The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 246: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

CHAPTER XXIII THE SELLIS TRAGEDY “ You are aware that the Duke of Cumberland, ait the time of which I am about to speak, occupied the same suite of apartments where he now resides, in the Kitchen Court of St. James’s Palace. You will also recollect that it was upwards of four years ago, in the summer of 1810, when the fearful tragedy occurred. At that time the three principal valets of his Royal Highness the Duke of Cumberland were Sellis, Neale, and Joux, and they took turns, week by week, in doing duty. Joseph Sellis was an Italian, short in stature but well made, with an olive complexion, and tolerably good-looking. He was married, and had four children. His habits were exceedingly domesticated and regular. He was a good, steady man, a kind husband and an excellent father. Indeed, he was perfectly uxorious in his attentions toward his wife, who was a somewhat handsome woman, and so fond was he of his children that if either of them experienced the slightest ailment, he became overwhelmed with grief and a prey to the most excruciating apprehensions. His wife was an exemplary woman, and altogether it would be impossible to conceive a happier family than that of Sellis. In disposition he was mild, inoffensive, and obliging. Thoroughly humane, he seemed incapable of harming a soul, but, on the contrary, was ever ready to perform a generous deed or render a service. “In fact, he was liked not only by the Duke of Cumber- land, but by the royal family in general, all the princes and princesses noticing him and expressing a constant interest inhis welfare. They, moreover, made him numerous presents, and never seemed wearied of heaping favours upon him. To such an extent was he thus esteemed, or indeed caressed, 217 Conniclooolks (C(O)