second horses have had an average day's hunting before they are requisitioned for active service, having been obliged to keep going. Nicks and points serve them very little. However, I do not wish to further load this page with the gibberish of hunting studs,' to borrow a phrase from a puzzled Quarterly Reviewer of the Delmé-Radcliffe day.

I will only again quote Sir Henry Simpson on the very

JOSIAH MILES, STUD GROOM TO THE QUEEN'S HOUNDS,
OCTOBER 1843 TO MARCH 1894

point which led to a deliverance from the Archbishop, that is, the cruel strain upon the horses. It is always an advantage to hear both sides, however unevenly matched from the point of view of knowledge of the subject. It is in no sense a rejoinder, as it was written in October, long before the Archbishop came to the front. This is what the layman has to say: 'As regards hunting casualties or illness, the result of a

hard day, I think I may say with safety of the Royal Hunt, as I may say of other well-ordered hunting establishments, that, in proportion to the risks run, the casualties are not high. Casualties, of course, will always occur, but if a hunter is in condition and fairly ridden, the effect of a severe day's hunting soon passes off.'

As I have said a little about hunt horses in this and in other chapters, I must not close it without a few grateful and affectionate words to the memory of one of the Queen's most faithful and affectionate servants, Josiah Miles, for very many years stud-groom at Cumberland Lodge. He died in the Queen's service after a mercifully short illness in the second year of my Mastership, greatly regretted and respected by all who had ever known him. I know my predecessors felt his loss and appreciated his ability and devotion to his charges quite as much as I did. Duty was ever his first thought, and his daughter writes me that almost his last conscious words to her were to remind my second horseman of a particular bridle which I had desired should be used next hunting day. Miles started in the Queen's service on his wedding day, October 4, 1843, as second groom under Charles Bryant, and was appointed first groom on Bryant's death in 1867. In the summer of 1893 the Queen presented him with a medal in honour of his fifty years' service. I rode over to Cumberland Lodge the same evening to see and congratulate Mr. and Mrs. Miles, tea and a talk with Mrs. Miles being one of the many pleasant things which came with the Mastership of the Queen's Hounds. They had driven over to Windsor together, and the Queen had given Miles his medal with her own hands. It was a most happy tea.

The present stud groom, Reuben Matthews, succeeded Miles. He has been at Cumberland Lodge for a great many years; having been appointed second groom when Miles

succeeded Bryant. Thanks to Lord Coventry's kindness, I hunted two or three times last season with the Queen's Hounds, and greatly enjoyed myself with my old friends. I never saw hunt horses looking bigger and better. They did both the stud groom and the master credit.

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CHAPTER XII

ASCOT AFFAIRS

Excussus propriis aliena negotia curat

EVERY Master of the Buckhounds, I fancy, is urged on his appointment by some of his racing friends to deal in a statesmanlike way with the stands.

Several people spoke to me seriously on the subject, and of course they all had ideas of their own as to what should be done. Some of these were a little difficult to follow. But one and all had espoused great principles, and separated themselves judicially-from all questions of detail. Any and every objection-such as interference with the high road, the local authorities, private ownership, the configuration of the ground, the convenience of the resident population—were brushed aside. A large outlook was the thing, and all these puny points would work themselves out. However, during the time I lived at Ascot I came to the conclusion that, in principle and indeed in fact, which is a very different thing, there was quite enough to be said in favour of setting the stands at an angle to the Straight Mile course to make it worth careful consideration.

But how was it to be done? After looking over and over again at the ground, and the villas, and the high road, and the possibilities of space, I decided that, for many reasons-economic and utilitarian the mountain, that is the stands, could not go to Mahomet. Mahomet, that is, the course,

must come to the mountain. The accompanying plan shows how I thought it could be managed. Some explanatory notes drafted at the time this plan was submitted to the Jockey Club cited the general grounds upon which I made the proposal and the particular advantages claimed for the alteration. I have nothing to add to these notes, so I give the exact text: 'For some years it has been very generally objected that the occupants of the stands and enclosures on the present alignment are unable to see the races run over the New Mile course until the horses are nearly home; for instance, the line marked A on the plan is drawn parallel with the front of the Royal stand. It will be seen that the starting point and the greater part of the present New Mile course are actually behind the front of the Royal and other stands and enclosures.

'The Master of the Buckhounds is of opinion that this objection may be successfully dealt with by an alteration in the direction of the present New Mile course, and he would suggest laying out a new Straight Mile as shown on the annexed plan.

'The whole course would thus be thrown considerably in front of the stands and enclosures, and their occupants would literally see each race run out from start to finish.

'Another consideration disposes the Master of the Buckhounds to recommend this alteration. The present New Mile course is just under a mile, and cannot be lengthened on account of the high road. There is thus no room for fractious animals to be quieted in, and a consequently increased risk of false starts. The new course, on the other hand, is exactly a mile in length, amply sufficient space being provided behind the starting post to enable a large field of horses to be conveniently marshalled. This is a very practical

Royal Stand; Master of the Buckhounds' Stand; Jockey Club Stand; Iron Stand; Grand Stand.