' '\, \/^^^";iV'• iVs 41 i r^%^>'*^s;s^Y5»^i 1^7 . V -•-■>-'! 5\Ny si- V. ;<: "& II Olorn^U llttiufratt^ ICtbrarg BOUGHT WITH THE INCOME OF THt SAGE ENDOWMENT FUND THE GIFT OF 1 891 'A-3M1QI }6iJj/^:__ 93°« The date sho^s when this volume was taken. To renew this book copy the call No. and give to Ihs hbrarian. A.». m HOME USE RULES A1>Rl3^1960Af .• f£Bin%^JB ,t JAN 27 mi All fiooks subject to Recall All borrowers must regis- ter in the library to borrow books for home use. All books must be re- turned at end of college year for inspection and repairs. Limited books must be re- turned within the four week limit and not renewed. Students must return all books before leaving town. Officers should arrange for return of books wanted during their absence from town. Volumes of periodicals And of pamphlets are held ill the library as much as possible. For special pur- poses they are given out for a limited time. Borrowers should not use their library privileges for the benefit of other persons. Books of special value and gift books, when the giver wislies it, are not allowed to circulate. Readers are asked tore- port all cases of books marked or mutilated. ^ Do not deface books by marks and writing. CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY ID 1 3 V, I »-l ■•-•, ■*} .i/ Cornell University Library The original of tiiis bool< is in tine Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924082174206 ST JAMES'S PALACE VOL. I. (^ % ^ 1 MEMOEIALS OF ST JAMES'S PALACE BY EDGAE SHEPPAED, :^r.A. II SUB-DEAN OP H.M. CHAPELS ROYAL HON. CHAPLAIN TO THE QUEEN AND H.B.H. THE J1UKE OF 0AM;UII1)<;E IN TWO VOLUMES VOL. L LONDON LONGMANS, GEEEN, AND CO. AND NEW YORK : 15 EAST 16"' STREET 1894 A II rights reseri id 73V pi 3 ^5'/ V. I ■ ^\SL^\0\ DEDICATED BY GRACIOUS PEKMISSION HEE MAJESTY THE QUEEN PREFACE The Royal Palace of St. James's has many important claims to public interest ; the character and antiquity of the building, and its associations both personal and historical, cannot but attract every British subject, and stimulate the curiosity of visitors who are aliens to our shores. Yet, strange to say, its story has never been narrated in continuous detail, nor have the records of its history been published in any complete and convenient form. By the gracious permission of Her Majesty the Queen, I dedicate this chronicle of the Palace of St. James's to its Royal and Imperial Mistress. Happily, the chronicle is rather joyous than tragic, for there is more of gaiety than of disaster associated with this venerable home of English Kings and Queens. The history of St. James's must, from its very nature, necessarily be a compilation ; but even com- X ST. JAMES'S PALACE pilation is no light task in a case like this, where the material has to be gathered from such wide and varied sources. It has been my object to illustrate not only thelives of Royal residents within the historic building, but also the character of the events, persons, cere- monies, and treasures of art, which, in the course of more than three centuries, have been more or less closely associated with the palace. To collect, arrange, and co-ordinate the facts which are grouped within the following pages has cost me the labour of more than five years. Nor could I have hoped to bring the task to a conclusion without the access, which I have been privileged to obtain, to innumerable documents and official records, and without the valuable assist- ance that I have constantly received from the numerous kind friends who have aided me in this undertaking. First and foremost, I desire to offer my grateful thanks to Sir Spencer Ponsonby Fane, K.C.B., who has been unceasing in his efforts to render me assist- ance ; and, secondly, to all the officials at the Lord Chamberlain's Office, who have helped me in every possible way. I wish also to acknowledge the kind services of Mr. March and Mr. George Courroux, of the Lord Steward's Department, as well as those of the Librarian of the Oxford and Cambridge Club (Mr. PREFACE xi INIynott), to whose valuable aid I am indebted for several facts recorded in tWs history. I beg also to express my thanks for the assist- ance of Mr. F. Hellard, of the Office of Woods and Forests ; of Mr. Taylor and Mr. Wilkie, of the Office of Works ; and of Mr. John Richards, for much information concerning the wall-paintings at Marl- borous^h House. My grateful acknowledgments are likewise due to Colonel the Hon. W. J. Colville, C.B., formerly Comptroller and Treasurer in the Household of their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, and now Master of the Ceremonies, for information relating not only to Clarence House, but also to the Yeomen of the Guard, of which corps he is Lieutenant. To Sir Sydney Webb, K.C.M.G., Deputy Master of the Trinity House, and to the late Mr. Inglis, the Secretary of that Corporation, for permission to search its records, and for assistance in so doing, I have to acknowledge repeated obligations. The interesting letter relating to the plate in the Chapel Royal was kindly sent to me by Mr. Wilfrid Cripps, C.B., after inspection of the pieces : it is the contribution of a learned specialist on the sub- ject. Sir Charles Robinson, also, Her Majesty's Sur- veyor of Pictures, has been so good as to give XU ST. JAMES'S PALACE information concerning the pictures and objets cTart in the galleries of the palace, and to supervise the chapter under that heading. The illustrations, which form a striking feature in the work, are derived from various sources. Her Majesty the Queen has graciously permitted me to make use of prints contained in the Royal collec- tion at Windsor, and Mr. Holmes, F.S.A., the Queen's Librarian at Windsor Castle, has given me the in- valuable assistance of his judgment in the selection of those which were most suitable to the purpose. Mr. Holmes has also been most assiduous and suc- cessful in his endeavours to unravel much that happened in the past, and to make clear sevei-al doubtful points of history. To the kindness of Mr. J. E. Gardner I am also most deeply indebted. JS^ot only has he allowed me to inspect his rare and unique collection of engravings, but he has also given me leave to take copies of several of the treasui-es which his taste and unrivalled knowledge of the subject have enabled him to accumulate. Many thanks are offered to him, as well as to Mr. Arnold Eoyle, C.B., and Mr. Maclean, of the Robes Office, and to Mr. Payne, late Gentleman of Her Majesty's Wine Cellars. Further, I desire to express my great indebtedness to His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, PEEFACE xm K.G., for the loan of some valuable books ; to the late Lord Chamberlain (the Earl of Lathom, G.C.B.), and to the late Lord Steward (the Earl of Mount- Edge umbe), for leave to inspect the old records in their several departments ; to the late Mr. E. Culley, C.B., and Sir Nigel Kingscote, for the access which they afforded me to the papers in their custody at the Oifice of Woods and Forests ; to the Marquis of Win- chester, and General Sir Frederick Stephenson, K.C.B., for much interesting information respecting the Guard Room of the palace ; to Colonel H. H. Oldham (Lieu- tenant) for permission to inspect the books of refer- ence in the offices of the Gentlemen-at-Arms ; as well as to Colonel Stapleton Cotton and ]\Iajor Brackenbury for their kindness in giving me all possible assistance in the investigation of this subject ; to Lady Sarah Spencer for the loan of a book issued only for private circulation ; to General Sir Henry Ponsonby, G.C.B., for his aid on various occasions ; to the Hon. R. ^Marsham for the communication of many details respecting the history of Sydney House ; to Sir Albert Woods, K.C.M.G., Garter King of Arms, for placing all books in his department at my disposal ; to Mr. J. D. Grace for his notes on tapestry ; to Mr. Emery Walker for his opinion on the relative value of different engravings ; to Mr. J. G. Fleary for in- formation respecting the drama ; and to Mr. Weber, XIV ST. JAMES'S PALACE Organist at the German Chapel, for the loan of a book containing much valuable information. To Mr. Barlow, the Queen's Armourer at the Tower, I owe the opportunity of giving so full an account of the old armour of the palace. Mr. Jekjrll and Dr. Creser, the late and present Organists of the Chapel Royal, have taken much pains to give information in their special department. To the officials of the British Museum and of the Record Office, as well as to all who have assisted me in the compilation of this book — and they are many — I beg to return my'most grateful thanks. There are many others, besides those who ai-e individually or collectively mentioned, to whose assistance I fesl myself deeply indebted. They will, I trust, accept this general acknowledgment of grate- ful thanks from one who will never forget the uniform kindness which he has received from all whom he has encountered in his search for a true history of this ancient Palace of St. James's. EDGAE SHEPPAED. October 1894. CONTENTS T.HE FIEST VOLUME PART I CHAPTER I. ST. James's palace 11. ST. James's paek III. HOUSES CONTIGUOUS TO THE PALACE . IV. EOYAL AND OTHER ~ EBSIDENTS IN ST. JAMES'S PALACE V. CHARLES I. A PRISONER AT ST. JAMBS'S VI. THE STATE APARTMENTS OP THE PALACE VII. SOME COURT OFFICIALS .... VIII. GENTLEMEN-AT-ARMS IX. THE YEOMEN OP THE GUARD X. ANCIENT HOUSEHOLD EEQULATIONS AT ST. JAMES'S XI. THE PROCLAMATION OF THE SOVEREIGN AT ST JAMES'S XII. INVESTITURES AT THE PALACE .... XIII. TOUCHING FOE THE ' KING'S EVIL ' XIV. LEVEES AND DRAWING ROOMS .... XV. CEEEMONIALS, ENTEETAINMBNTS, AND VARIOUS COUET FUNCTIONS XVI. CEEEMONIALS, ENTERTAINMENTS, ETC. {cOflt.) . XVII. NEW TEAR AND BIRTHDAY FESTIVITIES AT COUET 1 15 34 62 106 125 134 149 161 170 189 198 204 210 232 253 266 XVI ST. JAMES'S PALACE CHAPTER TAGK XVIII. THE DRAMA AT ST. JAMBS'S .... 278 XIX. GAMBLING AT ST. JAMES'S PALACE . . . . 288 XX. DISTINGUISHED FOEEIGN GUESTS AT ST. JAMES's PALACE 295 XXI. ECCENTEIC VISITOES AT THE PALACE . . . 820 XXII. THE PALACE GHOST 335 XXIII. THE HBEEDITAEY PEIVILEGE OP LOED KING- SALE 340 XXIV. UNEULY MOBS AND INDIVIDUALS AT ST. JAMES's . 345 XXV. AET TEBASUEBS OF CHAELES I. . . . . 351 XXVI. THE PICTUEBS IN THE STATE APARTMENTS . . 361 XXVII. THE AEMOUE IN THE STATE APAETMENTS . . 369 XXVIII. LIBEAEIBS 872 XXIX. THE GUAED EOOM AT ST. JAMBS'S . . . 388 XXX. THE WINE CELLAES OF THE PALACE . . . 398 XXXI. OUTBEEAKS OF FIEE WITHIN THE PALACE WALLS 402 XXXII. RESIDENTS IN THE PALACE DUEING THE PEESENT REIGN 410 XXXIII. RATING OP ST. JAMES's PALACE . . . . 481 LIST OF TLLUSTBATIONS IN THE FIEST VOLUME Engraved by Messes. Walker & Boutall COPPEB PLATES The JIaeriage of H.M. the Queen to H.B.H. Prince Albert Frontispiece From a picture by Sir Arthur Hayter, B.A., in the Corridor in Windsor Castle. Henry Prince of Wales, Son of James I. . . To face i). 66 From a picture hy Van Somer in the Picture Gallery of St. James's Palace. Queen Anne (op Denmaek) „ 206 From a picture hy Paul Van Somer in Queeti Anne's Boom, St. James's Palace. Charles II. when Young „ 288 From, a picture hy Adrian Sannemann in the Picture Gallery, St. James's Palace. OTHER FULL-PAGE PLATES St. James's Palace, circa 1660 .... Fro?n an original drawing by Hollar in the collec- tion of J. B. Gardner, Esq., F.S.A. St. James's Palace From an etching hy Hollar in the collection of J. E. Gardner, Esq., F.S.A. St. James's Palace from the South From, an original drauing by Gosselin [ciVca 1690], in the collection of J. F. Gardner, Esq., F.S.A. VOL. I. XVIU ST. JAMES'S PALACE A View of St. James's Palace Gate-way, looking TOWARDS Pall Mall To face p. 8 FrOTn an engraving hy E. Booker, 1766, after a drawing hy Paul Sandhy. NoETH Front, St. James's Palace, before 1766 „ 10 From an original draiuing in the collection of J. E. Gardner, Esq., F.S.A. Promenade in St. James's Park, 1793 ... „ 16 From an engraving by F. D. Soiron, after a drawing hy Edward Dayes. South-east Front, St. James's Palace ... „ "2,0 From a water-colour draicing made in IS^iV hy J. C. Buckler. Grace collection. St. James's House, 1725 ,, 24 Frotn a7i engraving hy J. Kijp, after L. Knyjf. Garden Front, St. James's Palace, 1894 ... „ 26 The Eoyal Palace of St. James's .... „ 30 From a^rint engraved hg J. Siurt, after a draioi7ig hy Mohert Ingish [1714]. Marlborough House ,. 38 From a print hy Sutton NichoUs [1741], North Front, Marlborough House ... ,, 40 From a water-colour drawing made in 1827 hy J. C. Buckler. Grace collection. Garden Front, Marlborough House ... ,, 42 From a water-colour drawing made in 1827 hy J. C. Buckler. Grace collection. The Pursuit of the Enemy after the Battle of Ramillies ........ „ 44 From an engraving after a picture hy Eaguerre at Marlhorough Souse. York House (now Stafford House) .... „ 52 From a water-colour drawing made in 1856 hy T. H. Shepherd. Grace collection. The Reception of H.E.H. the Prince of Orange (afterwards King William III.) at St. James's on his entering London . „ 78 From a print hy B. D. Sooge, 1688. The Tapestry Room ^^ 126 Queen Anne's Drawing Room ..... „ 128 The Drawing Room ^^ XgO The Throne Room, St. James's Palace . . . 132 ILLUSTRATIONS IN VOLUME I xix Minuet de la Coue To face p. 244 From an Indian^ink drawing dated 1781 at Windsor Castle. The Picttjee Galleey The Aemouky Room The Enteanoe to the Couktyaed, St. James's Palace : Soldiees mounting Guaed, circa 1760 Plan of the Palace in 1894 From a loater-colour drawing made in 1827 hy J. 0. Buckler. Grace collection. 364 370 394 410 Ambassadoes' Couet, St. James's Pal.vck . . ., 414 From a water-colour drawing made in 1827 hy J. G. Biichler. Grace collection. Flagstaff Couet, St. James's Palace 425 ILLUSTBATIONS IN TEXT I'AUJi Leaben Pipe-head outside the Aemouey Room on East Side, facing the Peiaky Couet 7 The Queen's Chapel, circa 1690 9 From, the original in Crowle's Pennant, British Museum. Plan of Maelboeough House and Gaeden in 1760 . . 43 Engraved from- plan of Marlborough Souse to Surveyor- General's Beport in 1760 in Tnemorial of George DuJce of Marlborough, praying for the grant of a renewed lease of Marlborough House, in the Office of Woods and Forests. GoDOLPHiN House, Stable Yaed, St. James's (pulled down 1825) 51 From a drawing by T. H. Shepherd in the Grace collection. Paet of a Plan showing Alteeations peoposed in St. James's Paek 59 From a report of the Gommissioners of Woods and Forests made to Farliament in 1829. St. James's Palace and Sueeoundings : Paet of a Plan dated 1769 of the Bailiwick op St. James's . . . 77 Frotn a drawnplan in the Office of Woods and Forests. Coenee of Fieeplace in Old Peesence Chambee, with Initials of Heney and Anne in Spandeel . . . 129 XX ST. JAMES'S PALACE Queen Anne receiving the Commissionbes foe the Union AT St. James's Palace, 1706 233 From a mezzotint by Valentine Green from a contemporary pic- ture. Presentation of an Address from the House of Commons IN 1766 240 From a print at Windsor Castle. George III. receiving the Turkish Ambassador at St. James's Palace 245 From a pirint published in 1797. Birthday Ball, June 4, 1782 267 Arrival of Marie de Medicis at the Court of St. James's, October 1638 297 From a rare print in the collection of J. F. Gardner, Esq., F.S.A. Visit of the Lord Mayor and Corporation to Marie de Medicis at the Court of St. James's .... 299 From a rare print in the collection of J. E. Gardner, Esq., F.S.A. The Presence Chamber, during the Eesidence of Marie de Medicis 300 From a rare print in the collection of J. E. Gardner, Esq., F.S.A. Visit of Members of the Privy Council to Marie de Medicis 301 From a rare print in the collection of J. E. Gardner, Esq., F.S.A. JIargaret Nicholson's Attempt on the Life of the King, August 2, 1786 325 From an engravitig by Bobert Pollard of a picture painted by Robert Sviirhe. Margaret Nicholson . ' 327 From a drawing in the possession of J. E. Gardner, Esq., F.S.A., made whilst she was in confinement. The King's Library in St. James's Park 385 From a, print in the Grace collection [1731]. The Dutch Guard Koom 339 From a print in the collection of J. E. Gardner, Esq., F.S.A. ST. JAMES'S PALACE PABT I CHAPTER I ST. JAMES's PALACE St. James's Palace, a building which has been connected with some of the greatest events in the history of our country, was in olden times known by various names, such as ' James's House,' ' The House in the Fields,' and ' The King's Manor House.' But its most famihar title ' has been a word of power as long as any living man can remember, and much longer in the memory of history. The Court of St. James's has wielded an influence, more or less direct, over the domestic life of palaces and the deliberations of cabinets. The authority " given at our Court of St. James's " is acknowledged in remoter corners of the globe, and over a wider surface, and by infinitely larger masses of subjects than that of any sovereignty that has ever existed.' ^ ^ St. James's Palace {St. James's Magazine). Bell. VOL. I. B A ST. JAMES'S PALACE The site of the palace, which stands on the north side of St. James's Park, and at the west end of Pall Mall, was originally occupied by a hospital dedicated to St. James the Less, Bishop of Jerusalem. It was a religious foundation, laid by some well-disposed citizens of London, as Tanner says, ' beyond the memory of man, and, as some think, long before the Conquest.' It was intended for the reception of some fourteen leprous maiden sisters, who were to lead a devout life, ' living chastely and honestly in divine service.' ^ This ancient ' spittle for mayden lepers,' ^ as Howel, writing in the middle of the seventeenth century, calls it, formerly stood quite alone. It was surrounded by green fields, and, from all accounts, it would appear that no house or building of any kind had been erected nearer than Charing' Cross, this hospital occupying as it did 'the furthest extremity of the western boundaries of Westminster.' The situation of the Lazar House was, accordino- to one chronicler, ' discreetly chosen, as it was as dreary and lonely as could be desired for the isolation of its inmates.' The exact date of the foundation of this building- is involved in considerable obscurity ; but it is men- tioned in a ^IS. in the Gottonian Library as far back as the year 1100, and is therefore one of the most ancient foundations and one of the oldest buildings in ' Bailey's Antiqidtics of London and Westminster. - Howel's LondinopoUs, p. 365. ST. JAMES'S PALACE o London. From remains of some stone mullions and vax-ious pieces of masonry, discovered in tlie year 1838, when, with a view to its enlargement, parts of the Chapel Royal were taken down, it is evident that the building was of the Norman period. Over this hospital the Abbot of St. Peter's at Westminster exercised visitorial rights, which were most probably grounded on the abbot's claim to the original endowments of the hospital, consisting of two hides of land with their appurtenances, and situated in the parish of St. Margaret, Westminster.^ In the reign of Henry III. the independence of the Abbey of St. Peter's was successfully asserted against the claims of the Bishop of London. The cause had been referred to the arbitration of Stephen Langton, Archbishop of Canterbury, the Bishops of Winchester and Salisbury, and the Priors of Merton and Dunstable, and the arbitrators decided that the abbey was subject immediately to the Pope. This independence was extended to the whole parish of St. Margaret's, with the churches, chapels, and laity dwelling in it, which were ruled to be free from all jurisdiction of the Bishop of London. The right of the abbot to be the visitor of the hospital was, however, soon disputed by a new claimant. Some time afterwards Thomas Henley, the abbot, had a long contest with the King's treasm-er concerning the 1 History and Antiquity of the Abbey Church of St. Peter's, Westminster. Brayley and Neale. 4 ST. JAMES'S PALACE right to visit the Hospital of St. James, then a ' lazar- house ' for lepers. Several abbots had exercised this claim, but as some had likewise been treasurers it was pleaded that they did so in the latter character. This the abbot denied, alleging instances to the contrary, and specially the case of his predecessor William Curtlyngton, who was not King's treasurer, and yet had visited there, made orders, corrected abuses, and im^posed penances upon offenders. In June 1342 the trial came on, a,nd the .jury found for the abbot at once because it was in the parish of St. Margaret's, where the abbots from tfme immemorial always had jurisdiction, which had been con- firmed to them by the Bulls of Pope Clement III., and the abbots had only used visitation power over the hospital. Notwithstanding such a clear verdict, the treasurer intrigued so cunningly as to prevent judgment from being given. The suit was indefinitely protracted, until William de Edynden, the next treasurer, took advantage of Abbot Byrcheston's indolence and irresolution, and finally obtained the right of visitation.' Later on in the history of the hospital, grants of land to a considerable amount were bestowed upon it, and handed over for the benefit of the institution, amounting to an annual value of 56^. The result of this additional endowment was, that a brotherhood was ultimately attached to the hospital, in addition to the fourteen 'mayden sisters ' already there. The new community consisted of eight brethren, of whom six were chaplains, whose duty it was to perform divine service when required. Edward L, we are told, was ' most rigorous against lepers within the bounds of the city.' Yet for these ' Walcott's Memorials of Wesiminster. fm f Ss rn * w i a ■^ -fl Ho ■~ t. H ^. en o ST. JAMES'S PALACE 5 poor afflicted ones outside the city walls lie dis- played great consideration, confirming all the pre- vious gifts, and granting, in the year 1290, the privi- leges and profits of a fair, ' to be held annually on the eve of St. James's Day ' (July 2oth), ' the day follow- ing, and four days after,' the proceeds of which were to be devoted to the maintenance of this charity. The hospital had been rebuilt, in the reign of Henry III., by Berkynge, Abbot of Westminster, and at the same time it was placed under the government of a Master, who revived the old factious spirit, and did his utmost to resist the will and jurisdiction of the abbot. These constant disputes between the convent and the abbey were ultimately put an end to in 1450. In that year Henry VI. granted the perpetual custody of it to Eton College, which 'held it till the time of Henry VIII. Henry VIII., in the twenty-third year of his reign (a.d. 1582), purchased the site of this leper hospital, then vakied at 100/. per annum, from Eton College in exchange for lands at Chattisham, in SutFolk. As soon as the King came into possession of the hospital, the leprous maidens were compounded with, and the old buildino; was demolished. On the site of the charitable institution, which thus shared the fate of other monastic establishments, Henry built a 'goodly manor ' and annexed to it a pai'k, which he enclosed with a wall of brick. He named it St. James's after the hospital which he had purchased and demolished. 'The King,' writes Weever, 'hath new buylded 6 ST. JAMES'S PALACE St. James's in the Fields, a magnificent and goodly house,' words which imply that it was a case of build- ing and not of altering the original hospital.^ It has generally been supposed that the designs for the new palace were prepared by Thomas Cromwell, Earl of Essex. But it is also stated, though the point is open to dispute, that the earl only superintended the erection of the buildings from the plans furnished by Holbein. Nichols in his ' Progresses ' quotes an interesting sketch of the palace made in the time of Queen Elizabeth by Norden, the surveyor. He says : — Not far from this glorious hall [Westminster Hall], another of Her Highnes houses descryeth itself, of a quad- rate forme, erected of brick, the exterior shape whereof, although it appears without any sumptuous or superflous devices, yet is the spot very princelye, and the same with art contrived within and without. It standeth from other buyldinges about two furlongs, having a farme house oppo- site to its north gate. But the situation is pleasant, indued with a good ayre and pleasant prospects. On the east, London offereth itself in view ; in the south, the stately buyldings of "Westminster, with the pleasant park, and the delights thereof; on the north, the green fields. It was buylt by King Henry VIII.^ The Palace was originally built in the mixed style of Gothic architecture which characterised the ag^e of its builder, Henry YIII. Additions and alterations, made by Charles I., Queen Anne, George IE, and ' Ancient Funerall Monuments. John Weever. 1C31. ^ Nichols's Progresses, vol. i. p. 103. ST. JAMES'S PALACE Geoi-ge III., liave greatly changed its external character. But, in addition to much of the ancient brickwork, other traces survive the original structure, such as the ornamental carving over the three external doors in the clock tower, where the initials ' H.R.' are still visible ; the chimney-piece in the Presence Chamber, the ornamental compartments of ■which contain the Tudor badges, and the initials H. and A. ; the six turrets scattered over various parts of the building ; the Tapestry Room ; the Chapel Royal ; ^ and the old fireplace in the sub-dean's vestry of the Cha- pel Royal. Last, but by no means least, there is the red brick clock tower itself, with its four octagon towers, and picturesque gateway, which forms one of the most pre- cious links with the past that London possesses, and yields to no other domestic building in England in the variety and richness of its historical associations. It is this gateway which is represented in the fourth plate of Hogarth's ' Rake's Progress,' and the 1 The date in the Chapel Eoyal roof is ' 1540.' Anne Boleyn was beheaded in 1536. Ko doubt the builders' plans were settled previously, and Holbein must have put the date in the year he iinished his work. LEADEN PIPE-HEAD OUTSIDE THE ARMOURY ROOM ON EAST SIDE, FACING THE FRIARY COURT 8 ST. JAMES'S PALACE carriages and chairs in front of the building belong to the visitors who, in 17o5, crowded to offer their congratulations on the occasion of the birthday of Queen Caroline, wife of George II. It would be no easy matter to trace with any ac- curacy the various changes, structural and otherwise, which have from time to time been effected in the palace itself The difficulty arises in a great measure from the circumstance of a destructive tire within its walls at the commencement of the present century. Many valuable documents which had been long stored at St. James's were consumed in the flames. It is hardly necessary to add that all the records at the public offices are now more minutely kept and attended to than was the case a hundred years ago. The size of the palace, however, in old days must have been very considerable, and of far greater dimen- sions, one would suppose, than at the present day, for the Sicur de la Serre, historiographer of France, in the account which he wrote after his arrival in England with Marie de ]\Iedicis in 1638, says, among other things : — To express the great number of chambers, all covered ■with tapestry and superbly furnished with all manner of furniture, where the Court was to be lodged, without reckoning the other apartments which were reserved, and of which M. le Vise de Fabroni had one of the principal, would be impossible. You shall only know that the Sieur Labat, who continued to execute the office of Quartermaster, had liberty to mark with his chalk fifty separate chambers of entire apartments, and the whole were furnished by the CM O O .5 3 = O ST. JAMES'S PALACE 9 particular commands of the Queen of Great Britain, who seemed to convert all her ordinary diversions into continual cares and attentions to give all sorts of satisfaction to the Queen her motlier. Most of these rooms, if not all of tliem, must have been destroyed in tlie hre jnst referred to, which burnt down the east wing of the palace. In addition to these numberless rooms, the Sieur THE queen's chapel, ci;-fa 1690. (Sketch for loortioii of Completed Drawing on opposite page) From Ih ■ "j-hiin((l in Croirlf^s I\'tinan', Jiril:s/i Museum also speaks of a gallery which was open at both sides of the Queen's Chapel, ' through which lay the way to the Great Chapel, as a place destined for a private walk, and where the mind might be deliciously diverted by the number of rare pictures with which its walls were covered.' Then follows a full account of these pictures, which included among others the ' Twelve Cresars ' by Titian ; the ' Deluge ' by Bassan ; and two pictures l)y the Chevalier A^andheich : viz. the 10 ST. JAMES'S PALACE ' Fainting of the Virgin,' and Charles I. on horseback (in armour), which latter now hangs in the State apartments of Windsor Castle. Opinions have always differed respecting the architectural merits of the palace. Sir John Field- ing, writing in 1776, says : — The buildings that compose this .merely nominal palace (for by all rules of architecture it has no claim to the title) are low, plain, and ignoble, devoid of any exterior beauty to attract and fix the beholder's ej^e. It reflects no honour on the kingdom, and is the jest of foreigners. On the other hand, the Sieur de la Serre was most favourably impressed with the beantj' of the palace, or castle as he calls it, which he describes as situated in the same suburb as that wherein the Castle of Whitehall stands, from which it is distant only the extent of a park that divides them. ... Its great gate has a long street in front, reaching almost out of sight, seeminglj' joining to the fields. The castle is very ancient, very magnificent, and extremely convenient. It is built with brick, according to the fashion of the country, having the roof covered with lead in the form of a floor, surrounded on all sides by ' crenelles,' which serve for an ornament to the whole body of the building. Defoe's opinion coincides with that of Sir John Fielding : — The Palace of St. James's, though the winter receptacle of all the pomp and glory of this kingdom, is really mean in comparison of the glorious Court of Great Britain. The siDlendour of the nobility, the wealth, and greatness of the attendants, and the real grandeur of the whole Eoyal -?■ 'Bl , |Bt B 'S B t,-»|- i H ,6 « atBSSKi. ST. JAMES'S PALACE 11 Family, outdo all the Courts of Europe, and yet this palace comes beneath those of the most petty princes in it.' Eush thinks it would be hard to say to what order of architecture this palace belongs : — The whole is an irregular pile. But the very confusion in its plan, with its antiquity, and the sentinels pacing day and night about it, ministers to the fancy, making amends for its want of good architecture. ^ The tower over the gateway, with its weather- cock in the centre, has for more than two centuries borne a clock. In a print depicting the meeting in the courtyard of St. James between Marie de iledicis and her daughter Henrietta Maria in 1638, the dial of a clock is shown. Parts of this clock tower were carried away by lightning in the reign of James I., twenty years before.' In 1731 the so-called 'brick gatehouse ' bore on its roof the great clock, with its bell, on which was stamped the date a.d. 1731, together with the name of Clay, clockmaker to George II. In 1831, just a century afterwards, the clock was removed when the palace gatehouse was undergoing repairs, and not restored to its place, as the roof was reported unsafe to carry the weight. The inhabitants of the neighbourhood, missing the clock, memorial- ised William IV. for the replacement of the time- ' Defoe's To?;?- through Great Britain. 1778. The name is some- times spelt De-Foe. - Eush's Becollections of the English Court, pp. 116-118. * State. Papers, Domestic Series, vol. 149, par. 48. 12 ST. JAMES'S PALACE keeper. When the king, on inquiring why it was not restored, was told the reason, he shrewdly asked how a roof that Avas reported to be too w^eak to carry the clock, was yet considered safe for the number of persons who mounted it to witness the processions and the company on Drawing Room days. The cal- culation was unanswerable, and the clock was forth- with replaced. A minute hand was at the same time added, and the old wainscot dials, which con- sisted of a great number of very small pieces curiously dovetailed together, w^ere replaced by others of more modern construction.^ The clock, which had been brought down from the clock tower in the year 1831, was taken by com- mand of William I\". to Hampton Court Palace in 1835, where it has remained up to the present time. In the year 1882 the clock which had been put up in 1831 was taken down, and a new one con- structed and erected by Gillet & Co., of Croydon. This clock is made to strike the hours and chiaie the quarters on the three bells already in the tower. It is of massive construction and contains all the latest improvements and inventions, and was inspected by the Astronomer Royal soon after its completion. The frame of the clock is of solid cast iron in one piece, weighing two and a half hundredweight, and measuring six feet in length and two feet in depth. The combined weights for driving the clock amount to fifteen hundredweight, cast in convenient segments ^ Timbs's History of Cluhs and Club Life. ST. JAMES'S PALACE 13 of fifty- six pounds each ; and the cast bob-iron at the foot of the pendulum scales two hundredweight. The total length of line required for supporting the ■weights is 600 feet, and it is of patent steel twisted wire. In addition to being fitted with a ' gravity escapement ' and a ' compensated pendulum,' the clock has what is called a ' remontoire train,' by which means the hands move forward at, and only at, the completion of the thirtieth second, so that if need be the exact moment of time may be recorded ; and further to facilitate this, the dial is divided into 120 half- minute spaces, alternately black and white. The pendulum is twelve feet long, and occupies two seconds to each beat, and by being made of zinc and iron tubes compensates the variations of temperature, the one expanding when the other contracts. The dial, facing St. James's Street, which was illuminated by gas in the year 1882, is seven feet six inches across, and is made of cast iron, all in one piece, and glazed with patent opal glass for the purpose of illumination.^ The diameters of the three great wheels of the clock measure twelve, fourteen, and fourteen inches respectively, and are of solid gun- metal, and turned, cut, and polished by machiner3^ There is also an automatic gas apparatus on the clock, which turns the gas up and down night and morning. In the spi'ing of the present year (1894) the clock-works over the palace gateway were thoroughly ' This clock face was perforated for the figures and re-used for the new arrangement. The initials ' \X. B.' and the date ' 1832 ' are preserved. 14 ST. JAMES'S PALACE overhauled and cleaned, a new glass dial-plate being affixed to the St. James's Street fronting. The vane on the summit of the palace was also regilded. It may be interesting to mention at the close of this chapter that in February 1731 a printing press was set up in St. James's Palace. Several members of the Royal Family were instructed in the art of printing by no less a person than Samuel Palmer, an adept in the art, and the author of a history of printing. 15 CHAPTER II ST. James's park There can be no doubt that the public ' are princi- pally indebted to the Kings Henry VIII. and Charles II. for this addition to their pleasures ;'^ George lY., however, in 1827, greatly improved St. James's Park, and two years later threw open the enclosure to the public."^ Originally what we now call St. James's Park was nothing more than a marshy field. But, in the year 1537, King Henry enclosed it, and having drained it, laid it out with walks as a pleasure ground to his new palace at St. James's. Hall the chronicler wrote thus, in 1532, on the origin of St. James's Park and Palace : — Ye have hearde before how the Kyng had purchased the Bishop of York's place, which w-as a fayre Bysshop's house, but not meete for a Kyng, wherefore the Kyng pur- chased all the nieadowes about St. James's, and all the whole house of St. James's, and there made a fayre mansion, and a Parke, and buylded many costly and com- modious houses for great pleasure. •■ Malcolm's Londinium Eedivivum. - In the year 1822 the principal roads in the park were first lighted by gas, and the entrance into the park by Carlton steps opened in 1831. 16 ST. JAMES'S PALACE A curious account, bearing on this same subject, may be gathered from the Parliamentary Surveys in the possession of the Office of Woods and Forests. These Surveys the writer examined, wlien investi- gating the documents in that office, and from them transcribed the following passages : — Survey of a certain Garden plot, lying on the South side of St. James's Park wall, now Gardener's land, in the Parish of St. Margaret's, Westminster, in the County of Middlesex, part of the possessions of Charles Stuart, late King of England, made and taken by us, whose names are hereunto subscribed, in the month of February 1652, by virtue of a Commission grounded upon an Act of the Commons of England in Parliament assembled for the sale of the House Mansion and lands heretofore belonging to the late King. All that small garden plott lying near Gardener's land, in the Parish of St. Margaret's aforesaid, now in the occu- pation of Christopher Thomlinson, Apothecary, being very well stored with figg trees, cherry trees, Apricock trees, vines, and other fruit trees ; bounded with St. James's Park wall aforesaid, north, the Common Sewer, which divideth it from another garden in the said Christopher Thomlinson's possession, at which end it is eighteen foot broad, or thereabouts, and so growing narrower ; at the west end thereof is about four feet broad, containing, by estimation, three Perches, worth by the year forty shillings. The aforesaid premises are in present possession of the Commonwealth, and is the discovery of John Johas of London, merchant, and Henry Thornton of Westminster, Gentleman. The premises are entered in the Surveyor- General's Book of Discoveries, folio (46), 17 September, 1652, by me, John Dennis. In the reign of James L, the park appears to 'X W ST. JAMES'S PARK 17 have been stocked with wild-fowl. In 1605 his Majest_v gave orders, dated from Greenwich, to Sir Thomas Knyvet, who at that time was Warden of the Mint, ' to pay from monies in his hands, the expenses of certain houses and defences for orange trees, and for keeping of the dacks in St. James's Park which he Avas appointed to make.' ^ In this reign also there must have been certam officials connected with the park and in charge of it, for among the ' Calendar of State Papers (Domestic Series),' under date December 26th, 1603, is a warrant to Sir John Stanhope, Vice- Chamberlain and Treasurer of the Chamber, to pay to Richard Hampton, who had been appointed mole taker in St. James's Park, ' the fee of foLirpence a day and twenty shillings yearly for livery.' ' Later on in the reign of Charles II., in 1660, Dr. Robert Morrison was appointed Botanical Physician and chief Herbalist to the King, with the Physical Gardens in St. James's Park Fields for medicinal plants. He was also appointed over- seer, director and gardener of the Privy Gardens at St. James's.^ In 1664, Evelyn tells us in his 'Diary' how that he went ' to the Physicke Garden in St. James's Parke,' where he ' first saw orange trees and other fine trees.' It seems all but impossible at the present day to fix the exact position of these gardens. They appear to have stretched eastward as far as the ' Domestic Series, vol. xiii. (James I.), April 16th, 1605. - Vol. xxsv. par. 63. Addenda. ^ Domestic Series (Charles II.), May 1660. VOL. I. C 18 ST. JAMES'S PALACE spot where now stands the Duke of York's column. The Sieur de hx Serre speaks of two grand gardens, one with parterres of different figures, bordered on every side by a hedge of box, carefully culti- vated by the hands of a skilful gardener : and in order to render the walls on both sides which enclosed it apjjear the more agreeable, all sorts of fine flowers were there sowed. . . . The other garden, which was adjoining, and of the same extent, had divers walks, some sanded and others of grass, but both bordered on both sides with an infinity of fruit trees, which rendered walking so agreeable that one could never be tired. One of the gardens w^as, he says, ' bounded on one side by a long covered gallery, grated in the front, where one may see the rarest wonders of Italy in a great number of stone and bronze statues.' These gardens were in existence in the reign of Queen Anne, and on part of them Marlborough House is built. They were hedged in, at the time of the visit of the Sieur de la Serre, by a great park with many walks, all covered by the shade of an infinite number of oaks, whose antiquity is extremely agreeable, as they are rendered the more impervious to the rays of the sun. In this park Charles I., as well as James L, maintained a menagerie. The Sieur writes of it as filled not only with tame but also with wild animals. He quaintly goes on to say that as it was the ordinary walk of the ladies of the Court, their gentleness had so tamed these animals that ' they all yield to the force of their attractions, rather than to the pursuit ST. JAMES'S PARK 19 ■of tlie hounds.' Among the accounts, receipts and payments of the Exchequer for February 1635, there appears : ' £50 to the Earl of Pembroke and Mont- gomery for hay, beans, and peas for the relief of the deer in St. James's Park.' Charles I. took pride in his park, and knew it and its surroundings so well that he is said on his way to execution to have pointed out a tree, near the passage from Spring Gardens, close by where the cows now stand, as planted by his brother Prince Henry.^ The Council of the Commonwealth, in their anxiety to destroy anything connected with the preceding reign, went so far as to order the trees in St. James's Park to be cut down and sold. The order was not, however, executed. It was under these trees that Cromwell asked Whitelocke, ' What if a man should take upon him to be king ? ' and was told in reply that ' the remedy would be Avorse than the disease.' It is a curious fact that, on the night of Crom- well's death, a frightful tempest, such as never before had been known, visited London, and so violent was it that great trees in this park of St. James's were torn up by the roots, of which Sir Michael Bulstrode was an eye-witness.'- The parks of London were in former days the ' Disraeli's Charles I., vol. ii. p. 569. AYilliam III. granted a passage into the park from Spring Gardens in 1699. - SirEichard Bulstrode's Memoirs and Beflections upon Beign and Oovern?nent of King Charles I. 20 ST. JAMES'S PALACE most fashionable promenades, and specially the Mall of St. James's Park, in which, by the way, smoking, so Swift tells us, was not allowed. Continual reference is made to it in the writings of the day. Pepys tells us in 1660, in his 'Diary,' that he 'went to walk in the inward Park, but could not get in ; one man was basted by the keeper for carrying some people over on his back through the water.' Swift regularly walked in St. James's Park, ' except when the Mohocks were more than usually threatening.' Although it was called St. James's Park as early as the reign of Henry YIIL, yet it had another name — Westminster Park. In a document, dated January 19th, 1618, it is stated that the office of keeping the ponds in Westminster Park was granted to John Boreman for life.^ Not far from the present Buckingham Gate stood Tart Hall and the Mulberry Gardens, the latter planted in 1609 by order of James I., with the view of pro- ducing silk in England, for which purpose he caused several shiploads of mulberry trees to be imported from France. In 1628 a grant was made to Walter, Lord Aston, appointing him to the custody of the mulberry garden, mulberry trees, silkworms, and houses near St. James's, in the county of Middlesex, at a yearly fee of 60/.^ But the speculation proving a failure, the mulberry garden within a few years was laid out as a place of fashionable amusement. 1 Cal. state Papers, 1611-1618, p. 57. - Domestic Series (Charles I.), July 4tli, 1628, vol. oix. W ; ; CO ^ §1 Pi s h J, <] ^ H ; M s H g O ^ ST. JAMES'S PARK 21 To Charles II. we are even more indeljted for the beauty of this park than we are to Henry YIIL, for though the idea of turning these acres of land into a park originated with the latter, yet the former increased the acreage, enclosing many more pieces of land, amounting to thirty-six acres, ^loreover his ^Majesty planted it and laid it out, making the Mall half a mile long, planting trees in even ranks, and introducing broad gravel walks in place of narrow and winding footpaths. These im- provements the King succeeded in making with the help and under the superintendence of the celebrated French gardener, Le Xotre.^ It was he who, at the King's suggestion, planted the avenues, and formed the aviary from which the Bird Cage Walk took its name. Xor was Le Xotre the only master gardener at this time. The celebrated painter Antonio A'errio also held a similar post under King Charles II. In ' Evelyn's Diary,' under date August 4th, 1686, appears the following : — 'I dined at Signor Verrio's the famous Italian painter, now settled in His Majesty's Garden at St. James's, which he has made a very delicious Paradise.' Charles II. was particidarly fond of this pai'k. Here it was his amusement to feed the water-fowl he had collected, and here, too, he was accustomed at the same time to play vcith his dogs.-' ' Le Xotre, or Le Nautre, died in the year 1700. He is said to have designed the celebrated groves and grottoes at YersaUles. - ' In February 16S4, died King Charles II. Even his indolent amusement of playing -with his dogs and feeding his ducks in St. James' 22 ST JAMES'S PALACE Roger Coke, in his ■ Detection,' written in the time of Charles II., makes this curious entry respecting his Majesty, and his love of sport : — I was, on the 10th, in the morning, walking in St. James's Park, when a gentleman whispered to me that the Dutch were entered the Eiver. There the King had fed his ducks, and was walking on the west side of the Park, and as we walked Prince Eupert overtook us and met the King at the further end of the Pall Mall ; and the King told the Prince how he had shot a d uck, and such a dog fetched it ; and so they walked on till the King came to St. James's House, and there the King said to the Prince, ' Let's go see Cambridge and Kendall' — the Duke's two sons who lay there a'dyuig.' The park seems also to have been filled with strano-e birds and beasts. Penvs makes the followinar entry in his ' Diary ' : — 9 Peb. 1664-5. I went to St. James's Park, where I saw various animals. . . . The Parke was at this time stored with numerous flocks of severall sorts of ordinary and extraordinary wild fowle, breeding about the Decoy, deere of severall countries, — white ; spotted like leopards ; antelopes ; an elk ; red deere ; roebucks ; staggs ; Guinea goates ; Arabian sheepe, &c. The water-fowl, though in a royal park, did not apparently remain unmolested. In the ' London Park (which I have seen him do) made the common people adore him.' An Apology f 07' the Life of Colley Cibher, Comedian, vol. i. p. 23. ' Lost four or five days since in St. James's Park, a Dogg of his Majestie's ; full of blew spots, with a white cross on his forehead, and about the bigness of a Tumbler. The persons who shall have found or taken up the said Dogg are to give notice thereof to the porters of Whitehall.'— ionrZora Gazette, No. 627. ^ Boger Coke's Detection, vol. ii. p. 105. 1666. ST. JAifES'S PAPJv 23 Gazette' of Octqber 30tli, ]690, appeared the follow- ing notice : — Whereas His Majesty hath empowered John and Thomas Webb, Gentlemen, keepers of the fowl in St. James's Park, as also keepers of the game within ten miles of the Court of Whitehall, and the precincts thereof, and information being given that, notwithstandhig His Majesty's orders, several persons do molest and kill His Majesty's ducks and game within the said limits, it is therefore His Majesty's special command that none presume to keep a fowhng piece, gun, setting dog, greyhound or other dog, net, tunnel, trammel, or other unlawful engine, wherewith to destroy or kill or anyways disturb the game contrary to the law and statute in tha,t case made and provided, other than such as shall be by law qualified. And whosoever shall give information to John Webb, living in St. James's Park, shall have a gratuity for every gun, net, dog, or anj' engine that shall bo seized and taken from any such offender. In addition to the other improvements instituted by Charles II., he also threw the several ponds which Mr. Anthony Row is said to have designed into one artificial canal, caused the wall of the park towards Pall Mall to be removed farther back,-' built a decoy ■' ' 1661, Sept. This month the road that was formerlj' used for all coaches and carts and horses from Charing Cross to St. James's by St. James's Parl^ Wall and the backside of Pall JIall, is now altered, by reason a new Pall ilall is made for the use of his Majesty in St. James's Park by the Wall, and the dust from coaches was very troublesome to the players at ifall. The new road was railed on both sides five foot distance the whole field length, also in the Park at the hither end of the new River cut there (the length of the Park) a brass statue [the Gladiator?],* set up upon a mount of stone, and the Park made even * The &Lidiator, a caste in bronze, made by Le Sceur, removed by Queen Anne to Hampton Court (Dodsley's jjniiirons, iii. 741), and'by George IV. to tlie prirate grounds of Windsor Castle, where it now is. ' Here [in the garden at St. James's] are also half a dozen brasse statues, rare oues, cast 24 ST. JAMES'S PALACE for ducks/ which was removed in the year 1775, and fenced in a portion for deer. These deer were on one occasion made the stibject of a wager. Pepys enters in his ' Diary,' under the date August lltli, 1664, that:— This day, for a wager before the King, my Lords of Castlehaven and Avran, a son of my Lord of Ormond's, they two alone did run down and kih a stout buck in St. James's Park. Charles II. was accustomed to walk in the park, sometimes even alone, and the story is told that a few days after the Rye House Plot his ]\Iajest3'- was walking in the park, without guards or attendants of any kind. The Duke of York, it ajapears, afterwards remonstrated with his brother on the imprudence of such conduct. The King did not appreciate this level to the Bridge taken ddwn, and the great ditches filled up with the earth that was digged down : the rising ground and the trees cut down, and the roots taken away, and grass seed sowed to make pleasant walking, and trees planted in walks.' — Kugge, Addit. MS. Brit. Mus. 10,116. ' Duck Island, as it was called, was actually promoted into a government, and had a salary attached to the office in favour of M. de St. Evremond, a French refugee, who was the first governor, and the island itself was lost or obliterated in comparatively recent improve- ments. Stephen Duck, one of the last governors, was appointed by Queen Caroline, wife of George II. The birds on this island are the property of the Ornithological Society. ' In January 1846 the collec- tion contained upwards of 300 birds, including twenty-one species and fifty-one distinct varieties.' by Hitbert le Sueur, his Majestie'-s ^erv;int, now dwelling iu Saint Bartholomew's, London, the most industrious and excellent statuary in all materials that ever this country enjoyed. The best of them is the Gladiator, molded from that iu Cardinal Borgheso's villa, by the procurement ami industry of ingenious Master Gage'.' — Peacham's Cotiipleat Geiifh'ma)i, p. lOS, 4tu, 16G1. ' He lays about him like the Gladiator in the Park.'— Xat. Lee, Dedication to Princess of Cleve. See also Ned Ward's Loiitlon fiptj. It stood in the Parade facing the Horse Guards. ST. JAMES'S PAfiK reproof, and made answer, ' Brother James, take care of yourself, for no man will kill me to make you king ! The -grass plot which lies beneath the south windows of the palace and Clarence House, and is enclosed with a high wall, is substantially the same as it w^as in the reign of Charles II. His Majesty was frequently to be seen here on a summer evening- playing at ' bowles ' with the ladies of his Court. Thei'e formerly stood here on this grass two bronze female statues upon stone pedestals, which were sup- posed to be of the time of Charles I. One figure was life-sized, the other rather smaller. These statues were removed from the Palace Gardens in the year 1874, and placed for a time upon ground at the rear of the National Gallery, but eventually they were taken to the Victoria Tower in the Houses of Par- liament. The cliief amusement in this park was the game ofPellMell. On January 4th, 1663, Pej)ys writes : — Afterwards to St. James's Park, seeing people play at Pell Mell, where it pleased me mightily to hear a gallant, lately come from France, swear at one of his companions for suffering his man, a spruce blade, to be so saucy as to strike a ball while his Master was playing on the Mall. Ao-ain, on jMay 1 6th of the same year : — I walked in the Parke, discoursing with the keeper of the Pell Mell, who was sweeping of it, who told me of what the earth is mixed that do floor the Mall, and that over all 26 ST. ja:mes's palace there is cockle shells, powdered and spread to keep it fast, ■which, however, in dry weather, turns to dust and deads the ball. Respecting this game of Pell Mell its name is said to be derived irom jJalla, a ball, and maglia^ a mallet. It seems to have been the original either of croquet or of golf, for it was a game ' wherein a round bowle is with a mallet struck through a high arch of iron, standing at either end of an alley, which he that can do at the fewest blows, or at the number agreed on, wins. This game was heretofore used in the long alley near St. James's, and vulgarly called Pell Mell.' ^ The length of the mallet was about three feet seven inches, and the diameter of the ball two and a half inches. - There was, of course, an official in charge of the ground on which this game was played, for a grant was made to Archibald Lumsden, in the year 1635, for sole furnishing of all the malls, bowls, and scoops, for the game of Pell Mell within his grounds in St. James's Fields, and such as resorted there were to pay him such sums of money as were according to the ancient order of the game.'^ A similar grant was made in 1660 to Henry du Puys, who had been servant to the Duke of York. The first time it appears that Mr. Pepys ever witnessed this game of Pell Mell was when he saw ^ Blount's Glossogy-aphia, 1670. ^ There is an interesting paper on the game of Pell Mell by Mr. Albert Way in the Archmological Journal, vol. xi. p. 253. ^ Domestic Series, vol. 298, cap. 1. Docquet, ST. JAMES'S PAEK 27 the Duke of York playing it in the park, and he tells lis in his ' Diary ' that he followed his Eoyal High- ness into the Park, 'where, though the ice was broken, he would go slide upon his skaits, which I did not like, but he slides very well.' From this game the street of Pall Mall took its name, dropping the title of Catherine Street, which it formerly bore in honour of Catherine of Braganza. It is probable that the enthusiasm of Charles II. for Pell ^lell induced him to offer prizes for competi- tion. Mr. D. Barrington, in his paper called 'Obser- vations on Clocks and Watches,' which was read before the Society of Antiquaries in the year 1778, relates the following circumstance : — Charles II. \Yas very curious with regard to these time measures, and I have been told by an old person of the trade that watchmakers, particularly East, used to attend whilst be (the King) was playing at the Mall, a watch being often the stake. In the time of Queen Anne it was evidently the fashion more than ever to frequent the Mall, for Swift in his 'Journal to Stella,' dated May loth, 1711, writes : ' When I pass the Mall in the evening, it is prodigious to see the number of ladies walking- there.' ^ Walpole, in his ' Reminiscences ' tells a rather amusing story of George I., after his arrival in Enoiand, when he came at once to St. James's ^ Swift's Journal to Stella^ vol. xii. p. 258. 28 ST. JAMES'S PALACE Palace. ' This is a .strange country,' remarked the King : — The first morning after my arrival at St. James's, I looked out of the window and saw a Park with walks, and a canal, which, they told me, were mine. The next day Lord Chetwynd, the Eanger of my Park, sent me a fine brace of carp, out of my Canal, and I was told I must give five guineas to Lord Chetwynd's servant for bringing me my own carp, out of my canal, in my own Park. This park, vsrhicli in shape resembles ' a boy's kite,' and is in size eighty-seven acres, was made a thoroughfare for the public as far back as the reign of Charles II. in 1G68. Yet Walpole tells us that ' Queen Caroline spoke of shutting up St. James's Park and convertinsr it into a noble jjarden for the Palace of that name. She asked my father what it might probably cost, who replied " only three Crowns." ' 1 St. James's Fair is mentioned by Machyn in his ' Diary of a Resident in London in the year 1560' :— The XXX day of July, 1560, Saint James' Fayer by Westminster was so great that a man could not have a jiygg for mony : and the Dearre Wiffes had nother meate nor drinck before IIII of cloke in the same daj'. And the Chese went very well away for a penny of the Pounde. Besides the great and mightie armie of beggares and bandes that ther were. In a catalogue of miscellaneous documents in the possession of the Office of Woods, and relating to ' Wal2>oIiana, vol. i. p. 9. ST. JAMES'S PARK 29 Avoods, forests, castles, &c., appear the following curious entries ; — (No. 274.) 1.587-1589. Expenses and Costs of the Queen's Fair for 11 years ending at Micha.elmas 31. Ehz. (Two Bj'Us of SmaU Charges as hath been laid out for St. James's House and also the Charge and Allowances of the Bailiwick of St. James's.) (No. 590.) 1588-1589. Lady Cheek's account touch- ing St. James's Fair, with warrant by Lord Burghley (Lord Treasurer) . (No. 14.) 29 Sept. 1604 to 29 Sept. 1605. Account of money expended for Cleaning and sweeping St. James's House. Allowance to be made to the said accountant and to be deducted out of Her Ladyship's Charge. (Signed ' Mary Cheek.') Lady Cheek's Account of the Manor of St. James's and of the profits of the Fair hereof for 1605. Charges of Fair as hath been usually allowed in former years : Drummer and Fife . ou 1 -It . 