The club flourished only a few years, owing to the high play that was
carried on there. The Duke of York patronized it, and was a member.
I was a member in 1816, and frequently saw his Royal Highness there.
The dinners were exquisite; the best Parisian cooks could not beat Labourie.
The favourite game played there was macao. Upon one occasion, Jack
Bouvrie, brother of Lady Heytesbury, was losing large sums, and became
very irritable; Raikes, with bad taste, laughed at Bouverie, and attempted
to amuse us with some of his stale jokes; upon which, Bouverie threw
his play-bowl, with the few counters it contained, at Raikes's head;
unfortunately it struck him, and made the City dandy angry, but no serious
results followed this open insult.


REMARKABLE CHARACTERS OF LONDON ABOUT THE YEARS 1814, 1815, 1816


It appears to be a law of natural history that every generation produces
and throws out from the mob of society a few conspicuous men, that pass
under the general appellation of "men about town." Michael Angelo Taylor
was one of those remarkable individuals whom everyone was glad to know;
and those who had not that privilege were ever talking about him, although
he was considered by many a bit of a bore. Michael Angelo was a Member
of Parliament for many years, and generally sat in one of the most important
committees of the House of Commons; for he was a man of authority and
an attractive speaker. In appearance he was one of that sort of persons
whom you could not pass in the streets without exclaiming, "Who can
that be?" His face blushed with port wine, the purple tints of which,
by contrast, caused his white hair to glitter with silvery brightness;
he wore leather breeches, top boots, blue coat, white waistcoat, and
an unstarched and exquisitely white neckcloth, the whole surmounted