I40 ECHOES OF OLD COUNTY LIFE. 



in the landscape. The house was approached by a 

 classic bridge of ornamental stonework, flanked on 

 either side with statues of great size and elegance. 

 This noble mansion is also a thing of the past ; it was 

 pulled down and utterly destroyed in the }^car 1812. 



A curious story was accepted in Aylesbury to account 

 for the destruction of Eythrope, and the retirement of 

 the family of the Chesterfields from the neighbourhood. 

 It was told me by one who was a resident near Eythrope 

 at the time, and who vouched for its truth. About the 

 beginning of the century the Earl of Chesterfield was 

 confidently expecting to receive the appointment of 

 Lord-Lieutenant of the Count}', the then occupant of 

 the post, a very old man, being reported to be dying. 

 A distinguished party was visiting at Eythrope at the 

 time ; the Earl and most of his guests had been 

 amusing themselves in the morning, riding and shooting, 

 but returned to the house for luncheon. One gentleman 

 who had remained indoors, and received first inspection 

 of the mid-day post-bag, greeted his host with, " Halloa, 

 Chesterfield : here's startling news," and proceeded to 

 read from the daily pa'^.er an account of the death of 

 the Lord-Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire, in which it 

 was stated also that the Prime Minister, William Pitt, 

 had already promised Baron Cobham the now vacant 

 Lord-Licutenanc^^ The brow of the expectant Lord- 

 Lieutenant was clouded, he retired to his room, and 

 begged to be excused appearing at dinner that evening ; 

 the next morning he said he had important business in 

 town, which required his immediate attention. The 

 house party broke up and rapidly dispersed. Lord 



