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PREFACE
I am told that a preface
is advisable. I go back forty years for its subject. In the summer of
1841, when quartered at Brighton, I was asked by a celebrated
portrait-painter, an old Royal Academician, to sit for my likeness. The
result was not pleasing to my family, and the picture was not bought. In
the following summer, 1842, it was exhibited in the Royal Academy by the
R.A., who being one of the oldest Fellows, if not the oldest, had a
right to the place of honour for his pictures. The consequence was, that
the portrait of my unfortunate self was the first work of art that fell
upon the gaze of the bewildered public as they ascended the steps of the
old building in Trafalgar Square.
Unhappily for my peace of mind, the illustrious ‘Punch,’ which commenced
its literary career at the same time that I commenced my military one,
reviewed the productions of the Academy this year. Not having a copy of
the second volume of ‘Punch’ by me to refer to, I am unable to quote the
exact words used, but they were something to the following effect:—
“Who is this in the place of honour? We turn to the catalogue, and find
that it is the portrait of Colnel Balcarres Dalrymple Wardlaw Ramsay,
Royal Scots Greys; and we ask, what has this young Comet with four
unpronounceable names done? What has the public done that his likeness
should be placed there? Merely, we suppose, that they may behold or
exclaim, ‘There are plenty of this class to be seen walking up and down
Regent Street, between the hours of 4 and 7 p.m.’”
After the lapse of forty years it may again be asked by my illustrious
monitor ‘Punch,’ what has this Colonel done? What has the public done
that these memoirs should be thrust upon it?
To the first part of the question I can only say,—Alas! nothing, save to
have lived forty years longer than the Comet, to have seen many persons
and divers countries, to have kept his eyes and ears open, and above
all, to have diligently studied ‘Punch’ weekly during those forty years.
To the second part of the question—Well, perhaps the public is not so
well-behaved now as it was in 1842, and a slight punishment in the way
of another biography may not be amiss. At all events, relying upon the
incontrovertible fact that biographies and cookery-books always command
a ready sale, I inflict this slight chastisement on the public, who will
be pleased to remember it is given in a loving and fatherly spirit; and
as to the illustrious ‘Punch,’ I consider that the fact of my having
studied him weekly ever since, will atone for the involuntary
indiscretion stigmatised by him forty years ago, and lead to a modicum
of praise being bestowed by him on my present intrusion upon the Public.
Palazzo Odescalchi, Rome, May 1882
Volume 1 |
Volume 2 |
