% wammmm^ J Ham OBIHSON \* Potter 30. Exchange LIVERPOOL ■ ■ H HI ^BH £991 v H BaE I V £ I ■ I I HA Bras ■ HI TwaDfCi < >S" /- ' /o THE LAST EAELS OF BAEEYMOEE. THE LAST EARLS OF BAERYMOEE 1769—1824 l:V JOHN KOBEET EOBINSON AUTHOR OF "THE PKINCELY CHANDOS," ETC. " Restless, unfixed in iiriuciplcs or place, Iu power displeased, impatient of disgrace." Dryden. LONDON SAMPSON LOW, MARSTON & COMPANY Limited gt. pnnstan'B Bona? Fetter Lane, Fleet Street, E.C. 1894 [-IN rights resert Df\ INTRODUCTION. In the numerous works that deal with the times of George III. and IV., many references are made to more intimate companions of the latter in his younger days, when Prince of Wales. Among those alluded to briefly by biographers stand conspicuously the " Barrymores," who at one time shared the favour of the Prince of Wales' patronage, together with the Hangers, Lades, and Legers of those days. To search, then, in the spirit of the Spanish maxim, " Tell me who you go with, and I'll tell you what you are," has been my aim in producing the following work. I record the doings of this curious family in no sympathetic spirit, nor would I have undertaken what has proved a most laborious task did I not think some good might be effected by this disastrous example of folly and extravagance. On the other hand, there is much in the vi Introduction. character of Kichard, the 7th Earl of Barrymore, which stamps him as one of those freaks of nature that now and again appear among us. He was endowed with genius, learning, and wit, yet he sacrificed them all to pursuits which compassed his ruin. The Thespian productions by the Earl at his handsome theatre at Wargrave are historic, but no special account of them in detail has hitherto been published. The records of the Earl's doings on the race- course, the field, and in other athletic pursuits, bring many well-known characters iuto promi- nence, while the dramatic and other anecdotes will afford amusement and instruction to the general, as well as to Sporting and Dramatic readers. In a work wherein I strive to depict the life of " smart " Society of that day, without too deeply wounding the feelings of this, I hope to be held guiltless of any sinister motives, should it be con- sidered that I have offended against good taste. J. XV. XV. London, X.W., Nov. 1, 1893. CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. PAGE A brief account of the family of Barry — The fourth, fifth, and sixth Earls of Barrymore — Birth of Caroline, Richard, Henry, and Augustus Barry — Death of the sixth Earl of Barrymore — Early days of Richard, the seventh earl ........ 1 CHAPTER II. Death of the Countess of Barrymore — The earl goes to Eton — Death of the Countess of Harrington — The earl's first visit to a racecourse, result thereof — His early diversions ....... 8 CHAPTER III. The earl learns the various ways of raising money — His entry into fashionable life — His character and appear- ance at this time — He makes AVargrave a place of residence — Description of the earl's hunting pageant it Louis Quatorze . . . . . . .13 CHAPTER IV. The Earl of Barry more's entry on the turf — Intuitive faculty for that sport — His connection with the Royal Circus, St. George's Fields — Purchases made by the earl for his stud, 1788 — The sister and brothers of the earl 19 viii Contents. CHAPTER V. PAGE stag hunt near Wargrave by the earl's hounds — The Earl of Barrymore's record at the First Spring Meet- ing, Newmarket, 1788 — A whimsical bet — The earl bestows his patronage on the " prize ring " — Further account of the earl's racing successes — A match made by Earl Barrymore for which he had to pay forfeit . 26 CHAPTER VI. The Earl of Barrymore appears in the saddle at Ascot — Al fresco entertainments at Wargrave — The earl as a " whip " and postillion — The Honourable Henry Barry's character as a rider — The earl's hackney coach freak — His turf record for 1788 continued — Racing at Lewes and Brighton — He plays the role of " crier " — Buys a horse with only two faults . . 32 CHAPTER VII. Conclusion of the Earl of Barrymore's racing record for 1788 — Some account of Sir John Lade — Dr. Johnson's verses on Sir John's coming of age — The Earl of Barrymore's fancy for founding convivial clubs — An example of these : the Bothering Club . . .41 CHAPTER VIII. The Earl of Barrymore erects a theatre at Wargrave — The building — The first performances held therein— The earl and his team of " greys " — Makes further addi- tions to his stud — Some account of its performances during 1789 — The earl acts as his own check-taker on a " theatre evening " — His kindness to distressed friends 47 CHAPTER IX. Pugilism at Wargrave — Hooper " the Tinman's " adven- ture at Vauxhall Gardens — Marriage of Sir John Lade — Who the " lady " was — The Earl of Barrymore's Wargrave residence and its accommodation — The earl's peculiarities — Dining and diners at Wargrave . 5G Contents. ix CHAPTER X. f\<. ■<■ Preparations at Wargrave to celebrate the Earl of Barry- more's majority — Names of the principal amateur ami professional actors at the earl's theatre — Visit of the Prince of Wales to Wargrave — The prologue ami epilogue spoken before H.R.H. — Names of the plays, farces, and pantomimes produced by the Earl at his theatre — Some account of the meeting between Big Ben and Johnson, and the latter with Perrins . . G6 CHAPTER XI. The Earl of Barrymore astonishes the natives — His friend- ship with the son of a Berkshire yeoman — Strange diversion for a summer's day — Account of the Warble Club— J.: M. Williams, LL.D. (" Anthony Pasquin ") — The mock Court of Justice held at Wargrave — J. M.Williams assists the Earl in the formulation of " Waggery," etc. . . . . . . .71 CHAPTER XII. All other matters deferred for the theatre by the Earl — Account of one of the prompters at Wargrave — That worthy's linen — The Earl of Barrymore's skill as a "■ whip " — An amusement of the Earl's when on the box-»The Je-ne-sais-quoi Club — Lord Barrymore engages Delphini the pierrot for his theatre — A curious tale narrated — The Earl made the subject of censorious press comment . . . . .83 CHAPTER XIII. Hunting and theatricals at Wargrave in the winter of 1789 — The Earl of Barrymore increases his racing stud — Sir John Lade and Charles James Fox — Encounter between Hooper and Watson — The Earl's turf suc- cesses in the early part of 1790 — The Earl runs against a horseman in Kensington Gardens — His strange way of recovering his stolen watch — The Earl'e character as portrayedin a newspaper of that period — Th of the " Brogue-makers " . . . • • .92 Contents. CHAPTER XIV. PAGE An encounter at Brighton — The Earl of Barrymore's wager there with the Duke of York — A singular prank played on an inhabitant of the Steine — The Earl adds to his extravagance in the cause of Thespis — His pedestrian contest at Brighton — Racing record there ......... 100 CHAPTER XV. The Earl of Barrymore's expenses — Curious result of an arrest for debt — John Edwin, the younger — His benefit at the theatre, Richmond — The Earl's racing record at Reading — Encounter between Big Ben and Hooper — The Earl of Barrymore's fete at Wargrave . 109 CHAPTER XVI. The Earl of Barrymore talks of contesting the city of Oxford for a seat in Parliament — Description of the Earl's late seat in Ireland — The Earl as a chef — The Humbug Club — How members were installed — The Earl " sees life " under all conditions — Joins in the convivialities at Jacob's Well — His racing record at the First and Second October Meetings, Newmarket, 1790 118 CHAPTER XVII. " Joe the Conjurer " at Wargrave — Fatal accident outside the Earl's theatre at Wargrave — "Anthony Pasquin's" poems — Anecdote of David Garrick — The Earl of Barrymore's racing successes at the Houghton Meeting in 1790 \ 128 CHAPTER XVIII. Theatrical season at Wargrave, 1790-1791 — Wargrave Theatrical Club Ball — The Earl of Barrymore in the ball-room — Fight between Johnson and Big Ben — The Earl's freak while receiving a fencing lesson — The Earl compared with man's " Three Evils " — Additions made by the Earl to his racing stud — Notes — The Earl of Barrymore's turf career compared with " Old " Dick Vernon's 140 Contents. xi CHAPTER XIX. HOI Mr. Bullock aptly named — The Comtesse Ju Barri and the Barrymores — The Earl's pleasure mentioned as business — Parody on the " Deserted Village " by "Anthony Pasquin " . . . . . .145 CHAPTER XX. An anecdote related by the Earl of Barry more — Produc- tion of the pantomime Bluebeard at Wargrave — The flat racing season begins — The Earl enters the House of Commons — How an amateur actor was brought from London — The Earl's dislike to being driven in a post-chaise — Captain Wathen, the theatrical amateur — Newmarket Second Spring Meeting, 1791 — The Earl in love — Mrs. Good all, the actress, at Wargrave 157 CHAPTER XXI. The Earl of Barrymore contests the Borough of Reading — One of the Earl's clubs — Anecdote of Dennis O'Flynn — Racing at Newmarket — Preparations to resume theatrical performances — Captain Wathen purchases the lease of the Richmond Theatre — The Earl's new carriage — Anecdote of George II. and Brentford — " A new way to pay old debts " . . . .105 CHAPTER XXII. Tin- Earl of Barrymore's racing record at Brighton and Lewes, 1791 — Dispute between the Honourable Augustus Barry and a French officer — The Earl drives six greys-in-hand — The Earl thrashes a butcher for cruelty — Anecdotes of the Prince of Wales and the Barrymores at Brighton — The Earl's kindness to actors — Les trois magots — Cricket at Brighton, 1791— Tin' Earl of Barrymore reduces his racing engagements . 17i! CHAPTER XXIII. A dispute between Earl Barrymore and Mr. Donadieu at Brighton — The Duchess de la Pienna and the Bams — The Earl serenades Mrs. Fitzherbert — The Earl and Edwin, Junior . . . . . . .181 xii Contents. CHAPTER XXIV. PiGK Racing at First October Meeting, 1791— The Earl of Barryrnore's luck at cards — Anecdote — Racing at Second October Meeting, 1791 — The race of "Escape" notoriety — Hunting and theatricals at "Wargrave — Another print caricatures the Earl of Barry more — Names of a few of the principal convivial clubs then in London 187 CHAPTER XXV. The Earl treats for the Brighton Theatre — Strange treat- ment accorded to Mr. Fox, Junior, at Wargrave — Action by Mr. Donadieu against the Earl — A good " Bill of Fare " for his lordship's theatrical guests at Wargrave — Action by Mr. Cox, builder of the theatre, Wargrave — Lord Kenyon's remarks at Mr. Donadieu's action — The Earl of Barryrnore's winning record at the Craven and First Spring Meeting, Newmarket, 1792 19G CHAPTER XXVI. The Earl of Barrymore and his table beer — Lines on Mr. Day, who ran away — Racing at Newmarket — The Earl's fortune on the wane — Sale of the Piccadilly mansion and stables at Christie's — Grand cricket match at Lord's — The masquerade ball at Vauxhall — Marriage of the Earl of Barrymore with Miss Gould- ing, Gretna Green fashion 201 CHAPTER XXVII. Did the Earl and his bride go to Gretna Green 1 — Gossip — A new masquerade " ballad " read at Wargrave — Seizure by the Sheriff of the theatre at Wargrave — A humorous inventory — The Earl's new diversion — He accepts a commission in the Berkshire Militia — The Earl of Barryrnore's parliamentary career . . . 20G CHAPTER XXVIII. The Earl of Barrymore as a student — His favourite prose writers — Anecdote of Delphini — Cricket at Wargrave Contents. xiii PAGE — Sale of the materials of the theatre, Wargrave — Dis- persion of the Earl's racing stud — Purchase of Chanticleer by the Duke of York— The Earl still appears in the " pigskin " — Sale of the Duke of York's stud — Disbandment of the Earl's dramatic company — Some further allusions to " Anthony Pasquin " — The Earl of Barrymore's oratorical powers 214 CHAPTER XXIX. The Earl forms the Bacchanalian Society — Prepares a supper for a friend at a village inn — Drills Boniface and the servants — His lordship departs with his regi- ment for Rye — Commands an escort with sixteen prisoners to Dover — Halts near Folkestone for refreshment — Accidental discharge of his fowling- piece and death of the Earl — Inquest and burial at "Wargrave — Some mention of a posthumous heir — Denial by the Countess — Remarks on the career of the late Earl 220 CHAPTER XXX. Financial affairs of the late Earl— Henry, Eighth and last Earl of Barrymore — Establishes the fashion of the " tiger " — The Earl and the battle of the whips — His lordship's love for mystifying persons — His duel with Humphrey Howarth, M.P., at Brighton . . . 227 CHAPTER XXXI. The Earl of Barrymore and the Chip Chow Indians — His lordship's racing and charioteering display but the shadow of his late brother's — The Earl's ready wit with the law's minions — The Honourable Augustus Barry — His death — Prints, etc., concerning the late Earl — The eighth Earl's caricature — His passion for the Drama and Music ...... 234 CHAPTER XXXII. Anthony Pasquin's " means of livelihood after his patron's death — His later works — "William Cifford retaliates on " Pasquin " — Action by " Pasquin" against Robert xiv Contents. PAGE Faulder — The plaintiff's flight to America — Employed by the " Federal " paper to attack Corbett — Discomfi- ture, and return to England — Compromises with his creditors here — Reappearance as a theatrical and art critic — His quarrels and strange conduct . . .240 CHAPTER XXXIII. John Taylor suggests that Dr. Wolcot and "Pasquin" should unite. their Muses — How John Taylor became deprived of "Pasquin's" friendship— " Pasquin's" claim as an art critic — Goes to Paris — Return again to London — Writes critiques for the Morning Herald — Procures some favour by a work on criticism — Some further particulars concerning the late Earl Barrymore's affairs — Sale of the estates of Castle Lyons and Buttevant — Death of Henry, eighth and last Earl of Barrymore. ...... 245 CHAPTER XXXIV. Anecdote of, and death of Hooper — Death of Lady Lade — Decease of Anna, Countess of Barrymore — Death of Sir John Lade — Claim to the viscountcy of Butte- vant — Conclusion 250 Appendices . 253 Index .......... 267 LIST OF ILLUSTEATIONS. " Interior of the Earl of Barryni ore's Theatre, "Wargrave " Frontispiece "Lord Barrymore and Captain Wathen &s Archer and Aimicell in the Beaux' s Stratagem" . 'To face p. 162 "The Levee, or the Mcecenats of Scrubs and' Scaramouches" ..... ,, 191 " Death of Richard, 7th Earl of Barrymore " . „ 224 "Richard, 7th Earl of Barrymore, as Cupid" „ 238 THE LAST EARLS OP BAEEYMOEE CHAPTER I. A brief account of the family of Barry — The fourth, fifth, and sixth Earls of Barrymore — Birth of Caroline, Eichard, Henry, and Augustus Barry — Death of the sixth Earl of Barrymore — Early days of Richard, the seventh earl. The noble family of Barn' came to this country in the train of William the Conqueror, and was most probably of Norman origin. Many histo- rians assert, however, that the family descended from the powerful counts of Paris, who, through Hugh Capet, the last holder of that dignity, became kings of France. The name Barry, was in former times spelt in various ways ; those who could write, used any form of spelling their fancy dictated, or the tongue, or dialect of the various districts suggested. Many instances of this are recorded, but, for the present purpose, the fol- lowing will suffice. From the original, Paris, the name is found by Norman-French changed to Barre, Barri, the last with, and without, the de or du ; then again distorted by the various B 2 The Last Earls of Barrymore. dialects of Great Britain, into Barry, Diparry, Pers, Parr, Parrish, Dunbar, Parry, &c, &c. The ancestor, and founder of the family of Barry here, was William de Barre, who was followed soon after the battle of Hastings, by other relatives from Normandy. These included one, Robert de Barre, sent by William the Con- queror, as an ambassador to the Pope in 1069. To give an account of the services rendered by the members of this family, over some seven or eight centuries, would be beyond the province of the present work ; suffice it to say that, though they came of a race of warriors, the Barrys have shone in all branches of learning and art. Gerald Barry — Giraldns Gambrensis — the first historian of Ireland, and afterwards Bishop of St. David's, was tutor to King John, and a direct descendant of the William de Barre who came to England in the train of the Conqueror. Gerald's immediate ancestors settled in Wales, and later near Cork, in the south of Ireland, where they obtained a grant of an extensive tract of land, as a reward for their services in the conquest of that country. It is said they soon reduced to " civility," the natives on their property, who called their conquerors the Burrach-Mohr — (Barrymore), in English, " the Great Barrys," on account of their power and wealth. But this was not all the Celtic tongue did for their name. A David de Barry cheered his men on, in a fight with the McCarthy's, with his war-cry of " Boutez en avant " — push forward — and the war-cry was Arrest of the Earl of Barrymore. transformed into "Buttcvant," given later as a name to one of the manors owned by this family. In the reign of Richard II., the dignity of Viscount was bestowed on the Barry who was then in pos- session of the estates, as Viscount Buttcvant, the first title of that rank created in Ireland. Henry VII. also further ennobled the family, as did Charles I., by their best known title at the 'present day : Earls of Barrymore. James Barry, the fourth Earl, sat for maii3 r years in the English House of Commons, being only an Irish peer, first for Stockb ridge, 1710- 1713; and from 1714-1747 for Wigan. On the 29th February, 1744, King George II. notified the Commons, that he had caused the Earl of Barrymore, one of their body, to be arrested for assumed treasonable practices. To this, the House returned an address to his Majesty, thanked him, and desired that every suspected person might be so secured. So much for the incident : it is the cause of this proceeding that interests us. James Barry, Viscount Biittevant, son and heir to the above Earl of Barrymore, was intrusted by his father with a letter addressed either to Lord Lovat or Lord Balmerino, both adherents of the Pretender, whom his father, the Earl, was sus- pected to favour, although at one time he was an officer in the army of King William III. Instead of obeying his father's commands, Buttcvant gave up the missive to the government by the hand of the then Secretary of State. The letter was B 2 4 The Last Earls of Barrymore. opened and read at a privy council, and a warrant for the writer's arrest was issued. At the same time messengers were dispatched to the earl's seat in Cheshire, to seize his papers, as the inter- cepted letter was thought insufficient to secure a conviction, and a frigate was sent to convey the noble prisoner from Ireland, for his appearance before the privy council. The result of the investigation of the papers seized at the earl's Cheshire seat, failed to prove him guilty of sedi- tion, and after an examination before the council, he was discharged. Before his departure from the council chamber, certain lords present desired to prove how far Earl Barrymore's sympathy extended to the Jacobite cause. One of their number asked him several pointed questions to test his fealty towards the reigning house. The earl's answer is remark- able, and left his questioner little wiser than he was before : — " I have, my lords, a very good estate in Ireland, and, on that,' I believe, fifteen hundred acres of very bad land ; now, by G — d, I would not risk the loss of the poorest acre of them to defend the title of any king in Europe, provided — it was not to my interest." The example of filial affection and patriotism afforded by Viscount Buttevant is unique in the history of the troubled times of the eighteenth century. In due course, the viscount succeeded his father as fifth Earl of Barrymore, but only lived to enjoy that dignity four years. Upon his deatli How to Prepare "a Wager." 5 in 1751, his son, Richard Barry, became sixth earl at six years of age. While he was still but a child, he was brought to London, and placed at West- minster School, whence he proceeded to Eton, and thence to Oxford. He left the University in his eighteenth year, and came to London, where he was speedily initiated into the various fashion- able pursuits of the period. For cards, and other games of chance, he showed a strong inclination, with the usual result to the inexperienced, heavy loss. As he had bought his experience, so he proposed to profit by it, if possible. He there- fore became a noted and skilful gambler, and won money apace. He was largely addicted to wagers and bets. Going circa 1 770, into a tavern near Charing Cross, he ordered dinner to be served to him in a small private room. On the guest's being left alone after the cloth was re- moved, the waiter heard a noise as of furniture being dragged out, and went upstairs to find the various articles outside the room, he then peeped through the keyhole, and espied the noble earl on his knees, busily covering the floor with packs of cards he had brought in with him. The waiter, who knew better than to call attention to what he had seen, waited till he was summoned by the earl, who, when he had finished his singular task, paid his bill, and departed. A few days after the earl again visited the tavern, in the company of two friends, and re- quested that dinner might be served to theui in the same room in which he had dined on the first 6 The Last Earls of Barrymore. occasion. After dinner was finished, Lord Barry- more offered to bet 500/. " that he wonld guess, more nearly than either of his guests, how many cards would cover the floor of the room they were in." A wager that appeared founded so much on chance was at once accepted. It is un- necessary to record the name of the winner. A second similar trait of this " nobleman ' is : the earl would sit at a window of his own house with friends, and bet that he could name the number, or near it, of a hackney coach, to be singled out by him from others passing. If the bet was accepted, the coach would be one occu- pied by a friend, instructed to drive by at a certain time, in a coach hired by his lordship. As may be supposed the earl was much given to practical jokes, but space will not permit an enumeration of them. The sixth earl married Lady Emilia, or Amelia Stanhope, third daughter of William, Earl of Harrington ; she bore him four children in the order named : (1) Caroline, born May 17th, 17G8 ; (2) Richard, Viscount Buttevant, born August 14th, 17G9 ; (3) Henry, born August 16th, 1770 ; (4) Augustus, born July 16th, 1773. Their father followed the profession of arms, one by which his ancestors had obtained both wealth and dignity, and at this period he held a captain's commission in the 9th regiment of Dragoons. His military career was, however, brief, for he died of fever, after only seven days' illness, in his twenty-eighth year, at Dromana, Lady Grandi- Accession of the Seventh Earl. 7 son's seat on the Black water, on August 1st, 1773. Richard Barry, Viscount Buttevant, his heir, was but five years old, one year younger than his father had been left in a similar position. The sixth earl is said to have been an excellent officer, and a great admirer of horses. In fact, he owned, and raced, a small but select stud of horses a year previous to his demise. The reader should bear in mind the peculiar traits in this nobleman's character, to which allusion has been made, as they will elucidate and account for much that happened in the after life of his sons. The child-earl soon gave proof of remarkable precocity. His mother, therefore, was anxious her son's natural talents should be fostered, and to this end he was placed, as soon as his tender age allowed, under the care and tuition of the Reverend Mr. Tickell, at the village of Wargrave, Berkshire. This gentleman's erudition, com- bined with an almost parental affection for his charge, left little to be desired. The young earl remained under the able guidance of his tutor till his fourteenth year, when his friends thought he should enter one of the public schools, pre- paratory to a university career, should that be determined on later. CHAPTER II. Death of the Countess of Barrymore — The earl goes to Eton — Death of the Countess of Harrington — The earl's first visit to a racecourse, result thereof — His early diversions. The young Earl of Barrymore, when he attained his fourteenth year, had the misfortune to lose his mother. This occurred in 1782. She left the care of her young family to her relatives. They thought that Richard, the earl, should proceed to Eton. But it was the earl's maternal grand- mother, the Countess of Harrington, who took the initiative in this step, and who appears to have been most indulgent to the earl and his brothers. In fact they were all much attached to her, but death again robbed them of one who no doubt would have taken maternal care of her daughter's orphaned children, and whope advice they may have been influenced by. The Countess of Harrington was zealous her grandson should, though a boy, uphold his rank. With this view, and that he should feel independ- ent, she took, what would now be looked upon as a far too extravagant course — a sum of one thou- sand pounds for pocket money, on his going to Death of the Countess oj Harrington. o Eton. With this princely amount, for a lad of fourteen, he soon found that money could procure the gratification of most, if not all his whims. It was this power to gratify each fancy as it was formed, that led the earl into those paths of extravagance, which in the end marred his fortune. Soon after the earl's advent at Eton, the head- master was informed of the death of his young pupil's grandmother, the Countess of Harrington. He was asked, on account of the susceptibility of his charge, to break the news gently to him, which he assented to do, though he took a strange means to accomplish it. Calling his lordship to him in the class-room, with an air of austere authority, he asked many questions on the matter of his studies, and commanded him to at once construe some lines from " Virgil." The task being accomplished, he then informed his pupil in a somewhat harsh manner, " Your grandmother is ill, my lord," but, in the same breath, bade his pupil commence a fresh lesson from the Latin poet, to stop him after he had construed a few lines, with, " She is very ill, my lord." At this sad news the earl expressed his grief, but was again commanded to proceed witli his task. The boy obeyed, but was interrupted at the next moni« 111 by the doctor exclaiming : " She's dying, my lord." "What! dying," cried the bewildered youth. "Come! come! my lord," replied the learned pedagogue, " she is dead, now you know the worst. Go to your seat, and make the best of an irretrievable misfortune." io The Last Earls of Barrymore. With the demise of this lady, all semblance of parental authority over the youth appears to have come to an end. Whether the male relations of the earl did not feel disposed to interest them- selves on his behalf, or whether their advice, if tendered, was spurned, cannot now be positively said. It is certain, however, that the earl and his brothers were left to do as they pleased ; this they did by forthwith entering upon men's pursuits with the eagerness of most lads of sixteen to appear as men in their own eyes. The earl was scarcely beyond that age, when being at home for the Easter recess, he thought fit to visit Newmarket with his brother Henry and some friends, during the second Spring meeting, 1785. On that occasion he witnessed the follow- ing match : Mr. Wentworth's Rockingham, (late Camden), by Highflyer, eight stone four pounds, (1), Mr. O'Kelly's Serjeant, eight stone four pounds, (2), Beacon course. Mr. O'Kelly staked 500 to 400 guineas, odds seven to four on Rockingham, and was justified by his winning easily. Lord Barrymore found many in the ring only too glad to bet with him, and made quite a coup for a novice : he laid the odds, to win a thousand guineas. On the settlement, the acceptor of the bet handed his lordship notes for a thousand pounds, which he counted, and then asked for the other " fifty." The bookmaker found he had a man to deal with, not as he had thought, a boy, and apologized for the " error " by handing him the amount demanded. Village Sports ! 