PREFACE. as the political horizon was clear. We have Congreve, who affected to be the Beau as well as the Wit; Lord Hervey, more of the courtier than the Beau—a Wit by inheritance—a peer, assisted into a pre-eminent position by royal preference, and consequent prestige; and all these men were the offspring of the particular state of the times in which they figured: at earlier periods, they would have been deemed effeminate; in later ones, absurd. Then the scene shifts : intellect had marched forward gigantically: the world is grown exacting, disputațious, critical, and such men as Horace Walpole and Brinsley Sheridan appear;. the characteristics of wit which adorned that age being well diluted by the feebler talents of Selwyn and Hook. Of these, and others, " table traits," and other traits, are here given: brief chronicles of their life's stage, over which a curtain has so long been dropped, are supplied carefully from well-established sources: it is with characters, not with literary history, that we deal; and do our best to make the portraitures life-like, and to bring forward old memories, which, without the stamp of antiquity, might be suffered to pass into obscurity. Your Wit and your Beau, be he French or English, is no medieval personage: the aristocracy of the present day rank among his immediate descendants: he is a creature of a modern and an artificial age; and with his career are mingled many features of civilized life, manners, habits, and traces of family history which are still, it is believed, interesting to the majority of English readers, as they have long been to GRACE and PHILIP WHARTON. CONTENTS. GEORGE VILLIERS, SECOND DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM. Signs of the Restoration. — Samuel Pepys in his Glory. — A royal Company. - Pepys *ready to weep."— The Playmate of Charles II.-George Villiers' Inheritance.--Two gallant young Noblemen.- The brave Francis Villiers.-After the Battle of Worcester, -Disguising the King.–Villiers in Hiding. He appears as a Mountebank.-Bucking- ham's Habits.--A daring Adventure.-Cromwell's saintly Daughter.- Villiers and the Rabbi.— The Buckingham Pictures and Estates.-York House.–Villiers returns to En- gland.—Poor Mary Fairfax.-Villiers in the Tower.--Abraham Cowley, the Poet. - The greatest Ornament of Whitehall.-Buckingham's Wit and Beauty.--Flecknoe's Opinion of him.-His Duel with the Earl of Shrewsbury.–Villiers as a Poet.--As a Dramatist. -A fearful Censure !-Villiers' Influence in Parliament.-A Scene in the Lords. - The Duke of Ormond in Danger.-Colonel Blood's Outrages.-Wallingford House, and Ham House." Madame Ellen.”—The Cabal.- Villiers again in the Tower.--A Change.- The Duke of York's Theatre.—Buckingham and the Princess of Orange.--His last Hours. -His Religion.—Death of Villiers.—The Duchess of Buckingham... COUNT DE GRAMMONT, ST. EVREMOND, AND LORD ROCHESTER. De Grammont's Choice.-His Influence with Turenne.—The Church or the Army?-An Adventure at Lyons.-A brilliant Idea.-De Grammont's Generosity.-A Horse" for the Cards."-Knight-Cicisbeism.—De Grammont's first Love.--His witty Attacks on Mazarin.-Anne Lucie de la Mothe Houdancourt.-Beset with Snares.De Grammont's Visits to England. -Charles II.— The Court of Charles II.-Introduction of Country- dances.- Norman Peculiarities.-St. Evremond, the handsome Norman.— tiful Woman in Europe.-Hortense Mancini's Adventures.-Madame Mazarin's House at Chelsea. —Anecdote of Lord Dorset. - Lord Rochester in his Zenith.-His Courage and Wit.—Rochester's Pranks in the City.-Credulity, past and present.—"Dr. Bendo," and La Belle Jennings.-La Triste Heritiere.-Elizabeth, Countess of Rochester.—Retri. bution and Reformation.-Rochester's Exhortation to Mr. Fanshawe.---Little Jérmyn.-- An incomparable Beauty.-Anthony Hamilton, De Grammont's Biographer.—The Three Courts.- La Belle Hamilton.-De Grammont's Description of her. – Her practical Jokes. -The household Deity of Whitehall.-A Chaplain in Livery.--Le Mariage forcé.—De Grammont's last Hours.-What might he not have been?. On Wits and Beaux.-Scotland Yard in Charles II.'s Day.-Orlando of." The Tatler."- Beau Fielding, Justice of the Peace. --Adonis in Search of a Wife.-The sham Widow.- Ways and Means.-Barbara Villiers, Lady Castlemaine. --Quarrels with the King.