with the beauty of the shrubbery and the fineness of the weather, led one to believe that the glories of Elysium were something more than the fervid imaginations of the poet's brain. The neighbouring heights were studded with spectators, and both Hastings and St. Leonards appeared to have sent forth their industrial populations to overlook the gay throng then present within the enclosures. They appeared, indeed, to have consecrated that day as a general holiday, and as a mark of respect to Her Most Gracious Majesty and her illustrious mother, who are the valued patrons of the Society. Numerous white marquees were pitched about the grounds which with flags and bannerets formed an agreeable contrast to the shrubs and trees, whilst over the north-end butts the royal standard was unfurled. The first arrow was shot by Mr. Fleetwood, M.P., after which the all but never-failing arrow from the bow of Miss Helen Wood was the theme of admiration, as were also the excellent shots by Miss Mackay. The competition was carried on with much spirit to the close, when the highest scores were announced to have been made by Miss Helen Wood (162) and Miss Mackay (146); but as the first named lady was barred two circles for previous winnings her number only counted as 120. The winners of the Royal Victoria Prizes therefore were Miss Mackay, Mrs. Tredcroft, Mr. C. Lawrence and Major Thornhill' whilst the winners of the Society's were Miss H. Wood, Miss Holdsworth and Mr. Fleetwood, M.P. At the conclusion the honorary treasurer and secretary, T. Wood, Esq., in addressing the assembly, remarked that the splendid meeting of that day filled him with delight. During the two years they had enjoyed the patronage of her Majesty and her illustrious parent, the Society had flourished beyond their expectations, and now they had received a letter from S. H. Wheatley stating that the Queen would also be pleased for the Society to be called ‘The Queen's Royal St. Leonards Archers’."
Dowager Queen Adelaide at St. Leonards
A banquet was provided in the St. Leonards Assembly Rooms at half-past six, and later in the evening the ball-room at the same place resounded with the strains of Mr. J. Hart's band, and was filled with a brilliant company of toxophilites and terpsichoreans.
Let it not be supposed, however that to St. Leonards alone was confined the privilege of doing honour to the name of Victoria. the gay young town might have its Victoria Archers, its Victoria Library, its Victoria Coach and its Victoria Mews, but Hastings would at least have a something that should perpeuate the royal name; and so, on the 21st of August, the person who a few days before, had sent the report of the archer meeting to the Brighton Guardian - there being at that time no local newspaper - joined ten other persons in forming the Victoria lodge of Oddfellows. Their names were Joseph Bannister (electioneering agent), Wm. Waite (Mr. Alfred Burton's butler), John Buxton and James Deudney (occasional waiters), John Lucas and George Creed (two sons of St. Crispin), Charles Perry (a tobacconist), J. J. Waters (baker) and George Fox.
A few days later, or at any rate, before August had run its course, the welcome fact was bruited that the Dowager Queen Adelaide, who was still grievously affected by her recent bereavement, had been advised to come to St. Leonards, and that her physician had selected two houses in Seymour place (now 22 & 23 Grand parade), between the Saxon Hotel and the new Square that was to be. Passing over some minor events, that I may not break the links in the chain of this Royal visit, it occurs to me that on the 26th of 27th of September the Mayor convened a meeting to consider how the Queen-Dowager was to be received on her entrance to the borough. Among the persons present were the Rt. Hon. J. Plants, M.P., Alfred Burton, Esq., Dr. MacCabe and the Rev. G. Stonestreet. A letter was read from Lord Howe, acknowledging the resolutions passed at the previous meeting, which he said were duly appreciated, yet Her Majesty was satisfied how agreeable it would be if, considering the circumstances which caused her to select St. Leonards as a temporary place of residence, all outward marks of public kindness might be dispensed with. His lordship was unable to name the day of arrival, but probably it would be the 12th of October. Within one day of this date, namely on Friday the 13th, the Queen Dowager, with the Princess Augusta and suite, arrived at St. Leonards, with the understanding that there was to be no officially arranged demonstration. The loyalty of the people, however, could not be entirely restrained. The carriages came, not over the rugged road of Cuckoo Hill - as was, unfortunately, the case with those of the Princess Victoria and the Duchess of Kent - but into St. Leonards direct, beneath the gate-way of the North-Lodge, where a magnificent view of the subscription Gardens and the sea must have met the vision of the royal party like a scene of enchantment. On the parade in front of the selected residence was stationed the St. Leonards Band, to play a strain of welcome, whilst in the road by the same thoroughfare were ranged a long line of carriages. There were also congregated on foot a number of people estimated at 3,000 to give Her Majesty a silent but respectful welcome. In the evening, a brilliant star of gas-jets appeared on the Saxon Hotel, surmounted with a crown and the monogram A.R., and ornamented on each side with festoons of variegated lamps. Mr. W. H. Honiss also illuminated his premises at 34 Marina very tastefully with the words "Welcome Adelaide." The royal party having arrived a full hour before they were expected, the police arrangements were incomplete, but Capt. Marshall, the M.C., was present, together with the principal tradesmen of both towns. Many of these afterwards dined together at the Saxon Hotel, where Mr. Hutchings provided a sumptuous dinner at his own cost, and at which Mr. Stephen Putland and Mr. James Harman were respectively the chairman and vice-chairman.
