Chapter I: Front Matter

FLORIZEL'S FOLLY

BOOKS BY JOHN ASHTON.

Crown 8vo., cloth, 7s. 6d. each.

A HISTORY OF THE CHAP-BOOKS OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. With 334 Illustrations.

HUMOUR, WIT, AND SATIRE OF THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY. With 82 Illustrations.

ENGLISH CARICATURE AND SATIRE ON NAPOLEON THE FIRST. With 115 Illustrations.

MODERN STREET BALLADS. With 57 Illustrations.

* * * * *

SOCIAL LIFE IN THE REIGN OF QUEEN ANNE. With 84 Illustrations. Crown 8vo., cloth. 3s. 6d.

London: CHATTO & WINDUS, 111 St. Martin's Lane.

FLORIZEL'S FOLLY

BY

JOHN ASHTON

AUTHOR OF
'SOCIAL LIFE IN THE REIGN OF QUEEN ANNE,' 'MODERN STREET BALLADS,'
ETC., ETC.

WITH THIRTEEN ILLUSTRATIONS

LONDON
CHATTO & WINDUS
1899

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I.
PAGE

Early history of Brighthelmstone--Domesday Book--The Flemings--The French harry the South Coast--At Brighthelmstone--Defences of the town--Rumours of the Spanish Armada--Armament of the town 1-13

CHAPTER II.

Escape of Charles II. to France--The story of it--The 'Royal Escape'--Brighton in 1730--In 1736--In 1761--Forty-five different ways of spelling the name of the town 14-27

CHAPTER III.

Brighton becomes fashionable--Duke of Cumberland there--His character--The Royal Marriage Act--His influence over the Prince of Wales--The Duke and the King--Bad conduct of the Prince of Wales 28-39

CHAPTER IV.

Mrs. Robinson--Her story of Florizel and Perdita--Her after-career--Coming of age of the Prince of Wales--His new establishment--His first visit to Brighton--His and Colonel Hanger's adventure 40-51

CHAPTER V.

Memoir of, and anecdotes about, George Hanger 52-64

CHAPTER VI.

The Prince goes to Brighton for his health--Description of Brighton in 1784--Royal visitors--The Prince takes a house--Weltje--Sam House--Fox and the Prince--Brighton in 1785 65-80

CHAPTER VII.

The Prince's acquaintance with Mrs. Fitzherbert--His courtship and marriage--Satirical prints thereon 81-94

CHAPTER VIII.

The Prince's debts--Appeal to the King--His retrenchments--'The Jovial Crew, or Merry Beggars'--Satirical prints--Help from Parliament--Schedule of his debts 95-108

CHAPTER IX.

Fox's denial of the marriage--Once more at Brighton--Again in 1788--The Prince at a fatal prize-fight--His birthday--Dress at Brighton--The Prince leases his house at Brighton--Unfilial conduct of the Prince--Probability of a Regency 109-122

CHAPTER X.

The Prince as a musician--A _bon-mot_ of his--Lady Lade--Her husband, Sir John--The Prince's pecuniary difficulties--His dealings with his jeweller--The latter's story--Another financial mess 123-134

CHAPTER XI.

Rowlandson and Brighton--Poem on the Prince's birthday, 1790--Lord Barrymore--Anecdotes respecting him and his family 135-148

CHAPTER XII.

The Duke of Norfolk, and anecdotes respecting him--The Duke of Queensberry, and anecdotes--Charles Morris--The Prince out shooting--A grand review--French _émigrés_--Smuggling--The Prince's birthday, 1792--Poem on the _émigrés_ 149-161

CHAPTER XIII.

The _émigrés_--Duchesse de Noailles--The nuns--Camp at Brighton--The Prince as a soldier--His debts--Interview with the King--Breaks with Mrs. Fitzherbert--Her account--Satirical prints--Newspaper paragraphs 162-179

CHAPTER XIV.

Another camp at Brighton--The Prince's second marriage--His debts--Parliamentary debate thereon--Prince and Princess at Brighton--'Moral Epistle from the Pavilion at Brighton to Carlton House'--Manners at Brighton, 1796--Description of the town 180-193

CHAPTER XV.

Reconciliation of the Prince and Mrs. Fitzherbert--Her scruples, etc.--The Prince at Brighton--Satirical prints--The Prince and the Pavilion--Increase of income--The Prince and his regiment--A race--Guests at the Pavilion--The Prince and his daughter 194-208

CHAPTER XVI.

The case of Miss Seymour--Satirical prints thereon--The Prince at Brighton, 1806--His birthday--The Green Man--Visit of the Princess Charlotte 209-222

CHAPTER XVII.

Final rupture between the Prince and Mrs. Fitzherbert--That lady and William IV.--Her kindly relations with the Royal Family--Her death--The King's illness--The Regency--Visitors at the Pavilion--Queen Charlotte there--The 'Royal Rantipoles' 223-243

CHAPTER XVIII.

The Regent and Admiral Nagle--A quiet time at the Pavilion--The Regent's extravagance--His yacht--Sham fight, and caricature thereon--A cruise to the French coast--Royal visitors--The Regent's statues--'High Life Below Stairs,' etc.--Satirical prints--Closing days--Last appearance at the Pavilion 244-260

CHAPTER XIX.

The books by Nash and Brayley on the Pavilion--Description and history of the building--Its exterior--Entrance hall--Red Drawing-room 261-272

CHAPTER XX.

The Chinese Gallery--The Music Room--The Yellow Drawing-room--The Saloon--The Green Drawing-room 273-284

CHAPTER XXI.

The Banqueting Room--The Library--Royal Bedroom--North and South Galleries--Queen Adelaide's apartments--Great Kitchen--Chapel--Stables--Riding House 285-300