CHAPTER XXVI 



Amesbury becomes a convent — The Duke's racing record for 1798 — His 

 renewed delight in music — Collects books, shells, etc. — Sir Nathaniel 

 Wraxall's references— Racing, 1799-1800 — Dines out — Dining then 

 and now — His grace ill — Engages a resident physician — Purchases 

 the Countess of Northampton's Eichmond villa — Anecdote of Wil- 

 berforce concerning his grace— Orgies at Richmond — The Duke 

 goes to law with the local authorities as to part of his lawn — Result 

 and effect. 



Soon after the dismantlement of Amesbury House, 

 his grace either gave the mansion or let it at a nomi- 

 nal rent to a society of exiled nuns of the Augustine 

 order, who had fled from Louvain on the breaking 

 out of the French Revolution. Here they flourished 

 for many years (until the beginning of the nine- 

 teenth century, when they removed into Dorsetshire)* 

 receiving what was then a great privilege — liberty to 

 wear their proper habits, and to practise the duties 

 enjoined by their vows. 



On May the 18th, 1798, a quiet matrimonial 

 alliance took place ; quiet in the sense that the 

 fashionable world did not array itself in the ' war- 

 paint ' of ' weddings,' and fill to overflowing the then 



