78 General History of Bath. 



these distinctions, and did not think it beneath him to 

 direct a Secretary of State's warrant to the Mayor forbidding 

 such attentions, on the ground that the Princess had dis- 

 pleased him. The officials waited upon Anne and made 

 such excuses as they could, and these she good-naturedly 

 accepted. In 1703 Anne came again to Bath, but this time 

 as Queen. There were reasons why both Queen and sub- 

 jects wished to make the occasion a remarkable one. Anne 

 wished to display her dignity and state where she had been 

 subjected to disrespect. The citizens endeavoured, by the 

 brilliance of their reception, to efface the memory of their 

 former slight. Thus it happened that a vast concourse of 

 visitors flocked to the city, and filled it full to overflowing, 

 so that fabulous sums were paid for beds, and unfortunate 

 invalids were turned from their lodgings to make room for 

 visitors more remunerative. There is no such way of attract- 

 ing people to a place as to convince them they cannot get 

 into it, and the renaissance of the city dates from this royal 

 visit. 



But the very number of visitors was fraught with danger. 

 They made the city unbearable to the penitent rakes and 

 drunkards who were nursing their gout by the hot springs. 

 They screwed up the watchmen in their boxes, defied the 

 beadle, and laughed at the remonstrances of the Justices. 

 In despair, the Mayor asked Captain Webster, himself a 

 brawling, dissolute man, to take the part of master of cere- 

 monies. Webster's exertions must not be altogether des- 

 pised : he did something to organize the amusements of the 

 place. Availing himself of the influence of the Duke of 

 Beaufort, he induced the Council to allow dancing in the. 

 Guildhall, and erected a sort of booth in the Orange-grove, 

 where the company played cards. It was about the year 



