LIBRARY 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 SANTA BARBARA 
 
 PRESENTED BY 
 
 MRS. DONALD KELLOGG

 
 
 HUNTING TOURS 
 
 INTERSPERSED WITH 
 
 CHARACTERISTIC ANECDOTES, SAYINGS AND DOINGS 
 OF 
 
 SPORTING MEN, 
 
 i&ttors of 
 
 WITH 
 
 ANALYTICAL CONTENTS AND GENERAL INDEX OF NAMES 
 
 TO WHICH ARE ADDED 
 Nimrod's Letters on Riding to Hound*. 
 
 ' Independent of the pleasure arising from the Chase, I have always 
 considered a covert's side, with hounds that are well attended, to be one 
 of the most lively scenes in nature; and I have no hesitation in adding, 
 that the best introduction for a young man, of fortune and fashion of the 
 present day is to be found at Billesdon Coplow or Oadby toll-bar. 
 
 NIMROD ON RIDING TO HOUNDS. 
 
 IN TWO VOLUMES. 
 VOLUME II. 
 
 PHILADELPHIA : 
 CAREY, LEA, AND BLANCHARD. 
 
 f ' '
 
 NIMROD'S SECOND TOUR, 
 
 EMBRACING ACCOUNTS OK 
 
 THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS, UNDER MR. HAY 
 
 MR. BOYCOTT'S, 
 
 THE SHROPSHIRE, UNDER SIR BELLINGHAM GRAHAM, 
 
 THE CHESHIRE, UNDER SIR HENRY MAINWARING, 
 
 SIR RICHARD PULESTON'S, 
 
 THE NORTHAMPTONSHIRE, UNDER MR. MUSTERS. 
 
 ON Sunday the 4th of December 18251 reached Oxford, 
 but, from the inclement state of the weather, had no hun- 
 ting till the following Friday, when I met the Duke of 
 Beaufort's hounds at Heythorpe. This is the place to see 
 this distinguished pack, it is their home ; and they come 
 out of their kennel with a sort of lap-dog brightness on 
 their skins which is scarcely to be met with in any other 
 hounds. To a lover of hounds the sight is quite enchan- 
 ting ; and the venerable though sporting appearance of 
 their huntsman, Philip Payne, adds much to the effect. 
 From his Grace himself, indeed, to the second whipper-in, 
 there is something particularly in character in this first-rate 
 establishment. The Duke looks like a Duke ; and his 
 servants are the most civil, cleanly, and well-ordered, in 
 their respective situations that have ever come under my 
 observation. Will Long, the first whipper-in, is quite 
 perfect; and a man must be fastidious who can find any 
 fault in the second. 
 
 Heythorpe as I suppose, from being a large domain 
 is not a favorite fixture, but I consider it by no means a bad 
 place to see hounds. In the first place it is a certain find
 
 4 NIMROD'S HUNTING TOUR. 
 
 every hour in theTday, and with a gdod scent there is noth- 
 ing to enable a fox to put hounds at defiance : if he flies, 
 he has some distance to go before he can hide his head 
 again, and a fine country, in some directions, before him. 
 To this is to be added, there are several parts of the Hey- 
 thorpe grounds very favorable for seeing hounds hunt ; and 
 this day we had a great treat in riding on one side of a 
 glen which skirts the park, whilst the hounds were running 
 their fox on the other, with the whole pack in view. I was 
 particularly struck with the number of clever horses I sa\\ 
 at Heythorpe, though the field was not a large one. ' 
 
 I thence proceeded into Warwickshire, and again took 
 up my abode at Alscot Park, the seat of Mr. West, which 
 was my head-quarters during my stay in that county. 
 
 On the 10th I met the Warwickshire hounds at Compton 
 Verney, the seat of Lord Willoughby esteemed one of 
 their best fixtures. We found instantly, and ran him more 
 than half an hour, with only one trifling check. Two pe- 
 culiarities attended this burst. The pace the hounds went 
 at was tremendous, but from the short and curling manner 
 in which the fox ran almost equal to that of a hare on her 
 foil it was most difficult to keep with them. The hardest 
 riders were baffled, and it more than once happened that 
 the last became first, and the first nearly last. There was, 
 however, what the Irishmen call some ' wicked riding' on 
 this day at least every other fence being timber, with a 
 good yawning Squire-trap on one side or the other. In 
 spite of the useful practice of tying on the hat, two men 
 were going well bare-headed, viz. Mr. Meyrick (who al- 
 ways goes well,) and an Irish gentleman named Lee, who 
 was staying at Leamington. I saw Mr. Lee charging some 
 very rough places, in a line of his own, apparently quite 
 regardless of consequences.* He rode a good sort of Irish 
 
 * Nothing short of the ardor of the chase would ihduce a 
 man to be torn, as it were, through a strong black-thorn fence 
 at the rate of twelve miles an hour, without any thing to pro- 
 tect his head and face. Consequences, however, are out of 
 sight in these happy moments, when things are going well and 
 the music tingling in the ear. The following is no bad exem- 
 plar: One day last season, Bob Oldaker, whipper-in to the 
 Old Berkeley fox-hounds, was riding at a fence, determined to
 
 WARWICKSHIRE. O 
 
 horse, that should not have been allowed to have crossed 
 the Channel again, which I understand he has since done. 
 I was much pleased with his manner of taking his fences. 
 He went close up to them before he sprang, and did them 
 in a very masterly manner. 
 
 Could it have been possible to have been an ubiquitary, 
 I should have been with the Warwickshire, as well. as with 
 the Duke's hounds, on the preceding day : it was a bye- 
 day, and only a few people were out, but it shewed an 
 excellent run. They found their fox in Oakley Wood, and 
 ran him for fifty-five minutes, tip-top pace, over the finest 
 part of the country, and killed. 
 
 On Thursday the loth met the Warwickshire at Ufton 
 Wood. The covert being central, we had a very large 
 field ; but, what is rare, we drew it blank. We found 
 again in Itchington Heath, which never fails, and killed 
 without much sport. He was so pressed by the pace whilst 
 he was on foot, that when he got into Chesterton Wood, he 
 was afraid to leave it again, and thus lost his life in covert. 
 We had what Mr. Hay calls his small pack on this day 
 chiefly bitches, and those hounds which he brought into 
 Warwickshire and I never saw hounds run closer together 
 than in this short but decisive burst. 
 
 Ufton Wood is peculiarly situated. In some directions, 
 a fox can lead you over as fine a country as England can 
 shew, and in others about the worst. This shews the ne- 
 cessity of the field leaving open that side of the covert from 
 which it is desirable that a fox should break. 
 
 There was to me, and indeed it must have been to every 
 one, a very agreeable sight on this day in the field. This 
 was Mrs. Shakerley (the Lady of Mr. Shakerley, jun. of 
 Somerford Hall, Cheshire,) upon her beautiful, I might 
 almost say superb horse, TJie Golden Ball. Mrs. Shaker- 
 ley is a French lady of high birth, and certainly the most 
 graceful horse-women I ever saw upon a horse : the Lady 
 Eveline herself, on her white palfrey, could not have excel- 
 
 catch his hotinds. ' Talce care what you are at. Bob !' said a 
 gentleman to him, 'there is a lipll of a place oa the other side.' 
 l Thank ye, Sir,' replied Bob ; ' but a ditch or a coal-pit is all 
 one to me ;' and he never turned his head. 
 VOL. ii. 1
 
 XIMROD'S UUXTIXG TOUR. 
 
 Jed her. Her, band, as well as her seat, is quite perfect, 
 and 1 understand she has gone very well once or twice in 
 Leicestershire. There was a Foreign Nobleman also in 
 the Held on this day who attracted my notice, and who, I 
 thought, sat with much grace upon his horse. This was 
 the Marquis Herreja, an American Spaniard, from Cuba, 
 and heir to 30,000?. per annum. He was on a visit to Mr. 
 Shakerley, and, having no establishment in England, con- 
 tented himself with going out with the hounds on a Leam- 
 ington hack, which he rode gallantly for two days, charg- 
 ing no less than six gates in the time. 
 
 On Saturday the 17th met the Warwickshire at Walton 
 Wood, the seat of Sir John Mordaunt, when a fine day's 
 (port was shewn. There was a burning scent ; and with 
 our first fox the hounds ran away from evejy one for twenty 
 minutes the field being obliged to go around to a bridge 
 over a flood river. We found again about two o'clock, 
 and, after three attempts to go away, he put his head 
 straight for the Edge Hills going over a very fine country 
 of about ten miles in extent. When the hounds got to the 
 Hill as is too often the case they got upon a fresh fox ; 
 and having of course beaten the horses over this very severe 
 ground, it was impossible to stop them, and away they 
 went. Mr. Hay followed the line of them till it was quite 
 dark, when not knowing the country, he was obliged to 
 give up the pursuit; and though Will Boxall, the whipper- 
 in, succeeded in getting hold of some of them, apart of the 
 pack were out all night. 
 
 Jt so happened, from the several baffling attempts which 
 this fox made to break from Bowshot Wood the covert in 
 which he was found that very few got well away with the 
 hounds. All the Warwickshire old hands were to a man 
 thrown out, and some of them (amongst whom was myself) 
 never knew which way the hounds were gone until all 
 chance of catching them was at an end. Vexatious as this 
 was, it was useless to repine ; but it proves what I have 
 before said, viz. that it is better f o go through a covert 
 after hounds at certain times, than to. keep outside it with 
 the hope of a good start, which hope may never be real- 
 ized. 
 
 It was very generally admitted, even by those who went
 
 WARWICKSHIRE. 7 
 
 \vell themselves, that Mr. Francis Holland, Mr. Patrick 
 (a gentleman farmer from Worcestershire) on his famous 
 little mare, Mr. Cockbill, jiin., and Mr. Dews, had the best 
 of this run Mr. Holland and Mr. Patrick, perhaps, having 
 the cream of it. Mr. Meyrick went gallantly on his favor- 
 ite old horse, Jack, but having over-marked him a little in 
 crossing a deep wheat-field, he rather declined at the last. 
 The horses, however, were all so distressed, that, when 
 ascending the Hill, not one of them would face a small 
 fence until a little puff was afforded them, when Mr. Cock- 
 bill got over it. Mr. Wyatt, Mr. H. Campbell, Mr. Fel- 
 lows, and Mr. Sheldon, the flower of th^e Warwickshire 
 riders, were all unfortunate in not getting away. 
 
 The next morning (Sunday) I accompanied Mr. Hay to 
 the kennel, to learn the state of affairs, and we found that 
 all the hounds but one had arrived. I had never seen this 
 kennel before. Barring its situation (at Butler's Marson, 
 about a mile on the right of the road from Warwick to 
 Banbury, and about ten miles from the former place) too 
 much in the dirt it is quite sufficient for the purpose, and 
 the stables very good indeed. In the latter were twenty- 
 three hunters for Mr. Hay and his two men, and I con- 
 sider them very well adapted for the purpose. There did 
 not appear to be one low-bred horse among them ; several 
 of them quite thorough-bred; and, I might almost say, all 
 possessing bone and substance, without which they are of 
 no use in Warwickshire. They are in the hands of an 
 excellent groom, .... Morris, whom I remember when 
 in the service of Mr. Lechrnere Charlton and Mr. Ilorn- 
 yold. 
 
 I was glad to see J,ack Wood (the kennel huntsman) 
 looking in good health ; but I did not like him so well in 
 his white jean coat, and on his feet, as I did last year in 
 the bit of pink and the black cap on the old white mare. 
 There, he was quite ;t home, one of the neatest handlers 
 of a nag that I ever carne alongside of in the field, and, in 
 all respects, clever. ID his present situation, however, he 
 is well placed ; and I considered Mr. Hay's hounds very 
 fit to go. 
 
 I very much like the appearance of Mr. Hay's first whip- 
 per-in, Will Boxall. He abounds in zeal, without which
 
 S NIMROD'S HUNTING TOUR. 
 
 nothing can be done well. To a question I put to him as 
 we rode along with the hounds, he made me an answer 
 which stamped him for a good one. ' You must have been 
 tired last night, blundering so many hours in the dark, 
 were you not, Will?' said 1. ' Why, no, Sir,' replied Will, 
 ' I was not ; I was so afeard about the hounds never com- 
 ming home.' Thus Shakspeare says, 
 
 ' To business that we love we rise betime, 
 
 And go to it with delight.' 
 
 On the next day (Monday the 19th) I met the Warwick- 
 shire at Stoneleigh Abbey, that princely seat of Mr. Chan- 
 dos Leigh ; but the day and our sport were both so bad 
 that I have nothing to say. I have one remark, however, 
 to make respecting the country I was in. Warwickshire is 
 not neither do I suppose it will ever be what Warwick- 
 shire was. Berricot Wood, the best part of this draw, is 
 now given to Lord Anson. Frankton Wood, the very best 
 covert in those woodlands, is now drawn by Lord Anson. 
 Ditto, Dubdell, a gorse on Sir Theophilus Biddulph's prop- 
 erty, whence his Lordship has had such fine sport these 
 two last seasons. It may be said they cannot be given to 
 a better man which I readily agree to ; but what is become 
 of tke Meriden country the finest woodland country in 
 * the world the country that, when Mr. Corbet hunted 
 Warwickshire, produced such sport such real sport to 
 real- lovers of fox-hunting? I answer it is gone! The 
 Warwickshire woodlands are now termed the ' Kenilworth 
 country,' which may be said to be a bad exchange. 
 
 The following is the history of Mr. Hay. as far as I have 
 any right to inquire into it. His residence is Dunse 
 Castle, in the neighborhood of Berwick-upon-Tweed ; and 
 he commenced his sporting career by hunting the Holder- 
 ness country. He then took to the Woore country (com- 
 prising part of Staffordshire, Cheshire, and Shropshire) 
 formerly hunted by Sir Thomas Mostyn where he con- 
 tinued three seasons, and thence he came into Warwick- 
 shire. That he is a sportsman, no one can for a moment 
 doubt. He rides very well up to his hounds, and his 
 language particularly his cheer in chase is both enli- 
 vening and correct. 
 
 In society, the manners of Mr. Hay are particularly mild
 
 WARWICKSHIRE. 9 
 
 and agreeable, but his conduct with his hounds is firm. 
 Having, at the commencement of the season, lost the 
 chance of some runs by the over-eagerness of his field, he 
 adopted the best method of preventing a recurrence of the 
 disappointment. He addressed his brother sportsmen in a 
 short and pithy speech, when on the point o finding his 
 fox, and begged to explain to them the literal acceptation 
 of those two little monosyllables, ' HOLD HARD !' One word 
 to the wise has ever been esteemed sufficient ; and two in 
 this instance had a most happy effect; for no field has 
 been better kept than Warwickshire since that hour, and 
 much to its credit be it told. 
 
 Where is the man who has not pressed upon hounds in 
 his time ; and where is the man who, in the exstacy oji the 
 sport/ may n$t do it again ? 
 
 ' He broke, 'tis true, some statutes of the laws 
 Of hunting for the sagest youth is frail ; 
 Rode o'er the hounds, it may be, now and then, 
 And once o'er sev'ral country gentlemen.' 
 
 BYRON'S Don Juan. 
 
 But it is almost always to his own cost. Where is there 
 a more pleasing sight than to see a huntsman go forth with 
 his pack, and make his cast unmolested by the crowd ? It 
 is here that hunting is displayed! On the other hand, 
 what can be less pleasing to a true sportsman, than to see 
 hpunds working and working perhaps in vain in the 
 midst of the horses, with their huntsman dissatisfied and 
 grumbling, with a good fox, and a fine country before 
 them ? 
 
 Mr. Hay's kennel is divided into two packs a large and 
 a small one. The former, is chiefly composed of the 
 hounds handed over to him, with the country, by M. Shir- 
 ley ; and the latter comprises those which he brought with 
 him from Staffordshire. The large one comes under the 
 denomination of a fine slapping lot of hounds, which ought 
 to kill their fox iti any country and upon any day ; whilst 
 the small pack goes one point beyond this. These hounds 
 give one the idea, that, with a good scent and in a fine 
 country, they could burst, and run in to, the best fox that 
 ever wore a brush in less than half an hour so smart and 
 quick are they in their nature. On the morning on which
 
 10 NIMROD'S HUNTING TOUR. 
 
 they brought their fox from Itchington Heath to Chester- 
 ton Wood, (where they killed,) I. thought I never saw 
 hounds get more quickly out of covert and settle better to 
 the scent running it as true and as close as if they had all 
 been in couples ; or, in borrowed but better language than 
 my own, , 
 
 'like the horses of the sun, all abreast.' 
 
 Puggy would have told us this, if he could 'have spoken on 
 the occasion ; for in these few fields he was so blown that 
 he lay down in the covert, and would not face the country 
 again. This is as it should be. All hounds will hunt ; 
 but, as Mr. Beckford so justly observes, ' 'tis the dash of the 
 fox-hound that distinguishes him.' 
 
 Uhappy must that man be who is not satisfied with the 
 manner in which Warwickshire is now hunted ! There is 
 a good pack of hounds ; a sportsman at the head of them 
 a man full of zeal and activity, who values neither labor 
 nor expense, and I heartily wish him success. 
 
 After hunting I dined at Leamington with Sir Loftus 
 Otway. We had a large party of sporting men, and 
 amongst them, Mr. Meyrick, Mr. Buck, and Colonel Rob- 
 ins of the 7th Hussars, who had all been out that morning 
 with Lord Anson at Newnham, the seat of the Earl of 
 Denbigh. A fox was found in the gorse, which afforded a 
 capital run of one hour and fifteen minutes, though the 
 finish was wanting. I was glad the two last-named gen- 
 tlemen were out, as they were new to the country ; and 
 they were also fortunate to see Mr. Hay's fine run on the 
 preceding Saturday.- 
 
 In honor of the day, and the sport it afforded, Sir Loftus 
 proposed ' the health of Lord Anson.' It was drunk with 
 enthusiasm. ' What a gallant fellow over the country !' 
 said one. ' What a trump !' said another. ' What a 
 huntsman he will make in a few years!' said a third. ' By 
 the Lord,' said I, 'if the name of Anson had not been 
 immortalized before, this man would do the business !' 
 