6/8 Keeper of Beame . . 3/4 Scales and Weights . 1/6 Baillfs Diet . . 4/0 Clerk's Wages . 6/8 = £3. 15. 6. In the reign of James I. a proclamation was issued for deferring St. James's Fair on account of the Plague, or in the old wording, ' lest the Pestilence should be increased by it.' The fair was finally suppressed, however, on account of the prevalent immorality before the close of the reign of Charles II. It was prohibited by Parliament in 1650, and revived at the Restoration. 30 ST. JAMES'S PALACE In Warburton's letters to Hurd (edited and published in 1809), the ' Cows and Milkwomen' near Spring Gardens are mentioned. St. James's Park, Hyde Park, and the Green Park were also the scenes of a grand Jubilee Festival on August 1st, 1814, to celebrate the return of peace and the centenary of the House of Brunswick. The official programme of the day's pi'oceedings furnishes all the information that is necessary.^ ^ The following is a facsimile of the official programme : — Grand National Jubilee. PEACE With France and England celebrated by a great Fete on the 1st of August 1814, in St. James's ParJi\ A Bridge thrown over the Canal, and a grand Pagoda, from which numerous Fire-works were sent forth. Green Park « A grand Temple surrounded with Boxes for the Eoyal Family, and from which numerous Fire-works were issued. — A Bridge was thrown over from Buckingham-house to the Green Park. Hyde Park A naval Engagement, on the Serpentine Eiver representing the Battle of the Nile, concluding with a great Fair for every kind of Amusement. Kensington Gardens In the Evening displayed grand Fire-works with the Congreve Eockets. Wars horrors cease, and smiling Peace, With plenty in her train, Eeturns once more to Britons Shore, Where long may she remain. Printed in Hyde ParJi, August 1, 1814. . ST. JAMES'S PARK ol Over the Canal [ornamental water in St. James's Park] has been thrown a beautiful Chinese bridge, upon the centre of which has been constructed an elegant and lofty Pagoda, consisting of seven Pyramidal Stories. The Pagoda will be illuminated with lights, and brilliant fire- works, both fixed and missile, will be displayed from every division of the lofty Chinese structure. Copious and splendid girandoles of Kockets will also be occasionally dis- played from the summit, and from other parts of the tower- ing edifice, which will at time be so covered with Eoman candles a.nd pots dv hriii, as to become m appearance one column of brilliant fire. Various smaller temples and columns constructed upon the bridge will also be vividly illuminated, and fixed fireworks of different devices on the balustrades of the bridge will contribute to heighten the general effect. The Canal will also be well provided with handsomely decorated boats at the disposal of those who wish to add this amusement to the numerous pleasures. The Malls of the Park will be illuminated with Chinese lanterns, ornamented with picturesque and grotesque devices, and every tree will have variegated lights inter- mingled with its foliage. The pagoda, which was built by Sir W. Congreve, -was desio-ned by Mr. Xash, and the bridge on which it stood was made of timber. The malls on this occasion were hung with Chinese . Lanterns, and the lawn on each side of the Canal was covered with tents and marquees. In the Green Park, on the edge of the Mall, was placed the Eoyal booth of a circular form, with a long gallery attached to it, for the ministers of State, Foreign Ministers and other distinguished persons. Not far from it, in the same Park, was erected a grand edifice entitled ' The Temple of Concord.' At 10 oli ST. JAMES S PALACE o'clock the Chinese Bridge was lighted up.^ Unfortunately towards the conclusion of the fireworks about 12 o'clock, this beautiful Pagoda caught fire about the middle. It did not burn for more than a quarter of an hour. The five upper stories were destroyed, and parts of the lower were considerably injured : the whole of the superstructure was afterwards removed.^ By the timely use of the engines, which had been brought to the spot in case of need, the bridge itself, which was oiiginally intended to be permanent, was preserved. When the structure caught fire, it was followed by the loss of two lives. One man who had ascended through curiosity, finding his retreat cut oflF by the flames, threw himself from the top and was killed by the fall. The other, a carpenter, in rushing down the stairs through the flames, was so shockingly burnt that he expired the next day. The present bridge across the canal in the park has a span of 140 feet. It was designed by Mr. Rendell, and was put up in the year 1857. Sir Digby Wyatt, the architect, decorated it. At the same time the lake was cleared out and ' made of a uniform level, with a depth of water nowhere exceed- ing four feet.' The Green Park previous to the time of Charles 11. was, like St. James's Park, nothing but meadow ' Camden's Im-perial History of England. ' Ackenuan's Bepository. ST. JAMi:s'S PARK 33 land, and it was this monarch who converted it into a park. It covers an area of fifty-six acres. It has sometimes been called Upper St. James's Park. The Tybnrn, which formerly ran through it, has left the course of its windings traced in the depressions of the ground. VOL. I. 1> 34 ST. JAMES'S PALACE CHAPTER III PIOUSES CONTIGUOUS TO THE PALACE The old Palace of St. James's originally stood, as we have seen, in tlie fields, which were called St, Jaines's Fields, and which went with the building that they surrounded. This we gather not only from books, but also from old prints of the period, and it is obvious that, as the first building on the site of which Henry A^III. erected his ' Manor House ' was a hospital for lepers, it would have been placed at a considerable distance from ordinary habitations. In the reign of James I. it was evidently the in- tention of that Sovereign to continue to isolate the palace, and to sweep away any buildings that were within reasonable distance of it. AYith this object a Bill was passed by the House of Lords, in 1624, to remove all brewhouses between the Bridge and Tuttle (Tothill) Fields. It seems, however, that the Com- mons hesitated to pass a measure which it was thought would damage the estates of many, though their loyalty prompted them to gratify the King, whose enjoyment of St. James's Park was marred by the Tuttle Fields brewhouses.^ ' Domestic State Papers, vol. clxv. p. 34, May 24th, 1024. HOUSES CONTIGUOUS TO THE PALACE 35 Thirty years afterwards, i.e. in 1654, the pa- rishioners of St. ]\[artin's-in-the-Fields petitioned tlie Protector and Council, that Hugh AVoodward, wlio had bouo'ht James's Fields and intended to dio- and bum bricks ^yith intent to build there, and had let part thereof for a lay stall, might be prevented so doing, as it would be an annoyance to Whitehall and James House, and prej udice the inhabitants of the parish.^ Tliere were eighty signatures to this peti- tion, of which two were ' marks.' The policy of James I. was, however, reversed by his grandson. Houses began to be built, both on the north side of Pall Alall and on both sides of St. James's Street during the reign of Charles II., whose intention evidently was to make that part of London as much of a town as possible.- This conclusion seems to be borne out by an entry (one among many) in ' Evelyn's Diary,' dated July 31st, 1662. Evelyn was one of the Commissioners for improving the streets of London, and the following passage bears incidental testimony to the shameful state of St. James's : — I sat with the Commissioners about reforming build- ings and streets of London, and we ordered the paving of ' Domestic State Papers, vol. Ixv. par. 37. ^ Do7nestic Series (Charles II.) , vol. Ixx., March 1663, par. 70. Demise to Sir PhUip Warwick for sixty guineas, on a rental of 40s., of laud under the park wall, St. James's, used for a highway, 230 feet long by 62 feet broad, leading from Charing Cross to the palace, with leave to build thereon as King or Lord of the Treasury shall direct. Demise to Sir John Denham of land, lately a highway, 218 feet by 39 feet, under St. James's Park wall, being lately a highway from Charing Cross to St. James's Park, on rental of 20s., with liberty to build as King and Lord Treasurer direct. 36 ST JAMES'S PALACE the way from St. James's north, ^Yhich was a quagmire, and also the Haymarket about Piqudillo (PiccadiUy), and agreed upon instructions to be printed and published for the better keeping the streets clean. In the year 1663 the Earl of St. Albans peti- tioned CharJes II. for an inheritance of ground, on which to build thirteen or fourteen good houses in St. James's Fields ' fit for dwellings of persons of quality, and needed for the beauty of the town and the convenience of the Court.' The Kino- ordered these houses to be erected, but, adds the extract, ' men will not build palaces upon any terra, but that of inheritance.' ^ Strype tells us that St. James's Street began at the Palace of St. James's, and i-an up to the road against Albemarle buildings, ' being a spacious street.' In the year 1670 St. James's Street was called the ' Long Street,' and became so much the favourite resort of fashionable horsemen that Sheridan dubbed it the Campus Martins of the Equestrian Beaux of London.^ Xor was St. James's Street the only thorough- fare near the palace. The grant by Charles 11. to Xell Gwyn of the site for a house on the south side of Pall Mall perhaps began the rows of houses on that side of the street. In the same way Charles's grant of the site on which Bridgewater House now stands probably began the range of buildings fronting the western wing of the palace.^ However this may ^ Domestic Series (Charles II.), August 14, 1663. - Walcott's Handbook, p. 37. ^ This house of Nell Ch\yn's, in which she lived from 1670 to 1687, iior>;E.s coxTiGuous to the palace S7 be, houses sprang up rapidly, and, before the end of the reign of George' II., the palace was becoming as completely in town as it now is. Pall Mall, the derivation of v.'hich has been already given, existed as a road many years before the street Avas built. It is mentioned among the highways of London and Westminster in an Act of Parhament, which was passed in 16C2. Before that date there Avere a few houses grouped at its south end opposite St. James's Palace. The Sieur de la Serre, in describ- ing the palace surroundings, says, ' its great gate has a lono^ street in front reachino- almost out of sio;ht, seemingly joined to the Fields.' Yet, even in the middle of the last century, Anderson wrote that he had met with several old persons in his younger days who well remembered when there was but one single house — a gate-house — between the Mews Gate at Charing Cross and St. James's Palace Gate. During the reign of King James II. the number of houses of all kinds round and near St. James's Palace must have largely and rapidly increased. Some of these buildings were ordinaries and coiFee taverns ; others were clusters of little encroachments on the gardens of the palace ; others were houses of larger size and greater pretensions. has now been rebnilt, and, as No. 79 Pall Mall, is the office of the Eagle Insurance Company. It was from the garden of this very house, then adjoining St. James's Park, that Evelyn ' saw and heard a familiar discourse between the King [Charles II.] and Mrs. Nellie ; she looking out of her garden on a terrace at the top of the wall, and the King standing on the green walk under it.' 38 ST. JAMES'S PALACE In the Historical MSS. reference is made, in the year 1683, to a 'little ordinary near the Queen's Chapel.' The original of this particular document, ■which is in the possession of Sir F. Graham, runs thus : — 1683, Oct. 27 ; from Lord Preston to Mr. Secretary. I am told of a little ordinary near the Queen's Chapel at St. James's, and just by M. Labaddy's house, the wine merchant, where many of the French valcts-de-Chambre usually eat. This house in the winter of 1735 caused much annoyance to the King and Queen, who gave orders for the building to be purchased. But there was already in existence at that time another and far more celebrated tavern. The St. James's Coffee House was situated at the foot of St. James's Street, and almost immediately opposite the clock tower of the palace. From the proximity of this house to St. James's Palace, it was much frequented by the Guards, and here Joseph Warton might be seen, morning after morning, at breakfast, surrounded by officers of the Guards, who listened with the utmost interest to his criticisms on campaigns, as well as on poetry and other branches of literature. This coffee house was closed in the year 1806. It was one of the favourite haunts of Whig politicians and men of letters in the reign of Queen Anne, and even in that of George III., just as the Cocoa Tree Club in the time of Queen Anne was specially a Tory resort. ' A Whig,' wrote De Foe, ' will no more go to the Cocoa HOUSES COIN-TIGUOUS TO THE PALACE 39 Tree than a Tory will be seen at the Coffee House of St. James's." It seems tliat the first bnildino- of the kind was opened in London in the time of the Commonwealth, in the year 16.52. Twenty-three years later, in 1675, Charles II. issued a proclamation for the sup- pression of coffee houses, but at the request of the tea and coffee merchants they were soon opened again, and the attempts to suppress them as rendez- vous for politicians were not successful. Besides the houses of public entertainment, the Palace of St. James's was at one time surrounded by all manner of private encroachments, ' which one hungry courtier or another had from time to time found his opportunity to make, and of which some idea may be conceived from the appearance which the other side of the Palace towards the west continued to exhibit. Until within the last century it was, like the Tower of London, a little town of itself ^ Thus the windows of the Duchess of ^^laidborough were open to the park, ' but her access to the street was hedged in, and from that side it appeared as if jMarl- borouoii House was driven into a corner.' Nor were tlie buildings which lay between St. James's Palace and Marlborough House removed till the middle of the eighteenth century. Some were doubt- less destroyed for such reasons as are alleged in the following application. In- the year 1716, the Duke of Bolton petitioned the Lords of the Treasiu-y to ^ Gentleman's Magazine, vol. xliii. p. 373. 40. ST. JAMES'S PALACE give orders to tlie Surveyor-General of Works ' to examine into the title of a little ale-house, adjoining St. James's House between Osanders Coffee House, and the wall of the house, which is ^'ery dangerous to the Palace in case of tire, and to report his ojoinion, whether there is a grant, as is pretended, and what will be tit to be done to get possession of the house for the Crown." ^ But the final work of demolition ■was not accomj^lished till .1 748, when the work was, superintended by John Vardy, the architect. London in olden times seems to have been behind other cities in the matter of street lisrhtin"-. The main streets themselves were but feebly and ineffi- ciently lighted by lanterns and lamps, hung out by the householders by order of the Grovernment. it was not till 1668 that householders were required by law to hang; out a liHit after dark. Even then the order was only enforced during the winter months. But St. James's took the lead in lio^htino: reform. It was the Sr. James's Coffee House that, as the ' Tatler ' tells us, exhibited a new sort of Hght called a globe light, which is observed to enlighten the streets and all parts near it, with a true steady light, and no way offensive to the eye. The person who contrived it and set it up may be heard of there, having obtained Her Majesty's Letters Patent for the same.^ iVTicliael Cole (for this was the name of the inventor) .set up this light in the year 1709. ' Calendar of Trcnsitry Papers, vol. cxoviii., March 5th, 1716. - Ashton's Social Life in the Reign of Queen Anne. o '^ ? HOUSES COXTIGUOL'S TO THE PALACE 41 Among the larger houses situated, now as then, in the immediate vicinity of St. James's Palace are ^larlborough House, Clarence House, Harrington House, Stafford House, Stornowa}' liouse. Warwick House, Bridgewater House, and Sydney House. Of these smaller palaces, ^Marlborough House claims the first notice. The house was built in the reign of Queen Anne by Sir Christopher Wren for the celebrated Duke of ]\Iarlborough, and originally cost 40,000/. The upper storey and State rooms "were added by the third Duke of ^Marlborough. The foundation-stone can be seen in the basement of the house, and is dated 1709. The great Duke of Marlborouo-h, and his wife ' the indomitable Sarah,' lived and died here ; but the latter survived the duke for above twenty years, and was in the habit of talkina: of her ' neis;hbour Georg-e,' referring to the King, who lived across the vray at St. James's Palace. The Duchess of Marlborouo-h's ojreat "wish had been ' to make an entrance from her house, then called Priory Court, into Pall ]Mall,' but Sir Robert Walpole, ' having quarrelled with her, bought the liouse in front of it in the main street, and so frus- trated her purpose.' ^ Under successive Crown leases, renewed for varying terms of j^ears, the Dukes of Marlborough held Marlborough House till 1817. The existing ' "Walcott's Handbook for the Parish of St. James's, Westminster, V. 43. 42 ST. JAMES'S PALACE Crown lease then still had eighteen years to run. For this residue of the term the executors of the then late Duke of Marlborough, with the con- currence of the trustee for the creditors of the then duke, and under the direction of the Court of Chancery, sublet the house and premises to his Majesty the King of the Belgians, then Prince Leopold George Frederick of Saxe-Coburg Saafield. The Crown lease and under-lease terminated in July 1835 ; but, by letters patent of March 1833, his then Majesty King William IV. (under the powers of the Act 1 and 2 Wm. IV., c. 11) granted the house and premises to, or for the use of, her Majesty Queen Adelaide (if she survived his Majesty), so that she might enjoy the same immediately after his decease for her natural life, and to her representatives for one year after her decease. The house was subsequently occupied by the late Queen Adelaide, widow of William IV., and after her death, in the year 1849, was allowed by her Majesty Queen Victoria to be used for the exhibition of the collection of paintings, known as ' The Vernon Gallery,' the upper rooms being afterwards occupied by the newly inaugurated ' Government School of Design.' In 1850 Marlborough House was settled upon the Prince of Wales, when he should become eighteen years of age ; but the Vernon Gallery and the School of Design remained there till 1859, when they were removed to South Kensington, and preparations were p o a w o D O « o fq K F4 o M !z; H Q « HOUSES CONTIGUOUS TO THE PALAOE 43 ST. JAMES'S PARK * * ?> ■"> -? qi * «?.*«.% =P* u*^> * 1 r ^ .Court tpc/ore (^. (Back parts of several houses on the South slclti of Pall Mall) Scali: of Feet 70-3" PALL :\LVLL PLAN OF MAELBOEOUGH HOUfc'E AND GARDEN IN 1700 Eu II ■',-.. w^^h il«,r-r In Snrr':iinr-(h'ii>'rar!^ np'"'! in ] 700 /,/ iNUimrhi! .-t "(I'.orrjr, Ih'k-e of S/arJI>nr"->ii/?f, jn'uinni !i>r Ihe 'jniiil of a reueu-ed lease of MurRorotn'ili IIuusk; in Ihe VJ/icv of Wo"Js -- houses in Pali ilall 331 f' containing by measure 2 a. 2 r. 39 p. valneil by M'' Travers at £27 10,s-., and ■was dcniised to Craegs, Edwards, & Hoilges in trust as afore&'i at a lient of " . . . . £13 15 p. an. being I the Annual A'alue abovement'i. And the parcell of gronnd nrarked with tlie letters i, k, l, ji, contains in front to Pall Mall Um-^^ the Korth 70 1' towards the East 68 1^ & towards the West 53 1* 2 in. and 4 lionsc^ standing thereon were vah^ by Mr. Gybbon Surv^ Gen^ at £110 p, ann. and demis&l to Edward Green Esq"" in trn.st for the D'ss. of Marlborough at a Rent of . . . . £13 15 p. an. Being i'"^ part of the aunual value abovemcntf' according to the custom of the Bailiwick of £t Jauies. 44 ST. JAMES'S PALACE then fortliwitb made for. the Prince's occupation of the buildino-. The present entrance corridor and entrance hall were added, when the Prince of Wales came into possession, by the Prince Consort, under the direction of Sir James Pennethorne, the architect, but the original steps into the entrance hall are now encased in marble. A considerable part of the interior of Marlborough House is decorated with finely executed wall-paint- ings, ' which cover in all some 500 square yards of surface,' and are exceedingly handsome and effective. These are the work of the celebrated French artist, La Guerre. who was employed for the purpose at the time that the mansion was built. They are to be found on the walls of the principal staircase, the visitors' stair- case, and the saloon, and they represent the battles in which the great Duke of Marlborough was en- gaged. Those on the visitors' staircase are painted in three divisions, representing the battle of Mal- plaquet ; those on the principal staircase, consisting of three paintings, represent the battle of Ramillies, with portraits of the Duke of Marlborough, his brother. Lord Churchill, and Prince Eugene of Savoy. The lower parts of the principal staircase are filled in with views of the towns and the neighbourhood of these battles. , . One of the pictures shows the death, by cannon shot, of the duke's secretary at the moment that he was holding the stirrup of the duke's second horse. IIOrSES CONTIGUOUS TO THE PALACIE 45 The pictures in the saloon, consisting of three large paintings, represent the battle of Blenheim or Hochstet, and , the French commander, Marshal Tallard, giving up authority to the English duke. The architectural portions of these various paint- ings, of clever design, were painted, it was supposed, by one or more of the pupils of La Guerre. It is a curious tact that, during the time that Queen Adelaide resided here, and also as long as Marlborough House was used as a gallery for the Yernon collection of pictures, the walls were dis- tempered over (not painted, as some have supposed), the paintings thereby being completely concealed. In 1859 a sum of money was voted for preparino- the building as a residence for the Prince of Wales. The walls were then cleaned and the pictures restored. Again, in 1889, the paintiugs on the principal staircase were cleaned and repaired by j\Ir. John Richards, and, in order to complete this woric, the lithographed plates of the original wall pictures, which are in the possession of her Majesty the Queen at Windsor, were inspected ; thus many portions of the pictures, otherwise obliterated, were successfully repainted. The portraits of the Duke of Marlborough and others in these pictures are authentic likenesses, for which, as has been said, sittings were given on the spot.' They are as fresh and perfect in appearance as they were at the time when they were first painted, and: 46 ST, JAMES'S PALACE in all probability are the best portraits in existence of these eighteenth-century celebrities. Marlborough House since 1850 has been consider- ably altered and enlarged. It was placed under repair and the interior remodelled in 1861, and in 1863 it became the abode of the Prince and Princess of Wales, who have occupied it as their London residence since their marriage in that year. Sir James Penne- thorne designed the stables, which were added at that time. A few years ago, the house was again enlarged, and side wings were added. The car which had been used at the funeral of the late Duke of Wellington, in 1852, and which had carried the coffin on that occasion, was for some years exhibited to the public within the grounds of Marlborough House, under the superintendence of the Lord Chamberlain. This car was made over to the Office of Works on October 1st, 1860, and may now be seen in the crypt of St. Paul's Cathedral. On the other side of, and adjoining, St. James's Palace stands Clarence House. This mansion owes its name to the fact that it was originally built for the Duke of Clarence, afterwards William IV. It has retained that name ever since, though curiously enough in one, and only one, of the old Warrant Books in the Lord Chamberlain's office it is styled ' the Queen's House at St. James's.' When the house was finished it was described as a handsome building with a portico, ' in two stories, HOUSES CONTIGUOUS TO THE PALACE 47 the lower being of the Doric, and the upper of the Corinthian, order.' It was in Clarence House that the King of Prussia and his sons took iip their residence during the visit of the allied Sovereigns to this country in the year 1814. Previous to his marriage with Princess Charlotte, in 1816, Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg stayed at Clarence House, and the public journals of the time tell us, that so great was the throng of people who were anxious to see the Prince, that the 'footmen in letting him out of his carriage at Clarence House were nearly pushed under it,' and that the pressure of the crowd was such that many persons were forced, against their will, within the walls. This was of course before the portico was placed in its present position. It is further stated that on the day of the wed- ding in 1816, when his Royal Highness went from Clarence House to cross over to York House, whither he was obliged to go, the vast crowd which had assembled behaved in the most decorous manner, and even made a passage for the Prince. On his coming out again from York House to get into his carriage, he was assailed by a number of females, who insisted on patting him on the back, and cordially express- 'ing their good wishes. This delay gave a number of men an opportunity to take off the traces from the horses in order to draw the carriage. They were prevailed upon to desist, but they did so a second time, and the Prince, it is supposed, would have indulged them in their desire, though 48 ST. JAMES'S PALACE the experiment might have been dangerous, had not his friends interfered ; so that, by the exertions of the sentinels, the traces were replaced and the carriage proceeded to Carlton House amidst the loud huzzas of the populace. At the time of his accession, William I^'^. Avas residing here as Duke of Clarence ; here also he con- tinued to live for a time after he had come to the throne. At his Majest3''s death in 1837, Queen Adelaide removed to Marlborouo-h House ; and Princess Augusta, after the death of George III. in the year 1820, resided when in London at Clarence House, till her death on September i'2nd, 1840. This Princess Augusta Sophia, who was the sixth child of George III., and who died at the ao-e of seventy-two, was partner to her brother, the Duke of York, in a country dance on the evening of the day, June 1st, 1789. The occasion was historical, for in the morning the duke had fought the duel with Colonel Lennox, and the Prince of Wales resented the colonel's presence amongst his sisters by breaking' up the ball. After the death of Princess Augusta in 1840, the Duchess of Kent, Avho had previously resided in Buckingham Palace, removed to Clarence House, Avhich continued to be the London residence of her Royal Highness till her death in 1861. In the year 1866, orders were given for Clarence House to be prepared as a residence for Prince Alfred (Duke of Edinburgh), now the reigning Duke of HOUSES COXTIGUOU>S TO THE PALACE 49 Saxe Cobiirg and Gotha, second son of the Queen and the Prince Consort, to whom her Majesty had presented it. In rebuilding the house in that year the founda- tions of an older building were discovered, stretchma- out far on to the garden side of the palace. These foundations were of so solid a nature that very great difficulty was experienced in breaking them up. It is supposed that they were the foundations of Har- i-ington House, which, according to the old plans of the palace, stood on this very spot. In the years 1873 and 1874 Clarence House was remodelled and enlarged by the Duke of Edinburgh at his own expense. A new wing and offices were added ; the old portico and entran.ce opposite Stafford House were removed ; and a new portico and entrance erected, facing St. James's Park. Here since their marriage the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh have always resided when in London, though in the year 1877 the mansion was occupied for a short time by the Prince and Princess of Wales during structural alterations then o'oino- on at Marlborouoh House. On what is now the garden of Clarence House, and adjoining the road which leads to the park, originally stood two houses, afterwards converted into Harrino'ton House. ^ The house on the north side was granted, on May 4th, 1677 (28 Cliarles II.), to ■ TMs can hardly have been, from its situation, the ' versatile timber house built in ^Ir. Hart's garden opposite to St. James's Park ' of which Aubrey writes. VOL. L E 50 ST. JAMES'S PALACE Wentworth, Earl of Roscommon and Dame Isabelle, his wife, for their lives at 13s. -id. per annum. The hotise on the south side was granted to Lord Fitz- hardinge after the destruction by fire, in 1697, of that part of the Palace at Whitehall in which his lodgings were situated. At some time prior to the year 1700, John, Lord Fitzhardinge, bought Lady Roscommon's interest, and having converted the two houses into one, applied for a grant of the whole. A. lease was accordingly granted to him for fifty years from date at 13.s. 4d. per annum for each house. The premises so granted became vested in William, Lord Harrington, in the year 1730. They were then said to be worth about 200/. per annum ; but they needed a large expendi- ture, and so a new lease on the surrender of the old one, together with a payment of a fine of 700/., was granted to Lord Harrington on December 15th, 1738, for fifty years at the old rents. This lease was renewed on July 6th, 1781, to Charles, Earl of Harrhigton for fifty years, at a rent of 43/. 15s. and a fine of 1,000/. But when, in 1811, the then Earl of Harrington applied for a renewal of his lease, the application was refused owing to the proximity of the premises to St. James's Palace ; and, on the expiration in 1831 of the then existing lease, possession of the premises was given over to the Surveyor-General. A year or two later Harrington House was pulled down. On other sites which formed part of St. James's HOUSES c'oATKirors to the talack 51 Park Avas erected Stafford House, formerly called Godolphin House, and afterwards York House. The house now occupies both the site of Godolphin House and also that of the lil^rary of < ,)ueen Caroline, sonn' particulars of 'which appear in another chapter. Upon a piece of ground in St. James's Park, Li ^ 1 ilLIM ,,S a a! r iTif ;i| }') GOllOLPHIX HOUSE, STABLE YARD ST. JAMEs's (PULLED DOWN ISl'5) /v-"»i f( ilrinriii'j hn T. I[. sl,rj,l„Tll,rHo„ where formerly, betw'een the years IGiS,") aiid 1G91, the Laundry House stood, Godolphin Plouse was erected by Lady Oglethor[ie, to whom the land had been granted by James IL Ijv lease, dated I)ecember 6th. 1685, for a term of thirty-one 3'ears from Michael- mas 16S5, at a yearly rent of lU.s. This lease was renewed to Robert, Lord Lexinii'ton. E 2 52 ST. JAMES'S PALACE in the year 1691, a term of ninety-nine years being granted to liim, and it was afterwards acquired by Sidney, Lord Godolpbin, who appears to have laid out considerable sums of money in enlarging and addino' to the build ino;. By the Godolphiu family the lease of Godolphin House was transferred to H.E.H. the Duke of York, who, in 1807, was not only occupying it, but contem- plated making additions to the house. A I'enewed lease was granted to his Royal Highness, with the addition of another piece of land which had been taken out of the park, the possession to run for 98 3'ears and 222 days, from August 26th, 1807. That lease was afterwards sun-endered, and a new one granted, which was to include a small further pai't of the park for ninety-nine years from October 10th, 1825. York House, as it was then called, was celebrated as having been occupied for some time before his death by Charles James Fox, and thither his body was brought from. Chiswick, in the year 1806, previous to intei-ment in Westminster Abbey. In the year 1825 the Duke of York commenced replacing Godolphin House by the present Stafford House, which, when built, was to be called York House. The cost of completing this building M^as. in fact, part of the consideration for the grant of the last lease. The architect of this new house was Benjamin Wyatt. But his Royal Highness did not live to inhabit it. At his death the house as well as the O f o a O ■- w = f ■? o ; o s HOUSES coxTiGUors to the palace 53 lease ^vere boiight by the Government for the sum of 81,913/. For iseveral year.s no use was made of the building, and at one time it was the intention of the Government to appropriate part of it to the use of the lioyal Society. The money, however, for the building had been advanced by the Marquis of StatFord, who afterwards became the first Duke of Sutherland, and negotiated with the Grown for the purchase of the lease, which, in December 1841, he acquired for the sum of 72,000/., the original cost of the building. Sir Charles Barry, who was the duke's architect, planned all the internal arrangements of the mansion, and added an upper storey after his Grace had come into possession. In the year 1842, in consequence of the large expenditure for the addition of this extra storey to the building, the lease was surrendered, and a new one was granted to the duke and his heirs for ninety-nine years from July 5th, lyil. Stornoway House and AVar^rick House are also built on lands which originally formed part of St. James's Park. They are now separate and distinct houses, but in old days one house only stood on the ground now occupied by the two. The freehold and leasehold sites of the two houses became vested in Lady Broughton, and, on her marriage with H. Errington, Esq., became vested in Edward, A'iscount AVentworth, and Xoel Hill, Esq., as trustees of the said marriage. A lease of the sites of these two houses was ■54 ST. JAMES'S PALACE granted Jbr a term of fifty years from July 24th, 1770. Thereupon, the tn-o old houses having been pulled down, a new house for Mr. Errington was erected on the site. Xine 3'ears after (Julv 3rd, 1779) a renewed lease was granted to Xoel Hill, Esq., after v?ards Lord Berwick, for terms which were to expire on July 24th, 1828. Mr. Errington agreed to demise part of the land to Lord Grenville, one of the Ministers of George I IL, too-ether wdth his own freehold o-round, aod about the year 1797, Lord Grenville built Stornoway House. At this time a further part of the park -was taken in both by Lord Grenville and Mr. Errington. On September 28th, 1799, the last- mentioned lease was surrendered, and a new lease granted of both houses to John Hill, Esq., ai:id Edward Burton, Esq., as trustees for ]\lr. Errington and Lady Broughton, for a term of ninety-seven years from April 5th, 1798. Warwick Plouse, which stands in the extreme south corner of the stable yard, was afterwards occupied by Lord Berwick. Here are to be seen at the present day the beautiful painted ceilings and decorations executed by Cipriani. The remainder of the lease of this house was sold, on May 31st, 1853, to Lord Brooke, afterwards Earl of Warwick, who died in December 1893. The lease, therefore, of Warwick House will shortly fall in to the Crown. Stornoway House was built by Lord Grenville, HOUSES COXTIGUOUS TO THE PALACE 55 as previously stated, from plans and designs drawn, it is said, by his wife, Lady Grenvilie. Lord Grenville was succeeded in the occupation of this house by a Mr. Miles Peter Andrews. The Earl of Durham, followed Mr. Andrews, and during his tenancy it was called Durham House. On the death of Lord Durham, in 18 U, his trustees sold the remainder of the lease to Sir James ]\Iatheson, Bart., of Achany and the Lews, the lease bearing date Februaiy 17th, 1844. This last lease was renewed to the widow of Sir James in 1892. Berkshire House, formerly the residence of the Howards. Earls of Berkshire, and subsequently called Cleveland House, stood on the site of the present Bridgewater House. It was purchased by Charles II. of one of the Earls of Berkshire in. the year 1670, and was presented by his Majesty to that ' beautiful fury,' as she has been called, Barbara, Duchess of Cleveland, after whom Cleveland Row was named, and who is supposed to have built Cleveland House on part of the site. On the death of the Duke of Cleveland, however, in 1 709, the house was bought by Scroop Egerton, tl}e first Duke of Bridgewater, in whose family it has since remained. It was still at this time called occasionally Cleveland House. The building was considerably altered in the year 1793, by Francis, third Duke of Bridgewater, who died in 1S02. On hi? death the dukeiom became extinct, but the house and gallery passed to his nephew George, 56 ST. JAMES'S PALACK Marquis of Stafford, afterwards Duke of Sutherland, with reversion to the marquis's second son, Lord Francis Eo-erton, who was created Earl of EUesmere in 1846. It seems that in 1843 the trustees under the will of the late Duke of Bridgewater, being desirous of erecting a new residence for Lord Fi'ancis Egerton on the site of the former mansion, procured an inqui- sition for the purpose of closing Catherine AVheel Yard, and of opening a new road in lieu thereof from Little James Street into Cleveland Road. In addition to this, the Charcoal House, attached to the palace, was cleared away for the erection of the present Bridgewater House.^ Another mansion in the immediate neighbourhood of St. James's Palace is Sdwyn House, afterwards commonly called Sydnnj House. As far as can be ascertained, the earliest recorded fact resj)ecting this house is, that it was mentioned in the will of the late Lieutenant- General William Selwyn, Governor of Jamaica, which bore date '■ According to the old plans in the possession of the Office of Woods and Forests, the boundary line between the gardens of Spencer House and Bridgewater House went directly through the Charcoal House of the palace. Wheatley and Cunningham, London Past and Present, vol. i. p. 248. By the courtesy of the Hon. Charles Gore, the writer is informed that previous to 1834 the palace and public buildings were under a separate department, ' the Surveyor of Works,' of which Sir Benjamin Stephenson was the chief. In that year the office was amalgamated with the ' Woods and Forests.' These offices were again separated in 1851, and became the ' Office of Woods ' and the ' Office of Woi'ks.' All Crown leases, or such as those of Warwick House^ Stafford House, &c. are at the ' Office of Works.' HOUSES COXTIGrOUS TO THE PALACE 57 August 12th, 1701, and who died on April 6th, 1702. In that will the general described it as ' his dwelling house in Cleveland Court, St. James's,' and he left it in trust for his eldest son (then under age), with a life interest in it to his widow, Albinia, daughter of Richard Betenson, Esq., who died on December 29tb, 1737.i The house was occupied by the eldest son. Colonel Selwyn, in the year 1727, at the time of the celebrated scufSe between the then Prime Minister, Sir Robert AYalpole, and his brother-in-law Lord Townshend, at that time Secretary of State. This scuffle, in all probability the most remarkable event which ever took place in this house, was put a stop to on the spot by their hostess, Mrs. Selwyn, just as it avus about to develop into a duel with swords. AYraxall and Jesse both mention this affair in their ' Memoirs.' It will be sufficient, however, to quote the following extract in reference to this subject : — ■ The quarrelling scene (in the ' Beggar's Opera ') between Peachum and Lockit was so well understood at that time ^ It seems to be a matter of doubt as to when Cleveland Court was changed into Cleveland Square, but, from maps now in the possession of the ' Office of AYoods,' it is probable that these changes took place between the years 1769 and 1804, about the time, in fact, that the ex- tensive alterations and additions were made to Cleveland House, now Bridgewater House ; for on a map of the earlier date it appears as Cleveland Court, whereas on one of the later date it is called Cleveland Square. There was formerly another Cleveland Court in Little St. James's Street, now known as St. James's Place. 58 ST. JAMES'S PALACE (1728) to allude to a recent quarrel between the two Minis- ters Lord Townshend and Sir Eobert (Walpole), that the house was in convulsions of applause. We have often asked MacMin the cause of this quarrel between the two Ministers, but he could not remember, nor perhaps did he ever dis- tinctly know. The late Orford (Horace Walpole), however, has explained it; and, as the transaction is rather curious, we shall relate it in this place. Sir Eobert Walpole, after quitting the Palace in one of those conferences wherein he differed from Lord Towns- hend, soon after met him at Colonel Selwyn's, Cleveland Court, in the presence of the Duke of Newcastle, Mr. Pel- ham, Col. and Mrs. Pelham (? Selwyn). The conversa- tion turned on a foreign negotiation, which, at the desire of Walpole, had been relinquished. Townshend, however, still required that the measure should be mentioned in the House of Commons, at the same time that the House should be informed ' that it was given up.' Walpole, objecting to this proposal as inexpedient, Townshend said : ' Since you object and the House of Commons is more your affair than mine, I shall not persist in my opinion ; but as I now give way, I cannot avoid observing that, upon my honour, I think that mode of proceeding would have been most advisable.' Walpole, piqued at this expression, lost his temper, and said : ' My Lord, for once then, there is no man's sincerity which I doubt so much as yours ; and I never doubted it so much as when you are pleased to make such strong expressions.' Townshend, incensed at this reproach, seized him by the collar. Sir Eobert laid hold of his in return, and both, at the same instant, quitted their holds, and laid their hands on their swords. Mrs. Selwyn, alarmed, wanted to call the guard, but was prevented by Pelham, who made it up between them, though the contemptuous expressions used on this occasion rendered all attempts to heal the ' breach ineffectual. This circumstance happened in the latter end of 1727, and the ' Beggar's Opera ' came out in n-^ ST. JAMES'S PALACE CHAPTER IV ROYAL AND OTHER RESIDEXTS I>r ST. JAMEs'.S PALACE It is not easy at this distance of time to identify the numerous persons who have successively inhabited the various suites of apartments in St. James's, from the time when Henry VIII. first converted the hospital into a palace. Once transformed into a habitable dwelling for ' people of qualit)',' it became in later years the residence of some of our English Sovereigns. But none of them between Henry VIII. and William III. took up regular abode at St. James's. It was only utilised for State ceremonies as occasion demanded. The latter monarch, after the destruction of Whitehall Palace by tire in 1697, removed to St. James's, and his successors, until George III., likewise resided there. But the third Hanoverian king lived principally at Buckingham House, as the enlarged palace of that county name was then entitled. It is to be noted that, though Henry VIII. effected the structural changes at St. James's which made it a palace, he seldom resided there after his second marriage. He seems to have occupied it rather as a EOYAL EESIDEXTS IX ST. JAMES'S PALACE 63 sort of rural abode ' do\va to the period when Wolsey siTrrendered Whitehall to the Crown.' King Edward YI., lil-ce his father, but rarely dwelt at St. James's Palace, exce[)t when State occasions made it expedient. Miss Strickland relates from the Harl. MSS. an amusing story of this young Tudor. Sovereign during one of his residences there.-* While the aspirations for the premature wedlock of our fair bachelor King, Edward YI., in his tenth year, with his cousin, the maiden sovereign of Scotland, Mary Stuart, were presented to his loyal lieges in every parish church in England, his assistance was earnestly sought by his Uncle Thomas Seymour, the Lord High Admiral, to smooth the difficulties of the matrimonial engagement he had presumed to contract with the Queen Dowager, Katherine Parr, iill private access to his Eoyal nephew being in like manner denied to the Lord High Admiral, he resorted to the ex- pedient of carrying on a secret communication by means of John Fowler, one of his personal attendants. The Admiral had apartments in St. James's Palace, and one day, while Edward was residing there, called Fowler into his chamber, and said : ' Now, Mr. Fowler, how doth the King's Majesty"?' 'Well, thanks to God,' was the reply. 'Doth his Highness lack anything ? ' asked the Admiral. Fowler said ' Nothing.' Then the Admiral inquired whether the King asked for him in his absence. Fowler said his High- ness sometimes did! ' But doth he ask questions about me ? ' demanded the Admiral. ' Why, what questions should his Majesty ask about you '? ' said Fowler. ' Nay, nothing,' rejoined the Admiral, ' only sometimes his High- ness would ask why I married not.' ' I never heard him asking such questions,' returned Fowler. The Admiral, after a brief pause, said : ' Mr. Fowler, I pray you, if you have any communication with the King's ' StrioWand's Lives of Bachelor Kings of England, p. 253. 64 ST. JAMES'S PALACE Majesty, soon or to-morrow, ask his Grace whether he could be content I should marry or not, and if he says he will be content, I pray you ask his Grace whom he would have to be my wife ! ' That night Fowler, whom the Admiral had propitiated with a present, being alone with the King, said to him : ' An" please your Grace, I marvel my Lord Admiral marrieth not.' Edward making no rejoinder to this remark. Fowler put the question direct, ' Could your Grace be contented he should marry?' 'Yea, very well,' replied Edward. ' Whom would your Grace like him to marry ? ' inquired Fowler. The Eoyal boy, in the unsuspicious innocence of his heart, named ' My Lady Anne of Cleves.' Then, after a thoughtful p,ause, with equal simplicity, amended his proposition by saying, ' Nay, nay, wot you what ? I would he married my sister Mary, to turn his opinions ' — and there the conference ended. The nest day the Lord Admiral waylaid Fowler in the gallery of St. James's Palace, and inquired if he had sounded the King on his matrimonial purposes, and what had been the result, when Fowler repeated what the young King had said. The Admiral laughed, as well he might a,t the choice of wives offered by his Royal nephew, so near and yet so wide at which he aimed. ' I pray you, Mr. Fowler,' said he, after he had recovered his gravity, ' ask his Grace if he could be contented I should marry the Queen, and in case, I be a suitor to his Highness for his letter to the Queen, whether his Majesty would write for me or not.' Fowler fulfilled the Lord Admiral's desire, and obtained, as it appears, a secret interview between the uncle and nephew the next day. The meeting was strictly private, and so the sayings of neither uncle or nephew are on record. The result, however, is well known. The Admiral, though he had been for some weeks clandestinely married to Katherine, appealed so successfully to the kind feelings of the amiable little king, that he beguiled his Majesty into writing a letter on his behalf to the Queen, to plead his ROYAL EESIDENTS IN ST. JAMES'S PALACE 65 «ause, requesting her to smile upon his suit. Neither this letter, nor Katherine's answer, signifying her compliance with his Eoyal will, have been discovered. Queen Mary I. had a great liking for this palace, and she frequently resided ' at her manor of St. James's bej^ond Charing Cross ' during the whole of her reign, treating it as her private residence, and using Whitehall for State ceremonies and receptions. She was resident at St. James's when the treaty of peace was signed between England and France, in which Calais was surrendered to the latter.^ She had been deserted by her husband, Philip of Spain, who soon wearied of the English people, and grew tired of the society of his wife. At St. James's she spent her time, and here she breathed her last, on November 17th, .1558. Queen Elizabeth, like Edward VI. , rarely occupied St. James's for any length of time, though she frequently retired there for short periods. During one of these visits her favourite, Sir Robert Dudley, K.G., and Master of the Horse, was created Earl of Leicester by her Majesty on Michaelmas Day, 1564. In July 1588 she removed from Richmond to St. James's, and there remained till the end of the following September. The change was probably due to the gravity of the crisis ; for this was the time when the Invincible Armada attempted its invasion •of England. James I., in the year after his accession to the ' Wheatley's Bound about Piccadilly and Pall Mall. VOL. I. F 06 ST. JAMESS PALACE throne, granted 'the house (St. James's) and Manor with their appurtenances, except the Park and the King's Stables at the Mews, to Prince Henry (his eldest son), who was the next heir to the throne.' ^ But, as stated in the despatch quoted below, ' there being neither barn nor stable there, warrants to the Exchequer, and Master of the Works were required to have them built.' ^ The work delayed Henry's advent for nearly six years, and he did not take possession of the palace till 1610. Endless stories are told, during his residence there, of this Prince's high qualities, and also of his tact and judgment in dealing with those about him. History tells us, among other things, that he held Sir Walter Raleigh in the greatest possible esteem, and was once heard to say, when speaking of Sir ^ From the Gentleman's Magazine we extract the copy of a letter, addressed in the j'ear 1C04, by Edward, Earl of Worcester (Master of the Horse to the King) to the Clerk of the Signet, directing stables and other accommodation to be provided at St. James's, when it was ap- propriated as a residence to the Prince of Wales, then not four years of age. ' Whereas St. Jameses howse is appoynted by his Majestie for the Prince to lye at, iinto the which there is neyther barne nor stable belonginge, the w""" wante of necessitie must be supplyed; Theise are therefore to praye you to draw a warrant unto the Lo : Heighe Treasurer to gyve his directions unto the Officers of his Ma"" woorkes for the buildinge of such conveniente stablinge and barne roome as ■shall there bee founde needfull for the Prince's service. Whitehall the 14th of July 1604. ' Yo' lovinge ffreind, ' (Signed) E. Woeoesteb. ' To the Plight Wor' Sir Thorn. Lake, Knight, ' One of the Clarkes of his Ma"'"' Signett.' - Domestic Series (James L), July 12tli, 1604, par. 104. ^'-VanSam^.^?,. ,y~[enra zLu^Lfice oh 11' alt ROYAL RESIDENTS IN ST. JAMES'S PALACE 67 Walter's imprisonment in tlie Tower, that no' Kino- but his father, would keep such a bird, in such a cage.' ^ It was at St. James's that Prince Henry held his brilliant Court, and entertained in the most luxurious and costly manner. In 1610, the year in which he took possession of the palace, his Highness's house- hold consisted of ' 426 persons, of whom 295 were in receipt of regular salaries ; ' and Sir Charles Cornwallis states that the Prince was so immensely popular that his levees were much more fally attended than were those of the King, his father. This seems to have somewhat annoyed the King, who was heard on one occasion to ask, ' Will he bury me alive ? ' '^ So scrupulously strict was Prince Henry in his supervision of his Court, that at each of his residences, of which St. James's was one, a box was kept in which to place the fines that were collected from those members of his household who had been heard to swear or in any way use bad language, and the money thus collected was afterwards doled out to the poor. The Prince was not destined, however, to occupy this palace more than two short years, for he passed away on November 6th, 1612, after a long and painful illness. On the death of Prince Henry, his brother Charles, afterwards Charles I., resided at St. James's Palace till after the death of his father. He made it his ' E. Coke's Detection, vol. i. p. 61. '' Ibid. P 2 68 ST. JAMES'S PALACE liome and the seat of his domestic enjoj^ments, and for some years seems to have led a happy life beneath its roof. Here most of his children were born ; but he is said not to have shared the liking Avhich, in after years, his Queen, Henrietta Maria, entertained for this palace. It is stated that when she settled there in 1626, her Majesty's establishment, composed as it was chiefly, if not entirely, of French servants, was so great, and so expensive, that it cost 240/. per diem to keep it up. These foreign domestics were eventually sent back to France, for complaints respect- ing them were loud and long. This seems to have roused the anger of the King of France, who, in conse- quence, gave instant orders for all English ships to be seized which happened then to be in French ports. These French servants would appear to have been anything but desirable tenants of the palace, for the housekeeper resident there is reported to have sent word to the King that they had ' so defiled the house, as a week's work would not make it clean.' From notes at the College of Arms, it appears that there is in the possession of the House of Lords the draft of a letter dated December 9th, 1642, addressed to the Countess of Roxburgh, which dralt was to be signed by the Earl of Manchester (Speaker), 'inform- ing her of the Order of Parliament for the return of the King's children to St. James's Palace, and desiring her to attend upon them as formerly, and not to allow their removal without acquainting both houses.' This order was made during the lifetime of Charles I. ROYAL EESIDENTS IN ST. JAMES'S PALACE 69 In July of the following year, 1643, the Countess of Dorset was appointed governess over the King's children at St. James's ; and in March of that same year, an order was made for payment of 794^. to Lord Saye and Seale for the household expenses of the King's children there. In 1646 the Princess Henrietta was brought up to London from Exeter, where she had been born and baptized, and placed with her sister and brothers at St. James's. Lady Dalkeith had been given charge of this Princess, and was so determined to remain still with her, that she declared her willingness to follow^ the directions of Lord and Lady Northumberland, who had succeeded the Countess of Dorset, after her death in 1645, in the charge of the Royal children. How- ever, Princess Henrietta was not kept long in con- finement at St. James's, since Lady Dalkeith resolved to carry her off abroad to her mother, the Queen, as soon as possible. Lady Dalkeith therefore dressed herself up in a torn and tattered dress, and made an artificial hump of old rags for her back, which, we are told, she sewed on one shoulder. Having thus concealed her own identity, she disguised the little Princess, then barely more than two years of age, in an old dress, and calling her her son Pierre, started off to the sea-coast on their runaway expedition on July 25th. On the w^ay to Dover the child endeavoured to undeceive everyone whom she encountered by declaring she 70 ST. JAMES'S PAIvACE was not Pierre, but Priccess, and that the .shabby dress she wore was not her own. As St. James's Palace had been chosen by tlie Earl of Xorthumberland for the residence of the Princess Elizabeth and her brother the Duke of Glou- cester, they were brought there early in the year 1646.1 Here, on the surrender of Oxford, the Duke of York was also brought to be housed with his brother and sister, and committed to the care of Algernon, Duke of Northumberland. ' The Earl of Northumberland accoi'dingly,' so Miss Strickland informs us, on the 28th July, proceeded to meet the young Duke with a sumptuous retinue of coaches and nobles on his arrival in the City of London, and conducted him in Eoyal State to St. James's Palace. A vast crowd of the loving people came out to greet and to welcome the son of their absent Sovereign, strewed the way with flowers and sweet herbs, and saluted him with joyful acclamations of love and loyalty. St. James's Palace during this time became the prison house for nearly three years of the Duke of York, the Duke of Grloucester, and the Princess Elizabeth, children of King Charles I. It was from ' Madame Louise Colet, in her Enfances CeUhres, thus expresses herself respecting this child Princess : 'LaPrincesse Elisabeth etait nee au Palais de Saint-James le 8 Janvier, 1635. Des son plus jeune age, elle montra un esprit vif et penetrant, et les plus heureuses dispositions pour r etude. Elle avait a peine dix ans, que son pfere la consultait d^JEl avant de prendre une decision, tant il avait reconuu en elle de justesse d'esprit et de perspicacite pr^coce. Elle etait frele et delicate, mais d'une figure expressive et charmante.' ROYAL EESIDENTS IX ST. JAMES'S PALACE 71 St. James's Palace that the Duke of York, tliouirli only fifteen years old at the time, disguised as a female, effected his escape on April 20th, 1648. The story of this escape is thus given in the Stuart Papers : — All things being in readiness, the Duke went to supper at his usual hour, which was at about 7 p.m., in the company of his brother and sister, and when suj^per was ended they went to play ' hide and seek ' with the rest of the young people in the house. At this childish sport the Duke had accustomed himself to play for a fortnight together every night, and had used to hide himself in places so difficult to find that they were half an hour in searching for him, at the end of which time he most commonly came out of his own accord. This blind he laid for his design, that they might be accustomed to miss him, before he really intended his escape, by which means, when he came to practise it in earnest, he was secure of gaining that half hour, before they could reasonably suspect he was gone. His intentions had all the effect he could desire ; for that night, as soon as they began their play, he pretended according to his custom to hide himself, but instead of doing so he went first into his sister's chamber, and locked up a little dog that was used to follow him, that he might not be discovered by him ; then slipping down by a pair of back stairs, which led into the inmost garden, having found means beforehand to furnish himself with a key of a back door from the said garden into the park, he there found Colonel Bamfield, who was ready to receive him, and waited there with a footman, who brought a cloak which he threw over him, and put on a periwig. Prom thence they went through the Spring Garden, where one Tripp was ready with a hackney coach, which carried him as far as Salisbury House. The Duke, dressed in female attire, succeeded in reach- ing Gravesend, where a Dutch vessel was waiting to take il ST. JAMES'S PALACE him across the water to Dort, near Eotterdam, where he was taken hy Colonel Bamfield first to his sister, the Princess of Orange, and afterwards to the Queen, his mother, at Paris.' The story of this escape is given at greater length and in fuller detail in the ' Autobiography of Anne, Lady Halkett,' and in the Appendix to Vol. II. of the ' Clarendon State Papers.' During the Commonwealth St. James's Palace was converted into a prison house, though in Carlyle's ' Oliver Cromwell's Letters and Speeches ' we come across, in one of the letters, the following passage : ' That the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland have the use of the lodgings called the Cock Pit, of the Spring Garden and St. James's House, and the command of St. James's Park.' Cromwell, however, never seems to have attempted to occupy the palace. We find rather that soldiers were billeted there, that the Eiding House at St. James's was ordered to be prepared for accommoda- ting Colonel Pride's men, the cost of such preparation not to exceed 150/., and that the Marshal General was ordered to remove his prison from Whitehall to St. James's.