ded right across
the road, some loyal Melbournites, short of bright coloured flags
usually employed on such occasions, had spread a huge tarpauling upon
which was a loyal motto of welcome. This curious piece {189} of
bunting naturally attracted some attention, and some of the yeomanry
escort attending Her Majesty and the Prince, were heard to remark that
it was "a very coarse piece of loyalty," but evidently the young Queen
and her royal consort, accepted it at its intended worth, and what was
wanting in elegance, was made up by sincerity and the enthusiasm of the
people. It is fair to add that Melbourn had its triumphal arch as
appears by the contemporary illustrations in the journal from which
those at Royston and Buntingford have been obtained.

[Illustration: WIMPOLE MANSION.]

The following reference to this event occurs in a book entitled
"Recollections of Military Life and Society," by Lieut.-Col. B. D. W.
Ramsay:--"In the autumn of 1843 we were despatched on escort duty with
Her Majesty and Prince Albert, between Hertford, Cambridge, Royston,
and Wimpole, Lord Hardwicke's place. On arrival at Wimpole, where I
commanded the escort, I received a despatch from the Horse Guards
directing me to give up the escorting of Her Majesty from Royston to
Wimpole to whatever yeomanry might present themselves. This I received
one afternoon, and on the following day Her Majesty was to arrive, and
no yeomanry had made their appearance. I therefore determined to ride
out to Wimpole and see Lord Hardwicke. * * * On arriving there I saw
Lord Hardwicke standing in front of the house with his agent, an old
naval officer and shipmate. Lord Hardwicke frantically waved me off
saying, 'I do not want to see you. Why do you come to torment me
before my time? To-morrow you must all come.' This he said in a
melancholy voice. Upon which I deemed it advisable to introduce myself
as he had evidently forgotten me. The Dowager Lady Hardwicke was my
grand aunt. * * * When I made myself known nothing could exceed his
kindness. 'God bless you {190} my boy,' he said, 'Come and stay as
long as you can, and drink all my champagne; but don't bother me about
military matters. You know I am a blue-coat, and don't care about
them.' I said, however, 'I must know if any yeomanry are coming, in
order to make the necessary arrangements.' 'Of course they'll come;
don't bother me,' was all I could get out of him. And then he snatched
a book o