the
Whigs at length returned to power in 1806 he was again Secretary for
Foreign Affairs in Lord Grenville's Ministry of all the Talents, and
died in office. No statesman so little in office ever obtained so
great influence in Parliament and in the country.
(6) Wilmot, fourth Viscount Lisbourne.
(7) George James Williams, commonly known as Gilly Williams
(1716-1805), son of William Peere Williams, an eminent lawyer; uncle
by marriage to Lord North; appointed Receiver-General of Excise in
1774. It was he of whom it was said that he was wittiest among the
witty and gayest among the gay, and his society was much sought
after. He and Edgecumbe, with Selwyn, met at Strawberry Hill at
stated periods, forming the famous group--Walpole's "out-of-town
party."
(8) Lord Charles Spencer (1740-1820); second son of third Duke of
Marlborough; M.P. for Oxfordshire 1761-1784, and again 1796-1801;
filled from time to time several minor political offices.
(9) Richard Vernon (1726-1800), termed father of the turf. He was a
captain in the army and a Member of Parliament; it was as a sporting
man, however, that he was best known. One of the original members of
the Jockey Club, he had a racing partnership with Lord March, and
rode in races. His skill at cards and on the turf afforded the means
for extravagant living. He married the youngest daughter of the
first Earl Gower.
(10) William Douglas (1725-1810), third Earl of March and fourth
Duke of Queensberry, in his later years called "Old Q." He was
appointed a Lord of the Bedchamber on the accession of George III.,
and in 1767 made Vice-Admiral of Scotland. Pleasure in all its forms
was the sole object of his life, regardless of public opinion; he
was good-natured and shrewd, and not without interest in politics
and literature. At the time of the King's madness, in 1788, he
openly declared for the Prince of Wales, and voted for the regency;
he entertained the princes and Fox with reckless prodigality until
the King regained his reason, when he lost his place at Court, and
prudently retired to Scotland for a time. Among Selwyn's many
friends the Duke of Queensberry held the first place. "Hors son
milord March, il n'amie rien," writes Mme. du Deffand, in her
portrait of Selwyn, whose unentailed property was left to the Duke
of Queensberry, and who survived his friend by nineteen years.
(11) Augustus Henry, third Duke of Grafton (1735-1811). In 1766 he
became First Lord of the T
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