assured that re- venue would meet expenditure and that all was well. The report of the Auditor was so disturbing that the Committee adjourned till March 14th. The mem- bership was then 907, the low-water mark up to that date in the Club's history. At the adjourned Committee Meeting the following resolution was carried : " That an Extraordinary General Meeting of the members of the Club be called to receive a report from the Committee as to the present position of the Club and that it be recommended to such General Meeting that the Club be closed on the 30th June, 1894, and the property and assets realised ; 68 History of the Club, 1885-1917 a minority of the Committee, being of opinion that the Club can still be carried on, will submit proposals to that effect." The final words of this resolu- tion are accounted for by the Committee having received a solicitor's letter, written on behalf of a syndicate who offered to take over the Club at once, to relieve the members from all pecuniary obligations beyond their subscriptions, and in effect to convert the Club into a proprietary institution. The decline in membership and the unsatisfactory condition of the Club gene- rally at this period were beyond doubt due entirely to politics. The two wings of the Liberal party, so far from ap- proaching, had drifted further and further apart since the year 1886, and the Club was in the anomalous position of being in name a political club, but in fact mem- bered by gentlemen acutely divided in political views. 69 Devonshire Club It is expedient, even now after a lapse of years, to write of the situation with circumspection. Many of the opponents are still living, quite a number happily remain members of the Club. The re- cord in the Minutes had better be left to speak for itself of what took place ; the individual may then draw his own infer- ences and fill in gaps as he pleases. One obvious fact it may be permitted to notice. The possibility of securing possession of the Club premises and of the Club organ- isation must have been a tempting prospect to either party, and (human nature being what it is) especially at the expense of the other. At the General Meeting, Lord Cork moved from the chair the Committee's resolution to close the Club. A dilatory amendment was passed, " That • it is desirable to ascertain whether it is possible to carry on the Club either as it is, or upon a social and non-political 70 History of the Club, 1885-1917 basis," and the General Meeting adjourned. No one seems to have blamed the management, nor, in this instance, even the Committee. It was conceded by com- mon consent that the Club stood in danger of being wrecked by political dissensions and that, unless a modus vivendi could be found to meet that one and only difficulty, the Club would have to shut its doors. By the date of the adjourned General Meeting there had been time for re- flection. A motion was then made that the Club should carry on, upon the footing that the new Committee should consist in equal parts of both sections of the Liberal party. Good sense pre- vailed over party feeling, the lion was prepared to lie down with the lamb, and by an almost unanimous vote it was decided to continue the Club upon the basis suggested. It is obvious that from this moment the Club ceased to exist as a political 71 Devonshire Club factor. The future was provided for by a guarantee fund to cover possible loss, the entrance fee was withdrawn, and an appeal made to the members loyally to observe the revived compromise. A few zealots of both parties withdrew to other institutions where they could congenially become more political than ever ; the immense majority stuck to the ship. There followed an immediate accession of new members, in five months more than two hundred joined the Club. The Committee with great foresight chose as its chairman Sir Henry James, in whose impartiality both sides had complete confidence, and all went well. On November 14th, 1894, each guarantor received a gratifying message that no call would be necessary *' in consequence of the renewed prosperity of the Club." At the end of the year it was found that in the full twelve months there had been only one hundred withdrawals, an 72 History of the Club, 1885-1917 entirely satisfactory number, all things considered. The Political Committee was necessarily dissolved, and the balance of its attenuated funds, something over ^100, was afterwards handed to the General Committee and put to capital account. The fortunes of the Club now passed into smooth waters, and so con- tinued for a few years, and it becomes possible to turn from constitutional to domestic topics. The year 1895 ^^^ marked by a some- what serious fire on the top storey of the premises, which damaged the library, billiard-room and dormitories. The Library Committee, which had existed since the formation of the Club, was dissolved in June, 1896, and its duties transferred to the House Committee. It is since that date that a work in twenty- six volumes may now (with good-fortune) be found in twenty-six different bookcases. It is even possible that a rare and intercst- 73 Devonshire Club ing book on Crockford's, presented to the Club by Mr. W. M. Crook, and since mislaid, may some day be discovered and returned to the Secretary of the Club. At the end of 1896 Mr. Warner, who had been Secretary of the Club almost from the outset, retired. His services had been unremitting and were much appreciated by the Club. At the General Meeting following his retirement, he was granted what was in effect a retiring pension of ^C^oo per annum, though the form of the grant, presumably settled by a lawyer, was such as to avoid a con- tractual liability. Business men saw to it that it was honourably paid. In October, 1897, ^^^ entrance fee of fifteen guineas was again re-imposed, and at the same time, on the proposition of Mr. Austen Chamberlain, the Committee resolved that ** it is unable to elect any person as a member of the Club who is not a British subject." Quite shortly before, the Committee had elected 74 History of the Club, 1885-1917 Professor Pagenstacker, the eminent German oculist, an honorary member. They no doubt appreciated the subtlety of the distinction between ordinary and honorary members which saved the ap- parent inconsistency. The resolution against aliens was modified two years later in the interests of " American gentle- men." On the occasion of the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria, June 22nd, 1897, ^^^ Club made honorary members of all Colonial representatives attending the celebration, and received the thanks of twelve Colonial Premiers for this act of courtesy. The Club premises were reserved on "Jubilee Day" to members and their friends who wished to watch the procession (including the German Emperor) and were willing to pay five guineas apiece for their seats. The same course was followed on the days set apart for the Coronations of King Edward VII and his present Majesty. The election of honorary members was 75 Devonshire Club dealt with by the Committee in 1900. This privilege had been intended to be reserved for people of real distinction. In fact, it had been for years much abused, and a practice had grown up that at the mere request of a member of the Com- mittee of the Club the advantages of honorary membership should be conferred for one, two, or three months at a time to people of little distinction — or none. It was resolved that henceforth an honorary member should enjoy the gra- tuitous use of the Club for one week only, and that thereafter he should pay at the rate of two guineas a month ; his membership in no event to exceed six months and always to be terminable at the wish of the Committee. The Minutes record many less elections as honorary members from this date. In 1 90 1 the Club received a bequest of ^500 under the will of Sir Charles Pulley, Bart., an old member of the Club 76 History of the Club, 1885-1917 and of its Committee, and two years later a portrait in oils of Sir Charles Pulley was acquired and hung in the Club, over the fireplace in the smoking-room. The Coronation procession of King Edward VII took place on August 9th, 1902. The Club premises were appa- rently in need of decoration about this time, and a scheme involving the expen- diture of ^2800 was approved, towards which were to be devoted the profits of letting seats on Coronation Day. The figures are not available as to such profits, but the ^2800 and more, was spent. In January, 1903, appears a Minute illustrative of the difficulties with which the Committee had to contend, and of their diplomatic resourcefulness : — " The Committee had before them a letter from Mr. J. W. Philipps, M.P., asking what shade of political opinion was now con- sidered as being /ineligible for membership of the Club. The Secretary was directed n Devonshire Club to see Mr. Philipps personally when an opportunity offered." Lord St. Davids may possibly have been satisfied. The Minute books do not return to the matter. The Committee of this period would appear to have been possessed of a some- what pretty wit. For example : they received a letter from a member, Mr. A. B., stating that a friend of his had for the second time lost a hat in the Club and suggesting that the cost of the hat should be re-imbursed to his friend. The Secretary explained to the Committee that a low felt hat had been taken and a tall hat left in its place, which hat Mr. A. B.'s friend had taken and not yet returned, but that no trace could be found of the felt hat. The Committee directed reply to be made that they had no funds from which to re-imburse Mr. A. B.'s friend, although they deplored the loss of his hat or hats. They added that "the 78 History of the Club, 1885-1917 Committee in looking into the matter had before them the night-watchman's time book, and noticed that Mr. A. B. was frequently the last member to leave the Club and therefore directed the Secre- tary to request Mr. A. B. to be as econo- mical as possible in the use of the electric light." Hardly an example of turning the cheek to the smiter ! And again : A distinguished Major complained to the House Committee that there was not sufficient variation in the fish supplied daily and that " herrings and other in- ferior fish appeared too frequently on the bill of fare, but that bream and halibut would be welcome changes.'