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‘Yours most sincerely；
‘R。 F。'＇119＇
＇119＇ Apud _Selwyn and his Contemporaries_ by Jesse。
Selwyn is said to have been a loser on the whole； and often
pillaged。 Latterly he appears to have got the better of his
propensity for play； if we may judge from the following wise
sentiment：‘It was too great a consumer；' he said； ‘of four
thingstime； health； fortune； and thinking。' But a writer in
the _Edinburgh Review_ seems to doubt Selwyn's reformation； for
his initiation of Wilberforce occurred in 1782； when he was 63；
and previously； in 1776； he underwent the process of dunning from
Lord Derby； before…mentioned； and in 1779 from Mr Crawford （‘Fish
Crawford；' as he was called）； each of whom； like Mr Shafto； ‘had
a sum to make up'in the infernal style so horridly provoking；
even when we are able and willing to pay。 However； as Selwyn
died comparatively rich； it may be presumed that his fortune
suffered to no great extent by his indulgence in the vice of
gaming。
The following are some of George Selwyn's jokes relating to
gambling：
One night； at White's； observing the Postmaster…General； Sir
Everard Fawkener； losing a large sum of money at Piquet； Selwyn；
pointing to the successful player； remarked‘See now； he is
robbing the _MAIL！_'
On another occasion； in 1756； observing Mr Ponsonby； the Speaker
of the Irish House of Commons； tossing about bank…bills at a
Hazard table at Newmarket‘Look；' he said； ‘how easily the
Speaker passes the money…bills！'
A few months afterwards （when the public journals were daily
containing an account of some fresh town which had conferred the
freedom of its corporation in a gold box on Mr Pitt； afterwards
Earl of Chatham； and the Right Honourable Henry Bilson Legge； his
fellow…patriot and colleague）； Selwyn； who neither admired their
politics nor respected their principles； proposed to the old and
new club at Arthur's； that he should be deputed to present to
them the freedom of each club in a _dice…box_。
On one of the waiters at Arthur's club having been committed
to prison for a felony‘What a horrid idea；' said Selwyn； ‘he
will give of us to the people in Newgate！'
When the affairs of Charles Fox were in a more than usually
embarrassed state； chiefly through his gambling； his friends
raised a subscription among themselves for his relief。 One of
them remarking that it would require some delicacy in breaking
the matter to him； and adding that ‘he wondered how Fox would
take it。' ‘Take it？' interrupted Selwyn； ‘why； _QUARTERLY_； to
be sure。'＇120＇
＇120＇ Jesse； _George Selwyn and his Contemporaries。_
LORD CARLISLE。
This eminent statesman was regarded by his contemporaries as an
able； an influential； and occasionally a powerful speaker。
Though married to a lady for whom in his letters he ever
expresses the warmest feelings of admiration and esteem； and
surrounded by a young and increasing family； who were evidently
the objects of his deepest affection； Lord Carlisle；
nevertheless； at times appears to have been unable to extricate
himself from the dangerous enticements to play to which he
was exposed。 His fatal passion for playthe source of
adventitious excitement at night； and of deep distress in the
morningseems to have led to frequent and inconvenient losses；
and eventually to have plunged him into comparative distress。
‘In recording these failings of a man of otherwise strong sense；
of a high sense of honour； and of kindly affections； we have said
the worst that can be adduced to his disadvantage。 Attached；
indeed； as Lord Carlisle may have been to the pleasures of
society； and unfortunate as may have been his passion for the
gaming table； it is difficult to peruse those passages in his
letters in which he deeply reproaches himself for yielding to the
fatal fascination of play； and accuses himself of having
diminished the inheritance of his children； without a feeling of
commiseration for the sensations of a man of strong sense and
deep feeling； while reflecting on his moral degradation。 It is
sufficient； however； to observe of Lord Carlisle； that the deep
sense which he entertained of his own folly； the almost maddening
moments to which he refers in his letters of self…condemnation
and bitter regret； and subsequently his noble victory over the
siren enticements of pleasure； and his thorough emancipation
from the trammels of a domineering passion； make adequate amends
for his previous unhappy career。'＇121＇
＇121＇ Jesse； _George Selwyn and his Contemporaries_； ii。
Brave conquerors； for so ye are；
Who war against your own affections；
And the huge army of the world's desires。
Lady Sarah Bunbury； writing to George Selwyn； in 1767； says：‘If
you are now at Paris with poor C。 ＇evidently Carlisle＇； who I
dare say is now swearing at the French people； give my
compliments to him。 I call him poor C。 because I hope he is
only miserable at having been such a _PIGEON_ to Colonel Scott。
I never can pity him for losing at play； and I think of it as
little as I can； because I cannot bear to be obliged to abate the
least of the good opinion I have always had of him。'
Oddly enough the writer had no better account to give of her own
husband； she says； in the letter：‘Sir Charles games from
morning till night； but he has never yet lost L100 in one
day。'＇122＇
＇122＇ This Lady Sarah Bunbury was the wife of Sir Charles
Bunbury； after having had a chance of being Queen of England； as
the wife of George III。； who was passionately in love with her；
and would have married her had it not been for the constitutional
opposition of his privy council。 This charming and beautiful
woman died in 1826； at the age of 82。 She was probably the last
surviving great…granddaughter of Charles II。Jesse； _Ubi supra_。
About the year 1776 Lord Carlisle wrote the following letter
to George Selwyn：
‘MY DEAR GEORGE；
‘I have undone myself； and it is to no purpose to conceal
from you my abominable madness and folly； though perhaps the
particulars may not be known to the rest of the world。 I never
lost so much in five times as I have done to…night； and am in
debt to the house for the whole。 You may be sure I do not tell
you this with an idea that you can be of the least assistance to
me； it is a great deal more than your abilities are equal to。
Let me see youthough I shall be ashamed to look at you after
your goodness to me。'
This letter is endorsed by George Selwyn‘After the loss of
L10；000。' He tells Selwyn of a set which； at one point of the
game； stood to win L50；000。
‘Lord Byron； it is almost needless to remark； was nearly related
to Lord Carlisle。 The mother of Lord Carlisle was sister to
John； fourth Lord Byron； the grandfather of the poet； Lord
Carlisle and Lord Byron were consequently first cousins once
removed。 Had they happened to have been contemporaries； it