Plympton in the Olden Time, by James Hine, F.R.I. B. A, 105 
Plympton, Lord Mount Edgecumbe acquainting him by letter of the 
circumstance. The letter in which he acknowledges the honour, 
with most hearty thanks, is in the Cottonian Museum at Plymouth. 
In the following year he was chosen Mayor of the borough, and 
he declared that this circumstance gave him more gratification 
than any other honour which he had received during his life ; and 
this sentiment he expressed when it was rather out of place, as 
the following circumstance related by Northcote will shew. Rey- 
nolds had built for his recreation on Richmond Hill a villa, of 
which Sir William Chambers was architect, and in the summer 
season it was the frequent custom of Sir Joshua to dine at this 
place with select parties of his friends. " It happened some little 
time before he was to be elected Mayor of Plympton, that, one day, 
after dining at the house, himself and his party took an evening 
walk in Richmond Gardens, when, very unexpectedly, at a turning 
of one of the avenues, they suddenly met the King, accompanied 
by a part of the Royal Family ; and when, as his Majesty saw him, 
it was impossible for him to withdraw without being noticed. The 
King called to him, and immediately entered into conversation, 
and told him that he had been informed of the office that he was 
soon to be invested with, that of being made the Mayor of his 
native town of Plympton. Sir Joshua was astonished that so 
minute and inconsiderable a circumstance, which was of impor- 
tance only to himself, should have come so quickly to the 
knowledge of the King; but he assured his Majesty of its truth, 
saying it was an honour which gave him more pleasure than any 
other he had ever received in his life ; and then, luckily recol- 
lecting himself, added, ' except that which your Majesty was 
graciously pleased to bestow upon me,' alluding to his knighthood." 
On the occasion of his being elected Mayor, he presented to 
his much-loved native town his own portrait, painted, as it seems, 
expressly to commemorate the occasion. It was placed in the 
Corporation dining-room, but sold by the Common Council for 