* The Secre- tary was instructed to arrange for a supply of bream and halibut accordingly, and to keep a record as to their acceptability. A month later the same gallant but still unappeased officer wrote to the Com- mittee requesting the dismissal of the steward, the chef, and the entire kitchen 79 Devonshire Club staff. Bream had turned out to be un- acceptable. In March, 1904, the Committee of the Club took out a policy for ^2000 to provide a sinking fund in respect of the covenants under the lease of No. 4, Ar- lington Street. In June, 1905, the Committee was called upon by requisition to summon a General Meeting to consider once more " the serious state of the membership of the Club," which then stood at 944. At the next meeting of the Committee a communication was read from the United University Club, who were contemplating the rebuilding of their house in Suffolk Street, requesting the Devonshire Club to provide hospitality for their members for a period of eighteen months. The Com- mittee arranged to receive 337 of such members on payment of a subscription at the rate of four guineas per annum, and thanks to this welcome addition to 80 History of the Club, 1885-1 91 7 revenue of nearly £is^^ another financial crisis was saved. In July, 1906, the Club received a legacy under the will of Mr. John Prince of jC^ooo which still further eased the situation. The members of the United University Club, at the expiration of their eighteen months' hospitality, presented two clocks, appropriately inscribed, to the Devonshire Club in recognition of their reception. In the year 1906 the Club was in negotiation with the Royal Assurance Company for a tenancy of the second and third floors of their new building then in course of construction at the corner of St. James's Street and Piccadilly. The Club offered a rental of £joo^ the Com- pany asked >Ci265 and the matter went off on figures. Presumably the Club re- quired these floors for additional bedroom accommodation. In the year 1908 the Club was very 81 Devonshire Club nearly in litigation with the same Assur- ance Company over alleged interference with light and air. The dispute was eventually settled by a payment from the Company to the Club of jT^oo. The Ritz Hotel Company had made a pay- ment of jC^So three years earlier for a similar alleged interference. Those who happen to be familiar with the state of the law at the time as to compensation for easements of this character will appreciate that the Devonshire Club was indeed fortunate to secure either of these payments. The year 1908 was marked by another internal effort to put the constitution of the Club upon a sound and logical basis. The political test, which in form still survived, had been for years intermittently the subject of criticism and suggestions both on the Committee and at General Meetings, but the matter had for one reason or another always been shelved. 82 History of the Club, 1885-1917 The first rule of the Club dealing with the " object and constitution of the Club '* had remained unaltered from its original form. It ran : " The Devonshire Club is a Political Club on a broad basis, in strict connexion with and designed to promote the objects of the Liberal party. Those persons only are eligible for admission who, entertaining Liberal principles, re- cognise individual freedom of political opinion, combined with unity in party action." It is obvious that this resonant declaration had long been inapplicable to the real facts. Mr. Lewis Edmunds, K.C., in particular, had more than once tried to obtain the abolition of the political test of membership, and the consequent revision of the terms of Rule I, and in February, 1908, he raised the question once more. An Extraordinary General Meeting was summoned for the i8th of February, when this and other suggestions were referred to a Special Committee author- G 2 83 Devonshire Club ised to consider and then to report. At this same General Meeting it was decided to withdraw the entrance fee. The Com- mittee made their report on March 22nd following, the substance of which was that they recommended the abolition of the political test, but reported against the other suggestions, viz. : [a) that the Arlington Street premises should be sold, {i) that these premises or some part of them should be converted into shop property and be sublet, (c) that ladies should be admitted as guests and an entrance provided for them in Arlington Street, (d) that country members should pay a reduced subscription. The Managing Committee adopted this report and a General Meeting took place on the 1 2th of May. There is no avail- able record of the proceedings at such General Meeting, and precisely what hap- pened to the recommendation to abolish the political test, which recommendation 84 History of the Club, 1885-1917 had been supported both by the Special and Managing Committees, is now a matter of obscurity. Apparently, the question must have been once again shelved to a more convenient season. The decision to withdraw the entrance fee was completely justified by results, and the Minute Book of February 17th, 1909, records a resolution that " the Managing Committee desires to congratulate the Club on its recent substantial accession of strength, no less than 380 members having been elected during the last eleven months.'' The same Minute records a special tribute to Captain Brodie, the Secretary of the Club, for his services in the introduction of new members. In May, 1908, the present Duke of Devonshire accepted the Presidency of the Club, so continuing an association of the title which has remained unbroken from the very beginning of the history of the Club. A complimentary dinner of 8s Devonshire Club welcome to the new President was held under the chairmanship of Lord James of Hereford on the 23rd February, 1909, in the Club house. At this dinner the portrait of the late Duke, which had been painted by Mr. Chevalier Taylor and by him presented to the Club, was unveiled by Lord James. The speech made by Lord James on the occasion has happily been preserved and it is here set out : — " We have met to do honour to the political life of the late Duke of Devonshire. In solving the suc- cess of such a life, let me ask you to consider what are the ends most men engaged in political strife seek to obtain. To become the Prime Min- ister of the country : to secure the leadership of your party : to exact the devotion of political followers : to attract, even to allure, men by the exercise of much eloquence : 86 Lord James of Hereford. {Painted by A, Chevallier Tayler, 1909.) History of the Club, 1885-1917 to be able to affect the imagination of the people so as to let enthusiasm assert itself over judgment — such are the political objects most men would seek to obtain. " Well, if such results be success, the Duke of Devonshire gained glory enough — twice the Prime Minister- ship was within his grasp, twice he could have become the leader of a great party. He had played the game fairly, the stakes were high and he had won them. They were on the table before him, but there he let them lie. He passed on and others enjoyed those high prizes. But, in return, one prize of far higher worth was given to him. He gained and held the confidence of the British people. Well, who were they who gave him their confidence ? Not only his own im- mediate followers, not only those 85r Devonshire Club who were of his party, not only politicians placed their trust in him. Men who were of no party, men who had no care for politics, even his opponents, strenuous opponents, gave him their full and complete confidence. It was given in greater measure than has been won by any man of our time, perhaps of all time in our political history. By what means, then, was it that this great end was gained ? The British pub- lic are slow, even severe, in judg- ment : confidence especially is of gradual growth. But a political life — fifty years long — came up for that judgment. The British public had seen a young man with all the tastes and opportunities to enjoy pleasure, with all the energy and power to indulge in sport and pas- time ; and the public had also seen all those tastes and tendencies not 88 History of the Club, 1885-1917 abandoned, but subjected to the higher claims of political duty. They had seen the growth of a clear and just judgment. They had seen a long life of duty well done, a career unsullied and unstained, full of honour and rectitude. They knew that no personal ambition ever influ- enced this man, no selfish motive ever prompted him. They knew that a sense of justice ever controlled him. Often have I heard him say when resolving on action in counsel : * Is this quite fair to the other side ? * And so it was that this highest of political prizes, the well- won confi- dence of one's fellow-men, was gained by him. " But all this now is ended, that well spent life is over, the stately column is broken. Yet all is not lost, a great example is bequeathed to us, and so a heavy debt is owing. 89 Devonshire Club and that debt will never be repaid until public men, realising the value of this great legacy, shall raise the standard of public life, shall render it truer and purer, free from petty ambitions and from hope of personal gain. And so when the repayment is made, when this great ideal is realised, men will recognise in full degree how great was the service the Duke of Devonshire rendered to his fellow countrymen." This is surely a model of felicitous tribute by one distinguished statesman and friend to the memory of another. It is of added interest when one reflects that so much of it would have been equally appropriate if it could have been spoken by the Duke of Lord James. The Club owes an equal debt to the memory of both. Each of them had helped to found it, and to the wise prudence and loyalty of 90 History of the Club, 1885-1917 both it is due that the Club survived in days when it was on the very brink of dissolution. The Committee next met after this dinner on March 30th, and the following extract from the Minutes of that meeting speaks for itself : — "The Committee being aware that there was a strong feeling in the Club (the matter having been men- tioned on the occasion of the dinner to the Duke of Devonshire on the 23rd February) that a portrait of Lord James of Hereford should be painted and hung in one of the principal rooms of the Club, directed the Secretary to see Lord James, to inform him of the proposition and to ask his consent : also to suggest that the commission should be carried out by Mr. A. Chevalier Taylor.'' The strik- ingly successful portrait of Lord James which now hangs in the Club smoking- room was the result. At this period of the Club's history 9i Devonshire Club there appears a unique incident : a letter signed by Mr. Lockett Agnew and "many members '' protesting against the crowded condition of the Club premises and urging the Committee to elect no more candi- dates. At the succeeding Committee Meeting 23 further members were elected, but the Committee resolved that when the membership (exclusive of supernumerary members) should reach the figure of 1 100 they would elect no more. The " ordin- ary " membership of the Club then stood at the figure of 1080. In prospect of the festivities in connec- tion with the Coronation of King George, the Club, in May of 191 1, elected as honorary members up to July 31st all the Colonial and Imperial Delegates who were the guests of the nation. Upon