Sometimes he
was lavish in his generosity, while on other occasions he replied in
burning words to those who appealed to him.
An instance of the latter is afforded in his reply to the members of a
Friendly Society which was in straits for the want of 10l. He told
them that if it was a Club established on sound lines, it would be worth
their while to subscribe the money among themselves, and if not, he
declined to maintain a bankrupt organisation.
He was a devourer of the contents of newspapers, and took all the
principal London and provincial daily issues, as well as many weekly
journals, which were filed and bound. His bill for one year came to
1,300l. He had four sets of the papers he thought worth preserving,
one being at Welbeck, another at Fullarton House, a third at Bothal
Castle, and a fourth at Harcourt House. This collection of current
literature of the day is believed to be the largest private library
outside the British Museum.
In January, 1855, the Crimean War was in progress, and the Duke having
given 500l.
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