Arrangements for Entertaining Visitors--Lord de Grey’s Shooting--A Good-looking Staff--A Fancy Ball--The Baby cries--Lord William Feeds the Infant--Singing Quadrilles--Pig-sticking--The Tent Club and Its Members--A Case of Mistaken Identity--The Reputation Match--Lord William Resolves to Give Up Racing--Lord Ripon’s Farewell
During Lord Ripon’s time in India a number of people came out from home to stay with him, some wishing to combine a visit to their friends with shooting, pig-sticking and globe-trotting. This kept Lord William busy, as he had to make all the arrangements for their comfort, and where they were to stay, when the Viceregal Lodge was full, which was generally the case. Occasionally he turned out of his own house for guests, searched for suitable bungalows for others, making everybody comfortable and yet without the least apparent effort. Rajahs were communicated with, and shoots arranged; horses were found to suit the various riders, chosen in accordance to their prowess, programmes made out for each day, and printed instructions sent on ahead, so that all was in readiness at each halting place, carriages, horses, servants, food, sport and all the heart of man could desire.
The happy relations existing between Lord William and the Native Princes made this easier for him than it might have been for many.
The present Marquess of Ripon, then Lord de Grey, came to stay with his father, and was anxious to have some big game shooting. He is, as everybody knows, one of the best shots in England. His game card from 1867 to 1891 gives some idea of his skill and the sport provided. I think the years 1880 and 1882 were the years he was shooting in India.
(Part 1 of 2) ====================================================================== Rhinoceros Buffalo Pig Red Deer Partridge Date Tiger S??? Deer Grouse Pheasants ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 1867 8 265 1.179 741 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 1868 35 201 1.418 1.601 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 1869 35 135 1.659 1.431 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 1870 21 498 2.308 2.117 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 1871 55 1.408 1.598 1.889 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 1872 38 1.498 2.083 2.835 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 1873 25 248 2.417 3.050 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 1874 3 5 90 2.878 2.345 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 1875 3 287 2.882 3.225 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 1876 3 1.554 3.394 4.110 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 1877 2 4 2.032 2.359 4.235 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 1878 4 9 1.669 3.378 4.679 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 1879 4 1.344 630 3.140 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 1880 9 6 18 31 73 12 1.131 682 531 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 1881 5 1.566 3.465 5.014 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 1882 2 2 6 1 66 104 10 3.025 2.123 2.370 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 1883 5 2.896 1.845 6.119 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 1884 10 3.073 3.523 4.347 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 1885 5 2.015 2.788 4.620 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 1886 20 1.989 1.463 3.383 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 1887 57 2.258 3.785 3.387 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 1888 4 3.060 853 5.072 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 1889 5 3.081 5.751 6.182 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 1890 2.006 7.002 6.498 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 1891 2.277 1.699 5.794 ====================================================================== 2 11 12 19 97 186 378 39.606 63.163 88.715