io8 ECHOES OF OLD COUNTY LIFE. 



he felt at their attention. Being well mounted, they 

 trotted on another seven miles to Watford, and there 

 hearing that our Prince Regent, with many of the great 

 officers of State, and several Royal princes from the Con- 

 tinent, were assembled to meet his Majesty at Stanmore, 

 they resolved, if possible, to see this historic interview. 

 Riding on to Bushey, without stopping at Watford, they 

 had time to have their somewhat tired horses groomed 

 down and fed, and by the time the King arrived, four of 

 them — for two could not get further than Box moor — 

 were mounted and ready again to continue their escort ; 

 and they thus rode on to the Abercorn Arms at 

 Stanmore. There was a great crowd round the portico 

 of the inn, and a guard of cavalry to receive his Majesty. 

 My father and his three friends pushing forward, the 

 King seemed greatly pleased, and desired them to keep 

 near him. They jumped off their horses and stood on 

 each side of the entrance, and saw the Prince Regent 

 embrace the French King, and receive him with much 

 affection amidst the enthusiasm of the people, which was 

 unbounded. Again mounting their nags, they rode 

 towards London ; within about a mile from London the 

 Royal cortege again overtook them, and they accom- 

 panied the King to the Pulteney Hotel (I think that was 

 the name), where his retinue were to be accommodated. 

 After seeing the King safely bestowed, my father and 

 his friends rode off, tired enough, to the Old Bell in 

 Holborn, at that time one of the leading inns in London, 

 and which may yet be seen in its primitive state, the 

 galleries round the old stable-yard, the old coffee-room, 

 with box divisions, scarcely altered for 150 years or more. 



