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The Bibble Memoirs. 
 
 BEING POHTIOX3 OF THE 
 
 JOURNAL 
 
 or 
 
 CHARLES BIBBLE, ESQ., 
 
 First Yalet>de-Chambre to the Head Cook of 
 
 HIS MAJESTY KING GEORGE THE FOURTH, 
 
 AND SUBSEQUENTLY 
 
 Third Waiter-in-Ordinary A t the Table of Ills Majesty. 
 
 "A journal, to be good, true, and interesting, should be written without 
 the slightest reference to publication, but without any fear of it. . . I 
 always contemplate the possibility that hereafter my journal will be read." 
 
 Qeeyillb Memoirs. 
 
 
 r 
 
 New-York: .,, ^v. 
 
 - «> 
 
 A. DEXHAM & CO., 17 MURRAY STREET? 
 
 1875. 
 
■~B5d 
 
 Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1875, by 
 
 A. DENIIAM & CO,, 
 in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 
 
PREFACE 
 
 I- 
 
 It affords us great pleasure to be able to lay 
 before au inquiring public the following portions 
 of a contemporary record of Court Life during 
 the reign of George IV. At the present time, 
 when there prevails such an intelligent thirst for 
 knowledge, such a laudable desire to compre- 
 hend in its fullest extent, and to investigate in its 
 minutest'particulars, each and every incident that 
 marked this most instructive and edifying period 
 of English history, it is thought that these pre- 
 cious fragments will not be unwelcome to the 
 historical student. 
 
 We are aware that some persons, with narrow 
 and short-sighted views, have presumed to cha- 
 racterize this praiseworthy spirit of inquiry as " a 
 love for gossip," " for tittle-tattle," and even to 
 speak of it in harsher and more opprobrious 
 terms. To reason with such persons is in vain ; 
 
IV PREFACE. 
 
 the reception accorded to works of a similar 
 nature to this is the best answer to their carping 
 remarks. 
 
 Of the author of this work, we may note that 
 from his residence at the Royal Palace and his 
 daily contact with his Sovereign, he was pecu- 
 liarly qualified to hand down to posterity just 
 these minor particulars which are so dear to the 
 truth-loving mind in after generations. If the 
 information that Mr. Greville extracted from the 
 valet-de-chambre of the King and has recorded 
 in his most valuable journal, has been deemed of 
 entrancing interest, of what value must be the 
 daily observations of a waiter at the table of His 
 Majesty ? 
 
 It only remains for the Editor to add that 
 other portions of this journal are in his hands, but 
 are for the present withheld out of respect for 
 the feelings of some of the noblest families of the 
 realm. The Editoe, 
 
JOURNAL. 
 
 July lo, 1819. — I have resolved to keep a 
 Journal ; for as I have frequent opportunities of 
 mixing in the society of celebrated men, some 
 particulars about them — and about myself — 
 might be interesting hereafter. 
 
 I have now held the responsible office of First 
 Valet-de-chambre to the Head Cook of his Sacred 
 Majesty King George the Fourth for some months, 
 and, in that time, by frequent intercourse with 
 the gentlemen who are connected with the nobili- 
 ty, who render them services in consideration of a 
 monthly stipend — by continuous intercourse with 
 these gentlemen, many interesting historical facts 
 are communicated to me, of which I would not 
 willingly have posterity remain ignorant. Besides 
 these opportunities, these "feasts of reason and 
 these flows of souls " (as the poet strikingly terms 
 them) which take place below-stairs while the 
 other gentlemen and ladies up-stairs are engaged, 
 I dare say, in talking scandal — a habit I never 
 could abide, although I am sorry to say it is 
 
6 THE EIBBLE MEMOIRS. 
 
 practised in the highest places — besides these 
 evening reunions, it has happened to me several 
 times to serve as a supernumerary waiter at the 
 royal entertainments, at which times I have, more 
 than once, found myself in the presence of, and 
 face to face with, my gracious Sovereign, the 
 great and good King George the Fourth. 
 
 July 26, 1819. — This day, I may say, is the 
 proudest of my life, and as I take my pen to re- 
 cord the event which has made me the happiest of 
 men, I almost weep with joy and exultation to 
 think that one day posterity will know that the 
 monarch of Great Britain, Ireland, and the Isle 
 of Man deigned to speak familiarly to me. 
 
 His Majesty met me in a corridor leading to his 
 apartments, and, in my confusion, almost dazzled 
 by the eifulgence of his kingly countenance, I 
 stood still — I could not move, I could only gaze 
 with awe. And then his Sacred Majesty, the 
 Defender of the Faith, condescended to address 
 to me those ever-to-be-cherished words, 
 
 " D you, get out of my way !" 
 
 I can add no more ; my heart is full — to thinl 
 
 that I, Charles Bibble, have been d d by the 
 
 King of England. 
 
