ROYAL VISIT. 23 



were soon joined bj-^ their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales, 

 with a large number of nobility of both sexes, visitors to his grace. The meet 

 was kept quiet, still a large concourse of people, horse and foot, assembled 

 (carriages not being admitted), all anxious to get a look at their future sovereign. 

 They first drew the Big Wood, entering it by the Green Drive, across which 

 were placed two flights of hurdles, some two hundred yards apart, bound with 

 gorse to a height of about six feet, which certainly for a start had rather a 

 formidable appearance, serving to make the field more select. The Prince and 

 Princess fiew both in such gallant style that convinced every one accustomed to 

 hunting that they were no amateurs, and, if a nin, that they would take the lead. 



*' Reynard broke covert on the west side of the wood, running through Beech 

 Cliff to Harley Thorn ; then doubled back over the Toft Farm, trying his way 

 back for Trentham. But the hounds were too close to be agreeable in the open, 

 so he again tried for safety in Swynnerton Park, but they never left him or gave 

 him a moment's respite. He again left that covert and ran nearly the same ring- 

 as before, returning to the same covert, where they pulled him down. They then 

 trotted oft' to Tittensor Common, where the distinguished visitors paid Mr. Loch 

 the compliment of a visit, taking refreshments, but lost no time in again joining 

 the Hunt. The Common, Darlaston Wood, and Pilstones were drawn blank, still 

 there seemed a smile on every face. Each had come for the honour and grati- 

 fication of a day with the Prince and Princess, and was amply repaid. Through- 

 out the day the style in which the Princess took her leaps was the admiration of 

 every one. 



" On Monday they met at Barlaston Hall. After drawing several coverts 

 without success, they found at Moddershall Oaks, and had a run of twenty 

 minutes over a very rough and hilly country, often with the fox in view, which 

 in one instance took refuge in a cart-shed, where as the hounds entered eveiy one 

 expected Reynard was ' done ; ' but, jumping on a field roller, from thence through 

 a hole in the roof, he made his escape, but was too much beat to last long, and 

 in a few minutes they ran into him. The Prince and Princess both being up at 

 the death, the Duke of Sutherland took the brush and placed it in the bridle of 

 the Princesf's horse. 



" They next drew the Fulford coverts blank ; then returned to Moddershall 

 Oaks, where no sooner were the hounds put in than they found, but got so close 

 to the fox that after five or ten minutes they killed him in covert, which was a 

 disappointment to all, who, knowing this was the last day they were to bo 

 lionoured with royalty, wished to wind up with a good run. 



" They afterwards found a third fox in the same covert, but after some ten or 

 fifteen minutes in the open lost him. Still they persevered as long as daylight 

 lasted, and went to that capital covert Kendrick's Gorse, which used always to 

 hold a fox, but for some cause this season has always been blank. From thence 

 they returned to Trentham by way of Barlaston Hall, where the Royal party 

 called and partook of the Squire's well-known hospitality. There the Hunt 

 dispersed, each with an impression that he had partaken of a pleasure that would 

 never be effaced from his memory." 



Lord Ronald Gower, in liis " Reminiscences," published 

 in 1883, gives us the following graphic account of this Royal 

 visit to Trentham, and of the grace and courage of the 

 Princess of Wales : — 