^ ' There is a curious pamphlet in a book of Tracts at ihe British Museum bearing upon this subject which the writer was enabled to see entitled ' A Declaration of His Highnesse the Duke of Yorke : his going away from St. Jamses, and concerning the Right Honovtrable the Earl of NorthiuAberland from whom he went.' The book was printed and published by Eobert Ibbitson, ' at London, in Smithfield, neere the Queen's Head Tavern ' in 1648. [E. 436. (19.)] ^ Domestic Series, vol. ii., August 25th, 1649. EOYAL RESIDENTS IN ST. JAMES'S PALACE 73 On September 16th, 1651, the Committee ap- pointed for disposing of prisoners were desired to consider how the English prisoners then at St. James's House, who had been taken in the kite engagement at Worcester, should be disposed of, as there was no convenience for them there ; and, in the following November, Colonel Fielder reported to the House that there were several English prisoners at St. James's House, who had been taken in the battle of Worcester, ' twentj' of which had been chosen by- direction of the Council to be made examples of, and that the remainder, by being kept in restraint, had fallen sick and infected one another, and endangered the soldiers quartered there, therefore the House were to declare their pleasure as to disposal of them.' 1 At the end of the month Parliament ordered that the common soldiers at St. James's and in the Mews should be sent to Ireland, and there be disposed of for the advantao'e of the Commonwealth. Just one month later, on December 24th, 1651, we find that ' the Committee of Parliament for the disposal of the houses of the Commonwealth were recommended to repair James's for quartering soldiers of both regi- ments of the said Guard, that the three Companies at Sion College might be also brought there, and Sion College quitted.' ^ We learn further from Cromwelliana that on ' Ttomestic Series, vol. x-si.. November 6th, 1651. - Ibid. vol. xvi., December 24th, 1651. 74 ST. JAMES'S PALACE Februaiy 8th, 1658, prisoners were sent from St. James's to the Tower who had been accused of trying to place Charles on the throne. ' Among other things the}' were charged with secretly arranging that the garrison at James's should be seized on, and the soldiers surjDrised in their quarters.' On hearing this, Lieut. -Colonel Worsley and divers others of Officers and Soldiers at St. James's went that evening to Mr. Amps at the Ship Tavern, and found ten of them. They searched them, but found no papers. The master of the tavern protested that he knew not anything of their design, and only came to drink. He was brought away prisoner with them, but because no charge was by any made against him, he was afterwards let go again. They were that night brought to St. James's, and one or two of them and especially one very penitent, and cried and took on lament- ably ! There were they kept till Saturday, February 18th, but in the interim they were examined (that was on Feb. 16th) and were brought before the Committee of Council. Monk resided in St. James's Palace 'while his plans for the Restoration were as yet undecided.' After the Restoration, Charles II., though born in the palace, did not reside regularly at St. James's, but used the palace for State purposes only. His mistresses, however, had apartments there, including Hortense Mancini (Duchess of Mazarine), who, to- gether with Madame Beauclair, had been moved over to St. James's on the restoration of Whitehall Palace, where they were originally located. Louise de Quer- ouaille. Duchess of Portsmouth, one of the most KOYAL EESIDEXTS IX ST. JAMES'S PALACE Tf) powerful, extravagant, and intriguing of h"s favourites, liad rooms provided for her not only in St. James's Palace, but also at Whitehall. During the greater part of the reign, however, the palace was occupied by the Duke of York, the King's, next brother. At this time it was ' splendidly adorned : one room being embellished with pictures of the Court beauties, by Sir Peter Lely.'^ Here, for many years, the Duke and Duchess of York ' se- cluded themselves in mourning and sorrow ' on each successive aimiversaryof the murder of King Charles I. While living here, still as Duke of York, James's first wife (Anne Hyde) joined the communion of the Roman Church, and the letter which she wrote announcing the fact is dated August 20th, 1670, and written frora the palace. This letter is preserved in the British Museum, and is reprinted in the ' Harleian Miscellany.' ^ Mary Beatrice of Modena, James's second wife, spent the first years of her married life at St. James's. She and her husband held their Courts and Levees at the Palace as regularly as the King and Queen held theirs at Whitehall, but on dif- ferent days. There was not, however, the slightest rivalry either intended or suspected. King Charles always said that the most loyal and virtuous portion of his courtiers were to be found in his brother's circle at St. James's Palace.^ ' These pictures are now at Hampton Court. - Edit. 1810, vol. V. p. 44. ^ Mordaunt Genealogies. 76 ST. JAMES S PALACE It is stated that, even after the Duchess of York became Queen Consort,' she always preferred its homely apartments to the gilded and gorgeous rooms at "Whitehall Palace. The night before the Coronation, the Queen slept at St. James's Palace, her former abode when Duchess of York. The next morning, having performed her devotions there, she was attired by her ladies of the bedchamber, assisted by her women, in her Eoyal robes of purple velvet, furred with ermine, and looped with ropes and tassels of pearls, her kirtle being of rich white and silver brocade, ornamented with pearls and precious stones, with a stomacher very elaborately set with jewels. On her head was a cap of purple velvet turned up with ermine, and a circlet of gold very richly adorned with large diamonds curiously set, and a row of pearls round the upper edge. James II., like his brother Charles, had a decided preference for Whitehall Palace as a residence. The Palace of St. James's, therefore, became almost deserted, though his Majesty, like Queen Elizabeth before him, occasionally made short stays there. Burnet, in his ' History of His Own Time ' vrritten in 1688, speaks thus of the state of affairs at this time : — Upon the news of the King's desertion,^ it was proposed ^ The Queen Consort of England has always her ' separate Court and officers distinct from the King's, not only in matters of ceremonj', but even of law.' ^ ' The fidelity manifested on this occasion by a faithful servant of the dethroned monarch is worthy of notice. At this period it was customary to mount guard both at Whitehall and St. James's, and Lord Craven was on duty at the latter when the Dutch guards, by William's orders, marched through the park to relieve him. His lord- ship resolutely refused to quit his post, and was preparing to make the most determined resistance to the intrusion of the Dutchmen when he received a command from James to submit, on which he reluctantly withdrew his party and marched away with sullen dignity.' — AcJcer- man's Repository. MHVd N33HO anx ao X'aVJ iQ ST. JAMES'S PALACE that the Prmce of Orange should go on with all possible haste to London. The King sent Earl Feversham to Windsor, and ordered him to desire the Prince, who had gone there, to come to St. James's to consult with him of the best way of settling the nation. After the King had left London for Eochester, the Prince came to St. James's, on December 18, 1688. It happened to be a very rainy day, and yet great numbers came to see him. But after they had stood long in the wet, he disap- pointed them; for he, who neither loved shows nor shoutings, went through the park,' and took a circuitous route, so as to avoid them. Now that the Prince was come, all the bodies about the town came to welcome him.^ The Bishops came the next day. Only the Archbishop of Canterbury, though he had once agreed to it, yet would not come. The Clergy of London came next. The City and a great many other bodies came likewise and expressed a great deal of joy for the deliverance wrought for them by the Prince's means. Old Serjeant Maynard came with the men of the Law. He was then ninety, and yet he said the liveliest thing that was heard of on that occasion. The Prince took notice of his great age, and said that he had outlived all the men of the law of his time. He answered he had like to have outlived the Law itself, if his Highness had not come over. ^ ' All the "(vorld,' says Evelyn in liis Diary, ' goes to see the Prince at St. James's, M-here tliere is a greate Cotirt. There I saw him : he is very stately, serious, and reserved.' He gave orders, it seems, for the Dutnh Guards to take possession of all the posts about St. James's and ^Vhitehall. - ' Lord Mulgrave was the foremost to press for admittance. "Whilst he waited at tlae door of the Prince's chamber, Bentinck, observing him without his staff of Lord Chamberlain, said : " Comment, mi Lord, vous avez quitt^ votre baton ? " Mulgrave answered, partly with good and partly with bad humour : " II est bien temps." ' — Diary of Henry, Earl of Clarendon, 1G88. li ■^1 ROYAL RESIDENTS IN ST. JAMES'S PALACE 79 The news of the Prince's arrival is thus announced in the ' London Gazette,' dated St. James's, December 19th, 1688 :— ' H.H. the Prince of Orange arrived here yesterday in the afternoon, where he received the compliments of all the nobility and other persons of the chiefest quality in town. And at night the streets were filled with bonfires, with ringing of bells and other public demonstrations of joy.' It was to St. James's that the peers came three days after the arrival of the Prince, as well as the household and other officers of the ' abdicated Sovereign,' and delivered up their badges and bands of office. After the accession of William and Mary the King and Queen were forced to remove to St, James's, be- cause of the destruction of Whitehall Palace, though even then they only occasionally occupied it, and quitted it on the first opportunity. The palace was then fitted up for Prince George of Denmark and the Princess Anne. The apartments which were assigned to them w^ere those which had previously belonged to the Countess of Plymouth. Princess Anne had been born at St. James's, and as an infant had been so delicate that, when she had reached the age of five years, ' she was taken to France,' says Mrs. Jameson, ' in hopes that a milder air would restore her.' At St. James's also, towards the close of 1677, the Princess Anne was struck down by the smail-pox, of which many members of the household of the Duke and Duchess of York died. Amongst other deaths was that of the Lady Frances 80 ST. JAMES'S PALACE Villiers, who had been for some time the valued governess to the Royal children. In 1692, when the relations between the Princess Anne and her brother-in-law William were some- what strained, she was livmg at Berkeley House, and here she continued to reside till the death of her sister, Queen Mary, in 1694, wlien William offered her and her husband. Prince George, apartments in St. James's, as well as a considerable portion of his late wife's jewels. Here the Princess was residing when the news of King William's death and her own acces- sion was brought to her by Bishop Burnet. ' As soon,' says Lord Dartmouth, as the breath was out of King William, the Bishop of Salis- bury drove hard to bring the first tidings to St. James's, •where he prostrated himself at the new Queen's feet, full of joy and duty.^ In Queen Anne's reign, St. James's Palace be- came the scene, once again, of a most brilliant Court. When her husband died at Kensington, it was to the palace of St. James's that the widowed Queen Anne retired to indulge her grief. ' When we came to St. James's,' wrote the Duchess of Marlborough, by whose advice the change was reluctantly made, I carried her privately through my lodging into the Green Closet and gave her a cup of broth, and afterwards she ate a very good dinner, and at night I found her at a table again, where she had been eating, and Mrs. Masham ' Burnet, vol. i. p. 1, note. ROYAL RESIDENTS IX ST. JAMES'S PALACE 81 very close by her, who went out of the room as soon as I came in, but with an air of insolence and anger, and not in the humble manner she had sometimes affected of bed- chamber woman. I attended the Queen upon this affliction with all the care that was possible to please her, and never named Mrs. Masham to her ; and she would make me sit down, as she had done formerly, and make some little show of kindness at night, when I took my leave ; but she would never speak to me freely of anything, and I found I could gain no ground, which was not much to be wondered at, for I never came to her but I found Mrs. Masham there, or had been just gone out from her, which at last tired me, and I went to her seldomer. The 'Edinburgh Magazine' for February 1797 relates two anecdotes of Queen Anne, which indicate her strict sense of etiquette. Though this Princess could be very familiar at times, and was seldom without a party of private friends, where Majesty was entirely laid aside, yet she was a great observer of Court etiquette, and took care it should be preserved most scrupulously by all those who approached her presence in public. We have an instance of this in the difficulty Lord Bolingbroke had, when Secretary of State, in intro- ducing Prince Eugene — who arrived late in the evening — to her Majesty at St. James's without a Court wig, which at last was dispensed with only on account of the particular celebrity of his character, and which the Queen said ' should not be drawn into precedent.' Again, A Captain, and the son of a nobleman, who arrived with despatches from abroad, unfortunately happened to make his first appearance at Court, after his arrival, in a major wig. The Queen, who was quick to spy out these irregulari- ties, immediately asked who he was, and how he presumed VOL. I. G 82 ST. JAMES'S PALACE to appear before her in undress ? Being told, and an apology made for his not knowing the etiquette of the Court, she said it did not signify ; he must be told it, for if she suffered this indignity, she supposed she might soon expect to see all her officers come to Court in boots and spurs. The Captain got the hint, went home, re-dressed himself, and was most graciously received. In later life, owing to her dangerous malady, which, was fast creeping on her. Queen Anne was seldom, if ever, able to attend the services at the Chapel Royal, St. James's, and she was carried there in a low chair on the rare occasions of her presence. Among the worshippers was a Grerman lady who was attached in some capacity or other to the Court of Queen Anne, and who carried into the chapel her knitting and worked during the sermon. This greatly scandalised Steele. In one of his papers in the ' Gruardian ' he reprobates such proceedings at St. James's Chapel, during Divine Service, ' because the irreverent knitter was then in the immediate presence of God, and Her Majesty, who were both aflfronted together.' ^ ' In regard to Queen Anne's attachment to " Ceremonies and Customs," says Mr. Jesse in his ' Memoirs of the Court of Eno-land,' we are induced to lay before the reader a curious picture of the process of the Eoyal toilet, on the authority of no less a person than the celebrated Mrs. Masham. Dr. Arbuthnot thus replies to some enquiries of Mrs. Howard. ' ' Journal to Stella,' Scott's Swift, vol. iii. p. 110. ROVAL RESIDEXTS IN ST. JAMES'S PALACE 83 London : 29 May, 1728. Madam, — In obedience to your commands, I write this to inform you of some things you desired me to ask Lady Masham, and what follows is dictated by her Ladyship. The bedchamber woman came in to waiting before the Queen's Prayers, which was before her Majesty was dressed. The Queen often shifted in a morning ; if her Majesty shifted at noon, the bedchamber lady being by, the bed- chamber woman gave the shift to the lady without any ceremony, and the lady put it on. Sometimes, likewise, the bedchamber woman gave the fan to the lady in the same manner, and this was all that the bedchamber lady did about the Queen at her dressing. When the Queen washed her hands, the page of the back- stairs brought and set down upon a side table the basin and ewer ; then the bedchamber woman set it before the Queen, and knelt on the other side of the table over against the Queen, the bedchamber lady only looking on. The bed- chamber woman poured the water out of the ewer upon the Queen's hands. The bedchamber woman pulled on the Queen's gloves when she could not do it herself. The page of the back-stairs was called in to put on the Queen's shoes. When the Queen dined in public the page reached the glass to the bedchamber woman, and she to the lady in waiting. The bedchamber woman brought the chocolate, and gave it without kneeling. In general, the bedchamber woman had no dependence on the lady of the bedchamber. If you have the curiosity to be informed of anything else, you shall have what infor- mation Lady Masham can give you ; for I must tell you, from herself, that you have quite charmed her. Yours, &c., &c., &c., Jo. Aebuihnot.' ' Suffoll; Correspondence, vol. i. p. 292. G 2 84 ST. JAMES'S PALACE St. James's Palace was filled with residents. From the ' Precedent Books ' m the Lord Chamber- lam's Office, we gather that when the lodgings in St. James's Palace were surveyed in the year 1692, the following persons, among others, were housed there : Lord Peterborough, Marquess of Carmarthen, Earl of Scarborough, Lady Plymouth, Duke of Leeds, Lady Anne Nugent, Lady Wentworth, Lord Selkirk (two rooms and a garret). Lady Rouvigny, Lady Knipton, Earl of Bath (the old larder). Sir Robert Killigrew, and Lady Roscommon. The number of distinguished persons who were living in St. James's about this time is remarkable. Bishop Burnet and Lord Brouncker, the mathema- tician and first President of the Royal Society in the time of Charles IL, had apartments provided for them in the Palace, the latter in the Engine Court. The celebrated Henry Purcell, who was born in 1658, and who died in 1695, once lived m a set of rooms in St. James's Palace, which was entered by a winding staircase in the clock tower. It is stated that Dryden also, when anxious to be rid of his creditors, used to stay with Purcell for weeks together in these apart- ments so as to be safe fi-om them. Mrs. Papendiek's father had rooms here, as well as Lady Portland, who in the year 1727 resided in the palace. In 1728, the Duke of Cumberland, second son of Georgfe II. and also Lord Townsend were housed within the palace walls. Swift mentions dining at St. James's in company ROYAL RESIBE^■TS IX ST. JAMES'S PALACE 85 with Dartineuf, whose epicurean tastes have been celebrated by Pope : — February 27, 1710-11, Dartineuf and I, and little Har- rison the new Tatler, and Jervas the painter dined to-day "with James. I know not his other name, but it is one of Dartineuf's dining-places, who is a true epicure. James is Clerk of the Kitchen to the Queen, and has a snug little house at St. James's, and we had the Queen's wine, and such very fine victuals that I could not eat it.' ' Lord Lyttelton has given a dialogue in the shades between Dartineuf and Apicius on the subject of good eating, ancient and modern. " Ham pie " is stated by the modern to have been his favourite dainty. Dartineuf was a contributor to the " Tatler," and bemg a friend to the bottle as Avell as the table, wrote a good defence of the cheerful use of wine in Xo. 282. He was Paymaster of the Works.' In the rooms over the gateway, then occupied by Mr. Poyntz, tutor to the Duke of Cumberland, was once enacted a striking scene. The story is thus told by ]\Ir. Wheatley : — The great Earl of Peterborough, feeling that death was coming on, determmed to perform a tardy act of justice in acknowledging his marriage with the singer, Anastasia Eobinson. In 1732, he fixed a day for all his nearest rela- tions to meet him, in the rooms of Mr. Poyntz, who had married his niece ; and when all had assembled, he described, in flowing terms, the woman to whom he owed the best and happiest hours of his life, and then led Anastasia forward, and presented her as that woman, and his devoted wife. She was taken completely by surprise, and the suddenness of the announcement caused her to swoon. ' Journal to Stella. 86 ST. JAMES'S PALACE King George I., on his accession to the throne in 1714, was conducted to St. James's Palace when he arrived in London. He and the Prince of Wales, his son, had landed at Greenwich on September 18th, 1714, and on the 20th of that same month made their public entry through the City to St, James's Palace, attended, so we are told, by two hundred coaches, his Majesty's Foot Guards lining the way from the Strand to the palace. The sheriffs and aldermen, more- over, made their stand towards the upper end of Pall Mall on the right hand, leading to St. James's Gate. The Lord Mayor with Garter and the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod attended his Majesty into St. James's Palace to the foot of the stairs, leading up to the Guard Chamber, where they alighted, and the Lord Mayor humbly took his leave. The King took up his residence at the palace, and continued to live there quite as a private gentleman for a time — for some three years or more certainly — as did also the Prince and Princess of Wales, though they, however, were not destined long \o remain there.^ Horace Walpole gives a delightful account of his presentation to King George I. at St. James's. ' I must suppose,' he says, that the female attendants in the family must haTe put into my head to long to see the King. This childish ^ Two years later, ' the domestic concerns of the nation being ad- justed, the King began to turn his thoughts to his HanoTerian dominions, and resolved upon a voyage to the continent. Having therefore ap- pointed the Prince of "Wales Guardian of the Bealm and his Lieutenant during his absence, His Majesty set out frcni St. James's on July 7, 1716, and two days afterwards landed in Holland.' EOYAL KESIDEXTS IN ST. JA:MES'S PALACE 87 caprice ■^•as so strong that my mother sohcited the Duchess of Kendal to obtam for me the honour of kissing his Majesty's hand before he set out for Hanover. A favour so unusual, to be asked for a boy of ten years old, was still too slight to be refused to the wife of the first Minister for her darling child, yet, not being proper to be made a pre- cedent, it was settled to be in private and at night. Ac- cordingly, the night but one before the King began his last journey, my mother carried me, at ten at night, to the apartment of the Countess of Walsingham, on the ground flotir, towards the Garden of St. James's, which opened into that of her Aunt the Duchess of Kendal's apartments, occupied by George II. after his Queen's death, and by his successive mistresses, the Countesses of Suffolk and Yar- mouth. Notice being given that the King was come down to supper. Lady Walsingham took me alone into the Duchess's ante-room, where we found the King alone and her. I knelt down and kissed his hand. He said a few words to me, and my conductress led me back to my mother. The person of the King is as perfect in my memory as if I saw him but yesterday. It was that of an elderly man, rather pale, and exactly like his pictures and coins ; not tall ; of an aspect rather good than august, with a dark tie wig, a plain coat, waistcoat and breeches of snuff-coloured cloth, with stockings of the same colour, and a blue ribbon over all. So entirely was he my object, that I do not believe I once looked at the Duchess ; but, as I could not avoid seeing her on entering the room, I remember that just beyond his Majesty stood a very tall, lean, ill-favoured old lady, but I did not retain the least idea of her features, nor know what the colour of her dress was.' In the reign of George I., the King's mistresses, the Duchess of Kendal and Miss Brett, had apart- ments in St. James's Palace. The latter was a 88 ST. JAMES'S PALACE daughter of the Countess of Macclesfield by her second husband, and thus half-sister to the poet, Savage. The apartments of the Duchess of Kendal were on the ground floor, and looked into the garden. When the King died, these apartments were inhabited first by Lady Yarmouth and then by Lady Suffolk. On the last journey which George L took to Hanover, after his departure from St. James's, it is stated that Miss Brett ' ordered a door to be broken out of her apartments into the Royal garden. Anne, the eldest of the Princesses, offended at that freedom, and not choosing such a companion in her walks, ordered the door to be walled up again. Miss Brett as imperiously reversed the command. The King died suddenly (at Osnaburgh), and the emj)ire of the new mistress vanished.' ^ Another story is given of this same Princess Anne : ' She told her mother how very much she wished she had had no brothers, that she herself might succeed to the throne. Upon Caroline of Anspach reproving her for the remark, she said, " I would die to-morrow, to be Queen to-day." ' ^ In December 1727, Frederick, Prince of Wales (son of George II.), 'in obedience to his father's commands, left Hanover suddenly in the night. He travelled to the coast, and embarked on board an ordinary packet-boat from Holland to Harwich. ^ Horace Walpole. " Boyal Princesses of E?igland, Mrs. M. Hall. EOYAL KESIDEXTS IX ST. JAMES'S PALACE 89 Thence he went on his waj^, posting to Whitechapel. Here he hired a hackney coach, di-ove to St. James's, and walked by the back-stairs to the Queen's rooms, where he was decentl}' welcomed, though the greeting was neither affectionate nor enthusiastic' ' As Prince of Wales, Geoi'ge II. had resided in the palace till a smouldering quai"rel with his father came to a crisis over the christening of one of the Royal children (an account of which appears elsewhere), and the next day he was put under arrest, and ordered to leave St. James's with his family that evening.' ^ Their apartments were given to the Duke of Cumberland, who obtained the name of ' Butcher ' from his supposed cruelty at the battle of CuUoden. Soon after the accession of George II. and Queen Caroline to the throne, their Majesties removed from Leicester House to St. James's, and history relates that ' at no time from its first occupation as a Royal residence had so large and so various an establish- ment enlivened its ancient walls. Every apartment was inhabited, and the Royal Family of George 11. appears to have here experienced an envied portion of domestic happiness.' Like his father he preferred Hanover to England — a perfectly natural feeling, but in a King of England a political error. Lord Hervey, in his ' Memoirs,' assures us that ' people of all ranks grew every day more discontented at the King's stay in Germany. People belonging to the Court were uneasy at it. Pasquinades were stuck up ' Walks in London, Augustus Hare. 90 ST. JAMES'S PALACE in several quarters of the town, and some practical jokes and satires were likewise exhibited.' The follosving sarcastic advertisement was pasted in 1736 on the gate of St. James's Palace, during one of his Majesty's visits abroad : — Lost or strayed out of this house, a man ^\-ho has left a wife and six children on the Parish. Whoever wiU give any tidings of him to the Churchwardens of St. James's Parish, so as he may be got again, shall receive is. 6d. reward. N.B. — This reward will not be increased, nobody judg- ing him to deserve a crown. When at last his Majesty returned to England, about two o'clock in the afternoon on January 15th, 1737, after his lengthened absence abroad and peril- ous journey home, to the Palace of St. James's, ' the Queen attended to receive him, just as he alighted from his coach, and the whole ceremony of the meet- ing passed, kiss for kiss (the Prince not excepted), just as it had done the year before.' One of the old periodicals of the daj^, in giving an account of this meeting, informs us that on arriving at St. James's on this 15th of January, his Majesty 'alighted in the Queen's arms.' It was on the death of Queen Caroline that King George II. brought over with him from Germany a Baroness de Walmoden, whom he created Countess of Yarmouth. She had two sons : the younger was said to be the King's. On the Countess's settlement in her apart- ments. Lord Chesterfield found one day, in the palace ante-chamber, a fair young gentleman, whom he took for ROYAI. RESIDENTS IX ST. JAMES'S PALACE 91 the son in question. He was accordingly very profuse in his compHments. The shrewd lad received them all with a grave face, and then remarked, delightfully, ' I suppose your Lordship takes me for Master Louis, but I am only Sir "William Eussell, one of the pages.' Mrs. Thomson, in her ' ^Memoirs of Viscountess Sundon ' (Mistress of the Robes to Queen Caroline), tells us that it "was almost necessary for George II. to have female favourites, and further adds that ' a mistress was established at St. James's, in Mrs. Howard, afterwards Countess of Suffolk.' Miss Bellenden, a Maid of Honour, divided the Court with Mrs. Howard. Her face and person [according to Horace Walpole] were charming ; lively was she almost to etotinlcrie, yet so agreeable that she was mentioned by her contemporaries as the most perfect creature they ever knew. Mrs. Howard had apartments in the Palace, the same formerly occupied by the Duchess of Kendal. Mr. Howard, her husband, went one night into the Quadrangle at St. James's, and, before the Guards and other audience, voci- ferously demanded his wife to be restored to him. He was soon, however, thrust out, and just as soon soothed ; selling, as Walpole had heard, his noisy honour, and the possession of his wife, for a pension of 1,200L a year.' Wraxall, in his ' Memoirs,' furnishes a good deal of interesting information respecting George II. He tells us that his Majesty, who was punctiliously regular in all his habits, always took off his things in the afternoon, for a ' siesta ' of an hour's length, and that he invariably played cards every evening-, ' .Cunningham's HandbooTc of- London, 94 ST. JAMES'S PALACE Mr. AY. F. Thornbury graphically describes how that, on one occasion, a stranger to the Palace of St. James's,^ when on a visit to some of the retinue of King George II., sHpped down a flight of stairs, and bursting open the door of a room in his fall was precipitated, stunned, upon the floor. When the man came to his senses, he found a severe little old gentleman, with white eyebrows and a red face, carefully washing his bald head and applying bars of sticking plaster to the cuts. The amateur surgeon then picked up the wig of the injured man and replaced it on his head. The man rose to express gratitude, but the little man with the sponge frowned and pointed to the door. It was the King, and the room so abruptly entered was the Eoyal Closet ! ' The King at the close of life,' continues Mr. Thornbury, forgave an unconscious rudeness of the Duchess of Hamilton (the beautiful Miss Gunning), at a Drawing Eoom at St. James's, in a manner that was touching. The King was talking of public sights. The thoughtless Duchess said : ' I have seen so much, your Majesty, that there is only one sight in the world which I would wish to behold, and that is a Coronation ! ' The King took her hand, and exclaimed with a sigh, ' I apprehend you have not long to wait ! You will soon have your desire.' Queen Caroline, wife of George II., was fond of St. James's, and here it was that she frequently held her Courts, ' which,' says Coxe in his ' Life of Wal- pole,' were a strange picture of the motley character and manners of a Queen and a learned woman. She received ' Bclgravia: ' London Palaces.' EOYAL RESIDENTS TX ST. JA:\rES'S PALACE 95 company ^Yhile she was at her toilet ; prayers and some- tunes a sermon were read ; learned men and divines were intermixed with courtiers and ladies of the household ; the conversation turned upon metaphysical subjects, blended with repartees, sallies of mirth, and the tittle-tattle of a drawing-room. Lord Hervey tells ns that, -while the King was abroad on. his lengthened visits, the Queen passed her common evenings just as she had done at Kensington (that was, in the private apartments), at quadriUe with her lady-in-waiting, Mrs. Schutz, and Lady Charlotte de Eoussie ; while the Princess Caroline, Miss Dives (one of her Maids of Honour, niece to Lady Sundon), and Lord Hervey played pools at cribbage ; and the Duke, Princess Emilj^, and the rest of the chance comers of the family played at ' Basset.' On Mondays and Fridaj'S, however, there were public Drawing Eooms in the great apartments, in the same manner as when the King used to be in London. At the time ot the death of George II., his suc- cessor on the throne was residing at Saville House, Leicester Square. However, in a few days he removed to St. James's, to the ajDartments previously occupied by William III., where he at once issued orders for holding Drawing Rooms on stated days in the week. Still his j\lajesty on the whole lived little at St. James's. His Courts were held there, but his do- mestic residence was at Buckingham Palace. "When Princess Charlotte of ilecklenburgh arrived, to become the wife of the young king, she wore a fly cap with rich real lace lappets, a diamond-spangled stomacher, and a gold brocade suite with a white ground. When she 96 ST. JAMES'S PALACE first caught sight of the Palace (St. James's) she turned pale. The Duchess of Hamilton smiled, hut the Princess said : ' My dear Duchess, you may laugh, for you have been married twice ; but it is no joke to me ! ' Her lips trembled as the coach stopped, but when the Duke of York gave her his hand, she jumped out cheerfully. The King raised her up and saluted her just as she was about to drop on her knees and curtsey homage to him. The King had fallen in love with her from a letter she had written to the King of Prussia, to avert the ravages of the soldiers from the country of Mecklenburg. It is said that, at first sight, George shrank back, disappointed, from the excellent but rather plain young lady. When the future Queen with her suite landed from G-ermany, she was entertained by the Earl of Abercorn (the eighth Eai-1) at his house in Essex. Soon afterwards the Earl went to St. James's Palace, when the King thanked him for his attention to the Queen, saying he was afraid her visit had given him a great deal of trouble. ' A good deal, indeed,' was his lordship's blunt and characteristic reply. In the ' Diary and Letters of Madame d'Arblay,' under the date of Thursday, July 27th, 1786, we learn much of the Court in the time of Georo-e III. This being a Court day, we went to toM'u (from Kew). The Queen (Charlotte) dresses her head at Kew, and puts on her Drawing Eoom apparel at St. James's. At 'St. James's I can never appear, even though I have nothing to do with the Drawing Eoom, except in a sacque ; 'tis the etiquette of my place. Mrs. Schwellenburg, Miss Planta and myself went about an hour before the King and Queen. Mrs. Schwel- lenburg went to the Queen's dressing-room to give orders about the dress, Miss Planta went to the Princess's room ROYAL RESIDENTS IN ST. JAMES'S PALACE 97 for the same purpose, and I was shown to mine for no purpose ! Mine a.re two small rooms, newly and handsomely fur- nished, one of wliieh has a view of the Park, over the Stable Yard, and the other only of the Passage to the Park from St. James's Street. I had now the great satisfaction to find that there was a private staircase from that same passage that leads straight up to my apartments, and also that I may appoint my friend to meet me in them on the Court days. I hope never to be there again without making use of this privilege. Having now neither companion nor book, I sent John, who came with me to town, to borrow some writing im- plements of one of the pages, and I employed myself in answering some letters till the Queen arrived, and I was summoned by Mrs. Leverick, the town wardrobe woman, to the dressing-room ! There the Queen put on her Court dress, and, as soon as she was attired, sent for the Princess Eoyal and Augusta, who came to attend her to the Drawing Eoom. Mr. Nicolay, the Page in waiting, then came to beg a little audience for the Duchess of Ancaster. The Queen went to her in the ante-room. . . . When the Queen returned, the bell was rung for the bedchamber woman, the etiquette of Court requiring that one of them should finish her dress. It happened now to be my acquaintance, Mrs. Fielding. She only tied on the necklace, and handed the fan and gloves. The Queen then leaves the dressing-room, her train being carried by the bedchamber woman. The Princesses follow. She goes to the ante-room, where she sends for the lady of the bedchamber-in- waiting, who then becomes the first train bearer, and they all proceed to the Drawing Eoom. In the following year Mrs. Papendiek, in her VOL. I. H 98 ST. JAMES'S PALACE ' Journals,' carries on the history of the Court during this same reign. ' The earl}' part of this year, 1787,' she says, saw many changes in the arrangements of the Eoyal Household. The six Princesses were now divided into three parties, which necessitated some additional attendants to wait upon them, and changes in those already holding appointments about them. Tlie apartments were also re- arranged. Lady Charlotte Finch had extensive apartments at St. James's, and also Miss Planta. Mrs. Papendiek further, in giving an account of her visitors, after her return home, mentions a Miss Knisser. ' She was the mother,' she continues, of the diseased young man who hved at Kew, under the name of Mr. Cumberland. The child was brought up in the Duke's apartments in St. James's, and educated at Westminster as ' a day scliolar, whither he went and returned in the Duke's carriage. It was said that he fell from the johaeton, which caused his diseased back. The Duchess, in after times, was kind to him, but he died young, after having led a solitary life, the Duke not allowing anyone to show him attention. In 1789 a ball was given at St. James's to cele- brate the King's birthday. In itself the event is not worth recording, but circumstances arising out of the duel between the Duke of York, the second son of George III., and Colonel Lennox give it a place among the balls of history. This memorable incident occurred on May 26, 1789.' The Duke of York was then in his twenty-sixth year, and ^ Biirke's Anecdotes of the Aristocracy. ROYAL RESIDENTS IN ST. JAMESS PALACE 99 his opponent in about the same age. The dispute originated in the following circumstance : At a dinner party given by the Prince of Wales, Colonel Lennox, ^Yho happened to be one of the guests, proposed, in a moment of excitement, the health of Mr. Pitt, the great leader of the pohtical party then arrayed against the Heir Apparent. Angry words arose ; but the good sense of the company so far prevailed that the matter was immediately settled. The following day, however, a report circulated that the Duke of York had, in the public room of his Club, commented somewhat too harshly on the conduct of Colonel Lennox, and had asserted that terms had been applied to that officer to which no gentleman ought to submit. These observations being repeated to the Colonel, he took an opportunity, while the Duke of York was on the parade, to address him, desiring to know what were the words and by' whom they were spoken. To this H.E.H. gave no other reply than ordering the Lieut -Colonel to his post. The Parade being over, the Duke went into the Orderly-room, and sent for Colonel Lennox, where, by all accounts, an angry and animated discussion took place. Eventually the Duke consented to give Colonel Lennox the meeting required. Lord Eawdon accompanied the Duke of York, and Lord Winchelsea was the second of Colonel Lennox. This was the first instance of a Prince of the Blood in England being challenged by a subject. The King appeared to think it a matter of etiquette to overlook the offence ; but the Prince of Wales was unable to restrain his feelings, and at the first meeting with Colonel Lennox at Court, he expressed his displeasure in the most pointed manner, consistent with the presence of Eoyalty. The newspapers of the day thus refer to the circum- stance : ' Colonel Lennox, to the surprise of everyone, had appeared at the Ball given at St. James's on the King's Birthday, 1789. The Colonel stood up with Lady Catherine Barnard. The Prince, who danced with his sister the Princess Eoyal, was so far down the set that the Colonel 100 ST. JAMES'S PALACE and Lady Catherine were the next couple. The Prince paused, looked at the Colonel, took his partner's hand, and led her to the bottom of the dance. The Duke of Clarence followed his example, but the Duke of York made no dis- tinction between the Colonel and the other gentlemen of the party. When the Colonel and his partner had danced down the set, the Prince again took his sister's hand and led her to a seat. Observing this, the Queen approached and said to the Prince, " You are heated, Sir, and tired, I had better leave the apartment and put an end to the dance." "I am heated," rephed the Prince, "and tired, not with the dancing, but with a portion of the company ; " and emphatically added, " I certainly never will countenance an insult offered to my family, however it may be regarded by others." ' Among the residents of the palace at this time vras his Royal Highness Ernest Augustus, Duke of Cumberland, fifth son of King George III. and Queen Charlotte. He was educated at Gottingen, but he returned to England in 1796. Three years later he "was created Duke of Cumberland and Teviotdale. ' Upon the accession of Queen Victoria this Duke, under the regulations of the Salic law, succeeded to the German dominions of his family as King Ernest T. of Hanover.' The King of Hanover, as Duke of Cumberland, had his apartments in St. James's Palace, which he re- tained for many years, but they were left unoccupied after he became King in 1837, and it seemed improb- able that he would ever occupy them again. George III. had granted these rooms to him by warrant for life. Over these very rooms there had been some ROYAL RESIDE^JTS IIST ST. JAMES'S PALACE 101 discussion, as appears from the following paragraph in the ' Greville Memoirs,' at the time of the Queen's marriage : — Yesterday at dinner at Normanby's, I met Lord Dun- cannon, who showed me the correspondence between him and the King of Hanover, about the apartment at St. James's. The case is this : when the Queen was going to be married, the Duchess of Kent told Duncannon that she must have a house, and that she could not afford to pay for one. Duncannon told her that there were no Eoyal apartments unoccupied, except the King of Hanover's at St. James's, and it was settled that he should be apprised that the Queen had occasion for them, and be requested to give them up. Duncannon accordingly wrote a note to Sir F. Watson, who manages the King's affairs here, and told him that he had such a communication to make to his Majesty, which he was desirous of bringing before him in the most respectful manner, and that the arrangement should be made in whatever way would be most convenient to him. Watson informed him that he had forwarded his note to the King, and shortly after Duncannon received an answer from the King himself, which was neither more or less than a flat refusal to give up the apartments. Another communication then took place between Duncannon and Watson, when the latter said it would be very inconvenient to the King to remove his things from the apartments without coming over in person, as the library particularly was full of papers of importance. Duncannon then pro- posed that the library and adjoining room, in which it was said that his papers were deposited, should not be touched, but remain in his possession ; that they should be walled off and separated from the rest of the suite, which might he given up to the Duchess for her present occupation. This proposal was sent to the King, who refused to agree to it, or to give up the apartments at all.' - Greville Memoirs, vol. i. cap. viii. p. 280. 102 ST. JAMES'S PALACE It was in these apartments that a very remarkable occurrence is said to have taken place on May 31st, 1810, when an attack was made upon the Duke of Cumberland by his Royal Highness's valet. Opinions, however, varied at the time considerably as to the reason for this attack. The writer of this book, therefore, has purposely omitted giving the details as reported at the time, since thfcy seemed so contra- dictory ; for it must be remembered that this history is not intended to prove so-called historical facts within the walls of the palace, but simply to give an outline of events which have occurred there, and upon which no shadow of doubt has been thrown, since the building became dignified by the name of a palace. George IV. resided at St. James's a little at the commencement of his reign, but, except when abso- lutely obliged to do so, inhabited the palace as little as possible, and 'during the unhappy differences which existed between him and Queen Caroline,' he hardly ever came to the palace except for the purpose of holding Levees and Drawing Eooms, when the Princess Augusta acted in the capacity of Queen.' ^ Mr. Massey, in his ' History of England,' when writing of Greorge IV. and his reception of Princess Caroline, his future wife, says : — No sooner had he approached her, than, as if to subdue the qualms of irrepressible disgust, he desired the dignified ' The stiite of apartments in the palace next Cleveland Eow were, in 1795, prepared to receive Princess Caroline, who arrived in London and took possession of them on April 5, preparatory to her marriage with the Prince of Wales, afterwards George IV. EOYAL RESIDENTS IN ST. JAMES'S PALACE 103 Envoy with an oath, to bring him a glass of brandy. The Princess expressed surprise, but was not discomfited. On the first day, at dinner, the Princess's behaviour was flippant, rattling, affecting raillery and wit, and throwing out coarse and vulgar hints about Lady who was present, and though mute, ' le diable n'en perdait rien ! ' The Prince was evidently disgusted, and this unfortunate dinner fixed his dislike. A story is told how that, on one occasion when a certain lady held immense in- fluence over George IV. during the latter part of his reign, the King invited the Princess Augusta his sister to dine with him, whereupon her Eoyal Highness asked if Lady was to be there, and on receiving a reply in the affirmative, begged to decline ; the King pressed the matter very much, when the Princess said, ' If you command my attendance as King, I will obey you ; but if you ask me as a brother to come, nothing will induce me.' His Majesty said no more. In 1824 the Duke of Clarence and his Duchess had apartments at St. James's Palace, vv^here, however, they were, it would appear, but ' roughly accommo- dated.' In a letter addressed to Sir William Knighton, the King's Privy Purse, in 1821, the Duke thus expresses himself from St. James's Palace : — His Majesty having so graciously pleased to listen to my suggestion respecting the alteration for the Hanoverian office at the Palace, I venture once more to trouble you on the point of the building intended for that purpose. To the accommodation of the Duchess this additional slip at the back of the present apartments would be most to be wished and desired, and never can make a complete Hano- verian office without our kitchen, which the King has so kindly allowed us to keep. Under this perfect conviction. 104 ST. JAMES'S PALACE I venture to apply for this slip of building which was intended for the Hanoverian office. I am confident his Majesty is fully aware of the inconvenience and unfitness of our present apartments here. They were arranged for me in 1809, when I was a bachelor, and without an idea at that time of my ever being married, since which, now 15 years, nothing has been done to them, and you well know the dirt and unfitness for the Duchess of our present abode. Under these circumstances, I earnestly request, for the sake of the amiable and excellent Duchess you will, when the King is quite recovered, represent the wretched state and dirt of our apartments, and the infinite advantage this slip would produce to the convenience a,nd comfort of the Duchess. . . . God bless the King and yourself, and ever believe me, &c. — William. As Duke of Clarence, William IV. resided at Cla- rence House. After his coronation he removed to St. James's with his Queen. The following story reaches the writer from an authentic source : — ' About two days after the death of George IV., the late Lord Hertford happened to be on guard. The new King, William IV., dressed in a green coat and a white beaver hat, came out of the door under the colonnade at St. James's, in order to listen to the band which, as was customary in those days, was playing in the Colour Court. After stopping for a few moments, his Majesty walked through the arch- way, and up St. James's Street to White's. Lord Hertford ventured to beg the King to come back, fearing that his Majesty's dress might be taken ex- ception to. The King saw the justice of the remark, and did as he was asked to do.' KOYAL RESIDENTS IN ST. JAMES'S PALACE 105 The Duchess of Cambridge, after the death of hei' husband the late Duke in 1850, was granted in 1851 for her life the rooms which for so long had been in the possession of the King of Hanover as Duke of Cumberland. Here her Roj'al Highness lived, loved and respected by all who had the great privilege of being admitted to her society, and who mourned her loss when news of her death came in 1889. It seems a curious fact that these rooms should have had only two occupants in a century, for the King of Hanover held them for sixty years, and the Duchess of Cambridge for thirty-eight years. On the death of the Duchess of Cambridge, her apartments were given by the Queen to Prince Albert Victor, eldest son of their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales, who afterwards became Duke of Clarence and Avondale. His Royal High- ness was to have occupied them in the year 1892, after his marriage, but his unlooked for and melancholy death put an end to , Hassan, son of the Khedive of Egypt, who was then being educated at the University of Oxford, and who, after being pre- sented by Musurus Pasha, took his place with the Royal Family. The Levee on June 22nd, 1872, at St. James's, was the first held by the Prince of Wales after his severe illness. There was a large attendance. ' His Royal 210 ST. JAMES'S TAI-ACE Hiarliness had a cushion on which to rest his foot, otherwise he bore the fatigue with cheerful patience, though he complained somewhat of the heat of the room.' At the Levee on February loth, 1876, the Chinese Minister appeared for the first time. But as it was the ' day of sepulture ' for the Emperor of China, he could not present himself in full dress, and came in a suit of fur, &c., which is the Court dress in China on such occasions. The following amusing memorandum appears in the diary of the late Archbishop Tait : — Friday, May 14, 1880. — To Levee with Knollys and D. Threw my three-cornered hat to the former, who had lost his, after I was done with it in the Entree, and unfortunately hit a General in the eye. Knohys was afraid he would call him out, but soothed him by telling him that it was an Archbishop's hat. He asked if there were any more coming.' At the Levee at St. James's on April 24th, 1882, the presentation took place of a Roman Catholic Archbishop of Toronto, the first Roman Catholic prelate presented in England. The privilege of the entree was granted to him, as also the indulgence of appearing in plain clothes. A melancholy interest attaches to the Levee at St. James's on March 2nd, 1885, since it was the first public State attendance of Prince Albert Victor of Wales, who on that occasion wore the uniform of the ' ArchihaM Cavipbell Tait, vol. ii. cap. xxxii. p. 530. LEVEES AND DRAWING ROOMS 217 artillery regiment to which he had been appointed. At a Levee held five years later, June 16th, 1890, his Royal Highness made his first appearance as Duke of Clarence and Avondale. Owing to the lamented death of his son in January 1892, the Prince of Wales held no Levees in that year on behalf of the Queen. They were, therefore, held for his Royal Highness by the Dukes of Edinburgh and Connaught. The following will interest the reader as bringing a great Court function up to recent date, and initiat- ing the State official career of one of ' onr kings to be,' in whom are centred the hopes and interests of the nation : — March ISth, 1894.— The Duke of York for the first time, in the absence of the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Connaught, hekl a Levee on behalf of her Majesty. It was originally intended for the 12th inst., but, as it happened, Parliament reassembled on that day. The Levee therefore was postponed. Lord Eosebery appeared for the first time as Premier. A very large number of naval officers attended, and it was remarked that H.E.H. possessed the quality which distinguishes the whole of his family, of recognition of anyone with whom he has ever come in contact. Swift is an authority for the fact that Drawing Rooms were held, under that title, in the reign of Queen Anne. ' There was a Drawing Room to-day at Court,' he writes, on one occasion during that Queen's reign, ' but so few company that the Queen sent for us into her bedchamber, where we made our bows and stood 218 ST. JAMES'S PALACE about twenty of us round the room, while she looked at us round, with her fan in her mouth, and once a minute said about three words to some that were nearest to her, and then she was told Dinner was ready and went out.' Other references might be quoted to the compara- tive dulness and want of interest in the ordinary Court assemblies or receptions at St. James's Palace during the reign of Queen Anne and at a later period ; and it appears that neither at Kensington Palace nor at St. James's was the society brilliant. The Queen herself, though inclined to be sociable, had little liking for State ceremonial. By physical constitution she was averse to exertion or to personal direction of State observance. The c[uarrels of her changing Administrations, the diversities of her ad- visers, her necessary opposition to the intrigues of her kindi-ed abroad, the familiar but exacting com- panionship of the invincible Duchess of Marlborough, and her own disordered health, were all inducements for her to escape from the burden of courtly functions and subside into the society of her more intimate acquamtances. There could be little that was interest- ing in such receptions as these, and there can belittle doubt that the Royal Household at the palace had to seek relief from official dulness by holding assemblies of their own. The reminiscences of Horace Walpole and of Lady Mary Wortley Montagu give some amusing parti- culars of Court life in St. James's Palace in the reigns LEVEES AND DRAWING ROOMS 219 of George I. and George II. The latter, while Prmce of Wales, had quarrelled with his father, and had been ordered to quit St. James's with all his household. When he came to the throne, his manners were neither very dignified nor very attractive, though he made some rather arrogant pretensions to gallantry. But considerable allowances have to be made in reading stories and anecdotes relating to Royal personages ; and however the King may have been wanting in dignity, there can be no doubt that his Queen (Caro- line) was competent to attract to St. James's so much of beauty, wit, and learning that the Court became famous for the distinguished persons who were to be found there. Both Kensington and St. James's may be said to have been rendezvous for illustrious, celebrated, and, one might almost say (in a restricted sense) notorious, visitors. George 11. found his chief pleasure in discussing military matters, for he cared little about the cultiva- tion of art, literature, or science ; and though, unlike George I., he spoke English fluently and with only a slight accent, he would seldom be persuaded either to speak in public or to encourage the conversation of men of learning who visited the Court. His virtues were greater than his accomplishments, and, if Lord Chesterfield may be trusted, his favourite companions were persons intellectually inferior to himself. It seems pretty certain that but for the vivacity and high intellectual endowments of his Queen, Caroline of Anspach, who had rejected the matritno- 220 ST. JAMES'S PALACE nial overtures of the Archduke Charles, and espoused Kino; Geor2:e when he was Electoral Prince of Hanover, the Court and society at St. James's Palace duruig his reign would have been distmguished only for its dull monotony. Lord Hervey, in one of his satirical touches, said ' the King was as regular as a piece of clockwork, and was so much a slave to routine that he seemed to think having done a thing to-day an unanswerable reason for his doing it to-morrow.' ^ Round the Queen, however, gathered at her re- ceptions people of fashion, ladies whose beauty, like that of the Howards, the Lepells, and the Bellendens, was celebrated in the verse of Pope, Swift, and Vol- taire, as well as philosophers, theologians, and men of science. She showed herself a mistress in the art of leading conversation into discussions which amused and interested her by the conflict of opinions. Some of the manners of the Court might not be over- refined ; the remarks of the Queen often bordered on flippancy or wandered into eccentricity from the side of outspokenness ; yet her personal attractions, un- doubted attainments, and real kindness of heart, attracted to her side men who were superior to mere courtiers, and were eminent for their piety and their learning. A story is told of her being reminded that Butler, the famous author of the ' Analogy of Religion,' who had been preacher at Lincoln's Inn, was now ' Letter of Lord Hervey to Walpole. LEVEES AND DRAWING ROOMS 221 living in obscurity in a country parsonage, to which he had retired on receiving the presentation. The Qaeen on hearing this seemed to be struck with something like remorse, and exclaimed, ' My God ! I thought he had been dead.' ' No, madam, only buried,' was the reply, and Butler was soon brought to town and placed in the line of preferment which led to a bishopric. That a certain amount of freedom, carried to the extreme verge of levity, shoLdd have existed in the household of the palace during this time, was inevit- able, and the Koyal residence of St. James's, dull as it was in its external aspect, was never more famous for merry doings, which at last reached such a pitch as to cause grave scandal to the sober and serious peo23le at the Court. At about the time of the accession of George III. these doings attracted the attention of Selina, Countess of Huntingdon, who made strenuous efforts to establish a mission within the walls of the palace, and thus to introduce Whitfield. It would ap- pear from her letters that at one time she flattered herself she had made an impression on the mind of one of the maids of honour. Her project, however, failed, but what could not thus be accomplished was effected in a great measure by the watchful and orderly discipline of the Consort of George III. During the reign of George II. and Queen Caroline, Drawing Rooms were held every evening when the Royal Family played at cards. When the King was in Hanover, his Queen held receptions 222 ST. JAMES'S PALACE every night, which were called Drawing Rooms, but after her death they were held but twice a week, and then wholly discontinued. ' The Due de Broglie, ambassador during the Regency in France, " ne sachant pas cette langue" (the English), writes that he goes to the " Drerum," or the " Driwrome " of the Princess of Wales.' ^ George III. and his Queen held Drawing Rooms as a rule once a week, but George IV. held veiy few. Drawing Rooms were in former days under the control of the Queen's, not the King's, Lord Chamber- lain. At Levees, as well as at Drawing Rooms, this officer of State stands on the Sovereign's right hand, and the Vice- Chamberlain next, the Lord in Waiting coming next, and then the Groom in Waiting. This order has been strictly adhered to during the present reign. Drawing Rooms were frequently held on Sun- days after the service at the Chapel Royal, to which the ladies went en grancle tenue. For a short period previous to 1834, perhaps as a consequence of the practice of combining attendance at church with atten- dance at Drawing Rooms, ladies appeared in hats and bonnets. Such an innovation was, however, recoo-- nised as a breach of all etiquette, and a notice was issued officially in the ' Gazette ' for May 27th, 1834, ' that for the future ladies attending Their Majesties' Drawing Rooms must appear with feathers and lappets, in conformity with the established order.' ' Braokenbury's Nearest Guard, p. 150. LEVEES AND DRAWING EOOMS 223 Court etiquette in the eighteenth century was very- strict. Among the Historical MSS. is a note sent from Hamilton to the Duke of Ormond, dated at Ley den, April 18th, 1738 : — 'I have seen a letter from England, which mentions that the Duchess of Bridgewater and another lady were turned out of the Chapel at St. James's for appearing there in white gloves,' when the Court was in mourning for Queen Caroline.