[17]. It was said, because the rooms were being gilded and redecorated.
[18]. “The new favourite grand ballet composed by Monsieur A. Vestris, entitled, ‘Le Prince Troubadour, ou la Double Epreuve.’ The music by F. Venua.”—The plot was taken from the opera of “Joconde,” and the principal performers were the two Vestrises, M. Baptiste, Mesdames Leon and Del Caro, and Mademoiselle Mélanie. It was highly praised in the morning papers.
[19]. Son and daughter of the Countess Charleville, by her first husband, James Tisdall, Esq.
[20]. Lord Ellenborough’s, in Saint James’s-square; Lord Eldon’s, in Bedford-square; Mr. Robinson’s, in Burlington-street; Lord Darnley’s, in Berkeley-square; Mr. Yorke’s, in Bruton-street.
[21]. Mr. Robinson, as proposer of the Corn Regulations, was especially obnoxious to the mob. The railings in front of his house were torn up, the windows and parlour shutters demolished, and the street door split open. Some soldiers who were in the house then fired into the street at random, and a man fell shot through the head. From the buttons on his coat it was conjectured that he was a naval officer; he proved to be a midshipman, named Edward Vyse—several other persons being wounded.
[22]. In addition to the household troops, the 10th Dragoons occupied the King’s Mews, the 16th Dragoons the Queen’s Riding-house, the 5th Dragoon Guards were at Romford, the 7th Hussars at Putney, the 18th in Lambeth, the 5th Foot at Knightsbridge, and the South Lincoln Militia in the Tower.
[23]. The attack on New Orleans on the 8th January, when the British were repulsed, with the loss of 2454 men, killed, wounded, and made prisoners.
[24]. “March 8.—They next proceeded to Mr. Ponsonby’s house, No. 19, in Curzon-street, May-Fair, with their numbers increasing on their way. On their arrival at Mr. Ponsonby’s, they presented a very formidable force. They instantly commenced a furious attack upon the house, demolished the windows, and broke the iron palisades in front. During this, some firing began from the inside of the house, through the door, while the mob were endeavouring to break it open. The door is much injured by the bullets which were fired through it, but we have not heard that any person was hurt. The house of Mr. Quentin Dick, next door to Mr. Ponsonby’s, is also considerably injured from the misdirection of the stone-throwers. In a few minutes the cavalry made their appearance, and the populace immediately dispersed in various directions.”—Annual Register, 1814, p. 23.
[25]. The French Ambassador, M. de la Châtre, in a letter to the editor of the Anti-Gallican, denied that M. Rayneval was ever private secretary to Caulincourt. He was merely chargé d’affaires at St. Petersburg until the arrival of the latter. The editor, Mr. Goldsmith, rejoined that, however that might be, M. Rayneval was with Caulincourt at Châtillon, and remained with him until Napoleon’s abdication, adding, “in fact, it was M. Rayneval who drew up the treaty of Fontainebleau.”
[26]. This “man” was the celebrated pianist Frederick Kalkbrenner, son of the equally well-known composer, Christian Kalkbrenner. Frederick Kalkbrenner visited London for the first time in 1814, and excited the greatest enthusiasm, eclipsing even the long-established reputation of Cramer. He resided in England ten years, and made a very handsome fortune.