Lord Barrymore

• Posted by mgr on May 9th, 2009 filed in Berühmte Dandys, HISTORISCHES
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This nobleman came of a very old family, and when of age succeeded to a fine estate. He acquired no small degree of notoriety from his love of pugilism and cock-fighting; but his forte lay in driving, and few coachmen on the northern road could ” tool” a four-in-hand like him. His Lordship was one of the founders of the “Whip Club.”

The first time I ever saw Lord Barymore was one fine evening while taking a stroll in Hyde Park. The weather was charming, and a great number of the bon-ton had assembled to witness the departure of the Four-in-Hand Club. Conspicuous among all the “turns-out” was that of his Lordship, who drove four splendid grays, unmatched in symmetry, action, and power. Lord Barrymore was, like Byron and Sir Walter Scott, club-footed. I discovered this defect the moment he got off his box to arrange something wrong in the harness. If there had been a competitive examination, the prize of which would be given to the most proficient in slang and vulgar phraseology, it would have been safe to back his Lordship as the winner against the most foul-mouthed of costermongers ; for the way he blackguarded his servants for the mis-adjustment of a strap was horrifying. On returning home, I dressed and went to the Club to dine, where I alluded to the choice morsels of English vernacular that had fallen from the noble whip’s mouth in addressing his servants, and was assured that such was his usual language when out of temper.

In addition to his “drag” in the “Four-in-hand Club,” Lord Barrymore sported a very pretty “Stanhope,” in which he used to drive about town, accompanied by a little boy, whom the world denominated his tiger. It was reported that Lord Barrymore had, in his younger days, been taken much notice of by the Prince Regent; in fact, he had been the boon companion of His Royal Highness, and had assisted at the orgies that used to take place at Carlton House, where he was a constant visitor.

Notwithstanding this, Lord Barrymore was considered by those intimately acquainted with him to be a man of literary talents. He certainly was an accomplished musician, a patron of the drama, and a great friend of Cooke, Kean, and the two Kembles; yet I have heard a host of crimes attributed to his Lordship. This, if not a libel, showed that the connexion existing between the Prince Regent and this nobleman could not have been productive of good results, and tends to confirm the impression that the profligate life led by His Royal Highness and those admitted to his intimacy was such, as to make it a matter of wonder that such scandalous scenes of debauchery could be permitted in a country like ours. Indeed, his acquaintance with the Prince ruined Lord Barrymore both in mind, body, and estate. While participating in the Regent’s excesses, he had bound himself to do his bidding, however palpably iniquitous it might be ; and when he was discarded, in accordance with that Prince’s habit of treating his favourites, he left Carlton House ruined in health and reputation.

Lord Barrymore during his last years was a martyr to the gout and other diseases ; and on his deathbed he was haunted by the recollection of what he had been, and the thought of what he might have become : indeed, the last scene of his profligate life, when tortured by the inward reproaches of his accusing conscience, was harrowing in the extreme.

Quoted from: Rees Howell Gronow: Captain Gronow’s last recollection. (1866)

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