-' After the birth of the future George IV., on August 12th, 1762, the company on Drawing Room days were admitted to see the infant Prince, and the Queen's bed was removed to the great Drawing Room. In a note tO Walpole's letter to George Montagu of March 26th, 1769, Mr. Wright, speaking of Miss Chadleigh's marriage to the Duke of Kingston on the 8th of that month, says, ' on the 18th she was presented upon her marriage to their Majesties, who honoured her by ir earing her favours as did all the great officers of state.'' ^ A Drawing Room of an unique character was held at St. James's on October 25th, 1769, the annivei'sary of the King's accession, by the young Prince of Wales, thea Justin his seventh year, and the Princess Royal, who was just three. As was to be expected the Court was crowded to excess, everybody being anxious to witness ho-w these s-weet children would acquit themselves, and their graceful deportment and ' The original of this is in the possession of Mr. Charles Fleetwood "Weston Under-wood. - Cunningham's cd. vol. v. p. 151. 224 ST. JAMES'S PALACE apt performance of the part assigned to them, made an impression never to be forgotten on that brilliant assemblage. The Prince of Wales was attired in scarlet and gold, with the insignia of the Order of the Garter ; on his right was the Prince Bishop of Osnabm-gh in blue and gold, with the Order of the Bath ; ' next to him, on a rich sofa, sat the Princess Eoyal, at whose right hand, elegantly clothed in Eoman togas, were the junior Princes, William Henry, Duke of Clarence, and Edward, Duke of Kent. At the end of the last century Drawing Rooms, it appears, were held by Queen Charlotte every Thursday by day. On Wednesday, April 15fch, 1795, there was a very grand gala and Court held by the Queen at St. James's Palace, on account of the entree of their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales, for the first time, after their marriage. On this occasion the King, (^ueen, and six Princesses came from Buckingham House, where the Court was then residino- to St. James's in three At one o'clock, the Nobility and gentry of both sexes began also to assemble. At a quarter past two the Queen held a private Drawing Eoom in her own apartments, where some persons were presented who, according to the Court ' By the Treaty of Westphalia, in 1648, it was decreed that this ancient bishopric should be vested alternately in a Roman Catholic bishop and a Protestant Prince of the House of Briniswick-Luneberg. George III. kept this bishopric open for nearly three years, which was contrary to all precedent, which, we are told, allows but six months for the see to be vacant, and bestowed it upon his second son, Frederick, Dnke of York, on February ii7th, 1764, when only six months old. This Prince was the last Sovereign- Prince of Osnaburgh. In the year 1803, this district was attached to the kingdom of Hanover. LEVEES AND DRAWING ROOMS 225 Etiquette, could not appear in the circle till they had passed this ceremony. Their Majesties and the Princesses entered the Great Council Chamber (the Princess Amelia making her entree at Court for the first time) and the Court immediately commenced. The Company were so remarkably numerous, going and coming from before two till five o'clock, and consisting of most of the nobility and gentry of both sexes at present in the kingdom, or who were not kept away by some avoidable difi&culties, that to enumerate them would be tedious, and far exceed the bounds of our paper. The Circle was most brilliant, and consisted of the King, Queen, T.E.H. the Prince and Princess of Wales, the Duke and Duchess of York, the Duke of Clarence, the six Prin- cesses, the Duke of Gloucester, Prince William and the Princess Sophia, T.S.H. the Prince of Orange, the Princess ' of Orange, Prince Frederick, and Prince Charles of Hesse. As at the Levee on Wednesday the female nobility were remarkably numerous. The Prince vras dressed in the Hussar uniform of his resiment, with the ribbon of the Garter. ' His hair was dressed very full, and he looked uncommonly well ; he had no diamonds.' The Princess of Wales wore her wedding dress ; the plume of six white feathers in her head-dress was supported by a most elegant bandeau of diamonds in the shape of a coronet ; and the Prince's picture was suspended from her neck with a diamond chain. ' She was dressed very low before, and wore a very narrow tucker.' The Duchess of York was dressed in white satin, trimmed with gold, a cap and bandeau of diamonds and brilhants, which supported a plume of feathers, VOL. I. Q 226 ST. JAMES'S PALACE in the front of which was a heron's feather which cost 250Z. All the company wore bridal favours, the ladies in their head-dress, the gentlemen in their hats. Those of the nobility, &c., who were at the celebration of the nuptials, were distinguished by rich devices of silver, presented by the Queen on that occasion. On April 30th, 1812, Queen Charlotte held a Drawing Room at St. James's. This being the first which her Majesty had held since the King's birth- day in 1810, and there having been no Court for the ladies during a lapse of nearly two years, great preparations were made by the higher ranks for their appearance on this occasion. The Palace of St. James's and the vicinity bore rather the appearance of the celebra- tion of a Birthday than the holding of a Drawing Eoom in the usual manner. Her Majesty, with the Princesses Augusta and Mary, left the Queen's House about one o'clock, and alighted at the Duke of Cumberland's apartments at St. James's, where they were received by his Eoyal Highness. Here her Majesty and the Princesses dressed, the Eoyal jewels having been previously brought from the Bank. After partaking of refreshments in, the Duke's apartments, they proceeded with a numerous train of attendants through the Gallery and Ball-room, and entered the Grand Council Chamber, where her Majesty received the company, and the numerous persons, who had the honour of being presented. The Prince Eegent went from Carlton House to St. James's Palace, and appeared on this occasion in full state, for the first time since the establishment of the Eegency. The Prince Eegent was habited in military uniform, and his procession was escorted by a party of Life Guards, and arrived at St. James's at half-past three. He remained in LEVEES AND DRAWING ROOMS 227 the Drawing Eoom half an hour. Their Royal Highnesses the Princess of Wales, the Duchess of York, the Dukes of York, Clarence, Kent, Cumberland, Cambridge, and Sussex, their Highnesses the Duke of Gloucester and the Princess Sophia of Gloucester, and His Serene Highness the Duke of Brunswick were also present. Otlier Drawing Rooms may have been more mag- nificent, none have been more interesting, than the one held by Queen Adelaide in 1831 at which the Princess Victoi'ia was presented on attaining her twelfth year. The Duchess of Kent and her daughter arrived in State. They were attended by the Duchess of Northumberland, Lady Charlotte St. Maur, Lady Catherine Parkinson, the Hon''''' Mrs. Cust, Lady Conroy, La Baronne Letzen, Sir John Conroy, and General M^etheral. Princess Victoria made her first appearance at Court in a dress made of materials entirely manufactured in England, which, in its modest simplicity, admirably suited lier tender years. At a Drawing Room held in 1834 by William IT. Miss was presented on her marriage with Field JMarshal . His Majesty kissed her cheek, and nodded to his old friend, the Field Marshal, saying, as he did so, 'Ah ! Ah ! you cannot help yourself ! ' It is interesting to note that Queen Victoria held her first Drawing Room at St. James's on Thursday, July 20th, 1837, just one month after her accession the throne. Lady Lyttelton, referring to a Drawing Room at St. James's in 1848, writes thus to ' L. G-.' : ' The a 2 228 ST. JAMES'S PALACE Queen was for once a little tired with the great heat, and 28-i Presentations, the average number being no; On January 30th, 1858, her Majesty held a Draw- ing Room which deserves special notice. It was for the purpose of receiving congratulations on the happy event of the Royal nuptials of our Princess Royal with his Royal Highness Prince Frederick William of Prussia, successively Crown Prince of Germany and afterwards Emperor of Germany. At this Drawing Room his Royal Highness the Prince Consort stood on the right of the Queen, and her Royal Highness the Princess Frederick William of Prussia on her Majesty's left, with her husband. Prince Frederick William, standing by her side. At this festal Court the Queen wore a train of cerise-coloured and silver-brocaded silk, trimmed with Sliver blonde, and bows of cerise satin ribbon. The petticoat was of white satin, trimmed with bouillons of silver blonde, and branches of camellias. The dress was ornamented with diamonds ; her Majesty wore a diadem of diamonds and feathers. Princess Frederick William wore a dress of white moire antique, trimmed with satin ruches, white roses and jessamine. The petticoat was of white moire antique with deep flowers of Honiton lace, trimmed to correspond with the train. The corsage was ornamented with diamonds ; her Royal Highness wore a diadem of diamonds and a necklace of pearls. LEVEES AND DRAWING ROOMS 229 There were no presentations, and no mourning was allowed to be worn. At the Drawing Room at St. James's, on May loth, in the same year, the bishops, who had assembled in the Presence Chamber, entered the Throne Room on her Majesty's arrival, and presented a congratu- latory address on the marriage of the Princess Royal. On many occasions during the last thirty years Drawing Rooms have been, for various reasons, taken by the Princess of Wales, or by one of her Majesty's daughters. A few instances may be quoted. The Crown Princess of Germany, held a Drawing Room at St. James's on the Queen's behalf on February 28th, 1863. This was the first Drawing Room held after the death of the Prince Consort. Her Royal Highness stood half-way between the throne and the middle window, so that those who came up to be presented could see the Princess at once. Next to her stood Prmcess Helena (Princess Christian of Schleswig-Holstein), who was making her first ap- pearance at a Drawing Room. The late Grand Duchess of Hesse Darmstadt (Princess Alice) discharged a similar duty on the Queen's behalf at St. James's, on Saturday, June 15th, 1867. On that occasion the Princess appeared in a blue and silver moire train, thickly embroidered with silver, and a blue crepe petticoat, trimmed with white and silver. Her Royal Highness also wore a diadem of diamonds, two rows of diamonds round the neck, and a large diamond brooch and earrings. 230 ST. JAMES'S PALACE Her Royal Highness held another Drawing Room on her Majesty's behalf on Thursday, June 27th, 1867. On May 18th, 1863, the Princess of Wales held her first Drawing Room on behalf of the Queen at St. James's, when the Court was attended by upwards of 2,000 of the nobility and gentry, and the presenta- tions exceeded 500 in number. Her Royal Highness wore on this occasion a train of rich white silk, having a deep trimming of white crepe, and wreaths of white lilac and Honiton lace. The petticoat was richly trimmed to match the train. Diamond tiara, feathers, and veil completed the toilette. The Prince of Wales wore the uniform of the 10th Hussars, of which regiment his Royal Highness is colonel. This Drawing Room was over at five minutes to six, and the last carriage left the palace at eight minutes past seven. At the Drawing Room held at St. James's Palace on March 25th, 1865, Princess Louise, Marchioness of Lome, appeared for the first time. Princess Helena held her first Drawing Room in 1865 on the Queen's behalf at St. James's Palace. On May 18th, which was the first occasion on which her Royal Highness undertook this ceremony, she was accompanied by Princess Louise, and by the Prince of Wales, and wore a train of rich white silk, trimmed Avith bouillons of tulle and bouquets of narcissus. The petticoat of white glac6 was covered with tulle, and festooned with wreaths of narcissus. Her Royal LEVEES AND DRAWING ROOMS 231 Highness's head-dress was a diadem of emeralds and diamonds, plnmes and veil. No Drawing Rooms have been held in St. James's Palace since 1865. The change to Buckingham Palace, where they are now invariably held, was made, partly to secure a larger space for the accommodation of the increased numbers who attend the ceremonies, and partly to save her Majesty the fatigue of driving to St. James's from the palace which is now her London residence. 232 ST JAMES'S PALACE CHAPTER XV CEREMONIALS, ENTERTAINMENTS, AND VARIOUS COURT E UNCTIONS There are some functions and ceremonials in connec- tion with the palace and the Court which it is not easy to classify under either of the preceding or fol- lowing chapters. It will be convenient, therefore, to bring them under the reader's notice in a somewhat desultory fashion without any strictly consecutive ob- servance of their historic succession. Thus we shall be able still further to contrast the moving characters and events of more than three centuries with those by which we are surrounded at the present day. The following is an abstract of a procession from St. James's Palace to St. Paul's Cathedral in the time of Queen Anne on November 12th, 1702, after the victory at Vigo in Galicia on October 12th, and is taken from the Books of Ceremonials in the Herald's Office at Doctor's Commons : — About 11 of the clock, Her Majesty and her train took their Coaches at her Palace of St. James's, proceeding in the manner following : — Knight Marshal's men. Sir Philip Meadoivs, Junior Knight Marshal, on horse- back. TAPJOUS COURT FUNCTI0X8 233 Her Majesty's Leading Coach with Equerries,' Pages of Honour, and Gentlemen Ushers in Waiting. In one of the Queen's Chariots were the Duke of Somer- set (Master of the Horse) and the Duke of Ormond (Captain of the Guards in Waiting) . A Troop of the Horse Grenadiers. In another of the Queen's Coaches, the Bedchamber Women to Her Majesty. In a fourth, the Maids of Honour to Her Majesty. In the traveUing Body Coach, Ladies of Her Majesty's Bedchamber. Her Majesty's Footmen. Officers of the Yeomen of the Guard on Horseback. Yeomen of the Guard on foot, before and on each side of Her Majesty's Coach. Her Majesty, in her Coach of State, drawn by eight horses (Habited in Purple Cloth, as being in Mourning for the late King William the third of glorious Memorj'), with her Great Collar and George of the Order about her Neck, and the Garter set with Diamonds tied on her left arm : with the Countess of Marlborough as Groom of the Stole and Chief Lady of the Bedchamber, and the Countess of Sunderland as Lady of the Bedchamber in Waiting. Her Majesty's Third Troop of Guards closed the Pro- cession. A similar procession started from St. James's a few years later. The day had been appointed by her Majesty's proclamation ' to be observed throughout the Kingdom of England as a day of Public Thanks- giving to Almighty God for His great goodness in giving to Her Majesty's Arms, in Conjunction with those of Her allies under the command of the Duke of Marlborough, after their having forced the French Lines in the Spanish Netherlands, a signal and 234 ST. JAMES'S PALACE glorious Victory over the enemies' Forces within those Lines.' Almost all the Lords and Privy Councillors that were in and about London met in the morning between the hours of nine and ten in the Council Chamber at St. James's. The Knights of the Garter wore the collars of their Order. Having been marshalled by the Officers of Arms, they started at about eleven o'clock for St. Paul's Cathedral in their State coaches, drawn by six horses. hi the year 1706 a similar procession started from St. James's for St. Paul's Cathedral to again render thanks to Almighty God for the victory obtained by her Majesty's forces at Eamillies against the French, on May 23rd, under the Duke of Marlborough. On this occasion the nobility and Privy Council- lors who were not ^^eers repaired to St. James's by nine o'clock in the morning, and met in the Council Chamber there. The Knights of the Garter wore the Collars of their Order, and four Officers of Arms attended at St. James's to call over the Nobility and their Coaches in the order in which they were to go in the Proceeding. Accordingly, ' Norroy King of Arms, M'^indsor, York, and Rouge Croix performed that service ; the two Senior Officers " rankt " the Nobility and Privy Councillors above stairs, and the two others being on Horseback drew out the Coaches in their Order, the Juniors first.' Her Majesty came in a coach of State, drawn by eight fine bay horses, their manes and tails being VARIOUS COURT FUXCTIONS 235 trimmed with knots of red, Avhite, and blue ribbons. The Queen was dressed ' in a rich gowne and Petty Coat of Cloth of Gold brocade,' wearing the collar of the Order of the Garter and a rich diamond garter on her left arm ; Prince George wore ' a rich Cloth suit embi'oidered and trimmed with silver ' ; and opposite QUEEN ANNE KECEIVING THE COMJIISSIONEES FOR THE UNION AT ST. .TAMES'S PALACE, 1706 From a mezzotint tjy Vnteiitinit G're'^'i ffotit a conti'mporafii pktttfii to them sat her Grace the Duchess of Marlborough, Groom of the Stole, and Charlotte, Lad)^ Frechevile, Ladv of the Bedchamber in Waiting. When the service was concluded at St. Paul's, her Majesty returned to St. James's ' through the Militia of Westminster, all the way being crowded with infinite niunbers of spectators, who expressed their 236 ST. JAMES'8 PALACE loyalty and good affections to Her Majesty by loud Huzzas and repeated acclamations for her long life and liappy reign over them.' The following extract from Sir Clement Cottrell's MSS. Books gives an interesting account of a recep- tion given by Queen Anne on Friday, April 14th, 1710, of four West Indian Sachems at St. James's Palace. ' My father,' says Sir Clement, being out of order, I was summoned to attend my Lord Cliamberlain at 7 o'cfock in tlie Evening precisely at the Back Stairs, where I received His Lordship's commands in relation to a public audience Her Majesty designed the next day to give at 7 o'clock in the Great Drawing Eoom at St. James's to four ^Yest Indian Sachems, or ' Com- manders of the Nations ' in the North parts of America, who were come to settle a firm alliance with Her Majesty, and to assist, as they had often done, Her Majesty's subjects in those parts against the French. It being an extraordi- nary case, wholly without precedent, it was agreed that they should be introduced to their audience after a new manner, to be only observed when four of the same quality shall come hither upon the same errand. Accordingly, on Wednesday, April 19, at 5 o'clock my father and I went to their lodgings in King Street, Covent Garden, with two of ■ the Queen's leading coaches and six. At 6 o'clock we pro- ceeded towards St. James's, my father with two of them and an interpreter in the first coach, and I, with the other two and another interpreter, in the second. The guards were drawn up in the Court, and the Yeomen with their officers in their Guard Chamber, as at public audiences. From thence we passed on to the Privy Chamber, where we waited till 7 o'clock, by which time Her Majesty, being seated under a State in the Great Drawing Eoom, sent for 'em through the Presence Chamber, which was lined on both sides by the Band of gentlemen Pensioners. We came to the room VARIOUS COURT FUNCTIONS 237 of audience, at the door of which my Lord Chamberlain met 'em, and so they advanced towards the Queen, my Lord on their right hand and my father on their left. They made their three bows with a great deal of order, and the eldest of them a short compliment in his own language. Then the Speech was read to Her jMajesty, faithfully translated by the interpreter from his own mouth. This ended, they retired backwards, making their three bows. The Queen returned a gracious nod at each without rising off her chair. We conducted them to their lodgings in the same order. Four years later the Lord ^larshal's order was issued for the Royal entry of George I. into London : — 1714. — Whereas the solemnity of the King's Eoyal entry from Greenwich through the city of London to his Eoyal Palace of St. James' is appointed to be on Monday the 20th of this instant September : This is therefore to give notice to all the nobility and others, who are to attend the King in the coaches, that they repair to Greenwich Park so as to be there by ten of the clock that morning at farthest, where their coaches will be put in order by the officers of Arms appointed for that purpose. . . . And for the better reception of His Majesty in His Eoyal passage, the officers of the several passages between Greenwich and London are hereby required to take care that the highways be well mended and repaired, and that the Justices of the Peace of Surrey, the Lord Mayor of London and the Head Bailiff of Westminster do cause the streets to be well cleansed from filth and dirt from Kent Street end to His Eoyal Palace of St. James'. And that no carts nor drays be suffered to go in the streets or roads which the King passes through be- tween Greenwich and St. James', on the day of His Majesty's entry. Suffolk — M. At the first Court held by His Majesty at St. James's in the year 1714, 238 ST. JAMES'S PALACE Colonel Chudleigh, a zealous Whig, marked some jocular vivacity on the. part of Mr. Aldworth, M.P. for New Windsor. The Colonel took it in an offensive light, and when exchange of words had heated him, he cast the most offensive epithet he could think of at Aldworth, by calHng him ' Jacobite ' almost at the foot of the King's throne. It was nearly equivalent to calling Aldworth a liar ! The two disputants descended the Stairs, entered a coach together, and drove to Mary-le-Bone Fields. In a few minutes after the two angry men had alighted, the Colonel stretched Aldworth dead upon the grass, and returned alone to the Levee. This was the second bloodshed in the old Jacobite and Hanoverian quarrel ! ' Difficulties of Court etiquette often arose. On May 7tli, 1720, Sir C. Cottrell was asked by the French Ambassador, who proposed to heg audience of the Princess of Wales, whether he was to kiss her on the cheek at the audience or no ! I told him I was almost certain not ; however, that I would search my notes and inform him with more exact- ness, which having done, I doubt not to satisfy him by the precedent of our Princess Eoyal here in the year 1660, the Prince deLignefrom Spain, and the Count de Soisons from France, being then extraordinary Ambassadors here. In 1727 his Majesty received the Common CouncUmen at a banquet at St. James's. On May 13th, 1732, the Duke of Cumberland's young company of Grenadiers performed an exercise at arms in the Royal Gardens at St. James's, ' when a son of Major Kemp,' says the ' Annual Register,' ' was presented to His Royal Highness, received his trophies, and kissed his hand.' '■ Doran's London in the Jacobite Times. VARIOUS COUKT FUNCTIONS 239 It was in Xovember, 1734, that George II. had an opportunity of using his position to gratify his kindly temper and benefit his people. Being informed that many of his subjects had been made slaves by the Barbary corsairs, the King gave orders to Mr. Zollicoflfre, the British Ambassador at the Court of the Emperor of Morocco, to negotiate for their release. In consequence of this powerful intervention 140 natives of England, Scotland, and Ireland were liberated, and embarked at Tetuan for England. Pre- viously to their returning to their respective homes, the redeemed captives assembled at the palace of St. James's, and were presented to the King. ' Among the sufferers were several masters of vessels, who ex- pressed their gratitude to the good Sovereign. His Majesty asked them many questions, and ordered them a handsome gratuity out of his privy purse. Many noblemen and gentlemen present at this inter- esting scene, influenced by his Majesty's benevolence, made considerable contributions to their common stock.' On Monday, December 12th, 1748, ' three or four hundred sailors and marines who were at the siege of Carthagena went to St. James's with French horns to present a petition for money due to them on account of that enterprise. His Majesty was pleased to give orders for their present relief and future subsistence.' In the ' Court News ' of June 3rd, 1761, we read that ' the Algerine Ambassador was introduced to the King at St. James' and presented six fine horses to uo ST. JAMES'S PALACE His ^Majesty, who viewed them in the Royal Gai'dens from the windows of the Pahice.' PRESENTATION OF AN ADDRKSS FROM THE HOUSE OF C03IM0NS IN 1760 Fnun II priiil at Wimlsur Ciislle It was at St. James's PaLace that Ikx'kford com- mitted his famous breach of Court etiquette. On May 19th, 1770, Parliament was pi-orop;ued ; but before the Prorooation, Alderman Beckford, Lord Mayor, headed the Corporation of London, and presented a strong petition to the King (George IIL) at St. James'. The petition prayed that Parliament might l)e dissolved, and contained a protest against every vote of the Commons as invalid, since the rejection of Wilkes. It complained also of a secret and malign influence at Court. The reply of the King as prepared by the Minister, was one of firmness and displeasure. The Commons resented the language of the Corporation to the throne, and passed a strong vote of censure on the proceeding. But this only roused the Cor- poration to present a second address on the 23rd of May VAiaous cour.T functions 241 (1770), when no Parliament was sitting to comment on it. In this address they expressed themselves extremely loyal, and regretted that the King should feel displeasure towards them for the discharge of their duty. The King in his prepared reply answered that the sentiments he had uttered continued unchanged. At the close of the Eoyal answer Beckford, contrary to all custom and to the consternation of the Courtiers, stepped forward and addressed the King in an extempore speech. The King was taken by surprise, and Beckford went on expressing on the part of the City, the most profound loyalty and affection, and adding that should ' any man dare to in- sinuate to the contrary or attempt to alienate His Majesty's affections from them, that man is an enemy to your person and family — a violator of the public peace, and a betrayer of our happy Constitution as it was established at the glorious Ee volution.' The King, who had no written answer to this abnormal address, remained silent, but offered the Corporation the usual civility of kissing hands on their retirement. From the Ceremonial Books, previously referred to, we further learn that, in September 1761, on the occasion of their coronation, George III. and Queen Charlotte left St. James's about nine a.m. Her Majesty, ' early in the morning put on an undress at St. James's.' On April 21st, 1763, lU Querini and M.^ Moro- sini. Ambassadors Extraordinary to the Court of St. James's from the Most Serene Republic of Venice were conducted with much pomp and ceremony from Somerset Housfe, where they were lodged, to St. James's Palace. At the Court gate their Excellencies ' Pegge, in his CuriaUa, presumes that by the initials ' M. ' Mon- signore is intended. VOL. I. E 242 ST. JAMES'S PALACE were received by Sir Sydney Meadows, Knight Marshal, and by the Guards on duty under arms. From the gate they were conducted with great state to the little Council Chamber by the Earl of Sussex and Sir Charles Cottrell Dormer, Master of the Cere- monies, ' there to rest themselves till His Majesty was ready.' At the Guard Chamber door they were received by Viscount Falmouth, captain of the Yeomen of the Guard ; at the Drawing Room door by the Earl of Lichfield, captain of the Band of Pensioners, who were ranged on each side in the Great Council Chamber ; and, last of all, at the door of the Great Council Chamber (where his Majesty gave them audience) by the Duke of Marlborough, Lord Chamberlain. His Excellency M. Morosini addressed [or, as Pegge expresses it, ' made an harangue to '] his Majesty, in Italian, to which his Majesty replied in English. Their Excellencies then retired, and had a similar audience of the Queen, after which they were re-conducted in the same state as they came to their house in Great Ormond Street.^ On the 13th of May following, their Excellencies had audience of Leave of His Majesty with the usual formalities, and were received in the Closet, when the King conferred the honour of knighthood on M. Querini, and presented him with a rich sword. In the year 1767, on June 26th, a meeting of the ' Annual Begister, May 1763. VARIOUS COURT FUKCTIONS 243 Privy Council was held in the Council Chamber at St. James's. It is a curious fact that no fewer than one hundred and six members were summoned, though no reason is assigned for the attendance of so large a number. On March 1st, 1768, being St. David's Day, 'the Stewards of the Society of Ancient Britons went in procession to St. James', whei'e they were admitted to see the Prince of Wales, to whom they presented an address.' It may here be mentioned that thirteen years previously, on St. David's Day, 1755, George II. and each member of the Royal Family wore the leek (the badge of the Principality) both at the Court in the afternoon and also at the Drawing Room in the evening. Whether this was an annual custom does not appear. At a Court of Common Council, held on June 8th, 1771, it was agreed that an address should be pre- sented to King George III. on the safe delivery of the Queen and the birth of a Prince, afterwards Duke of Cumberland and King of Hanover. The Sheriffs were ordered to inquire when his Majesty would be pleased to j^ermit the Lord Mayor, the Aldermen and Common Councilmen to wait on him with the said address. The King arranged to receive them on the 12th inst., on which day the City deputation waited upon his Majesty at St. James's, and being introduced by the Earl of Hertford, Lord Chamberlain, Sir James Hodges, Knight Town Clerk, ' made their compli- 244 ST. JAMES'S PALACE nients ' in an address, to which his Majesty was pleased to return a most gracious answer. Evening entertainments in the last century differed widely from the balls or concei-ts of to-day. ' Tuesday, March 18th, 1793. The Duchess of Cumberland sent out a thousand cards for her rout at St. James' Palace on this night. Six hundred were invited to meet at ten o'clock to a card party, and four hundred at midnight to a ball and supper.' ^ On June 1st, 1785, the Reception Room at St. James's Palace witnessed the remai'kable spectacle of the first presentation of an American envoy at the British Court. The King's birthday was celebrated on Tuesday, June 4th, 1793, by a grand ball at St. James's. Their Majesties George III. and Queen Charlotte were pre sent, together with the four elder Princesses, the Prince of Wales, and the Duke of Clarence. Dancing commenced somewhat earlier than is customary at the present day, namely at nine o'clock. ' After the Minuets there were two country dances, Seven couples stood up.' . . . Their Majesties retired at about a quarter before midnight, when the ball con- cluded.^ In 1794 King George III. ordered that the colours which had been taken at Martinico, and which had but shortly before been brought to St. James's Palace, should be deposited in St. Paul's ' Ge7itleinan's Magazine, March, 1793. » lUd. July, 1793. EH S VARIOUS corirr functions 245 Catliedral. Consequently, on i\[ay 17 th in that year, detachments of Horse and Foot Guards were ordered to parade at St. James's at ten o'cL)ck, and marcli before his Majesty, who Avas pleased to see them pass in solemn procession to St. Paul's Cathedral. GEORGE III. KEIJEIVING THE TURKISH AMB.VSSAHOIC AT ST. .lAMES'S PALACE /■',;ii,i ,1 priNi p::hi:ylteil in 17;I7 On January 28th, 1795, the Turkish Ambassador (who wore a green rijbe, and a green turban studded with jewels), together with his suite and many of the nobility, breakfasted at Chelsea with Sir George Howard, and afterwards went in full State to St. James's. There his Excellency was received by the 246 ST. JAMES'S PALACE King, delivered his credentials as Ambassador from the Subhme Porte, and was afterwards presented to the Queen. The presents which had been brought over by the Ambassador were as follo^vs : — To the King — a pair of gold Pistols, the stocks and barrels of solid gold. Three Arabian Horses, with gold bridles, and saddles trimmed with gold, and a gold dagger with belt ornamented with pearls and diamonds. To the Queen and Princesses— a chest of silks embroi- dered with gold ; a plume of feathers for the head-dress supported with a band of solid gold, and the tip of the feathers adorned with diamonds. To the Prince of AVales, the Duke of Portland, and Lord Grenville— chests of silks. These presents of the Turkish Ambassador suggest the mention of a curious warrant found in the Record Office, for providing clothing for certain Indians who had charge of an elephant presented to his Majestjr, and also for a covering for the said elephant ; the Indians were to be supplied with Oriental attire, and the elephant with a blue covering, lined with red knapt baize, ornamented with gold-coloured worsted crowns and fringe, with proper girths, buckles, and straps. After the Drawing Room which was held at St. James's, on April 15th, in the same year, to celebrate the nuptials of the Prince and Princess of Wales, the King, Queen, Princesses, and the Duke of Clarence dined together in the apartments fronting the Chapel, VARIOUS COURT FUNCTIONS 247 Tvhere the first service was carried in at half-past six o'clock. The Pi-ince and Princess of Wales, and the Duke and Duchess of York, afterwards returned home to dine and dress for the ball. After dinner they had a refreshment of tea and coffee, previous to their going to the Bah room, which Their Majesties and the Princesses entered by appointment at a quarter before 9 o'clock, and in about 10 minutes after the Prince and Princess of Wales (who with their atten- dants came from Carlton House in the same order of Pro- cession as to the Drawing Eoom) made their appearance. The usual formahties having taken place, the Ball com- menced.' On March 24th, 1797, the Sheriffs of London came in State to St. James's to ascertain when the King (George III.) would receive an address which had been voted by the Livery of London. On arriving they were not admitted, as was usual on such occasions, to the Presence Chamber, but were told by the Duke of Portland from the King that his Majesty 'never receives addresses on the throne, but from the Corporation of the City of London.' In consequence of the royal message a very fully attended meeting of the Livery was convened at the Guildhall in the following week (April 1st). The Sheriffs reported that the King had refused to re- ceive upon the throne the address which they had carried with them to St. James's to pray for, among 1 Wliiteliall Evening Post, April 16tli, 1795. 248 ST. JAMES'S PALACE Other things, the removal of the Ministr}' then in office. The following resolution was at once passed ' with only one dissenting voice ' : — • That the answer given to the Sheriffs, when they attended to know His Majesty's pleasure, as to the time of receiving their petition, was given by the third Secretary of State, one of the persons for whose removal they petitioned : that the Sheriffs do again attend at St. James's and request a personal audience of His Majesty, at which, if granted, they do represent to the King that it is the privilege of the Livery to present petitions to the Sovereign on the throne, and that the Sheriffs do make a report of this ap]3lieation to a future Hall. In accordance with this resolution it appears that the Sheriffs again attended at the palace, ' when His Majesty in j)erson confirmed the message before de- livered by the Duke of Portland.' The King doth not believe this to be so unanimous a vote of the City as is pretended, and he commands me to tell you that if he did believe it were so (as he does not), that you have meddled with a thing, which is none of your business, and so dismissed them. At the close of this same year a General Thanks- giving was appointed for the three great naval victories obtained by his Majesty's fleets, under the commands of Lords Howe, St. Vincent, and Duncan, over those of France, Spain, and Holland. On Tuesday, December 19th, 1797, a grand procession. VARIOUS COURT FUNCTIONS 249 which comprised the Royal Family and the two Houses of Parliament, left St. James's Palace for St. Paul's Cathedral, where the special service took place. Each carriage was drawn by six caparisoned horses, except that of their Majesties, which was drawn by eight creams. The Princesses were dressed" in purple satin, trimmed with gold, and wore ban- deaux of purple and gold in their hair. The horses of the twenty carriages of State, amounting to one hundred and twenty-two, formed perhaps the finest equestrian sight ever seen in any country. The horses of the Duke of Gloucester were bays ; of the Duke of York, white ; of the Duke of Clarence, roans ; and of Their Ma- jesties' household, black. Immense crowds thronged the streets along the entire route. The streets were lined . with Foot Guards from St. James's Palace to Temple Bar. On the 17th Xovember, 1803, the Ambassador from the French Republic was introduced to the King (George III.), and had his formal audience at St. James's. The French Ambassador and his suite, being probably apprised by persons from that Court of the order of pro- ceeding, His Excellency's carriage was at his door in Port- land Place before 10 o'clock, where a considerable number of persons were assembled to see him set off. About a quarter after one he appeared, dressed in a General's uniform of the Consular Guard. When he arrived at St. James' he was conducted by Sir Stephen Cotterell, Andreossi having his credentials in his hand. After some time. His 260 ST. JAMES'S PALACE Majesty went into the Presence Chamber, where His Excel- lency was introduced to him by Sir Stephen Cotterell, and presented his credentials. Academic deputations were comparatively rare visitors at Court. On February 13th, 1806, a depu- tation from the University of Dublin waited on the Duke of Cumberland at St. James's ' with the grant of the office of Chancellor of the University of Dublm.' A magnificent banquet was given at St. James's by the Prince Regent in 1810, to all the Knights of the Garter. The father of Lady Lyttelton was pi'esent, and she thus refers to the dinner : — ■ 1810. — Papa went to town Monday last to dine with the Prince of Wales, and came back to us yesterday. He was well questioned by us all, for we wanted to know how the dinner went off. It was given to all the Knights of the Garter, and was unparalleled in splendour. Two hundred lighted candles in the room ; a bran new service of Plate ; the finest cut-glass lustre bottles and glasses that ever sparkled, and the twenty-five blue-ribboned gentry, all in full dress and glee, and the Prince doing the honours with due bustle. I love him for having the finest possible pic- tures of Lord Eodney, Lord Keppel, Lord St. Vincent, and, finest of all, that glorious Nelson, hung up as chief orna- ments of his great room. Papa says he never saw so delightful a picture as that of Lord Nelson.' The Prince Regent went in State on November 30th, 1812, to open the new Parliament of the King. 1 Letters of Sarah, Ladij Lyttelton (1797-1870), to the Hon.B. G. SiJencer, p. 73. VARIOUS COUliT FUNCTIONS 251 It was eight years since the King had attended Par- liament, consequently a great demand was made for tickets, and great interest was manifested in the spec- tacle itself. The Prince, who was then living at Carlton House, went to St. James's Palace at about ten o'clock, where his Royal Highness, who was dressed in regimentals, was received by the Lord Chamberlain and by the great officers of the King's Household, and conducted at once to the Levee Room. There he remained till the State carriages were announced to be in readiness to convey L[is Royal Highness and his attendants to Westminster. It was noticed that on returning to St. James's Palace the Prince wore a blue great-coat, trimmed with gold lace, gold frogs, fringe, &c. The now well-known cream-coloured ponies, which were used on this occasion, had seldom worked to- gether in harness. Consequently, a groom was ap- pointed to attend each one of them, with particular orders to be careful in taking the angle from Cleveland Row into the stable yard. Unfortunately too great a sweep was taken, and the oiF hind-wheel of the coach came in contact with the post at the corner of the foot-path leading to the Marquis of Stafford's house. The shock tore up three of the curb stones, broke a sway bar, and tlirew the State coachman off the box, who fell between the wheel horses, but received no injury beyond a cut on his lip. He never lost his reins, and was on the box again in- stantly. ' The Prince looked out of the windows of 252 ST. JAMES'S PALACE his coach, and satisfied himself of the safety of the coachman.' A military band, stationed at the palace, played the National Anthem as his Royal Highness left ; the guns fired a Royal salute ; and the park, together with the streets, was kept clear by the 16th Regiment, and another regiment of Dragoons. CHAPTER XVI CEREMONIALS, ENTERTAINMENTS. AND VARIOUS COURT FUNCTIONS [continued) During the spring of 1829 George IV., whose time was mostly spent at Windsor, resided at St. James's Palace, where he gave a ball to the juvenile members of the nobility, to which the Princess Victoria and the young Donna Maria, Queen of Portugal, who was at that time residing in London, and whose dress blazed with jewels, were iuAdted. At the coronation of William IV. and Queen Adelaide on Thursday, August 8th, 1830 — which was on such a reduced scale as compared with that of the King's predecessor that it was called a ' half Crown- ation ' — every roof, window, and balcony along the line of march from St. James's Palace to the Abbey was filled. Thousands braved the pitiless pelting of the rain, rather than lose the sight of the procession, which left St. James's Palace at a quarter before ten, and reached the Abbey a few minutes before eleven o'clock. By the kindness and courtesy of Sir Sydney Webb, the writer was enabled to examine the interesting Court 254 ST. JAMES'S PALACE Minutes of the Trinity House between the years 1829 and 1834. Among them appears the following : — The Court directed it to be recorded on the Minutes that on Friday last (August 6th, 1830) the Corporation had been nobly entertained at dinner by the King our master at the Eoyal Palace at St. James'. On the occasion His Majesty was habited in the uniform of an Elder Brother, and did infinite honour to the Corporation throughout the evening, and esjpecially by the terms in which His Majesty was pleased to express his conviction of the utihty of the public services of the Corporation, and the correct and satisfactory manner in which its affairs are conducted. The Brethren, the Secretary, the Solicitor, the Collector in the Port of London and the Surgeon, who were also present, were most graciously received, and had each the honour to kiss His Majesty's hand. At the dinner table the Deputy Master was seated opposite to His Majesty, and there were also present at this entertainment nearly all the members of His Majesty's Cabinet, the Lord Steward, and some of the chief officers of the Eoyal household, several other noble and distinguished individuals, together with the Eight Hon. the Lord Mayor, two of the representatives in Parliament of the city of London, the Governor, and the Deputy Governor of the Bank of England, and the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the East India Company.' The King presided at another banquet given to ' William IV. became Master when Dulse of Clarence on Julj' 2nd, 1829, and regularly attended the monthly Courts of the Corporation of the Trinity House. Having been elected in the early part of that year, he remained ' Master,' as King, throughout the year 1830, but resigned his Mastership in 1881, though his Majesty remained an Elder Brother to the time of his death in 1837. In the time of James II., who had himself commanded an English Fleet in action, the number of Elder Brethren was fixed by Charter at thirty-one. In the year 1870, how- ever, a supplemental Charter was granted by Queen Victoria, in which among other changes the number was increased to thirty-four. VARIOUS COURT FUNCTIONS 255 the Court of the Trinity House at the Royal Palace, on May 12th, 1831. On this occasion, his Majesty, who had in the previous year ascended the throne, was no longer Master, that being an annually elected office. On July 31st, 1835, and on Friday, June 17th, 1836, the King again entertained the Corporation of the Trinity House at St. James's, in the same style of Royal splendour ' by which it had been His Majesty's gracious pleasure to honour the Corporation annually since His Majesty's accession to the throne.' At two o'clock on the afternoon of January 8th, 1831, King William IV. held a large Court and Levee combined, at which nearly eight thousand representa- tives of the Societies of Trades arrived in grand pro- cession with several bands of music and emblematical banners. They were headed by their delegates, who were introduced by Viscount Melbourne, and pre- sented a humble and loyal address from the Societies of Trades, Manufacturers, and Friendly Institutions of London which was most graciously received by his Majesty. This address was signed by upwards of thirty- seven thousand mechanics. The chief Trade Societies which attended were the Cabinet-makers m Leadenhall Street, the Cutlers, the Silk-weavers, the Brass Founders, the Shipwrights, the Union, the United Friends, the Linen and Twine Spmners, the Waterloo Union, and the Tried Friends. This was not the first occasion in which trade representatives had waited as deputations on the Sovereign, though on previous visits the object had 256 ST. JAMES'S PALACE been not only to express loyalty and congratulations, but also to solicit the Royal support for the benefit of the trades represented. An imposing procession of London periwig-makers had, on February 11th, 1765, carried a petition to his Majesty George III., com- plaining that the fashion recently adopted by gentle- men of wearing their own hair was ruining their trade, and that they were also subject to great foreign ■competition even as hair-dressers. They therefore implored his Majesty to wear a wig ; a request whicli was graciously listened to, though it was said that the King had some trouble to keep from laughing. Even in those days of protection, the ludicrous asjDcct of the request led to a sham petition being put forward professedly from the carpenters, who begged that his Majesty would wear a wooden leg and cause all his servants to appear before him similarly provided. In the following year. May 7th, 1766, several thousand weavers went to St. James's Palace with flags and streamers flying, drums beating and bands playing, and attended his Majesty to the House of Peers on the occasion of his going to give his as- sent to a Bill for the prohibition of the importation of French wrought silks. The same procession attended his Majesty on his return to the palace, with every sign of joyful satisfaction. A State banquet, for which one hundred invita- tions were issued, took place in St. James's Palace in celebration of the wedding of Queen Victoria on the evening of the eventful day, February 10th, 1810. VARIOUS COURT FUXOTIOXS 257 It was held in the Grand Banqueting Room. The Duchess of Kent ' did the honours,' and was sup- ported on her right hand by the Earl of Erroll, who presided as Lord Steward, and on her left by the Earl of Albemarle.^ A cross table at. the end of the room was appro- priated for the principal guests ; the rest of the company occupied two long tables at the sides of the room. In the middle of the cross table was placed her Majesty's wedding-cake, decorated with four flags of white satin, containing the Royal arms. We turn from ' gay to grave.' During the passing of the funeral procession of the late Field Marshal, Arthur, Duke of Wellington, on Xovember 18th, 1852, the Queen, who, from the windows of Bucking- ham Palace, had already seen the cortege pass by, drove from Buckingham Palace to St. James's Palace, to witness again the imposing ceremonial as it went down St. James's Street. Her Majesty occupied the apartments adjoining the main entrance, and was accompanied by their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales, the Princess Royal, Prince Alfred, Princess Alice, the Duchess of Kent, the Princess Charlotte of Belgium, their Serene Highnesses the Prmcess of Hohenlohe Langenburg, and the Prin- cesses Adelaide and Feodore of Hohenlohe.^ ' Her Majesty the Queen Dowager also gave a grand banquet at Marlborough House on the night of the Queen's wedding, at which several members of the English Royal Family, as well as many foreign representatives, were present. ^ Upon the occasion of this State funeral the procession, which VOL. I. S 258 ST. JAMES'S PALACE In the year 1860 the excitement caused in England by the possibihty of a French invasion hastened, if it did not occasion, the organisation of the great Volunteer forces. A Volunteer Court was held on March 7th, 1860, at St. James's Palace, for it was considered desirable as an encouragement of the movement that the Volunteers should be received by the Queen, and as it was quite impossible that sucli large numbers should be received at the ordinary Levees, the reception of the officers of Volunteers at a special Court was decided upon. The details of this reception were arranged by the then Lord Chamberlam, Viscount Sydney, together with the Honourable Sidney Herbert, Secretary of State for War. The regulations for the Court were drawn up and printed in the ' Gazette,' and made as pubhc as possible. At this Court the names and numbers of the counties were marked up on the walls of the various State rooms in the Palace, as rallying points for the different corps. The officers passed before her Majesty, Artillery first, next Engineers, then mounted Rifles, and finally, the counties accord- ing to their number in the Army list. The Ijords- Lieutenants entered the Throne Room at the head of the officers of their counties, remained at the right moved down the Mall and past Buckingham Palace to Piccadilly by way of Constitution Hill, was marshalled upon the Horse Guards Parade. The body had been removed the previous night from Chelsea Hospital, where it bad lain in State, to the Audience Chamber at the Horse Guards. The funeral car was stationed under a tent erected for the purpose on the Parade ground. VARIOUS COURT FUNCTIONS 259 hand of the Lord Chamberlain while their officers passed, and then passed themselves. Those who were associated with Artillery officers as well as Rifles passed the Queen a second time with the latter corps. The number of officers was 2,266, and of Lords- Lieutenants 45 ; the total amounted to 2,311. The last officer passed the Queen at a quarter past four, her Majesty having arrived at ten minutes past two, and the first officer having passed at half-past two. Three years elapsed before the rooms were used again for any special purpose beyond the usual Levees. An evening party was held in St. James's Palace on March 21st, 1863, in honour of the marriage of the Prince and Princess of Wales. AVhen their Royal Highnesses arrived, the Countess de Grey, the Countess of Macclesfield, and the Hon. Mrs. E. Stonor, her future ladies, were introduced to the Princess in the Royal Closet. At about ten o'clock the procession passed through the centre doors of the Throne Room, and so on through the company to Queen Anne's Room, where the bride and bridegroom tooli their places at the fireplace end. The Corps Diplomatique and the Cabinet Ministers then passed and were named to the Princess — the gentlemen by the Lord Chamberlain, and the ladies by the Mistress of the Robes. After they had passed, the remainder of the guests were named in like manner. This ceremony occupied about three- 260 ST. JAMES'S PALA.CE quarters of an hour. At about a quarter before eleven o'clock the Royal Family returned to the Throne Room, where the private band played two or three pieces. After the music they passed down the rooms again, through the corridor, and so on to supper at a little after eleven. After supper was over, the Royal Family returned to the private apartments, going through the Armoury and Tapestry Rooms, and left the palace at midnight. The Princess of Wales wore a petticoat of white and silver moire, covered with a dress of Brussels lace. Her Royal Highness also wore a diadem of diamonds. Refreshments were provided for the company in the Guard Chamber. Supper was served at eleven o'clock, the tables being decorated with some choice specimens of the Royal plate, and a buffet of gold plate on a crimson ground was displayed at one end of the Banqueting Room. At this reception the Prince of Wales lost a spur. It was, however, found again, and delivered to Givett, his Royal Highness's valet. Another evening party on a similar scale was given by command of the Queen, at St. James's Palace, in honour of their Royal Highnesses on Wednesday, May 20th, 1863. The State rooms were decorated for the occasion, and the whole suite were adorned with a profusion of fl)Owers, and were brilliantly illuminated with chande- liers and candelabra. Refreshments were served VARIOUS COURT FUNCTIONS 261 throughout the evening in the Guard Chamber, the supper being served in the Banqueting Room. A concert was given in the Drawing Room, where Mademoiselle Titiens, Madame Adelina Patti, Madame Trebelli, and Signor Ginglini had the honour of singing. Before their Royal Highnesses entei'ed the Draw- ing Room, they were conducted by the Lord Chamber- lain and the Lord Steward to the Throne Room, where the Diplomatic Corps and Cabinet Ministers with their ladies, as on the previous occasion, had the honour of paying their respects. Their Royal High- nesses then passed to Queen Anne's Room, and surrounded by the ladies and gentlemen of the Court received the nobility and gentry present. The Lord Steward conducted their Royal High- nesses to supper in the Banqueting Room. The table was decorated with numerous golden vases filled with flowers, and the buffet of gold plate at the west end of the room displayed a choice selection of shields, salvers and tankards of silver gilt, together with bulb and carved ivory cups of great beauty and value. Both buffet and tables were brilliantly lighted. Their Royal Highnesses afterwards returned to the Drawing Room. The band of the Scots Fusilier Guards attended and played in the new corridor, and the Queen's private band was stationed in the Throne Room. It was remarked on this occasion, as an extraor- dinary effort of memory, that Lord Sydney recognised 262 ST JAMES'S PALACE and named to her Koyal Highness almost every person who passed without a single error. On February 28th, 1882, the Prince of Wales held a meeting of the Lords-Lieutenants, and Deputy- Lieutenants, and Mayors in connection with the new National College of Music, at which about one thou- sand persons were present. This took place at St. James's Palace, as Marlborough House was too small to accommodate the assembly. Another meeting, though for a different purpose, was called by the Prince of Wales on January 12th, 1887, of the Lords-Lieutenants, and Mayors of dif- ferent counties and towns in the United Kingdom, for the purpose of founding an Imperial Listitute in commemoration of the Jubilee of Queen Victoria. The company, which numbered about four hundred and twenty, assembled in the Banqueting Eoom at St. James's Palace, where a small platform had been erected, and on it a table was placed at which the Prince of Wales, who presided, sat together with his committee. The Armoury Room facing the stairs had been fitted up for the use of his Royal Highness and the committee, in which to assemble jjrior to the meeting. Reporters from the newspapers were also accom- modated with seats and writing conveniences on either side of the dais, to the number of about twenty-five. On Saturday, April 23rd, 1887, the Prince of Wales was present at a dinner given by members of VARIOUS COURT FUNCTIONS 263 the Order of SS. MicTaael and George in the Banquet- ing Hall at St. James's Palace, that being St. George's Day, and the anniversary of the Order, to celebrate the jubilee of the Queen as Sovereign of the Order. The Duke of Cambridge, the grand master, presided on the occasion. In the same year the Queen was graciously pleased to command that the fiftieth anniversary of the incorporation of the Royal Agricultural Society of England, of which her Majesty was president for the j^ear, should be celebrated by a dinner given at St. James's Palace on March 26th, 1889. His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales presided on behalf of her Majesty. Invitations for that night were, by the Queen's command, sent out by the Lord Steward to the trustees, vice-presidents and other members of the council and officers of the society ; to the Lord President and Vice-President of her Majesty's Privy Council, and to the Committee of Council on Agriculture. The Lord Mayor of London and the Mayor of Windsor were also included in the in- vitations. There were between eighty and ninety persons present on this occasion. Her Majesty's guests arrived at the Friary Court entrance to St. James's Palace, and ascending the grand staircase were shown to the Picture Gallery, where they were received by the Lord Steward (Earl of Mount-Edgcumbe) and by the Master of the Queen's Household (Major- General the Right Hon. Sir John Cowell, K.C.B.). 