of every period and of every country. His canes, his snuff-boxes, his
Sevres china, were exquisite; his horses and carriage were conspicuous
for their excellence; and, in fact, the superior taste of a Brummell
was discoverable in everything that belonged to him.

But the reign of the king of fashion, like all other reigns, was not
destined to continue for ever. Brummell warmly espoused the cause of
Mrs. Fitzherbert, and this of course offended the Prince of Wales.
I refer to the period when his Royal Highness had abandoned that beautiful
woman for another favourite. A coldness sprang up between the Prince
and his protege, and finally, the mirror of fashion was excluded from
the royal presence. A curious accident brought Brummell again to the
dinner-table of his royal patron; he was asked one night at White's
to take a hand at whist, when he won from George Harley Drummond 20,000£.
This circumstance having been related by the Duke of York to the Prince
of Wales, the beau was again invited to Carlton House. At the commencement
of the dinner, matters went off smoothly; but Brummell, in his joy at
finding himself with his old friend, became excited, and drank too much
wine. His Royal Highness - who wanted to pay off Brummell for an insult
he had received at Lady Cholmondeley's ball, when the beau, turning
towards the Prince, said to Lady Worcester, "Who is your fat friend?"
- had invited him to dinner merely out of a desire for revenge. The
Prince therefore pretended to be affronted with Brummell's hilarity,
and said to his brother, the Duke of York, who was present, "I think
we had better order Mr. Brummell's carriage before he gets drunk."
Whereupon he rang the bell, and Brummell left the royal presence. This
circumstance originated the story about the beau having told the Prince
to ring the bell. I received these details from the late General Sir
Arthur Upton, who was present at the dinner. The latter days of Brummell
were clouded with mortifications and penury. He retired to Calais,