Florizel's Folly. Ashton John

issue of which the Prince found himself minus several thousand pounds.

      'During one of the convivial parties at Carlton House, George Hanger designedly introduced the subject of the travelling qualifications of the turkey and the goose, and he pronounced it as his opinion (although directly contrary to his real one), that the turkey would outstrip the goose. The Prince, who placed great reliance on the judgment of George Hanger on subjects of that nature, backed Hanger's opinion; and, as it may be supposed, there were some of the party who were willing to espouse the part of the goose: the dispute ended in the Prince making a match of twenty turkeys against twenty geese for a distance of ten miles, the competitors to start at four o'clock in the afternoon. The race was to be run for £500; and, as George Hanger and the turkey party hesitated not to lay two to one in favour of their bird, the Prince did the same to a considerable amount, not in the least suspecting that the whole was a deep laid plan to extract a sum of money from his pockets, for his chance of winning, from the natural propensity of the turkey, was wholly out of the question.

      'The Prince took great interest in this extraordinary wager, and deputed George Hanger to select twenty of the most wholesome and high feathered birds which could be procured; and, on the day appointed, the Prince and his party of turkeys and Mr. Berkeley and his party of geese, set off to decide the match. For the first three hours everything seemed to indicate that the turkeys would be the winners, as they were, then, two miles in advance of the geese; but, as night came on, the turkeys began to stretch out their necks towards the branches of the trees which lined the sides of the road. In vain the Prince attempted to urge them on with his pole, to which a bit of red cloth was attached: in vain George Hanger dislodged one from its roosting-place, before he saw three or four others comfortably perching among the branches – in vain was barley strewn upon the road; no art, no stratagem, no compulsion, could prevent them taking to their roosting-place! whilst, in the meantime, the geese came waddling on, and in a short time passed the turkey party, who were all busy in the trees, dislodging their obstinate birds; but, as to further progress, it was found impossible, and the geese were declared the winners.

      'Trifling as this circumstance may appear, it will have the tendency of exposing the characters of the intimates of the Prince of Wales, and the singular expedients to which they had recourse to restore their shattered fortunes at the expense of his character and fortune.'

      On the death of Lord Coleraine, a contemporary29 thus sums up his character: 'He was, formerly, admitted amongst the convivial companions of his present Majesty; but, as the Prince advanced in life, the eccentric manners of the Colonel became somewhat too free and coarse for the Royal taste, and the broad vivacity of the facetious Humourist gave way to associates of a more refined description. But, though the Colonel was free in his manners, he never was inclined to give intentional offence, and the peculiarity of those manners precluded all idea of resentment, and laughter, rather than anger, was the result of his most extravagant sallies.

      'He was capable of serious exertions of friendship, not by pecuniary sacrifices, for, of such, his situation hardly ever admitted, but by persevering zeal when he was likely to effect a beneficial purpose. He was well acquainted with military duty, and was never wanting in courage, or the spirit of enterprise. He is generally acknowledged to have been a very handsome man in early life, but his person was disguised by the singularity of his dress. Though disposed to participate in all the dissipations of higher life, he yet contrived to devote much of his time to reading, and was generally well provided with topics for the usual conversations of the table, even in the most convivial circles. He was so marked a character that he might be considered as one of the prominent features of his time, and he was courted as well for the peculiarity, as for the harmless tendency of his humour.'

      CHAPTER VI

The Prince goes to Brighton for his health – Description of Brighton in 1784 – Royal visitors – The Prince takes a house – Weltje – Sam House – Fox and the Prince – Brighton in 1785

      IN 1784 the Prince of Wales had a somewhat serious illness, and we read in the Morning Herald of July 16 that 'His Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales, having been advised by his Physicians to sea bathing, we are informed from good authority, that his Royal Highness will set out on Monday next for Brighthelmstone. Mr. Weltje, the Clerk of the Kitchen, and Mr. Gill, the Purveyor of the Stables, are now at Brighthelmstone, preparing everything for his Royal Highness's reception.'

      He left London on the evening of July 22, and the following are some newspaper cuttings which describe his visit and the general gaieties of that season at Brighton:

      'Brighthelmstone will certainly prove the summer residence of the loves and graces, on account of the temporary residence there of the Heir apparent: not a cock loft but what is taken by some expectant fair, who means to make an innocent conquest, or an illicit sacrifice! – The Knights of the Dice box are collecting there from all quarters, hoping for a plentiful harvest in so singular a season for universal gul- as well as cul-libility! A pretty sprinkling of Princes of the Gallic blood is, likewise, hourly expected to complete the curious dramatis personæ.'30

      'Extract from a letter from Brighthelmstone, July 25. The Prince of Wales is here quite as a private gentleman, attended by Colonel Leigh, etc. He walks frequently upon the Steine, and behaves with great affability and politeness.'31

      'Brighthelmstone Intelligence. Brighthelmstone is the center luminary of the system of pleasure: Lymington, Southampton and all other places within the sphere of its attraction, lose their gayest visitants, who fly to that resort: – the women, the pretty women, all hasten to see the Paris of the day! – On Monday last, the Dukes of Chartres and Lauzun, the Marquis de Conflans, the Comte de Seguir, and others, arrived to be present at the races. They came from France by the way of Dover, but had all their equipage sent over from Dieppe. The lively and engaging Comtesse de Coniac was to have met them by the latter route at Brighthelmstone; but some dæmon, unfriendly to gallantry, and to this place, interposed, and procured an arret to be expedited from the Queen of France's bedchamber, just as the sprightly belle was casting a longing eye from Dieppe over to the British coast, and preparing to step into the pacquet. This is a prodigious disappointment to the company, and particularly to the Prince. His Highness gave an elegant dinner at his house on the Steine. The Duc de Chartres and his friends were present: the meeting was festive and social. In the evening, this convivial party visited the Rooms: the company was genteel and numerous. The Prince danced with Lady Elizabeth Conway, and was acknowledged the best performer present.

      'On Tuesday, the Brighton Races began, which afforded but very little sport. The Duke of Queensberry's was the favourite horse, but lost; and the Duc de Chartres, who betted him against the field, got rid of a good deal of money on the occasion. The sport was not better the next day, but rather worse, on account of the badness of the weather. All the Ladies attended both days, mostly in carriages. Lady Charlotte Bertie was the Constellation, or superior luminary of the course. Micavit inter omnes, quantum inter ignes Luna minores. Lady Lincoln, and her sister Lady Betty Conway, drove about in a phaeton, to the great annoyance of the beaux.

      'The public entertainments at Brighthelmstone are, balls at the rooms twice a week, alternately at the Ship, and Castle, and plays, the other four nights, at the theatre. The balls are on Monday and Thursday; and no dress is required except in those that dance minuets. The rooms are, besides, open all the other nights for card parties, and on Sunday for a promenade. The Prince has not yet missed the Play house once, when there has been a performance at it, since his arrival. The pleasurable daughters of the place, have at their head, Mrs. Smith, Mrs. Elliot, and Mrs. Walker; between whom an equipoise of rivalship and jealousy prevails, and what one has in a dimple, is counteracted by the lip, or the eye of the others.'32

      'Lewes Races. The Prince of Wales is so regardless of weather, that a shower of rain is never known to interrupt his excursions. His Highness's indifference on this

29

Gentleman's Magazine, 1824, part i., 457, 458.

30

Morning Herald, July 27.

31

Parker's General Advertiser, July 28.

32

Morning Herald, August 9.