40 ECHOES OF OLD COUNTY LIFE. 



of strong port and fiery sherry, concluding with a line 

 to indicate the numbers who had breakfasted and 

 dined in each joom. So many doors h3.d been charged 

 in the bill, at an average of somelhing like £io to ^^14 

 per door ; and the good dame was constantly back- 

 wards and forwards from her husband to the agents 

 conducting the negotiations. At last the landlord said, 

 with a view of settling the matter — "Very well, then, 

 give 'em a door into the bargain." In the end they 

 deducted a door and a half, and so squared the bill. I am 

 not able to say how much this election cost ; but the 

 Hon. Charles left the place, the races were abandoned, 

 and it was many years before any of the family came 

 into the town, and not until about the year 1853 did Mr. 

 Cavendish essay to enter Parliament for his neighbour- 

 hood, when he started for the County of Bucks, and was 

 returned as the County representative, with the late 

 Earl of Beaconsfield and Mr. Caledon George Du Pre as 

 his colleagues, and he represented the County until he 

 was created the first Lord Chesham. 



The ancient Borough of Agmondesham, previous to 

 the Reform Bill of 1832, returned two members to 

 Parliament, and the family of the Drakes, owning the 

 greater part of the property in the borough, either sat 

 for it themselves or returned whoever they pleased. 

 When I was a boy I remember being present at one of 

 the Amersham elections, and was highly delighted at 

 t':e fun and the frolic. The candidates stood in front of 

 the old Market Hall on two large stones, and after the 

 usual nomination, in very brief speeches returned thanks 

 for their selection. They then entered their carriages, 



