Chap. IX] A FKEEMASON. 93 



in Freemasonry, yet he was too idle to learn the symbols, and never 

 attained the rank of Master. Many of his Freemason brethren 

 had determined to make him at last a Master, and I doubt not 

 that in course of time, had he lived, they would have cajoled bim 

 into learning the requisites necessary to attain that office. He 

 always declared he never could learn by heart ; but as it has been 

 seen that his memory was so excellent that he was able to take 

 down on one occasion some important speeches two days after 

 they were delivered, and as he used always to take down the 

 lectures delivered at King's College verbatim on his return home 

 in the evening, it would seem that, had he so willed it, he could also 

 have learnt by rote. However, he did not do so ; but whether he 

 could not, as he said, or would not, is very doubtful. He had several 

 decorations and orders in Freemasonry, and he was present at the 

 installation of His Eoyal Highness the Prince of Wales as Grand 

 Master at Albert Hall. I mention this because it was extremely 

 difficult to obtain an invitation to that installation, and I suppose 

 he was the only one present who had not ranked as a Master. 

 He was extremely pleased at being present at that ceremony, 

 which interested bim much, and thoroughly appreciated the kind- 

 ness of the donor of the invitation. 



In 1868 he was admitted, on the 7th of February, among the 

 first five hundred of the City Carlton Club, a Conservative club in 

 the City. He was also admitted among the first hundred members 

 of St. Stephen's Club. He had previously, it should be added, 

 belonged to the Eeform Club, but had to leave it on his contesting 

 Eochester. He had not joined the Eeform Club for political 

 motives, for until he contested Eochester in the Conservative 

 cause he had never previously taken a leading interest in party 

 questions, and, indeed, had not troubled himseK to use his vote 

 at political elections. He had several friends at the Eeform 

 dub, and it had other attractions in possessing a good library, 

 and better still a good cuisine, for Francatelli was at that time 

 the chef. 



In 1866 there was a movement for a clerks' school (the City 

 of London College) to be associated with the London Institution. 

 By this project the London Institution was to keep the building 

 of the college in repair, the students of the college were to 

 have access to the educational lectures, the life shares of the 

 London Institution were to be given as prizes to the students, 

 and the students were to have access to the library, besides sharing 

 in other emoluments. It may seem surprising, but nevertheless 



