A WHIMSICAL FIGURE 253 



would have been the case had not the prince died 

 early. Msecenas was, in fact, working for a title, and 

 this was then regarded as the ready way to such a 

 goal. They say the same idea prevails in our own 

 happy times; but that £5000 would not go far 

 towards the realisation of the object. But, be that 

 as it may, Dodington did not win to the Peerage as 

 Lord Melcombe until 1761, and as he died in the 

 succeeding year, his enjoyment of the ermine was 

 short. As, however, the working towards an object 

 and its anticipation are always more enjoyable than 

 the attainment of the end, he is perhaps not to be 

 regarded with pity, or thought a failure. 



One who partook of his hospitality at Eastbury, 

 and did not think the kindness experienced there a- 

 sufficient reason for silence as to his host's eccen- 

 tricities and failings, has given us some entertaining- 

 stories. The State bed of the gross but witty 

 Dodington at Eastbury was covered with gold and 

 silver embroidery ; a gorgeous sight, but closer in- 

 spection revealed the fact that this splendour had 

 been contrived at the expense of his old coats and 

 breeches, whose finery had been so clumsily converted 

 that the remains of the pocket-holes were clearly 

 visible. ' His vast figure,' continues this reminis- 

 cencing friend, ' was always arrayed in gorgeous 

 brocades, and when he paid his court at St. James's, 

 he approached to kiss the Queen's hand, decked in 

 an embroidered suit of silk, with lilac waistcoat and 

 breeches ; the latter in the act of kneeling down, 

 forgot their duty and broke loose from their moorings 

 in a very indecorous and uncourtly manner.' That 