1 1 This day's pleasure exercised a serious influence on the earl's career. He determined to own a stud of race-horses, so soon as he should attain his majority, or sooner if he could raise the funds for their purchase. But this was not his only ex- pensive pursuit, nor the one in which he acquired the most notoriety, or in which his versatile and volatile nature displayed its fullest scope. While at home for the summer holidays, he often went on a visit, with his brothers, to his old tutor at Wargrave, a spot that always had the utmost charm for him ; in fact he made it a place of residence afterwards. On these occasions he displayed the taste for practical joking, that sub- sequently made him notorious. The earl, accom- panied by his brothers, and a few " choice spirits," would set out from Wargrave soon after mid- night, armed with hammers, saws, hatchets, ladders, ropes, etc., to make a tour of the surrounding villages, and on their way they would change the sign-boards of the various village hostelries. We can imagine the surprise of boniface when he took down his shutters, to find his sign changed to the " Rose and Crown," which he knew to be the name of an inn in a hamlet five miles oft", while the landlord of that house would be thunderstruck to find his sign metamorphosed into the " King's Head." By these and kindred pursuits, the "Barry brothers" soon acquired a far-and- wide reputa- tion for mischief and frolic. But their natural gaiety of disposition, humour, and wit, saved them from getting into trouble. 12 The Last Earls of Barrymore. As a sort of peace-offering for their delin- quencies, the earl and his brothers and friends, would institute games of cricket, quoits, &c, among the villagers, and give a hat to be grinned for through a horse collar, a pair of boots to the best cudgeller, and a bunch of ribbons to the fleetest Atalanta. In these and similar amuse- ments, including recitations, and dramatic per- formances, given in an old barn turned into a temporary theatre, they passed their time at Wargrave. The drama was the earl's especial hobby, one for which he had natural ability ; this was destined to become a most expensive pleasure. Garrick's " Miss in her 'teens " was the favourite farce, given at these extemporaneous performances. The earl played Flash, his brother Henry, Pvff, and a Mr. Nassau, Miss Biddy. These histrionic attempts are said to have been creditable ; considering the eldest of the actors, — the earl — was not seventeen years of age ! But the restraint upon the earl, imposed by nonage, chafed sorely his enterprising spirit ; and to attain the ends in view, he determined to take steps early the next year to anticipate his majority. CHAPTER III. The earl learns the various ways of raising money — His entry into fashionable life — His character and appearance at this time — He makes Wargrave a place of residence — Description of the earl's hunting pageant a Louis Quatorze. The impetuous character of Lord Barrymore would not permit him to wait the short space of four years, to attain his majority; he therefore did what many had done before, and, as many will do again, in spite of legal enactments ; he resourced to Israelitish and other money lenders, who looked upon him as lawful prize. One of these gentry, who had acquired in his early career the sobriquet of " Black Dick," ingratiated himself with the youth, so far, indeed, as to become treasurer to him, for a time. Under the tuition of this person, the earl acquired a pro- found knowledge of the legal mysteries of mortgage, annuity, post obits, bills, interest, &c, created for the purpose of raising money. The ease with which he mastered the intricacies of these instruments, almost gained for him a legal reputation. His monetary arrangements concluded, the earl, in his eighteenth year, began to live in great splendour, setting up an establishment which for extent, variety, and taste, almost baffles i4 The Last Earls of Barrymore. faithful description. The display included a number of handsome equipages, with relays of carriage horses, all carefully selected, at great cost, and a crowd of hunters and hacks. The coachmen, footmen and grooms, were attired in sumptuous liveries, and proved a source of attrac- tion to the populace. The Earl of Barrymore at eighteen, was tall for his years, and before he attained his twenty- first year, was over six feet in height. He was slenderly built, and agile ; he frequently aston- ished the crowd on Newmarket Heath, by placing one hand on the saddle of bis horse, and vaulting over him. His social gifts were many and various, and their diversity enabled bim to enter any society at a moment's notice. This boyish Proteus could discourse one minute in the choicest French with a duchess in her boudoir; the next upon some debateable point as to the exact translation of a classic author, astonishing a learned pro- fessor by his knowledge. In almost the same breath he could speak the slang of the stable, the prize ring, and thieves' kitchen with as much volubility as if he had been born and bred in their midst. No situation came amiss to him, his wit and humour were boundless, and their magic dissipated gloom and drove dull care away from all with whom he came in contact. Many termed hirn the modern Duke of Bucking- ham ; " Everything by turns, and nothing long : ' and with respect to his volatile disposition, this saying had a certain amount of truth. Others Principal Featurks of Richard, 7T11 Earl. 15 said lie was a "revised edition ' of the Earl of Rochester, of King Charles the Second's time ; or that later eccentric Philip, Duke of Wharton, whom in many ways he resembled ; but he never offended by using blasphemous utterances like the former, and he did not possess the bad characteristics of the latter. He was gay, but not absurd, he was witty without being uncharitable, and to these natural gifts may be added those of a poet, painter, and musician ; though he did not foster any of those arts. In fact, whatever role he undertook, he excelled in, by intuitive genius. He was a proficient in athletic exercises; he could fence, box, or ride, against any man in the king- dom. Of course a person of these diversified parts, and also of his rank, could not escape observation, and remark. The purveyors of news and gossip in those times, took special care to animadvert on the earl, and his doings ; but he cared little what others said, or wrote of him. His chief aim was to live merrily, if not wisely, and to do all things " in style," which he emphasized with the oft- expressed : " D — n the expense." No individual ever acquired greater notoriety in a brief career, or lived up more resolutely to the lines : — " Happy's the man, and happy lie alone, He, who can call to-day his own. He, who, secure within himself, can say, To-morrow, do thy worst, for I have lived to-day. lie fair, or foul, or rain, or shine, The joys I have possessed, in spite of Fate are mine. Not Heaven, itself, upon the past has power. But, what haa been, has been, and I have lived my hour." The Earl of Barrymore, after the toils of 16 The Last Earls of Barrymore. starting an establishment, turned his mind to the scenes of his boyhood. Wargrave, near Twyford, Berks, was then, as it is now, a village, and then of even less importance than at present. Many of the earl's friends were at a loss to con- ceive what he could see in the spot, even for an occasional stay. In old times Wargrave was the burial place of some Saxon warriors, and at one time it possessed the ruins of a royal residence ; but beyond these historical associations, there is little worthy of note in the place. The prox- imity of the river Thames gives it a little charac- ter ; without, this village would scarce be known. But the earl's predilection for the place must be attributed to boyhood's memories combined with the fatherly care of an old and respected tutor. It was near this esteemed friend that the earl rented a small residence ; there being at the time, no house large enough to accommodate the whole of his retinue. However, the residence had sufficient ground attached, to permit of addi- tions being made from time to time. The stable accommodation at Wargrave being limited, the earl was obliged to rent some stabling at Twyford, an adjoining village. So soon as his horses, carriage and hacks, were installed, he began to cherish the idea of forming a hunting establishment. He had heard that a gentleman at Shiplake wished to dispose of his pack of hounds ; negotiations took place forthwith, which resulted in their purchase; and subsequently a kennel was erected at Wargrave. A Hunting Pageant. 17 The Earl now being prepared to take the " field," he startled the nobility and gentry of the neigh- bourhood, at the next meet, with the magnificence of his equipment, which was in the style of the "chasse" of Louis XfV. at Fontainbleau, rather than in that of a peer in his minority. Besides huntsmen, whippers-in, etc., all attired in the handsomest manner, and faultlessly horsed, there were four mounted negroes, in liveries of scarlet and silver, who ' wound ' the french horn. In fact the pageant eclipsed that of Colonel Thornton, who had previously been unequalled. The Earl had determined, that no game less than red deer should be hunted by his majestic train ; but how to procure the desired animals was the question. Messrs. Brookes and Gough, with others, the best known dealers, were applied to, but without much success. Nor was it until after many journeys combined with the most diligent inquiries, that four deer were procured at great cost, and placed in the diminutive paddock his lordship had had formed for their reception. One was lean and old ; the second was a bald- faced hind, almost blind ; the third an all but tame stag, 'picked up ' upon the skirts of Windsor Forest, and brought up by a gentleman at Warfield, whilst the fourth a handsome young deer, killed during the first hunt by the hounds, before the huntsmen could get up. The tame deer all but shared a similar fate, through not getting away when unboxed, but sidling up to the horses 1 8 The Last Earls of Barrymore. of the party whom he greeted, in his way, as old friends, having been formerly pastured with horses. The first and second deers were almost beyond sport, through their disabilities. There- fore Earl Barrymore, the following season, had to modify his ideas for the hunt. CHAPTER IV. The Earl of Barryniore's entry on the turf — Intuitive faculty for that sport — His connection with the Royal Circus, St. George's Fields — Purchases made hy the earl for his stud, 1788 — The sister and brothers of the earl. TriE Earl of Barrymore made his entree on the turf in 1787, at Newmarket, where he was introduced to the principal supporters of the "sport of kings" by the Duchess of Bolton, a lady who not only took great interest in the young man, but was also a devotee of the sport. Soon after he determined to form a stud, but did not purchase every " screw " or " cast off' offered. His first purchase was a filly named TaricOf bought from Colonel. O'Kelly of Eel 7 pse fame, who then owned some of the best horses in the country. With this animal Lord Barrymore made his first match, against a horse named Copernicus, owned by a Mr. Davis, an event his lordship's representative won ; and his success appears to have intensified his desire for the sport, which he now entered upon with spirit, and a determination to become one of its promi- nent supporters. For the pursuit the Earl possessed mucli ability ; the ease with which he mastered its c 2 20 The Last Earls of Barrymore. minor details was a matter for surprise, years of often bitter experience being required before a stud of race-horses can be managed so as even to pay their way. The Earl of Barrymore also showed remarkable judgment in handicapping horses, and was a keen observer of ' form,' both in his own and other's horses ; in fact, after a few meetings, he became almost as great an authority on these matters as Charles James Fox, the then master of the art, being called upon almost as often to place, or weight, horses for matches. Almost any other than this erratic young man would have fostered his natural abilities for so favourite a sport, but this versatile being could not let " well " alone. What he acquired by the turf was dissipated other ways, notably, at cards, a failing that is said to have been taken much advantage of by unprincipled persons. About this period his love of novelty and adventure induced the Earl to become a supporter, or part owner of the " Royal Circus " in St. George's Fields, now known as St. George's Circus. A portion of the site originally occupied by the " Royal Circus " is now that of the Surrey Theatre. The Royal Circus was opened circa 1782, in opposition to "Astley's," whose eques- trian performances then claimed a large share of public attention. The promoters of the new enterprise, therefore, thought they might share in the popularity accorded to Astley's. In this they were deceived, as it was found that, without The Earl and the "Royal Circus." 21 a constant succession of novel entertainments, the older establishment was still able to hold its own for the ordinary equestrian performances. Thus, when the Earl of Barrymore embarked upon this undertaking it became necessary that some entirely new attraction should be produced. With the consent of the other proprietors (amongst whom was the then Duke of Bedford) a " comic pantomime" so called, was written and produced by the pierrot Delphini. But the description of this piece does not coincide with the term " comic pantomime." It was named 11 The Four Quarters of the World," and appears to have been a sort of pageant. A procession emblematical of the divisions of the globe was put on the arena and stage. A sloping platform led from one to the other, which gave opportunity for tigers, lions, camels, leopards, etc., to be brought on. The entertainment concluded with a " real " stag hunt, a performance that many have witnessed of late years, but which was at that period new and startling. The Earl followed this new occupation with zeal for a time, and tried to stem the torrent — failure. His exertions, with those of the manager and performers, met with but feeble support from the public ; one by one the proprietors withdrew, and finally his lordship was compelled, for self- preservation, to do the same. Ultimately the "show " fell into the hands of a few adventurers, and went from " bad to worse," . until it was destroyed by fire. 22 The Last Earls of Barrymore. During 1788, the Earl of Barrymore added several horses to his racing stud, which now in- cluded many well-known animals : Elm, Alarm, Jerico, Grey Pumpkin, Sir Christopher, Rockingham, and others. These were purchased from the notorious Mr. Bullock, at high prices. For Rockingham, the earl gave 2500 guineas, but many thought him cheap at that figure ; others, the best bred horse in the kingdom, though he had all but completed his racing career. How far the performances of Rockingham warranted these assertions, the reader may judge for him- self. 1 The ' events ' recorded, are prior to Lord Barrymore's ownership. To the above mentioned were added Nimble, bought from Mr. Vernon. Feenoiv, Breioer, and Columbine, purchased from that master of the " Whip," and " Pigskin," Sir John Lade. Also Tipsey, Ventilator, Tinker, and Tiffany. This selection showed a considerable amount of judgment in horseflesh for one not yet out of " teens." The sister and brothers of the earl showed marked idiosyncrasies, and had various sobriquets bestowed upon them by, it is said, the Prince of Wales. To Lady Caroline Barry, " Billingsgate ' was accorded, because of her occasional indul- gence in epithets other than choice. To Richard, seventh Earl of Barrymore, " Hellgate." To Henry " Cripplegate," he, like Lord Byron, having a clubfoot. And to Augustus " Newgate," a strange cognomen for one in holy orders, 1 Appendix A. Some "Queer" Sobriquets. 23 acquired, it is said, by the fact, that the only prison lie was not personally acquainted with was that one. The authority for the statement, however, omits to say whether in his professiona capacity, or that of a 'resident,' but no doubt the reader might supply that omission after his perusal of this work. To these was added " Profligate " for their tutor, but this must have been for the tutor of Henry and Augustus, for it has been recorded, that the Revd. John Tickell of Wargrave was not deserving of that appellation. Lady Caroline Barry, when on a visit to France this year, 1788, married, at St. Germains, the Comte de Melfort, who had a fortune of 500,000 livres, 1 great grandson of John Drummond, Earl of Melfort, once Secretary of State for Scotland, who followed James IT. into exile, and for this allegiance was created by him Duke of Melfort. This title was confirmed after by the French King, Louis XIV. After his marriage, the Comte de Melfort came to England, where he stayed for some time, and entered with zeal into the sports and pastimes of his brothers-in-law. But, at last, for some reason, their sister's marriage was annulled. The Honourable Henry Barry was not gifted with the better traits of character and disposition which his elder brother possessed. 2 A gentleman who knew them all states in his memoirs thai Henry and Augustus were ten times more mis- 1 About :>0,0O0Z. sterling. Henry Angelo. 24 The Last Earls of Barrymore. chievous and profligate than their brother the earl, and utterly destitute of one of his many re- deeming qualities. It is thought that to these 1 honourable ' gentlemen is due much of the earl's bad reputation gained by yielding through good nature and brotherly love to the wiles of the graceless pair. In fact, even at this period when neither had left school, they showed a precocity that augured ill for their future careers. Harry or Henry Angelo, a celebrated fencing master, instructed the earl in the use of arms, and became his friend, often accompanied Lady Caroline's playing on the harpsichord with his flute, a valuable instrument with silver keys. One day the flute was missing from its accustomed place, and all efforts to find it were fruitless. Some months after, Angelo was told by a person who styled himself " Joe the Conjuror," an exponent of all games of cards, " fourberie," that " New- gate " had "left" the flute at an avuncular relative's in Jermyn Street, as one of the means of providing for a trip to Newmarket. Another expedient adopted by them, Angelo affirms, for a similar purpose, was to put up to auction at a dinner party given by the earl, after the cloth was removed, any and every thing of value obtained on credit. The individual who bore the cognomen " Joe the Conjuror," a German by birth, is said to have instructed the younger Barrys in some of his rascalities. But whether this were so or not, they showed scant respect for their alleged in- "Joe," tiik Conjuror. 25 structor. "Joe" had allowed his hair to grow so long that he was able to sport a queue, of which he was very proud. This offended Henry and Augustus Barry, who one afternoon plied " Joe " with brandy until he was drunk, then cut off his " tail " and threw it out of window. When " Joe " recovered, he swore to be revenged, and threatened legal and other proceedings. A douceur, however, prevented these threats from being put into effect, but this precious pair were never afterwards " at home " to " Joe " when he called. CHAPTER V. A stag hunt near Wargrave by the earl's hounds — The Earl of Barrymore's record at the First Spring Meeting, New- market, 1788 — A whimsical bet — The earl bestows his patronage on the "prize ring" — Further account of the earl's racing successes — A match made by Earl Barrymoro for which he had to pay forfeit. Pending the commencement of the racing season at Newmarket, Earl Barry more pursued his hunting and other sports at Wargrave. The following incident occurred on February 27th, 1788. The earl had "turned out" one of his best deer at Maidenhead Tbicket ; the animal gave the hounds a good run for an hour and a half, and at length jumped through the open window of the dining-room at Mr. Neville's house, Lowbrook, greatly to the alarm of a servant who was occupied in the room, but who, fortun- ately, had sufficient presence of mind to close the door leading to the inner portions of the house. Upon the deer finding his progress stopped, he returned by the way he had entered. Soon after the hounds came up " full cry," rushed into the room, where they made a terrible havoc in scent- ing their prey, but not finding the quarry they likewise departed by the way they had come. The Earl Marks a Curious Wager 27 The deer ran to Walton before he was re- taken, and gave the earl and friends another good run a few weeks after. The Racing Calendar for 1788, is the first that contains the Earl of Barrymore's name as one of its subscribers, and also records the racing colours of the earl : broad blue and yellow stripes, similar to those of two well-known supporters of the turf of our own time, the late Baron Roths- child, and Mr. F. Gretton, albeit, the latter gentle- man styled his " purple and orange." ' The Earl of Barrymore was anxious the sup- porters and frequenters of the turf should witness the " form " of his stable, then under the care of the well-known Perren. He therefore made his first racing appearance this year, 1788, on the 12th March, during the First Spring Meeting. 2 In one event his lordship's representative upset the favourite, who started with seven to four on. 2 Lord Barrymore also won other races. The ' odds' against his horses winning was no doubt taken advantage of by him. During the above mentioned meeting, the earl made a bet with the Duke of Bedford for a large sum, that he would produce a man who should eat a 'live cat.' A curious wager, discreditable to both parties concerned, thai attracted much notice at the time, some members of the " pre-- " being active in their researches for previous 1 The racing colours of Homy, eighth ami lasl Earl of Harry- more, in 1805, are registered as " purple and orange." - See Appendix B. 28 The Last Earls of Barrymore. specimens of brutality. One chronicler related that for a wager of 50/., a fellow who resided near Kildare, devoured five live fox cubs. But it is only fair for ' humanity's sake,' to state that this person was little better than an idiot, being deaf and dumb, and without a palate. Another journalist recites, that a tall raw-boned shepherd, (' gentle ' he could not have been) of some forty summers, a resident of Beverley, Yorks, did devour a live cat for a wager of 5/., a few years anterior to Lord Barrymore's bet. It was pro- bably this person whom the earl had in mind to employ to accomplish the feat for him. I am pleased to state that no authentic record can be found of the performance of this revolting wager. Many disciples of Nimrod of the present day, would consider what has been already narrated of the Earl of Barrymore's sporting proclivities, sufficient, but he did not (though his attention had at this period begun to be diverted to the drama) ; he therefore added the patronage of the prize ring, just beginning to be fostered by sporting members of the nobility and gentry. A few of the principal supporters of the ' ring ' were the Prince of Wales, the Dukes of York and Clarence, the Duke of Hamilton, General Fitzpatrick, Mr. Wyndham, Alderman Coombe, and the Earl of Barrymore. The event of importance ' within the ropes ' this year was the meeting of Humphries and Mendoza, for four hundred guineas, at Odiham, Hampshire. The Karl Patronizes tiik "Fancy." 29 The encounter took place on a twenty-four foot stage, raised to permit of their patrons viewing the contest to advantage. It is not proposed to give a detailed account of the fight, which i-nded in Humphries' favour, and occasioned much com- ment at the time, for it was deemed a scientific contest, and lent impetus to the pursuit, not onl y by the notice given it by the 'press' of thai period, but by the establishment of ' academies ' to teach the ' art.' These were conducted by various candidates for pugilistic 'honours,' with results no doubt, in a pecuniary sense, beneficial to themselves. At the Second Spring fleeting, Newmarket, the same year, the Earl of Barrymore was credited with some matches and races. 1 The events lost by his lordship's stable were principally confined to open handicaps, in which the earl had no scope to show his special gift for handicapping, as he could in a match. A race which took place at Newmarket, on the 23rd of April, 1788, is conspicuous for two facts. First, the opening race for the Macaroni Stakes of one hundred guineas each, h.t*., (then for) horses that had never won a plate or match of twenty pounds. Six years old and aged hor> to carry twelve stone. All others, List. 71bs., D.C. For this there were ven subscribers; and was won by the Prince of Wales's chestnut colt, Pegcbsus, by Eclipse, four years, ridden by a Mr. Braddyll. Second, for the 1 See Appendix C. 30 The Last Earls of Barrymore. first public appearance in the " pigskin," of the Earl of Barrymore, who rode his horse Sweet- william, although in this essay, he did not catch the judge's eye. On the following days, April 24th, and 25th, the Earl's stable " pulled off " two events. 1 But Saturday, April 26th, was a real "red letter" day for the Earl of Barrymore's stud, 2 for every match or other event entered for, was won, and as the first consisted of four matches made by him, it is clear that his ability for handicapping has not been over-estimated. On this memorable occasion, his lordship's first success in the " pigskin ' was in a match against Sir George Armytage's Star- gazer, ridden by the jockey Jewison, 8st. 4lb., the Earl riding his own horse Rockingham, 8st. 121b. It is mentioned in connection with this match, that three mounted jockeys were placed at various parts of the course, to show the Earl the way. But the old horse Rockingham^ scorned their united assistance ; as the competitors had no sooner been sent on their " mission," than Rock- ingham bolted with the Earl, and when across the flat, was leading Stargazer by a quarter of a mile. To prevent injury to his lordship, the doors of the "rubbing house" stable were closed, and precautions taken. These fortunately proved un- necessary, for the sagacious Rockingham stopped of his own accord at the winning post. Betting four to one on Rockingham. The Earl of Barrymore's zeal in making matches, 1 See Appendix D. " See Appendix E. A Ret Redeemed by " Sonc." 31 often led him to undertake more than he was able to perform ; the following will suffice as an example. Lord Barrymore laid the Duke of Bed- ford a large sum, that he would " weight" a horse belonging to another member of the turf, who should run against, and beat a horse in his Grace's stable, carrying a specified weight. But, the Earl had " betted," (not " reckoned ") with- out first consulting the horse's owner ; and the latter, when his lordship acquainted him with the match he had made, refused to permit his horse to run, saying, " he could make and manage his own engagements." As this was a "play " or " pay " match, the Earl was upon the " horns of a dilemma," and at once sought the Duke at the Jockey Club, Newmarket, and explained his difficulty, concluding by saying he was prepared to pay forfeit for his over zealousness. The Duke of Bedford then suggested as a compromise, that he had heard mention of the Earl's epi- grammatical powers, and, if he would exercise them there to his Grace's satisfaction, he would forego the bet. He was to write a song, on his churlish sporting associate, the first letter of each line to be one contained in the name of that person, with the term "Esquire' 1 annexed, to- gether with his place of abode in town. To this task the Earl of Barrymore agreed, wrote the words required in the form of a song, and sang it, with applause, before the members of the Jockey Club. Whereon his Grace put his pencil through the entry in his betting book. CHAPTER VI. The Earl of Barrymore appears in the saddle at Ascot — Al fresco entertainments at Wargrave — The earl as a " whip " and postilion — The Honourable Henry Barry's character as a rider— The earl's hackney coach freak — His turf record for 1788 continued — Rachi" at Lewes and Brighton — He plays the role of " crier " — Buys a horse with only two faults. The Earl of Barrymore, after the events narrated, gave his stud at Newmarket a rest ; though he put in an appearance at " Black " Ascot where, on May 27th, 1788, he rode his mare Columbine, in a sweepstake race of one hundred guineas each, but could only get second. At the close of this meeting, he went down to his favourite country resort, Wargrave, where he made merry with his friends, and gave al-fresco dinners, and other entertainments. Some of these were held upon one of the numerous islets with which the Thames abounds, others in Blake's Wood near Wargrave. On several occasions, the Earl and his friends would prepare the repast them- selves, and dig from the earth as required, wines of the choicest brands, previously buried there by the servants, who would mark the spot in some pre-arranged way. The Earl A la " Colonel Ouagg." 