Corona- tion Day the Club was reserved to mem- bers and guests who were willing to pay five guineas apiece and to risk a ballot for the seats which the Club was able to pro- 92 History of the Club, 1885-1917 vide for the purpose of watching the Royal procession. In July, 1 91 1, the Committee contem- plated an ambitious scheme of alterations and improvements in the Club involving a suggested expenditure of no less than jTaOjOOO. Plans were got out, the first mortgagees were approached with an in- vitation to add a further ^10,000 to the existing mortgage, and members were invited to subscribe the balance by taking up ^10 debentures. Neither the mort- gagees nor the members were sufficiently responsive, so the scheme was limited and reduced to one of £s^^^^ ^ ^^"^ which was expected to be sufficient to provide for improved lavatory accommodation in the basement, a new passenger lift, certain modifications as to the billiard rooms, and other minor alterations. The modified scheme was submitted to a General Meeting in March, 191 2, and thereafter members of the Club were 93 Devonshire Club invited to apply for debentures. Again the financial response was disappointing and the Committee dropped the entire scheme, leaving it to the ingenuity of the House Committee to make further suggestions. The House Committee met the diffi- culty by reviving the whole scheme which the Managing Committee had just dropped, save that 5 per cent, bonds were to be offered in place of debentures. The architect's estimate given in November, 191 3, was ^4728, and the response was better than in the previous year, where- upon the Managing Committee with some courage adopted a larger scheme of ^8000, of which ;^5ooo was to be allocated to improvements and ^Cs^^^ " ^^ ^^^ general purposes of the Club." By the succeed- ing May £,J^oo had been raised, and the Club was closed for six weeks in August and September, 19 14, whilst most of the money was being spent. At some time 94 History of the Club, 1885-1917 in the progress of this scheme (the story of which runs the risk of becoming weari- some), debentures were again substituted for bonds and sixty-five 5 per cent, de- bentures of >C^oo ^^^^ were ultimately issued. The Club house was shut a day or two only before the declaration of war by Great Britain upon Germany and handed over to the builders and decorators. It is beyond question that could the members have foreseen the contingency of war, they would not have entered upon a policy involving the Club in so serious an ex- penditure as ^5000-^6000. The first reference to the war in the Minutes is in connection with the retire- ment from the secretaryship of Captain E. W. Brodie, who early in 19 14 had signified to the Committee that he desired for personal reasons to close a long, honourable and valued connection with the Club. The Committee had permitted 95 Devonshire Club Mr. Malcolm Brodie, a son of the Secre- tary, to assist his father in the secretarial duties with a view to his possible ap- pointment as Secretary to the Club. When war came, Mr. Malcolm Brodie, with the full concurrence of the Com- mittee, left the Club to take a commission in the Army, and Captain Brodie pro- ceeded to " carry on " so long as he remained physically fit to do so. A con- siderable number of the Club servants volunteered within the first few weeks of the war, and the Committee by a Special Resolution decided to continue their shares in the Christmas gratuities for the year 19 14, and to supplement their Army pay. The Devonshire Club, with only a small proportion of members of military age, contributed a memorable and honoured proportion of its younger members to the services of the country. The permanent record of the names of such members and of the staff is 96 History of the Club, 1885 -191 7 necessarily left over to the happy days of Peace. The matter of political creed as a test of membership was brought up again at a General Meeting on March ist, 191 5, and with some relief it is now possible to mention this matter for the last time. It was then moved by Lord Haversham and seconded by Lord Blyth, two noblemen whose loyalty to Liberal principles was undeniable, that in the best interests of the Club the political test should be abolished. The proposition was carried with but one dissentient. Rule I was modified into its present form, and so the Club at last put an end to an absurdity of long standing. In 191 5 the financial position of the Club had once more become serious, and in April a Committee was elected to arrange for a " whip " in connection with " the pressing needs of the Club." The difficulties were accounted for by war H 97 Devonshire Club conditions almost exclusively. There was a large number of members on military service, whose subscriptions were either not collected, or, if collected, were on a nominal basis of two guineas only. Prices of all commodities had increased; the Club was paying allowances to old servants as well as wages to their substitutes. But, apart from such special conditions, the fact was, and is, that the subscription of ten guineas per member no longer meets, as it once did, the necessary expenditure repre- sented by rent, mortgage, interest, rates, salaries, wages, insurance, lighting, fuel and establishment expenses. Unless and until this plain fact is recognised and the subscription increased, it will be necessary from time to time to make special appeals for donations, unless the Club can succeed in making such a profit on its meals, wines, cigars, cards and billiards as will make up the difference between its total expenditure and the revenue derived from 98 History of the Club, 1885-1917 subscriptions, a hopeless proposition in the conditions of to-day. In April, 191 5, the Committee was warned that by the end of the year they would be faced with a substantial deficiency. At the end of the year there was a nominal membership of 1125, but these included 51 whose resignation was impending and 18 who had died during the year. A fund in aid was started in 191 5 and promises to a substantial amount had been secured when in March, 1916, the auditor's report on the position and prospects of the Club was of so serious a nature that it was decided to call the members together at once in General Meeting. This period was probably the most critical of all in the history of the Club. Owing to the large number of members who had enlisted, and to the paucity of new members, when the accounts came H 2 99 Devonshire Club to be investigated by experienced auditors, it appeared that unless there was a com- plete change of circumstances, of which at the time, by reason of the war, there seemed very little prospect, the Club, like several others in the West End at this juncture, was faced not only with the gravest financial difficulty, but even with actual insolvency. It was at the same time pointed out that if the Club decided to close within a period of some three months, there would be sufficient funds to discharge all indebtedness, and to wind up the concern as honourable men, completely free from debt. Moreover, there was considerable doubt upon whom responsibility would fall for any deficiency that might ensue, whether on Trustees, Committee, or others, and the desire to avoid such a contingency in regard to any of them was but natural. At one of the anxious meetings during this period it was all but decided that the IOC History of the Club,: .1813,5-1917 . best way to escape from' the ignominy :PJfi .% a serious deficit would bie to take the biill" by the horns and at once close the establishment. After several deliberations, wiser and more courageous counsels happily prevailed, and there was found to be sufficient optimism among members, and so much encouragement from those who were approached, that it was agreed to make an effort to restore the Club's fortunes and carry on. Sir William Plender had advised that unless a sum of ^8000 could be raised it would be imprudent and practically impossible to continue. It was therefore felt and acknowledged by everyone, in spite of the decline in numbers and the increased cost of commodities and labour, that if only this amount, or better still a sum of j(^ 1 0,000, could be raised, it would enable the Club to be carried on for another three years, assuming the war should last so long. lOI Pevonshire Club .-.pThis.. being agreed to, a small Finance Cbminittee was appointed consisting of Lord Blyth (chairman), Sir David Bryn- mor Jones, Mr. Howard Rumney, Mr. Frank Hardcastle, and Mr. Lewis Ed- munds. From that moment there was no more pessimism in the Club, everyone helped to obtain the sum required, and members not only contributed handsomely themselves, but acted as agents to further the project among the members who only occasionally or rarely visited the Club. It was, indeed, rather remarkable that while at one time the Managing Com- mittee were hesitating between closure and carrying on, when the latter course was definitely decided upon there was not, as is so frequently the case, a divided household. Everyone gladly accepted the decision to make a supreme effort, and not only the Finance and the Executive Committees, but many members as well, put heart and soul into the work, and 102 History of the Club, 1885-1917 co-operated in a most encouraging way to bring the effort to success. The members of the Special Com- mittee proved indefatigable. The late Mr. Frank Hardcastle, who had been a widely popular member over forty years, during the greater part of which he had lived at the Club, and had come to be looked upon as the " Father of the House," took an active and zealous interest in the scheme. The campaign was very happily opened by Sir David Brynmor Jones and Lord Blyth, who made their first call on Lord Cowdray and promptly enlisted his co- operation, he being one of the Trustees of the Club along with Lord Lansdowne, Lord Rosebery, and Lord Faringdon. Lord Cowdray would hardly listen to any suggestion of the Club closing its doors. He said winding-up was not to be thought of when all should be doing their best to maintain during 103 Devonshire Club the war an institution so historic and useful. It would reflect on every one of them, and particularly on its older members. Any sacrifice must be made rather than such a contingency. He was prepared to give £s^^-> ^^ double that amount, if others would do the same ; and ultimately promised £s^^ without any conditions. This gave great encouragement to the Committee to continue their labours, and means were forthwith adopted to obtain the j^ 1 0,000 required to ensure the con- tinuance of the Club. The second mortgagees (the executors of the late Mr. Laycock), being naturally most anxious to maintain the Club pre- mises in continuous occupation, met the Directors very handsomely, and made a reduction in the rate of interest for three years, equal to an abatement of nearly Apart from this munificent help, over 