SOCIETY IN WELLINGTON'S DAY

Evening Star, Issue 12027, 27 October 1903, Page 8

SOCIETY IN WELLINGTON'S DAY

In hi;- introduction to die 'Memoirs of Captain KJers,' Lord Monson says the MS. was found in "the library at. Burton Hull by my relative, Mr George Levcson Cower . . . and as they seemed to mo to present a Truthful and interesting picture of life in society and in the army at the end of the eighteenth and at the beginning of the nineteenth centuries, I decided 1o publish them." For which all those who care for the period named and for autobiographical literature should feel thankful to Lord Monson and bis relative. It is a bright, interesting, and amusing volume of gossip and anecdotes thai these memoirs make. George Klers came of an old baronial family long settled in the lower parts of Lower Saxony. He was born in the neighborhood of lUoomsbary square, and (luring his childhood lived a good deal in -Northamptonshire, the iir.st chapter of his memoirs dealing with his life lucre. When eighteen years of age he was eazetted to the 90th i'edment. He shortly after exchanged for the. 12th. The following year be left England with bis iegiment for India as a lieutenant. Calling at the Cap-, be met, many interesting people, among them being Colonel Welles ley. the future Duke of Wellhigtoii. Wel'esicy was then in his twenty'•ight.h year, and the intimacy between KleY? and the famous sold : -\r seems to have been very close. "At this time hj" was all. life. and spirits. In height he was about, ftft Tin. with a long, pale face, a remarkably large aquiline nose, a, clear bin*'' eye, and the blackest beard T ever saw. He was remarkably clean in bis person, and T have known him share twice in one day. which I believe was his constant practice, bus features always reminded me of John Philip Kemble. and. what is more remarkable. 1 observed, many years later, the great likeness between him and the performer, Mr Charles Young, which be told mc he had often heard remarked. He spoke at this time remarkably quickly, with, I think, a very, very slight lisp. H.e had very narrow jawbones, and there was a great peculiarity in his ear, which I never observed but in. one othpr person, the late Lord Byron—the lobe of the eaT uniting to the check. He had it particular way, when pleased, of pursing up his mouth. I have often observed it when lie has been thiuking abstractedly,"

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rive. Ho throws an interestinj; light on the society of his dav. He lived for some time in India with Colonel Welleslev, who was in. command at Seriugapatam."' An ofheer was appointed to a post there, bringing with him a very voung and rather prettv woman for his wife. "Colonel Welleslev h;ul at that time ;v very susceptible heart, particularly towards, l" am sorrv to sav, married ladies, and his pointed attention to ttiis lady gave offence to. not her husband, but to the aide-de-camp, who considered it highly immoral and indeeorouv. and a coolness took plate between West and the colonel, and they did not speak all the remaining time I lived with tho colonel." The book is packed with good stories of interesting people. Elers relates one teld by Colonel Calcnift about William IV. AVhen Calcrait was in England on leave of absence ho- attended most of the fashionable parties at which the Prince of W.dcs was in the habit of being present. The scene of the story is at one of tie Duchess of Cumberland's supper parties, previous to which cards were plavcd. Calcraft acting as croupier for the "Duchess. ''One night after .supper (he Duke of Clarence, who at that time very boisterous' spirits, suddenly attacked Cale'raff. asking hua to drink a glass of wine and making use towards him of a most offensive expression. The ladies all stared, and the Duke

again applied tho offensive appellation. A dead silence tool; phrc when Cdoraft rose, and. addressing H.R.H., said that whatever the difference there might be with respect to their rank, he would not allow such offensive expressions- to he applied to him. and that if H.R.H. ag-iin made r.-e oi them, consequences would en-sue very unpleasant 1o both of them. Tlio Prince of Wales, who happened to be present at supper, got up. and in his dignified manner said: "Mr Calcnift. I insist that, you instantly leave ihe mom. Any disrespectful language applied to rny brother in my pi-e.-enee. 1 consider as an insnlt to myself!' \'w>v Calcraft was obliged tr> ]e;ive the room."

On reinrnin- io Mnrrland Khun made the acquaintance of nuutcroas pi-.oplp vrho have, become famous or notorious, and lie has usually a. capital story to tell and interesting comraents ix> m:ike of tlie.ni. While

at Ipswich he met- William Pole Tilncv Loug-WeUeslcy. afterwards fourth Earl of MoruLngton. As is well known. he w.us a wild character, always deeply in debt. ■'Ho came heme, and one day as lie lay in bed he beg;m 1o consider -what, he .should do. He was in debt and difficulties. A radden thought struck him. His mother was on terms of great intimacy with Lady Catlterine Long, the mother of the rVh heiress-. Re wrote 1a his mamma, and conjured her to do all in hex power of patting him in Miss ling's company, lie pro pose! 1 six limes, ajul was refused. The Duke of Clarence at this time was besieging Miss Long, and to get lid of him she at last accepted Weltasiey. He had fought a duel for her with Lord Kilworth. and thai might have .snmewhai. to do in his- favor."

While at Ipswich, too. Elers came in contact, with tin- Cobbokfc. A Mrs Cobbold, wife, of a rich brewer, was a remarkably el ever p7wa —" poetess, pajntrens," and a patroness of merit atid talent, generally. "She was very fond of jiatronising the theatre, raid all the profession that were deserving of recognition, either from their character or their talents: aitd hero I met and dined with the celebrated tragedian Mr Kcuti. who Took me in his carriage to dinner wiUi li.t and kick to the theatre that, evening, where he played Hamlet. We were both staying at the White Horse Inn. The present Mrs- Keeley, the clever actress, was brought up by Mrs Cobbold. 1 recollect her as a lit lie girl who used to come into t.li.' rwmis. her arms ajnl hands crossed over each other: she would then drop a profound curtsey to the company, sit. down on tli--- music stiiol. and commence her morning's lessons on the piano. Her father was an holiest whitesmith in Ipswicli of the name of Howard. 1 little thought, that, this shy little girl would have turned out .such a clever actress. I have heard that her husband. Keeley. made his tirsi appearance at I lie Suney Theatre, and oil his debut befoie the audience got so alarmed that, he fairly ran olf the stage, and did tint appear any mop- that night."

The volume closes with some correspondence which will be nad with interest, particulaily ihe characterisiie letters of the Duke of Wellington and Miss Edgoworth. who heiself testifies jo the interest of these memoirs, l*ord Monson and Mr G. Leve-Voti-ChiweT deserve the thanks of the public for having published these entertaining re-miiii-H-eiiccs.