AT HUC^.HENDEN. 69 



if Cubitt (the great builder) built mansions and palaces 

 over several acres of ground in the West End of London, 

 a dormant peerage was almost sure to be found in the 

 family of the owner." 



When walking with him round Hughenden one day I 

 remarked how interesting the whole district was, as 

 being full of historic lore, and expressed my admiration 

 of his residence. " Yes," he said, " it is interesting. The 

 De Montforts lie in the church, and I have every reason 

 to believe that Simon de Montfort resided here and left 

 this house to compel King John to sign the Magna 

 Charta." Ankerwyke is not more than twelve miles 

 from Hughenden on the Buckinghamshire side of the 

 Thames, while Magna Charta Island is in the middle of 

 the river. King John came from Windsor on the Berks 

 side, whilst the great Baron and his retainers were on the 

 Bucks side, and the two parties met on this island as 

 neutral ground. On another occasion at Hughenden I 

 noticed to him how luxuriantly the trees grew, especially 

 the cedars and the pines, and instanced a young cedar 

 of Lebanon which had grown to a large size. He told 

 me he had brought it himself with a few others from the 

 valley of Lebanon wlien some years ago he travelled in 

 Palestine, and that he had given one to Lady Grenvillc 

 of Dropmore, a place about six miles distant, and that 

 there was great rivalry between them as to which grew 

 the best, her ladyship annually coming over to see his 

 tree and compare notes, whilst he returned the visit. " I 

 was always pleased," he said, "to find mine was far the 

 finest specimen, notwithstanding old Frost, her gardener, 

 took especial care of hers." 



