BEA! BR! M M ELL AN D HIS TIM ES
INTROD! CTORY
DRESS AND THE DANDIES
IT is a prevalent belief that worship of dress
mono ol of Woman is the p y , but when the Preacher denounced all as vanity he was
t f and be both tru h ul wise, because included
Man in his category .
The w s of un Hebrew Sage a , course,
of the acquainted with Narcissus, the first
D or no andies, he would doubt have been more explicit ; obviously his mind was dwelling on
“ ” the extravagance of the purple and fine linen worn by his contemporaries . However, it is a fact that since the far-off times of the f Preacher, and the beauti ul Greek youth, men
a ff h ve displayed at di erent epochs as much, nay 7 Introductory
e r h mor , pe sonal vanity than t e most luxurious
e of b auties ancient or modern ages. To trace the progress of Dandyism in
u e t Europe wo ld be an int resting ask, but it would make too long a curtain raiser for the
tu of e accompanying s dy G orge Brummell.
u r s The Bea epresent , with Sir Lumley Skeffin ton g , Lord Alvanley, King Allen,
’ D Orsa few the Count y, and a others, apogee
of f fas e the cult o hion. Thes dandies con sidered s s dre s and demeanour fine art , and when they died the picturesque Man about
wn a of To bec me a thing the past. There is of necessity a commencement to
r t s t r all eccent icities. Doub less ome prehis o ic males had a way of wearing their skin garments
was of f which the despair and envy their ellows, and the ancient Briton whose distinctive treat ment of woad showed a fertile imagination in patterns must have inspired the envy and
s of a re pect those less imaginative, who p inted
r r f r ff themselves without due ega d o colour e ect. When the Roman legions set foot on
s and e re English oil, th ir settlements g w , the con
u ors s u re q er lived ide by side with the conq e d, 8 Dress and the Dandies
r e e who disca d d th ir woad and skin trappings,
the of C ef to and sons the hi tains, according d Tacitus, gradually adopted Roman ress. e 8 D of The y ar 7 5 A. . marked an era
’ e e spl ndour in men s attir , especially among the - e e e Anglo Saxon cl rgy, whos extravaganc was denounced at the Council of Cloveshoe by some austere members who did not approve of beaux among the bishops . The Danish dandies completely eclipsed
for the e e e the Saxons, young Dan s d light d in display ; and Canute himself wore most costly
a h his n r iment , w ile flowi g locks were slavishly imitated by his courtiers . With the Norman Conquest French modes were introduced into England, and general
1 1 luxury prevailed . In 04 an ardent priest
who a e of the named Serlo, strongly dis pprov d
’ e S e e th n mart S t s vagari s, braved the wrath f of e I. e the H nry , and pr ached a sermon be ore King in which he inveighed against the pre
f of e vailing ashion w aring long hair. So eloquently did he preach that the long-haired
e f e on s wept over their olli s, whereupon Serlo,
of e e who was a man action , promptly d scend d b 9 Introductory f r a of rom the pulpit, whipped out a la ge p ir
ar e t e e she s, and th n and h re clos cropped the locks of his untrimmed congregation . f 111 . o Henry was somewhat a dandy, and favoured a special material known as cloth of ” Baldekins e B aldeck , which was wov n at
V e fur (Babylon). elv t and ciclaton and costly
e lined mantles wer worn by the King, whose sumptuous garments were rivalled by the vest
of e ments his clergy, gl aming with gold and gems massed among intricate and exquisite
e embroideri s. Dandyism received a check at the accession of Edward 1 who detested foppery ; but his son
’ f of inherited all his grand ather s love dress .
I At the Court of Edward I . Piers Gaveston f f ’ e e o . was a worthy xpon nt ashion None,
old writes an chronicler, came near Piers in ” u bravery of apparel . His cost mes were re
e for t e u and markabl h ir prodigal lux ry, , as he
’ the f was King s intimate companion, the ashions set by the monarch and his favourite were naturally followed by the ruling classes , There is no doubt that this period was pre e f emin ntly avourable to the dandy. Every 10 Dress and the Dan dies
impetus was given to display by the recurrent
r e and s s f tou n ys joust , to which knight came rom foreign countries wearing quaint and costly de
s in f s the vice new a hions ; and English nobles,
not to e e be outdone, vi d with the strang rs in
sum u pt ous and varied habiliments. In 1 363 the House of Commons passed an Act prohibiting the wearing of furs and cloths of silver and gold among those whose yearly
incomes did not justify such lavish expenditure. The fine for disobedience was not imposed in
m e e con on y, but the prohibited luxuries w re
fi c are e s ated tea . ins d However, laws mad to
’
be and of n . s broken, the beaux Richard day
the u s a e e defied s mptuary t tutes, and xtravaganc
ran e f a riot. The most dainty raim nt rom It ly made vivid masses of colour in the dark
o s the L ndon street , and King was the greatest d of d andy at a Court andies. Richard seems to have had all the qualifica t of for e ions an artist in dress, he invent d wonderful combinations of colour and design .
borderings which edged his surcoats and r r Introductory
s of the e mantles, and his badge whit hart,
- e the sun, and the broom plant wer constantly the decorative motifs in the embroideries of his magnificent ceremonial garments .
IV e Henry . r vived the strict sumptuary
’ s the a e of edict , but w rlik times his son s reign
’ f V e I. did not oster men s vanity. H nry was averse to extravagant attire ; Edward of York
e h e was no dandy, and his broth r Ric ard se ms
o t have had no liking for elaborate dress.
e The Court of Henry vu . was auster ly
of plain and guiltless dandyism, and although
e VIII e he H nry . loved to make a brav show, enforced certain laws to check extravagant
e f e s l anings on the part o his subj ct . When Queen Elizabeth succeeded her em
a f bittered and melancholy h l sister, dress
s its the rea serted importance at Court , and
’ Spanish fashions introduced by Mary s husband were discarded in favour of the modes in V vogue with the gallants of Italy and enice. The Elizabethan elegant was a wonderful
r ff a vision in his exagge ated ru , his It lian doublet
and e fine leather sho s, and it is said that Lord Leicester brought into favour the wearing of I z Dress and the Dan dies
n off of lo g stockings to set his fine legs, which h e . s e e was childishly proud Corset , too, w r
e a worn by th se Court dandies, whom H ll satirised in the following biting lines
W hat monster meets mine eyes, in human show ? ’ So slender waist with such an abbot s loin ” Did never sober nature so conjoin.
Even Sir Walter Raleigh was a corset
ea e so in it w r r, and girt was his waist that
e rivalled that of a slender girl. Wh n Jam es of n e e e u e Scotla d cam ov r the Bord r, the co rti rs
r did not abandon this disfigu ing custom, which any King more of a man than James would
have discountenanced .
I the f s In the early days of Charles . a hion
e e e abl noblemen wore long arrings, which th y thought became them mightily ; they covered their own hair with scented perruques ; they sported spangled gar ters which dangled nearly
to h e e down t eir rosetted shoes, and th ir loos knee breeches replaced the disproportionately
n padded trunks of the previous reig . The Cavaliers were negligently artistic with
e e ef a studied negligenc , and they mad grac ul ” d “ e e fi e figures at Court an in the t nt d ld . 1 3 Introductory
N ever surely did more picturesque soldiers meet their fate than those devoted men who fought and died at Naseby and Marston Moor. The stem Commonwealth vetoed beautiful
e e attire. The gay Court butt rfli s had dis
e e e app ar d, th ir wings torn and stained by the
of e e storm civil war, and in their st ad mov d
e e e e e dull, prosaic figur s, whos pr s nc cast an added gloom over the sour days in which they lived . But the spring-time of the Restoration was
- e the l in the air, and joy b lls rang in reviva of fashion with the return of the exiled
Stuart. The dark-browed monarch with his cynic ally humorous face came back to his kingdom
new e e and to inaugurate xtravaganc s, at his accession dandyism once more revived.
h of XIV the T e splendid Court Louis . was fount whence the English courtiers derived
f r e e their inspiration o fine cloth s. Cobw bby and priceless lace fell in its own inimitably
ef f e the a e grac ul olds und r velvet coll rs, sleev s, and knee breeches of the nobles ; gold lace
sse s t was thickly ma d on their cloak , and heir 1 4 Dress and the Dandies
flowing French periwigs were topped by broad d d brimme hats decke with drooping plumes .
was ea for The immortal Pepys a gr t dandy, he spent much time and thought on his
e clothes. When he walk d in the New Ex
n a his cha ge , we ring best black suit with
c e e s arlet ribbons, a v lv t cloak, and a new
a e he e be ver, he doubtless look d, as describ d f ” himsel , very noble. This period showed a distinct artistic im
e e its e prov m nt in its dandyism , and influ nce has s d the for of la te to present day , many our most popular costume plays and fancy dresses are Carolean . It was not alone at Court that the taste for gay attire was in vogue. On the bloody and powder-grimed decks over which floated The
e u a Jolly Rog r, nderne th blue West Indian
es the ee a e ski , buccan r capt ins swagg red in Utrecht velvet and Malines lace as foppishly
f hi e as did the beaux o W t hall . Fashion with
e d x s these desperado s prove an e acting mistre s, and they courted her more ardently than the
on o brazen Molls they wooed sh re. ‘ But here the velvet coats and lace ruflles I S Introductory of dandyism were often stained with innocent
’
o . a blo d Foppery was a de th s head, grinning
e e of V ov r the should r anity, only to disappear when the chains of the Port Royal gibbets swung to and fro with the weight of rotting bodies and tattered rags that once were silk and satin .
’ M en s dress did not vary appreciably
o 11 f during the reign f James . William o
e e Orange, with his phl gmatic t mperament, was not the monarch to devote any of his
e e to e e of l isur the allur m nts fine clothes. The only concession shown to dandyism was
’ s n e m to be ee in the g ntle en s wigs, which
e were worn longer and larger than ver, and it became the fashion to comb the masses of false hair in public with special wig combs
sold for the purpose.
of Queen Anne, who had something her
’ for e her en uncle s taste finery, encourag d
’ tourage to dress smartly. The courtiers
e shoes w re gay with scarlet and blue heels, and there was a famous shoemaker’ s place in Pall Mall much frequented by persons
of quality . 1 6 Dress and the Dandies
Dandyism developed a new phase of
e s quiet richness during early G orgian time , and the Court exquisites were stately figures
e - e in finely lac d shirts, long skirt d coats, and
- s n gold clocked tocki gs. The hats worn by the beaux were modified reproductions of
e f V e art f thos in ashion at ersaill s, and the o
e f wearing th m was shown by the tilt ; in act, different angles in the tilt identified the
’ wearer s status and locality. Fashion did not show any marked change
’ e a of e m s during the first tw lve ye rs Georg .
n . e reig The King was not imaginativ , and startling innovations were unwelcome to his somewhat stolid mind ; the courtiers there fore varied the monotony of the prevalent modes by allowing their extravagant taste to
f e a a find vent in beauti ul lace , d lic te broc des, and the finest silk and tinsel embroidered waistcoats.
1 2 a e In 77 dandyism bec m again paramount. A band of young bloods returned from an
e aboad and ext nded tour , while in Italy they had contrived to get several new ideas about
e dress into th ir somewhat empty heads . B 1 7 Introductory
Fired with an ever growing sense of their
e er of f own importanc as arbit s ashion , they formed themselves into a group known as
the Macaroni Club, in contradistinction to the good old-fashioned Beef Steak Club of
London . The Macaronies dressed their hair in
e o sid curls, with a hideous kn cker o enormous
like twist at the back . With this exaggerated
' coiflure was a tiny hat was worn , which it correct for the wearer to raise with his
e tasselled can . A soft white handkerchief was tied in a
’ huge bow under the Macaroni s chin ; his
o and r c at was short, his tight knee b eeches
of e e d were made strip d or flow re silk. Thus
e a e garbed, with innumerabl d ngling s als, two
e c watch s at least, silk sto kings , and diamond
the a o buckled shoes, dandy w lked abr ad,
e e e f and minently satisfi d with hims l , quite convinced that his appearance was greatly
e e nvi d. The Macaronies were not displaced until 1 86 n f h about 7 , whe ashion once more c anged.
ele ants e The g then wore buckskin bre ches, 1 8 Dress and the Dandies
-t - o t exceedingly long ailed and deep collared c a s, - and large brimmed round hats . This was altogether a far more becoming style of dress than the wholly artificial modes of a the Macaronies, and with this ch nge we find ourselves within measurable distance of the later days of dandyism and its ruling spirit - George Brummell. When the Prince Regent first saw young Brummell among the pastoral surroundings
’ of r f his aunt s dai y arm , there is no doubt that the precocious boy at once gauged the
of a meas ure his roy l patron , and even then resolved to profit by the impression he had
made. George Brummell started his career most
f r of f m favourably o a man no a ily. He was accepted in Society on the strength of the numerous good acquaintances he had made at Eton and Oxford ; and the fortune he in herited from his father easily enabled him to
keep up a good establishment. His popularity
a s f ste dily increa ed, and a ter a time Georgiana Duchess of Devonshire admitted him to her
-f e ultra ashionable circl . This was a crucial I9 Introductory
fr u test, but Brummell emerged om it tri mph
he r e ant, and as a result was ove whelm d with
o invitations t all the modish assemblies. His social success was finally assured when the Prince Regent gave him a commission in
' l 0th s his own regiment, the Hu sars, and evi nced the greatest friendship for his new f avourite . The level-headed usually have no sympathy
“ ’ e e f r e f B rum mell or tol ranc o a h ro o s type. ” who Why , they say, write about a man was only the bell wether in a flock of dandies ? Is any practical result achieved by dealing with such a useless life ? The answer to these critics must be the plea that any kind of force deserves recog nition e e , and George Brumm ll was c rtainly a force. He possessed a curiously complex
n wa perso ality ; a vulgarian and co rd at heart , he showed at every turn the bullying instinct with which the coward and vulgarian is usually
f he u be imbued . He was o ten witty ; co ld
e his charming, but it was sol ly by consummate insolence that he swayed his world . There must have been in him some of the elements 20 Dress and the Dandies
of that make commanders men , although Brummell did not aspire to command in the
e f b st sense o the word . The peculiar quality in man or woman that can hold the attention of the crowd must be
’ f B rummell s a orceful one. We may abuse
e of e m thods procedure as hearti as we lik , but the undisputed fact remains that the large following who were literally at his beck and
a e men of e r c ll compris d g nius, and ce tainly f men o common sense. Although they must have seen George Brummell as he
a e re lly was, they ndured his arrant bullying (which was perfectly amazing in its audacity) ; and el e of strang y nough , the objects his gibes and sarcasms hardly ever resented his rude
s e e ne s. The man who could, unr buk d, order a duchess to walk backwards out of a room because her back offended his eye was an
e artist in insol nce, and it is surprising that nobody present had the courage to give Brummell the thrashing he richly deserved this one anecdote alone serves to illustrate the completeness of his social dominion. The downfall of such characters never arises z t Introductory from loss of admirers ; Nemesis comes in the
of a shape some sordid cat s trophe. Beau
’ Brummells career has had a curious parallel in the rise and fall within the last few years of a man of letters who possessed all the audacity with which Brummell influenced
e T e Soci ty. he impudence in his cas took the form of polished epigram ; he posed in exactly the same way as did the Beau ; he had the same personal magnetism ; but here
e for the r semblance ends, between the per verted genius and George B ryan Brummell
f r e there is no urther compa ison , sav that both men died as exiles from the London that had
witnessed alike their triumph and their ruin . The dandies naturally frequented the best
the e s the clubs, most exclusiv house , and most
f f e e ashionable places o amusement. Th y wer the finest connoisseurs of good living in existence ; they betted heavily ; they drank heavily ; they played high ; they posed at
e r u re ve y given opport nity, and yet they presented the follies and failings of their age perhaps with more dignity and suavity f than their descendants o to day . Their zz
Introductory
The modern young man motors to Brighton, e fur t f w aring odd garmen s , and staring rom
e e t e his begoggled yes with an xpec ant, nerv
o e to the sea racked expressi n . His progr ss is often marked by destruction to man and
as he ffe f the be t, and occasionally su rs rom penalties of exceeding the speed limit . His
f not looks, a ter a wet or dusty journey, are attractive as he slows up in front of the best
! no e - hotel He is dandy, lik his great grand f e a The ather, who tool d long the road in ” A e e Brighton g , and stopp d at the good old fashioned inns to hear and to retail the latest
was e gossip. His travelling roquelaure w ll
s fitting, his hes ians were polished to per fection , and his smart beaver was set jauntily
omatumed . e on his p head Despit rain ,
or he r d burning sun , cold wind, a rive at his destination much more artistically and comfortably than his descendant does to
day .
’ George B rummells downfall was beyond
’ e the f redemption wh n he lost Prince s avour,
and we cannot but pity him in his ruin . We
of a e may detest many his qu liti s, but when 24 Dress and the Dandies he f of e e le t the world Soci ty, that constitut d
of fe h his idea all that made li wort living, he must have felt the chill of utter despair pierce his hitherto invulnerable armour of
n selfish ess.
We e e e can trac his lat r career, st p by step , until the final goal of the Asylum at Caen
a the was reached, and it is impossible to re d
record and not to feel sorry for him . We hear of his pitiful contrivances to indulge his passion for dress ; sometimes we note his utter ingratitude to those kindly souls who
e h lped him in his distress, and sometimes w e see glimpses of his old bullying nature. The whole is tragic in its complete deso
lation . What sad der spectacle can be thought of than the imaginary receptions held in the
’ e- al the e d An leterre candl lit s on , at Hot l g ,
e e when doddering, imbecil Georg Brummell
n a a nounced his guests who never c me.
r the e f of Geo giana, lov ly , wil ul Duchess
e f m m . Devonshir , was a a iliar na e She had
ee ea l ra long b n d d, but perhaps her pa e w ith smiled at the lonely man across the gulf that 2 5 Introductory
separates the Spirit world from the living.
as ! a e Al it was the De d only, the unr sponsive
De u a i ad, that Br mmell im g ned around him , until at last pitiless Reason thrust her shafts
e into his disorder d brain , and showed him that all indeed was vanity. The tears of the aged are bitter tears ;
- ichet so doubtless kind hearted M . F thought when he led the sobbing old man out of that empty room in the grey of morning. George B rummell went unaccompanied by
f u wi e or mistress into his exile. D ring his brilliant career he was well known as being immune from any of the usual affairs which fell to the lot of most men of his social standing
e and personal attractions. P rhaps he thought
’ that a woman s influence would be too exacting and would interfere with his selfish mode of life perhaps there is some truth in the story that
as If his one love w the Duchess of York.
e s this was the case, Brumm ll always di played a
n r chivalrous retice ce about his liaison , and ca e fully destroyed all the known correspondence
ss e ses that pa ed between them , ven to the ver
r for i w itten by her his Album . It s a fact 26
Dress and the Dandies
. the e o e that M Armstrong, Ca n gr c r, who displayed such generosity to the fallen f r os se ff- and avou ite, p ses d a gold snu box casket full of love letters written to Brummell
la f f o r . by a dy high ank. A ter M Armstrong
e ran di d , a mysterious st ger arrived in Caen and m ff-box e clai ed the snu and the cask t, doubtless acting on the instructions of the
e e e e writ r, who knew that the l tters xist d , and desired the records of her intrigue to be
r dest oyed . George Bryan Brummell lies tn the Pro
e e t stant Cem tery at Caen, where a plain - headstone marks his resting place. It is a
r melancholy spot, su rounded by dark trees, where the Beau sleeps after a fate which does much to make the critical look with a lenient eye on his follies and affectations.
ef n e When he l t E gland, dandyism languish d
for ck of . la a leader Later, Count
’ D Orsa e es he was y r vived its glori , and indeed the last of the dandies.
o r In L rd Lamington in his cha ming book ,
Me D a s o Me D andies e y f , has v ry aptly
“ u d t . e t s mme hem up Men he writ s, ook 27 Introductory great pains with themselves ; they did not slouch and moon through life ; and it was remarkable how highly they were appreciated
r not of by the c owd, only the upper, but the
He lower classes. then describes riding
’ D r he to Richmond with Count O say . As
e he rode through K nsington and Brompton , excited general attention I was greatly interested in noticing the admiration with which he was regarded .
are has Times changed. London no
’ for th If D rsa room e dandies. Count O y were to ride to Richmond through Kensington - and Brompton to day , he would pass through
of u r ffi a maze nspeakably smelling motor t a c, and he would be jeered at by the descendants of e the lower ord rs , who once admired him , and who now send their own class to Parliament.
e the Man still lov s to play to gallery, and
e e e e deep in his h art dandyism xists, n v r to be f o e . o r e upr ot d But the fine art eve yday dr ss , as expounded and practised by Brummell and
r s . his contempo arie , is no more
Do we the e ? s regret dandi s Sometime , when glancing round places where the much 28
C H A PT E R I
IN e the Green Park , during the eighte nth cen
e has e tury, near a lak which now disappear d,
Clar es and hard by g Street, lay hidden amid
to the trees a rustic house where Art, use the
ua of re lang ge the time, had preserved some
c for e. e t spe t Natur It was a thatch d homes ead, - with rose trees climbing up the walls, and a
- cow byre within its modest precincts. The
of f occupant this arm was a certain Mrs.
e se of S arle, and notwithstanding the lap years idlers could perceive even so late as
’ 1 8 1 5 the old lady s upright figure as she
her her went about business, with tall lace bonnet and hooped skirt in the style of
’
xv s . Louis . reign About the time of the
c o 111 Ameri an War, King Ge rge . had placed
of t and her in charge this lit le domain , his
daughter, Princess Mary, had even con descended to supervise the decoration of the 30 Beau Brummell and His Times h h e f . . r c t ouse Thus Mrs Sea le be ame ashion, and distinguished people soon began to visit
’ her : a the Court ladies on le ving St. James s rarely failed to knock at her door that they might enter and extol the charms of a c f ountry li e. One day a lady of marvellous beauty h d a a e appene to p ss. She was accomp ni d by
who was al a young man t l and well made,
fe as a with noble atures, an e y be ring, and a
and a gay c reless look. His white wig was
He - . r e heavily curled wo e leather knee bre ches,
- o f long riding boots, and a c at care ully buttoned up to his throat and fitting him extraordinarily
s well. Around his neck was a deep mu lin stock, rising almost above the chin. This e coupl , as they crossed the Green Park, had
c of . onceived the idea visiting Mrs Searle, and doubtless as she came to meet them she was deeply flattered to learn that her guests were the Marchioness of Salisbury and the heir
f e to the e . the throne, uture Princ Reg nt It was then the moment for milking the cows ; the Marchioness pulled up her skirts in eagerness to learn the details of country 3 1 Beau Brummell and His Times f li e and went into the byre, while His Royal Highness remained chatting in the yard with a youth who seemed to be a member of e the household. This is my neph w ,
George Brummell, said Mrs. Searle ; he
f to e has just le t Eton , and is nter the Uni
f f e versity o Ox ord this year. The Princ continued his conversation with the young
e man, obviously pleas d with his handsome
r . cu ls and his knowing air He seemed, how
s ever, to be yet more attracted by the as urance of of e the the boy, his charm mann r, and indefinable combination of audacity and respect
e which his answers betrayed. W ll , what do you wish to be when you leave College
“ asked the Prince. I should like to serve the King in the army. The Marchioness
e had now reappeared, delight d with her
e of . e e experi nce country work G org , con
“ e cluded His Royal Highness, wh n you
f to leave Ox ord, apply me. I will give you a h ” rot e . commission in the Hussars, my r giment The two noble visitors then took their leave of of the mistress the Green Park Farm, and
e went back to find their carriag . 32 Beau Brummell and His Times
t of Possibly he nephew Mrs. Searle had already observed his future colonel on horse
a in f b ck Hyde Park , brilliant, grace ul, and surrounded by his court of handsome young m en e ; possibly he had se n, in crossing Pall
M the of r a all , grey liveries the ca riage be ring 1 f e the mas ter o Carlton Hous . Though George Brummell was little more than a
e e of schoolboy, he cannot hav b en ignorant the current gossip concerning the youthful adventures of the heir to the throne In an of of f y case, the head a lad fi teen years was likely enough to be turned by such an offer of patronage from the first subject of
1 ar ton ouse was u t in 1 0 enr Bo e B aron C l H b il 7 9 by H y yl , Carlton. From the possession of Lord B urlington this residence came nto the an s of the o al am in 1 2 and was ocen i h d R y F ily 73 , P of Wa the m oth e e the r n ss es r of Geor 1 . pi d by i ce l , ge 1 1 In 1 8 it ecame the ro ert of th e e est son of Geor 7 3 b p p y ld ge lu . , who restored th e old residence from top to bottom at enormous x e He e a co ect on of the armour v e p nse. mad ll i of e ery age and ever coun r nc u in the s or s of Ba ar Mar r y t y, i l d g w d y d, lbo ough, xxv and ar es IL and also co Louis ., Ch l , llected a series of v W em s ctures. T ere he rece e a ter cott and nv ted Fl i h pi h i d l S , i i
v . n e renc r n Louis x m a d the exil d F h p i ces in 1 81 1 . His house d h was pulled down in 1 827, an as been replaced at th e present ton Te c and th e t ene day by Carl rra e A h um Club. If the
. s ex ste i u palace of George N till i d, t wo ld stand precisely o osite to Water oo P ace. ( . W eatle Round about pp l l H h y,
33 Beau Brummell and His Times
the a n e e the re lm , the brillia t Princ Floriz l , darling of society and the adoration of every
heart. George Prince of Wales was now thirty
one s of e ten e year age, and ev n y ars pre viously his gallantries had been the constant
of theme journalists and caricaturists. The story is well known of his passion for Mary ll o Ann Robins n, which was conceived one
e D e her vening at rury Lan , when he saw
’ la A Wi nter Tale s s . p ying in Note ,
mee s e ting by night, and xcursions upon the
s f Thame ollowed. The whole town pursued the spectacle of the love intrigue of Florizel
the e e e and Perdita, romantic adv ntur inspir d
e by Shakespeare. N0 less w ll known are the anger of Queen Charlotte and the indignation
of the old o e 111 2 8 King, Ge rg . On August ,
’ 1 8 1 b 7 , he was obliged to buy ack his son s
1 Of r s rth Mar Ann Ro nson was orn at Br sto in I i h bi , y bi b i l
1 8. She came out at rur Lane in the art of u et and 77 D y p J li , proved a great success by reason both of her abilities as actress
and her marve ous eaut . On ecem er 1 she a e ll b y D b 3, 779, pl y d P a The Pr nce o W erdita before the Royal F mily. i f ales had n no hesitation in declaring his admiratio , but he grew tired of o n her no less quickly. Mary Ann R bi son wrote a book
’ entitled the M emoi r: of Perdrta. 34 Beau Brummell and His Times
“ e e for 000 e as f : l tt rs 5 , and wrot ollows I am sorry to mention a subj ect which has
a d f long c use me great vexation, but I pre er writing to a personal interview. In this melancholy and scandalised tone the letter ” 1 s e e continue . Farm r Georg was both a
r good Christian and an honou able man, but his views were very limited ; having no
f se f e moral ailings him l , he could not und r
n he of stand them i another. T whole his life was spent in the blind worship of con ventionalit e y, and he strov with all his might
f t e to orce his opinions on hos about him .
