1773 THE DUKES 23 



only twenty-three when Boswell was introduced into 

 the Club, only twenty-eight altogether in 1767 (when 

 H.E.H. died at the Prince of Monaco's), and at sea 

 during a part of his life, it is not surprising that 

 proofs of his membership should not be forthcoming, 

 though strong enough is the probability, strengthened 

 by the fact that his younger brother, the Duke of 

 Cumberland, became a member at an early age. This 

 Duke of York is said to have been married to Lady 

 Mary Coke as legitimately as his brothers of Cum- 

 berland and Gloucester to Mrs. Horton and Lady 

 Waldegrave. 



The Duke of Ancaster of the list is the third 

 Duke, who succeeded in 1742 and died in 1778, and 

 whose membership is established by many proofs, 

 among which may be mentioned the fact that his name 

 appears among the subscribers to the Jockey Club 

 Challenge Cup in 1768. He was Master of the Horse 

 to George III., at whose coronation he assisted as 

 (hereditary) Lord Chamberlain. He was twice mar- 

 ried : first to a widow, Lady Nicolls, daughter and 

 sole heiress of Mr. W. Blundell, of Basingstoke ; and, 

 secondly, to Mary, whom Horace Walpole (a prig and 

 a coxcomb, whose sayings about sportsmen must be 

 taken with more than a grain of salt) describes as 

 ' the natural daughter of a disreputable horse-jockey 

 named Panton.' At any rate, the lady's father, like 

 the memorable Mr. Tregonwell Frampton (a gentle- 

 man of good family and position), was 'Keeper of the 



