AND THE DUKES OF BICHMOND. 159 



founded upon mutual attachment having existed 

 between them for years. It was, therefore, a sad 

 trial for his Grace when he acted as one of the 

 pall-bearers, thus paying a parting tribute of respect 

 to the illustrious dead, and his constant friend. 

 Such was the esteem of his Grace with our Sovereigns, 

 that at the coronation of Queen Victoria in the 

 following year, he again bore the sceptre and the 

 dove, and as a souvenir from her Majesty, he was 

 presented with the blue cushion, bright with bullion, 

 upon which her Majesty knelt to be crowned, and 

 which is now in the new drawing-room of Goodwood 

 House. 



Upon the occasion of her Majesty's marriage, in 

 February, 1840, Lady Caroline Gordon Lennox, after- 

 wards Countess of Bessborough, the eldest daughter 

 of his Grace, acted as bridesmaid. 



His Grace does not appear to have taken any very 

 active part in politics for the next three or four 

 years. When the Anti-Corn Law League became 

 active, effected a marked progress and made a 

 sensation in the country, the Duke appeared once 

 more in the congenial character of the " Farmer's 

 friend," and was selected in 1845 as President of 

 the Society for the Protection of Agriculture, a 

 body created to counteract the league under Cobden. 



When the next Parliamentary sessions opened, 

 his Grace took a very prominent part in the House 



