CHAPTER XII

ENGLAND

[Sidenote: 1833. October.]

At what time of the year is England not enjoyable!

My father had taken 12 Berkeley Square, which had an excellent dining-room. He had also the Stud House in the Home Park. My kind host of many years, the Duke of Sussex, was on a visit to Lord Dinorben.

[Sidenote: Oct. 25.]

An invitation from Colonel and Mrs. Grey--she was a sister of Lady Dinorben--and an offer of mounts, besides the probability of meeting my father, decided me on going to Brighton. I found the Greys such a bright and cheery family.

On our returning, after my first day with the harriers, Colonel Grey spotted royal outriders. We had only time to pull up and off hats when the King passed.

On getting home, I found an invitation to dine at the Pavilion, where I was glad to meet my father, who seemed to enjoy his active life. There were fine buildings in Calcutta, but the Pavilion beat them.

Both Majesties were present. They must have noticed my nervousness, and were kind in proportion.

The dining-hall was a magnificent room. High up in each corner were huge golden dragons that appeared to float, but how supported I could not make out.

As my kind host and hostess showed no signs of being bored, and my mounts appeared rather to improve, I held on to my comfortable quarters.

[Sidenote: Nov.]

One morning, when strolling near the Pavilion, I observed His Majesty at the front-door, wrapped up for a drive, probably to enjoy the open downs. I disappeared behind a projection from which I could not retreat.

After a few minutes the carriage drove up, coachman in plain clothes, no other servant. Before His Majesty got in, he addressed the coachman in strong naval language. The man showed no more symptoms of vitality than if he were a coat stuffed with straw.

The King, after more nautical expressions, shook his fist, and told the coachman that he would report him to the Master of the Horse--a threat His Majesty did not carry out.

Although the Duke of Sussex had recently returned to London, he was too fond of shooting to miss a good day at Holkham, where a party had assembled--woodcocks in plenty--and I accompanied him.

Beyond the hour and place of meet, there was no particular arrangement.

I was in the carriage with the Duke, and a good deal of firing was going on when we arrived at the covert side.

His Royal Highness had a new shooting-coat, with pockets enough to hold many birds. While getting out of the carriage, a shower of shot descended on the Prince’s hat and coat. He was excited, and seemed anxious to find out who the culprit was.

[Sidenote: Nov 23.]

Luckily, I had not left the carriage, but my nephew, Archie MacDonald, was not far off, and it was in vain he tried to assure His Royal Highness that his gun had not been fired.

Fox Maul,[4] an old Holkham favourite, forced his way out of the covert, and addressed the Duke to the effect that Archie was very nervous, and felt severely his rebuke, at the same time expressing how grateful he should feel if His Royal Highness took no further notice of the peppering he received, Fox Maul being the real culprit.

[4] Afterwards Lord Panmure.

Among the guests I remember the following: Lord and Lady Tavistock, Earls Jermyn and Talbot, Lord and Lady Braybrooke, Lord and Lady Suffield, Sir Ronald Ferguson, Sir Charles Clarke the famous doctor, Mr. and Mrs. Stanhope.

[Sidenote: 1834. January.]

On the return of the Duke from a short visit to Lord Lichfield, I again joined him, and towards the end of the month left for Kinmel, where we remained during Christmas and New Year, returning to London on January 24.

It would be possible to fill a volume of shore reminiscences, but as I am writing the life of a sailor, much that might be interesting must be omitted.

[Sidenote: October.]

Until the opening of the London season, their Majesties held Court at Brighton. Almack’s balls were held there from October till February, and the Grenadier Guards gave balls at the Albion.

[Sidenote: Feb.]

The Court having removed to London, I attended the first levee at St. James’s on February 21. Taking advantage of the entrée accorded my father (the rules being less strict than now), I was able to converse with Prince Talleyrand, getting old, with gray hair falling over his shoulders. Among the leaders of fashion were Count D’Orsay and my kinsman, Tom Anson.

[Sidenote: March.]

The Stud House suited my father; he was fond of dogs, and Berkeley Square did not afford sufficient exercise.

Hampton Court was close by. The family of Admiral Sir George Seymour occupied the southern wing of the Palace. Although Sir George had led a sailor’s life from boyhood, there was no more aristocratic-looking man in the peerage. I had his biography by heart.

It was as a Lieutenant on board Rear-Admiral Cochrane’s ship, the _Northumberland_, 74, February 6, 1806, in the action off St. Domingo, that a grape shot carried away several teeth. The wound, instead of disfiguring, rather added interest to his handsome face. Sir George married, 1811, Georgina Mary, second daughter of Admiral Hon. Sir George Berkeley. I frequently dined and enjoyed much pleasant intercourse with the family.

[Sidenote: Mar. 10.]

His Majesty, with a large party, came from Windsor to inspect the stud and paddocks at Hampton Court. The Master of the Horse had no difficulty in finding me a mount. It was a fine day, and everybody enjoyed himself.

On entering the gates, the King addressed the keeper by saying: “Mr. Worley, Eclipse, you and I were born in the same year.” Whether perfectly correct or not, the compliment was the same, and pleased everybody.

[Sidenote: Mar. 12.]

His Majesty held a levee. I was fond of these ceremonies, and accompanied the Master of the Horse where I might.

[Sidenote: April 17.]

Almack’s balls were removed from Brighton to Willis’s Rooms, St. James’s.

[Sidenote: May.]

The Maynard family from Paris created a sensation. They were not only uncommonly handsome, but peculiar. They had a brother in the Blues, whose friendship I established; but in the middle of my little game I found myself appointed to the command of the _Childers_, 16, which my brother-in-law, Harry Stephenson, had obtained for me through his friend the Hon. George Dundas, a Sea Lord. One of the signatures to my appointment was that of Sir Thomas Hardy. I think my kind patron felt the wrong he had done His Majesty’s service, as he recommended my not appearing at the Admiralty, and, as the Board were kind enough to allow me to nominate the commissioned officers, there was no occasion to go there.

[Sidenote: May 17.]

Sir James Graham presented me at the levée on my appointment to the _Childers_.

##