 Since I first knew Warwickshire, a great addition has 
 been made to it in the town of Leamington. It now con- 
 tains several resident sportsmen, who live sociably together, 
 and entertain their friends in the most hospitable manner. 
 Amongst them is a gentleman by the name of Moray, from
 
 MR. BOYCOTT. 11 
 
 the county of Perth, a Major in the Dragoon service. The 
 Major is a bruising rider, and by far the best mounted man 
 I saw in Warwickshire. In addition to the excellent stamp 
 of his horses, their condition is quite perfect. In short I 
 have no scruple in saying, that I never saw, four times in 
 my life, six horses in one man's possession in such a fit 
 state to go as his are. They are full of flesh of the right 
 sort, and their muscles quite luxuriant. I say this with 
 increased satisfaction, because these horses, instead of 
 being turned out in the summer, travelled eight hundred 
 miles on the turnpike road, and were kept on hard meat. 
 The Major assured me he never had them in such tune 
 before, either with respect to their legs and feet, or their 
 bodies. ' I may blow them,' said he, ' but I cannot tire 
 them. ' 
 
 On the second of January (1820) I got upon the Hiber- 
 nia at Oxford on my road to Shrewsbury Hunt. The 
 Gentlemen of the Hunt not assembling until the third, I 
 stopped short at Shiffnal, and hunted with Mr. Boycott's 
 hounds on that day, which met within four miles of the 
 place. * 
 
 The following is all I know of Mr. Boycott's present 
 establishment. On Sir Bellingham Graham giving up 
 what is called the Shiffnal country last season, Mr. Boycott 
 took to it with a subscription, and he keeps the hounds at 
 Rudge, his seat on the Bridgenorth side of the country, 
 and hunts three days a week. His pack was purchased 
 from a gentleman by the name of Nunn, in the neighbor- 
 hood of Colchester in Essex, and to which he has added 
 some drafts from one or two other kennels. He hunts 
 them himself, assisted by Lord Middleton's late celebrated 
 whipper-in, Zac, and Skinner, late whipper-in to Mr. Hay 
 in tlie Woore Country. 
 
 Our place of meeting was in the Bridgenorth country, 
 whence, after drawing blank one or two small coverts, we 
 proceeded to Apley Castle, the magnificent seat of Mr- 
 Whitmore, M. P. for Bridgenorth, whose extensive woods 
 we drew without a touch. Mr. Whitmore relinquished fox- 
 hunting, of which he was once such an admirer ; but his 
 younger brother still sticks to the brush ; and I hope, for 
 the honor of Shropshire, we shall never be without a de-
 
 12 MMROD'S HUNTING TOVR. 
 
 scendant of ' the might)' Belesme' in the field. We got on 
 the stale scent of a fox afterwards just enough to tanta- 
 lize us and thus ended the draw. 
 
 I was given to understand that the hounds Mr. Boycott 
 had out of Essex brought with them a very good character 
 for hunting, but not much else. They are very uneven to 
 the eye, and their condition was wretched. In short they 
 were all but diseased. The uneveness to the eye cannot, 
 of course, be remedied in this short time; but I must give Mr. 
 Boycott and Zac great credit for bringing them to covert 
 in the clean and wholesome state in which I saw them on 
 this day ; and, considering the season, I understand they 
 have had quite their share of sport. 
 
 After this day's hunting (if such it could be called) Mr. 
 Boycott drove me in his gig to Shrewsbury, whether he 
 was going to attend the Hunt Meeting, and I on a* visit to 
 my old friend Sir Bellingham Graham. Sir B. Besides in a 
 very commodious house within a mile and a half of Shrews- 
 bury the property of Mr. Loxdale, Town Clerk of 
 Shrewsbury ; but I found him not in the most comfortable 
 situation I ever saw him in. He was sitting, half asleep, 
 by his fire side, having for the first time in his life entirely 
 lost his hounds, and missed one of the finest runs they had 
 had for some time. The fact was, they had slipped away 
 down winH at a ripping pace, and taking a most severe 
 country, all against the collar, his chance catching them 
 was at an end ; so he came home. 
 
 Wednesday the 4th, Sir Bellingham's hounds met at 
 the Fox on the Ellesmere road, four miles from Shrewsbu- 
 ry. The morning was awkward, and the fallows hard, but 
 we had a sharp thing for about twenty-five minutes, and 
 lost by an untoward check. On this day I was much 
 struck with the workmanship of a youth about fourteen 
 years old, apparently the son of a Shropshire yeoman. It 
 was somewhat singular, that, on inquiring his name from 
 Mr. Evered Feilding, I was informed that he was the nephew 
 of a Mr. Stephen Matthews, a respectable Shrophshire yeo- 
 man, then close by my side. Mr. Matthews himself is cap- 
 ital over a country ; and I ventured to tell him his nephew 
 would make quite a first-rate performer. He put his mare 
 at her fences in a most workmanlike manner, and display-
 
 SHROPSHIRE. 13 
 
 ed a method of handling her very rare at his time of life. 
 Knowing where I could have placed her, I asked him if he 
 would sell his little mare ; when he shook his head, and 
 said, ' No, never.' 
 
 On the 5th, Sir Bellingham met at Sundorn, the seat of 
 the late Mr. Corbet. We found immediately, and went 
 very sharply away to Haman hill, where, under the shelf 
 of the precipice, the pack divided, and, unseen by every- 
 one but the first whipper-in, all but six couples and a half 
 went away to Attingham (Lord Berwick's) with a 'fresh 
 fox. Strange to say, we ran the hunted fox for more than 
 an hour with these six couples and a half through a long 
 chain of coverts, and there is no doubt but we should have 
 killed him, had we not again changed. The scent was a 
 burning one ; and by not having the body of the hounds, 
 the lovers of fox hunting lost a great treat, for it was an 
 excellent morning for hearing them, and the deep notes of 
 the dog pack which we had on this day would have made 
 the welkin ring. 
 
 Sir Bellingham and myself dined at Sundorn Castle on 
 this day with Mrs. Corbet (widow of that justly-esteemed 
 sportsman,) who now, with her four sons and one daugh- 
 ter, resides in the house, and where the former munifi- 
 cence of the establishment seems by no means diminished. 
 Some alterations have certainly taken place, produced by 
 the sweeping hand of Time. Instead of sixty couples of 
 the blood of Trojans, with Will Barrow at their head, the 
 kennel contains a small pack of harriers, kept by the pre- 
 sent Mr. Corbet and Will Barrow is dead. 
 
 Every sportsman will like to hear what was the finish of 
 the noted Will Barrow, whose halloo so often thrilled 
 through my soul. He descended in the scale, and, from a 
 huntsman to fox-hounds, became huntsman to the present 
 Mr. Corbet's harriers; and an excellent one he was sup- 
 posed to be. In following them one day last year, his 
 horse fell with him, and in three weeks he was in his 
 grave. Ye fates, how cruel ! Will Barrow (as he lived 
 so well with them) should have died with fox-hounds, and 
 the brush of his last fox should have wave among his fun- 
 eral plumes ; 
 
 VOL. II. 2
 
 14 NIMROD'S HUNTING TOUR. 
 
 ' For could we choose the time, and choose arigM, 
 'Tis best to die, our honor at the height.' 
 
 The most extraordinary part of Will Barrow's history is 
 yet to come. In boxes in which he kept his clothes, in 
 old stockings, and in all sorts of odd places, was property 
 to the amount of fourteen hundred pounds found at his 
 decease, besides suits of clothes many of them never put 
 on sufficient for a parish ! ! It appears that he had not 
 taken any steps to increase his property by placing his 
 money at interest ; neither had he any wish to settle him- 
 self in a farm, or any other respectable situation in life ; 
 but -seemed to think his favorite saddle room and the 
 servant's hall at Sundorn quite good enough for him. His 
 bones repose in the church-yard at Uffington, about a mile 
 from Sundorn, and on the headstone of his tomb are the 
 following lines : 
 
 Of this world's pleasures I have had my share, 
 
 For few the sorrows I was doom'd to bear : 
 
 How oft I have enjoy'd the noble chase 
 
 Of hounds and foxes, each striving for the race ! 
 
 But the knell of Death calls me away ; 
 
 So, sportsmen, farewell ! I must obey. 
 
 The pen of NIMROD cannot fail in being somewhat 
 lavish of its praise of so sporting a county as Shropshire, 
 and therefore his readers must make all due allowances. 
 In the first place, there may be seen in it all on the same 
 day four packs of hounds : viz. Sir B. Graham's, Sir 
 Richard Puleston's, Mr. Boycott's, and Mr. Wickstead's. 
 In the next, there are two Hunt weeks in the year at 
 Shrewsbury attended by almost all the gentlemen of rank 
 and property in that and the neighboring counties each 
 week also affording a splendid ball and supper for the 
 ladies. The Old Hunt meets in November, and several 
 pleasant days have I passed at it. The Young One (as 
 tome call it) was only established five years since ; but its 
 ball is considered the best, being the more select of the 
 two. The uniform of the members is also a set-off to a 
 ball-room, being a scarlet coat, buff waistcoat and breech- 
 es, with gilt knee buckles, and handsome uniform buttons 
 to all. The champagne also travels a merry pace in the 
 supper room, which is not the case among the ' old ones.'
 
 SHROPSHIRE. 15 
 
 In short, the tout ensemble is quite imposing for the 
 country. 
 
 Oil Saturday the 7th, we met at Acton Reynald, the 
 seat of Mr. Andrew Corbet, only son of Sir Andrew ; but 
 owing to not being able to keep our foxes above-ground, 
 we had no sport worth detailing. I mounted Mr. Alytton 
 on this day (who had no horses at Shrewsbury,) and never 
 saw any mare for five days afterwards ; but this is a trifle 
 among old friends, and she was very well taken care of at 
 Halston. 
 
 I have often seen hounds fed, but never in a more 
 masterly way than that which Will Staples, Sir Belling- 
 ham's first whipper-in, adopts, and which I will endeavor 
 to explain. He throws open the door of the feeding-house, 
 and stands at a certain distance from it himself. He 
 draws a certain number of hounds, calling them by their 
 names. He then turns his back upon the open door-way, 
 and walks up and down the troughs, ordering back such 
 hounds as he thinks have fed sufficiently. During this 
 time not a hound stirs beyond the sill of the open door. 
 One remarkable instance of discipline presented itself on 
 this day. Vulcan the crowning ornament of the dog- 
 pack was standing near the door waiting for his name to 
 be called. I happened to mention it, though rather in' an 
 under-tone ; when in he came licked Sir Bellingham'.s 
 hand but though his head was close to the trough, and 
 the grateful viands smoking under his nose, he never 
 attempted to eat ; but on his master saying to him, ' Go 
 back, Vulcan, you have no business here ! ' he immediate- 
 ly retreated and mixed with the hungry crowd. No whip 
 was necessary to keep the hounds out of the feeding- 
 house : and a gentle stroke of the thong with very few 
 exceptions turned such away from the troughs which 
 refused to leave them on their names being called. 
 
 The kennel which now contains Sir Bellingham Gra- 
 ham's hounds was built the year before last, by subscription, 
 on a very liberal scale, on ground purchased for the pur- 
 pose, and reflects much credit on Shropshire. It is capable 
 of holding one hundred couples of hounds, with every 
 requisite convenience, and is situated within a mile of 
 Shrewsbury on the road to Whitchurch and Newport,
 
 16 NIMROD'S HUNTING TOUR. 
 
 Many of the hounds were last year affected by kennel 
 lameness, owing to the dampness of the walls ; but this Sir 
 Bellingham has effectually put a stop to, by having a stove 
 in each of the lodging-houses. Although the use of the 
 stoves has not restored such hounds as were previously 
 affected, yet Sir Bellingham informed me that it has com- 
 pletely prevented the progress of the disease ; and so con- 
 vinced is he of the benefit derived from warmth in a 
 kennel, that, after this season, he intends having one large 
 fire-place at the back of his present kennel, with flues to 
 convey warm air into the different apartments. As it is at 
 present, it is curious to see how the hounds enjoy the heat 
 of the fire. They get around the stove as soon as they 
 come in ; and instead of seeing a damp steam, arising 
 from their wet skins, hanging over them for some 
 time, they are dry and comfortable in the space of a 
 quarter of an hour. Trie temperature is of course, after a 
 certain time reduced ; but it is amusing to see how the 
 hounds sit about the stove, nodding their heads in a dose, 
 as much as to say, ' How comfortable we are ! ' 
 
 The stables adjoining the kennel are built on the same 
 liberal scale, and contain stalls for twenty horses, and six 
 loose boxes. The joint expense of the stables, saddle-room, 
 and kennel, exceeded the sum of fifteen hundred pounds. 
 
 Monday the 9th. Thermometer at 28. Nothing for it 
 again but the kennel, and grumbling. 
 
 Tuesday the 10th. Sir Bellingham and myself went to 
 Halston to spend the day with Mr. Mytton. After lunch- 
 eon we turned out into the preserves, where the pheasants 
 were as thick as sparrows at a barn door, and the 
 hares running about like rabbits. The team consisted 
 (not of highly-broke pointers, but) of four keepers and 
 three stable boys, who kept singing out, as the pheasants 
 got up, ' Cock hen cock hen cock hen.' Pheas- 
 ants and hares in abundance were of course slaughtered 
 on this afternoon, but do'nt let us call this sporting. 
 
 Our party at Halston consisted of Sir Edward Smythe, 
 Mr. Williams (son of the General,) Sir Bellingham, and 
 myself, and as three of the five were old masters of fox- 
 hounds, our evening was rather a larking one. After a hot 
 supper (obsolete almost everywhere but at Halston,) we
 
 SHROPSHIRE. 17 
 
 took a walk not in the groves of Academus, but into the 
 ale and wine cellars, with a cigar in our cheek just to keep 
 out the cold. In the first, we saw hogsheads of ale* stand- 
 ing like soldiers in close column ; and in the other, in 
 bottle and in wood, wine enough for a Roman Emperor. 
 
 On the following morning as we were sitting down to 
 breakfast, Mr. Mytton requested me to accompany him to 
 the stables to see his Oaks filly. His dress at the time 
 (which, considering the thermometer was four degrees 
 below freezing, with snow on the ground, was rather airy 
 than otherwise) consisted of his shirt, slippers, and dress- 
 ing gown. VVe walked to the stable in which the filly 
 was, when Mr. Mytton approached her, and after jumping 
 on her back, and playing two or three other harlequin 
 tricks, he laid himself down at full length under her belly, 
 with his naked head towards her^heels playing with her 
 tail, tickling her about the legs, &,c. ' I cannot stand this,' 
 said I, and bolted out of the stable, though earnestly en- 
 treated by my friend to stop, as he had not half done. 
 
 After breakfast, we all adjourned to the stables, and 
 looked over the hunting and racing studs. The latter con- 
 sisted of twenty-two. Longwaist was looking quite fresh 
 and well ; but I saved my breath by not asking any ques- 
 tions. Our worthy host could not help larking with some 
 of these, and, amongst other tricks, crept under Oswestry's 
 belly. ' He will do that once too often,' said William 
 Dilly with a sigh. ' Right, Mr. Dilly,' said I ; ' and good- 
 tempered as your Oaks filly is, if once she get alarmed, 
 she will knock out Mr. Mytton's brains.' Joking apart, 
 this is what is called on the turf ' giving away a chance ; ' 
 but John Mytton will be John Mytton : ' he heareth not 
 the voice of the charmer, charm he never so wisely ; ' and, 
 like Homer's divinities, is always in mischief. 
 
 We next visited the kennel, where we saw about thirty 
 couples of hounds. What to call them I know not : some 
 were as big as my yard dog, and here and there a neat 
 
 * Mr. Mytton makes his own malt, and Jthe words, ' John 
 Mytton, licensed maltster,' are painted in large letters over his 
 malt-house door. How fortunate it is that there is no license 
 required to drink ! 
 
 VOL. ii. 2*
 
 18 MMROD'S HUNTING TOUR. 
 
 little bitch ; and whether to call them fox-hounds, harriers, 
 or stag-hounds, would take a better judge than me. This 
 was all very well ; but we were next favored with another 
 sight, not quite so agreeable to Sir Bellingham. This was 
 no less than five brace of foxes, to be turned out before 
 this non-descript pack. But for this, I should say that 
 the Squire of Halston, with all his larking, would get to 
 Heaven after all ; but I know not what to think about tin 
 bog. It is one of the worst crimes we fox-hunters know 
 of, and requires hard penance.* 
 
 I have one more anecdote of this extraordinary man. 
 During my visit to Sir Bellingham, Mr. Mytton dined with 
 him twice. On one occasion, the night being very dark, 
 the post-boy conducted him into a meadow, instead of 
 taking a short turn in the road ; and after driving him 
 around it a great many times, without being able to find 
 his' way out, he left him there comfortably asleep in his 
 carriage, whilst he came back to Sir Bellingham's for a 
 lanthorn. As the household were all gone to rest, the 
 Squire of Halston must have had a good many turns round 
 the meadow ; but, fortunately for the post-boy , he never 
 awoke, neither was he at all aware of what had happened. 
 
 To be serious. What would become of Shrewsbury 
 and Oswestry races what would become of half a dozen 
 other country races, were it not for John Mytton ? What 
 would become of the poor about Halston ? What would 
 his friends do for a lark ? All these questions I am not 
 going to answer ; but this I will say, that one of these days 
 he must drop short. Indeed, what with falls from horses 
 
 * We are often reminded that no man is a prophet in his own 
 country ; but it is no bad sign when his character stands fair- 
 est in his own neighborhood. This without any humbug, is 
 the case with the Squire of Halston. He gives two bushels of 
 wheat every week to the poor, and employs nearly fifty of 
 them the year through. Charity, we are told, covereth a mul- 
 titude of sins ; but he has one other saving clause : he is no 
 hypocrite ! It can never be said of him when he is gone, 
 that 
 
 ' So smooth he daubed his vice with show of virtue, 
 
 That, his apparent guilt omitted, 
 
 He lived from all attainder of suspect.'
 
