The New Orleans daily Democrat., 1878-08-25
"REMINISCENCES OF THE REGENCY.
For the Democrat

Where Carlton House once stood the Duke
OF York's column now stands. Carlton House
was the palace of the Prince of Wales, who,
during the latter days and lunacy of George
III, was created Prince Regent OF England.
It was at Carlton House the midnight orgies
Of dssipated prince were held. 1t was there
the wits and brilliant men Of the day met,
reveled and enjoyed life. Amongst them were
Beau Brummel, the exquisite man OF fashion;
Richard Brinsly Sheridan, a wit, debator,
play writer and spendthrift, of whom it was
truly said that he had made the greatest
speech and had written the best comedy in
the English language Such were the boon
companions OF the Prince, and it might be
said he was no less wit himself. With host
of other brilliant men they spent their nights
at Carlton House joyously, yet recklessly
dissipated. The Prince of Wales was, al
though sybarite, refined in his tastes. He
surrounded himself with all the great men Of
the day, and at that time the Pavilion at
Brighton and Carlton House in London were
in turn the resort of men whose wit and elo-
guence flooded the town with bon mots and
flashes of repartee never to be forgotten.
A dissipated court has passed away, and in
its stead stands one presided over by lady
unrivaled for her attributes as a mother and
as @ monarch.
The men who gave glitter to the court and
orgies of the Prince Regent have all passed
aWay-Beau Brummel was exiled socially for
an imprudent witticism offensive TO his royal
friend, and ultimately sent to pine away
the remainder Of his years as q consul in
petty sea port Of France, where he died poor
and neglected. The brilliant and improvident
Sheridan also neglected by his selfish patron
the Prince, died almost of starvation in a
garret within sight of Buckingham Palace.
At last pecuniary aid came from the Prince.
Sheridan was dying-he just had strength
enough to say to the messenger: II would
rather die Of starvation than accept this
tardy, unfeeling recognition
This eloquent and brilliant wit left behind
him many remarkable works. His great
Begun speech, impeaching Warren Hastings,
is considered the finest ever delivered IN the
English language, and of his many sparkling
comedies, the School for Scandal will hold its
place for excellence and wit against all that
have been written before Or since.
With George " passed away period re-
markable for its debauchery. but its land
marks remain Waterloo Place with it's
columns, the Quadrant of Regent street,
Langham Place with its unique church, and
all the architectural beauty of that graceful
Quarter" of the West End, Is q standing
monument OF the Princes good taste, and
may serve to blot out some of his many
faults. The luxurious grandeur and extrava-
GRANGE Of the Prince may be we'll conceived
by the following description OF a Bacchana-
han feast given by that voluptuary:
In a grand saloon OF Carlton House covers
were laid for three hundred; the decorations
OF the dinner table were novelty; In the
centre ran from end to end a miniature
Thames OF perfumed waters that emitted
their odors and filled the room with all the
perfumes OF Arabia; floating on the waters
was Liliputan fleet of gold and silver ships
studded with Jewels laden with foreign fruits
and CONNECTIONS OF the country whose dag was
unfurled at the masthead. Small boats glided
around the ships freghted with exotics. A
fountain Of prismatic crystal sent forth ia
fanciful inflow various wines Of the choicest
Kind The room was decorated by landscape
scenes to represent the open country, and
birds of gorgeous plumage chirped and flew
around, adding to the fanciful illusion of the
scene. The feast over, the decorations were
refreshed, and for days and days after Carl
ton House was visited by crowds Of people to
see the fairy and more than Arabian concep
tlOn OF luxuriousness.
The Prince, although surrounded by wits,
revels, and his houri's had his dark and
gloomy moments. His debts, his marriage
ath sVfsrr. Princess Caroline of Brunswick; subse
auently inc fs charge u adultery against her;
re D q and ana ha
people for the prosecuted Queen; his unpop-
I1larity when he assembled the throne, and the
contempt in which he was held by the sober
minded people of that period must have Justly
embittered the remainder of his days. When
the "bill Of pains and penalties" was under
discussion, the Duke of Portland urged upon
the Duke of Wellington that it should not
pass the House of Lords, because OF the dis
grace that would be entailed upon the King
by the recrimination that would ensue In the
promptly and acrimoniously replied, ''The
King was disgraced as low as he could be al
ready IL. 3.