ROYAL VISITS 137 



is now naturally with somewhat mixed feelings 

 that I regard these papers and these reminis- 

 cences, after all that has happened since. But 

 there they are, and they cannot but come into 

 my records, I have nothing more to say as to 

 royal personages visiting the old royal resid- 

 ence. But I could fill a big book with the 

 names of the distinguished, pleasant, celebrated 

 and humorous persons who came and helped to 

 make my life happy there. And the month of 

 April was always a crowded and delightful time. 

 The house was looked upon as a pleasant centre 

 to the New Forest, and most people visiting that 

 beautiful district would either come of them- 

 selves or would be brought by their local hosts 

 to visit and inspect the old house and the 

 adjoining church. 



