DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70302#0176
152
LIFE OF LORD CAMELFORD.
ensued ; but being overpowered by the number of his
enemies, he was obliged to make himself contented with
his situation. The next day the watchmen carried their
prisoners in triumph to the Police-office in Marlborough-
street, where they were gratified with a present of a
guinea a-piece, and his lordship and the captain being
discharged, returned home to refit the damages their
rigging had sustained in the unequal encounter.
This, however, was far from being the only night his
lordship passed in a watch-house. He was often an in-
mate of those at the west end of the town, and on such
occasions, he generally prevailed, either by force, or more
persuasive methods, on the constable of the night to re-
sign his place to him. He w’ould then, with the utmost
gravity, examine all delinquents that were brought in by
the watch, and rejoiced in the opportunity of exercising
the lenity of his disposition, by invariably directing the
offenders to be discharged. In a word, there was no
whim, no caprice, however eccentric and irregular, but
what he determined to gratify, let the consequences and
the costs be what they might.
In 1801 wffien the joyful return of peace was celebrated
by a general illumination, no persuasions could induce
Lord Camelford to suffer lights to be placed in the win-
dows of his apartments, at a grocer’s in New Bond-street.
In vain his landlord represented the inconveniences that
would result from such singularity; his lordship con-
tinued inexorable. The mob soon assailed the house, and
a shower of stones was discharged at the windows. Irri-
tated by this attack, his lordship sallied out of the house,
armed with a pistol which he, however, prudently ex-
changed for a stout cudgel. With this he maintained a
sharp contest for a considerable time, till being over-
powered by numbers, he was severely beaten, and after
being rolled in the kennel, was obliged to retreat in a
deplorable
LIFE OF LORD CAMELFORD.
ensued ; but being overpowered by the number of his
enemies, he was obliged to make himself contented with
his situation. The next day the watchmen carried their
prisoners in triumph to the Police-office in Marlborough-
street, where they were gratified with a present of a
guinea a-piece, and his lordship and the captain being
discharged, returned home to refit the damages their
rigging had sustained in the unequal encounter.
This, however, was far from being the only night his
lordship passed in a watch-house. He was often an in-
mate of those at the west end of the town, and on such
occasions, he generally prevailed, either by force, or more
persuasive methods, on the constable of the night to re-
sign his place to him. He w’ould then, with the utmost
gravity, examine all delinquents that were brought in by
the watch, and rejoiced in the opportunity of exercising
the lenity of his disposition, by invariably directing the
offenders to be discharged. In a word, there was no
whim, no caprice, however eccentric and irregular, but
what he determined to gratify, let the consequences and
the costs be what they might.
In 1801 wffien the joyful return of peace was celebrated
by a general illumination, no persuasions could induce
Lord Camelford to suffer lights to be placed in the win-
dows of his apartments, at a grocer’s in New Bond-street.
In vain his landlord represented the inconveniences that
would result from such singularity; his lordship con-
tinued inexorable. The mob soon assailed the house, and
a shower of stones was discharged at the windows. Irri-
tated by this attack, his lordship sallied out of the house,
armed with a pistol which he, however, prudently ex-
changed for a stout cudgel. With this he maintained a
sharp contest for a considerable time, till being over-
powered by numbers, he was severely beaten, and after
being rolled in the kennel, was obliged to retreat in a
deplorable