The Brighton of my Boyhood 



avidity by Mistress Tom, Dick, and Harry, 

 who saw here a fit occasion for airinof her 

 last gown of smuggled Lyons silk, and its 

 dainty furbelows of contraband lace from 

 Brussels. 



The King had always set the fashion of 

 hob-nobbing with the townspeople, fisher- 

 folk, coach -drivers, shopkeepers, and others, 

 and his friends and guests naturally follow- 

 ing his lead, went about the town in among 

 the people, patronising them, flirting with 

 their daughters, and even playing practical 

 jokes upon them with the greatest affability 

 in the world. My Father used to say that 

 when his Majesty was still the Prince 

 Regent, the bearing of himself and his 

 friends in Bricrhton, while significant of 

 much kindliness of heart and sensible dis- 

 regard of ceremony, was often not such as 

 to deepen the subjects' reverence for the 

 Throne. There was, unhappily, a certain 

 looseness about the bloods and beaux of 

 Royal set — my Lord Barrymore, Major 

 Hanger, and others— which was by no 

 means an influence for good among the 

 young fellows of our town, who were bound 

 to be in with the fashion, though they 

 should sell their souls for it ! 



"His Royal Highness would go a long 

 way in those days," my Father used to say. 