 SHROPSHIRE. 19 
 
 run-away gigs upsets in carriages swimming his horse 
 over the Severn* tumbling into the Severn to say noth- 
 ing of twelve paces being hugged to death by the bear, 
 or his brains kicked out by the Oaks filly it is next to a 
 miracle that he is now alive. I am sorry to say, I am al- 
 most old enough to be his father ; nevertheless, unless he 
 minds what he is at, I must see him out. If I do (as 1 have 
 written my own,) I will also write his epitaph. It shall be 
 plain and simple ; no weeping over the urn not a word 
 about the disconsolate widow no cherubims nothing 
 typical nothing to hint as to whether his soul is gone 
 no humbug, but merely a record of the melancholy 
 truth : 
 
 Here lies John Mytton ; his short career is past, 
 
 The pace was quick,f and therefore could not last. 
 
 From end to end he went an errant burst, 
 
 Determined to be nowhfere, or be first. 
 
 No marble monument proclaims his fate 
 
 No pompous emblems of funereal state ; 
 
 But let this simple tablet say, 
 
 That, upon a much-lamented day, 
 
 There went to ground beneath this mould'ring sod 
 
 ' Jin honest man the noblest work of God.' 
 
 On Wednesday the llth Sir Bellingham and myself took 
 leave of Halston, and went to Emral to spend a day with 
 Sir Richard Puleston, one of the staunchest fox-hunters 
 this country ever saw having kept fox-hounds upwards of 
 thirty years, and now just as keen as ever for the sport. 
 We looked over his kennel and stables before dinner, and 
 spent a very pleasant evening after. 
 
 I n ast now restrain my pen, for I have a serious subject 
 before me, no less than an humble attempt to describe one 
 of the most celebrated sportsman of modern days Sir 
 Bellingham Graham. We historians are said to be either 
 
 * The year before last, Mr. Mytton swam his horse over the 
 Severn, though he himself cannot swim ; and a short time 
 since he fell into one of the deepest parts of that river out of 
 a ferry-boat, and was only saved by a friend catching him by 
 one of his legs as he was in the act of getting under the 
 boat. 
 
 f Nil violentum est perpetuum.
 
 20 NIMROD'S HUNTING TOUR. 
 
 libellers or panegyrists. I must endeavor to be neither the 
 one nor the other ; but to praise a man for what is deserv- 
 ing of praise is only a tribute due to him. 
 
 The first time Sir Bellingham Graham appeared as a 
 master of fox-hounds was in the year 1815, when he suc- 
 ceeded Mr. Musters in the Badsworth country, which he 
 hunted two seasons. He then took possession of the 
 Atherstone country (now Lord Anson's) on its being 
 vacated by Mr. Osbaldeston, when that gentleman first 
 went to Quorn, and he hunted it three seasons. In 1820 
 he succeeded that gallant sportsman, Sir Charles Knightley, 
 in Northamptonshire, (the Pytchley) ; and in December 
 1821, on Mr. Osbaldeston's declining Leicestershire, Sir 
 Bellingham took to it, and hunted it the remainder of that 
 and the next season. In 1823 he hunted the country Mr. 
 Boycott now has. In 1824, he hunted Mr. Boycott's coun- 
 try and the Shropshire : and since the end of that season 
 he has had Shropshire alone. 
 
 The following is a little history of Sir Bellingham Gra- 
 ham's kennel. Upon his leaving the Pytchley country, 
 where he was succeeded by Mr. Musters, his hounds were 
 divided between them, by drawing alternate couples. On 
 his going to Quorn, he purchased from Mr. Osbaldeston, 
 together with the house and eighteen horses, all that gen- 
 tleman's hounds, excepting twenty-five couples which he 
 reserved for himself. On the other ' hand, when Mr. 
 Osbaldeston took to Leicestershire again on Sir Belling- 
 ham's resigning it Sir Bellingham reserved the same 
 number of hounds (only twenty-five couples,) which Mr. 
 Osbaldeston afterwards purchased of him for eleven hun- 
 dred pounds. Here, then, have we run this sporting 
 Baronet to ground, for we have him (and, if I know the 
 man, we had better kill him at once than leave him there) 
 without a hound in his kennel. A lucky card, however, 
 turned up. Mr. Osbaldeston found himself in possession 
 of so large a body of hounds, that he selected about 
 twenty couples, which, from age and other causes, he did 
 not wish to keep ; and in the ensuing spring Sir Belling- 
 ham purchased them. Thus then did he lay the founda- 
 tion of his present pack : thus is the blood of Abelard,
 
 SHROPSHIRE. 21 
 
 Charon, Marmion, and Orpheus, still to be found in his 
 kennel. 
 
 In 1818 Sir Bellingham purchased Mr. Newnham's 
 pack, on that gentleman's resigning Worcestershire, which 
 contained much good blood, and he has had Lord Lons- 
 dale's dratfs for some years. In short, he seldom refuses 
 any drafts that are offered him, in hopes of picking up 
 something good. When I was with him, Mr. Boycott sent 
 him a draft he had had from the Badsworth, from his (Sir 
 B's.) old whipper-in, Jack Richards which, he said, were 
 so wild that he was afraid to take them out. Cottager, 
 however, appears a valuable hound, and two or three neat 
 bitches will come in well with Sir Bellingham's bitch pack : 
 cut, in the words of an old whipper-in to the Old Berkeley, 
 some of them would ' run any thing from a hearwig to a 
 hdlephani.' 
 
 There is one part of Sir Bellingham Graham's history, 
 as a public character, which is eminently entitled to no- 
 tice ; and that is, the very liberal hand with which he has 
 conducted every establishment that he has undertaken the 
 management of. Passing over what may be called his 
 minor countries, but countries in which he has left his 
 mark, let us look at him when he took to Leicestershire. 
 On learning that this fine country was vacant, and it was 
 desirable that he should hunt it he had' just entered upon 
 the Hambledon country in Hampshire, under an engage- 
 ment for three years, and had taken a house in it for twelve 
 how did he act on this occasion ? Why, without a mo- 
 ment's hesitation he resolved to take Leicestershire, pur- 
 chase Mr. Osbaldeston's house, hounds, and horses, and 
 leave a part of his own pack, with his first whipper-in, to 
 fulfil his engagement with Hampshire. He came forward in 
 this instance without one guinea being guarantied to him 
 either for hounds or coverts ; but fortune favored him in one 
 respect: Mr. Osbaldeston took Hampshire off his hands, 
 and Mr. John Walker succeeded to it the folowing year. 
 
 Of the feeling towards Sir Bellingham Graham as a 
 sportsman, the best test is to be found in the amount of 
 the subscription raised for him during the two years he was 
 in Leicestershire, which much exceeded that of any previ- 
 ous or subsequent period. For the first year, it amount-
 
 22 NIMROD'S HUNTING TOUR. 
 
 ed (for hounds and coverts) to the large sum of 3160/. 
 And here I must be permitted to mention the liberal 
 and straight-forward conduct of Sir Francis Burdett, 
 which was related to me by a member of the Melton Old 
 Club, and therefore 1 can vouch for the truth of it. My 
 friend was endeavoring to start the subscription for Sir 
 Bellingham, and paid Sir Francis the well merited compli- 
 ment of soliciting his name at the head of the subscribers. 
 ' What sum shall I write?' said my friend. ' Put me down 
 for three hundred pounds,' said Sir Francis; ' and if that 
 is not sufficient, I am good for two more.' There was no 
 occasion, however, to tax his liberality so far. 
 
 Sir Bellingham Graham was very fortunate in being able 
 to requite all this kindness of bis friends by the sport he 
 shewed them when he hunted Leicestershire. I was told 
 last year at Melton, by one of his many admirers there, 
 that the second season his old pack (which hunted twice a 
 week) killed every fox they found in the first six weeks. 
 
 I asked Sir Bellingham why he quitted Leicestershire 
 certainly the first hunting country in the known world, and 
 where he had an establishment so suited to it. His answer 
 did him honor. His returns to his tenants, during those 
 disastrous years, were, he said, so great, that he could not 
 have continued in it with justice to those who were depen- 
 dent on him. With such a subscription as his, however, 
 that it should have cost him any serious sum, is the best 
 proof of the magnificent way in which he hunted it. 
 
 Of Sir Bellingham Graham, as a horseman ahd a perfor- 
 mer over a country, I need say but little. The Earl of 
 Darlington, in his Field Book for 1810, in which he enters 
 the proceedings of every day's hunting, thus mentions Sir 
 Bellingham as a youngster : ' Sir Bellingham Graham was 
 out on this day, and rode conspicuously and well.' Now, 
 many a young man has ridden conspic uoush/ ; but his 
 Lordship's addition of the word ' weir cannot be lost upon 
 us. Every man who has seen Sir Bellingham can bear 
 record, that he ranks among the very best heavy weights 
 England has ever produced. Much as I myself have ad- 
 mired his powerful, quick, and determined manner of get- 
 ting across a country, I will quote nothing from my own 
 observation, but will repeat sufficient for my purpose
 
 SHROPSHIRE. 23 
 
 what was told me last winter at Melton by several of the 
 leading characters there ; namely, that (almost incredible 
 as it may appear) there was not one single instance of his 
 not being well with his hounds during the two seasons he 
 hunted Leicestershire the more remarkable as the coun- 
 try was not only new to him, but, in the first year, more 
 than usually deep, and his weight sixteen stone. In the 
 celebrated run from Glen Gorse to Stanton, he particularly 
 distinguished himself. He took the lead ; and though two 
 of the best light-weights in England Mr. William Coke 
 and Mr. George Anson started within half a field of him, 
 they could never catch him till all was over. 
 
 As is the case with most hard-riding men, Sir Belling- 
 ham Graham has had some severe falls, but on two occa- 
 sions he very narrowly escaped destruction. The follow- 
 ing rare instance of his pluck, however, should not be lost 
 to the sporting world. He was killing his fox at the end 
 of a sharp thing, when an ox-fence presented itself. Three 
 first-rate performers were going in the same line, but they 
 would not have it. Sir Bellingham never turned his horse, 
 and cleared all but the rail on the opposite side, which 
 probably his weight would have broken ; but unfortunately 
 his horse alighted on one of the posts, and was turned over 
 on his rider's chest. Strange as it may appear, Sir Bel- 
 lingham re-mounted his horse, and rode on ; but he had 
 not proceeded many yards when he was observed by Sir 
 Harry Goodricke to be in the act of falling to the ground, 
 but which he was fortunate enough to prevent. From that 
 period about twelve o'clock at noon till nine o'clock the 
 next night Sir Bellingham never knew what had happen- 
 ed to him ; and as he lay under the hay-stack whither 
 his friends removed him at the time of the accident every 
 moment was expected to be his last. The pith of the story, 
 however, is yet to come. He was bled three times the first 
 day, and confined to his bed five. On the seventh, to the 
 utter surprise, and indeed annoyance, of his friends, he 
 was seen in his carriage at ScraptofF, merely, as he said, 
 ' to see his hounds throw off.' The carriage not being 
 able to get up to the spinney, Sir Bellingham mounted a 
 quiet old horse (placed there, no doubt, for the purpose,) 
 muffled up in a rough great coat and a shawl, and looked on.
 
 24 NIMROD'S HUNTING TOUR. 
 
 The fox was found ; and, unfortunately for Sir Bellingham, 
 took a short ring, but returned, and his hounds came to a 
 check close to where he was sitting upon his horse. Will 
 Beck (the huntsman pro tempore) not being up with his 
 hounds, the Baronet cast them, and recovered his fox. In 
 three fields they checked again, and Beck made a slow but 
 by no means a brilliant cast. Sir Bellingham saw all this 
 from the hill ; and, no longer a looker-on, he cantered 
 down to his pack, and hit off his fox again. Things still 
 went on but awkwardly. Another error was observed ; 
 when Sir Bellingham annoyed that a large field should 
 be disappointed of their sport when there was a possibility 
 of having it taking a horn from a whipper-in (for he 
 could not speak to them,) got to work again. The hounds 
 mended their pace : down went the shawl in the middle of 
 a field. They improved upon it : down went the rough 
 great coat in another field. He then stuck to h.is hounds 
 in a long hunting run of an hour and a half over a very 
 strongly-fenced country, and had gotten his fox dead beat 
 before him, when he was halloo'd away by one of his own 
 men to a fresh fox under the Newton hills. 
 
 Now what was to be done ? The excitement that had 
 carried him thus far was gone, and it was all but who-whoop. 
 With every appearance of exhaustion, and a face as pale 
 as if he were dead, he sat himself down on a bank, and 
 faintly exclaimed, ' How am I to get home Heaven only 
 knows !' I am sorry to say, that this gallant sportsman 
 had nearly as bad a fall as this last season in Shrophshire ; 
 and I am still more sorry to add that he feels the effects of 
 each of them to this day. 
 
 When speaking of Sir Bellingham Graham as a hunts* 
 man now 'of some years standing I shall again confine 
 myself to the echo of the public voice, as comparisons are 
 odious. He is universally allowed to be quite at the top of 
 his profession, and ' an artist' of more than common fame. 
 One advantage has always attended him : he has ridden 
 the best of horses, which, with his method of piloting 
 them, has enabled him never to be long without an eye 
 upon his hounds. Were I to be asked whether any 
 amendment could be made in him, I should say, that he is 
 a little too quiet when drawing, and he must sometimes
 
 SHROPSHIRE. 25 
 
 draw over his game. This, however, is but a feather in 
 the scale, when set against his fine judgment, quick eye, 
 and his promptness in assisting his hounds in difficulties 
 and in chase. 
 
 Sir Bellingham Graham's judgment in horse-flesh is 
 supreme. I h#ve heard several Melton men say, that, 
 though the stables at Quorn have often been filled with 
 good horses, they never contained so many good great 
 horses as in Sir Bellingham's time. His present stud is a 
 very superb one. Out of the twenty-six hunters for him- 
 self and his men, there is only one and Jack, the second 
 whipper-in, says of her that, ' though she is but a little one, 
 she is a sweet one' that is not well up to 13 and 14 stone, 
 and he has 10 pime ones for his own riding. Besides 
 these, he sold two whilst I was with him, one to Lord 
 Howe for 200, and the other, a whipper-in's horse, to Mr. 
 Mytton, for 250 guineas, who told me he would not take 
 700 guineas for him from any man. 
 
 Before I quit Sir Bellingham's stable, I must mention 
 one circumstance. In the London season last year, a 
 country looking fellow called on the Baronet, and asked 
 him whether he would sell two of his horses. He said he 
 would; that they were down at Norton Conyers (his seat 
 in Yorkshire,) and the price one thousand guineas. The 
 countryman purchased them, and they have never been 
 heard of since. Some time afterwards the countryman 
 came again, and asked the price of Bee's wax. , ' Five 
 hundred guineas,' said Sir Bellingham. ' As 1 have been 
 a good customer/ said the countryman, ' I hope you 
 will take pounds.' The Baronet's answer was laconic 
 ' I'll see you d d first.' 
 
 I must here notice John Pulfrey, the Baronet's groom, 
 who has been fourteen years in his service. The way in 
 which his horses have lived under sixteen stone will save 
 me the trouble of saying anything more than that Sir Bel- 
 lingham is going to put him into one of the best farms on 
 his estate. 
 
 Having mentioned Pulfrey, it is but right 1 should 
 mention two other most essential characters in this estab- 
 lishment viz. the two whippers-in, Will Staples and Jack 
 Wriggilesworth. Will is the son of Old Tom Staples, late 
 
 VOL. II. 3
 
 26 Million's HI:\TI.\G TOUR. 
 
 huntsman to Lord Middleton, and once kennel-liantsman 
 to Sir Bellingham. He has lived with his present master 
 t-ver since he was breeched, beginning by riding; his 
 second horse. I have said enough of him ; and nothing 
 that I or any other man can say can make him much bet- 
 ter than he is. Jack is quite above mediocrity. Indeed, 1 
 I call him a very useful good whipper-in still improving, 
 and a very good horseman. He formerly lived with Sir 
 Mark Sykes, but has been in his present place five years. 
 
 Although Sir Bellingham is so well manned in his ken- 
 nel, he does not trust the summer-work (so essential) ot 
 tiie hounds to any one but himself; so that, as so&n as the 
 London season is over, and he has taken a cruise or two in 
 his friend Mr. Maxse's yacht, he gets Ib business again. 
 He himself does not feed his hounds; giving as a reason, 
 that, as his kennel is two miles and a half from his house, 
 lie could not always do so, and to have their condition 
 rizht they ought always to be fed by one man. His system 
 is to feed light ; but his meat is as strong as it can be 
 made. 
 
 We have not very many instances of men really devo- 
 ted to fox-hunting continuing long on the turf, though they 
 may mix the pursuits a little in early life. This was tin- 
 case with Sir Bellingham Graham. He had a few race- 
 horses for three or four years, and made a very good finish, 
 by winning the St Leger with Duchess, 12 to 1 against 
 her ; Ueating Dr. Syntax for the cup at Richmond ; and 
 selling her for two thousand guineas. 
 
 The axiom in breeding, that ' like begets like,' is, as 1 
 have before said, faithfully displayed in the human as well 
 as in the brute race. Though the Poet says 
 
 ' Who, from the morning's brightest ray, . 
 
 Can promise what will be the day ?' 
 
 yet I venture to predict, that Sir Bellingham Grahnm'* 
 two sons will one day or other shine in the field. The 
 eldest will doubtless make a sportsman : but the second 
 siirnamed Godfrey, after his godfather, Sir Godfrey Web- 
 ster, a great ally of Sir Bellingham in early days is 
 already nothing less than an artist, though only eleven 
 vears uf aze. When at home for the holidays, I never
 
 SHROPSKinE. 27 
 
 a\v such a ramming, jamming, cramming cove' of his 
 tender years before. No Shropshire fence will turn him 
 now ; and, in the joy of his heart, he rode up to his father 
 one day, and exclaimed, 'Papa! I have been before NIM- 
 KOD the whole run.' 
 
