THE NEW SCHOOL -53 



gouty that particalar morning, that he could neither ride nor 

 wahv. In 1793 the Prince of Wales gave up his staghounds, 

 and Mr. Poyntz of Midgham, who only gave 8Z. for his unfor- 

 tunate hunt-servants' horses, but always drove up to the 

 meet with four horses and postillions, took over the direction 

 of his hounds and turned them into foxhounds. 



At this time, and indeed for many years later, George IV. 

 never seemed tired of trying hacks and hunters ; nor could 

 he resist an invitation from Milton — the great horse-dealer 

 of the day — or anybody else to give the company at Carlton 

 House or the Pavilion a show. By all accounts he rode a 

 hack well, his seat being so eas}' that it is said never to 

 have soiled or ruffled his tight nankeen pantaloons ; and 

 his favourite hacks Tiger and Tobacco Stopper carried him to 

 perfection. Tiger was light below the knee, and he was 

 told he should give up riding him. He refused, saying, 

 ' Tiger disdains to fall down.' 



In 1786 Wraxall tells us that the Prince of Wales was 

 in the full bloom of his looks and accomplishments, and that 

 he led the way in every sort of fashionable pleasure and 

 sport. There is a picture of him by Hoppner at Hertford 

 House which fully bears out Wraxall as to the distinction 

 of his good looks and the mantling bloom of his complexion ; 

 a lovely kitcat of poor Mrs. Eobinson (Perdita) hangs in the 

 same room. He is in a blue coat with a star, and wears his 

 own wavy hair. The pose is instinct with the ' fascinating 

 ease ' Lady Jerningham admired so much. Even in those 

 Florizel daj^s he was under the ascendency of his uncle 

 Ernest, Duke of Cumberland, whom he grew to dislike so 

 much in later years. The Duke of Cumberland did all he 

 could to wdden the breach between father and son and 

 to consolidate a Carlton House party. According to Lord 

 Hervey, Walpole pursued the same tactics with George II. 

 and Frederick Prince of Wales ; but, whereas Walpole did 



