Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1856-07-15
DAILY VlRGlNlAN.
BEAU BRU M M Ell l..
FROM ruE JOURNAL OF THOMAS RAiKEs.

poop Brummell what fate was his lie was in
his time the very grass of fashions every one from the
highest 10 tho lowest eonspirod To spoil him; aud
who that knew him well could deny that, with all his
faults he was still the most gentemanlike the most
agreeable of companions Never was there man
who during his career, had such unbo0ndcd inlu-
ence and what Is seldom the case such general pop
uarty in society. Without being man of intrigue,
for never knew him engaged IN what Is called II
hotson in society he was the idol OF the women hap
py was she in whose opcra-box he would pass mn
hour at whose table he would dine or whose assem-
bly, he would honor and why Not only because he
was host of amusement in himself, with his jokes
and his oers but because he was such iavorite VITA
the men that all were anxious then To join the party
In French society, the women give the ION, assert
their influence and by their verdict alone determine
the weight which each shall have IN their circle
the men only live under the sanction of their appro-
baton and the idol of to-day may be the object OF per-
Slfdye tomorrow. From this judgement there Is no
appeal Whether IL may he that the numerous clubs
III London render the men independent of women 3
society, or whether the absence of those nnremting
attentions their part which characterize what Is
called good-brecding in France, render the English
women anxious to cngrosS the admiration OF
men, the thing itself is certain, that not only do they
mnke greater advances TO attract the attentions but
they are much more influenced by the opinions OF the
men than by their own.
have generally observed that, with few execp
tions, the greatest hvoritcs with the women have
been most popular among men. De this as u may,
Brnmmcl was ms great an oracle among the women
of the highest rank in London, and his society MS
much courted and followed rs among his male assoc
cates, His opinion all matters OF taste and dress
was implicitly adopted Among the present genera
tion we see no such being. In those days gone by II
was considered necessary thatn wellbred man should
still have some little tinoture of what u called the
old school Brummel was born in lI77, aud was first
sent e Eton, where acquaintance originated Ills
tl1urI hg1iu ,lura .t.Et Ia a
and left each of his children Mt his death 100000
lie commenced his career in the 10th Light Dn-
goons, where his agreeable manners soon attracted
the attention of His Royal Highness the Prince of
Wales colonel of the regiment which usherod him ut
into the highest and most distinguished society
of the day. by degrees he became n constant lnmnte
of Carlton House and of the Pavilion, was introduced
TO all the Princes private friends and WIS admitted
by himself into the greatest intimacy
He afterwards left the army and lived in n house
in Chesterfield street. where, Us he has often told me-
the Prince would come in the morning to see his toll
lete and would sit there 20 late that he would scnd
away his horses, and insist on Brumme giving him
quiet dinner which generally ended in n deep pota-
tion
This violent intimacy, Notwithstanding the dispar-
ty Of rank nsed for some years till at length, III an
unguarded moment of inebrity he risked some free
dom of speech to his royal pntron--it was snid
" George ring the bell = but this Brumme himself
always denied The result, however, was mn imme-
diate rupture, and the prince never spoke to hn
again, There excuse TO be made for his in
discretion, but il produced rancor on the other side
which lasted to the tomb.
The ridiculous part of the story is, that Brummcl
took the matter up in high tone and wagcd open
war against his royal enemy assoing him with rid
iculc in all quarters and affecting to say that he had
cut the connection Every one may recollect his
saying to Jack Lee in ST James street, whom he had
Just seen speaking to the Prince Who Is your tat
friend p and Moor IN his Tw.ppenny POSTING con-
memorates the quarrel in hs parody OF the letter
from the Prince to the Duke of York, in which he
says
~ indulge In no hatred and wish there may III
To no mortal except now think ont Beau Brunmeii
who declared tobcr day, In snporhne passion,
He'd me, aud bring the old King into fashion
An these attacks must have increased the royal
animosy Still he was young, aud the Prince had
sedueei him into many loes Deserted by the
Prince of Wales, but coured by the high society Of
London he found new friend and patron IN his TOY
al Iighness the Duke of York, who was never known
in good or i'll report to desert friend The society
of Outlands which consisted almost exclusively Of
men, WAS the most agreeable that could be Imagined
never can look back to any period OF my life when
so much fond regret, As to that which passed nn-
der that roof The Duchess was very partial to Brnm-
nell and rs she had great faesse excellent taste,
and was a very nice discrminator OF good breeding
and manners, the appreciation of such II woman must
be highly credtable TO the individual himself
II may indeed be said in favor Of the manners OF
that day. that have often heard the Duchess remark
how superior they to the tone which existed ht
the period of her marriage and hrst arrival IN Eng
land when the Duke was surrounded by set OF
roues who seemed to glory in their successes, ana
showed q great want of refinement ana courtesy IN
womens society She particularly mentioned Charles
Wyndham, Hervey Aston, and a lew subjects OF her
dread and aversion.
England. for very many. years, had been without n
court till the present reign revived something like
the shadow Of u shade which is limited In the e&-
treme but during that long interval the tte circle
which surrounded the late Duchess OF iork was the
only existing retreat of correct manners ana hlgh
breeding.
Without Impugning the polished manners of high
society in England every one viii allow that there is
at times an extensive case, H1sser alter which may
degenerate into occasional indecorum but under the
root and in the presence Of princess OF the blood,
every man must feel the necessity of being constant
" on his guard and even find pleasure in convinc-
inc the most profound respect while il in no way OPP
crates as gene the hfarity and pleasure OF the So
ciety In this point, Outlands might be deemed II
court in which the aability ON one side and tue re-
specttui attention the other, were equally remark
able 1t may be said to have gwen tone 10 the
manners of that day. C1ea fnt
The life which Brumme led ut last plunged him
into difficulties. He had lived constantly beyond ms
means was deeply in debt and the notorious usuferS
Howard aud Gibbs, refused further supplies unless
furnished with the securities of friends. Here his
popularity supplied source which was fatal To lle
purse of many of our friends in the sequel At this
period Walters Club, which had been originally es-
tabshed for harmonic feelings, became the resort OF
all the fine gentlemen of the day The dinners were
superlave the.high play at Macao wasgradually IN
troduced The first effort Of the beau was unsuecess-
fpl and. as he was then not addicted to games of
chance. his depression very great
/. was five o'clock fine summers morning,
when he was walking home with me through Bcrke-
Low street and was bitterly lamentng his misfortune.
He suddenly stopped on seeing something glitering
in the kennel lie stopped down and picked up a
crooked sxpence His countenance Immediately
frightened This, said he is harbnger OF good
luck. He took in home, and before he went to bed,
ar;,led hoe in it and fastened it to his watch chair