HIS MORBID TASTES 93^ 



On the death of his eldest brother, who had repre- 

 sented the city of Gloucester, George Augustus 

 took this 'pocket' seat in the conclaves of his 

 country, as he now did in the inheritances of his 

 family. 



In 1755, Selwyn duly proved the truth of the asser- 

 tion that many men of mediocre abilities advance 

 to fame and fortune by having once got into the 

 ' groove ' ; for he was appointed paymaster of the 

 Board of Works. The fact, although not recorded 

 in his memoir, is substantiated by his re-election 

 for Gloucester during that year on accepting the 

 office. 



Selwyn's public or private fortunes do not, how- 

 ever, concern my subject; neither do his singular 

 characteristics, which were strangely contradictory. 

 For, tender and kind-hearted as Selwyn is said to 

 have been — indeed, to 'know and love' him were 

 almost synonymous — yet no person of his station 

 seems to have taken greater interest in seeing a 

 malefactor meet his fate at the hands of the public 

 executioner. Many anecdotes concerning this morbid 

 taste of Selwyn's are told. Perhaps the following 

 will show his friends' appreciation of this singular 

 trait. Fox, the first Lord Holland, during his last 

 illness was informed that his old friend Selwyn had 



