The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-01-01
Sir Charles Sedley.
TEMPLE BAIL


In 1868, an extraordinary frolic brought
him into unpleasant notoriety. During
debauch at house in Bow street, with
Lord Buckhurst and Sir Thomas Ogle, he
slipped off his clothes, went out upon the
balcony, and. after conducting himself
in manner too disgusting to describe,
preached blasphemous sermon to the
mob who gathered round; riot ensued,
the. windows were smashed in, and the
preacher had to beat hasty retreat
Such denominations as these could not be
allowed to pass unpunished even in that
age; my gentlemen were cited to appearat
Westminster, and Sedley, after being Sc
verely reprimanded by the Lord Chief JUS
tice, was ordered to pay fine of $500.
After this, biographer informs us, "Sir
Charles took more serious turn, applied
himself to business, and became men,
ber of Parliament, in which he was a
frequent speaker" A reference, how
ever, to the pages of Pepys does not con-
firm the assertion as to his sudden refor-
nation. Under date October 18th, 1868,
the diarist writes: "Pierce do tell me,
among other news, the late frolick and
debauchery of Sir Charles Sedley and
Buckhurst running up and down all the
night, almost naked, through the streets;
and at last fighting, and being
beat by the watch and clapped
up all night; and how the King
takes their parts; and my Lord Chief
Justice Keeling hath laid the constable
by the heels to answer it next Sessions
which is horrid shame" In the same
paragraph we are also told: "That the
King was drunk at Saxam with Sedley,
Buckhurst, etc., the nights that my Lord
Arlington came thither, and would not
give him audience, or could not; which is
true, for it was the night that l was there
and saw the King 60 up to his chamber
and was told that the King had beer
drinking" We have frequent glimpse'
of Sir Charles youchsafed us by Mr.
Pepys; how he conducts himself at thu
play-now disparaging the acting ano
mimicking the actors pronunciation
aloud; now flirting and bandying wi
with lady in wizard, and drawing thu
attention of the audience from the stage
now employing ruffians to bea
Kynaston SO severely for having abused
him in some part that he can not perform
and the theater is closed in consequence
Pepys was present at the performance O.
his first play; here is his account of it
reception MAY 1S, 1885, "It being al
most II O'clock, or little more, to tn
Kings playhouse, where the doors wer
not then open, but presently they dit
open, and we in, and find many peopl
already come in by private ways into tn
! pit, it being the first day of Sir Charlie
Sedley's new play, so long expected, Th
Mulberry Garden of whom, being so re
puted wit, the world doexpectgreatmat
ters. Having sat here awhile and eat moth
ing to-day, did slip out, getting boy t
! keep my place; and to the Rose Tavern
and there got half breast off the spit
and dined all alone. And 80 to the pla
again, where the King and Queen b
, and by come, and all the Court; and tn
house infinitely full. But the play, whel
it come, thoug III there was here and ther
a pretty saying, and that not very man
neither, yet the whole of the play ha
nothing very extraordinary in it al
neither of language nor design; insomuc
e that the King l did not see laugh nc
r pleased from the beginning to the enc
r nor the Company; insomuch that hav
), not been less pleased at new play in m
s life, I think"