King of Clubs (Whig club)
Encyclopedia
The King of Clubs club
- a famous Whig conversation club, founded in 1798
The King of Clubs club was perhaps the most distinguished conversation club ever to have existed and, in contrast to its mainly Tory forerunner (established by Dr Johnson, Edmund Burke
and Sir Joshua Reynolds) it was a predominantly Whig fraternity of some of the most brilliant minds of the day. The original inspiration for its formation came from Sydney Smith
’s older brother, Robert, (nicknamed ‘Bob-us’ after gaining the reputation at Eton for being such a clever Latin‘versifier’), and the founding members were a group of friends who first met at the house of James Mackintosh
in February, 1798. As well as Mackintosh, the group comprised Samuel Rogers
, James Scarlett (1st Baron Abinger), Richard Sharp
, John Allen (historian)
and Robert Smith and by 1801 what had started as a small clique of friends had become a properly constituted club comprising the following members,
Within seven years the club expanded to include such additional illustrious names as
The King of Clubs had by now become well known throughout London as an exclusive Whig dining club where erudite conversation on all matters pertaining to books, authors and literature took place, but where the discussion of politics was positively excluded. Tom Campbell
described the club as ‘a gathering-place of brilliant talkers, dedicated to the meetings of the reigning wits of London’. The annual subscription had originally been set at 2 guineas but this was reduced to £2 in 1804, raised to 3 guineas in 1808, and finally fixed at £3 in 1810. As a dining club, an additional charge of 10 shillings and 6 pence was made for dinner, a considerable sum in those days, and princely suppers were held in Harley Street
and later at the Crown and Anchor
, Arundel Street, in the Strand. The Crown and Anchor was the very inn where Johnson and Boswell had once enjoyed supping together and it was especially popular among the Whigs after it had
hosted a great banquet in honour of Fox’s birthday in 1798 when an enormous crowd
of 2000 Reformers had toasted The People – the Source of Power!
Such was the popularity of the King of Clubs, and so sought after did membership
become, that in 1808 a decision was taken to limit membership to a maximum of thirty
people who were resident in England. By this time the following had joined,
In 1797 Bobus Smith, the originator of the club, accepted a seven year posting in India as Advocate General of Bengal. His move abroad was a great loss to the King of Clubs and while he was away he asked Richard Sharp
to perform a number of duties for him….
Sydney Smith
came to London and took his brother’s place at the club in 1803/4,
having previously worked with Francis Jeffrey
and Henry Brougham on the Edinburgh Review
, a renowned Whig literary magazine which he had helped to initiate. When he arrived in the city, the irrepressible Sydney formed an immediate attachment to the King of Clubs and his unique sense of humour quickly endeared him to other members and gave meetings an added
piquancy. Unfortunately, the club lost another of its original members when Sir James Mackintosh
, recently knighted, accepted the post of Recordership of Bombay in 1804
and followed in Bobus’s footsteps.
A record book of the King of Clubs has been preserved and a typical meeting of
about this time (1804) lists the following members in attendance,
Meetings of the King of Clubs did not always take place at the Crown and Anchor,
and after 1819 they were held at the Freemasons’ Tavern, at Grillions in Albemarle
Street, and latterly at the Clarendon Hotel. A surviving account from one of the club’s
early meetings shows that a dinner for twelve members cost a princely £24, which
included two bottles of Madeira, three bottles of Sherry, two bottles of Port and three bottles of
Claret! Despite such unashamed conviviality there is no evidence that alcohol in any
way impeded the flow or the quality of the conversation that took place, and we may
imagine that the reverse was probably the case since the atmosphere was always a
happy blend of the jovial and the serious. It was expected that members should give
time to the preparation of their bon-mots, witticisms and anecdotes so that in due
course these could be woven into the discussion as productively and effectively as
possible. Clayden recalls how on one occasion Sharp, in fun, chanced upon
Boddington’s notes before a meeting, made a mental note of all his stories and
brought them into the conversation before Boddington could relate them himself !
