I was much amused by Welsh ways. Farming couples came to market on the same horse. Women wore tall, pointed hats. Another old-fashioned house, Fryars, belonged to Bulkeley’s parents, Sir Robert and Lady Williams. The younger ladies, and their governess, occupied an adjoining building, St. Margaret’s, into which I was introduced walking on my hands! [Illustration: _At St. Margaret’s._] It was a cheery, happy family. We met in different parts later on. Baron Hill was burnt down May 1836. The Menai Suspension Bridge was still a curiosity--the foundation laid in 1819, first chain, 1825; when a sailor walked across, and on which a shoemaker, sitting across, completed a pair of boots. The general opening took place early in 1826. My friend Charles Paget, in command of the _Procris_, 16, was the first man-of-war, and, I believe, the last, that sailed through. There was a family of Williams, near neighbours, at Craig-y-Don. Tom Williams had two yachts, the _Hussar_ and _Gazelle_. The _Hussar_ was a rakish-looking schooner, but he spoilt her in trying to make her a man-of-war brig like Paget’s _Procris_. He had capital shooting--hanging woods on bank of the Menai Straits. I returned there in later years. There was also a near neighbour to Kinmel, Sir John Williams, at Boddlewyddlam. He, too, had a pretty daughter, but the Welsh women were all charming. From Kinmel I went with His Royal Highness a short visit to Lord Ferrars at Ashby-de-la-Zouch. I never saw any one take so much snuff. [Sidenote: October.] It was end of October when I got back to London, but the big town was always gay. “Black-eyed Susan,” at the Surrey, was drawing crowds of both sexes to cry. But there was an entertainment for a select few, which I fancied my brother-in-law Stephenson was the life of--“The Sublime Society of Beefsteaks”; the time, too, of meeting suited me. I venture to state a few particulars, although far from the wide and open sea. There have been, and still are, many Beefsteak Clubs, but the “Sublime Society” was founded in 1735 by Henry Rich, the famous harlequin. It consisted of twenty-four members. Among the rules were: “Beefsteaks shall be the only meat. “Broiling begins at two of the clock; table-cloth removed at three of the clock. “Any wagers lost to be paid to the treasurer. “Any member absenting himself three successive days of meeting, unless excused by a majority, shall be expelled. “A member allowed one guest, had, if he brought a second, to borrow a name. “The society consists of a president, a vice-president, a bishop, a recorder, a boots.” The meetings generally broke up in time for the theatres. In addition to the president’s chair, which was carved in oak, with a gridiron and motto, “Beef and Liberty” (this chair was bought at Christie’s in 1867 for H.R.H. the Prince of Wales), each member had a carved chair with crest and motto.