 Joking apart, Godfrey Graham is a wonderful performer ; 
 and I think I may venture to call him ' a promising young 
 one,' It happened one day, that Mr. Henry Montagu (a 
 noted bruiser) and myself got into a gentleman's pleasure 
 grounds, the only way out of which was to drop down a 
 sunk fence into a rocky hollww road. We both dismount- 
 ed ; and as I turned round to pull my mare down, I per- 
 ceived her shoes were, muck higher than my head. Our 
 friend Godfrey was close at our brush ; and, strange to say ! 
 he rode down tlrts place, and thought it nothing. The 
 only way to account for it is, that the old mare he was on 
 lias been fourteen years in his father's stable, and I suppose 
 she let herself down the wall like a cat out oT a cupboard. 
 It was said of the famous Duke of Cumberland that out 
 of his boots he was an excellent fellow, but in them he was 
 a devil. As the Duke was a soldier, this of course alluded 
 to him when on and off duty. Sir Bellingham forms 
 something like a parallel here. Up to the moment of his 
 getting upon his hunter, and taking hold of his hounds, he 
 is one of the best-humored men in England ; but further 
 this deponent sayeth not. I will not pronounce of him, what 
 a friend of mine used to say of a certain Noble L*rd in that 
 situation namely, that he looks as if he would bite you ; 
 1ml there are times when it is well not to go too near him. 
 This doubtless arises from two causes : first, his" anxiety 
 to shew sport ; and secondly, a consciousness of a superi- 
 ority of judgment, which cannot well brook being interfer- 
 ed with. Sir Bellingham also is an exception to one general 
 rule : he is less polite to his friends in the society of the ladies 
 (the bitch-pack,) than he is in that of the gentlemen (the dotf- 
 pack ;) but this must be attributed to the same cause. 
 Spots there are on the sun, and nothing which onr eyes 
 are permitted to behold is perfect ; but take Sir Belling- 
 ham Graham as an English gentleman as a friend and a 
 companion in the words of a Member of the Melton Old 
 Club, as 'a downright/ straightforward, honest, good fel-
 
 28 NIMROD'S HUNTING TOUR. 
 
 low' and though last, not least, as a master of fox-hounds 
 and a sportsman we may say of him, as has been said of 
 many, that we shall not often ' look upon his like again.' 
 
 On the 12th of January Sir Bellingham and myself 
 returned to Kingsland (Sir B.'s house,) and the next day I 
 arrived at home, where I remained till ' symptons of a 
 thaw and visions of coming sport began to dance before 
 my eyes.' I then took my departure for London on my 
 return to Shrophshire, arriving at Sir Bellingham's on the 
 evening of the 25th. The Monday's fixture was Nescliffe, 
 half way between Shrewsbury and Oswestry on the great 
 Irish road, whither my host conveyed me in his drag. 
 
 I must just turn out of the road for one minute here. 
 In most other countries, if a man wishes to anticipate his 
 friend's performance for the day, the question he would ask 
 would be -what horse do you ride ? Not so, however, in 
 Shropshire. There are two or three of my friends in that 
 sporting and tnost hospitable county, to whom the most 
 likely question whereby to elicit the truth would be not, 
 what horse do you ride to-day? but, what have you had 
 to drink 1 The fact is, the fences come very quick in 
 Shrophshire, and a little jumping-powder is often found 
 useful ; so, going into the public-house at Nescliffe, by way 
 of a beginning, I put the following question to the land- 
 lord : ' How much brandy has Mr. Mytton had this morn- 
 ing ?' ' None, Sir,' was the reply. ' I cannot swallow 
 that,' said* I. ' It is true I assure you,' said Boniface. 
 ' What else has he had then ?' I resumed. ' Some egged 
 ale, Sir.' ' Ah ! ' said I, ' some of your Shropshire Squires, 
 like many others, want a little egging on now and then.' 
 
 The following anecdote will show what a poor chance 
 some men have when quite sober against others a little 
 primed. I remember Lord Forester, being on a visit at 
 Wynnstay some years back, when a friend of his was very 
 much badgered by a certain Welch squire now no more 
 to run him a race over the country for one hundred 
 guineas a side. Observing him always to decline the chal- 
 lenge, his Lordship thus addressed his fr^nd : ' Why, 
 B ,1 have seen you ride very decently across Lei- 
 cestershire ; why do'nt you tackle this Welch Squire 1 
 The next time he offers it, take the bet, and I will stand
 
 SHROPSHIRE. 29 
 
 half of it.' B . . . . , who was a cautious one thus replied : 
 ' Why if I could be sure he would come out sober, 1 
 would take his bet to-morrow ; but d n the fellow, he 
 will come out half drunk, and beat me.' 
 
 One other anecdote passed across my mind here, when 
 speaking of asking a man the question of ' what horse do 
 you ride?' The facetious Mr. Edward Goulburn now 
 exercising his talent at the Bar formerly hunted in War- 
 wickshire ; and seeing a Worcestershire Squire laughing 
 violently, he went up to him and said, 'Quid rides?' 
 (' what do you laugh at?') My friend, not much of a lin- 
 guist, replied, ' My Magog Horse.' This liberty with the 
 Latin language was, I think never excelled but once. An 
 Oxonian was being examined a few years since for his 
 degree, when the following passage presented itself: 
 Jjoquebantur Apostuli miracula Dei Afffflice, ' the Apos- 
 tles set forth the miracles of God.' The young one, 
 however, rendered it thus : ApostoK, 'Oh ye Apostles' 
 loqitebantur, ' look about you 1 miracula, ' here's a mira- 
 cle' Dei, ' by God.' This however, was a lucky hit ; for 
 the examining master shut the book, and exclaimed ' By 
 G d you are a miracle, and you shall have your degree.' 
 
 We had a beautiful find on NesclifFe Hill, and a very 
 sharp twenty-five minutes with the bitch-pack to ground. 
 It was near, however, being a day of sorrow. That good 
 sportsman and true friend to fox-huntigg, Mr Lloyd of As- 
 ton, got a most severe fall, and very narrowly escaped 
 being killed. To use his own words, he was going ' at the 
 rate of forty miles an hour to the tune of the Ladies,' when, 
 in some very deep ground, his mare fell with him, and all 
 but broke his neck. When I saw him picked up, his 
 face was as black as his hat, and from the discoloration 
 that afterwards appeared on the vertebrae of the neck, it 
 was evident that it was ' a near go.' 
 
 Tuesday, went to meet Sir Richard Puleston's hounds at 
 Petton, about half way between Shrewsbury and Ellesmere, 
 and one of his best fixtures ; but the frost had made its 
 appearance again, and we could not throw off, which dis- 
 appointed me. much, as I was anxious to see my old friend's 
 pack once again in the field. 
 
 On Wednesday Sir Bellingham sent the dog pack to 
 
 VOL. n. 3*
 
 30 MMROD'S HUNTING TOUR. 
 
 Hardwicke, Lord Hill's seat, to shew them to Sir Richard 
 Puleston, and we followed them in the drag frost harder 
 and harder, and neither of us very lively on the road. 
 
 Lord Hill has not long completed Hardwicke ; but he 
 has made an excellent house of it, and turned his sword 
 into a ploughshare. In the dinning room is an excellent 
 likeness of the Great Captain of the age, and al?o a full 
 length portrait of Lord Hill by Sir William Beechey. 
 The latter is not wanting in resemblance, but there is an 
 air of fierceness in the countenance that does not belong to 
 the original. If the words of the Poet can be applied to 
 any one, to Lord Hill are they certainly due : 
 ' In war, he's savage as the chafed tiger : 
 In peace, as gentle as th' unweaned lamb ! '" 
 
 The frost continuing, Sir Bellingham and myself pro- 
 ceeded on the following Monday to Acton Reynald, the 
 seat of Mr. Andrew Corbet, only son of my old friend Sir 
 Andrew. There was a large party in the house for a bat- 
 tue in the woods next day, but I preferred going with the 
 Cheshire hounds, which met at Shavington, the seat of 
 that hearty old buck that real specimen of an Irish noble- 
 man my Lord Killmorey, who turned out a small regiment 
 of sportsmen from under his most hospitable roof. 
 
 This was my first appearance with the Cheshire hounds. 
 We found immediately, and lost a bad fox at the end of an 
 hour and twenty minutes partly owing to there being two 
 scents at first, and the hounds not getting well together. 
 Having only one horse out, and having to return to Acton 
 Reynald to dinner a distance of nearly twenty miles 
 I did not wait for the second fox, neither did more than a 
 dozen out of a very large field. He shewed them, howev- 
 er, a most beautiful forty-five minutes, running in to him in 
 the open, to the great satisfaction of those who saw the 
 thing. An unfortunate circumstance, however, occurred. 
 In crossing a large sheet of water, where the ice was only 
 partly thawed, two couples of hounds got under it and 
 were drowned ; and I was sorry to hear Sir Harry Main- 
 waring say they were all, very useful ones to the pack. 
 
 February the 1st, Sir Bellingham's hounds met at Acton 
 Reynald. We had forty minutes, and ran to ground. We 
 had some beautiful hunting over a moor, and the scent was
 
 SHROPSHIRE. 31 
 
 capital in covert. It was also a particularly good day lor 
 hearing hounds ; and the music of the dog-pack in Shaw- 
 bury Wood, when close to the fox, was quite enchanting. 
 I said to myself 
 
 Never did I hear 
 
 Such gallant chiding ; for, besides the groves, 
 The skies, the fountains, every region near 
 Seem all pne mutual cry ; I never heard 
 So musical a discord, such sweet thunder.' 
 
 On Friday the 3d met the Shrophshire fox-hounds at 
 Boreaton, the seat of Mr. Huflt. Plenty of pheasants, but 
 no fox. Drew on to Leighton Shelf, and found at least a 
 leash. This is a most picturesque covert overhanging 
 the banks of the severn, the property of Mr. Lloyd of 
 Dongey, and extremely ornamental to his new house, but 
 the most infernal place for hounds I ever came across. A 
 bad fox may beat the best pack in England in an hour ; 
 and it went to my heart to see Sir Bellingham gallopping 
 that fine horse Treacle up and down its deep rides, with- 
 out apparently, the smallest chance of sport. 
 
 After hunting on this day, Sir Bellingham and myself 
 dined at Acton Burnell, which was the fixture for the next 
 morning. This is the fine seat of my very old friend Sir 
 Edward Smythe, who hunted Shrophshire six seasons. 
 Sir Edward is' the representative of a very ancient Roman 
 Catholic family, and, whether on a Friday or a Monday, 
 whether in Lent or out of Lent, a more jovial fellow is not 
 to be found in his Majesty's dominions. Though this wor- 
 thy Baronet has plenty of game, he is a strict preserver of 
 foxes, and generally finds a good one. 
 
 The day I am speaking of did not prove an exception. 
 We found in the park ; and, after upwards of two hours 
 through a deep and distressing country, lost him by a hal- 
 loo from a keeper who thought he had marked him to 
 ground. At the second check, I heard Sir Bellingham 
 say we had been running him an hour and ten minutes 
 quite enough for the country we went over. 
 
 I witnessed in this run what I never witnessed before, 
 namely, three gentlemen riding at gates, and without 
 their horses falling tumbling over their heads. The trio 
 was composed of Mr. Byrne, a friend of Sir Edward
 
 3U MMUOD'S HUNTING TOUR. 
 
 Smythe's, but a native of the Sister Kingdom : Mr. Rock, 
 a very thrusting young one ; and Mr. Mytton ! Mr. Byrne, 
 1 \vas told, was determined never to be so served again, as 
 he went to a brook, and wetted the knees of his breeches, 
 to enable him to stick to his saddle. I never heard of this 
 experiment before ; but, as far as I am a judge, there is 
 only one other step to be taken with the breeches ! 
 
 I never hear of a man falling from his* horse without 
 thinking of Sir Bellingham Graham's definition of a loose 
 seat. 'He calls it ' a wash-ball seat' the analogy (and a 
 most happy one it is) being taken from a wash-ball slipping 
 about in a basin. I also admire his idea of a gull a man 
 who believes every thing he hears, and who consequently, 
 is often imposed upon. When speaking of such a one, a 
 few days back, he observed, ' Oh, that fellow will swallow 
 anv thing; he do'nt require a balling iron. 1 
 
 Mon lay the 6th, met at Arcall Mill and had a beautiful 
 find in a gorse-covert rather a rare thing in Shrophshire. 
 The day was extremely stormy, and we could do nothing 
 with our first fox. A curious circumstance occurred with 
 the second. The pack slipped away with him, down wind, 
 out of a large covert, unseen or unheard by any one of a 
 numerous field, excepting Sir Rowland Hill, and Mr. Owen 
 (heir-apparent to Woodhouse,) who had all the fun to 
 themselves, and ran in to him in twenty-five minutes. So 
 much for woodland hunting in a very tempestuous day ! 
 It was curious to see the field scattered in all directions, 
 but none of them able to get a glimpse of the pack. 
 
 The fixture for the 8th was the Twemlows the crack 
 covert in the Shropshire Hunt. Twice was it fixed upon 
 during my visit to Sir Bellingham, and as often were we 
 booked under the Mahogany of that good sportsman, Mr. 
 John Crewe, for the purpose of being near it, as also of 
 seeing Mr. Wickstead's hounds, but were each time stop- 
 ped by the frost. On the 7th, however, we took up our 
 abode at Frees Hall, the seat of Sir Robert Hill, which is 
 within two miles of the covert. Anticipation is seldom 
 confirmed, and we had a very bad day's sport. 
 
 Independently of the pleasant party we met at Sir Robert 
 Hill's, I experienced a great treat in meeting with an old 
 schoolfellow, of whom I had for some time lost sight, but
 
 SHROPSHIRE. 33 
 
 who has been more than twenty years Vicar of the parish of 
 Frees. His Reverence had been doing the honors of Sir 
 Rowland Hill's tithe-day, but came to us in the evening, 
 and amused us much. 
 
 The Vicar of Frees is what 1 call a good old-fashioned 
 clergyman. He is as I hope all Rugby men are quite 
 above the vulgar association of groans and tears with piety 
 and devotion, and is not yet stricken with the new light. 
 ' Gravity,' says Lord Shaftesbury, ' is the essence of impos- 
 ture ;' and who would envy the character Caesar gives of 
 Cassius ? 
 
 ' He loves no play, 
 
 As thou dost, Anthony : he hears no music ; 
 
 Seldom he smiles, and smiles in such a sort, 
 
 As if he mock'd himself, and scorn'd his spirit 
 
 That could be mov'd at anything. 
 
 The Vicar of Frees is no humbug. He sings a hunting 
 song to his parishoners, tells them a good story at his tithe 
 feast, and gives them the best his house affords. His invi- 
 tation to Sir Bellingham and myself for the next time the 
 hounds came to the Twemlows was rather unique. ' My 
 claret,' said he, ' is of the finest vintage ; and if you will 
 drink enough of it, it will make your eyes look like boiled 
 gooseberries.' 
 
 The Vicar of Frees has a great mind to be a sportsman. 
 Like the Abbot of old, 
 
 ' He gives not of the text a pullet hen, 
 That saith that hunters be not holy men,' 
 
 so he accompanied us the next morning to the covert's 
 side ; and could we have persuaded him to have left his 
 spencer behind him, his appearance would have been far 
 from amiss. 
 
 My greatest amusement was yet to come. The next 
 morning before we went a hunting, I accompanied the 
 Vicar to see his stud, and I will exhibit them to the reader 
 as they were exhibited to me : ' Here,' said the Vicar, ' is 
 the mare I am going to ride. There is the pony that beat 
 all Sir Bellingham Graham's hunt but mind ye, not with 
 me upon him. There is the finest pair coach horses in all 
 England only one has lost an eye, and the other is broken- 
 winded ; and there is the colt that is to ^win the King's
 
 34 MMROD'S HC.VTING TOUR. 
 
 hundred.' Now the four-year-old cold, bred by himself, 
 which was to win the King's Hundred, proved to be a 
 three-year old filly ; and if ever she wins a Maiden Plate, 
 I will engage to eat her, plate and all ! 
 
 We were to have met the Vicar again at Sir Robert 
 Hill's on Wednesday, but were obliged to return to Kings- 
 land for Thursday's hunting at Condover. We had a 
 beautiful thing on this day of forty-five minutes with the 
 ladies till we came to the Severn, when all our fun was 
 over. The hounds crossed, and killed their fox in gallant 
 style. This was the best part of Shropshire I ever rode 
 over : the fields were of fair size, the ground sound, and . 
 the fences such as required a hunter to get well over. 
 
 I had the pleasure on this day of seeing Mr. Henry 
 Lvster's performance on his famous mare The Doe. The 
 Doe is very small, but very strong, and was purchased from 
 Mr. Mytton for eighty-five guineas having carried his 
 whipper-in. For the weight she can carry, I think she is 
 not to be beaten, and Mr. Lyster was certainly first man 
 on this day. Mr. Mytton and Mr. Rock went gallantly ; 
 but Sir Bellingham Graham surprised us all. He was on a 
 horse always considered slow ; but so determined was his 
 rider to be with them, that, though he got a bad start, 
 he soon got among the first flight. I could judge of his 
 pace, being myself on a fast one ; for though I got out of 
 the covert not a hundred yards behind him, I never could 
 catch him till I found him in a ditch . at the end of the 
 burst. 
 
 On the 10th, business called me home, a*d afterwards 
 to the 'little city.' On Tuesday the 2lst I started again 
 for Shrewsbury, arrived at Mr. Mytton's by breakfast on 
 the 2d, and found my horses all well. My groom told me 
 it were'well I was arrived, as he thought ' the Squire would 
 have been a top of some of 'em before another day was 
 over.' To say the truth I fully expected it. 
 
 The fixture for the day was Mr. Mytton's house, whither 
 Sir Bellingham had arrived the day before to be ready for 
 business. We had a beautiful find in a larger piece of 
 gorse, and a good fox went away : but the day precluded a 
 chance of sport, as it was extremely stormy without an 
 atom of scent. We did not find a^ain.
 
 SHROPSHIRE. 35 
 
 Tiie next day the Shropshire hounds met at Pitchford 
 Park, seven miles on the other side of Shrewsbury, but, as 
 I had no horses in that part of the country, I did not meet 
 them. Mr. Mytton went, and saw a fine run of one hour 
 and twenty minutes. 
 
 Exclusive of this, I missed another fine run with the 
 Shropshire hounds, which by all accounts was a tickler ; 
 but 1 much admired the modest, though sportsmanlike, de- 
 scription given of it by the master of the pack, in a letter 
 to myself: 'lam sorry,' said the Baronet, ' you were 
 obliged to go yesterday, as I trust we are getting into a vein 
 of sport. The first half hour to-day a most awful pace, 
 from Babbins wood, over a very fair but deep country: 
 and I shall curtail what I could make into a long rigmarole 
 account, by stating, that at the end of one hour and forty 
 minutes I had in my hand the finest bit of (what some 
 people call) vermin I ever touched in my life. We killed 
 him between Chirk Castle and Llangollen ; and the con- 
 noisseurs were good enough to say the gentlemen (the dog 
 pack) did their business meritoriously.' This sporting 
 Baronet's modesty did not end here. He said he was nev- 
 er so ridden away from in his life as he was (as indeed 
 were all the field) on this day by Mr. Mytton, on his Hit or 
 miss mare ; and I understand that Will Staples could 
 scarcely go the pace with her. 
 