The preparation that members were expected to undertake before attending meetings
of the King of Clubs does not seem to have spoiled either the spontaneity of what
occurred or the enjoyment of those who attended. Yet when Francis Horner
had his
first experience of the club, on 10th April 1802, he gained a very mixed impression,
finding the conversation less animated than he had anticipated but attributing this to
the absence of Sydney Smith
…
"This day I dined at the King of Clubs which meets monthly at
the Crown and Anchor in the Strand. The company consisted of
Mackintosh, Romilly, Whishaw, Abercromby, Sharp, Scarlett, etc.
Smith is not yet come to town. The conversation was very
pleasing. It consisted chiefly of literary reminiscences, anecdotes
of authors, criticisms of books, etc. I had been taught to expect a
very different scene – a display of argument, wit and all the
flourishes of intellectual gladiatorship, which though less
permanently pleasing, is for the time more striking. This
expectation was not answered, partly, as I am given to understand,
from the absence of Smith, and partly from the presence of
Romilly, who evidently received from all an unaffected deference
and imposed a certain degree of restraint."
Horner regretted that there was no discussion of political ideas and complained that
Sharp and Mackintosh seemed to be too much in agreement with one another, ‘as if
they belonged to a kind of sect’. In a sense this remark was quite true, but Horner
was quite happy to become a member of the sect himself that year and Clayden
confirms that by 1804 Mackintosh and Sydney Smith had established ‘a kind of
society’ which still held parties ‘once or twice every week’ in their own homes. In
effect these were a continuation of the informal meetings which had started in 1798
and which Horner was now happy to attend. As far as the more formal meetings of
the club were concerned there was broad agreement by members that James Mackintosh
and Sydney Smith
were the most brilliant contributors. Tom Moore felt that certain of the group, Mackintosh included, invested so much of their time and energy in club proceedings that their literary and professional careers suffered as a direct consequence, but whatever the risks, the King of Clubs enjoyed immense status as a place where superb conversation might be found and accordingly membership
became more keenly sought than ever. Writing in 1809, and mindful of those times
when he had been in financial straits, Sydney Smith
wrote to Lady Holland with a
twinkle in his eye …
"..we have admitted a Mr Baring, importer and writer, into the
King of Clubs, upon the express promise that he lends £50 to any
member of the club when applied to. I proposed this amendment
to his introduction which was agreed to without a dissenting
voice."
He could not resist poking a little fun at the serious Samuel Romilly when he added
sarcastically…
…".I wish you would speak to Romilly about the levity and
impropriety of his conversation – he is becoming an absolute rake
and Ward and I talk of leaving the Club if a more chaste line of
dialogue is not adhered to."
At one stage it was proposed by Mackintosh that the conversation and witticisms of
their meetings should be recorded in a literary magazine to be called The Bachelor. It
was felt that there existed more than sufficient material to support a twice-weekly
publication, but although the idea had the support of Rogers, Robert Smith, Scarlett
and Sharp, the project never materialised. Consequently, though the Club’s meetings
spanned a quarter of a century, few details have survived of the bonhomie, the magic
and the sparkling conversation that went on at them. The reason for the final demise
of the club is not known but the poet Thomas Campbell became a frequent guest and
in the following letter to a friend he reflects on some of the reasons why he himself
gradually became disenchanted...
"Much of the art and erudition of these men please an auditor at
the first and second visit; the trial of minds becomes at last
fatiguing because it is unnatural and unsatisfactory. Every one of
these brilliants goes there to shine, for conversational powers are
so much the rage in London that no reputation is higher than his
who exhibits them to advantage. Where everyone tries to instruct
there is, in fact, but little instruction. Wit, paradox, eccentricities,
even absurdity, if delivered rapidly and facetiously, takes priority
in these societies of sound reason and delicate taste. I have
watched sometimes the devious tide of conversation guided by
accidental associations turning from topic to topic and satisfactory
upon none. What has one learned? – has been my general
question. The mind it is true is electrified and quickened, and the
spirits are fiercely exhilarated, but grand fault pervades the whole
institution – their enquiries are desultory, and all improvements to
be reaped must be accidental."
