AN ECCENTRIC BARONET.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 1581, 18 March 1887, Page 3

AN ECCENTRIC BARONET.

Sir John Dineley, an eccentric baronet, was of the family of the Dineievs, or Chariton, and was descended by the female line from the Royal bouse of Piantagenet. Ha\ing dissipated the wreck of the family tsutes, he obtained the pension of a '• poor knight of Windsor." His chiet occupation consisted in advertising for a wife, and nearly thirty years were passed in assignations with the fair respondents to his advertisements. His figure Wis most grotesque. In wet weather he was mounted on a pair of high pattens. He wore the coat of the "Windsor uniform, with embroidered velvet waistco t, satin breeches, silk stockings, and a full-bottomed wig. In this finery he in'ght be seen one day strolling at bis ease, and the i.t-xt out marketing, canying a penny loaf, a morsel of butter, a quarter of sugar, and a farthing candle. Twice or thrice a year he went to Loudon, and visited

Vauxhall Gardens and the theatres. He estimated his fortune, if it could only have been recovered, at £300,000. lie invited the widow as well as t!ie blooming maiden of sixteen; and addressed them in printed documents bearing: his signature, in which he specified the sum the lady must posa< si. He expected less with youth than with nsje or widowhood, adJing that few ladies would be eligible, who did not possess at leapt £IO,OOO a year, which, however, was nothing compared to the honour his hich birth and roynl descent would confer, ne cherished for years the expectation of forming a matrimonial connection with some lady of property ; but, after all, died n bachelor in 1808. The following copv of one of his advertisements may both interest and amuse:— "To the angelic fair. Sir John Dineley, of Windsor Castle, reccmmend6 himself and his ample fortuue to any angelic beauty. Fortune fav. ours the bold. Such ladies as this advertisement may induce to apply, or send their agents (but not servants or matrons), may direct to me at the Castle, Windsor. Happiness and pleasure are agreeable objects, and should be regarded as well as honour; the lady who thus becomes my wife will be a baronetees, and rank accordingly as Lady Dineley of Windsor. Good and favour to all ladies of Great Britain. Pull no caps on his account, but favour him with your smiles, and p.Tans of pleasure await your steps."