“RESPECTED ALBERT EDWARD.”

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8866, 17 July 1907, Page 4

“RESPECTED ALBERT EDWARD.”

1 John Burton, tho proprietor of a i celebrated old curiosity shop at Eal- ( mouth, writes the London corresponf dent of the Adelaide Register, who | has just died at tho age of 68, is not \ only a wealthy man, but a famous I one, for his originality and quaint \ sayings had led to kings and princes f frequenting his shop, One of his I former customers was King Edward, * who, while on a visit to the quaint ! little Cornish town, being unable to •go to the shop, requested .Burton to ! send him some of his curios on ap- | probation. In return, his Majesty I received the following independent ! but amusing letter, at which the I King laughed heartily ‘' Respected i Albert Edward.—l much regret to find you are indisposed. If I were to bring a waggon-load of samples it would bo utterly impossible to con- ■ rey the remotest idea of my ponderi ous conglomeration of curios, but if i I could possibly prevail upon your I Majesty to go through my shanty I i would give you local wit and humor 1 that would throw you into such a J state of laughter as would probably j counteract your cold.—Yours until Iwe meet in the next hotel, John )Burton.” King Edward declined to i f a u in with tho vendor’s suggestion, ■ but compromised matters by buying I goods from him through a Court official. Lord Rosebery was one of those who personally visited tho shop, and he summed up Burton’s character by { describing him as “the greatest curio lin his shop.” His individuality exI tended to his purchases for resale, i which included a local house said ? to be haunted, and he unsuccessfully ! made bids for the ownership of the I fire escape which played a prominent ! part in the Parnel'-O’Shea episode, and also of tho Eddystone Lighthouse, built by Smeaton, when it was about to be pulled down to make ; room for the present one.