CHARLES DAVIS 



69 



They had not the condition which I shall insist upon in 

 another chapter. 



The New Forest hunting was no joke. In 1848 we hear 

 of Lords Canning, Granville, and liivers coming over to 

 Heron Court from Highcliffe, disgusted with the danger of 

 the ground, and declaring they will never hunt there again : 

 a groom having been killed, three gentlemen badly hurt, 

 whilst Lord Granville had had his face cut by the boughs- 





To RIDE JEALOUS IN A FOEEST YOU MUST BE REALLY INTREPID 



of a tree against which his horse had carried him. Lord 

 Malmesbury relates how, some years before this, Mr. Assheton 

 Smith and Lord Cardigan rode jealous of each other with 

 the Queen's Hounds in the New Forest. A large party was 

 assembled at Mr. Compton's, and the night before these gentle- 

 men glared at each other all dinner time, as if they were 

 mortal enemies about to fight the next day. Lord Cardigan's 

 horse after a ' regular race ' outstayed Mr. Assheton Smith's, 