had e e He been sev r ly brought up, and wished in his turn to bring up his large family with f e al s e . e f qu ev rity Un ortunat ly , he ound that he had to deal with young princes who were
e His naturally disob dient. Prussian system of d e e education pro uc d most disastrous r sults , and no one had more reason to admit the
1 This nickname had been given to him upon th e occasion of a speech from the throne at a time when th e Am erican War was ca using great anxiety ; h e had then treated the Parliament to o scourse u on th e su e of e H a l ng di p bj ct cattl disease. e was w fo f a coun a d al ays nd o try life, n when walking in the neigh bourhood of W n sor iked ta kin t the c n r i d l g wi h ou t y people. era Th Four Geor es (Thack y, g , George 35 Beau Brummell and His Times
f the His act than old King himself. sons and
e few e e i es e daught rs, with xc pt ons, r olv d upon
e e clandestine marriages, and gav him no voic
the the f in matter. But Prince o Wales was the son who caused him the most constan t
anxiety . His adventure with Mary Ann Robinson is but an insignificant episode among his numerous
ff the f ea he love a airs. To day o his d th con
tinued f e to all in lov with miraculous ease, and a long list might be made of those whose
f r e avou s he sought. When his d signs were
ed Oppos , his ardour was augmented, and he would turn his passion to account by artificial
e m e e f e e m ans to ak hims l app ar int resting. He had himself bled three times in one day that his pale and feeble appearance might soften the
l hearts which he hoped to win by pity.
O ne e the of ev ning at Opera, in the box ’ a f he . z e e who L dy Se ton , met Mrs Fit h rb rt,
1 ' d Rémusat Du ouvem ement a rlem ntazr Ch . e , g p e on lem e Revue dos Dm x M ondes ovem er 1 A ng . ( , N b 5, Mar a nne tz er ert orn in ul 1 7 6 marr ed E ar i A Fi h b , b J y 5 , i dw d
W E who e in th e ear of t e r marr . e . a ld, sq , di d y h i i ge In 1 778 marr e as her secon us an T om as tz er r she e t E s . i d d h b d h Fi h b , q ,
oon aft r w s M rs . tz r w wh o also died s e ard . Fi he bert as then in n our of her eaut was el all the sple d b y, w l known and very 36
Beau Brummell and His Times
e l a e where he cri d a oud, beat his he d, tor his
e the of n thin hair, roll d on floor, and spoke o g
e the e and but r nouncing crown , s lling his plate
e sufli cient c j wels, and gathering money to es ape ‘ a e of to Americ with the obj ct his adoration .
e e e her How ver, Mrs. Fitzh rbert return d, and
m e the arriag with Prince, which was at first
e e e al of k pt s cret, soon b came the t k the whole
town. It will readily be understood that such adventures were by no means to the taste of George 111 and contributed to complete his
e for t son who av rsion his wild and libertine , was moreover invariably head over ears in
n e to debt. As he was u abl agree with his
f he the ather, was equally unable to retain
e of for t of e r spect the nation any leng h tim ,
r t a out and his omantic passions, his perpe u l
e er soo met breaks, and his th atrical mann s n with indulgence only among the fashionable
s e fe t of e W . classe . A charact ristic a ure Georg was the fact that without intention and quite naturally be continued to play a pa rt from his
to a . e childhood his de th Wh ther Whig or Tory,
1 d R mu loo. cit Ch. e é sat, . 38 Beau Brummell and His Times
f e of of whether the ri nd Fox or Brummell, the lover of Mary Ann Robinson or the
a of . t se f husb nd Mrs Fi zherbert, he threw him l so completely into every part which he liked to play that the cleverest people were often so far c e to in de eiv d as take him seriously, and
e e f If e d ed he deceived hims l . he w nt to make
e a spe ch upon liberty in Ireland, he would shed
e r t a s ; no sooner was he in love with Mrs .
itzherbert s f F than he swore to stab him el . It is true that he could change his intentions with
r u for he mi ac lous rapidity, was utterly fickle,
fal inconstant, and se.
had fr e es e He i nds as well as mistr s s, but
e or e o wh ther men wom n, he deceived everyb dy
e rd h s d e with qual disrega . Among i imme iat friends the first in point of time was the Duke ‘ of d Cumberland, an accomplishe drunkard and
1 Horace Wa o e ourna l o Me Re n o Ki n Geor e lp l , j f ig f g g
III rm the e 1 1 8 vol. . 1 6 80 . fi y ar 771 to 7 3 , ii pp. 4 , 449, 457, 4 ,
502 . The Duke of Cumberland ( 1 744-1 790) wished to marry a c r n w o n e L r mu o er t an m elf e tai id w amed Ann utt ell, ch ld h hi s
e 111 . e ee rr tate and of lower social status . Georg becam d ply i i d in s u e nd f hi rot r t a ear at con eq enc , a orbade s b he o pp Court r a o e t wh the e fter. He also passed the R yal Marriag Ac , by ich no member of his family could marry without his consent and o that f the Parliament. 39 Beau Brummell and His Times an e e e ins nsat gambl r, who had quarrelled with
e 111 fe e his brother G orge . he and his wi und r
The took to debauch the heir to the Crown .
e S ee d task was asy and was p dily accomplishe ,
to the e e of Due de e thanks xampl the Chartr s,
f e e a t rwards Philipp Egalité, who was accus tomed constantly to cross the Channel at that time ; in 1 784 we find him at Brighton races l u e Conflans. with Lauz n , S gur, and About this time also Florizel must have become intimate
Fox e the of with , Sh ridan , and whole the Whig
ee e e party. It is ind d astonishing to m et thes distinguished names among the dancing and singing masters or pugilists who daily visited
e the Carlton Hous and Brighton Pavilion, and to see them side by side with Angelo the swashbuckler and Jack Radford the stud
D Welt ie the groom , avidson the tailor and j
ef who e the confidants ch , becam in turns and
- e of go betwe ns His Royal Highness . In any
e for the case, we must tak Fox what he was,
os f an d e r of m t gi ted admir d cha acter his time, recognised at the age of twenty-one as the
V. 26 2 B ro e and Times o eor e I . 2 2 ri i t L G . C ly, if f g , pp , 7 g elnrs ne Intelli ence ul 2 1 8 Au ust 2 1 8 b to g , J y , 7 4 g 5, 7 5. 40 Beau Brummell and His Times leader of a great political party and as the chief orator of his day we may also remember that before reaching his majority he had incurred
e e d bts amounting to or mor , that he would remain at the gambling-table for seventy
ee two hours continuously, sl ping and dining
the f - upon aro table, and would borrow money
e f he e ev n rom t Club waiters when he was ruin d.
e e Sheridan is a similar charact r, a gambl r,
e e and h ad over ears in d bt . It is said that drink had given him a red nose and a ruined
e f e e e dig stion ; this act, how v r, did not s em to diminish his taste for the pleasures of the
n table, and finding it to his adva tage to visit ” r se S e e e o Ca lton Hou , h rry s iz d the first p portunity of installing himself as a permanent
u g est.
He e e e was not the only gu st, and v ry
’ evening the Prince s table was surrounded by — the same regular comers a strange table of
r r f0 s men of political o ato s and bumptious p ,
e e e e the lett rs and idl rs, cc ntric rakes such as l D e of orfolk uk N , who might be met any
1 — Th e Duke of Norfolk ( 1 746 1 8 1 5) was very intimate with Fo h is H or o x throughout life. e was a great collect f books 4 1 Beau Brummell and His Times evening in the thickest of crowds and the
of e se e lowest places, dr s d ither as a clergy man or a jockey ; or the Marquis of Queens
l “ ” er his b ry, known as old Q , who spent last days ogling the wom en in the Park f m e ere ro his window . Th re w also Lord 2 alias n e of Onslow, Tom Ta d m, proud his new system of harnessing and tooling through the e f u town in his black pha ton , drawn by o r 3 e of the e hors s same colour ; Lord Barrymor , who thrashed the watch at night and put on his livery in the daytime to wait upon
ctu s nd encoura e th e u cat on of var ous and pi re , a g d p bli i i archaeologi cal works unfortunately, drunkenness was heredit i a v r sm tt fr m ary in his family, and s s id to ha e been t an i ed o P en s generation to generation since the days of th e lantag et . “ In the Ti mes of e ruar 1 7 1 we rea : Th e u e F b y , 794, d D k of o fo has ust een attac e ro o a and cannot N r lk j b k d by hyd ph bi , bear the sight of water ; his doctors have therefore prescribed n The M ar u s of taffor th e Mar u s of B ath and wi e. q i S d, q i , Lor T r o who ere resent at the consu tat on ave d hu l w, w p l i , h ” given thei r full approval of this treatment. Th e name of thi s old rake is to be found in every chronicle ave m n of un ara e e of the age. He seems to h been a a p ll l d - r ut to ave ossesse some sense of um ur . ill tempe , b h p d h o
e ro e tor of M . Du hé th e He was the acknowledg d p t c lle t , ’ d Artois hen sh ent nto x e former mistress of Comte , w e w i e il
h rror. tz era L e o Geor e 1 V. vol. . during t e Te (Fi g ld, if f g , i p . '
R m scene s vol. 11. . 1 1 . Gronow, e im e , p 3 — vol. . . 61 6 . Raikes, j ournal, ii pp 4 42 Beau Brumm ell and His Times the bailiffs in possession of his house ; Francis l Rawd n f r r f o , a terwards Lo d Moi a, uture
of al e Governor Beng , and m anwhile boon companion of His Royal Highness ; Lord ’ Cholmondeley and finally George Hanger,
e the e f e d last Lord Col raine, intimat ri n and
e of the e vil genius Princ .
The English are worthy people, ex
for claimed the last named , but only fit ” The f ma king kitchen pokers. act is that at this time Anglomania was not the best
’
of e . taste, at any rate in the Princ s circle
for to On the contrary, it was usual men go on the Continent to acquire a proper f o e e . e finish polit mann rs Fr nch taste, French
ranc s Ra on rst Mar u s of Hast n s and secon F i wd , fi q i i g d Lord Moira ( 1 754- 1 distinguished himself in th e American W and r ar s er P r n r h o ar, afte w d ent ed a liame t, whe e e prop sed to entrust the regency to the Prince of Wales at the time of eor e 111 In 1 81 2 he r ce v e r er the madness of G g . e i ed th O d
of a r an w a o nte Governor of Ben a . the C rte , d as pp i d g l Lord Cholmondeley was well known in French society H w v r o the Revo ut on. e as a e a reea e man nd bef re l i y g bl , a ” t full of anecdotes. (Cornelia Knigh and Thomas Raikes, s 1 Personal Remini ramee , pp. 3 7 r e H an r fou and as L o er 1 1 -1 Geo g ge , rth l t ord C l aine ( 75 v he mer c War r Ser ed in t A i an , and was afte wards distinguished e of th w s r o on or B r as on e ildest pi its either at L nd ighton .
H s Alemoi rs o eor e 1 V vol. . 80 e c. (R. ui h, f G g . , i pp . , 97, t ) 43 Beau Brummell and His Times
thought and social standards, and especially the e of of e Fr nch theory the rights man , th n
n of e e e joyed high credit. Many th s lords were well acquainted with Versailles ; they
the e of the e had known d lights P tit Trianon , the e e the e e the of prom nad s on t rrac , bands the the m n e of a e Orangerie, ag ificenc Font in
a and the - e of - e ble u , hunting parti s Saint Hub rt
of e a and Choisy . Th y had known Lauz n,
’ e Boufflers d Artois Rich lieu, , and the Comte ,
e e e e to and att mpt d, with mor or less succ ss,
e model th mselves upon these men . Such was
f of the da e W . the ashion y, and though Georg
e e he e es had nev r be n to Paris, non the l s claimed som e acquaintance with the highest
' e anoten r e i me Fr nch society and with the g . He is even said to have had the unfortunate habit of quoting nam es and events with greater
e t r readin ss han accu acy.
e t e case He was , how ver, lacking nei h r in of nor e e manner in court sy , and mad a point of laying great stress upon these characteristics
a e the e in other men . He took ple sur in soci ty of the poets and wits of the time ; but the smallest merits were sometimes enough to 44
C H A PT E R I I
WE have now to ask who this George B rum mell was who appears so prominently in all
r e m contempo ary m moirs, and who Byron once
r of compa ed with Napoleon . What actions his
so o e gave rise to praise p mpous, and nabled him to leave a name oft quoted to-day ? We know already that one of his aunts held the
of s f the post mistre s armer to King. His father was secretary to Lord North ; his
r f t f g and a her was a con ectioner, with a shop
e e are a advan in Bury Stre t. Thes no gre t tages in a country which usually attaches much importance to birth . It would seem that Brummell must have counterbalanced his
m e e W e low birth by so p rsonal merit. h n,
e f the e of fe howev r, we ollow d tails his li , we are forced to recognise that he was the least energetic of mankind . It might be
e urg d that he was a wit, and his contem 46 Beau Brummell and His Tim es
he oraries t . p support statement I am inclined,
e e of howev r, to think that his styl humour would have aroused more astonishment than admiration at Paris.
’ Yet if B rummells existence is by no mea ns
f ar e of the te event ul in the ordin y s nse rm , it is sufficiently remarkable when regarded
e as a whole. Even mor astonishing than his prodigious success is the fact that it appears to have depended solely upon a number of
e a insignificant d tails, upon his attitude, be ring, and e trifles of the so e oth r kind, that ultimat ly,
of e we and in view his uniquen ss, are almost inclined to lament the fact that he never dis played any more positive capacity . His University career does not seem to have
ee e r e e b n marked by any xt aordinary v nt. He was a well-dressed and personable young fe ff m e ref llow, a trifle sti in ann r, and as ca ul
l e of of his anguag as his dress. With an air of u he ac complete ass rance, was customed to utter certain witticisms which evoked laughter
r t se by cont ast wi h his rious demeanour. He
a . e the was able to ple se As, mor over,
a of e eleg nce his tast was striking, he was 47 Beau Brummell and His Times speedily able to dominate the society of the f ashionable young men of wealth and title. Doubtless at the University he m et certain f e of e e ri nds his youth , but as th se latt r possessed neither houses nor fortunes he
e sp edily broke with them. The word snob was not yet in current use the s r e e ; none les , snobbe y had xist d
ef r e e e long b ore. G ant d that v ry character
the e of e u contains possibiliti s snobb ry, Br mmell at first sight would seem to have been en
u f dowed in this respect o t o all proportion .
e the r u Non the less, cha acteristic which sually distinguishes men known as snobs is speedily
m en recognised. Such are invariably unaware of e ef th ir shortcomings, or r use to admit t e e e e The h m wh n brought to th ir notic . originality of Brummell was that he boasted
u of e e lo dly th m , made them a doctrin and a
e s e t far syst m, and pu h d audaci y so as to If ” e e e e . consid r th m an art in th mselv s , he u e e sed to d clare, you should ver meet
fe f e e a vulgar llow who has no ortun to wast , ” cut him directly. This principle he carried out with such effrontery that we eventually 48 Beau Brummell and His Times
find ourselves asking whether he had himself any great faith in these uncompromising
he and methods. Was a sincere convinced
he to r e snob, or did think it his duty pa ad the most cynical Opinions for the purpose of hiding unpardonable scepticism ? Though the English show indulgence to any extrava
a e fa g nce in lin with prevailing shion , they will stand no trifling with fashionable usages
or and customs, , in short, with all that is usually
e e known as social pr judic . I do not think that Brummell blindly shared their point of view ; but he doubtless thought it politic to make a show of submission upon points to
a e a which the gre test importanc was att ched. Thus at certain times he made no difficulty in explaining his rea l thoughts and proving
n he his poi t . One day when was talking
t e e wi h Lady Hester Stanhop , chance oblig d him to give some explanation of his general conduct. They were in Bond Street, and the
’ Beau was leaning upon the door of the lady s
e e her of carriag , whisp ring to the secret a
f w e e marvellous per ume, h n a young colon l
a e w s e p ss d ho e nam was then in all mouths. D 49 Beau Brummell and His Times
” Who ever heard of his father ? murmured ” And Brummell . by the way, replied Lady
e ea of o ? h s Hester, who ver h rd y urs T i retort might have gone round the clubs and ' ro an a eflect p duced unple sant . The sublime dandy therefore bent once more towards the
e en : lady and d livered this short argum t Ah,
my dear Lady Hester, who indeed ever heard
of f t who my a her, and would have ever heard
of if a me, I had been nything but what I
? a s am But, you know, my de r Lady He ter,
f m of If it is my olly that is the aking me. I did not impertinently stare duchesses out of countenance and nod over my shoulder to
f t in a e a prince, I should be orgot en we k ; and if the world is so silly as to admire
my absurdities, you and I may know better, ” 1 but what does that signify Sincere or
his ra rf ct not, Brummell had prog mme pe e ly
1 atter Stan o e vol. . . 28 1 . or es Memoi rs of Lady H b p , i p F gu ,
ester tan o e . Anot er da en La ester had een H S h p ) h y, wh dy H b ” ur n him to be more m o est M ear La ester he gi g d , y d dy H , “ re lie if were to do as ou a vise me do ou thin p d, I y d , y k I could stand in the middle of the pit at the Opera and beckon i n h e a see ”tent to Lorne on one side and V lliers o t e oth r, nd ” The L1 ? o B ear: B rummell . em to m ! (Jesse, ] f , p 50 Beau Brummell and His Times
n arranged. At an early date he had evide tly f r of r f o med an ideal g ace ul insolence, which
e to he embellished, compl ted, and brought
erf c ure p e tion at his leis , until this model
cam the of be e mainspring his every act.
we the Thus find him at University, and ft a erwards in his regiment, constantly atten
of f tive, master himsel , watching over the
of s least his gestures, and oon playing his part as a hero of frivolity with incomparable
f a] of e u repose o manner. This ide man pl as re
is an Englishman . This Englishman has laid
for s f of f f down him el a law li e, and will ollow
e e his pr conceiv d idea blindly to the end. To this consideration all else is bowed and s r n e ubo di ated, and we seem to catch him ev ry moment casting a quick glance upon these m f arching orders, and instinctively alling into
line with them .
1 1 0th ussars In 794 he entered the H . The Prince of Wales had not forgotten his visit to
he the Green Park, and when learnt that Mrs.
’ Searle s nephew was on the point of leaving
xf ffere O ord, he kept his word, and o d him
in a commission his regiment. Admission 5 1 Beau Brummell and His Times
the l oth s f u to Hu sars was a great avo r, and was usually reserved for the younger sons f h o t e . e e the e nobility How v r, young corn t did not appear to be greatly startled by this
of f H piece good ortune . e was introduced
the es e m the into b t soci ty , ad itted to intimacy of e e e e and Pet rsham, Som rset, Charl s K rr
e and e the f Robert Mann rs, soon becam riend and favourite of the Prince ; all this he
the e e accepted without small st p rturbation ,
if w ow as the orld were already his n.
ffe e en e Hitherto his a ct d insol c , his ironical
e e of e retorts, and the languid r pos his mann r th had produced e desired effect. He there fore proceeded to accentuate the disdain of
ea e in his b ring, and app ars London drawing
a rooms and in the regiment l mess, calm, super
cilious . , and imperturbable He was disdain
1 the iancee personified . In March 795 f of the e e of un heir presumptiv , Carolin Br swick,
e disembarked in England . Th re was great excitement at Carlton House to know what ladies would be chosen to go and meet the
e e e en Princ ss, and what gentl m n would be trusted with the duty of escorting her to 52
Beau Brummell and His Times of ex e e of cus uttered with a smile, a piec insolence delivered with an air of profound
e the a ful r spect, and colonel ab ndoned his minations once more . The Hussars were stationed alternately at ‘ London and at Brighton . One fine evening
It was in 1 782 that the Prince went to B righton for the first t t h c of see is c h Du e of um er ime wi h t e obje t ing h un le, t e k C b
h w c to n th summer t ere. land, w o as ac us med to spe d e h B in t e coun righton was then a mere fishing village, buried h try
t n n . v r Prin e returne th and comple ely u know H owe e , the c d e v d n a ur next year, and concei ed th e idea of buil i g the bs d
hi n . Pavilion, the construction of which was to complete s rui Th e u d n w fin s e in 1 8 bu the Pr nce soon re b il i g as i h d 7 7, t i g w
r f i u h e m to to o . ti ed o t, and resolved to reb ild t e whol fro p bott m as the fas ona e arc tect was entruste t t s con N h, hi bl hi , d wi h hi tial n r ev r m n or tw nt ars the fiden task, and ea ly e y o th f e y ye e fac w Pri nce introduced modifications into the plan. Th t as t at he r e mse f u on h is arc tectura e e and if as h p id d hi l p hi l y , N h w i nation c may be believed, was endo ed with an imag whi h v us s outran practical possibility. So m uch became ob io as thi ver t e heterogeneous mansion arose, combining as it did e y s yl W n of Oriental architecture from Chinese to Turkish . ithi the u e the ows buildi ng, thanks to th e colo red glass which fill d wind , the the visitor im agined him self within a magic lantern. After
eat of Geor e lv. the o a am s ee ot rid of t s d h g , R y l F ily p dily g hi n ranc and un er ueen V c or a in 1 8 the Pav on e cumb e, d ! i t i , 49, ili ” rc h n of B r ton. An o sa s was pu hased by t e tow igh yb dy, y c r n ee lace now for s x ence : t e ave Tha ke ay, ca s the p i p h y h ' dd s t re v r da and somet mes bufloons and mounte fi ler he e e y y, i banks hire the Riding House and do their tricks and tumbling ” w w t . r G or es Geor e xv. B r ton re there ( Tire Fou e g , g ) igh g i h h vi l a to n and its Pavilion, and in a few years t e l age became w , f on the town a centre of ashi . 54 Beau Brummell and His Times an order suddenly arrived for them to go of North upon garrison duty , to the ends the ear h t to e t , or, in o her words, Manchest r, a
f r t hideous manu actu ing own, commercial and vulgar to the last degree . Brummell declined to contemplate such a possibility for a moment, and the next day betook himself to His Royal
n f High ess at an early hour. Surrounded by our
the r vast mirrors, Prince was supe intending the
s of r progre s his toilet, and when he exp essed ” so ea me surprise at so rly a visit, Good Lord,
e declared the young Captain , peopl say we ” e are to go to Manchester ! The Prince nodd d.
al sir a e e Re ly, , you c nnot beli v how disagree ” a ad able I find such prospect. The Prince mitted with another movement of his head that the prospect was not indeed particularly attrae ”
. 0 l e tive N , real y, pursu d the young Captain,
the of the ea e more I think it, less I can r lis s e ! uch a notion Just think, sir, Manch ster
” “ And then, he concluded, with a sigh , you ” t would not be there. No hing more was required to mollify his patron and bring him
e r over to his side. It was ind ed a mo e
d to a of insinuating metho than t lk London, 55 Beau Brummell and His Times and London was the chief attraction for
its Brummell , with its sumptuous clubs and aristocratic parks, with its proud and splendid
r of e e mansions, the doo s which w r beginning
to e f e ro op n be ore him, with its str ets and p
e e ea e to menad s, wher alr dy idl rs began point
the n of at new compa ion the Prince. Doubtless the neighbourhood of Pall Mall
has and Piccadilly greatly changed, and it would be difli cult to discover the house in
e or r which Selwyn liv d, that which se ved as ’ ’ - for f r s a meeting place the members o Watie .