104 History of the Club, 1885-19 17 j^i 1,000 were subscribed, making ^14,000 in all, and the Club may be stated to have been put fairly on its legs again. A man's club may not be his home, but to a member of old standing it has become something very akin to it. Friendships formed in one set of surroundings are never precisely the same if the friends are exiled to another and unfamiliar one. There was many a member of the Devon- shire Club who made no open speech upon the matter, but who quietly resolved on a large measure of sacrifice, should that be necessary, rather than that the old house with its old associations and its existing friendships should be shut down. Whilst this effort was in progress. Captain Brodie's medical advisers insisted upon his retirement, and he was thus not permitted to see the scheme through. In June, 1 91 6, Major Fairbanks Smith was appointed as Secretary to the Club, and lOS Devonshire Club Captain Brodie was elected an honorary member for life. The new Secretary came to his post at the hour of supreme crisis in the Club's history. He brought enthusiasm and enterprise to the task. A number of re- forms in management, of considerable importance but unnecessary to be men- tioned, were introduced, the membership rapidly rose, and the position was saved. To-day, the membership of the Club is at high-water mark in its history, the original entrance fee of thirty guineas has been re-imposed, and Club finance, if still anxious in times of peculiar difficulties, is at least sound. Mere justice attributes such a position largely to the ability and energy of the new Secretary. One matter cannot be overlooked. The Devonshire, like all clubs, was bereft of the majority of its men-servants when war broke out and perforce had to engage female servants. These have trod the floors of "Crock- io6 History of the Club, 1885-1917 ford's " with complete success, they have been, almost without exception, quiet, attentive and obliging, and have in the Devonshire Club, as in so many wider spheres outside, " made good " for their sex. The Club was, moreover, fortunate indeed in securing the services of Mrs. Walker to inspire and lead the women's movement within the Club, and is under great obligation to her kindly tact and wise influence both in times of changing management and ever since. A list of the first Committee when the Club was established in 1 874 has already been given. The members of the last Committee are as follows : — Managing Committee, 1915-1918. Chairman: The Rt. Hon. Sir David Brynmor Jones, K.C. Barlow, George Edmund J. Hilaro, Esq. Blyth, The Right Hon. Lord. 107 Devonshire Club Boyce, Godfrey H., Esq. Coles, John, Esq. DuRning, Sir Edwin Harris. Evans, Sir E. Vincent. Hatry, Clarence C, Esq. Hensley, Egerton H., Esq. Hill, John, Esq. Isitt, Frank Seymour N., Esq. Kerr, Frederick, Esq. McArthur, William A., Esq. Moreau, Emile, Esq. Raven, Sir Vincent. Rose, Thomas L. M., Esq. Rumney, Howard, Esq. Savory, Arthur Ledsam, Esq. Sievwright, George McBain, Esq. Tilt, Robert R., Esq. Waddy, Henry Turner, Esq. At an Extraordinary Meeting of the Club held in April, 1917, the following unique resolution in the Club's history was unanimously passed on the motion of Mr. John Hill: — "That the members 108 History of the Club, 1885-1917 present at this Extraordinary General Meeting desire to express their complete confidence to the Committee, to tender to the Committee their best thanks for the way they have managed the affairs of the Club and to congratulate them on the results." In such an atmosphere of unprecedented benediction the historian is well advised to lay aside his pen. There remain one or two matters of domestic interest only ; matters of wider Club interest subsequent to this date will be in the recollection of practically all the members and require no record. \ The recreations of members within the Club would seem to have been diverse and surprising. There is a record already mentioned, thirty years old, of " round games " and the regulations thought to be appropriate. Whist was, of course, the subject of many resolutions, and one exists which was directed to be published in the 109 Devonshire Club card-room, requesting members not to discuss one another's play in terms suffi- ciently loud so as to disturb players at other tables in the card-room. In modern days, when whist has been supplanted by " Bridge," no such resolution is of course necessary. Even dominoes had their day, and a day so keen that members were frequently fined for playing after, and sometimes long after, 2 a.m. Truly, the British take their pleasures sadly ! A stern resolution of December, 1902, forbade " poker," even in the haunts of Crockford's. Billiards appear to have been always popular, and a narrative of the various changes of the billiard-rooms from one quarter of the Club premises to another would be tedious. It is sufficient to say that in present times, besides the billiard- room on the top floor, there are now two excellent rooms and tables on the ground floor, and that one of such tables with its lio History of the Club, 1885-1917 accessories was the generous gift of Mr. Clarence Hatry. The etiquette of smoking, which will later be found to have been a chief factor in the dissolution of Crockford's, has given rise to trouble, more than once, in the history of the Devonshire Club. One such crisis is so recent in date that it had better be passed with the discretion of silence. Apparently, so long ago as 1881 there were Philistines who claimed to defy the proprieties of St. James's and to smoke their pipes in the ground floor smoking-room at all hours of the day and within view of the public passing along St. James's Street. This practice was pro- hibited by the Committee in February, 1 88 1, and the smoking of pipes forbidden before 8 p.m. Twenty years elapsed before this prohibition was relaxed, and it is to-day apparently permissible, so far as the letter of the Club regulations is con- cerned, for any member who may be so III Devonshire Club disposed to stand at the windows of the ground floor smoking-rooms and consume his tobacco at any hour and in any form he may prefer — unless and until the Com- mittee otherwise decide. There remains one other matter only to be mentioned. The bedroom accommodation at the Club for members, until the year 1 91 7, had been limited to ten rooms in No. 4, Arlington Street and two in No. 8, Bennett Street, and even of these it was found necessary to reserve one or more for the use of the staff. As there has always been a considerable number of country members, it is obvious that the Club bed- room accommodation was very inadequate. In the year 1917a scheme was devised, for which, again, the credit largely belongs to the present Secretary, to acquire additional bedroom accommodation at Nos. 6 and 7, Arlington Street and at No. 7, Bennett Street. In the third year of the war, the Club 112 History of the Club, 1885— 19 17 at large was in no mood for any new financial scheme, however great its bene- fits might appear to be, yet the chance offered to acquire the leases of these pre- mises upon favourable terms, and thus to enable the Club to treble its members' bedroom accommodation. A private company, whose shareholders were limited to fifty, and confined to members of the Devonshire Club, was incorporated in March, 19 17, under the name of "The Devonshire Club (Annexe) Limited." The capital of the company is ^8100 in £1 shares, of which 8000 are 10 per cent, preference shares, and the remainder are deferred ordinary shares. After payment of dividend upon the preference shares, any further profits are divisible amongst the holders of the deferred shares. By the constitution of the company there is an option up to March, 1927, to the Club to take over the preference shares at the price of 21s. per share. 13 Devonshire Club The company in due course acquired the leases of Nos. 6 and 7, Arlington Street and of No. 7, Bennett Street, which latter abuts on the Club's freehold house, No. 8, Bennett Street. The leases had some 34 years to run and the company secured an option, which they have since exercised, to acquire the freehold of the entire premises at a price of ^(^ 17,000. By agreement between the Club and the company, openings are to be made be- tween the Club building and No. 6, Bennett Street, which will enable members sleep- ing in the Annexe to pass between the Club premises and their bedrooms without having to go out into the street. One such temporary opening has already been made. The company caused the premises to be decorated and furnished ; in July, 19 17, they were opened, and so twenty-five new bedrooms were rendered available for the use of members. It is of rare occurrence 114 History of the Club, 1885-1917 that the whole of such rooms are not being occupied ; the scheme has been a complete success in every way, and even the shareholders will not have to regret the support they gave to the scheme, in the interests of the Club. 12 115 IV crockford's William Crockford, the founder and proprietor of the celebrated establishment which came to bear his name, was born in the year 1775. His early days were spent at his father's fish shop in St. Clement Dane's, a site now covered by a part of the Law Courts in the Strand. The curious may find a woodcut of the shop (itself a place of some notoriety) in Vol. Ill of "Old and New London," facing page 18 of the text. What time could be spared from the shop young Crockford would appear to have spent in the humbler class of gaming establish- ments which abounded in the neighbour- hood of Fleet Street at the beginning of 116 ^^ oA/^O^r-O Crockford's the nineteenth century and there to have acquired the habit of gambUng which, in one form or another, became his life passion. In Crockford's earlier years, whist, piquet and cribbage were the favourite games of chance ; and French hazard, which later displaced them all in popu- larity, was only beginning to win its way to favour. Before Crockford started opera- tions as a gaming-house proprietor, he had become a successful bookmaker, then a race-horse owner, and even a member of Tattersall's. When he died at his house in Carlton House Terrace, as he becom- ingly did on an " Oaks day," the running of a mare of his in that classic event raised a flutter in betting circles as to the settlement of outstanding bets, and led to the story, of which there seems no cred- ible confirmation, that his corpse was propped up in a chair, in view of the public, in order to create the impression 117 Devonshire Club that he was living at the hour when the race was run. The date when Crockford first migrated to the West End of London cannot be precisely fixed, but about the year 1824 he was engaged as joint proprietor with Josiah Taylor in Watier's old club-house, Bolton Street. The two men carried on this place as a West End gaming-house with great success, and it was no doubt