As a creative phenomenon perhaps it was inevitable that the King of Clubs should
enjoy an initial period of rapid growth, reach a high point of maturity, and then suffer
a final decline. Perhaps the appeal of such a club went out of fashion, or perhaps
more likely it simply outgrew itself and became a victim of its own success. As more
and more people with diverse personalities and different conversational skills became
members, the dynamics of the group must inevitably have changed and in Campbell’s
view the club was ultimately consumed in the heat of its own incandescence. But as it
came towards its end, the final glowing embers were not easily extinguished in the
hearts of members and many warm memories were kept alive. A good number of
those who had attended meetings for much of their lives would reflect nostalgically in
old age on what wonderfully pleasurable times had been spent at the club and Richard Sharp, alias Conversation Sharp summed up the sentiment succinctly and powerfully at the very end
of his life when he wrote to Scarlett on the13th November, 1834…
"Ah yes! – our King of Club days with Mackintosh, Bobus,
Dumont and Romilly, were days that the Gods might envy !"
- a famous Whig conversation club, founded in 1798
The King of Clubs club was perhaps the most distinguished conversation club ever to have existed and, in contrast to its mainly Tory forerunner (established by Dr Johnson, Edmund Burke
Edmund Burke
Edmund Burke PC was an Irish statesman, author, orator, political theorist and philosopher who, after moving to England, served for many years in the House of Commons of Great Britain as a member of the Whig party....
and Sir Joshua Reynolds) it was a predominantly Whig fraternity of some of the most brilliant minds of the day. The original inspiration for its formation came from Sydney Smith
Sydney Smith
Sydney Smith was an English writer and Anglican cleric. -Life:Born in Woodford, Essex, England, Smith was the son of merchant Robert Smith and Maria Olier , who suffered from epilepsy...
’s older brother, Robert, (nicknamed ‘Bob-us’ after gaining the reputation at Eton for being such a clever Latin‘versifier’), and the founding members were a group of friends who first met at the house of James Mackintosh
James Mackintosh
Sir James Mackintosh was a Scottish jurist, politician and historian. His studies and sympathies embraced many interests. He was trained as a doctor and barrister, and worked also as a journalist, judge, administrator, professor, philosopher and politician.-Early life:Mackintosh was born at...
in February, 1798. As well as Mackintosh, the group comprised Samuel Rogers
Samuel Rogers
Samuel Rogers was an English poet, during his lifetime one of the most celebrated, although his fame has long since been eclipsed by his Romantic colleagues and friends Wordsworth, Coleridge and Byron...
, James Scarlett (1st Baron Abinger), Richard Sharp
Richard Sharp (politician)
Richard Sharp, FRS, FSA , also known as "Conversation" Sharp, was a hat-maker, banker, merchant, poet, critic, British politician, but above all - doyen of the conversationalists.-Family background:...
, John Allen (historian)
John Allen (historian)
John Allen M.D. was a prominent eighteenth and nineteenth century political and historical writer, and Master of the College of God's Gift in Dulwich .-Early life:...
and Robert Smith and by 1801 what had started as a small clique of friends had become a properly constituted club comprising the following members,
- Richard PorsonRichard PorsonRichard Porson was an English classical scholar. He was the discoverer of Porson's Law; and the Greek typeface Porson was based on his handwriting.-Early life:...
- Smithson TennantSmithson TennantSmithson Tennant FRS was an English chemist.Tennant is best known for his discovery of the elements iridium and osmium, which he found in the residues from the solution of platinum ores in 1803. He also contributed to the proof of the identity of diamond and charcoal. The mineral tennantite is...
