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628 had an old servant, John Hext, brought up to London by him from Ashburton. One day the man was late in attendance. "What has delayed thee, John?" asked Dunning. "I was listening to a man playing on the crowd." "Crowd! crowd! John, that word is dead and buried; say a violin." On another occasion John Hext, remembering his orders, was remonstrated with by his master for waiting about at the Temple Gate. "I was only waiting," said John, "till the violin of the people had gone by."

Dunning was very proud of being lord of the manors of Pridhamsleigh, Spitchwick, and Widdecombe, and he was boasting of his possession to some friends in London when "Jack Lee," afterwards Solicitor-General, said: "Aye, Dunning, you may have manors in Devonshire. It is a pity you did not bring your manners up to Town and to Westminster."

Whilst holding office as Solicitor-General, during a recess, he and Colonel Isaac Barré, his friend and colleague in the representation of Calne, visited Berlin. "As distinguished members of the British Legislature the two friends received marked attention at the Court of Frederick the Great. When presented by their proper titles, the military chiefs surrounding the throne of the Soldier-King naturally concluded that a Solicitor-General of England must occupy a high position in the British Army. The latter part of the title they could understand, while the prefix ’solicitor' was doubtless some foreign equivalent to that of major or lieutenant. Clearly the proper way to entertain the English officers was to invite them to a grand review of the Prussian Army. The invitation was issued with a courteous intimation that suitable means of conveyance to the field would be duly provided. At the appointed hour the two guests of royalty were ready—Col. Barré in