33 At other times his lordship's guests would be preceded by a small hand waggon, drawn by two or three servants, who would, on arriving at a selected sylvan spot, pitch a tent, and therein spread a sumptuous cold collation. The Earl would then ask his guests to imagine themselves in the " Forest of Arden," and drive away care by song and revelry. The power of fascination possessed by this eccentric person was so great, that men of most demure and discreet natures, were induced to fall in with his whims and humours, frequently in spite of the resolutions they had formed to resist his wiles. In fact it was often said, that the starched gravity of a quaker would have yielded to Barrymore's seductions. Therefore it may be imagined, that many were laid low at his convivial gatherings by potations other than wise. Yet the host himself, for the custom of that riotous ao-e. was as a rule, but a moderate drinker and eater. These entertainments were diversified by driving, riding, cricket, and other pursuits. The earl became one of the best ' whips ' in the king- dom. Sometimes when he was driving along the Bath road, waggoners would stay his progress by monopolizing the ' crown ' of the road, or by not keeping to the * near ' side. If upon remon- strance, one used bad or uncivil language, the earl would stop, jump down, and thrash the ill-mannered churl ; and if, like " Colonel Quagg," he took it ' quietly,' or ' laying down,' the earl P 34 The Last Earls of Barrymore. would give the fellow a guinea as a solace to his bruises. If the offender on the contrary took it * fighting,' sometimes his lordship would get worsted, when he would shake hands with his antagonist, and wish him better manners for the future. A favourite freak of the earl's was to take some of his guests back to London, without announcing to them his intention to act as 'Jehu' or ' post-boy,' but simply that he and his brother Henry would accompany them. On the chaise being drawn up at the door, the returning guests -would be re- quested to take their seats, but not to ' monopolize all the room,' as he and his brother would presently join them. But, as soon as they were seated, the cloor would be shut with a bang, and off the chaise would go helter-skelter. The affrighted occupants, thinking the horses had bolted, would put their heads out of the windows, and beseech passers-by to stop the supposed runaway animals. As every request of this kind did but lend additional impetus to the speed of the vehicle, it was soon dis- covered that the post-boys had started off with a determination ' to break the record ' or their necks. The bumped and bruised occupants would now offer bribes for the post-boys to stay their wild career. These would be followed by entreaties, and threats of vengeance ; these one and all were useless. At last, the occupants would take refuge in the straw, to save themselves from being jolted out of window. Upon the first stage being reached, the door on each side would Post-Ciiaise Vagaries. 35 be flung open, and tbe affrighted passengers asked how they had enjoyed their ride, so far, 'if the pace was to their liking,' &c, &c, and before these sentences were finished, the jolted travellers would discover in the truculent post- boys, the earl and his brother Henry. The latter, although not equal to his brother, the earl, as a jockey on the flat, or so good a judge of ' pace ' and ' form,' excelled him as a rider in other respects, notably in the field, where he was bold to desperation. The earl, on the contrary, would one day plunge with his horse into the Thames, and swim him across to the opposite bank ; and, the next day he would hesitate to take a fence, hedge, or bush, that a boy on a pony would 'negotiate.' His brother Henry was utterly devoid of fear when in the saddle, a matter for surprise when his infirmity is remembered. 1 On going to or from London in a post chaise, the earl and his brother when a few miles on the road, would stop the vehicle, and chauge jackets and places with the post-boys, whom they would rattle along in a more than ' professional ' style, till they wished themselves the drivers, instead of the driven. Another freak of the earl's about this period, was to hire a hackney coach, when accompanied by others as ' harum scarum ' as himself, he would drive along Oxford ' Road ' as then called. 1 Referring to his ' club foot,' he often said, he ought to wear the spur on the toe instead of the heel ! P 2 36 The Last Earls of Barrymore. During their progress, the earl would mimic the cries of a woman in distress ; these sounds always attracted some Briton, St. George-like ever ready to do battle for the fair, who would stop the coach, whereupon his lordship and friends would alight, and belabour the interposer for his impertinence. However, these and other vagaries of this noble roysterer, were mere interludes in his sporting and dramatic pastimes. For the latter, the earl was forming grandiose plans, in fact, he desired, like every devotee ' of the boards,' to have a theatre of his own, though he did not yet put his wishes into effect. Towards the end of July, 1788, the Earl of Barrymore resumed racing 1 at Chelmsford and Lewes. The latter meeting witnessed a match between horses owned by the earl and Sir John Lade, ridden by their respective owners. Sir John might as regards age and experience on the turf, have been looked upon as a ' master,' and the Earl of Barrymore, a pupil in the school of racing. But in the result the pupil beat the master. The Earl of Barrymore while at Brighton in October of this year, 1788, rode in some horse matches, made while breakfasting with the Prince of Wales at the pavilion. These took place on the 13th. The Prince of Wales drove Lady Archer in his curricle, drawn by a pair of fine greys to the starting post, which was opposite Mrs. Fitzherbert's windows, on the Steine. As 1 See Appendix F, Charles James Fox. 37 these matches do not appear in the Racing Calendar, I give them here. The first match was between the Earl of Barrymore, and his brother Henry, both mounted on ponies, this Henry Barry won easily ; the second between the Comte de Melfort and a Mr. Lee, this the Comte won ; the third included the Earl, his brother, and Mr. Lee, which the Earl won ; the fourth was con- tested by his lordship, and Mr. Lee, who rode a horse belonging to the Prince, and won. The fifth, and last match, was between the Earl and his brother Henry, the latter again beat his lordship, and thus won the stakes. The Prince of Wales was much pleased at the jockeyship all round. The so-termed "back end" of the racing season this year, 1788, served to add to the Earl's racing laurels ; and towards the end of September, his lordship, though still under age, is found measuring himself with Charles James Fox, the recognized master of the art of handi- capping at that time, 1 whose representative started with the odds on him, but was beaten by the Earl's less fancied filly. Another judicious match, 2 run on September 30th, made by the Earl against another turf veteran's 3 representative, fell to his lord- ship. The following month at the second October meeting, on the 1-lth, the Earl of Barrymore's representative won another match against a colt owned by Charles James Fox ; in fact, the same animal his lordship's filly had 1 Appendix G. : Appendix II. 3 Lord Clermont. 38 The Last Earls of Barrymore. defeated the previous meeting, though the Earl's representative was changed. It is possible Mr. Fox may have been dissatisfied with his colt's running, and matched him this time against a colt of Lord Barrymore's to show his true form; however, the ultimate result was the same. But the most important antagonist the Earl pitted his stable against, this meeting, was the Duke of Queensberry, the ever-green " Old Q " whose racing career will be remembered, and spoken of, and referred to, as long as horse racing flourishes at Newmarket. For some forty years, had his Grace, first as Earl of March and Ruglen, owned, bred, and raced horses ; in fact, was looked upon as the shrewdest of owners. The Earl of Barrymore did not let that reputation stop him against matching a favourite performer 1 of his own against one of his Grace's for 500 guineas, his lordship's horse conceding 2 lb. to the Duke's. The ring quickly followed "his Grace," as their successors in after years did " the Baron," and made his horse favourite with odds of 6 and 7 to 4 on. This must have been a fine opportunity for the Earl to make good any previous losses, as his representative won. On the last day of this meeting, the Earl's representative won another 1 match against a horse owned by Lord Clermont. His lordship could hardly have had better proof of the quality and form of his stable, than the results shown by 1 Appendix H. Buys a Horse with "Two Faults." them at this time, the racing studs of the Duke of Queensberry, Lord Clermont, and Charles James Fox, being high class, and efficient in all respects at this period. Lord Barrymore's wit and humour was shown at Newmarket, as much as at other places better adapted for its display. Coming from his stables there, one day along the High Street, he stopped of a sudden, and began to call out lustily, Oh, yesl Oh, yes ! Oh, yes ! after the manner of the orthodox criers. So soon as a sufficient crowd had collected, the earl submitted this offer. " Who wants to buy a horse, that can walk five miles an hour, trot eighteen and gallop thirty." " I do," said several of the bystanders in the same breath. "Then depend upon it," said the earl, " if I hear of any such prodigy for sale, I will let you all know." He then turned on his heel and walked quietly down the street, followed by the laughter of his audience, who, now saw they had been 1 sold.' Nor did the earl fail to improve his knowledge of hippology, at any, and every opportunity. Being once at Henley fair, a horse " coping " joskin approached him, and after pulling his fore- lock, scratching his head, twisting the straw in his mouth, and otherwise following the fashion of his kind, asked the earl in the true confi- dential style of a horse dealer, " If he vanted to buy a noice galding." " Is he o-ood for anything ? " asked the earl. 40 The Last Earls of Barrymore. " Very, my lud, lie 'as but two foolts." " What's the figure ? " " Twanty guineas." " I'll take him ; and now, the deal concluded, tell me his brace of faults ? " " The fust, my lud, is, if he's lat loose in a padduck, ye can't val cotch 'im agin." " That can soon be remedied by not putting him out to grass ; but what of his other fail- ing P" "Vy, that my lud, to tel' the rale trowth is muir dastrassin', fur ven yu cotched 'im, he be'ant wurth the trooble." The earl laughed heartily at being taken in by the horse-coper, and afterwards acknowledged it was a case of the " engineer being hoisted by his own petard." CHAPTER VII. Conclusion of the Earl of Barrymore's racing record for 1788 — Some account of Sir John Lade — Dr. Johnson's verses on Sir John's coming of age — The Earl of Barrymore's fancy for founding convivial clubs — An example of these : the Bothering Club. At the Houghton meeting, Newmarket, October, 1788, the Earl of Barrymore's racing stud fully maintained its character. 1 The number of racing engagements that he entered into this year was one hundred and four. This, for a beginner, cannot be said to err on the side of prudence, particularly as experience has to be purchased on the turf, as in most other sporting pursuits. The volatile earl heeded this but little ; if he had taken to racing seriously — could an individual of his temperament do so — he might have carried on his other extravagancies almost with im- punity. Sir John Lade, who has already been alluded to as a great supporter of the turf at this time, played from time to time an important part in the career of the Earl of Barrymore. Therefore, some particulars of this "last of the Lades'' will not now be out of place. 1 See Appendix I. 42 The Last Earls of Barrymore. Sir John's ancestors were long settled at "Warbleton, Sussex, and a member of the family was made a baronet, 1730, but the title became extinct in 1746-47, through failure of male issue. Thus Sir John Lade left most of his property to his cousin, John Inskipp, who assumed the name of Lade, and was made a baronet in 1758 ; he died some years later, leaving a posthumous heir, the Sir John of this notice, in ward to his uncle, Mr. Thrale of Southwark and Streatham. This gentleman was the friend of Dr. Samuel Johnson, with whom the young baronet was frequently brought in contact. It is said the learned doctor found ample food for philosophy in the wild and reckless character of Sir John. In fact the ' wilclness' of his friend's ward led the doctor to indite the following verses upon Sir John's majority: — " Long-expected one-and-twenty, Ling'ring year at length is flown ; Pride and pleasure, pomp and plenty, Great Sir John, are now thine own. Loosened from the minor's tether, Free to mortgage or to sell ; Wild as wind, and light as feather, Bid the Sons of Thrift farewell. Call the Betsy's, Kates, and Jennies, All the names that banish care ; Lavish of your grand sire's guineas, Show the spirit of the heir. All that prey on Vice and Folly Joy to see their quarry fly ; There's the gamester light and jolly, There's the lender grave and sly. Sir John Lade, Bart. 43 Wealth, my lad, was made to wander, Let it wander as it will ; Call the jockey, call the pander, Bid them come and take their fill. When the bonny blade carouses, Pockets full and spirits high, What are acres ? What are houses ! Only dirt, wet or dry ! Should the guardian friend or mother, Tell the woes of wilful waste, Scorn their counsels, scorn their pother, You can hang or drown at last." Of course the sage did not frame these verses to present to the baronet, or for any purpose connected with Sir John's coming of age. In fact, after writing, he kept them by him for some time; but at last presented them to Mrs. Thrale with a request that they should not be shown to anyone. However, some years later that lady included them in a book she wrote. She also relates in a later work, " Johnsoniana," how the doctor levelled another shaft at Sir John Lade (then of age). This occurred at her house at Streatham. The house party being assembled one evening round the fire in the drawing-room, Sir John asked the doctor in a somewhat dis- respectful manner, — " Mr. Johnson, would you advise me to marry ? " The doctor answered, — " I would advise no man to marry, sir, who is not likely to propagate understanding," and, rising from his chair, left the room. Sir John appeared dumbfounded, but, before 44 The Last Earls of Barrymore. he recovered his wonted demeanour, the doctor returned and, taking his accustomed seat, joined in the conversation, which he gradually led to the married state, expressing some learned opinions on that blissful condition. It is possible the doctor was thinking what might happen were his hostess to become a widow. Mr. Thrale died shortly after this, having made Dr. Johnson one of his executors. In due time, it is said, Dr. Johnson made Mrs. Thrale an offer, which the lady declined. Mrs. Thrale afterwards married Mr. Piozzi, by whose name she is better known to the reading public, than by that of Thrale. Her first marriage gave her wealth, Mr. Thrale being a brewer in Southwark, in fact he owned the brewery now known as Barclay, Perkins & Co. Dr. Johnson's verses were prophetic of the career of Sir John Lade. It was probably their similarity — recklessness — that made the Earl of Barrymore tend towards Sir John, but it is only fair to admit, that the earl possessed abilities of which the other was destitute. During his ephemeral existence, the Earl of Barrymore founded many social and convivial (so- called) clubs, some of which had his own places of residence for headquarters, others were housed at hostelries in town, Wargrave, and its neigh- bourhood. One of the first of these was the " Bothering," whose principal meetings were held at his lord- ship's residence, Wargrave, for the purpose of The "Bothering" Cur. 45 playing jokes, by confederates, on new guests or visitors. Some minister of the earl's ' Court of Folly ' would say during dinner to the selected victim : — '* Allow me the pleasure of taking wine with you, Mr. Shufflebottom." " With great pleasure, sir ! but my name is not Shufflebottom, it is Bonsor." " You joke, sir ! Come ! let us toast one another, but upon my word, you are the image of Mr. Shufflebottom, my neighbour in Elbow Lane, that I could have sworn to it." " I assure you, sir, I know no gentleman who bears that name." The next moment a confederate enters, first apologizing to his lordship for being late, turns and exclaims, — " Oh ! who do I see ? why, my old friend Shufflebottom. Dear me ! this is a pleasure." "You err, sir," the perplexed guest would asseverate. " I am not Mr. Shufflebottom, but Charles Ezekiel Bonsor." At which the table, learned in the art of mystifying, would break into a roar. The bewildered visitor w r ould then glance around for the friend who had brought, and intro- duced him. But that individual had discreetly left the room. On not finding his friend, the visitor would then appeal to his lordship; his answer was, as a rule, — " He did not know what to think, but thought appearances against his guest," who still said 46 The Last Earls of Barrymore. lie was Charles Ezekiel Bonsor, and no other person. Whereon someone would say, — " Hang it, Shufflebottom, you're ' smoked.' " " What do you mean, sirrah ? " " Why, my good sir ! Ha ! ha ! ha ! ha ! Ho ! ho ! ho ! ho ! that you are simply Jacob Shufflebottom, mousetrap and nutmeg-grater maker of Elbow Lane, and the greatest wag in Christendom." Others would supplement this pleasantry (?) by divers assertions, while some would artfully contrive to ply the astonished guest with wine, until, what with his perplexities, and the fumes of the wine, he forgot whether he was really Bonsor or Shufflebottom. CHAPTER VIII. The Earl of Barrymore erects a theatre at Wargrave — The building — The first performances held therein — The earl and his team of "greys " — Makes further additions to his stud — Some account of its performances during 1789 — The earl acts as his own check-taker on a " theatre evening " — His kindness to distressed friends. As an interlude in his racing and sporting pas- times, the Earl of Barrymore, during the year 1788, built opposite his cottage at Wargrave, 1 a theatre modelled after the then late Opera House, which was erected by Mr. Cox, formerly of the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden. This little theatre was considered the most handsome and luxurious in the kingdom. Stage machinery was a special feature, as the earl purposed to produce pantomimes. The scenery was painted by Messrs. Young and Emmanuel. The wardrobe, which cost two thousand pounds, was supplied by the best costumiers of the day. In fact from first to last the earl expended something like sixty thou- sand pounds on this theatre alone. It was com- puted that the histrionic displays given in it, had 1 A spot that is now walled and laid out as a garden, and an appurtenance to his lordship's cottage, now dignified hy the title of " Barrymore House." 48 The Last Earls of Barrymore. been the means of many thousands of pounds being disbursed in Wargrave and its neighbour- hood by the numerous visitors, who came from all parts to attend the performances. These visitors were of all ranks, from the Prince of Wales to the yokel ; for the earl generously gave the villagers an opportunity ' to see the play ' on certain nights during his theatrical season. Adjoining the theatre was a sumptuous salon, for the reception of visitors. Between the acts refreshments were served here from a recess, by six stalwart footmen in liveries of scarlet and gold. The illumination of this salon and theatre, was effected by twenty-eight handsome cut glass chandeliers ; and over the niche alluded to, was displayed the armorial bearings of the Barrymores fully emblazoned. The ' professional ' managers of the Earl's theatre were John Edwin the younger, and 4 Anthony Pasquin ;' the latter was the nom-de- plume of J. W. Williams, a person who afterwards obtained unenviable notoriety ; Mr. Williams also filled two other posts in the earl's service, those of poet laureate and secretary. Soon after the inauguratiou of the theatre, a special performance was given on the 25th January, 1789, to which all the surrounding gentry, together with some bon vivants from London, were invited. On this evening the Earl of Barrymore played Brass, in the Confederacy and Sebastian in the Midnight Hour, but did not appear to advantage in the latter character, Ball at Henley. 49 although his Brass, coupled with the Dick of Harry Angelo, caused much amusement, and won applause. This was a marked improvement on the Earl's appearance at Brighton the previous September, 1788, as Captain Bobadil in Every Man in his Humour, before H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, &c, &c, when his lordship was ridiculed. To celebrate the opening of bis theatre, the Earl gave, early in February, 1789, a supper followed by a ball at March's Rooms, Henley, where a well-designed transparency was exhibited in honour of the event. On the Saturday preceding this, the last performance for the winter months at his lordship's theatre took place ; the Earl on this occasion supplemented his own amateur com- pany with Mr. Thornton's, lessee of the Reading Theatre; this additional force improved the representation of the pieces selected for perform- ance. After the play, visitors, guests, and actors, were entertained with lavish hospitality, which was particularly appreciated by the actors. The Earl of Barrymore at this period still wanted a few months of his majority, but months, days, or hours, were equally unimportant in this respect to this vivacious and precocious youth. He allowed nothing in the shape of money as long as he was able, to stand in the way of his desires. Therefore, seeing one day Lord Sefton " tooling " a team of handsome greys, he immedi- ately wanted to emulate, or outdo him, and for this purpose every horse-dealer in London was 1: 50 The Last Earls of Barrymore. visited ; cost in this, as in all other gratifica- tions, being of little or no importance. The animals desired were found, after much trouble, and purchased with admitted judgment, as to their points and matching. This team excited both admiration and envy when driven by the Earl in the street, the park, or on the course at New- market. They figured at the latter place at the First Spring Meeting of 1789, yoked to a particu- larly smart phaeton. It was at this time that the Earl of Barrymore thought of going into the army, a project which furnished small talk to the Earl's numerous friends and acquaintances. One of these, in- forming a Major Ramsay of this intention, the son of Mars replied : " That to the French service, he might carry strong recommendation, he having made the Scotch (Scots) Grey's fly before him." His lordship this year, 1789, made further additions to his racing stud, although his ex- penses must have been — like the " great majority ' : — always on the increase, what with the addition of his theatricals, balls, and other entertainments ; but of this no heed was taken by the " madcap " Earl. He bought from Sir John Lade the then well-known horse Snowball, also Highflyer, Skiff, Tom Thumb, Smoke the Captain, Pallafox, and Toss from others, which with those already acquired made a long and expensive " string " of animals in training. To follow the performances of the Earl's racing stud, would be, not only beyond the scope of the present work, but tedious Racing at Ascot and Newmarket. 51 for any but a professed racing authority to "wade" through. I therefore transfer some of its principal winning records to an appendix, 1 where the Earl will be found pursuing his match- making against Mr. Charles James Fox, Sir Charles Bunbury, and others. A race, which took place at Ascot 1 this year (1780), is singular by three out of the six com- peting owners, viz., Comte de Melfort, Lord Barry- more, and the Hon. Henry Barry, all relatives, only going to the post, who finished in the order named, but the Earl claimed the race on the score of being crossed by the Comte de Melfort, and the stewards allowed it. It is an old axiom with racing men, to a certain degree true, "that it is not the weight, but blood will tell." This appears to have been the Earl of Barrymore's justification for a match l he made at an October Meeting at Newmarket against a horse owned by the Duke of Queens- berry, who carried four stone less, and received a beating, though the ring thought he could not lose, only taking the odds of 5 to 2 in his favour ; but it should be said the Earl's representative wai five years old, and his Grace's two. The number of races in which the Earl's horses competed in 1789 was ninety-four, of which only twenty were awarded "winning brackets," leaving seventy-four to the debit side of the racing ledovr, a circumstance to be regretted, when it has been shown how the Earl might have obtained more 1 Appendix J. E 2 52 The Last Earls of Barry more. favourable results. Therefore, it is not matter for surprise, to find the following allusion to the Earl of Barrymore's affairs in a chronicle of those days : " Lord Barrymore is beginning to profit from his experience on the turf, at an age when few young men of fashion, have entered on its follies. He has full time to retrieve his fortune and fame from such predominant follies." The Earl, with a view to making his racing colours popular, attired his coachman and foot- man in dark blue livery coats, with large yellow capes. But this was more than " Coachee," and " Jeames and Chawles," could stand ; they finally gave his lordship notice to quit his service, when they said : the " lower ordurs " took them for in- famous characters, clad in a penitential garb, which affected their " locus standi " so much, that even credit was denied them by " pussons," who before were only too anxious to " sarve 'em." This expostulation determined the Earl to form some less obnoxious way to parade his racing colours. During the Earl of Barrymore's theatrical season at Wargrave, the tickets, or cards of admission and invitation, would be issued en bloc, for various nights in the week. One evening his lordship took it into his head to stand at the en- trance to the theatre, and act as his own check- taker, when a sturdy farmer entered and handed him an order for admission, dated for the previous evening. " This won't do," said the Earl, " you should have got one dated for this evening." The Earl as his own Chkcktaker. 