264 ST. JAMES'S PALACE His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, attended by General Sir D. Probyn, K.C.B., K.C.S.I., V.C, and by Major-Genei'al Ellis, C.S.I., was received on arrival by the Lord Chamberlain (Earl of Lathom) and by the Vice-Chamberlain (Viscount Lewisham). His Royal Highness Prince Christian of Schleswig- Holstein, K.G., ranger of Windsor Great Park, attended by Lieut. -Colonel the Hon. Charles G. C. Elliot, was also present. Their Royal Highnesses, attended by the Gentle- men in Waiting, were conducted by the Lord Cham- berlain and the Vice -Chamberlain to the Picture Gallery, where his Royal Highness was met by the Lord Steward, and proceeded to welcome her Majesty's guests. Dinner being announced, the Lord Steward con- ducted the Prince of Wales, accompanied by Prince Christian, to his seat at the head of the table in the Banqueting Room, and the other guests were shown to the places assigned to them. The Prince of Wales, who presided on behalf of her Majesty, was supported at the table on the right and left by the Lord Steward and by the Master of the Household. At the conclusion of the dinner the Prince of Wales proposed the health of the Queen, and Viscount Cranbrook, President of the Council, proposed the health of the Prince of Wales, to which his Royal Highness responded. His Royal Highness then gave as a toast, ' Success to the Royal Society of Agricul- VARIOUS COURT FUNCTIONy 265 ture of England,' and the Duke of Richmond and Gordon responded on behalf of the society. The band of the Coldstream Guards was in at- tendance, and under the direction of Mr. Thomas played a selection of music during the dinner. On rising from the table the Prince of Wales, accompanied by Prince Christian, was conducted by the Lord Steward to the Picture Gallery, where her Majesty's guests' also adjourned. Having taken leave, their Eoyal Highnesses, attended by their Gentlemen in Waiting, were conducted by the Lord Chamberlain and the Vice-Chamberlain to their carriages. Once again since 1887 have the State rooms of St. James's been turned to account. The occasion was the marriage of the Duke and Duchess of York on July 6th, 1893. The various rooms were elabo- rately decorated with the choicest flowers and plants from the Royal Gardens at Windsor Castle, and were specially fitted up with chairs for the use of the privileged persons who, in Court dress (the ladies without trains), were admitted to view the proces- sions of the Bride and Bridegroom, the Royal Family and the Royal guests, as they passed to and from the Chapel Royal. The Queen's procession did not, however, pass through the State rooms, but went straight to and from the entrance to the Chapel Royal in the Ambassadors' Court, for which special preparations had been made. 266 ST. JAMES'S PALACE CHAPTER XVII NEW YEAR AND BIRTHBAY FESTIVITIES AT COURT These thoroughly national anniversaries have always been celebrated in the English Court with the ut- most pomp. Though they might fairly be classed under one or other of the former chapters, they pos- sessed special features which render their separate treatment more convenient. A New Year's celebration, for example, began with the performance before the whole Court of an ode specially written for the occasion by the Poet Laureate of the day.' ' On Thursday, January 1, 1756, the King received the compliments of the Nobility, foreign ministers, &c. At noon the ode on that occasion, composed by CoUey Cibber, Esq., and set to music by Dr. Boyce, was performed before his Majesty at St. James's.' - Again, ' on Saturday, January 2, 1757, when New Year's Day was celebrated, the Royal Family came from Bucking- ham House to St. James's, and were present at the ' The Poets Laureate used to receive their annual tierce of Canary from the office of the Lord Steward. Cibber was tlie last who took tlie tierce, and since his time the Lord Steward has paid to tlie Poets Lavu'eate an allowance : 27Z. in lieu of wine. * Gentleman' s Magazine, vol. xxvi. 1756. NEW VKAi; AXD JUUTIIUAV FESTniHES 207 perlbnuaiice of the Ude, us was also the rriiice of Wales. Afterwards they attended Court and Drawing Koom. The fashion of the Conrt was '• poppy coloured sattin waists and trains, their heads ornamented with poppy coloured ribbons and flowers." ' ' The rending of the ode Avas followed by a recepti(.in BIRTHDAY BALL, .TUNE 4, 17S3 of ihe scholars of Christ's Hospital, when they pre- sented their drawings for inspection. " Xew \ ear's Day was observed at Court as usual. Particularly the forty boys, educated for the sea, in mathematics &c. in Christ's Ho.spital, were, according to custom, presented to liis Majesty by their President.' ' ' GcntJcmaii's Miigaxinc. vol. Iv. 17S5. '-' Aiinnnl lifgister, .Tanuary 1775. 268 ST. JAMES'S PALACE After the ode and the reception came a Levee and a Drawmg Room, at which, though no presentations were made, the attendance was always large. Nume- rous congratulatory addresses were also offered. A family dinner on a large scale, if not a State banquet, and, lastly, a State ball opened by a minuet, in which the Royal Family joined, invariably concluded the day's festivities. A manuscript book kept in the Court of Henry VIII. and called 'The Book Royall,' once in the pos- session of Peter Le Neve, Norroy King-at-Arms, lays down that : On New Year's Day the King ought to wear a surcoat and kirtle and his pane of ermine : and if his pane be five ermine deep, a duke's shall be but four, and an earl's three. The King must wear his hat of state and have his sword before him, whether in Cite or Court. In the morning of New Year's Day the King, when he cometh to his foot-schete, an usher at the chamber door must say, ' Sire, here is a gift, coming from the Queen : let it enter, Sire.' Then must come in others with gifts, each according to his estate, his . Grace meanwhile sitting at his foot-schete. Then shall presents be given to such as offer gifts. If a knight bringeth the Queen's gift let him have 10 marks, an esquire 8 marks, or at least 100 shillings and so downward, according to ranke. These Royal New Year gifts have long been dis- continued. But during the last century each of the two Chaplains in Waiting found a crown-piece laid under his plate at dinner on the first day of the year. Bishop Latimer, instead of giving Charles II. the cus- tomary purse of gold, gave him a New Testament with NEW YEAR a>;d birthday . festivities 269 a leaf folded down at Hebrews xiii. 4. Dr. Drake maintained that Qneen Elizabeth's wardrobe and jewellery were chiefly supported by gifts from her courtiers and wealthy citizens. Not only her great officers, but even her cooks and her pastry people, made offerings. The Archbishop of Canterbury gave 40/., the Archbishop of York, 30/., other spiritual lords 20/. or 10/. Some temporal peers gave 20/. each. The gifts from the peeresses included rich gowns, petticoats, shifts, silk stockings, garters, sweet bags, doublets, embroidered mantles, precious stones, looking-glasses, fans, bracelets, caskets, and other costly trinkets. Dethick, Garter King-at-Arms in Her Majesty's reign, gave a book of the States in William the Conqueror's time ; Absolon, master of the Savoy, a Bible covered with cloth of gold ; the Queen's physician a box of foreign sweetmeats ; another physician a box of green ginger, and a pot of orange flowers ; the apothecaries, boxes of lozenges, ginger candy and conserves. Mrs. Blanch gave a gold comfit box and spoon ; Mrs. Morgan a box of cherries and apricots. The master cook brought confectionery. Putrino, an Italian artist, gave two pictures. Ambrose Lupo gave a box of lute strings ; three other foreigners brought each a pair of sweet gloves. A cutler offered a meat knife ; Jeremy Barrano two drinking glasses ; while Smyth, the dustman, sent two bolts of cambric. A catalogue exists of New Year's gifts from James I., 1605, signed by the King himself (?). ' A Banquet of Pleasant -Tests,' 16o4, tells the following story : — Archie, the King's fool, coming on New Year's Day to , bid a nobleman good morrow, received two pieces of gold ; 270 ST. JAMES'S PALA.CE but coveting more, he shook them in his hands, saying they were too Hght : when the donor said ' Archie, let me see them again: there is one I would be loth to part with.' His foolship, returning them, my Lord put them in his purse, saying ' I once gave money into a fool's hand who had not the wit to keep it.' ' No other birthday than that of the King or Queen (unless under very special circumstances) was cele- brated by a Levee or a Drawing Room ; but the nobility offered their congratulations, and the occasion was marked by a ball. October 30, 1714 : This was the Prince's Birthday. I never saw the Court so splendidly fine. The Evening con- cluded with a Ball, which the Prince and Princess began. She danced in slippers very well, and the Prince better than anybody. - It should be stated that ' slippers ' was the name given to low-heeled shoes, which had not cpme into general use for balls and full dress at that time. Another attractive function, and one which would be much in accordance with modern tastes, has now, by reason of change in circumstances and conditions, disappeared from our midst. The Sovereign was wont on his birthday to witness from the windows of the palace a procession or parade af Mail Coaches, and great crowds assembled in the neighbourhood to obtain a glimj^se of the spectacle. The drivers and guards, in their new rich liveries, were naturally ' Loiiihiii Srnics and London People, by Aleph, p. 165. ' Diary of Mary, Countess Cowper, who was Lady of the Bed- chamber to the Prmoess of Wales, 1714-1720. NEW YE All AKD BIRTHDAY FESTIVITIES 271 proud of attracting so much attention, as they paraded under the Royal windows and invoked the plaudits of the lookers-on. The coaches started from Mill- bank, driving by the palace through the stable yard and up St. James's Street, and so reached their desti- nation, the General Post Office. When the Court was in mourning, or when any member of the Royal Family was ill, no- New Year celebration of this kind, as may be supposed, took place ; but an omission was something so exceptional that ' it always (we are told) occasioned much speculation.' Like many old Court customs, the recitation by the Poet Laureate of his New Year and birthday odes before the whole Court has now fallen into abeyance. Southey was the last Poet Laureate to write New Year odes. It sometimes happened that the New Year and birthday odes were rendered on one and the same day. This was the case in 176G, when the former, having been postponed on account of the death of Prince Frederick William, youngest son of Frederick Prince of Wales, on December 29th, 1765, was even- tually given on the Queen's birthday, March 1st, 1766, and a congratulatory oration delivered also by the Archbishop of Canterbury. Accounts are to be found in many old papers and books of the gorgeous character of the dresses worn by the Royal Family and the nobility on these festive occasions. At a ball given on March 1st, 1732, 272 ST. JAMES'S PALACE the annivei'sary of the Queen's birthday, her Majesty was ' magnificently dressed in a flowered mushn with a beaded edging of jewels.' It was also ' much re- marked upon that an Italian count had twenty-four diamonds instead of buttons.' Only materials of English (Spitalfields) manufacture were allowed to be worn, the ladies generally appearing ' in stuffs of gold and silver,' ^ and the gentlemen ' in cut and flowered velvets.' At the ball given in honour of the King's birth- day, on June 4th, 1783, the minuets commenced at nine p.m., and the ladies who were candidates were so numerous that almost every gentleman — the Prince of Wales excepted — had to undergo the burden of four minuets ! When in 1831 Princess Victoria completed her twelfth year William IV. and Queen Adelaide gave a ball at St. James's Palace in honour of the day, and their Majesties gave a similar entertainment at St. James's when in 1837 her Royal Highness attained her eighteenth year, or what was called her majority. Only one untoward circumstance clouded this fete — the enforced absence of the King and Queen ; yet in spite of this it is recorded that the ball had seldom, if ever, been ' equalled in magnificence.' The illus- trious Princess was led off in her first dance — a quadrille — by Lord Fitzalan, eldest son of the Earl of Surrey, and grandson of the Duke of Norfolk. In ' In 1779, the fashionable dress at Court was a ' laylook sattin trimmed with far, beads, and wreaths of flowers.' NEW YEAR AND BIRTHDAY FESTIVITIES 273 lier other dances the Princess honoured with her hand Prince Esterhazy, son of the Austrian Ambas- sador, and Prince M'illiam of Saxe-Weimar. Very shortly after the Princess ascended the throne of her ancestors as Queen Victoria ; and this ball was the last birthday celebration which has taken place within the walls of St. James's. ELEGY ON THE ABROGATION OF THE BIRTH-NIGHT BALL, AND CONSEQUENT FINAL SUBVERSION OF THE MINUET By a Beau of the Last Century Now cease the exulting strain And bid the warbling lyre complain, Heave the soft sigh and drop the tuneful tear And mingle notes far other than of mirth, E'en with the song that greets the new-born year. Or hails the day that gave a monarch birth. That selfsame sun, whose chariot wheels have roll'd Through many a circling year, with glorious toil, Up to the axles in refulgent gold. And gems, and silk, and crape, and flowers, and foil. That selfsame sun no longer dares Bequeath his honors to his heirs. And bid the dancing hours supply As erst, with kindred pomp, his absence from the sky. For ever at his lordly call Uprose the spangled night ! Leading in gorgeous splendour bright. The minuet and the ball. VOL. I. T 274 ST. JAMES'S PALACE And balls each frolic hour may bring, That revels through the maddening spring, Shaking with hurried steps the painted floor : But minuets are no more ! No more the well-taught feet shall tread, The figure of the mazy Zed ; The beau of other times shall mourn. As gone and never to return. The graceful bow, the curtsey low, The floating forms that undulating glide (Like anchored vessels on the swelling tide) That rise and sink, alternate as they go. Now bent the knee, now lifted on the toe. The sidelong step that works its even way, The slow ' pas grave ' and slower ' balance ' — Still with fix'd gaze he eyes the imagin'd fair, And tunrs the corner with an easy air. Not so his partner — from her tangled train To free her captive foot she strives in vain ; Her tangled train, the struggling captive holds (Like great Atrides) in its fatal folds ; The laws of gallantry his aid demand. The laws of etiquette withhold his hand. Such pains, such pleasures now alike are o'er. And beau and etiquette shall soon exist no more. In their stead, behold advancing. Modern men and women dancing ! Step and dress alike express. Above, below, from head to toe, Male and female awkwardness. Without a hoop, without a ruffle. One eternal jig and shuffle ; Where's the air, and where's the gait ? Where's the feather in the hat ? Where's the fn::z'd toupee ? and where, Oh ! where's the powder for their hair ? NEW YEAK AND BIRTHDAY FESTIVITIES 275 Where are all their former graces ? And where three quarters of theu* faces ? With half the forehead lost, and half the chin, We know not where they end, or where begin. Mark the pair, whom favouring fortune At the envy'd top shall place, Humbly they the rest importune To vouchsafe a little space. Not the graceful arm to wave in. Or the silken robe expand ; All superfluous action saving, Idly drops the lifeless hand. Her downcast eye the modest beauty Sends, as doubtful of their skill, To see if feet perform their duty, And their endless task fulfil ; Footing, footing, footing, footing, Footing, footing, footing still. While the rest in hedge-row state. All insensible to sound, With more than human patience wait, Like trees fast rooted in the ground. Not such as once, with sprightly motion. To distant music stirred their stumps, And tripp'd from Pelion to the ocean, Performing avenues and clumps ; What time old Jason's ship, the Argo, Orpheus fiddling at the helm, From Colchis bore her golden cargo, Dancing o'er the azure main. T 2 276 ST. JAMES'S PALACE But why recur to ancient story, Or balls of modern date ? Be mine to trace the minuet's fate, And weep its fallen glory. To ask, who rang the parting knell ? If Vestris came the solemn dirge to hear ? Genius of Valoiiy didst thou hover near ? Shade of Lepicq ! and spirit of Gondel. I saw their angry forms arise Where wreaths of smoke involve the skies Above St. James's steeple I heard them curse our heavy heel The Irish step, the Highland reel, And all the united people To the dense air the curse adhesive clung, Piepeated since by many a modish tongue. In words that may be said but Never shall be sung.' What cause untimely urged the minuet's fate ? Did war subvert the manners of the State ? Did savage nations give the barbarous law. The Gaul Cisalpine or the Gonaquaw ? Its fall was destined to a peaceful land, A sportive pencil, and a courtly hand ; They left a name that time itself might spare, . To grinding organs and the dancing bear. On Avon's banks, where sport and laugh Careless Plea,sure's sons and daughters, Where health the sick and aged quaff, From good King Bladud's healing waters ; While genius sketched and humour grouped, Then it sickened, then it drooped ; ' ' Go to the D 1 and shake yourself,' name of a favourite country dance. NEW YEAR AND BIRTHDAY FESTIVITIES 277 Sadden'd with laughter, wasted with a sneer, And the long minuet shortened its career. With cadence slow, and solemn pace, Th' indignant mourner quits the place — For ever quits — no more to roam From proud Augusta's regaldom. Ah ! not unhappy who securely rest Within the sacred precincts of a Court ; Who, then, their timid steps shall dare arrest ? White wands shall guide them, and gold sticks support. In vain — these eyes, with tears of horror wet, Bead its death warrant in the ' Court Gazette.' ' No ball to-night ! ' Lord Chamberlain proclaims ; ' No ball to-night shall grace thy roof, St. James ! ' ' No ball ? ' the ' Globe,' the ' Sun,' the ' Star,' repeat. The morning papers and the evening sheet : Through all the land the tragic news has spread. And all the land has mourned the minuet dead. So power completes ; but satire sketched the plan. And Cecil ends what Banbury began. By C. M. Fanshawe. 278 ST. JAMES'S PALACE CHAPTER XYIII THE DRAMA AT ST. JAMEs's During the reigns of the Tudors and the Stuarts the Royal palaces were the scenes of frequent theatrical performances, at which the whole Court was present, and no expense was spared to secure the success of the dramatic representations. CoUey Cibber argues 'from the description of the decorations in several of Ben Jonson's Masques in King James's and Charles I.'s time,' that there was no limit of expenditure.^ The drama was, of course, more largely patronised by some Sovereigns than by others. It was much encouraged, both at Hampton Court and St. James's Palace, under Queen Elizabeth, James I., and Charles I. Mr. J. G. Fleary has furnished the writer with a list of the plays which were performed at St. James's Palace from 1623 to 1642 during the last two years of the reign of James I. and the first seventeen years of the reign of his son and successor. ' An Apology for the Life of Colley Cibber, Published by Himself (3756). THE DRAMA AT ST. JAMES'S 279 Plays Acted at St. James's Palace, 1623-]642. Date CoiirAXY AUTHOn Play Before "whom 1623. Oct. 31 King's Fletcher and ; ' The Maid Eowley ; of the Mill ' The Prince 1633. Nov. 17 Shakespeare 'HichardllL' King and Queen )J Nov. 19 Queen's Shirley ' The Young Admiral ' )I Nov. 26 King's Shakespeare ' The Taming and Lodge of the Shrew ' » )5 Nov. 28 )5 Fletcher ! ' The Tamer ! Tamed ' )) 1636. Feb. 18 (Queen's) ' Jonson ' The Silent Woman ' " Feb. 22 (King's Bevels) Anon. 'Love's Aftergame ' „ Feb. 24 (Queen's) Shirley ' The Duke's ] Mistress ' n Feb. 28 )j Beaumont i ' The Knight and Fletcher of the Burning Pestle ' 16.37. Jan. 31 King's Shakespeare ' Julius Caesar ' )j Feb. 7 Buston's Beaumont ' Cupid's Ee- Boys and Fletcher ! venge ' „ Feb. 9 King's Fletcher ' A Wife for a Month ' )) Feb. 14 Buston's Boys }) 'Wit without Mercy ' Feb. 17 Feb. 21 King's Formido ! ' The Gover- ' nor ' Beaumont , ' Philaster ' and Fletcher No reader of Evelyn's ' Diary ' will forget the account of a comedy acted by tlie ladies only on the night of December 15th, 1674. Amongst the per- formers were ' Lady Mary, and Lady Anne, His Royal Highness's two daughters, and my dear friend Mrs. 1 Words between parentheses, says Mr. Fleary, are supplied by him on inductive evidence. All the rest of this table is taken from the entries in the Book of the Master of the Bevels, Sir George Herbert. 280 ST. JAMES'S PALACE Blagg, who, having the j^rincipal part, performed it to admiration. They were all covered with jewels.' Nor will he fail to remember how that on the 22nd Evelyn ' was at the repetition of the Pastoral on which occa- sion Mrs. Blagg had about her near £20,000 of jewels, of which- she lost one worth about £80 borrowed of the Countess of Suffolk. The press was so great it was a wonder she lost no more. The Duke made it good.' The Pastoral, which gave such delight to the gay Court of Charles II. at Christmas 1674, was, it appears, the masque of ' Calisto, or the Chaste Nymph,' by John Crowne. The principal characters and per- formers were : Calisto, played by Princess Mary, afterwards Queen ; Nypha, by the Lady Anne, after- wards Queen ; Jupiter, by Henrietta Wentworth; Juno, by the Countess of Suffolk ; Psecas, by the Lady Mary Mordaunt; Diana, by Mrs. Blagg; and Mercury, by Mrs. Jennings, the celebrated Duchess of Marlborough. The Nymphs who danced in the prologue were the Countess of Derby, the Countess of Pembroke, the Lady Katherine Herbert, Mrs. Fitzgerald, and Mrs. Frazier. The ' Chaste Nymph ' was printed in 1675, and was probably one of the latest masques exhibited at Court. In the reign of Queen Anne the drama did not meet with much Royal patronage. That Sovereign rarely, if ever, went to the theatre herself, and seldom ordered theatrical representations at Court. The performance at St. James's of a piece by Dryden, THE DRAMA AT ST. JAMES'S 281 termed ' All for Love ; or Antony and Cleopatra,' was so novel an event as to excite general surprise and satisfaction. These exceptional occurrences are thus referred to by a Ayriter of the period: — Note from Candlemas 1704 to the 22ncl of April 1706, there were /oi(r plays commanded to be acted at Comi (at St. James's) by the actors of both Houses : (1) Ah for Love. (2) Sh Solomon, or the Cautious Coxcomb. (3) The Merry AVives of Windsor. (4;) The Anatomist, or Sham Doctor. No theatre built for the purpose is said ever to have existed at St. James's Palace. It must be assumed, therefore, that the large Ball Room was adapted for these representations, since no reference to a stage and its accessories can be found in any record of the palace. It would seem that the ' Children of the Chapel Eoyal ' contributed their share to the rise of the English stage in the reign and Court of Queen Elizabeth, for during the sovereignty of that illus- trious lady these surpliced lads became a playing company. They were placed under the guidance of a Mr. Richard Edwards, who was born in the year 1523, and who eventually became not only Master of the Children, but also one of the Gentlemen of the Royal Chapel. He had poetical and dramatic gifts, and was a man of thoroughly sound education, Ed- wards, who held a licence from the Queen ' to super- intend the children of the Chapel as Her Majesty's 282 ST. JAMES'S PALACE Company of Comedians,' is said to have written three acting plays : — 1. ' Damon and Pythyas,' a comedie, 1562. 2. ' Palemon and Arcyte,' a comedie — Part I. 3. ' Palemon and Arcyte ' — Part II. In the first part of the latter comedy is an excellent hound- cry, of which Gibber says, 'It was so well imitated that the Queen and the Audience were extremely delighted.' But the play would have been a very dull and sleepy performance had he (Edwards) not thought proper to enliven his solemn Greek Tragedy by introducing into it a comic English interlude, founded on an incident he had himself witnessed at the Kitchen Gates of his young Eoyal Master's palace, which was so highly relished by the Court and Commons that his popularity became unbounded.' This scene represented a kitchen gateway of St. James's Palace, where a coal merchant, named Grimm, is kept waiting outside with his filled sacks, because the men in charge of the kitchen-porter's ofiice had not as yet left their beds. Grimm at last became so impatient that he began to call out ' For the Kmg's own mouth ! ' in the hope that a change of cry might rouse these porters. His stratagem succeeded. The two men in charge at once began to unclose the gates of the palace, and Grimm was thus enabled to brino- in his sacks of coals. The men, on discovering the trick, determined to be revenged, and Grimm played into their hands. ^ Miss Strickland's Lives of the Bachelor Kings of England (Edward VI.). THE BEAM A AT ST. JAMES'S 283 Drink and flattery unloosed his tongue. Becoming more communicative than was prudent, he told them of his money savings and of the fact that he always carried his treasures on his person. The crafty porters now plied their victim with an ample supply of liquors from the Royal buttery, shaved off his beard when he had reached a state of stupor, and finished by rifling his pockets ' to the infinite delight of all the young King's noble attendants, and the confusion of all the lackeys and varlets peeping at the play in the bye- corners of the Palace.' ' The children of the Chapel Royal were em- ployed in the theatrical exhibitions represented at Court, for the performance of which their musical education had peculiarly qualified them. Richard Edwards, an eminent poet and musician, of the six- teenth century, had written two comedies, 'Damon and Pythias,' and ' Palemon and Arcite,' which, according to Wood, were acted before Queen Elizabeth, at Court, and at Oxford. "With the latter of these her Majesty was so much delighted that she promised Edwards a reward ; and she subsequently made him first Gentleman of her Chapel, and in 1561, Master of the Children on the death of Richard Bowyer. As the Queen was particularly fond of dramatic entertain- ments, about 1569 she formed the children of the Chapel Royal into a company of theatrical performers and placed them under the superintendence of Edwards. Not long afterwards she formed a second society of players, under the title of the ' Children 284 ST. JAMES'S PALACE of the Revels,' and by these two companies all Lilly's plays and many of Shakespere's and Jonson's were first performed. The latter of these authors has cele- brated One of the Chapel children named Salathiel Pavy, who was famous for his performance of old men, but who died about 1601, under the age of thirteen, in a beautiful epitaj)h, printed with his epigrams.' An Ejntajih on Salathiel Pavy, a Child of Queen Elizabeth's Chapel Weep with me all j'ou that read This Httle story ; And know for whom a tear you shed Death's self is sorry : 'Twas a child that so did thrive In grace and featm'e, As heaven and nature seemed to strive, Which own'd the creature. Years he numbered scarce thirteen When Fates turn'd cruel, Yet three fill'd Zodiacs had he been The Stage's jewel, And did act, what now we moan, Old men so duly That the Parcae thought him one. He played so truly. So, by error to his fate They all consented ; But viewing him since — alas, too late ! They have repented. And have sought, to give new birth, In baths to steep him ; But, being much too good for earth, Heaven vows to keep him.' ' Ben Jonson's Works (Gifford), vol. yiii. p. 229. TliE DRAMA AT ST. JAMES'S 285 ' In the Catholic times,' says Brayley in his ' Londiniana,' histrionic representations were almost wholly confined to the Mysteries and Moralities, the characters of which were played by Ecclesiastics and Friars, assisted by the Choristers and singing boys belonging to one Principal Church and Scholastic foundation. The Parish Clerk of London, and the ' Children ' (as they were called) of Paul's and the Chapel Eoyal were highly celebrated for their performance of the above view or spectacle, but when after the Eeforma- tion the Drama assumed a more domestic and familiar tone, the Joculators and minstrels of the day formed themselves into distinct Companies for the exhibition of Interludes and Stage Plays. Choir boys, who had been enfifaged in performing sacred plays, afterwards acted in interludes or secular dramas. Not only had these youthful actors been trained to the theatrical representation of ' mysteries ' and ' moralities,' but many of the masters taught their pupils to perform the classical dramas of Terence and Seneca, and it has been supposed that the plays which are annually performed at AVestminster and other public schools are the survivals of this practice. Many of the Children of the Revels, who belonged to the choirs of Westminster and St. Paul's, afterwards became famous actors with Shakespeare and others, and it must be remembered that the first regular English drama or comedy, ' Roister Doister,' was written by Udall, Master of Eton College, evidently for a performance by the boys of that school. In the year 1732, the Duke of Cumberland, then 286 ST. JAMES'S PALACE only twelve years of age, manifested his military taste and aptitude. From the sons of the nobility he raised a company of soldiers, called the Duke's Lili- putian Regiment, wlio were daily di-illed and disci- plined in the gardens of St. James's Palace. On the night of April 27th in that same year, these young soldiers had an opportunity of displaying themselves and their usefulness under the happiest possible con- ditions in Dry den's drama of ' The Indian Emperor ; or, The Conquest of Mexico by the Spaniards.' The play was performed in the Grand Ball Room of the palace, before their Majesties and the whole Court, by some yoimg members of both sexes of the nobility, the eldest of whom was not more than twelve years old. The Royal Duke who acted as corporal ' relieved and posted his men (boys) on duty at the end of every act.' Hogarth is said to have painted a picture of this very scene. We have been unable to find any trace of it. The part formerly taken in the old miracle plays and festivities at St. James's Palace by the choir boys of the Chapel Royal, finds a parallel at Seville in the present day. In that cathedral, as the writer is informed by Mr. Henry Grey, on the festivals of Corpus Christi, the Assumption and the Conception, the choir boys perform a national dance in special costume before the high altar, to commemorate the preservation of the plate belonging to the sacred building. When the Moors invaded the cathedral their attention was diverted by this dance from the THE DRAMA AT ST. JAMES'S 287 holy vessels and other treasures until the priests had hidden them away. Pope Gregory VIL, so the legend runs, ordered the ceremony to be abolished ; but the archbishop took the boys to Rome, and his Holiness was so pleased with their performance that he per- mitted it to be continued so long as the dresses which the boys then wore should last, and, miraculous to relate, by careful mending they are still preserved in good condition. 288 ST. JAMES'S PALACE CHAPTER XIX GAMBLING AT ST. JAMES's PALACE Among the various amusements of the Court at St. James's Palace, card playing was prominent during the whole period from the reign of Charles 11. to the end of that of George II., and the stakes were often represented by such large sums of money that their loss meant embarrassment, if not ruin, to the un- successful gamester. The passion for gambling, which had been checked by William III., revived during the reign of his suc- cessor, and continued to inci-ease in extravagance until 1760. George III. and his Consort set their faces against those Court card parties, which had almost come to be regarded as State entertainments, and their example produced a widespread influence on the nation at large. Camden's ' Remaines,' as quoted in Hampson's ' Medil iEvi Kalendarium ; or Dates, Charters, and Customs of the Middle Ages,' show that in the reign of Queen Elizabeth ' few men plaiyed at Cardes but at Christmasse, and then almost all men and boys.' The learned author does not suggest that other games of chance and skill, such as ' shovel groat,' ' mirelles,' •dl^'ar^cnihiilS/LSi. luirlcj IL ivlini i/oiina. GAMBLING AT ST. JAMES'S PALACE 289 or ' Nine Mans Morris ' were rare, nor that the desire for gambling had then no existence. But card games had not yet attained either the recognition of the Court oy; the general popularity which they acquired in the succeeding period when the Stuarts came to the throne. The gambling and games of hazard, which, during tlie Protectorate, were banished from Whitehall or St. James's, returned to Court at the Restoration with the added popularity of the reaction against the Puritanical denunciation of ' pastimes.' To the ex- cessive restraint which the Puritans had in their ill- judged zeal enforced, was partly due the profligacy and vice which gave an evil distinction to the Court of Charles II. Most readers are familiar with the thrilling entry in Evelyn's ' Diary ' which records the scene at Whitehall on the Sunday evening before the death of King Charles. There, amidst the hum of persiflage and Court gossip, and the melody of a song warbled by a French boy favoured for his charming voice, the card table, heaped with gold and surrounded by twenty extravagant courtiers, was a conspicuous object. This Sunday card-playing was one of the prac- tices which naturally offended that large proportion of the people, who still held what were called 'puri- tanical views,' and who were alike ashamed and provoked by the open disregard of morality, and the almost defiant indifference to the claims of religious observance which were displayed in the Court of VOL. I. u 290 ST. JAMES'S PALACE Charles II. Pepys, himself by no means an excep- tional example of the transformed Puritan, expresses his amazement at the spectacle of the Queen and the Duchess of York desecrating the Sunday by playing at cards. It has been recorded that among her other ex- travagances the Duchess of York was so addicted to the vice of gambling that she became reckless, and was known to stake 1,000^. or 1,500^. in a single cast, and in one night to have lost 25,000^. at the game of basset. Another Royal personage who gained an unenvi- able notoriety as a gambler was the Princess Amelia, the eldest unmarried daughter of George II. At an advanced period of her life the card-table seems to have been her almost invariable nightly amusement ; but the passion for gambling and the reckless play in which many ladies of fashion indulged was one of the worst vices of the time, and led to infinite misery, and many lost fortunes and ruined reputations. The advent of the Prince of Orange, as has been noticed, considerably regulated, if it did not altogether discourage, the card playing at St. James's. But the practice had become such a recognised feature on particular occasions that it is doubtful whether it could have been altogether discontinued. What may be called a Court ceremonial of gambling at the palace, which was followed by a ball, was held once a year for the benefit of an important official called the Groom Porter. The Prince of Orange, at least on one GAMBLING AT ST. JAMES'S PALACE 291 occasion, continued the custom of gaming in public, in the presence of the Court and of those persons who had any pretensions to gain admission to the palace. Soon after his arrival in London he took part in this strange Court ceremony which was apparently held at the rooms of the Groom Porter in the palace, and had the good fortune to win 500 guineas, 100 of which he presented immediately to the official who held the office, placing the remainder in the custody of Heer Bentinck, to be applied to charitable purposes.-' The Court festivities or ceremonial assemblies held at St. James's during the reign of Queen Anne were dull, and in a certain sense decorous ; yet the love of gambling had by no means disappeared either there or in the society which represented the aristocracy. The form which the taste for play assumed might vary ; but the passion itself survived all such changes. Basset had given place to ombre and spadille, and they in their turn were superseded by hazard, whist, loo, and faro. If George I. could not discuss politics with Walpole in English, he spoke the universal language of the card table. Gaming remained a pastime at his Court which his subjects were permitted to witness. At certain seasons, both he and his successor played hazard in public at the Groom Porter's in St. James's Palace, where the nobility and even the Princesses staked considerable sums. In the Diary of Mary, Countess Cowper, under ' Malcolm's Anecdotes of the Manners and Ctoatoms of London. u 2 292 ST. JAMES'S PALACE the date of January 6th, 1715, occurs the following passage : — This waa Twelfth Night, and such a crowd I never saw in my hfe. My Mistress and the Duchess of Montague (daur. of the D. of Marlbro') went halves at Hazard and won £600. Mr. Archer (Groom Porter of all His Majesty's Houses) came in great form to offer me a i^lace at the table, but I laughed and said he did not know me if he thought that I was capable of venturing 200 guineas at play, for none sit down to the table with less. The Venetian Am- bassadress, who I believe had been used to cry out to her husband, when he beat her, to take care of her face, met with a good deal of it, and ' Prenez garde a mon visage ' was her cry all night long, and so loud that the King heard her, and turning to somebody that stood behind him, said, ' En- tendez-vous I'Ambassadrice ? EUe vous abandonne tout le Eeste du Corps pourvu que vous ayez soin du Visage.' Dr. Doran in his well-known book, ' London in Jacobite Times,' speaking of the period 1728 to 1732, thus refers to the report in Mist's ' Jacobite Journal ' : — The Court of George II. opened the New Year with a reckless gaiety that reminds one of Whitehall in the time of Charles II., as described by Evelyn. Twelfth Night was especially dissipated in its character. There was a ball at St. James's, and there were numerous gaming- tables for those who did not dance. The King and Queen lost 500 guineas at ombre ; the Earl of Sunderland more than twice as much. General Wade lost 800 guineas, and Lord Pinch half that sum. The winners were Lord William Manners, of 1,200 guineas, the Duchess of Dorset, of 900 guineas, the Earl of Chesterfield, of 550 guineas. The ' Gentleman's Magazine,' dated Wednesday, GAMBLING AT ST. JAMES'S PALACE 293 January 6th, 1731, also contains an entry which re- lates to the public ceremony of gaming on Twelfth Night : — This being Twelfth Day, his Majesty, the Prince of Wales, and the Kn*^ Companions of the Garter, Thistle, and Bath appeared in the collars of their respective orders. Their Majesties the Prince of Wales and 3 eldest Princesses, preceded by the Heralds, &c., went to the Chapel Eoyal and heard Divine Service. The Duke of Manchester carried the sword of State. The King and Prince made the offerings at the altar of gold, frankincense and myrrh, according to annual custom. At night Their Majesties &c. played at Hazard with the nobility for the benefit of the Groom-porter, and 'twas said the King won 600 guineas, the Queen 360, Princess Amelia 20, Princess Carolina 10, the Earl of Port- more and Duke of Grafton several thousands. On the same anniversary in 1747 we read that the ceremony of Twelfth Night was observed at Court, when his Majesty and the Royal Family with several of the nobility played at hazard for the benefit of the Groom Porter ; after which there was a ball. As has been already stated, however, the public Royal gambling at St. James's Palace ceased with the accession of George III. and Queen Charlotte. The record is brief but of weighty significance which says, ' their Majesties not being accustomed to play at Hazard, ordered a handsome gratuity to the Groom Porter, and orders were given that for the future there be no card-playing among the servants.' ^ • The office of Groom Porter is still kept up, and the name of the holder of the place is enumerated in the list of her Majesty's house- hold. 294 ST. JAMES'S PALACE This was a change indeed, for the vicious excite- ment of the gaming table had reached a pitch which seemed to be symptomatic of actual insanity. But the Royal example was not followed outside the palace. The card table remained for many years the great delight of both men and women in society, in spite of the appeals of moralists, the sarcasms of satirists, and the lampoons of caricaturists. 295 CHAPTER XX DISTINGUISHED FOREIGN GUESTS AT 1ST. JAMES's PALACE It would be a matter of some difficulty to discover the names of all the distinguished guests, whether crowned or uncrowned, who have from time to time been lodged within the walls of St. James's Palace. But the names of not a few of those who visited these shores under varying circumstances and in stirring times are still recorded. Count Mansfeldt would appear to have been one of the earliest foreigners who visited the Court of St. James's. As far back as the year 1624 — April 19th — a despatch was sent by D. Carleton to Sir D. Carleton, stating that the Count had, on arriving in England, been taken in one of the Prince's coaches to Theo- bald's, where he was ' extraordinarily well received by the King,' and that at night he had been brought to lodge in St. James's, in rooms near the Prince. The despatch ends thus : ' He has a plentiful table and every show of welcome.' ^ Five days later, on April 24th. 1624, another ' Cal. State Papers, Domestic Series (James I.), vol. olxiii. par. 16. 296 ST. JAMES'S PALACE despatch from D. Carleton to the Queen of Bohemia announces to her that this same Count Mansfeldt had been well received, and lodged by the Prince at St. James's in the very chamber intended for the Infanta, and that he had been taken abroad with him in his own coach. ^ On Christmas Eve of this same year, 1624, another visitor arrived at the palace in the person of the Duke of Brunswick, who was also lodged in the Prince's apartments at St. James's.^ The old records are otherwise silent respecting the visit of the duke. Again, in the year 1638, Marie de Medicis, mother of the Queen of Charles I., arrived on a visit to the English Court, much to the delight of her daughter, but to the chagriu of the King and of the English people generally. The invitation to her was looked upon in this country as ' an act of imprudent generosity,' and consequently became unpopular. To secure for the Queen-Mother a fitting recep- tion, Sir Henry Vane wrote to Sir John Pennington on October 4th, 1638, saying that he had despatched a messenger to him to arrange the order, place and manner of the Queen-Mother's landing. It was further ordered that at Gravesend servants of the King should be in readiness to receive her, and thence carry her to her quarters at St. James's, where, ' Cal. State Papers, Domestic Series (James I.), vol. clxiii. ^ Ihid. vol. clxxvii. par. 12. DISTINGUISHED FOREIGN GUESTS 29- as Sir Henry Yane quaintly puts it, ' she Avill stay till tliey be weary of her.' ^ Sieur de la Serre oives a touchino- account of the coy?-:L L.\ J' L i_ 1 \ 1 I ur r\i mt i l l\^± f >■£ JiT ] £ ,V\ X riLD 1 r I \ I I < I '•hi L \ \v7rivii R\ ^IrP\7V) lis H ARRIVAL OF MAEIK DE MEDICIS AT THE COURT OF ST. JAMES'S, OCTOBER 1638 Fro/n a rare print in the collection of J. E. Gardner, Esij., F.>^.A. ofreetinof between mother and daua'hter on the arrival of the former in England. When Queen Henrietta Maria heard the flourish of trumpets in the quad- ' Domestic Series (Charles I.), vol. ccoo. ehap. 1. par. 13. 298 ST. JAMES'S PALACE rangle of the palace, which heralded the arrival of the carriage containing Charles I. and the Royal guest, she with her children descended the great staircase to receive her mother, and as she was not in a condition to undergo much fatigue or excitement, a chair was placed for her at the foot of the stairs. On the arrival of the carriage at the principal entrance, the Queen — so great was her anxiety to embrace her mother — tried to open the carriage door, but all to no purpose, for she was not strong enough to accomplish it. ' As soon as her mother alighted, she threw herself upon her knees, and the Royal Children knelt round her.' ^ Marie de Medicis received on arrival in London a sort of public reception, but ' the miniature Court which she maintained here for three years was never acceptable to the nation, who regarded her as the symbol of arbitrary power.' Indeed, her presence at all in England was so distasteful to the English nation at large, that Parliament, at the end of a three years' sojourn here, voted her the munificent sum of 10,000/., on condition that she quitted the country at once. This she accordingly did, in August 1641. She lived within the palace walls of St. James's during her stay, and it is said that whilst in England she enjoyed a pension of 3,000/. a month. Lilly saw the old Queen-Mother of France takmg her departure, and thus describes the scene : ' A sad spectacle it was, and produced tears in my eyes, and ^ Pyne's Boyal Residences. DISTINCIUISIIEl) FOREIGN GUESTS 299 those of man}'' other beholders, to see an aged, de- crepid, poor Queen, ready for her grave, necessitated to depart hence, having no other place of residence Cij.-,^; u.i-\ i.ij'D r'WicK \i t- i'\ir,sioi >i > (onjr i\ \1£\1 jAL\XJ' I..\ PFV>i: J V^ 1 MI 1 I J in 1 s VISIT OF THK LORD MAYOR AND COra'ORATION TO MARIE DE MEDICIS AT THE COCP.T OF ST. .TAMKS'S ( a rarf pnii' I III- ci'llrcUoii of J. E. (.;,u-Jni-!\ Ei<].. I\S A. left her, but where the courtesy of her hard fate assigned. She had been the only stately and magni- ficent woman of Europe, wife to the greatest king- that ever lived in France, mother to one king and 500 ST. JAMES'S PALACE also to two qneens.' She died the following year — it is said — in the gi-eatest possible distress and poverty in a garret at Cologne, whither she had at once gone on quitting the English shores. ,,L ',^ •1 1 I I 1 -1 t THE PRESENCE CHAMBER, DUPaNG THE RESIDENCE OF MARIE DE MEDICIS Fi-(yin a rare i>riril in tlir collerlirw uf J. E. Gar.hvr, Es,j., F.S.A. On January 21st, 1698, a very distinguished, though very eccentric, visitor came over to England incognito. It was Peter the Great, Czar of llussia, ' one of the most extraordinary men who has figured DISTI^GLTSIIED FOREIGN GUESTS 301 in the history of an)- age or country.' He was received with the greatest possible ci\'ility and kind- ness by WilUam III. But his stay in .St. James's I 1 \^L 1 \\ \ I H\^!UFL VISIT OF MEMBERS OI' THE PRIVY COUNCIL TO M-iPvIE DE MEDICIS From a rart' jjrii/f in !/ie coUecliti// of J. E. Oar^lu^n', Esq., F.S.A. Pahace was short, for the Czar ahnost immediately removed to a fine house which had been hired for him and his suite at the bottom of York Buildino-s. One evenino- when dinino- with Kino- William at o O O 302 ST. JAMES'S PALACE St. James's Palace, shortly after a visit to G-reenwich Hospital, he was asked what he thought of the building. He replied : ' Extremely well, sir. If I were permitted to advise your ]\[ajesty, I should re- commend to you to remove your Court thither, and convert your palace into a hosjoital ! ' While the Czar was in England, the King gave at St. James's Palace a grand ball to celebrate the birthday of the Princess Anne. The Royal visitor was of course invited ; but ' instead, however, of mixing with the Company he was put into a small room from whence he could see all that passed with- out being seen himself.' No information is given as to the refreshment which was here provided for him. It is, however, reported that his Imperial Majesty's favourite beverage was ' hot pepper and brandy.' On July 19th, 1767, the Princess Poniatowski visited this country. She was sister to the King of Poland. She was lodged in St. James's Palace, but the cause or the length of her visit is unknown. In the following year, August 1768, Christian VIII., King of Denmark, travelling partly incognito as the Prince of Travendahl, arrived at St. James's Palace, attended by most of his great officers of State. ' His retinue consisted of four post-chaises, and fifteen servants on horseback. The coaches of the House- hold, which had been sent to Dover to escort his Majesty, were all left behind, his Majesty choosing to travel in post-chaises for the sake of expedition and to avoid ceremony.' DISTINGUISHED FOREIGN GUESTS 303 The King was accompanied to this country by a certain Count Holcke — a great favourite with his Royal master, whom Walpole describes as a ' complete jackanapes.' It is reported that the count, on seeing the exterior of St. James's Palace, was dissatisfied with its look, and at once exclaimed, ' This will never do. It is not fit to lodge a Christian in ! ' His fastidious taste was, it is said, more satisfied when he had seen the interior of the palace. King Christian's object in visiting England was to seek the hand of the Princess Caroline Matilda, the youngest sister to George III., whom he even- tually married. He was lodged in apartments in the stable yard in the same rooms which, in the year 1814, were occupied by the King of Prussia, when he visited London. Horace Walpole writes to Sir Horace Mann, August 13th, 1768, a few days after the King's arrival : — The puppet of the day is the King of Denmark. He arrived the night before last, is lodged at St. James's, where he has Levees, but goes, and is to go, everywhere ... to Eanelagh, Vauxhall, Bath, the Lord knows whither ! to France, to Italy — in short, he is to live in a crowd for these two or three years. He is not twenty, and is an absolute Prince ! Mrs. Delaney also, in her 'Autobiography,' relates how she went to Lord Carlisle's in Cleveland Court, to see the King of Denmark, who was then staying at Lord Bath's old house, and opposite to 304 ST. JAMES'S PALACE Lord Carlisle's. ' His Majesty,' she says, ' was dress- ing, and the blinds down, all but a little peep : the Duchess had the satisfaction of a glimpse of him, and I of his valet de chambre ! ' ^ The King of Denmark's table at St. James's is at the expense of the King of Great Britain. Besides inferior ones, there were two principal tables ; that of his Danish Majesty is noble. The dessert is elegant and superb, and the whole daily cost is estimated at 84L (exclusive of wines), comprehending not the dinner only, but every meal. ]\Iany historians tell us that the King was treated here with the utmost respect by all ranks of people. Yet it is hard to reconcile this with a statement of Walpole's, who informs us that ' so marked was the neglect, if not contempt, manifested by the one King for the other, that when the " Royal Dane " arrived at St. James's, it was in a hired carriage ! ' This re- port may have arisen from the fact that his Brittanic Majesty was holding a Levee at the time of King- Christian's arrival. On the Sunday following his arrival the Danish King had arranged to dine with his own representa- tive in this country, the Danish Ambassador, in St. James's Square ; but after reaching the house of the Embassy, his Majesty was suddenly taken ill, and, much to the regret of the company present, was forced to return to his apartments in the palace. On September 9th, the Dukes of Gloucester and ' Vol. iv. p. 150. DISTINGUISHED FOREIGN GUESTS 305 Ancaster, all the great officers of the Court, and the Foreign Ambassadors and Ministex's, dined with his Majesty in St. James's Palace at a sumptuous ban- quet. On this occasion the sideboard was decorated with the magnificent gold plate for which our Court is celebrated. During his visit to this country ' the most unbounded dissipation seems to have taken ])lace. His Danish Majesty gave orders for a Masquerade which was one of the most magnificent that had ever been seen in England, and while the necessary pre- parations for it were making, he visited Cambridge, York, Leeds, Manchester, and Oxford, where he was met by the whole University in procession.' ^ For this masked ball, which took place at the King's theatre, 3,000 invitations were issued. It was given by the King of Denmark to I'eciprocate the many attentions and civilities of which his Majesty had been the object during his stay in England. This Royal visit, as is seen, caused so much stir and excitement throughout the country, that the public were kept well primed in all his Majesty's doings, and such notices as the following constantly appeared: — 'On October 2nd, 1768, at eleven o'clock, His Danish ^Majesty, and the nobility, his attendants, breakfasted in public at St. James's on a grand cold collation of twenty-one dishes.' 'On October 11th, the day before his departure ' Camden's Imperial History of Englmid. VOL. I. X 306 ST. JAMES'S PALACE from England, His Danish Majesty held a Levee, which was very enormously attended, to take leave of his Majesty.' After a stay of just two months, the King of Denmark made his adieux to their Majesties, and all the members of the Royal Family. To Lord Hertford and Lord Talbot he gave as souvenirs handsome rings valued at 1,500 guineas each ; to Mr. Garrick, the actor, he gave a gold box studded with diamonds, as a token of admiration ; and, besides these gifts, he left 1,000 guineas to be distributed among the servants at St. James's Palace. Shortly before his departure, ' observing some poor people assembled underneath his window in Cleveland Row, he lifted up the sash and threw a handful of gold among them.' When the Kino; returned to Eno;land after the birth of his child, leaving his Queen, Caroline Matilda, behind him, Horace Walpole came to London to see him. The king of Denmark came on Thursday, and I go up to-morrow to see him. It has cost £3, 000 tonew furnish an apartment for him at St. James's, and they say he will not go thither, supposing it would be a confinement, but is to be at his own minister's, Dieden's. On Tuesday, June 7th, 1814, the allied Sovereigns — the Emperor of Russia and the King of Prussia — arrived in London on a visit to the English Court. With them came Field-Marshal Bliicher, Count PlatofF, Prince Metternich, Prince Lichtenstein, DISTINGUISHED FOREIGX GUESTS o07 Count Hardenburg, General Barclay de Tolly, General von Sacken, General von York, General von Billow, General von Winzingrade, Count Woronzow, and Count Tolstoi, and many others of the great captains and statesmen, ' whose labours during the previous two years had been the theme of admiration to every patriotic breast, and whose names had become the property of history.' All historians unite in stating that the enthusiasm with which these distinguished foreigners were received, not only when they reached our shores, but more especially in the metropolis itself, baffled all possible description. The Regent had made great and extensive prepa- rations in the apartments of the Duke of Cumberland, in order to receive the Emperor Alexander at St. James's Palace in a fitting manner. When, however, his Majesty arrived, he canje quite privately, without even a single attendant, and drove at once to the Pulteney Hotel, where his favourite sister, the Grand Duchess of Oldenburg, was then staying with her children. Such an entry into London was extremely disappointing, not only to the Regent, but also to the Court officials, the Lord Steward, and the Lord Chamberlain, who had been actually in attendance the whole of the day till seven o'clock ' full dressed,' in expectation of the Emperor coming to St. James's to take up his residence. A guard of honour with two bands in State uniforms were likewise drawn up in the courtyard opposite the Palace throughout the 308 ST. JAMES'S PALACE day.