Fitzherbert, Maria Anne, 1756-1837; George IV, King of Great Britain, 1762-1830
'On a sudden, all were seen running towards the orchestra, the whole
garden seemed to be in confusion, and our party, all impatience,
sallied out, those at the farther end of the box, walking over the
table, kicking down the dishes. It seems that the effects of the punch
had not only got into Hooper's head, but had exerted an influence
over his fists, for he was for fighting with everybody. A large ring
was made; and, advancing in a boxing attitude, he threatened to fight
anyone; but all retired before him.
'Felix M'Carthy, a tall, handsome Irishman, well known by everybody at
that time, soon forced his way through the crowd, and collared him, at
the same time saying, "You rascal, you are Hooper the boxer; if you
don't leave the garden this instant, I'll kick you out." The affrighted
crowd, who, before, retreated when he approached them, now came
forward; when Hooper, finding himself surrounded, and hearing a general
cry of "Kick him out," made his retreat as fast as possible, thus
avoiding the fury of those who would not have spared him out of the
gardens, if he had been caught. We found him, at five in the morning,
behind Lord Barrymore's carriage, with the coachman's great coat on,
congratulating himself upon having avoided the vengeance of those to
whom, a short time previously, he had been an object of fear.'[62]
Lord Barrymore met with a sad fate on March 6, 1793, at the early age
of twenty-four. He was an officer in the 2nd or Queen's Regiment, and,
in pursuance of his duty, was escorting some French prisoners to Dover.
He had kindly halted by the wayside, and treated everybody at an inn,
when, on resuming the march, being tired, he got into his curricle,
driven by his servant, he himself smoking a pipe of tobacco. A loaded
gun which was placed between them, slipping down to the bottom of the
carriage, by some mischance went off, and lodged its contents in his
head, the charge entering at his cheek and coming out at the upper part
of his skull. He was buried at Wargrave, and the _Annual Register_ says
of him: 'He died in a few minutes, and so finished a short, foolish,
and dissipated life, which had passed very discreditably to his rank as
a peer, and still more so as a member of society.'
He was succeeded in his title by his brother Henry (Cripplegate), who
had neither the brains nor the _bonhomie_ of Hellgate. He is thus
described by Captain Gronow:[63]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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