King George Ill., And Bob Sleath

When King George III. was reskling s at Cheltenham he paid a visit lo ' cester. At that time the keeper of the Barborne toll-gate was a man of sturdy character, known as Bob Sleath, who 1 declared that his Majesty should not ! pass throvigh his gate unless he paid 1 the toll like any other person. "The 1 Cheltenham toll-gate keepers miglit let 1 hinï pass free 9 they choose - more fools they for doing so; but he wasn't i going to do so. If the King came at the head of an army, then he would ' throw open the gate and let him pass 1 through without paying; but so long as ! he was there as a visitor ho must pay i the toll like other folk." Such was Bob Sleath's resolve; and, thoughthepeoplo to whom he said this told him that he ' was making an empty boast, and that ¦ he would not darc to shut his toll-bar in the King's face, yet Bob Sleath ed that he would most eertainly do so if ' he had the chance - ! The chance was ofl'ered him, for the 1 King came that way; and, truc to his ] word, Bob Sleath closed the gate, and i made it fast with lock and key. The 1 outrider ordered him to throw open the gate, as the King's carriage was coming, with a considerable retirme, followed by a loyal throng. But Bob Sleath refused to comply with the request iintil he had been duly paid for the carriage and horsemen. The King's equerry then rode up, and was informed of the state of aftairs, the royal coach boïng then close at hand. The equerry explained to the toll-gate keeper that the king's secretary came last in the procession, and would pay for all who passed through the gate if Bob would carefully count thein as they went by him. With this promise Bob Sleaili oponed the gate, and, without any detention having been made to the royal progresa, the King and his attendants passed through the gate. But, although the toll-gate keeper went up to more thiin one of those who followed the King, no one would confess to being the bcarer of the King's purse, or to being authorized to pay the toll. So every one passed through free, as did also the loyal crowd, wïio pressed forward af ter the carriage before the tollgate keeper could close the gate. Bob Sleath feit that he was tricked; Ijut he was resolved that this should not oceur a second time. So the next day, when the King returned and wished to pass through Barporne gate on his way back to Cheltenham, Bob Sleath securely locked the gate, and refused to open it to the outrider. Then came the equerry, who endeavored, as on the previous day, to secure the opening of the gate by the promise of payment of tho toll by the King's secretary. But Bob Sleath plainly told him that he did not believo in the existence of that court official, and that he would not open the gate for the king's coach until the wholo of the toll for both yesterday and to-day was paid to him. The equerry endeavored to frighted him into compliance by renresentmg the annoyanco that would be feit by his Majesty; but Bob Sleath would not relent or abate one jot of his demand; so, as the King's coach was then brought to a standslill, and his Majesty was inquiring into the cause of the delay, the equerry paid the toll-gate keeper the whole of the money that he demanded, at the same time ihreatening that he would have him before a court of law and make him refund the sum. Then Bob Sleath openi'd the gate, and made his best bow to the King as he passed through; but he never againsaw George III., and nevor heard any more of the toll that he had taken f rom him.