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Otago Witness, Issue 931, 2 October 1869, Page 20

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James 11. was a king, and, affected to be a general. He loved to surround himself .with young officers.. He showed himself frequently in public on horseback, in a helmet' and cuirass, with a huge,projecting wig hanging below the helmet and over the cuirass, — a sort of equestrian statue of imbecile war. He took a fancy to the graceful mien of the young Lord David. He liked this royalist for being the son of a republican. The repudiation of a father does not damage the foundation of a court fortune. The king made Lord David gentleman, of the bedchamber at a salary of a thousand a year. It was a fine promotion. A gentleman of the bedchamber sleeps near the king every night, on a bed which is made up for him. There are twelve gentlemen, who relieve each other. ,

Lord David, whilst be held that post, was also head of the king's granary, giving out corn for the horses, and receiving a salary of £260. Under him were the five coachmen of the king, the five postilions of the king, the five grooms of the king, the twelve footmen of the king, and the four chair-bearers of the king. He had the management of the race-horses which the king kept at Newmarket, and which cost his majesty £600 a year. He worked his will on the king's wardrobe, from which the knights of the garter are furnished with their robes of ceremony. He waa saluted to the ground by the usher of the black rod, who belongs to the king. That usher, under James 11, was the knight of Duppa. Mr. Baker, who waa clerk of the crown, and Mr. Brown, who was clerk of the parliament, kotood to Lord David. The court of England, which is magnificent, is a model of hospitality. Lord David presided, as one of the twelve, at banquets and receptions. He hod the glory of standing behind the king on offertory dayß, when the king gives to the church the golden hjzantmm ; on collar-days, when the king wears the collar of his order 5 on communion days, when no one takes the sacrament excepting the king and the princes. It was he who, on Holy Thursday, introduced into his majesty's presence the twelve poor men to whom the king gives as many silver pence as the yearn of his age, and as many shillings as the years of his reign. The duty devolved on him, when the king waa ill, to call to the assistance of his majesty the two grooms of the almonry, who aro priests, and to prevent the approaoh of doctors without permission from the council of state. Besides, he was lieu-tenant-colonel of the Scotch regiment of Guards, tho one which plays the Scottish march. As such, he made several campaigns, and with glory, for he was a gallant soldier. He was a brave lord, wellmade, handsome, generous, and majestic in look and in manner. His person was like his quality. He was tall in stature, as well as high in birth. At one time he stood a chance of being mado groom of the stole, which would have given him the privilege of putting ' tho kind's shirt on his majesty ; but to hold that office it was necessary to be either prince or peer. Now, to oreato & peer is a serious thing; it is to create a peerage, and that makes many people jealous. It is a favour ; a favour which gives the king one friend and a hundred onemies, without taking into aocoont that the one friond becomes ungrateful. James 11., from polioy, was indisposed to oreato peorages, but transferred them freely. The transfer of a peerage produoe* no sensation, It is limply the continuation of a name. The order is little affoqted The good-will of royalty had no objection to raise Lord David Dirry-Moir to the upper house so long at it could do to by means of a substituted peerago. Nothing would have pleased his majosty better than to transform Lord David Dirry-Moir, lord by courtesy, Into a loid by right,