on the Duchess, and left a key there
for the use of Her Royal Highness, Sir John Conroy and his family.

On Wednesday, October 21st. the Duchess, accompanied by one of her
ladies of honour, and attended by a footman, made use of the key, and
walked through their grounds.

Sir John Conroy, meeting Mr Montefiore next day at Burgess' Library,
said that the Duchess regretted that his gardener had suddenly
disappeared yesterday, which had prevented her sending to inform Mrs
Montefiore that she was in the grounds as she had wished to have done.

Her Royal Highness having repeated her visits to his grounds, Mr
Montefiore ordered an opening to be made in the field on the side next
to Broadstairs for the convenience of the Duchess. In recognition of
this attention he received the following note from Sir John Conroy:--

"Sir John Conroy presents his compliments, and in
obedience to a command he has just received from the
Duchess of Kent, hastens to acquaint Mr Montefiore that
Her Royal Highness is exceedingly gratified and obliged
by his attention in making a new access to his charming
grounds from Broadstairs for her convenience, but Her
Royal Highness fears she has given a great deal of
trouble.

"Ramsgate, _24th October 1835_.

There were several incidents which afforded them much gratification
this year.

Mrs Montefiore was invited to name a new steamer. "This morning,"
writes Mr Montefiore on July 9, "we embarked from the Custom House
stairs on board the _Harlequin_, to witness the launch of a new
steamship built by Fletcher & Fearnaly. On reaching the dockyard near
Limehouse, Mr Woolverly Attwood and Judith went on shore; I followed
with Horatio at half-past one. My dear wife named the ship by throwing
a bottle of wine against the side of the vessel at the moment she left
the stocks and plunged into the water. 'May every success,' she said,
'attend the _Britannia_.' We then went on board the _Royal Sovereign_.
There was a large party; about a hundred sat down to dinner. Several
members of Parliament with their ladies were present, G. R. Dawson,
Medley, T. M. Pearce, Pepys, and Col. Lawrence. Many speeches, all
drinking my dear wife's health."

Another entry refers to his having been admitted to the freedom of the
Merchant Taylors Company. Mr Montefiore received a letter from Mr
Matthias Attwood, informing him that he had proposed his name at the
Court of the above Company for admission to the f