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Prince Consort at Burghley for three days, when the Prince stood sponsor to the Lady Victoria Cecil. The company included Sir Robert Peel and other ministers, and the cost of the entertain- ment was colossal.

Disraeli has given an interesting picture of Burghley and its inmates at this time :

" The exterior," he writes, " is faultless, so vast and so fantastic, and in such fine condition that the masonry seems but of yesterday. In the midst of a vast park, ancient timber in profusion, gigantic oaks of the days of the Lord Treasurer, and an extensive lake. The plate is marvellous. The History of England in the golden pre- sents from every sovereign, from Elizabeth and James I. to Victoria and Albert shields, vases, tankards, etc. Our host shy, but very courteous ; Lady Exeter tall, still handsome, engaging, and very pious. Great battues every day ; five hundred head slaughtered as a matter of course. The interior not equal to Belvoir, the state rooms, lofty and painted by sprawling Verrio, open one into each other by small side doors, like a French palace or Hampton Court, and so a want of consecutive effect. There is, however, a Hall as large as a college hall, and otherwise very striking. But the family live in a suite of rooms fit only for a squire of degree, and yet the most comfortable in the world." 1

On his death in 1867, the second Marquess was succeeded by his son, William Alleyne (1825 1895), who sat for twenty years in Parliament as member for South Lincolnshire, and afterwards for North Northamptonshire, and held various offices at Court. He was Militia Aide-de-Camp

1 Disraeli's Correspondence, January 24th, 1850.

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