LORD MOUNTFORD.
Lord Mountford came to a tragic end through his gambling. He
had lost money; feared to be reduced to distress; asked for a
government appointment, and determined to throw the die of life
or death on the answer received from court. The answer was
unfavourable. He consulted several persons, indirectly at first,
afterwards pretty directly, on the easiest mode of finishing
life; invited a dinner-party for the day after; supped at
White's, and played at Whist till one o'clock of the New Year's
morning. Lord Robert Bertie drank to him `a happy new year;' he
clapped his hand strangely to his eyes. In the morning, he sent
for a lawyer and three witnesses, executed his will, made them
read it over twice, paragraph by paragraph, asked the lawyer if
that will would stand good though a man were to shoot himself.
Being assured it would, he said — `Pray stay, while I step into
the next room;' went into the next room and shot him
self, placing the muzzle of the pistol so close to his head
that the report was not heard.
