226 RECORDS OF THE CHASE 



a person was recommended to me to take charge of 

 them with others belonging to gentlemen who regularly 

 rode to the stag-hounds. 



" I rode regularly with these hounds and went with 

 them into the Vale of Aylesbury for their, at that time, 

 annual week's hunting. This country I found so 

 superior that although I hunted through the season 

 with the Queen's, I longed often for the large pastures 

 which the Vale presented. The next summer I en- 

 deavoured to make arrangements ; but there being at 

 that time no hunting livery-stables in the Vale, I 

 looked about for a groom who thoroughly understood 

 his business. I succeeded, as I thought, in this ; and 

 engaged a middle-aged man. He was married ; but his 

 wife and family were to be left in London, and he was 

 to travel the country with me. 



" Early in November my servant left London with 

 three hunters. The horses were, I think, as good as 

 any that I have ever been possessed of; but, arising, 

 as I now believe, entirely from my servant's ignorance, 

 nothing but misfortune attended me. Within a fort- 

 night my best horse was reported blind, my young 

 mare would not eat, and the other, going wrong, I had 

 changed for one altogether out of condition ; and the 

 twenty-eighth day from my leaving London found my 

 servant back again. I had, during that short time, in 

 fact, knocked up five horses ; and prudence prevented 

 me continuing a career so ruinous. 



" I considered this as a run of ill luck that will 

 attend all at times, and, to make the best of it, kept 

 only two young mares, and towards the end of the 

 season had a few days with the Queen's hounds. My 

 groom was the last to whom I thought I could attribute 

 blame. He induced me to change my horses often ; my 

 tradesmen were blamed or changed by him with every 

 appearance of consulting only my interest. 



'*I now purchased a fine, powerful, well-bred horse — 

 my servant could not even find fault with him — and as 

 I had now three sound young horses I anticipated a 

 more successful season. To each condition-balls were 

 given freely ; and day by day, as the month of October 

 passed, I had reason to be better pleased with the 

 account given me of their progress. This state of 

 things was not to last long; for on going one morning 

 to the stable my favourite mare 'was all wrong;' and 



