242 THE CECILS
Later in life he was Lieut. -Colonel of the South Herts Yeomanry.
At the Coronation of William IV., in 1831, Lord Salisbury was one of the trainbearers, and he afterwards told an amusing story in connection with the ceremony. The great weight of the robes made each of the trainbearers perspire profusely, and someone who had been near the King in the Abbey remarked, in the course of conversation on the subject, that his Majesty appeared to suffer equally. " Ah," said Lord Salisbury, " the King had an hour's rest and freedom from his robes ; for after the Coronation he retired for a time before he left the Abbey,
and Lord , going into the room which had
been fitted up as a dressing room, found the King walking up and down in a state of nudity, but with the crown on his head." l
After the tragic death of his mother, Lord Salisbury not only rebuilt the burnt west wing of Hatfield, but also effected great alterations at Salisbury House. To commemorate the latter, he gave a most brilliant party, at which the Duke of Wellington, Peel, and others were present. " Such a revolution ! " says Disraeli, who made his first acquaintance with Lady Salisbury on this occasion. 2 ' There is not a vestige of ancient interior ; even the staircase is entirely new and newly placed ; " and Lord Ellesmere, who was also among the guests, states that the walls were
1 Diary of Richard Redgrave, January i8th, 1868. 3 Letters to his Family, February, 1838.
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