IO4 The Post and the Paddock. 



in truth, none but those who knew that royal sports- 

 man intimately, could at all comprehend the fascina- 

 tion which he exercised upon all who came in contact 

 with him. No man knew better, and was more careful 

 not to overstep the narrow line of demarcation 

 between condescension and familiarity ; and hence 

 none, save and excepting the incorrigible dealer, Mat 

 Milton, when he coolly proposed to him " the royal 

 treat" on horseback, dared to take a liberty with him,* 

 however great an opening there might seem to be. 

 Even amid the socialities of the Beef-steak Club, 

 which was enlarged from its chartered 24 to 25 for his 

 sake, he was still " the first gentleman in Europe." 

 With Chifney he was peculiarly gracious, and he 

 would often walk for hours with him on the Steyne, 

 at Brighton, or beckon to him to come and sit by his 

 side in his carriage. Music was nearly as much his 

 Dagon as a thoroughbred. He hung with delight 

 over Wilberforce, who was in his earlier days the life 

 and soul of York Races, and whose voice was as sweet 

 and powerful to his own piano accompaniment, as 

 when it had been heard and cheered to the cost of the 

 Coalition Ministry, by assembled thousands of York- 

 shiremen, from a platform-table in their Castle-yard ; 

 and no one regretted so deely that he should have 

 silenced his songs for conscience sake. His German 

 band is said to have cost him /ooo/. a-year ; and he 

 used to walk round and round them when they played 

 in private, and at times would take half a book with 

 the leader, and join lustily in one of Handel's choruses. 

 The late Sir Henry Bishop once came to hear them, 

 and did not care to be seen, as he was not in full 

 dress ; but the Prince merrily routed him out from 

 behind a screen, where he was drinking in the melody, 

 and bade the band strike up " The Chough and the 



* Beau Brummell always denied, with the utmost indignation, the 

 story of " Wales, ring the dell." 