–The Beau's second Marriage. The last Days of Fops and Beaux... OF CERTAIN CLUBS AND CLUB-WITS UNDER ANNE. The Origin of Clubs.—The Establishment of Coffee-houses.—The October Club.-The Beef- steak Club.-Of certain other Clubs.-The Kit-kat Club.- The Romance of the Bowl. The Toasts of the Kit-kat.-The Members of the Kit-kat.-A good Wit, and a Ar. chitect. - Well-natured Garth."-The Poets of the Kit-kat. Charles Montagu, Earl of Halifax. — Chancellor Somers. — Charles Sackville, Lord Dorset. Less celebrated When and where was he born !— The Middle Temple. -Congreve finds his Vocation.- Verses to Queen Mary.--The Tennis-court Theatre.-Congreve abandons the Drama.-- Jeremy Collier.-The Immorality of the Stage. — Very improper Things.-Congreve's Writings.-Jeremy's Short Views:-Rival Theatres.--Dryden's Funeral. - A Tub-Preach- er. -Horoscopic Predictions.--Dryden's Solicitude for his Son.-Congreve's Ambition.- Anecdote of Voltaire and Congreve.—The Profession of Mæcenas.-Congreve's private The King of Bath.-Nash at Oxford.-"My Boy Dick."-Offers of Knighthood. - Doing Penance at York.—Days of Folly.—A very romantic Story.—Sickness and Civilization. the Duke of Beaufort.-Gaming at Bath.—Anecdotes of Nash.-—“Miss Sylvia."-A gen. erous Act. — Nash's Sun setting. - A Panegyric. -- Nash's Funeral. - His Characteris- Wharton's Ancestors--His early Years.--Marriage at sixteen.-Wharton takes leave of his Tutor.—The young Marquis and the old Pretender.-Frolics at Paris.—Zeal for the Orange Cause.-A Jacobite Hero.—The Trial of Atterbury.-Wharton's Defense of the Bishop.--Hypocritical Signs of Penitence.—Sir Robert Walpole duped.- Very trying. -The Duke of Wharton's "Whens."-Military Glory at Gibraltar. — “Uncle Horace." -Wharton to Uncle Horace. — The Duke's Impudence. - High Treason. – Wharton's ready Wit. - Last Extremities.--Sad Days in Paris.--His last Journey to Spain. His George II. arriving from Hanover.-His Meeting with the Queen.—Lady Suffolk.-Queen Caroline.—Sir Robert Walpole. - Lord Hervey.-A Set of fine Gentlemen.-An eccentric Race.—Carr, Lord Hervey.-A fragile Boy.-Description of George II.'s Family.-Anne Brett.—A bitter Cup.— The Darling of the Family. -Evenings at St. James's.-Freder- ick, Prince of Wales.--Amelia Sophia Walmoden.—Poor Queen Caroline !-Nocturnal Diversions of Maids of Honor.-Neighbor George's Orange-chest.–Mary Lepel, Lady Hervey.-Rivalry.--Hervey's Intimacy with Lady Mary.-Relaxations of the royal Household.-Bacon's Opinion of Twickenham.-A Visit to Pope's Villa.—The little Nightingale.—The Essence of small Talk.--Hervey's Affectation and Effeminacy.—Pope's Quarrel with Hervey and Lady Mary.--Hervey's Duel with Pulteney.--"The Death of Lord Hervey : a Drama."-Queen Caroline's last Drawing-room.-Her Illness and Ag- ony. – A painful Scene. — The Truth discovered. - The Queen's dying Bequests. — The King's Temper. - Archbishop Potter is sent for. - The Duty of Reconciliation. - The Death of Queen Caroline.-A Change in Hervey's Life.-Lord Hervey's Death.--Want PHILIP DORMER STANHOPE, FOURTH EARL OF CHESTERFIELD. The King of Table Wits.-Early Years.-Hervey's Description of his Person.-Resolutions and Pursuits.--Study of Oratory.–The Duties of an Embassador.-King George IL's Opinion of his Chroniclers.--Life in the Country.-Melusina, Countess of Walsingham. - George II. and his Father's Will.—Dissolving Views.- Madame du Bouchet. --The Broad-bottomed Administration.-Lord Lieutenant of Ireland in time of Peril.-Reform- ation of the Calendar.-Chesterfield House.-Exclusiveness.--Recommending “John- son's Dictionary.”—“Old Samuel" to Chesterfield.-Defensive Pride of the respect- able Hottentot." -The Glass of Fashion.-Lord Scarborough's Friendship for Chesterfield. - The Death of Chesterfield's Son. - His Interest in his Grandsons. “I must go and rehearse my Funeral."-Chesterfield's Will.- What is a Friend ?-Les Manières nobles. THE ABBÉ SCARRON. an Abbé of him. - The May-fair of Paris. -Scarron's Lament to Pellisson.—The Office FRANCOIS, DUC DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULT AND THE DUC DE SAINT-SIMON. Rank and Good-breeding. — The Hotel de Rochefoucault. — Racine and his Plays. – La Rochefoucault's Wit and Sensibility.-Saint-Simon's Youth.-Looking out for a Wife.- Saint-Simon's Court Life. --The History of Louise de la Vallière. ---A mean Act of Louis Quatorze. --All has passed away !