53 " Vy noa ! that's be's mur' than Fs bargined fur. An' I needs must tel' thee a bit of my moind. Fs got that thar ordur frum 'oon of my lud's sarvants, fur to see this 'ere show ; an' if it be's ya' doan't let I in, I'll tal' Tummas, my lud's foitmun, an' he'll git thee turned away." " That's a most grievous piece of news, indeed," said the earl ; " but sure now, you won't be so cruel." " Com' ! com' ! " answered the relenting yeo- man. " Yoi be's a gude dacant koind of chap, an' I'll tel' 'ee what I'll do. Vy ! if you'l be agrable, vy, I'll be agrable, joost to obleege." "To oblige, then," said the Earl, "I will be agreeable for once in a way." " Then th' short of the matter be, I'll giv' thee a shalling to pas' me in, an' we'll say no mur' aboot it." The noble amateur accepted the proposal, and the farmer entered the theatre. On the Earl's going into the green room, soon after, he recited his adventure with glee ; though he believed himself liable to be brought before Mr. Justice Chase, at Reading, for taking money for admission to an unlicensed play- house. When the jovial farmer was told it was Lord Barrymore with whom he had negotiated his entrance, he exclaimed, with the true indcpenden feeling of a British yeoman, " Veil, an' if he be's a Lud, what cares I. I's Mr. Xeville's tenant, an' pay's my rent ven due, and cares nothin' for 54 The Last Earls of Barrymore. nobody, not I. Odd's rabbit ! if he vanted to be's treated as a gintlemon, vy did lie not tal' me he vas a gintlemon." Another diversion of the earl's, on a theatre evening, was to slip out after the performance, in a yokel's habiliments from the theatrical ward- robe, and then mix with the visitors coming out of the theatre. If he heard any criticism passed depreciatory of a performer, or upon others, they always heard of it from the Earl at supper, ex- aggerated with all his powers of wit and raillery. As it is " a poor heart that never rejoices," so it is a more than bad one that does not contain, metaphorically, a little of the milk of human kind- ness for others, if only shown at remote intervals. The Earl of Barrymore, with all his foibles, and means, as well as opportunities to indulge them, could, and did feel for, and assist a friend, or even an acquaintance in distress, especially so if the unfortunate person had in any way rendered him a service or kindness at any time. One example will substantiate this. His lordship, while a youth at Wargrave, had received many favours from a retired officer, Captain Josias Taylor ; whatever these were it is sufficient to know the Earl remembered them, and having heard, after he had left the Rev. John Tickell's tuition, that his old warrior friend had been arrested for debt, and thrown into jail, he went to the place where the old soldier was incarcerated, and proffered the contents of his pocket-book to discharge the debt and costs. This Captain The Milk of Human Kindness." 55 Taylor gratefully declined, as his arrest had been effected unjustly. The captain interrogated his would-be benefactor as to why he had sought him. His lordship declined to answer, but again urged the acceptance of his pocket-book, the captain remaining firm in his refusal. The Earl of Barrymore, finding he was foiled in his en- deavours to return the veteran to the bosom of his family, contrived with consummate tact and delicacy, to make such arrangements with his custodian as would render the stout-hearted old officer's detention as comfortable as possible. CHAPTER IX. Pugilism at Wargrave — Hooper " the Tinman's' - ' adventure at Yauxhall Gardens — Marriage of Sir John Lade — Who the " lady " was — The Earl of Barrymore's Wargrave residence, and its accommodation — The Earl's peculiarities — Dining and diners at Wargrave. The theatrical representations and hunting were not the only entertainments this erratic Earl afforded his guests. He would diversify these by boxing, or pugilistic matches, for which he would engage some of the most noted members of the ring, who would " be put up " at the " George," not as some affirm at his cottage. 1 Here at one time were located Johnson, Big-Ben, Hooper 'the Tinman,' The Brothers Ward, and Jackson. With these professors of the art of self- defence, the Earl amused his guests, who would be asked to take a " bout," only to find themselves "knocked out of time," much to the amusement of his lordship, and those who had had previous experience of these encounters. An outcome of this form of entertainment (?) was the retention of Tom Hooper as pugilistic tutor ; although the pupil had already acquired as much 1 Next door but one to that hostelry. Hooper, ' the Tinman.' 57 knowledge of the art as a pugilist, therefore, Hooper's post became all but a sinecure. Hooper was also known as " Bully Hooper. This man was a native of Bristol, a city that has been the birthplace of many noted pugilists ; but it is doubtful whether it ever produced a more spirited and determined boxer than Hooper. Fear he knew not, and, in all his pugilistic en- counters, entered the ring confident of victory. Nor did the superior stature, or greater strength of an opponent depress his courage. In fact Hooper was a true " lion-hearted " pugilist, a fact further proved by his small size, compared with many first-rate pugilists of those days, whom he often encountered. Combined with this in- domitable courage and bottom, that outlasted his bodily strength, was thorough knowledge of the pugilistic art, which he showed in most of his encounters. He was a scientific boxer. Before adopting the " ring " as a means of livelihood, Hooper followed the trade of a " Tinman," in the Tottenham Court Road, hence his sobriquet. In his original calling he earned the reputation of a " well-mannered, civil young man ; ' but his prowess in boxing being found out by his com- panions, he was matched against Clarke, whom he easily defeated. This victory brought him into notice, and by it he acquired the patronage of the Earl of Barrymore. The sudden elevation from mending pots and pans, to association with his superiors, proved too much for the equilibrium of Hooper, who, like 58 The Last Earls of Barrymore. most uneducated persons, thought the favour shown him by the Earl and other noblemen and gentlemen proceeded from motives of pure personal friendship, instead of being a tribute to his skill as a pugilist, an error of judgment which uot only caused much annoyance, but ultimately lost him the Earl's favour. It is said, that Hooper fought more battles than any pugilist of his time, with success, in most cases. At last Lord Barrymore had to turn Hooper into his lackey, to keep him out of mischief, while not engaged in training for some pugilistic match for which his employer had backed him. An incident occurred while Hooper held this strange position in Earl Barrymore's service, which shows how ardently his lordship sought for novelty, even from a prize-fighter. After a dinner given by the Earl one summer, he suggested a visit to Yauxhall Gardens, then at the height of their fame. His guests being agreeable, carriages were ordered, and off the party went. The Earl had prearranged the visit in one par- ticular. Some of his lordship's guests where hardly so grave as the Sphinx, as they were driven through the streets. But this perhaps, should pass unnoticed, after a dinner in the last century. The party, however, were put down safely at the gardens, and had not been long in the grounds, before the Earl walked up to a clergyman attired in the most orthodox fashion, and asked: "If he had had any supper." Hooper takes ' Holy Orders ! ' 59 " Vy, no, my lud, I've not as yet 'ad any." His lordship's guests could not reconcile the clerical garb of the speaker, with his manner of speech. The Earl then hailed a waiter who passed, and bade him supply the clergyman with what he wanted, at his (the Earl's) charge, and then turn- ing to the " divine " told him to eat well ; and to drink as much " arrack " punch, as he pleased. " Thank ye, my lud, I begins to be a bit hungry, an' I don't care 'ow soon I pecks a bit." This " pillar of the church," was no other than Hooper "the Tinman." The facetious Earl had had him disguised as a parson, and ordered to be " in waiting " at Vauxhall, in case any of his guests, or himself for that matter, should make or get into a row. All, however, went well till three o'clock in the morning ; at this hour the Earl of Barrymore and his party, amongst whom were Lord Falkland, Sir Henry Molyneux, Harry Angelo, the Honourable Henry Barry, etc., were at supper. All of a sudden a tumult arose, accom- panied by a rush towards the orchestra. To be in the fray, whatever it was, the Earl and his friends were as anxious as any present, so they hurried out of their box, upsetting in their haste plates, dishes and glasses. On reaching the scene of disorder, Hooper was discovered giving fight to all who interrupted him, as well as offering to box with any present. This outbreak was a natural result of unlimited, " arrack " punch. 6o The Last Earls of Barrymore. It need not be suggested to the reader that the display of " muscular Christianity " by Hooper on this occasion was not announced in the pro- gramme of the evening's entertainment. Matters might have assumed a serious complexion had not a stalwart military officer present, who knew Hooper by sight, seen through the prizefighter's disguise, and exclaimed, — " You scoundrel, I know you in spite of your disguise ; you are Hooper the boxer. Be off ! ' Hooper, who had enough sense left to see he might further betray his character, as well as possibly get roughly handled by the crowd, picked up his hat and beat a hasty retreat out of the gardens. He was found at five o'clock hiding behind the Earl of Barrymore's carriage muffled in the coachman's box coat. Sir John Lade did not accept Dr. Johnson's advice, for he entered into the bonds of matri- mony ; but he did not seek a wife from among the daughters or sisters of his peers. He married a woman named Smith, who had been a servant at a house in Broad Street, St. Giles', whose in- habitants were not endowed with every virtue ; others assert that she had at one time been con- nected with the notorious Rami, alias " Sixteen String Jack," with whom she was last seen when he met with his death at Tyburn. However, Lady Lade's "past" is not a theme for these pages. Suffice it that she was a smart, bold woman, and became, under her husband's tuition, as deft a "whip" as Sir John himself. Lady Lady Lade. 61 Lade also became a skilled horsewoman, and regularly attended the Windsor hunt. It was at one of these meetings that she attracted the attention of the Prince of Wales by her bold riding. Confident of her skill in handling the " ribbons," Lady Lade once challenged a rival lady " whip" to drive a four in hand eight miles across Newmarket Heath for 500 guineas " play or pay." The match, however, did not come off, her rival not liking the conditions. Lady Lade's skill on the coach box inspired the following lines : — " More than one steed Lactitia's empire feels, Who sits triumphant o'er the flying wheels. And, as she guides them thro' the admiring throng, With what an air she smacks the silken thong. Graceful as ' John ' she moderates the reins, And .... strains. Se$ostris-like, such charioteers as these, May ! drive six harnessed princes — if they please." It was further alleged that Sir John's epicurean tastes led to the marriage, his bride having been a cook. But this and similar statements must be looked upon as being " made to order." The facts were as recorded above. Sir John Lade and his lady were both skilled in " stable " and other slang. Beyond which their ideas seldom, if ever, travelled, as the following testifies : — In an invitation to dine, given by Sir John Lade, upon a racecourse in the neighbourhood of his residence, Cant's Hill, he promised his guest 62 The Last Earls of Barrymore. "A trout spotted like a coach dog, a fillet of veal as white as alabaster, a ' pantaloon ' cutlet, and heaps of pancakes as big as coach wheels. So . . . ! " Though Lady Lade was received or tolerated by her husband's more intimate friends, and honoured by the notice of the heir apparent, there were many families of " Ton " who would have nothing whatever to do with her. She, however, endeavoured to overcome this repugnance by every means in her power. Being at Brighton in 1789 she was made to feel by the then circum- scribed society of that place the antipathy her presence inspired in noble dames of irreproachable record, and she prevailed on the Prince of Wales to dance with her at an assembly one evening, thinking that, after so distinguished an honour, few of her sex would debar her from their friendship. But in this point her judgment was at fault, for the Duchess of Rutland, Lady Elizabeth Luttrell, Lady Charlotte Bertie, and Mrs. Fitzgerald rose from their seats and left the room. The Duchess of Rutland, Lady Charlotte Bertie, with the Duchess of Ancaster left Brighton next day for Eastbourne, as a further protest against Lady Lade. The Earl of Barrymore's residence at Wargrave was, and is, little more than a picturesque cottage. To make matters as comfortable as possible for his numerous guests, sometimes mustering twenty or twenty-five, he erected additional accommodation in the form of a long Sleeping Under Difficultii>. 63 two storied buildiDg facetiously called the " upper " and " lower ' barracks. Here were arranged rows of beds for those who could snatch a few hours' repose to recuperate for the next day's pursuit of "folly" or "pleasure." This was often a difficult task to accomplish, as many guests when they retired to these apart- ments, would either sing or want to play cards, while those who would sleep if they could were frequently kept wakeful by the " jumps." Five o'clock a.m. was the usual hour for retiring, but woe betide the untutored visitor who essayed to slink off before the appointed hour of breaking up. So soon as he was missed search would be made, and, if in bed, he would be made the sub- ject of some practical joke that often deprived him of further rest for that night or morning. The Earl's own sleeping apartmentwas arranged after a peculiar manner, whether at home or abroad. His valet's first duty was to sew the sheets to the blankets, so that no portion of the latter could come in contact with his lordship's skin. The next was to cover every window, fan or sky-light with blankets, three or four thick ; these were tacked to the window-panes, so as to exclude every ray of light, real or artificial, which had likewise to be shut out from any crack or crevice in the door ; and should the season of the year necessitate a fire, every spark would have to be extinguished before the Earl retired. To sleep in a room under these conditions would be, to an ordinary person, like sleeping in a vault. 64 The Last Earls of Barrymore. The breakfast Hour at Wargrave was twelve o'clock, for which the Earl's guests were supposed to be ready, and to assist their host in planning entertainment for the day ; although his lordship required little, if any prompting in this. The dining-room was scarcely large enough to comfortably accommodate the number of guests often staying at Wargrave at one time ; therefore, some twelve or fourteen would dine with his lord- ship, while the rest would be accommodated in another room. To add to his guests' comfort, as well as obviate, as much as possible, the necessity for the servants' entering and departing from a room of circumscribed dimensions, his lordship had a recess made in a wall, which had a com- munication with the offices ; this much reduced the exits and entrances. The reader will doubtless be able to form an idea of what a dinner at Wargrave in those days was like, presided over by a host possessing the wit, humour, and oddities of so singular a person- age as Lord Barrymore was. Anthony Pasquin, the Earl's "domestic " poet, amanuensis, or what you will, was not noted either for cleanliness of person or habits, a fault peculiar to many of the genus. One evening, when dining with his patron, he called a footman to bring pen and ink, so that he might note a bon mot of his host's. The Earl of Barrymore sugges- ted that : " If he would wash his hands, he would obtain a quart of that fluid ! " Another time a guest of jocund renown, though 'Roland for an Oliver.' 65 not a paraxon of neatness in attire, came in from hunting after dinner had been served, entered the room, and took his seat in a state of m<>re than ordinary dishevelment, as well as being spat- tered with mud from head to foot. The guests present covertly proposed to "roast" this person for his ill manners, and one of them remarked to the too ardent sportsman that, " he had heard he was the boldest hunter in the country." " You're ' ironing' me, " returned the hunter. " That, indeed, would be d d hard," inter- posed the Earl, "to iron before they washed you." "Ah, well," said the butt, "if you don't mangle me, I will be content." At this display of wit, an explosion of laughter ensued, and the negligent guest was left alone. CHAPTER X. Preparations at Wargrave to celebrate the Earl of Barrymore's majority — Names of the principal amateur and professional actors at the Earl's theatre — Visit of the Prince of Wales to Wargrave — The prologue and epilogue spoken before H.R.H. — Names of the plays, farces, and pantomimes pro- duced by the Earl at his theatre — Some account of the meeting between Big Ben and Johnson, and the latter with Perrins. As the Earl of Barrymore attained his majority in August of this year (1789), arrangements were made at Wargrave, to celebrate the event by balls, masquerades and theatrical performances. Allusion being now made to the theatre, it will not be outof place to record thenames of the amateur and professional performers 'who appeared "on the boards " at Wargrave. Among the amateurs were the Earl of Barrymore, and his brothers, the Honourable Lucius Cary, Mr. Blackstone, Mr. Ximenes, Mr. Nassau, Mr. Impey, Captain Davies, Captain Taylor, Captain Wathen, Captain Middleton, Captain Dives, Mr. Wade, Mr. Pollard, Mr. H. Angelo and Anthony Pasquin. The pro- fessionals were Mr. Palmer, Mr. Bannister, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Incledon, Mr. Munden, Mr. M. Williames, Mr. R. Palmer, Mr. Whitfield, Mr. The Earl's Coming of Age. 67 Moses Kean ; while the list of actresses included Mrs. Goodall, Mrs. Rivers, Mrs. Weston, Madame Delphini, Miss Richards, Miss Chapman, Mrs. Hall and Mrs. Maddox. The professional dancers were, Mr. Vestris and Mdlle. Hilsbersr, composer, Mr. Thomas Carter, prompters Messrs. Hamond and Le Brun, carpenter Mr. Reuben Cox, and six assistants; the printer was Mr. Hopwood. The following and others were the plays pro- duced. The Constant Couple, Every Man in his Humour, The Follies of a Day, The Beaux' s Stratagem, The Battle of Hexham. Farces: Hob in the Well, Miss in her Teens, The Padlock, Guardian and Apprentice, The Mayor of Garratt — Poor Soldier, The Midnight Hour, and Try Again. Pantomimes, under the management of Delphini : Robinson Crusoe, Bon Juan and Blue Beard. Upon the 21st of August, 1789, the Earl of Barrymore gave in honour of the event just recorded a grand dinner at Wargave, to be followed by a special theatrical performance at his lordship's theatre. The Prince of Wales honoured the Earl with his presence, on this auspicious occasion. The prince came from Brighton, the same day, to be present, and rode post for the major part of the journey, which he and his suite accomplished in good time, but for the last two stages recourse was had to post- chaises, by which means Wargrave was reached at 4 p.m. f 2 6S The Last Earls of Barrymore. The accommodation afforded by the Earl of Barrym ore's cottage, or small villa, was inade- quate for the comfort and entertainment of H.R.H., to say nothing of other guests. The Earl's friend Mr. Hill, who resided in a spacious mansion half-a-mile out of Wargrave, generously came to his assistance, by placing the house at his dis- posal, for the use of the Prince of Wales and his suite. The Earl therefore sent a small army of servants, chefs, etc., as well as every luxury money could purchase — to prepare a banquet fit for his royal and noble guests, some days before their arrival. When the Prince arrived every- thing was in readiness. The company sat down early, as the fashion went, and rose about nine o'clock, so as to enable H.R.H. to attend the " Theatre Royal" Wargrave, as it might thence- forth be styled. On the Prince of Wales entering the box prepared for his use, Mr. Henry Angelo, stepped forward and spoke the following prologue, specially composed for the occasion : " Of all the schemes the weak or wicked use, 'Tis sure the meanest talent to abuse. In tracing charms the best are apt to halt, While every ass can find, or make, a fault. The wise alone in other arts succeed ; In this the blockheads only take the lead. How much the world to Cant its homage pays, How hang the fate of Empires on a phrase ! The modish critic, void of force or fire, No common fool, a lord, at least a squire, Wrapped in the vastness of unsocial pride, And high contempt for all the world beside, Cold, careless, vacant, vain, serene and sad, Thus ekes his wondrous judgment, ' 'Tis too bad.' ' 'Tis monstrous bad,' cries chattering Lady Bridget, A Prologue. 69 Her tongue a mill clack, and her frame in fidget. She, who can twelve stout beaux at once engage, And gaze at all things but the Btage, 'Twixt mirth and malice, ever pert or mad, -lust spares from scorn and scandal, ' 'Tie too bad.' ' 'Tis very bad,' the Comhill critic cries. ' D n me, too bad ! ' the Wapping sage replies. In some ' spruce ' term, that suits in every place, (Whether immortal Shakespeare penned the play,) Or some dull driveller of the present day) These useful words on all occasions sit, Thus save the toil of learning, sense and wit ! And man's own bias lets the arrow fly, Prone to each other's hurt, we know not why. But stings like these let London wights annoy, Here, no black rancour blights the budding joy. Avaunt ! vile phrase, it is, it must be good With harmless mirth to cheer one's neighbourhood. To spread the generous bliss, is always right, Which fills the social circle with delight. Power, thus employed, the fairest ends pursues, And proves e'en ' luxury ' of modern use ; For sure no f railer' can with truth deride The genuine joys of wealth when well applied. Our zealous leader has no scheme in view, Save this : the heartfelt pride of pleasing you. They who taste most delight : the most regard him. Be all content, and then you'll best reward him. And sure to-night no vulgar fame we boast, A splendid tribute to our generous host ! Superior lustre gilds our humble scene, When princely ' Brunswick ' shows his manly mien. Not that the Muse a servile flattery pays To him, the first to scorn a fulsome praise. Oh ! where'er he moves, may all just honour greet him, And nothing but the fame he merits meets him. Then must his worth, the coldest breast convince, And all applaud the patriot in the prince." Upon the termination of the comedy, the following epilogue, written by Mr. Blackstone, was spoken by him. This gentleman was a clever, but erratic son of the judge, who was the author of the celebrated " Commentaries on the Laws of 70 The Last Earls of Barrymore. England." Mr. Blackstone had promised his friend, the Earl of Barrymore, to write an epilogue, but had put off doing so till the preceding day, when, having partaken too freely of the " good things" provided by his noble host, he was found on the morning of the eventful day, sitting up in bed in the " upper dormitory," his head encompassed with a wet towel, when he threw, or "reeled off," to be poetically correct, the lines which follow : — EPILOGUE. "Close at the end of every scenic treat, Follows the ' epilogue,' ' grace ' after meat, Indulgences to ask, for misbehaviour, T extenuate faults, and sue for future favour. But tho', all anxious, every nerve we strain, How can we hope your plaudits to obtain 1 Here the spectator, no dark Bastile perceives, Pasteboard Versailles, or canvas Tuileries. No keen remarks concerning French affairs, No dancing Turks, alas no drumming hares. Nor,— as most fit, in a gymnastic age — Does ' Ben ' with ' Johnson ' fist to fist engage. Nor ' Humphey's ' here, Antceus-like renew His stubborn contest with the rival Jew. But then, in lieu of these you've got Priscilla's, ' Tom Boy,' boxing little Watt ! Then be content, whoe'er dares to frown, ' Gibbet,' the curtain dropped, shall knock him down. And if the lovelier sex shall look reproaches, Hounslow and Bagshot shall attack their coaches, . And rifle from the tender, trembling things, Their trinkets, jewels, necklaces and rings ; Tear e'en the circling bracelet from their arms, And leave them glowing in their native charms. But, lest our threats should fail, I'll e'en try prayer, And trust our sentence to the generous fair. Halting, like veteran on a broken leg, Our noble host thus sends me out to beg. And let not all his pleasing hopes be wrecked, That ' good intention ' may supply defect. An Epilogue. 71 Though fearing much, yet hoping more he sends, For, in the gay parterre ' all ' are his friends. Camlid he found you ; hopes you'll be so still, And measure, not ability, but will. This boon the critic's spleen alone denies, But milder judgments beam from Beauties' eyes What tho' untaught in the theatric air. We want the measured step, the practised stare. Fearful to offend, solicitous to please, We fail to attain an unembarrassing ease. Their gentle bosoms never will condemn Those whose first object is the pleasing them ; And if our mimic efforts can beguile Their blooming features of one happy smile, Or chase one moment hence ' loathed melancholy.' Come ! clap your hands, approve us with a volley. But hold ! whilst trifling thus can we forget, — In every Briton's heart it's recent yet — U'hen, darkly gathering o'er the land of late, The lowering tempest menaced Britannia's State. His virtues then, her first best hope unveiled, Resentment spurned, his private ease withstood, And gave up comforts for his country's good ; And if to-night, this prince, by all approved, By strangers honour'd, but by Britons loved, Deigns to accept our faint attempt to please, Shall not our grateful breasts the moment seize, By honest truth, the noblest trophy raise, For here the voice of truth, the voice of ( praise.' " The whole performance, with the prologue and epilogue, was duly appreciated by the prince, who expressed himself to that effect to the Earl. The ball then commenced. H.R.H. stayed till 5 a.m., when he departed for York. The reference made by Mr. Blackstone to the meeting between ' Bi:? Ben ' and Johnson, was one in which the Earl of Barrymore was interested, being one of 'Big Ben's' supporter^. The en- counter took place at Banbury, upon a raised stage, on which Big Ben's patron and other 72 The Last Earls of Barrymore. persons stood during the contest. It was evident, from the continued "shifty" tactics of Big Ben, that he would get beaten ; at last the crowd testified their disapprobation by hissing, etc. Lord Barrymore thought " Ben's " conduct arose from want of courage, and accused him of this, his lordship haviug a large amount of money at stake ; he reproached " Ben " for his conduct, whereupon that fistic worthy looked in the Earl's face with serene delight, and spluttered, — " Vy, my lud, yu' be' ant up to my gossup, I ken lick 'im ven I loikes, do'ant moind I, plaise ; I's only coddin'ye ! " A match had previously been held at Banbury, between Perrins 1 the Birmingham or Manchester giant and Johnson for which the Earl of Barry- more had backed Johnson. But his lordship was prevented from attending through illness, and being anxious to know the result, he got two trusty friends, staying at Wargrave, to attend and post back with the name of the victor. Perrins' appearance in the " buff " brought forth admira- tion from those assembled. Perrins had originally been a whitesmith, some say a machinist, and used at his work tools double the weight of those used by an ordinary workman, in fact he looked a modern Hercules, being over six feet high and stalwart in proportion. Johnson, though a tall, well-proportioned man, was not the " giant ' ; his adversary was. The weather on this day was not good for either combatants — interspersed with 1 Sometimes spelt Perrings. Johnson versus Perrins. 