KEW GARDENS GEORGE III 99 



time was devoted to his farm. And his interests were 

 shared with many enterprising country gentlemen. Sir 

 Joseph Banks had become as ardent a farmer as he was a 

 horticulturist. He seems to have carried the King along 

 with him. About the year 1787, the question of improving 

 the quality of wool was in the minds of most of the 

 spirited country gentlemen who cared for their estates. 

 The impulse given to the farming interest was largely 



hear the various accounts the common people give of him. But they 

 all agree in saying he looks like a very good-natured, merry gentleman ; 

 those, indeed, who expected to see him with his crown and sceptre 

 appear rather disappointed at finding that he wears a round hat and 

 brown wig. He talks to the farmers whom he meets, and stay'd some 

 time at a door to see some wool weighed ; and talked much about the 

 price of it : His people (he said) fooled away his this year. Last 

 Thursday he came into what we call the bottoms, to see the clothing 

 manufacture, which was shewn him at Mr. Cooper's, a clothier who 

 lives near Sir Geo. Paul's. The whole progress of the manufacture, 

 from the picking the wool to the folding the cloth, was very judiciously 

 disposed in separate divisions on the lawn of his garden. His Majesty 

 seemed much delighted with every part of it, particularly the weaving 

 and shearing the cloth ; and called the Queen and the Princesses about 

 him to explain to them what had been explained to him : he told them 

 they should wear scarlet cloth great-coats ; but they begged to be 

 excused in the summer. 



"It is said there were near twenty thousand people assembled round 

 the place ; and I think it is possible, as that part of the country is 

 very populous, and it was announced to every village within ten miles 

 some days before. This visit was to have been on the day preceding ; 

 and the following notice was cried by the bell-man of Minchinhampton, 

 a town in the neighbourhood : ' This is to gee nautis that the King 

 dwe not caal at Lord Geo. Paal's till Thusdy.' 



" They breakfasted at Sir George's, who entertained His Majesty 

 with the plans of the gaol and bridewell buildings in this county, and 

 went from thence to Lord Ducie's. The country people were much 

 delighted with hearing the King say it was one of the pleasantest 

 days he had ever spent. He says that he intends coming to Cheltenham 

 again next year, and reviewing the Gloucestershire Militia ; and he is 

 then to visit the Duke of Beaufort, and Lords Berkeley, Bath, and 

 Bristol. I fear I have tired you with so much on the same subject ; but 

 we have, I think, nothing else to talk about here, unless it be to tell 

 you the apples seem more numerous than the leaves in the orchards 

 throughout the vale of Gloucester ; that the harvest is almost got in, 

 even on our Cotswold Hills ; and the second crop of grass has been 

 very abundant. . . . 



" The Thames and Severn navigation goes on very well. They say 

 it will be completed in a year. If the marriage of those rivers should 

 be celebrated whilst the King is here, there will be fine doings, I dare say. 



" With best compliments to Lady Banks and your sister," etc. 



