"COMPTON AUDLEY," "WELLINGTON IN PRIVATE LIFE," "In works of humour, especially when a man writes under a fictitious personage, IN THREE VOLUMES. VOL. III. LONDON: HURST AND BLACKETT, PUBLISHERS, SUCCESSORS TO HENRY COLBURN, 13, GREAT MARLBOROUGH STREET. 1855. 249. W. 160. PHILIP COURTENAY. CHAPTER I. 'Immediate are my needs; and my relief Must not be tossed and turned to me in words, SHAKSPEARE. UPON reaching Gloucester-place, I desired the coachman to pull up at a handsome-looking house; and, upon alighting, was happy to find that the person I was anxious to see was at home. "The Duke of Stakelands is with Mr. VOL. III. B Hawksley," said the smartly-dressed butler; "but if you will be good enough to walk into the library, my master will attend to you as soon as possible. I forgot," proceeded the man-"Lord Bibury is waiting there; perhaps you will step into the dining room." Following my guide, I entered an apartment fitted up in the most elegant style; the walls were panelled with oak; representations of the seasons, most exquisitely carved, filled the compartments upon one side, while, over a most beautiful mantelpiece of the purest Italian marble, appeared a chef d'œuvre of Correggio. A side-board, elaborately ornamented with the quaint devices of the time of Elizabeth, displayed some of the choicest specimens of Cellini's finest works of art in bronze; a rich Turkey carpet, gorgeous Genoa velvet curtains, a highly-polished mahogany table, Moroccocovered chairs, a chandelier of perfectly unique shape, in ormolu, completed the furniture of the room. After a delay of a quarter of an hour, I was ushered through a tolerably sized library, filled with books, maps, and globes, into an inner office, in which Mr. Hawksley transacted his business; here I was most politely received by the presiding genius of the place. Mr. Hawksley's appearance was very much in his favour; he was particularly neat in his person and dress; and, although not, strictly speaking, handsome, his well-proportioned figure, his open and intelligent countenance, were admirably set-off by a toilet of faultless material, taste, and shape, and by a thorough attention to Brummel's advice-fine linen and country washing. The happy blending of colours in the artistical cut coat, waistcoat, and 'continuations' - the well-starched tie, without crease or wrinkle-the cambric front, white as driven |