This Duke of Cumberland (born 1744, died 1790) was the reverse of estimable in character. He was a confirmed gambler, and never missed a great horse-race when he was in England. In 1770 Lord Grosvenor brought an action against him, and obtained £10,000 damages from him on account of Lady G.; and in 1771 he married Lady Anne Luttrell, the widow of Mr. Christopher Horton, of Derbyshire, a lady much older than himself. This so enraged George III. that he forbade them the Court, and he sent a message to Parliament, recommending a legislative provision for preventing any of the Royal Family marrying without the consent of the King. Hence arose The Royal Marriage Act (12 George III., c. xi.), which was passed in 1772. By this Act none of the descendants of George II., unless of foreign birth, can marry under the age of twenty-five without the consent of the King. At and after that age, after twelve months' notice given to the Privy Council, they may contract such marriage, which shall be good unless both Houses of Parliament disapprove. Walpole gives us a ballad on the Marriage Act, a few verses of which I reproduce: 'THE MARRIAGE ACT NOT MADE BY THE LATE KING. 'A NEW BALLAD. * * * * * 'The Duke was restored to his brother's high favour, And continued, as usual, his wanton behaviour; For adultery at Court was not thought an unfitness, As a twice married maiden of honour can witness. 'But Hymen, indignant to see his laws broke, Determined to bend the loose youth to his yoke; So a votary true, a bright widow, he chose, And the pert little Prince was soon caught in the noose. 'But, oh! all ye Gods, who inspire ballad-singers, Ye Muses, with nine-times-ten ivory fingers, I invoke ye to guide both my voice and my pen, While I sing of the fury that seized King and Queen. 'King and Queen, when they heard how th'undutiful whelp Had disgraced the great houses of Mecky and Guelp, Swore and cried, curs'd and fainted, and calling for Bute, Of your Luttrell connexion, cried George, see the fruit. 'This Irish alliance my projects all bilks, I'd as lief he had married the daughter of Wilkes; While to humour my mother and you I conspire, I am out of the frying-pan into the fire. * * * * * 'From the Duke's breach of duty, my act shall receive The highest-flown doctrines of prerogative; Plantagenets, Tudors, nay, Stuarts I'll quote, And what law cannot prove, shall be proved by a vote. 'To marry, unmarry, son, brother, or heir, Has been always his right, our good King shall declare; Though as far from the truth as the north from the south, It is not the first lie we have put in his mouth.