288 HISTORY OF THE EOYAL BUCKHOUNDS AND ASCOT EACES. 



Wales, fell with his horse, but received no serious hurt ; Mr. 

 Buckworth, Gentleman Usher to His Royal Highness, narrowly- 

 escaped being gored by a stag " which started suddenly upon 

 his Horse and brok off part of his Whip " ; and William Ald- 

 ridge, one of the grooms to the pack, was badly bruised by a 

 fall from his horse. The pack did not meet on the following 

 Saturday. Many of the principal followers of the Buckhounds 

 were at the Newmarket races ; and the King's birthday 

 festivities were the great attraction in town. The State Ball 

 in Kensington Palace seriously interrupted the proceedings of 

 the racing division at headquarters ; the demand on the post- 

 ing establishments vastly exceeding the supply. The King 

 " was pleased to express his satisfaction at the good order the 

 Buckhounds appeared to be in," and Mr. Lowen, the hunts- 

 man, was to have the charge and care of the pack till such 

 time as a Master shall be appointed. This announcement 

 dashed the hopes of many courtiers who were soliciting the 

 appointment. 



Saturday, November 11, Richmond. — Their Majesties and 

 the Royal Family having arrived at the Lodge on Friday, 

 November 11, for a short sojourn, they attended the meet in the 

 New Park on the following morning, when a hind was roused, 

 which gave a good run for three hours. Their Majesties 

 pulled up about half an hour before the end of the run ; but 

 the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Cumberland, and the Prin- 

 cesses were in at the death, and afterwards returned to 

 Richmond to dinner. 



W^ednesday, November 15, Richmond. — The Queen having 

 been indisposed did not hunt. The rest of the Royal Family 

 were out, and enjoyed a brief run of one hour's duration. At 

 the end of the week the Royal Family returned to town; and 

 so ended the season with this pack. 



Now as to the " HoN. Francis Negus, Esquire, M.P." 

 (as he was officially styled), the thirty-sixth Master of the 

 Royal Buckhounds, temp. George II., from June 11, 1727, to 

 September 9, 1732, we are unable to say " what was his race 