as a result of this that Crockford was led to venture upon a still more ambitious scheme, and one out of which he could secure, not half, but the whole of the profits. Crockford and Taylor quarrelled after one year's association. Crockford left his ex-partner in sole possession of Watier*s and its goodwill, and himself migrated to St. James's Street. It is possible that the first two or three years of Crockford's new venture were spent in other premises in St. James's Street than those which the 118 Crockford's Devonshire Club now occupies. At the corner of King Street and St. James's Street, according to " Old and New- London," Vol. IV, William Crockford in the year 1832 built the St. James's Bazaar, a large saloon or emporium which seems to have developed into a showhouse for some sort of panorama, and it may well be that before V^yatt built for Crock- ford in 1827 his famous gaming-house at No. 50, St. James's Street, the premises upon the site lower down and on the other side of the street, upon which the St. James's Bazaar was afterwards erected, were used as a temporary gaming-house possibly conducted by William Crockford and his brother whilst the eventual club- house was in process of being designed and built. The building of the notorious gaming establishment was begun in 1827 and the club-house opened for the recep- tion of members the following year. In "Bentley's Miscellany" it is recorded that : 119 Devonshire Club " During the progress of this superb building, St. James's Street presented a most confused and extra- ordinary appearance. Nearly the whole of the upper end of the street from Bennett Street to Piccadilly was in a state of excavation for the arrangement of laying down pipes, forming and perfecting drains, etc., but principally for the object of making a most capacious ice-house. Great was the alarm that such ex- tensive underground operations would endanger the foundations of the ad- joining and neighbouring houses, and this alarm, as things turned out, was not without cause ; for, while the work of excavation was proceeding, one entire side of the Guards' Club- house (situate at the northern ad- joining end of Mr. Crockford's premises) fell in with a fearful crash, leaving the complete interior of the 1 20 Crockford's house, with the beds and furniture of the different apartments, in rather a ludicrous state of exposure and in a most perilous position." Upon this incident Tom Moore is said to have written the following : — " See passenger, at Crockford*s high behest, Red coats by black legs ousted from their nest, The arts of Peace o*er-matching reckless War, And gallant Rouge outdone by wily Noir^ The same magazine is responsible for the following somewhat grandiloquent description of the new premises : — " On entering from the street, a magnificent vestibule and staircase break upon the view ; to the right and left of the hall are reading- and dining-rooms. The staircase is of a sinuous form sustained in its landing by four columns of the Doric order, above which are a series of examples of the Ionic order, forming a quad- 121 Devonshire Club rangle with apertures to the chief apartments. Above the pillars is a covered ceiling perforated with luminous panels of stained glass, from which springs a dome of surpassing beauty ; from the dome depends a lantern containing a magnificent chandelier. The State drawing-room next attracts attention — a most noble apartment, baffling perfect description of its beauty but decorated in the most florid style of Louis Quatorze. The room pre- sents a series of panels containing subjects, in the style of Watteau, from the pencil of Mr. Martin, a relative of the celebrated historical painter of that name ; these panels are alternated with splendid mirrors. A chandelier of exquisite workman- ship hangs from the centre of the ceiling, and three large tables beauti- fully carved and gilded, and covered 122 Crockford's with rich blue and crimson velvet, are placed in different parts of the room. The upholstery and decorative adjuncts are imitative of the gorgeous taste of George the Fourth. Royalty can scarcely be conceived to vie with the style and consummate splendour of this magnificent chamber. " The lofty and capacious dining- room, supported by marble pillars and furnished in the most substantial and aristocratic style of comfort, is equal to any arrangement of the kind in the most lordly mansions. The drawing-room is allowed to be one of the most elegant apartments in the kingdom. The Sanctum Sanctorum, or play-room, is comparatively small but handsomely furnished. In the centre of the apartment stands the all-attractive hazard table, innocent and unpretending enough in its form and appearance but fatally mis- 123 Devonshire Club chievous and destructive in its con- junctive influence with box and dice. On this table, it may with truth be asserted that the greater portion, if not the whole, of Crockford's im- mense wealth was achieved. . . . This bench of business is large and of oval shape, well stuffed and covered with fine frieze cloth marked with yellow lines denoting the dif- ferent departments of speculation. Round these compartments are double lines, similarly marked for the odds or proportions between what is technically known as the main and chance. In the centre on each side are indented positions for the croupiers or person engaged at the table in calling the main and the chance, regulating the stakes and paying and receiving money as the events decisive of gain and loss occur ... at another part of 124 Crockford's the room is fixed a writing table or desk where the Pluto of the place was wont to preside, to mete out loans on draft or other security and to answer all demands by successful players. Chairs of easy make, dice boxes, bowls for holding counters representing sums .from ^i to ^C^oo with small hand-rakes used by players to draw their counters from any inconvenient distance on the table, may be said to complete the furniture machinery and implements of this great workshop." From this description, the dining- and reading-rooms of Crockford's days are readily identified as the two rooms on the ground floor facing into St. James's Street, to the right and left of the entrance hall and now used as smoke-rooms. The former drawing-room corresponds, either wholly or in part, with the present CofFee-room. It is suggested that the 125 Devonshire Club drawing-room was possibly partitioned with folding doors where the two arch- ways now exist, and the third of these compartments on the Pall Mall side of the building may have been the " sanctum sanctorum, comparatively small but hand- somely furnished." If so, it remains a matter of interesting conjecture as to the use to which the management of Crock- ford's put their " State drawing-room." It is possible that the whole of the present dining-room was used for gaming, with the exception of a small portion reserved for cards, the highest stakes being played at one table only on the Pall Mall side of the room. If Lord Granville's recol- lection of the room (mentioned elsewhere by Lord Blyth) is correct, this surmise would appear to be well-founded. The writer in " Bentley's Miscellany," who was almost certainly a member of Crockford's, omits either by accident or design any reference to one spot of pecu- 126 Crockford's liar interest, unless indeed the reference to a " most capacious ice-house " was to use the current language of to-day mere " camouflage.'' In the basement there was a small circular cockpit, and this still sur- vives. Tradition has it that from this cockpit a bolt-hole existed with an exit into an adjacent and convenient spot in the direction of Piccadilly. At some unknown date, but before the premises became the property of the Devonshire Club, possibly when they were being adapted for use as an eating-house, some Vandal bricked up a part of the cockpit and converted it into a coal-cellar, to which practical but unromantic use it is still put. It is to be hoped that in happier days to come, the Club will approve of the restoration of the cockpit, and the pulling down of the brickwork men- tioned. It may then be that the exist- ence of the bolt-hole will be established and tradition be justified. 127 Devonshire Club The architect of Crockford's was Benjamin Dean Wyatt, who has left his mark in at least two other celebrated London works, viz., Drury Lane Theatre and the Duke of York's Column. Benjamin Wyatt was the son of an even more dis- tinguished architect, James Wyatt, R.A., and it was to a third generation of the same family that the Devonshire Club fittingly turned for advice in the alteration and adaptation of the premises in 1874. Crockford's was opened, as has been said, in time for the Season of 1828, and in a style of great and costly splendour. No expense was spared ; the decorations alone cost Crockford ^14,000 and the cost of the building must have been enormous. Some indication of the mag- nitude of the undertaking is afforded by an extract from " The Mirror of Litera- ture, Amusement and Instruction " of November 5th, 1836: "That the wines are of the choicest sort, and that there is 128 H a ^ ? C/) oo < ^ Q ^ o ^ fa 5 Si U Crockford's enough to suit every diversity of taste, will be inferred from the fact that the cellar out of which the house is supplied, and which is kept by Crockford's son, contains a stock valued at ^70,000. It begins under Willis's Rooms, St. James's Street, and extends as far back as Braham's new theatre. It measures 285 ft. in length. When I was in it Mr. Crockford, junr., mentioned to me that the number of bottles of wine which I saw shelved, independent of innumer- able pipes, was 300,000. Poor Sheridan would have been in ecstasies with the sight, especially as they were all full." In the management of the Club, Crockford was astute enough to keep one controlling hand — his own. He was assisted by two subordinates, one of whom at least, named Dye, himself accumulated a considerable fortune. To give the in- stitution its necessary sanction and tone, Crockford established a committee of 129 Devonshire Club noblemen and gentlemen, some of whom were confidently spoken of as possessing an interest in one department, in plain terms as holding a partnership in the bank ; but this may have been, and (judging from the names) it probably was, the merest scandal. On the opening of the Club the most wealthy of the land enrolled themselves as members, and every stripling of fashion fed on the hope of becoming sooner or later one of the elect. The number of members completing the Club was from I GOO- 1 200, exclusive of those who visited under the privilege of ejitree permitted to Ambassadors and foreigners of distinc- tion during their diplomatic sojourn or temporary visit to this country. The annual subscription was ^25, which gave to the member every kind of first-rate and luxurious accommodation and attend- ance. Amongst other advantages it secured the convenience and option of 130 Crockford's dining at a low price from the bill of fare of the unrivalled artist, Ude, whose services were paid for at a salary of no less a sum than £1200 per annum. In addition to the game of hazard, which formed the chief attraction of the Club, cards were also played, and it is on record that one titled gambler. Lord Rivers, known by the soubriquet of " Le WelHngton des joueurs," lost on one occasion >r34oo at whist by forgetting that the seven of hearts was still in. The same nobleman lost at Crockford*s ^23,000 in a single sitting, beginning at twelve at night and ending at seven the following evening. By the terms of Crockford's agreement with his committee as to play, he was bound to put up a bank or capital of ^5000 nightly " during the sitting of Parliament.'