252 HISTOEY OF THE EOYAL BUCKHOUNDS AND ASCOT RACES. 



CHAPTER XII. 

 GEORGE I. (1714—1727). 



The Earl of Cardigan re-appointed Master of the Royal Buckhounds, November 

 n, 1714. — Resigns Office July 11, 1715. — No Official Master onward during 

 the Reign of George I. — Mr. William Lowen, Senior, appointed Huntsman 

 to the Pack. — The Hounds. — The Hunt- Servants. — The Pack re-organised. 

 — Annual Expenses of the Establishment during the Reign of George I. — ■ 

 Some Records of the Runs, — Popularity of the Hunt. — Is in great Favour 

 vs'ith the Fair Sex. — Dearth of Hunting Intelligence during the Reign of 

 George I. — Alderman Humphrey Parsons. — Ascot Races. 



The cireumstances attending the reappointment of the Earl 

 of Cardigan to the office of Master of the Buckhounds by 

 George I. on November 6, 1714, and his resignation thereof on 

 July 11, 1715, having been circumstantially recorded in the 

 last chapter, it will be sufficient here to mention that the 247 

 days in which he officiated in the capacity of thirty-fourth 

 Master of the Royal Buckhounds, under the first Hanoverian 

 Sovereign, passed away without leaving the slightest indica- 

 tion of the proceedings of the Royal pack in the hunting field 

 during the time mentioned. The probability is that, owing 

 to the political complications, he never officiated or took any 

 practical part in the administration of the office under the new 

 regime. After his resignation or removal had been accom- 

 plished, no one was appointed to fill the vacancy ; consequently 

 we hear of no official Master for the remainder of the reign 

 of George I. 



After the death of the Duke of Somerset, no Master of 

 the Horse was appointed for several years, the profits of that 

 office being paid to the king's head mistress, Herrengard 



