MUTE SAVAN. 129 



had the additional adaptation of representing the initial letter 

 of the word Vintner, and forming, also, the Roman numeral 

 jivt^ is further borne in mind, and perhaps intended to he 

 referred to, at their hospitable entertainments, where one of 

 the regular stand-up toasts of the day is, the Worshipful 

 Company of Vintners, with^ye — . 



Mr. Kempe appears to discountenance the popular notion 

 that the sign of the Swan Avith two necks has any reference to 

 the two nicks in the swan marh of this company ; but the sign 

 has been considered a fair heraldic personification of the term ; 

 united, as it is, with the following considerations : that the 

 Swan has been for some hundreds of years identified with the 

 Vintners'* Company and its privileges ; that the principal go- 

 verning officers of the company for the time being are, a 

 Master and three Wardens, the junior Warden of the year 

 being called the Swan Warden ; that models of Swans form 

 conspicuous ornaments in their Hall ; and that the first pro- 

 prietor of the well-known inn, the Swan with Two Necks, 

 was a member of the Vintners' Company. 



No. 16 is the Royal swan mark of our Most Gracious 

 Queen Victoria. This mark has been used through the 

 reigns of George the Third, George the Fourth, and William 

 the Fourth, to the present time. 



By the kindness of a friend I have been favoured with an 

 account of the whole number of old and young Swans belong- 

 ing to Her Majesty, and the two Companies, at the last 

 Swan voyage, in August 1841. 



Old Swans. Cygnets. Togethfr. 

 Her Majesty 185 47 232 



The Vintners' Company 79 21 100 



The Dyers' Company 91 14 105 



355 82 437 



But the numbers formerly were much greater ; at one 



VOL. III. K. 