, 4 Garden Ct, Middle Temple - John Courtney 11 Duke St.
- Bryan EdwardsBryan EdwardsBryan Edwards, FRS was an English politician and historian born in Westbury, Wiltshire. Edwards supported the slave trade, and was described by abolitionist William Wilberforce as a powerful opponent.-Life:...
- Robert Smith
- Jo. Richardson
- John Allen (historian)John Allen (historian)John Allen M.D. was a prominent eighteenth and nineteenth century political and historical writer, and Master of the College of God's Gift in Dulwich .-Early life:...
- Samuel RogersSamuel RogersSamuel Rogers was an English poet, during his lifetime one of the most celebrated, although his fame has long since been eclipsed by his Romantic colleagues and friends Wordsworth, Coleridge and Byron...
24 St James’ Place - Charles Butler (lawyer) 44 Gt. Ormond St.
- Richard Sharp 17 Mark Lane.
- James Scarlett 1st Baron Abinger 74 Guilford St.
- James MackintoshJames MackintoshSir James Mackintosh was a Scottish jurist, politician and historian. His studies and sympathies embraced many interests. He was trained as a doctor and barrister, and worked also as a journalist, judge, administrator, professor, philosopher and politician.-Early life:Mackintosh was born at...
- William Dickinson (1745-1806)
- John Whishaw
- Josiah Wedgwood IIJosiah Wedgwood IIJosiah Wedgwood II , the son of the English potter Josiah Wedgwood, continued his father's firm and was Member of Parliament for Stoke-upon-Trent from 1832 to 1835...
- Dumont (Pierre Etienne Louis DumontPierre Étienne Louis DumontPierre Étienne Louis Dumont , French political writer, was born at Geneva, of which his family had been citizens of good repute from the days of Calvin....
) - Lord Holland (Henry Richard Vassall-Fox, 3rd Baron Holland)
Within seven years the club expanded to include such additional illustrious names as
- Moore (Thomas MooreThomas MooreThomas Moore was an Irish poet, singer, songwriter, and entertainer, now best remembered for the lyrics of The Minstrel Boy and The Last Rose of Summer. He was responsible, with John Murray, for burning Lord Byron's memoirs after his death...
) - John Wedgwood (1766-1844)
- Henry Brougham
- Thomas CreeveyThomas CreeveyThomas Creevey was an English politician, son of William Creevey, a Liverpool merchant, and was born in that city....
- Mr Wm. Smith MP (William Smith (abolitionist)William Smith (abolitionist)William Smith was a leading independent British politician, sitting as Member of Parliament for more than one constituency. He was an English Dissenter and was instrumental in bringing political rights to that religious minority...
) - Lord Petty
- George PhilipsGeorge PhilipsSir George Philips, 1st Baronet , later Sir George Philips MP.-Biography:Philips came from an old Staffordshire family that had held manors there since the reign of Edward VI of England, and were seated at Heath House in the same county since the early seventeenth century, that continued to be...
- Francis HornerFrancis HornerFrancis Horner was a Scottish Whig MP for St. Ives in 1806, Wendover in 1807, and St. Mawes in 1812 ....
- Rev. Peter ElmsleyPeter ElmsleyPeter Elmsley was an English classical scholar.He was educated at Westminster and Christ Church, Oxford, and having inherited a fortune from his uncle, a well-known bookseller, devoted himself to the study of classical authors and manuscripts...
- Samuel RomillySamuel RomillySir Samuel Romilly , was a British legal reformer.-Background and education:Romilly was born in Frith Street, Soho, London, the second son of Peter Romilly, a watchmaker and jeweller...
- Hon. John Ward (John Ward, 1st Earl of Dudley)
- Rev. Sydney SmithSydney SmithSydney Smith was an English writer and Anglican cleric. -Life:Born in Woodford, Essex, England, Smith was the son of merchant Robert Smith and Maria Olier , who suffered from epilepsy...
