MARCH-SELWYN LETTERS 113 



The next year Lord March lost one of his most 

 persistent Turf opponents — H.R.H. the Duke of 

 Cumberland. 



Some curious light is thrown on the character of 

 the Earl of March and Rugien by a letter addressed 

 to George Selwyn by Lord Holland, from Kingsgate 

 near Margate, July 19th, 1765. Perhaps the exact 

 recital of the part which refers to his lordship will 

 prevent misconception : 



'. . . As to Lord March, I believe him to be a man of as 

 much honour as any man, but every one who was at Paris 

 lays the playing of Affligio to his door, and I hear his lord- 

 ship still defends him. God forbid I should suspect any 

 ill designs, upon my honour I do not; but I have no 

 patience with such a iravers, as there must be in his way of 

 thinking, who can doubt of Affligio being a sharper, and I 

 heartily wish Stephen ^ had never heard it doubted. . . .' 



Direct attempt to explain this letter had, perhaps, 

 be better left alone; it will convey, however, to the 

 reader's imagination that Stephen Fox had lost heavily 

 to one Affligio in Paris ; also, probably, to Lord March. 



The year 1765 was doubtless unpropitious to the 

 gaming fortunes of Lord March, who, in common 

 with other votaries of the goddess or devil, Chance, 

 had a run of ill-luck which he deplores in a letter 



^ His eldest son, died 1774. 

 H 



