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uttermost farthingkept up his credit； improved his social
position； and gained friends。 〃Society〃 （says his son）
〃opened its arms to the possessor of a good name and the
inheritor of a good estate。 Paterfamiliases and Materfamiliases
rivalled each other in endeavouring to make things pleasant in
their households for his particular delectation； especially if
they had grown…up daughters； hospitable hosts invited him to
dinner； fashionable matrons to balls； political leaders sought to
secure him as a partisan； _DEBUTANTES_ of the season endeavoured
to attract him as an admirer； _TRADESMEN THRONGED TO HIS
DOORSTEPS FOR HIS CUSTOM_； and his table was daily covered with
written applications for his patronage。〃 _Noblesse oblige；_
and so does fashion。 The aspirant had confessedly a hard time of
it。 〃He must be seen at Tattersall's as well as at Almack's； be
more frequent in attendance in the green…room of the theatre than
at a _levee_ in the palace； show as much readiness to enter
into a pigeon…match at Battersea Red House； as into a flirtation
in May Fair； distinguish himself in the hunting…field as much as
at the dinner…table； and make as effective an appearance in the
park as in the senate； in short； he must be everythingnot by
turns； but all at oncesportsman； exquisite； gourmand；
rake； senator； and at least a dozen other variations of the man
of fashion；his changes of character being often quicker than
those attempted by certain actors who nightly undertake the
performance of an entire _dramatis personae_。〃 '
＇133＇ It will be remembered that when Fox's debts were in
like manner estimated they amounted to L140；000： the
coincidence is curious。 See ante。
Tommy Duncombe was not only indefatigable at Crockford's； but at
every other rendezvous of the votaries of fortune； a skilful
player withal； and not unfrequently a winner beyond expectation。
One night at Crockford's he astonished the house by carrying off
sixteen hundred pounds。 He frequently played at cards with Count
D'Orsay； from whom； it is said； he invariably managed to winthe
Count persisting in playing with his pleasant companion； although
warned by others that he would never be a match for ‘Honest Tommy
Duncombe。'
Tom Duncombe died poor； but； says his son； ‘rich in the memory of
those who esteemed him； as Honest Tom Duncombe。'
Perhaps the best thing the son could have done was to leave his
father's memory at rest in the estimation of ‘those who esteemed
him；' but having dragged his name once more； and
prominently； before a censorious world； he can scarcely
resent the following estimate of Tom Duncombe； by a well…informed
reviewer in the _Times_。 Alluding to the concluding summary of
the father's character and doings； this keen writer passes a
sentence which is worth preserving：
‘Much of this would do for a patriot and philanthropist of the
highest classfor a Pym； a Hampden； or a Wilberforce； or； we
could fancy； a son of Andrew Marvell； vowing over his grave 〃to
endeavour to imitate the virtues and emulate the self…sacrificing
patriotism of so estimable a parent； and so good a man。〃 But we
can hardly fancy； we cannot leave； a son of Duncombe in such a
frame of mind。 We cannot say to _HIM_
Macte nova virtute； puer； sic itur ad astra。
〃In virtue renewed go on； thus to the skies we go。〃
We are unfeignedly reluctant to check a filial effusion； or to
tell disagreeable truths； but there are occasions when a sense of
public duty imperatively requires them to be told。
‘Why did this exemplary parent die poor？ When did he abandon the
allurements of a patrician circle？ He died poor because he
wasted a fine fortune。 If he abandoned a patrician circle；
it was because he was tired of it； or thought he could make a
better thing of democracy。 If he conquered his passions； it was；
like St Evremondby indulging them。
‘ 〃Honest Tom Duncombe！〃 We never heard him so designated
before except in pleasantry。 〃As honest as any man living； that
is an old man； and not honester than I。〃 We cannot go further
than Verges； it is a stretch of charity to go so far when we call
to mind the magnificent reversion and the French jobs。 A ruined
spendthrift； although he may have many good qualities； can never；
strictly speaking； be termed honest。 It is absurd to say of him
that he is nobody's enemy but his ownwith family； friends； and
tradespeople paying the penalty for his self…indulgence。 He must
be satisfied to be called honourableto be charged with no
transgression of the law of honour； which Paley defines as 〃a
system of rules constructed by people of fashion； and calculated
to facilitate their intercourse with one another； _AND FOR NO
OTHER PURPOSE_。〃
‘There was one quality of honesty； however； which 〃honest Tom
Duncombe〃 did possess。 He was not a hypocrite。 He was not
devoid of right feeling。 He had plenty of good sense； and it
would have given him a sickening pang on his death…bed to think
that his frailties were to be perpetuated by his descendants；
that he was to be pointed out as a shining star to guide； instead
of a beacon…fire to warn。 〃No；〃 he would have said； if he
could have anticipated this most ill…chosen； however well…
intentioned； tribute； 〃spare me this terrible irony。 Do not
provoke the inevitable retort。 Say of me； if you must say
anything； that I was not a bad man； though an erring one； that I
was kindly disposed towards my fellow…creatures； that I did some
good in my generation； and was able and willing to do more； but
that I heedlessly wasted time； money； health； intellect； personal
gifts； social advantages and opportunities； that my career was a
failure； and my whole scheme of life a melancholy
mistake。〃 '＇134＇
＇134＇ _Times_； Jan。 7； 1868。
This is a terrible rejoinder to a son endeavouring to raise a
monument to his beloved and respected parent。 But； if we will
rake up rottenness from the graverottenness in which we are
interestedwe must take our chance whether we shall find a
Hamlet who will say； ‘Alas！ poor Yorick！' and say _NO MORE_ than
the musing Dane upon the occasion。
WAS THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON A GAMESTER？
A few years after the battle of Waterloo there appeared a French
work entitled ‘_L'Academie des Jeux_； par Philidor；' which was
soon translated into English； and here published under the title
of ‘Rouge et Noir； or； the Academies。' It was a denunciation of
gambling in all its varieties； and was； no doubt； well…
intentioned。 There was； however； in the publication the
following astounding statement：
‘Not long ago the carriage of the heir…apparent to the T*****
of England； in going to his B****'s levee； was arrested for
debt in the open street。 That great captain； who gained； if not
laurels； an immense treasure； on the plains of Wa****oo；
besides that fortune transmitted to him by the English people；
was impoverished in a few months by