- John HoppnerJohn HoppnerJohn Hoppner was an English portrait painter, .-Early life:Hoppner was born in Whitechapel, London, the son of German parents - his mother was one of the German attendants at the royal palace. King George's fatherly interest and patronage of the young boy gave rise to rumours, quite unfounded,...
- Samuel BoddingtonSamuel BoddingtonSamuel Boddington was an Irish politician. He was Member of Parliament for Tralee from January to May 1807....
The King of Clubs had by now become well known throughout London as an exclusive Whig dining club where erudite conversation on all matters pertaining to books, authors and literature took place, but where the discussion of politics was positively excluded. Tom Campbell
Tom Campbell
Thomas John "Tom" Campbell is the Dean of Chapman University School of Law, a former five-term Republican United States Congressman from California's 12th and 15th districts, a former professor at Stanford Law School, a former dean of the Haas School of Business, and a former professor of business...
described the club as ‘a gathering-place of brilliant talkers, dedicated to the meetings of the reigning wits of London’. The annual subscription had originally been set at 2 guineas but this was reduced to £2 in 1804, raised to 3 guineas in 1808, and finally fixed at £3 in 1810. As a dining club, an additional charge of 10 shillings and 6 pence was made for dinner, a considerable sum in those days, and princely suppers were held in Harley Street
Harley Street
Harley Street is a street in the City of Westminster in London, England which has been noted since the 19th century for its large number of private specialists in medicine and surgery.- Overview :...
and later at the Crown and Anchor
Crown and anchor
Crown and Anchor is a simple dice game, traditionally played for gambling purposes by sailors in the British Royal Navy, and also in the British merchant and fishing fleets.The game originated in the 18th century...
, Arundel Street, in the Strand. The Crown and Anchor was the very inn where Johnson and Boswell had once enjoyed supping together and it was especially popular among the Whigs after it had
hosted a great banquet in honour of Fox’s birthday in 1798 when an enormous crowd
of 2000 Reformers had toasted The People – the Source of Power!
Such was the popularity of the King of Clubs, and so sought after did membership
become, that in 1808 a decision was taken to limit membership to a maximum of thirty
people who were resident in England. By this time the following had joined,
- Earl CowperEarl CowperEarl Cowper was a title in the Peerage of Great Britain. It was created in 1718 by George I for William Cowper, 1st Baron Cowper, his first Lord Chancellor, with remainder in default of male issue of his own to his younger brother, Spencer Cowper...
- William BlakeWilliam BlakeWilliam Blake was an English poet, painter, and printmaker. Largely unrecognised during his lifetime, Blake is now considered a seminal figure in the history of both the poetry and visual arts of the Romantic Age...
- Abercromby (Lord Dunfermline)
- Alexander Baring (Lord Ashburton)
- Lord Kinnaird (Charles Kinnaird, 8th Lord Kinnaird)
- Henry Luttrell
- R.P. Knight
- Thomas MalthusThomas MalthusThe Reverend Thomas Robert Malthus FRS was an English scholar, influential in political economy and demography. Malthus popularized the economic theory of rent....
- Lord John TownshendLord John TownshendLord John Townshend PC , styled The Honourable John Townshend until 1787, was a British Whig politician.-Background:...
MP. - Dr Fleming (John Fleming (naturalist)John Fleming (naturalist)John Fleming was a Scottish Presbyterian clergyman, naturalist, zoologist and geologist. He was born near Bathgate in Linlithgowshire and died in Edinburgh...
) - John PlayfairJohn PlayfairJohn Playfair FRSE, FRS was a Scottish scientist and mathematician, and a professor of natural philosophy at the University of Edinburgh. He is perhaps best known for his book Illustrations of the Huttonian Theory of the Earth , which summarized the work of James Hutton...
- Hon. George Lamb (politician and writer)
- Lord King
- Henry HallamHenry HallamHenry Hallam was an English historian.-Life:The only son of John Hallam, canon of Windsor and dean of Bristol, Henry Hallam was educated at Eton and Christ Church, Oxford, graduating in 1799...