 On the 24th met Sir Richard Puleston's hounds at Pen- 
 ley Green, and drew what are called ' the Duke's Woods' 
 the property of the late Duke of Bridgewater. The 
 late Lord Bridgewater behaved in a very liberal manner to 
 Sir Richard, by having 1 excellent rides made through these 
 extensive coverts, which make them very useful to hounds : 
 but as far as sport or pleasure is concerned, they are but 
 ill calculated to affor?! much of either. 
 
 It is necessary I should say something more of Sir Bel- 
 linghain Graham's kennel, which generally contains from 
 fifty to sixty couples of hunting hounds. His dog-pack 
 comes under the denomination of a grand pack of hounds : 
 in stature quite equal to Mr. Ward's though a lighter sort 
 of hound. They are very close hunters, extremely patient 
 with a baffling scent, and their pace something approach- 
 ing to awful. They are larger, however, by the admission
 
 36 NIMROD'S HUNTING TOUR. 
 
 of their owner, than is desirable in so close a country as 
 Shropshire. The bitch-pack the Ladies are Sir Belling- 
 ham's favorites, and in my humble opinion perfect. The 
 dash of the fox-hound is conspicuous here ; and to see 
 these bitches pushing to their game is to me one of the 
 finest sights this world can afford. Their form is particu- 
 larly elegant ; and though they do'nt say so much about it 
 as the dog-pack, they are not deficient in tongue. So fond 
 is Sir Bellingham (always the case with fox-hunters) of 
 1 the Ladies,' that I heard him say, if he hunted only three 
 days a week, he would never take a dog hound into the 
 field. With two such whippers-in behind them as Will 
 Staples and Jack Wrigglesworth, and mounted as they are, 
 Sir Bellingham Graham's hounds cannot fail of being han- 
 dy ; and their condition is powerful and even. 
 
 In the dog-pack Vulcan is the crowning ornament. In- 
 deed I think it is not in nature to form a more perfect 
 animal of his species, and he does not belie his looks. 
 He is by Sir Bellrngham's Vanquisher (by Mr. Osbaldes- 
 ton's Vanquisher) out of his Joyful. The following also 
 are very clever : Twister, by his Tapster out of his Abigail ; 
 Jericho, by his Aimwell out of his Jubilee ; Vaulter, by 
 his Render out of his Vanity the latter, the right style 
 of hound for Shropshire. 
 
 Amongst the bitches Brimstone stands first : she is by 
 Marmion out of his Jezebel. Patience, by his Abelard out 
 of Purity full of the old Pytchley blood; Famous (well 
 named,) by Lord Lonsdale's Reveller out of Sir B.'s Fac- 
 tious; Juliet. Jingle, Jollity, and Jealousy, by Mr. Os- 
 baldeston's Piper out of Lord Lonsdale's Joyful ; and Pu- 
 rity and Parasol, both from Mr. Ward, are also very clever. 
 
 Now for a word or two about the country. Were it not 
 for a few ' ifs,' Shropshire would rarTk rather high among 
 the provincials. In the first place, it is able to stand four 
 days a week, and the coverts are very well stocked with 
 foxes. It also, on the whole, holds a fair scent, but a very 
 great part of it is not only wet, but boggy. It is also ex- 
 tremely deficient in gorse coverts, and it is a great 
 drawback to sport, and very annoying to a huntsman and 
 his hounds the most hollow county I ever hunted in. la 
 the course of this season, Sir Bellingham ran thirteen out
 
 SHROPSHIRE. 37 
 
 of fifteen of his foxes to ground, which I never heard of 
 any hounds doing before. Such earths as are not used for 
 breeding should be dug out, and iron grates should be 
 placed on the mouths of drains which are able to admit a 
 fox. The first of these remedies, however, will not always 
 succeed, as from the loose nature of the soil in many parts, 
 * fresh spouts and earths would be made in each succeed- 
 ing year. 
 
 As a country to ride over, as far as leaping is concerned, 
 Shropshire is an easy one that is to say, the part compris- 
 ing Shropshire Hunt. Although the iences come quick, 
 yet there is nothing to stop a hard-riding man on a good 
 hunter, and timber need but rarely be taken. The com- 
 mon Shropshire fence say nineteen out of twenty is a 
 small live or dead hedge, not bound placed on a small bank, 
 with one ditch, and that not generally a large one. These 
 fences, however, stop horses in their pace, for they must be 
 taken quietly. Were a man to attempt to clear bank and 
 all at one fly, he would not go long; but he is generally 
 safe over them if he have a hand on his horse, and will allow 
 him to ' foot well ' before he springs. In some countries 
 the common Shropshire fence would be considered little 
 more than a gap. Strong places, however, do every now 
 and then occur, and, what makes small fences large ones, 
 the horses are almost always going in deep ground. Horses 
 indeed, that can go well over Shropshire, can go well over 
 most other countries. 
 
 There is. however, one part of riding over Shropshire 
 which requires a good man and a good horse, and even 
 these will not always do. I allude to the black boggy 
 drains, which abound in the low meadows, and which will 
 not admit of a horse approaching their banks near enough 
 to be certain of clearing them. If he do clear them, the 
 exertion is a severe one, and an over-reach or a lost ^hoe is 
 too often the consequence. 
 
 That Sir Bellingham Graham should like Shropshire as 
 a hunting country, cannot for a moment be imagined. He 
 lit the candle at the wrong end for this. Had he begun 
 with Shropshire, and proceeded to Leicestershire, the case 
 would have been altered ; but few people like to go back 
 in the world. The way, however, in which he has hunted 
 VOL. n. 4
 
 38 NIMROD'S HUNTING TOUR. 
 
 it with an establishment very nearly equal to Leicester- 
 shire entitles him to the greatest credit ; but though he 
 does not like the country, I have heard him many times 
 declare that he likes the people, and here is the spur to his 
 exertions. 
 
 When Sir Bellingham Graham asserts that he ' likes the 
 people ' in Shropshire, we may naturally conclude he chiefly 
 alludes to those of his own rank in life, with whom he ev- 
 ery day associates. I think, however, I may take upon 
 myself to say, he goes one step further than this, and in- 
 cludes in his panegyric the yeomen and farmers who reside 
 within the limits of his hunt ; and well he may. I have 
 ridden over the majority of our English counties, but nev- 
 er did I meet such hospitable and jovial fellows as the 
 Shropshire and Staffordshire farmers.* With them ' What 
 will you drink? ' is the next question to ' How do you do? ' 
 and now and then, ' What will you drink ? ' comes first. 
 Some of them, however, as Sir Bellingham says, are ' zeal- 
 ous dogs,' particularly after a certain hour of the day. 
 
 The Baronet told me a good anecdote of one of those 
 Shropshire farmers. He was about as big as any two mod- 
 erately sized men, and was sitting on his horse in a covert, 
 whilst the hounds were running their fox very hard below 
 him. ' Now they are physicking on him' said he to Sir 
 Bellingham, as he rode by, his countennance sparkling with 
 delight. 
 
 On the 25th Mr. Mytton turned out a brace of bagmen 
 before his non-descript pack. I have before said, that a 
 mere detailer of facts is only fit to give evidence on a trial, 
 and therefore, I shall dilate as I go on. 
 
 On the evening before, as we were sitting over our wine, 
 the butler announced that Mr. Tinkler the stud groom was 
 in waiting. ' Send him up>' said Mr. Mytton, and Mr. 
 Tinkler appeared. 
 
 Tinkler ' What horses will be wanted 'to-morrow, Sir ? ' 
 
 * The hospitality of Staffordshire quite equals Shropshire 
 1 remember on one occasion, when Mr. Mytton hunted that 
 country, that a regular dinner was provided for the field. There 
 was white soup, pattites, side dishes, &c. &c. I also well re- 
 member how small the fences appeared when we were running 
 our afternoon fox.
 
 SHROPSHIRE. 39 
 
 Mr. Mytton ' All.' 
 
 Tinkler' No, Sir, not all surely ! ' 
 
 Mr. Mytton ' Every one.' 
 
 Tinkler ' Not the little grey horse, Sir ! His back gets 
 very narrow.' 
 
 Mr. Mytton ' So much the better. I hate a fat horse.' 
 
 Tinkler ' Not the 'brown horse you had from Sir Bel- 
 lingham ; his legs begin to get very round.' 
 
 Mr. Mytton ' That is the very reason why I will ride 
 him, as it will make them fine.' 
 
 Tinkler ' Not the Hit-or-Miss mare ; you will want her 
 for the Cheshire.' 
 
 Mr. Mytton ' It will put her in wind.' 
 
 Remonstrance was in vain. Every horse was saddled, 
 and the Squire, his three whippers, with Tom Whitehouse 
 (his jockey), were all mounted on the best horses in the 
 stud. 
 
 I cannot describe our arrival at the covert ; I cannot 
 speak of the hound that ' spoke to him in the gorse ; ' I 
 cannot even attempt to describe the crash when he broke 
 from the covert ; but from the inside of a wicker basket 
 with a lid to it (oh ! how tame, how languidly does my pen 
 move over rny paper as I write it ! ) away sneaked as fine a 
 fox as ever wore a brush, and certainly afforded us a very 
 fine run of an hour, when he fell a victim to the pack, 
 which, I must say, hunted him well. 
 
 Nothing is to be done in Shropshire without a luncheon ; 
 but on this day we had two, first at the inn at Ellesmere, 
 after our run ; and secondly, at the house of a very re- 
 spectable yeoman by the name of Wynne (of Cricketh) 
 where the second fox was waiting. The second luncheon, 
 however, saved this fox's life ; for after the usual law was 
 given him, and I was in the act of mounting my horse, 
 Mr. Wynne came out to me and said, the Squire proposed 
 one other bumber toast, which he hoped I would return and 
 drink. The hounds were then laid on ; but though they 
 were sober, the faculty of smell had deserted them, and 
 they never touched upon their game, The exertions of their 
 huntsman (the Squire himself,) however, were great. 
 Mounted upon Magnet, with his horn in his mouth, and at 
 three parts speed, lie made his casts with the rapidity of a
 
 40 NIMROD'S HUNTING TOUR. 
 
 Shaw : but one peculiarity attended them. If the fence 
 into one field was larger than that into another, that field 
 was preferred not as most lively to hit of his fox, but as 
 most likely to floor some of his field, who, with his three 
 whippers-in and Tom VVhitehouse, were hard at his brush. 
 As the pace was quick, and the country heavy, I was be- 
 ginning to calculate upon how long the nags would live 
 without a check, when an accident occurred that put a stop 
 to all. A hare got up in view, which every hound followed 
 into Sir Edward Kynaston's plantation, and thus ended the 
 morning's sport. We had a party to dinner, and the eve- 
 ning's cast was by no means slow. 
 
 Of the crack men among the Shropshire riders, Mr 
 Lyster of Rowton Castle, 1 have already spoken, and his 
 brother John is hard and determined, but not so much at 
 ease on his horse, or so quick. I do not include Mr. 
 George Forester among the Shropshire sportsman, or of 
 course he would have a front place; but he is at work in 
 better countries; as also is Mr. Biddulf of Chirk Castle, a 
 very good young one, who hunts with Lord Anson. Mr. 
 Henry Fielding likewise can only be called a visitor; but, 
 when out, he goes well. Mr. Lloyd of Aston, is very diffi- 
 cult to beat over Shropshire. He knows the country per- 
 fectly, and goes at a good pace over it. Mr. Henry Monta- 
 gue, of the Guards, was on a visit to Mr. Lloyd of Dongey 
 when I was in the country, and having heard a good deal 
 of him as a workman. I was pleased with the opportunity 
 of seeing him. He is a powerful horseman, with fine hand 
 jind nerve, and I know no man whom I would sooner 
 mount upon a young horse that is to say, if he were a 
 pretty good one; if not, he would be in but bad hands, as 
 his pace is quick. Mr. Henry Lloyd, brother to Mr. Lloyd 
 of Dongey, is a very fair performer, He puts his horses 
 well at their fences, and is by no means afraid of them. 
 There are two professional gentlemen in Shrewsbury, who 
 will charge as large a fence as most people. One is Coun- 
 sellor Slaney, and the other Mr. Wynne, a surgeon in 
 <;reat practice. These are two useful men in the field ; 
 for in case of an accident, if the Doctor cannot save you, 
 the lawyer may make your will. Mr. Wynne is estimated an 
 excellent judge of horses, and has bred and sold some good
 
 SHROPSHIRE. 4J 
 
 ones. He rides hard and heavy, therefore the secret 
 good or bad soon comes out. He is, however, a great 
 lover of hunting, and for that and other reasons very much * 
 respected in Shropshire. Mr. Smythe Owen is a pretty, 
 gentleman-like rider, and his horses are of a good stamp, 
 and generally fit to go. 
 
 Among the young ones, Mr. John Hill (brother to Sir 
 Rowland) stands first and first ; and, if he had a good sta- 
 ble of horses, would shew most of them the trick. He is, 
 however, well bred to ride. His father could ride well, and 
 was as good a sportsman as ever got upon a horse add to 
 which, he is a grand son of the old Sir John, who was game 
 to the back bone. Mr. Rock I have before spoketi of as a 
 thrusting young one ; and the heir-apparent to Woodhouse 
 (Mr. Owen) and Mr. Kynaston (son of Sir Edward) train- 
 ed on very much whilst 1 was in the country. Let them 
 look to Will Staples ; they cannot study a better master. 
 
 Of Mr. Mytton, as a rider, I need not say much, for he 
 is as well known as the horse at Charingcross. Strength 
 will be served : and few men make more of a hunter than 
 he does over a stroug and deep country. As a proof of 
 this, his horses scarcely ever stop with him, though he is 
 not particular as to his ground or pace ; and as to fences, 
 there are times when the larger they are the better he likes 
 them. The time of the day, however, does not operate 
 only upon him. My old friend, Sir Edward Smythe, is a 
 much better man after luncheon than he is before ; and I. 
 know no one who does more credit to. a little jumping 
 powder than he does. I have seen the time when 1 would 
 back him to leap five-barred gates with any man in Eng- 
 land. 
 
 Although not exactly connected with Shropshire, yet as 
 a rider very well known in that part of the country, I can- 
 not pass over a very old friend of mine, because I think 
 he excels in the art I have been speaking of. When I first 
 hnew him his name was Lloyd Kenyon, first cousin to Mr. 
 Kenyon of Pradoe ; then, by an acquisition of fortune, it 
 was Lloyd Lloyd ; and now, by another turn of the wheel, 
 it is Lloyd Williams. 
 
 This gentleman resides at Penylan, on the banks of the 
 river Britain, and within easy teach of Sir Richard Pules- 
 
 VOL. II. 4*
 
 NIMROD'S HUNTING TOUR. 
 
 ton's and Sir VV'atkin's hounds, and he can occasionally 
 reach the Cheshire; but he has been, for several seasons, 
 an attendant on Sir Thomas Mostyn's hounds in Oxford- 
 shire. I do not mean to say that my friend was ever a 
 Tom Smith, or a Holyoake ; but this I will say of him 
 (and lie has always kept a good place with hounds,) that 
 what he does he does well. He has a particularly neat 
 eeat ; his horse is always well saddled aud bridled ; and 
 from the sole of his boot to the crown of his hat he is dress- 
 ed like a sportsman and a gentleman. 
 
 There is another .gentleman in this part of the world 
 worthy of notice. His name is Newton of Pickhill Hall, 
 near Wjexham. Though a great weight, he makes a cap- 
 ital fight over a country ; but I remember him at Oxford, 
 where he took a very fair degree with the two packs of 
 hounds which hunt that country. Sir Bellingham Graham 
 has now given up the country, and for the future it is to be 
 under the management of Mr. Smythe Owen of Condover, 
 with the subscription now given (arid as much more as can 
 be had) ; and the hounds were purchased from Sir Belling- 
 ham for six hundred guineas. The servants also remain 
 with the hounds ; and a certain number of- their horses 
 were purchased from Sir Bellingham to carry them. This 
 sporting Baronet retires from public life, and is gone to his 
 seat in Yorkshire, whither the wishes of all good sportsmen 
 will attend him. One of the first acts that he performed 
 on his arrival at home was to subscribe one hundred pounds 
 to the York and Ainsty fox hounds. 
 
 On the 26th of February, Mr. Mvtton and myself went 
 to Marbury, the seat of Mr. Domville Poole, situated in the 
 best part of the Cheshire country, and where we were with- 
 in easy reach of the Cheshire hounds on the next morning. 
 The day, however, blasted all our hopes; and after a hand- 
 some find in one gorse, and chopping a pie-bald fox in an- 
 other, we were glad to get back to the fire-side at Marbury. 
 The next day, however, made ample amends. 
 
 Our place of meeting was Shavington, the seat of Lord 
 Kilmorey, and we found immediately in some beautiful 
 briar, lying in the plantation. We ran this fox forty-seven 
 minutes at a very good pac^ but we lost him by an unlucky
 
 CHESHIRE. 43 
 
 accident. Some idea, however, may be formed of the pace 
 and the severity of the country, by the following fact. At 
 the second check, Mr. John Hill (brother to Sir Rowland) 
 and myself counted the field, when there were only eigh- 
 teen out of at least one hundred and sixty horsemen who 
 sf.irted ; neither did any more appear until we gave up the 
 chase and turned back to them. 
 
 For our second fox we went to Combermere, the seat of 
 Lord Combermere, and found in the same small plantation 
 which produced the fox that shewed the beautiful forty-five 
 minutes on the last day but one that I was out with the 
 Cheshire hounds, but which fox never lived to return. We 
 ran him nine minutes at a racing pace, and turned him up 
 in view. I expected to have seen him diseased, but he 
 appeared quite clean. Without suffering the hounds to 
 worry him, we returned to the park, to another fox which 
 had been seen there, and he went away in view. 
 