73 bright bursts of sunshine, which Johnson availed himself of by manceuvringtoget the sun inPerrins' eyes. Nor was this Johnson's only tactic. He was afraid to close with his antagonist as he knew that, by Perrins' superior strength, a blow might put him hors-de-combat ; in order to prevent this Johnson fell or slipped down each time Perrins got within range. Sometimes Perrins' impetus was so great that he fell over Johnson as he lay " self " stretched on the stage. These tactics continued for some time, and occasioned much consternation to Perrins' supporters, who observed, also that their favourite was getting exhausted by his ineffectual efforts. Johnson on the other hand was comparatively fresh having acted on the defensive, and now made a desperate onslaught at Perrins, and succeeded in getting home some effective body blows. Johnson, when retaliated on, pursued his falling. down tactics. At last Perrins was ' floored ' by a terrific blow from Johnson, and failed . to come " to time," where- upon Johnson was awarded the fight. Two well-known patrons of the ring, in those days, were upon the 'stage' — Colonels Tar- leton and Hanger ; who were both " interested " in the success of Johnson. The Earl of Barry - more's emissaries posted back to Wargrave, to inform their host of the success of his " man." CHAPTER XL The Earl of Barryruore astonishes the natives — His friendship with the son of a Berkshire yeoman — Strange diversion for a summer's day — Account of the Warble Club — J. M. Williams, LL.D. (Anthony Pasquin) — The mock Court of Justice held at Wargrave — J. M. Williams assists the Earl in the formulation of " Waggery," etc. The Earl of Barryrnore's volatile and eccentric temperament never flagged. If he were out for a walk with friends, while at Wargrave, he would create amusement. His tact in '''bamboozling" was so fine, that common folk never thought they were being made fun of. One of these favourite pursuits the Earl termed " circumnavi- gating, or taking measure of the understand- ing," accomplished thus: Approaching a garrulous countrywoman his lordship would say,— " I am informed, madam, that Mr. iEsculapius, the apothecary of your village is dead, and Mr. Boreas has married the widoAV." " Lor, sir ! I niver 'eard of sich fulks ; but bide a bit, there vas sum sich houtlandish surt of a pusson, who travel'd th' country a toime back, with sum sich crump name as Bowerass, but I'm tuld him's sattled in the North." The Earl and ' Farmer ' Stone. 75 •* He was wise, madam. I am sure lie could not find any point of the compass more con- genial to his purposes. But permit me to inquire, if you ever see any of his children in these parts, Master Zephyrusor Favonius or the little Breezes /" li I did hear say, sur ! that he'd only vun son, an' he liv'd in Lunnon, sumwhur about Hoonds- datch." " That is as much as to say, madam, that the gentleman has gone to the dogs ! " Among the Earl's rustic acquaintance, was the son of a Berkshire farmer, named Stone, who lived near Reading ; he was a man of means, and repute. Young Stone and the Earl became friends ; with this no doubt the native simpleness of the youth had something to do. The earl took him to London, where he u showed the yokel round," as he termed it. The visit made so much impression on young Stone's mind, that he was always requesting his lordship to take him again, and this, either the Earl or his brother did. On these occasions, Stone noticed the diffidence shown to the Earl of Barrymore and his brother, by the proprietors of the various post- ing-houses at which they stopped, and thought he could not do better than emulate them ; so he proceeded to dash about in a chaise and four, — hired on credit. The persons who supplied him with that expensive luxury, imagined it was all right. From seeing ' young hopeful ' so often in the company of the Barrys, they regarded him as a person of means at least. lie lived in this 76 The Last Earls of Barrymore. style for a time, till lie was found to be the son of a farmer. Those who had trusted him, then sent him their bills, and clamoured for payment. One day, shortly after, it happened that young Stone had to go to London on business matters, but told a friend before his departure, that he would have to cross the country via "Windsor and Kingston. The reason why he chose that route, was then asked. When Stone replied : " I 'av too mauy bills on the £ roight road,' an' as I be'ant the mon they once tuk I's fur, I may git in troubl'." Once, this " agricultural " friend of the Earl's was asked on a visit to Wargrave for a few days, but he contrived to extend his stay to as many months ! The Earl of Barrymore having pressing affairs in town, desired to be rid of his then ' unwelcome ' guest, who would or could, not take the most simple hint that he was not wanted. At last his lordship petulantly said to "farmer' 1 Stone! "Be off Stone, go to the devil ! " " Nae, daint be cross, my lud, let I stay an'thur few days." " Well," said the Earl, " if you will say a smart thing for once, you shall stay a week longer." " Then 'ere goes, my lud ! I vish's as how I vas th' bnither next to ye, an' that ye vas lying double fatter'd in Newgit, an' going to be hang'd to-morrer." " D — d good ! " exclaimed his lordship. "That's the best thing I ever heard you say; A Singular Procession. 77 to-morrow I return to towo, and you shall go with me and stay a month." The Earl of Barry more' s vagaries and eccentrici- ties were perhaps given more scope at Wargrave than in London, more particularly as regarded practical jokes. His lordship being almost the only person of rank dwelling in or near Wargrave, the tradespeople and other residents allowed the Earl's oddities more latitude than is the wont of the usual village inhabitants. In this they erred on the side of the " loaves and fishes," for they all benefited by the large number of visitors who attended the Earl's theatrical performances and balls ; besides being amused and enter- tained themselves on certain nights throughout the season at the Earl's theatre. Therefore, no resident of Wargrave was ever surprised at any- thing the Earl did, or by what occurred at his revels. So they were not surprised, or rather shocked, to see the Earl followed by a file of brother roysterers walk through the village in the full sunlight of a summer's day clad in their shirts only. This freak originated in one of his lord- ship's friends having answered a remark he had made, " That it was frightfully hot ! " with " had not he better divest himself of his clothes." The opportunity was too good for the Earl to let pass by, he therefore retorted by challenging all present to strip to their shirts and follow him through the village. The unfortunate suggester of the divesting operation with his friends, had to 78 The Last Earls of Barrymore. comply, in order to prevent retaliatory measures being taken by the Earl for their cowardice and prudery. One of the many clubs founded or presided over by the Earl of Barrymore was the " Warble," whose members frequently met at the " World's End," Leatherhead. The rules of this convivial association were as follows : — I. That there be no more members admitted into the room than it will hold. II. Resolved, that this amicable society shall have two anniversary dinners each year. III. Resolved, that if any member has more sense than another, he be kicked out of the club. IV. Resolved, that any man who cannot tell his right hand from his left after being asked three times, shall be denied the privileges of the society. Y. Resolved, that no member of this society shall presume to eat garlic unless it be proved that he likes it better than any other vegetable. VI. That no member of this society shall marry until he comes to years of discretion, and as that is a most desperate hope, it is recom- mended for all to live bachelors. VII. Resolved, if any curate, being a member of this club, builds a church out of his pay, he is to be branded as an outcast from policy, and sent handcuffed to his diocesan. VIII. Resolved, that every man who is more ugly than his neighbour, shall pay a fine of three- The "Warble" Club. 79 pence to be expended in tobacco, unless his wife, if he has one, swears he is a better man than he appears to be. IX. Resolved, that every member who has two ideas, shall be obliged to give one to his neighbour. The above rules are neither voluminous nor difficult to commit to memory, but they are hard to adhere to. The society, however, for which they were framed being of a jovial character, some show of wit in its code had to be made. The Earl of Barrymore's poet, amanuensis, and playwright, was J. M. Williams, LL.D., already mentioned, better known then and now by his pseudonym, " Anthony Pasquin." The surname of this appellation was borrowed from the Roman cobbler -epigrammatist of that name. Williams upheld his prototype's reputation by his satirical writings and sayings. However, Pasquin or Williams had real talent, although he often misapplied it. In fact, he may be said to have been a man of " parts," as he could engrave, an art he is said to have studied under Bartollozzi, 1 paint, dramatize, and act as a newspaper critic, or even conduct a paper. As Williams did not care for engraving, he turned his attention to the pen and pencil as a means of obtaining a livelihood. How this person and the Earl of Barry more were brought together, it is difficult to say. It may have been his dramatic ability that attracted the Earl's attention. At any rate, Williams 1 Very doubtful ; Matthew Darby more likely. 80 The Last Earls of Barrymore. served his lordship well, his wit and raillery being invaluable to his lordship at various festive and other meetings at Warsrave. But Williams's abilities were much discounted by his slovenly and untidy habits of dress. However much Earl Barrymore may have respected Williams for his talents, nothing but the great eccentricity of his own character could account for his perambu- lation of Bond Street with the unkempt Anthony Pasquin on his arm. To keep his varied guests within bounds at Wargrave, a mock court of justice was created ; before which any who had been indiscreet or troublesome were arraigned. These trials were usually held at two o'clock a.m., and the punishments awarded, on conviction, were sum- mary and ludicrous. Anthony Pasquin presided, as judge, a part he enacted to the life ; a certain Captain Taylor was generally counsel for the prisoners, while the eccentric Earl pleaded on behalf of the prosecutor, assumed to be his Majesty of Decency. That able but dis- solute actor, John Edwin, the younger, officiated as mace-bearer. Crier to the court was enacted by Mr. Charles Delphini ; constable by W. C. Richards, another actor ; ordinary to the cul- prit by any clerical friend present ; and jury, by the Honourable Henry and Augustus Barry, Captain Middleton, Mr. Stone, Mr. Wade, and Mr. Blackstone. These mock trials tended to keep the noisy element of his lordship's guests within bounds. A Fallacious Charge. 8i * When nothing of importance transpired during the day's revels to warrant a " court " being held, the Earl would start after dinner some pastime more waggish than usual, for which he would enlist Pasquin's aid. The latter, in making a fallacious charge, had certainly no equal at Wargrave. The procedure would be the making of a false allegation against some guest, privately named by the Earl, which would be as prepos- terous as it was untrue ; and would rouse the anger of the accused, who would refer his calum- niator to his name and reputation. Neither would appease the instigator of these proceedings, who would then turn and appeal to Pasquin, thus giving the latter his cue. Pasquin would ex- claim, — " Sir ! I can believe anything against the gentleman." " What do you mean, sirrah ? " replied the incensed guest. " Nay, my good sir, do not put yourself in a flurry," Pasquin would reply, with judicial calm, " I will appeal to the company," to whom he . would propound : "What is that gentleman not capable of, who shaves himself with the razor with which his wife cut her throat," an asser- tion that would drive to all but frenzy the indignant visitor, who, more often than not, got up and left the room. When this happened, the door was locked, and a cry raised, " Put it to the ballot." The box and balls were then brought in, and the vote taken, which would be, the black G 82 The Last Earls of Barrymore. balls in a majority of two or three, to one white. The Earl would then deem the charge proved, when the following resolution would be framed and passed : " That a man capable of such an offence against good taste, must be sent to Coventry." The unfortunate delinquent was then sought, and willy nilly dragged into the room to hear the resolution read. When, if it had not dawned on him to recollect where he was, that he was being made a fool, there was nothing left for him but to pack up and be off, which would also mean walking the village all night. On the other hand if his mother wit permitted him to see he had been "smoked," his best tactics were to laugh the loudest and longest at the joke, and enrol himself one of the confederacy, to play similar tricks on some other guest on a future occasion. CHAPTER XII. All other matters deferred for the theatre by the Earl — Account of one of the prompters at Wargrave — That worthy's linen — The Earl of Barrymore's skill as a "whip" — An amusement of the Earl's when on the box — The Je-ne- sais-quoi Club — Lord Barrymore engages Delphini the pitrrot for his theatre — A curious tale narrated — The Earl made the subject of censorious press .comment. The festivities at "Wargrave this year occupied a great portion of the Earl of Barrymore's time, who was now riding his new hobby hard. There- fore, all field and other sports and pastimes were deferred for the Temple of Thespis. Thus, the Earl's fine stud of hunters and racers at Twyford and Newmarket were literally " eating their heads off; " but his lordship cared little for that, as he did not, at this period, purpose giving up the pleasures of the chase or field, although the glare* and tinsel of his new hobby had eclipsed them. The Earl's humour was accentuated by another "dry" rogue; one of the prompters, a person, if anything, more regardless of his personal appearance than even " Pasquin." The Earl must, however, be acquitted of leaning to sloven- liness, for he dressed well and showed much taste in the choice of his habiliments. But for all G 2 84 The Last Earls of Barrymore. this his love of wit led him to disregard how a person was clad, provided he had the natural humour and ability; that constituted a short road to his favour. The prompter just men- tioned had not been long enough in his lordship's employment to replenish his stock of linen or renovate his wardrobe, which a lengthy spell of 1 no work to do ' had brought so low that it was difficult to discover when last his linen had had acquaintance with the wash-tub. However, the piquancy of the prompter's conversation found favour with the Earl, who did not care to wound the feelings of the man, circumstances being considered. Nevertheless, his lordship, prior to a performance at his theatre, to witness which many fashionable members of society had been invited, requested his ' company ' to appear at their best. The poor prompter felt himself in a predica- ment ; besides, his personal proportions were so large as to prevent his being able to procure a ready-made shirt. So nothing was left him but to send the only one he possessed to the wash, that he might appear with a " bosom of snow " in the evening. The prompter then went about his duties in the theatre buttoned up to the chin to hide the absence of linen. While he was engaged during the rehearsal of a piece which was to be performed that evening, a child appeared at the scenes, and blurted out she had been sent by her "mammy" to say: "She had brought the shirt." How to wash a Shirt. 85 " What ! " exclaimed the enchanted prompter, " has she ' dressed ' it already, my darling, in two hours ! d — n me, if that is not expeditious ! ' " No, sir ! she has not washed it." " What ! not washed it ! " cried the now vexed prompter. " What's the meaning of her not doing so ? " " Well, sir, my mammy says as how your shirt is so old and worn that she is afraid it will rub to pieces in the tub." " Nonsense ! nonsense ! " cried the prompter, with a face the colour of a turkey cock, as every- one on the stage could hear the discussion. " I think, my dear, you must have made a mistake, and misunderstood your mother, who appears to be a very silly woman. Take it back to your ' soap and soda ' dam, and say, if she is ignorant of the way to wash a shirt, I will teach her. If the shirt is so fine ! that she is afraid to place it amongst coarser articles, bid her pin it to the wall and throw hot soap and water on it until clean." Whether these instructions were carried out cannot be vouched. Nevertheless, the prompter appeared at his post in the evening in clean linen. One of the pugilistic encounters the Earl of Barrvmore's fistic tutor and lackey engaged in was with a west country " bargee," whom Hooper, to use his own parlance, " did over " in less than twenty minutes. Both competitors were near the same age and of equal spirit. But the difference 86 The Last Earls of Barrymore. in their respective weight was so great as to make the backers of the bargee anticipate an easy victory. Hooper scaled scarce eleven stone, while his antagonist turned the scale at sixteen, really a " weighty " difference. The result caused a great deal of comment in boxing circles at the time, being regarded as one of the greatest triumphs of skill v. strength that had occurred since the " ring " was inaugurated. A large sum of money is also said to have changed hands on the issue. The Earl of Barrymore's skill with the " ribbons " was proverbial. In spite of his frolicsome nature, his friends would sit behind him any hour of the day or night without fear. A coachful of guests would frequently start from Wargrave for Newmarket in the middle of the night, with his lordship on the box, who would " land his load," Jehu fashion, safely in good time, at their destination. A favourite freak of the Earl's, when driving from London late at night, as he passed through a narrow, ill-paved road in Colnbrook, facetiously called " Feather Bed Lane," was to whip right and left as he went along, thereby cracking or breaking the windows of the houses. This he called " fanning the daylights." By the time the luckless occupiers could jump out of bed, unfasten the sashes and peer out, his lord- ship would be out of sight. A west end convivial club, which numbered the Earl among its members, was presided over by The Je-ne-sais-quoi Club. 87 the Prince of Wales, who held the post of per- petual chairman, this was ' The Je-ne-sais-quoi Club,' by some called the ' Star and Garter Club,' because its meetings were held at the tavern of that name situated in Pall Mall. Meetings were held on the second Monday in each month ; on these occasions, glees, catches, duets, and solos were sung. The musical department was under the charge of Dr. Parsons, the glees were sung, as a rule, by four professionals retained for the purpose ; some of the solos were rendered by well-known vocal performers of that time, as Mr. Bannister, Mr. Johnson, &c. The solos, however, were mere interludes in the efforts of the club members. The Prince of Wales often " obliged," and a song he is said to have sung with great effect was " By the Gaily Circling Glass ! " A peculiar custom belonged to this club : there was no specific qualification for membership; no member could bring forward a friend for admit- tance, nor was there any committee to elect, or ballot for admission. All members were elected at the will of the president, who proposed whom- soever he thought fit, a selection approved nem con by his fellow members, who, at this time numbered amongst others, the Dukes of York and Clarence, the Dukes of Norfolk, Bedford and Dorset, the Due d'Orleans, Earls Craven, Barry- more, and Kawdon, Sir Charles Asgill, Cols. St. Leger and Hulks, Captains Morris and Sutton, being joint secretaries. During this year the 88 The Last Earls of Barrymore. royal president gave his brother members a grand ball at Festino's Rooms, in Hanover Square, which was numerously attended, and considered one of the chief events of the season. The Earl of Barrymore at the end of this year (1789), expended more time and money than ever on his theatre. To enable him to outvie his previous performances, he specially engaged Delphini, a celebrated 'Pierrot,' with whom his lordship had become acquainted when connected with the Royal Circus. Delphini, who had attracted the notice of the Prince of Wales, was an "oddity," his manner of speaking the "king's English'' was enough to provoke mirth alone, without his posturing antics. His engagement by the Earl, involved that of his wife, a homely woman, as housekeeper at his lordship's Wargrave residence. She fulfilled her duties well, and did all she could to stop the dreadful waste in the establishment. Delphini used to relate a story, for which he vouched as a fact, in his broken English, as follows : — " In the neighbourhood of St. Mark's, Venice, lived a pastrycook, who became wealthy by selling a dainty meat pie, the piquancy of which was so pleasing to the palate, that they were eagerly bought, far and wide, so that the demand always exceeded the supply. Many conjectures were formed as to their contents, some asserted it was veal, others ortolans, and others an admixture of both. The fellow tradesmen of the maker of these dainty patties, endeavoured to emulate A Venetian Tale. 89 them, but in vain. Now, as this pastrycook's culinary fame increased, it was noticed that the number of lost or missing children progressed in the same ratio. To such a pitch did this rise, that it became a source of great concern and comment in the Republic. The guardians of the city were ordered to increase their efforts to regain the lost children, which they did without success ; only to add to the grief of their sorrow- ing relatives and citizens. At last, chance re- vealed what diligent search denied. A dish of the aforesaid patties being placed on the table of a senator, one was found to contain the joint of a child's little finger. The conclusion was, that the pastrycook was the fiend who waylaid, stole, and murdered the lost children. Official notice being given of the discovery, a troop of soldiers were dispatched to make rigorous search on the pastrycook's premises. This was effected at night; at first nothing could be found to warrant the cook's arrest. A soldier who had been told off to search a portion of the ground floor, how- ever, did not return to report his investigation-. The officer in charge, knowing his subordinate to be an able and tried man, feared some evil had befallen him, and as he did not answer to liis name when called through the premises by his comrades, his commander, concluded he had mel with some mishap. He therefore gave orders for the pastrycook to be seized and brought before him. The man was threatened with instant death, did he not divulge what had become of the missing 90 The Last Earls of Barrymore. member of the troop. The villain, seeing that he had a determined man to deal with, and his escape hopeless, showed the officer a skilfully con- structed trap, in one of the rooms on the ground floor, which covered a deep vault ; through this the missing soldier had fallen after stepping on it, when the trap resumed its position by a cleverly contrived spring. This might have entrapped others of the search party, had not the officer acted with promptitude. A soldier then had a rope tied round him, and was lowered into the vault, where he found, with the aid of a lantern, his lost comrade more frightened than hurt, his fall being broken by the dead bodies of several little children recently slaughtered. Here was damning evidence of the pastrycook's guilt. He and his family were arraigned before the senate, and found guilty. The sentence on these mis- creants was singular. They were ordered to be conveyed to their house, round which a circle of troops was drawn, the doors and windows of the premises were then barred, so as to prevent all egress, inflammable materials were then piled round the building and ignited, when the mur- derer and his family with the contents of the edifice were consumed. A little while after the walls were razed, the rubbish carted away, and a handsome obelisk erected on the spot, to the memory of the unfortunate children. The Earl of Barrymore, when he heard this story narrated, asked if Delphini thought he could put some of its most important situations The Earl's remedy for Libel. 91 and features into a pantomime ! This the Earl put in a "quizzing" way. " Yes," Delphini answered. But, it is needless to record that the burlesquing of such a horrible crime, was not put into effect. About this period, some of the Earl's escapades were noticed by the daily press, and brought to his lordship's notice. He gave, as a rule, one in- variable reply : " If such writings can get these scribblers a dinner, let them write and be d — d." Perhaps this was a wiser way of treating libellous attacks, than the method of the present day, " Throwing away good money after bad," as a verdict in vindication of one's character, is too often a barren honour ; and if of any effect at all, only hastens the defendant's journey to the Bankruptcy Court, a bourn he would probably reach sooner or later of himself. CHAPTER XIII. Hunting and theatricals at Waigrave in the winter of 1789— The Earl of Barrymore increases his racing stud — Sir John Lade and Charles James Fox — Encounter between Hooper and Watson — The Earl's turf successes in the early part of 1790 — The Earl runs against a horseman in Kensington Gardens — His strange way of recovering his stolen watch — The Earl's character as portrayed in a newspaper of that period— The song of the " Brogue-makers." Hunting was the favourite sport of the Earl and his friends at Wargrave, during the winter of 1789. The evenings were devoted to theatricals, conviviality, mock trials, and other hilarious pro- ceedings. The Honourable Henry Barry became pos- sessed this year of a pack of harriers, which he ran alternately with his brother's staghounds. Meets were held on Mondays at Warren House, near Billingham. The sports of the field appear to have reminded his lordship that he had a stud of racehorses at Newmarket, and he purposed to be "keen' 1 for that sport, so soon as the season opened. With this purpose in view, his lordship, early in 1790, made further additions to his stud, which then numbered thirty, and purchased, with a view to increase his success on the turf, Sir Charles James Fox and Sir John "Jehu." 93 Charles, Tully, Kiss my Lad;/, Mosquito, and Impudenrr, from Sir John Lade, "Pilgrim, from Mr. Bullock, as well as the famous Chanticleer and Seagull (for which he paid, with their en o a t the writer, then in indigent circumstances. 