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
characteristics of his mind, which was a simplicity approaching to
austerity, and an exemption from party, or even popular prejudices. His
life in all respects strictly corresponded with his principles, and
was unstained by vice or even by weakness of any kind; his death was
regarded as a public loss. He died in 1784, unmarried, aged 57, and
with him ended the last line of the illustrious family of Saville. He
was a collateral descendant of the Marquis of Halifax, to whose estates
his father had succeeded.--E.
[421] This house, in which James Earl Waldegrave died, has again become
remarkable by a club created there in 1769 by several ladies of first
rank; the first public female club ever known, and which gave great
offence, though the ladies were almost all of distinguished virtue.
Nor, though the age was notorious for divorces, though most of the
female members were of the greatest beauty, and though most of the
young men of fashion were of the club, did any scandal happen from
that society. Even gaming, which at that time raged to so enormous a
degree, went to no great lengths there. So that vice and satire, which
prevailed so exceedingly, did not always meet where they deserved to
meet. The King and Queen marked their disapprobation of the club, while
Lord Despenser, Lord Talbot, and Lord Pembroke were in place, while
Lady Berkeley was of the bedchamber to the Princess Dowager, though
her husband, Lord Clare, had disavowed her last child, and while Miss
Chudleigh had remained Maid of Honour to her, though she had owned her
marriage with Captain Hervey to her Royal Highness, till she openly
married the Duke of Kingston, though Hervey was alive; and was received
by all the Royal Family as Duchess, after having been publicly kept by
the Duke as his mistress. No wonder the sanctity of the Court passed
for hypocrisy.
[422] For an account of this debate, see Chatham Correspondence, vol.
ii. p. 281.--E.
[423] A graphical description of this Debate is given by the author in
a letter to Lord Hertford, vol. iv. p. 359, of his Correspondence.--E.
[424] For an account of Mr. Grenville’s speech, see James Grenville’s
letter to Mr. Pitt. Chatham Correspondence, vol. ii. p. 285.--E.
[425] Sir Anthony Abdy, Baronet, of Chobham Place, Surrey, had been
brought into Parliament by the Duke of Devonshire, for Knaresborough.
He was a King’s Counsel, in great practice, and likewise a country
gentleman of considerable estate, having inherited the property of his
kinsman Gainsford, the son of Sir Anthony Thomas. He died in 1775.--E.
[426] This speech of General Conway’s appears to have made a great
impression on the House. See the letter cited _supra_.--E.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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