 Nothing short of Leicestershire, or some other very crack 
 country, cduld have shewn a prettier thing than we had 
 with this our third, fox; and at the end of about forty min- 
 utes we turned him up also a singular circumstance oc- 
 curring at the finish. Not two minutes before he died, and 
 in full view of those who were close with the hounds, this 
 fox leaped a five-barred gate without touching it (as a grey- 
 hound would leap it,) as much as to say, ' this is my last ef- 
 fort for my life.' 
 
 It has so happened, that previous to this season I never 
 hunted with the Cheshire hounds. As a pack their repu- 
 tation has not been great, but considerable allowance must 
 be granted them. Their late manager, a most excellent 
 sportsman of the Old School, became, in the language of 
 the day, slow and they were hunted by a man sadly below 
 the mark. Were I to hazard an opinion, I should say, 
 they never were so good as they now are, under the m^n- 
 agement of Sir Harry Mainwaring, and hunted by Will 
 Head, formerly in the service of Sir Bellingham Graham, 
 and three years head whipper-in to the Cheshire. To the 
 eye, they come more under the denomination of a useful 
 than a handsome pack of hounds, though certainly by no 
 means wanting in the common requisites of fox-hounds. 
 On the first day 1 was out with them, I considered them
 
 44 MMROD'S HUNTING TOIR. 
 
 unhandy ; but it was rather a wild morning, and two scents 
 a-foot. This also should be said, Will Head has only hunt- 
 ed them three seasons, and Rome was not built in a day. 
 
 I considered the condition of the Cheshire hounds par- 
 ticularly good. Indeed, I must go so far as to pass over all 
 other packs save his Grace of Beaufort's, which I had seen 
 up to that period, and give the preference to them in this 
 respect. The brightness of their skins, and their general 
 healthy and even state, are worthy of all the praise I can 
 bestow ; and the more credit is due to Will for this, having 
 three kennels to boil in some of them nond of the best, 
 and consequently a deal of travelling to say nothing of 
 being often obliged to feed at irregular hours. 
 
 One other fact I must also speak to. With the exception 
 of one mistake, no hounds in any country could have done 
 their work in a more masterly way than the Cheshire did 
 on the 28th of February; and what this mistake was I shall 
 take leave to mention. There is in this pack a bitch called 
 Lightsome, who is at times a most excellent bitch doing, 
 indeed, what many others cannot do but she will occa- 
 sionally run hare, and this was the case on the day I have 
 been speaking of, when she evidently lost us our fox. She 
 was encouraged (not by Will Head) to hare for more than 
 a mile, and when the mistake was found, it was too late to 
 rectify it. Now, with submission I say it, this is the hound 
 of all others I would draft; for being so good on some oc- 
 casions makes her more dangerous on others, and if not 
 more harm than good arise from her in the course of a sea- 
 son, she ensures one thing discredit to the performance 
 of some particular days. 
 
 I observed one thing extremely baffling to hounds when 
 running over this part of Cheshire ; and that was the num- 
 ber of hares (at least one to an acre) which were contin- 
 ually getting up as we were in chase. Exclusive of the 
 view, there is a strong scent from a hare at this season of 
 year ; and, doubtless, they save many a fox's life, and destroy 
 many a fine run. As to riot in general, I considered the 
 Cheshire hounds about as free from it as the majority of 
 packs one hunts with. 
 
 On the two first days I hunted with the Cheshire hounds, 
 I held the fences in perfect contempt. So far from seeing
 
 CHESHIRE. ' 45 
 
 
 
 anything like ' a stopper,' I met with nothing which a hun- 
 ter could not have got over with three legs. On the third 
 day, however, I altered my opinion of them, and was con- 
 vinced that it requires a hunter to carry a man over Cheshire. ' 
 In the country over which we ran our third fox (and a very 
 good country it was chiefly grass, with large-sized fields,) 
 I found some strong quick fences, with good wide ditches; 
 but this is not all. in the greater part of Cheshire, the 
 fence is placed on a very narrow bank, or cop as it is 
 termed, and strengthened by a very deep ditch. 'j'his kind 
 of fence not only requires a horse to be quick and ready 
 with his legs as he must spring from the cop when the 
 ditch is from him but it also requires a horseman to get 
 him over it with safety when he becomes a little distressed. 
 Temper also in the horse is almost indispensable here ; 
 and I really think it may be asserted, that, provided behave 
 speed, a hunter that can go well over Cheshire can go well 
 over almost every other country. 
 
 There are several good riders in the Cheshire Hunt ; but 
 the crack man of the field, and of whom most has been 
 said, is Mr. James Tomkinson. Mr. Tomkinson has not 
 only been, for many years, a very first rate performer in 
 Cheshire; but, whenever he attempted it, could always go 
 the pace in Leicestershire, and has ridden the best of 
 horses. His brother, the Major, is said to be equally good, 
 though not so well horsed. 
 
 There are several more fast men over a country in the 
 Cheshire Hunt: mine host, Mr. Domville Poole, very good 
 indeed; as also Sir Richard Brook, Colonel Brook, Mr. 
 Glegg, Mr. Ford, &,c. Lord Delamere also, not only as a 
 sportsman, but as a first-flight man for so many- years in 
 Leicestershire, must not be forgotten ; and I was glad to 
 see him once more in the field. Though his pace is not 
 quite what it was, he is, I am told, still always in a good 
 place. 
 
 There is one peculiarity attends the members of the 
 Cheshire Hunt almost all of them ride in leather breech- 
 es. That they are well adapted to the saddle, and for rid- 
 ing long distances on the road, no one will doubt; but in 
 all other countries they are accounted chad slow in the field. 
 Were anv other man but Mr. William Coke (who is always
 
 46 NJMROD'S HUNTING TOUR. 
 
 
 
 clad in leather) to be seen in them in Leicestershire, some 
 remarks would be made ; but as his fault is being too fast 
 for hounds, he gets off cheap. That they are the best pro- 
 tection against thorns, every one must admit ; and I was 
 told in Cheshire that the general objection to them for hun- 
 ting that is, being cold when wet is obviated by the use 
 of flannel drawers. Fashion, however, ' bears sovereign 
 sway ' in all such important matters ; and, in most coun- 
 tries, ' going the pace ' in leather breeches is considered 
 an impossibility. If accompanied by a straight-cut coat, 
 the point is at once decided. . 
 
 On the two days I have been speaking of there was 
 some sharp riding with the Cheshire hounds. Mr. Mytton 
 was on his Hit-or-Miss mare, for the honor of Shropshire, 
 and the esprit de corps was all alive. With the first fox 
 from Shavington, Major Tomkinson, on his grey horse, had 
 the best of the burst, with his brother ' Jemmy,' as he is 
 called, and Mr. Mytton hard at his brush. With the sec- 
 ond the Major made an unlucky turn, and his brother, Mr. 
 Mytton, Mr. Domville Poole, and Mr. John Hill (brother to 
 Sir Rowland) were the leading men. Will Head also rode 
 very near to his hounds. 
 
 From what I have heard of the Cheshire country, noth- 
 ing can be better conducted, or made more agreeable to 
 the manager of the pack than all pecuniary concerns. The 
 subscription 200U/. per annum is paid to the appointed 
 day, and there are no less than fifty gorse coverts in the 
 Hunt. One kennel is upon Delamere Forest, another at 
 Wrenbury on the Shropshire side the country, and the 
 country, and the other at Peover, near Knutsford, the seat 
 of Sir Harry Main waring who has had the management of the 
 Cheshire hounds for the last six seasons, and has given uni- 
 versal satisfaction. Well, indeed, he may ; for he is not 
 only a most zealous sportsman, but one of the best temper- 
 ed men in the world. Although it was not in my power to 
 accept of his very kind invitation to Peover, I had the 
 pleasure of spending two days with him at Mr. Domville 
 Poole's, and found him an unaffected country gentleman 
 and a very agreeable companion. 
 
 I considered Sir Harry's men very efficiently mounted ; 
 and a bay mare of Will Head's of a stamp quite superior.
 
 CHESHIRE. 47 
 
 The stud was also in uncommonly good condition, under 
 the care of Charles Davis. 
 
 Will Head commenced his career with the Duke of Rut- 
 land's hounds. In 1817, he went to the Badsworth, and 
 whipped-in to them one season; next to Mr. Osbaldeston, 
 two seasons; and then to Sir Bellingham Graham, for one, 
 during the time he hunted Northamptonshire. From him 
 he went to the Cheshire hounds, with which he began as 
 whipper-in, but which he has now hunted two seasons, 
 giving great satisfaction. He is very zealous to kill his 
 fox; rides well up to his hounds; has a nice cheering hal- 
 loo, though perhaps a little too free with it at times. Of 
 his two whippers-in I can say but little, as I did not see 
 them in difficulties sufficient to try them. 
 
 I was born and bred within a gun's shot of Cheshire, and 
 it is natural to conclude that the first fox-hounds I ever 
 hunted with were kept in that county. The owner of them 
 was the late William Leech, Esq. of Garden, one of the 
 finest places in Cheshire. 
 
 Mr. Leech was one of those characters of which the 
 breed is nearly lost, and which, when gone, will never be 
 again seen in this country the plain, unadulterated Eng- 
 lish country gentleman, who, possessing full ten thousand 
 a year, never left his seat, except he was called to his 
 county town, or went to visit his friends. Being a single 
 man, he did not even keep a carriage of any sort till far 
 advanced in years ; but the whole pleasure of his- life was 
 centered in the enjoyment of field sports in the morning, 
 and the society of his friends at night. In the present 
 times, however, he would be considered dead slow. He 
 dined at three o'clock if by himself, or if he had only a 
 few of his intimate friends in his house; and, strange to 
 say, though he kept fox-hounds, and hunted them himself 
 for a long series of years possessing also abilities quite 
 above the common standard he knew very little about fox- 
 hunting. 
 
 Cicero says of Anthony, that ' he had a witty mirth which 
 could be acquired by no art;' and the compliment might 
 have been as justly paid to Mr. Leech. His company was 
 sought after more than that of any other man in his neigh- 
 borhood ; and so original was his wit, and so happily was
 
 48 NIMROD'S HUNTING TOUR. 
 
 it applied, that he might have been termed the very life and 
 soul of every party he was in. Although naturally abste- 
 mious, yet in a party he never failed to sacrifice most freely 
 to the god of wine, and his wit and humor seemed to in- 
 crease with every glass he drank. The signal of enough 
 and he generally went the length of his tether was an at- 
 tempt to sing the first verse of a song, beginning with 
 
 ' Women and wine the heart delight.' 
 
 I wish I could recollect a twentieth part of the smart 
 repartees and witty sayings of Mr. Leech; bat in the in- 
 terval of time they are lost. One of his bottle companions 
 of the sacerdotal order asked him to go to church and hear 
 him preach. He afterwards wished to know what he 
 thought of his sermon. ' Why/ replied Mr. Leech, ' I like 
 you better in bottle than in wood.' He was very inti- 
 mate with Sir Richard Puleston : and as Sir Richard 
 sometimes borrowed his hounds, when he was himself with- 
 out any in his kennel, and always sent them home in bet- 
 ter tune than he received them, he generally called him my 
 huntsman Dick. Riding over to Emral one day, soon after 
 Sir Richard had been having a fall of timber, which open- 
 ed to the view his parish church, Mr. Leech remarked, that 
 he could not think what 'had made his huntsman so well 
 behaved lately, but said he, ' I've found it out ; he does 
 now sometimes get a sight of the church.' Though never 
 profane, Mr. Leech would have his joke. He was once 
 asked if he ever went to church ? ' Oh yes/ answered he, 
 ' but I am no church glutton.' 
 
 Inheriting a sound constitution, rising early in the morn- 
 ing, pursuing the sports of the field, and generally of tem- 
 pvrate habits, Mr. Leech lived to (I think) the age of eighty- 
 six ; and as a proof that the charmof conversation and 
 the pleasures of a social glass lived as long as he did, it is 
 only necessary to observe, that, the year before he died, he 
 sat down to dinner with a friend of his at Chester at one 
 o'clock, in the afternoon, and at two o'clock the next 
 morning he got into his carriage to go home. 
 
 Mr. Leech is gone; and with him is gone his sort of 
 English gentleman. He spent his money in the country 
 from which he received it ; he kept a most hospitable
 
 SIR R. PULESTON. 49 
 
 house ; was a sincere friend and a most entertaining com- 
 panion ; and for these reasons, he never spoke ill of any 
 man : he was ever in good humor : and in all his jokes he 
 never forgot the wholesome lesson of the Satirist 
 
 ' Who, for the poor renown of being smart, 
 Would leave a sting within a brother's heart?' 
 
 The Cheshire. farmers are good preservers of foxes, and 
 a blank in their gorse coverts is a rarity. 
 
 On Wednesday the 1st of March, Mr. Mytton and my- 
 self took leave of Mr. Domville Poole, and met Sir Rich- 
 ard Puleston's hounds at the kennel. Our first fox did 
 nothing for us, but we had a beautiful forty-five minutes 
 with our second, and killed in good style. Since 1 have 
 known what hunting is, I never saw hounds go faster over 
 a ploughed country than they did on this day, and he must 
 have been a good fox to have stood so long. Many years 
 have passed over rny head since I hunted with these hounds, 
 and 1 was struck, not only with the increased pace of the 
 pack, but of those who followed them. There was no 
 stopping to look what was on the other side, as in days of 
 yore, in this country ; but away went three or four young 
 Eytons, a young Kynaston, a young Owen, and a nephew 
 of mine, with the Squire of Halston and two or three more 
 older hands, at the rate of twenty miles an hour. Well 
 was it for the hounds that there was a good scent, or some 
 of them must have been killed, as giving them time to get 
 together formed no part of the system of this day ; and Sir 
 Richard's ' hold hard,' though sung out most audibly on 
 the occasion, and sufficient to have halted a charge of cav- 
 alry, had no more effect than a summer's shower upon a 
 rock of adamant. ' Go it, my tulip,' was the order of the 
 day with these aspiring young Nimrods, and very merrily 
 they did go. 
 
 Sir Richard Puleston is a very old master of fox-hounds, 
 having kept them almost thirty-five years. Although chief- 
 ly con tincd to his home country, he has at different times 
 had the Shropshire, the Shiffnal, and Lord Anson's coun- 
 tries, in e;ich of which I hunted with him, and though never 
 er what would now be called a hard rider, he has always 
 
 VOL. n. 5
 
 50 NIMROD'S HUNTING TOUR. 
 
 been esteemed a good judge of hunting and an excellent 
 breeder of hounds. Sir Richard also may almost be said 
 to have set the example of gentlemen hunting their own 
 hounds an example which has been perhaps too generally 
 followed, as not always leading to the best results. 
 
 As a huntsman to a pack of fox-hounds since the days 
 of Flying Ben and the Blue Horse* Sir Richard Pules- 
 ton has labored under some disadvantage, in not riding 
 very near to his hounds a disadvantage not generally con- 
 sidered so important as it really is. Of his judgment in 
 the field, however, I have ever thought highly, and his 
 voice and manner in drawing his coverts were always mu- 
 sical and good ; but for many years past he has had a hunts- 
 man to assist him. 
 
 Sir Richard's present pack is young, but in themselves 
 highly creditable to his judgment as a breeder. They 
 want nothing but some good efficient men about them, 
 who will be as quick as themselves, to make them into a 
 very clever pack. Ned Bates is getting heavy ; his voice 
 is cracked hut, like Falstaff, not with singing anthems 
 and his day is gone by ; and his second whipper-in is too 
 young to be of much assistance to him, but that is a fault 
 which may mend itself. He is well bred, being got by 
 Old Ned out of a neighboring dairy maid by no means a 
 bad cross for hounds. 
 
 Sir Richard Puleston's country comprises part of Shrop- 
 shire, Denbighshire, and Flintshire his house being situ- 
 ated in the latter county. Were it not for the River Dee, 
 which meanders through the best part of the grazing dis- 
 trict, it would be a very pretty one indeed. The fences 
 are easy, the coverts not generally large ; and he showed 
 me a list of no less than eighteen new gorse coverts which 
 his friends have made for him ; but he has at present no 
 subscription to his hounds. 
 
 Sir Richard Puleston is not only a highly-bred English 
 gentleman, unsophisticated by foreign fopperies ; but he is 
 what is of still more value a sincere friend. As a 
 
 * Two celebrated hunters of Sir Richard's, the latter of 
 which hunted till past twenty years of age refusing to be put 
 to any other easier work.
 
 SIR R, PULESTON. 51 
 
 companion Sir Richard possesses talent of the first order, 
 and in colloquial wit is seldom excelled. A few of his 
 bans mots are too good to be lost. He was once asked 
 what he thought of the Law and the Prophets ? ' Why,' 
 answered Sir Richard, ' I think the Law pockets the Proph- 
 ets (profits) most damnably.' Some years ago, when Men- 
 doza the boxer was in his glory, Sir Richard was one of a 
 party where the bottle had circulated rather freely, and 
 two Welch Squires were nodding in their chairs, with their 
 heads so close that there was some danger of their coining 
 into contact. ' Remove those gentlemen's chairs a little,' 
 said one of their friends, ' or they will fight in their sleep.' 
 ' That would be Men-dozing,' exclaimed the Baronet. 
 A brother sportsman once asked him (alluding to the form 
 of a horse) what he thought of a hollow back ? ' I like a 
 hollow (halloo) forward better,' replied he. Another 
 brother sportsman, a master of fox-hounds, once told him 
 he heard his harriers had been running one of his foxes. 
 ' Well,' said Sir Richard, ' you run my game, and why 
 should not I run yours.' A gentleman in his neighbor- 
 hood, whom he knew to be fond of his money, told him he 
 must go to town in the spring, for a polish. ' Go to Bir- 
 mingham,' said Sir Richard; ' they will do it cheaper for 
 you there. 1 When speaking of a certain Lady who was in 
 the habit of turning up her eyes towards Heaven one mo- 
 ment, and talking rather loosely the next, he observed, in 
 the language of the stud, that ' she was got by the W/iole 
 Duty of Man out of the Woman of Pleasure.' 
 
 The following anecdote is too interesting to be omitted. 
 When his present Majesty (George IV.) was Prince of. 
 Wales he paid a visit to the late Sir Robert Leighton, of Lor 
 ton near Shrewsbury ; as also to Lord Forester (then Mr. 
 Forester,) who in those days resided at Ross Hall, near the 
 same place ; and Sir Richard (then Mr.) Puleston was, 
 commanded to meet them. 
 
