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Royal Tunbridge Wells
Duke of Leeds, casually alluded to by Cumberland, visited Tunbridge Wells for ten weeks every summer during the twenty years prior to his death, which took place in 1789. He travelled in great state, and always arrived at " The Wells " wearing his star on his greatcoat. He was a most hospitable man, and rarely sat down to dinner with less than six guests. At six o'clock every evening—he was the most precise person—his coach-and-six was brought to the door, and with his friends he would drive along the London Road to a certain place where the highway was broad enough for the ponderous vehicle to turn— with a poor attempt at humour he called the spot, " Turnham Green."
There were at " The Wells " many eccentric and curious characters. There was a little deformed man, called Lord Rawlins, the Cryer at " The Wells," who had been taken to London by the madcap Duke of Wharton, and introduced under that title to society and the clubs. He was remarkable for singing the Touting Song and for delivering some speeches about the place, taught him by his patron; but the unfortunate fellow became so proud of his title that he began to forget that he had no right 124 |
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