56 STAG-HUNTING RECOLLECTIONS 



breasted coat, white duck strapped overalls, and a white 

 beaver hat. A yeoman pricker acts as outrider on a natty 

 bob-tailed horse with a la/sh to his whip, and two grooms, 

 dressed much as the Boyal procession grooms are dressed 

 now, are riding behind. None of the party carry their whips 

 quite right ; and George IV. the worst of all, out like a fishing 

 rod : but this must be the artist's and not his friend Sir 

 John Lade's ' fault, who had taught him to drive in their 

 palmy days. But to return to the hounds. George Bartlett, 

 Davis's feeder, tells me that George IV. liked a light-coloured 

 hound, and wished Davis to stick to the Goodwood lemon- 

 pye, which for some few years after they came to Ascot 

 distinguished the Eoyal pack, a notable lemon-pye named 

 Minos being a great favourite of his. 'But,' says Bartlett, 

 ' Davis liked a good tan, and wouldn't have them ' ; and 

 Davis was the sort of man who got his way. I am sorry 

 myself the lemon-pye has been lost. I like an odd colour 

 in hound or horse ; it gives character. Moreover, neither 

 Davis nor King was very successful as regards colour. 



go up to the Castle eveiy evening to see to the buttons and button-holes of the 

 clothes the king had worn ; some of which were certain to have started from 

 the tightness George IV. insisted upon. 



' The Lades (or Ladds) were a remarkable pair of people. Lady Lade I 

 have already spoken of. Sir John was Mr. Thrale's ward, and his extravagance 

 prompted Dr. Johnson to write a poem on his coming of age. When Dr. 

 Johnson lay dying he repeated this poem with great spirit to Mr. Windham, 

 saying he had never repeated it but once before, and had only given one copy 

 of it away to Mrs. Thrale. There are several four-line stanzas full of zest and 

 point. Two must suffice here : 



' Loosened from the minor's tether, 



Free to mortgage or to sell, 

 Wild as wind and light as feather, 

 Bid the sons of thrift farewell. 



' Call the Betsys, Kates, and Jennies, 



All the names that banish care ; 

 Lavish of your grandsire's guineas. 

 Shew the spirit of an heir." 



