"Three-fourths even of the nobility," says a writer in
the _New Monthly Magazine_, "knock in vain for admission.
Into this _sanctum sanctorum_, of course, the sons of
commerce never think of intruding; and yet into the very
'blue chamber,' in the absence of the six necromancers,
have the votaries of trade contrived to intrude
themselves."

"Many diplomatic arts," writes Captain Gronow, "much
_finesse_, and a host of intrigues were set in motion to
get an invitation to Almack's. Very often persons whose
rank and fortunes entitled them to the _entrée_ anywhere,
were excluded by the cliqueism of the Lady patronesses;
for the female government of Almack's was a despotism,
and subject to all the caprice of despotic rule. It is
needless to say that, like every other despotism, it was
not innocent of abuses."

The fair ladies who ruled supreme over this little dancing and gossiping
world issued a solemn proclamation that no gentleman should appear at
the assemblies without being dressed in knee-breeches, white cravat, and
_chapeau bras._ On one occasion, the Duke of Wellington was about to
ascend the staircase of the ballroom, dressed in black trousers, when
the vigilant Mr Willis, the guardian of the establishment, stepped
forward and said, "Your Grace cannot be admitted in trousers," whereupon
the Duke, who had a great respect for orders and regulations, quietly
walked away.

Another inflexible rule of the club was that no one should be admitted