286 HISTOEY OF THE EOYAL BUCKHOUNDS AND ASCOT EACES. 



Ipswich. Thus all the preparations have been completed for 

 the opening meet of the season, 



Saturday, July 22, at Richmond, where we find the Queen 

 in a calash, the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Cumberland, 

 and the three Princesses on horseback, attended by several 

 lords and ladies of the Court. A stag was put up in the New 

 Park, and hunted for two hours ; the Queen and all the Royal 

 Family that were out having been in at the death. The 

 Royal party dined at Richmond, and in the evening the Prince 

 of Wales, the Duke of Cumberland, the Princesses Mary 

 Caroline and Louisa, went to the theatre there, and saw the 

 comedy called The Careless Husband, " and about Eleven at 

 Night the Queen with all the Royal Family return'd to 

 Kensington, escorted by a Guard of Horse Grenadiers." 



Those members of the Royal Family joined the hunt at the 

 meets held in the New Park on July 20, August 12, 21, 28, 

 September 4, 18, and 25, each of which yielded an average 

 run of about three hours' duration. The King, having re- 

 turned from Germany, joined the Queen and his children at 

 Richmond, and was out with them at the New Park on 

 Saturday, September 30. He missed the well-known face and 

 fiofure of Colonel Negus, who died in his hunting harness on 

 the 9th of this month. Sir William Strickland, Secretary of 

 War, was now nominated to fill the vacant office, but this 

 was not confirmed. During this, and some subsequent runs, 

 Sir Robert Walpole acted as Field Master of the Buckhounds ; 

 but the vacant office was not officially filled until shortly 

 before the opening of the ensuing season. Now, to return to 

 this, the first run at which the King participated this season. 

 The stag gave a good spin of three hours, and was killed near 

 Ham Green. During the chase Captain Jackson, Deputy 

 Ransrer of the New Park, fell from his horse and was much 

 bruised ; and " a Domestick belonging to Sir William Strick- 

 land," was thrown, rode over, and killed. The Prince of 

 Wales rendered every assistance to the poor fellow, " placed 

 him in a chariot and ordered particular care to be taken of 

 him." 