 July 30, 1819.— The Duke of Wellington called 
 upon his Majesty to-day, but, it being only two 
 
THE BIBBLE MEMOIRS. 7 
 
 o'clock in the afternoon, his Majesty of course 
 had not yet arisen from his regal couch. Sir 
 William Knighton not being at hand, no one else 
 would take the responsibility of arousing his 
 Majesty, so that his Grace the Duke departed 
 without an interview. Within an hour, a courier 
 arrived with a dispatch from his Grace to his 
 Majesty. This dispatch subsequently came un- 
 der my observation. It read : 
 
 u Apsley House, July 30, 1819. 
 " I regret to have to inform your Majesty that 
 the spirit of anarchy stalks abroad. Two of the 
 windows of the residence of the Commander-in- 
 Chief of your Majesty' s forces were broken last 
 night by missiles — to wit, two bricks and one 
 stone — by a turbulent and disorderly mob con- 
 sisting of three persons. One of these was provi- 
 dentially captured by your Majesty' s ever- vigilant 
 police force. He was a boot-black ! I have made 
 application to the civil powers that he be handed 
 over to the military authorities, for trial and exe- 
 cution. The two other revolutionists unfortu- 
 nately escaped. I would suggest to your Majesty 
 that you immediately summon a special Cabinet 
 •"Council to deliberate upon this grave state of 
 ? affairs, and to take vigorous measures thereupon. 
 Or, which would be preferable, that your Majesty 
 should issue a proclamation declaring such par- 
 
8 THE B1B13LE MEMOIRS. 
 
 ties to be banditti and outlaws. This would 
 probably be sufficient to check such heinous 
 offences, as I shall immediately place the whole 
 available military force of your Majesty's domi- 
 nions in pursuit of the miscreants. 
 
 "I herewith have the honor to hand your 
 Majesty, for your Majesty's signature, an order 
 for the execution of the ruffian who is in custody. 
 His trial will take place this afternoon. 
 ' ' I have the honor to be 
 
 "Wellington, 
 ' ' Commander-in-Chief" 
 
 December 20, 1819. — There was a large and 
 elegant party of the highest respectability in our 
 reception-rooms below- stairs this evening. There 
 were present the gentlemen of H. R. H. the Duke 
 of York, of H. R. H. the Duke of Cumberland, 
 of the Most Noble the Marchioness of Conyng- 
 ham, of his Grace the Duke of Wellington, and 
 of many others too numerous to mention. The 
 conversation was general, and many interesting 
 historical particulars were given of the noble per- 
 sons with whom the gentlemen present were 
 connected. I would that my memory were more 
 retentive, and that I had more particulars which 
 I could set down with entire confidence in their 
 accuracy. The following, however, may be im- 
 plicitly relied on by the future historian : 
 
THE BIBBLE MEM0IK3. V? 
 
 His Grace the Duke of Wellington's usually 
 placid disposition was disturbed this morning on 
 finding the left side of his right boot almost en- 
 tirely unblacked. His Grace breakfasted upon 
 two hard-boiled eggs, a dish of tea and buttered 
 toast. His Royal Highness the Duke of York 
 lost seventeen shillings and threepence at whist 
 on the evening of Tuesday, December 18th. A 
 misunderstanding arose between his Majesty and 
 the Marchioness of Conyngham on the 16th inst., 
 but the entente cordiale was subsequently res- 
 tored, so that a threatened revolution in the state 
 is prevented or at least deferred. Lord Liver- 
 pool's valet-de-chambre informs me that upon 
 the noble lord' s retiring the night previous, his 
 lordship kicked one of his lordship' s boots with 
 great violence across the room ; and from this 
 circumstance he — the valet — inferred that diffi- 
 culties of a grave nature had arisen at the Cabinet 
 meeting that day. 
 
 I should hesitate to set down and thus consign 
 to posterity the following most astounding piece 
 of historical information, did it not come to me 
 from the most trustworthy sources ; for I had it 
 from my Lord Conyngham' s gentleman, who had 
 it from the valet of the Duke of Wellington, to 
 whom it was imparted in strict confidence by the 
 First Waiter of H. R. H. the Duke of York, who 
 
10 THE BIBBLE 'MEMOIRS. 
 
 received his information direct from the Head 
 Cook of 
 
 [This space is left blank, as the matter it origi- 
 nally contained wonld most seriously compromise 
 the reputation of some of the noblest families of 
 England. At the last moment, as we go to press, 
 we have been prevailed upon, by very strong re- 
 presentations, to suppress this statement ; and no 
 earthly power, short of a Congressional Inquiry, 
 shall ever tear the secret from our breast. Still 
 more — even should such a Committee of Inquiry 
 order us to reveal this secret, we would here state 
 that before obeying we would take legal advice 
 
THE BIBBLE MEMOIRS. 11 
 
 as to whether such action on our part would not 
 be a violation of the duty which we owe our 
 clients. We do not say this for the purpose of 
 BilKing congressional curiosity or to Shew Makers 
 of our laws an improper spirit of independence, 
 but solely to put ourselves right upon the record. 
 We may add that the above-mentioned represen- 
 tations were " broken up" sometime since, in a 
 very careful manner. — Editor.] 
 
 January 7, 1820.— For some time past, there 
 has been a tinge of unpleasantness in my rela- 
 tions with my employer, the Head Cook of his 
 Majesty. Not but what his service is all that 
 could be desired, and but what his manners are 
 most gentlemanly and, I may say, friendly. He 
 has but one fault — it is a grave one, he does not 
 pay. At least, he does not pay my salary in 
 cash, but gives me in what he terms payment 
 little slips of paper which he has had printed, 
 bearing the inscription, 
 
 "GEORGE BUFFUS, HEAD COOK, ETC. 
 
