xviil INTRODUCTION. 



ofEgham waiting on William IV, to express their 

 thanks for His Majesty's munificent gift of a free 

 plate of 100 gs. His Majesty made the following 

 gracious reply to the deputation : — ** I feel most 

 deeply the dutiful attention that induced this ac- 

 knowledgement of an act, prompted, on my part, 

 by a desire to show that I am sensible of the mu- 

 nificence and loyalty of a parliament and a people 

 that have, not only enabled me to possess as a re- 

 sidence that ancient and magnificent castle — the 

 pride of Jlnglishmen and envy of foreigners — but 

 to follow the dictates of my heart in furthering 

 the wishes and promoting the happiness of every 

 class of my people, whether of the gentleman of 

 large fortune, or of that class," looking towards 

 the inhabitants ofEgham, *' which I always con- 

 sider as forming that most important connecting 

 link in a chain, that binds the heart of a sovereign 

 to the interests and enjoyments of his people. I 

 consider this to be a national sport — the manly 

 and noble sport of a free people ; and I deeply feel 

 the pride of being able to encourage these pas- 

 times, so intimately connected with the habits and 

 feelings of this free country. I cannot help ad- 

 verting to the spot on which we are now assem- 

 bled to enjoy an amusement so truly national — a 

 spot which derives such a peculiar claim to our 

 veneration from the circumstance, that here arose 

 that first dawning of liberty so dear to my heart — 