134 The Last Earls of Barrymore. take place on the day following Seagull's defeat. Though, in the race just narrated, Seagull gave Magpie 81b. ! Chifney further states he had reasons why the match should have been run as suggested, and goes so far as to assert that he expressed a wish to H.R.H. the match should be for 200 guineas, and further assured him that he would have the best of the market odds, which were certain to be in Seagull's favour, while he ventured to express an opinion that H.R.H. might with safety lay out five or six hundred pounds on the result. To prove his belief in the capabilities of the Prince's horse, Magpie, Chifney offered, with H.R.H.'s permission, to lay him fifty pounds that Magpie won. The day after this conversation, H.R.H. sent for Chifney, and told him, in the presence of Mr. Lake (the Prince's racing factotum), that that gentleman had been to the Jockey Club the previous even- ing, but could not arrange a match with Seagull's owner. H.R.H. further said, — " You know, Sam Chifney, one cannot always match as we wish, but Mr. Lake shall try and arrange a match with Lord Barrymore this even- ing." Chifney thanked H.R.H. a and replied, — " That if the horses were not matched that night to run the next day, he would decline to have anything to do with the matching." In the evening Mr. Lake made the match related, but upon totally different conditions to those requested by Chifney. On the morning of Prince ok Wales's Racing Establishment. [35 the match, H.R.H. sent for Chifney, and asked him " If he thought Magpie would win ? ' Chifney said " He did not." "Why?" asked the Prince, " it is your own match, Chifney ! " " Yes, your Royal Highness, it is my match, 1 and I am very thankful to your Royal Highness for indulging me; but I do not think Magpie will wm. To this his patron replied, — " That Frank Neale [H.R.H. training groom] had just left the room, having asssured him Magpie was as fit as any horse could be." But the only reply Chifney vouchsafed was, — "If Magpie was fit and well, he was as sure of winning as any horse could be ; but in spite of Neale's assertion, he wished, with all clue respect, H.R.H. not to lose more than the match 55 money. When Magpie was stripped to be saddled, Chifney asserts, " He knew him to be exceedingly unfit to run " (but whether from ignorance or rascality on Neale's part, he would not say). On the match being run, Magpie was beater with extraordinary ease, Chifney being unable to get him out at any part of the race. AVhen Chifney returned to scale, he passed Mr. Lake near the betting ring; the latter observed how 1 Chifney, in the body of his pamphlet, denies the match was made on the conditions desired, but acknowledges that he gave the answer quoted. Why did he not then complain of the departure from his original stipulations ! . 136 The Last Earls of Barrymore. easily Magpie had been beaten. The Jockey answered, " He would have been glad had he tried him, as the horse ran 150 to 200 yards better at one time than another." Mr. Lake rejoined, " That Frank "Neale had told him Magpie had bad legs, and he dared not gallop him " ! ! ! l This was the last race that Magpie appeared in, as shortly after he was turned out of training, though Chifney states that he never exactly "knew why!' The render, therefore, must draw his own conclusions ; not a difficult matter. The same day as the Seagull-Magpie match was run, the Earl of Barrymore again appeared in the pigskin, riding in a match 2 against a horse that had previously been in his stable, then owned and ridden by another aspirant to racing fame — none other than " Farmer " Stone, whose acquain- tance the reader has already made. At this meeting, on the 6th, another match, dis- cussed by Chifney, took place, — TheEarlof Barrymore's horse, Highlander, aged, 7st. 61b., beat the Prince of Wales's horse Traveller, 5 years 8st., 71b. B.C. 500 guineas, 15 to 8 011 Highlander. Chifney asserts, previous to this match being run, that the Prince's representative was tried against other horses in his stable — Phalanx, Bubble, and Arcliibald. Chifney rode Traveller. 1 Compare this statement with Neale's to H.E.H. 2 Appendix L. Racing Divulgencies. 137 When about half-a-mile from liome the four com- petitors were so much distanced by Phalanx thai Chifney called out to Messrs. Lake and Neale (who were on rising ground watching the trial) to know if he might not " rein in," as it was only distressing his mount, for no good ; at this time Babble was many lengths ahead of Traveller, who was about a length in front of Archibald. On the morning of the match H.R.H. sent for Messrs. Lake and Chifney, when he asked Chifney if he thought Traveller would win? "No, your royal highness," replied the jockey. " Why ? " asked Mr. Lake. " You know he ran a good horse in his trial, for you rode him." " Yes, sir ! I rode him, but I don't know he ran a 2;ood horse." This reply incensed Mr. Lake, who remarked with warmth, " Yes, you do know that he ran as a good horse, for he was not beaten more than half a length — he was not beaten a length ! Whereupon Chifney exclaimed with astonish- ment, — " Not a length, sir!" " No," said Mr. Lake,'' he was not beaten but very little more than a length, certainly not a length and a half." This prevarication proved to Chifney that Mr. Lake wished to disiniise the facts of the trial, and as Mr. Lake's warmth appeared to disturb the Prince of Wales, Chifney thought it prudent to retire, but determined to tell H.R.H. the facts 13S The Last Earls of Barrymore. of Travellers trial at the first opportunity. He found one on the course, before Traveller s match was run, and approaching the prince, he said, — "With your Royal Highness's permission, I shall be glad to describe how Traveller per- formed in his trial." " You may name," replied the prince. Thereupon Chifney told H.R.H. the facts of the trial. The time having arrived for the match, Chifney departed to inspect the saddling of his mount. Highlander defeated Traveller with ease. In fact, the former ran a worse horse than in the trial, Chifney being unable to get him out at any point of the race. 1 These incidents alone, in the racing career of the Prince of Wales, show, to say the least, he had some very " peculiar " persons among his racing retinue ; " but more remains behind," for a later chapter. The Earl of Barrymore' s racing engagements this year (1790) numbered 140, of which fifty obtained winning brackets, not at all a bad record. This raises the question, How came a person of the Earl's insight to lose money ? Be- cause he would " Wot let well alone." As no one sport or fancy ever claimed his undivided attention long, it was thus, when his mind was 1 To show what the Earl of Barrymore thought of High- lander's effort in this race, he ran him in another match the same day. Appendix L. Both Theatres in "Full Swing." 139 occupied with matters foreign to racing, that owners who knew his foible got the Earl to com- mit himself to matches (which were accompanied or managed by underrating of one of his favourite- racers) which with his " racing cap " on he would have scorned. By these and other artful tactics, jealous and unscrupulous owners contrived to obtain advantages over his lordship, who in his calmer mood was equal to the best judge of form then on the turf. With the advent of winter, the Earl's theatrical ardour revived, as both his " Town " and *' Country " theatres were kept in full working- order. The first w r as often crammed to repletion. This is mentioned by a chronicler of those days, Lady Theresa Lew r is, who edited the correspon- dence of Miss Berry. " I went to fetch my niece, Sophia Walpole, home last night from her mother's," writes Miss Berry, " and found Little Burlington Street blocked up with carriages. Lord Barrymore, his sister, Lady Melfort, and Mrs. Goodall, the actress, were performing the Beaux* s Stratagem, at his lordship's theatre." Many of these entertainments, with the suppers by wmich they were usually terminated, were very expensive, the cost frequently amounting to 1500/. a night. CHAPTER XVIII. Theatrical season at Wargrave, 1790 - 1791 — Wargrave Theatrical Club Ball— The Earl of Barrymore in the ball- room — Fight between Johnson and Big Ben — The Earl's freak while receiving a fencing lesson— The Earl compared with man's "Three Evils "— Additions made by the Earl to his racing stud— Xotes — The Earl of Barrymore's turf career compared with "Old" Dick Vernon's. Theatkicals, Balls, and Fetes, in London and at "Wargrave, were continued well into the year 1791, and were diversified by sporting arid hunt- ing, in fact, anything to beguile the time and squander money ! One of the entertainments was the Wargrave Theatrical Club Ball, at Maidenhead, to which a large number of people were invited, and among those present were some of the best county families. The ball-room was handsomely deco- rated with artificial flowers and transparencies. One of the latter represented "Comedy' on a pedestal supported by Harlequin and Fierrot, life- size, and inscribed " Wargrave Theatrical Club Ball." Another bore the Frince of Wales's plume, the British flag, and an Anchor, with the motto "Vive Harmon in ; " the allusion was to the harmony existing between the royal brothers, "Shepherd, I have Lost my Love." 141 the Prince of AV ales and the Dukes of York and Clarence. Three cut-glass chandeliers, holding a profusion of wax candles, threw- a mellow light on all assembled — a method of lighting; on which modern art has not 3-et improved. The ball opened with country dances, which were danced until supper was announced at 2 o'clock a.m. After supper, catches and glees were sung by the Earl of Barrymore, his brothers, Captain TTathen, and John Edwin, junior, until dawn, when the guests dispersed. At another ball, the following incident happened: — A handsome .young lady was dancing with a short, stout, podgy gentleman, who was not skilled in the terpsichorean art, and his fair partner slipped andfell, spraining her ankle. The dancers stopped, and the musicians likewise, when the lady was borne from the room. Lord Barrymore, who had witnessed the accident, could not resist the temptation to raise a laugh; so he bade the conductor of the band strike up, " Shep- herd, I have lost my Love." The strain was re- ceived with roars of laughter from all except the fat and ugly Corijdon, who was sitting in a corner, instead of administering to the needs of hisPhyllis; this nonchalant attitude he retained, in spite of the glances of those present, and no doubt took the melody for "part and parcel" of the entertainment. On January 17th, 1791, Johnson, the hero of the ring, fought his last battle. Johnson is said to have been one of the best men that ever held the Championship, for which his match with Brain, alias " Big Ben," was fought, with 500 142 The Last Earls of Barrymore. guineas added money. The incident is alluded to here only because the vanquisher of Johnson, Brain, was a former antagonist of the Earl of Barrymore's "professor" in the "noble art," and because the Earl backed Johnson. This battle cooled the Earl's enthusiasm for the " public ' ring, though he still retained Hooper in his ser- vice. But on the curtailment of his patronage of the " Fancy," the Earl gave increased support to a far better " field " sport — Cricket ; in fact, some of the most notable matches were played at this period, either under his patronage or by elevens elected by him. In those days, tuition in small sword exercise was indispensable to the education of a gentle- man, unless a " man of fashion" desired to be "spitted" by the first draper's assistant posing as a gentleman by picking quarrels at Ranelagh and Vauxhall, perhaps Marylebone, with persons of rank, whose " ways " resembled those of the Earl of Barrymore and his companions. In the days when Richard, Earl of Barry- more flourished, he, as well as every man of fashion, carried his life, in a sense, in his hands. Therefore his lordship was quite wise in taking lessons in carte and tierce from that expert, Pro- fessor Henry Augelo, who not only enjoyed a lucrative practice, but by his talent as an amateur actor, reciter, and vocalist, secured the Earl's personal friendship, and also that of several other members of the aristocracy. A Fencing Lesson. 143 Angelo, in his old age, compiled two or three amusing volumes of "Smalltalk" on the society of an earlier period, and testifies to his pupils' eccentricities. He relates how, on one occasion, his volatile pupil managed to extract fun and frolic from so matter of fact a thing as a fencing lesson at his house in Piccadilly. On Angelo's appearance, the Earl produced two new white kerseymere jackets, gave one to Angelo to put on, and donned the other himself. He then rang the bell, and on the entrance of his valet, Trebby, ordered him to fetch the "blacking pot." This was brought, and placed on the floor, when the Earl dipped the point of his foil into it, and desired Angelo to do likewise, remarking that " fair play is a jewel " (a favourite maxim of his). The pair then set to thrusting vigorously at each other, witli the result that both master and pupil were soon spotted like leopards. Angelo protested against so extravagant a freak, which, if continued, meant several new jackets. But the Earl only laughed and said, " He pur- posed to continue his novel manner of recording a ' hit ' until lie had made Harry Angelo as black as the devil/" MVn's lives are said to be beset by those three great evils, " wine, women, and money." Now, as regards the first of these, the Earl of Barryinore was not a sot, or intemperate, if judged by the low and lamentable standard of his day, though at one time the best of all vintages could bo had as freely as water at his lordship's Wargrave resi- 144 The Last Earls of Barrymore. dence, where tlie very " bargees " might obtain, for the asking, as much Burgundy or malt liquor as they could swallow. As regards the second, it is not going to be urged that the Earl was a paragon of virtue, but these pages shall not record the escapades that have not escaped research. While for the third, money, no one ever re- garded the circulating medium in its character of " dross ' more practically than did this spend- thrift Earl. To him money meant only the thing that could bivy so much pleasure, but the coffers of a Croesus would not have sufficed for the demands his whims would have made upon them. With the beginning of the flat-racing season, the Earl of Barrymore, in spite of clouds on the horizon of his finances, still added to his stud. He purchased the following horses from Mr. Bullock: Moses, Putt, Old Gold, and Halbert ; Treecreejier from Mr. Paxton, and others. These horses were all selected with a judgment, as stud book-lore can confirm, which, had any other than the erratic Earl possessed, might have guided him into the path of " Old " Dick Vernon, of that day's racing fame. Vernon commenced his career as an ensign in the Guards, but soon developed a taste for gaming of all kinds, and was initiated later into the " mysteries of the turf," a pursuit which he followed with caution and success. Bv these means alone, without one tithe of the natural ability for the sport as the Earl of Barrymore possessed, he managed to convert a slender patrimony of £3000 into a fortune of £100,000 before he quitted the turf as an owner. CHAPTER XIX. Mr. Bullock aptly named — The Comtesse du Barri and tho Barrymores — The Earl's pleasure mentioned as business — Parody on the "Deserted Village" by Anthony Pasquin. Me. Bullock, whose name has often occurred in these pages in connection with the Earl of Barry- more's sporting adventures, appears to have been an extraordinary man ; in fact, to have borne a strono* resemblance to the beast whose name he bore. Of an inactive and unwieldy form, his mind was active and fertile with a number of lucrative pursuits; for he was connected simul- taneously with a brewery and a gambling-house, and carried on under his more immediate super- vision the trade of an usurer, charging interest a trifle (?) above " bank rate." These constituted the business of his life ; its relaxation was found in owning and running a small but carefully selected stud of racehorses. Many of these he sold to great advantage, particularly after a race. This person had numerous transactions with the Earl during his turf career; it would have been to his lordship's advantage had he never made his acquaintance. L 146 The Last Earls of Barrymore. In the month of January, 1791, the Chateau de Luciennes, the residence of the famous, and in- famous, Oomtesse du Barry, was robbed in her absence, and jewels stolen to a considerable amount ; among these were some valuable dia- mouds, purchased for her at a great cost by Louis XV. The robbery necessitated a journey to London on the part of la Comtesse — several, in the long run — to give details respecting the articles stolen, the thieves being traced to Lon- don. With the foregoing, or even the eventual re- covery of the missing jewels, this memoir has little to do ; though an incident that arose from " Madame' s " visit has. This was that the Comtesse's de jure husband, Oomte Guillaume du Barri Ceres, had been acknowledged by the late Earl of Barrymore as a scion or offshoot of his noble house, in which he erred. For it is now admitted by French genealogists that the father of this Comte du Barri was a man of obscure origin. On the other hand, it is equally certain that there was and still is a descendant of the Earls of Barrymore among the French nobility, who is known as Comte Barry de Mervel (Chateau de Mervel, Seine Inferieure), whose ancestor accompanied James II. Inferieure into exile, 1690. This nobleman's arms are similar, and the motto the same as the older branch (the Irish) of the Barrymores. Therefore, the sixth Earl of Barry- more was correct in saying he had collateral relatives in France, but wrong in the family he selected for the honour, for Barri was a common appellation in many parts of France. Madame du Barry. 147 There is, or was, in the Galerie, or Salon Carre, at the Louvre, a picture for which Madame du Barry paid 4000 livres in 1771 ; it represents King Charles flying from his pursuers, accom- panied by a page, said to be a Barrymore; authentication is, however, wanting, also for the picture's having been painted by Vandyke. Madame du Barry had this picture hung in her boudoir, her royal paramour's customary seat, and she would point to it and tell him that if he permitted his parliament to have too much liberty they might possibly behead him, as they had beheaded King Charles, a prophecy which was fulfilled in the person of his grandson, Louis XVI. , whose fate the prophetess shared. The Earl of Barrymore' s passion for notoriety made him acknowledge the Comtesse du Barry as his relative, by marriage, of course ; in this he only perpetuated his father's error ; though had he known the facts, he might possibly have persisted in the fiction. On the other hand, many doubted whether the " Comtesse" would recognize the head of her husband's family, or regard him as a " strolling player." The Comtesse appears to have been well received by many notabilities of that period, of course including the Prince of Wales. The following curious paragraph appeared in a newspaper on March 10th, 1791, stating that " it was the intention of the Earl of Barrymore to have a public night once a week (referring to the Earl's London theatre), the only difficulty l 2 148 The Last Earls of Barrymore. being to find one not already overcharged with business; for it may be ranked amongst the elegant improvements of the age that we have contrived to make pleasure happily go hand in hand with business." In this the Earl's intention appears to have been laudable, but the papers would not let him have credit for even that good intention. A work edited by Anthony Pasquin some years before he entered his lordship's service, was the " Devil," a weekly, later a " weakly," journal, embellished at top with a small woodcut of his dark majesty. This brochure was supposed to be conducted by a society of literary gentlemen and published at the singular price of 2\d. The information, essays, letters, etc., it contains are of little, if any, interest to the present generation, though an excellent parody of a portion of Gold- smith's " Deserted Village " must be excepted. This is termed " Innovation," and treats the "stage" as Goldsmith did the village, lamenting departed glories. Nor is its point much dulled by time; there is something applicable in its censures now. It is characteristic of Pasquin. "INNOVATION." u Sweet playhouse ! best amusement of the town, Where oft, at half-price, for half-a-crown, I've with such glee thy opening visit paid, When oysters first are sold, and farces played. Dear boxes ! where I scarce my nose could squeeze ; Where play, and dance, and song were sure to please, How, often happier than king or queen, While loud applause has marked the well-played scene, How often have I paused on every charm — "Innovation." 149 The speaking silence, the expression warm, The never- failing start — the gashing tear, The broken accents trembling on the ear ; The moon that vainly tried to pierce the shade, Impervious scene, for love or murder made. How often have I bless'd the parting day, "When, tea removed, I hurried to the play, And both the galleries, from labour free, Wept at the actor's woe, or shared his glee. "While many a first appearance has been made, The young contending, as the old surveyed, And many a gentleman walk'd o'er the ground, While hisses, cat-calls, off ! and groans went round. And still, as each repeated effort tired, The stage-struck wight became still more inspir'd. The rival Romeo's, that sought renown, By holding out to tire each other down. The Scrub, right conscious of his well-chalked face, While bursts of laughter echoed round the place. The timid Juliet's sidelong looks of love, The critic's glance who would those looks reprove. These were the charms, sweet playhouse, joys like these, With quick succession, taught e'en ' Rich ' to please. There round the theatre, alternately shed, Laughter and tears — but all these charms are fled. Joy-giving playhouse ! best delight in town, Thy merit's fled, and any stuff goes down. "Midst thy bays the pruning knife is seen, And critic' fury tear away the green ; Monopoly now grasps the whole domain, And authors, actors, starve, nor dare complain. Xo wit, or humour, marks the lively play, But puns and ([nibbles make their saucy way. Along thy tragedies, a sleepy guest, — Pull Declamation snores herself to rest. The place of elegance a stare supplies, And affectation that ne'er laughs or cries. Ease, nature, grace, are now neglected all, l'or he acts best who can the loudest bawl ; Or by a squint, or grin, or squeak engage, To fright astonished Reason from the stage. Ill fares the town, to various tastes a prey, Where Opera's multiply and Plays decay. Pageants and shuws may flourish or may fade, A puff can make them, as a puff has mail' ; But well-writ plays, the stage's noblest pride. 150 The Last Earls of Barrymore. When once destroyed, can never be supply 'd. Time has been, ere monopoly began, An Author has been treated like a man. For him attentive Managers could feel, And public wounds by private kindness heal. His consolation (failing of success), That rudeness would not aggravate distress. But times are altered, Taste shall curse the ev'nt. Managers, Members of Parliament ! Behind the scenes, no studying actor goes, But 'gainst some lounging lord he runs his nose ; And actresses, close watched from side to side, Their parts resign to vanity and pride. Those sallies which were wont to shake the place, rilling between each scene the lingering space ; Those jests that set the green room in a roar, Ah ! they that made them are, alas ! no more. Of polite gravity, the green room's full, And actors are almost — as patriots dull. Poor Stage ! — best parent of the moral hour, Thy scenes confess the Innovator's power. Here, if perchance a modest woman goes, 'Midst ranks of Jezebels and lobby beau's, If hap'ly the unpilfered 'scape to view, That stage to fame which under Garrick grew ; While as from box to box the puppies range, She hears the veteran renter curse the change. Remembrance waking, with her busy train, He thus laments his pleasure turned to pain : " In all my counter-marching here and there, In all I've seen, — and I have had my share ; — In all the riots, when the offended town Have broke the sconces and pulled benches down When plays have been hissed off before the close, The authors robbed of profit and repose — I still had hopes — for men are foolish still, This patriot manager, with cunning skill, If not in parliament, might here in peace Display his vacant system of police. And as those squires, who the sly fox pursue, Snore off their bumpers in the parish pew ; I too might sleep — all care left in the lurch, As safely here as in a country church. Oh ! peaceful corner, friend to life's decline, Retreat from riots, that can ne'er be mine ! How blest is he, employment growing scarce, "Innovation." iu Who cries the play, and laughs throughout the farce ; Who sees, unmoved, the flirl her oglea try, And calmly can the wanton danger fly ; For him no wretch her want of virtue weeps, He all his stock of love for Betty keeps. No surly husband — madame's honour gone — Breaks on his peace with actions of crim. con. ; But on he jogs — to meet his latter end, Wisely content with his domestic friend, Sinks into second childhood's kind decay, Ami, babbling still old stories, the old way. His fleeting intellects impair so fast, Tis hard to say what moment was his last. Sweet was the sound, when at the music's close, Obedient to the bell — the curtain rose ; There Garrick, as he sadly stepp'd, and slow, In Hamlet — look'd unutterable woe ! There, torn with jealous hate 'gainst her he lov'd, Barry grew agonized, " in not much moved." There noisy Bach anal s from Cumus court, Milton and A me taught how to laugh and sport. There Boyce and Dryden wak'd with hound the morn, Or vocal Johnny Beard, with early horn. There the apt tune in timely moment played, To fill each pause the exeunt had made ; But now Simplicity's soft accents fail, And Irish jigs th' assaulted ear assail. No friends to nature on the boards now tread, But all truths faithful portraiture is fled ! All but yon hearty iron muscled thing, Who feels in advanced age life's second spring ; He, healthy veteran, who his boyish tricks Can play, at th' Shakespeare, turn'd eighty-six, 1 Can roaring patriots' meetings well adorn, Sing all the night, and burn his wig at morn. He only left, sense strengthing with his age, The faithful Mentor of the sinking stage. Near yonder church, where once the garden smil'd, And still where many a garden flower goes wild, There, where the opening shops the place disclose, The little Manager's snug mansion rose. 2 A man he was to all the playhouse dear, And passing rich — for he was close and near. Envy and wonder of the strolling race, 1 Macklin. " Garrick's. 152 The Last Earls of Barrymore. At Hampton, he'd a very pretty place. Disdainful lie to fawn — so great his pow'r, He must himself be flattered by the hour ; And still his heart indulged the worthy whim, Raising their salaries who stooped to him. His house was known to all the vagrant train ; He chid their freaks, but n'er relieved their pain. The Romeos and the Hamlets, not his guests, But on the garden— heav'd and thump'd their breasts, The ruined spendthrift, now no longer proud, A trial claimed, and had his claim allowed. The country Roscius civilly ask in, For all work fit — could anywhere begin, Call up a look, grin — start or force a tear At will, be drunk in Brute, or mad in Lear. Pleas'd with the terms, the little man would glow, And yield — like drops of blood — ten pounds or so. But, careful every prospect still to scan, The engagement made ere charity began. Thus, to relieve the wretch was his delight, Could his own interest be advantag'd by't 1 1 To fill the house, still prompt at every call, To cry, and laugh, and start, he taught them all. And as an aged horse tries every pace To lure the colts and fillies of the race, He tried each art, reprov'd each dull delay, Pointed to Roscius 1 chair, and led the way. Beside the tomb, entranc'd where Juliet laid — Mute sorrow, frantic love, by turns displayed. The wondrous actor stood, at his control, Despair and anguish chill'd the harrow'd soul ; While, as a contrast to each whisper'd pause, The thund'ring house re-echoed with applause. Upon the stage, blest with each native grace, His looks did what he pleas'd throughout the place. Truth from his lips the enraptured hearers aw'd, And those who came to scoff — stayed to applaud. The curtain dropt — around the little man, The actors all with honest pleasure ran. E'en scene men followed with quaint vulgar wile, And praise him up — to share the good man's smile ; The smile a master's consequence express'd, The flattery pleas'd, but not the sly request ; He'd laugh — but, 'gainst their wants as firm as rocks His serious thoughts had rest in his strong box ; As some rich Nabob with pagodas stor'd, " Innovation." 