326 MEMOIR OF 



After dinner, on the first day of his arrival 

 at Sandringham, a large party being present, 

 Russell became the subject of a harmless, but 

 very amusing, practical joke, which, as he said 

 himself, '' for the life of him he could not at 

 first understand." Mr. Anthony Hamond's fox- 

 hounds were appointed to meet in the neigh- 

 bourhood on the following day, and that gentle- 

 man being then present, a telegram was brought 

 in, which the Prince, amid the breathless silence 

 of his guests, opened and read aloud. It ran 

 thus : — 



' '' Bill George, Canine Castle, Kensal Green, 

 to Anthony Hamond, Esq., at Sandringham, 

 Wolferton. — The Rev. John Russell having dis- 

 appointed me in not calling for a bagman as 

 he passed through London this afternoon, shall 

 send him down to-morrow by first train to 

 Wolferton. Hope he'll arrive fresh." 



Such a telegram, as might be expected, 

 called forth a peal of merriment at Russell's 

 expense, but by whom it was concocted remains 

 a mystery to the present day. 



At table, the carte-de-uienii, exquisitely de- 

 signed, and very superior to anything Russell 

 had ever yet seen, attracted his especial admira- 

 tion. On the top appeared Sandringham House 

 and the date, with a border on one side filled in 

 with game, and all beautifully painted. " Isn't 

 that very pretty?" said the Prince, observing 



