New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-12-12
A OUEER CHARAC TER.
SIR JOHN DINELEY. BART.

From the queen
At the beginning OF the present century there
were two living objects of curiosity ut Nindsorj
the one was the good old farmer King George III,
who till laid aside 10y mental aud bodily ailn"ntS
used 10 walk along its streets and OH the Castle
terrace regularly, to the great delight OF ms sub
iccts; aud the other was one OF the Military
knights or ~ they then called, the Poor
Knights OF Windsor-a certain landiess ana almost
pennies barOnet Sir John Dneiey: a man oil &C.
centric dress and mien, who had found IN the
Iowrr Ward through the kindness OF those who
had known him in better days. Is reiuge from the
storms of life. Anchored in his little two
roomcd house, he IN se tpso fOfas hrTcs
aine roiandRs aud he was the better able 10
keep the wolf from the door because he had not
servant, or even u charwoman TO walt upon hn.
He would 20 out early in the hOrnlnR alter having
carefully locked his door, ana Walk down through
the Castle cato into tho market place, whence he
would return laden with penny roll pat OF
butter, % small bundle of hreW0oi, ana possibly
herring taking to return TO his rooms and
dress in time Tor the service IN So George Chapel,
which tho Poor Knights were bound, by tho
statutes of the Order Of the Garter TO attend daily.
And who was Sir John Dinrlcy! He was menu
ber-indeed. tho last head and reprcson'atlye-oi
worthy and respectable family who long held
landed estates in ilerleoolsire ind Worcestersnire
Toward the end OF January, ia, the papers an
nounced that tragedy IN high life had occurred 80
Bristol. On the 18th OF that month Sir John Dlnv.
lev Good we're Dlneley, BaTOnet, OF bufhOpc ana
Charlet0n happened t. he staying IN nc neIghDUr-
hood either at the Hot Wells OF at Clifton. lie
was on bad terms. owing TO some family dispute
about property, with his next brother samuel, who
was 10 command OF a ship named the Ruby, then
a mutual acquaintance, win inc kihdeSt lnteh,
tions but with the most unfortunate result, brought
these two brothers together and II WAS hoped that
"A meeting under his friendly mahogany might pave
the way far "A reconciliation Apparently thls nope
seemed likely to be realized, AMI the brothers
parted with an Interchange OF the nSual kindly eN-
pressions saying good night" and the DarOnet
went even 30 far TO say that he shOuld be glad
to see his br0thor again soon" lie was taken at
his word, q little more speedily than he had I'M
agined possible for. having fingered little
longer at his friends table quite late at night hc
found himself crossing the large square under the
shadow Of the Cathedral. known to everybody IN
the West OF England rs College green. Hero he
was suddenly brought 10 stand being confronted
by six sturdy sailors. Ill armed win pistols ana
cutass, with his brother, tine captain OF the Ruby
at their head /. was the work of less than a
minute to seize and gag the unsuspccting landsman
and to carry him OIL 10 the river 3de, where q boat
was waiting. AS soon rs he was On board, the crew
rowed down the Avon to their ship he was speedily
hoistcd board, ana then stranSled by two sailors
named White and NahOny. acting under tho orders
OF Captain Samuel 6OodYerc.
But the vengeance OF the law was both speedy
and sure. he vessel vas detained IN tho roads on
suspicion. and the instigator OF the crime. Captain
Samuel Goodyere Dncley, who, OF course. had sue
ceedrd his brother In the baron"tcy was tricd, with
his two accOnplices at Bristol, IN the following
raonth Of March. verdict OF guilty was returned,
and he WAS sentenced 10 ceath within three
months after tho preparation Of the cruel net hch
made him once baronet and murderer. His
estates were forfeited to the crown and his Nlto
and rwO were reduced 10 beggary. The elder
son. Edward Dineley. died luratlc in l76l. never
having married, and tho yOune r sou was the Sir
John Dinrlry whom have already introduced 20
my readers sl&ty years later n" fo0r hnlSht" OF
Windsor.
