PICTURE OF THE ROYAL HUNT. 15 



On one occasion when the meet was at Burston, it was 

 computed that more than 2000 horsemen were present, 

 and when the mass of horsemen charged the first fence, 

 a new stake and binder, the whole fence fell flat, scores 

 of riders having landed or fallen upon it. 



I was present when it was proposed to have the 

 celebrated picture of the Royal Hunt painted. The 

 idea was mooted at. the dinner-table, when Mr. Grant, 

 the artist, was present, who was a good man across the 

 Vale, and an excellent sportsman. Lord Chesterfield 

 was in the chair, and it was agreed by all present that 

 they would sit for their portraits, and that the picture 

 should represent the miCet at Creslow, one of the most 

 popular in the Vale, where at that time the Duke of 

 Grafton's foxhounds also met, and where now that 

 veteran sportsman, Selby Lowndes, shows plenty of 

 sport. The house is a very fine, interesting mediaeval 

 structure, formerly a portion of the ancient monastery 

 of Christ Low. It belongs now, as it did then, to 

 Lord de Clifford, in whose family it has been for cen- 

 turies, and it is the reputed birthplace of poor ill-fated 

 Rosamond Clifford, the " P'air Rosamond" of Henry H. 

 A sketch of the place was taken, and the groups were 

 designed, but before the picture was finished it was 

 thought more appropriate to have the scene laid at 

 Ascot Heath within sight of the kennels. Sir Francis 

 Grant (late President of the Royal Academy) is to be 

 seen in the picture behind Sir George Seymour, who is 

 talking to Mr. Shifnel. The noble master, the hand- 

 some Earl of Chesterfield, is in the centre on his horse 

 Sir Oliver, with his official couples on his shoulder. In 



