274 
he gave it to me, and named the house as No. 55 New King St, 
and guided at the last moment by this information which should 
have been stated as coming from Mr. Peach, to this house also 
lord Dufferin was driven. The record does not report exactly 
what may have passed but Mr. Peach’s name was not mentioned. 
He thus considered his anticipations realised and that he had 
been given away, a position which very rightly annoyed him 
exceedingly. For his authority for his statement he mentioned 
some manuscripts once entrusted to him for publication but as 
they were never published and never produced proof remains still 
dormant, the reference of none effect. As Mr. Peach was 
preparing a continuation of his house or street history, these 
various points are just mentioned here as his notes now, with 
fair certainty, would require very close correction. 
One more little episode must be noticed. Previous to leaving 
the marquess paid a visit to 5 Pierpoint St where—says the 
recording paragraph*—‘“ his great grandmother was born and 
from which she made the runaway marriage with Richard Brinsley 
Sheridan. His lordship was profoundly interested in inspecting 
the various rooms, and pictured his beautiful ancestress in her 
childhood and youth within those, to him, memorable walls.” 
In so few words no paragraph could be more topsy turvy. 
The damsel was baptized in St Michael’s and would conse- 
quently be born in that parish, her father at the time being only 
twenty just beginning his work, humbly enough. Then _ her 
“runaway ” was from the Crescent and she was not then married ; 
and finally it may be said that neither her father nor herself ever 
lived in Pierpoint St. There is however fair and sufficient excuse 
for the last statement as it has been publicly made, but as yet 
authority is altogether wanting in proof, and other evidences are 
against it. We are told that on the occasion of the elopement, 
Sheridan papa being away in Ireland, the landlord of the house 
* Bladud, 7 Sept 1898. 
