promoted the South Sea scheme with a view to his own exorbitant profit". There was no gainsaying the facts. Aislabie had enriched himself by enormous sums and had even gone to the length of burning incriminating books prior to the inquiry. Retribution was swift. A resolution was passed expelling him from the House, and the next day, on the authority of the Speaker's writ, he was committed to the Tower. Next came a bill for confiscating the estates of the Directors of the Company and others implicated, the proceeds to be used to alleviate the lot of those who had suffered in the catastrophe. Aislabie was named in the Bill, but actually emerged from the operation of the Act more fortunately than most of his confederates. He was allowed to keep his estates in Yorkshire and such property as he had held prior to 18th October, 1718. His public career was, of course, ended. He retired into private life and devoted himself to the rebuilding of the house at Studley (it had been partly destroyed by fire), the laying out of the magnificent pleasure gardens which at the time were almost unique in England, and the general improvement of his estate. As a footnote of interest to Yorkshire readers it may be added that Aislabie's son extended the property by the purchase of the adjacent Fountains Abbey estate in 1768. But on the death of John Aislabie's grand-daughter the estate passed from the direct succession from George Aislabie and went to Thomas, Earl de Grey, whose greatgrandfather had married John's sister. We may not be proud of John Aislabie as an Old Peterite, but it is something to learn that he was one. And, after all, are there not black sheep in every family? L.B. ,
VALETE AND SALVETE VALETE (April, 1954) THE RISE B. R. Stockton. 1951-54 '(St. Olave's, 1948). G.C.E., "0" level, 1953. R.N. Section of C.C.F. Cert. "A", Part I. First Class Shot. SCHOOL HOUSE E. W. Peat. 1951-54. Transitus Science. G.C.E., "0" level, 1953. Founder Member of Young Farmers' Club, Vice-Chairman and Minutes Secretary, 1953-54. 1st XV, 1953-54. Colours, 1953-54. Colts XV, 1952-53. Colours, 1953. Junior "A" XV, 1951. Derbyshire Schoolboys' XV, 1953. Athletic Team, 1954. Cadet in R.A.F. Section of C.C.F. Cert. "A", Part I, 1952. Marksman. School Play, 1953.
SALVETE (January, 1954) M. L. Bywater (IVA). D. Anderson (INN.
THE MANOR THE RISE
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