- David RicardoDavid RicardoDavid Ricardo was an English political economist, often credited with systematising economics, and was one of the most influential of the classical economists, along with Thomas Malthus, Adam Smith, and John Stuart Mill. He was also a member of Parliament, businessman, financier and speculator,...
- Lord Thomas Denman, 1st Baron DenmanThomas Denman, 1st Baron DenmanThomas Denman, 1st Baron Denman PC KC was a British lawyer, judge and politician. He served as Lord Chief Justice between 1832 and 1850.-Background and education:Denman was born in London, the son of Dr Thomas Denman...
In 1797 Bobus Smith, the originator of the club, accepted a seven year posting in India as Advocate General of Bengal. His move abroad was a great loss to the King of Clubs and while he was away he asked Richard Sharp
Richard Sharp (politician)
Richard Sharp, FRS, FSA , also known as "Conversation" Sharp, was a hat-maker, banker, merchant, poet, critic, British politician, but above all - doyen of the conversationalists.-Family background:...
to perform a number of duties for him….
Sydney Smith
Sydney Smith
Sydney Smith was an English writer and Anglican cleric. -Life:Born in Woodford, Essex, England, Smith was the son of merchant Robert Smith and Maria Olier , who suffered from epilepsy...
came to London and took his brother’s place at the club in 1803/4,
having previously worked with Francis Jeffrey
Francis Jeffrey
Francis Jeffrey, Lord Jeffrey was a Scottish judge and literary critic.He was born in Edinburgh, the son of a clerk in the Court of Session. After attending the Royal High School for six years, he studied at the University of Glasgow from 1787 to May 1789, and at Queen's College, Oxford, from...
and Henry Brougham on the Edinburgh Review
Edinburgh Review
The Edinburgh Review, founded in 1802, was one of the most influential British magazines of the 19th century. It ceased publication in 1929. The magazine took its Latin motto judex damnatur ubi nocens absolvitur from Publilius Syrus.In 1984, the Scottish cultural magazine New Edinburgh Review,...
, a renowned Whig literary magazine which he had helped to initiate. When he arrived in the city, the irrepressible Sydney formed an immediate attachment to the King of Clubs and his unique sense of humour quickly endeared him to other members and gave meetings an added
piquancy. Unfortunately, the club lost another of its original members when Sir James Mackintosh
James Mackintosh
Sir James Mackintosh was a Scottish jurist, politician and historian. His studies and sympathies embraced many interests. He was trained as a doctor and barrister, and worked also as a journalist, judge, administrator, professor, philosopher and politician.-Early life:Mackintosh was born at...
, recently knighted, accepted the post of Recordership of Bombay in 1804
and followed in Bobus’s footsteps.
A record book of the King of Clubs has been preserved and a typical meeting of
about this time (1804) lists the following members in attendance,
- Richard PorsonRichard PorsonRichard Porson was an English classical scholar. He was the discoverer of Porson's Law; and the Greek typeface Porson was based on his handwriting.-Early life:...
- Richard SharpRichard Sharp (politician)Richard Sharp, FRS, FSA , also known as "Conversation" Sharp, was a hat-maker, banker, merchant, poet, critic, British politician, but above all - doyen of the conversationalists.-Family background:...
17 Mark Lane - James Scarlett
- Sir James Romilly
- Sydney SmithSydney SmithSydney Smith was an English writer and Anglican cleric. -Life:Born in Woodford, Essex, England, Smith was the son of merchant Robert Smith and Maria Olier , who suffered from epilepsy...
8 Doughty St. - Samuel BoddingtonSamuel BoddingtonSamuel Boddington was an Irish politician. He was Member of Parliament for Tralee from January to May 1807....
