The 4th of November it anchored safely in Torbay. This was the anniversary of the Prince’s birth and marriage, and he therefore wished to render it more memorable by landing on the British shore. The preparations, however, could not be completed that night, but on the following day, the Prince, attended by his principal officers, proceeded to raise his standard on Brixham Quay. At this time Brixham contained but few houses, and the good people, astonished at the appearance of such an armament, are said to have stood in silent wonder on the beach. At last William approached the shore and demanded whether he was welcome, when after some further pause he was asked his business, and his explanation considered satisfactory, he was, after a little more parley, informed that he was welcome. “If I am, then,” said the Prince, “come and carry me ashore,” and immediately a little man, one of the party, plunged into the water and carried him triumphantly ashore to the steps of the pier. On his landing the inhabitants are said to have presented their illustrious visitor with the following address: “And please your Majesty King William, You’re welcome to Brixham Quay To eat buckhorn and drink bohea, Along with me, And please your Majesty King William.” This story Mr. White very properly calls an absurd one, as the Prince was not a King, and tea was a fabulous price. In a note to this account, said to have been communicated by the Rev. H. F. Lyte, it is stated as follows:— The subsequent history of the “little man” who carried the King on shore is rather singular. Having a short ambling pony, which was commonly used in fish-jolting, he rode bare-headed before the Prince to Newton and afterwards to Exeter, and so pleased him by his zeal that he told him to come to him to court, where he should be seated on the throne, and he would make a great man of him. He also gave him a line under his hand, which was to be his passport into the royal presence. In due time accordingly the little man took his course to London, promising his townsmen that he should come back among them a Lord at least. When, however, he arrived there some sharpers, who learnt his errand at the inn where he put up, made our poor little Brixhamite gloriously drunk, and kept him in that state for several successive weeks. During this time one of the party, having obtained the passport, went to court with the little man’s tale in his mouth, and received a handsome present from the King. Our adventurer, recovering himself shortly afterwards, went to the Palace without his card of admission and was repulsed as an impostor, and came back to Brixham never to hold up his head again.