THE LAST RACING RECORD 233 



About this time the Duke withdrew almost entirely 

 from the society of the various clubs which bore his 

 name on their books. 



His grace's name last appears in the Racing 

 Calendar of 1806 as an active member of the Jockey 

 Club. His increasing infirmities, aural and visual, 

 doubtless dictated a course which must have been a 

 great hardship to one who had enjoyed club life for 

 over fifty years, with all its attractions of gaming and 

 high living. To sun in his balcony at Piccadilly, to 

 take an occasional drive, and receive the visits of his 

 friends, and go when able to the opera or concert, was 

 all that was left ' Old Q ' of his former ' measure of 

 pleasure.' But the 'Star of Piccadilly' was still an 

 object of attraction on his balcony; though dwind- 

 ling, he still scintillated, faultlessly dressed, while 

 his dignity was not in any way lessened by a parasol, 

 which was held by a stalwart footman in the Queens- 

 berry livery over his wizened head, encased in the, 

 to him, unchangeable three-cornered hat of George 

 the Second's time. Close at hand was his head 

 groom, 'Jack Radford,' booted and spurred, on his 

 master's pony, waiting to take a message or missive 

 to any of his grace's numerous friends or acquaint- 

 ances, male or female, who constantly passed. Thus 

 did his grace pass the most of his time, except 



