The Opening Meeting. 6 



which had, by the will of Providence^ come under his control. 

 Lord Charles Bruce, M.P., in seconding' the vote of thanks, 

 said, that Canon Jackson had told them a great deal that was new 

 as well as much that was really interesting. As they were aware, 

 the greater part of his own life had been associated with the forest, 

 and he would just allude to one or two points on which the Canon 

 had touched in his address. The first remark he would make had 

 reference to the interesting tenure horn which Mr. Jackson had 

 mentioned. There was a curious incident connected with it in which 

 his grandfather was concerned. In his time the King came and paid 

 a visit to Savernake House, and stayed two or three days; and just as 

 His Majesty was going away his grandfather expressed the hope that 

 he was pleased with his entertainment. The King assured him that 

 he was exceedingly pleased with everything, but he had omitted to 

 discharge a rather important duty. Perhaps he was not aware, the 

 King told him, that his property would pass immediately into the 

 hands of the Crown if he did not discharge the duty. His grand- 

 father on hearing this was thrown into a state of great trepidation 

 and enquired what the duty was. " You have forgotten,''^ the King 

 replied, " to blow your tenure horn. When a King of England 

 comes here and that horn is not blown, your property becomes for- 

 feited to the Crown.'^ His grandfather lost no time in discharging 

 ■the duty, and fortunately the estate still remained in the hands of 

 his descendants. Canon Jackson had spoken of the air of mystery 

 which hung about Savernake Forest, and this had reminded him o£ 

 an incident which occurred to his father. He had occasion to go 

 down to meet the coach, and after it had come within ear-shot it 

 suddenly stopped. He heard a gun fired, which he thought a very 

 mysterious circumstance. After a while the coach drove up when 

 the only two persons were the driver and guard. He concluded that 

 a highway robbery had been committed, and made inquiries, but 

 learnt nothing. He caused the coach to be searched, when he found 

 one of his fine bucks stowed away out of sight, and thus the coach- 

 man and guard were detected in their misdeed. He concluded by 

 seconding the vote of thanks to Canon Jackson. 



It is needless to say that the vote of thanks was carried unanimously. 