^ The rooms which had been prepared for his Imperial Majesty were therefore onlyiised for purposes of State, when a larger amount of cubic space was required for entertainments and probable visitors. Here it was that his Majesty held a Court, at one o'clock in the afternoon, on the day after his arrival. A new State bed had also been set up in the sleeping apartment, specially for his Majesty's use, ' composed of crimson velvet, with gold lace and fringe, with a crown at the top, and appropriate ornaments.' The King of Prussia and his sons arrived in this country almost as privately as the Emperor of Russia had done. But a numerous suite accompanied as well as attended his Majesty. The King drove straight to Clarence House, which he reached about three o'clock in the afternoon. There a party of the Yeomen of the Guard, together with the Royal servants and attendants, were waiting to receive him. His ^lajesty, who expressed his delight at the position of his residence and surroundings, was shown to his rooms, where ' he partook of some refreshment.' ' A few minutes before four, His Majesty, attended by an Aide-de-Camp, went to Carlton House, and was received by the Prince Eegent with every mark of respect. After remaining about half an hour with the Prince, His Majesty returned to Clarence House, and was visited by the Priuce of Orange, the Prince of MecMenburgh, and a number of other distinguished persons, after which he paid a visit himself to the Duke and Duchess of York, whose house was just opposite. ' Ashton's Social Life under ihe Eegency. Camden's I iiiycrial History of England. DISTINGUISHED FOREIGN GUESTS 309 Camden graphically describes the arrival of Marshal Bllicher, who on this occasion accompanied the King of Prussia. Wellington's gallant colleague at Waterloo received a veritable triumph. He entered London amidst the enthusiastic cheers of the vast multitude which had collected to see him pass through the streets. When the Marshal reached the Horse Guai'ds in his carriage and observed the troops, drawn up on parade, he rose up and took off his hat, looking eagerly at them, and remained in that position till he had passed them all. At six o'clock he arrived in St. James's Park, by the Horse Guards, in the Prince Eegent's open carriage, escorted by a party of light horse. Three troops of Queen's Bays were drawn up on parade. The drivers, as directed, made for Carlton House, in order that the hero might pay his respects to the Prince Eegent, and after an interview of about half an hour with the Prince Piegent, he proceeded in his carriage to the house of Mr. Gordon, in St. James's Palace, adjoining the Duke of Cumberland's, followed by an immense crowd, and some got even into the carriage with him. The crowd remained in the courtyard till dark, huzzaing, the veteran hero frequently showing himself at the window to gratify them.' ' Rough old Bliicher,' says Mr. Ashton, was undoubtedly, of all the brilliant throng, the favourite of the mob. Whenever he stirred out he was mobbed, and had to undergo as much handshaking as anj- President of ■^ The house in the Ambassadors' Court, in which the Marshal ^vas lodged was occupied by tire late Lady West, who died a few weeks since. These rooms have now been given by her Majesty to Major-General Sir Francis De Winton, K.C.B., Comptroller in the Household of the Duke and Duchess of York. 310 ST. JAMES'S PALACE the United States of America. We learn from Mr. Cun- ningham's book that Bliicher was lodged in the brick house on the west side of the Ambassadors' Court. Here he would sit at the first-floor windows and smoke contentedly, and bow to the passers-by, evidently much gratified at the notice which was being taken of him.' It may here be stated, on excellent authority, that when Bliicher did not feel equal to coming to the window to show himself to the crowds assembled there, he frequently put his dog there to represent him ! The Marshal is described as being ' of a most manly, and expressive countenance, bearing the effects of severities he had encountered. The moustachios on his upper lip are exceedinglj' prominent.' Marshal Bliicher, according to Mr. Joseph Grego, ' though a very fine fellow, was a very rough diamond, with the manner of a common soldier.' ^ It is hard to reconcile this description with the following passage : People in England had a notion that ' old Bliicher,' as they used to call him, was a coarse, rough old fellow, but it was not so, and when receiving his friends, his manners were perfectly well-bred, with a pleasant mixture of hearti- ness in them. He must have been a handsome man when young, and had well-shaped aristocratic hands, and small and delicately curled ears.' On Thursday, June 9 th, two days after their arrival, ' Asliton's Social Life under the Regency. '' Reminiscences of Captain Qronow. ' Brownlow's Reminiscences of a Septuagenarian. DISTINGUISHED FOREIGN GUESTS oil the. Emperor of Russia and the King of Prussia, as well as Marshal Bliicher, and those Avhose names have already been quoted, attended a brilliant Court, which was held at St. James's Palace by the Prince Regent, \\'hen his Royal Highness conferred the Order of the Garter upon the King of Prussia, who immediately afterwards invested the Prince Regent with the Order of the Golden Eagle. On the following Saturday, the two Sovereigns themselves held Courts, when addresses were presented to the Czar at Cumberland House, and to the King at Clarence House, by the Lord Mayor, the Sheriffs and Aldermen of London. A small book by Mr. H. Roche, entitled ' Wallstadd Palace ; or. Secrets from the Kitchen Court at St. James's, during the Residence of Prince Marshal Bliicher in London,' published in 1818, contains much curious and interesting information in the shape of letters and anecdotes.^ The letters are written by F. R., and no other clue is given to the identity of the correspondent. The first letter refers to the excitement caused by the arrival of the ' Allied Sovereigns ' and of Marshal Bliicher in England, and will sufficiently explain itself as it proceeds. ^ ' Katsbaoh (Prussia) . — Near this river ths Prussian general, Bliicher , defeated the French under Macdonald and Ney, August 26, 1813. He received the title of Prince of Wahlstatt (or Wahlstadd), the name of a neighbouring village.' — Haydn's Dictionary of Dates. Roche's ' Wall- stadd Palace ' was brought to the notice of the writer by Mr. Mynott, the Librarian of the Oxford and Cambridge Club, who has rendered him much valuable assistance in the compilation of the History of St. James's Palace. 312 ST. JAMES'S PALACE Letter I. To Baroness London, July 1814. This London is in a complete bustle. Two millions of people run about in a state of frenzy. England has never before witnessed so noble a scene, and ever since the arrival of the Emperor and King, the Princes and Marshals, by whose assisting prowess Europe has been delivered. Great Britain seems to be in an U2oroar. The whole day long the roads from Dover to London, the towns, the streets, and even the houses were crowded. Carriages and horses, men and women, old and young, rich and poor ! all England would view and hail the Deliverer. And now that our German heroes are on English shore, Bliicher is the soul of London, the idol of England. Happy and venerable man, he enjoys it much ; and long may his silver hairs support the laurel wreath which encircles his veteran brow ! Wellington — that day-star of victory, that rock upon which the red Cross of Britain was planted to redeem a lost world, immortal Wellington — was absent when England sacriiiced to them for his achievements at Vittoria. But Bliicher was preceded by the fame of his deeds in France, when he appeared personally in London, and nothing but ' Bliicher ! ' ' Bliicher ! ' ' Bliicher ! ' re- sounds throughout the vast citadel of this empire of freedom. The Kitchen Court of the King's palace where Bliicher had his apartments was the focus of London, and here it was hardly possible to enter. I pressed through one morning, with the Prussian Ambassador, while it was yet very early (for the English rose early and staid late to see Bliicher) . As I passed the sentinel, a nice young lady was near the door. ' For God's sake, my dear sir,' said DISTINGUISHED FOREIGN GUESTS 313 she, ' let me go in with you ; I must see him ! ' I could not refuse her the indulgence. She passed the door with me, and I left her in the Hall, full of expectation. She was in the bloom of youth, full of innocence, with a figure that would have suited me to draw from Avhen painting my picture of ' Venus springing from the foam of Ocean.' A glance of gratitude in her fine eyes (now fixed upon me) told me I had afforded her a crown ! I soon returned to her. ' Can I see him, sir ? ' said she. ' Yes, my dear,' said I, ' and surely it is he that will be most charmed at the sight when you meet.' So it was ! . . . the old warrior flew from his seat to shake hands with this lovely girl, and while he rapturously saluted her, he said, ' These were the best treats which England afforded him.' Although I am not an intruder, I regret much that I delayed my visit of respect, because every day, even every hour, afforded some interesting circumstance respecting him worthy of being recorded. The love of mankind was the touchstone of his feelings ; and his sympathy for the object of the tale of woe afforded the key of access to his ever ready presence. In consequence services were required of him, and both noble and ridiculous applications assailed his generosity. Everybody seemed to have a claim upon Bliicher, but particularly the fair sex ; and an old soldier of 70 years of age seemed to have enveloped the faculties and turned the brains of the ladies of England. Thousands of them flock to see him, and tens of thousands appear as if their hearts could melt for Bliicher. It became fashion- able for ladies to intrude themselves into his parlour, to shake hands with him, to Jciss his moustachios, and then retire. Bliicher nor his aides-de-camp do not understand a word of the English language. Being intimate with one of them. Count Hostisch, some years ago at Eome, I used to be frequently employed as an interpreter to Bliicher, and this gave me the most pleasing opportunities of witnessing many an extraordinary occurrence, and I have frequently had the happiness to observe that when the 314 ST. JAMES'S PALACE feelings of an English lady's heart are roused, they arrive to a degree of sensibility of which the nature of any other individual is scarcely susceptible. ■ Yours, &c. &c. &c., F. E. At the end of this letter come two equally inter- esting anecdotes of Bliicher, which as translated we give verbatim. 1. One morning, soon after his arrival in London, he called for his faithful attendant, William. ' Your High- ness's pleasure ? ' said William, on approaching the Mar- shal. ' Highness, highness,' said Bliicher. God your Highness,' said Bliicher, 'you shall call me General,' said the hero of Leipzic, ' or I will send you to wait upon the Emperor at Elba!' Very good, thought I, there are many great warriors and heroes, who are not Highnesses, and some of those. Highnesses, whose actions disgrace the name of a great man. 2. A certain tooth-drawer wrote to Bliicher begging permission to take the appellation of Prince Blacher's dentist. ' What the devil use could that be to him ? ' said the Marshal, ' the fellow must be an Irishman / tell him I have scarcely a tooth left in my mouth, therefore I cannot want a dentist ; yet, if it gives him pleasure or profit, he may call himself niij dentist, or whatever else he pleases.' The fourth letter is addressed to Baroness S and runs as follows : — London, August 1814. I resume the pleasures of my pen to give you a striking instance of British benevolence. At Bliicher's quarters yesterday a neat-dressed young lady, with a child on her arm, presented a memorial to the Marshal. He desired me to read it to him ; it was to recommend the orphan child of a German officer by a Dutch lady. The father of DISTINGUISHED FOREIGN GUESTS 315 this poor helpless babe died for the glory of his country at the Battle of Lutzen, and the ha.pless mother perished in a state of insanity in a private mad-house in London, broken-hearted for the loss of a husband she tenderly loved. The child had no provision left for it, and Marshal Bliicher requested I would take care of the memorial and the lady's address, and ordered some gold to be presented to her. Wallstadd Palace gives an extract from another letter written by a German lady on hearing of the frenzy excited in London by the presence of Bliicher. The letter is addressed by the Baroness de S. to her brother, Professor R., and is dated ' Hanover, August Ittth.' My God ! what a bustle ! what a noise ! . . . Have you ever seen such a thing in London ? My gracious ! What's the matter ? . . . Oh, there is old Bliicher come from the Continent. Wellington had done the business, and now old Bliicher gives one flourish with his sword, and millions of sensible people bawl out Bliicher ! Bliicher ! Bliicher ! . . . John Bull will shake hands, the fine ladies will kiss him— even the frail fair will say they did so ! — and the accomplished young girls will impress their rosy lips on his old greasy moustachios ! Let them, bawl, if they please, and kiss old Bliicher till he is tired of their thanks- givings ; but pray, now, what will they say to the godlike Arthur ? . . . Britannia worships and humbly inclines to him ; the girls dare not ofi'er their lips, and John Bull would not approach the lightning of his eye to bawl : there is too much terror in the glance of modesty and too much virtue in the soul of a real hero to admit of rude saluta- tion. The letter finishes thus : ' So, dear brother, send Bliicher home in haste, that he may sit at his own 316 ST. JAMES'S PALACE homely fireside, smoke his pipe and chew his quid, in more natural comfort to his unpolished taste ! Adieu, ' Thy truly faithful, ' de S .' The sixth and tenth letters are, like the previous ones, addressed to Baroness S London, August 1814. Prince Bliicher becomes quite domesticated in London. He sits and smokes his pipe several hours in the day, showing himself at intervals to the populace, who con- stantly surround the entrance to 'Wahlstadd Palace.' The King of Prussia resides near to Bliicher, in the mansion of the Duke of Clarence, and hence public curi- osity has made the Kitchen Court at St. James's the focus of London. Letter X. To Baroness S Loudon. Blucher, the Sovereigns, the Princes, Count Platoff, and the whole illustrious people have left England, and millions of English people have returned to their different occupa- tions. A grand Jubilee took place a few days since m St. James's Park, the Green Park, and in Hyde Park. The fireworks were splendid beyond example, and the whole affair was arranged and conducted upon the most magnifi- cent scale. ... A finer night could not have been bestowed from heaven, and a more delightful scene never presented itself to the enraptured souls of these noble-minded English. For a week afterwards the Parks, the numerous tents and booths were kept open, and honest John Bull DISTINGUISHED FOREIGN GUESTS 317 could be daily seen in all his native pride, from the most respectable to the poorest ranks of society . . . -which came to my knowledge. I will come to the facts at once : Bliicher's regimental coat, the identical dress he wore and- conquered in at the battle of Leipsig, has been exhibited in a Gallery in London, at 1 shilling admittance for the sight to each person. One of the Marshal's aides-de-camp, who was fonder of pelf than his fair fame, deposited the Prince's coat, sword, hat, and his full dress apparel at the disposal of a person to exhibit after his departure. A thousand crowns were paid by the aide-de-camp into the German banker's hands (Mr. S., of Mansion House St.) to defray the first expenses of placing the costume of ' the hero of Leipzic ' upon a machine and wooden head ! for public exhibition. The figure was got up in great style and placed in a picture gallery in Pall Mall, where the public were invited, by means of circular letters, hand and posting bills, to re- pair and behold ' Prince Marshal Bliicher.' Some of the placards intimated these words, ' Bliicher is yet in London ! ' The newspapers and Sunday journals were paid for puffing off the artifices, and every means used by the agent of the aide-de-camp, who satisfied himself, on his leaving London, that he should accumulate a mountain of gold by this mean device. But John Bull 'was not to be had ' on this occasion : too many of the brave English had seen the living figure, and had shaken the hands of the Marshal, and preserved sufficient reason not to be caught by a sight of his coat and hat, at the expense, perhaps, to many an idle fellow, of his last shilling. In fact, this shabby scheme wholly failed, as it should do, and the grand material of the hollow figure was con- signed for sale to a hatter and hosier in St. James' Street, who had a claim upon the machinery for rent and orna- ments, and who absolutely sold the same to a Jew, with all 318 ST. JAMES'S PALACE the engraved certificates and signatures of the aides-de-camp, for the sum of one hundred guineas, to be again exhibited in the country towns of England. All other Royal visits paled in interest before that of the Allied Sovereigns in 1814, but yet another must be mentioned. Apartments were prepared in the month of February 1818 for the Prince of Hesse- Homburg, who was expected to stay some time in England, and who married the Princess Elizabeth, the third daughter and seventh child of King George III. The actual date of the Prince's visit seems un- certain, though it probably took place between the preparations in February and the marriage in April. The papers of the day record that in August 1818 his Highness appeared at Court ' and received particular marks of their Majesties' attention. At this function her Majesty made the j'^oung Princess a present of a rich diamond and pearl necklace. After showing the jewels to the Princess, her Majesty asked if she might put them about her Highness's neck, which honour being politely accepted, after adjusting the collar her Majesty declared they became her much, and hoped she would wear them as a token of her remembrance and regard.' Besides this visit, two other Royal and distin- guished visitors were housed within the walls of St. James's Palace in the reign of William IV. — Prince Frederick of Prussia, and the King of Wlirtemberg, Avho had some years previously married the Princess Charlotte, eldest daughter of George III. A grand DISTINGUISHED FOKEIGN GUESTS 319 banquet was given at the Palace on their behalf during their stay in this country, which was of some duration. The foregoing are some of the chief personages who as visitors have been housed in various apart- ments in St. James's Palace since it became a Royal residence. 320 ST. JAMES'S PALACE CHAPTER XXI ECCENTRIC VISITORS AT THE PALACE During the centuries which have elapsed since the erection of the palace, it seems to have had its share of eccentric and crazy visitors who, uninvited, claimed a right to enter and enjoy its privileges. It may be interesting to give a few authentic instances of the freaks and vagaries of some of these pretenders. In the year 1612, when intermittent fever raged like a pest in London, a mad youth, divested of all clothing, described as ' a handsome student,' rushed into the palace. He had escaped from Lincoln's Inn, pretending to be the ghost of Prince Henry, recently deceased, and to have ' come from Heaven on a message to his parents.' Eventually he was cap- tured, and detained at the porter's lodge all night. The next day ' he was given some lashes by the Prince's servants to induce him to confess. The King had the poor youth released when he heai'd of the adventure, and desired that he might be taken care of, but he escaped, and was never more heard of.'i • Calendar of State Papers, Domestic Series, 1611-12, p. 156. ECCENTRIC VISITORS AT THE PALACE 321 In October 1717, a country woman, habited in a long riding-hood, appeared at the palace, and informed the porter that she had travelled more than 150 miles for the sole purpose of kissing the hand of the Prince of Wales. Her arrival and the object of her journey were communicated to various members of the Court, and soon reached the Prince's ear. His Royal High- ness at once gave orders that she should be brought into the ante-room, where he met her, and graciously granted her request. The Prince then presented her with five guineas, and ' ordered her to be carried down into the kitchen, and the cook to give her what she had a mind to.' ^ Sir N. Wraxall describes in his ' Memoirs of His Own Time,' how in one popular outbreak in 1769, a hearse, followed by an excited mob, was driven into the Court Yard of St. James's Palace, an Irish Nobleman, Lord Mountmorris, personating an executioner, holding an axe in his hands, while his face was covered with a veil of crape. The King's firmness, however, did not forsake him in the midst of this trying outburst of democratic rage. He remained calm and un- moved in the Drawing Eoom, while the streets surrounding the Palace echoed with the shouts of an enraged multitude, who seemed disposed to proceed to those extremities to which, eleven years later, they actually went in the Gordon riots. On August 23rd, in the following year, a middle- aged and neatly dressed woman found her way into the palace, and up the back-stairs to the Queen's 1 WeeUy Journal, October 26, 1717. VOL. I. Y 322 ST. JAMES'S PALACE private apartments. On reacliing the first floor she entered tlie room immediately opposite to her, which chanced to be that in which her Majesty was sitting with the Duchess of Ancaster. The strange visitor seemed in no way disconcerted at finding herself face to face with the (j|ueen and her lady companion. It appears, in fact, to have had rather the contrary effect, for ' she took survey of the room with great comjDosure.' As may readily he supposed, the Queen and duchess were much upset at finding themselves in this jjredicament. But the latter sum- moned sufficient couraa;e to rush to the bell and ring it violently. One of the pages immediate^ made his appearance, and with some difiiculty succeeded in removing the intruder from the Royal presence. On Saturday, January 20th, 1777, whilst a Drawino; Room was beino- held at St. James's Palace, a sharper by some means or other managed to purloin and escape with some beautiful diamonds attached to Sir George Warren's insignia of the Bath. Again, on January 2nd, 1778, as the King was stepping out of his Sedan chair, close to the Friary Court in St. James's, a middle-aged woman placed herself in front of his Majesty, who had some little difiiculty in evading her.-' Questioned as to her ^ Charles I. introduced the Sedan chair into England, and we are told that ' on his return in 1628 from his romantic love expedition into Spain ' he brought back three with him. The chair takes its name from the town of Sedan in France. ECCENTRIC VISITORS AT THE PALACE 323 wants, she answered the Kine; impertinently, saying tliat her name was Queen Beck. It afterwards tran- spired that her real name was Rebecca O'Hara ; that she was a native of Ireland ; that she had lived in England for the space of about five years, and was lodging at some public-house, the name of which she gave, close to Red Lion Square. On further investigation these statements proved to be untrue. The unfortunate creature was sent by Sir John Fielding to Bridewell, pending farther inquiries. Eventually she was found to be hopelessly insane, and ordered to be detained during his Majesty's pleasure. On September 8th, 1780, a madman named Thomas Stone, a solicitor by profession, a native of Shaftesbury, and about thirty-three years of age, wrote an eccentric letter to the Queen, in which he expressed unbounded love for the Princess Augusta Matilda.^ He ventured to express a hope that if ' their Majesties approved of the idea of his marrying her, he and the Princess Royal would be a very happy couple.' Some time after writing this letter, he made his appeai-ance at the palace and petitioned for a formal introduction, giving as his reason that he concluded his proposal of marriage had been accepted, as he had received no reply to his letter to her Majesty. When Stone was searched numberless papers and letters were found ' Her Royal Highness was the eldest daughter of George III., and became afterwards Queen of Wiirtemburg. 324 ST. JAMES'S PALACE upon him, all addressed to the Princess Royal, and one of them containing the following lines : — Thrice glad were I to be your wilKng slave, But not the Captive of the fool or knave ; With woe on woe you melt my sighing breast, Whilst you reject your humble would-be guest. T. S. Aug. 22. When questioned, Stone said his heart had been stolen from him three years before, and that until the previous March he had not known who was the robber ; but being at the play, he saw the Princess Royal look up at the two-shilling gallery! This poor fellow was pronounced insane, and ordered to be detained during his Majesty's pleasure. On Wednesday, August 2nd, 1786, as George III. was getting out of his carriage, at the garden gate of St. James's Palace, an insane woman, Margaret ^Nicholson by name, of Stockton-on-Tees, struck at his Majesty with a knife ; but the blow failed to effect the object of the assailant, owing to the weak- ness and attenuation of the instrument from repeated grinding. The woman was in the act of presenting a petition, and the Kmg was stooping to receive it, when he felt the thrust made at him, the knife passing between the coat and waistcoat. Nicholson was about to make a second thrust, when she was seized by one of the Yeomen of the Guard. The King, seeing what had happened, inquired what it all meant, when the woman dropped the knife from ECCENTRIC VISITORS AT THE PALACE 325 lier hand. His Majesty thereupon said, ' I am not hurt ; take care of the woman, do not hurt her.' When the King had somewhat recovered from the shock, he remarked that he did not think he deserved such conduct at the hands of any of his subjects. 3IAEGAKET NICHOLSON'S ATTEMPT ON THE LIFE OF THE KING AU(;UST 2, 178i; From an eiojravinn hij Rnherl Pollanl of a iiicliire jmhilnl hii Roherl Smirk,- ■ Nicholson was taken into custody and conveyed to the minor Guard Chamber, wliere she refused to give any account of herself, or of the motive of her act, saying that ' when brought before proper persons she would give her reasons.' She was then conducted to and detained for a considerable time in the Queen's 326 ,ST. JAMES'S PALACE ante-roon:, but she never uttered a single syllable. At tlie Board of Green Cloth she was examined as to her mental state by competent medical authorities, who pronounced her hopelessly insane. Ordered to be detained during his Majesty's pleasure, she was removed to Bethlehem Hospital, where she resided for upwards of forty years. Mrs. Papendiek, in her ' Journal,' expresses the universal feeling with which this attempt on the good Kinp-'s life was re2;arded at Court: — On August 2, 1786, we all had a terrible fright in the atteropt made upon the King's life by a mad woman named Margaret Nicholson. His Majesty had gone up to town to hold a Levee ; and just as he was stepping from his carriage at the garden gate of St. James's Palace, this woman went before him, presenting a petition, when suddenly, without any warning, she drew a knife from her bosom with her left hand, and made a plunge forward, aiming at the King's heart. He, however, was fortunately not in the least hurt, and the woman was seized by the attendants. The following graphic description of the same incident by Madame D'Arblay, in her ' Diary and Letters,' will be read with interest : — Wednesday, Aug. '2nd, 1786. I went into my own room for my cloak, and as usual found Madame La Fite waiting for me. She was all emotion — she seized my hand. ' Have you heard ? mon Dieu ! le bon Eoi ! Miss Burney ! What an horreur ! ' I was very much startled, but soon ceased to wonder at her perturbation. She had been in the room with the Princess Elizabeth, and there heard from Miss Goldsworthy that an attempt had just been made upon the life of the King ! I was almost petrified with horror at EOCENTIMC VISITORS AT THE PALACE 327 the intelligence. Miss Goldsworthy liai( ta,ken every possible precaution so to tell the matter to the Princess Elizabeth as least to alarm her, lest it might occasion a return of her spasms ; but fortunately she cried so exceedingly that it was hoped the vent of her tears would sa^e her from those terrible convulsions. MARGAKBT NICHOLSON From a ijrruriiiif hi the pvs^.L ff .1. K. Ha : hi amrlii,: Kxij., /•■-.S'.. The Queen had the t^YO eldest Princesses, the Duchess of Ancaster and Lady Charlotte Bertie, with her when the King came in. He hastened up to her with a countenance of striking vivacitj', and said, ' Here 1 am, safe and well, as you see ! But I have very narrowly escaped being stabbed.' 328 ST. JAMES'S PALACE His own conscious safety, and the pleasure he felt in thus personally showing it to the Queen, made him not aware of the effect of so abrupt a communication. The Queen was seized with a consternation that at first almost stupefied her ; and after a most painful silence the first words she could articulate were, in looking round at the Duchess and Lady Charlotte, who had both burst into tears, ' I envy you, I can't cry ! ' The two Princesses were for a little while in the same state, but the tears of the Duchess proved in- fectious, and they then wept even with violence. The King, with the greatest good humour, did his best to comfort them, and then gave a relation of the affair with a calmness and unconcern that, had anyone but himself been his hero, would have been regarded as totally unfeeling. You may have heard it wrong — I will concisely tell it right. His carriage had just stopped at the garden door at St. James', and he had just alighted from it, when a decently dressed woman who had been waiting for him for some time approached him with a petition. It was rolled up, and had the usual superscription 'For the King's Most Excellent Majesty.' She presented it with her right hand, and at the same moment that the King bent forward to take it, she drew from it with her left hand a knife, with which she aimed straight at his heart. The fortunate awkward- ness of taking the instrument with the left hand made her design perceived before it could be executed ! The King started back, scarce believing the testimony of his own eyes, and the woman made a second thrust, which just touched his waistcoat, before he had time to prevent her ; and at that moment one of the attendants, seeing her horrible intent, wrenched the knife from her hand. ' Has she cut my waistcoat ? ' cried he. ' Look ! for I have no time to examine ; though nothing ' (added the King) ' could have been sooner done, for there was nothing for her to go through but a thin lining and fat.' While the Guards and his own people now surrounded the King, the assassin was seized by the populace, who were tearing her away, when ECCEXTRIC VISITORS AT THE PALACE 329 the King, the only calm and moderate person then present, called aloud to the moh, ' The poor creature is mad ! Do not hurt her ; she has not hurt me ! ' He then came forward and showed himself to all the people, declaring he was perfectly safe and unhurt ; and then gave positive orders that the woman should he taken care of, and went into the palace and had his levee. Mrs. Delany wrote in similar strains respecting tHs tragic affair, vrhich called forth the enthusiastic loyalty of the country to a very remarkable degree. Another ' eccentric ' appeared at St. James's on May 31st, 1788. The Princess Elizabeth vrhen sitting alone one afternoon in her apartment in the palace, was considerably surprised, not to say alarmed, to receive a visit from a shabbily dressed man named Spang, a hairdresser, of Danish parentage. Finding herself face to face with this stranger, the Princess sprang to her feet and rushed out of the room to call an attendant. The page in waiting ran into the room and seized the intruder. Spang was taken to the porter's lodge, and there interrogated as to how he had effected an entrance. He refused, however, to give any answer. He appeared to be quite harmless though insane, and was allowed to leave the palace unmolested. He, however, soon returned and insisted upon an introduction to the Princess, ' that he might pay his adoration at her feet.' On this second attempt to enter the palace, it was thought advisable to hand over the perruquier to the police. Two years later — January 21st, 1790 — as George III. was going in State through the park, from St. ddU ST. JAMES'S PALACE James's Palace to the House of Loi'ds, a stone was thrown at the carriage by a tall, thin man named John Frith, lieutenant 2nd battalion Royals, who was immediately arrested on a charge of high treason. He was dressed in a scarlet coat, black breeches, and a cocked hat with a bright yellow cockade. He proved, afterwards, to be the identical man who, a week or two previously, had published a libel, and ' stuck it on the " whalebone," in the courtyard of St. James's.' On February 3rd, 1790, Edward Derrick, a quaker, about twenty-four years of age, and said to be ' very mean in his appearance,' went to the palace in the evening, and told the marshalman that he wished to be presented to the King, It was answered that, as he was a stranger, such a thing was impossible ; upon which he stated that he had important letters that he must deliver to the Queen. The persistent refusal of the marshalman to admit the mtruder seemed to irritate him to such an extent that he became insolent, and was consequently taken into custody. When he had somewhat quieted down, he told those in charge of him that he was a native of Caldecot, in Cheshire, and that he had slept the previous Tuesday in the neighbourhood of Romford, in Essex. He was com- mitted to Tothill Fields Prison. Only a month later, on March 3rd, 1790, another insane person, Thomas Cannon, a native of the Isle of Man, thrust himself into the courtyard of the palace, where he seized the colours belonging to the ECCENTEIC VISITORS AT THE PALACE 331 1st Regiment, on guard there. The soldiers did not observe him, and the consequence was that he managed to escape as far as the ' whalebone,' where he was eventually captured. He had, however, succeeded in throwing down the Standard. Cannon was taken in a hackney coach to Bow Street, where he was exammed by Sir Sampson Wright. When questioned as to how he came to throw down thft colours, the prisoner replied that he had been to Kensington Palace the previous day, in the hope of seeing the King pass on his way to Windsor ; and that on his return ' he had completed his point, which he had had sometime in view,' viz. throwing down the Royal Standard of England. As he declined to give his reasons for this turbulent proceeding till he had been presented to the King, the Prince of Wales, and Mr. Pitt, he was sent to Covent Garden Watch House. Here is a brief story, not of obtrusion into the palace precincts, but of a tragedy enacted in its im- mediate neighbourhood. On August 17th, 1791, as his Majesty was riding in the forenoon through the Green Park to St. James's Palace, a man of gentle- manlike appearance, dressed in black, came up sud- denly to the King's carriage, pulled out a paper from his pocket addressed to the King, and stuck it on the park rails. Having done this, he as quickly threw his hat to the ground, and drawing out a pistol shot himself dead on the spot. There was little doubt of this poor creature's insanity. The following year, on Januiiry 18th, 1792, a 662 ST, JAMES'S PALACE curious robbery was attempted by a person (after- wards supposed to be insane) at a ball, given in St. James's Palace in honour of the Queen's birthday. The fact that such an attempt could be made at all illustrates the mixed character of the persons who were formerly admitted to State ceremonials. The Prince of Wales was busily engaged in conversa- tion with the King, when he felt a vigorous pull at his sword. On looking at once to see what had happened, he was warned by one of his household to be on his guard, as the character of some of those about him was not beyond suspicion. The Prince then noticed that the guard of his sword, which was composed of diamonds, and valued at 3,000^., was broken off and only hung by a small f)iece of wire. A particular individual was suspected ; but further steps could not be taken in the matter, as no one had actually witnessed the daring and impudent attempt. In the present century, on February 5th, 1815, a young man of gentlemanly bearing, and apparently a foreigner, entered the courtyard of the palace and walked straight up to the regimental colours, which were fixed to the standard in the centre of the quadrangle. He was so quick in his movements that he was able to strike the colours before the sentry could reach him. It seems that the intruder's desire was to place a letter which he held in his hand upon the top of the standard. He was evidently quite a stranger to the palace and its surroundings, for he ECCENTRIC VISITORS AT THE PALACE 333 tried to escape by the Engine Court, which at that time was no thoroughfare. There seems to be no record of any robbery or theft having taken place, or of pickpockets or thieves having attempted to enter the palace at a levee since the days of the celebrated pickpocket Barrington, in the time of George III., who was arrested in the act of picking the pocket of a nobleman at a levee held by the Prince Regent in St. James's Palace. His aristocratic appearance enabled him to assume a variety of disguises and to carry out his depredations in society with unprecedented success. An old song is extant in which he describes his different imper- sonations. One verse ran as follows : — Sometimes I mount a gay cockade,' Then to the Green Park or parade ; And as I pass each sentry box, Each sentry on his musket knocks Eattleum clap to me ! The following stories, of which the palace was the scene, may certainly be classed under the heading of ' eccentricities.' About thirty years ago a man came to St. James's and broke a window at the Lord Chamberlain's Office. He did not attempt to escape, and was taken before a magistrate by the police, when he said he had some o-rievance against the Government, and could get no redress. He was sent to prison for a week, and on the very day of his release returned to the palace and ^ Wearing a cockade in those days was a sign of being an officer. 334 ST. JAMES'8 PALACE repeated his offence. The result was that he was once more consigned to the lock-up. When the day of the delinquent's second release arrived, one of the messengers attached to the office was posted with a can of water to watch for him. When, as was ex- pected, he had reached the palace, and was preparing to smash a pane of glass for the third time, the messenger threw the contents of the can in his face. The man forgot his ' grievance,' gave a shout of terror, dashed into the park, and was never seen afterwards. In the year 1866, a gentleman by birth and education wrote a succession of letters declaring his love for one of the Royal Princesses, and asking her hand in marriao-e. He also forwarded his miniature, which had been painted by a first-rate artist. One day he wrote to say that as Clarence House was not then occupied he thought it would be a suitable residence for the Princess and himself, and that he would at once furnish it ; and he actualh- arrived at his contemplated abode with ten or twelve vans of , furniture. After this the poor fellow was certified to be insane, and put under restraint. CHAPTER XXII THE PALACE GHOST Most ancient historic buildings are said to be hannted by some 'ghost' or apparition; and, judging from the following authentic story, St. James's Palace would appear to be no exception. In a small book entitled ' Accredited Ghost Stories,' published in the year 1823, under the editorship of Mr. T. M. Jarvis, a description is given of the ap- pearance after death of a certain lady who bore the title of Duchess of Mazarine, and had been one of the many mistresses of Charles II. She appeared to a Madame de Beauclair, who had been similarly attached to King James II. Mr. Jarvis affirms the story to be true, and adds that when it was first circulated there were those living who could vouch for its au- thenticity. The two ladies referred to were, it would seem, originally located at Whitehall Palace, but owing to a conflagration in that building they were removed to St. James's, where, in the quarters known as the stable yard, they lived in the very lap of luxury. This state of things, however, did not last long ; for they were gradually pushed on one side to make 336 ST. JAMES'S PALACE room for the sway and enjoyment of others who supplanted them. The consequence was that the Duchess of Mazarine and Madame de Beauclair were much drawn to each other, and indulged in con- A'ersations of a nature very different from what their antecedents would have suggested. Their discussions turned, among other subjects, upon the immortality of the soul and the possibilities of ghosts or appari- tions. This resulted in a mutual compact that, if it were practicable, the one who died first should return to earth and tell the other all that had been revealed to her of the future life. Not Ions: afterwards the Duchess of Mazarine became so ill that her life was despaired of by those who were about her. Madame de Beauclair hearing of this ventured to remind the Duchess of their mutual compact ; to which the latter replied that, if she predeceased her friend, she would not fail to fulfil her engagement. The duchess did not long survive this utterance ; indeed, it was made only about an hour before her death. There were many in the room at the time who overheard what was said, but were unable correctly to interpret the duchess's words. Some years elapsed, and Madame de Beauclair happened one day to be talking with a friend respect- ing the future state, when she suddenly turned round and said with great fervour that she could not bring herself to believe in such a possibility. When questioned as to what had forced her to this THE PALACE GHOST 337 conclusion. Madame de Beauclair related the circum- stances of the compact she had made with the late Duchess of Mazarine. Every argument was used to alter her views, but the lady held to her position, maintaining that she deemed ' the non-appearance of her friend's apparition was a proof of the non-exist- ence of a future state.' It was not many months afterwards (says the narrator of this story) that I happened to be at the house of a person of condition, who, since the death of the Duchess, had the greatest intimacy with any of her acquaintance. We were just sitting down to cards, about 9 o'clock in the evening, as near as I can remember, when a servant came mto the room with all speed, and told the lady with whom I was engaged in conversation that Madame De Beauclair had sent to entreat her to come at once, and not on any account to delay if she wished to see her again alive. The lady was considerably surprised to receive this mes- sage, and at once made inquiries of the bearer of the note, who turned out to be no less than Madame de Beauclair's groom of the Chambers, as to his mistress's state of health ; and upon his assuring her that he had not heard of any- thing amiss, she manifested her vexation and replied, 'I desire you'll make my excuse, as I have really a great cold, and am fearful the night-air may increase it ; but to- morrow I will not fail to call upon her very early in the morning.' The messenger left, but before very long came back, not alone this time, but accompanied by a Mrs. Ward (Madame de Beauclair's maid), and both, on arrival, seemed breathless and agitated. ' Oh, Madam,' cried Mrs. Ward, ' my lady expresses an infinite concern that you refuse this request, which, she says, will be her last. She says that she is convinced of not being in a condition to VOL. [. z 66ii ST. JAMES'S PALACE -receive your visit to-morrow, but as a token of friendship she sends you a casket containing her watch, chain, neck- lace, and other trinkets.' The lady, upon hearing this message, was naturally anxious to elicit further information from Mrs. Ward, who seemed equally desirous of avoiding conversation, assuring her that she had left only an under-maid with her mistress, and that consequently she must return as soon as possible. Upon this, the lady said that she would at once accompany Mrs. Ward, for she felt sure within herself that something must be wrong. As soon as Madame de Beauclair was told that her friend was in the house, she begged that she might be asked to come upstairs at once with the gentleman who accompanied her. Upon entering the room, the lady found Madame sitting in an armchair close to the bedside, and, to all appearances, in the most robust health. Inquiries were at once made by the friend whether Madame de Beauclair could in any way account for the strange feelings and presenti- ments which possessed her ; upon which the latter replied in the negative, yet adding with considerable emotion, ' You will soon behold me pass from this world into that eternity which I once doubted but am now assured of Madame's friends did what they could to cheer her, and tried to impress upon her the importance of not giving ^vay to such gloomy thoughts, when suddenly she said, ' Talk no more of that ; my time is short, and I would not have the small space allowed me to be with you wasted in vain THE PALACE GHOST 339 delusion. Know (she continued) I have seen my dear Dachess of Mazarine. I perceived not how she entered ; but, turning my eyes towards yonder corner of the room, I saw her stand in the same form and habit she was accustomed to appear in when living. Fain would I have spoken to her, but I had not the power of utterance. She took a little circuit round the chamber, seeming rather to swim than walk, then stopped by the side of that Indian chest,' pointing with her hand to a piece of furniture in one corner of the room. ' Looking at me she said, " Remember, between the hours of 12 and 1 this night you will be with me." The surprise I was in at first being a little abated, 1 began to ask some questions concern- ing that future world I was so soon to visit ; but on the opening of my lips for that purpose, the duchess vanished from my sight — I know not how ! ' Time passed on, and the clock was now close upon the stroke of twelve, and yet Madame de Beauclair's companions did not perceive the slightest symptoms to alarm them, and so they again tried to allay her apprehensions as best they could ; but they had scarcely spoken when suddenly they noticed that her countenance had changed, and they heard her cry, ' Oh, I am sick at heart.' Mrs. Ward and those in the room did what they could to restore animation, but all to no purpose. In about half an hour the action of the heart ceased, and Madame de Beauclair passed into that world whither her friend had preceded her, and at the precise time foretold by the apparition. z 2 340 ST. JAMES'S PALACE CHAPTER XXIII THE HEKEDITARY PRIVILEGE OF LORD KINGSALE A LoRiJ KiNGSALE enjoy s what has been called an 'hereditary right' to remain covered when in the presence of his Sovereign. It would seem that this privilege dates as far back as the reign of Xing John, and is generally, if not always, asserted by the pos- sessor of the title for the time being. It must be confessed, however, if the record be true, that the ex- ercise of the privilege has not always been made with becoming grace and courtesy. The position of the subject so placed is anything but enviable, but, if he feels bound to maintain his privilege, it may be done so gracefully as to divest it of all sense of self-asser- tion in the eyes of the Sovereign. The privilege is said to have had its origin in the following way. Sir John de Courcy, afterwards Earl of Ulster, was so conspicuous for his undaunted cour- age in the Irish wars of 1181, that he grew into high favour with his Sovereign, King Henry II. This aroused the jealousy of a certain Hugh de Lacie, Governor of Ireland, who, when King John ascended the throne, plotted the destruction of Sir John de HEEEDITAEY PRIVILEGE OF LORD KINGSALE 341 Courcy. The consequence was that Sir John was seized in the church j-ard of Downpatrick, whither he had gone to do penance ; his lands and estates were confiscated, and he himself was sent over to England, where he was finally sentenced by King John to im- prisonment for life in the Tower. About a year after his incarceration, a dispute arose respecting the Duchy of Normandy between King John of England and the French King. The earl, being a renowned swordsman, was called upon at his own request to represent the English King. ' The decision was referred to single combat.' The day for the duel was fixed, all preparations were made, and the combatants met face to face. But just as the encounter was about to commence. Lord Ulster's opponent, who had heard of his adversary's bravery, became suddenly panic-stricken, and withdrew at, once from the contest. Thus the matter in dispute was decided, but the French King, having also heard of the valour and strength of the Irish noble, expressed a wish to see some display of his skill, and King John commanded his lordship to put his power in evidence. Thereupon Lord Ulster ' cleft a massive helmet in twain at a single blow,' a feat which the English Sovereign rewarded by reinstating the earl in all his former honours, adding that he would do for him, or give to him, whatever he might desire. Lord Ulster replied that he neither courted estates nor required titles, but that he did desire one thing for himself and his successors, the Lords Kingsale, in reigns 342 ST. JAMES'S PALACE and generations to come, viz. the privilege of appear- ing covered in the presence of the Sovereign.^ It appears that this claim is from time to time asserted by the Lords Kingsale. For instance, Almericus, who was the twenty-third Baron of King- sale, presented himself covered in the presence of King William III. When his Majesty expressed his surprise at this act, Lord Kingsale is said to have replied : ' Sire, my name is Courcy. I am Lord of Kingsale in your Majesty's Kingdom of Ireland ; and the reason of my appearing covered in your Majesty's presence is to maintain the ancient privi- lege of my family, granted to Sir John de Courcy, Earl of Ulster, and his heirs, by John, King of England.' His Majesty thereupon immediately ac- knowledged the claim, and moreover gave his hand to Lord Kingsale to kiss. Lord Kingsale, we are told, made his bow and continued with his head covered. On another occasion, a Lord Kingsale, in the time of George III., was exercising his ancient privilege, when the King, who knew of its existence and previous assertion, called out in an angry tone : ' Lord Kingsale, I do not dispute your right of standing covered in my presence ; but, my lord (pointing with his hand), there is the Queen! ' This was a dignified and justifiable reproval of an un- necessary and ungracious act, the reply to which on his lordship's part is not recorded. ' See, however, the article on The Peerage, in the Quarterly Beview for October 1893, where the whole story is critically examined. HEREDITARY PRIVILEGE OF LORD KING SALE 343 Once again, in the present reign, at a Levee held in St. James's Palace on June 25th, in the year 1859, the thirtieth Lord Kingsale essayed to pass before the Queen with covered head, and so assert his hereditary right. The moment that Lord Kingsale entered the Throne Room, attention was called to his presence by an exclamation from the Queen. Lord Sydney, who on that day was acting for the first time as Lord Chamberlain, was im- mediately informed that the gentleman was Lord Kingsale, and he at once told the Queen. Colonel Master, the Gentleman Usher in Waiting, had failed to notice the cause of the disturbance till his lord- ship reached her Majesty's immediate presence. The oflfending hat would at once have been seized by the colonel, if the Hon. Spencer Ponsonby, now the Hon. Sir S. Ponsonby Fane, K.C.B., who was standing by him, had not averted what might have led to ' a scene ' in her Majesty's presence. Lord Kingsale, standmg in front of the Queen, uncovered, made a low bosv, replaced his hat, and passed on. His lord- ship wore on this occasion an old-fashioned deputy- lieutenant's hat, cocked and feathered. A few days after this occurrence the Lord Cham- berlain wrote to Lord Kingsale, calling his attention to what had taken place at that Levee, and informing him that his appearance with covered head in the Queen's presence had occasioned some surprise to her Majesty. The Lord Chamberlain was commanded to state 344 ST. JAMES'S PALACE to his lordship that the Queen did not dispute the privilege wliich Lord Kingsale claimed, and which his predecessors appeared to have exercised on former occasions, and that her Majesty had no objection to the assertion of that privilege under certain condi- tions. But it was desirable, whenever Lord Kingsale considered it important, in the maintenance of his right, to adopt so unusual a course, that some previous notice should be sent to the Lord Chamber- lain, in order that he might submit it to her Majesty, and thus prevent any disagreeable misunderstanding which might possibly arise on the part of the officers of the Court on duty. In justice to Lord Kingsale, it should be added that, as soon as the possible consequences of his action were pointed out to him, he expressed much regret at having unintentionally given offence in his mode of exercising a privilege conferred upon his ancestor by her Majesty's predecessor (a privilege which had been usually exercised and permitted once in every reign), and he promised that notice should be given on any future occasion. 345 CHAPTER XXIV UNRULY MOBS AND INDIVIDUALS AT ST. JAMES's Unruly mobs and excited individuals have from time to time disturbed the restful quiet which usually prevails both within and without St. James's Palace. Bacon mentions an extraordinary scheme for kill- ing Queen Mary in St. James's Park. ' I heard it affirmed,' he says, ' by a man that was a great dealer in secrets, but he was but vaine, that there was a con- spiracy (which himself hindered) to have killed Queen Mary, sister to Queen Elizabeth, by a Burning Glasse, when she walked in St. James's Park, from the leads of the House.' ■' As far back as the year 1618, in the time of King James I., an account, or, as it was then called, a ' relation,' is given of an affront committed by the Deputy- Sheriff and Bailiffs of Middlesex, and two or three hundred apprentices, who rushed into the Prince's house at St. James's Palace, in search of a certain individual, named Thomas Geare, who was a debtor, and who had fled there for refuge." These ' Bacon, Natural History, p. 121. ^ No one when once within the confines of a Eoyal Palace can be legally taken into custody. 346 ST. JAMES'S PALACE intruders demanded the surrender of Geare from the Comptroller of the Palace, Sir John Yaughan, and because their wish was not granted, they proceeded forthwith to attack Sir John as he was going out in his coach, and threatened further violence. It was afterwards reported that they had maltreated two of the Prince's servants.'