Great Duke (of Newcastle) soe I readily joyn'd, and we are to have our names, and the occasion, etc., engraven on it. I shan't enter into p'ticulars of the Procession and Ceremoniall, hopeing soon to have the pleasure of speaking it to you, but the whole was of the Greatest Splendour and Magnificence itt's possible to be thought of. I was at the Queen's Canopy, much to my satisfaction, and the procession was very agreeable, tho' vastly fatigueing. I din'd to-day at the Duke's by a p'ticular Invitation with my Bro.
Co-Baron Dyne, who took his pipe according to custom after Dinner and I am just now come back . . . . . Mr. Pelham, Col11. Pelham, Mr. Pelham of Stanmer, Sr . W. Ashburnham, Sr. Wm. Gage, etc., Dined with us where w7e have been exceeding merry, and without Hard Drinking. I shall now take leave, etc.,"
(In a postcript). " I can't forbear telling you that the Queen was Exceedingly obligeing in the procession, and talked very much to our corner of the Staves, Vizt Pelham and Townshend (M.P. forHastings) and soe I came in for my share. Her Train was borne by 7 Ladies (3 of them the 3 Princesses), Dressed as fine as is possible to be thought of, and in coming back the 3 young Ladies, ag* whom we then were, put on the same obligeing airs, and were very merry."
(The Punch Bowl was duly made and is preserved in Hastings Museum, and Mr. Collier's Robes passed into the possession of the late Countess Waldegrave and existed in the Museum in 1862 ; where they are now I know not). . . . Footnote by Mr. C. L. Sayer : " The Barons of the Cinque Ports on this occasion fared better than their predecessors at the Coronation of Charles II., who, after the ceremony, had to engage in a sort of 'tug of war', with the King's footmen for the possession of their Canopy." (See " Pepys's Diary," under date April 23rd, 1661.) Mr. Milward, Mr. Collier's son-in-law, filled a similar position at the Coronation of George III., and his son, Edward Milward, the younger, at that of George IV.
Ref . Moss has the following minute as to the election of the Barons from -- -- the Town Records : Hasting. At an Assembly of the Mayor, Jurats, and the commonalty, of the said town and port, held at the Common Hall, the 23rd September, 1727 ; the following gentlemen were elected barons for the 1st port. To support the Canopies over their Magestys King George the Second, and Queen Caroline at their Coronation, appointed for the 4th October, 1727 ; and then by proclamation deferred till Wednesday the 11th of the said month ; and the said gentlemen attended the service, and were at the whole expense of their robes, &c, without any charge to the Corporation, besides the handsome treat at the time of their election of 20 gns. Canopy Bearers to the -- King Sir William Ashburnham, Bart., Thomas Pelham of Stanmer, Esq., -- -- Edward Dyne, Esq. To the Queen The Hon. Thos. Townsend, Esq., James Pelham, Esq., John Collier, Esq. These Barons presented the Corporation with the Silver Punch Bowl, weighing 164 ozs. 18 dwts., and holds four gallons. The same was made out of their shares and dividends of the silver, &c, belonging to the said canopies. ' ' (This Bowl, sometimes used by the Mayor at Banquets, is now in the Hastings Museum.)
