The sun., 1903-12-27

frightened me, and that can hardly think
sufficiently accounted for by her processing
in the strongest terms to have liked me
more and more every time she has seen
me. though at first she told Mr. Tiemey
no person had ever struck her 30 much
at first sight. So much in excuse for her
telling me the history Of her life, and dwell
ing more particularly on the explanation
OF all her feelings and conduct toward
the Prince. If she is az true as think she
is pise, she is an extraordinary person,
and most worthy TO be beloved.
We talked of her life being written; she
said she supposed It would be some time or
other, but with thousands OF lies; but she
would be dead, and it would not signify,
| urged her to write II herself, but she said
it would break her heart A day or two
before, Mrs. FtzherbeTt had given Mrs,
Creevey an account Of the Princes grief
at Lord Nelson's death. and then entered
into the domestic failings of the great
Admiral, "She was all for Lady Nelson,
and against Lady Hamilton, who. she
said (hero as he was), overpowered him
and took possession OF him quite by force
But she ended in a natural good way by
saying; Poor creature l am sorry Tor
her now, for suppose she lie in grief
Among other persons who came 70
Brighton to pay their respects to the Prince
of Wales during the autumn OF 1908 was
Warren Hastings. whom Mr.. Creevey had
never seen before, excepting at his trial,
! in Westminster Hall. Mr., Creevey was
present at the Pavilion when the Prince
introduced Sheridan to Hastings, curious
incident. inasmuch AZ Sherdan's Pari,a-
mentary fame had been built upon his
celebrated speech against the ex-dov-
ernor-General of India. We are told that
| Sheridan "lost no time in attempting TO
cajole old Hastings. begging him to believe
/ that any part he had ever taken against
! him was purely political, and that no one
, had a greater respect for him than hitn-
! self, &c, upon which old Hastings said with
! great gravity that 1t would be a great
! consolation to him in his declining days
! If Mr.. Sheridan would make that sentence
T! more public: but Sheridan was obliged
+! to mutter and get out Of such an engage
! ;nent az we'll as he could"
/ Another interesting person OF whom
! Mr.. Creevey saw a great deal at the fa-
J vilion in the autumn OF 1905 was Lord Ih,lr-
, low, TO whom, it seems, the Prince always
. behaved with the most marked deference
, and attention. We read: II had never
! seen him. but once. before. and the occa-
| sion was an extraordinary one. Lady
! Oxford, who then had house at Ealing
| Gt was in 1901, had by Lord Thurlows
, desire. | believe. at all events with his
+, acquiescence. invited Horne Tooke to din
ncr to meet him. Lord Thurlow never had
seen Horne Tooke since he had prosecuted
him. when Attorney General. for libel lin
l774 l believe il was). when the greatest
! bitterness was shown on both sides, 30 that
the dinner was meeting of great curiosity
/ TO us who were invited to it. Sheridan
was there. and Mrs. Sheridan; the late
Lord Camelford, Sir Francis Burdette,
Charles Warren, with several others and
myself Tooke evidently came prepared
FOR a display and. a. had met him re-
peatedly and considered his powers Of con-
versation as surprising those of any per-
son l had ever seen. in point of skill and
de1terity and if at all necessary. in lying).
I took for granted old grumbling Thur
! low would be obliged to lower his toIsail
10 him. But it seemed AS if the very look
and voice of Thurlow scared Tooke out OF
his senses, and certainly nothing could be
much more formidable. SO Tooke tried to
recruit himself by wine. and. though not
! drinker. was very drunk. But all would
not do: he was perpetually trying TO dis
tinglish himself. and Thurlow constantly
; laughing at him"
In the autumn of 1905, which was the
wear before his death, Thurlow had declined
greatly in energy. His daughter and the
clergyman of Brighton used to try to pro-
cure any stranger or other person who
they thought would Ike agreeable to the
/ old man at dinner. Mr.. Creevey was occa-
sionallv invited. He says that however
4! rough Thurlow might be with me, he was
i the politest man in the world to ladies'
/ Two or three hours were occupied by him
| at dinner in lying in wait for any unfort-
, unate slip or ridiculous observation that
! might be made by any of his male visitors.
whom, when caught he never left hold Of
till | have seen the sweat run down their
faces from the scrape they had got into.
Having seen this property of his, took
/ care, of course, to keep clear of him. and
have often enjoyed extremely seeing the
figures which men have cut who came
y, with the evident intention of showing of
before him. Curran, the Irish lawyer,
was striking instance Of this. ! dined
! with him at Thurlow's one day, and Thur
low lust made as great fool of him as
he did formerly OF Tooke."
We learn that Thurow was always
dressed In full suit of clothes Of the old
fashion. great cuffs and massy buttons,
great wig, long rnftles and so forth; the black
eyebrows exceeded in size any ] have ever
seen, and his voice. though by no means
devoid of melody, was a kind Of rolling,
murmuring thunder. He had great read
ing, particularly classical, and was very
distinguished. as we'll as most daring con-
verser never heard Of any one but Mr..
Hare who had fairly beat him; and this,
know from persons who we're present,
Hare did more than once. at Carlton House
and at Woburn." The writer Of these papers
adds that -Sir Philip Francis, whom
knew intimately, and who certainly was a
remarkably quick and clever man. was
perpetu ually vowing vengeance against
Thurlow, and always fixing his time during
this autumn of 1905 for making an example
of the old ruftan,' either at the Pavilion
or wherever he met him, but | have seen
them meet afterward, and though Thur
low was always ready for battle, Francis
who on all other occasions was bold as a
lion, would never stir"