-Saint-Simon's Memoirs of his own Time ........ 245 HORACE WALPOLE. The Commoners of England.--Horace's Regret for the Death of his Mother._"Little Hor- ace" in Arlington Street.--Introduced to George I.-Characteristic Anecdote of George I. -Walpole's Education.--Schoolboy Days. --Boyish Friendships.--Companionship of Gray. - A dreary Doom. --- Walpole's Description of youthful Delights. --- Anecdote of Pope and Frederick of Wales.--The Pomfrets.--Sir Thomas Robinson's Ball. ---Political _" Who's that Mr. Walpole ?"--The Miss Berrys.—Horace's two “Straw Berries.". Tapping a new Reign.-The Sign of the Gothic Castle.—Growing old with Dignity. -- Succession to an Earldom.--Walpole's last Hours.--Let us not be ungrateful... Page 255 A Love of Horrors.-Anecdotes of Selwyn's Mother.-Selwyn's College Days.-Orator Hen- ley.-Selwyn's blasphemous Freak.- The Profession of a Wit. -The Thirst for Hazard. -Reynolds's Conversation-piece.-Selwyn's Eccentricities and Witticisms.--A most im- portant Communication. — An amateur Headsman. — The Eloquence of Indifference. Catching a Housebreaker.—The Family of the Selwyns.—The Man of the People.-Sel- wyn's parliamentary Career.— True Wit.—Some of Selwyn's witty Sayings.— The Sov- ereignty of the People.—On two kinds of Wit.-Selwyn's Home for Children.-Mie-Mie, the little Italian. Selwyn's little Companion taken from him. — His later Days and RICHARD BRINSLEY SHERIDAN. Sheridan a Dunce.-Boyish Dreams of literary Fame.—Sheridan in Love.—A Nest of Night- ingales.-The Maid of Bath.---Captivated by Genius.—Sheridan's Elopement with “Ce- cilia.” –His Duel with Captain Matthews. - Standards of Ridicule.-Painful family Es- trangements.--Enters Drury Lane.-Success of the Famous “ School for Scandal.”- Opinions of Sheridan and his Influence.—The Literary Club.-Anecdote of Garrick's Admittance.-Origin of "the Rejected Addresses."- "-New Flights. - Political Ambition. -The gaming Mania. —Almack's.—Brookes'.-Black-balled.- Two Versions of the Elec- tion Trick.-St. Stephen's won.-Vocal Difficulties.-Leads a double Life.---Pitt's vul- gar Attack.-Sheridan's happy Retort.-Grattan's Quip.--Sheridan's Sallies.—The Trial of Warren Hastings. - Wonderful Effect of Sheridan's Eloquence. The supreme Effort. -The Star culminates. -Native Taste for Swindling. -A shrewd but graceless Oxon- ian.-Duns outwitted. — The Lawyer jockeyed.-Adventures with Bailiffs.--Sheridan's Powers of Persuasion.—House of Commons Greek.-Curious Mimicry.-The royal boon Companion.---Lights and Shadows of Depravity.--Street Frolics at Night.-An old Tale. - The Fray in St. Giles'.-Sheridan's gradual Downfall.--Unopened Letters.--An odd Incident.--Reckless Extravagance. - Sporting Ambition..Like Father like Son.-A se- vere and witty Rebuke.-Convivial Excesses of a past Day.-Worth wins at last.-Bit- ter Pangs.-The Scythe of Death.— The fair, loving, neglected Wife.-Debts of Honor. Drury Lane burned.-- The Owner's Serenity.--Misfortunes never come singly.- The Whitbread Quarrel. - Ruined, undone, and almost forsaken.-The dead Man arrested.- The Stories fixed on Sheridan.-Extempore Wit and inveterate Talkers 329 BEAU BRUMMELL. Two popular Sciences.- Buck Brummell" at Eton.-Investing his Capital.-Young Cor- Det Brummell. - The Beau's Studio. The Toilet. — “Creasing down.". Sneers and Snuff-boxes. - A great Gentleman. Anecdotes of Brummell. — “Don't forget Brum : of a crooked Sixpence. — The Breach with the Prince of Wales. — “ Who's your fat Friend?" -The Climax is reached.-The Black-mail of Calais.-George the Greater and George the Less. — An extraordinary Step. — Down the Hill of Life. — A miserable Old Age.--In the Hospice du bon Sauveur.-0 young Men of this Age, be warned!..... 381 THEODORE EDWARD HOOK. The greatest of modern Wits.-- What Coleridge said of Hook. - Hook's Family.--Redeem- ing Points.--Versatility.-Varieties of Hoaxing.--The Black-wafered Horse. --The Ber- ners Street Hoax.-Success of the Scheme.-- The Strop of Hunger. --Kitchen Examina- The Plots of Hook and Mathews. -Hook's Talents as an Improvisatore.--The Gift be- comes his Bane. - Hook's Novels. - College Fun. — Baiting a Proctor. -- The punning Faculty.--Official Life opens. Troublesome Pleasantry.--Charge of Embezzlement. - |
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