 WILL PAT TO BEARER " 
 
 And then follows the sum due. 
 
 Now, it is very injurious to the feelings to have 
 him say, " Charles, come into my office and I will 
 settle your account ;" and then to have him give 
 me a number of these slips of paper, and say. 
 
12 THE EIEBLE MEMOIRS. 
 
 " Now, Charles, our accounts being settled to 
 date, what will you take ?" And then he reaches 
 down a bottle most affably. 
 
 And if I ask him when he is going to pay as 
 he promises to do upon these slips of paper, he 
 smiles amicably and tells me he will do it when 
 he resumes specie payments. And then he says, 
 " Why ! Charles, they are just as good as cash ; 
 for you know it says on the back of them that I 
 will take them myself in pajanent for every thing 
 — except for those things I have to sell." For he 
 will kindly sell us from the King' s cellar, at half- 
 price, wines and any thing else of that kind we 
 want. 
 
 "And besides," he continues, "any of the 
 dealers from whom I buy the supplies for the 
 Royal Kitchen will take them in payment from 
 3^011." And this was true ; for he had the buying 
 of all the Royal supplies, and the store-keepers 
 with whom he dealt would take from us these notes 
 of his in payment of all little debts, for fear of 
 losing the Royal trade. And then I told him that 
 the Tradesmen to his Majesty would indeed take 
 these notes, but that they charged me a good 
 deal more for any thing I bought, than they would 
 if I paid cash. And then I went on to tell him 
 that if I tried to pay a bill with them in any out- 
 side store, the dealer would tell me that he did 
 not want those pieces of paper — that he wanted 
 
THE BIBBLE MEMOIRS. . 13 
 
 cash. And this lie could not deny. And then I 
 told him that I thought he ought to take these 
 promises of his in payment for any supplies we 
 purchased from him. And he answered, and ex- 
 plained in a very friendly manner, 
 
 "Why ! Charles, if I take these promises of 
 mine in payment forwhat I sell, how in the world 
 am I going to get the money to pay the interest 
 on those other notes of mine, which are outstand- 
 ing ; for you know I have had to borrow money 
 at interest, and pretty large interest too !" 
 
 "Why," said I, "pay those parties who hold 
 your interest-bearing notes with these promises 
 without interest with which you pay me." 
 
 "Ah Charles!" says he, "don't you suppose 
 I thought of that 1 But the moment I spoke of it— 
 whew ! It won't work, Charles ; it won't work." 
 And he shook his head sadly. 
 
 " But," I insisted, " they could not help them- 
 selves." 
 
 " No more they could, Charles," he answered ; 
 "but suppose, just suppose for a minute that I 
 paid them in that way ; and then some day I 
 wanted some more money, and that I went to them 
 again to borrow it — what would they say, Charles, 
 what would they say !" 
 
 "You couldn't raise a penny, if you put a 
 
 dozen syndicates to work," I answered gloomily. 
 
 " I know it, Charles ; I know it," he said in a 
 
14 THE BII313LE MEMOIRS. 
 
 melancholy way, as lie reached down the bottle 
 again. "Ah! you little know the cares and 
 anxieties of an exalted position." 
 
 And then I plucked up courage just to tell him 
 the truth, and I placed my hand on my heart, and 
 I said, " Mr. Buffus, will you hear me speak the 
 truth 1" 
 
 To which he replied that for the originality of 
 the thing he would. 
 
 So I went on impressively, " The fact is, Mr. 
 Buffus, that you live too high—pardon me for 
 saying so, "but you live too high. You have too 
 many fast horses, and fine clothes, and you have 
 three valets, where one would answer you just as 
 well. And so you are continually in debt ; and 
 you have hard work paying the interest on your 
 notes, and gracious only knows how you are 
 going to pay the principal when it comes due. 
 And you have been scattering these promises" — 
 and here I took a handful of them out of my 
 pocket — "and I have a lot of them, and your 
 other valets have a lot of them, and the cooks 
 have a lot of them, and the tradesmen with 
 whom you deal have a lot of them ; and you 
 may talk just as long as you please, and try to 
 make us believe that they are money, but they 
 an't money " 
 
 And here he interrupted me and said plain- 
 tively, " But, Charles, you know they are just as 
 
THE BILBLE MKM0IBS. 15 
 
 good as gold. Yon know that I will pay them 
 all, when I resume specie payment." 
 
 And I smiled. 
 
 "And besides," he added, "I have paid off 
 some of my interest-hearing notes, and if it were 
 not for these hard times " 
 
 And then I felt moved jnst to tell him that I 
 did not think it fair for him to pay off those 
 notes, while he left me with his promises to pay, 
 from which I received no interest. 
 
 And it was then that he smiled. 
 
 "But," he resumed, " I have thought this all 
 over, and I will tell yon what I am going to do. 
 I am going to fukd my debt." 
 
 "Are you, indeed?" said I, for it sounded very 
 nice, though I did not know what he meant by 
 "funding." 
 
 "Yes," he continued, "only I can't makeup 
 my mind upon what plan to do it. Wow, there is 
 the 3.65 plan ; what do you think of that V 9 
 
 Now, I did not want to appear ignorant, so I told 
 him that it was a good plan, an excellent plan, a 
 plan which did honor to the heart of any one who 
 concocted it : but that in my humble opinion it 
 wouldn't work. 
 
