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Foreign News
May 3, 1771
The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle
Portsmouth, Greenland, Rockingham County, New Hampshire
What is this article about?
Anecdote about an unnamed Huntingdonshire peer who, during a dinner with guests, has a monkey dressed as a chaplain say grace instead of the invited clergyman Aaron, who responds wittily and leaves.
Clipping
OCR Quality
100%
Excellent
Full Text
The following story is told of a certain Peer not unknown in Huntingdonshire;
"Some time since having some company of the Buck Order to dine with him, he sent an invitation to a clergyman, who dwelt in the neighbourhood. The clergyman accepted it, and attended. When dinner was brought in, Aaron being the only person whose character was sacred, rose, and attempted to say grace. The nobleman immediately stopped him, telling him he had a chaplain of his own, who always performed that ceremony, and ordered him in directly. Immediately a footman introduced a large monkey, of the baboon species, dressed in canonicals, who staggering on his hinder legs to the upper end of the table, clapped his fore paws upon the cloth, and with much grimace muttered over some unintelligible jargon, and then retired. Aaron was somewhat disconcerted at this manifest infringement on his rights; but instantly recollected himself and making also a bow to his Lordship addressed him in these words: "I beg pardon, my Lord, for having presumed to interfere in your chaplain's place and duty; but you must impute it to my ignorance, for I really did not know that your Lordship had a son in orders."
Having said this, he gave the nobleman a smile ineffable contempt, and instantly left the room, with a dignity becoming his character and station."
"Some time since having some company of the Buck Order to dine with him, he sent an invitation to a clergyman, who dwelt in the neighbourhood. The clergyman accepted it, and attended. When dinner was brought in, Aaron being the only person whose character was sacred, rose, and attempted to say grace. The nobleman immediately stopped him, telling him he had a chaplain of his own, who always performed that ceremony, and ordered him in directly. Immediately a footman introduced a large monkey, of the baboon species, dressed in canonicals, who staggering on his hinder legs to the upper end of the table, clapped his fore paws upon the cloth, and with much grimace muttered over some unintelligible jargon, and then retired. Aaron was somewhat disconcerted at this manifest infringement on his rights; but instantly recollected himself and making also a bow to his Lordship addressed him in these words: "I beg pardon, my Lord, for having presumed to interfere in your chaplain's place and duty; but you must impute it to my ignorance, for I really did not know that your Lordship had a son in orders."
Having said this, he gave the nobleman a smile ineffable contempt, and instantly left the room, with a dignity becoming his character and station."
What sub-type of article is it?
Court News
What keywords are associated?
Huntingdonshire Peer
Clergyman Aaron
Monkey Chaplain
Dinner Anecdote
Court Gossip
What entities or persons were involved?
Certain Peer
Aaron
Where did it happen?
Huntingdonshire
Foreign News Details
Primary Location
Huntingdonshire
Event Date
Some Time Since
Key Persons
Certain Peer
Aaron
Outcome
clergyman aaron leaves the dinner with dignity after witty retort.
Event Details
A peer invites clergyman Aaron to dinner with guests of the Buck Order. When Aaron tries to say grace, the peer introduces a monkey dressed as a chaplain to perform it instead. Aaron responds by implying the monkey is the peer's son in orders and departs.