^ We should infer from the following, which is addressed b}' the Council to the Justices of the Peace of Westminster, that in the year 1640, in the reign of Charles I., St. James's Palace was in great risk of being attacked and pillaged : — The traitorouf? insolence lately practised by some base disorderly people in Southwark, Lambeth &c., gives us occasion to apprehend that they may attempt some mis- chief at St. James's. We therefore require you to give present order that there may be a watch of fifty able men, well provided, sent thither this evening, there to continue all night, and the like number for every night, until you shall receive further directions from the Board. ^ Among the papers in the possession of the Historical MSS. Commission, the original of which is in this instance in the possession of the Duke of Sutherland, appears the following account of an untoward incident which took jjlace in the middle of the seventeenth century in St. James's Park, and close to the palace itself. It is dated January 26th, ^ state Papers, Domestic Series, vol. civ. No. 37. December 24, 1618. "" Ibid., vol. ooecliii. cap. 1, No. 82. May 16, 1640. UNRULY MOBS AND INDIVIDUALS 347 1655, and is addressed by a certain W. Dugdale to J. Langley : — On Monday last, there was an unhappy account at St. James's. Three gentlemen, who had been prisoners about four months, the one, his name is Holder (as I heare), son to him that escaped when Sir Louis Dives got away ; the other, Tirrell, and the third, Jackson, or Johnson, attempt- ing to make their escape, and being pursued into the Park by a soldier, shot the soldier with a Pistoll, and broke his arme, and, being since taken about Spring Gardens, are laid in irons. There is a paragraph in ' Mercurius Politicus ' for the year 1656, No. 294, which the writer was enabled to see at the British Museum, headed ' St. James's, January 27, 1655,' which gives an account of another attack made upon a soldier by three gentlemen in the following year. One James Taylor, a private soldier, died of a wound that had been given him some days before by three Prisoners — gentlemen — who fell upon him violently, in hope to have made an escape, they standing committed to St. James's House for treasonable practices against his Highness. In the year 1769, on March 23rd, disturbances took place in London, at the hands of a lawless mob, and extended to St. James's Palace. Yesterday the most daring and lawless mob I ever beheld were let loose upon the body of merchants going to address His Majesty (George III.) in consequence of hand- bills, dispersed over night, and thrown into the area of people's houses so late as twelve at night, desiring all true 348 ST. JAMES'S PALACE and loyal subjects to meet in St. George's Fields, and in other places therein mentioned, in order to form a pro- cession towards the City, to take particular attention not to interfere with the merchants going to St. James's. This had the desired effect, and dispersed the merchants long before they could get to the Temple, the gates of which the mob had the impudence to shut. . . . Very few of their carriages were able to reach St. James's, and His Majesty was obliged to wait till they could send after the address to Mr. Boehm, who had been forced to take refuge in Nando's Coffee house, and had concealed the address under his coach seat, which kept his Majesty waiting until half-past five, before it could be delivered, when there were but a handful of merchants present. All this time the mob were behaving in the most insolent manner at the Palace gates, and the party of Horse on duty at the Horse Guards, under the command of Captain Egerton, were ordered to St. James's, where the Eiot Act was read a second time.' Another mob made its appearance in Pall Mall, opposite the palace, in the year 1795, when, says Dr. Walcott, ' it broke into fragments the State carriage of King George (III.), amid shouts of " No war ! " " Give us bread ! " ' Parliament had been summoned to meet on October 29th, 1795, and it was on this occasion that these insults were offered to his Majesty, when on his way to and from the House of Lords to open the Session. It appears that as his Majesty's carriage passed along St. James's Park, cries of ' Peace ! ' ' Give us bread ! ' ' No Pitt ! ' ' No famine ! ' ' No war ! ' were loudly called out. There were those ^ Hist. MSS. Commission. C. Brietzoke to E. Weston. (Original in possession of Mr. C. F. W. Underwood.) UNRULY MOBS AND INDIVIDUALS 349 present who declared that they even heard cries of ' Down with George ! ' or words to that effect. As the King returned from Westminster, these cries of the populace were repeated with redoubled energy. But the worst was yet to follow, for, after his Majesty had alighted at St. James's, the mob attacked and almost entirely destroyed the State carriage, while on its way to the mews. On this same day (the 29th), in the evening, four witnesses were severally examined at the bar of the House of Lords, and on the following day a copy of the evidence of these men was laid upon the table of the House of Commcfns. Among these witnesses was a constable named John Welford, who swore that in Parliament Street he had seen one man, more active than the rest of the crowd, running by the side of his Majesty's carriage and exclaiming, in an excited way, ' No war ! ' ' Down with George ! ' As the carriage entered the Palace Yard of St. James's ' he further observed something come with great velocity from the foot pavement, as he thought, on which he exclaimed to Mr. Stockdale, his brother constable, "Good God! the glass is broken!" As this man repeated the exclamation of ' ' Down with George ! " Welford immediately seized him, and under the protection of the Horse Guards, conducted him to the courtyard of St. James's, where he left him.' We learn that on October 12th, 1831, 'a mob was suffered to march upon St. James's Palace, under the pretence of presenting addresses.' 350 ST. JAMES'S PALACE When the Chartiyt disturbance took place in the year 1848, the Colour Court of the Palace was filled with soldiers, the gates under the clock tower were ordered to be closed, and a platform was built at the back of the gates, over which the soldiers could, if necessary, fire up St. James's Street. Except on this occasion these gates had never been closed at night. 551 CHAPTER XXV ART TREASURES OF CHARLES I ' The glory' of first forming a gallery of paintings on a large scale,' says Dr. Waagen/ ' belongs to King Charles I. He succeeded in forming a collection of paintings, which was not only the richest of that age, in masterpieces of the time of Raphael, but is perhaps scarcely to be equalled in our days.' Charles I. seems to have commenced making and forming this collection, either by purchase or by presents made to him, almost before he ascended the throne, for, as Vanderdoort expresses it, he ' loved and understood and patronized the arts.' It is not to be supposed, however, that there were no pictures before his time, as it were ' in hand,' for the Crown already possessed some fine specimens of the Italian and Flemish schools, which had been purchased by Henry VIII., and some of which were placed at St. James's Palace. Besides these pictures there was a separate col- lection of paintings and statues which Prince Henry, the eldest son of James I., had managed to collect together at St. James's. The number, however, was • ' Treasv/res of Art in Great Britain, Waagen. 352 ST. JAMES'S PALACE comparatively small, since, including miniatures, it only amounted to about 150. These King Charles acquired in the year 1612. This nucleus, no doubt, fired King Charles's mind with a desire to increase the collection, and, in order to secure his ends, he authorised agents to travel into France, Spain, and Italy for the purpose of making suitable purchases. Cardinal Barberini, so history tells us, had recom- mended Pranzini to Charles, who at once set to work to employ him to purchase in Italy the finest pos- sible pictures, statues, and other works of art. In doing this, and thus gratifying the King's wishes and tastes, it is not to be supposed that the cardinal worked with a single eye. He had his own ends in view, for he was anxious, if possible, as the following passage indicates, to induce the King to join the Roman Catholic Church. Charles, however, remained firm, in spite of all the pressure which, we may be quite sure, had been put on him by the Queen, to whom he was simply devoted. ' The statues go on excellently,' said the Cardinal Barberini to Mazarin, ' nor shall I hesitate to rob Rome of her most valuable ornaments, if in exchange we might be so happy as to have the King of- England among the Princes who submit to the Apostolic See.' The King spared neither favours nor money to enrich his collection, and invited various foreiffn artists to this country, some of whom came, whilst ART TREASUEES OF CPIARLES I 353 Others preferred to stay away. Of the number of the former was the afterwards renowned Yandyck, who, among his pictures, ' drew in one piece the full face and the three-quarter face, and the profile of the King, from which Bernini made a bust, that was consumed or stolen in the fire of Whitehall/ Charles, thanks to Rubens, was enabled also to buy the cartoons of Raphael, and these were looked upon as the best purchase which he ever made. These cartoons had been sent by Leo X. to Flanders to be copied in tapestry, but as the money on their completion was not forthcoming they came into the market, and Rubens, informing the King of this fact, received orders at once to purchase them for his Majesty. When appraised, they were only valued at 300/., and, strange to relate, were at the sale actually ' knocked down ' without a purchaser. In the Introduction to the ' Issue Roll of Thomas de Brantingham ' appear the following curious pajnnents, which were at this time made by the King : — Charles I. to Daniel Mittens, £100 for three pictures by iiim made : a picture of King James IV. of Scotland, another of Mary, the late Queen of Scotland, our grand- mother, and one other of our own Koyal person. Charles I. To Sir Anthony Vandyck, for divers pictures, viz. our own Eoyal portraiture, another of Monsieur the French King's brother, and another of the Archduchess at length, at £25 a piece ; one of our Eoyal Consort, another of the Prince of Orange, another of the Princess of Orange, and another of their son, at half length, at £20 a piece. One great piece of our Eoyal self, Consort and children, VOL. I. A A 354 ST. JAMES'S PALACE £100. One of the Emperor Vitellius, £20, and for mend- ing the picture of the Emperor Galbus, £20. Charles I. to Sir Anthony Vandyck, £444 for nine Pic- tures of our Eoyal self, and most dearest Consort the Queen ; £40 for the Picture of our dearest Consort the Queen, by him made and by our command delivered into our right and trusty and well-beloved cousin the Lord Viscount Wentworth, our Deputy of Ireland. Charles I. To Sir Peter Eubens, Knight, £3000 for certain pictures from him sold unto us. In the catalogue of the King's collection, which was made after his Majesty's death, the names are given of those who had made presents to the King of pictures and curios, for foreign potentates as well as the King's own subjects vied with one another in the magnificence of their gifts. When, for instance, the King was Prince of Wales, he paid, as will be re- membered, a visit to Madrid, and during that visit the King of Spain (Philip IV.) presented to him that celebrated Titian, the Venus del Pardo, which now adorns the walls of the Louvre, as well as a statue group of ' Cain and Abel ' by John of Bologna. Another painting, which also is now to be seen at the Louvre, was that given by the King of France (Louis XIII. ), namely, Leonardo da Vinci's ' St. John Baptist.' Such pictures as these helped considerably to increase the value of the col- lection which Charles was at that time doing his utmost to get together. The finest additions, however, to this grand col- lection were made by the King himself. Amongst ART TREASURES OF CHARLES I 355 his other purchases, he bought, in 1629, through the agency of the Duke of Buckingham, Lord Arundel and others, the entire cabinet of the Duke of Mantua, whicli Avas then reckoned the most valuable in Europe. The precise year, however, in which these pictures were brought over to England does not appear, though in all probability they reached this country between the years 1629 and 1632. Nor is the exact sum which was paid for the collection known with any greater certainty, since the estimates vary between 20,000Z. and 80,000/. ' This date of 1629 appears to be determined beyond question,' says Dr. Waagen, ' by a picture of Domenico Feti, in the Belvedere Gallery at Vienna, on the back of which, besides the usual " C. E,." and crown, which distinguished the pictures of the collection of Charles I., there is a ticket with the words "from Mantua 1629, No. 159." ' Several of the pictures belonging to this Mantua Collection were spoiled by the quicksilver on the frames, so Vanderdoort asserts, though he gives no full list of the pictures which suflfered.^ With the execution of Charles I. came also the sale and dispersion of his valuables. On March 23rd, 1649, the Commons, ' in order to establish their new Commonwealth the more effectu- ally,' resolved upon the disposal of the personal ^ Vide also ' Anecdotes of Painting ' (Walpole's WorJcs), vol. iii. p. 183. A A 2 356 ST. JAMES'S PALACE estates not only of the late King, but also of the Queen and Prince. They therefore made an order to have them inventoried, appraised, and sold, ' except such parcels of them as should be thought fit to be re- served for the use of the State, but with this j^roviso, to avoid the imputation of private interest, that no Member of the House should have any concern therein.' In this sale were included all the grand collection not only of pictures, but also of antique statues and bustos, procured from Rome and other parts of Italy. ' The inventory took a year in drawing up, and the Collection three years in selling.' The catalogue of this collection is preserved among the Harleian MSS. and is entitled 'An Inventory of the Goods, Jewels, Plate, &c., belonging to King Charles I. sold by order of the Council of State from the year 1649 to 1652.' The sale of such priceless works of art as those which Charles I. had, with infinite trouble, and at endless expense, succeeded in collecting together, and which the Commonwealth thus allowed to be sold for absurdly inadequate prices, and sent out of the country, Avas a clumsy act of Vandalism which every Englishman now deplores and condemns. The whole collection of pictures, many of which had adorned the walls of St. James's Palace, was of immense value. It included works by Raphael, Titian, Correggio, Holbein, Tintoretto, Guido, Leonardo da Yinci, and other renowned artists. But it only fetched, when brought to the hammer, 12,049/. 4s. AKT TEEASUEES OF CHAELES I 357 In this collection of Kinof Charles were the following' & £ 1. St. George (Raphael) apjDraised at and sold for 150 2. The Burial of Christ (Isaac Oliver) . . 100 3. The Marquis of Mantua's head (Eaphael) . 200 4. Albert Durer's Father and himself (Eaphael) 100 5. Frobernius and Erasmus, 2 Pictures (Hol- bein) 200 6. Christ, Mary, and others (Old Palma) ap- praised at J200, sold for . . .225 7. Three figures (Titian) . . . .100 8. A man in black (Holbein) .... 100 9. M. Parnassus in a case (Indeluago) appraised at JlOO, sold for 117 10. Lucretia, standing by herself, in ebony frame (Titian) 200 11. St. John (L. da Vinci) . . . .140 12. A Piece (Titian) appraised at £150, sold for 174 13. Charles Y. fuh length (Titian) . . .150 14. St. Jerome (by Eomano) .... 200 15. Twelve Emperors (Titian) .... 1,200 16. Eleven Emperors (G. Romano) . . . 1,100 17. A courtesan, holding a looking-glass (Por- tinensis) 150 18. Titian's Picture with a Senator (Titian) ^ilOO sold for 112 19. A satyr head (Correggio) .... 1,000 20. Another of the same (Correggio) . . 1,000 21. Three pieces of San Sebastian (Lucas von Leyden) appraised at JlOO, sold for . 101 22. Conversion of St. Paul (Palma) . . .100 23. David meeting Saul with Goliath's head (Palma) 100 24. Dorcas lying dead (Michael Angelo Cara- vagio), appraised at £150, sold for . . 170 358 ST. JAMES'S PALACE 25. Family of the Queen of Bohemia 26. History 'of Queen Esther (Tintoretto) 27. A family with divers figures 28. King on horseback ' . 29. Hercules (Guido Bolognese) £ 100 120 100 150 400 In looking down the foregoing list it will be noticed that among the principal pictures sold by the Parliament were the ' Twelve Emperors,' by Titian, which realised 1,200/., the ' Eleven Emperors ' by Giulio Romano, which fetched 1,100/., and another picture by Correggio which only fetched 1,000/. A picture, ' King Charles on horseback,' went for 150/. ' The following have been mentioned,' says Mr. Jesse, ' as remarkable for the insignificant sums at which they were purchased. " Peace and Plenty " (Rubens) fetched 100/. "Venus attired by the Graces " (Guido), 200/. " Christ, the Virgin, and many angels dancing " (Vandyck) was only valued at 40/. Wal- pole informs us that his father afterwards gave 700/. for this picture, and that it had been previously twice sold for upwards of 1,000/.' Mr. Jesse further states that Titian's pictures were generally appraised at 100/., but ' the valuation,' he adds, ' of the following list is really ludicrous. King Edward III., with a great curtain £ s. before it . . . . . . .40 Portrait of Buchanan 3 10 Queen Elizabeth in her Eobes . . .10 ' This is one of the pictures specially mentioned by the Sieur de la Serre as having been seen by him on the walls of St. James's Palace. ART TREASUEES OF CHARLES I 359 £ s. The Queen's Mother in mourning . .30 The King, when a boy . . . . .20 Picture of the Queen, when with child . . 5/- It will be well here to give Lord Clarendon's list with account of the principal purchasers of the works of art offered for sale by the Commonwealth.-^ They were as follows : — 1. Cardmal Mazarin purchased for the French King the beds, the hangings, and the carpets. 2. The King of Spain through Don Alonzo de Gardenas, his ambassador to England, purchased many pictures, which were sent in ships to Corunna, and carried thence to Madrid on eighteen mules 3. Queen Christina of Sweden was the purchaser of the best medals and jewels, as well as of some of the choicest pictures. 4. The Archduke Leopold (Governor of Flan- ders) bought many of the best pictures which adorned the several palaces of the King. They were brought to him to Brussels, and afterwards carried by him into Germany. The Archduke pm-chased among other things a set of tapestry, bearing the Royal arms, which had be- longed to Charles I. when Prince of Wales. This set was, years afterwards, repurchased by Frederick, Prince of Wales. ' Two private andwealthy connoisseurs, Eberhard, Jabach, and a Dutch Gentleman, Gerard Van Reynst, ^ Clarendon's History of the BebeUion, vol. v. p. 263. 360 ST. JAMES'S PALACE became possessed of many of the choicest works of art. Jabach afterwards sold his acquisitions to Louis XIV., and they now enrich the Louvre; whilst the States General purchased from the widow of Van Reynst all that he had obtained, and presented them to Charles IL on the occasion of his Restoration to the throne of his Ancestors. By this means a large number of pictures in the catalogue of Charles I. was recovered.' ^ The statuary which was in the Armoury, though exceedingly valuable, only realised at the sale the paltry sum of 656?. ' The rare collection of coins also, sold on the average at about one shilling a piece, and the remains of the Jewels, and Plate which had not already been sold for the maintenance of the Royal Cause, fetched the comparatively trifling sum of 118,080/. 10s. 6d.' ^ Charles I. in addition to other accomplishments ' was an Archteologist, and a collector of the golden ornaments so frequently found in Ireland.' ^ That this was the case is proved by Lord Strafford's letters, in one of which, from Mr. Secretary Coke to the Lord Deputy Wentworth, the following passage occurs : ' If more antiquities shall come to your hands, the sending them to his Majesty will be a very acceptable service.' ' Scharf s Royal Picture Galleries. " Walpole's WorTts, vol. iii. p. 801 ; Curiosities of Literature, vol. v. p. 22. ^ Willis's Current Notes, vol. ii. p. 80. 361 CHAPTER 5XYI THE PICTURES IN THE STATE APARTMENTS The pictures T\hich now hang on the walls of the State apartments are of very varied degrees of merit. Some are important historical portraits ; others are of comparatively little intei'cst. Few, if any, of the pictures can be ascertained to have been from the first placed at St. James's, and the greater number have been brought from other Royal palaces at differ- ent times, mainly within the present century. In December 1S64 a rearrangement of the pictures was recomira ended, and a plan was sub- mitted to the Queen which received her approval. In pursuance of this plan, Mr. Redgrave, her Majesty's Surveyor of Pictures, inspected the gal- leries at Hampton Court to see what pictures could be suitably transferred to St. James's Palace. He reported that only four were adapted to the Banquet- ing Hall, and that these could well be spared from Hampton Court. The selected pictures were : — 1. The Battle of Trafalgar, by Huggins. 2. The Battle of Constantine, by Giulio Eomano, after Eaffaelle. 362 ST. JAMES'S PALACE 3. Castle of Prince Maurice, by Oldenburg. 4. An Encampment, by Van der Welde. Mr. Redgrave further suggested that portraits of Charles I. and Edward YI. should be provided for the Entrance Corridor, and that these could be copied from suitable originals at Windsor Castle. He pro- posed also that a portrait of Henry, Prince of Wales, should replace that of George II. at one of the ends of the same corridor. To complete Queen Anne's Room he recommended that the following portraits should be brought from Hampton Court : — 1. Queen Elizabeth (when young). 2. Anne, Queen of James I. 8. Queen, Henrietta Maria (copied) . 4. Catherine, Queen of Charles II. 5. Mary of Modena, Queen of James II., arid 6. Mary II. For the Throne Room two half-length portraits were required, and it was suggested that those of Prince George of Denmark and Frederick, Prince of Wales, would be most appropriate, though only copies could be obtained. In the Presence Chamber or Ball Room, Mr. Redgrave proposed to hang a whole-length portrait of William IV., copied either from his pic- ture at Buckingham Palace or from one at the Royal Academy, and to fill the vacant spaces with half-length portraits taken from the other rooms, such as Prince Frederick of Brunswick, Charles II., James II. when young, or the Princesses. THE PICTURES IN THE STATE APARTMENTS 36o In arranging the pictures in the Royal Closet, Mr. Redgrave suggested that the following portraits would be most suitable : — 1. "Whole-length portrait of Duke of York (then at St. James's Palace), by Hoppner. 2. Whole-length portrait of Prince of Wales, by Hoppner. 3. Whole-length portrait of Caroline, Queen of George II., with her son (the Duke of Cumberland), then at Hampton Court, by Kneller. 4. Whole-length portrait of Queen Charlotte and children, by Kamsey. The tw^o remaining spaces Mr. Redgrave proposed to fill with two half-length portraits of Queen Ade- laide and the Duke of Kent. Early in the following year, 1865, the complete list of pictures was drawn out, and in March of that same year they were arranged on the walls of the State rooms in the foUowino; order : — Entrance. — Ante-Room. ■ Portrait of Charles I. . . . 0; Jansen Portrait of the time of Charles I. Unknown Picture Galleri). Portrait of King Henry VIII. . Holbein Portrait of Queen Ehzabeth . Holbein (after) Portrait of Edward VI. Portrait of Marj^ I. Portrait of King James I. Portrait of King Charles I. Portrait of King Charles II Portrait of King James II. Portrait of King William III. . Kneller (after) Portrait of Queen Mary II. . Kneller (after) Sir A. More (after) Van Somer Vandyck (after) Lely (after) Lely (after) 364 ST. JAMES'S PALACE Portrait of Queen Anne Kneller (after) Portrait of Henry, Prince of Wales (son of James I.) . Van Somer Dar]c Side of Picture Gallery. Porti-ait of Nell Gwyn Lely Portrait of King George III. (young) Eeynolds Portrait of King Charles II. (young) Hanneman Portrait of a Priest and Youth (Venetian) .... Unknown Queen Anne's Room. Portrait of Queen Elizabeth (young) . . . . Holbein Portrait of Queen Mary of Modena Verelst Portrait of John, Marquess of Gran by (Gen'), eldest son of John, 3rd Duke of Eutland Pieynolds Portrait of Queen Mary II. Wissing Portrait of King George I. . Kneller (after) Portrait of King George II. (life- sized equestrian portrait) Wotton and Pyne Portrait of King George III. Pieynolds (after) Portrait of Anne Hyde, Duchess of York Lely Portrait of the Duke of York (James II.) .... Lely Portrait of Queen Heni-ietta Maria Vandyek (after) Portrait of the Count de la Lippe Eeynolds Portrait of Queen Catherine of Braganza .... Lely Portrait of Queen Anne of Den- mark ..... A'' an Somer The Presence Chamber. Portrait of Lord Nelson Hoppner THE PICTURES IN THE STATE APARTMENTS 365 Portrait of Admiral Barrington ' . Portrait of King "William IV. Portrait of Admiral Eodney Portrait of Lord St. Vincent Portrait of a Lady Portrait of a Dutch Lady . Portrait of a Princess of Orange . Portrait of a Lady The Throne Room. Portrait of H.M. tlie Queen Portrait of George IV. Portrait of H.R.H. the Prince Consort ..... The Royal Closet. Portrait of Queen Caroline and the Duke of Cumberland . Portrait of Queen Charlotte Portrait of Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick Luneberg Portrait of the same Prince with the Order of the Black Eagle . Portrait of Prince of Wales (George IV.) .... Portrait of the Duke of York Tlie Banqueting Room. The Battle of Waterloo The Battle of Meanee . The Battle of Vittoria The Battle of Waterloo, with the death of the Duke of Brunswick The Battle of Tournay The Siege of Lisle The Battle of Trafalgar The Battle of Constantine . Portrait of Wilham, Prince of Orange Portrait of King Charles II. Keynolds Shee (after) Eeynolds Hoppner Hanneman Unknown Hanneman Unknown Winterhalter (after) Hoppner Winterhalter (after) Kneller Eamsay Tischbein Tischbeiu Hoppner Hoppner Jones Armitage Jones Jones Wootton Wootton Huggins Eaphael (after) Wissing Kneller 366 ST. JAMES'S PALACE The three celebrated water-colour pictures by Paul Sandby, which were for some years hung in the Royal Waiting RoOm at the garden entrance to St. James's Palace, were removed in the year 1885, by command of the Queen, to the library at Windsor Castle. The quaint pictures which at one time belonged to the palace collection have all been removed. These included a picture of the second son of James L, a child three years and six months old, habited in the gorgeous robes of a Knight of the Garter ; also a portrait of Geoffrey Hudson, the dw'arf, who in this picture appears even less in stature than he really was, by being placed walking under some very tall trees. There was in addition to these that most curious picture, 'Adam and Eve,' painted by Mabuse, which now hangs in Hampton Court Palace. In the year 1881 it was suggested that a few decorative paintings of no very great value might, without inconvenience, be brought up from Hampton Court Palace to improve the appearance of the new corridor at St. James's. Her Majesty approved of the proposal, and for this purpose a selection was made of pictures and pieces of china to the number of twenty-four. Later in the same year her Majesty's Surveyor of Pictures, Mr. (now Sir Charles) Robinson, reported that the twelve pictures, removed from Hampton Court Palace to be hung on the staircase and in the adjoining Chapel corridor at St. James's Palace, were THE PICTURES IN THE STATE APARTMENTS 367 all life-sized portraits, mostly works of the seventeentli and eighteenth centuries, and nearly all portraits of ancestors of her present Majesty. Though adapted for the situation which they were about to occupy at St. James's Palace, none of them were works of such intrinsic and artistic excellence, that the collection at Hampton Court Palace would to any appreciable extent suffer by their withdrawal. The following is the list of these twelve pictures : — 1. The Duchess of Luneberg, by Mytens. 2. The Duchess of Brunswick, by Mytens. 3. King George IV. when Prince of Wales, by Owen, after Hoppner. 4. Frederick, Prince of Wales, by Vanloo. 5. King George L, by Kneller. 6. King George II., by Kneller. 7. Caroline, Queen of George II., by Kneller 8. Christian, Duke of Brunswick, by Houtshout. 9. Henry Julius, Duke of Brunswick, by Mytens. 10. The Emperor Charles VI., by Kneller. 11. Princess Hedwig of Brunswick, by P. Moreelse. 12. The Conaro family, after Titian. Old Stone. In addition to the pictures already selected for St. James's Palace, four pictures were brought from the Store Room at Buckingham Palace, viz. : — 1. The Battle of Meanee (India— 1843). 2. The Duke of Brunswick at Waterloo. 3. The Queen, | . ^ -nr- j- x, u . mi 1 J. -n • n i t copies of Wmterhalter. 4. The late Prince Consort, j '■ These pictures, which were too large for any available space at Buckingham Palace, now hang in the order 368 ST. JAMES'S PALACE in which they have here been given, as ah-eady stated, the first two in the Banqueting Room, the two latter pictures in the Throne Room. In the year 1892, and subsequently therefore to the rearrangement of the pictures, a very important portrait was purchased and placed at the top of the grand staircase. The picture, which is by P. Nason, a Dutch painter who is said to have come over from Holland with Charles II., represents that Sovereign as he appeared at his coronation. It is interesting as showing the ancient throne as it existed in the time of Henry VIII. To his date belong also the canopy of the throne, which is cloth of estate, as well as the tapestry hangings, which form the background of the ■picture. 369 CHAPTER XXVII THE AKMOUR IN THE STATE APARTMENTS The preceding chapter on the pictures in the State apartments may well be followed by a fall description of the fine seventeenth and eighteenth century armour which is hung up in artistic designs in the Armoury Room and the Guard Room of the palace. This armour was arranged in the devices which it now forms twenty-five years ago, when it was brought from the stores at the Tower of London. The following is a complete list of the collec- tion : — Aemoury Eoom No. 1 (east). — A group. This group consists of mus- kets, bayonets, sword-blades, swords, and flint pistols, and also of Scotch daggers of the eighteenth century. In the centre of this group is a suit of half-armour of the latter part of the sixteenth century. No. 2 (over door leading into the Tapestry Eoom). — A star of sword-blades, with portcullis in centre, also of sword-points. On each side of this star are spear Serjeants. No. 8. — A group. Same as No. 1. Nos. 4 and 5 (west). — Groups. Same as No. 1. No. 6 (over the fireplace). — A trophy of arms and armour consisting of the same as No. 1, with the addition of two circular shields or roundels of the latter period of VOL. I. B B 370 ST. JAMES'S PALACE the sixteenth century, and of halberds, pikemen's armour and helmets of the seventeenth century. Nos. 7 and 8. — Groups. Same as No. 1. No. 9 (over door leadmg mto North Corridor). — A star of sword-blades, with rose in the centre also composed of steel. No. 10. — Figure on bracket in armour (cap-a-pie) of the latter part of the sixteenth century, together with a rapier with complex hilt-guard, also of the sixteenth century, surrounded, by two halberds of the seventeenth century, and also by flint pistols and swords of the eighteenth century. No. 11 (over door also leading into the North Corridor). — A star of sword-blades with Prince of Wales's plumes in steel. No. 12.— Same as No. 1. No. 13.— Same as No. 1. GUAED EOOM No. 1 (west, leading into corridor). — A group consisting of two halberds and a pot -helmet of the seventeenth century, and flint muskets, flint pistols, bayonets, swords and sword-blades of the eighteenth century, together with Serjeant spears and a breastplate of the same date. No. 2 (west). — A group of arms. This group consists of flint pistols, swords, breastplate, and serjeant spears of the eighteenth century. No. 3 (west). — A star composed of wings of sword- blades, and a circle of flint pistols, with an emblematical centre. No. 4 (west) . — Almost the same as No. 2, the only differ- ence being the breastplate, which is of the seventeenth century. No. 5 (north). — A group of arms, consisting of halberds, pot-helmet and backplate of the seventeenth century, and flint pistols, muskets, ramrods, and serjeant spears of the eighteenth century. o o K O pi P5 a H THE ARMOUR IN THE STATE APARTMENTS 371 No. 6 (north). — Another group of arms, composed of halherds and backplate of the seventeenth century, and muskets, flmt pistols, and swords of the eighteenth century. No. 7 (north, over the fireplaee). — A large circular star trophy, consisting of two pikemen's suits, with pot-helmets and two casques of the seventeenth century, and swords and flint pistols, with monogram centre and two muskets of the eighteenth century. No. 8 (north). — Same as No. 6. No. 9 (east). — A figure in suit of Cavalier armour on bracket of the seventeenth century, surrounded witla flint pistols, Serjeant spears, and breastplate of the eighteenth century. No. 10 (east). — A large star, consisting of wings of sword-blades. In the centre is the Eoyal coat of arms painted above and below this device, and on each side are halberds of the seventeenth century, and flint pistols and daggers of the eighteenth century. No. 11 (east). — Same as No. 9. No. 12 (south). — A group of arms consisting of a casque of the seventeenth century, and flint pistols, sword-blades, flint locks, bayonets, and Serjeant spears of the eighteenth century. No. 13 (south). — In the window recess, overlooking the Friary Court, is a lattice- work composed of cavalry swords, with borderings of flint pistols of the eighteenth century. No. 14 (south). — A group of arms consisting of a breast- plate in the centre (seventeenth century), and surrounded by flint pistols, swords, flint locks, and serjeant spears of the eighteenth century. No. 15 (south), — A large nine- winged trophy of arms, very handsome in design, composed of muskets, serjeant spears, sword-blades, Scotch daggers, and flint pistols of the eighteenth century. No. 16 (south). — Same as No. 14, but with a backplate in the centre. oil ST JAMES'S PALACE CHAPTER XXVIII LIBEAEIES St. James's Palace originally contained two libra- ries : (1) the Royal Library ; (2) the Queen's Library. 1. The Royal Library differed from the Queen's Library in that it was situated within the walls of St. James's Palace. It was originally founded by Edward YL, who appointed as its first keeper Bar- tholomew Trahuon, with a salary of 201. per annum. It consisted at that time of one room only. Little is heard of the library during the reigns of Mary and Elizabeth ; but, soon after his succession to the throne, James I. caused the books which were housed in Whitehall Palace to be removed to St. James's. This removal took place in the year 1608, and his Majesty appointed as keeper of this library, Patrick Young, who was reputed to be ' the most eminent Grecian of his time.' Youno- was assiduous in putting the books into some kind of order, in pre- paring a catalogue by the King's command, and in travelling abroad for the purpose of enriching the library with his purchases. He was, however, suddenly dismissed from his post by Parliament, but LIBRARIES 373 the grounds for this summary proceedina; are un- known. Charles I. seems, like his predecessor, to have desired to gather together his books and valuables at St. James's under one roof. Among the manuscripts in possession of the Historical MSS. Commission, there is a draft order for the removal of the books, manuscripts, and other antiquities in the library, chain house, and his Majesty's cabinet at Whitehall, to the library at St. James's, there to remain for a public use.^ The contents of the library would probably have shared the fate which befell the King's picture gallery under the Commonwealth. The books were, how- ever, saved from dispersion by Selden, who induced his friend Whitelocke to apply for the office of keeper. His application was successful. Parliament appointed Lord Commissioner Whitelocke to the office, and authorised him to take upon himself the care and the custody of the library at St. James's, as well as of all the books, manuscripts, and medals. Whitelocke's appointment did not, however, pre- vent the loss of many valuable books, since the Duke of Ormond. in a letter dated April 2hd, 1649, mentions that all the rarities in the King's Library at St. James's are vanished. This loss is partly accounted for by the discovery, among the State papers, of a curious document signed by Protector Cromwell ^ This document, the original of which is in the possession of Sir F. Graham, is dated January 18th, 1647-48. 374 ST. JAMES'S PALACE himself, and addressed ' to the Keeper of the Library of St. James's, February 22, 1648.' These are to will and require you upon sight hereof to deliver unto Sir Oliver Fleming, or to whom he shall appoint, two or three such Books as he shall choose, of which there is a double copy in the Library ; to be by him disposed of, as there shall be direction given him by the Council, of which you are not to fail, and for which this shall be your warrant. Given at the Council of State the 22nd day of February 1648. In the name and signed by order of the Council of State, appointed by authority of Parliament. Oliver Cbomwell, Prgeses pro tempore. There also appears in the ' Calendar of State Papers ' which relate to the period of the Common- wealth, an order in Parliament on Lieut.-Col. Crom- well's report from the Council of State, ' that the care of the public Library at St. James's, and the Statues and Pictures, be committed to the Council of State, and that they be empowered to dispose of such of them as they think fit.' ^ In the second volume of the same series (dated July 30th, 1649) the previous order for some unknown reason seems to have been cancelled, for it is there decreed that ' the Medals and Models at St. James's be not sold until further order, and that the Council of State take care that they and the Books are not embezzled.' ^ In 1649 (September 29th), an order was given to ' Domestic Series, vol. i. February 22nd, 1649. 2 Ibid. vol. ii. par. 87, p. 81. LIBRARIES 375 Mr. Young, late keeper of the books and medals at St. James's, ' to have an Inventory of the things that were in his custody ready by this day week ' ^ for delivery to Lord Commissioner Whitelocke. A second order, bearing the same date, was sent by the Council of State at Whitehall to the trustees and contractors for the sale of the late King's goods, in the following terms : — ' The House have referred to us, the dispo- sing of the Books and Medals at St. James's. We therefore desire you to forbear meddling with them, as we have appointed a Committee of Council to take care of them.' ^ On January 8th, 16,50, Patrick Young was ordered ' to make all speed in preparing a Catalogue of the Books, Medals, &c., remaining, as also what is miss- ing.' ^ It would even appear that about this time the idea was entertained of turning the New Chapel ftt St. James's into a library, for John Durie, who was a^Dpointed Library Keeper at St. James's in 1651, was desired to take care that the books and medals be removed to the New Chapel as soon as it was finished.* In, the autumn after his appointment, Durie re- ports to the Council of State thus : — The Books and MSS. will be utterly spoilt, if not imme- diately looked after, as they lie upon the floor in confused heaps, so that not only the rain and dust, but rats and mice and other vermin can easily get at them, and none of ' Domestic Series, vol. ii. ' lUd. vol. i. par. 94, p. 460. ^ Ihid. vol. iii. ■• Ihid. vol. xi. November 7th, 1650. 376 ST. JAMES'S PALACE these inconveniences can be prevented, unless you order the Trustees for the sale of the late King's goods to deliver me the keys. The Trustees long since made a Catalogue of Books, and an Inventory of the Medals, so that there is nothing more left for them to do, and they might therefore be also desired to deliver up such Catalogues and Inven- tory ; if there should be anything to complete, I am willing to assist them therein, so. that the work may not linger, and the Library be utterly spoilt, and remain useless to the public' On the following day, October 7th, 1651, the Council of State wrote to the trustees for the sale of the late King's goods that ' Parliament having reserved the Library at St. James's House for sale, and referred it to us, to take care of the books, medals, &c., we have thought fit, in order to the disposal of them so as to be useful and preserved from spoil, that the Catalogue Inventory which you have taken of them, as also the key of the room, where they now are, should be delivered to us for deposit. You are, therefore, to see that this is done with expedition, the said Books being at present in such a condition that they may very easily be damaged by rain or other accidents.' ^ Nearly a year afterwards, on September 28th, 1652, the Council of State were informed that Patrick Younsr, to whom had been lent the Greek Bible of Tecla, belonging to the library at St. James's House, was lately deceased. In consequence of this intelli- ' Domestic Series, vol. xxi. p. 1. = Ibid. vol. i. par. 96, p. 571. LIBRARIES 377 gence they ordered Lord Commissioner Whitelocke ' to send for it, and all other Books belonging to the said Library, which were in Mr. Young's possession, and restore them to the Library.' ^ Again, in the following year, 1653, Lord Commissioner Whitelocke was ordered to deliver ' to Dr. Brian Walton, and the other Gentlemen, who undertake the printing of the Bible in the original, and other learned languages, to peruse the Book of the Tecla's Septuagint belonging to the Library, now or late at James's House, for the perfecting of the work, on security that the Book shall be restored without defacement.' ^ The library at St. James's appears at this time to have been in a deplorable condition. On December 8th, 1653, Mr. Lawrence was commissioned ' to order the Books and other things belonging to the Library at St. James's House to be removed from the room they are now in to an adjoining one.' ^ During the reign of Charles IL an attempt was made to recover some at all events of the valuable objects which had been made away with during the dictatorship of Cromwell, ' and it is evident from the collection which belonged to James IL that many had been regained by purchase or by theft. All those pictures which were purchased by a great Dutch collector, Mynheer Reyntz, were re- purchased by the States of Holland of his Executors, and pre- ' Domestic Series, vol. xxiv. ^ Ibid. vol. xxxviii. ^ Ibid. vol. xlii. par. 9. 378 ST. JAMES'S PALACE sented to Charles II. by the Dutch ambassadors, who came to England to settle the peace.' In the year 1661, Thomas Ross was the keeper of the library, and in that year he made a petition to King Charles 'for a present supply.' He also complained that ever since His Majesty's arrival, he has been at the expense of recovering many of his books and transporting them to St. James's Library, besides those which he pur- chased at Isleworth of Mrs. Morice, and he and three others at his charges have been two months employed to take a catalogue of them, but he has received no supply nor subsistence. In the year 1665 Peter de Cardonal petitioned Charles II. for a reversion of Sir Patrick Young's place in St. James's library. He had been, he said, too late to obtain the place, which would have given him subsistence and employment suitable to his genius. He also prayed for an annuity, complaining that he had spent 20,000/= in the late King's service which was still unpaid to him.^ Thomas Ross, who had held the post for twenty years, was succeeded in 1681 by Henry Justel as keeper of the King's Library. This latter gentleman did not long retain his office. In August 1687, mention is made of the name of another librarian, H. F. Thynne, in the following words : — ' James R. to H. F. Thynne, Keeper of the Library at St. James's. Whereas he thinks fit to allow his ^ state Pajicrs, Domestic Series, 1665. LIBRARIES 379 Chaplains, the Benedictine Monks, at St. James's, the use of such books out of our Library there, as the}' shall desire,' he tells Thynne to deliver them, ' taking a receipt of Father Thomas Ho\¥ard for re- delivery.'^ The Coventry Papers in the year 1688 contain an account of H. F. Thynne as Royal librarian at St. James's, and showing all the circumstances of his appomtment, and lists of books and manuscripts. In 1 689, however, he surrendered his post. In the year 1693, in the reign of William and Mary, the celebrated Dr. Richard Bentley was appomted keeper of the Royal Libraiy, and in the following year keeper ' of all the King's Libraries.' His patent of appointment was dated April 12th, 1694, and tn-o years later he occupied the librarian's rooms in the palace. No reason is given for his not occupying them sooner. Bentley took Holy Orders, and in the year 1.695 became one of the King's Chaplains in Ordinary. There can be no question that when Bentley was appointed the library at St. James's, as well as the books, was in a disorderly condition, so that the work of rearrangement was one of considerable labour. An incident is told by him in a letter to Evelyn which deserves to be recorded. Bentley, whose lodgings at St. James's were between those of the Earl of Marlborough and those of the Princess Anne, wished to annex some rooms overhead: for the ^ The original is in the possession of Sir A. Malet, Bart. 3 so ST. JAlAIES'S PALACE better bestowal of certain rare books. Marlborough undertook to plead his cause. The result of this obliging diplomacy was that the future hero of Blen- heim got the ' closets ' for himself. Bentley now became anxious to build a new library, and Evelyn warmly symjsathised with his ' glorious enterprise.' It was indeed much needed. The books were so ill-lodged that they could not be properly ar- ranged. Bentley declared that the library w^as 'not fit to be seen,' and he kept its chief treasure, the Alexandrine MS. of the Greek Bible, at his own rooms in the palace, for the very reason that persons might see it without seeing the library. The Treasury consented to the proposal for building a new library, but there seems to have been such a press of public business before Parliament that the Bill was never brought forward, and so the scheme, which seemed so desirable, fell through. De Quincey^ tells us that Bentley's lodgings adjoined those of the Princess (afterAvards Queen) Anne, and looked into the park. In these rooms he resided until he was appointed to the Mastership of Trinity College, Cambridge, i^fter that time, though he continued to hold the office of King's librarian, he no longer lived in London but in the University city. In these London lodgings within the palace a small group of his friends were accustomed to meet once or twice a week, and these included, amongst ' De Quincey's WorTts, vol. vi. p. 79. LIBRARIES 381 others, John Evelyn, Sir Christopher Wren, John Locke, and Isaac Newton. Sorbiere, a Frenchman who in the year 1698 published a book in his own language, the English translation of which was ' A Journey to London,' thus refers to this Koyal Library : — I would have seen a very famous library, near St. James's Park, but I was told that the learned Library Keeper was so busy answering a book, which had lately been wrote against him concerning Phalaris, that it would be rudeness anyways to interrupt him, though I had heard of his singular humanitj' both in France and other places. Dr. Bentley had published, in 1695, 'A Disserta- tion on the Epistles of Phalaris,' with an answer to the objections of the Hon. C. Boyle, afterwards fourth Earl of Orrery, and it was on this work no doubt that he was eno;ao;ed at the time of M. Sorbiere's visit. Bishop Atterbury and others replied to Bentley's dissertation in 1698. As time went on, the disorganised state of affairs in the Royal Library became more and more serious ; the books were falling into a lamentable condition ; and nothing had been done to carry out Bentley's suggestion of a new library. In the reign of Queen Anne, however, a warrant was issued, a record of which is in the Lord Chamberlain's Office, dated March 17th, 1708-9, for the removal of the Royal Library from St. James's to Cotton House in West- minster ' with all convenient speed.' To this tempo- rary home it was at once removed. 382 ST. JAMES'S PALACE The proposal for a new Royal Library, which had originated with Dr. Bentley in 1692, was again started. The need for such a building was more and more felt to be imperative, and at one time it seemed as though the hopes of establishing it would be realised. There is a large volume in the library of the British Museum, entitled ' Tracts relating to Trade,' and though not dated, it is clearly of the time of George II. It was probably brought out a short time previous to the laying of the foundation for the British Museum in the year 1753. Article 31 is a proposal for building a Royal Library, which was to be established by Act of Pariiament. It com- mences thus : — The Eoyal Library, now at St. James's, designed and founded for public use, was, in the time of King James I., in a flom-ishing condition, well stored with all sorts of good books of that and the preceding age from the beginning of printing. But in the succeeding reigns it has gradually gone to decay, to the great dishonour of the Crown and the whole nation. The room is miserably out of repair, and so little that it will not contain the books that belong to it. A Col- lection of ancient medals, once the best in Europe, is embezzled and quite lost. There has been no supply of Books from abroad for the space of sixty years, nor any allowance for binding, so that many valuable MSS. are spoilt for want of covers, and above a thousand books printed in England, and brought in Quires to the Library, as due by the Act of Printing, are all unbound aiid useless. It is therefore humbly proposed, as a thing that will highly conduce to the publick good, the glory of His Majesty's reign, and the honour of Parliament. LIBEARIES 383 Then follow a series of sections, the most import- ant of which are quoted here. 1. That His Majesty be graciously pleased to assign a corner of St. Janaes's Park, on the S. side, near the Garden of the late Sir John Cutler, for the building of a new Library, and in the neighbourhood of it, a competent dwelhng for the Library Keeper. 2. This situation will have all the advantages that can be wished. 'Tis an elevated soil and a dry sandy ground, the air clear, and the light free ; the Building, not con- tiguous to any houses, will be safer from fire ; a coach way will be made to it out of Tuttle Street, Westminster ; the front of it will be parallel to the Park Walk, and the Park will receive no injury, but a great ornament by it. 8. That the said Library be built, and a perpetual yearly Eevenue for the purchase of Books settled on it by Act of Parliament, which Eevenue may be under the direc- tion and disposal of curators, who are from time to time to make report to His Majesty of the State and Condition of the Library. Then follow four .sections respecting the choice of a proper fund. 8. A Librarj' erected upon this certain and perpetual Fund may be so contrived for capaciousness and conveni- ence that every one that comes there may have 200,000 volumes ready for his use and service. And Societies may be formed that shall meet and have conferences there about matters of learning, &c. 9. The wall that shall encompass the Library may be cased with Marbles of Ancient Inscriptions, Basso Eelievos, &c., either found in our own Kingdom, or easily and cheaply to be had from the African Coast, and Greece, and Asia the less. Those few antiquities procured from the Greek Islands by the Lord Arundel, and since published 384 ST. JAMES'S PALACE both at home and abroad, are an evidence what great ad- vancement of Learning and Honour to the nation may be acquired by this means. 10. Upon this parHameniary fund, the curators, if occasion be, may take up money at Interest, so as to lay out two or three 3^ears' revenue to buy whole Libraries at once, as at this very time the incomparable collection of Thuanus in France, and Marquardas Gudius in Germany minht be purchased at a very low value. 11. And since the writings of the English nation have, at present, that great Reputation abroad, that many persons of all countries learn our language, and several travel hither for the advantage of conversation, 'tis easy to foresee how much this glory will be advanced by erect- ing a free Library of all sorts of books, where every foreigner will have such convenience of studying. 12. 'Tis our publick interest and profit to have the gentry of foreign nations acquainted with England and have part of their education here. And more money will be annually imported and spent here by such students from abroad than the whole charge and Revenue of this Library will amount to. . . . This idea, however, ' the glorious enterprise,' as Evelyn called it, vs^hicli had been proposed by Bentley in 1697, grand as it was, came to nothing. The books which, in 1708, had been removed from the palace, by order of Queen A.nne, to Cotton House, Westminster, were once more moved. In 1757 this splendid and unique library, which had in previous generations been collected and housed in St. James's Palace by his Majesty's predecessors, was presented by George 11. to the British Museum. The gift was of immense value, for it contained, saj's Walpole, 'the LIBRARIES 385 collection belonging to the Crown, among which "were several fine editions on vellum, sent as presents from abroad, on the restoration of learning, to Henry VIL, Henry VIII., and Qneen Elizabeth ; the library of Lord Lnmley, purchased by James for his son Prince Henry ; the collection of Casaubon, bought of his widow ; and some ciu'ious MSS. brought from C'0r)/. per annum. He gave as his reason for the demand that four officers of the ITorse Guards had been added to the above table. This increased allowance was approved, and bore date December 4th, 1 71)3. A little more than tl)ree months afterwards — namely, on March 23rd, 390 ST. JAMES'S PALACE 1794 — William Gorton wrote again from St. James's Palace to the Treasury, to say that the officers of the Guards were extremely desirous of having their breakfasts at the Guard Room in the palace ; for the different colonels of the Guards had assured him that this meal at the coffee-house was costing them a e'uinea and a half each mornino;. Gorton in his petition evidently had his fears as to whether any increase would be granted to him, and further seemed to doubt whether the sum he was about to demand would be sufficient to cover expenses. The addition for which he asked amounted to 574/. 17.s\ 6d, which he hoped would not be considered excessive, as the officers of the Life Guards had to be provided with all newspapers, gazettes, &c., in addition to their daily breakfast. Then follow in Colonel Mackinnon's book the ' Regulations for the Table at St. James's,' which are worth recording and are as follows : — • 1. The Guard Table shall be supplied with two break- fasts and a dinner daily at the hours and for the numbers of officers under-mentioned. 2. The first Breakfast for the eight officers of the Life and Foot Guards dismounting guard to be on the table precisely every morning at nine o'clock. 3. The second at eleven o'clock for the same number of Officers mounting guard, and the Field Officer and Adju- tant in Brigade waiting of the Foot G uards. 4. A dinner for thirteen officers to be provided daily, and to be on the table punctually at 7 o'clock, according to a Bill of Fare which shall be produced and signed by the Contractor, to consist of two regular courses and a THE GUARD EOOM AT ST. JAMES'S 391 dessert with Port, Sherry, and Madeira wines, ale, porter and table beer. 5. Claret shall not be introduced till the cloth is re- moved, or any wine called for, on any account, after ten o'clock, at which hour tea and coffee shall be served. 6. The dining-room to be closed at eleven o'clock, at which hour the officers are to be with their respective Guards. 7. The officers entitled to partake of the dinner are : The Officers of the Life Guards, on duty The Officers of the Foot Guards, on duty The Field officers of the Foot Guards in bri^ gade and parade waiting The Silver Stick of the Life Guards The Adjutants of the Foot Guards in brigade and parade waiting .... Total . 13 8. The Field Officers in waiting of the Foot Guards, Silver Stick of the Life Guards, and Adjutants in waiting of the Foot Guards are to signify their intention of dining at St. James's to the Captain of the King's Guard before twelve o'clock. Otherwise that officer will have the privi- lege of filling up the vacant places, agreeable to ancient custom. 9. The Captain of the King's Guard during the con- tinuance of his duty is to have the control of the Table, and shall regularly sign the Contractor's Wine Book. 10. It is, however, to be clearly understood that, as far as regards the conduct of individuals, he will, should circumstances require it, submit the case to the Field Officer in brigade waiting, who, with the Silver Stick of the Life Guards and the officers commanding battalions at St. James's, shall at all times form a committee to investigate and redress all references or complaints that may be made to them. 392 ST. JAMES'S PALACE 11. The terms and conditions of the present and all future contracts for the supply of the table shall be lodged in the Ordinary Eoom of the First or Grenadier Eegi- ment of Foot Guards, to be referred to as occasion may require. These regulations were approved and signed by Frede- rick, Colonel of First or Grenadier Guards. The Regulations are followed by the annual allow- ances granted to Mr. Gorton, as already stated, for the table at St. James's Palace. It will be well here, perhajas, to show the total amount. Tn August 1793 there was granted £5,500. Then in December 179r) an additional sum of £2,000 was added, making a total for that year of £7,500. On June 3rd, 1794, £1 lly. Gd. a day more was granted to provide the officers on duty with breakfast, making £574 lis. 6d. Six years later, in the year 1800, there was allowed, on account of high duty on wine, an additional £300, making in all £8,374 17s. Gd. In the following year, 1801, there was the interest, 12 per cent., after- wards reduced to 10 per cent., on the annual sum, £806 lO.s'. Gd., making a grand total of £9,181 8s. In the year 1816, however, a reduction was made m the grant of £9,181 8s., reducing the sum total to £6,000. Captain Gronow, in his Reminiscences, relates the following anecdote of the Duke of Clarence when his Royal Highness was dining at the Guards' mess : — The Duke of Clarence, afterwards William IV., together with his brothers were in the habit of frequently dining at the table prepared for the officers who mount guard at St. THE GUAED ROOM AT ST. JAMES'S 393 James's, and it was the custom for Their Eoyal Highnesses to send in their names when they intended to honour the Colonel with their presence. Although I was at the time very young, I recollect being present on several occasions when the Duke of Clarence honoured our mess with his presence, and the amusing anecdotes he used to relate. He astonished Colonel Archibald Macdonald one day at table, by putting the following question to him : ' Colonel, are you ever under the necessity of giving Chocolate to your young officers ? ' The Colonel, who was afterwards killed at Bergen op Zoom, replied that he did not understand what His Eoyal Highness meant by ' giving Chocolate.' The Duke replied, ' Oh ! I can see, Colonel, that you have not breakfasted with Sir David Dundas, for it was his in- variable custom to ask such officers as had fallen under his displeasure for breaches of military discipline, to breakfast with him, in order that during the repast, where some excellent Chocolate invariably formed one of the comestibles, the culprit should be severely lectured, and sometimes recommended to leave the service.' Ensign ' Bacchus ' Lascelles, who was present — a plain-spoken fellow — sang out from the end of the Table, 'Your Eoyal Highness, if the Colonel does not understand the meaning of " Choco- late," I do : for only this morning I received " goose " from the Adjutant for not having sufficient powder on my hair ; it is quite immaterial whether a rowing' be denominated " Chocolate " or " Goose," for it is one and the same thing.' The Eoyal Duke laughed heartily at the sangfroid of the young Ensign, and ever after evinced great partiality for him.' In spite of its many inconveniences, this guard- room remained unaltered from 1793 till September .1876. In the latter year, after numerous complaints of insufficient ventilation, bad drainage, and limited ^ Beminiscences of Captain Oronow, p. 296. 