George Selwyn : $b His letters and his life

audiobook

George Selwyn : $b His letters and his life

by George Augustus Selwyn

EN·~10 hours·24 chapters

Chapters

24 total
1

E-text prepared by Marjorie Fulton

9:40:11
2

CHAPTER 1. GEORGE SELWYN: His LIFE, His FRIENDS, AND His AGE - CHAPTER 2. 1767-1769. THE CORRESPONDENCE COMMENCES …. Frederick, fifth Earl of Carlisle—Lady Sarah Bunbury—The Duke of Grafton—Carlisle, Charles Fox, and the Hollands abroad—Current Events—Card-playing—A dinner at Crawford's—Lady Bolingbroke —Almack's—The Duke of Bedford—Lord Clive—The Nabobs—Corporation of Oxford sell the representation of the borough—Madame du Deffand —Publication of Horace Walpole's "Historic Doubts on Richard the Third"—Newmarket—London Society—Gambling at the Clubs—A post promised to Selwyn—Elections—A purchase of wine—Vauxhall. - CHAPTER 3. 1773-1777; 1779 AND 1780 POLITICS AND SOCIETY. Fox's debts—Lord Holland—News from London—Interviews with Fox—The Fire at Holland House—A Visit to Tunbridge—Provision for Mie Mie—County business and electioneering at Gloucester—Lotteries —Fox and Carlisle—Highway adventures—London Society—Newmarket intelligence—An evening in town—Charles Fox and America—Carlisle declines a court post—money from Fox—Selwyn and gambling—A Private Bill committee—Selwyn in bad spirits—The Royal Society —Book-buying—Political affairs—London parks—Gainsborough—The Duchess of Kingston—Selwyn's private affairs—"The Diaboliad"—A dinner at the French Ambassador's—Politics and the clubs—In Paris —Electioneering again. - CHAPTER 4. 1781. THE DISASTERS IN AMERICA. A drum at Selwyn's—George, Lord Morpeth—Dr. Warner—Sale of the Houghton pictures—The House of Commons—Pitt's first speech—Selwyn unwell—Play at Brooks's—London gaieties—Fox and his new clothes —Gambling—The bailiffs in Fox's house—"Fish" Crawford—Montem at Eton—Mie Mie's education—Second speech of Pitt—Lord North—A Court Ball—Society and politics—The Emperor of Austria —Conversation with Fox—Personal feelings—American affairs—rd North and Mr. Robinson—State of politics—London Society. - CHAPTER 5. 1782. THE FALL OF LORD NORTH. Fox's political principles—The fifth Duke of Bedford—A little dinner—A debate in the Commons—The attack on Lord George Germaine —An evening at Brooks's—Pitt and his friends—Possible changes in the Cabinet—Faro at White's—A story of the Duke of Richmond—An Address to the King—A Levee—Play and politics at Brooks's —Government and the Opposition—Selwyn and his offices—The position of the King—Fears of change of administration—The King's objections to Fox—Probable debates—Political prospects—Debates and divisions—The fate of the King's friends—Illness of Lord Morpeth—Annoyance of Selwyn at the state of affairs—Fox and Selwyn—Fall of Lord North—A new Ministry—Official changes—Fox and Carlisle—Carlisle's position—Morpeth and Mie Mie. - CHAPTER 6. 1786-1791. THE CLOSING CENTURY. Political Events—At Richmond—The Duke of Queensberry's villa —Princess Amelia—The King's illness—The French Revolution —Proposed visit to Castle Howard—In Gloucestershire—Affairs in France—The Emigres—Society at Richmond—The French Revolution —Richmond Theatre—French friends—Christening of Lady Caroline Campbell's child—Selwyn's bad health—Death. - INDEX - NOTE ON ILLUSTRATIONS

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HERRICK - CHAPTER 1. GEORGE SELWYN—HIS LIFE, HIS FRIENDS, AND HIS AGE

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Description

A lively portrait emerges from the pages of this collection, where the relentless pen of a celebrated eighteenth‑century wit sketches both private jokes and public affairs. Through Selwyn’s correspondence we hear the chatter of coffee‑houses, the clink of gambling tables, and the urgent footnotes of a nation navigating wars, elections and the whims of King George III. His letters blend sharp humor with earnest observation, offering a rare glimpse of a man who moved effortlessly between the glitter of aristocratic balls and the gritty negotiations of parliamentary allies.

The editors have gathered a representative selection of Selwyn’s missives, arranging them into thematic groups that illuminate the personalities and events that defined his world. Readers will recognise familiar names—Fox, Carlisle, the Duke of Grafton—and feel the pulse of a society where politics, patronage and pleasure were inseparably entwined. Listening feels like stepping into a bustling salon, where every note carries the wit and urgency of an era on the brink of change.

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Language

en

Duration

~10 hours (628K characters)

Publisher of text edition

Project Gutenberg

Release date

2005-09-05

Rights

Public domain in the USA.

About the author

George Augustus Selwyn

George Augustus Selwyn

1719–1791

Remembered as one of the sharpest wits in 18th-century England, this colorful man of society left behind letters that capture the gossip, humor, and habits of his age. He was also a longtime Member of Parliament whose fame now rests as much on his personality as on his politics.

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