 Then he held his head in both his hands, and he 
 sighed. At last he looked up with a determined 
 air and said, " Charles, you are a good fellow ; 
 your social qualities are such as I admire ; be- 
 
10 THE EIEELE MEMOIRS. 
 
 sides, yon have worked Lard for me, and I ought 
 to do something for yon." 
 
 At this I smiled with a prospective gratitude. 
 
 "I'll tell you what I will do," he continued. 
 "I will appoint you my Chancellor of the Ex- 
 chequer, my First Lord of the Treasury, and we 
 will here and now determine upon some plan of 
 resumption." 
 
 "But," I objected modestly, "I don't know 
 any thing at all about finance." 
 
 "That makes no difference," rejoined he. 
 " You will do just aBout as Well as if you did. 
 It isn't knowledge of finance which is required — 
 it is an inventive genius. It is not a plan of 
 resumption we need— it is a plan to make folks 
 believe that we are going to resume." 
 
 " If that is all," said I, " why don't you just 
 say that in five years from to-day you will 
 positively resume specie payments ?" 
 
 " But no one would believe me," said he. 
 
 "Well," I rejoined, "you can make that the 
 grand outline of your plan, and you can fill up 
 the minor details with so many devices for con- 
 traction and funding and other hard words that 
 no one will understand you." 
 
 "Egad!" said he, "how could they, when I 
 don't understand them myself? But your plan 
 is the most valuable of all hitherto suggested. I 
 adopt it unanimously, and in return for your 
 
THE BIBELE MEMOIRS. 17 
 
 valued suggestions, I herewith tender you— my 
 thanks." " 
 
 ]STow, I was disgusted with the emptiness of 
 his gratitude, and I responded with dignity, 
 "Allow me to tender you my compliments and 
 my resignation of the office of your first valet-de- 
 chambre." 
 
 " I should he sorry to lose you, Charles," said 
 he mournfully. "What do you think of doing V 
 
 And I told him how I had the offer of the office 
 of Third Waiter-in-ordinary at the table of his 
 Sacred Majesty. And he again reached down 
 the bottle, and said feelingly, 
 
 "Well, Charles, good-by. You will go on 
 your way to regal banquets, while I will settle 
 down to a course of strict frugality, to prepare 
 myself for the resumption of specie payment." 
 
 "Yes, in five years from date," I said. 
 
 " In five years," he rejoined. 
 
 And this time we both smiled. 
 
 February 12, 1S20.— I this day received my 
 commission as Third Waiter-in-ordinary at the 
 table of his Majesty. The dearest wish of my 
 heart will thus be gratified — to daily bask in the 
 radiance of my Sovereign's gracious presence — 
 to listen to the words of wisdom which drop from 
 his lips, as from those of a second Solomon, a 
 
18 THE BIBBLE MEMOIRS. 
 
 monarch to whom his Majesty is often and justly 
 compared. 
 
 I feel that a new era has commenced in my 
 existence ; that my views of life will be larger 
 and higher than heretofore ; that Charles Bibble 
 will no longer linger in a chrysalis state, but will 
 bloom forth a full-fledged butterfly. 
 
 February 24, 1820.— This day his Excellen- 
 cy, the Minister from Patagonia, dined with us. 
 Although his Excellency has served with great 
 distinction in both the military and parliament- 
 ary services of his native country, yet, when he 
 first landed on these shores, his name was but 
 little known. His Emmanent services in pro- 
 moting the development of the vast resources of 
 his country have since, however, touched the 
 tenderest susceptibilities of many of our country- 
 men, and have spread his reputation from one 
 end of England to the other. 
 
 After dinner, his Excellency discoursed learn- 
 edly, with practical illustrations, upon a curious 
 recreation in vogue, in his own country, and 
 termed by him the Game of Poker. We here 
 play, as is well known, for half-pennies only, but 
 even at these small stakes the game seemed very 
 exciting, and all of the distinguished company 
 present were soon deeply immersed in it. When 
 his Excellency at length turned to leave, the 
 
THE KIBBLE MEMOIES. 10 
 
 charming and volatile Duchess Dowager of Mont- 
 morency-on-the-Thames requested him to reduce 
 to writing the rules of the game. 
 
 I may insert in this place, what I only learned 
 some little time afterward, that the Duchess 
 Dowager was so much pleased with his Excel- 
 lency's prompt and full compliance with her 
 playful request, that she has had printed, for 
 private circulation among the nolbility and gentry, 
 a neat edition of these " Rules of the Game of 
 Poker." Copies are to be beautifully bound and 
 presented to the authorities of his Excellency's 
 country, and to the crowned heads of Europe. 
 
 This is here considered an excellent example 
 for the ministers of other powers ; and we all feel 
 grateful to that nation which has sent us a repre- 
 sentative who can thus cast off the cares of state, 
 and unbend so far as to afford amusement to 
 an evening party, and afterward to a whole 
 nation. 
 