1 George Augustus Selwyn ( 1 7 1 9-1 791 ) studied at Eton with r Wal H o ace o e ose fr en h e ecam e. e was e ecte H p l , wh i d b l d mem r P r w be of a liament in! 1 747, but rarely spoke, and as ’ a most a a s a H was a m er of W e s and l lw y sleep . e emb hit Club, hi n f s ame is also to be found in th e annals o th e Jockey Club. If Wa is e e extreme tt fon of lpole to be beli ved, h was ly wi y, d
am n f n t aff c on for c ren. g i g, of women, and pro essi g a grea e ti hild T us h e came to a o t Mar a a niani who marr e the Mar h d p i F g , i d f Lor e our alias quis of Hertford and became th e mother o d S ym ,
n r Lou P . Lord Arsouille, well k own to Parisians unde is hilippe Selwyn and th e old Duke of ! ueensberry long disputed th e a ni ni t cou n ver be eter paternity of Maria F g a , b ut the tru h ld e d
ne . esse Selw n and his Contem or ari es. mi d precisely (J , y p ) ’ Watier s Club was situated precisely at th e corner of o r P ca ill I s foun e in 1 80 but B lton St eet and ic d y. t wa d d 7,
. w and lasted only a dozen years Th e catering as admirable, m r f u s en n Brumme a own ga bling fo abulo s stake w t o . ll l id d
. s Per the law th ere (Cornelia Knight and Thomas Raike , l em t 1 sona R i ni scen “ , p. 3 56
Beau Brummell and His Times
’ Of the e Carlton House, Prince s stablishment, not the least trace remains and a hundred modern buildings have replaced the colonnades and Greek pediments which English archi t tec ure then produced in such abundance.
n Ma y, however, are the recollections evoked
s of e a by the pavement Bond Str et, the P lais Royal of the town and its very hea rt and 2 e 1 a soul , wher towards 795 Mac ronies and Muscadins jostled one another : the f e of the ormer were the dandi s old school , with enormous wigs tied up behind, minute
- s e e s and three cornered hat , flow r d waistcoat ,
the coloured stockings latter, notwithstanding the general horror of all that came from
e e the f Franc , had adopt d latest Parisian ashion ,
1 The columns which to-day form th e portico of the National a er are t ose w c form er stoo or a on Hou G ll y h hi h ly d bef e C rlt se, ’ and were carried to their present position when the Regent s W w ll o n . a ou a t house as pu ed d w (H . he tley, R nd bou P ie
i l nd all M all . 2 ead ly a P , pp 34 , ” M acaron i was a name first gi ven to those who came ” a fr m r o r s the rase t en n Th b ck o the g and t u , a ph h we t. e n s even t en ere reat trave ers es ec a in ta E gli h h w g ll , p i lly I ly ; a l - o ou ern I w hence the name, recalling we l kn wn S th dish. t as so use to enote a man who t some s t ex r n on d d , wi h ligh pe ie ce of o nta f a some at unusua r ne n n C ntine l li e, displ yed wh l efi me t i
d r n ton ld Ti mes . manners an bea ing. (Joh Ash , o , pp 53, 54, and S7 Beau Brumm ell and His Times
the l a i of and the to ong tail co t, the ta l hair, wide stock surrounding the chin with waves of of to muslin. The whole London was ‘ ’ be seen in Bond Street ; fro m Sterne and
Lawrence, who lived in it by turns, to old
e flower Lord Sandwich, who smil d at the little sellers and offered them gold for a rose ; to ”
e . the three maniacs, the thre Mr Wiggins,
t rw aff t o he ise Lord Lland and his two bro hers,
he e t Hon. Montagu and George Matthews ;
t e e r f d hey w r simila in figure and ace, dresse
e precisely the sam , and used to spend their
‘ in r s a days the utmost se iousne s, w lking arm in arm upon the pavement. Then, ’
a e . s but a short dist nc away, is St Jame s
’ ’ r a Street, ec lling Fox s chair and Walpole s
’ r e e o ca riag , Sh ridan going to Br oke s, and
1 Bon tre w in 1 6 ow d S et as built 86, and es its name to Sir T omas B on of Pec am ontrol er of the ouse o of the h d kh , C l H h ld ueen -mot er He was a vo r of ! h . fa u ite James whom he fo n llowed i to exile. Bond Street loungers are mentioned in th eekl a e W y j ourn l (J une 1 ) from 1 7 1 7 onwards . See also the M ornin P ost for e ruar 6 1 800 g F b y , .
terne e n h 1 . La ce S di d i t e first storey of No . 4 wren lived ’ at No. 2 . In 1 81 Sir Wa ter cott sta e at Lon s ote 4 5 l S y d g H l, ’ No. 16 e B ron alwa s ut u at tevens ote N o. 1 8. , whil y y p p S H l, o . W eat e Round about Pi ecadi l and P all M all H h l y, b , 1 p. 82 if. 58
Beau Brummell and His Times gardens of Ranelagh and the groves of Vaux hall were crowded ; suppers and dancing went
t f s o on ; orches ras, ountains, acrobat , shad w shows produced in combination a general
f es f s e e stupe action ladi in ull dres , d eply roug d ,
of low the jostled with the lowest the , and Prince of Wales and his society fraternised
t e V e wi h the basest tippl rs. From auxhall th y
e e n the new w nt on to the Panth o , hall built
the n of f e n at cor er Ox ord Stre t, u der the ‘ f Mm e él s Montansier o . Corn guidance y , the
1 An a ventu r fro ! r c He e er had ntro d re m u i h, named id gg , i
u ed e ba a f re n art st Mme. d c mask d lls into London, and o ig i e, r nt rva of fteen or Cornélys, eintroduced them after an i e l fi Lon n twenty years . At th e time of the Lisbon earthquake do thought it was threatened with the same fate as a punishment ‘ f the for its sins. We are expiating the horrible license o ’ as e r rs. T e r m k d balls, was the cry of the popular p eache h i wor s er n r c off d w e heard, and am usements of this ki d we e stru k he r W en th t list of permitted pleasures for a long pe iod. h e custom w s rev t S e of v n a mas e ba as a ived , jes ers pok gi i g k d ll ’ i v . o él foun the es red g ing an earthquake Mme. C rn ys d d i r sh nve t h a nd th e success is e p etext : e i n ed t e charity b ll, a w ll known of this means of gaining heaven at th e risk of hell. At th e establishment of Mme. Cornélys social distinctions were in v ce for the maintained, and subscriptions were paid ad an ” Ca t e n eterr e s A. La ri ca ure n A l . o e sea on . on wh l ( Fil , g , p In th Ti mes f M rc 1 a ears the fo o n : Th e e o a h 3, 794, pp ll wi g entertainment given by th e director of th e Opera last Monday T Pr n f was one of the most crowded in recent years. he i ce o W es was in ar in rm t a ta n al a black domino, m a wi h C p i Churchill and Lord George Conway ; the Duke of Clarence 60
Beau Brummell and His Times
l n of . a the place Masked b ls were also give ,
f m of the as a ous as those Palais Royal , where amid the quadrilles lords displayed extra ordinary costumes and indulged in gloomy
n e eccentricities. O e would appear repres nting the e of on f influenc the Court, and walk ollowed by Public Ruin . Another would be dressed as
e e a corpse, and walk through the ent rtainm nt
e in a shroud with a cofli n under his arm . Th n
e e er . ther wer the Op a, and the Mlles Rose and Parisot in the ballet of the Tlzr ee Sultans o M armontel e f Cov nt Garden, where the public went to applaud John Kemble ; and
t M th o ev n n rs. or an in M spent e wh le e i g wi h J d a box. ichael A Ta or w re i female costum ngelo yl as d ssed n e, and was in n v u Th s r conseque ce less talkati e than us al . e uppe was per fectio and th e refres ments more t an a ua T n, h h deq te. here m w ous v un r o were so e t o th and se en h d ed pe ple at this ball, ” r n i h including some of the p ettiest wome n t e town. (See also the Times for Marc 1 1 and e ruar 1 h , 794, F b y 7, 1 certa n renc ancer name M e. Rose had ntro A i F h d , d ll , i duced flesh -coloured tights to the E nglish stage together with c ore ra c nnovat ons c Vestris th e od of the certain h g phi i i whi h , g ’ had savo e in th e name of the ar d dance, di w d t, an which e th cr es of e mora sts Th e Benc of B s provok d e out i th li . h i hops r s n u roar : Par i ament t e-ec oe w t t r com n ai ed a p l h d i h hei plai ts, r s of mor nd of a r which u ged the claim both ality a p t ioti sm . It was sa t at rance es a r n of the con uest of o n Bull id h F , d p i i g q J h , ” was attem t n to corru t him . . lon La Cari ca ture en p i g p (A Fi ,
n leterre . 1 A g , p 6 1 Beau Brummell an d His Times
r h re of r r Dru y Lane, the t eat She idan, whe e
e . e the divine Mrs. Siddons h ld sway Th re ’ ‘ re also Almack s t se we the meetings at , ho 1 f e de e amous balls ov r which Mme. Li ven
res e o 1 820 and u p id d ab ut , the amate r theatricals and charades organised by the
s f r Duches o Devonshi e.
W u e e of hen the s mmer cam , the whol the fashionable clan met once more upon the sands
of r or of n Ma gate Brighto , around the Asiatic Pavilion in which the Regent had sunk a
f e s ortun . Nothing could weary this ociety
f er of it was an inde atigable gen ation drinkers,
’ 1 Almack s balls were given upon the spot now occupied by ’ Restaurant in n treet. ateau Willis s , Ki g S Ch briand wrote, while ’ m assa or Almack s u c l un er the he was A b d p bli bal , d patronage of the great ladies of the West End both the old and the young dandies were represented ; at the head of the young was to be lanw l am the son i is seen Lord C i li , , t said, of the Due de rfo e a r Richelieu. He pe rm d dmi able feats, rode to Richmond ’ me ac to Almack s after e n tw ce t r and ca b k b i g i h own. He had a tri c of ronunciat on in the manner of c a es h c was k p i Al ibi d , w i h ” ' M i moi res d outre Tomoe ed ir . i delightful. ( , . B é, vol v. p. 1 Dorothee de B enkendorf ( 1 785-1 855) marri ed the Prince who was m assa or at Lon on for - o de Lieven, A b d d twenty tw w ntimate w all th o years. She as i ith e m st famous people of o f v her time in every peri d and o e ery nationality. She is said n r ue w th Geor e W Af to have had an i t ig i g . ter the death of h e Par her husband, s e settl d at is, and became the Egeria of
Gu ot wh o s ent all his eveni n s w t he . M. iz , p g i h r 62 Beau Brummell and His Times so st r and rs for and ng e s, hunte , eager noise
rc da so physical exe ise, every y inventing me new of its an c sse sport, and in spite const t ex e s preserving a preference for fighting in every
he ] as for f for t ox . orm , due well as b ing Whatever their desires may be and whatever c t s r n are hey take to ecu e them, the E glish can v r ac n n h ne er emain in tive. Eve whe t ey ha n r e ve an n ve othing to do, they p es r amou t of superfluous energy and suppressed vigour
ch s o t d off whi omeh w or other mus be worke , and therefore when reduced to pas times which are ridiculous in comparison with their natural
r n s r e st e gth, they speedily out t ip the obj cts
t . un which hey have in view Hence, der out
ar n s s an r s w d polite e s, exist energy which bet ay i se f raor t l by excessive refinement, ext dinary cos m s tu es and r tu e , adven r , bets exploits wo thy of a as of r e es harlequin. E e intercou s , r trained
an r eleg ce, and good style have never p oved a sufli cient e for the disciplin these men, while final dominating influence among them is their horror of the common and the vulgar and
f of the u their urious worship s rprising novelty .
63 C H A PT E R I I I
AT the age of nineteen Brummell left the
Not he r Army. only was strongly att acted by
f of te a li e luxury and refinement, but his sponsibilities as captain soon came to seem an
r . e intole able burden At the same tim , to
ofli ce e e e accept and und rtake duti s, how ver
rf lax the obligation to pe ormance, was a
e of position not without a tinctur vulgarity . if Moreover, he took his duties seriously, he might in the long run be exposed to the risk of becoming himself as serious and ponderous
f e as his work. Throughout his li e Brumm ll f f avoided such a ate, which he wil ully disdained and affected to dislike. The trick succeeded ;
see he became typical , and we shall his barren renunciation and his false stoicism growing
e f to e O n more stereotyp d rom year y ar. e
he was n e day when fi ishing his toil t, a bore forced his way into his room, and not only 64
Beau Brummell and His Times
- judgment and self restraint there as elsewhere.
Moreover, certain material considerations gave
m u f f r n . a him ood o reflectio . Mr Willi Br mmell had saved some money as secretary to Lord
r f he No th, as is shown by the act that provided his son with a commission in the l oth Hussars ;
a f e was but when all is s id and done, this ortun
f e not inexhaustible, and the fi te n hundred a year which George received when he attained his majority was a very meagre patrimony in comparison with the princely fortunes of those
To among whom he had made his way . out rival others by means of magnificence would
e He ef have been sheer madn ss. ther ore sought to surround himself with a luxury rather original
a d e th n extravagant, and use his slender resourc s to such good purpose that he was able to mix
men of with the wealthy young his day, to enter
e s e e s eas e th ir clubs, har th ir habit and their pl ur s, and become a leading figure in the world of f e e e ashion , where mor than anywher lse scanty means are regarded as an indelible stain . ‘ N o r e He . e lived at 4 Cheste fi ld Str et,
1 2 ta n Grono also u N o In 1 83 Cap i w occ pied . 4 Chesterfield H f v memo rs nd i Vi Street. e le t aluable i , a s quoted by lle 66 Beau Brummell and His Times opposite the house which was formerly occupied ” a of the old by Selwyn , a Mac roni school f and the author o many witticisms. There he proceeded to arrange one of those bachelor
m ts apart en such as Lister, Bulwer Lytton , and all the novelists of the time constantly
e The n d scribe . E glish were even then beginning to collect curiosities and trifles out of f al ashion, and like Horace W pole, Brummell
e s f t s prid d him el upon his antiquarian a tes. His inclinations led him especially to Buhl
f e e of he urniture and S vres porc lain, which
e a f e e brought tog ther many very be uti ul sp cim ns. In other respects his room was in no way f e r r . xt aordina y It was com ortable, luxurious,
s be and in good ta te. On the walls might
s of seen the portrait Nelson , Lord North,
e of and of and the Duk Rutland, the heroes and heroines mentioned in the memoirs of ‘ e the Chevalier de Grammont. These m moirs
’ ist 1 . messant in his M émoi res d un j ournal (Series , chap ix., n rono who ve as muc in Par s as in Captai G w, li d h i
r of th e Pet t erc e. He rst m arri e Lon don, was a membe i C l fi d M Ml e. D er of the era and t en e. de a nt Pol and l idi Op h ll S i ,
ie in rance on ovem er 20 1 86 . d d F N b , 5 1 One day when he had left his uniform at Calais the D uke
de o n secretar to the m ass re ueste Geor e . to C ig y, y E b y, q d g W 67 Beau Brummell and His Times were then the favourite reading of the fashion
of able world, and held a place honour in
’ B rummells library between the E di nourgb
L ett r s of Review and the e Chesterfield. Thus h el t m s our ero did not neglect int lec ual amuse ent . He was even more attentive to the pleasures
f ce c t o the table, and his llar had a very omple e
of s of collection the wine France and Spain . For horses he was accustomed to rely upon
h s - a ed had a certain or e de ler nam Fryatt, who
for s bu a good eye a hor e, and undertook to y
w f o for Brummell . He as not ond f hunting
a t for -air was and c red lit le open sport, but it a point of honour with him to have first-class ‘ r his e of c a fo o . nimals use, in the b st onditi n
We have mentioned his care in what he drank, and he brought the same attention to all that
be he ate. He thought it his duty not to
ard t nigg ly upon this point, and he immedia ely
his res kindly excuse him for not coming to pay pects. The n wh o new his am ton e an to au and re l e to Ki g, k H il , b g l gh, p i d o sir that it w n o him immediately, Let us h pe, , ill be ot l st like the ” h u c san s. Bar oux La Duchesse de Duras other, in t e q i k d ( d , , 9 1 B rummell had no carri age, and used a chair to avoid the wou he have use an ot er ve c e to o mud . At no price ld d y h hi l g out in the evening. 68 Beau Brummell an d His Times looked about for a chef capable of securing
a his g s tronomic reputation . It was then
’ customary to display the delicacy of one s
al e P elnam p ate with some ost ntation, and in , the f e e e f ashionabl nov l, a moth r is ound giving her son the following advice : Gain as much
' ’ ' ' knowledge ao l ar t eulznazr e as you can ; it ” is an accomplishment absolutely necessary. Then she proceeds : If you have any Oppor tunit y, you may also pick up a little acquaint ance with metaphysics ; that sort of thing is ” al e a good de talked about just at pr sent.
’ At B rumm ell s house there was much eating
e and more drinking, and both operations w re
m to performed with great judg ent. He used give little dinners where the dishes were
f s s chosen as care ully as the gue t , and which f the Prince Regent, who was no less amous
for e his c . his gluttony, honour d with presen e
e e t Th n , wh n his domes ic expenses had been
r u e o ar anged, Br mmell v ry wisely res lved to
ea f e w r upon himsel , where could be se n, ! it h f a considerable part of the money e had le t. Here it must be said that current Opinion would keep his name alive for the exquisite 69 Beau Brummell and His Times taste which he showed in all that concerned ‘ the art of dress. His attention to dress was
e e of e r e ffi a pi c xt avaganc su ciently striking, but upon the whole it was a question of less
’ importance to B rummells career than was
ea d e . gen rally supposed F ring to seem pe antic, he declined to enlarge to any extent upon this
e f e to e subj ct, and rarely ail d vade any questions put to him by an unexpected or impracticable
he e answer. Blacking repli d to a certain young man who was fascinated by the brilliancy of his boots and displayed a burning desire
e ? to have his recip , blacking, my dear sir
e for W ll, you know, blacking I never use ” f of anything but the roth champagne. Another man asked him the name of his hairdresser. I have three : the first is responsible for my
for f of temples, the second the ront part my ” ea the for of O ne h d, and third the back it.
’ the f f day in St. James s he met Duke o Bed ord wearing a coat of a new style ; the Duke pressed him so earnestly to say what he thought of it that he was obliged to declare
1 Revue de P ari s see ess The Li a m ll , J e, fe of B e u B ru me ,
Po 37 70 Beau Brummell and His Times
himself one way or the other. Give me
f e ea your rank opinion , his Grace r p ted . Brummell replied by stepping back several
f e he o paces. With a aint gestur indicated t
D e he e the uk that was to turn sid ways, then
e f ee- f e to show hims l thr quarter ace, and th n
e e e e once mor in profil . Brumm ll th n took the lappel of the garment in question between
f e to his thumb and orefing r, seemed examine
e for the mat rial a moment, and said with an air
of e e f supr me commis ration, Why , Bed ord, do you call this thing a coat ?
he e e e In any case, though pr tend d to dr ss himself without paying any particular attention
o e f to the pr cess, he showed hims l equally
o e hard t pl ase upon this question . We
the ea e lend a hand in our toilets, b ux us d
do the e to say , but not give last touch s.
e Brummell used to add, No scents, but pl nty of e e linen , country bleach d. Inde d, he required a large amount of that commodity to accomplish the incomparable knot which was to remain
of f famous in the annals British ashion . The of stock was invariably white muslin, twisted
r round the neck seve al times. An ordinary 7 1 Beau Brummell and His Times person would probably have seen nothing
if u th uncommon in it, but we may tr st e
c of o un eviden e experts, the st ck had an
a and an par lleled grace charm, with insolence
its of al e in two ends unequ l ngth, slightly
r r ed a cu led but not ubb , and displ ying an air of carelessness and disregard within the strictest
s of of limit propriety. The most marvellous all sights was to see Brummell himself per
f r fr i e orming this t ansitory and ag l masterpiece.
the s he In less time than we can write word , would wind the cravat round his neck and
l the r tie the knot, pu l the collar over c avat, and
o he s lowering his chin sl wly, would crea e the cravat down to the proper height by the most
e rf e natural m thod in the world. Pe orm d in
of e e the twinkling an y , it is obvious that an achievement of this nature must be suc
cessful r or The at the fi st attempt not at all. leas t carelessness of movement necessitated
use of f r s of the a resh cravat, and ya d muslin were sometimes expended in order ‘ to secure a perfect knot.
1 ’ One day a visitor met B rummell s valet coming out of h is ’ master s room with an enormous quantity of tumbled neckcloths 7 2
Beau Brummell and His Times
for e his taste painting, and it must be rem mbered that at a time when the Dutch masters were not in fashion he collected in his residences f a large number o their most remarkable works.
