230 HISTORY OF THE ROYAL BUCKHOUNDS AND ASCOT RACES. 



Her Majesty's largess to the local huntsmen would seem to 

 indicate. Unfortunately a gloom was cast over the proceed- 

 ings. Sir Charles Shuckburgh was prostrated by an attack of 

 apoplexy, from the effects of which he succumbed in the course 

 of the day. This unexpected fatality dimmed the enjoyment 

 of the Royal visit. The races on the Downs the two following 

 days were not graced with the presence of the Queen * to the 

 great disappointment of those who had made great prepara- 

 tions to give the Royal Patroness of the turf a cordial welcome. 

 Still it was a grateful tribute to the memory of the late Master 

 of the Buckhounds. Having conferred the honour of knight- 

 hood on the Lieutenant-Governor and the Commissioner of the 

 Navy of Portsmouth, the Queen's visit came to a somewhat 

 abrupt termination, as Her Majesty took leave of the ancient 

 city and the hunting fields of the vicinity — with which she 

 was so familiar in her father and mother's time — and returned 

 to Windsor on September 8. 



According to an entry in Luttrell's Diary, under date 

 October 4, 1705, " Walter Chetwind, Esq., M.P. for Stafford," 

 was "Made Master of the Queen's Buckhounds, in room of Sir 

 Charles Shuckburgh, deceased." This was probably the fact ; 

 still, like his predecessor in office, he had no official status at 

 this time, nor indeed until June 13, 1709, when he was first 

 recognised in his capacity of Master of the Buckhounds. 

 Nevertheless we may take it that Mr. Walter Chetwynd 

 became the thirty-third Master of the Royal Buckhounds at 

 the time mentioned by Luttrell ; that he performed the duties 

 of the office while it appertained to the establishment of 

 Prince George, but under what circumstance we are unable 

 to say ; and so on until the Royal pack was officially re- 

 organised according to the Sign Manual, above given, which 

 was to commence on June 24, 1709. 



On June 13, 1709, in pursuance of the subjoined Ro5'-al 

 Warrant, addressed to the Lord Chamberlain, Mr. Walter 



* The programme consisted of two plates : one of 201. for horses under seven 

 years old, 12 stone, Gentlemen to ride ; and one of 101., 10 stone, the winner 

 to be sold for lOl. 