31 Upper Brook St - Hon. William Drummond 7 Charles St., Berkeley Sq.
- George PhilipsGeorge PhilipsSir George Philips, 1st Baronet , later Sir George Philips MP.-Biography:Philips came from an old Staffordshire family that had held manors there since the reign of Edward VI of England, and were seated at Heath House in the same county since the early seventeenth century, that continued to be...
Manchester - Henry Luttrell
- David RicardoDavid RicardoDavid Ricardo was an English political economist, often credited with systematising economics, and was one of the most influential of the classical economists, along with Thomas Malthus, Adam Smith, and John Stuart Mill. He was also a member of Parliament, businessman, financier and speculator,...
- Lord Kinnaird (Charles Kinnaird, 8th Lord Kinnaird) Lower Grosvenor St
Meetings of the King of Clubs did not always take place at the Crown and Anchor,
and after 1819 they were held at the Freemasons’ Tavern, at Grillions in Albemarle
Street, and latterly at the Clarendon Hotel. A surviving account from one of the club’s
early meetings shows that a dinner for twelve members cost a princely £24, which
included two bottles of Madeira, three bottles of Sherry, two bottles of Port and three bottles of
Claret! Despite such unashamed conviviality there is no evidence that alcohol in any
way impeded the flow or the quality of the conversation that took place, and we may
imagine that the reverse was probably the case since the atmosphere was always a
happy blend of the jovial and the serious. It was expected that members should give
time to the preparation of their bon-mots, witticisms and anecdotes so that in due
course these could be woven into the discussion as productively and effectively as
possible. Clayden recalls how on one occasion Sharp, in fun, chanced upon
Boddington’s notes before a meeting, made a mental note of all his stories and
brought them into the conversation before Boddington could relate them himself !
The preparation that members were expected to undertake before attending meetings
of the King of Clubs does not seem to have spoiled either the spontaneity of what
occurred or the enjoyment of those who attended. Yet when Francis Horner
Francis Horner
Francis Horner was a Scottish Whig MP for St. Ives in 1806, Wendover in 1807, and St. Mawes in 1812 ....
had his
first experience of the club, on 10th April 1802, he gained a very mixed impression,
finding the conversation less animated than he had anticipated but attributing this to
the absence of Sydney Smith
Sydney Smith
Sydney Smith was an English writer and Anglican cleric. -Life:Born in Woodford, Essex, England, Smith was the son of merchant Robert Smith and Maria Olier , who suffered from epilepsy...
…
"This day I dined at the King of Clubs which meets monthly at
the Crown and Anchor in the Strand. The company consisted of
Mackintosh, Romilly, Whishaw, Abercromby, Sharp, Scarlett, etc.
Smith is not yet come to town. The conversation was very
pleasing. It consisted chiefly of literary reminiscences, anecdotes
of authors, criticisms of books, etc. I had been taught to expect a
very different scene – a display of argument, wit and all the
flourishes of intellectual gladiatorship, which though less
permanently pleasing, is for the time more striking. This
expectation was not answered, partly, as I am given to understand,
from the absence of Smith, and partly from the presence of
Romilly, who evidently received from all an unaffected deference
and imposed a certain degree of restraint."
Horner regretted that there was no discussion of political ideas and complained that
Sharp and Mackintosh seemed to be too much in agreement with one another, ‘as if
they belonged to a kind of sect’. In a sense this remark was quite true, but Horner
was quite happy to become a member of the sect himself that year and Clayden
confirms that by 1804 Mackintosh and Sydney Smith had established ‘a kind of
society’ which still held parties ‘once or twice every week’ in their own homes. In
effect these were a continuation of the informal meetings which had started in 1798
and which Horner was now happy to attend. As far as the more formal meetings of
the club were concerned there was broad agreement by members that James Mackintosh
James Mackintosh
Sir James Mackintosh was a Scottish jurist, politician and historian. His studies and sympathies embraced many interests. He was trained as a doctor and barrister, and worked also as a journalist, judge, administrator, professor, philosopher and politician.-Early life:Mackintosh was born at...