 A copy of this work falling for a few minutes 
 under my observation, I copy the opening para- 
 graphs : 
 
 "Ladies and Gentlemen : It is with feelings of 
 satisfaction which I would in vain labor to dissi- 
 mulate, that I have the honor of introducing 
 among you a favorite and innocent amusement, 
 which occupies the leisure moments of many of 
 the most eminent of my own land. If, when I 
 
20 THE EIEBLE MEMOIKS. 
 
 leave your hospitable hearths, this charming 
 recreation shall have gained a foothold among 
 yon— if those poetic terms of 'ante,' 'flush,' 
 'two-pair,' 'straight,' 'full-hand,' shall have 
 "become household words to you, I shall feel 
 that I have not lived in vain, that I have per- 
 formed my mission, and that the wind that fills 
 the sails of the ship which "bears me from your 
 shores will waft toward me those feelings of 
 gratitude and esteem which I know will fill 
 your hearts. 
 
 " I shall have no opportunity more appropriate 
 than this, in which to express my thanks for the 
 reception you have given me. When I came 
 among you, I was a stranger, and I took you in ; 
 you gave me your confidence, you trusted to my 
 direction, you opened your hearts and your 
 hands. Thoughts like these will ever be a well- 
 spring of comfort to me ; a mine— if I may be 
 allowed the figure of speech— a mine of solid 
 enjoyment. 
 
 "But to turn to the sub j ect on hand. When the 
 ancient orator, Bucephalus, was asked what was 
 the first quality necessary for an orator, he an- 
 swered, ' Audacity.' 'And the second ? ' continued 
 the inquirer. 'Audacity,' answered the sage. 
 ' And the third ? ' persisted the questioner. ' Still, 
 audacity.' In like manner, ladies and gentle- 
 men, would I answer your inquiries concerning 
 
THE BIBBLE MEMOIES. 2 1 
 
 the prime requisite for tins noble game. ( Cheek ' 
 — < Cheek'—' Plenty of Cheek.' Without that 
 quality, hands will be in vain, flushes will pale, 
 full hands will become empty, straights will wax 
 crooked, and you will see your antes depart in a 
 continuous stream, until, in the pockets of your 
 opponents, they will become very distant relations 
 indeed." 
 
 At this point, to my deep regret, my studies 
 of this edifying treatise were interrupted. 
 
 Febeuaey 2(3, 1820.— An interesting incident 
 occurred this afternoon in the House of Com- 
 mons. During the course of an animated debate, 
 the honorable member from Notts took occasion 
 to epithetize the honorable member from Essex 
 as "an ill-mannered dog." The Speaker with 
 much dignity stopped the debate, and inquired 
 of the member from Notts, whether he intended 
 those words to be personal. The member from 
 Notts responded that they were by no means per- 
 sonal, but that he meant them to apply to the 
 member from Essex. 
 
 The honorable member from Trent hereupon 
 arose, and with calm dignity stated his profound 
 conviction that those words could not be consi- 
 dered in any sense parliamentary. He further 
 stated that if such epithets were allowed to be 
 used within these hallowed precincts, representa- 
 
22 THE BIBBLE MEMOIRS. 
 
 tive government might be considered to be 
 doomed — yes, lie would say, doomed — and that 
 the homicidal grasp of a now repressed but ever 
 vigilant and revengeful faction would soon close 
 around their respectable throats. He would 
 state that it was with no feelings of anger that he 
 said this ; for his part, he bore no ill-will to any 
 one ; he was at peace with all mankind ; he was 
 calm ; he was very calm ; but his heart burned 
 within him when he saw and heard such a mali- 
 cious and unprovoked assault made upon the 
 honorable member from Essex — a member whose 
 mild and loving disposition was known to them 
 all ; who was never known to utter a harsh word 
 when thus maligned ; whose parliamentary career 
 had been as honorable to him as had his military ; 
 and who, after his long and creditable labors in 
 the service of his country, was now — through no 
 fault of his own — about to retire into compara- 
 tive seclusion. A seclusion which would not be 
 — might he venture to express the hope — so com- 
 plete as to prevent his displaying, within a nar- 
 rower sphere, all those qualities of mind and heart 
 which had so endeared him to his countrymen, 
 which had made his name a household word, a 
 cherished remembrance, to be handed down with 
 just pride from generation to generation. In 
 conclusion, he would move, in order to mark the 
 stern disapproval of the House of any such dis- 
 
THE BIBBLE MEMOIRS. 23 
 
 graceful language — might lie say disgraceful? — 
 that the member from Notts be exrjelled from the 
 House. 
 
 The member from York here arose and begged 
 leave to remind the speaker and the honorable 
 members that exactly one year and five days pre- 
 vious, the honorable member from Trent had, in 
 the course of a debate, within these same hallowed 
 precincts, stated that the honorable member from 
 Stoke-Pogis was, in his opinion, " a disgraceful 
 dog." 
 
 The honorable member from Trent then arose 
 again, and, with a benign and peaceful expres- 
 sion stealing over his countenance, said, " Breth- 
 ren, let us not rake into the ashes of the past." 
 
 But they would rake ; and the more they 
 raked, the more benign and peaceful did the 
 countenance of the honorable member from Trent 
 become. 
 
 The member from Notts was subsequently 
 brought to the Bar of the House, and received a 
 warm admonition from the Speaker. 
 