153 Massacres nations, and comes home a lord, Tho' scorned and branded with the public curse, Sniiles at the thousands glittering in his purse. Besides Charles Street, where hackney coaches meet, AVhere two 'Blue Posts,' adorn famed Russell Street, There in an alehouse, taught to play the fool, (Jood master Shuter first was put to school. Nature's adopted son, tho' mean and low, Alas! " I knew him well, Hora-tio." Well did the tittering audience love to trace The miser's thrift, depicted in his face. Well would the busy whisper circle round, When, in Corhaecio, at Volpone he frown'd ; Yet he was kind — and if absurd in aught, The love he bore to blackguards was in fault. The chimney sweeper swore how much he knew, 'Twas certain he could act and mimic too ; Could tip the London cries — nay, it was said, He — for his benefit — ' King Richard ' play'd. In guzzling too, the landlord own'd his skill, For tho' as drunk as muck — he'd guzzle still. "While Quaker's sermons, given in drawling sound, Amazed the ' prigs ' and ' kiddies ' rang'd around. And still they gap'd, and still the wonder grew, That one droll head could carry all he knew. But past is all, his fame, the Rose and Grown, "Where he so oft got tips}- — is burnt down. Near to the wardrobe stairs one storey high, Where ermined robes and jewels caught the eye. Dull is that dressing room — by Quin inspired, Where, once, choice wits after the play retir'd ; When playhouse statesmen talked with looks profound, And apt quotations — meant for wit — went round. Imagination fondly stoops to trace The tinsell'd splendours of the motley place ; The warlike truncheon, prone upon the floor, The herald's coat, that hung behind the door; The clothes — their different duties made to pay, To deck the stage by night — the street by day. The pictures slyly drawn on Hogarth's plan, Garrick i' th' lantern, Quin in the sedan. The toilet stock'd, to decorate the play, Paint, Indian ink, burnt cork, and whiting gay. While on the clothes, pins ranged in gaudy show, Robes decked with foilstonea — glittered in a row. Vain, transitory splendours, could not all i54 The Last Earls of Barrymore. Reprieve the mimic monarch from his fall. Obscure, he sinks — forget his worth and name, For S forbids the smallest fame. To paltry player — no more shall he impart An hour's delight to the convivial heart. Thither, no more shall witty Lords repair, To sweet oblivion of the senate's care. No more the anecdote — the luscious tale, The mirth-inspiring good thing shall prevail. Kb more the " Fop " his cobwebbed sconce shall cheer, Padlock his flippant tongue, and learn — to hear. Fat Quin himself no longer shall be found, Careful to see the chuckling sun go round. Nor the young actress — anxious to be tried, Shall blush to speak some pointed speech aside. . Yes ! let the ranter scoff at — in his rage, The simple beauties of the ancient stage ; To me more dear, congenial to my heart, One native charm, than all the gloss of art. Spontaneous gifts, where nature has its play, Een hypocrites, to be just, shall sway, Boldly they speaking conviction to the mind, Nor are to trammels of the scene confined, But the vain pomp, the pageantry, parade, To joy the eye, and not the heart display'd. In viewing these, tho' fools their wish obtain ; With men of sense, they sicken into pain. For vainly, Fashion, sanctions the decoy, If common Sense, disdains to call it Joy. Ye friends to Truth, ye critics who survey, False Tastes increase, and Merit's fast decay, 'Tis yours to judge, as censors of the age, Between a brilliant and a moral stage. Proud swells the tide, with loads of capering heel?, And vacant Folly shouts applause in peals ; Hoards, even beyond the miser's wish, are thrown, To deck some sham farago for the town. Yet count the gains, 'tis but an empty name, A puff to lift this nonsense into Fame. Not so the loss — the sums that feed this pride, The salaries of many have supplied ; Money for dresses, money for new scenes, New music, decorations, and machines ; The cost of these, including every freak, Would pay ten decent actors four pounds a week But to afford engagements so enlarged, The Children of Thespis. }y Such useful members must be all discharged : In some poor barn the needy actors fly, Starved, the gull'd town with mummery to supply. Ami, thus the stage, first meant for Reason — all, In Folly's splendid trappings waits its fall, As some plain youth, from College issuing forth, Depends for introduction on his worth, Slights all the glare that tinsell'd "Wit supplies, And having sense — expects to pass for wise ; But when deserted — for he knows not how To simper — or to make a modish bow, "Wisdom he shuns, for Folly's mad excess, Reasoning profoundly still — but it's on dress ! Thus fares the stage, by pageantry disgrac'd, Where Nature's beauties are no longer traced ; But verging to decline — its turrets rise, Its vista's strike — its palaces surprise. "While scourged by Famine from the royal place, The mournful actor joins the strolling race, Reduced to double parts, to laugh and rave, To play the ghost, and after dig the grave. "Where then, ah ! where, shall Nature's sons reside, To 'scape the pressure of theatric pride 1 If, taking some poor town, they bribe the Mayor, Sinking the vagabond, to spare the player ; The pittance poor and scanty which they get, Obliges them to run away in debt." This is all that appears to have been published of this clever parody. Although it bears " To be concluded in our next," the following numbers do not contain any further reference to it. Another work on the stage by the writer of the foregoing was the " Children of Thespis ' : (pub- lished in book form), which acquired some noto- riety. A writer in a magazine some 30 years after relates a ton mot, made by " Anthony Pasquin," who, in describing the steeple of the obstacle church in the Strand (St. Mary-le- Strand) as a milestone run to seed — a really witty comparison — declared this to have been one of the 156 The Last Earls of Barrymore. few good things given forth by his brick-dust brain, in one of the few happy moments vouch- safed to it. Probably posterity may judge differently after reading this parody. CHAPTER XX. An anecdote related by the Earl of Barrymore — Production of the pantomime Bluebeard at Wargrave — The flat racing season begins — The Earl enters the House of Common? — How an amateur actor was brought from London — The Earl's dislike to being driven in a post-chaise — Captain Wathen, the theatrical amateur — Xewmarket Second Spring Meeting, 1791 — The Earl in love — Mrs. Goodall, the actress, at Wargrave. The following anecdote was related by the Earl of Barrymore. He was dining with a gentleman at Great Marlow, his amanuensis Pasquin being of the company. His host, who had just lost and buried his wife, was asked by a footman if he might speak with him, and was answered, " Speak out, John ; we have no stran- gers here." The man informed his master that a ° pusson " wished to speak with him on urgent business. " Then show him in," said the gentle- man. " I have nothing to hide from my guests." The caller's urgent " business " proved to be the undertaker who had conducted the funeral obsequies of their host's late wife. He asked if he might mention his business before company. " Proceed, Sir ! " Whereupon he began the usual stock drawl : — " Bills to meet," " Scarceuess of money," " bad 158 The Last Earls of Barrymore. trade ! ' and then placed in the widower's hand his " leetle " bill. " What ! " cried he, glancing at the sum total of the account. " What ! Sixty-seven pounds for burying a man's wife ! it is an enormous amount for laying a silent female horizontally ! You must have made a mistake." " Not in the least article," replied the under- taker. " Handsome hearse, three coaches, six decent well-dressed mutes, and the best pall in the county ! No one could do it honestly for less, your honour." " But it is a large item," urged the widower. " But stay, Mr. Undertaker. I now recollect the poor woman would have paid twice as much with cheerfulness to have buried me." He turned to the Earl and said, " So, my Lord, I must not be behind in doing an act of kindness ! There, undertaker, is a draft for your bill ; receipt it, and be off." With the opening of the racing season, theatri- cals and other entertainments were brought to a close. On April 15th, 1791, a new pantomime, " Bluebeard" was produced, after many rehearsals had been held. One of these was a " full dress " one, to which his lordship admitted gratis as many of the villagers as the theatre would hold — a motley crowd, who afforded as much amusement by the amazement their stolid countenances de- picted to the Earl and his friends as the perform- ance. Some expressed their thought and delight in the loudest of "stage" whispers. One chat- The Pantomime— Blue Beard. 159 terer remarked to his village " beauty," while Blue Beard was about to murder Zrticia, — " I'll be domned, Margery, if that ban't Dal- pheni." "Lawks, is it?" said the red-cheeked wench. " Wot a willan to be sur ! " This pantomime was written by " Pasquin," who did not strictly adhere to the story of the murder- ous Turk. One character acted by him was his Satanic Majesty. His costume was of the usual symbolic character, heightened by a liberal dis- play of red fire, as he ascended by the trap to the stage, and this caused the bumpkins to shriek with terror. Pasquin, who desired to learn the effects of his representation, as soon as possible disrobed and went amongst the audience in the boxes, where a whispered discussion was going on between one of the theatrical amateurs and a countryman as to the mission of " Old 'Arry " in the piece, on which Pasquin explained it was the genius of the country where the scene was laid, who had appeared to protect Zelloia. Whereon another yokel interposed. " He be wundarf ul queerly drassed, Mister, an' my I's nevar go to Sonning ag'in if he hadn't got no shoes on." You need not wonder at that, }'ou egregious blockhead," remarked a gentleman standing by, — " to find a genius without a shoe to his foot." The dialogue, jokes, and songs of this panto- mime are said to have been excellent. One of the latter, sung by Delphini, ran, — 160 The Last Earls of Barrymore. " My Zelicia ! now your black eyes may behold My coffers, my jewels, my plate, and my gold. With wonders on wonders, this key will unfold, And all shall be thine when we're married. ft This key ope's the casket where emeralds lie, And this, where my costly array meets the eye, With silks, far more bright than the Tyrean dye, And all shall be thine when we're married. " But I charge you, by all that is sacred and great, JS"ot to open ' that ' door and embitter your fate. If you do, you'll be cursed by the Furies' fell hate, And you and I will never be married." At one of the rehearsals, and before the actors thoroughly knew their parts, Delphini, while singing the above song, substituted " Admirals " for " Emeralds " in the second verse ; the promp- ter called his attention to the error, when he re- plied, — " It be yure raeestake, Mistar promptar, it is ! de ' admiral ' dat Blue Beard did murdar and buried dere ! " It was only by the most patient and persistent explanation that Delphini could be made to understand he was in error. The com- poser of the music for this piece, as well as general composer and chef d'orcliestre to Lord Barrymore, was Carter, who has immortalized himself by his " Oh, Nanny, wilt thou gang with me?" At the Craven Meeting, Newmarket, April 25th, 1791, the Earl of Barrymore began the racing season fairly well, winning several matches and races. 1 The Earl of Barrymore attained this year a 1 Appendix M. The Earl enters the House of Commons. iOi " privilege " lie had long wished for — a seat in the House of Commons. This was acquired through a well-known channel. The borough that honoured the Earl with its inaptly termed " vote and suffrage " was that of Heytesbury, Wilts, one of those " pocket " boroughs which so long dis- graced the elective rights of the People before the passing of the Reform Bill. One important privilege of a member of parliament in those days was freedom from arrest. The state at which the Earl's finances were slowly but surely arriving showed he would require to avail himself of this immunity. Heytesbury was not the borough he wished to represent, as he still cherished the desire to sit for Reading, and ultimately con- tested that borough. However, he prudently accepted the smaller borough in the meanwhile, and gave a sumptuous dinner to a numerous com- pany at his mansion in Piccadilly to celebrate his return. That Lord Barry more never permitted money to interfere with his whims or pleasures this further testifies. Almost on the eve of a theatrical performance at Wargrave, an amateur comedian who was to play an important part wrote to say he could not attend. The Earl was annoyed, but on surmising that the state of the roads, with the thereon expense of posting, might have some- thing to do with his friend's proposed absence, he despatched a footman with a letter to the defaulter which contained a fifty-pound note, coupled with the request to " repair " to Wargrave " in style " M 1 62 The Last Earls of Barrymore. on "pressing business." Which of these com- mands influenced the amateur comedian I will not decide, but it is certain the Earl's dramatic companion posted to Wargrave in a chaise and four, and returned by the same means after the Mentioning oost-chaises reminds me of the o j- dislike the Earl had to using those vehicles. This was remarkable, when it is remembered how he would outdo " Hellfire Dick," of Newmarket fame, as a postillion to this class of conveyance. But to sit inside and be carried along at any pace above the ordinary, he never would, if he could avoid it. Captain Wathen, one of the Earl of Barrymore' s most able coadjutors in the dramatic entertain- ments produced at his London and Wargrave theatres, was a clever actor as well as a tried soldier. He had distinguished himself in his martial capacity at the siege of Gibraltar, under Lord Heathfield. In one of the volumes of " Bell's British Theatre " there is a frontispiece engraving depicting Lord Barrymore and Captain Wathen in the characters of Archer and Aimwell, parts in which they respectively excelled. 1 1 Characters in Farquhar's comedy — The Beaux's Stratagem — representing two gentlemen of broken fortunes, enacting the part of servant and master. This character the Earl appears to have changed, afterwards, for that of Scrub, a witty servant " of all work ' to Squire Sullen, who thus expresses his multifarious duties : — " . . . . Of a Monday I drive the coach, of a Tuesday I drive the plough, on Wednesday I follow the hounds, r LORD BARRYMORE ANTD CAPTAIN WATHEN A< 4RCHBR A\l> UMIIUI. IN THE "BKJVX'S STRMTMKM." l'n.-e It;.'. 350 Guineas a Head ! 163 Racing still occupied the Earl's attention. At the Second Spring Meeting, May 25th, 1791, he rode his own horse, and won the first of the renewed Macaroni Stakes of 100 guineas each, betting, 5 to 4 on the Earl's mount, Sister to . istonishment. At this period some unpleasantness occurred between the Prince of Wales and the Earl of Barrymore, which his lordship attempted to remove at the Ascot meeting: the following; month. To this end, he invited H.R.H. to two sumptuous luncheons he had ordered to be prepared in a marquee on the course, for which he gave a carte blanche as to cost, provided everything was there, " in or out of season, and of the best." On neither occasion did the Prince appear ; the Earl with one friend sat down to one meal ; Lord Falkland, his lordship, and Pasquin to the second. These luncheons cost Earl Barrymore 1700 guineas, or about 350 guineas a head. The year 1791 is memorable in the life of this evanescent peer as being the one in which Cv.j>i grave. Among those who supped with the Prince of Wales were the Duke and Duchess of St. Albans and the Duchess of Gordon. Among other members of the peerage in costume were the 238 The Last Earls of Barrymore. Marquis of Lome, Lord "Westmoreland, the Marquis of Abercorn, the Marchioness of Salis- bury, the Duchess of Leeds, Lady Cholmoncleley, etc., etc., etc. But this was only a sudden " flare up " in the expiring flame of the house of Barry- more — that is, in its direct line. Both the Earl and his brother Augustus sorely felt the need of that patrimony they had helped to squander — in particular Augustus, who was in very bad cir- cumstances about this period. True, this honour- able person was now in holy orders, but his erratic disposition prevented his aristocratic acquaintances from presenting him to a living. Possessed of both ability and education, he could never be depended on to appear in the part those attributes entitled him to play, that of a — gentle- man, or the direct opposite, one of — society's lowest strata, for he had the protean capacity of his unfortunate brother in a worse degree, therefore his company was not sought by his peers. This honourable and learned ' divine' lived a chequered life, and died at Moulsey on the 29th September, 1818. In allusion to the various prints of the late Earl, mention should have been made of a mezzo- tint engraving by Jehner, after a miniature by Cosway, published by John Boy dell in 1778. This represents his lordship as Cupid, but the features are too young and unmarked to be com- pared with later prints ; however, it is of interest from an artistic standpoint. There are also one or two others of a scurrilous nature, scarcely worth alluding to. RICHARD, SEVENTH RARE OF BARRYMORK, is ( mm. Page 238. The Last Earl, Portrayed by Cruickshank. 239 That satirical magazine, the Scourge, for November, 1812, has a coloured plate, by Cruick- shank, devoted to the Prince of Wales and his doings. In one vignette is Henry, Earl of Barry- more, his right, or lame, leg (?) ornamented with a cloven hoof, who is made to say, " I am known by the title of the paragon of debauchery, and I only claim to be the 's confidential friend." The Earl had, like his brother Richard, a passion for the drama and music, which he had to gratify at the public founts, as the luxury of a private theatre was quite beyond his means. CHAPTER XXXII. "Anthony Pasquin's" means of livelihood after his patron's death — His later works — William Gifford retaliates on "Pasquin" — Action by "Pasquin" against Eobert Faulder — The plaintiff's flight to America — Employed by the " Federal " paper to attack Corbett — Discomfiture and return to England — Compromises with his creditors here — Ee- appearance as a theatrical and art critic — His quarrels and strange conduct. Among the dependents of the late Earl who had to seek " pastures new " was his secretary, etc., John Williams, alias " Anthony Pasquin ' : the ' notorious,' who fell back on journalism, coupled with authorship, to gain a subsistence. He was the author of the " Pin basket to the children of Thespis" " Pasquin on the Fine Arts," " History of the Actors of Ireland" and other works. These effusions had much to do with an action brought by "Pasquin" against Robert Faulder, a bookseller, who was one of some forty others the malevolent " Anthony " purposed suing for damages, for pub- lishing, by selling, a libel on him, in a work by William Gifford, entitled the Baviad, a paraphrastic imitation of the first satire of Persius — a work, so the introduction states, which was a satirical denunciation of the wretched taste of the Delia "Pasquin" Pilloried. 241 Gru8can school, without the slightest reference to their moral or political qualities. In this, the author says, he would have persevered to the end, had he not been provoked to transgress the bonds he had prescribed himself by the diabolical conduct of one of his heroes, "Anthony Pasquin," which was the earning of a subsistence by work- ing on the fears and vanities of several artists, actors, actresses, etc. ; till, hardened by impunity, he attempted higher game by articles against "Warren Hastings (to whom he had offered his services). These were continued daily in the Morning Post, with indefatigable zeal and rancour ; later, he became so bold as to insert false state- ments, which only the most inveterate malice could have dictated. Mr. Gifford, therefore, thought this a just opportunity to drag "Anthony Pasquin " before the tribunal of Public Opinion, to show him in his true character — a pest. He then indited the following, which duly appeared, and was the libel complained of: — " Some love the verse that like Maria's flows, No rubs to stagger, and no sense to pose, Which read and read, you raise your eyes in doubt, And wonder gravely what it is about. These fancy bells, poetics only sweet And intercept his authors in the street, There, smoking hot, inhale " Mit Yanda's " strains ; And the rank fume of "Tony Pasquin's" brains." This only concerned Gifford himself, but the real bone of contention was some verses which appeared as a footnote, these Gifford affirmed 242 The Last Earls of Barrymore. were sent him by a friend, and could not resist the temptation to insert. "TO 'ANTHONY PASQUIN,' ESQ." " Why dost thou tack most simple Anthony, The name of ' Pasquin ' to thy ribald strains 1 Is it a fetch of wit, to let us see Thou, like that statue, art devoid of brains 1 " But thou mistakest, for know thou, ' Pasquin's ' head Be full as hard and near as thick as thine ; Yet, as the world, admiring, in it read Many a keen gibe and many a sportive line. "■ While nothing from thy ' jobbermowl ' can spring- But impudence and filth, for out, alas ! Do what we will, 'tis still the same vile thing — Within, all brickdust ! and without, all brass ! " Then blot the name of ' Pasquin ' from thy page ; Thou seest it will not thy poor riff-raff sell. Some other would'st thou take, I dare engage, ' John Williams ' or ( Tom Fool ' will do as well." The case was heard before Lord Kenyon, whose abhorrence of subterfuge led the defendant to anticipate acquittal. The Honourable Thomas Erskine appeared for "Pasquin" and Sergeant Grarrow for the defendant. Both used their best forensic skill for their clients, but in the end the jury stopped the case and gave a verdict for the defendants ; an issue that placed " Pasquin " iu an unpleasant position, insomuch that he obtained some momentary relief from a Benevolent In- stitution, with which he fled the country. At New York he procured employment on the staff of the " Federal " paper, a journal hostile to " PASQUIx\ t " AND CORBETT. 243 Corbctt. "Pasquin's" duty was to attack Corbett's writings, but " Pasquin," though a fair rhymester, was a poor prose writer, therefore " Peter Porcu- pine," Corbett, soon overthrew his adversary. It was while employed in this "paper" duel that "Pasquin "fell " foul " of some American cousins, who prosecuted him for libel, which made New York as unendurable as London had become earlier. He then returned to England, and con- trived to hide himself, pending an arrangement with his creditors. This concluded, " Pasquin " assumed his old career as critic, but was fool enough to quarrel with two old Wargrave friends, Captain Wathen and Harry Angelo. The first he apologized to on his knees, the other went into Bow Street police court, in which " Pasquin," as plaintiff, apologized to Angelo, the defendant — a somewhat strange proceeding. These and kindred matters did " Anthony " much harm, though the terror of his pen held many well-known actors and actresses in thraldom, notably Mrs. Abington, with whom he used to ask himself to dinner, suggest the dishes he liked, and make her pay him for attending. John Taylor, editor of the " Sun," relates he often met " Pasquin " in literary circles ; once in particular at a dinner party given by Mrs. Billing- ton at Brompton, which included, among others, Dr. Wolcot (Peter Pindar), Mr. Shield, Haydon the artist, opposite whom Anthony sat, and whom he addressed : "Mr. Haydon, you are the greatest genius I ever saw," concluding with a foul epithet. E 2 244 The Last Earls of Barrymore. As the evening wore on, "Pasquin" heard that Dr. Wolcot and Messrs. Taylor and Shield had ordered a hackney coach to come for them ; this resulted in some amusement to two, at least, of its occupants later. CHAPTER XXXIII. John Taylor suggests that Dr. Wolcot and "Pasquin" should unite their JUuses — How John Taylor hecame deprived of " Pasquin's" friendship — "Pasquin's" claim as an art critic — Goes to Paris — Return ahiia, Genge, and Clay Hall Mask; also won a 50 guinea each subscription race, 6 subscribers, at Ascot. Rockingliam now came into Mr. Bullock's possession, and won for him : The King's Plate, Lichfield ; a 70 guinea handicap at Newmarket ; another of 60 guineas, beating four competitors ; one of 70 guineas, beating the well-known Drone and others. In 1787 Rockingham won 525 guineas; the great Sub- scription of 50 guineas each, beating Fox, Delphi/ti, Marplot, Drone, Pilot, and Oheron ; also received forfeit from Mr. O'Kelly's Dungannon and six others ; a £50 handicap, Two King's plates ; and the renewed 140 guinea subscription handicap; together with a 60 and a 70 guinea handicap, all at Newmarket ; also, the King's plates at Guildford, Win- chester, Nottingham, and York, with the Town plate of the last. APPENDIX B. Newmarket. March 12th, 1788. A sweepstake handicap of 100 guineas each. Rowley mile. 254 Appendix. Lord Barrymore's Elm, bj' Ihnio, 8 st. 7 lb. . 1 Lord Clermont's Osprey, 3 st. 4 lb. . . . 2 Lord G. H. Cavendish's Oporto, 8 st. . . 3 Match. Lord Barrymore's br. colt Hamlet, by Denmark, beat Mr. Barton's bro. colt Cantab (8 st. each), brother to Schoolboy. Two year old course, for 50 guineas. 8 to 2 on Cantab. Match. Lord Barrymore's Alarm, by Tandem, beat Mr. Charles James Fox's Miss Tomboy. Abingdon mile, 50 guineas. 6 to 4 on Alarm. Match. March 14th. Lord Barrymore's Jerico, by Philippos Arabian, beat Lord Clermont's colt Hocks, by Dorimont, 7 st. 7 lb. each, first third of Rowley mile, for 50 guineas. 7 to 4 on Hocks. APPENDIX C. NEMABKET. Match. April 7th, 1788. Lord Barrymore's Yarico, by Eclipse, beat Lord Clermont's Hocks, 7 st. 4 lb. each, across the flat, for 50 guineas. 2 to 1 on Hocks. Match. Lord Barrymore's Elm, by Ilmio, 8 st. 2 lb., beat Mr. Vernon's Birch, 6 st. 13 lb., Rowley mile, for 100 guineas. 2 to 1 and 5 to 2 on Elm. April 8th, 1788. The King's plate of 100 guineas. 6 year old, 12 st. R.C. Lord Barrymore's Rockingham, by Highflyer. W.O. Match. Lord Barrymore's Alarm, by Tandem, beat' Mr. Barton's eolt by Postmaster, 7 st. 11 lb., for 25 guineas. 