Foreword:

This anecdote is reprinted from Memoirs of George the Fourth: descriptive of the most interesting scenes of his private and public life, and the important events of his memorable reign by Robert Huish 2 vols. (London: T. Kelly, 1830), 1:98-103.

Huish's anecdotal "history" is not exactly trustworthy. For instance, he talks at one point about a letter Mary Robinson wrote to Ban Tarleton in 1803, which was a couple of years after her death. Similarly, the date given for this tale -- 1782 -- is impossible, since it is before George returned to England from America. (He was still signing muster rolls on Long Island as late as October, 1783). So read with a grain of salt, but enjoy. -- Marg B.

It was at the celebration of her Majesty's birth-day, 1782, that Major Hanger made his first appearance at court; and it may be said to have been a debut which proved a source of infinite amusement to all who were present, and to no one more so than the Prince of Wales, who was no stranger to the singularity of his character, and the general eccentricity of his actions. Being a major in the Hessian service, he wore his uniform at the ball, which was a short blue coat with gold frogs, with a belt, unusually broad, across his shoulders, from which his sword depended. This dress being a little particular, when compared with the full-trimmed suits of velvet and satin about him, though, as professional, strictly comfortable to the etiquette of the court, attracted the notice of his Majesty and his attendants; and the buz, -- 'Who is he?' 'Whence does he come?' &c. &c. was heard in all parts of the room. Thus he became the focus of attraction, and especially when the contrast presented itself of his selecting the beautiful Miss Gunning as his partner. He led her out to dance a minuet, but when, on the first crossing of his lovely partner, he put on his hat, which was of the largest Kevenhüller kind, ornamented with two large black and white feathers, the figure which he cut was so truly ridiculous and preposterous, that even the gravity of his Majesty could not be restrained: the grave faces of his Ministers relaxed into a smile, and the Prince of Wales was actually thrown into a convulsive fit of laughter. There was such an irresistible provocation to risibility in the tout ensemble of his appearance and style of movement, that his fair partner was reluctantly obliged to lose sight of good manners, and could scarcely finish the minuet; but Hanger himself joined in the laugh which was raised at his expense, and thereby extricated his partner from her embarrassment. This is, perhaps, the first time that the pas grave of a minuet has been considered as a mighty good jest, but there are moments when even the most serious circumstances serve only to produce a comic effect.

The Major now stood up to dance a country-dance, but here his motions were so completely antic, and so much resembling those of a mountebank, that he totally discomfited his partner, put the whole set into confusion, and excited a degree of laughter throughout the room, such as had never before been witnessed in a royal drawing-room.

On the following day, the subject of the Major's ludicrous debut at court became the subject of conversation at the convivial board at Carlton-house, when the Prince proposed, that a letter should be written to the Major, thanking him, in the name of the company which had assembled in the drawing-room, for the pleasure and gratification which he had afforded them. The joke was considered a good one: writing materials were ordered, and the Prince himself indited the following letter, which was copied by Sheridan, with whose hand-writing the major was not acquainted.

'St. James' Street, Sunday Morning.

'The company who attended the ball on Friday last at St. James', present their compliments to Major Hanger, and return him their unfeigned thanks for the variety with which he enlivened the insipidity of that evening's entertainment. The gentlemen want words to describe their admiration of the truly grotesque and humorous figure which he exhibited; and the ladies beg leave to express their acknowledgments for the lively and animated emotions that his stately, erect, and perpendicular form could not fail to excite in their delicate and susceptible bosoms. His gesticulations and martial deportment were truly admirable, and have raised an impression that will not soon be effaced at St. James'.'

This letter produced a highly ludicrous scene, which often excited a laugh when the Prince related it to his guests, as one of the most humorous which had occurred to him during his life.

On the day subsequent to the receipt of the letter, the Prince purposely invited George Hanger to dine at Carlton-House, and it formed a part of the plot of his Royal Highness that Sheridan should not be invited. After dinner the conversation turned designedly upon the leading circumstances of the late ball; and on the Prince ironically complimenting the Major on the serious effect, which his appearance must have had on the hearts of the ladies, he in a very indignant manner drew from his pocket the letter which he had received, declaring that it was a complete affront upon him, and that the sole motive of the writer was to insult him, and to turn him into ridicule. The Prince requested permission to read the letter, and having perused it, he fully coincided in the opinion of the Major, that no other motive could have actuated the writer than to offer him the greatest affront.

The Major's anger arose: 'Blitz und Hölle!' he exclaimed; 'if I could discover the writer, he should give me immediate satisfaction.'

'I admire your spirit,' said the Prince: 'how insulting to talk of your grotesque figure!'

'And then to turn your stately, erect, and perpendicular form into ridicule,' said Mr. Fox.

'And to talk of your gesticulations,' said Captain Morris.