 February 28, 1820.— This day his Majesty 
 entertained at dinner a large and very distin- 
 gue party. Many of the highest nobility were 
 present, nor were the intellectual and literary 
 worlds wholly unrepresented. It was, however, 
 a matter of great surprise to all that Brougham 
 
24 THE BIBBLE MEMOIRS. 
 
 should be present, as his Majesty's dislike to liim 
 is no secret — and no wonder, after the manner in 
 which he treated his Majesty during his Majesty's 
 late unpleasantness with his Majesty's royal con- 
 sort. 
 
 His Majesty presided at the head of the table, 
 and was supported at the foot by the Duke of 
 Wellington. After the cloth was removed, Mount 
 Charles arose and begged leave to offer a toast. 
 He would state, and he knew the distinguished 
 company present would believe him, that his 
 gratitude toward his Majesty was no empty feel- 
 ing, that it was a substantial, solid gratitude, a 
 gratitude constantly kept alive and burning 
 brightly — and the fuel was replenished quarterly. 
 Might he offer, as a toast, his gracious Sovereign, 
 King George the Fourth, whom we revere as a 
 Monarch, and whom we cherish, admire, and 
 love as a Man \ 
 
 At this moment, a harsh and discordant sound 
 was heard, and, to the surprise of all, and to the 
 evident displeasure of his Majesty, Brougham 
 was seen advancing to the head of the table, 
 chanting as he came, 
 
 Monarch ! good and great, 
 Preserver of the State, 
 
 1 love thy curly pate, 
 King George, my King ! 
 
THE BIBBLE MEMOIRS. 2D 
 
 " I love thy kingly pose, 
 I love thy regal nose, 
 That blooming, blushing ro3c, 
 King George, my King ! 
 
 " I love thy beaming eyes, 
 Now filled with glad surprise 
 To see me thus arise, 
 King George, my King ! 
 
 " Dread liege, so good and pure, 
 To make my love endure, 
 Give me a sinecure, 
 
 King George, my King !" 
 
 " / give thee a sinecure ? 
 I will see thee " 
 
 "That is a plagiarism, your Majesty," cried 
 Canning. " You are appropriating nry 'Needy 
 Knife-Grinder.' " 
 
 Here, Lord Francis Conyngham arose and 
 asked silence for a song — or rather, for an ode, 
 he should say. It was his own composition, he 
 would state, and he hoped — te-hee ! — that the 
 noble company present would experience as 
 much pleasure in listening to it, as he had had 
 in composing [it. In response to cries of "Go 
 on!" the noble Lord closed his prefatory re- 
 marks, and without further preamble began : 
 
26 THE BIBBLE MEMOIRS. 
 
 " I've taken down my Rollin, 
 I've read each storied page, 
 I've noted every hero bright, 
 In every clime and age. 
 
 " I've noted every general 
 
 And sage of great renown, 
 I've noted every monarch 
 Who ever wore a crown. 
 
 " And of the whole assemblage, 
 For glory bright and rare, 
 I declare, upon my conscience, 
 
 None with George IV. can compare. 
 
 " There was Scipio Africanus, 
 Confucius, Hannibal, 
 And Richard of the Lion Heart, 
 And Phizar-nabul-shal. 
 
 " And there was Cleopatra, 
 Ulysses, Robin Hood, 
 Epaminondas, Cicero, 
 
 And the Two Babes in the Wood. 
 
 " And there was Nebuch " 
 
 "Enough of this!" exclaimed the Duke of: 
 Wellington. 
 
 " Why, there are fifty-seven more verses," 
 pleaded Lord Francis. 
 
 "I said. Enough !" reiterated the Iron Duke, 
 
THE BIBBLE MEMOIRS. 2i 
 
 in thunder tones, and Lord Francis disconsolate- 
 ly took his seat. 
 
 u I think it is very nice," whispered his Ma- 
 jesty to him. "Come around in the morning, 
 when lie is not here, and sing the rest of it to 
 me." 
 
 Here again a grating sonnd was heard, and 
 Brougham, rising in his place, began, 
 
 " My liege, my lord, my sovereign, King, 
 Oh ! hearken now to me. 
 I only ask a little thing, 
 Grant me a subsidy. 
 
 ik For this I'll raise my swelling sails, 
 I'll plow the maddening sen, 
 I'll carry the Pacific mails ; 
 So grant this subsidy."^ 
 
 U I can't stand this," exclaimed his Majesty, 
 as he retired hastily but majestically from the 
 banquet-hall, followed by his guests. The hero 
 of Waterloo and of a hundred hard-f ought fields 
 alone stood his ground. To him Brougham 
 turned and continued, 
 
 " 'Tis not for sake of wretched pelf 
 That I put up this plea, 
 I do not ask you for myself 
 To get this subsidy. 
 
28 THE BIBBLE MEMOIRS. 
 
 ' 'Tis for my country's commerce' sake, 
 
 That, on my bended knee, 
 I ask you now to undertake 
 To get this subsidy. 
 
 11 Oh ! use your influence, my lord — 
 And when you want your fee, 
 Justjhelp yourself to Irwin's hoard — 
 Get me this subsidy." 
 
 The agonizing strains overpowered even the 
 hardened hero, and, in his turn, he too fled. To 
 follow where lie led was not to desert my post, 
 and I escaped, while still ringing in my ears was 
 that imploring voice, 
 
 " I'll build more ships than heretofore — 
 I'll build some two or three ; 
 I ne'er in stocks will dabble more : 
 Oh ! grant this subsidy.'' 
 
