_Beau Brummel's Ancestry._--Mr. Jesse some years back did ample justice
to the history of a "London celebrity," George Brummell; but, from what
he there stated, the following "Note" will, I feel assured, be a novelty
to him. At the time that Brummell was considered in everything the
_arbiter elegantiarum_, the writer of this has frequently heard Lady
Monson (the widow of the second lord, and an old lady who, living to the
age of ninety-seven, had a wonderful fund of interesting recollections)
say, that this ruler of fashion was the descendant of a very excellent
servant in the family. Not long ago, some old papers of the family being
turned over, proofs corroborative of this came to light. William
Brummell, from the year 1734 to 1764, was the faithful and confidential
servant of Charles Monson, brother of the first lord: the period would
identify him with the grandfather of the Beau; the only doubt was, that
as Mr. Jesse has ascertained that William Brummell, the grandfather,
was, in the interval above given, married, had a _son William_, and
owned a house in Bury Street, how far these facts were compatible with
his remaining as a servant living with Charles Monson, both in town and
country. Now, in 1757, Professor Henry Monson of Cambridge being
dangerously ill, his brother Charles sent William Brummell down, as a
trustworthy person, to attend to him; and in a letter from Brummell to
his master, he, with many other requisitions, wishes that there may be
sent down to him a certain glass vessel, very useful for invalids to
drink out of, and which, if not in Spring Gardens, "may be found in
_Bury Street_. It was used when _Billy_ was ill." From the familiarity
of the word "Billy," he must be speaking of his son. These facts are
certainly corroborative of the old dowager's statement.