Of e e the e his archit ctural att mpts, l ss said the
e The bett r. Brighton Pavilion and its adjoining buildings are sufficient proof that they were not
w e The al ays w ll conceived. same may be
of ae a h e said his arch ological ide s, whic w re vague and far inferior to his knowledge of ‘ e f to of cook ry. We there ore return this art
r for he d ess, which invariably showed a special
f u pre erence, and in which , by unanimo s consent,
r he displayed unusual talent. The inte minable
1 The Pr nce also stu of ec amat o He had i died the art d l i n. ta en essons from severa actors a l from ol k l l , especi l y d Matthews. is ow r cr m v l H p e s of mimi y see to ha e been unequa led. When the Prince Regent sent for me in the Duke of Wellington re at h r ous o l es, e was se i ly ill, although he w uld never admit it. foun him in bed resse in a d rt s ac et t a turban I d , d d i y ilk j k , wi h s a n tca th one as t o i h ped igh p, e fil hy as the ther ; for n spite of is i ou r i h care for h s twa d appearance n public, be was extremely s oven in r vate fe. His rs or r r l ly p i li fi t w ds we e, Arthu , the ’ H Cabinet is defunct. e then proceeded to describe the way in which the last ministers had taken leave of him upon their resig nation. This was accompanied with extremely clever mimicry of the vo ce and manners o e c rso i f a h pe n, and so perfect was the ” m tat on t at it was m oss e not to au o . d i i i h i p ibl l gh l udly. (Ch e
s D Mo s o em er 1 1 de ene nde v 866 . and , N b 5, , pp 357 74 Beau Brummell and His Times and magnificent display of his portraits is
ffi e of f su ci nt to convince us the act. He is to be seen in every costume and every imagin h able dress, with powder and without it, wit f or without a pigtail, with air, brown , or black
s field- wigs, as a hu sar, a dragoon , a marshal ,
or a Highlander. In the painting by Lawrence in the Wallace Collection he appears in a brown
m fur - e laced coat trim ed with , knee breech s
of and stockings black silk, the garter above
— in ffi his knee short, in o cial dress, as in the ‘ f v year of his coronation . Two eatures in ari
a in e of N ably reappe r th se portraits George . the wide ribbon of the order which crosses his chest and the medal which he wears on
f . the le t side We should, however, be mistaken in laughing too loudly at the whims of this
e the monarch , sinc they were upon whole the occasion for masterpieces which owe some
o he of e thing t t beauty the mod l . He was one of those people who amuse
1 He was himself so pleased with this last portrait that he distri buted reproductions of it throughout the courts and i an v t em to l h c u s l th embass es of E urOpe, d ga e h al t e l b , a l e
o s all h r fr en s. T era The t wn hall , and to is p ivate i d ( hack y, r es N Four Geo g , George . ) 75 Beau Brummell an d His Times
s e t ff- a t them elv s by collec ing snu boxes, ncien ar our f r ff u . s s sn m , or valuable urnit e Be ide u ‘ xes eor e xv. was c ecto bo , G g an ardent oll r of es e cloth , and ev rything inclines us to believe that he had one of those collections of which it may be said that every article 1 f f e . o is a patt rn As a matter act, even in his old age he would spend the best part of on a and a morning in trying a co t, the garment would sometimes reach the fabulous
of 00 of price 3 , by reason the infinite
1 The Prince possessed an incomp rable collection of snuff and ma e i o a o on i boxes, d t a p int lways t carry e about with h m . ” on w Those, Gronow c cludes, ho were well acquainted with ' His Majesty frequently told me he took snufi for effect but never i l i o hi liked t, and allowed a l of t t escape from s finger and
ol v . i. p. 1 At no pri ce would George rv. get rid of th e smallest article H os of clothing. e kept everything m t scrupulously. In h is r l h oa r h r s wardrobe we e al t e c ts he has eve ad fo fifty year , u s s n three h ndred whip , cane without umber, every sort of e o of all th uro s fu uniform, th c stumes e orders in E pe, plendid rs, s s and and amon o t n pelisse , hunting coat breeches, g ther hi gs a dozen pair of corduro y breeches which he had made to hunt M e Hi s on i in when Don iguel was h re. s profu i n these articles h r hi was unbounded , because e never paid fo them, and s memory was so accurate that he recollected every article of r w ol an his es w a e dress, no matte ho d, d pag were al ays li bl to be called on to produce some particular coat or other article of ” a are of ears one . tz era Li e f Geor e I V. pp l y g by (Fi g ld, f o g , vol. ii. p. 76 Beau Brummell and His Tim es n r of a r s the i r umbe lte ation which ta lo ,
was e f Davidson , oblig d to make be ore he could entirely satisfy his royal customer. As we reach the last years of the eighteenth century it seems as if this refinement in
ress n h d had become an actual ma ia, w ich even such influential men as Chatham and 1 not s al ted Fox could e cape. Fox so devo
se f s the acar c him l pa sionately to M onic ult,
ar u n e- ere we ing a h ge wig, a mi ute thre corn d s red- e re of ilk hat, heeled sho s, and the st the costume as the newspapers of the time
’ t of depict him. I say no hing the Prince s
i a oc s al one immed ate ss iate , who riv led
t the r anc s of ano her in ext avag e their dress, f r o an ’ rom Lo d Barrymore and Ge rge H ger, whose extraordinary garments seemed to
al mock the surly old King at the b ls in St. ’ ‘ es al c Skefli n ton Jam s P a e, to Sir Lumley g ,
B a o i e F x 0 . r i . C. W lp le, L f qf o , 1 8 6, p 94 (Mo n ng Post, u J ly 4. 1 789 ; the Ti mes. June 4.
u s Li e eor z I V. vol. . . ff. H i h, f q g , i p 97 ‘ Sir Lumley Skeflington ( 1 77 1 -1 850) was th e friend of j ohn
l s o . Kemb e and Mrs. Siddon as well as f the Regent He produced at Covent Garden Tile Word qf Hom er, and at Drury Lane 224 High Road qf M arri age and Th 8 m wi 8 m m all with equal success. He used to wear a g, 77 Beau Brummell and His Times
e f e s e a b auti ul littl doll, dres ed in ros satin d an e e e e . A pal blu , lik a Watteau sh pherd remarkable fact was that this doll concealed
e e a an int llectual man , an enlighten d p tron of the r of e a ts, and a writer m rit. It is none the less true that in many cases the rage for dress became a disquieting l f e 1 806 eature. In Octob r an individual w was to be observed at Brighton, who alked out every day dressed in green from head to f oot, green shoes, green gloves, green
f and e h e e . andk rchi , oth r articles to match
This eccentric person lived alone, knew no
e the the body, and in his hous curtains,
al f e w lpapers, the urniture, ven the plates
the a e r es and dishes and sm llest toil t a ticl ,
of offered an uninterrupted sequence green.
i u his blacken h s eyebrows, ro ge cheeks, and was full of amusing
“ Would it be believed that one day the dandies took a fancy for appearing in threadbare clothes ? This was during th e ascendancy of B rummell . They considered it so select to r o es t rea are efore utt n t m on t h make thei cl th h db b p i g he , hat t e was carr e out over the who e rm n operation i d l ga e t, until nothing was left b ut a kind of thin lace. It was a very delicate us n ss and was u u o and very lengthy b i e , s ally perf rmed with a ” ’ ass . B r e vi l piece of sharpened gl ( a b y d Aure l y, D u D andy sm
mell . at de G. B rum , p 78 Beau Brummell and His Times
Having started upon his career, there was
0 t f obviously no reason to st p, and wi h ull consistency he carried his scruples so far as to eat nothing but fruit and vegetables of
e the same gre n colour. The consequences
a . O ne were extremely dis strous fine day, ” the he a Green Man, as was gener lly known, f t jumped rom his window into the stree ,
f f e rushed orward, and per orm d a second
f of a ff somersault rom the top the ne rest cli . To judge from the life which he habitually ” A mwal Re i ster led, says the g , we may
e e conclud that he was not ntirely sane. His
C0 e name was Henry p , and it is said that he was connected with very distinguished ” 1 f i e English am li s. Whatever legend may say upon the
far f m matter, Brummell was very ro imitating the Green Man or other eccentrics of the ’ exa era kind . He speedily dropped all gg
A nnual Re i ster cto er 2 1 806. g , O b 5, An Englishman who seems to have known him well says “ r r of him after his death, he was bette d essed than any man and we s ou all ave resse e him if we cou of his day, h ld h d d lik ld ” s i esse The L e o B ear: B rummell have accompli hed t. (J , if f , p 79 Beau Brummell and His Times
i and re e os s t ons, p serv d the m t exqui ite
ar of h mony in matters dress. The ex ’ s pression is Byron s. Thi ideal beau changed prevailing fashion to suit himself : he wore
s e his hair hort without powd r, shunned
r n al e s sta ing colours, and eve tu ly chos a tyle of a dress to which he lways clung. He was
n ia to e ff i var bly be s en in a blue coat, a bu c coa ac o s oloured waist t, and either l e b ot or
s was f light pump , according as he going or a walk or to a ball. His trousers were
a c e u t ed bl ck, los ly fitting, and b t on above
r the ankle. His cha ming bearing and perfect
e f figur were his chie attractions. Though o not hands me, he was incomparably dis tin uished fr f e g om head to oot, and I imagin that it was this fact which made him the 1 - ss o sa best dre ed man in L ndon. The me
1 i His ta lors were Schweitzer Davidson in Cork Street, and r i T a ce tain German named Meyer n Conduit Street. hese o r One da a man from the tailors als served the P ince. y provinces came in to ask Davidson to dress him fashionably. ” Wh sir re ied the art st the Pr nce ears su er ne and y, , pl i , i w p fi r B rumme the Ba coat n but it is immater al wh c ou M . ll th i g, i i h y
ir o n. u o si we sa B coatin . 1 t in choose, S J h S pp se, r, y ath g h k ” Mr Bru has fl r f s L t o B ear: . mmell a tri e the p e erence. (Je se, if f
B rummell, p. 80
Beau Brummell and His Times by a party at B elvoir which included the
a e of e Heir App rent, the Duk Argy l , the
of e of Marquis Lorne, and all the nobl men the neighbourhood. Num erous and famous as were his friends and great as was the advantage of his
o re personal appearance, s mething more is quired to explain the attractive domination of his character and the position which he usually occupies in the Society chronicles of
e not for the time. Greatn ss is essential the
of f e creation a ashionabl hero, and a man may easily become remarkable in London drawing-room s ; eccentricities of manner or some absurdity which flatters prevailing taste f is su ficient. Though attention may thus be s not f en ecured, it does ollow that vy and respect will thereby be am used Now Brummell possessed the Special power of
was bending the public to his will . He
of f e s king ashion, and r igned as an ab olute monarch ; he changed custom at will and
e s e a e pl a ur , l id down the law upon subtl and
of set unwritten points breeding, and up a new of of style living, or rather outward 82 Beau Brummell and His Times
was e show. He a mod l, and indeed an 1 f e as idol ; restricted, util , and empty his
fl e the in u nce may have been , it none less incontestably modified the manners of his contemporaries. f One hundred and fi ty years previously,
of e e de Hamilton said his Ch vali r Grammont,
“ He had the gift of ennobling the greatest
e f commonplac s, and his ideas were so ashion able that not to submit to his taste was to ” disgrace oneself. In London the same might have been said of George Brummell
f 1 1 8 1 . e rom 799 to about 4 Grace, eleganc , and easy distinction were shared by both of e thes men , but an attentive examination will show that these two heroes of fashion able idleness used very different methods to make their conquests. Grammont was
s e e alert, in inuating, and polish d ; he dr ssed,
al and e t ked, wrote marv llously well and ff without apparent e ort. Brummell adopted a
e r similar haughty repose, but in ve y case pre
e e an e e s rv d xclusiv ness, and displayed a certain
' aflectation. we In the one man see laughter,
1 Bu wer P eli can c a . m l , , h p u. 3 3 Beau Brummell and His Times
ff ee f e h . t e a ability, ch r uln ss, easy witticism In
we e other man find dry sarcasm, phl gmatic
and intended to wound. We cannot say whether this perpetual aggressiveness was part
’ of B rummells nature. Possibly distance of time has caused his most famous utterances to
e e e e lose th ir salt, or we are ours lv s less inclin d to appreciate a species of wit which speedily
e b comes monotonous, both in its origin and
ffe its e cts.
If e ee - , how ver, Brummell s ms to us to day to
e e be lacking in imagination , his oth r qualiti s
e e the efe t. e d he count rbalanc d c Ind e , must have had a special gift to secure his incredible
e e e prestig . His strong st and ind ed his most
s f e a tonishing aculty is his imperturbabl calm ,
f- e s e his sel poss s ion , and his invincibl disdain .
’ When it was necessary to keep people at arm s
e length, to wound, abandon , and overthrow th m
e e e e The in public, Brumm ll was in his l m nt. author of Gr anby says : No keeper of a menagerie could better show off a monkey than
’ He e he could an original . could ing niously cause the unconscious subject to place his own
he of absurdities in t best point view, and would 34 Beau Brummell and His Times
cloak his derision under the blandest cajolery.
e e f It is tru that his implacabl irony, his atuity,
' and his unlimited eflrontery might have dis
e e e e conc rted the most xp ri nced.
e e e e e e e Brumm ll , wher w r you y sterday v n
” “ ” ing ? asked a friend ; we did not see you. ” f e a The act is, repli d the dandy, th t I was dining with a certain F Apparently he
e e of wish d me to take some notic him, hence
the e invitation . As he want d to have some
for e thing his money, he begged me to choos f f the other guests mysel . I there ore sent a
word to Mildmay, Pierpoint, Alvanley, and
e m e be some oth rs. The dinner see ed lik ly to e e e but most exc ll nt and agr eable, you can imagine my surprise when you hear what I
have to tell you. Would you believe it, my
f F e dear ellow, the said had the impertinenc to sit down at table and dine with us !”
r e of r The cha act r his pose, which was ather insolent than witty in the true sense of the
r e e te m , is h r obvious. Thus, when invited by
r n t e a a ich but unk own Ci y m rch nt, he answered i m with a grac ous s ile, With all my heart, but swear that you will not breathe a word of it to 85 Beau Brummell and His Times
e e e c e anybody. Then , wh n a nobl man r proa h d
son e him with misleading his , he answer d,
e for the . Really, I did my b st young man
Why, the other day I gave him my arm all
’ ’ ” f Watier s the way rom White s to . Another
e e u e tim , at the Ascot Rac s, he bro ght his hors before the carriage window of Lady N
e of e whose Society r putation was not the b st, and she accordingly expressed some surprise
s f . e e and atis action Th r upon , assuming his e the e e most amiabl air, dandy b gan a littl speech to prove that he was equally surprised to find himself at the side of Lady N
he e e her r e but that did not d s rve g atitud , for one was e e see e e e no th r to th m tog th r, and he was therefore risking his reputation in
no way .
N 0 e be e the one, it se ms, could mor unlike
e l e de ee f e Ch va i r Grammont, whose ch r uln ss
is only completed by the happiness of others.
I e of - e nst ad a character light heart d, anxious to
e e and f e e im pl ase, polit , giving r e r in to his
e we e l puls s, sudd nly find that we have to dea
e e s e with a charact r always introsp ctive, ma t r
of e f n r e its l , and co stantly working to p oduc 86
Beau Brummell an d His Times
“ e surprise while remaining unmov d . I have ” e r observ d, Pelham decla es, that the dis tinguished trait of people accustomed to good
e soci ty is a calm, imperturbable quiet which pervades all their actions and habits from the
re e : t eat g at st to the least hey in quiet, move
e e f in qui t, liv in quiet, and lose their wi e or e e e r o ven th ir money in qui t, while low pe s ns cannot take up either a spoon or an affront without making such an a mazing noise about ” 1 . s it Brummell disdains to utter his word , but
e s e e invari l t th m drop. Nor do s his insolence ably need the help of language : it is equally
e f appar nt in his acts . The ollowing instance related by one of his biographers is somewhat h f i ’ typical . In t e course o a d nner at the Prince s
e he e hous , was observed sudd nly to beckon to
e e a wait r, Tell Lord Worcest r that I shall be ” s of e happy to drink a gla s win with him . As this worthy gentleman occupied a seat quite
e e clos to the dandy, it would have been simpl r to address him directly . But Brummell did not
and e think so, as soon as the wait r returned he continued : Now tell Lord Worcester that I
1 B w c . . ul er, m m hap i 37 Beau Brummell and His Times
e e e drink his health . Th n , wh n this s cond e ee e f e rrand had b n p r orm d, Is his lordship ” ? s e ready and finally, with the same impa siv
“ e e r count nance, Then t ll him I d ink his ” 1 al he th . In cold print it is obvious that
e f S e of j sting o this kind is meaningless. had s
e be e the mann r cannot reproduc d, and point
lie the e the in must in mann r, look, and the
f e e e e tonation . Although his ac n ver b tray d
e e t of e more than the r quisit amoun motion , Brummell possessed remarkably expressive and mobile fea tures Without affecting useless
s e e e he short ight dn ss, says List r, could assume that calm but wandering gaze which
e if the e ve rs, as unconsciously, round proscrib d
a e e e e individu l , neith r fixing nor to be fix d, n ith r ” e tr e occupi d nor abs act d.
ee e e e e e e of Ind d, howev r limit d our xp ri nc
e e ee be British customs, th r is no n d to sur
prised at the success of George Brummell .
er the e e As ev ybody knows, English will n v r entertain a deep aversion for anything that
ee e ee betrays pride or obstinacy ; ind d , th y k p
e for e f t a reserve of indulg nce th se aul s, and
1 TIce Li e Geor e I V. vol. 11. . 1 . Fitzgerald, f qf g , p 97 88 Beau Brummell and His Times are always ready to regard them as virtues
e e e s ot wh n they see th m justifi d by succe s. N withstanding his outward carelessness and his
e e of we can see e app aranc boredom, in Brumm ll
e one u a man dominat d by s preme idea, a mind
e e constantly on the al rt, ready with a r tort, and
e e r solved to have the last word at any pric . We must not lay too much stress upon the examples of Grammont or of the Comte
’ d r If e e men e O say at a later date. th s wer
a e of p ramount in London by their grac manner,
e a the e they wer exception l cases. On whol , the surest means of gaining the English heart is to use some little rudeness ; extreme affability or excessive compliance can only
e ff e produc a harmful e ect. I am well awar that this principle might bear fruit in the
ffe of most di rent countries the world, but the application of it seems to me to be specially
effi a of c cious with people British origin . On every occasion we feel that B rummell prefers
e to astonish rath r than to attract, and that the effect produced on his side Springs rather from
f u f f distrust than rom c riosity, rom ear rather f f . i than rom sympathy In short, we look at 89 Beau Brummell and His Times
e we him clos ly, shall find, strange as it may
ee e of as s m, that he pleas s by means disple ing,
h ea e or pleases at least only when e has displ s d.
e e e the s of r It is, I b li v , mo t obvious his t icks, and his usual if not his only stratagem . Bulwer Lytton defines the method when he
of one of a e He says his char ct rs, gave offence too universally not to be greatly sought. This phrase might easily be applied to Brummell ; and notwithstanding the supreme indifference which he showed in choosing as
s he e the e his butt all about him, was non l ss
f e the most flattered , the most avour d and
e of f s the e court d man a hion . At rac s, at
the era a . Op , and at balls he simply appe red Whenever you have not produced your effe e e e ct, sit wh re you are ; and wh n you hav ” e be off e of e produc d it, . The succ ss an nter tainment depended upon the mere appearance of r of his blue coat. He was spa ing his
e of spe ch, but a criticism or a word praise from him could make or ruin a reputation. At that day a word from him was everything and a story is told of a marchioness bringing 90 Beau Brummell and His Times her daughter into Society and whispering in her see e e ear, Do you that gentl man ov r
e e the th r , near door No doubt he will come
ea to . as a tr and sp k us In that c e, ple se y and
d of ou for he leave him with a goo opinion y ,
u is the illustrious Mr. George Br mmell .
9 ! C H APT E R IV
B ! T 1 82 2 f e r A O , six years a t r B ummell had
ef was l t England, Chateaubriand able to say, The dandy betrays the proud independence of his character by keeping his hat on his
e f h ad , lounging upon a so a, and stretching out his boots in the faces of ladies seated in f e . e admiration b ore him He rid s with a stick,
which he carries like a wax taper, paying no attention to the horse which he happens to
find between his legs. It is said that he
he t can hardly know whether exists, whe her
e the world is about him, wheth r it contains
e ladies, or whether he should gre t his ” 1 e n ighbour.
’ It is thus obvious that B rummell s success
e f t had born its ruit, and hat his example had
m e e . be n unexpectedly triu phant Th re was ,
1 ’ m d t be d. B r l. iv. Chateaubriand, Me oi r“ Ore re Tom , e i é, vo
6. p. 24 92
Beau Brummell and His Times
for e struggling th ir daily bread, it is obvious that the English nobility speedily forgot the r of V e t t aditions ersailles. G n leness and aff e fe e ability, p r ct polit ness and charming geniality were graceful customs which speedily became a dead letter for the English ; follow
e a e ea e ing th ir natur l inclinations, th y conc l d
m e themselves behind syste atic arroganc , cold
e e e e of of insol nc , and a fi rc scorn vulgarity, which characteristics Brummell himself was the e e n new marv llous p rsonificatio . This
e the styl was known as dandyism , and dandies who modelled themselves upon the e e of ea e e e e xampl B u G org , v n surpassing
e r e f m e e e his xt avaganc s, or d a sect, or v n a
of e e f se e dynasty, cc ntric ops, who insolenc was as phenomenal as their snobbishness was unbounded.
One of r s their compat iot , M . Gronow, a
e ffi e e e v ry young o c r und r the Reg ncy , who
e 1 8 0 not publish d his memoirs about 5 , does seem to have been favourably impressed by
' a them . How unspe kably odious with a few brilliant exceptions such as Alvanley and — others were the dandies of forty years ago ! 94 Beau Brummell and His Times
e e e e e Th y w r a motl y cr w, with nothing m re arkable about them but their insolence.
e e e e not - nor They w r g n rally high born rich , nor - e e ee very good looking, nor cl v r, nor agr able ; and why they arrogated to themselves the right of setting up their own fancied supe riority on a self-raised pedestal and despising
e e e ! th ir bett rs, Heav n only knows They
e e e- e e e wer g nerally middl aged, som ev n eld rly men e e a e , had larg appetit s and we k dig stions,
f e e . e d gambl d re ly, and had no luck Th y hate
r e e e eve ybody and abus d v rybody, and would
’ sit together in White s bay window or the pit boxes at the Opera weaving tremendous
r e . a e c amm rs They swore a good de l, nev r
d l e laughe , had their own particular s ang, look d
af e of e e hazy ter dinn r, and had most th m be n patronised at one time or other by Brummell ” h e and t e Prince Reg nt. In the fashionable men of that age there was one point which enables us to discern one of the characteristics of that nineteenth century which promised to be the special age
e r of upstarts. W find a conside able number
9 5 Beau Brummell and His Times of f e individuals, without birth or ortun , making their way among the titled aristocracy ; for them dandyism was merely a means of distinc
o e f h The tion and f s paration rom t e crowd . Macaroni of earlier times was a dilettante who
f ef f a was himsel his chi satis action ; the d ndy,
the f e on other hand, is very o t n a mean ,
e e ambitious littl soul , and in mod rn jargon, a
e e hustl r. Cont mporary engravings will show
m of him to us in a sordid garret, a id disorder
’ e e e s v ral days standing, almost nak d, busy f varnishing his boots, ironing his rills, and arranging the appa ratus in which he proposes
to e walk in the Park an hour lat r, in order to attract the attention of some fair one provided
’
. man with this world s goods Such a , how
e e the of v r, was merely dandy a moment,
e e e wh reas Brumm ll, the sublim dandy, was
e e to more than this, and n ver deign d cherish any ambition except such as could minister
o . e e t his vanity How v r, notwithstanding his
’ of e the f e dislike intrigu , con ection r s grandson
e the is obviously stamped as an upstart, lik b f d e . e e e e e r st Wheth r it igne or sinc r , the ostentation with which he occasionally blackens 96
Beau Brummell and His Times refrain from surprise at seeing him thus intimate and continually corresponding with the greatest poet and the most extraordinary
u of e tr e advent rer his tim , the s ang Lord f e o . Byron , who also had his mom nts dandyism
e e the e im In his cas , as in oth rs, was sam h petuosity and fire and t e same blind passion .
e f e he e m fat he F ar ul l st should b co e , starved
s f e e him el , and then ate and drank to xc ss
f he upon nights o relaxation . T two pre
re e ceding days, lates Thomas Moor , Byron
a e few had t k n nothing but a biscuits, and had chewed mastic to stop the craving of his
e he stomach . Wh n he sat down to table
e e f e d confin d hims l to lobst r, and finishe two
e e s f or thr e lobst rs to him el , gulping down sometimes between them a little liqueur glass of e m e e strong whit brandy, so etim s a larg glas s of very hot water and then more neat brandy ; of these he drank about half a
we e e of es dozen , and th n dispos d two bottl
’ of claret between us about four o clock in ” 1 the morning.
e e B auty , it is said, would mak Byron shed
1 ’ Hristoere d la 1mm ” a n l Ta ne e aelre v iv. . i , g , ol. p 341 98 LORD B YRON
' From 3 Sketch by D Orsay .