 A wish was expressed by his Majesty to enter the Prin? 
 cipality of Wales; but, aware that this could not be done 
 by him as Prince of Wales, unaccompanied by the pomp 
 and pageantry of circumstances, unless in the most private 
 manner, he commanded Sir Richard to conduct him to the 
 nearest part of it ? which frorn his knowledge of the CQun r
 
 52 NIMROD'S HUNTING TOUR. 
 
 try he was enabled to do. When they approached the 
 spot where a small rivulet divided the marshes of Wales, 
 Sir Richard cantered forward, and, plucking from an oak 
 tree a sprig with some acorns suspended to it, presented it 
 on his knee to his Prince the moment he entered his Prin- 
 cipality. The device was extremely appropriate, and His 
 Majesty placed the bough in his hat expressive of the sense 
 he entertained of it ; and shortly after, when he was pleas- 
 ed in the fulfillment, I believe, of an old promise to 
 present Sir Richard with his Baronetcy, he commanded 
 him to bear, as an additional crest, an oak tree, with golden 
 acorns suspended from one of its boughs. 
 
 The Duke of Clarence (his present Majesty) accompa- 
 nied His Royal Brother on this rural excursion, and \vas 
 highly gratified with the beauty of the scenery, as well as 
 the novelty of the circumstance. This temporary suspen- 
 sion, indeed, of a life of state could not be without its 
 charms ; and I have heard it said the Royal Brothers were 
 in high spirits the rest of the day. On Sir Richard shew- 
 ing them the situation in which the city of Chester lay, the 
 Duke of Clarence observed, that his old tutor, Dr. Majen- 
 die (then Bishop of Chester,) lived there, and related some 
 amusing anecdotes of the days in which he was under his 
 care. 
 
 1 never heard Sir Richard Puleston say any thing of 
 this affair, but his conduct on the occasion vvas'quite class- 
 ical. The British oak is a proper type of a British King; 
 for, 'midst storms and tempests the one stands secure, and 
 neither plots nor factions can shake the resting place of 
 the other. But this is net all : in days of yore nothing 
 could be done no ceremonies at least could be performed 
 without having recourse to this monarch of the plain, by 
 some even called ' the chosen tree of God.' We have 
 read in Virgil, that when his hero JEneas had killed the 
 tyrant .liezentius, and afterwards sacrificed to the god of 
 war, he bared an oak of its leaves, and hanged the gaudy 
 trappings of the dead monster on its naked trunk ! It is 
 not in the power of language to say more than this ! 
 
 On the 10th of March I left home for Pitsford in North- 
 amptonshire, where Mr, Musters' resides in the hunting
 
 season. His house is situated a little to the right of the 
 rdad from Northampton to Market Harborough, and within 
 a mile and a half of Brixworth, where the kennel and sta- 
 bles are. 
 
 On the day I arrived, Mr. Musters' hounds had met at 
 Kelmarsh, the fine seat of Mr. Hanbury, where I was in- 
 formed a field of at least two hundred were assembled, and 
 they were very near having a capital run. As it was, they 
 had a pretty little burst at a racing pace, and killed ; but 
 one fox went away over a magnificent country, with only 
 about five couples of hounds on the scent the body of 
 them having gone away with another fox. 
 
 To Mr. Musters, as a huntsman, the Sporting World 
 have unhesitatingly assigned the palm of superiority ; and, 
 as far as I am a judge, I fully confirm their verdict. I 
 must say of him, as has been said of another, that (singu- 
 lus in arte) ' none but himself can be his parallel.' 
 
 Mr. Musters hunted a pack of. harriers when a boy. 
 His father kept a pack of fox-hounds f<jr many years ; and 
 independently o'f the advantages he has had of seeing 
 hounds in all the best countries in England he has been 
 at the head of a pack of his own for twenty-three seasons. 
 
 On the llth the dog pack met at Mr. Musters' house. 
 In about a mile and a half we arrived at Moulton's gorse, 
 and found directly. An awkard brook immediately at 
 starting; severe ground, and the pace, scattered the field, 
 and made a check at the end of twelve minutes by no 
 means amiss. Mr. Musters' second cast was a masterly 
 one, and we ran our fox to ground in about twelve minutes 
 more. We found again in Siwell Wood, and had a fine 
 run of upwards of one hour. The country was between 
 wet and dry, consequently most severe, and there was a 
 good deal of distress among the nags. We had plenty of 
 pace and plenty of hunting ; but, in consequence of a long 
 check, only seven saw the finish, which was beautiful. 
 We got him dead beaten in the midst of the hounds in 
 a small covert ; but by one of those quick turns that foxes 
 make on these occasions, he broke again close to my horse's 
 heels, and got into a main earth in a hedge-row. It was a 
 fine day's sport. 
 
 As this was my first appearance in this part of North- 
 
 VOL. II. 5*
 
 54 NIMROD'S HUNTING TOTK. 
 
 amptonshire, I was somewhat anxious to see the country* 
 With our first fox I did not like it. It was almost all 
 plough, in small enclosures, hilly, and altogether provincial. 
 With our second it was better ; a good fox-hunting country, 
 with a good share of grass, but not first-rate. Siwell 
 Wood I consider a beautiful covert. 
 
 Monday the 13th met at the village of Great Harrowden, 
 about ten miles from Pitsford, on the great road between 
 Welford and Market -Harborough : killed a brace of foxes 
 in the course of the day ; had two sharp bursts, and some 
 beautiful hunting with the bitch pack. 
 
 15th, met at Fawsley, near Daventry, the seat of Sir 
 Charles Knightley, twenty-two miles from Pitsford. Al- 
 though no longer a fox-hunter, Sir Charles takes care of the 
 foxes, and we found directly. Having no scent we could 
 do nothing. 
 
 On Monday the 2Dth met at one of their very crack 
 places Misterton, the seat of Mr. Gough, near Lutter- 
 worth. Here are generally to be seen artists from all the 
 neighboring Hunts, and some splitting work is the conse- 
 quence, if a good fox is on foot. On this day, however, 
 owing to Lord Anson's fixture being a good one, there were 
 not more than two or three of his men, and very few Quor- 
 nites, as the Duke of Rutland met at a gopd place. Mr. 
 Holyoake went well upon old i'aronet in spite of his mu- 
 sic and Mr. Osbaldeston was also in the field. Altogeth- 
 er, perhaps a hundred and twenty horsemen considered 
 a small field for Misterton. 
 
 We had the dog pack on this day, and they looked pretty 
 fit to go. We got upon a newly-disturbed fox, and ran him 
 half an hour, but lost him. It was long enough, however, 
 to shew me a ckef-cTceuvre of Mr. Musters. The hounds 
 checked in a spinney, and the scent was back. He ap- 
 peared to turn almost before his hounds, and got them on 
 the line again in the twinkling of an eye. We lost this 
 fox, and found again at Crick the very finest part of 
 Northamptonshire and had a beautiful kill at the end of 
 one hour and sixteen minutes. There was not a good 
 scent, and the hounds were obliged to get their noses down ; 
 but, without assistance, I question whether they would have 
 tasted him.
 
 NORTHAMPTONSHIRE. 55 
 
 The Crick country is almost all grass, and more strongly 
 fenced than any part of Northamptonshire. Indeed I da 
 not think that I ever saw larger or rougher fences than we 
 had with our first fox ; and there were consequently, a great 
 many falls. One gentleman, I was sorry to hear, had his 
 collar-bone broken ; and that fine horseman, Mr. Davey, 
 was knocked down three times by the fences in less than 
 as many miles. I considered this a fine day's sport; and 
 every one went home in good spirits and pleased. 
 
 On Wednesday the 29th met within a mile of Kettering, 
 and drew the finest woodlands my eyes ever beheld. They 
 are the property of the Duke of Buccleuch ; and when I 
 say that they contain avenues to the extent of seventy 
 miles in various directions, I need hardly add they are a 
 treasure to a master of fox-hounds. After running one 
 fox to ground, and seeing some very pretty hunting, myself 
 and several more declined, for the ground was dreadfully 
 hard; but a gallant fox went away to Siwell Wood in the 
 afternoon, and afforded a fine hunting run of about sixteen 
 miles point blank over a very good country. 
 
 When I arrived in Northamptonshire hunting was draw- 
 ing to a close. The harsh winds of March ha'd begun to 
 blow, and a day's sport could never be reckoned upon. 
 Mr. Muster's hounds, however, had had more than their 
 share. Indeed they were allowed by all to have had a cap- 
 ital season, and they may be said to have been fleshed in 
 blood, 
 
 Few packs of fox-hounds (or indeed anything else) will 
 bear a microscopic scrutiny. Mr. Musters' certainly will 
 not. The bitches are handsome and of a good stamp; but 
 the dog hounds are, many of them, past their prime, and, 
 as a pack, not so sightly as they should be. A liberal draft 
 is wanted, and a larger supply of three and four year old 
 hounds is necessary for the work Mr. Musters gives them. 
 
 Of condition I must not say much. The month of 
 March was all against it; but it improved during the time 
 I was with the hounds. It was evident the season's work 
 had been too hard for them, but their huntsman never 
 knows when to say ' enough,' so fond is he of the sport. 
 I should 'also observe, that some of Mr. Musters' finest 
 bitches were gone to his seat in Nottinghamshire (where
 
 56 NIMROD'S HUNTING TOUR. 
 
 he has excellent walks) to whelp. His first whipper-in I 
 found to be my old acquaintance, Tom Smith, who for- 
 merly whipped-in to, and afterwards hunted, Lord Mid- 
 dleton's hounds. Smith is a good sportsman ; and no 
 doubt will soon be a very good one under such a master. 
 He greatly prefers Northamptonshire to Warwickshire for 
 hounds. The second whipper-in, Will Derry, is useful and 
 civil, and has been two years with Mr. Musters. 
 
 Mr. Musters' kennel and stables are sufficiently good. 
 His horses are of a large stamp, \vhich_his strongly fenced 
 country requires. 
 
 Of Mr.. Musters as a rider little need be said. He has 
 always been considered, not only a very elegant horseman, 
 but capital over a country, and has the eye of a hawk. In 
 his saddle he is fifteen stone ; but he maintains, that weight, 
 with horses equal to it, is an advantage in Northampton- 
 shire, and that no light man can go well over it. 1 know, 
 indeed, that the Tom Smith has been heard to say, that he 
 goes over Leicestershire, but through Northamptonshire 
 alluding to the strength of the fences. 
 
 Among the Northamptonshire riders, Vere Isham (broth- 
 er to Sir Justinian) stands first, and with a good or bad 
 horse under him he is a very clever fellow. He is not like 
 the parson who could only preach qut of his own book ; or 
 like many of our fine riders who can go well on fine hors- 
 es ; but Vere Isham although a grandfather can ride 
 what others cannot ride ; and if he hears of a horse that is 
 to be sold because he will not make a hunter, he generally 
 buys him having got a receipt in his stable that will soon 
 make him one There is not a brook in Northamptonshire 
 that he has not been at the bottom of, nor are there many 
 that he will not ride at ; but he is by no means one of the 
 tumbling sort- His brother Harry is pretty good, but not 
 in the same field with himself. 
 
 There is a gentleman, though not belonging to this 
 county, yet who has hunted so much in it that he is quali- 
 fied for a place among the Northamptonshire riders, and 
 that place has always been a good one. I allude to that 
 very superior and most elegant horseman, Mr. Davey. Of 
 late years he has been getting slack, and has not*been well
 
 NORTHAMPTONSHIRE. 57 
 
 horsed ; but for a great many seasons no man -went better, 
 certainly none more neatly, over this rough country than 
 he did. His hand is exquisitely fine, and his seat quite 
 perfect. A curious accident occurred to him some years 
 since in the field. He was hunting with Sir Thomas Mos- 
 tyn's hounds in Oxfordshire, when he rode at a fence near 
 to a small cottage, and close to Swift's house, where Sir 
 Thomas now resides. His horse fell with him, and Mr. 
 Davey found himself fast, as if he were in a vice, and 
 without knowing why. At last he perceived that the hind- 
 er legs of his horse had alighted on the mouth of an old 
 well, the covering of which his weight had forced in. To 
 make my story short Mr. Davey had just time (and he 
 did it with great difficulty) to get disengaged from his sad- 
 dle before his horse fell back into the well and was drowned. 
 His friend consoled him with saying it was loclldom; but 
 that was but poor consolation for the loss of a good hunter, 
 though, to be sure, he might have lost his own life. His 
 situation was certainly a most alarming one, as one of his 
 legs was confined between the side of his horse and the 
 side of the well. 
 
 One of the best performers I saw in Northamptonshire 
 is a fine young man of the name of Isted, the eldest son of 
 a gentleman of considerable property of that name, who 
 resides at Ecton. Mr. Ambrose Isted was born without 
 the faculty of hearing, therefore without the power of 
 speech ; but he has been taught to speak, and pronounces 
 many of his words intelligibly enough. He has also been 
 taught to ride over a country, which few can do better 
 taking much notice of hounds, and entering into the sport 
 with enthusiastic delight. 
 
 There is another young one who bids very fair for a front 
 place with hounds, and that is Mr. Walley, son of the Rec- 
 tor of Lcton. A Mr. Parsons also, another young one, is 
 a bold horseman, and wants nothing but a few year's expe- 
 rience to ensure him a good place. Mr. Meyrick has been 
 so many seasons in Northamptonshire, that he may be 
 reckoned one of them, and few men are before him in a 
 quick thing. 
 
 There is a very sporting draper residing at Northampton
 
 58 NIMROD'S HUNTING TOUR. 
 
 by the name of Whitworth ; he is a very thrusting rider 
 after hounds. 
 
 The Northamptonshire farmers are chiefly men of prop- 
 erty the nature of their occupations require them to be 
 so. They almost all keep hunters, which, if they can't 
 ride themselves, their sons can ride for thjwa. The yeoman- 
 ry of the country live in great comfort. Tcalled upon one 
 of them Mr. Potterton of Pitsford to see his stud. He 
 had three clever hunters in his stable, and some good 
 young stock in his paddock, bred from good blood. This 
 is what we should like to see all England over. 
 
 To speak of Mr. Musters as a huntsman, requires the 
 knowledge of a huntsman, but I must make the attempt; 
 therefore as old Corcoran says, when he comes to an awk- 
 ward fence, ' Go along horst.' 
 
 Few men, I believe, see less of their hounds in kennel 
 than Mr. Musters does, neither can I call him a good ken- 
 nel huntsman. I do not think it is his passion. It is in 
 the field he shines ; and when I say he is pre-eminent 
 here, I only echo the voice of Fame. In command of 
 hounds, I never saw him excelled, and he certainly handles 
 them with a master's hand. Every art has its terms, and 
 his language in the field is particularly good. He 'suits 
 the action to the word, and the word to the action,' with 
 the greatest possible effect. From temperament of consti- 
 tution also he must have been intended for a huntsman, 
 for he is never fatigued, but is always cheery; and as 
 cheerfulness is catching, his field generally seems cheery 
 also. To sum up all although a gentleman, he is a hunts- 
 man. Nature has qualified him for the task. When with 
 his hounds he is in his element, and, without this, it avails 
 nothing ; for as Ion says, 
 
 'What's the gay Dolphin when he quits the waives, 
 And bounds upon the shore?' 
 
 I now bring my Second Tour to a close, with only a few 
 words. A writer without freedom is a writer without in- 
 terest; but I hope I have taken no unwarrantable liberty 
 with any man's name. In ' this vale of tears,' we are en- 
 titled to snatch a pleasure where we can find it, provide^
 
 NORTHAMPTONSHIRE. 59 
 
 we rob no one else of the prize, and I would not have it 
 upon such terms. Johnson said of Savage, that ' he sel- 
 dom found a stranger whom he did not leave a friend ; ' 
 but, not possessing the acquirements of Savage, I am in no 
 wise entitled to such a compliment. Thus much, however, 
 I am enabled to say ; that during my late Tour, I received 
 nothing but hospitality and kindness, and every man I met 
 appeared to be my friend. This is the way to pass one's 
 days, for ' it makes life's business like a summer's dream.'
 
 60 
 
 CONTAINING ACCOUNTS OF 
 
 The Raly Pack, the Lamlton, the York and Jlinstij, the Hur- 
 teorth, the Holderness, the Badsivorth, fyc. Sfc. 
 
 UNDER THE RESPECTIVE MANAGEMENT OF 
 
 THE EARL OF DARLINGTON, 
 MR. RALPH LAMBTON, MR. LLOYD, 
 
 MR. MATTHEW WILKINSON, 
 MR. THOMAS HODGSON AND LORD HAWKE, 
 
 AND CONCLUDING WITH 
 
 A Visit to Leicestershire and the New Forest. 
 
 LAST winter Yorkshire was fixed upon, for two reasons : 
 first, it was fresh ground, and therefore likely to produce a 
 ' good crop ; and secondly, because it is decidedly the most 
 sporting part of His Majesty's dominions. One might 
 almost imagine there was something in the physical power 
 of the climate that produced such a host of sportsmen 
 for every man there is one. 
 
 On the 1st of November 1826, 1 started for the North ; 
 halted that day at Birmingham : on the 2nd reached 
 Leeds ; and on the 3rd arrived at York at twelve o'clock. 
 
 As was natural to suppose, I soon stumbled upon a man 
 I knew. This ended in an invitation to dinner, and a very 
 pleasant evening, but not at my friend's house for when 
 he got home, he found an invitation from Mr. George 
 Swann, and took me under his arm! I am not going to 
 recapitulate the scenes of the evening ; but as anecdotes 
 form so great a part of my stock in trade, I must bring 
 them to market when opportunities offer, and the present
 
 YORKSHIRE. 61 
 
 occasion furnishes one. It so happened, that on leaving 
 home, I found myself not quite well, and took the advice of 
 an eminent physician on the road. ' There is not much 
 the matter with you,' said he ; ' and if you will only drink 
 three glasses of wine a day instead of a bottle, which you 
 fox-hunters often do, and take a little of this medicine, 
 you will live to be a hundred.' ' Your medicine, Doctor, 
 I will take,' said I ; ' but the other part of the prescription 
 is quite out of the question.' However, to the point. On 
 the morning after 1 dined with Mr. Swann, I met him at 
 the lodging of a mutual friend, where a third person was 
 present, who had dined with us the day before. My pre- 
 scription was sent to the druggist's, and its contents read 
 
 over by the party.' ' Oh,' said , ' it is 
 
 sure to cure you : there is no finer medicine in the world 
 than cochlearia.' Now cochlcaria happens to be the Latin 1 
 for spoonfuls, of which I was to take ' duo largo, bis die,' 
 or two large ones twice a-day. 
 