PUBLICATIONS 
 
 OF 
 
 A.. DEISTIIA.1V1 & CO., 
 
 17 MURRAY STREET, near BROADWAY, 
 NEW-YORK. 
 
 PETER SCHLEMIHL, 
 
 From the German of Adelbert vox Chamisso. Translated by Sir John 
 Bowring. Illustrated with Eight Plates on India paper, by George] Cruik- 
 ehank. Crown 8vo, cloth. Price, $2. Sent free by mail on receipt of price. 
 
 He put his hand slowly in'o his pocket, and drew ovt by Vie hair the pale and 
 ghastly form of TJwmas Jones." 
 
 "One of the most remarkable talcs of modern limes."— Booksellers'' Guide. 
 
SIR WALTER SCOTT'S 
 
 LIVES OF THE NOVELISTS, 
 
 WITH NOTES. 
 
 YZmo, 435 pp. Neatly printed on toned paper, Cloth extra, gilt top. Price, $2. 
 Will be sent free by mail on receipt of price. 
 
 From the New- York World. 
 
 Messrs. A. Denbam & Co. deserve the thanks of every lover of our elder 
 novelists.iof every lover of Sir Walter Scott and of entertaining biography, 
 for having reprinted the Lives of the Novelists. There are fourteen lives con- 
 tained in'this beautiful and compact volume of 436 pages. They appear in the 
 following order : Richardson, Fielding, Smollett, Cumberland, Goldsmith, Dr. 
 Johnson, Sterne, Horace Walpole, Clara Reeve, Mrs. Radcliffe, Le Sage, Charles 
 Johnstone, Robert Bage, and Henry Mackenzie. Half of these names arc 
 known wherever the English language is spoken, and some of them, including 
 the author of Gil Bias, are famous from one end of the field of letters to the 
 other. 
 
 From the New -York Tribune. 
 
 A valuable contribution to a leading department of English literary history 
 may be found in Denham & Co.'s reprint of Scott's Lives of the Novelists, a 
 work of hijrh favor with a past generation, and challenging the interest of 
 younger readers by the agreeable flow of its narrative, its profusion of anec- 
 dote, and its sound and informing criticisms. The publishers have performed 
 an excellent service in bringing it before the American public, from which it ia 
 sure to meet with a cordial and appreciative reception. 
 
 From the Philadelphia Age. 
 
 It has a peculiar value in being an estimate of great novelists by one of their 
 number, who, in fact, was the greatest of them all. * * * If any lover of 
 literature is unacquainted with this work, let him make haste to get it, in this 
 handsome edition. 
 
 From the Boston Globe. 
 
 An elegant edition. * * * The easy flow of Scott's narrative, the genial 
 acuteness of his criticism, his robust good sense, and his healthy moral sense, 
 arc apparent on every page of these delightful biographies. 
 
 From the New- York Mail. 
 
 A substantial, simple, and tasteful volume. * * * Furnishing, as they do, 
 very pleasing biographical sketches of Sir Walter's best predecessors, rich in 
 thought, profound in criticism, flowing in style, these essays are worthy to be 
 preserved among the more pretentious writings of the delightful romancer, 
 and the fine shape in which they are now presented will be appreciated by the 
 lovers of literature. 
 
 From the New- York Post. 
 
 Sir Walter's Lives of the Novelists are accepted as among the best specimens 
 of this kind of biographical composition in English literature, and we are glad 
 to hail a new edition of it in so handsome a guise. 
 
 From the Washington Chronicle. 
 
 The publishers have rendered the reading public acceptable service in giving 
 it this new issue of a very delightful and, of late, not often found book. * * * 
 The reader will find a most delightful and entertaining feast spread before him 
 in this book. 
 
 From the Springfield Republican. 
 
 * * * The book is sprinkled with amusing anecdotes and quotations. 
 * * * It contains 436 neatly printed pages, and can not be spared from a 
 complete library. 
 
THE 
 
 MINOR POEMS OF HOIER. 
 
 (The Battle of the Frogs and Mice, Hymns and Epigrams.) 
 
 Translated by Parnell, Chapman, Shelley, Congreye, and Hole 
 avith Introductions by Henry Nelson Coleridge, and a Trans- 
 lation of the Life of Homer attributed to Herodotus. 
 
 I2mo, handsomely printed on toned paper, cloth, extra, beveled edges 
 Price, $1.50. Sent Free by Mail on Receipt of Price. 
 
 From the Literary World. 
 
 It was what Mr. Burnand would call a "happy thought" to gather the scat- 
 tered translations of Homer's Minor Poems into one volume. * * " The 
 Battle of the Frogs and Mice" is a mock-heroic poem, which seems to be a 
 parody on the Iliad. The whole poem is full of wit, and Minerva's speech is 
 deliciously funny. The translation, by Parnell, is admirable. Some of the 
 hymns, despite their name, are very humorous— that to Mercury especially, in 
 which the baby-god's theft of Apollo's oxen is amusingly described. * * 
 Every admirer of Homer, and indeed of Greek literature, will welcome this 
 collection of ancient verse, which, whether justly attributable to Homer or not 
 possesses great intrinsic interest and value. The volume is beautifully printed 
 and bound. 
 
