46 REMINISCENCES OF A HUNTSMAN 



grass all through was up to one's hocks ; the only thing wanting 

 was a landing-net, for the deer got into the Thames, and 

 Berkeley had not the means to get him ashore. They say that 

 garden stufF is ris since they saw us among 'em." 



That splendid artist of sweet comestibles, Mr. Gunter, the 

 renowned ice and pastry-cook in Berkeley Square, who was 

 always one of my field, was complimented by Lord Alvanley on 

 the appearance of his horse. " Yes, my lord," he replied, " but 

 he is so hot I can hardly ride him." " "VATiy the devil don't you 

 ice him, then, Mr. Gunter?" was the funny rejoinder. On 

 another day I heard of his lordship having been found sitting 

 under a hedge with his boot off, extracting a thorn from his toe, 

 accompanying the operation by whistling a favourite air from 

 Tancredi. The rider who saw Lord Alvanley, and who was 

 himself thrown out, asked him where his horse was. "The 

 Lord only knows ; I have never seen him since he gave me the 

 fall." " How do you mean to get home, then ? " " That is 

 precisely the thing I am most ignorant of, unless, my good 

 friend, you go and get me a chaise ! " 



Among the extraordinary scenes a hunting-field in so populous 

 a vicinity afforded, or perhaps the oddest scene, was when a fine 

 stag, covei-ed with foam and stained with blood, entered London 

 by the Regent's Park, and ran the streets to No. 1, I think, 

 Montague Street, Russell Square. 



My brother Moreton and Mr. Henry Wombwell, Avho Avhipped 

 in with me, had stopped the hounds outside the Regent's Park, 

 all but two couple, who went at the flanks of the deer pell-mell 

 into the town. I followed them, of course, to see the termina- 

 tion. Women screamed, children cried, men shouted, and horses 

 shied, as the unwonted animal came dowii the pavement or 

 swerved from the passengers across the streets. " The force of 

 nature could no further go," and the stag was obliged to stop 

 and turn to bay, backing his haunches against the street door 

 of No. 1, and looking wildly over into the area, into which I 

 could see he had a mind to jump. I stopped opposite him, 

 when, at the same instant, the dining-room window was raised. 



