12 FEBRUARY 1937, Page 13

A HUNDRED YEARS AGO " THE SPECTATOR," FEBRUARY TIM, 1837.

The Brighton Palace is as dull as usual. In the morning the King rides out with General Thornton or the Countess of Mayo ; and a few military officers occasionally dine with him in the evening : the only " civilian " of note whom we notice among the guests at the Royal table being Lord Wharncliffe. There are no senile or juvenile balls, no " grand " dinner-parties, no fetes. It is curious to observe, too that the callers at the Palace are almost exclusively military or naval officers. His Majesty and the Queen appear to be shunned by the Tory as well as the Whig Aristocracy. How is this ? what can the King have done to make them all so sulky ?