1870—71.1 THE PRINCE OF WALES AT MELTON. 19 



ceedecT in thwarting every preconceived plan for his amusement. 

 Even a loyal duke had to bow before their omnipotent force, and 

 essayed in vain to give the special meet at Stonesby a worthy 

 character. 



His Royal Highness arrived at Melton on the evening of 

 Tuesday, March 14th, accompanied by Colonel Kingscote, Master 

 of the Horse, Colonel Ellis, equerry, and Mr. Knollys, private 

 secretary. The choicest coverts of the Belvoir were reserved 

 for the next day, as may be gathered from the names of Coston 

 and Newman's Gorse. On the Pytchley side the same morning 

 the ground lay four inches deep in snow, but the Duke's territory, 

 on the contrary, was a foot deep in dust, and there was not a 

 particle of scent to assist the brilliant and untiring efforts of 

 Gillard and his clever whip. The ground was hard as iron, and 

 the day remarkable only for the huntsman's intense desire to 

 show sport. The Prince evidently meant going had the oppor- 

 tunity offered, for he was to be seen filling up the idle time in 

 picking out clean timber, and amusing himself with the ugly 

 stiles that abound in that district. 



*' Go, get me hither paper, ink, and pen," and let me tell of 

 the screaming burst that the Prince has seen with the Quorn. 

 To meet his wishes for a gallop over Leicestershire without the 

 crowd of an advertised show meet, a quiet by-day was arranged 

 for Ragdale on Thursday, March 16, and the fixture kept so 

 snug and secret that even the select received the notice only as 

 they woke to gaze doubtingly on the snow-covered pastures. 

 Spite of the drifts of snow that filled the furrows and the ditches, 

 a small body of true royalists had collected at the venerable 

 manor house by one o'clock ; but Mr. Henton's old cellar was 

 the only morning draw, while a chain of vedettes was thrown 

 out to give notice of any approach from Melton. The solitary 

 horseman who at last was seen spurring on amain over the white- 

 sheeted plain from Shoby came only to tell that hosts and guests 

 had agreed that the country was at present unrideable. The 

 hounds were to remain in the village till another hour or two 

 of Sol's influence should mend matters ; and a time was named 



c 2 



