CENTURY-OLD HOAX.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 3802, 12 April 1913, Page 10

CENTURY-OLD HOAX.

BOGUS INVITATION FROM

ROYALTY

The story of a hoax of 100 years ago was reprinted in the “Times” from its edition of February 8, 1813. The article is as follows: “Air. Coates having been recently presented to the Prince Regent at the Levee by General Baker, it is presumsumed that the circumstance suggested to some wag the idea of practising upon him a hoax. On Thursday morning a card was transmitted to him to the following purport: “ ‘The Lord Chamber! ain is commanded by his Royal Highness the Prince Regent to invite Air Coates to a ball and supper at Carlton House on Friday evening. 1 “ ‘The company to appear in the costume of tho manufactures of the

country, “ ‘Hour of attendance, 10 o’clock.’

"The Royal Arms being affixed to tho .seal, and the ‘Amateur of Fashion’ seeing nothing absurd in the idea of being considered one of the select friends of , liis Royal Highness, immediately prepared to equip himself in a manner which in his opinion would reflect no discredit on tho illustrious host. The appointed hour having arrived, the gay L-othario sallied forth in a blaze of splendor; diamonds of the first water decorated the bosom of our hero, while those on bis lingers shone with kindred lustre. The chair in which he was conveyed was attended by two footmen in the most costly liveries; it reached Carlton House without difficulty.

“Colonels Bloomfield and'Congreve wore .in attendance; the former suffered Air. Coates to pass, but on presenting his card to the latter he was politely informed that the card, was a forgery. Air. Coates did not appear in the least disconcerted— treated the affair with much indifference—and, bogging the gentlemen (who felt some embarrassment on his account) not to make themselves uneasy, he made his bow, and rotired.” Air. Coates was a wealthy manufacturer who did not have the entree to Carlton House, and was the victim of a hoax which he was toe obtuse to understand.