Memoirs of the Reign of King George the Third, Volume 1 (of 4) — John Shaqi
Memoirs of the Reign of King George the Third, Volume 1 (of 4)Walpole, Horace
History
Memoirs of the Reign of King George the Third, Volume 1 (of 4)
Walpole, Horace
Great Britain -- History -- 1760-1789; Great Britain -- History -- George III, 1760-1820
The Duke of Richmond,[25] haughty and young, was offended that his
cousin, Colonel Keppel,[26] was removed from Gentleman of the Horse,
which the King destined for one of his own servants. The Duke asked
an audience; but began it with objecting to the distinction paid to
Sir Henry Erskine.[27] This so much disgusted, that the King would not
hear the Duke on the subject of Keppel. On cooler thoughts, Lord Bute
was sent to the Duke, to offer him to be of the King’s Bedchamber.
He accepted it, on condition that Keppel should remain Gentleman of
the Horse, which was likewise granted. But this pacification lasted
few days. Lord Fitzmaurice,[28] a favourite of Lord Bute, was made
Equerry to the King; though inferior in military rank to Lord George
Lenox[29] and Charles Fitzroy,[30] brothers of the Dukes of Richmond
and Grafton. The latter[31] had been of the Bedchamber to the King,
when Prince, but had quitted it, from dislike of Court attendance, and
disgusted with the haughty stateliness affected by Lord Bute. Richmond
and Grafton were much of an age; each regarded himself as Prince of
the Blood; and emulation soon created a sort of rivalship between
them. The Duke of Richmond’s figure was noble, and his countenance
singularly handsome. The Duke of Grafton was low, but manly, and with
much grace in his address. The passions of both were strong, but of the
first, ardent; of the latter, slow and inflexible. His temper was not
happy; but the Duke of Richmond’s, which was thought worse, because
more impetuous, was pliant, and uncommonly easy and accommodating
in his family and society. Both were thought avaricious; but the
latter very unjustly, generally approaching nearer to the opposite
extreme of profusion. His parts, too, were quicker and more subtle
than Grafton’s and more capable of application, though his elocution
was much inferior. The Duke of Grafton had a grace and dignity in his
utterance that commanded attention, and dazzled in lieu of matter; and
his temper being shy and reserved, he was supposed to be endued with
more steadiness than his subsequent conduct displayed. Neither of them
wanted obstinacy; but their obstinacy not flowing from system, it was
in both a torrent more impetuous in its course than in its duration.
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