A CLEVER CLEARANCE 143 



' roughs ' had been organised for plunder, who, 

 with impudent ferocity, stopped all visitors, and 

 deliberately held up their arms, robbed them of 

 their watches, jewelry, and every farthing they pos- 

 sessed, and then decamped. The mob also broke 

 into the refreshment tents, devoured and drank 

 everything they contained, and, in short, plundered 

 the place, leaving it quite desolate. Owing to this 

 disastrous beginning the club obtained a bad name, 

 no one frequented the park, and the scheme broke 

 down. 



An amusing incident subsequently occurred. 

 A firm of well-known upholsterers had furnished 

 the club, sending down splendid suites of furniture 

 for both reception and bed rooms, with kitchen 

 requisites, and everything necessary for a grand 

 establishment. I have heard on excellent authority 

 that the amount agreed to be paid was 17,000/. 

 After the fiasco of the race meeting, and the evi- 

 dent failure of the whole scheme, the upholsterers 

 in secrecy organised a midnight campaign, and 

 as soon as daylight vanished upwards of twenty 

 of the largest furniture vans departed by various 

 routes from London to Slough, and before mid- 

 night they were concentrated at the entrance of 

 the Park, proceeding from thence to the mansion. 

 Before daylight every van was loaded, and the 

 procession on its way to its destination, bringing 

 every vestige of furniture and equipments which 

 the house contained. With such secrecy had the 

 expedition been managed, that the noble lord in 



