In September, 1843, the Queen and Prince Albert paid visits to the Kings of France and Belgium, and the royal children were sent to Brighton; but the Queen and Prince Albert paid them a visit at the Pavilion on September 7, stopping till the 12th. This was the Queen's fourth and last visit to Brighton. The royal children--the Prince of Wales, the Princess Alice, and Prince Alfred--were sent to the Pavilion next year, on September 10, and stopped till October 2. This was the last time the building was used as a royal residence. A marine palace with greater privacy was considered necessary, and, as Osborne fulfilled the requirements, the Pavilion was doomed. In August, 1846, it was rumoured it was to be sold, and we see, from the following cutting from _Punch_ of August 22, what was thought of it: 'RUBBISH FOR SALE.--As there is a doubt about a purchaser coming forward to bid for the Pavilion at Brighton, we suggest that it be bought up for the Chinese Collection, unless No. One St. Paul's[103] should purchase it for their tea establishment. We know of no other purpose it could be turned to; and, with a few paper lanterns, and a real native at the door, we feel confident a deal of business in selling tea, or exhibiting curiosities, might be done. If it is pulled down, it will be a fine specimen of broken china.' From 1846 to 1848 the Pavilion was quietly dismantled, and in the latter year the organ was presented to the town. In June, 1849, leave was given to bring a Bill into the House of Commons for its sale, and the town was given the option of purchasing it for £53,000, although Messrs. Cubitt were prepared to give £100,000 for the site for building purposes. On June 13, 1850, the town paid £53,000 to the Commissioners of Woods and Forests, and possession was given them on June 19. Thackeray, speaking of it in 1861, says: 'You may see the place now for sixpence: they have fiddlers there every day; and, sometimes, buffoons and mountebanks hire the Riding House and do their tricks and tumbling there.' FOOTNOTES: [102] The _italics_ are mine.--J. A. [103] Then Alderman Dakin's tea warehouse. THE END. BILLING AND SONS, PRINTERS, GUILDFORD. * * * * * Transcriber's Notes Obvious typographical errors have been silently corrected. Variations in spelling, punctuation, accents and hyphenation are as in the original. Italics are represented thus _italic_. On page 20 Brighton is described thus: "The Situation is very pleasant, and generally accounted healthful; for, tho' it is bounded on the North side by the _British Channel_," This geographical error (Brighton is on the South coast) has been left unchanged. Italics are represented thus _italic_. End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Florizel's Folly, by John Ashton