FORTUNATE RISE OF A CLUB-HOUSE WAITER.
`A waitership at a club sometimes led to fortune. Thomas
Rumbold, originally a waiter at White's gaming club, got an
appointment in India, and suddenly rose to be Sir Thomas, and
Governor of Madras! On his return, with immense wealth, a bill
of pains and penalties was brought into
the
House by Dundas, with the view of stripping Sir Thomas of his
ill-gotten gains. This bill was briskly pushed through the
earlier stages; suddenly the proceedings were arrested by
adjournment, and the measure fell to the ground. The rumour of
the day attributed Rumbold's escape to the corrupt assistance of
Rigby; who, in 1782, found himself, by Lord North's retirement,
deprived of his place in the Pay Office, and called upon to
refund a large amount of public moneys unaccounted for. In this
strait, Rigby was believed to have had recourse to Rumbold.
Their acquaintance had commenced in earlier days, when Rigby was
one of the boldest "punters'' at White's, and Rumbold bowed to
him for half-crowns as waiter. Rumbold is said to have given
Rigby a large sum of money, on condition of the former being
released from the impending pains and penalties. The truth of
the report has been vehemently denied; but the circumstances are
suspicious. The bill was dropped; Dundas, its introducer, was
Rigby's intimate associate. Rigby's nephew and heir soon after
married Rumbold's daughter. Sir Thomas himself had married a
daughter of Dr Law, Bishop of Carlisle. The worthy bishop stood
godfather to
one of Rumbold's children; the
other godfather was the Nabob of Arcot, and the child was
christened "Mahomet.'' So, at least, Walpole informs Mann.'[47]
[47] Timbs,
Club Life in London.
