DAGENHAM BREACH. 165
Dundas, Bart., Sir Hugh Palliser (Governor of Greenwich Hos-
pital), Sir Joseph Banks, F.R.S., Edward Hulse, Charles Alexander
Crickitt, M.P., and Bamber Gascoigne, Esquires. They appear to
have taken a lease, and the object of the club was "for maintaining
and keeping in repair the Houses and Premises, &c, Boats, Tackle,
& Nets"; and "that the Society should be united as much as
possible in social and friendly intercourse." For this end arrange-
ments were made for meetings. A steward was appointed to live in
the house, and look after the stock of wines, etc., and provision
made by a clause for the nomination of six new members, of whom
four were elected—Robert (afterward Sir) Preston, of Woodford,
William Smith, of Barking, John Pardoe, of Leyton, and the
Earl of Sandwich. They improved the house, and erected
stabling for thirty horses. On some occasions as many as ten
four-in-hands have been seen on the road to the Breach. Among
the members, later on, were James Hatch, of Claybury, Edmund
Antrobus, and some Members of Parliament, This club lasted till
1812, when it was broken up. The property then belonged to Sir
Edward Hulse, who sold the furniture, etc.
But something more permanent survived; for there is little doubt
that to these gatherings we may trace the origin of the ministerial
"Whitebait Dinners," which have only been discontinued in recent
times. Mr. Timbs, in his "Club Life of London," tells the story;
but, in the face of the information contained in the original docu-
ments just mentioned, the details are probably not strictly accurate.
To Sir Robert Preston it is probably due, as he says, that Mr. Pitt
was first invited, and that the invitation became a yearly one, the
place of meeting being altered to Greenwich, in consequence either
of its being nearer to London, and more easily reached, or perhaps
the change took place after the club had broken up. Pitt, however,
died in 1806, some six years before this.
Some years later, the "Gulf" and land was let to Richard Webb,
of Belmont Castle, Purfleet, who erected the two cottages.17 He
subsequently sold his interest to Joseph Fry, of Plashett, and in the
"Memorials of Sir T. Fowell Buxton" may be seen some letters
dated from Dagenham Breach. It was here that his wife, Mrs.
Elizabeth Fry, spent, in her later years, the summer months; and
her brother, Samuel Gurney, also came, and kept a boat here. He
17 From MSS. of Mr. Edward J. Sage, who has also kindly given me access to origina
sources of information, relating to the various dock schemes, in his collections.