Beau Brummell and His Times t e the s ea hough I gav up busine s rly, I had
of r a tinge dandyism in my mino ity, and probably retained enough of it to conciliate
e five- - the gr at ones at and twenty. I had gamed and drunk and taken my degrees in most dissipations, and having no pedantry and e e a e not b ing ov rbe ring, we ran on qui tly
e l es . al togeth r I knew them , more or l s,
’ and they made me a member of Watier s
e (a superb Club at that tim ), being, as I
the er e take it, only lit ary man, exc pt two
e men of e oth rs (both the world), Moor and i ” 1 t. Spencer, in I fear that the poetry of the latter is no
v longer read, e en in England ; he wrote light
e e and pl asing vers , somewhat empty and
f e e insipid, but care ully polish d, and abl to secure for its author the flattery and admira f tion of the society o his day . This William Robert Spencer was characteristic of this
1 r o ron vol. . . 6 . Moore, M emo ies f By , ii p 4 4 1 William Robert Spencer ( 1 77o- 1 8 a son of Lord Robert encer mse f the secon son of the t r u e of Mar Sp , hi l d hi d D k l
orou . o ert encer ve in Lon on unt 1 82 . P tt b gh R b Sp li d d il 5 i , d t cou be m at his ouse Fox, Sheridan, an Sydney Smi h ld et h
H rot occas n v . His ork in Curzon Street. e only w e io al erse w s were collected and published in 1 835. 1 00 Beau Brummell and His Times sect of imperturbable heroes . One day he
d for a e was imprisone p rticipation in a du l , and Thomas Moore came and asked to see him . Spencer thought it worth while to sacrifice a long-standing friendship to the
r pleasure of p eserving his habitual cynicism .
he t Without moving a muscle, replied hat he
not d could possibly be disturbe , as it was already midday and he must be dressed by
’ f a s . e our o clock in any c e Like Brumm ll, and for s similar reason , Spencer went to France to die in solitude . Moore alone was able to maintain his position to the end in this idle and perverse
e of f r soci ty which he was so ond. No caree could be more fortunate than that of the
r e r little I ishman , quick, liv ly, and b illiant, sometimes taking refuge in the country in
the order to put last touches to his poems, again bringing his pleasing and seductive
e - of gai ty to the drawing rooms the Metropolis, a ee lways penniless, and always m ting in time some bookseller or rich lord who was able
e f to reviv his ortunes . There is nothing surprising in an intimacy 1 01 Beau Brummell and His Times between Brummell , Moore, and Spencer. The three were united by their own leaning to
At a luxury and vanity. about the s me time the dandy found himself in contact with 1 e of Tales i n Ver se G orge Crabbe, the author ,
Tire Villa e the of D of g , chaplain the uke
Rutland at Belvoir. H ere was a good and
e ff honourabl man, poor, a ectionate, and thought ful e , rarely l aving his parish, and loving his
e e We garden mor than anything lse. may well ask what community of taste could unite
’ the lion of Watier s and this pastor in love with rustic life and pleased with the happin
of own difli cult his little world. It is to
the . c answer question In any ase, in his old
a f he days, when Crabbe bec me amous, liked to recall his recollections of the famous Beau f t Brummell, then in exile and orgot en , and would readily quote examples of his fine
r f for humour, his cou tesy, and his gi t talking
amiably with everybody. This is indeed a
1 Geor e ra e 1 - 1 8 2 was rst a o s B g C bb ( 754 3 ) fi p tr ni ed by urke, in ose ouse in Lon on he me Fox a i s wh h d t nd S r Jo hua Reynolds. His Vi llage and his Tales i n Verse were sufllcient to establish his
re utation. He was nt mat w t Moor Ro i a er p i i e i h e, gers, and S r W lt cott to om he a v s t at i S , wh paid i i Edinburgh n his old age. 1 02
Beau Brummell and His Times who came one evening to delight the company with his gentle humour and with the beautiful f i f stories drawn rom h s ertile imagination .
e s W ll known , too, is the readine s with which
f e f n the air Duchess pension d un ortu ate authors, 1 and how she supported Charlotte Smith for f f o . the whole her li e Fickle and capricious,
e e e the but warm h art d at tim s, charming Georgiana is a fairly true model of the fas hion able woman of the eighteenth century ; she
s e e a a posses ed consid rabl we lth , lived in gre t
s e style, kept Open hou e to the whol town
e she e a e her r e wh n led Soci ty, p int d car iag s
e with a new colour, introduced N lson or
i e d ed Egypt an hats, translated P trarch, stu i
e a her t e the lyre, and d dic ted poe ical att mpts h to t e Abbé Delille.
Vous dont la lyre enchanteresse ! n t la for a l ouc ur i ce a d e , De la nature amant fl atteur ; ’ o i V us qui lembell ssez sans cesse, ’ J ose vous offrir en tremblant ’ De lh umble pré la fl eur nouvelle ;
1 r Charlotte Smith ( 1 749 prose writer and poet. He
’ t n ve s are E in melzne E Meli nda and Desm nd the atter bes o l , , o , l or h R vo u on nd e a kind of apology f t e French e l ti , a lastly, Th r s w suc e Old Mano Hou e, which as highly c ssful at that time. 1 04
Beau Brummell and His Times
s un immor e Je la voudrai e t lle, ” 1 Si vous acceptez le present.
With these insipid flatteries she addressed a specimen of her work to the author of ' ’ the f ar dens.
1 You whose enchanting lyfe n t s s t and s tness ! i e treng h wee , a r of u Th e loving fl tte er nat re, w o ver a orn nature You h e d , To you I venture to offer in fear This new fl ower from th e humble meadow ; oul it ere an ever ast n flo er I w d w l i g w , ” If you accept the present. 1 The é e e ent nto ex e in 1 7 and too refu e Abb D lill w i il 95, k g er sta n for two ears at tzer h at Basle. Aft yi g y Swi land, e went c and t nc to Lon on er be r to B runswi k he e d , wh e t anslated - P aradise Lost and rou t out a secon ed t on of the ardi m b gh d i i j , enriched with a description of th e parks which he had seen in ” n lan and German . The Abbe e e sa s ateau E g d y D lill , y Ch r an r ven from th e ont nent a se uence of Re u b i d, d i C i by q p blican
r es so come to s tt e in Lon on. e victo i , had al e l d Th body of r r v him a h e h exiles were p oud to ecei e , nd t fact that e sang of our misfortunes was an additional reason for favouring his H or e ar and t s un er com s o muse. e w k d h d hi d pul i n, for
Mme. e e use to oc him u and on let h im out w en D lill d l k p, ly h he h ad gained his freedom by prod ucing a certain amount of I en to ca u on him h e poetry. One day w t ll p ; e k pt m e waiting , and t en a eared w t ver red c ee s : it is sa t at Mm h pp i h y h k id h e. x r I do not no the trut Delille used to bo his ea s. k w h of this m w Who h as no statement but ere state at sa . t ear , ly wh I h d the AbbeDelille recite his poetry ? He was a very good story - i n e er. llis orn u fac an mate h s ma at on t ll w , gly e, i d by i gi i , suited v rve his whimsical style of narrati e to a ma l, as it suited the ” c r of his ta ent and his ca n as a é . ateau r n haracte l lli g bb (Ch b ia d, ’ Memoi r “ d outre Tombe vol. . . , ii p 1 05 Beau Brummell and His Times
e the e of e the of Lik Princ Wal s, Duchess Devonshire made her house a meeting-place
for the . e Whig party His Royal Highn ss,
f s e however, pro es ed Liberalism to induc
e to a e e as the Parliam nt p y his d bts , wh re
e s f Duchess was an hon st parti an . The act
c 1 8 Fox e be ame obvious in 7 4, when b gan his
e t e her struggl with Pitt. Wi h a cockad in hat and a scarf of the colours of her candidate
r a r ac oss her bre st, she was seen going ound the a and countryside, with Lady Dunc nnon the of e Duchess Rutland, entering cottag s and
n shops, stre gthening waverers and collecting
the she s the votes, until day when purcha ed f vote o a butcher with a kiss. Fox was tri um hant e p in Westminst r, but his party was
ef e f to d eated elsewh re. The de eat was con
s for f e tinu a long time. He and his ri nds
e f s e th re ore re igned th mselves, and the boon companions of the Prince and Duchess had no resource but to take their revenge by means of epigrams as soon as the torches l e had been light d.
1 Th e late D uke (of Devonshire) was one of those impassive c aracters who a o not n to ruffl e t e r seren t h ll w hi g h i i y, high 1 06
Beau Brummell and His Times
of At a later date, at the time his ruin ,
a when he was obliged to le ve London, Brummell carried away with him the most valuable of his curiosities. These relics of
c a l and his prosperity a comp nied him to Ca ais,
f r to had a terwa ds Caen, though their number then grown remarkably small . The day was to arrive when of all his collections the only thing left to him was a heavy album with c e of lasps and corn rs massive silver, gilt edges, and covered with dark blue velvet. The gilt was e losing its brilliancy and the velv t its nap, but Brummell continued to attach great value f to it. Long be ore, he had gathered auto
f n graphs and amous sig atures in this album. Wits and poets had condescended to embellish
' '
w all the form a t of the merlle eater . H born, well bred, ith li y e was the ea of the Wh art the uc ess the act ve mover h d ig p y, D h i m in all the cabals of that day. I re ember th e sensation created in town by her personal canvass for the buff and blue interest ou n ar Fox r at the fam s electio of Ch les fo Westminster, when sh e drove about in a splendid carriage to solicit the votes of the different tradesmen. The Duchess was a great favourite e 1v n Pr nc f a es who er ve f h r of Georg ., the i e o W l , d i d rom e society m uch of that high-bred m anner for which he was he d e i n 1 806 an w her always remarkable. At length s i d, , d ith ” s of ons r faded away th e splendid gaietie Dev hi e House. n nd T m Ra es Personal Remini scent“ (Cornelia K ight a ho as ik , , pp 3 1 7-3 1 80 1 07 Beau Brummell and His Times
of it with some their verse, and in his gloomy solitude the old hero of Carlton House found
a to i f r m terial flatter his insat able pride. Be o e
e his d ath, however, we shall find him parting
If are f n with these precious relics. you o d ” of he e poetry, wrot to Miss when sending her the volume, and you have nothing more dull to read, you may perhaps find something
old to in my album yawn over. What it contains was written in other and happier
of e days, and most them were giv n me by
themselves f t the authors , long be ore heir minor productions had assumed any other form than that of manuscript : such as the Duchess of
D e n n s evonshir , poor Byro , Sherida , and Lord — Erskine and John Townshend all now peace ” 1 fully sleeping in their graves. It is indeed curious to turn over the leaves of v for the r this olume, eason that it shows us
’ to what an extent B rummells f was linked ‘li e f with that o his best known contemporaries . Byron is again one of those whom we meet
Two e e of e f among the first. pi c s v rse rom his
e of t e hand occupy one pag h album . I cannot
1 esse The L e eare B r ummell . 1 0 . J , if q , p 5 1 08
Beau Brummell and His Times
Lord Erskine. The latter, as is probably
the known , served in the Navy and Army, and then played a part of some importance in public affairs When peace was concluded with the Directory , he went to France to act
s e Fi le dos Indusmels as repre entativ at the , and eventually accepted the post of Lord
Chancellor. But Lord Erskine owes his reputation more to his wit than to anything 1 e e ls . ’ If we may trust George B rummells collee
of o to tion aut graphs, he seems have had
ad numerous rivals. Here Lord Melbourne dresses a pompous eulogy to the bust of
Fox e e a. Charles , th r John Townshend, fi old a e digni ed and genial gentlem n, d votes some harmless verses to praising the charms
u h of the divine Lady Besboro g . Many other names of importance in the history of E nglish
a . t society appe r Fitzpatrick, the gen leman who distinguished himself during the American
1 — Lord Erskine ( 1 748 1 824) entered the Navy in 1 764 and In 1 i the Army in 1 768. 775 he changed h s mind again, and erwar s h t o t c entered the law. Aft d e en ered p li i s, and becoming mem er of Par ament h e was a o nte Lor hancel or b li , pp i d d C l under the Grenville ministry. I IO Beau Brummell and His Times
l ' O N eill . e War, Mrs. , the Hon Georg Lamb, the of l translator Catu lus, and finally Her Grace the Duchess of Devonshire ; nor is she the only lady whose handwriting will be found
f the of a terwards among papers the Beau. Once again this strange personality arouses
e e s our surpris . Nowher doe he diverge so entirely from the ordinary fashionable man as in
e e his behaviour to ladi s. Usually, at any rat
e among ourselves, it is und rstood that men who have laid themselves out to attract have always made flirtation and trifling their chief
f c object. Handsome ortunes, unexpe ted con
s t are r quest , passiona e intrigues thei pre
as of occupation, any two pages their memoirs
f e f will su ficiently show. In the cas o
e of Brumm ll nothing the kind is apparent.
e l r Though his p rsona att actions were not small, and though he was constantly in the society of the prettiest and probably the least prudish
the e ladies in realm, he n ver showed the
1 Richard Fitzpatrick ( 1 747 the boon companion of ox wh r him n o o f wa F , o b ought i t p litical li e, s a member of the
House of Commons, where he opposed th e Am erican War with all his mi t. one th e ess he too art in the cam i n gh N l , k p pa g as M W a soldier, and was inister of ar in 1 803. Beau Brummell and His Times fa te e in st signs of libertinism . Thos who speak to us of him hardly ever give us the
e of ff on a small st hint any love a air his p rt.
’ Barbey d Aurevilly speaks of a certain
e e f H nri tta Wilson whose avours he sought, but this business does not seem in any way
' m e aflairs Are pro inent among his lov . we then to assume that his discretion in this matter was excessive ? Possibly upon this subj ect the English hold a point of view
' e diflerent f n e som what rom ours, and stra g as
ee to S e it may s m outhern minds, I beli ve that they are less inclined to advertise
D e successes of this nature. The uk of
e e f e W llington , who prid d himsel upon his tast for fe e mal beauty, and, as Chateaubriand says, spread his fame across the quadrilles as a ” 1 of e kind snare to catch ladi s, was admirably
f e e care ul in this resp ct, with the r sult that none of his intrigues were known during his lifetime . I do not think that Brummell was ever
e a e s of oblig d to t ke pr caution this nature.
' e aflection of o Tend rness and manner, insin
1 ’ ’ - r d u r . . . ateau r an Mb noz es o tre Ta abe v l iv . Ch b i d, , o p 245 l I 2
Beau Brummell and His Times
a no at the same time, it appe rs that he had
for the t of a and positive distaste socie y l dies, appreciated their frrendship. With them his cold sarcasm and effrontery is seen at times
a e es . He to disappe r, and he b com attentive
s rs for used to cribble ve es their benefit,
e draw littl sketches, and write notes in high
flown language, utterly ridiculous but probably
e e s considered adorabl by the r cipients. The e assiduities are so out of harmony with what we already know of his character that we should be inclined to disbelieve them had we not certain letters which give us precise information upon the question . It is extremely difli cult to discover what service Brummell
e e rend r d to Miss Georgiana Seymour, but he
or must have shown some readiness to serve, he would hardly have received the following letter
I am more obliged to you than I can express for your note : be assured that your approbation of my conduct has given me very e h sinc re pleasure. This is t e only means I of so for have telling you , I am in such disgrace that I do not know if I shall be 1 1 4 Beau Brummell and His Times
a the a al t ken to play ; in any c se, I sh l be watched : therefore accept my most cordial e m thanks, and believ that I shall re ember your good-nature to me on this occasion with e f gratitud to the end o my life . does not yet know how unkindly I ' aflectionat have been treated, but is more e e than ev r, because he sees I am unhappy. e We did not arriv in town till seven last night. - e To morrow they go to Cov nt Garden, and perhaps I may be allowed to be one of the party. ’ Please don t neglect my drawing you would make me very happy by lending me the yellow ’ o the e for bo k again ; oth r I don t dare ask , ! much as I wish for it. Adieu I shall be e of st ady in my Opinion you, and always remain yours very sincerely,
E IA . EYM ! G ORG NA A . F S O R.
Long after he had received this letter the
of a f dandy noted in a corner it, This be uti ul ” f r creature is dead . Four years be o e his own death he presented it to Miss X who had already inherited by anticipation his
s album Of autograph .
1 ss L e B eau B rummell . 1 Je e, if qf , p 9 I 1 5 Beau Brummell and His Times
Brummell had another friend in the clan of lady politicians as well as the Duchess of — Devonshire a friend whose eccentric ta lents and strange destiny made her at least as th extraordinary a figure as e Duchess. I l f to e Stanho e of re er H ster p , daughter Charles
a V who St nhope, iscount Mahon , a man was so warm a partisan of the Revolutionists that
1 H ster an orn in L n on i 1 Lady e St hope, b o d n 776, died at Her c w Dj rhoum (Syria) in 1 839. hildhood as spent in the un er th car of vern ses s country d e e go es and servant , whom she s aves she u as she wou an treated as l ; grew p ld, d gradually o min es displayed the b ld d, the d potic character, and th e indomitable pride which was to carry her through so strange H n c o w a series of adventures. er te den y t misanthropy as exceptionally developed by reason of her unusual situation h - in the house of William Pitt. S e was all powerful until ’ n 1 0 s her uncle s death i 8 6, when he believed there was no
er ace for her in Lon on. She eft n and her furth pl d l E gland, h r cou tr ecam e in h r i ’ hatred of e n y b e case, as n Byron s, an
sease. fter a s r es of incurable di A e i wild adventures, she sett e at ihoum near a a. T ere u on one of the most l d Dj , S id h , p tous s urs of Le anon sh t her s precipi p b , e buil trange palace, a s of l w uts form n ne confused mas o h , i g an i xtricable labyrinth of - n aces and tra s. She ve am ar ar an s hidi g pl p li d id b b i laves, ost e tr es who res r surrounded by h il ib , pected he as a mysterious
to an unfortunat n . Th n being. She came e e d e pe sion which she drew from the English Government was sequestrated at nce of her numero cre ors d s w the insta us dit , an he as reduced
u m ost m ser . She t en sm sse her s van to the t i y h di i d er ts, l h r r lo e in h r fl s e slaughtered al e ho ses, and died a n er oo es castl , i exposed to wind and rain. Lady Hester left memoirs n which ” or e IV. s ort ss n v a she refers to Ge g a a w hle i di idu l. 1 1 6
Beau Brummell and His Times he published from his solitude on the upper levels of democratic folly an apology for the
French Revolution, in answer to the speeches of Burke. At the age of twenty Lady Hester was a f t ne rly six eet high, and was nei her pretty nor s amiable. She despised philanthropist ,
r or disrega ded every social tenet convention, and when it became impossible for her to
f e f agree with her ather, she went to se k re uge
t e. wi h William Pitt, her uncl At the age of twenty-three she knew all that a statesman
e could know, appoint d colonels, dismissed
r a s r gene als, gathered partis n , and counte signed
’ more than one ordinance in the minister s w chair and under his eyes, as he atched her
of with a smile. The story her travels in
t t e f Asia, wi h h ir abulous incidents, her intrigues
h of her ma wit the Sheiks Syria, procla tion as
of e for Queen Tadmor, would provid material
e r e . e s ve al volum s Independent, unsociabl , and
e u adv nt rous, contemporary with Lord Byron
e e one and res mbling him in mor than point, Lady Hester Stanhope is one of the most curious types of English society at the outset f h O t e nineteenth century . 1 1 7 Beau Brummell and His Times
In 1 838 Lamartine succeeded in paying her f a visit. Some yea rs previously a friend o Captain j esse had been the recipient of a
f e - e similar avour. S ated cross legged, dr ssed
f her a in Turkish ashion, in Oriental p lace, the Queen of Tadmor received the traveller
s the e e graciou ly, though throughout int rvi w she declined to talk Of any other subject than f N the manners and customs o the Arabs. ot the smallest allusion was made to her com patriots in general . Once only did she seem
e of to look back upon the past, to ask n ws
“ o e e Wellingt n and Brumm ll, and wish d to
had e e of h know what b com t e Beau . This
’ was therefore a point upon which Pitt s niece
e could not conc al her curiosity .
She had known him in past days, as all
the of e had known him in time his prosp rity, when he ca me to lea n on the doo r Of her
e We e f carriage in Bond Str et. hav re erred to a sharp rebuke which his malicious Observa
er tion brought down upon him, and the clev ness
e to of with which he was abl turn the point it.
If f e e s we may judge rom c rtain letters, it se m that she was upon comparatively familiar terms 1 1 8
Beau Brummell and His Times
dandy was not absolutely displeasing to her, and that scorn of their neighbour which both agreed in professing naturally provided them
e with an xcellent ground of common interest. A few conversations had speedily brought
t e them together, and hough they p rsistently
e flung home truths at one another in privat , in
e e e e ord r to prov their ind pendence, th y were united in public by a kind of tacit complicity and sympathy which they would not have confessed to one another for anything in the
world. Among the ladies who were friends of George Brummell the most faithful and devoted was
the of certainly Duchess York . She was a niece
of IL f son Frederick , and had married a avourite
o 111 f of e f George . This pre erence his is som what difficult to explain in view of the utter th mediocrity of e Prince. At sixteen years of age he was a colonel in command of the English troops intended to confront the armies of the Republic in Holland ; notwithstanding
f r of de eats, he rose to the ank Commander
in- f r Chie . His mist ess at that time was a
M h e. rs. e Clarke, in whom placed blind confidenc 1 20 Beau Brummell and His Times
The lady took advantage of this to sell com missions in the Army with the connivance of her lover. Then, when the Prince declined to not e pay her regular pension, she did hesitat to reveal the secret of this combination to 1 the public. Doubtless the Duchess was well aware of the abominable trafli c which her
a of husb nd carried on . She was a person great dignity, and her discreet behaviour was in admirable contrast with the society which
r sur ounded the Princes. Rowlandson and Gillray did not shrink from displaying to the public gaze their cartoons with the Prince
itzherbert Regent in an attic with Mrs. F
1 “ W n h r i hi m s r s w t a he e tired of he , he d smissed s i t es i h miserable pension which he was not even honest enough to nd was pay regularly. She complained and grew angry, a disdainfully threatened with the whip and the pillory . She d then began a frontal attack upon her former lover. He ha sa one a t m h cou r u her ot n As id day, at i e when e ld ef se n hi g, u ar m in s countr yo e my favourite, you have ore power thi y ” t an the . v roof of the h ! ueen This was true, and she ga e p sh fact. The inquiry before the Parliament showed that e c tha as her had sold ommissions in the English Army, and t us of s c she had b iness grew, like that a u cessful merchant, c an r t of also sold high ecclesiasti al offices, d even the igh i da preach ng at Court. The wave of scandal grew every y, and threatened to overwhelm every person of position and ” aut or in . o a a leterre h ity England (A. Fil n, L C ri cature en Aag , p . Beau Brummell and His Tim es
c old o cupied in mending his clothes, but they invariably showed a singular respect for f the Duchess o York.
e of r Several l tters hers, written in F ench , remain to us ; though somewhat dry and
e e laconic, th y cl arly show her interest in
e G orge Brummell .
You announce your bad news so grace ” f it all its e s she ully that loses unpl asantne s, f h e t e . writes rom country Howev r, I cannot but share your regret at the loss of all our e f s e e e propos d e tiviti s, which hav disappear d with the loss of our lottery ticket ; I send h e e my s ar in this her with , and I hope most ’ sincerely with you that it may be Fortune s e e last ill turn to us, and that in v ry other circumstance of your life she may always be f e u e to f ou avourabl to yo . In justic mysel , y may be persuaded that no one can be more sincerely interested in your happiness and in all that concerns you. “ I have nothing to tell you of my lonely fe e li which can arous your curiosity, as I have s e e een no one interesting sinc your departur . I hope that you will soon come back to this be e e district, and that I may allowed to r p at 1 22
Beau Brummell and His Times the assurances of sincere friendship and esteem with which I remain your most affectionate f ” riend and servant, F .
on ffe Again , her birthday, Brummell o rs his patroness a present of a little dog of rare
d f the f e z bree , which calls orth ollowing lett r
Wm n a so , M ay geh . I cannot say how pleased I am by the kind wishes which you have sent me for my the e the birthday, and charming pres nt which f r f Duke has o warded to me rom you. Pray accept my sincere thanks for the pretty little do is of g ; it an emblem fidelity, and I am pleased to flatter myself that it will be e of the e of f e mblematical natur our ri ndship, the upon which I place greatest value. e r k e I hav a ac ing cough, which s ems the of if likely to be death me, and it has not finished me off by the beginning of next e to to month , I hop return London by that one of the sa time, and plea ntest prospects of my stay will be the pleasure of meeting ou of a y , and finding an Opportunity to repe t that I am ever your affectionate friend and ” 1 e s rvant, F .
