34 LONDON PARKS & GARDENS 
Hamilton on November 15, 1712, which resulted in the 
death of both the combatants—the Duke, whose loss was 
a great blow to the Jacobite cause in Scotland, and the 
Whig opponent. All through the eighteenth century 
Hyde Park was frequently the place in which disputes 
were settled, and one of the last duels recorded, which 
resulted in the death of Captain Macnamara (his 
antagonist, Colonel Montgomery, being tried for man¬ 
slaughter, but acquitted), although fought on Primrose 
Hill, originated in Hyde Park. The cause of quarrel 
was that the dogs of these two gentlemen fought while 
out with them in the Park, whereupon the respective 
masters used such abusive language to each other that 
the affair had to be settled by a duel. 
Military displays, for which Hyde Park is still 
famous, have taken place there from early times. The 
works of defence were thrown up, and Fairfax and the 
Parliamentary army arrived there in the times of civil strife, 
but soon after the Restoration Charles II. had a peaceful 
demonstration, and there reviewed his Life Guards. 
Again, in September 1668, there was a more brilliant 
review, when the Duke of Monmouth took command 
of the Life Guards, and the King and Duke of York 
were both present. Pepys was there, and wrote, “ It was 
mighty noble, and their firing mighty fine, and the Duke 
of Monmouth in mighty rich clothes; but the well 
ordering of the men I understand not.” 
When, in 1715, the fear of a general Jacobite rising 
induced the Whigs to take serious precautions, Hyde 
Park became a camp from July till November. During 
a similar scare in 1722 troops were again quartered there, 
and the camp became the centre of popular attraction; 
gaiety and frivolity were the order of the day, rather 
