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 CHESTERFIELD 183 1723, when he lost his seat on accepting office. Lord of the Bedchamber to George, Prince of Wales, 1715-27, and again to him, when George II, 1727-30 ; Capt. of the Yeomen of the Guard, 1723-25 ;(^) P.C. 26 Feb. 1727/8 ; Ambassador to the Hague, 1728-32 (where he distinguished himself by the magnificence of his entertainments), and again, on a special mission, 1745. Nom. K.G. 18 May, and inst. 18 June 1730. Lord Steward of the Household, 1 730-33. C") Lord Lieut, of Ireland, Jan. 1744/5 to Oct. I746.(') One of the Lords Justices of the Realm, May 1745. Secretary of State (north), Oct. 1746 to Feb. 1 747/8. ("^j He w., 14 May or 5 Sep. 1733, Melusina de Schulenberg, suo jure Countess of Walsingham, an illegit. da. of George I, being, apparently, his only child by his favourite Mistress, Ermengarde Melusina (de Schu- lenberg), suo jure Duchess of Kendal, spinster. On 7 Sep. 1722, she was cr. BARONESS OF ALDBOROUGH, co. Suffolk, and COUNTESS OF WALSINGHAM, co. Norfolk, for life, but after her marriage in 1733, she adopted the title of her husband. (") He d. s.p., "of a slow decay," in his 79th year, at Chesterfield House, Mayfair, Midx.,(') 24 Mar. 1773, and was bur. in Audley Str. Chapel, whence, on 10 Apr. following, he was removed to Shelford.(«) Will dat. 4 June 1772, pr. Apr. 1773. (*) Diet, Nat. Biog. states that he was Capt. of the Gentlemen Pensioners 1 723-25 in succession to Lord Townshend, but neither of them ever held that office. V.G. C") He became thenceforward a steady opponent of Walpole's Ministry, and consequently was excluded from office till " the Broad Bottom Administration " of 1 744. if) In this office he was loved and respected. It was at this time he wrote the charming epigram on the Dublin belle, Miss Ambrose, who had worn orange favours at a ball on King William's birthday. " Thou pretty Tory, where 's the jest Of wearing orange in thy breast, When that same breast insulting shows The colour of the rebel rose?" V.G. ('^) For a list of Secretaries of State see vol. ii. Appendix D. (•^j "Her portion is said to be ;r5 0,000 down and ;^3,ooo per ann., payable out of the civil list revenue in Ireland, during her life." {Hist. Register). The Duchess of Kendal, who d. in 1 743, left her but a part of her immense wealth, and both mother and daughter were defrauded out of the money left them by George I, by his successor (George II) burning the will. As, however, the Earl threatened to take legal proceedings thereon, that King gave him ^^20,000 for a quietus. (') This magnificent mansion was finished in 1749. The architect was Ware, the editor of Palladia. It contains the staircase and columns from Canons, the Duke of Chandos' palace at Edgware, Midx. (8) He was well-known as the author of Chesterfield's Letters. Of these, which were written to his illegit. son (who d. before him in 1768), Dr. Johnson remarks that they " inculcated the morals of a Strumpet and the manners of a Dancing-master," and of the Earl himself he adds that he was " a Wit among Lords and a Lord among Wits." His dismissal from Court (1733) is said to have been owing to his indis- creetly "having offended the Queen by paying court to Lady Suffolk," the King's mistress. See Coxe's Walpok^ quoted in Collins^ vol. iii, p. 429, note. George II