* Of the members of Parlia- ment concerned it was said that at Crock- ford's as in the Senate : K2 131 Devonshire Club "Large money bills and loans they tried to raise ; J King Crockford took their meanSy and praised their ways^ Some notion may be formed of the extent of the play from the fact that the expenditure on dice alone (at about a guinea per pair) amounted to >(^20oo per annum ; three new pairs being provided for the opening play each night, and very frequently as many more called for by the players or put down by Crockford himself with a view to change the luck. During the first two seasons the business of the hazard-table was enormous ; over ^300,000 is said to have changed hands in that period. By the arrangements with his committee, Crockford was not permitted, in the event of non-success of the bank, to terminate the play until a stated hour, so long as any portion of the nightly capital of ^^5000 remained. On the other hand, though not compelled 132 Crockford's to put down any further sum, he was frequently accustomed to try the result of a second and even a third bank. The following description of the gaming and stakes is taken from " Bentley's Miscel- lany," Vol. XVII :— " The player could stake a sum as large as jT^oo on a main, and could subsequently bet the odds, in pro- portion to such sum, between the main called and the chance to be thrown in opposition to such main. This extent of stake would in reality admit >^iooo to depend upon one event, that is to say such amount would be the difference between winning and losing the event as thus exemplified. Suppose the castor to put down jC^oo iri the first instance, he then calls the main of seven^ and throws the number of chance of four^ the odds or pro- babilities then become two to one 133 Devonshire Club (or jC4oo ^^ iC^oo in proportion to the >C20^ originally staked) against his throwing the number four (the winning chance) in opposition to the number seven (the main called), he thus risks in fair proportion >C400 against ^^600, the difference there- fore between winning the >C6oo and losing the >C40o being ^Tiogo. It must be recollected that at the game of hazard there are generally two distinct and opposing interests oper- ating at the table amongst the players ; some are betting on the hand of the castor, or person throwing the dice : others are risking their money against such hand ; and these respective and opposite fancies frequently cause an equalization of stake for or against, which is the great desideratum of the banker, for in such case he derives the full calculated percentage of the game. 134 Crockford*s which is taken at about twenty-five shillings in every hundred pounds." This description is said, by the author of the article quoted, to deal with " technical points of the game well known to its amateurs and professors." It is reproduced here with a prayer for illumin- ation to the uninitiated. The same article thus refers to Crockford personally in reference to his management of the Club: " Crockford was a walking Domes- day Book, in which were registered the day and hour of birth of each rising expectant of fortune : he would tell with the nicest exactitude the rent rolls of property in per- spective, to what extent such rent rolls had been anticipated by ap- parent heirs, and what further en- cumbrances they would reasonably and securely bear, and his favourable report to the Committee seldom 135 Devonshire Club failed to secure the election of so qualified an applicant for admission. By continued success and constant drafts on the nightly decreasing resources of the infatuated, Mr. Crockford had now become a large capitalist and in all reasonable calcu- lation above the reach of a danger from any sudden reverse. Not only had he levied execution on the ready funds of his community, but he held under lock and key dishonoured drafts, bills, I.O.U.'s with the more solid securities of mortgages, as- signments, deposits, etc. Doubtful debts were available as sets-ofF against any future successes by the parties indebted, and who, during the con- tinuation of their unsettled accounts, were reduced to the necessity of finding ready cash for all further indulgence in play." The word " sandwich " in its popular 136 Crockford's sense is said to have originated from a gaming incident at White's. Ac- cording to rumour, and the truth of the story is certainly not guaranteed, the then Earl of Sandwich became on one occasion so engrossed with play that he let one time and another pass by for meals. His friends pressed him to take necessary refreshment. The player at last sum- moned a waiter and said " Get me a slice of cold beef between two pieces of bread and bring it to me here," and so — a "sandwich." In the year 1840, then being sixty-five years of age and having in twelve years amassed an immense fortune, it can be understood that Crockford began to feel the strain of long hours, crowded rooms, and the unremitting attention which night by night was requisite for the busi- ness of the hazard-table. The millionaire, as he had now become, chafed against the necessities of the nightly bank of ^5000 137 Devonshire Club and the rigours of the high play in vogue, and either to rid himself entirely of busi- ness cares, or what is more likely, with the intention of so modifying the scale of liability agreed upon with his Committee that he could afford to leave the manage- ment in the hands of a subordinate. Crock- ford in the year 1840 signified his desire to retire from the proprietorship of the Club and to realise upon the premises and its contents. This decision is said to have caused a sensation ; the acting Com- mittee sought in vain to alter Crockford's decision or to find some other capitalist willing to undertake responsibilities so anxious, and obligations so enormous. The upshot was that Crockford ostensibly withdrew from all play speculations, and professed to have disposed of his pro- prietorship of the Club. Henceforth, the nightly capital was reduced to ^^2000 and the stakes limited to £2^. Operations were in form conducted by two former 138 Crockford's employes of Crockford's. It may be doubted whether they did not in fact still act as Crockford's servants and the profits of the establishment, though on a reduced scale, still find their way into the pockets of Crockford, whose own account of the matter, to the contrary, may be found in the Appendix and judged on its merits by each reader for himself. Whether Crockford up to the time of his death — 25th May, 1844 — ever parted with his monetary interest in the Club (with all respect to the statement made by Crockford that he did), seems also un- certain, but the withdrawal of his per- sonality must have had an appreciable effect on the conduct and good manage- ment of the gaming-house. Until the year 1844 ^^e present writer has been unable to find a single word of criticism either upon the honesty or bona Jides of the play, or upon the management of the Club, but it is clear that things were no 139 Devonshire Club longer working smoothly at the time when Crockford lay a-dying, for the following resignation, dated just a week before his death, is significant that things had got out of hand. The original letter has been presented to the Devonshire Club by one of its members, Mr. Ernest S. Makower, and will form a welcome addition to the Club's collection of Crock- ford mementoes : — " Committee Room, '"^May iSthy 1844. " In consequence of several members per- sisting to use the Club without paying their subscriptions, as well as smoking at the door in defiance of the resolutions of the Committee, the Committee feel it to be their duty to place the management of the Club in other hands and respectfully to request this meeting to appoint their successors without delay. "Lord Beaumont (C/fd5irw^«). Sir Arthur Clifton. Lord Adolphus FitzClarence. Duke of Beaufort, K.G. Geo. Wombwell, Esq. 140 Crockford's Col. McDowall. Viscount Ranelagh. Earl of Belfast. T. Duncombe, Esq., M.P. Lord Wm. Lennox. Sir Bellingham Graham. Col. Knox. Earl of Malmesbury. Hon. Horace Pitt. Viscount de Tlsle." The inconvenience of members not paying their subscriptions is obvious, but the precise gravity of the offence of smoking at the door is not so clear. The ghosts of 1 844 may wgU be daily grieved as they observe the continuance of the offence, seventy years after the above dignified protest. That Crockford's should have escaped prosecution as a common gaming-house is a tribute to the influence and high social position of its frequenters. The law of the day was precise enough that a com- mon gaming-house constituted a public nuisance ; but it was necessary before the 141 Devonshire Club police could set the law in motion that they should be armed with sworn informa- tion of two householders resident in the parish. In the whole of the history of Crockford's, the police could not or would not, in any event they did not, obtain such information, and though Crockford's more humble imitators, dotted around the neighbourhood of St. James's, viz. in Albe- marle Street, Piccadilly, Jermyn Street and St. James's Street itself, were all in turn raided, Crockford's remained majestic and immune. In the year 1844, a rnonth or two before the death of William Crockford, a Select Committee of the Commons (of which Lord Palmerston was a member) sat to inquire into the existing statutes against gaming of every kind, to ascertain to what extent these statutes were evaded, and to consider whether any and what amendments should be made in such statutes. 