70 REPORT OF THE MEETINGS FOR 1899 



in His Majesty's service. ** Mr Mayor," said the colonel, 

 " there is no necessity for displaying any vulgar passion on 

 this occasion, permit me to show you that I have here your 

 obliging card of invitation." " Nay, Mr Colonel, there is 

 no opportunity for bantering, here is your card." The 

 cards were produced simultaneously. Upon examining the 

 invitations, it was observed that, notwithstanding an attempt 

 to disguise the hand, both cards were written by some 

 person who had designed to hoax them all. The eye of 

 each discomfited guest turned spontaneously upon the attorney, 

 who had found it necessary to be present to flatter the 

 aldermen ; his impudence suddenly gave way ; he faltered 

 and betrayed himself so fully by his confusion, that, as an 

 act of summary justice, the colonel threw him out of the 

 window. Hence the item debited to Sir F. B. Delaval's 

 account. 



When the party visited the stables. Canon Walker told 

 the following story in regard to the family : — 



" Sir F. B. Delaval invited a large and brilliant company to 

 an entertainment at Seaton Delaval. The guests assembled, 

 and waited long, and seeing no signs of preparation, began 

 to think themselves the victims of one of Sir Francis's jokes. 

 At last doors were thrown open, and they were ushered, not 

 into the dining room, but into the stable, the great vaulted 

 hall (62 feet by 40 feet) which occupied the eastern wing. 

 Here they found all the usual stable fittings removed, and a 

 feast laid out in a brilliantly lighted and decorated hall."* 



Edward Hussey Delaval died without issue, on 14th August 

 1814, aged 85 years, and was buried in Westminster Abbey. 

 At his decease the entailed estates passed to his nephew, 

 Sir Jacob Astley, Bart., of Melton Constable, Norfolk, and 

 they are now held by Lord Hastings, who occasionally 

 resides at Seaton Delaval. 



The harbour of Seaton Sluice, constructed at great expense 

 by Sir Ealph Delaval in the reign of Charles II., was greatly 



* On the authority of Lady Mexborough (daughter of Francis Blake 

 Delaval) see J. Robinson, The Delaval Papers, privately printed, cap. 

 IX., pp. 83-84. This little book (216 pages) contains a great number 

 of family letters printed from the originals, found in 1886 in a 

 disused building at Seaton Sluice. 



