314 HISTORY OF THE EOYAL BUCKHOUNDS AND ASCOT RACES. 



persons of distinction, hunted a hind, and, after a pleasant 

 run of two and a half hours, killed on Forest Hill. 



Wednesday, November 24, Barham Downs. — "Their Royal 

 Highnesses the Duke and the Princess Amelia, attended by 

 several of the NobiHty, went to take the Diversion of hunting 

 a Hind at Barham Downs ; but the Weather proving very 

 indifferent, they returned to Kensington without Killing the 

 Hind." 



Wednesday, December 1, Banstead Downs. — The Duke of 

 Cumberland and the Princess Amelia, attended by several 

 persons of distinction, hunted a hind, which was killed " near 

 the Pond " after a pleasant run of about two hours. Although 

 the young Duke and his hard-riding little sister were announced 

 to hunt a hind on Banstead Downs on the following Saturday, 

 that event did not take place. When the fixture was made it 

 was probably forgotten that on that day the Princess Amelia 

 entered her thirteenth year ; consequently the family festivities 

 on the happy occasion at Kensington prevented any hunting 

 at Banstead. Hence December 1 was the last hunting day 

 recorded (so far as we can ascertain) with the Royal Buck- 

 hounds in the year 1736. With this season came the dawn 

 of that change, or rather prolongation, of staghunting, and the 

 subsequent alteration of the hunting season as we find it now 

 established. And it is to those two royal youths we owe, in 

 a great measure, the result. The King set sail from Helvoet- 

 sluys on Monday, December 23, and, the wind being fair, he 

 expected to be back in London on Christmas Day. After a 

 run of about six leagues the wind changed, and blew very 

 hard, the sea ran mountains high, and the Royal Yacht, with 

 his Majesty on board, got within ten miles of Yai'mouth, but 

 could not reach the beach without great risk of going ashore ; 

 consequently she had to put about, and run before the wind 

 back to Helvoetsluys, where the King disembarked. There he 

 was detained by contrary winds and foul weather till February 

 13, 1737. The following day he arrived ofi' Lowestoft, " where 

 40 Sailors in White Shirts, went into the sea up to their 

 Chins, and as soon as the Boat, his Majesty was in, came 



