as a party distinction by the Whigs. I have worn them for years, but never knew why, except that they were worn by Mr. Fox. In the course of this long period (seventy years and more), I have heard that they were the colours of General Washington's regiment, and, in fact, they are the colours of Washington's uniform in the picture of him at Quiddenham, as Lord Albemarle can tell you.

I have heard from some of our philosophical Whigs, who find a reason for everything, that those colours are emblematical of the Revolution of 1688, which we are all proud to derive from the union of Whig and Tory, - Revolution, as Burke well says, prevented rather than effected. The Blue, they said, was the old Tory true blue; the Buff was a descendant of the Dutch Orange of King William; but by degrees the Orange became Yellow, as harmonizing better with the Blue.

You see how fanciful all this is. In the mean time habit goes its course; and here I am, at the end of so many years, to the great annoyance of my valet-dechambre, with nothing else in my wardrobe for him when I die.

With many and sincere thanks for your remembrance of me,

Believe me, my dear Lord, &c. &c.,

R. ADAIR.

Lord Sidney Osborne to Lord Mahon.

Hampstead, September 8, 1854.

Lord Sidney Osborne presents his compliments to Lord Mahon, and though unknown to his Lordship, takes the liberty of addressing him, as, in the 486th page of the last volume of his History of England,' he states, with the candour that always distinguishes him, his willingness to accept any explanation of the origin of the Whig party assuming Blue and Buff as a distinguishing colour. Lord Sidney is firmly convinced in his own mind that these colours were those of the uniform of the Goodwood Hunt of that day, and were very naturally adopted by the political followers of the Duke of Richmond, and still more so by his nephew, Charles Fox. Lord Sidney has no documents to refer to, but relies exclusively on his memory, and he feels certain of having heard this explanation from the late Earl of Chichester; and in corroboration thereof he distinctly recollects the evening uniform of the Civil Staff of the late Duke of Richmond (who certainly never was a Whig) when Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, being Blue and Buff, and he thinks that he heard from the Duke the same explanation as to the adoption of them by the Whig party; but he feels much less certain of that than of Lord Chichester's evidence. That the Americans assumed the colours of the Whigs was natural enough, and not discreditable to either party, whereas the avowed adoption of hostile colours would have been highly blame-worthy in all Whigs; and Lord Mahon is most justly reluctant to believe it.

Lord Sidney has no doubt but that the present Duke of Richmond would be able to certify as to the Blue and Buff having been the evening uniform of the Goodwood Hunt during his great uncle's life; and if it was, the origin here offered by Lord Sidney, which is corroborated by his own recollections, would be a very natural

one.

Lord Sidney begs to apologize for having thus trespassed upon the time and patience of Lord Mahon, but flatters himself that, though a stranger, he will be forgiven; and that if the origin here submitted should not be deemed a plausible one, the liberty will be attributed to its real cause, the desire to satisfy the wish evidently felt by Lord Mahon for the substitution of some other cause than that assigned by the author of Memoirs of my own Time.'

Lord Mahon to Lord Sidney Osborne.

MY LORD,

Chevening, Sept. 10, 1854.

I return your Lordship many thanks for the obliging letter which you have addressed to me.

It is curious to find, on close examination, how much uncertainty prevails as to the true origin of the "Buff and Blue" in the old Whig party. Sir Robert Adair, whom I consulted some months ago, has heard that they were derived from the American insurgents. Mr. Hallam told me that he had at one time believed these colours to have been assumed on the Coalition between Fox and

North-Fox contributing the Buff, and Lord North the Blue-but that he had, of course, relinquished this notion, on observing that the Buff and Blue had been borne by Fox and his friends two or three years before the Coalition was effected. Mr. Macaulay is inclined to think the selection of these colours fortuitous—that is, Mr. Fox having, without any particular motive or design, commonly attired himself in a blue coat and buff waistcoat, these colours became the fashion among his followers merely from attachment to him.

There are some, again, who are disposed to trace these colours, or one of them at least, to the House of Orange and the Revolution politics. But then, why Yellow instead of Orange, and why not used as a party badge until about 1780 or 1781 ?

It might seem on a general view to many persons, as to your Lordship, that, supposing these colours to be traced as in actual use by the Whig party at an earlier period, it would be natural for Washington and his friends to have adopted them. Yet the probability of this will, I think, appear to you much lessened when you reflect that the taxes against which the Americans arrayed themselves were imposed by Ministers who bore the name and belonged to the party of Whigs-namely, George Grenville in 1765, and Charles Townshend in 1767.

In short, it is a very perplexing question, and the authorities upon it are most strangely divided. I thank you for your suggestions upon it, and I have the honour to remain, &c., &c.,

MAHON.

H

Jared Sparks, Esq., to Lord Mahon.

[Extract.]

Cambridge, Massachusetts,
October 21, 1854.

It has always been understood here that the American uniform, Buff and Blue, which you mention, was adopted from the Whig costume or badges, previously used in England or Scotland. I am persuaded it did not originate in America.