394 ST. JAMES'S PALACE room, and after repeated applications to the Treasury, orders were given for plans to be prepared by the Office of Works for improving the accommodation, and a vote was taken in Parliament for the necessary cost. The plans for the new building, which were drawn from a sketch plan by the Hon. Sir S. Pon- sonby Fane, Comptroller in the Lord Chamberlain's Department, were in due course submitted to a com- mittee of officers, and afterwards approved by her Majesty. The work was commenced in the following year, 1877, and completed in 1878. During this rebuilding' the Guard was billeted in the State kitchen and venison larder adjoining, whilst the officers were lodged in the rooms adjacent to the garden entrance of the palace. On December 17th, 1877, while the Guard Room was building, an entry was effected into the room, which was temporarily occupied by the officer in command, and a robbery committed. The result was that a sentry was asked for, and was made to patrol the palace garden night and day, until the comple- tion of the works. The new Guard Room was occupied for the first time, amid much rejoicing, on May 6th, 1878, and consisted then, as it does now, of the following rooms : — Men's Quarters {downstairs). Men's Guard Eoom. Men's Big Eoom. Sergeant's Eoom, which leads out of the previous one. THE GUAED EOOM AT ST. JAMES'S 395 Cook House, and general offices. The Cellars are underground. Officers' Quarters. Kitchen and scullery and Mess Master's Office are on the ground floor. Dining Eooms and Plate Eooms (Ist Floor). Four bedrooms (for Officers only), viz. : — one for the officer commanding on guard, one for the Senior Lieutenant, another for the Junior Lieutenant, who carries the colours, and an extra one. Brushing Eoom, and room for Housekeeper. It may be of interest here to mention that during the residence of their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales in London, the Queen's Guard at St. James's Palace consists of three officers, two sergeants, two corporals, three drummers, and forty- two privates. The officers on guard attached to the palace, moreover, go their nightly rounds as follows : The officer commanding the Guard at eleven o'clock P.M., the senior lieutenant at one o'clock a.m., and the junior lieutenant at three o'clock a.m. ' A curious point has arisen, interesting to the Guards,' says Greville in his ' Memoirs.' ^ It has been the custom for the officer on guard at St. James's Palace to be promoted to a majority when a Eoyal child is born. {Note. — They found on inquiry that there was no pre- cedent for the promotion, but they have given it notwith- standing. The old Guards got it.) The Guard is relieved at 45 minutes after 10. At that hour the new Guard marched into the Palace yard, and at ^ Greville Memoirs, vol. ii. cap. xii. p. 51, 1841. 396 ST. JAMES'S PALACE 48 minutes after 10, the child was born— (the Prince of Wales). The question arises which officer is entitled to the promotion. The officer of the fresh Guard claims it, be- cause the ' relief ' marched in before the birth, and the keys were delivered over to him : but the other officer claims it, because the sentries had not been changed when the child was actually born : his men were still on guard, and he disputes the fact of the delivery of the keys, arguing that in all probability this had not occurred at the moment of the birth.' In 1783, on the birth of Princess Amelia, fifteenth child and sixth, daughter of George III., 41. was given to the colonel of the Guard, to be distributed amono- the soldiers in lieu of a bonfire, and also two barrels of ale. Such bonfires were a not unusual form of rejoicing. In the reign of Queen Anne, on November 5th, 1712, the Guards paid her Majesty the loyal attention of making an enormous bonfire at the gates of St. James's Palace. In the centre was placed the effigy of the Pretender, at which they continued to shoot all the time that it was consummg. In the year 1862 some building operations made it impossible for the guard-mounting to take place for some weeks in the Colour Court. The Lord Chamberlain, therefore, suggested that the course ' The officer on the Queen's Guard who received a brevet majority on tlie birth of the Prince of Wales, in 1841, was the lieutenant, v^^ho, having in those days the double rank of lieutenant and captain, was thus eligible, so far as his position in the service was concerned, to promotion to the rank of major. This boon was not confined to this occasion only, but was also granted to the lieutenant on the Queen's (or King's) Guard on duty on the day of a coronation or an accession. THE GUARD ROOM AT ST. JAMES'S 397 followed in the year 1858, during the preparations for the marriage of the Princess Royal, should again be adopted, and that the Guard should mount in the Friary Court, facing Marlborough House. ^ 1'his temporary arrangement became permanent, and it is in the Friary Court that the military ceremony has ever since been performed. ' Formerly the band played every morning in the Colour Coiirt during the change of the Guard and frequently pickpockets were de- tected in the crowd. These persons were taken in charge by the mar- shalman on duty, and shut up in a small room which was kept for this purpose, at the south-east corner of the clock tower, till handed over to the police. )98 ST. JAMES'S PALACE CHAPTER XXX THE WINE CELLARS OF THE PALACE The entrance to the wine cellars of the palace, which cover an immense area, and occupy at the present time the entire basement of the State apartments, is situated in the Engine Court. The cellars consist partially of two-arched vaults, partly of compartments. In the vaults were, and still are, deposited wines ' in the wood,' chiefly, if not entirely, the property of the Sovereign ; but room is also allowed in them for butts belonging to the Prince of Wales, whose cellarage at Marlborough House is limited. The remainder of the cellars con- sists of what were formerly called rooms, but may now be termed compartments, adjoining each other in regular order. These compartments were six in number, and, though extremely gloomy and dark for human habitation, were formerly apportioned to the servants attached to the King's service. From each room a private window looked into the garden of the palace, but these were subsequently blocked up when the rooms which they lighted were converted into cellars. In later years four additional rooms were added, which were also under the State apartments. THE WINE CELLARS OF THE PALACE 399 and were similarly appropriated to the servants when the Sovereign resided in the palace. These rooiris became at the time a valuable addition to the cellar- age ; but, owing to modern requirements and the large increase of the wine stock, additional space has since been obtained on a considerable scale, and there are now nine compartments as above described in the palace cellars, filled chiefly, if not entirely, by wines in bottle. The old approach to the cellars was very different from that which is in use at the present day. In March 1763 Lord Talbot, who was then Lord Steward, wrote to the Lords of the Treasury inform- ing them that there was a small court, which was at that time the only passage to his Majesty's cellars at St. James's, and which adjoined the King's larder. Lord Talbot said that Lady Bateman claimed a right to that court in virtue of a grant made to Mr. Wood, and that by her ladyship's order two buildings had been erected there. The one, his lordship said, so obstructed the passage that a hogshead of wine could not be conveyed to the cellar ; the other would in warm weather prove a nuisance to the larder. Lord Talbot begged that their lordships would give all assistance to prevent his Majesty's service re- ceiving any detriment by this encroachment on the offices of his palace. The approach to the cellars, however, continued to be confined until 1822, when several buildings, including those erected by Lady Bateman, were pulled down in order to make room 400 ST. JAMES'S PALACE for the Banqueting Hall, which George IV. added to the State rooms in that year. In or about the year 1876 a curious discovery was made owing to the breaking of one of the stone flags in the floor of the cellars. This breakage was the result of a heavy fiill of a large cask of wine, and revealed the existence of a sub-cellar, of which the present generation had no knowledge. It seems that in lifting the broken stone and removing some of the mould beneath it a brick arch was reached. This circumstance excited the curiosity of those present, and further exploration brought to light the ' cave ' just alluded to. A ladder was let down as soon as possible, and a lighted candle fixed to a lath was lowered. On entering the newly discovered room the existence of a shaft was manifest. It was cut through the overhead cellar-arch and thereby secured ventilation. Two old-fashioned bottles and a twig much resembling a rose tree were the only contents of the cellar. The bottles, which proved to be of Cyprian shape, had, doubtless, been sent to the Sove- reign of the day from the Isle of Cyprus.^ The floor of this sub-cellar was ' puddled,' and underneath was a surface of Purbeck stone. Though a portion of this was displaced in the hope of making still further discoveries, nothing more was brouij'ht to lio;ht. At ' These bottles were at once placed vinder lock and key in a cup- board, and there they remained until the year 1891, when, a search being made for them, they were found to have crumbled to atoms. By this it is supposed that the bottles were not of glass, but of earthenware, which had yielded to time and the ' potent juice ' of the Cyprian grape. THE WINE CELLARS OF THE PALACE 401 the end of the vault wtivS a small cesspool which was evidently intended to receive and drain off the sur- plus water, which was apt to flow into St. James's Park when the river tides were unusually high. This lower cellar was eventually fitted up with iron bins capable of liolding very nearly 10,000 bottles. The officer in charge of the palace wine holds the title of ' Gentleman of the Cellars.' The office is both responsible and ancient. It was originally held by a domestic of the household, whose duty it was to stand behind the Sovereign at dinner and pour out his Majesty's wine. When, however, the late holder of the office (Mr. Payne) was appointed, in the year 18.o!), he was informed by the authorities at the Board of Green Cloth that his position would henceforth be different from that of his predecessors — in fact, would be that of a Gentleman of the Household. Mr. Payne resigned his office in 1892, and was succeeded by Mr. Tliomas Kingscote. The offices and official residence of the Gentleman of the Cellars were considerably enlarged and improved in the year 1893. In the Engine Court were situated also at one time the apartments of the Yeoman and Groom of the Cellars, who were then, and still are, accustomed to travel with the Sovereign. When, however, Mr. Payne came into office, and the palace had ceased to be the London residence of the Sovereign, these rooms were absorbed in the habitable accommodation set aside for the separate use of the Gentleman of the Cellai's. VOL. I. I> ]) 402 ST. JAMES'S PALACE CHAPTER XXXI OUTBREAKS OF PIRE WITHIN' THE PALACE WALLS It may be regarded as fortunate that so few out- breaks of fire have occurred at St. James's Palace, when the undoubted age of this pile of buildings, and the slender precautions which were taken to ensure its safety, are considered. As far as can be gathered from the books of reference to which access has been obtained, three fires — and three only — took place previous to what may be termed the great fire in the year 1809. The first outbreak was on Friday, September 28th, 1761, when the Duke of Marlborough's house in the Friary Court accidentally took fire. Xothing, how- ever, was lost, for assistance was quickly at hand and the fiames were soon extinguished. Ten years elapsed before the next alarm was raised. Early in the afternoon of March 10th, 1771, a fire was discovered in an apartment adjoining the King's dressing-room ; and much alarm was naturally created, the whole Court being at that time resident in the palace. Happily no great mischief resulted from the catastrophe, and the flames were speedily extinguished. OUTBEEAKS OF FIRE WITHIN THE PALACE 403 Some years later there was another panic. On January 19th, 1807, about midnight, the apartments of the Duke of Cumberland were discovered to be ablaze. Not only was smoke issuing from them, but there was a strong smell of fire within the neighbour- ing apartments of Mr. Gordon. Fortunately that gentleman's servant quickly discovered the danger and raised an alarm. As it was one of the Royal birthdays, an unusual demand had been made upon the kitchen stoves, which had become overheated and thereby set alight some wooden beams in their too immediate neighbourhood. Xotice was at once given to the ' Labourer in trust of the Palace,' ^ who, with a number of men, was always accustomed to ' sit up all night on the celebration of the Birthdays.' The palace fire-engine was brought out ; water was played freely upon the burning rooms ; and the flames were eventually extinguished. Two years later, on January 21st, 1809, occurred the Great Fire, so called from its alarming and de- structive character. It seems to have been slowly burnino- and smoulderina' for a considerable time before its actual discovery. Before it was extin- guished it had destroyed the whole of the east wing of the inner courtyard, including its varied contents of the most costly and precious kind — pictures and articles of vertit of great value. Room after room of rich historical interest, in what a contemporary writer ^ The old name for the ' Clerk of the Works.' 4 04 ST. JAMES'S PALACE describes as ' the most interesting and picturesque part of this ancient structure,' was consumed. It is doubtful where or how this fire originated. Some say that it began in the Duke of Cambridge's lodgings, and near the King's back-stairs. Others suppose that it broke out between the Armoury and his Majesty's private entrance into the palace from St. James's Park. Others imagine that the mischief began in the evening, in the apartments of Miss Rice, who was one of the assistant-dressers to the Queen. The Hon. Amelia Murray relates that the fire was thought to be the work of an incendiary, but it must always be a matter of uncertainty whether the fire was the result of accident or of desio-n. It appears that the loud barking of a dog in the south-east wing of the building attracted the notice of one of the sentries on duty, and shortly afterwards he observed an unusual volume of smoke pouring from that quarter. Another account is that, when the Duke of Cambridge returned from spending the evening at Lady Haggerston's, about two a.m., the porter who had been sitting iip for his Royal High- ness observed that he had for some time detected a strong smell of fire, for which he could in no way account, but feared that the cause might be traced to his Royal Highness's apartments. The Duke hastened through the Palace Yard into the Yeomen's Guard Chamber which commanded a full view of his quarters, and at once saw where the fire had origi- nated. Flames were issuins; throu2:b a window ; and OUTBREAKS OF FIRE WITHIN THE. PALACE 405 his Royal HighDess immediately gave notice to the Guards. The fire at one time assumed alarming pro- portions, and the marvel is that the whole palace was not destroyed. A general impression prevailed among the firemen and all who were on the spot that the entire palace was doomed ; and great efl^orts were made to dislodge the valuables from the reach of the flames. Towards six o'clock a.m., however, the fire was subdued, though not before enormous damage had been done. The south-east anofle facing; Marlboroue'h House, extending to and embracing the first southern turret, was completely wrecked. Xor did the Friary, the Armoury (in part), as well as the French and Dutch Chapels, escape the ravages of the conflagra- tion. These structures have never been rebuilt ; and the idea once entertained of restorinsr and refurnishino; this part of the palace was abandoned owing to the costly operations which it would have involved. The ' Queen's Chapel,' now called the ' German Chapel,' which was immediately adjoining the fire, was not injured at all, and was found exti'emely useful as a place of deposit for such property as had been saved from the flames. Fortunately, this serious outbreak caused but little loss of life. The only fatal casualty which v^^as directly connected with it was the death of a servant girl, M'ho was suftbcated in her chamber.^ Abundant evidence exists to show that '■ In the London papers also, among the deaths in the following month, appears this annomicement : ' Feb. 29. In consequence of the fire in St. James's Palace, William Cox, Esq., one of His Majesty's 406 ST. JAMES'S PALACE the attempts to subdue ttis disastrous fire were of the most clumsy and uiiperfect kind. The supply of "water from the canal in the park was defective, and had to be passed through a long service of tubes from one engine to another before it could be dis- tributed on the flames. But in this respect St. James's Palace was not worse provided than the rest of London before the days of a well-organised Metro- politan Fire Brigade.^ The Prince of Wales, the Royal Dukes, and the Duchess of York were in the park giving every aid and encouragement to the firemen and companies of the Gruards who were actively engaged in reducing the conflagration. The water supply from the canal, however, proved hardly aufiicient to keep those engines at work which were nearest the flames, and luifortunately the contribution from the pipes on the north side was equally insignificant. A new diiH- pages. His apartments communioated to the King's back-stairs, where it seems probable (from evidence at the coroner's inquest) that the fire broke out, and though on the groimd floor, the flames being impelled by the wind in that direction, they were almost the first consmned. In endeavouring to save some little property, which, however, was effected in only a very slight degree, he had two narrow escapes for his life. This, combined with his anxiety for the safety of his wife and daughters, so affected the nervous sj'stem as to occasion his death in about a month after the fatal catastrophe.' 1 The Rev. W. J. Blew, of Warwick Street, PaU MaU East, told the writer that he had often heard his father say that when this fire broke out at St. James's Palace, the Westminster school-boys obtained a special leave, and, hurrying to the scene of action, gave every assist- ance in their power, passing and repassing the buckets between the canal and the palace. This informant also added that until King George IV. ascended the throne no attempt was made to remove the charred timbers and debris of this great conflagration. OUTBREAKS OF FIRE WITHIN THE PALACE 407 culty presented itself at the outset, for the engines had hardly commenced operations when the roof of that part of the building where the fire originated fell in with a tremendous crash, tearing down with it all the splendid and valuable furniture of the apart- ments, and penetrating into the rooms below, which appear to have been tenanted by Mrs. Planta and Miss Davenport. The lead of the roof, moreover, de- scended in liquid torrents, to the great danger of the firemen working under it. Such of the fine sets of old armour as were not destroyed in the flames were removed from the Armoury Eoom to the j^filfice garden. The rescued pictures were taken to the store room, the clocks to the Queen's house ; and all the furniture that had not been placed in the garden from the King's and Duke's apartments was lodged in the Ball Room. Everything, in fact, was removed, and yet, in spite of the necessary haste and con- fusion, no real damage was caused thereby. Only one article of all the valuables was broken, and that was a mirror valued at 150^. Another alarm of tire occurred many years later, on the evening of Saturday, November 28th, 1867. A cupboard in one of the bedrooms belonging to the chief clerk in the Lord Chamberlain's department became unduly heated by its close approximation to a chimney stack which carries the flues by which the Chapel Royal is supplied with warm air. Happily, the danger was discovered in time to prevent a fire which might have destroyed the palace. 408 ST. JAMES'S PALACE The precautionaiy measures against fire at St. James's Palace have at various times engaged the attention of the authorities, and Captain (now Sir E. M.) Shaw officially inspected and reported upon the matter. The construction and arrangement of the building at the time of his inspection were, in his judgment, such as to make it most difficult, in case of an outbreak, to arrest the progress of the flames. Captain Shaw wrote as follows in his official report to the Fire Commission of the palace : — A considerable portion of St. James's Palace presents the appearance of a number of small private houses joined together, and I may say plainly that this junction has been effected without the slightest regard to risk of fire. In short, it appears quite possible for a fire under certain circum- stances to take possession from end to end, there being in no spot a party wall or other complete separation, which would of itself cut off a fire. In the south building, which contains the Eeception Eooms, there is only one partition wall running to the roof : the two others go no further than the ceiling of the upper room. This is a very serious blot, and should be remedied by running each of these transverse walls not only up to, but also through, the roof, and about eighteen inches on the outside. This would effectually reduce the greatest part of the risk. In a building of such age I am always slow to make any suggestions which would involve many alterations ; but there is certainly in St. James's Palace one other point to which I ought to call your attention as an obvious and prominent cause of danger ; and that is, the massive wooden cornice round the roof of the dining-hall. This could without difficulty be removed, and the outer wall built up as on the opposite side of the Court. Having said this much of the risk, I may add something as to the safety, which consists in the smallness OUTBREAKS OF FIRE AVITHIX THE PALACE 409 of the apartments generally, and of their contents, which appear to consist almost entirely of ordinary household furniture. It is right to add that all Captain Shaw's recom- mendations have been carried out, and that the greatest vigilance is exercised by the persons to whom is now entrusted the special duty, both within and without its wall,?, of guarding this historic building. 410 ST. JAMES'S PALACE CHAPTER XXXII RESIDENTS IN THE PALACE DURING THE PRESENT REIGN In order to give increased variety and interest in these pages, some account will be furnished of the offices, as well as the residences or apartments, both official and private, which are occupied within the precincts of the palace by the grace and favour of the Crown. There is, however, no occasion to enter into details respecting the many alterations which have from time to time taken place in the various habitations of the palace even within the last few years. It is proposed, therefore, to take the apartments as they now exist, in the main features of which there has been little or no change, and, beginning with their present inhabitants, to recur to those who were in possession at the time of the Queen's accession. 1. Stable Yard. — At the north-east corner of the stable yard stands an unpretentious building with a somewhat dilapidated portico. In the year 1866 this corner was rounded off in order to make it Reference. Lord Chamberlain's Offices & Apartments Queen's Guard Chapel Ro^■al and Offices Sir John McNeill German Chapel and Offices Clarence House Duke of York Sir F. Edwards Paymaster of the Household Chief Cook The Hon. Corps of the Gentlemen at Arms State Apartments and Offices Privy Purse Residence Col. A. J. Biggc Chief Clerk Robes Office Sir F. Knollys Ewry Office Sir F. de Winton Princess Victor of Hohcnloho Yeomen of the Guard Comptroller ot the Kitchen Clerk of Works Enfjine House Gentlemen of the Wine Cellars. RESIDENTS DURING THE PRESENT REIGN 411 more conveniently wide at that particular spot for a Royal private route from Buckingham Palace to St. James's through the stable yard gate of the park.' In this part of the palace is situated, on the ground floor, the Lord Chamberlain's Office, and above it the official residence of the Controller of the Lord Cham- berlain's department. The present holder of this oflfice is the Hon. Sir Spencer Ponsonby Fane, K.C.B., who at the time of his appointment was private secretary to Lord Clarendon at the Foreign Office. Sir Spencer has held this important office since the year 1857, when he succeeded the late Mr. Norman Macdonald, who had been appointed in the year 1851. Mr. Macdonald's predecessor was Sir William Martins, who had succeeded Sir Thomas Mash. Sir Thomas entered the office as a junior clerk, and was appointed Controller in 1823, a post which he was still holding at the time of the Queen's accession. Facing the Lord Chamberlain's Office is a long, low, arched corridor which is open to the yard. This corridor had loose boxes adjoining, and was formerly the stables of the Palace, as evidenced by the stable hooks, which even at the present time renjain on the walls. ^ There was once a large- sized pond standing in the middle of this stable yard. Over this corridor are situated the apartments of the chief clerk of the • The lodge, by the side of this gate leading into the Mall, is of quite modern construction, having only been completed in the year 1838. 2 In the year 1661 an order was given for a warrant ' to pay 5001. to the Duke of York towards finishing his stables at St. James's.' — Domestic Series, vol. xlvii. (Charles II.), 1661. 412 ST. JAMES'S PALACE Lord Chamberlain's department. Mr. G. T. Hertslet, the late chief clerk, had resided in these rooms since the year 1869, at Avhich time he was occupying them as examiner of accounts, He entered the Royal service in 1839, and is therefore one of the oldest of her Majesty's servants. On succeeding Mi\ March as chief clerk, he elected to remain in possession of his rooms, rather than remove to those in the Ambas- sadors' Court which were then recognised as the chief clerk's apartments, and had also been inhabited by Mr. March.i Above the rooms of Mr. Hertslet, and approached by a narrow staircase, are two sets of apartments belonging to the office-keeper and the resident mes- senger of the Lord Chamberlain's department, Mr. Hollo way and Mr. Mackenzie. On the ground floor are the pay office, presided over till lately by Mr. G. Marrable, son to Sir Thomas, the record-room, the messengers' waiting-room, and other necessary offices of the Lord Chamberlain's department. In the extreme south corner of the stable yard, and next to Warwick House, are situated a few small rooms which, together with some of the apartments already mentioned, formed the old residence of the Sub-dean of the Chapels Royal, and Confessor, now called Chaplain of the Palace. For this purpose they were unfitted, and on the death of Dr. Weslev, in ^ Mr. Hertslet has lately resigned his chief clerkship, having been appointed Paymaster of her Majesty's Household in succession to Mr. G. Marrable, resigned. Mr. Daniel Tupper, of the Lord Chamberlain's Office, has been appointed chief clerk. RESIDENTS DUllING THE PRESENT REIGN 413 1860, they were made over for the use of the Lord Chamberlain's department. Dr. Wesley was, there- fore, the last chaplain who inhabited these rooms and resided within the palace walls. Next door to the Lord Chamberlain's Office is the residence of Sir Francis Knollys, K.C.M.G., private secretary to his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, who has resided here by ' grace and favour of her Majesty' since the year 1891, when these rooms became vacant by the death of the Hon. Mrs. William Ashley. These apartments were awarded to the Hon. William and Mrs. Ashley in 1837 in exchange for rooms in the Xorman Tower at Windsor Castle, which on the accession of our present gracious Sovereign were required for her Majesty's service. Mr. Ashley, Avho had been Vice Chamberlain to Queen Adelaide, was jMaster of St. Katherine's Hospital, He died in 1877 ; but the rooms remained in the occupation of his widow till her death fourteen years later. The previous occupant was Lady Barnard, widow of Mr. Frederick Augustus Barnard, F.R.S. and S.A., who died on January 27, 1830, in this house, at the age of eighty- seven. ^ This was the Mr. Barnard who intro- 1 It seems that tliougli Mr. Barnard was gazetted G.C.H. on August 4, 1828, he did not take advantage of his honours, for at his death in the palace on January 27, 1830, he was only styled F.E.S. and S.A. His widow, however, must have been permitted to take the rank and precedence of a knight's widow by Royal warrant, for in the obituary for August 1, 1837, appears the following : ' August 1, 1837. Died in St. James's Palace, aged 84, Lady Barnard, widow of the late Sir F. A- Barnard, K.C.H., 59 years Librarian to His late Majesty George III.'— Annual Begister, September 1837. 414 ST. JAMES'S PALACE duced Dr. Johnson to George III. in the library of Buckingham House in 1767. He had been principal librarian and keeper of the medals, drawings, &c. to George III. at Buckingham Palace, and ' was pre- sumed to be a natural son of Frederick, Prince of Wales.' ^ Lady Barnard died at the age of eighty- four on August 1, 1837 — a few weeks, in fact, after her Majesty's accession. This house, which was con- siderably improved by Mr. Ashley at his own expense after he came into possession, was stated to have been originally the granary of the palace. 2. The Ambassadors' Court. — This court, which was formed by uniting the Kitchen Court with the Green Cloth Court, adjoins the stable yard on the south side, and is called the Ambassadors' Court, because the entrance to the State apartments of the palace for the ambassadors, the Corps Diplomatique, and others entitled to the privilege of the entree at Levees, Drawing Rooms, and other Court functions, is situated in it. This entrance was made in the year 1863, when an outside glass-covered way was also erected for its protection. At the south-west corner of this court, between the apartments of Sir Francis Knollys and Clarence House, stands the official residence of General the Right Hon. Sir Henry Ponsonby, G.C.B., Keeper of her Majesty's Privy Purse, as well as Private Secretary to the Queen. Sir Henry became the possessor of these rooms in 1879, their immediate previous occu- ' Gentleman's Magazine, June 1830. \ ^/MlHI EESIDENTS DURING THE PRESENT REIGN 415 pant having been Major- Gen. Sir Thomas Myddleton Biddulph, K.C.B., who was appointed to the dual post in 1866, on the death of Sir Charles Phipps. Sir. Charles had held the appointment for upwards of fourteen years, having succeeded the late Major-Gen. Sir Henry Wheatley in 1852, who had been appointed Keeper of the Privy Purse in 1830, and was there- fore in possession at the time of her Majesty's accession. Sir Henry Wheatley held his authority for oc- cupation from the Lord Chamberlain direct, and not, as in the case of his successors, by right of office. He was allowed to retain possession of his apartments by special permission of the Sovereign, after he had resigned his appointment in 1852. In the year 1890, these apartments were given by her Majesty to Sir Henry and the Hon. Lady Ponsonby for their 'joint or separate lives.' Adjoining this house is the kitchen of the palace, with its larders and other offices, which, by the bye, has not been used as a kitchen for many years, saA^e on a few exceptional occasions. It is always available for its original object, whenever the necessity arises, and was last used for cooking at the Royal Agricultural Society banquet in 1889. But it is now ordinarily employed as a store, for which purpose it was fitted up in 1866. It has also been occasionallj?- utilised as a guard room for the palace guard, when the quarters of the guard have been under repair. 416 ST. JAMES'S PALACE In this court also is situated the apartment of that most important officer, the chief cook. In the year 1772 garrets were added to this apartment, as it was not considered sufficiently large.^ The present holder of this office, Mr. Arthur Frank Felthara, suc- ceeded Mr. HoUis in 1891. M. Thiou preceded Mr. Hollis, who himself followed M. Aberlin. M. Aberlin succeeded M. Moret, the immediate successor of Mr. Ball, who appears to have been chief cook at the time of her Majesty's accession. Passing by the ambassadors' entrance, as well as the covered passage which leads to the Engine Court — in which are the quarters of the Queen's Guard — there is, at the south-east corner of the Ambassadors' Court, a small turret staircase. This leads to the State rooms of the palace, and to the official apartments of the examiner of accounts in the Lord Chamberlain's department which are situated above them. ]\lr. F. W. Jennings, who received his warrant of appointment in 1872, was the first to occupy these rooms in that capacity. It has already been noted that they were used by the chief clerk of that department until the year 1869, when Mr. Hertslet, on his appointment as chief clerk, elected to remain in the apartments he had previously occupied in Stable Yard as examiner of accounts.^ These apart- ments were for many years in the occupation of Mr. 1 The services of the chief cook are required at Windsor Castle and also at Osborne, but not when the Court is at Balmoral. ^ Mr. Jennings has quite recently resigned, and has been succeeded by Mr. Harry Hertslet. RESIDENTS DUEING THE PEESENT EEIGN 417 T. C. Mai'ch, Avhen chief clerk, until he was appointed paymaster of the household.^ Mr. Jennings's predecessor was, as just stated, Mr. March, who succeeded Mr. Browell. Mr. Bro- well's predecessor was Mr. Hertslet, who was appomted in 1851. We next couie to the Chapel Royal with its necessary offices, one entrance to which is situated in the north-east corner of this court, and adjoins the archway leading to Cleveland Eow.'^ Here are situated the rooms of the resident sergeant and yeomen of the Chapel. The present occupant is Mr. Hebblethwaite — Mr. Samuel Chapman, who had held office since the death of Mr. Francis Lingard in 1868, having resigned in the year 1893. Mr. Lingard had been appointed in 1810 to succeed Mr. liichai-d Howse, who had been nominated Sergeant of the Yestry in 1816. Approached by this same door is the official residence of the chief clerk of the Board of Green Cloth, Mr. George Courroux, who succeeded his father in this office in the year 1888. On the other side of the archway ^ leading to ' Mr. March now holds the post of Secretary to the Board of Green Cloth. - Before this archway was constructed in 1822, persons wishing to reach the Ambassadors' Court were obliged to go through the Colour Court and bear round to the right. ^ Mr. ^^^leatley tells us that the canteen which occupied the site had to be cleared away to construct this archway ; ' the old gateway between the suttling house and Miss Keat's, now used as the Eobes Office, was shut up, and an entrance mto the Ambassadors' Court made.' VOL. I. E K 418 ST. JAMES'S PALACE Cleveland Row is the Robes Office, which is the first house on the north side of this court. A description of the Robes, and the staff attached to the office, is given in another cliapter. Conse- quently it is unnecessary to make further reference to the subject here. It may be stated, however, that the apartments formerly consisted of a straggling series of rooms on the ground floor, extending under those of her late Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge. These apartments have now been made into one house, an arrangement adopted partly for the safety of the palace, and more particularly for the purpose of form- ing a suitable apartment for his late Royal Highness the Duke of Clarence and Avondale. The Robes Office contains not only proper receptacles for the robes, but also an office for the Clerk of the Robes (Mr. Arnold Royle, C.B.), and an apartment for the resident Messenger of the Robes (Mr. Maclean). Mr. Royle's predecessor, Mr. Bontein, by a private arrangement with the messenger, occupied his rooms for a time previous to the alterations, and died there in the year 1884. The accommodation, however, was quite in- adequate, and a different arrangement has now been effected. The remaining buildings on the north side of the court contain the apartments now given to his Royal Highness the Duke of York, second son of the Prince and Princess of Wales, in succession to his elder brother the late Duke of Clarence and Avondale. They were being prepared for this lamented Prince, RESIDENTS DURING THE PRESENT REIGN 419 under his own personal supervision, at the time of liis melancholy death in the beginning of the year 1892. These apartments consist of a fine suite of rooms on the first floor, with spacious dining-rooms, library, waiting-rooms, &c. on the ground floor ; as well as further ainple accommodation. When vacated after the death of the late Duchess of Cambridge in 1889, they were found to be quite inadequate to the needs of a Royal establishment, as measured by the re- quirements of the present day. Additional rooms were thei'efore taken from the Robes Office; other apartments, formerly occupied by the Grand Duke and Duchess of Mecklenburg- Strelitz, and by the Marshalmen, were added ; and extensive alterations were eff"ected in the internal arrangements of the whole. The result of these changes has been the construction of the admirable residence which is now occupied by their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of York, whose marriage took place in July 1893. In these apartments had resided her late Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge, aunt to her Majesty the Queen, from the year after her widow- hood, 1851, until the time of her death in 1889. The Duchess of York thus follows immediately upon her grandmother, the Duchess of Cambridge, in the occupation of these rooms. ^ The Duke of Cumber- land, who became King of Hanover, was the Duchess of Cambridge's immediate predecessor in them. The ' These apartments are now known by the name of York House. 420 ST. JAMES'S PALACE circumstances connected with Ms residence are stated in another chapter. The frontage of the apart- ments looking over Cleveland Row was built for Frederick, Prince of Wales, upon his marriage, on the site, it is stated, of the sutling houses of the Guards. This frontage was considerably altered in the year 1(S92. A small house, facing the east, and adjoining the apartments of the Duke of York, completes the series of residences in the Ambassadors' Court. It was occupied previous to her death by Lady West, together with her husband. Sir Algernon West, K.C.B. Lady West was the daughter of the late Lady Caroline Bar- rington, who for many years was lady superintendent of the Royal children. On Lady Caroline's retirement from this office, the Queen gave her an apartment in Kensington Palace, which, at her death, was continued to her daughter.^ In the year 1879, however, her Majesty sanctioned an exchange of apartments between Lady AVest and Major-General Sir Francis Seymour, K.C.B., who at that time occupied this house. Sir Francis, who was Groom in Waiting to the Prince Consort, eventually became Master of the Ceremonies, an appointment which he held up to the time of his death. Sir Francis's immediate predecessor had been General Sir Francis Stovin, K.C.B., Groom in Waiting to the Queen, who followed Lord Adolphus Fitz- ' These rooms are now in the possession of Major-General Sir Francis de Winton, K.C.B., Comptroller in the Household of the Duke and Duchess of York. RESIDENTS DURING THE PRESENT REIGN -421 Clarence, brother to the first Earl of Munster.^ Lord Adolphus occupied these rooms in 1833. The drawing-room of this apartment was the room at the windows of which Marshal Bliicher, who was lodged here, was wont to show himself, when on a visit to this country in 1814, to the admiring crowds assembled beneath. 3. The Engine Coiiii.- — This court is entered from the south side of the Ambassadors' Court by a narrow road or passage, sufficiently wide to admit a carriage. In this passage are situated, on the left, the quarters of the (,|ueen's Guard, and on the right the gi'eat kitchen of the palace already mentioned in this chapter. Also on the right of this passage is the ' Ewry ' Office and the residence of the principal table decker (Mr. Kirby), in which the table linen of the palace is prepared for use. Mr. Kirby was appointed principal table decker in 1871, on the resignation of Mr. Thomas Elliot. The rooms occupied by the ^ Lord Adolphus Fitz-Clarence, who had entered the Royal Navy in 1814, and was a Rear Admiral, was seventh child and third son of William IV., by Dorothea, natural daughter of Francis Bland of Kerry (Mrs. Jordan), and was born on February 18, 1802. He became a captain in 1824, and commander of the yacht ' Royal George ' in 1830. In 1851 he was appointed captain of the yacht ' Victoria and Albert,' and Commodore in 1852. He was made Groom of the Robes to AViUiam IV. in 1830 ; a G.C.B. in 1832, a Lord of the Bedchamber in 1833, and an Aide-de-Gamp to Queen Victoria from 1848 to the time of his death, which occurred at Newburgh Park, Yorkshire, in May, 1856. '' Also called the Pump Coiu't, on account of an old pump which at one time stood here. . The Engine Court of the old plans is the same as that of to-day. This seems to be the only Court which has re- tained its original name. 422 ST. JAMES'S PALACE mess master of the Gruards are next, and adjoin the kitchen of Clarence House. This kitchen forms j)art of the new buildings connected with the residence of the Duke of Edinburgh, which were erected in the year 1874, and which embraced some small apartments formerly connected with the kitchen of the palace. In the corner of this court is a turret staircase, leading to the State apartments, over which are the rooms of the housekeeper or ' necessary woman ' of the west end of the palace, Mrs. Newell,^ who was appointed in 1858, in succession to the late Mrs. Mary Wakeley. Passing the private entrance in this court to the State apartments, which is used by the principal officers of the Court, we reach the rooms now occupied by her Serene Highness the Princess Victor of Hohen- lohe, to whom they were granted for life on the death of her husband. Prince Victor, at the beginning of the year 1892, and to those of her daughters after her Avho should still remam unmarried. Prince Victor was the second son of the Queen's half-sister, the Princess of Hohenlohe-Langenbourg, and was born at Langenbourg in 1833 . He was a sculptor of consider- able reputation, an admiral also in the British navy, as well as Governor and Constable of Windsor. Castle. He died in St. James's Palace on December 31, 1891. These apartments had, previous to the Prince's mai-riage, been occupied jointly by himself and ' There are two housekeepers for the palace, one for the east end and one for the west end. RESIDENTS DURING THE PRESENT REIGN 42 D Prince Leiningen, who now withdrew from the partnership. They had been granted to them by the Queen on their surrender by Lady Augusta Bruce, formerly Lady in Waiting to the Duchess of Kent, and resident Bedchamber Woman to tlie Queen, on the occasion of her marriage with the late Dean (Stanley) of Westminster. These same apart- ments, previous to their occupation by Lady Augusta, in 1861, were inhabited by the Duke of Cambridge for nearly fifteen years before his Royal Highness came into possession of Gloucester House. On the east side of the Engine Court, and under the colonnade, is the office and the official residence, now considerably improved, of the Gentleman of the Wine Cellars, to whom reference is made in a separate chapter. Mr. Payne, the late holder of this office, occupied these rooms from the year 1859 till the year 1892, in succession to the late Mr. James Hamilton, who seems only to have held office for three years. When Mr. Payne resigned he was suc- ceeded by Mr. Thomas Kingscote. Mr. Hamilton's immediate predecessor was Mr. James Christie, who died in the year 1856. Next to the office of the wine cellars are the sruard room and mess rooms of the Gentlemen-at- Arms, which were altered to their present size in 1877, and which have been treated separately else- where. Li a narrow passage adjoining these rooms, 424 ST. JAMES'S PALACE which leads again from this court into the Ambassa- dors' Court, are some few offices connected with the Royal cellars. There formerly existed in this court a well of 'exceptionally good, and pure water,' which was much prized by the inhabitants of the palace and neighbourhood.^ But, unfortunately, like all other wells in this over-crowded metropolis, it became contaminated, and the pump whence this water was drawn ceased to be used. It had a long iron ladle, and stood near the guard room, but was removed when the new guard room was built in 1878. It may be interesting to know that the palace is now supplied with water by the artesian well at the back of Trafalgar Square. 4. The Friary Coxirt? — In continuing the ac- count of the palace, the next court, reached by a narrow passage, near the entrance to the apartments of Princess Victor of Hohenlohe, is the Friary Court, or, as it is sometimes called, the Marlborough House Court, from the fact that it overlooks the grounds of Marlborough House. It is the largest court of the palace, and on its south side 'are situated the offices ' An old resident in the palace, who rememhered the pump many years ago before it was closed, has told the writer that this water was supposed to have some medicinal properties, as people were accustomed to come from Hampstead and many of the suburbs of London with their cans to obtain it. ^ This court did not exist until after the great fire in 1809, which destroyed about thirty rooms in the palace, and so cleared the space where it now stands. This court was formerly known as Paradise Com-t, probably from the old architectural name of Paradise for a porch or court supported by columns. RESIDENTS UURIXG THE PRESENT REIGN 425 of the Clerk of the Works of the palace, built as late as the year 1879.i In the north-west corner of this court is the principal entrance to the State apartments ; and near it are the apartments of the housekeeper or ' neces- sary woman ' of the east end of the palace, Miss Martin, who, in the year 1872, succeeded the late Mrs. Brettell. Mrs. Brettell's tenure of office as ' necessary woman ' dated far back to the early years of the present century. She was a mine of infor- mation respecting the palace and its royal residents during her long official connection with St. James's. Adjoining these rooms on the north side is the guard room of the corps of the Yeomen of the Guard ; and over this guard room is the office of the Clerk of the Cheque and Adjutant, with a small apartment in which the present adjutant. Colonel Francis Baring, now resides. 5. The Flagstaff Court. — One side of this court faces Marlborough House and the other side faces Pall Mall and St. James's Street, and extends as far as the clock tower. In the block of buildings at the north-east angle, and attached to that part of the palace facing Marl- borough House ^ is the official residence of the Clerk ' The Clerk of the Works is the officer of her Majesty's Office of Works who is in charge of the daily requirements of the palace, in the shape of ordinary repairs, e.g. gas, water, sanitary arrangements, and other details too numerous to mention. ^ The whole of the front, which contained some of the oldest buildings in the palace, has of late years undergone great changes. 426 ST. JAMES'S PALACE Controller of the Kitchen, Mr. A. F. W. Lloyd, who succeeded the late Mr. Edmond Heale in 1889, Mr. Heale's predecessor havinti been Mr. William CuUen, who had been nominated to this post in 1867, and had resigned in 1878. Adjoining these apartments of the Clerk Controller of the Kitchen is one formerly set apart for the use of the ' First Yeoman of the Confectionery,' but which is now in the occupation — since 1891 — of Major- Gen. Sir John McNeill, K.C.B., V.C, Equerry to her Majesty. In these apartments in the palace, as they stood previous to their alterations, there have been many occupants during the present reign. Amongst others, the Earl of Erroll, son of King William IV., lived there with his countess, who occupied these rooms after his lordship's death for the remainder of her life. The Hon. Mrs. William Grey (afterwards Duchesse d'Otrante), to whom these apartments were given in 1867, also resided here during her tenure of office as lady superintendent in the household of the Prince and Princess of Wales. The warrant was afterwards cancelled, on her second marriage in 1873. The Hon. Mrs. Leigh, wife of Lieut. -Colonel Leigh (10th Dragoons), and sister to Lord Byron, the poet, also found a home here ^ ; as well as Major-Gen. Sir Fleet- Many rooms were swept away for the purpose of making Marlborough Road in 1856, amongst others ' the old servants' hall and the laundry.' The Colonnade in front of the Clerk Controller's house was added in 1861. ^ Augusta Mary Leigh, was the only daughter of Captain John RESIDENTS DUlilNG THE PRESENT REIGN 427 wood Edwards, K.C.B., Assistant Keeper of the Privy Purse and Assistant Private Secretary and Groom in Waiting to her Majest}'. The next house, the entrance to which faces St. James's Street and yet extends round the corner, by Marlborough Gate, is now occupied, through ' the grace and favour ' of her Majesty, by Major-Gen. Sir Fleetwood Edwards, who came into its possession in 1891. This apartment has been somewhat reduced in size since it was granted to its j^resent owner. Additions were made to the adjoining residences on either side of certain rooms which rightly belonged to them. The apartment, however, is substantially the same as when it was inhabited by the late Hon. Mrs. Charles Grey ( Sir Fleetwood's immediate predecessor), who was permitted to reside here after the death of her husband, General the Hon. Charles Grey, originally Private Secretary to the Prince Consort, and after- wards Equerry and Private Secretary to the Queen. General Grey had occupied these rooms since 1850. In that year he succeeded the late Sir Thomas Mar- rable, who had long been Secretary to the Board of Green Cloth, an appointment which he held at the Byron, who died at Valenciennes on August 2nd, 1791, by his wife, the Baroness Conyers, and was half-sister of G-eorge Gordon, Lord Byron. She was the only relative for whom he retained any affection, and the last person to whom he wrote a letter. She married, on Aiigust 17th, 1807, her cousin, George Leigh, who was a Lieutenant-Colonel of the 10th Light Dragoons. Under Lord Byron's will of Julj' 29th, 1815, she inherited all her brother's disposable property. She died at her apartments in the palace in October 1851, having survived her husband a little over twelve months. 428 ST. JAMES'S PALACE time of the Queen's accession. After the death of General Grey in 1870 these rooms, which together .with the two preceding apartments cover two sides of tlie old Colour Court, and were formerly used as the official residence of the Secretary of the Board of Green Cloth, were given to his widow at first for the space of five years, but, at the expiration of that term, they were granted to her for the remainder of her life. Lieutenant-Colonel Arthur Bigge, C.B., Groom in Waiting to the Queen, is next-door neighbour to Sir Fleetwood Edwards, and, like him, occupies his house ' by grace and favour.' Since his taking possession in 1890, he has materially benefited by sundry additions of space. His predecessor in these apartments was the Hon. Mrs. Robert Bruce, Woman of the Bedchamber to tlie Queen, and widow of General the Hon. Robert Bruce, Governor to H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, to whom they were given in 1864, two years after the death of her husband. These apartments, which face St. James's Street on the one side, and the Colour Court on the other, were previously occupied by Prince Victor of Hohenlohe and the Prince of Leiningen jointly, until they moved to their larger apartments in the Engine Court. The two Princes came into possession of them in 1858, after the death of the Dowager Marchioness of Westmeath, second daughter of James, first Marquis of Salisbury, who had held them some fifteen years or so previous to the accession of our present Queen. RESIDENTS DURING THE PRESENT REIGN 429 In 1841 this house of Lady Westmeath, which ' overlooked the Coloni- Yard,' was greatly improved by the erection of a new frontage. The whole of the side of the quadrangle was rebuilt so as to be in keeping with the other parts of the building. 6. The Colour Court.} — In this court, up to and including the year 1862, the mounting of the guard took place daily. In that year, however, owing to some building about to be commenced in this court, the guard -mounting was suspended, and re- moved to the Friary Court, where this short but imposing ceremony has ever since taken place. The flag-post, however, where the colours were hoisted, still remains in the middle of the court. When Levees take place within the walls of the palace, one of the two bands stationed at St. James's is placed in this court, and plays throughout the ceremony. This court was considerably reduced in size in the year 1865, on the erection of a new corridor into the State apcirtments. From this court, under a corridor to the right, leads the chief entrance to the Chapel Royal, as well as an entrance into the new corridor, and a passage into- the Ambassadors' Court. The offices of the Board of Green Cloth were for many years situated in this court, before they were removed to their present quarters in Buckingham Palace. ^ This Court was formerly known as the Chair Court; and the • Great Court ' of the eighteenth century is this Colour Court of the present day, so called because ' the standard of the household regiment on duty used (formerly) to be planted within it.' 430 ST. JAMES'S PALACE The only remaining rooms Tvliich need descrip- tion are situated over the Great Gateway, or Henry VIII. Gate as it is sometimes called, and face St. James's Street. Among others, there is a large I'oom which for many years was occupied by the Exon in Waiting of the Yeomen of the Guard, who at that time was re- quired by the regulations to reside within the palace. The changes, however, which have of late years been made as to the duties of the Exons rendered it no longer necessary that one of that body should be in daily attendance. Consequently the I'oom is now set apart for the use of the Marshalmen, whose office, on the other hand, involves constant attendance. It is reached by a small winding turret staircase in the Colour Court, which leads not only to this room, but to some other apartments on the floor above, belong- ing to the official residence of the chief clerk to the Board of Green Cloth, and used as sleeping apart- ments. The chamber formerly occupied by the Marshalmen is now included in the apartments of the Duke of York. 431 CHAPTER XXXni BATING OF ST. JAMEs's PALACE In the year 1885 the Lord Chamberlam received from the Lords Commissioners of her Majesty's Treasury a copy of a report which had been drawn up by the Inspector of Rates on Government Projoerty, respect- ing a claim which had been advanced by the parish of St. Martin's, Chaining Cross, for what they termed a ' contribution ' from St. James's Palace in lieu of rates. The inspector, after inquiring into the circum- stances and character of the occupation of the palace in reference to this parochial claim, arrived at the conclusion that, as a residence, it appeared under a twofold aspect, and that it would therefore be more convenient to consider the rateability of the pro- perty under two divisions : (1) The portions of the palace occupied by the Queen, or by the immediate officers and servants of the Sovereign ; (2) those occupied as residences by the grace and favour of the Crown. Under the first head were classed, first, the State apartments, the Chapel Royal, the kitchen and larders, officers' mess room and guard room, offices, servants' rooms, &c. ; the mess room and orderly room 432 ST. JAMES'S PALACE of the GeBtlemen-at-Arms ; the orderly room and wardrobe of the Yeomen of the Guards ; the rooms of the Exon in Waiting, the resident wardrobe keeper, the resident clerk of the Board of Green Cloth ; the Offices of the Lord Chamberlam, the Mistress of the Robes, and the Paymaster of the Household. Under the same heading come the wine cellars and office of the Gentleman of the same, the Ewry Office and linen stores ; the waiting-rooms of the State porters, the under- porters, and the Marshal- men ; coal cellars and office of the coal porter ; the office of the Clerk of the Works ; the stores, engine-houses, &c. Lastly, the official residences of the Keeper and Assistant-Keeper of the Privy Purse, of the clerk of the kitchen and of • the chief cook. Under the second head were classed the residences occupied by grace and favour of the Crown, whicli comprise those of his Royal hiighness the Duke of York, those of his Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburo-h, those of her Serene Highness the Prin- cess Victor of Hohenlohe, and many others. It seems that the decisions of the courts of law Avere perfectly in accord as to the line which divided Crown property which was rateable from Crown pro- perty which was not rateable ; and they have always held that property in the personal occupation of the Sovereign, or of the immediate servants of the Crown, was exempt from taxation. But, on the other hand, they maintained that Crown property when occupied RATING OF ST. JAMES'S TALACE 433 ' by a subject for the subject's own benefit ' could not be exempted from rateable liability. Aft,er due consideration the Queen was advised to give lier consent to a compromise suggested by the Treasury on the same principle as at Hampton Court and Kensington Palaces, and which has since been carried into effect, viz. that the State apart- ments and official residences of the palace should be exempted, but that a fixed contribution should be levied upon all the apartments held by grace and favour of the Crown, and paid over annually to the parish in lieu of rates. END OF THE FIRST VOLUME riUKTED ]ty SPOTTISWOOIllC AND CO., KEW-S'J'REEl' SQUAPlE LONDON VOL. 1. F r \