envelope, and, on the outside of one, in Brummell's hand-writing, was the following remark:—“ Lady W——, la femme la plus coquette du monde." From the foregoing remarks, therefore, the reader will understand that, with the exception of his letters, and the poetry taken from his album, I was not assisted in the compilation of this memoir by any papers left by Brummell, nor by any obtained from his family (to whom I applied), for they had none to give me, but by information which I collected from various sources. Amongst the numerous attempts that have been made in the novels of the day to delineate Brummell's character, Trebeck, in Granby, was the only one that he considered successful. I once heard him say, Lister must have known those who were intimate with me:" from this clever and entertaining book I have made one or two extracts. The principal portion of the materials, however, from which the sketch of his early career has been drawn, was procured from friends who were intimate with him. The description of the last years of his life is the result of my own observations, and that of those who were constantly about him. To them, and to those noblemen and gentlemen who were kind enough to reply to my inquiries, I beg to return my acknowledgments; and in conclusion I have merely to add, that whatever imperfections the work may have, whether as to the choice of subject, the style, or execution, I have carefully refrained from any attempt to enliven it by the introduction of anecdotes, which, though witty and amusing, would have wounded the feelings of others. In this, at least, I trust I have not failed. CONTENTS OF VOL. I. Early distinctions in dress-Milton's Eve-The Roman exquisite- The native princes of Britain-Hotspur's fop-The Beaux in the reign of Charles the Second-Beau Hewitt-Beau Wilson -Beau Fielding-Beau Edgeworth-Beau Nash-Petrarch- 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. Brum- Buck Brummell at Eton His gentlemanly deportment - The Windsor Bargeman-The sporting High Sheriff-His novel estimate of character-Dame Young-Description of George by the Captain of her house-His great dexterity in toasting cheese-His peccadilloes-Dr. Langford-Brummell enters at |