o
their guns, promised and paid them from his own pocket five guineas a
man, which, coupled with his bravery during the action, so pleased the
seamen, that one of them swore "his soul must be as big as his body," and
the jokes occasioned by this burst of feeling terminated only with Sir
John Macpherson's life. "Fine soles!--soles, a match for Macpherson's!"
was a Brompton fishmonger's greeting to Sir John, etc. In the
neighbourhood of Brompton he was known by the _sobriquet_ of "the Gentle
Giant," from his usually riding a very small pony, flourishing in the
most determined manner a huge oak stick over the little animal's head,
but, of course, never touching it with his club.

Upon the after-dinner conversation at Grove House of Mr. Hugh Boyd rests
chiefly that gentleman's claim to be considered as one of the many
authors of 'Junius.' His host, having temporarily retired from table,
Boyd's words were, "that Sir John Macpherson little knew he was
entertaining in his mansion a political writer, whose sentiments were
once the occasion of a chivalrous appeal from Sir John to
arms,"--immediately adding, "_I am the author of 'Junius_.'" The will of
Sir John Macpherson is a remarkable document, and contains the following
tribute to the character of George IV.:--

"I conclude this, my last will and testament, in expressing my early
and unalterable admiration of his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales,
the truly glorious reigning prince of the British empire; and I
request my executors to wait upon his royal highness immediately
after my decease, and to state to him, as I do now, that I have
bequeathed to his royal highness my celebrated antique statue of
Minerva, which he often admired, with any one of my antique rings
that would please his royal highness. I likewise request you to
assure his royal highness that I will leave him certain papers, which
prove to a demonstration that the glorious system which he has
realised for his country and the world, in his difficult reign of
eight years, was the early system of his heart and his ambition."

The large room on the east side of Grove House, shown in the annexed
sketch, was used as the drawing-room, and measured thirty-two feet by
eighteen. It was built by Sir John Macpherson for the purpose of
entertaining the Prince Regent.

[Picture: Grove House from the East (1844)]

Grove House was afterwards occupied by Mr. Wilberfor