But. poor ~ he was he dd r,t despair. evon
when sixty. seventy and eighty years of nge IT
being able t. retrieve his position and once moro
to Locomc Sir John Dinelcy of BGlhope III reality,
The way To accomplish this was easy. II he could
only lind the night and proper person "a lady Doih
able and willing to rescue him from his painful sit
uaton poor bachelor. in fact like his Grace
OF koussliOn liz felt that the one solution of his
difficulties IA well-endOwed wife; ana what no
felt he aYOwed openly. And, with that view. 40
sooner the service over IN ~. Georges than la
went back to his room, threw of lus blue cloak and
" roquelaurc.' aud came out ll" butterfly, an
other creature, quite captivating IN appearance,
Wherever Royalty took its public walk, wherever
u crowd assembled. ~ often as the souBhs OF mill.
tary music brought together tho lar ladies' OF
Windsor and EtOn on tho gay parade, there WAS
Sir John Dlnoley. Then Wa disclosed the gay 40
parcl of the old beau-tho enbroldcl Ell coat. tho
silk lowered waistcoat, the neither garments Of
tawdry ana faded velvet carefully meeting the dirty
silk stockings which Ia their tun terminated in
tho half-poilshed shoes, fastened win silver
bu cklos and clasps On great occasions the old VIZ
was newly p0wdrred-so writes Charles knight
who remembered him we'll III his pleasant gossip
ing about WnAsor--and the pest cooked bat was
brought FORTH with tarnished cdgilg Of lace
And 10 do poor Sir JOHN Dinelcy Justice, there wa
not particle of leyltY IN all his proceedings. They
were terribly rea-to himself at least. His face"
writes Charles Knight. " had grave and Iute'lec-
tual character his department was siaIb aud dig.
niiicd He had a wonderful discrimination in
avoiding the tttering girls with WHOSE faces no
WAS familiar. But, perchancc. some buN0m matron
time gazcd upon tho .apparton with surprise ana
curiosity. In that case hc Wonld approach. with
the air OF one bred in courts. re made his most rIo-
found bow. and, taking piece o. paper from ms
pocket. he presented il and withdrew '-fouhtl,sS
watching the effect II had produced.
give an extract fIom one OF these matrimonial
advertisements:
FOR WIFE
As the prospect OF M marriage las much Increased
la ety. AIN Determined % Dho thr best means 10 as
cover The lady mosl nes' ~ her esteem ~ FNnI ner
fourteen days Il make her qucttst Sc ~ loNhf1 "
mony from the date " THE paper until eleven ?c'e3
the next mOrning and tire contest viii evidently nc
The most subero honorable s'vrod ana lhwfnl' eh.o
uonate pray ader. do not lot f. 50 do@'cy inetfHp
YOU An eminent attorney mere In la'rS w."
from view OF ny sup'rD glcs before my caplsa "ouo
6nlit IN tie FORM %. thr qdren, nous Il We 'Ir'x
him. OF thc next einn NJ attorney mere WHO can sas
You OF nv possession in ipy ea a, aud oVefS ies,
settlement yon can desire to the oreut OF three
acknowledgements pounds
And then follow concal verses. which conclude
thus:
A beautiful page shall c'refuly bod 1911,
Your laly-np's train surrounded with gold
In another OF his handbills he thus addresses tne
ladies with reference To the alienation anu ioeS
tho family estates on account of his fathef orIiho'
Pray my young chaImers, give me q tar hearlngi
do not let your ayaricious guatutanS ~.
brighten you with false account OF ioi
But fIom these dreams no woke AZ aSs SUI g.
suddenly One morning, in the year lsOs, Or
John Dinoey was missed from his place at tue SET,
yico in st. Georges Chapel and on lnYiS' ont "a
found that he had not been seen sly1nS c oas
His door. which was fastened dnSi Sad Slowed .
open; hls house. Which he never naa sns,,tuta
creature to enter was found to DO aiho9s ~ obs;rs
of furniture. except deal table , es strewed
and pallet bed. . His sittlng-ioom k W. ma used
E'sn Yp po o and work on his matrimonial os.
culars lie lay in tho inner room sretSnei oSsrcd
hs bed apparently IN dying s y. his projects and
efforts matIaonial-a bachelor ana Wisn MIN wv
tho baronetcY VI Dmeaey'