12 'OLD Q 



not a flight of imagination to assert that his lordship 

 may have learned, say, 'trente et quarante' in his 

 relative's company. 



At last this Alexander of fashion sighed for other 

 worlds to conquer, and, in the true spirit of the Greek 

 conqueror, aimed at the capital of the world — London. 

 His thoughts having tended southwards, his body 

 soon gravitated thither. This desire was accom- 

 plished without the aid of Dr. Samuel Johnson's after- 

 expressed assertion respecting the attractive power 

 of the road to London for Scotsmen, 



The exact year of his lordship's migration is doubt- 

 ful. It was probably during the year 1746. On arrival 

 in London, the Earl's rank and powerful connections 



assemblies. And I have hired ' [here follow names of various 

 managers and servants]. 



' And all the above-mentioned persons I claim as my domestic 

 servants, and demand all those privileges for them as pertains to 

 me, as a peeress of Great Britain, personally. 



'(Signed) M. MORDINGTON. 

 * Dated January Sth, 1744.' 



That so impudent a perversion of the prerogatives of a peer should 

 be used, or stretched, to set the law at defiance, was regarded by the 

 Lords as tending to bring ridicvile on their hereditary chamber, who 

 — ' Resolved, that no person is entitled to privilege of peerage 

 against any prosecution for keeping any public or common gaming- 

 house, or any house, room, or place for playing at any game or 

 games prohibited by law.' 



