70 ECHOES OF OLD COUNTY LIFE. 



]\Ir. Disraeli purchased the Hughcnden property about 

 1845, chiefly, I beUeve, to satisfy the country gentlemen 

 that he was a landed proprietor like themselves, and that 

 they should not throw in his teeth — which they to their 

 shame had often done — that he was only an interloper 

 and adventurer. Mr. Norris was the owner of the 

 property, whose name in connection with his starting for 

 the borough of Wycombe I have previously noticed. 

 The price paid was, I think, ;^35,ooo, including the 

 mansion and timber. Through his writings and Mrs. 

 Disraeli's economic household management, he managed 

 to raise £1^,000, and borrowed ^^20,000 on mortgage, 

 and, with care and frugality, managed to keep up the 

 mansion and entertain his friends, greatly aided by his 

 better half. I have heard some amusing stories of her 

 excessive frugality. The following was told me by one 

 who had ample means of knowing the circumstances. 

 Mrs. Disraeli and her husband had come down from 

 London to spend the Easter vacation at Hughenden, 

 and had called on the various tradesmen at Wycombe 

 to order the groceries and other requirements for their 

 ten days' or fortnight's stay. It so happened that 

 their sojourn was rather abruptly shortened, and Mrs. 

 Disraeli was seen calling at the grocers and other 

 purveyors, taking out of the carriage the non-con- 

 sumed wares, and asking the shopkeepers to receive them 

 back and have them re-weighed, and so to make a 

 reduction in their accounts. The great statesman, witn 

 folded arms, was leaning back in the carriage looking 

 perfectly nonchalant, but evidently desirous to have no 

 share in the frugil transaction. I have heard many 