6 to 4 on Alarm. Appendix. 255 APPENDIX D. Nkwmarket. April 24th, 1788. The Jockey Club plate. B.C. Won by Lord Barrymore's Rockingham, 8 st. 7 11). 5 and G to 1 on. Match. April 25th, 1788. Lord Barrymore's Grey Pumpkin beat Lord Clermont's Woodcock, across the flat, for 25 guineas. APPENDIX E. Newmarket. Match. Lord Barrymore's Jerico, by Philippe's Arabian, 7 st. 10 lb., beat Mr. Charles James Fox's colt by Imperator, 7 st. 13 lb., the first half of Rowley mile, for 200 guineas. Match. Lord Barrymore's bro. horse Elm, 8 st. 2 lb., beat Lord Grosvenor's Mentor, 8 st., across the flat, for 200 guineas. 2 to 1 on Elm. Match. Lord Barrymore's Nimble, by Flori::el, 8 st., beat Lord Clermont's Collector, 8 st. 10 lb., across the flat, for 200 guineas. 7 to 4 and 2 to 1 on Collector. Match. Lord Barrymore's Alarm, by Tandem, 8 st., beat the Duke of Bolton's colt by Pulpe, 8 st. 3 lb., across the flat, for 100 guineas. 2 to 1 on the colt by 1'nlj . 256 Appendix. APPENDIX F. Chelmsford. July 21st, 1788. His Majesty's plate of 100 guineas for four years old, two mile ] heats, won by Lord Barrymore's Nimble. 4 to 1 on. July 22nd. .V -£50 plate, won by Lord Barrymore's grey horse Grey Pumpkin, by Pumpkin, 5 years, 8 st. 8 lb. Lewes. Match. July 23rd, 1788. Lord Barrymore's bro. mare Columbine, ridden by his lord- ship, beat Sir John Lade's bro. mare Augusta, ridden by Sir John, 11 st. 7 lb. each, 4 miles, for 100 guineas. 2 and 3 to 1 on Augusta. APPENDIX G. Newmaeket. Match. Monday, September 29th, 1788. Lord Barrymore's grey filly Tipsey, sister to Countryman, 7 st. 10 lb., beat Charles James Fox's colt by Boudron out of Hip, 8 st. 2 lb. Two year old course, 200 guineas. 5 to 2 on Mr. Fox's colt. Match. Tuesday, September 30th. Lord Barrymore's Nimble, by Florizel, 8 st. 5 lb., beat Lord Clermont's Bullfinch, 7 st. 9 lb., across the flat, for 300 guineas. 6 to 4 on Nimble. Appendix. J5; APPHXDIX H. Newmarket, October 14th, 1788. Match. Lord Barrymore's I). C. Sir Christopher, by Evergreen, beal Mr. C. J. Fox's I), c. by Bowfrmi: oat of //V//. Two year old course. 200 guineas. 5 to 2 on Sir Christopher. October 16th. Match. Lord Barrymore's Grey Pumpkin, by Pumpkin, 7 st. 10 1b., beat tbe Duke of Queensberry's horse Mulberry, 7 st. 8 lb., D.C. 500 guineas. G and 7 to 4 on Mulberry. October 18th. Match. Lord Barrymore's bro. colt Feenow, by Tandem, beat Lord Clermont's bro. borse George, 8 st. 10 lb. Two year old course. 50 guineas. 7 to i and 2 to 1 on Feenow. APPEXDIX I. Newmarket, Houghton Meeting, October 28th, 1788. .Match. Lord Barrymore's bro. colt Jerico, by Philippo's Arabian, 8 st. 2 lb., beat Mr. Dymoke's bro. filly Tiffany, by Solstrum, 7 st. 11 lb. Two year old course, for 100 guineas. 5 to 2 < in Jerico. October 29th. Match. Lord Barrymore's grey filly Tipsey, by Bordeaux, ridden by owner, beat Mr. Vernon's grey colt by Pantaloon, ri Lden by Mr. Davis, 11 st. 13 lb. each. Two year old course. Twenty guineas. Even betting. 258 Appendix. October 30th. Handicap plate of «£50 for two and three year olds. Two year old course. Won by Lord Barrymore's b. c. Ventilator, 6 st. 9 lb. 12 others ran. Betting against the winner, 2 to 1. October 31st. Open handicap, for £50, across flat, won by Lord Barrymore's Nimble, 8 st. 4 lb., beating 9 others. 3 to 1 against winner at starting. October 31st. Match. Lord Barrymore's bro. colt Ventilator, 8 st., beat Mr. Bullock's Pretender, 8 st. 4 lb. Two year old course. 50 guineas. 6 to 4 on Pretender. November 3rd. Match. Lord Barrymore's Jerico beat Mr. Panton's Scrub, 8 st. 2 lb. Two year old course. 2 to 1 on Scrub. November 10th. Match. Lord Barrymore's Ventilator, 8 st. 2 lb., beat Mr. Dutton's Tinker, 7 st. 4 lb. Two year old course, for 25 guineas. 6 to 4 on Ventilator. APPENDIX J. Newmarket, Second Spring Meeting, 1789. Match. Lord Barrymore's Jerico beat Mr. Charles James Fox's colt Bragadocio, 8 st. each, across the flat. 300 guineas. , May. Lord Barrymore's colt Skiff ran a dead heat with Sir Charles Banbury's horse Slcewball, 7 st. 2 to 1 on Skewball. Appendix. 259 Ascot, Saturday, June 20th. 1789. A cup value sixty guineas, with a subscription of fifty guineas each, h.f. Weight 11 st., mares allowed 2 lb., two mile heats, to be ridden by owners, 6 subs. Three ran, who finished : — Comte de Melfort's gr. gelding Magog. . 1 Lord Barrymore's ch. gelding Tongs, by Florizel . ...... 2 The Honourable Henry Barry's bro. mare Corunna. ...... 3 Awarded to Lord Barrymore, who claimed the race on the grounds that the Comte had crossed him. Match. Lord Barrymore's Highlander, 7 st. 7 lb., beat H.R.H. the Prince of Wales' horse Thorn, 8 st. 7 lb., both 6 years old, across the flat. 300 guineas. 3 to 1 on Highlander. Newmarket, October Meeting, 1789. 31st. Match. Lord Barrymore's Toss, by Daniel, 5 years, 8 st. 7 lb., beat the Duke of Queensberry's Burgundy, 2 years old, 4 st. 7 lb. Two year old course. 5 to 2 on Burgundy. APPENDIX K. Newmarket, Second Spring Meeting, May 3rd, 1790. Match. Lord Barrymore's Pellegrini, 7 st. 13 lb ., beat the Duke of Bedford's Cardock, 8 st. 7 lb., b. c. 30 guineas. 7 to 4 on Pellegrini. May 0th. Match. Lord Barrymore's Highlander, by Bordeaux, 8 st. 7 lb., beat the Duke of Bedford's Cardork, S st. 2 lb., b. c. 300 guineas. S 2 260 Appendix. June. Match. Lord Barrymore's Toss, by Daniel, G years, beat H.B.H. the Prince of Wales' Louisa, 3 years, 6 st. 3 lb., over the New mile. 100 guineas. July. Match. Lord Barrymore's Toss beat Mr. C. J. Fox's Seagull, 8 st. 7 lb. each, across the flat. 500 guineas. 11 to 8 on Seagull. July 17th. Match. Lord Barrymore's Toss beat Mr. C. J. Fox's Seagull, who conceded 4 lb. to Toss. Beacon course. 13 to 8 on Toss. Lord Barrymore's Highlander, ridden by owner, 11 st., beat Sir W. Aston's Butterfdj, 6 st. 10 lb. Two year old course. 50 guineas. 3 to 1 on Highlander. Newmarket, First October Meeting, October 8th, 1790. Match. Lord Barrymore's Pallafox, 7 st. 10 lb., beat Lord Derby's Bob, 9 st. 13 lb., R. M. *200 guineas. 6 and 7 to 4 on Bob. Match. Lord Barrymore's Chanticleer, 3 years old, beat H.R.H. the Prince of Wales' Serpent, 8 st. each, a.f. 100 guineas. 6 to 4 on Chanticleer. Second October Meeting, October 19th, 1790. Handicap, value <£60 ; 4 years, 7 st. 4 lb. ; 5 years, 8 st. ; 6 years. 8 st. 4 lb. ; aged, 8 st. G lb. Ditch in. Won by Lord Barrymore's Seagull, by Woodpecker, 4 years. 5 to 1 against Si agull. On the 23rd, at this meeting, Lord Barrymore's Sketch all, Seagull, and Chanticleer put in an appearance. The first had a race awarded, The others received forfeit. Appendix. 261 APPENDIX L. Newmarket, Houghton Meeting, November 2nd, 1790. Match. Lord Barrymore's Ventilator, ridden by owner, list, lib., beat Mr. Stone's Pallafox, ridden by owner, lOst. 121b. B.C. — 100 guineas. November 5th. Match. Lord Barrymore's Seagull, 8st. 71b., beat Sir H. Feather- stone's Montezuma. 300 guineas. 3 to 1 on Seagull. Match. Lord Barrymore's Highlander } 8st. 51b., beat Mr. Aston's Marcia, 7st. 121b., a.f. 100 guineas. 5 to 4 on Highlan der. Nvember 8th. Match. Lord Barrymore's horse Pellegrini^ 6 years, beat Mr. (hail 3 James Fox's Cormorant, 6st. 12 lb., a.f. 200 guineas. APPENDIX M. Newmarket, Craven Meeting, April 25th, 1701. Match. Lord Barrymore's Pellegrini, by Moioick Ball, 8st. 111b., beat Sir Win. Aston's Marcia, 8st., a.f. 200 guineas. 5 and 6 to 4 on Pellegrini. Lord Barrymore's Glianticleer receives 500 guinea- forfeit from the Duke of Bedford's Thunderbolt. April 26th. A sweepstake of 200 guineas each, 5 subs., B.C., weight for age, won by Lord Barrymore's Seagull, v st. 2 to 1 on Coriander, who ran second ; 2 to 1 against Seagull. 262 Appendix. April 27th. Match. Lord Barrymore's Chanticleer, 3 years, beat Sir Wm, Aston's Marcia, 4 years, 8st. each, a.f. 200 guineas. 7 to 2 on Chanticleer. Newmarket, July, 1791. The second year of the Grosvenor Stakes of 50 guineas each ; the two middle miles of the B.C., won by Lord Barrymore's Chanticleer. 7 subs. July 15th. Handicap plate, won by Lord Barrymore's Treecreeper , by Woodpecker, 8st. 71b. 5 to 2 against Treeere&per. APPENDIX N. Brighton, August 3rd, 1791. A 50L handicap, weight for age, &c, won by Lord Barry- more's b. c. Halbert, by Javelin, 8 st. 5 lb., beating Lord Egremont's Hector and Lord Grosvenor's Flea. 6 to 4 on Halbert. Lewes, August 4th, 1791. A sweepstake of 10 guineas each for 3 years old. Colts 8 st. 2 lb., fillies 8 st., the last mile and a half of the course, 10 subs., won by Lord Barrymore's b. c. Halbert, by Javelin, 8 st. 2 lb., beating H.R.H. the Luke of York's Lauriston. 3 to 1 on Halbert. A sweepstake of 25 guineas each, for 4 years old, 4 miles, 6 subs., won by Lord Barrymore's Pallafox, beating Mr. Wynd- ham's Bare Devil. 6 to 4 on Pallafox. Bedford, September 12th, 1791. A purse of 50/. given by the Duke of Bedford, for 3 year olds, colts 8 st., fillies 7 st. 12 lb., won by Lord Barrymore's b. c. Halbert. Appendix. 263 APPENDIX 0. Newmarket, Piebt October Meeting, 1791. A sweepstake of 50 guineas each, D.I., to be ridden by owners, won by Lord Barrymore's Ventilator, 1 1 at. 7 lb. . 1 Sir John Lade's Helmet .... 2 Mr. Pigot's Tranquility .... 3 6 to 4 on Ventilator. October 5th. The Town Plate of 50/., for 3 years old, to carry 8 st. 7 lb., D.I., won by Lord Barrymore's Halbert ... 1 Duke of Bedford's, b. g. BolUm . . 2 Lord Grosvenor's Gwncistus ... 3 Betting, 7 to 2 on Halbert. October 6tb. Match. Lord Barrymore's filly by Jupiter out of a dam by Mam- hri/io, 7 st. 13 lb., beat Mr. Galway's b. c. by Pot-8-os out of Lathom's S>rap, mare, 7 st. 2 lb. Two years old, both. Abingdon mile, for 50 guineas. Even betting. October 7th. Match. Lord Barrymore's Chanticleer, 4 years old, beat H.B.H. the Prince of Wales' Don Quixote, aged, 8 st. each. 200 guineas, a.f. G to 4 on Chanticleer. APPENDIX P. Newmarket, Second October Meetixo, 1701. 17th. Mitch. Lord Barrymore's Halbert, 7 st,, boat Sir Win. Aston'a Marcia, 5 year old. Ab. mile. 200 guineas. Even betting. 264 Appendix. 18th. Match. Lord Barrymore's Moses, by Buzarlo, 8 st. 5 lb., beat Sir Wm. Aston's Pandolpho, 8 st., first half of Rowley mile. 200 guineas. Betting 5 to 4 on Pandolpho. 20th. Two year old race for £50, old course, colts 8 st. 2 lb., fillies 8 st., won by Lord Barrymore's Treecreeper, who beat 11 others. 5 to 4 on the winner. 20th. Match. Lord Barrymore's Ventilator, by Imperator, 1 1 st. 7 lb., ridden by owner, beat Mr. Pigot's Grey Pumpkin, 11 st., ridden by owner, D.I. 50 guineas. 10 to 1 on Ventilator. 21st. Match. Lord Barrymore's Pallafox, by Crop, beat Mr. C. J. Fox's Crazy, 8 st. each, R. M. 200 guineas. 2 to 1 on Pallafox. APPENDIX Q. Newmarket, Craven Meeting, April 14th, 1792. Match. Lord Barrymore's Pellegrini beat Lord Clermont's Bullfinch. 8 st. 1 lb. each, Ab. mile. 50 guineas. 7 to 4 and 2 to 1 on Bullfinch. A sweepstake of 200 guineas each, 5 subs., for fillies rising 3 years, 8 st. 7 lbs., across the flat, won by Lord Barrymore's br. f. by Jupiter . . 1 Duke of York's filly by Highflyer . . 2 Duke of Bedford's filly, sister to Maid of all Work ...... 3 6 to 4 against the winner. Appendix. 265 Lord Barrymore's Pallafox, by Crop, 4 yea . II.I.'.H. the Duke of York's b. c. by Highflyer, '■) years, 7 st. 10 lb., D.I. 100 guineas. 2 to 1 on Pallafox. Newmarket, First Spring Meeting, April 23rd, 1792. Lord Barrymore's Chanticleer, 4 years, 8 st. 9 lb., received 100 guineas forfeit from Lord Foley's Vermin, 3 years, 7 st. 10 1b. April 24th. The second class of the Filly Stakes, 100 guineas each, h.f., 6 subs., won by Lord Barrymore's Treecreeper ... 1 Lord Clermont's Trumpetta ... 2 6 to 4 on Trumpetta. On the Saturday following, this match was run : — Lord Barrymore's Pallafox, by Crop, 1 years, 8 st. 5 lb., beat Sir Wm. Aston's Mopsey, 3 years, 7 st. 7 lb., E.M. 100 guineas. 2 to 1 on Pallaj Second Spring Meeting, May 8th. The main of the Filly Stakes of 100 guineas each, 8 st. each, won by Lord Barrymore's filly, Treecreeper, by Woodpecker .... .1 H.E.H. the Prince of Wales' Cinderella . 2 H.R.II. the Prince of Wales' Mademoiselle •"> Evens on the winner. May 13th. Match. Lord Barrymore's Chanticleer beat Lord G or's Asparagus, 8 st. each, B.C. 500 guineas. 2 to i on Asparagus. INDEX. Abington, Mrs., and "Pasquin," 243. 'A new way to pay old debts,' a la Barrymore, 171. Angelo, Henry, a fencing master, 24 ; his opinion of Augustus and Henry Barry, 24 ; loses his flute, 24 ; as Dick, 49 ; at Vauxhall Gar- dens, 59 ; a member of Lord Barrymore's dramatic company, 66 ; speaks a prologue, 68 ; intro- duces Edwin, Junior, to the Barrys, 111 ; instructs Lord Barrymore, 185. Anna, relict of Henry, 8th and last Earl of Barrymore, death of, 250. Anspach, Margravine of, 207. Armytage, Sir George, 30. Ascot, ' Black,' Lord Barrymore at, 51 ; races at, 1789, 51. Aston, Harvey, Esq., 203. Bacchanalian Society, founded by Lord Barrymore, 220. Ballad, a masquerade, 208. Bannister, John, actor, 66 ; invited to Wargrave, 125. Barre, De or Dn, 1; Robert, 2; William, 2. Barry, family of, 1. , Augustus, the Honourable, birth of, 6; and "Joe" the i - jurer, 24, 12! » ; his sobriqv*f, 22; disposition, 23 ; assaults a French officer at Brighton, 173; lam- pooned by Gilray, 179; his career and death, 238. , Lady Carolino, her birth, 6 ; her sobriquet, 22 ; marriage of, 23 ; assumes title of Baroness de, 252. Barry, Corfite (de Mervel), descended from the Earls of Barrymore, 146. , La Comtesse du, 146; visits London, 14(! ; and Lord Barry- more, 117 ; and Louis XV., 147. -, Henry, the Honourable, birth of, 6 ; visits Newmarket, 10 ; his sobri, , - death of, 249. — , James, Viscount Buttevaut, betrays his father. 4. -, John Redmond, of Donough- moro. 251 . — , Richard, sixth Earl of Barry- more, 5 ; his propensities, wagers 500?., 6; his child ion, 6; his Hackney coach wagers, 6; death of, 6. -, Richard, seventh Earl of Barrymore, his birth, 6; succeeds to Earldom, 7; precocity of, 7; loses his mother, 8; visits New. 268 Index. market, 1785, 10; wins 1000 guineas, 10; determines on a racing career, 11; his practical jokes, etc., 11 ; early histrionic efforts, 12 ; raises money, 13 ; be- gins to live in splendour, 13; his appearance at 18, 14 ; his -protean abilities, 14 ; compared to former ' eccentrics,' 15 ; his athletic pur- suits, 15; a favonrite exclamation of, 15; 'lives for the day,' 15; hunting pageant of, 17; his deer, 17 ; entry on the turf, 1787, 19 ; his first racehorse, 19 ; first match, 19; ability for the turf, 19 ; partner in ' Royal Circus,' 20 ; new production at, 21 ; retires from, 21; increases his stud, 22; gives 2500 guineas for Rocking- ham, 22 ; his sobriquet, 22 ; racing colours of, 27; a whimsical bet of, 27; and the* 'fancy,' 28; at Newmarket, 29; first ap- pearance of, in the ' pigskin,' 30; a memorable race day, 31 ; pays a bet with ' song,' 31 ; al fresco en- tertainments of, 33; his power of fascination, 33 ; a la " Col. Quagg," 33 ; his postillion freaks, 34 ; as a rider, 35 ; Hackney coach pleasantry? 35; rides at Lewes, 36; at Brighton, ?6-37; his wit and humour at New- market, 39 ; buys a gelding with ' two ' faults, 39 ; builds a theatre at Wargrave, 47; and the "Bothering" clnb, 47; as Brass, 48 ; as Sebastian, 48 ; as Captain Bobadil, 49 ; his team of greys, 49 ; purposes going into the army, 50; claims a race, 51; a match made by, 51 ; winning (racing) record for 1789, 51 ; newspaper reference to, 52 ; attires servants in racing colours, 52 ; result there- of, 52; acts as his own 'check- taker,' 52; and the jovial farmer, 53 ; relieves a friend in distress, 54 ; engages Hooper, the pugilist, 56 ; puts him in ' holy ' orders, 58; fracas at Vauxhall Gardens, 59 ; his residence at Wargrave, 62 ; additions made thereto by, 62 ; the ' barracks,' 62; his bed- room peculiarities, 63 ; breakfast hour, his, at Wargrave, 64 ; his doings at, 64 ; chides ' Pasquin,' 64 ; also another person, 65 ; comes of age, 66 ; his band of amateurs, 60 ; plays produced by, at Wargrave, 67; visited by Prince of Wales, 67 ; his tact for ' bam- boozling,' 74 ; and 'Young 'Stone, 75 ; a singular procession headed by, 77 ; and the ' Warble ' clnb, 78; his 'poet,' 80; his 'Court of Justice,' 80; Waggery at Wargrave, 81 ; his humorous prompter, 83 ; his driving skill, 86; his freak when, 86; member of the " Je-ne-sais-qnoi " Club, 87 ; engages Delphini, the pierrot, 88 ; treatment of press reports, his, 91; brings off Watson-Hooper coup, 94 ; runs against a horse- man, 95 ; winning (racing) record at Newmarket, 96 ; loses his watch, 97 ; his mode of recovery, 97; rides a match, 97; censured by the press, 97 ; the song of the "Brogue-makers" and, 98; goes to Brighton, 1790, 100; assaults Fox, junior, there, 101; as an ' amateur undertaker,' 103 ; ac- quires a London theatre, 104 ; his expenses, 109 ; takes a mansion in Piccadilly, 109 ; promptness in meeting racing engagements, his, 110; arrested for debt, 110; and his tailor, 111 ; appears at Edwin's benefit, 112 ; wins 5000Z. from the Duke of Bedford, 114 ; races at Reading, 115; birthday rejoicings, his, 1790, 115; purposes contest- ing the City of Oxford, 118; gives a dinnor at Reading, 119; ac- count of his late seat at Castle Lyons, 119 ; estates in Co. Cork, his, 120 ; and the ' Humbug ' Club, 123; visits 'Jacob's Well,' 125; a letter of, to Bannister, 125 ; his procrastination, 132; wins matches against the Priuce of Wales' horses, 133 ; winning (rac- ing) record for 1790, 138 ; how he eventually made' turf ' losses, 139 ; both his theatres in " full work," 139; gives up patronage of the ring, 142 ; patronizes cricket, 142 • and "Three" evils, 143; and a fencing lesson, 113 ; purchases more racehorses, 144 ; and la Comtesse du Barry, 147 ; anecdote by, 157 ; produces the pantomime Index. 269 1 Bluebeard,' 158 ; enters House of Commons, 161 ; his profusion, 161 ; wins' Macaroni' stakes, 1791, 162 ; depicted in a print, 162 ; ami U.K. 11., 16:?; smitten by <'« 163 ; producos at Wargrave, 161; Mrs. Goodwill in, 164; contests Beading, 1 <'••"' ; joins "Two o'clock" Club, 167; his servants, L68 : well served by, 1G8 ; Dennis O'Flynn, one of,169 ; a new carriage built for, 170 ; his finances disordered, 171 ; pur- chases Sir John Lade's greys, 174 ; jokes by, at Pavilion, 177 ; lampooned by Gilray, 179 ; and a cricket match, 180; diminishes his stud, 180; and -Mr. Donadieu, 181; thrashes him, 182; serenades Mis. Fiteherbert, is:> ; his ill luck at cards, 187; plays a match at, with H.R.H. the Duke of York, 188 ; racing engagements of, 1S9 ; and the '• Escape" affair, 189-190; engraving of, in 'Attic' miBCel- lany, 193; treats for the Brighton Theatre, 196; sued by Mr. Dona- dieu, 197 ; verdict, 198 ; as ' Bob Acr..<,' 199; law troubles begin, 199; remarks on, by Lord Kenyon, 200; and his 'table beer,' 201; humorous effusion, 202 ; wins a match at Newmarket, 203; man- sion sold, his, 203; his racing en- gagements for 1792, 2i>:'. ; arranges a cricket match for 1000 guineas, 203; a betting coup by, 204; makes a runaway match, 204; his Wargrave theatre seized, 211 ; seeks delight in "Free Debate," 212; accepts commission in Berk- shire Militia, 212 ; his opinion of Warren Hastings, 213; favourite works of, 21 I ; Cricket, and, at Wargrave, 215; Theatre, his, sold, 216; stud sold, 216; disbands his Dramatic olub,217; speaks at a " Free Debate," 217; disposition, his, under reverses of fortune, l'20; forms the 'Bacchanalian' Society, 220 ; cooks a supper, 221; departs with his regimenl for Rye, 222 ; escorts some French prisoners, 223; halts at Folke- stone, 223; death of, 224; burial of, at Wargrave, 225; lines on career of, 226; his affairs, 227 ; personal estate of, 229 ; hm I 238; his effects sold, 2 17- Barry, William, of Lister, 249. Barrymore, the Earls of: Harry, .lames, hh Earl, arrested, 3; brought before Privy Connoil, l; discharged, mgular statement by, I; acconnt of Btb Earl of, 235 ; Countess of, married again, 2H ; descent of dignities of the earldom of, 249. Bedford, the Duke of, and Lord Barrymore, 114. Berkshire Militia, the, and Lord Barrymore, 212. ' Bet, or be Silent,' the phrase of, 115. ' Big Ben/ pugilist, an alias of Brain's, 5?; his encounters with Johnson, 71, 141 ; with Hooper, 114. ' Black Dick,' the t of a 'monetary nurae ' of Lord Barry - more's, 13. Blackstone, Mr., an amateur actor, 66 ; writes an epilogue, 69. " Blu " a pantomime produced at Wargrave, 158. Bolton, the Duchess of, and Lord Barrymore. 19. B iw Street Coffee House, frequented by Lord Barrymore, 110. Brentford, George the Second, and 'love' for, 170. Brighton, assembly at. 62 ; Lord Barrym ire and Mr. Fox, Jonr., 100 ; Lord Barryniore's residence there, 102: an 'undertaking' ee pade at, 103; pedestrianismat, 107; races at, 1790, 108 ; a footrace ran by Lord Barrymore, 172; wit- nessed by the Prince of Wales, 172. A French officer insulted by Augustus Barry, 173 ; a butcher thrashed at, by Lord Barrymore, 174; 'Old Suioaker ' and the 1'riuce of Wales at, 175; the comedian 'Foote' at. 17S ; the Donadieu affair at, 179 ; cricket match by Lord Barrymore at, L7 the "Pienna " affair, 164 ; a seren- ade at, by Lord Barrymore, L85 j duel at, by Henry, 8th Lord Barrymore, Bullock, .Mr., runs a race with 1. 1; irrymore, L07; ant ly named, 1 1 ». Banbury, Sir Charles, .'>l . Bnrrach-MohrS] the, 2. 270 Index. Buttevant, Manor and Viscountcy, the, 3 ; descent of, 251. Castle Lyons, description of Lord Barrym ore's seat at, 119 ; estate of, sold, 248. Castries, le Due de, befriends the last Earl of Barrymore, 24S. Chifney, ' Sam,' jockey, the, 13-1 ; and Prince of Wales, 134 ; revela- tions by, 135 ; and the Traveller- Highlander match, 137-138 ; and the 'Escape ' affair, 191 ; anecdote of, 193 ; affidavit re same, 191 ; granted an annuity by Prince of Wales, 192. Children of Thespis, the, a work by ' Pasquin,' 155. Christie, Mr., auctioneer, 216; sells Theatre, Wargrave, 216. Clarence, H.R.H. the Duke of, and the 'ring,' 28; attends Edwin's benefit, 113. Clarke, Sir James Alured, mystified by Henry, Lord Barrymore, 235. Clermont, Lord, 37 ; his matches with Lord Barrymore, 38. Clubs, the ' Warble,' account of, 78 ; the ' Je-ne-sais-quoi,' 87 ; its members, 87; the 'Blue Bottle,' 121; the 'Humbugs,' 121; the ' Two-o'-Clock,' 167; Convivial, some, 194-195. Cox, Mr., erects theatre at Wargrave for Lord Barrymore, 42. Craven, Earl, and Berkshire Militia, 223. Cumberland, the Duke of, his death, 125. Day, Mr., author of Sandford and Merton, 235. Daubigny, chef. 117. * Delays are Dangerous,' applied to Lord Barrymore, 132. Delphini, Charles, the ' Pierrot,' 88 ; engaged by Lord Barrymore, 88 ; tale narrated by, 88-90; and the Prince of Wales, 215 ; and John Kemble, 229 ; Madame, 67. Donadieu, Mr., fracas between, and Lord Barrymore, 181 ; thrashed by Lord Barrymore and 'Hooper,' 198. Dromana, the seat of, 7. Edwin, John, the younger, actor, 48 ; account of, 111 ; his Wargravian alias, 112 ; his benefit, 112 ; death of, 186. Falkland, Lord, at Vauxhall Gardens, 59 ; arranges a prize fight, 106. Faulder, Robert, bookseller, 240. Fitzgerald, Thomas, Esq., writes and speaks a prologue for Lord Barry- more, 104. Fitzherbert, Mrs., her residence, 36. ' Finish,' The, at Covent Garden, 167. Flynn, Dennis O', a footman to Lord Barrymore, 169 ; anecdote of, 169. Foote, the comedian, at Brighton, 178. Fox, Charles James, and Lord Barrymore, 37, 51 ; and Sir John Lade, 93; profane jest by, 94; plays at cards with Lord Barry- more, 188. Mr., Junior, son of, lessee of Brighton Theatre, 100 ; assaulted, 100; goes to Wargrave to negotiate sale of Brighton Theatre, 196; assaulted there by Edwin, 197. Gaebick, David, and the Dake of Bedford's steward, anecdote of, 131. George II., King, and Brentford, 170. III., King, and Lord Barrymore, 213. (Prince of Wales) H.R.H. supports the 'ring,' 28; at Brighton, 36 ; and Lady Lade there, 62 ; visits Lord Barry- more at Wargrave, 67; presi- dent of the 'Je-ne-sais-quoi Club,' 87 ; a song sung by, 87 ; entertain- ment given by, 88; witnesses Lord Barrymore' s pedestrianic efforts, 96, 107; attends Edwin's benefit, 113 ; matches made by, 127, 133, 136 ; and Lord Barry- more, 163 ; interposes in a quarrel, etc., 173; and Lord Thurlow, 177 ; and the ' Escape ' affair, 189- 192 ; cites Lady Lade's propensity, 204; honours Lord Barrymore again, 230, 238. Giflbrd, William, author of ' Baviad,' attacks' Pasquin,' 241. Giraldus Cambrensis, 2. (ioulding, Miss, married to Lord Barrymore, 205, Index. 71 Goodall, Mrs., the actross, 67 ; at Wargrave, 161. Greville, Mr. Falke, his non- chalance at turf losses, 110. Gullamore, tho viscounty of, 251. Hanger, Cor,., 73; and the < Humbug' Club, 12 !. Harrington, the Countess of, her zeal for the young Barrys, 8; sends her grandson, Richard Barry, to Eton, 8; his pocket money, 8 ; death of, 8. Hooper, pugilist, alias " The Tin- man," "Bully," 56-57; at War- grave, 56; engaged by Lord Barrymore, 56 ; put in ' Holy Orders,' 58 ; at Vauxhall, 59 ; en- counters a ' bargee,' 85 ; v. ' Watson,' 94 j v. ' Tom Tight,' 106; v. 'Big-Ben,' 11-4; thrashes Mr. Donadieu, 182 ; also a draper, 182 ; death of, 251. Howard, pugilist, alias 'Tom Tisht,' his enconnter with Hooper, 106. Howarth, Humphrey, M.P., his duel with Henry, Lord Barrymore, 233. Humphries v. Mendoza, 28. Incledon, Charles, vocalist, 66 ; and the ' Humbug' Club, 122-123. 1 Innovation,' a parody by ' Pas- quin,' 148. 1 Jehu,' Sir John, sobriquet given Sir John Lade, 93. ' Joe ' the Conjurer and the Barrys, 25 ; at Wargrave, 129. Johnson, pugilist, 56 ; v. ' Big-Ben,' 71-72. Kemble, John, and Delphini, 229. Kenyon, Lord, judge, his sarcasm on Lord Barrymore, 198-200; on amateur theatricals, 200. Lade, Sir John, Bart., sells Lord Barrymore some racehorses, 22 ; rides against Lord Barrymore, 36; account of, 42; Dr. Johnson's opinion of, 42 ; verses on, 43-50 ; marriage of, 60 ; his stable pro- pensities, 61 ; an invitation given by, 61; and Charles James Fox, 93 ; Bella his team of preys-, 171 ; and Bliss Moulding, 205 ; 'White- washed,' 251; death of, 25L Lade, Lady, account of, 60 ; her driving skill, 01 ; challenges a sister ' whip,' 61 ; and the Prince of WaleB, <>2 ; not recognized by nobility, 62 ; herpenchantfor bad language, 204 ; death of, 250. Lake, Mr., H.K. H. George, Prince of Wales, racing factotum, 134, etc. ; and the Escape affair, 189. Lewes, races at, 1790, 108. Le Brnn, prompter, 67. ' Les trois Magots,' the print termed, 179. ' Like Master, like Man,' a la Lord Barrymore, 168. Lord's, Cricket match at, 203. March, the Earl of, and Ruglen, his turf career, 38 ; compared to Lord Barrymore, 97. Melfort, le Comte de, marries Lady Caroline Barry, 23 ; a match ridden in by, 37 ; at Ascot, 51. Miles, William, alias 'Smoaker,' and H.R.H. George, Prince of Wales, 175 ; anecdote, 176. Munden, J. S., actor, 66; at War- grave, 198. Newmarket, some of the race meetings at, 95, 96, 133, 135, 163, 187, 189. Ogilvie, Mr., contests Oxford, 118. "OldQ.," sobriquet applied to the Duke of Queensberry, 38. O'Lehans, oastle of the, 119. ' Pasqcix, Anthony,' a nom de plume of J. W. Williams, LL.D., Is ; his careless appearance, 64- 66 ■ his traits, 79 ; aids in waggery, 81; poems by, 130; writes parody on 'Deserted Villa* 14S; other works by, 165; en- graving of, 217 ; v. Faulder, for libel, 240; his malevolent spirit, 241; flies to New York, 243; his career there, 243 ; and Dr. Wolcot, 213; as art critic, 246; death of, 247. Pienna, la Duchosse de la, and the Barrys, I s 9 272 Index. Fowney, Lieutenant-Colonel, 212. •' Profligate," a sobriquet, 23. Queensberry, the Duke of, his turf prestige, 3S ; and Lord Barry- more, 38, 51, 203. Reading, Justice Chase, of, 53 ; Theatre, 49 ; races at, 115 ; dinner given at, by Lord Barrymore, 119 ; election at, l mm- 04 THE LIBRARY UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA Santa Barbara THIS BOOK IS DUE ON THE LAST DATE STAMPED BELOW. 3a* u • n t 1 1 •■ \ K t 50m-3/68(H9242s8)9482 M ^^JE^^lpiSii jj A 000 234 768_ ■*. 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