THE MASTERS. 5^ 



inspiriting— that an evening spent thus was simply fascinating, and one could 

 onlv wish it to be repeated every Saturday night for the remainder of life. 

 Tiie great features of the dinner were, a good strong Indian curry with 

 '• Bombay ducks," and a noble roast goose, washed down with Bombay beer, 

 a special brew of Allsopp which had been the voyage to India and back, 

 thereby im[)roving its flavour and (juality. This beer was passed round the 

 table in a famous old loving cup. After drawing the corks of two bottles, 

 and pouring the contents into the cup. King would march round the table 

 to the beagler selected for tlie honour of escorting Mrs. King in to dinner, 

 and address him with, " Here's your good health ;" proceeding, after drink- 

 ing from the cup, with " INIay your shadow never grow less :" this beagler 

 would then respond in like manner, take a good pull at the beer, and hand 

 the cup round to the others. 



The Master always used the old Winchester grace : — 

 Before dinner : " Benedictus — BenedicatJ' 

 After dinner : '' Benedict o — Bejiedicatitr."' 



Our noble old Master made a pleasant picture, seated at the head of his 

 dinner table. On these occasions he sported a handsome and genuinely 

 old-fashioned rig-out, the following description of which may happily recall 

 it to the remembrance of the beaglers who rejoiced in those gocd old days : — 

 A short jacket of black velvet, with knickerbockers of the same, shoes with 

 silver buckles, and red stockings with a red waistcoat, or black stockings with 

 a white waistcoat, and, to crown all, a beautiful point lace neck-tie v.'ith 

 hanging ends. 



During the course of his long connection with the R.R.B., King was the 

 recipient of several tokens of the esteem and affection in which he was held 

 by the members. Once (the occasion is obscure) he was presented with a 

 silver horn; and in December, 1S51, after he had been chairman of the 

 committee for two years only, the eve (;f his departure for India was seized 

 as an opportunity for presenting him with a massive silver tankard. This 

 tankard may be seen at Point of Ayr to this day ; it is a sporting piece, with 

 a couising scene of a brace of greyhounds after a hare, a scene quite opposed 

 to our blaster's own views of sport, as he cared nothing for coursing. 

 A farewell dinner was given to King, and the Master of the R.R.B., 

 C. Rawson, wrote him as follows : — 



London, December 27th, 1851, 



My dear King, — I cannot allow the 29th to pass over without your receiving 

 my hearty good wishes for you and yours. I do indeed truly regret that I am 

 not one of the party who arc giving you a farewell dinner on Monday, but I shall 

 he with you in heart, and I am sure not one of those who will be present will 

 more cordially wish your happiness than I do. 



You have indeed a good firm band of friends, all deeply interested in your 

 welfare ; and, wherever you go, you appear to carry away with you the good- 



H 2 