1 esse he e eareB rum l . 1 1 1 1 J , T Lif q mel , pp 9 , 92, and 93. 1 23 Beau Brummell and His Times
It must be admitted that these letters
no r e the u possess great gene al inter st, in us al s of the h e ense term, but t ey may give an id a of the relations between Brummell and the
of Duchess York. It is somewhat astonishing to see that he secured the esteem of this
e e great English lady, who was som what sever
u of and rigid pon questions social distinction, and who would never have anything to do with the rakes of Carlton House or with the
of e t tribe morganatic wives, l gi imate or ille
itimate the of g mistresses, with which sons
11 e . r George 1 . were surround d Tradition e
a f presents her as neither ool nor ugly, but in any case she does not seem to have been
f e N or was lavish with her ri ndship. , again, h she prone to exaggeration . Upon er death bed she wished to send a word of farewell
e of to Lord Lauderdal , another her intimate f f riends, and wrote as ollows
M v DEA RIEN D - I R F , am packing up, for o the I am t start immediately . Accept ” 1 of good wishes your devoted F .
1 ' n La Careealrere en n leterre . 1 . A. Filo , A g , p 1 6 1 24
Beau Brummell and His Times
or f e f sooner later. A ter amusing hims l at the
s of u da expen e his eq als and superiors, a y
e e came wh n he att mpted, at first unconsciously and r the e involuntarily, to p actise at expens
of l . His Roya Highness in person And,
s for finally, it is undoubted that as his ta te
e this practice gr w, he thought such audacity smart and in the best of form .
To a begin with, however, he att cked Mrs .
h rt ho f itz erbe . w a F The Prince, mused himsel rr without emba assment as he pleased, never
f e wholly abandoned his orm r mistress, who
e r e e always preserv d some att action in his y s. In 1 8 1 1 she still possessed great influence
ee over him, and s ms to have shown singular
a ea f the t ct in hiding his w knesses rom world.
She even supervised his correspondence, and was constantly Offering advice or remonstrance :
Do not write to So and So ; she is careless,
or and leaves her papers lying about again, if a too : he bec me unreasonable Be quiet,
are Prince, you drunk this evening.
' ' ' e ritr I let . t beau x esf do Aag m e, vol. i p. 1 90. L e T ac era in his Histor the Four eor es ik h k y, y qf G g , Lady tan o e s a s reat sever t towards the Re ent and S h p di pl y g i y g , 1 26 Beau Brummell and His Times It must be admitted that it was highly
if e audacious, or, you pleas , singularly tactless for Brummell to seek a quarrel in so high a
’ O ne of e the r s n place. the ladi s in P ince trai had t e r v of rs at empt d to figure as the i al M .
itzherbert the e a F , and dandy espous d her c use. From pinpricks and sarcasms they reached
r one e a bitter i onies, until ev ning, at a b ll
t i s f d t i h rela es of him certain tr ck o ba tas e n er memoirs. ” On f hi t s sh re ates was to n i e o s favouri e joke , e l , i v te himself - to dinner with those of his so called friends whom he knew to in be in straitened circumstances. The vita tion included not s s o n only the Pri nce, b ut a dozen gue t n mi ated by him th e o r n s — r vi e l w p o wretch upo whom this o called p i l ge fel , as at his w ’ co ent nm On its ends to pay th e st of the ertai ent. e of these nf t er runn n ea ver ears nt to u ortuna es, aft i g h d o i o debt, meet on s t t h such a demand up hi hospitali y, rela es t e manner of his ’ ‘ re ar . One da he was resent at the Pr nc s to e w d y p i e il t. I ’ w s sa His Ro al ness to s o ou m t an s for i h, id y High , h w y y h k ’ your civility to me. This promising speech was accompanied act o rom s n or th P i c m by an ion n less p i i g ; f e r n e, ru maging in i o t a x in one of h s cupboards, pulled u bo which he proceeded i usl s r His uest ex ecte anx o y to ea ch . g p d some agreeable c r s a ro present of jewels or la e, pe hap und sum of money ' fran onste . At en t after a ela ur osel ro on ed kly d l g h, d y p p y p l g , t ere eare from the m ster ous box a wi of ll h app d y i g, a things. ‘ ’ ‘ Th r h rin n it over to h i e e, said t e P ce, handi g m, as you are is ve r or wi getting bald, a ry supe i g, made by and he r wh o o Th named a make o was by n means fam us. e guest l on hims f was ob iged to lay a stern restraint up el , lest he should ” reply to this pretended generosity with an insult. (M emoi rs of
’
Hester tan o vol. ll 1 00 se es Ori Lad S h e . . e or u i n s : y p , p ; F g , g
b arer es ri P n leterr e vol. 1. . 1 8 et e p ts do A g , pp 7 and 1 27 Beau Brummell and His Times
s e given by Lady Jer ey, Brummell und rtook
’
a . s a to c ll Mrs Fitzherbert carri ge, and sub stituted the word Mistress in place of the
r title ordina ily given to married ladies. It is obvious that he took great care to emphasise
a d the distinctive syllable, n that someone was equally careful to draw the attention of the
e of f u Prince to the languag his avo rite. His Royal Highness displayed some ill-temper in
s consequence. Thereupon, as it was nece sary
not to retain the advantage, Brummell did hesitate to make the Prince his butt. There was at Carlton House a hall-porter of such magnificent height and corpulence that he
of could look over the gates the courtyard, and could never get more than his face into
box. o his He was known as Big Ben. Ab ut
a - the s me time, the Heir Apparent began to grow stout. Brummell thought it would be laughable to baptize the master with the ’ F servant s name, and as Mrs. itzherbert was w d t also gro ing stout, he seize the opportuni y
the of a of giving her Jewish name Benin . No malice could have been more calculated to arouse the anger of a man who claimed 1 2 8
Beau Brummell an d His Times
h a of length exhausted t e p tience someone.
he f on None the less, put a bold ace the
the ff n o matter, and taking o e sive, pr ceeded to
e e r a calumniate his master everywh r , epe ting
ef s the most disgrac ul scandal, and aying that now he had a firm grip he intended to make an end of his opponent. His Royal Highness l replied as well as he could, but it was use ess for him to repeat everywhere that Brummell was only fit to make the reputation of a
f e e tu n tailor Brummell de eated him at v ry r ,
the “ e e and finally won victory. I hav mad ” he he e e him what is, declar d to Colon l 1 MacMahon can f e a , and I there or unm ke ” n him. In short, otwithstanding his usually
e so phlegmatic charact r, Brummell displayed much obstinacy and so happy a mixture of hauteur and astuteness that he succeeded in securing public favour. Not content with
’ 1 a M cM w After B rummell s di sgr ce, a ahon as one of the ’ l Regent s favourites. An I ri shman of ow birth and obsequious r was a tt e man h is face red covere t i manne , he li l , , d wi h p mples, d ff always dressed in the blue an bu uniform , with his hat on one s e co n th e air of his master to om he was a id , pyi g , wh xecu e n prodigious foil, and ready to e t a y commissions which ” in those days were somewhat complicated. (Cornelia Knight ’ ‘ P ers nal Rem mx enees and Thomas Raikes, o , p. 1 30 Beau Brummell and His Times
on gaining the laughter his side, he also
r of of f i dep ived the Prince some his old r ends, 1 such as Sir Henry Mildmay and Thomas
e t Moore, who d dicated to him his transla ions fr A nacr eon e e om , and polish d his pretti st odes to e of Love at the tabl Carlton House. On
’ 1 8 1 2 f 1 o . February 3 , , in the clubs St James s,
d of f e a parody was passe about a amous lett r,
e D of written by the Princ to the uke York, his brother the following verses by Moore formed part of it
e th er ave resentm ents nor w s t ere s ou come N i h I , i h h h ld ill ’ To mortal—exce t now t n on t Beau B rumme p ( I hi k ) ll, ’ th r aten d r in a su r ne s on Wh o e last yea , pe fi pas i , ” d r e old n nto . To cut me, an b ing th Ki g i fashion
1 Gronow quotes him among the English who came habitually R an to Paris under the estoration, d were constantly present at ’ mon th e n s ersons of ote who Tortoni s. A g E gli h p n usually met at t s ace reco ect Lor s B rudenell Bruce B n ham hi pl I ll d , i g , and ester e a so Lor er ert afterwar s ar of P m Ch fi ld ; l d H b , d E l e ’ o th n om n Iai r broke, wh m e Fre ch den i ated bi le, not that the noble lord was by any means deficient in intellect, but the envy and jealousy of th e French were piqued ; for he was extremely his e u a es ere e n in P handsome, and q ip g w th fi est aris . Sir H ma w th his eaut fu an enry Mild y, i b i l d accomplished wife,
mme se sensat on. Gronow Re r r es o . created an i n i ( , n i mi eene , v l ii . p 2 85 ) 1 N . d a an en h s i di cu George ha m ia, wh e wa n fii lties, for etters c he arran ed to m he writing long l , whi h g eet t public eye. f r nce is r In the letter to which re e e he e made, his political ’ u w t nera opinions were mixed p i h ge l observations of every kind. 1 3 1 Beau Brummell and His Times
f 1 8 1 f The ollowing year, in July 3 , the our ’ 1 of Watier s — leaders Club Mildmay, Alvanley, 1 — e to Brummell, and Pierpoint arrang d give a
of masked ball. All the details the enter
tainment e e had be n settled, wh n they met
f e . with an un orese n obstacle Was the Prince, who was then at variance with George
Brummell and Sir Henry Mildmay, to be
? The f of f invited ormer, with a touch sel f conceit, declared that he was ready to orget
- all his differences with the Heir Apparent.
' r rebufl r But in o der to avoid a , Pie point was commissioned to sound the Prince upon
1 To Lor van e was awar ed the re utat on oo or bad d Al l y d p i , g d , th c u s r of all the witticisms in e l b , afte the abdi cation of the throne of dandyism by B rumm ell not only was Alvanley con of his da in n bu r i sidered the wittiest man y Engla d, t du ing h s res ence in rance and tours t rou uss a and ot er id F , h gh R i h h w s un ersa a m tte to ossess not o countries, e a iv lly d i d p nly ’ great wit and humour but Iespri t f ranearir in its highest r om ent cou be a h perfection, and no greate c plim ld p id im by He was one of th e rare exam foreigners than this. ples e o he n w (particularly rare in th days f t da dies, ho were generally sour and spiteful) of a man combining bri lliant wit rf Hi and repartee with most pe ect good nature. s manner, ll s st and the sl s c m above a , wa irresi ible ; ight li p, whi h ight
have been considered as a blemish, only added piquancy and ” ‘ z is sa n s Grono Renn ni seenees vol. . . 1 6 est to h yi g . ( w, , i pp 3 and 1 Ibid. vol. 11. p. 70. 1 32
Beau Brummell and His Times
intimacy, he would have employed other
he had methods. Moreover, would have many such Opportunities at a later time. But he was in fact unable to pardon
’ B rummells e e and f e e mock ri s, a t r his acc ssion, when he was crossing to Calais and found W e e . the Beau in pov rty and mis ry, George
the s e e none le s pres rv d his cold, sulky, and
e e f n r v nge ul ma ner. Meanwhile the struggle continued with
e e obstinacy, and ach party strov to retain the e upper hand. Som days later, Brummell was walking down Bond Street with Lord F and suddenly found himself face to face with His Royal Highness on the arm of f Lord Moira. In con ormity with his
t e e e of atti ud upon the v ning the ball, the Prince stopped and talked for a few minutes with Lord F without deigning to cast
e the ex-f e a glanc at avourite. Brumm ll with
e r imperturbable gravity gr eted Lord Moi a, inquired after his health and discussed the weather ; hardly had the Prince turned to go when he heard Brummell ask in a loud
who fat f ? voice, F is your riend 1 34 Beau Brummell and His Times
sce of n Similar nes were constant occurre ce. At every moment the Prince would run up
a dan ag inst this miserable dy, this impudent fo t e p, who, notwi hstanding his disgrac and
r n app oaching ruin, i sisted upon having the
ne n last word. O evening o leaving the
e e f u Opera, the Princ Reg nt o nd his path
ted n a obstruc by an i dividual in a blue clo k, who was leaning with his back to him upon
’ checktaker s to the bar, and appeared be blocking the exit on purpose. He speedily
u k recognised this bl e bac , and stopped in
n not hesitatio , knowing what to do. Never
he case e had seemed more ill at , whil the
n r and other, pretending ig o ance immovably
i s rig d, continued to yawn upon the cene
f e of be ore him . At length a witn ss the
e 3 f e f w sc ne, common ri nd, came or ard to end it by tapping the unknown upon the f e . e or should r Th n Brummell , he it was, deigned to turn his head with his habitual
n condescensio , his irritating and invincible f scorn . Slowly he moved rom the exit, but f without taking his eye rom the Prince, and
of the one i both them, mot onless and the 1 35 Beau Brummell and His Times
a e other pursuing his ro d, thus continu d
e to sil ntly look at one another, until a crowd 1 of playgoers separated them .
f the e Un ortunately, struggle was conduct d
e e for e e upon un qual t rms, reasons ntir ly
“ e n n if p cu iary . As lo g as he lived, the
e be e e t rm may mploy d, at Carlton House, Brummell made so good and judicious a use of his income that he succeeded in
e n e posing as a w althy man , and mai tain d his place among the grea test names of the
He kingdom . was a visitor at clubs, though
he not a habitual visitor. At any rate, did
o e to not not g ther bet. It was until about
1 That B rummell seized every opportunity that came in h is way of teasing th e Regent may be judged from the following r ci cum stance which passed before my own eyes. His Royal ness was o n to the P cture Ga er in Pa Ma and High g i g i ll y ll ll, Brumm who w a t ell, as w lking with some other man abou ten ar s in ron o w o y d f t f me, as exactly opposite th e door f the x t on as he low ar rumme E hibi i t , d k red carriage stopped. B ll ev ent saw it and saw who was in it a t ou he reten e id ly , l h gh p d d not to do so and en th w s s nt arms h e , wh e t o sentinel pre e ed , , ' with an air of aflected surprise and mock dignity which was most amus n rave ra se i h i e sa ute had een i g, g ly i d h s at, as f th l b to him as he t s h h is ea ver ; did hi e paused, turning h d y graciously towards the sentries and his back to the carriage
n o c h e was u te c ose to. saw as assed the wi d w, whi h q i l I , I p , ” an r oo of th e e ent but h e sa not n . esse The g y l k R g , id hi g (J , e Bea L o . if f n B rummell, p 5 1 36
Beau Brummell and His Times and Gibbon five hundred in less than an
. to lar e hour Next winning, the latter dec d, losing is the greatest pleasure on ea
’ ier h the Wat s e. At , t ings were the sam In course of a few games of whist a certain
a e of e te b ron t, a contemporary Jess , was 1 v d of s lie e ten thou and pounds.
e Brummell, at any rat at first, was more f He won ortunate. is said to have two hundred and sixty thousand pounds at one — throw a considerable windfall for a man whose whole property cannot have amounted
f e to much more. All his riends advis d him
the u e to invest sum . Br mmell listen d atten tivel s to e e ee y, promi ed take th ir advic , and thr days afterwards lost the whole to the last half
e to f penny. Fortune, however, continu d avour
for e e e was him som tim . Whil he taking
e of a Of he e advantag this se son luck. happen d
’ to be playing one evening at Brooke s with
e e e Alderman Comb , a wealthy br w r and Lord
f do ? Mayor o London . What you stake
ed n . cri Brummell . Twe ty five guineas H D e r the e . e e on , retu ned B au th n won
1 i n Post of une 0 u 8 and 1 1 806 . See the M orn g J 3 , J ly 5, 1 38 Beau Brummell and His Times
e he o twelve gam s running, and said as p cketed the h e n stakes, T ank you , Ald rman ; he ce f ” orward I will drink no porter but yours.
” “ V r d re the e y goo , sir, plied brewer ; I wish all the good-for-nothings in London would
’ the say same.
f e f In any case, rom this tim orward Brum ’ e f mell s purse b gan to run dry, and the ollowing years were marked by reverses of fortune which
ef the e s led straight to ruin . I r er to y ar immediately before and after the battle of
e e Waterloo. The English troops w r coming
f a and e who back rom Sp in , young r sons had escaped the perils of La Corufla and Torres
V e of edras, s ized the Opportunity levying con tributions e of e e e upon the prop rty th ir ld rs.
a e u The gambling m nia redoubl d in vigo r. After the campaign in Belgium matters
. n a changed Welli gton and his lieuten nts,
n n s Lord A glesey, Lord Ragla , Sir Hus ey
V v an f d Blii cher the i i , were ollowe by with
e Prussian and Hanov rian commanders. In a few days the whole town swarmed with f e f e e a or ign uni orms, thr at ning busbys, gig ntic
s of plumes, shakos, and cap every kind. 1 39 Beau Brummell and His Times Never was a more amusing and motley spectacle to be seen than this flood of foreigners with their pockets full of money which they were ready to scatter abroad.
f l e There were estiva s and entertainm nts, d Of maske balls, and a perpetual round
’ Almack s the pleasures ; at balls, in clubs
e me and public places the Alli s beca the rage, and every evening before dinner they met
e e at Hyde Park, where the Princ Reg nt
r e a s e appea ed on hors b ck in great pomp, 1 e n Bloomfield compani d by Sir Be jamin , Lord 11 f d e . Se ton , and the La i s Molyneux Welling
1 B oom anot er favour te of Geor e lv. Sir B enjamin l field, h i g , an an o e his ntro uct on at ourt to was a handsome m , d w d i d i C nt in the arti er and his musical talents. He was a lieutena ll y, by
n ri on. The Pr nc chance quartered with his regime t at B ght i e, fon of usi t en ave fre uent concerts at who was always d m c, h g q the Pavilion ; someone happened to mention that a young V on l o An i officer of artillery was a proficient on the iol ce l . n ro a u was e se the v s s vitation was sent, the y l amate r pl a d, i it mo uen and the fortune of th e oun eutenant became re freq t, y g li ” w s r rne n t and T omas Rai es Personal as as u ed. (Co lia K igh h k ,
’
enn . entua Sir Ben am n B oom e R mlreenees, p Ev lly j i l fi ld H became peer of England and Ambassador at Stockholm . e was as great a favourite with King B ernadotte as he had been with the Prince Regent. 1 T u h w d Lo f w r r d ho gh e as hunchbacke , rd Se ton as ega de as one of the mos an v t exquisite d dies, and rode in Hyde Park e ery
da . He had r t ttent on th x e n o h is e y att ac ed a i by e e c lle ce f tabl , 140
Beau Brummell and His Tim es of f e the ea 1 8 1 the his ortun , and y r 5 saw loss of the poor ten thousand guinea s which
e e remain d at his banker. Ev rything turned a He e e gainst him in that year. had v n lost
lf the e he the ha penny with hol in it, to which pretended to attach some special virtue since
r e his ent ance into Society. What has b come of your halfpenny someone asked him at
e of old e a later date, in the tim his age ; hav
“ ” ev of ? es you n er heard any more it Oh y , he used invariably to reply ; no doubt that rascal Rothschild or some of his set got hold f o it. " To the end be preserved his imperturbable
r e e calm and his t anquil insol nc , impartially
ee rs e of fl cing usure and m mbers Society, bor rowing from anyone who would lend and
f e troubling himsel little about repaym nt. One
e e one of day in a crowd d club circl , his creditors conceived the unfortunate idea of
for the of asking return a loan . This was a rich young man who wished to be elected
the f to ashionable clubs, and had thought it politic to advance a thousand guineas to
e Brummell . Brummell thought the jok 1 42 Beau Brummell and His Times
et . e ? he e e d estable Your mon y r pli d, without
“ ” moving a muscle . I thought I had repaid it.
e “ ? The other opened his yes wide . When
? the f Do you ask when Why, day be ore
I the yesterday, when was on balcony at ’ e Whit s and saw you passing in the street, and said, Good day, Jimmy , how are you ? For a few months longer he maintained his position with the help of a fictitious credit which remained to him notwithstanding his
a - e m ny bills. But the money lend rs could no
e longer be deceiv d, and the final catastrophe was also hastened by a slight misunderstand
e ing. Brumm ll had contracted a loan in
f e e concert with a ri nd, and attempt d to secure
’ the lion s share for himself ; his partner cried out e e rr against his m ann ss, and their qua el
e e attracted gen ral att ntion . His position
a e e e s r e a of bec m unt nabl , and the de pe at st te his finances no longer allowed him to cut a respectable figure in his usual haunts ; it was
ef ss of ther ore nece ary to think retirement. On
1 6 1 8 1 6 f May , , Brummell dined upon a owl f and drank a bottle o claret. He then wrote I43 Beau Brummell and His Times
1 on e of to Scrope Davis, the chanc securing if a final loan, possible . Scrope Davis was a
f r a f e rich man, very ashionable, and a g e t ri nd of he Byron. That evening happened to be f dining in Charles Street with the poet. Be ore
f he e they had le t t tabl a note was brought, requiring an immediate answer. Scrope
d and a e glance over it h nd d it to Byron, who
e r ad it in turn.
— MY DEAR SCROPE Lend me two hundred u Th . e g ineas Bank is shut, and all my money e is in the Thr e Per Cents. It shall be repaid - — to morrow morning. Yours, “ E E MMELL G ORG BR! . The reply was
’ MY DEA EO GE — unfortun R G R , Tis very ate e the e Per , but all my mon y is in Thre s — C PE Cent Yours, S RO .
1 cro e av s to om Moore and B ron occas ona S p D i . wh y i lly r w c t v r r o u refe , as a quainted wi h e e y membe f Society d ring the nc H w o on Rege y. e as a man f some culture and f d of literature
he was ua fon of am n d t us ne s f. eq lly d g bli g, an h rui d him el
m o e s h ent s. I n Like any th r , e w to Paris to end h is day n fi e weather he generally sat in the shade on a bench in the r T er h m e a n e n fr en s Tuile ies. h e e ad ppoi tm nts with passi g i d who still remembered him. To occupy his time he wrote his o rs unfortu te sa ar hi mem i , which na ly di ppe ed at s death. I4-4
C H A PT E R V I
LITTLE remains of old time Calais at the
e e o e pres nt day, and Sterne would hav s m trouble in discovering the inn where
s e f of M . Des ein serv d him with his ricassée f e owl. Howev r, when Brummell arrived from England in 1 8 1 6 he also put up with
e e the e e e M . D ss in , perhaps same man who r c iv d the author of the Sentimental j our ney . He
e the was not to remain with him long. N ar Town Hall in the Rue Royale was a book ’ seller s shOp with the sign of the Pauvre ” The D . iable proprietor was a worthy man,
e M . Leleux, who had be n a soldier in his f youth, and was now peace ully ending his f days in the sale o second hand books . Brummell resolved to establish himself
e permanently in this hous upon the first floor,
“ for f e e and lived there ourte n y ars. I knew f e i . him w ll , anybody did, M Leleux used to 1 46 Beau Brummell and His Times say at a later date ; and when he showed the
’ Beau s apartments to the curious he invariably
“ e concluded, I allowed him to decorat the
and rooms in his own way, though he did it
e e I as I v ry w ll , can sure you that was none
for e he the richer the mon y laid out. But, sir, the poor fellow was so amusing that one could f I I re use him nothing. Indeed, declare would have kept him for nothing if he would have stayed : ah ! he certainly was a very droll f ellow. His first amusement was to furnish his rooms with the carelessness of a man who f e for f e ls no anxiety whatever the uture. From the shipwreck of his fortunes he had saved a thousand guineas. This was not a da e Golcon , but non the less Brummell pro ceeded to squander the said sum with the u r and tmost apidity extravagance. Indulging
for s - f n u e his taste eventeenth century ur it r , he surrounded himself with Buhl tables and
S - ideboards, had the ante room flagged with black and white marble, papered the dining room in dark crimson paper imitating silk
n f f ha gings, and ound himsel penniless once 1 47 Beau Brummell and His Times m e ee or in a short time. He then proc ded
o to b rrow and to live upon credit, and through out the time of his stay at Calais he constantly
u f bo ght, and even procured rom Paris, curi osities of s all sorts at price wholly ridiculous.
