A gold and tortoiseshell piqué snuff box, A.J.M. Vachette, Paris, 1809-1819

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'The tastes and habits of his grace precluded his taking any prominent part in the politics of the day, except in reference to Catholic emancipation – of which he was at all times the consistent supporter. . . . The career of the Duke of Leinster as a Freemason afforded a striking illustration of the earnestness of his grace in support of any object which met his approval. The noble duke was Grand Master of the Order in Ireland from 1813. During that long period, it need scarcely be added that his grace was no merely ornamental head of the craft. The co-operation of the Grand Master was always most cheerfully afforded when most urgently required. When a question of difficulty arouse concerning any matter involving the welfare of the Order the wise counsel of his grace would be available as readily as the demands on his bounty would be freely discharged. . . . Amongst the events noticed in the records of the Order with which his grace was specially connected may be mentioned the installation of the Prince of Wales, as Patron of the Order, at the Freemasons' Hall in Dublin on the 4^th of August, 1871. . . . The Duke of Leinster was always a special patron of music, and in early life a performer of no mean ability; his grace, and some of the juvenile members of his family, having in this capacity appeared at the concerts of the Philharmonic and other societies.' (The Standard, London, Monday, 12 October 1874, p. 5g)