Weymouth

At a subsequent period His Majesty made Weymouth a frequent Summer Residence attended by The Queen and the Princesses— They resided in Gloucester Lodge & which was fitted up for Them.[1]

I was frequently in Waiting on The King during his residence at Weymouth with The Queen, & then I with others of the few attendants who were then ordered on Duty, was through Their Majesties gracious condescension and kindness included in the Family, and We had the honor of dining every day at The King’s Table, in Gloucester Lodge.

I always attended His Majesty in his Rides, & also when He went on board, on sailing excursions, & which were very frequent,[2] and for which purpose a small squadron was stationed off Weymouth during the time that His Majesty & The Royal Family remained there; to contribute to Their Majesties recreation, as well as to extend protection from the Bay, to Weymouth.

The first Frigate Attendant on His Majesty at Weymouth was The Southampton Capt tn. Forbes; with Him was The Cormorant Sloop of War The Hon ble Cap tn Boyle etc.

In after periods Cap tn Sir Harry Neale in H.M. Frigate The St. Fiorenzo, had the Command of the Squadrons ordered in attandance on His Majesty when at Weymouth, & then He had the honour of receiving His Majesty on board this fine Frigate whenever He was pleased to take a short cruize in the Bay— Latterly Sir Harry Neale took the command of The Queen Charlotte, & next of The Royal Sovereign Yatchts, the former of which releived The St. Fiorenzo Frigate on the Weymouth duty, and in consequence Their Majesties after­wards continued their accustomed Sea Excursions, in the above mentioned Yatchts, & always with Sir Harry Neale.

The Royal Sovereign was the last ship in which His Majesty sailed when at Weymouth, & this was in the y r 1805.

Attendant Frigates &c. were attached to The St. Fiorenzo, & The two Royal Yatchts, when stationed in Weymouth Bay under the command of Cap tn Sir Harry Neale Bart. & among the Ships so stationed were, The Cambrian of 50 G s The Honble Capt n Arthur Legge, The Anson of 50 Guns Capt n Durham & The Frigates The Chiffone Capt n Adam, & The Diamond Capt n Elphingston, and part of these attended the Ship which carried the Royal Standard at her maintop Mast Head.

Portland Island

The King is Lord of The Manor of this Island. During one of His residences at Weymouth, He gratified the Loyal Islanders, by honoring Them with a Visit as Lord of The Manor.

He was received in all due & respectful form, and with as distinguished ceremony as their means afforded. The Queen, The Prince of Wales, & the Princesses were with the King on this Occasion.

After walking from Portland Castle to Chissel (sic) Town Their Majesties with Their Family, dined at the Portland Arms, in the small romantic Village of Chisleton?—& their usual attendants at Glocester Lodge, were graciously invited to their Table at the Portland Arms— At this place, what was called An Antient Reeve Pole[3] was shown to His Majesty—& I had an opportunity of looking at this antient curiosity. It is said to be of Saxon Origin; By it formerly the Bailiffs of this Island kept account of the Manor dues & on which every Acre of Land belonging to The Manor was marked on the Reeve Pole.[4]

Some years after, The King purchased Gloucester Lodge.—RFG
Their Majesties 1st excursion to Weymouth was in the Year 1789. They were repeated in the years–1794–1799–1800 1801–1804–1805.—RFG
Of Wood, several feet long—& fully engraved in old figures and characters.—R.F.G.
This Visit of the King in fuller ceremonial as Lord of the Manor of Portland Island was in the year 1804.—­R.F.G.