He not e s he did know a singl oul , and as was
e o be o d r duced to s litude, res lve at least to have a refuge to his liking . The London dandy was soon the talk of the countryside for n u e ss te leag es round. P ople discu ed his
of e ff- collection S vres china, his snu boxes,
es s his bronzes, his Chin e cabinet , and a marvellous porcelain service which he kept
e a of jealously enclos d in a cabinet, the p nels
r which we e chased in copper. Each plate
’ d r ra and fra and bore a la y s po t it, this gile imaginary harem included all the famous
f X IV of a e o . v beauties the g Louis and Louis x .
e he e Lik a jealous sultan, d clined to allow the
s ordinary visitor to see the e marvels, and only the highest of his visitors were allowed to cast ” f a a urtive glance upon this ch rming gallery.
e f Upon the tables w re, lying in con usion , a
red o cur os ia r s hund ther i ities, min tu e , rings,
or kn s s s iv y ive in gold ettings, volume in 1 43
Beau Brummell and His Times end . Unable to change his idle and haughty
he e f u pose, pursu d li e with the monotono s
of the the routine Englishman on Continent,
h1s tm and methodically wasted t e. Every
e morning he rose at nine, enter d his boudoir,
e examined his curiosities, d alt with his
e the e corr spondence, looked over n wspaper
h n he and glanced at t e ew books. At twelve
was one of began his toilet, which naturally f f ’ l his avourite occupations. At our o c ock, as smart and well dressed as when he appeared
th e of at Club in days yore, the dandy went
The out for a turn through the town . old city of Calais was by no means gay at any season
of e e the year ; with m lancholy st ps, Brummell
s went down its narrow streets, cro sed the Place
’ d Armes f e o , le t b hind him the H tel de Guise
e the and the Clock Tower, to r ach promenade r r e h f upon the amparts. The e at l ast e ound
e f his V he some shad , and ollowed by dog ick,
e of re r peated the excursion the p vious day . His walks were timed with such mathematical exactitude that the dwellers in the street knew
what the time was when they saw Mr.
a e Brummell returning home. Then c m the 1 50 Beau Brummell and His Times
of hour dinner, and notwithstanding his exile, his meals as well as his toilet were the objects of his scrupulous care. He spared nothing to se e of f cur the best ood, and also drank con siderabl e of e f y. A bottl port r ollowed by a
e of off littl glass brandy, and rounded by
of e a taste claret, washed down the dinn r
e e e e F provided by Dess in very v ning. inally,
’ e e at s ven o clock, cheer d by these copious
the libations, he went to his box in local
a the tre.
u the Th s, upon the whole, dandy continued
r a compa atively splendid existence, and mon otonous s as it was, it none the le s demanded
r k e a ce tain income . Strictly spea ing, Brumm ll did not possess a shilling. He was obliged to look about him the best means are always
e f his the simpl st, and as our riend had lost
f e not e e own ortun , he did h sitat to levy con
r f t ibutions upon his riends. The fact is somewhat strange that he still
e f e f e f r tained riends, ev n a t r his departure rom
t his London . Whe her a man plays part upon
he f e the stage or in Society, is speedily orgott n
ar d f so soon as he has disappe e rom the scene. 1 5 1 Beau Brummell and His Times
e sce Brummell, however, had gain d such a nd ency over his audience that even during his
e e e ere f exil his exquisit mann rs w not orgotten. There was a general rivalry to provide him f with means. The Dukes o Gloucester and
e . e Argyl , Lord Alvanley and Mr Chamberlayn
f de V e a u . os cam orward simult neo sly ; and M ,
a e of f the b nk r Calais, was o ten instructed to
e t f . al send him c r ain anonymous gi ts Natur ly, the Duchess of York was not the last to show
e t her loyalty, and in the mbroidered wri ing cases which she used to send to her friend he doubtless found the means to satisfy the
e e of re mor pr ssing his c ditors. It must,
o e the had m reov r, be admitted that dandy shown some diplomacy in his choice of a re e xv111 tr at. Hardly had Louis . returned to his throne than the inhabitants of Great
s Britain cros ed the Channel in multitudes. Calais once more became a meeting-place b was u etween London and Paris. It us al to break the journey there and to make some
of et eo short stay, and in the eyes all Soci y p ple the little town was dignified by the presence ” i of the sublime dandy. All the most ar sto 1 52
' Beau Brumm ell and His 1
B rum mell had s uch
entry over his aud zvnce tha t e ven ( i 11 ;
m e rs w r . no 1 e xile his exquisite n .. e t
e n Ther wa s a g e ne ra l ri valzv to p m v
‘ m l e uke s o f Glo s ' w i th m ea . I D uce
I w ta r ha m be r A r ic Lo rd Alt anle a l l . p , y C
f w rd s im ul a n u u 1n dlc ca m e or a t e d M .
‘ r h " l t her o f ( Li -El iS Wa t; f i tfi zr in s trn r t ,
w i 1 s N ate h m certa in t .
h t e D uche ss o f Y u r k i s i s no t the last to s t
- - h m b ro id er-ed writ t l. r i t alt and in t e e y y,
ms f i ‘ t which she u s e to send to her r
1 he: ( , uhtiess lu l u ld the m ea ns to sa tis fv
‘ f ‘ t Y ' m o i e d ito r s n ifl f h s cr . t i Ill l . i C g I
m u r f ' o m r be a dm i tted that w e and ha s , d y
- s in -W 1 so m e dfpi nnacy in cho ice of a
r a l o ui m m r t rn d n had L s . e u e ret e at. H y
to his thro n e tha n the inha bitants of G rea t
a E: itain crm sed the Ch nn el in m ultitudes .
Lala is o nc e m o re b e t ame :1 m eeting ~ place
n a ris I was usual to between Londo and P . t la e k o ur ne there a nd to ma ke som e r . . the j y
sho rt sta a nd in the eves o f all S o c iet eo e y . y p pl
th e little to wn wa s dig nified by the presence
“ - ( All h 1 11 1st aris u l the s ublim e la nd) . t e to 1 52
Beau Brummell and His Times relieve his anxieties should be made with due f a orm lity. One day Lord Westmorland was
the e passing through town , and s nt a message that he would be happy to see him at dinner,
’ the e and that dinn r would be at three o clock . The dandy replied that he was not ao
d eed e e custome to f at that hour, and d clin d the invitation .
al e C m and magnific nt, nothing in his usual manners betrayed either anxiety or embar rassment are of , but there letters his which
s of a show some secret bitterne s he rt. His f e e inevit uture was problematical , his d clin
e f e able, but all this he pretend d to org t
e before witnesses. He would ev n laugh at
h of f r c t e uncertainties his o tune upon o casion . ” He s e f e u ed to call hims l , relat s a visitor, the quondam young man who spends his H leisure between London and Paris. e put
e c e e me r s veral dis r et qu stions to , inqui ing
e e what peopl wer saying in England , and seemed remarkably well informed upon fashion
1 o r o Westmor an 1 8 1 He h j hn Favre, Ea l f l d, died in 4 . ad W ’ I been Lieutenant of I reland under illiam Pitt s ministry. n 1 822 he was Guardian of th e Privy Seal . 1 54 Beau Brummell and His Times
‘ and politics. I keep in touch with every
’ ‘ me ? thing, he said to ; but what is the use
’ f m die They have le t e to in hunger here.
u was e . (Br mmell exagg rating ) However, I expect that some fine day my old friend the Duke of Wellington will pack the Consul of off e this town somewher , to China, and
all will give me his post. Then I shall be
all e right. You must admit that in justic , the English nation should do something for the man who brought starched cravats into
men e s fashion . How many hav I een in London enjoying rich sinecures who had not
’ for e . don as much their country Then ,
‘ e the he sa as I w nt towards door, id, I h0pe you will be able to find your way ;
’ fr f I am a aid my ootman is not there, and concluded philosophically with the
’ ’ P i nt d ar t o en oi nt dc sni rse. proverb, g , p
1 8 2 This took place in 9. The Duchess was e e f dead, as wer many oth r riends who had
e hith rto shown great loyalty to Brummell. The prospects of the dandy were growing a d rk. Some years previously a chance of restora I SS Beau Brummell and His Times
o ti n had seemed possible . In September 1 82 1 a kind of alarm had set the little town of Calais in a ferment ; the authorities had
’ d f r the Due d An ouleme donne their uni o ms, g
e e f the had arriv d hurri dly rom Paris, and whole population had hastened to the harbour. The illustrious traveller for whom this pompous reception was prepared was none 1 h e W t e of . other than King England, Georg
e e B aming and magnificent, he took his plac in the coach which was to take him to
’ D e e The a as the ess in s hot l . crowd incre sed
oa e e off e s procession appr ch d, hats w nt , che r
e the e ros in air, and the King bow d to right
ef e ed and l t. Sudd nly his expression chang ,
e e was he his y fixed, and was distinctly
“ e ! or h ard to murmur, Good God Ge ge
e f Brummell Two st ps rom the carriage,
es the f hat in hand and motionl s, stood ormer f e the of avourit . Caught in midst the crowd
he r n a as was eturni g to his rooms, the d ndy had been obliged to form in line with the rest and to witness the passage of the s H r e e a and e n. e ov reig tu ned pal , brok aw y,
s w v s t his a ove He was on h i ay to i i H n rian State. 1 56
Beau Brummell and His Times
few f e accumulating. In vain did his ri nds in London intrigue to secure some sinecure for
e e him . P opl in high places were better
’ e r occupi d than in conside ing B rummell s affairs .
e D e of e e e e How ver, the uk W llington int rv n d,
e e I O 1 8 0 the and on S ptemb r , 3 , Government entrusted to him the guardianship of the com
rcial er f e me int ests o Gr at Britain in Normandy.
He was appointed Consul at Caen . How e he f f ver, ound some di ficulty in changing his
of residence. Aware his intimacy with opulent
e e e e lords, his cr ditors w r quite r ady to wait , but felt considerable uneasiness when they saw
He him preparing to depart. was therefore obliged to put up to auction his furniture and
f he r e . t his cu iositi s Crock ord j unior, London
e to the e antiquary, cam conduct sal , and as
f e f be or , upon the day ollowing his ruin, the fashionable world fought for the remains of W e . e Brummell. G orge bid two hundr d pounds for of e e a service Chines porc lain, and two vases alone made as much as three hundred guineas . Finally, when his debts were partially
e e off - settl d, he w nt to Paris by post chaise.
e a e e Ther he st y d little more than a we k, and 1 58 Beau Brummell and His Times
l de a ra ion Mme. B t paid his respects to g , appeared at the table of Lord Stuart of Rothe ’ sa and - of r y, in the drawing rooms the P ince de Benevent ; went round the Palais Royal a Montrond af e ff-box with , and t r ordering a snu costing a hundred pounds from a fashionable
e e e a for a . j well r, mad a st rt Norm ndy
1 8 0 - On October 5 , 3 , a post chaise announced by loud whip-cracks stopped at Caen before
6 e V e the of the H t l de la ictoir , near Church
e Saint Pierr . A gentleman was seen to get
a f out with a curled wig, a be uti ul cravat, a
e e e e jack t mbroid red with lace, a maroon ov r
r f and coat, and ve y pointed boots. His lo ty
supercilious expression was also remarkable.
f for the e A ter asking best room , the best dinn r,
the e he e the and best clar t, wrot his name in
e e e r hot l r gist r Geo ge Bryan Brummell ,
of n Consul His Brita nic Majesty.
1 The Princesse de B agration was th e leader of the Russian ' colony under the Restoration with Mme. de Gouriefi and the e o os two Comtess s P t ka. orn r 2 w Charles Stuart, b Janua y , 1 779, as the English Ambas sador at th e Court of France from 1 8 1 5 to 1 82 5 and from 82 H w t r 8 1 8 to 1 830. e as raised o th e pee age in 1 82 with the t of f Ro s H a i itle Lord Stuart o the ay. e died t h s estate of '
i h l i 8 . H g c ifie, n Hampshire, on November 7, 1 45
See . 1 not 1 . p 49, e I 59 Beau Brummell and His Times
Two weeks later the new Consul sent the following letter to his colleague in Calais
— MY DEAR MARSHALL YO! should cer tainl f me ef e y have heard rom b or this, had I not been occupied and put out of my usual passive way of existence by endeavouring to settle myself in this place After passing a r e week at Paris, I a rived at my d stination, and underwent all the horrors and all the more e a one of the e horribl che ting in worst hot ls, I
e. D r e e a am confident, in Europ u ing s v n d ys I gnawed bones upon unwashed dowlas in this - e iffe e e f r charnel hous ; what a d r nc , a ter Stua t, de r on r . M Talley and, Mme Bag ation , and trond ! Good fortune at length led my steps to e n f of e the an admirabl lodgi g, hal a hous , er of e the prop ty a most cleanly, d vout old lady, of Guernon de R e one of cousin anvill , the e e e f d cond mned ministers, exc ll ntly urnishe , f e si c a with a delight ul gard n, two Angola ( ) c ts, and a parrot that I have already thrown into apoplectic fits with sugar. From the letter which I brought with me f the éfe the e rom Paris to Pr t, G neral , and three f s e m e e or our other bigwig , giv n to by no l ss Molé e personages than and S bastiani , you must S know that, without a ixpence in my pocket, I 1 60
Beau Brummell and His Times
me. I condole with the outs and agree with : a the ins as to my own nation, I have c lled r n upon all who are wo thy of such a complime t. I shake hands and gossip with the fathers and the e at r - d e moth rs , and p all their di ty nose childr n upon the head and tell them that they are a f be uti ul . What can I do more with my 1 scanty means
u f As Br mmell himsel relates, he had been excellently well received by the chief people
h e f e of t e town . His r putation as a ashionabl man of extreme elegance and as formerly intimate with the King of England had pre
e e ef e ceded him . Ev ryon was ther or anxious to add his name to the number of their ac
uaintances the ed q , and new arrival soon receiv h more invitations than e could accept. As
e u d the July R volution was but j st conclude , Society was divided into two grea t sections
one e e on the side wer the L gitimists, and on the other the officials in the pay of the
As e e e . e establish d Gov rnm nt Consul , Brumm ll was obliged to maintain friendly relations with
1 - s The L e o B ear: B rummell . 2 2 6 and see Je se, if f , pp 94 9 - e Contades Geor e B ru mmell d Caen . 1 2 1 . G . d , g , pp 4 16 2 Beau Brummell and His Times
l c e f r e of these atter . He ar d little o th ir want
s r s d poli h and vulga ity, and re olve to confine
f e f s himsel to pur ly ormal intercour e. One day he was asked if he had been present at the
’ “ efe De no e e Pr ct s ball ar me, , he r pli d , but ” s d I ent my servant. Thus having turne his
a ofli cial e e to b ck upon Soci ty, he was at lib rty
the e of e reply to advanc s the L gitimist party, and his inflexible vanity would not allow him
e f e to commit hims l to any oth r. The drawing-room in which he was most constantly found at the outset was that of his
d Guernon d n Mme . e e S landlady, aint Ursi ,
' n An e V s of D ee e t . Aimabl g a tin , utch bir h She had been adopted by two old maids called de Guernon e e Ranvill , and had married th ir
Guernon f f n . o the cousi , M de , himsel a relative
e x h r minister of Charl s . In e rooms were to
de d be f . e e V e ound MM Saint Qu ntin , auqu lin ,
de e n e e e Saint Marie, de Ro ch roll s, and whil
sc e ak e tea the di ussing littl c s and sipping , compa ny reviled the Jacobin tendencies of the citizen-king and whispered their great hopes Bm mm l of the Due de Bordeaux. el became a
r l a se c ee i s egu ar attend nt at the provin ial m t ng , 1 63 Beau Brummell and His Times
’ and speedily won the lady s heart. They
r e agreed admi ably tog ther, and to please his
s e e e of hostes , ev ry y ar upon the anniv rsary the 1 the a ef three glorious days, Consul was c r ul to hoist the British flag only upon a kind of out
e e ofli cial a hous where he k pt his p pers, thus sparing the noble residents any repulsive pro f n e f anatio . Such conc ssions secured avours in re r the of en e tu n , and first these was tire lib rty to pay when he would. This was an item as a matter of fact which the Consul wilfully
e f the e f n glected rom outset, and ev ntually orgot
e e . ntirely Howev r, Mme de Saint Ursin f e f e . herself pr tended similar orget uln ss Mr.
u Br mmell was so distinguished, and showed
e a — for Mm e such great kindn ss to her d ughter .
de r e. e Saint U sin had a daughter, Mll Aimabl , a f charming young lady aged ourteen, with whom
e e f e For the dandy soon b cam a great ri nd. a time he even conceived the proj ect of teach
her of e r ing English, and some his l tte s show that the young pupil displayed a real anxiety
to e e . You e he l arn at tim s have promis d,
e her e e s me writ s to , to tak a l s on with to
1 Of the u evo ut on of 1 8 0 J ly R l i 3 . 1 64
Beau Brummell and His Times
a e e e s a e He lso wrot many l tt rs, in his p r
e e e e e tim , to v rybody conc rning verything, for he retained lady friends until his last
o e e be f yea rs. Ladies f cultur w re to ound
and . e o e e the u at Caen , in his corr sp nd nc Bea
would discuss recently published works. Have you read the A mer ican j our ney of Fanny Kemble ? I begin to grow a little
e of t se en articu w ary her ar ificial ntim t, and p
’ larly of all the I s which overload her
a recollections. Then he criticises L dy
e e of s m Bl ssington , the patron ss the hand o e
’ rsa H r be T o Fr iends e d O . e e T w Comt y nov l, ,
e ou a . es will bor y to de th Lady Bl sington , now
her e e o e that beauty is vanishing, has b com v r h e r e . S e ea saintly, lik all aristoc atic penit nts w rs
too st e many hair shirts, and literally ifl s one f h with the weight o er sermons .
the e of Mm e de In addition to hous .
e e Saint Ursin , Brumm ll was a r gular visitor
the of the e de e in rooms Marquis S rans,
r e a cha ming lady, according to r port, and Sh possessed of a delicate wit. e also had
1 Trans at on G. de Contades eor e B rummell d aen l i by , G g C ,
p. 2 1 . 1 66 Beau Brummell and His Times d live in London, somewhat against her will ,
the a of and during evil d ys the Terror, was never tired of relating the miseries of her exile and expressing her surprise to find the former king of fashion by her fire f a had e the o . side, man who b en idol St
’ James s when she herself was shivering in
S r a oho lodging. There were also seve al
f m the English a ilies, such as Burtons and the V the e e f d illiers, where dandy n v r aile to find a warm welcome. Of all his countrymen the man whom he
e was e a r r knew b st a c rt in A mst ong, a kind of r e ss of gene al agent, who und rtook busine e r ve y kind, loans, commissions, the export of c m e the of the ha pagn , importation tea, s e of t al landed proper y, and above all money lending The British Consul had but a
es very mod t salary, and as his extravagance
e e r was not confined to his lin n, d bts apidly
f e e accumulated. A t r thr e months in Nor
a Bm mmell m a r s m ndy, was at least as e b r a sed f l as he had been when he le t Ca ais. The washerwoman continually sent in enormous
the e e bills, s rvant d manded his wages, and 1 67 Beau Brummell and His Times
er e he every month, indeed ev y we k, sent the most urgent appeals to the money lender.
EA ARMsr RoNG — m na D R , That da ned f e te me grate ul brute, Isidore, pers cu s at every instant ; the fellow says he is going on r not to Paris Thu sday, and will depart e e e e a e without b ing paid , and I b li v him c pabl a i s er e e of employing a b si . I am wr tch dly e and of e bedevill d out spirits, and hat going of the e or out hous , I would call and thank you for your note of yesterday. Truly B ” 1 yours, G . .
H enceforward at every moment until his death Brummell continues to ask for sums of ten e e two f t , five, and v n louis rom his
who e man Armstrong, prov d a real god
to who e e send him , and mor ov r constantly
1 esse The L e o B ean B rummell . J , if f , p 3 16. An other letter is as follows
EAR RMSTRONG — en me sevent -five fran to D A , S d y cs pay m washerwom an . cannot et a s rt from her and she y I g hi , is rea starv n on m c lly i g y ac ount. I have not actually mone to a m s c f y p y y phy i ian, or or my letters to and from ” n and —Yours B E gl , G . .
(M d p 344 1 68
Beau Brumm ell and His Times that after thanking him warmly for the
ac of f m accur y his in ormation, Lord Pal erston proceeded to dismiss the unhappy Consul , and the only compensation he ever received was so for f r me empty promises the utu e. Thus Brummell one morning found himself
ual a private individ , and as soon as the coat of arms with the lion and unicorn had dis
a e f f appe r d rom his door, anxious creditors rom
cee to h f rm every side pro ded ring t e bell . A o al
e e re e to e si ge was open d, which th at ned becom tragic when the bailiffs one day burst into the house and insisted upon seeing the ex
h de T e . Consul in person . e horrifi d Mme Saint Ursin had no more than time to push the her dandy into wardrobe, and Brummell was thus suddenly plunged into profound
e e darkn ss , stumbling ov r boots, and shrouded “ If in skirts to left and right of him . only ” e e e he th s scoundr ls, thought, do not discover my hiding-place ! And feeling his way to
h ed M t e me. de lock, he hiss , Saint Ursin ,
e e e e e the ke pl as , pl as , tak y Notwithsta nding the extreme kindness of
s in all e e his hoste s, he could not consci nc 1 70 Beau Brum mell and His Times
e es if not involv her in scen which, always so e e of dramatic, were non the l ss daily
u e c . e e was occ rr n e He gav notic , and it prob ably with something less than his usual
e he f S . r assuranc that le t Mme de aint U sin, whose kindness not only included the loan of e a so far to her wardrob , but lso went as forget the existence of her bill when the day
f Sh e o payment arrived . e was ven ready to
e he fe for the e nurs him when ll ill , at tim when his affairs were most deeply involved the dandy began to feel the first attacks of that
e malad y which was to kill him by slow degre s.
e e o e e This v nt t ok place in the summ r, wh n he was writing one day in a very melancholy
f e f am e o to . r mind Mll Aimable, who was
h a e her s The then at t e se sid upon holiday .
” “ eate of f he e to be gr st mis ortunes, wrot , is ” e s r alone and without support . At th la t wo d the pen fell from his fingers he tried to rise
u f of f b t . e and cry out, in vain Hal his ac was e ffi paralys d, and only with great di culty
. e e ef could he open his mouth How v r, car ul nursing brought him round ; he believed he
a e had been att cked by severe rh umatism, 1 7 1 Beau Brummell and His Times
and it was thought inadvisable to undeceive hi m.
He therefore established himself in the
’ Hdtel d An leterre e for g , wh re he lived some
t the of months in peace, hanks to protection
f f e e the aith ul Armstrong. But n ith r his health nor his creditors left him free from anxiety
r he fo . One long morning, when was finishing
e f s the e - m br ak a t in hot l dining roo , great was his surprise to observe that the food was falling upon his shirt front instead of entering his f mouth . Holding a table napkin to his ace,
he the e ran to his room, and handsome G orge
r the B ummell , looking in glass, saw a horribly
e s fe f distort d, unrecogni able countenance, ar ully
e the contract d, with mouth rising to the ears. With some difficulty he recovered from his
fr m e second attack, but o that tim onwards " Do he . me was under no illusions not ask ,
e he wrote, anything about my h alth it makes
me m aéaissement e e elancholy, and that som tim s ” 1 A ddio ear m e m e . a a iea. mak s very childish ,
the t e a e r r On o h r h nd, his mon ta y dist esses speedily brought him to the utmost extremity .