142 Crockford's It was represented to the Select Com- mittee that householders were found to be unwilling to incur the odium of inform- ing against houses, particularly against those whose members were of high social position. Before such Committee, Crockford was summoned as a witness. At the time he was defendant, at the suit of common in- formers, in qui tarn actions with claims to the extent of ^800,000 for penalties in respect of alleged offences against the existing laws as to gaming. The sub- stance of Crockford's evidence before the Committee so far as it dealt with his own club is printed hereafter in an Appendix. Crockford passed almost literally from the witness chair to his death-bed, and his evasions had at least this mitigation, that in part they were made out of motives of loyalty to his old clients ; but it is difficult to judge with charity the views he ex- pressed as to the propriety of a racehorse H3 Devonshire Club owner betting against his own horse with special knowledge that his horse was un- sound. Before the Select Committee, judges of the High Court, police magi- strates, lawyers and a Commissioner of the Police were amongst the witnesses. The evidence and reports of this, and a kindred Committee which immedi- ately followed it, occupy five hundred folio pages of close print in the official Reports. Some indication of the public view as to the gravity or otherwise of the exist- ence of common gaming-houses in the West End may be derived from the fact that just as the Select Committee was closing its inquiry, the police on the 7th May, 1844, raided seventeen out of eighteen gaming-houses within a stone's throw of Crockford's. The one unraided was, of course, Crockford's. Much evidence had been given before the Select Committee as to the magnitude of the 144 Crockford's play in some of these very houses, and of the evils which ensued. The various defendants, seventy-nine in all, were brought before a police magis- trate on the day after the raid. Most of them were fined 20s, and a few of the more flagrant were fined ^3. Not one was sent to prison. The Commissioner of Police, who had already been in the witness chair, was recalled, and he was asked for mere decency's sake why Crockford's had not been raided. He explained that Crockford's was a " general club " (what- ever that might mean), that " many persons belong to Crockford's who never play," and that in his view it was there- v fore not a common gaming-house. Of the clubs raided, or of some of them at any rate, precisely the same might have been said. These are subtleties beyond the comprehension of a lawyer, but they availed, and everyone seems to have been satisfied. 145 Devonshire Club The Select Committee naturally had a mass of evidence as to the operations carried on at Crockford*s. Two examples are sufficient. Capt. the Hon. H. John Rous, R.N., M.P., deposed as follows : — " Are you aware that many men of large property have lost a great deal of money at Crockford's ? — I have not known anything the last ten years of Crockford's ; I thought it prudent to take my name out of Crockford^s the year before I was married. " Do you think it a great evil that persons of station in the country should abridge their funds by playing at hazard .? — So far as regards my opinion, I wish Crockford's had been burnt down many years ago." And to like effect the Hon. Frederick Byng :— 146 Crockford's " Do you consider the increase of common gaming-houses may have been caused by a decrease of gambling in the clubs ? — I think the increase of gambling houses is entirely the offspring of Crockford^s. The fa- cility to everybody to gamble at Crockford's has led to the establish- ment of other gaming-houses fitted up in a superior style, and attractive to gentlemen who would never have thought of going into them formerly. " If they had not been taught in Crockford's school ? — Certainly. " Is it not the fact that most of those who played very high are pretty well cleaned out ? — Entirely. " And you never heard of any foul play suspected at Crockford's ? — It is not necessary. According to the fair calculation of the game, when fairly played either pour or contre, the man who plays every time the L 2 147 Devonshire Club dice are thrown a stake of j^ioo ought by the fair pull of the table to lose ^loo at the end of about two hours and six minutes : assuming, which I believe, that on an average each throw comes off in two minutes, including the paying the game ; in 63 throws occupying the time before specified, the bank in the ordinary course of the game would realise cent, per cent, profit." The suits against Crockford for penalties apparently came to nothing. Presumably, they abated on his death, and Crockford so won the last and greatest of his wagers by default. Crockford's was continued, and under the old name, for a few years after the death of William Crockford, but there is practically no available information as to details or incidents, and no mention even of the name of the person or persons 148 Crockford's who became responsible for the conduct of the Club in its latter days. What information there is, is less favourable as to the character of the management. In 1847 ^^^ proprietor is said to have been compelled to repay to Prince Louis Napoleon — then in exile in London and living at No. i. King Street — ^2000, of which the Prince alleged he had been cheated in the Club, from which it may be inferred that play was continued and at high stakes. Crockford's must have closed down about this time, for in 1 849 the premises were re-opened as a social Club. The habitues of Crockford's in its better days would form a mere list of contemporary men of title and position, but amongst the most regular of them all in attendance at the Club was the Duke of Wellington, who is reported never to have gambled even for the smallest stakes, and of him it was truly said " he took no chances." 149 Devonshire Club The Devonshire Club already possesses a few Crockford relics and w^ould be glad to have more, the Committee having sanctioned special arrangements for the custody and preservation of any such articles. Six of the gilt chairs used in Crockford's day were given to the Club by the late Mr. T. J. Barratt, and are at present kept in the private dining-room on the half-landing to the Arlington Street side of the Club premises. One of the chairs has a brass tablet let into the back, engraved as follows : " These six chairs originally in Crockford's Gaming Rooms (the present dining-room of this Club) were bought by F. Goodall, Esq., R.A., at Crockford's sale in 1840 and purchased in 1902 from F. Goodall, Esq., by T. J. Barratt, Esq., who presented them to the Devonshire Club." The date 1840 is presumably an error for 1846, and the identification of the present dining-room with the gaming-rooms is 150 O w o Ct, u Crockford's perhaps not entirely accurate. In the darkness of the same private dining-room there may be found a print of William Crockford and two other mementoes of older days, a wooden cup, and a peculiarly choice and delicate aneroid barometer. The inscription on the former runs as follows : — " Devonshire Club 1 910. Presented by Thos. J. Barratt, from the Montague Guest Collection. Made from the Hand piece of the first Balloting Box used at Crockford's Club 1824. Club broke up 1845." The date 1824 is of special interest, if correct. Crockford's, as dealt with in con- temporary publications, opened, on the site of what is now the Devonshire Club, be- yond question in 1828. William Crockford and Josiah Taylor had carried on together a gaming establishment at Watier's about the year 1824. It is, of course, possible that this cup represents a ballot box used at that earlier establishment. It is more 151 Devonshire Club They were elected by ballot ? — Yes. You were not the person who laid down those rules ? — No, they were laid down by a committee. There was a good deal of play carried on at that club, was there not ? — There may have been so ; but I do not feel my- self at liberty to answer that question, to divulge the pursuits of private gentlemen. Situated as I was, I do not feel myself at liberty to do so. Do you not know that play went on in that house ? — I do not feel myself at liberty to answer that question. [The witness was then directed to with- draw, and on being called in again was informed of the powers of the Committee to grant exemptions in respect of any offences theretofore committed by any witness who in the opinion of the Com- mittee should make a full disclosure of facts within his knowledge. The exami- nation was then resumed.] Are you the proprietor of a house in St. James's Street ? — No. Were you three or four years ago pro- 154 Appendix prietor of a house in St. James's Street ? — Yes. Who is the proprietor of that house now ? — I cannot tell, I have given it up to the committee, and I cannot tell any« thing further about it. Who are the members of that com- mittee ? — Upon my word I do not know> they shift about amongst themselves. Who was the person you dealt with when you gave it up to the committee ? — If you were to ask me myself I could not tell you : I gave it up to the general use of the club four years ago. Did you give it up at your own sug- gestion, or that of any other person ? — At my own. To whom did you communicate your intention to give it up ? — To the general club. Was there any chairman of the club ? — I do not feel myself at liberty to go on any further with the questions ; I must decline it. When I dealt with the club, I should say two hundred gentlemen were met together and I expressed my wish to 155 Devonshire Club decline it, and the consequence was that it was over. Surely you must have had someone whom you considered responsible to make the arrangement ? — No public arrange- ment at all : it was a private arrangement. Did you sign any paper ? — Upon my word I do not know : I could not give an answer whether I did or did not ; I be- lieve I did not. It was a private arrangement ? — Gene- rally speaking, I said I grew too old, and I could not continue in the club any longer ; and I wished to give up the club to the gentlemen who made their own arrangements. Cannot you say who were the parties who made the private arrangement ? — No, I do not care what I say about myself, but I must beg to decline bringing any gentle- man's name into discussion. Do you receive rent for the house now i — Yes, now I receive rent for it certainly, the rent I pay. Who pays you the rent ? — It is paid through the general club secretary. When 156 Appendix I say I receive it, my son receives the money, and of course pays it ; it is only the money I pay myself. Who pays the money ? — I do not know : my son receives it and pays it. Is your son in London ? — Yes. Is your son now the proprietor or occu- pier of that house ? — No, he never was in his life. Is your son conversant with the busi- ness carried on in that house i — No, he never was in it. Who is the present superintendent of the house ? — I do not know. Does any person authorised by you remain in the house ? — No. You have handed the house over to the club i* — Yes, and the consequence is when they give it up I receive it back again ; they have to pay the rent. During the time you were proprietor of the house were you cognisant of what took place in the house ? — I must decline answering that question. You know something about games of chance, as well as horse races ? — Yes. ^57 Devonshire