19 APRIL 1930, Page 16

The Diaries of Robert Fulke Greville

- Many of these extracts from the hitherto unpublished Diaries of Robert Fulke Greville, which have appeared in the SPECTATOR since March 22nd, shortly to be brought out in their entirety by Messrs. John Lane under the Editorship of Mr. F. McKno Bladon , are of peculiar interest. Of the same blood as the famous Victorian gossip-monger, Robert Greville reveals a mind which makes a complete contrast to that of his illustrious kinsman.

Our final extracts from the diary give glimpses of the King as "Farmer George," a country gentleman hunting at home, or gossiping with the West Country yeomen near Weymouth. At the last we take leave of Greville in a mood of disappointment. His sovereign is dead and he is not-asked to sit up with the Royal Corpse."

A STAG CHASE.

An extraordinary circumstance which occurred at the close of a Stag Chace, & at which I was present in attendance on The King as His Equerry.

-After a smart Chace the Stag came towards Marlow, & very near to that Town it leapt into Mrs. Freeman's Garden, when following the gravel Walk, it was checked by the House at the end of it, & which had a Flanking Wall on each side of the Steps of the enterance into the Mansion.

The Huntsman & Hounds pressing on, brought the poer Animal to instant decision- to save his life. He leaped over one of these flanking Walls which was Seven feet high & disappeared on the other side. His down drop was deep, and into a paved Court near the Kitchen— No fracture was the consequence of this fall. The Stag moved on, & creeping under the return of a Staircase, there laid -down & quietly awaited its fate.

This Stag from this extraordinary fall, became famous in latter history, for the many gallant Chaces He afterwards afforded under the name of Marlow Toni.

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