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which he was a member。
It had long been customary for the Inns of Court to entertain our
monarchs upon their accession to the crown with a revel and
pageant； and the last was exhibited in honour of King William；
when Nash was chosen to conduct the whole with proper decorum。
He was then a very young man； but succeeded so well in giving
satisfaction； that the king offered to give him the honour of
knighthood； which； however； Nash declined； saying：‘Please your
Majesty； if you intend to make me a knight； I wish it may be one
of your poor knights of Windsor； and then I shall have a fortune
at least able to support my title。'
In the Middle Temple he managed to rise ‘to the very summit of
second…rate luxury；' and seems to have succeeded in becoming
a fashionable _recherche_； being always one of those who were
called good companya professed dandy among the elegants。
No wonder； then； that we subsequently find him Master of the
Ceremonies at Bath； then the theatre of summer amusements for all
people of fashion。 It was here that he took to gambling； and was
at first classed among the needy adventurers who went to that
place； there was； however； the great difference between him and
them； that his heart was not corrupt； and though by profession a
gamester； he was generous； humane； and honourable。
When he gave in his accounts to the Masters of the Temple； among
other items he charged was one‘For making one man happy；
L10。' Being questioned about the meaning of so strange an
item； he frankly declared that； happening to overhear a poor man
declare to his wife and large family of children that L10
would make him happy； he could not avoid trying the experiment。
He added； that； if they did not choose to acquiesce in his
charge； he was ready to refund the money。 The Masters； struck
with such an uncommon instance of good nature； publicly
thanked him for his benevolence； and desired that the sum might
be doubled as a proof of their satisfaction。
‘His laws were so strictly enforced that he was styled 〃King of
Bath：〃 no rank would protect the offender； nor dignity of
station condone a breach of the laws。 Nash desired the Duchess
of Queensberry； who appeared at a dress ball in an apron of
point…lace； said to be worth 500 guineas； to take it off； which
she did； at the same time desiring his acceptance of it； and when
the Princess Amelia requested to have one dance more after 11
o'clock； Nash replied that the laws of Bath； like those of
Lycurgus； were unalterable。 Gaming ran high at Bath； and
frequently led to disputes and resort to the sword； then
generally worn by well…dressed men。 Swords were； therefore；
prohibited by Nash in the public rooms； still they were worn in
the streets； when Nash； in consequence of a duel fought by
torchlight； by two notorious gamesters； made the law absolute；
〃That no swords should； on any account； be worn in
Bath。〃 '＇114＇
＇114＇ The Book of Days； Feb。 3。
About the year 1739 the gamblers； in order to evade the laws
against gaming； set up E O tables； and as these proved very
profitable to the proprietors at Tunbridge； Nash determined to
introduce them at Bath； having been assured by the lawyers that
no law existed against them。 He therefore set up an E O table；
and the speculation flourished for a short time； but the
legislature interfered in 1745； and inflicted severe penalties on
the keepers of such tables。 This was the ruin of Nash's gambling
speculation； and for the remaining sixteen years of his life he
depended solely on the precarious products of the gaming table。
He died at Bath； in 1761； in greatly reduced circumstances； being
represented as ‘poor； old； and peevish； yet still incapable of
turning from his former manner of life。'
‘He was buried in the Abbey Church with great ceremony： a solemn
hymn was sung by the charity…school children； three clergymen
preceded the coffin； the pall was supported by aldermen； and the
Masters of the Assembly…Rooms followed as chief mourners； while
the streets were filled and the housetops covered with
spectators； anxious to witness the respect paid to the venerable
founder of the prosperity of the city of Bath。'＇115＇
＇115＇ The Book of Days； Feb。 3。
The following are the chief anecdotes told of Beau Nash。
A giddy youth； who had resigned his fellowship at Oxford； brought
his fortune to Bath； and； without the smallest skill； won a
considerable sum； and following it up； in the next October added
four thousand pounds to his former capital。 Nash one night
invited him to supper； and offered to give him fifty guineas to
forfeit twenty every time he lost two hundred at one sitting。
The young man refused； and was at last undone。
The Duke of B loved play to distraction。 One night；
chagrined at a heavy loss； he pressed Nash to tie him up from
deep play in future。 The beau accordingly gave his Grace one
hundred guineas on condition to receive ten thousand whenever he
lost that amount at one sitting。 The duke soon lost eight
thousand at Hazard； and was going to throw for three thousand
more； when Nash caught the dice…box； and entreated the peer to
reflect on the penalty if he lost。 The duke desisted for that
time； but ere long； losing considerably at Newmarket； he
willingly paid the penalty。
When the Earl of T was a youth he was passionately fond
of play。 Nash undertook to cure him。 Conscious of his superior
skill； he engaged the earl in single play。 His lordship lost his
estate； equipage； everything！ Our generous gamester returned
all； only stipulating for the payment of L5000 whenever he
might think proper to demand it。 Some time after his lordship's
death； Nash's affairs being on the wane； he demanded it of his
heirs； _WHO PAID IT WITHOUT HESITATION_。
Nash one day complained of his ill luck to the Earl of
Chesterfield； adding that he had lost L500 the last night。
The earl replied； ‘I don't wonder at your _LOSING_ money； Nash；
but all the world is surprised where you get it to lose。'
‘The Corporation of Bath so highly respected Nash； that the
Chamber voted a marble statue of him； which was erected in the
Pump…room； between the busts of Newton and Pope； this gave rise
to a stinging epigram by Lord Chesterfield； concluding with these
lines：
〃The _STATUE_ placed these busts between
Gives satire all its strength；
_WISDOM_ and _WIT_ are little seen；
But _FOLLY_ at full length。〃 '＇116＇
＇116＇ The Book of Days； Feb。 3。
THE EARL OF CHESTERFIELD。
Walpole tells us that the celebrated Earl of Chesterfield
_LIVED_ at White's Club； gaming； and uttering witticisms among
the boys of quality； ‘yet he says to his son； that a member of a
gaming club should be a cheat； or he will soon be a beggar；' an
inconsistency which reminds one of old Fuller's saw‘A father
that whipt his son for swearing； and swore himself whilst he
whipt him； did more harm