To paraphrase Dickens in the immortal classic A Christmas Carol: “The Duke” was politically dead: to begin with. There is no whatever about that. The register of his burial was signed by the clergyman, the clerk, the undertaker, and the chief mourner. The Republicans signed it: and the Republicans name was good upon ‘Change, for anything he chose to put their hand to. “The Old Duke” was dead as a door-nail”.