THE duke's charity. 23 



of the park at Welbeck. At this lodge his Grace 

 stationed a porter whose business it was to give 

 rehef to every indigent applicant for it — a pint of 

 beer and half a loaf of bread for a man, and half a 

 pint of beer and the same quantity of bread for a 

 woman. To children a slice of cake and a little 

 wine-and- water were in each case dispensed. At 

 Harcourt House, in London, his Grace's charities 

 were absolutely boundless. I have often been 

 present when Mrs Jones, the housekeeper, received 

 letters from Welbeck, written by the fourth Duke 

 and by his Duchess, giving instructions for the 

 distribution of clothing, food, coals, and money 

 among the poor inhabitants of his Grace's London 

 property. 



The Duke died at Welbeck on the 27th March 

 1854, at the advanced age of eighty-five years. 

 His last words, addressed to his regular medical 

 attendant, were these : " Dr Ward, in a few 

 minutes the jDoorest labourer who worked on my 

 estate, and has gone before me, will be my equal 

 in every respect." Throughout his protracted life 

 his Grace was in the enjoyment of perfect health, 

 the result of abundant exercise and of many hours 

 passed every day in the open air without regard 

 to the weather. The Duke preferred walking to 

 riding ; but when he rode, it was invariably on a 

 stout trotting cob, which nothing could ever in- 

 duce him to urge into a canter or gallop. In the 



