_as public property. 
hesitated to play with him, sober or 
otherwise, for their usual stakes. His 
decision, in cases of differences, was ge- 
nerally final; and many references have 
been made to him, by letter, from very 
distant situations, regarding points in 
gaming. 
Fis spirited detestation of any attempt 
at the undue exercise of authority, was 
manifestéd on various occasions ; ip one 
especially. A fives-court had been bu'lt 
by subscription, near the resident’s 
house at Lucknow, and was considered 
A succeeding re- 
sident, who lately died immensely rich, 
took the liberty of pulling it down, as it 
interfered with that privacy he seught as 
2 married man. In that point nobody 
would ‘have differed from him ; but, as it 
was done without consent of, or even 
notice to the proprietors, or to the so- 
ciety then at the place, such an arbitrary 
preceeding naturally gave offence. None 
hiked to stand forth, until Mordaust, 
who was at the time of despoliation at 
Calcutta, returned, and insisted on an- 
other fives-court being built at the re- 
gident’s expence, on a site more con- 
venient to all parties. 
A new court was accordingly built for 
four of a side; at was ninety feet over 
all, besides twelve feet of space beyond ; 
the front wall was seventy feet high, and 
the court was forty feet broad. The in- 
side was covered with ‘black plaster, 
highly polished, and the fleor terraced in 
a very superior manner. 
Mordaunt was so much master of his 
racket, and was so vigorous, that he 
would always wager on hitting the line 
from the over-all, a distance of thirty 
yards, ence in three times. He could 
beat mest people with a common round © 
_ paler. 
If he ever did indulge im mischief, it 
was at this game, when his best friends 
were sure to receive some sinart tokens 
of remembrance! I have had a ball 
or two from him, occasionally, which’ 
kept my back in aglow for hours. But 
he used to be terribly severe on a ver 
worthy, good-natured civilian, Mr. Mar- 
cus Sackville Taylor, deputy to Colonel, 
now Major General, Palmer, who was 
for’some years resident at the Nabob’s 
court. 
Beiag ona brotherly footing, Mr. Tay- 
jor used to take these unpleasant raps, 
as every body else did, in good humour ; 
and endeavoured, though not with equal 
: “success, to pay Mordaunt in his own 
sein. One evening he received so many, 
-1808.] Demoirs of the late Lieutenant-colonel John Mordaunt. 148 
and so forcible repetitions of the joke, 
that he reguested of Merdaunt todiscou- 
tinue it. The latter, however, did not 
desist, but soon after gave Mr. Taylor 
such a blow, as exasperated him highly, 
and induced him in rather a vindictive 
tone, te declare if he were hit again, his 
racket should be thrown at Mordaunt’s 
head. ‘This threat produced a whimsical 
scene; for Mordaunt coolly told Mr. 
Laylor, that if he threw his racket, he 
would vive him a good drubbing. Mr. 
Taylor no seaner heard the reply, than he 
fired with indignation; and said, that 
“as between gentlemen, suppositions, 
were considered as facts, Mordaunt 
might consider the racket he threw to 
the ground, as being thrown at his head,” 
“ Very well, Sackville,” answered Mor- 
daunt very driiy, “then you may con- 
sider this aim I have taken with my 
racket, as being with a pistol, and that 1 
have shot you dead!” Mr, Taylor was 
proceeding with his. intentions, wher 
Mordaunt observing to him, that as ‘he 
was, according to his own suppositions, 
dead of course, he could not speak; and 
therefore, nothing further could be said 
or heard, on his part. The whole party 
present, who were chagrined to see the 
smallest difference between two worthy 
men, joined in the laugh with Mordaunt, 
and in silencing his dead opponent, whe _ 
speedily was restored to life, and to good 
hamour! ie ok 
This curious controversy afterwards 
calied the metaphysical duel, was often 
significantly quoted, or alluded to, om 
eccasious where matters, that went te 
extremity in the cabinet, ended tamely 
in the field 4 
Mordaunt never allowedthe Nabob to 
treat him with the least disrespect, or 
with hautenr; indeed, such was the es- 
timation in which. he was held by that 
prince, that, m ail probability, the latter 
never felt any dispesition towards ex- 
ering his authority. -Something may be 
gathered from the following anecdote. 
The Nabob wanted some alterations to 
be madeun the howdah of his state-ele- 
phant, aud asked Mordaunt’s opinion as 
to the best mode of securing it: the lat- 
ter, very laconically told the Nahbob, he 
understood nothimg of the matter; he 
having been born andibred a gentleman 3 
but that probably his blackswith, (peint- 
ing to Colonel Marine,) could inform 
hin. how the -howdah ought :to be~tas« 
tened. 
This sneer, no doubt, .gratified Mor- 
daunt ; who, though extremely intimate 
Z Wit 