The royal party drove into the old town on Saturday; the Town Council presented an address; the enclosed grounds at Warrior Square were placed at the Queen's use by Mr. Troup; and the Filsham Hounds met thrice a week. Her Majesty gradually improved in health and spirits, and on Saturday, the 11th of November, the Royal Party (including also the Duke and Duchess and Prince George of Cambridge) paid a visit to Sir Chas. Lamb and Lady Montgomerie, at Beauport. The Cambridge family had previously visited the Rt. Hon. J. Planta, M.P., at Fairlight, and enjoyed the extensive scenery from that elevation. It will be recollected that the Duke of Cambridge had acted as Viceroy of Hanover until just previously, when the death of his brother William and the succession of his next elder brother, Ernest, as King of Hanover, relieved him of his post.
Two days later, Nov. 13th, the Princess Augusta met a procession on its way to Coghurst to present Mr Brisco with a piece of plate, and appeared very much pleased at the sight. The processions had formed in Wellington square, and consisted of a band of music, several gentlemen on horseback, a large number of men on foot, and a carriage containing an elegant silver epergne, weighing 150 ounces, and a handsome silk banner. The epergne was presented to Mr. Brisco by the electors for his exertions and generous behaviour in the election that had recently taken place, whilst the banner was got up by the electors' wives for presentation to Mrs. Brisco. On arriving at Coghurst Hall, the number of persons present was about five-hundred, all of whom were invited by Mr. and Mrs. Brisco to partake of refreshments. I have said that the Princess Augusta saw the procession but it must not be inferred that Her Royal Highness was one of the number who partook of Mr. Brisco's hospitality. She continued for a considerable time thereafter to take walks and drives with the Dowager Queen, the latter of whom received as a visitor, on the 15th of Dec., a son of the late King William, namely, Lord Alfred Fitzclarence, Commander of the Forces.
On the morrow of the handsome presentations to the defeated Mr. Brisco and his lady, the two newly elected representatives appeared at St. Stephen's to take their seats according to the form prescribed; and on the day next succeeding, notwithstanding the opposite political views of Messrs. Planta and Holland, both gentlemen voted for the re-election of Mr. Abercrombie, as Speaker. Five days later, namely Nov. 20th, the young Queen opened the new Parliament in person, amidst the sympathy and enthusiasm of a loyal people. Her Majesty had previously honoured the City of London with her presence at the Lord Mayor's banquet which was described in the newspapers of that period s far exceeding in magnificence any civic pomp of previous reigns. London kept high holiday in a suspension of business and in witnessing the procession of the youthful monarch as she went in state to the banqueting hall. Many of the well-to-do people of St. Leonards, and not a few also of Hastings proceeded to London about that time either to take part in the pageantries or to be spectators of the same; the recent residence of Her Majesty and the still existent presence of the Queen Dowager among them having created a more than ordinary attachment to the foremost representatives of royalty - an attachment that was further enhanced by the interest that was reciprocated by those exalted ladies in their expresses concernment for our local institutions and general welfare. In the absence of railways, our splendid coaches, with some of the best "whips" in the country, were for many days so laden with passengers who had booked for the whole journey as to be unable to take up any from the intermediate towns and villages. Then there were the private carriages of the visitors, giving employment to the several post-boys - any of whom, being still alive, are able to corroborate this statement - and the said private carriages were by no means few in number for St. Leonards was highly patronised at that time by royal, noble and other distinguished persons. Among these were the Dowager Queen Adelaide, the Princess Augusta, and Lord and Lady Howe at Seymour place; the Duke, Duchess and Prince George of Cambridge at Edlin's Victoria Hotel; Lord Brougham, Lord Saumerez and Mr. Justice Littledale at the Marina; Lord Alfred Fitzclarence at the Saxon Hotel; Sir Francis and Lady Sykes at the Marina; and Lord and Lady Howden, and Lady Gage, at the Marina. There were also several resident families of wealth and influence, including the Dowager Lady Lubbock, the Hon. W. Dundas, &c.; so that if the community was comparatively small, even after eight years of the town's existence, there was more than an average proportion of rank and fashion in its composition.
On the 28th of October, just a fortnight after the arrival of the Queen-Dowager a violent hurricane occurred, doing damage to some of the houses by the dislodgment of slates and chimney-pots, and by exciting "Old Davy" to a "breach of the peace" in his dealings with the parade walls. This was another trouble to the St. Leonards Commissioners, who being still unable to obtain the loan of money they had so frequently advertised for were obliged to incur additional expenses in temporary repairs, and in calling in the advice of a surveyor to examine the entire wall and report thereon forthwith. The person selected was Mr. Barnes, of Wartling Hill, who gave his opinion that the wall was in greater danger than ever, and advised that a groyne such as described in his specification was absolutely necessary. Not a moment was lost in the issuing of invitations for tenders and these a week later, were received by the Commissioners as follows :-
| Thwaites and Winter | £187 | 10s |
| B. Homan | 195 | 0s |
| - Gower | 198 | 10s |
| Carey and Mann | 248 | 12s |
| How and Abraham | 286 | 10s |
It will be observed that a similar disparity was shown in the above estimates to those which are frequently met with in more recent times; a fact which seems to evoke surprise that so vast a difference should appear in the calculations of practical men. In this case, as might be supposed, the lowest tender was accepted; but it was on the condition that Messrs. Thwaites and Winter would take a bond of £50, bearing -
