Florizel's Folly

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




CHAPTER XXII.




Visit of William IV.—Alterations contemplated—Visit of the King and Queen—Story of the Duke of Cambridge—Alterations in the Pavilion—The Royal Family snowed up Queen Victoria's first visit—Second visit—Third, with the Royal children—Fourth, and last—The Pavilion dismantled—Sold to the Corporation of Brighton


301-308