coats and waistcoats he never had any other than a single-hearted soul."

Having brought this sketch of the principal Beaux upon record to a close, I will now enter upon the life of him who, Lord Byron said was one of the three great men of the nineteenth century, placing himself third, Napoleon second, and Brummell first. To this postulate it is not my intention to offer any support; but I think there is sufficient evidence to show that he ought not to be classed with the Beaux, if, as I have before remarked, a beau is a fop, and a fop a man of small understanding. But if I prove my own assertion, what then? Does it at all signify whether his reputation remains as it is or not? No. Then "Le jeu, vaut-il la chandelle?" Yes, if the first portion of this biography amuses the reader, and the last pages excite reflection. Some indeed will smile at the moral Brummell's life conveys: others may perhaps agree with me in the views I have taken of it.

CHAPTER II.

Brummell's Origin-The Death of his Grandfather-Lord Liverpool patronises his Father, and subsequently introduces him to Lord North-Made Private Secretary to that Nobleman-The Richardson Family-George and his Aunt Brawn-Lord North's Regard for Brummell's Father-Instructions for a Prince and for the Representatives of the People-Mr. Brummell's retirement from Public Life-Donnington—Sheridan and Miss White-Death of Mr. and Mrs. Brummell.

BRUMMELL'S origin, like that of many greater men than himself, was humble. A French journalist, who wrote a biographical notice of him a few months after his death, says that "his grandfather, the first of the Brummells and the founder of the family, was originally a Treasury porter, a situation which he obtained through the patronage of Lord North, and that prudence and industry enabled him to give his son a good education;" also, "that he succeeded, through the kindness of the same nobleman, in procuring him employment in that office." A writer in a late periodical has asserted that Beau Brummell was the son of a confectioner; and others have described his father as having been in Lord Bute's household. But these accounts are all, or nearly all, equally incorrect.

George Brummell's grandfather

was in business in Bury Street, St. James's, and might have been a confectioner, though I have no evidence of the fact; he was buried in St. James's Churchyard, in a corner of which his tombstone may still be seen, and on it the following inscription: "Here lies the body of Mr. William Brummell, who departed this life the 31st of March, 1770, aged 61 years." His wife's death is likewise recorded thus: "Also the remains of Mrs. Jane Brummell, who departed this life on the 27th of July, 1788, aged 73 years." An uncle of the Beau's, Benjamin Brummell, of the Treasury, who died in February, 1816, is likewise buried in the same vault. Within a few feet of Mr. Brummell's grave is that of the celebrated Tom Durfey, a tablet to whose memory is inserted in the wall of the church itself, facing the west entrance.

Not being in affluent circumstances, Mr. Brummell, like many persons in business in the present day, let a portion of his house, and, fortunately for him and his family, not only "the spirit of Jenky arose," but Jenky himself; or, in words less Ossianic than those of the song of Scrutina, his lodgings were taken by Charles Jenkinson, afterwards the first Lord Liverpool; and it is said, I know not with what truth, that his distinguished lodger was attracted to

1 The Song of Scrutina, a poetical squib on the Westminster scrutiny, when, in 1784, Fox, elected a member of Parliament, defeated the Government candidates, was written by the late Sir Robert Adair, under the pseudonym of Macpherson. It will be found among the "Probationary Odes for the Laureateship," published with the Rolliad. VOL. I.

B

the house by the perfect penmanship of the affiche, "Apartments to let," written in his son's, the Beau's father's, best hand.

1

Mr. Jenkinson, as is well known, was not only clever, but remarkably laborious; and though one of that administration contemptuously spoken of as "all the hacks," in contradistinction to the one yclept "all the talents," it should be remembered that hacks are more useful than race-horses; and that his lordship, instead of closing his career like the high-mettled racer, in a kennel, died in ermine trappings, and left a very comfortable écurie to his successors, while the "talents" hardly left a shed to theirs.

Brummell's father was but a boy when Mr. Jenkinson came to lodge in Bury Street, but his active disposition soon attracted that gentleman's attention, and, pleased with his quickness, he made him his amanuensis, and, when joint secretary of the Treasury, in 1763, he obtained for him a clerkship in that

1 About 1807 a satirical poem published by Stockdale, called "All the Talents," went through several editions and was a most violent tirade against the Whigs. The author of this squib took the very appropriate name of Polypus, and it was dedicated "to the Emperor of China." The "All the Talents" ministry, said to be formed without regard to party distinction, came into office in 1806, and was composed of the following members: Lord Erskine, Lord Chancellor; Earl Fitzwilliam, President of the Council; Viscount Sidmouth, Lord Privy Seal; Lord Grenville, First Lord of the Treasury; Lord Hawick, First Lord of the Admiralty; Earl Moira, Master General of the Ordnance; Earl Spencer, Secretary of State for Home Affairs; Mr. Fox, Foreign Affairs; Mr. Windham, Secretary at War; Lord Henry Petty, Chancellor of the Exchequer, and Lord Ellenborough, Chief Justice, with a seat in the Cabinet.