THE ROYAL BUCKHOUNDS 211 



As Somerville mentions this custom, it was doubtless 

 practised in the time of George the Second. 



" If haply then 



Too far escap'd, and the gay courtly train 

 Behind are cast, the huntsman's clanging whip 

 Stops full their bold career ; passive they stand, 

 Unmov'd, an humble, an obsequious crowd, 

 As if by stern Medusa gaz'd to stones." 



Mr. Charles Davis has for many years presided as 

 huntsman to the royal buck-hounds. His fame is so 

 widely spread that it would be vain in me to attempt 

 to increase it. Few men are so amply gifted by nature 

 with the symmetry of a, horseman. Although rather 

 tall, he is of very spare make, with thin, lengthy legs 

 and thighs ; and his seat in the saddle is perfect. 



For many years the royal hounds were grievously 

 afflicted with kennel-lameness. Every remedy that 

 could be suggested (except that which I have alluded 

 to in these pages as having been successful with Mr. 

 Jaspers and Mr. Roberts's harriers) has been adopted; 

 and there is no doubt they have been, to a certain 

 extent, productive of good results, perhaps as much so 

 as the locality will permit. The usual complement of 

 hounds is about fifty couples ; and there is a good deal 

 of Mr. Foljambe's and Mr. T. A. Smith's blood in these 

 kennels ; but of late years they have bred nearly all the 

 hounds they require to enter. 



Until within the last few years these hounds were 

 accustomed to pay a visit in the spring of the year to 

 the New Forest, where they hunted the wild stags, 

 after the custom of the ancients ; and it was an oc- 

 casion which attracted a vast number of sports,men. 

 They also generally took an annual trip to the Vale of 

 Aylesbury, where, favoured with grass, they had 

 clipping runs. But those days are gone by; and as 

 that country is now regularly hunted by Baron 

 Rothschild, the admirers of stag-hunting residing in 

 that quarter enjoy a succession of sport, whereas pre- 



