HIS lordship's cellar 123 



women, ' plain and coloured ' ? But will the following 

 reference satisfy the colourist, as white is said to be 

 no colour ? Thus March writes : ' Lady Fortrose is so 

 ill that they do not expect her to last many days 

 longer. She has killed herself by putting on white ' 

 (white lead powder) : so fashion then had its victims 

 as now ! 



The next paragraph exhibits his lordship a votary 

 of Bacchus as he was of Venus, Diana, and Nimrod ; 

 though his bottle capacity I have not been able to 

 ascertain. But it is only just to state that no 

 mention is to be found of his over-indulgence in 

 wine or spirits. In drinking, as in eating, March 

 was a veritable Lord Mayor's fool — ' The best of 

 everything did for him.' Thus 'George' is com- 

 missioned to procure ' the best Chambertin . . . and 

 you may give any price for it.' A carte blanche his 

 lordship was wise in giving, for, on his lordship's 

 decease, hon vivants had their eyes on his cellar, 

 as I shall duly record. 