and Sydney Smith
Sydney Smith
Sydney Smith was an English writer and Anglican cleric. -Life:Born in Woodford, Essex, England, Smith was the son of merchant Robert Smith and Maria Olier , who suffered from epilepsy...
were the most brilliant contributors. Tom Moore felt that certain of the group, Mackintosh included, invested so much of their time and energy in club proceedings that their literary and professional careers suffered as a direct consequence, but whatever the risks, the King of Clubs enjoyed immense status as a place where superb conversation might be found and accordingly membership
became more keenly sought than ever. Writing in 1809, and mindful of those times
when he had been in financial straits, Sydney Smith
Sydney Smith
Sydney Smith was an English writer and Anglican cleric. -Life:Born in Woodford, Essex, England, Smith was the son of merchant Robert Smith and Maria Olier , who suffered from epilepsy...
wrote to Lady Holland with a
twinkle in his eye …
"..we have admitted a Mr Baring, importer and writer, into the
King of Clubs, upon the express promise that he lends £50 to any
member of the club when applied to. I proposed this amendment
to his introduction which was agreed to without a dissenting
voice."
He could not resist poking a little fun at the serious Samuel Romilly when he added
sarcastically…
…".I wish you would speak to Romilly about the levity and
impropriety of his conversation – he is becoming an absolute rake
and Ward and I talk of leaving the Club if a more chaste line of
dialogue is not adhered to."
At one stage it was proposed by Mackintosh that the conversation and witticisms of
their meetings should be recorded in a literary magazine to be called The Bachelor. It
was felt that there existed more than sufficient material to support a twice-weekly
publication, but although the idea had the support of Rogers, Robert Smith, Scarlett
and Sharp, the project never materialised. Consequently, though the Club’s meetings
spanned a quarter of a century, few details have survived of the bonhomie, the magic
and the sparkling conversation that went on at them. The reason for the final demise
of the club is not known but the poet Thomas Campbell became a frequent guest and
in the following letter to a friend he reflects on some of the reasons why he himself
gradually became disenchanted...
"Much of the art and erudition of these men please an auditor at
the first and second visit; the trial of minds becomes at last
fatiguing because it is unnatural and unsatisfactory. Every one of
these brilliants goes there to shine, for conversational powers are
so much the rage in London that no reputation is higher than his
who exhibits them to advantage. Where everyone tries to instruct
there is, in fact, but little instruction. Wit, paradox, eccentricities,
even absurdity, if delivered rapidly and facetiously, takes priority
in these societies of sound reason and delicate taste. I have
watched sometimes the devious tide of conversation guided by
accidental associations turning from topic to topic and satisfactory
upon none. What has one learned? – has been my general
question. The mind it is true is electrified and quickened, and the
spirits are fiercely exhilarated, but grand fault pervades the whole
institution – their enquiries are desultory, and all improvements to
be reaped must be accidental."
As a creative phenomenon perhaps it was inevitable that the King of Clubs should
enjoy an initial period of rapid growth, reach a high point of maturity, and then suffer
a final decline. Perhaps the appeal of such a club went out of fashion, or perhaps
more likely it simply outgrew itself and became a victim of its own success. As more
and more people with diverse personalities and different conversational skills became
members, the dynamics of the group must inevitably have changed and in Campbell’s
view the club was ultimately consumed in the heat of its own incandescence. But as it
came towards its end, the final glowing embers were not easily extinguished in the
hearts of members and many warm memories were kept alive. A good number of
those who had attended meetings for much of their lives would reflect nostalgically in
old age on what wonderfully pleasurable times had been spent at the club and Richard Sharp, alias Conversation Sharp summed up the sentiment succinctly and powerfully at the very end
of his life when he wrote to Scarlett on the13th November, 1834…
"Ah yes! – our King of Club days with Mackintosh, Bobus,
Dumont and Romilly, were days that the Gods might envy !"