1 s The L e o B eau B rummell . . J es e, if f , p 377 1 72
Beau Brummell and His Tim es to eat and sleep side by side with all the verminous criminals and ragged malefactors
r of the province. It was mo e than he could
: e bear his d speration was unbounded, and the countless letters which he sent from his prison show that he was reduced to a
e e condition bord ring upon imb cility. For tunatel ec e r y, he r ognis d in the p ison a
i t e of Leg timis journalist, the manag r the
' ’ L A mi de l Vér'ité a . ef o periodical , M God r y, who spent most of his time in prison as a punishment for the excessive freedom of his l u n e e ang age. This jour alist njoy d , as a
of regular inhabitant, a kind room , which he thoughtfully placed at the service of the retired
Consul by day ; during the night, in order to escape the neighbourhood of his repulsive
a e e comp nions, Brumm ll arranged his sl eping
e e plac in a narrow corridor, wh re he saw through a skylight the female prisoners busy
. t a spinning in the courtyard Na ur lly, Arm strong did not forget his compatriot at this
r was time. His first ca e to send him his
o e the s of his wardr b , with nece saries toilet, and the dandy forthwith recovered some of 1 74 Beau Brummell and His Times
his dignity . He invariably spent, M . Gode f e s ea ra roy r late , with gr t detail , seve l hours
He e upon this task. shaved very morning, and washed himself all over every morning with the help of an enormous basin belonging to an ancient washing-stand which had followed him to prison together with a dressing-case
of and e full of bottles scent cosm tics. For
rf of s e e the pe ormance the e ablutions, unparall l d
h of the e f e in t e annals prison, tw lve to fi te n litres of water and two litres of milk were regularly brought to him by his valet-de
e Lafleur he e chambr , his , as jestingly call d - e a retired drum major, Paul L pine, who was
a e a o e at th t mom nt a politic l pris n r, and was ” a in his service and his p y.
e the f u e of Howev r, in the town mis ort n s
e a e the dandy aroused gr at symp thy, specially
the e e among ladies, who s nt in d licacies, notes,
d e one . e a an nov ls, with accord Th ir husb nds
f e d e e . o t e displaye l ss z al Some th m , it is ru ,
’ of B rummells e e t e in view w ak h al h , s nt in a request in his name that he might be
ran f . ef c t s erred to the hospital The Pr e t ,
e - s ex- how ver, whose drawing room the Consul 1 75 Beau Brummell and His Times had formerly abandoned for those of the
e s a e fere L gitimi t p rty, declin d to inter in any
He e a so far as way. ven c rried his irony
e to visit Brummell in his prison . He dar d ” e me e f r “ to t ll , writes Brumm ll in a u y, that he not was e e if did know I h re, and ask d
f e I was com ortabl . What a villain he is ! Once more it was Armstrong who relieved
e e he to his anxi ti s ; went London , and appealed to the liberality of his former
His Club companions . Norman creditors had
e e the count d upon som such step, and results
s r e e e e of it u passed th ir xp ctations. Mor than twenty years had elapsed since George
ef e Brummell had l t Gr at Britain, but on hearing of his condition all the nobles in the realm made a point of subscribing to the list opened by the Duke of Beaufort and Lord 1
e 1v. e Alvanl y . William , the broth r and suc
e of the e e who a c ssor Prince R g nt, prob bly ' e e of the oflered knew v ry littl dandy, a
a f e e hundred guine s rom his privat purs , and
e two nundred e the Public Tr asury thes sums,
e i e e f t with the oth r subscr ptions, w r su ficien
1 S . 1 2 no 1 ee p 3 , te . 1 76
Beau Brummell and His Times hea lth at intervals which grew steadily
At e t e 2 1 e mom l ng h, on Jun , arly in the
’ f e e e e ing, a t r thre months confin ment, Brumm ll was officially informed that he could leave the
he He e e prison when wished. cons qu ntly
f e of e e spent our hours inst ad thr e at his toil t,
f e e and it was not until the a t rnoon , prop rly
e e e shaved , barbered, and groom d, that he ent r d the town and proceeded at his leisure to re sume possess ion of his room at the Hotel
’ rr the h d Anglete e. In evening e unexpectedly
e e e Mme app ar d at a ball giv n by . F
the of the e s e At sight him quadrill s topp d, and
ase s e the violinists ce d playing in a tonishm nt. ” a he e L dies, said, I am much oblig d to you for u e e e m e f yo r kindn ss, and d light d to find ys l
ca n once more among you . I assure you that
of fe for e it is the happiest day my li , I hav ” of e of just come out prison . His expr ssions
e gratitude were confin d to these words. Both in London and in Normandy many of his
e e n e compatriots, and v n ma y Frenchm n , had
e e spared neither tim nor money to h lp him .
e e f r e e With compl t sel assu anc , Brumm ll 1 78 Beau Brummell and His Times accepted their help in the manner of a
ere n x l sov ig accepting his ta es. Doubt ess he thought it necessary when occasion arose to e s r e e of xpre s his g atitud to som them , but it
e of a a was pur kindness he rt on his p rt.
’ f e of Watier s Obviously, the orm r dandy — divided men into two general divisions those
h e e who borrow and t ose who lend , and r gard d the f e e the orm r as suz rains by birth, and latter
e as beings who could be taxed at l isure, it being apparent tha t B rummell belonged to the f of s t f ormer these categorie . A shor time a ter
ef s met r h he had l t the pri on, he a wo t y magistrate who had largely helped to get f ! him out o his difli culties. Ah my dear
” “ Areo a iticus he am e p g , cried , I v ry sorry t e e ou hat I hav not yet be n able to call upon y , but the fact is that the cards I have ordered ” in London have not yet come. Brummell most certainly remained B eau
“ ” e da as was Brummell , the sublim ndy, he
n . he still k own in London With his liberty, immediately recovered his cyn ical affectation and r ff e m his unbea able e rontery, and s e ed ” s fr more than ever, ays a lady iend, to be a 1 79 Beau Brummell an d His Times man defying Fortune and laughing at her blows . We now know that this defiance
e of was by no means r al, and that the sight the bailiffs could easily change his manner ; but in public the darker the horizon seemed to
the was e of grow , greater the arroganc our Englishman and the sturdier his pretended
who a e stoicism . M . P . Scudo, c m to Caen
e to give a musical vening, was introduced to him at the house of the Marquise de
f e Serans. Drawing rom his pock t a packet of ee e banknotes, about thr hundr d, he held
of it out to Brummell like a hand cards, with the of ffe i obvious intention o r ng him some. Brummell quietly appropriated the whole
H e packet with a single movement. e nev r ”
e . was paid th m back, said M Scudo, but it
e e e admirably don , and I gain d som additional knowledge of England in return for my ” 1 s e f e . o mon y At the ame tim , his care his person became a kind of monomania h e . e and obs ssion When walking, would not have anyone near him for fear he might
’ 1 vill Du Dand sm et de Geor e B ru mm ll B arbey d Aure y, y g e , p 91 1 80
Beau Brummell and His Times
e of e e ed. e r st his exist nc was arrang Advic ,
re e e s e . monstranc s, and thr at prov d useless To the end he seemed to have resolved to
e f liv com ortably as a dandy. However, the moment arrived when the dilapidated state of his wardrobe necessita ted some extra
r e t ordina y xpenditure, and Arms rong, who
e of e e to f already had a numb r trad sm n satis y, sent word round town that he would not undertake to meet any fresh expenses at the
e e moment. Our h ro may be imagin d with
ee o a boots down at h l , waistc at thre dbare , shirt f a e the e rills st rchless , and non l ss continuing
e to play his part with unending persistenc . He writes secretly to his usual source of
“ money : I have not a single shirt that
nor are and will hang to my back, my socks
e f e the drawers in a better stat . A t r ex
erience e m et e e p I hav with in this plac , I hav a horror of contracting new debts (thus cas ually
e he efe e et the do s r r to d bts), and y during last two months I have not possessed fi ve francs ” 1 a for the most indispens ble purposes. To
e he the Lord Alvanley, his old associat , sent
1 se The Li e o B ea u B rummell . 6 . Jes , f f , p 47 1 82 Beau Brummell and His Times
s e ef confidences am dol ul , concluding with a cry of distress uttered upon this occasion in 1 old f e sincerity . My ri nd King Allen has given me to understand that he will send m e
s e om thing to clothe my unhappy body, which is at this moment as naked as a new-born
e of the n babe. Think, Alvanl y, da dy that I ” 1 used to be ! His cravat and its incontestable authority
ef the was l t to him, with its three turns round
e e t e . n ck, its w igh y and maj stic dignity It, too f n e the , was un ortu at ly to perish in storm, and a day arrived when Brummell felt that it f f f d was alling away rom him , and was orce to rush into the nearest sh0p . With a heroic
1 V ount n n ck ame n isc Alle , i n d King Alle , resembled, accord i to Grono an old re arro o i n ng w, g y p t, b th n th e aquiline outli e i H of h s features and in his peculiar m ode of walking. e was ” not a of rono bu on w man great readiness, adds G w, t no e as better able to say th e most disagr eeable things at the most unpleasant moment. He had served under Wellington in d o Spain, an had f ught at the battle of Talavera with incredible boldness. This old dandy made it a principle never to leave ’ W s C ’ hite lub except to go to Crockford s, and never to leave ’ ’ roc for s x W t s e was o ever an C k d e cept to go to hi e ; h , h w , nt mate fr en of Sir o ert Pee th e statesman who e on e i i i d R b l, b l g d ” to the mi n s oo d W n ton. Grono istrie of Liverp l an elli g ( w ,
’ Remim x enees vol. . . and , ii pp 84 1 T esse he L e o B eau B ru mmell . 8 . J , if f , p 3 7 1 83 Beau Brummell and His Times
e he sca f of gestur untied his r , and a wave
e e ra f ra was e y llow lin n, a disg ce ul g, se n to
h e r fall upon t e floor. S izing at andom a piece of he e a silk, put it round his n ck and appe red
for the The with a black cravat first time. same evening he drew in the album of a friend an aged Cupid above a broken bow with the
c be punning ins ription, A broken bow ( au). From that day onwards Beau Brummell was
a e f r He cert inly brok n o ever. had realised the impossibility of outliving his traditions of
a of r d ndyism, and decay mind and body apidly followed decay of dress. His malady had made some inroads while he was living in the Rue des Carmes ; prison life and the repeated embarrassments which followed his
e e m e release secr tly und r in d his health . He
r lost his memory, his mind g adually gave way,
e and by degre s he began to wander. His
e d conversation becam wholly disconnecte . Meeting a certa in Colonel B he spoke
r e e e to him at first very g av ly, th n l aning
“ ’ s B — s f towards him, aid, Colonel wi e came to see me yesterday ; then he uttered in a
e ur e she confidential tone , and betw en o s lves, 1 84
Beau Brummell and His Times likes my society ; but you had better not say
a the e anything to her husb nd, cr ature is so
e . e e j alous Anoth r tim , when dining out, he suddenly turned towards his neighbour What
” “ a are a ? he on e rth we e ting asked . Roast ” f the t bee , replied o her. Good Lord, how ” tough it is l said Brummell loudly ; and when ” the f ? ollowing dish arrived, What is that ” e ! Turk y, was the answer. What you call that hairy old rooster turkey Similar
of the comments accompanied the rest dinner.
of se e was The lady the hou w pt bitterly, and doubtless careful not to invite so tactless a
af . He e guest there ter also becam , as we can
the e of well believe, most wearisom hosts,
e r of e sl eping three pa ts the tim , and only opening his mouth to boast continually of his
he ll e . a past succ sses Finally, lost his teeth ,
e he and ven when was not eating or talking, d his jaw continue to work mechanically. and
e c e e activ ly. No spe tacl is mor likely to get
’ e e one e on anyon s n rves, and vening in the middle of a concert his neighbour lost patience
s e entirely, and aid to him aloud, My d ar
if u ew Brummell , you m st ch , chew in time. 1 85 Beau Brummell and His Times
f e f He A ter that, he lived a lon ly li e. might
s e e be e n wandering through the town , b nt
e al t f e of doubl , w king wi h the e ble step an
The man a . old , and leaning gainst the walls street boys shouted after him in amusement at the dazed air and the miserable dilapida tion of the old dandy . He was indeed a lament
and e a t e able grotesqu figure, a walking c rica ur ,
t of f e the with clo hes obsolete ashion , whit at
on knees, out at elbows, with his wig put
f e f e backwards, alling ov r his ace. A littl tailor of Caen attempted to alleviate his mis f e f com ortunes, and inspir d by pro ound
ffe e for passion , o red to m nd his rags nothing. ” “ ed he e to see I was asham , us d say, to
e e e so c lebrat d and distinguish d a man , who
e e f r had mad hims l a name in histo y,
e to reduc d so pitiable a condition , and though I was not rich enough to clothe
f e to m e him, I o ten ask d him send his
e e for cloth s, and undertook to mend th m
e a nothing . Upon thes occ sions Brummell
he bed stayed in bed , as had nothing but clothes to wear.
If e re em his nam was still m bered in London, 1 86
Beau Brummell and His Times
e w lcomed eight years previously, during his stay in Paris. You will find him greatly h e . ic et chang d, said M F to him . Making
of their way to the chamber the Beau, they found him busy oiling his wig before the window ; this was one of his favourite amuse
- e he e s. . t m nt Good day, Mr Brumm ll, said
e - - hot l keeper. How are you to day There was no answer. Then wishing to attract his
e att ntion by any means, he said, Mr.
e ou the e ? Brumm ll, do y know n ws King
” “ IV a . e . e George . is de d Still no r ply Georg
e the the r e w nt on innkeeper, P inc Regent, ” Ben ! Big But without turning his head,
unfor with fixed gaze and shaking jaw, the tunate man continued to anoint his wig with all his might.
e r m e a Sometimes, howev r, memo y ca b ck to him with recollections of Carlton House and
v of f e Brighton and isions his orm r triumphs. In his hotel room he would arrange the f the s e urniture and light , Op n his door and announce all the London celebrities who had f d f e ormerly idolise him , all his ormer subj cts f in the realm of ashion . His Highness 1 88
Beau Brummell and His Times
r hasten forward to meet the imagina y visitor.
! e of ! Ah Madam , how kind you how good of you to come at such short notice ! Pray
e e f f t e as - mak yours l com or abl in that e y chair, the gift of my beloved patroness the Duchess f h o . e a e York Th n , in his m dness, would
’ s h e f es continue to ee t e dandi s o St. Jam s
one one the ea of the pass him by , old b ux
e R gency. Finally would appear a dandy of supreme Splendour in a blue coat and
ff a ee e off bu waistco t, with black br ch s setting
e fu e e e the his l gs. His scorn l y dominat d
f the groups, and as he walked orward in
i e of e e pr d conquest, the company r laps d into
e e e e was e . sil nc , and every y turn d upon him Then the miserable imbecile would announce
“ r e . loudly, George B yan Brumm ll There
' f e ea as e upon his voice ail d him , his dr m p s d
he e the of away, und rstood horror his position ,
e e arm - a and stagg r d to collapse in an ch ir, where the hotel servants would find him in tears the next day . Soon he lost even his recollections of the
a fe e . p st, and ll into compl te idiocy The only characteristic that remained to him was his 1 9° Beau Brummell an d His Times
ee e e gluttony, which sp dily d generat d into
- e of bestial voracity . At meal tim s his habit rushing at a dish and gulping down slices of roast beef became so repulsive that it was necessary to confine him to his room . Not
e f he cont nt with gorging himsel in seclusion , regularly went down after his meals to the
f le the - f e o . e e o shop M Mad in , pastry cook Ca n , and seized everything that he could rea ch
He eet . nougat, biscuits, sw s, and pralines would have run any distance for a glass of
r s e e e Ma a chino, and sacrific d v n his watch , his
and f e chain , his rings to satis y his abj ct
e he ff- gluttony . Wh n had sold his last snu box
the - of and pastry cook had shut him out doors , he used to go to an old woman who kept a h h little shop near t e Place Royale. S e gave
ed e e e her him cr it, but som tim s hand d him
of e s account to remind him his d bt . Brummell would vaguely nod his head and mutter idiotic
“ Yes ma the f ally, , dame, at ull moon, at the ” f ! e m a ull moon As, how ver, his alady incre sed,
ed the he was confined to his room, occupi by manias of madness and busied in the methodical
of his his the destruction books, albums, and 1 9 1 Beau Brummell and His Times various autographs which remained to him of
d S ae the Byron , Sheri an, Mme. de t l, and d ’ Comte A rtois. Thus it was that his memoirs disappeared which he had wri tten at Calais : the Duchess of York had begged him not to
he fr e f o publish them , and had re ain d r m doing 1 f h ff f e so o t e e o . , in spite o rs books llers At the e ief e e e sam time, his ch amus m nt continu d t be the of o task oiling his wig. Persuaded
e e e al a e that v ryone wish d to ste it, he bec m most ingenious in finding absurd hiding-places for he f he it, and when could not find it himsel ” alarmed the hotel by shouts of Thieves ! As
s he could barely stand on his legs, and sometime fe r e was e ll against the windows, a nu s ord red
as to look after him. He never ce ed to over
o of whelm her with insults, and the upr ar their
f a ree e the disputes o ten re ched the st ts, wher lunatic could be heard yelling at the top of his
e ! ou e voic , Ah , you cursed hag do y imagin you are my mistress ?”
of en . Weary so turbul t an invalid, M Fichet thought the moment had come for his trans
e ference to the hospital . Th re was an establish
1 The L e o B ean B rummell Preface . vi and v u. Jesse, if f , , pp 1 92
Beau Brummell and His Times
e f e the Abbe the m nt ound d by Jamet, Asylum du Bon e n r b Sauv ur. This atu ally seemed to e the rO er for the ex- ne p p place Consul. O morning Fichet went into his room and told
e o if he him a carriag was waiting at his do r,
e e t e . e would lik to tak h air Brumm ll, however, was s for entirely ab orbed in looking his wig, which he had carefully hidden under the
e not s . mattr ss, and was dispo ed to reply Mr. ” s e the e - e e Brummell, re um d hot l k ep r, you
ha promised to go with me, and I ve ordered a ” a a ? The a e c rriage. What carri ge c rriag
“ for e N - to e . ot to which is tak us a driv day, ” t - e Fichet not o day. As he obstinately declin d to two e d stir, waiters w re oblige to carry him
e down to the cab. A struggle took plac on the
s r stairca e, during which the w etched man
he was e thought that being tak n to prison, and
e a f . me e ! utter d dre d ul cries Let go, scoundr ls let me go ! I am innocent ; I have paid my ” The e and f s. debt cab, howev r, started, rom anger the poor man soon passed to mystifica
be ed de tion. At the Place Royale recognis M .
r Sainte Marie, who was walking apidly on f of a f the old oot ; with a final touch b sh ulness, 1 93 Beau Brummell and His Times
a of m ur dandy shr nk to the back the carriage,
d e muring, Goo Lord, supposing M . de Saint Marie were to see me dressed like this !
e d He was admitt d to the Asylum, and place
e e Bourrienne in the ward wh r , who had also
to few gone mad, had come die a days
ef f b ore . Be ore the windows was a sunlit
r e flower garden, with st aight walks bord red
d f x e o bo . fine by ges There, upon days, old Brummell was taken round in his bath f . ee e e chair He aded by degr s, and di d peac f 8 on 0 1 0. ully March 3 , 4
the end of G e Such was eorge Brumm ll ,
e and M . de la Palisse might asily have made his death the text for divers moral
e maxims. Practical peopl will naturally fail to see that his mode of life contributed anything to the general sum of human
nor be if happiness, would it astonishing in the last resort they also characterise as immoral the means which he used to pay
s of e his debts. Argument this natur , how
too e of f or ever, will possibly be matt r act
e for e s p dantic the present subj ct, and eem in any case to be in a certain degree ln 1 94
Beau Brummell and His Times very different talents to these snobbish
and r tendencies. Such were Byron Robe t
e e e Spencer. Brumm ll and Brumm ll alon was he was simply and solely a dandy, but
f e the sublime dandy . It is rom the exc ptional nature of his character tha t his strength or
r r e we e autho ity are de iv d , and may conclud
’ e e of e d Aurevill with th s words Barb y y,
ee c f e his ind d, to attack such a subje t a t r treatment of it is somewhat presumptuous on e our part, G orge Brummell was a great artist in his own style. He gave pleasure by mea ns of his person as others
e e s giv pl a ure by mea ns of their works. His
e e e f f e valu consist d in hims l . Un ortunat ly, the specialist of this nature is in the position of a famous singer or a great actor : his
e e e strength is also his w akn ss, and his w ak ness consists in the fact that he can leave nothing behind him except his memory and
e his nam .
Index
c P fW es aft dandyism and arrogan e, George, rince o al ( er - 1 79 1 84 ; symptoms of wards the Prince Regent) 1 8 ast t m t B ru mental decay, 4 ; l firs eeting wi h m a 1 8 -1 2 remova to me l 2 ss on for Mar d ys, 7 9 ; l l , 3 pa i y th e s um duB on auveur Ann o nson - 6 ; A yl S , R bi , 34 3
1 eat 1 meet n it Mrs. tz 93 5 d hs 94 i g w h Fi Lor 6 8 1 er ert his c aracter d. 4 . 9 . 99. 44. h b , 37 ; h , 1 2 8- 0 e ts and ove of 9 , 196. 3 4 ; d b l am n 1 fr n s 2 g bli g, 4 ie d , 4
an n eor e 1 0 . the B r ton Pav l on C ni g, G g , 9 45 ; igh i i , ar to H use 2 1 0 ootnote ove of C l n o , 3, 33, 57, 3, 54 f , 74 ; l i 1 28, 1 88. dress, 75 rupture w th
M 0 1 2 1 . B rumme 1 2 nc ents Clarke, rs., 1 2 , ll, 5 ; i id Th G n c t i 1 26—1 6 Cope, H enry e ree whi h lead o t, 3 no m a s 78. 79 ig res B rum ell t Calai ,
h i on 1 6. Chateaubriand, s descripti 5 ” r n M Th 8 . l 2 . G ee an e of B rumme l, 9 , , 7 , 79 r n Par rm 0 - G r e 1 02 . G ee a . Crabbe, eo g , k F , 3 33 no a n um er an u e of . Gro ta 66 94, 9 , C b l d, D k , 39 w, C p i , , 5 1 3 1 . - av s cro e 1 1 . D i , S p , 44 45 H r r e e th e Abbe 1 0 ootnote. an e Geo e 43. 4s. 77. D lill , , 5f g . g .
n n Mme 1 6 1 2 . de Sai t ! rsi , , 3 5 — 0 1 1 . H e Par 1 0 1 1 . 1 66, 1 7 7 yd k, 4 , 4 '
De e Mm 1 2 . Sta l, e , 99, 9
erse La 1 28 1 8 1 8 . evons re Geor i ana J y, dy, , 7, 9 D hi , g , uc ess of 1 10 —1 06 D h , 9, 3 , — L . 1 1 eleux, M , 46 47. 1 1 1 1 8 . , 9 '
Ll nd Lor 8. a afl , d, 5
n Lor 108 1 10. Erski e, d, , - r . Maca onies, 1 8 1 9, 57 ” r . Mac Ma on onel 1 0. Farm er Geo ge, 3 5 h , Col , 3 - itzher M rs. 1 2 1 Mo ra Lor 1 . F bert, , 37 39, , i , d, 43, 34 - Moore T as 8 100-10 1 1 26, 1 28 1 29. , hom , 9 , ,
F x 1 1 1 . o , Charles Jam es, 4 , 77, 3
1 . 06, 1 37
orfo u e of 2 . N lk, D k , 4
Geor e 8 . ort Lor 6. g 35, 3 , 39 N h, d, 4 i or George W . (w de Ge ge,
P n th 60. . ant eo e Prince of Wales) h , , Index
P tt W i i , ill am 106 . Skefii n ton Sir Lu , 59, g , mley, 77. Pri nce e ent wide Geor e oc - ( g , a ife of the t me 6 . R g S i l l i , 59 3 Pr nce of Wa es) . encer W am o ert i l Sp , illi R b ,
1 00 10 1 . ueens err Mar uis o ! b y, q f, 42 . Stanhope Lady Hester , , 49 0 1 1 6—1 20 1 6-1 5 , , 2 27 . Ro s n M - tuart of Rot esa n o ar Ann . Lor 1 bi , y , 34 36 S h y, d, 53 , 1 1 59, 87 . auveur s um du B on 1 S , A yl , 93 W ti ’ 1 . a er s u 6 1 00 1 94 Cl b, 5 , , 32,
cott Sir Walter 10 1 1 8. S , , 3. 37, 3 — W l M . e n ton Du 1 ear e rs. 0 of 1 2 S l , , 3 33 li g , ke , , 1 39,
on Lo 1 1 1 . 1 1 1 8. Seft , rd, 40, 8 53, 55, 5 W e w n Geor e u ustus estmor an Lor 1 . S l y , g A g , 56. l d, d, 54 ’ eran M r de 1 66- W te s u 1 1 S s, a quise , 1 67, hi Cl b, 95, 37, 42 . Worc r - 1 80. este Lor , d, 87 88 . e mour S y , Miss Georgiana, 1 1 1 1 Yarmout 4, 5. h, Lord, 1 89. eri an c ar B ri ns e Yor re er ca uchess of Sh d , Ri h d l y, k, F d i , D , 1 8 1 0 1 2 1 20 1 22- 1 2 1 1 2 4 , 5 , 9, 9 . , 4, 49, 5 , 1 92
1 99