34 LONDON PARKS & GARDENS 



Hamilton on November 15, 17 12, which resulted in the 

 death of both the combatants — the Duke, whose loss was 

 a great blow to the Jacobite cause in Scotland, and the 

 Whig opponent. All through the eighteenth century 

 Hyde Park was frequently the place in which disputes 

 were settled, and one of the last duels recorded, which 

 resulted in the death of Captain Macnamara (his 

 antagonist, Colonel Montgomery, being tried for man- 

 slaughter, but acquitted), although fought on Primrose 

 Hill, originated in Hyde Park. The cause of quarrel 

 was that the dogs of these two gentlemen fought while 

 out with them in the Park, whereupon the respective 

 masters used such abusive language to each other that 

 the affair had to be settled by a duel. 



Military displays, for which Hyde Park is still 

 famous, have taken place there from early times. The 

 works of defence were thrown up, and Fairfax and the 

 Parliamentary army arrived there in the times of civil strife, 

 but soon after the Restoration Charles II. had a peaceful 

 demonstration, and there reviewed his Life Guards. 

 Again, in September 1668, there was a more brilliant 

 review, when the Duke of Monmouth took command 

 of the Life Guards, and the King and Duke of York 

 were both present. Pepys was there, and wrote, " It was 

 mighty noble, and their firing mighty fine, and the Duke 

 of Monmouth in mighty rich clothes ; but the well 

 ordering of the men I understand not." 



When, in 17 15, the fear of a general Jacobite rising 

 induced the Whigs to take serious precautions, Hyde 

 Park became a camp from July till November. During 

 a similar scare in 1722 troops were again quartered there, 

 and the camp became the centre of popular attraction ; 

 gaiety and frivolity were the order of the day, rather 



