Fitzherbert, Maria Anne, 1756-1837; George IV, King of Great Britain, 1762-1830
'"It is well known that, to an excessive love of music, he added much
real taste as an amateur, and some power as a performer; but his
execution was not particularly good, and Mr. Francis, Sir Philip's
son, with whom he frequently sang, was, sometimes, comically struck
by the loudness of his voice, and his peculiar manner. On one of the
above-mentioned evenings at the Pavilion, his Royal Highness, after
dinner, having proposed music, and being actually engaged in performing
with Mr. Francis and some other person the pretty hunting trio of
'Azioli,' of which the burden is _Ritorneremo a Clori al tramontar
del di_, Mr. Francis suddenly found the full face of the Prince,
somewhat heated by the eagerness of his performance, in immediate
contact with his own; and this circumstance, combined with that of
the loud bass tones in which his Royal Highness was singing the words
_Ritorneremo a Clori_, striking him in some ludicrous point of view,
he became absolutely unable to resist the effect on his nerves, and
burst out laughing. The Prince evidently perceived that his own singing
had produced the unseasonable laughter; but, instead of showing a
displeasure at a rudeness which, however involuntary, would have been
resented by many far less illustrious persons, he only called the
offender to order with the words 'Come, come, Philip!' his countenance
betraying, at the same time, a strong inclination to join in the laugh
himself; and the trio proceeded to a conclusion. Sir Philip (adds his
daughter) by his original humour, and great powers of conversation,
was, often, the life of the Pavilion; though his temperate habits made
the excesses occasionally committed at the Prince's table distasteful
to him; and his royal host, perceiving him ready to drop asleep when
the revels were long protracted, would say, 'We must carry grandpapa
away to bed.'"'
The same ready good humour is shown in a pleasant scene which took
place at the Pavilion. Cricket was often played on the lawn, and
the dinner which followed was served in a marquee. On one of these
occasions the Duke of York and Sheridan fell into dispute on some point
of the game. Sheridan at length angrily told the Duke 'that he was not
to be talked out of his opinion there, or anywhere else; and that, at
play, all men were on a par.' The Duke was evidently about to make some
peculiarly indignant reply, when the Prince stood up and addressed them
both.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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