[372] Sir Robert’s affair at Puerto de Baños was an attempt to check Ney, at the head of a large force, with a number of Spanish and Portuguese levies. He lost a thousand men in the attempt.
[373] Huskisson resigned his post at the Treasury in 1809, and followed Canning into retirement. His pamphlet entitled ‘The Depreciation of the Currency’ received much notice.
[374] One of the gentlemen in attendance on the Prince of Wales. ‘That warlike scaramouch Macmahon,’ of Peter Pindar. He died in 1817.
[375] The Committee of the House of Lords was appointed by ballot, each Peer having the right to send in a list of twenty-one names. That of the House of Commons was named by the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
[376] The report of the Bullion Committee, of which Horner was President, was that paper issues were liable to depreciation unless convertible at any time into money.
[377] The appointment was not filled up till 1812, when Lord Hertford accepted the post.
[378] Gustavus IV. (1778–1837), who succeeded his father as King of Sweden in 1792. His tactless and inconsequent behaviour so irritated his people that they deposed him in 1809, and gave the crown to his uncle. After leaving Sweden Gustavus lived chiefly in Switzerland.
[379] Lucien Bonaparte’s second wife was Madame Jouberthon, the widow of a stockbroker. He quarrelled with his brother over this marriage, and after the Duc d’Enghien’s death went to Italy. He attempted to reach America, but was captured by an English ship, and after a detention at Malta, was brought to England. There he remained until 1814.
[380] William, fourth Duke of Queensberry (1724–1810), the celebrated courtier and roué, known as ‘Old Q.’ The larger portion of his money was left to Lord and Lady Yarmouth, the latter being Maria Fagniani, whom the Duke always considered was his daughter. George Selwyn believed that this lady was his child and not the Duke’s, and also left her money.
[381] Henry, Duke of Buccleugh became fifth Duke of Queensberry; Sir Charles Douglas, Marquess of Queensberry; and Lord Wemyss, Earl of March.