1731 : EECOEDS OF THE EUNS. 283 



early in the morning." The neighbourhood was so infested 

 with highwaymen that the Royal Family could not safely 

 go from Hampton Court to Windsor without a strong cavalry 

 escort. 



Saturday, October 9, Windsor. — About 8 o'clock A.M. the 

 King, Queen, Prince of Wales, and the three eldest Princesses 

 set out from Hampton Court Palace to Old Windsor, where a 

 stag was uncarted, " and ran but a short chase in the Great 

 Park before it was kili'd." Major Selwyn, Equerry to Her 

 Majesty, and Mr. Acourt, Page of Honour to Her Majesty, and 

 " many others " of lesser note, came to grief without much 

 hurt ; but a youth, son of one of the hunt-servants, broke his 

 neck, and died on the spot. The Royal Family returned between 

 twelve and one o'clock to Hampton Court. 



Saturday, October 16, Windsor. — This was a grand day. 

 All the Royal Family were present, attended by the lords and 

 ladies of the Court, and several of the nobility and gentry. 

 H.S.H. the Duke of Lorraine, " who goes by the name of Count 

 Blamont," was also present, accompanied by H.E. Count Kinsky 

 and a distinguished suite, all well mounted, and eager for the 

 chase. H.S.H. having a reputation of " a brisk sportsman, the 

 hounds were order'd to run at full head ; they roused a stag 

 at Swinley, and kili'd at Blacknall ; the chase lasted two hours, 

 very hot." During the run James Lidderdale, M.D., physician 

 to Lord Harrington, Master of the State Lotteries, was thrown, 

 broke several of his ribs, " and beat one of his eyes almost out." 



Mr. Delafaye, writing to the Earl of Waldegrave, then 

 Ambassador at the court of Versailles, from Hampton Court 

 Palace, October 15, 1731, gives the following particulars of the 

 Duke of Lorraine's venatic visit, and the ulterior proceedings 

 thereof : — 



" The Duke of Lorrain is come at last, under the travelling name 

 of Count Blamont. Count Kinsky brought him hither. They came 

 to court in chairs (having alighted at Baron HartofTs lodgings upon 

 the Gi-een) : the guards took no notice of them, I mean by way of 

 being drawn up or saluting. They alighted at the first gate and 

 walked through the court, up stairs, through the grand chamber 



