1733 : EECOKDS OF THE RUNS. 295 



several lords and ladies of the Court, roused a stag "which 

 the King had hunted three times last year, which [now] gave 

 them very good diversion for about two hours, when his 

 Majesty was pleased to order his life to be spared, and their 

 Majesties left the chase : His Royal Highness the Duke, who 

 was up with the Hounds, ordered he should be killed ; when 

 Sir Robert Walpole, as being Ranger of the Park, desired his 

 Grace would excuse it, his Majesty having commanded his 

 life to be spared." 



Wednesday, August 15, Windsor Forest. — The first meet of 

 the Buekhounds in the forest gave rise to much apprehension 

 as to the safety of the Royal Family and the ladies and 

 gentlemen of the Court. Highwaymen and deer-stealers and 

 exasperated politicians were very aggressive ; so much so 

 that the Ministers of State took the precaution to order 

 detachments of Life Guards and Grenadiers to escort the 

 Royal family and the lords and ladies of the Court from 

 Hampton to the meet. No unpleasantness occurred ; large 

 attendance, and fair run ensued. All the Royal Family up 

 at the death. 



Saturday, August 18, Richmond Park. — All the Royal Family 

 out. The King and Queen pulled up after two hours, " but the 

 Duke and the Princess Amelia were in at the death in an hour 

 after, and then follow 'd to Hampton Court." 



Saturday, August 25, Richmond Park. — All the Royal 

 Family out, except the Prince of Wales, who was cricketing,* 

 and the Princess Royal, who was ordering her trousseau, those 

 out having enjoyed a capital run. The Duke of Grafton, Lord 

 Chamberlain, had the misfortune to be thrown from his horse 

 into a mill-race near Datchet, and was seriously ill from the 

 effect of the spill for some considerable time afterwards. 



Saturday, September 1, Sunbury Common. — Their Majesties 

 and some members of the Royal Family participated in a good 



* This match was for a silver cup given by His Eoyal Highness, and played 

 for by Mr. Stead's 11 men of Kent v. The Prince of Wales' 11 men of Surrey. 

 On August 28 the Prince's 11 played against Lord Gage's 11 for 100 Guineas. 

 Cricket became very popular in the reigns of George I. and George II., though 

 its progress is not recorded in the books of reference on the game. 



