The Marquess of Waterford was a notorious hell raiser in the 1830s, and his escapades kept the newspapers fed with copy on several occasions.
He was also a contender for having been the original Spring Heeled Jack, one of the most infamous character’s of the 19th century until Jack the Ripper took his place at the top of the notoriety league table.
The Morning Chronicle, in its edition of Thursday the 29th of October, 1835, published a report from an American correspondent concerning one of Waterford’s New York escapades:-
THE MARQUESS OF WATERFORD
& THE NEW YORK POLICE
Extraordinary Capture. Three Nobles and a Commoner in Limbo.
One of the most extraordinary events that ever took place in the New World, occurred yesterday morning in the blessed city of New York, near the foot of Washington-street, and in the Police-office in the Park, justice Hopson presiding, and Mr. Callender, Clerk of the Rolls.
No such affair has before graced this country since the colonial age when lords, viscounts, barons, and baronets, lived upon the fat of the land, and fluttered their wings before the bright eyes of our women.
ONE HAUL
Yesterday morning, before sunrise, a body of watchmen at the foot of Washington-street captured, in one haul, the Most Noble the Marquess of Waterford, Viscount Jocelyn, Lord Beresford, and Colonel Dundas, of the British army; all being engaged, at that hour and place, in the noble experiment of breaking windows, smashing nightlamps, knocking down the watchmen, and sundry other valorous deeds of the like kind.
THE MAYOR’S DINNER PARTY
It appears that on Sunday the Honourable, the Mayor, gave a splendid dinner party, to which these Noblemen were invited, in company with the Hon. John Forsyth, Secretary of State, and several other distinguished politicians and various fashionable ladies.
The Mayor spread before our noble visitors the best of the land. His cookery was excellent – also his wines were delicate and full of excellence.
Their Lordships behaved with great propriety, although we must say that Beresford and Jocelyn are rather disagreeable in consequence of a habit of loud talking and laughing about little or nothing. They must reform this bad habit if they mean to stand well in our good graces.
The Noble Marquess and the Colonel are quite gentlemanly and elegant.
A NAMELESS QUARTER
After enjoying the hospitality of the Mayor until a late hour (in spite of his recent proclamation), the young Nobles departed and proceeded towards a quarter of the city which shall be nameless.
On this portion of their proceedings we shall draw the curtain of night. We know the minutest particulars, but out of regard to noble blood, &c. we shall say nothing.
Towards the hours of three and four in the morning, they proceeded down Washington-street as we have already described.
JUSTICE HOPSON ARRIVES
About four o’clock in the morning, Justice Hopson, who is a remarkably early riser, proceeded to his office in the Park.
On entering he heard a terrible racket in one corner.
Casting his eyes towards the place, he discovered four very gentlemanly-looking men, surrounded by a posse of watchmen.
He immediately hurried to his seat on the bench.
“Watchman,” said the Justice, “bring up these men.”
The watchmen proceeded to obey.
“Off, you dirty fellow,” said one; “Damn you,” said another. “Knock him down,” said a third, &c. &c.
LORD BERESFORD
“What’s your name?” asked Justice Hopson.”
“Lord Beresford,” was the reply.
“Lord Beresford!” reiterated the Justice, looking over his specs. “Come now, none of this nonsense – your right name?”
“Beresford – Beresford is my name,” said he; “here is Viscount Jocelyn, and there is the Marquess of Waterford.”
SENT TO PRISON
“And mine,” said another, “is Colonel Dundas.”
Here two of the Lords became very obstreperous and saucy to the Justice.
“Take them over to prison,” said Justice Hopson. “Lord or no they shall not violate the law and insult the Bench.”
Such another scene never took place. The whole corps of noble blood were placed by the audacious Justice Hopson in limbo.
After the young nobles found they were fairly caught in American law, they laughed heartily; went to prison, entered – cracked many a good joke – and talked and behaved like gentlemen again.
THE MAYOR TO THE RESCUE
At ten o’clock, his Honour the Mayor, hearing of the scrape, hastened to the prison, and had them all liberated.
“Ah, Mr. Lawrence”, said one of the youths, “this is all owing to your prodigiously fine wine. You are more guilty than we.”
“Well, well,” said the Mayor laughing, “don’t think the worse of us Americans because our laws pay no respect to persons.”
“Certainly not,” said Waterford, “we should have been served the same in the City of London.”
BACK TO THE HOTEL
Our Nobility and Gentry then proceeded to their apartments in the City Hotel – got rid of the perfumery of an American prison – and made a round of visits, talking, describing, and laughing at their adventure, like men of sense