The Royal Bitckhounds, 17Q 



culty saved from the hounds. Edrupt, one of the 

 whips, fell whilst jumping into a road, breaking his 

 collar-bone, and was taken in a vehicle to Chertsey. 

 Thus finished the first day of the season ; and if this is 

 a specimen of the style of sport that Goodall intends 

 to show, even the most greedy of sportsmen will have 

 a chance of being satisfied. 



When the deer crossed the Thames a great number 

 pulled up, having had enough, amongst whom was the 

 noble Master Lord Hardwicke, who went uncommonly 

 well throughout. Considering the line of country 

 chosen by Baronet, especially that portion in the 

 vicinity of Staines Moor, it is wonderful that any horse 

 could have lived through such a run. Those whose 

 nags lacked condition found it was a case of " bellows- 

 to-mend^^ long before they reached the river, and 

 several loose horses showed that some had come to 

 grief, as was to be expected from the heaviness of a 

 portion of the country and the stiffness of the fences 

 throughout. With such a performance at the com- 

 mencement of the season I think that Lord Hardwicke 

 must be considered as having maintained the reputa- 

 tion of the Royal Buckhouuds, which have fully 

 justified the opinion I expressed of their condition on 

 a late occasion when visiting the kennels at Ascot ; 

 and I venture further to predict that, provided the 

 field will assist Goodall in restraining the impetuosity 

 of the hard riders, and let the hounds have a chance of 

 getting well away and settling down to their work, 

 there will be no lack of future sport with the Queen^s. 



12—2 



