37 



A HISTORY OF THK ENGLISH Tt'A'F. 



This was also no doubt a recommendation to Weltje, the fat, important-looking 

 personage who was the Prince of Wales's cook, and who persistently betted on his 

 Royal master's horses until he died of apoplexy at Chiswick while drinking tea with 

 Mrs. Mayersbach. In any case, Lady Lade was often one of the set that went to 

 Brighton Races with the merry party from the Pavilion. Some of them have been 

 so closely described that we can almost see them now, as they walked down the 

 Steyne ; the Prince in a green jacket, a white hat, and light nankeen pantaloons and 

 shoes ; the dark hair and complexion and prominent eyes of Lacle, with his team 



'J'hc ll'c/fer Stakes at Bibury, June 16, 1821. 



waiting round the corner, four bays and harlequin postilion liveries, and Letty on the 

 box in a large plumed hat ; Lord Foley not far off, and Jerry Cloves as near as he 

 dared, begging Colonel Mellish to " light the candle and set us a-going." The 

 first time the Prince danced with Lady Lade at an assembly in the seaside town, 

 the Duchess of Rutland, Lady Elizabeth Luttrell, Lady Charlotte Bertie, and 

 Mrs. Fitzherbert at once left the room. Even ten years afterwards Letty complained 

 that " Lady Jersey made vulgar mouths at her on the racecourse." 



Before the nineteenth century had fairly begun Lade was practically ruined, and 

 had become the "gentleman coachman" of the Prince, receiving a salary for 