'Sapperment!' exclaimed the Major, 'but the writer shall be discovered.'

'Have you not the slightest knowledge of the hand-writing?' asked the Prince; 'the characters are, I think, somewhat familiar to me. Allow me to peruse the letter again.' The letter was handed to the Prince: 'I am certain I am not mistaken,' he said; 'this is the hand-writing of that mischievous fellow, Sheridan.'

'Sheridan!' exclaimed the Major; 'impossible -- it cannot be.'

'Hand the letter to Fox,' said the Prince; 'he knows Sheridan's hand-writing well.'

'This is undoubtedly the hand-writing of Sheridan,' said Fox, looking at the letter.

'Then he shall give me immediate satisfaction,' said the Major, rising from the table, and, addressing himself to Captain Morris, requested him to be the bearer of his message to Mr. Sheridan. Having written the note, in which a full and public apology was demanded, or a place of meeting appointed, Captain Morris was despatched with it, and in the mean time he (the Major) would retire to his lodgings to await the answer from Mr. Sheridan. The Prince now pretended to interfere, expressing his readiness to be a mediator between the parties; but at the same time he contrived every now and then to increase the flame of the Major's resentment, by some artful insinuations as to the grossness of the affront, and complimenting him on the spirited manner in which he had behaved on the occasion. The Major was determined not to be appeased; and he left the room muttering 'D--n the impudent fellow! grotesque figure! -- perpendicular form! -- gesticulations!'

The Major had no sooner retired, than the whole party burst into a loud laugh; the Prince had brought him to the very point he wished, and in about an hour Captain Morris arrived with Sheridan, who entered immediately into the spirit of the adventure. It was then agreed that Sheridan should accept the challenge, appointing the following morning at daybreak in Battersea Fields, and that Mr. Fox should be the bearer of the answer of Mr. Sheridan to the offended Major -- Mr. Sheridan undertaking, on his part, to provide the necessary surgical assistance.

On the following morning the parties were punctually at the spot; the Major accompanied by Captain Morris, Mr. Sheridan by Mr. Fox, the Prince of Wales disguised as a surgeon, being seated in the carriage which conveyed the latter gentleman. The customary preliminaries being arranged, the parties took their station; the signal to fire was given -- no effect took place: the seconds loaded the pistols a second time -- the parties fired again -- still no effect was produced.

'D--n the fellow,' said the Major to his second, 'I can't hit him.'

'The third fire generally takes effect,' said Captain Morris, who with the utmost difficulty could keep his risible faculties in order, whilst the Prince in the carriage was almost convulsed with laughter at the grotesque motions of the Major.

The signal to fire was given the third time -- the effect was decisive -- Mr. Sheridan fell, as if dead, on his back.

'Killed, by G--d!' said Captain Morris; 'let us fly instantly:' and without giving the Major time to collect himself, he hurried him to the carriage, which immediately drove away towards town. The Prince descended from the carriage, almost faint with laughter, and joined Sheridan and Fox, the former of whom, as soon as the Major's carriage was out of sight, had risen from his prostrate station, unscaithed as when he entered the field; for, to complete the farce, it had been previously arranged that no ball should be put into the pistols, and that Sheridan was to fall on the third fire. The Prince with his two associates drove off immediately to town, and a message was sent to Major Hanger, desiring his immediate attendance at Carlton House. The Major obeyed the summons, and he entered the apartment of the Prince with a most dolorous countenance. 'Bad business this,' said the Prince, 'a very bad business, Hanger; but I have the satisfaction to tell you that Sheridan is not materially hurt, and if you will dine with me this day, I will invite a gentleman, who will give you an exact account of the state in which your late antagonist lies. Remain here till dinner time, and all may yet be well.'

The Prince, from goodness of heart, and not wishing that the Major should have the painful impression on his mind, that he had been the instrument of the death of a fellow-creature, and one of the most convivial of their companions, had imparted to the Major the consolatory information that his antagonist was not seriously injured; and the Major looked forward to the hour of dinner with some anxiety, when he was to receive further information on the subject. The hour came -- the party were assembled in the drawing-room; 'Now, Hanger,' said the Prince, 'I'll introduce a gentleman to you, who shall give you all the information you can wish.' The door opened, and Sheridan entered. The Major started back with wonder: 'How! how! how is this?' he stammered; 'I thought I had killed you?' 'Not quite, my good fellow,' said Sheridan, offering the Major his hand; 'I am not yet quite good enough to go to the world above -- and as to that below, I am not yet fully qualified for it, therefore, I considered it better to defer my departure from this to a future period; and now I doubt not that his Royal Highness will give you an explicit explanation of the whole business -- but I died well, did I not, Hanger?'

The Prince now declared that the whole plot was concocted by himself, and hoped, that when the Major next fought such a duel, he might be in a coach to view it. Conviviality reigned through the remainder of the evening[.]