 From the Home" Journal. 
 
 "The Minor Poems of Homer" is a welcome volume for those who would 
 eee more of the " Blind old Bard " in English guise. It comprises the " Battle 
 of the Frogs and Mice," in Parnell' s spirited version ; Chapman's stately, 
 picturesque rendering of the," Hymn to Apollo;" Shelley's genial interpretation 
 of the humor of the " Hymn to Mercury ;" Congreve's version of the beautiful 
 "Hymn to Venus ;" Hole's translation of the "Hymn to Ceres," and Chap- 
 man's translations of the Minor Hymns and Epigrams. These arc preceded 
 by the "Life of Homer," attributed to Herodotus, and the various poems are 
 accompanied by Introductions by Henry Nelson Coleridge. 
 
 From the New-York Mail. 
 
 * * All these are very remarkable productions, to the general reader as to 
 the special student, and the publication of them in these fitting translations is 
 an enterprise worthy of all praise. * * This volume is in thoroughly excel- 
 lent shape. 
 
 From the Portland Transcript. 
 
 * * Homer is chiefly known by his great poems, the Iliad and Odyssey 
 while his Minor Poems are but little known. H. N. Coleridge says • " It Is 
 with the Homeric Hymns as it is with many of the plays and most of tlie minor 
 pieces of Shakespeare : they are darkened by the excessive lustre of the sun- 
 like poetry at their side, and are esteemed the less in proportion to the splen- 
 dor of their reputed kindred." * * The best translations of these poems 
 have hitherto been scattered through several works, and the publishers have 
 sought, by uniting these versions in one volume, to present a convenient 
 edition, which may be acceptable to those already acquainted with their beau- 
 ties, and serve to bring them to the notice of many who have heretofore passed 
 them by. They have certainly succeeded in presenting them in a very tasteful 
 form, and the clear, open type, and heavy, tinted paper, show that cheapness 
 in the getting up was no part of their arrangement, but a very moderate price 
 for the work was. * * 
 
 From the Christian Union. 
 
 * * These unquestionable ancient works we are glad to see recalled in f?o 
 pleasant a dress to the general re-ider. The translations have a quaint and 
 stalely style, which invests the poems with an additional charm. 
 
THE WORKS IN PROSE AND VERSE 
 
 or THE 
 
 RT. HON. JOHN HOOKHAM FRERE, 
 
 WITH MEMOIR BY SIR BARTLE FREUE. 
 
 Second Edition, with Additions. 3 vols, crown 8vo. Handsomely 
 printed, with numerous Head and Tail Pieces and Initial Let- 
 ters, and two Portraits on Steel, engraved by Jeens. 
 
 JPMICB, $7.50. 
 
 Bound in half calf, extra, $13 ; Copies on large 
 
 paper, in 8vo, price $12, 
 
 Contents : Translations of Aristophanes ; from Theognis, from 
 the Poema del Cid, from Homer, Euripides, Catullus, Lope de 
 Vega, La Fontaine, Goethe, Monte-Mayor, etc. etc. ; The 
 Monks and the Giants, a Poem, by Robert and William 
 Whistlecraft ; Contributions to the Anti-Jacobin — The Pro- 
 gress of Man, The Loves of the Triangles, The Rovers, etc. ; 
 Miscellanies. 
 
 Of " The Monks and the Giants," Byron says : "Mr. Whistlecraft has no 
 greater admirer than myself. I have written a story in eighty-nine stanzas, in 
 imitation of him, called 'Beppo.' n 
 
 Of his Translations, the Pall Jtfall Gazette says : " They place Frcre in the 
 very first rank of translators of the world. Indeed, Frere is the true standard 
 by which to test every body who ventures on the same ground." 
 
 Of his Translations of Aristophanes, The Nation says : "The mere English 
 reader not only finds Aristophanes in these translations eminently readable 
 and intelligible, but gets from them, with the comment by which they are 
 accompanied, a clear view of the character and effect of the old Athenian 
 comedy, as well as the fullest illustrations of the life, manners, and turn of 
 thought of the Athenian people. . . . The satire of Aristophanes, if at 
 times too coarse for our modern taste ; his wit, if too personal in its appli- 
 cation ; his humor, if occasionally degenerating into extravagance, or mere 
 broad fun, are redeemed and elevated by the exquisite poetry with which they 
 are associated. Mr. Frere possessed an equal appreciation of his various 
 merits, and has rendered with equal spirit and fidelity the lively repartee of the 
 dialogue and the sustained boauty and picturesque imagery of the finer 
 choruses. " 
 
&&&&£* 
 
 &&§ 
 
 THE 
 
 BIBBLE MEMOIRS. 
 
 Being Portions of tte 
 JOURNAL 
 
 OF 
 
 CHARLES BIBBLE, Esq., 
 
 First Valei-de-Chambre to the Head Cook of 
 HIS MAJESTY KING GEORGE THE FOURTH, 
 
 AND SUBSEQUENTLY 
 
 Third IVaiter-in-Ordinary at the Table of His Majesty. 
 
 A COMPANION VOLUME TO 
 THE GREVILLE MEMOIRS. 
 
 New- York : 
 A. DENHAM & CO., 17 MURRAY STREET. 
 
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