CHAPTER VI.

Brummell's Accomplishments—In London during the Month of Novem ber-His Friend the Duke of Bedford-Visits to Woburn, Belvoir, &c. &c.-Fête on the Duke of Rutland's Coming of Age-Brummell is Mistaken for the Prince of Wales-His Indifference to Field Sports -Nimroa's Opinion of his Riding-Thomas Asheton Smith-His Reason for Riding at an Impossibility-The Major of the Belvoir Volunteers-The Regular and the Irregular-Brummell's Stud— The late Duchess of Rutland-The Beau's Friends and Associates at Belvoir.

BRUMMELL'S manner and address, which made him so acceptable, and enabled him to take such a leading position in society, were not his only recommendations; he was a charming companion, and was possessed of the best of all claims to popularity-good humour. He drew well, and was not ignorant of music, and his voice was very agreeable in singing as well as speaking; he also wrote vers de société, one of the accomplishments in vogue in his day, with facility, and his dancing was perfect.

Though these qualifications, and the quiet unassuming manner which distinguished him, were more likely to make him a favourite with the fair sex than his own, he was as much liked by the men, and became

most intimate at a very early period of his life with. some of the first families in the country; the intervals between his seasons in London being varied by visits to the Prince at Brighton, or to Belvoir, Chatsworth, Woburn, &c. &c. Nevertheless the following note will show that he positively was. once in town during the month of November; but his friend Beauvais was probably an émigré, and he was good-naturedly showing him the lions.

"Woburn Abbey, November 10.

"MY DEAR BRUMMELL,-By some accident, which I am unable to account for, your letter of Wednesday did not reach me till yesterday. I make it a rule never to lend my box, but you have the entrée libre whenever you wish to go there, as I informed the box-keeper last year.

"I hope Beauvais and you will do great execution at Up-Park.1 I shall probably be there shortly after you.-Ever yours sincerely,

"BEDFORD."

At Belvoir he was l'ami de la famille, and at Cheveley, another seat of the Duke of Rutland's, his rooms were as sacred as the Duke of York's, who was a frequent visitor there; and if any gentleman happened to be occupying them when he arrived unexpectedly, he was obliged to turn out.

On the Duke of Rutland's coming of age, in January

VOL. I.

1 The seat of Sir Henry Featherstonhaugh, Bart.

F

1799, great rejoicings took place at Belvoir, and Brummell was one of the distinguished party that assembled there, amongst whom were the Prince of Wales, the late Duke of Argyle, his eldest son the Marquis of Lorne, the sixth Lord Jersey, &c., and all the neighbouring gentry.

The festivities on this occasion lasted for three weeks, and were conducted on a truly ducal scale. Fireworks of the most splendid description were let off in front of the Castle, one bullock was roasted whole on the bowling-green of the quadrangle, and another at the bottom of the hill on which the noble pile of building stands; but such was the severity of the weather, that while one side was roasting the other was freezing. This, however, did not deter the peasantry from making their way in hundreds to the Duke's kitchen and servants' hall, where the table groaned with substantial fare, and the "brown October" was not only "drunk on the premises," but carried away in pailsful. This unrivalled example of baronial magnificence and hospitality is still remembered in the vale of Belvoir; a circumstance not very extraordinary, for this proof of the warmth and generosity of the young and noble duke's disposition is said to have cost him sixty thousand pounds.

The weather being severe, there was of course no hunting, so skating was the order of the day; and Brummell, in going down the hill to the ice, clad in a pelisse of fur, was one morning mistaken by the people, who had assembled in great numbers, for the