The grandniece,
Stephen's daughter, the one who had not 'married imprudently,'
appears to have been the first; for she was taken abroad by the
golden aunt, and died in her care at Ghent in 1792. Next she
adopted William, the youngest of the five nephews; took him abroad
with her - it seems as if that were in the formula; was shut up
with him in Paris by the Revolution; brought him back to Windsor,
and got him a place in the King's Body-Guard, where he attracted
the notice of George III. by his proficiency in German. In 1797,
being on guard at St. James's Palace, William took a cold which
carried him off; and Aunt Anne was once more left heirless.
Lastly, in 1805, perhaps moved by the Admiral, who had a kindness
for his old midshipman, perhaps pleased by the good looks and the
good nature of the man himself, Mrs. Buckner turned her eyes upon
Charles Jenkin. He was not only to be the heir, however, he was to
be the chief hand in a somewhat wild scheme of family farming.
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