Club Do not you think that a person is just as honourably bound to pay a bet which he loses upon a game of hazard, as he would be to pay a bet which he loses upon a horse race ? — 1 think most certainly he would be honourably bound by it. Do not you think that if the loser of a bet on a game of hazard had no charge to make of any kind of unfairness, and he were to commence an action to recover that money back again, he would lay him- self open to the charge in the world of having acted dishonourably ? — I should certainly think so myself. I should take all the pains I could to avoid such a man. Before you became the proprietor of the club which now goes by your name in St. James's Street, were you the owner of any other house or hotel in that neigh- bourhood ? — No. What was your occupation before you occupied the house in St. James's Street ? J — I cannot tell. Am I to give a history of my life ? I should rather decline it. I 158 Appendix am now seventy years of age, and I have lived about forty years in St. James's Street or down at Newmarket. Have you ever been in any regular business or profession .? — Yes. What ? — A variety in my lifetime, and am now indeed. State the first business in which you were engaged. — I do not come here to state my private business and character, I must decline it. [The Committee passed to a series of questions on horse racing.] You call the persons who lose and do not pay, Levanters ? — Yes. Suppose you knew a horse to be amiss or lame, you being the proprietor, what would be your course ^ — Everybody bets with his eyes open, and if they know a horse to be lame they bet against him, and why should the owner be excluded from the privilege which other persons have ? The owner of course knows his own 159 Devonshire Club horse to be lame : would he be justified, possessing that knowledge, in going into the ring and betting against the horse ? — The lameness might not continue ; I have known horses lame for a day or two, and then recover and win the race. [Then back to the topic of gaming, once more.] Do not you think that many young men have lost very large sums of money of late ? — I daresay it may be so, but I cannot tell. Do not you believe that a great many young men have lost ^10,000 or jr20,ooo or ^50,000 by gambling ? — I cannot say that I know it. Have you any doubt of the fact ? — I really have no opinion upon it. You do not know anything of the gambling habits contracted in this town ? — I have not lately. You did at one time in your life ? — At some time in my life I had some idea of it. Do not you know many persons who have sustained serious losses at games of 160 Appendix chance ? — I do not know what may be called a serious loss. Have you not known persons who within the last ten years have lost at games of chance jT 100,000 ? — Never to my knowledge. Did you ever know a man lose ^50,000 ? — I do not of my own knowledge. I know nothing about people's affairs. I do not know what people have lost in the club-house. I cannot answer the question. Do you mean that your objection to answering the question arises from your objection to disclose that which took place in your own club-house .? — I beg to de- cline disclosing anything which took place in my own club-house. I decline answer- ing this question because I do not know the fact. Have you had anything to do with Levanters yourself ? — If that applies to the club, I decline answering it. The question does not refer particularly to the club, but within your experience have persons lost money fairly to you on M 161 Devonshire Club hazard and have they declined to pay that ? — Very little indeed. Is there any rule about Levanters as to hazard ? — I never heard of any. Do not you think that a provision ought to be made ? — If the hon. member were the proprietor of a hazard-table he would know that they played for ready money. 162 INDEX Adam, Rt. Hon. W. P., M.P., II, 14, 16, 41J 55-5^ Agnew, Lockett, 92 Alliance Assurance Co., 65 Aneroid barometer, pre- sented by T. J. Barratt, 152 Arlington Club, 45 Arnold -Forster, E. P., 43 Ashby, F. W., 43 Balfour, Jabez Spencer, 44 Ballot box, 151 Barlow, G. E, J. Hilaro, 107 Barratt, T. J., 150-152 Beaufort, Duke of, 140 Beaumont, Lord, 140 Beddington, J. H., 43 Belfast, Earl of, 140 " Bentley's Miscellany," 119-125, 133-136 Blyth, Lord, x. ; his recol- lections of the inaugural banquet, 19-33 ; 43, 97. 103, 107 Boyce, Godfrey H., 108 Bright, John, 53 Brodie, Captain E. W., 85, 95-96, 105-106 Brodie, Malcolm, 96 Burton, Lord, 32 Byng, Hon. Frederick, 146-148 Carlingford, Lord, 55 Carter, E., 43 Cavendish, Lord Frederick, 43 Chairs, gilt, used in Crock- ford's day, 150 Chamberlain, Rt. Hon. Austen, M.P., 44, 67-68, 74 Chamberlain, Rt. Hon. Joseph, M.P., 44, 53, 57-58, 61-63 Chamberlain, Richard, 44 Childers, Rt. Hon. H. C. E., M.P., 41 Christie, Manson and Woods, 24-25 Clifton, Sir Arthur, 140 Cobden Club, 17, 42 Cogan, Rt. Hon. W. H., M.P., 41 Coles, John, 108 Cooper, E., 43 Cork, Earl of, 14, 29, 32, 41, 70 Cowdray, Lord, 103-104 Crockford's Club, Lord Granville's recollections of, 22-24 ,* rent paid by Crockford, 34-37 ; build- ing operations, 1 19-120 ; description of premises, 121-125 ; cockpit, 126 ; opening, 128 ; wine cel- lar, 128-129; com- mittee, 129, 1 40-1 4 1 ; membership, 1 30-1 31 ; arrangements as to play, 1 31-135 ; why it es- caped prosecution, 141- 145 ; last days, 148- 149 Crockford, Junior, 129, 157 Dbvonshirs Club 163 Index Crockford, William, 34-36 ; 116-119, 129-140, 142- 144, 153-162 ; old print of, 151 Crook, W. M., 74 Cross, J. W., 43 Cup, old wooden, 151 Depew, Chauncey, 64 Devonshire Club, forma- tion, II ; first com- mittee, 14-15, 40-42 ; name chosen, 18 ; rent of club-house, 18 ; in- augural banquet, 19-32 ; history of its site, 33-39 ; original members sur- viving in 191 9, 42-43 ; extension and improve- ment of premises, 44-46, 48-49, 93-95 ; purchase of the freehold, 46-48 ; Finance Committee, 49- 52 ; rules as to card games, 52, 1 09-11 o ; monthly house dinners, 52-53, 57-58; Political Committee, 53-54, 57- 58, 61-63, 65-73 ; reduc- tion of authorised mem- bership, 56 ; how it was affected by the split in the Liberal party, 60-65, 68-71 ; alterations in scale of entrance fee, 64, 67, 74, 84-85, 106 ; electric Ughting intro- duced, 66 ; suggested closing down, 68-71 ; proposed transformation from a political to a social club, 70-73, 82-85, 97 ; library, etc., dam- aged by fire, 73 ; dis- solution of Library Com- mittee, 73-74 ; alien members barred, 74-75 ; honorary members, 75- 76 ; legacies to its funds, 76-77, 81 ; mem- bers' complaints, 78-80 ; war service of members and staff, 96-97 ; finan- cial crisis through the War, 97-105 ; Managing Committee, 1 915-18, 107-109 Devonshire, 7th Duke of, 17-19 Devonshire, 8th Duke of, 67, 86-90 Devonshire, 9th Duke of, 85>9i Devonshire House, 17 Dilke, Sir Charles, 44 Disraeli, Benjamin, 12 D'Orsay, Count, 23 Drake, Sir William R., 14, 41 Drury Lane Theatre, 128 Duke of York's Column, 128 Duncombe, T., M.P., 140 Dunning, Sir Edwin Harris, 108 Dye, Assistant at Crock- ford's, 129 Edmunds, Lewis, K.C., 83, 102 Edward VII, Coronation of, 75. 77 England, Captain Russell, 19 Evans, Sir E. Vincent, 108 Faringdon, Lord, 103 Fawcett, Rt. Hon. Henry, M.P., 53 FitzClarence, Lord Adol- phus, 140 164 Index Gaming, Parliamentary Committee on, 153-162 George V, Coronation of, 75, 92-93 Gilbey, Henry Parry, 31- 32 Gilbey, Sir Walter, 31-32 Gladstone Cabinet, paint- ing of, 55 Gladstone, W. E., 11-13, 20, 25, 28-30, 32, 60-62 Goldsmid, Julian, M.P., 41 Goodall, F., R.A., 150 Goschen, Viscount, 43 Graham, Sir Bellingham, 141 Granville, ist Earl, 23 Granville, 2nd Earl, 13, 19-27, 53 Greville, Rt. Hon. A. Fulke, 14, 41 Guest, Montague J., 41 Guilton, John, 34, 36-37 Gully, W. C, 44 Harcourt, Sir William, 43, 53 Hardcastle, Frank, 102-103 Hartington, Marquis of (afterwards 8th Duke of Devonshire), 11, 14, 16, 19, 21, 27, 39, 41, 43, 50, 53, 61, 63-64 Hatry, Clarence C, 108, III Hayter, A. D. (afterwards Lord Haversham) ,15,41, 97 Hensley, Egerton H., 108 Hill, John, 108-109 Holmes, Oliver Wendell,64 Hooper and Co., 34 Huntly, Marquis of, 41 Irving, Sir Henry, 44 Isitt, Frank Seymour N., 108 James, Sir Henry (after wards Lord James of Hereford), 11, 15, 41, 43, 61, 72, 86-91 Jardine, R., 43 Jones, Sir David Brynmor, K.C., 43, 102, 107 Junior Carlton Club, 52 Kensington, Lord, M.P., 39, 41 Kerr, Frederick, 108 Knox, Colonel, 141 Lawson, Sir Wilfrid, 31- 32 Lawson and Beer, Messrs., 18, 38-39. 65 Laycock, Joseph, 47, 104 Leatham, E. A., M.P., 15, 31-32, 41 Lennox, Lord William, 141 Liberal Central Associa- tion, 15 L'Isle, Viscount de, 141 London and Paris Hotel Co., 37-38 Lumley, Theodore, 43 McArthur, William A., 108 McDowall, Colonel, 141 Makower, Ernest S., 140 Malmesbury, Earl of, 141 Martin, artist, 122 Mather, Sir William, 43 "Mirror of Literature, Amusement and Instruc- tion," 128-129 Moffat, John, 55 Moore, Tom, 121 Moreau, Emile, 108 Morley, Samuel, M.P., 41 Murton, Sir Walter, 43 165 Index Napoleon III, 149 Naval, Military and Civil Service Club, 36-37 Northbrook, Lord, 53 Oaks, The, 117 "Old and New London," 116 Pagenstacker, Professor, 75 Palmerston, Lord, 142 Parnell, C. S., M.P., 59-60 Pease, J. W., M.P., 15, 41 Philipps, J. W. (afterwards Lord St. Davids), 77-78 Pitt, Hon. Horace, 141 Plender, Sir William, 10 1 Potter, T. B., M.P., 15, 32, 41 Prince, John, 81 Prynne, Charles de la, 15, 42 Pulley, Sir Charles, 76-77 Ranelagh, Viscount, 140 Rathbone, W., 42 Raven, Sir Vincent, 108 Reform Club, 13 Reid, R. T. (afterwards Lord Loreburn), 44 Ripon, Marquis of, 53 Ritz Hotel, 82 Rivers, Lord, 131 Rose, T. L. M., 108 Rosebery, Earl of, 53, 103 Rous, Hon. H. J., 146 Royal Assurance Co., 81- 82 Rumney, Howard, 102, 108 Russell, G. W. E., 44 St. James's Bazaar, 119 Sanctum Sanctorum, or play-room, 123 Sandwich, Earl of, 136- 137 Santley, Sir Charles, 44 Savory, Arthur Ledsam, 108 Seligman, Isaac, 43 Sellar, Craig, M.P., 15 Sheridan, 129 Shortt, John, 43 Sievwright, George Mc- Bain, 108 Smith, Major Fairbanks, 105-106 Southwark, Lord, 43 Stanley, Sir H. M,, 64 Taylor, A. Chevalier, 86 Taylor, Josiah, 118, 151 Thompson, S., 43 Tilt, Robert R., 108 Turner, H. J., 43 Ude, 131 United University Club, 80-81 Victoria, Queen, Diamond Jubilee, 75 Waddy, H. T., 108 Waddy, S. D., Q.C., M.P., 42 Walker, Mrs., 107 Warner, Mr., Secretary of Devonshire Club, 74 Watier's Club, 118, 151 Wellington, Duke of, 149 " Wellington," The, 36-38 Willis's Rooms, 129 Wolverton, Lord, 41 Wombwell, George, 140 Women's Social and Poli- tical Union, 60 Wyatt, B. D., 119, 128 Wyatt, J., R.A., 128 Wyatt, T. H., 45, 128 166 PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN BY KicHARD Clay and Sons, I^imited, BRUNSWICK STREET, STAMFORD STREET, S.E. AND BUNOAY, STJFyOl,K. I LOAN DEPT This book is dae on the law w,, * __:^l__^^^«to^mmediate recall. General Library SITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY l ' tri (1 .^ 'Hi