EECOKDS OF THE EUNS ASCOT EACES. 273 



three herring-pies, which were presented, according to the 

 ancient custom, by the Mayor, Aldermen, and Capital Bur- 

 gesses of the town of Great Yarmouth, according to the 

 charter of that corporation. 



Saturday, October 12, was the last meet of the season at 

 which the Royal Family assisted. 



According to the official certificate 31 stags were provided 

 to give sport with the pack during the season. 



On Monday, October 14, the Staghunters' Plate was run for 

 at Ascot. It was won by Colonel Negus' Grey Turk, beating 

 Brigadier Honeywood's Marks Hall, Mr. Hankey's Foxhunter, 

 and Mr. Yark's Hopeless. None of the Royal Family were 

 present, they having arrived at St. James' for the winter 

 season on the day in question. 



1729. — At the opening of the hunting season of 1729 the King 

 was absent in Hanover. The Queen was somewhat indisposed. 

 The Prince of Wales had recently returned, after a long exile 

 in Hanover, to assume his proper position in England, in which 

 he acquitted himself as well as could have been expected. 



When Frederick Prince of Wales arrived " home " from 

 Hanover there were many expressions of public joy and local 

 congratulations upon this untoward event. For some reason 

 not very clear, but probably to gratify the Hanoverian party, 

 the young Prince had never been allowed to visit England in 

 the lifetime of George I. He now came over at the age of 

 twenty-one, a pledge of the Protestant succession, and not 

 without qualities to captivate the multitude, who were prone 

 to love an heir-apparent better than a King. Unfortunately 

 this fair prospect was clouded and darkened by faction. A 

 corrupt clique of Jacks-in-office soon induced Fred to follow 

 his father's example in caballing against his sire, and thus 

 embittered what would have otherwise proved many pleasant 

 days with the Royal Buckhounds. The Civil List was now 

 in arrears, alleged to amount to 115,000^.; and although it was 

 afterwards proved there was no such deficiency, yet the 

 Government of the day persevered, and carried the bogus vote 

 by a large majority. 



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