Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1844-06-28
AN AMUSING INCIDENT In ENG
LISH HISTORY.

The annexed anecdo,c in relation to "A
visit made TO Bristol, Eng, in old timts, by
the husband of queen, forms striking
contrast to the late visit of Prince Albert to
the same place and in the same capacity.
This extract is from Corray and Evans
History of Bristol and was originally taken
from an old Bristol newspaper:
Prince George of Denmark, consort OF
Queen Anne, in passing through this city,
appeared on the Exchange, attended only
by one gentleman, military officer, and
remained there I'LL the merchants had pretty
generally Withdrawn not one Of them hav-
ing sufficient resolution TO ask such guest
TO their houses. But this was not the case
with all who saw him; for person whose
name was John Dnddlcstonc, bodice-ma-
ker, who lived in Corn street, (probably the
house now occupied by Norton Il Son,
booksellers, which is very ancient,) went up
to him, and asked him, if he was not the
husband of the Qneen!' who informed him
he was John Duddles,one told Inn he
had observed, with "A good deal of concern,
that none of the merchants had invited him
home to dinner, telling him he did not appre-
bend i, was for want of love to the Qnecn
or to him but because they did not consd-
or themselves prepared to entertain SO great
man. But he was ashamed to think of his
dining at an Inn, and requested him to 90
and dine with him, and to bring the gentle
man along with him. informing him that he
had piece of good beef and a plumb pud-
ding, and ale of his danes own brewing
The Prince admired the loyalty Of the man ;
and, thought he had bespoken dinner AT
the White Lion, went with him. When
they got to the house, Duddlestone called his
wife, who was up stairs, desiring her to put
on clean apron and come down, for the
Queens husband and another gentleman
were come to dine with them. She accor-
diney came with clean blue apron, and
was Immediately santpd by the Prince. In
the course of the dinner the Prince asked
him if he ever went to London. He said
that since ladies wore stays instead of bodI-
ces he sometimes went to buy whale-hone
whereupon the Prince desired him to take
his wife with him when he went again, at the
same time giving him card to facilitate his
introduction to couft. In the course Of {
little time he took his wife behind him tC
London, and with the assistance of the care
he found easy admittance to the Prince, ant
BY him they were introduced to the Queen
who invited them to an approaching public
dinner, informing them they must have new
clothes for the occasion. So they each chose
purple velvet, such as the Prince had then
on, and in thnt dress they were introduced
by the Queen herself as the most loyal per
sons in Bristol, and the only ones in that cit,
who had invited the Prince, her husband, tt
their house.
After the entertainment, the Queen, desir
ing him to knecl down, laid sword on hi
head, and Ito use Lady Dnddles,one's owl
words) said TO him, Ston up, Sir, JAM
He was offered money ora place under Gov
eminent, but he did not choose to accept o
either, informing the Qneen that he had fo(
out ofusc, and he apprehendcd that the mum
Der of people he saw about her must be ex
pensive. The Queen, however. made Lad,
Duddlestonc present of gold watch, whcl
my Lady considered as no small ornamen
when she went to market, suspended over
blue apron. Sir John Dnddlestone and hi
lady lie buried in Al! Saints Church, Bris
tol, on the right side Of the entrance from
the north door,