 I was at this time only two days in York, but one of 
 them being Sunday, I had a good opportunity of seeing 
 one of the proudest monuments of human art and human 
 magnificence, York Minister. By way of a comparison 
 between the manners and usages of society in former and 
 present times, I quote the following passage, which I met 
 with in the ' Antiquities of Yorkshire-.' Alluding to the 
 city of York ' Near to the cathedral is the house where 
 the two weekly assemblies are held. These meetings are 
 great helps to strangers, who flock hither in great numbers 
 for the convenience of boarding, which is very cheap, and 
 diet good ; for in a week or two's time they may, by using 
 them (and none is excluded either of them for half-a-crown 
 a quarter,) be acquainted with all the genteel company, 
 male and female, in the city and adjoining county of York. 
 
 In the afternoon, Mr. Swann was kind enough to show 
 me the York hounds and Mr. Ridsdale's stud. Mr. Rids- 
 dale is an excellent rider to hounds. I saw him out one 
 day on Flaxtonian, and thought he looked like a work- 
 man. He has also, I understand, done some good things 
 on the road with his hacks, of which the following may be 
 recorded as one. He left London on a Monday, and was 
 at York on the following Wednesday by four o'clock in the 
 
 VOL. n. 6
 
 62 NIMROD'S HUNTING TOUR. 
 
 afternoon one hundred and ninety-six miles. The mare 
 rested the next day, and on Friday he rode her to Newcas- 
 tle eighty-two miles; making the average of the days she 
 was at work ninety-two miles. Mr. Ridsdale resides at 
 Murton, three miles from York, where he has built a house 
 Hud as complete a range of Stahles as human ingenuity 
 can effect, or the health and comfort of horses require. 
 He has also some capital paddocks, and is breeding thor- 
 ough-bred ones on an extensive scale. 
 
 As Mr. Ridsdale was in London, we merely walked 
 through his stables and looked at his hunters, which con- 
 sisted of seven. They were all thorough-bred, and in ex- 
 cellent form to cary his weight about twelve stone. 
 
 Mr. Swann then took me to the kennel of the York and 
 Ainsty fox-hounds, situated a mile from York, and near to 
 Knavesmire, the race-course. As might be expected from 
 the resources of a subscription pack, this kennel has noth- 
 ing to boast of beyond the necessary conveniences for a 
 small pack of fox-hounds ; but it appeared clean and 
 wholesome, and free from epidemic disease. There is 
 one part of it which was new to me ; but the plan is a 
 good one, and I found it generally adopted in the kennels 
 in the North : the upper half of all the inner walls are 
 built in open brick work, which gives free circulation of 
 air, and doubtless prevents disease. 
 
 In Naylor, the huntsman to the York and Ainsty, I rec- 
 ognized an old acquaintance. I knew him when he whtp- 
 ped-iri to Sir Thomas \tostyn in Oxfordshire, but thai was 
 in his early days. He has been six years huntsman to the 
 York and Ainsty, in vvhich capacity as far as relates to 
 the operations in the field I refrain from speaking of him 
 at present. I never, however, withheld praise where it is 
 justly due, and in kennel superiority Naylor stands high. 
 i considered his hounds looking in splendid condition ; and 
 by the great pains I observed he took in feeding them in 
 small lots, it is evident he plumes himself on excelling in 
 this most essential point. 
 
 I think the York and Ainsty hounds, as a pack, partic- 
 ularly clever, and possessing, individually, as great a share 
 of beauty as is to be found in most kennels. They have 
 size, power, and size and power without lumber or incum-
 
 YORKSHIRE. 63 
 
 brance, which, as far as the eye carries us in a kennel, is 
 ajl we can desire to see. I thought Boisterous (by Lord 
 Darlington's Brusher out of their Countess, the old Pytch- 
 ley sort,) Jollity, Pillager, and Charity, among the old 
 hounds, very fine samples ; a three-year-old bitch, Pastime, 
 very clever indeed ; and the Splendor hounds, out of 
 Countess, Mischief, and Toilet, in very fine form. I also 
 noticed Tuneful, by Lord Lonsdale's Roman out of the 
 Ba<Tsvvorth Tempest a very promising young one. 
 
 The subscription to the York hounds is limited, not ex- 
 ceeding 1300/. per annum, and is chiefly raised by the 
 resident gentlemen of the city of York, although at the 
 commencement of the last season Sir Bellingham Graham 
 became an annual subscriber of one hundred pounds. 
 The management of the establishment is left to a gentle- 
 man by the name of Lloyd, who resides at Acomb, two 
 miles from the city, and he has had it six years. He i.s 
 considered a fair sportsman, and universally commended 
 for his mild and unassuming manners; and there was a 
 time when few men could have beaten him over York- 
 shire. He now, however, rides well up to his hounds, 
 although between fifteen and sixteen stone on his horse. 
 Previous to Mr. Lloyd, Mr. Robert Challoner and Mr. J. 
 W. dough were at the head of these hounds, during 
 which time they were hunted for one season by Mr. 
 George Treacher. 
 
 As far as I can recollect the following is the history of 
 this country. It had once been hunted by Colonel Thorn- 
 ton, of Thornville Royal, and then laid vacant for some 
 time. It was afterwards occasionally occupied by Lord 
 Harewood, Sir Tatton Sykes, Lord Darlington, and also 
 by the late Mr. Lane Fox, of Bramham Park ; but the first 
 to establish the York and Ainsty hounds was the Honora- 
 ble Captain Butler, who started them about ten years ago, 
 and had his kennel at Newmonkton, where he now resides. 
 The country is not. only extensive, but wide, which obliges 
 the hounds and horses to lie from home two or three days 
 a fortnight, which is against them ; and it is also intermix 
 ed with Sir" Tatton Sykes's and Lord Harewood's coun 
 tries, for which reason the York and Ainsty and the latte 
 pack always hunt alternate days.
 
 64 NIMROD'S HUNTING TOUR. 
 
 From what I saw of the York and Ainsty, I considered 
 it favorable to hounds but unfavorable to horses, on the ac- 
 count of the wet, and in many places boggy, state of the 
 land, in addition to its being nine-tenths ploughed. In 
 another respect also it is unfavorable to horses : it is so 
 very flat that hounds are lost sight of if suffered to get two 
 fields a-head ; so there is no riding to points, as in most 
 other provincial countries. The fences the common 
 hedge and ditch, not often bound though they occur fre- 
 quently, are not difficult; but a brook-jumper is often 
 wanted, as in parts there are many wide drains. Few of 
 the gates in the North are practicable, as they far exceed 
 the usual height. The stiles also, particularly in Durham, 
 were quite new to me. They are formed by two posts, 
 about four feet high, placed in the form of a V, and so 
 narrow that a well-fed Alderman could not, I should im- 
 agine, pass through them. Some of the horses of the 
 country, however, will either walk into or jump over them ; 
 but a mistake at them would be awful, as they would be 
 certain to hold them fast. I purpose giving in another 
 place some notice of the men who hunt, and the gentle- 
 men who ride to the hounds. 
 
 It was my good fortune, previous to my departure from 
 home, to receive an injunction from Sir Bellingham Gra- 
 ham against going to an inn in Yorkshire whenever the 
 scene of action lay with any feasible distance of either of 
 his houses Whitwell or Norton Conyers. 
 
 Sir Bellingham Graham was at this time residing at 
 Whitwell, where I arrived on Sunday to dinner. His house 
 is situated on the left of the village (all his own,) and dur- 
 ing his nine years' absence from Yorkshire in the service 
 of fox-hunting, was let to tenants, but has lately been 
 painted and furnished by the Baronet, and made in every 
 respect comfortable. It is beautifully situated, twelve miles 
 from York on the Scarborough road, and, standing on an 
 eminence, commands the whole vale between itself and 
 York at the end of which is distinctly seen the noble 
 Minster. 
 
 In the winter months Sir Bellingham's residence is reg- 
 ulated by Lord Darlington's hounds. When they are in 
 the Bedale country, he migrates to Norton Conyers ; and
 
 YORKSHIRE. 05 
 
 when they return to Raby, he returns to Whitwell, where 
 he has Sir Tatton Sykes and the York. 
 
 On Wednesday the 8th I made my first appearance with 
 hounds in Yorkshire. Sir Bellingham accompanied me to 
 meet Sir Tatton Sykes' pack at Galley Gap, about four 
 miles from Whitwell, and not so much from the kennel. 
 The place appeared to me more adapted for a pic-nic party 
 of pleasure on a summer's evening than a fixture for fox- 
 hounds ; at all events it had a very provincial appearance. 
 The road to it led through most picturesque scenery, much 
 resembling parts of North Wales. The coverts we drew 
 hung over the banks of the Derwent river, which ran over 
 its rocky bed with great rapidity, and our fox sought his 
 safety by crossing it about midway between two bridges. 
 The huntsman, one whipper-in, and one gentleman, were 
 the only three who were so fortunate as to go to the right 
 bridge ; and all the rest of the field had a gallop of some 
 miles on a road for nothing. The hounds ran their fox 
 hard to a covert within four or five miles of York, when 
 he turned back and was lost. 
 
 Friday the 10th met Sir Tatton at Castle Howard, the 
 seat of the Earl of Carlisle. Sport here with a pack of 
 fox- hounds is never, I should think, looked for, therefore no 
 disappointment can arise. However, we had a pleasant 
 morning's ride, and saw the fine domain the residence ol 
 4 the blood of all the Howards.' We also saw Wigginthorpe, 
 the residence of Mr, Garforth, so well known on the turf 
 as the breeder of the celebrated mare Marcia, and the ap- 
 pearance of his numerous paddocks denoted the nature of 
 his pursuits. I saw nothing of Mr. Garforth, for he is no 
 fox-hunter, and lives rather a secluded life ; but I have the 
 pleasure of being acquainted with his nephew, who gener- 
 ally resided with Lord Middleton in Warwickshire when 
 he hunted that country, and where he (Mr. G.) left a good 
 name behind him. 
 
 The country occupied by Sir Tatton Sykes has been in 
 many hands having been hunted by the late Lord Carlisle, 
 Mr. Osbaldeston, Lord Middleton, Mr. Duncombe, now 
 Lord Feversham, Mr. Digby Legard, and then by Sir Mark 
 Sykes (jointly with his brother Sir Tatton,) who had it fif- 
 teen years ; and Sir Tatton succeeded to it at his decease, 
 
 VOL. II. G*
 
 66 MMROD'S HUNTING TOCR. 
 
 During a great part of this time the hounds were hunted 
 by Carter, assisted by his two sons, Tom and Will the 
 former huntsman, and the latter first whip. Old Carter 
 was a pupil of the renowned Meynell, and also lived with 
 Lord Middleton. He was out at Castle Howard, and I wa.-< 
 much pleased with his venerable appearance his grey 
 locks denoting many years' experience in his profession. I 
 was given to understand, however, he was not without his 
 peculiarities and prejudices, one of which was he never 
 carried a hunting horn. 
 
 Previous to last year, Sir Tatton Sykes resided at Wes- 
 tow, about four miles from Whitfield, where he occupied a 
 large farm, and where he had his paddocks for breeding 
 race-horses. He is now removed to the family mansion at 
 Sledmere (no great distance from Malton;) but the kennel 
 is where it always has been at Eddlesthorpe, not far from 
 Westow. Sledmere is fifteen miles from the kennel ; but 
 Sir Tatton, on his thorough-bred hacks, thinks nothing of 
 this, and very frequently rides thither before the hounds 
 leave it on hunting mornings. His hounds hunted four 
 days a week the season before last, but only three last. 
 He has no subscription. 
 
 Sir Tatton Sykes comes under the denomination of what 
 is called ' a character ; ' and one of his chief characteris- 
 tics is to be found in his passion for riding a race, his 
 method of travelling across a country, the plainness of his 
 dress, and the outward humility of his demeanor towards 
 all ranks. 
 
 A poet calls' Humility ' that low sweet root from which 
 all heavenly virtues shoot ; ' but m my opinion, it is not 
 always free from suspicion. 
 
 'There are some that use 
 
 Humility to serve their priile, and seem 
 Humble upon their way. to be the prouder 
 At their wished journey's end.' 
 
 This, however, I am sure cannot be applied to Sir Tat- 
 ton Sykes. It is quite evident to any common observer, 
 that the quiet and unassuming manner in which he carries 
 himself to the world is one of the component parts of his 
 nature ; and those who know him can testify that no man 
 is more at variance with affectation or art.
 
 YORKSHIRE. 67 
 
 * 
 
 Sir Tatton's method of travelling across country betrays 
 a strength of constitution and hardihood of frame, not only 
 enviable, but characteristic, I believe, of his countrymen. 
 If asked to go a hundred miles to ride a race, he puts a 1 
 clean shirt in his pocket, his racing jacket under his waist- 
 coat, a pair of over-alls above his leathers, and, jumping 
 upon some thorough-bred tit, arrives there the next day by 
 the time of starting, and, when the race is over, canters 
 his thorough-bred home again. I cannot exactly determine 
 the value Sir Tatton puts upon riding a winning race, for a 
 friend ; but if I am to judge from what escaped him after 
 winning the Bosworth, with Gossoon, at Lichfield, all the 
 pleasures we are taught to anticipate from the realms above 
 fall far short of the mark. 
 
 As a gentleman-jockey, Sir Tatton has long been in re- 
 pute. He is very powerful in the saddle, and never loses 
 his head. 
 
 I was very much pleased with sir Tatton's hounds. 
 They show a great deal of breeding, are fast, but very 
 close workers, of a most desirable size, and quite the sort 
 of hounds for Leicestershire, although there are too many 
 old ones at present in the kennel to suit that country. 
 
 Sir Tatton's men are very capitally mounted, chiefly on 
 thorough-breds, which indeed they ought to be to follow 
 their hounds over the Yorkshire wolds, which generally 
 hold a good scent, and great part of their country is of that 
 description. These wolds are of great extent, enclosed 
 and cultivated after the manner of our Oxfordshire and 
 Gloucestershire hills, an;l much the same to ride over, but 
 the soil is deeper, and therefore more severe for horses. 
 The fences are" chiefly quick, and post and rails are numer- 
 ous in some parts. 
 
 Sir Tatton's hounds had a very fine run this season 
 from Sir Francis Boynton's coverts; but I was told it was 
 not so decidedly good as one he had on the 8th November, 
 1823, from Givendale Warren, when, after a run over the 
 wolds of one hour and twenty minutes without a check, the 
 fox was killed in the presence of only Tom Carter on his 
 \Vhitelock mare, and Major Healey on Hardbargain. 
 
 Saturday the llth, met the York and Ainsty at Hulby, 
 eight miles from York in the direction of Boroughbridge.
 
 > * 
 
 68 NI.MROD S HUNTING TOUR. 
 
 f 
 
 Unfortunately we had no sport. Our first fox was lost by 
 the ignorance of the second whipper-in, who never attempt- 
 ed to turn the hounds, which ran over three fields with 
 their heads up the fox having turned short back. He 
 was also ably seconded by a well-mounted gentlemen in 
 scarlet, who was of course equally at sea. The hounds be- 
 ing disappointed, and the scent bad, they did not settle 
 again, and we lost him. After chopping another, we found 
 again in Oldwork Wood, but the scent got worse and worse. 
 I viewed the fox across a field about ten minutes after we 
 found, and although the hounds came to halloo immediate- 
 ly, only one of them (Remus) could speak to it. This 
 country was close, and some of it loose in the soil, and not 
 looking favorable for scent ; but, taken altogether, I did 
 not dislike it ; and I thought that part of it which I had 
 ridden across on my road to covert was capable of showing 
 a fine run. 
 
 Sir Bellingham did not accompany me this day to the York 
 hounds, for two reasons : first, himself and his establish- 
 ment were on the move to Norton Conyers ; and secondly, 
 he was unwell. On my arrival there, I found him in pos- 
 session of a stud of hunters ; and my own horses safely ar- 
 rived, and most comfortably quartered in one of his five- 
 stall stables. 
 
 As may be natural to suppose, the great attractions to 
 my eye in my visit to the North were the earl of Darling- 
 ton's and Mr. Ralph Lambton's fox-hounds. The rank of 
 the former 1 the splendor of his establishment the char- 
 acter I had heard of him all had some share in exciting 
 my curiosity; but these were of comparative insignificance 
 to the extraordinary fact of his having hunted his own 
 hounds thirty-six seasons; and not hunting them only, but 
 going through all the drudgery of a huntsman, by constant- 
 ly drafting and feeding them in the season, and paving the 
 most minute attention to all the operations of the kennel. 
 
 Although his inferior in rank, in the same field with his 
 Lordship as a sportsman is that idol of his circle, Mr. 
 Ralph Lambton, who has kept and hunted the Lambtou 
 hounds thirty-five seasons his elder brother having kept 
 them seven years before. 
 
 Lord Darlington's hounds met on Monday the 13th at
 
 YORKSHIRE. 01) 
 
 York Gate, on the London and Glasgow road, three miles 
 from Sir Bellingham's house. As is ahvays the case when 
 the fixture is so near, we had not a minute to spare, and 
 just got to the place as Lord Darlington drove up in his 
 carriage, with Lady Arabella Vane, his youngest daughter, 
 for whose riding' a most splendid horse was in waiting. 
 Lady Arabella was attired in her scarlet habit, and his 
 Lordship in a straight-cut scarlet coat, with an embroidered 
 fox on the collar, a hat, and a leather girdle across his 
 shoulder. His two whippers in were also in hats, and had 
 the embroidered fox on the collar.* 
 
 Setting aside the attractions I have already enumerated, 
 losing sight of his rank and other adventitipus circumstan- 
 ces, I met Lord Darlington greatly prepossessed in his fa- 
 vor, '/have known Lord Darlington,' said Sir Belling- 
 ham, over our claret on the evening preceding, ' from Tny 
 earliest years, and have a very great regard for him. There 
 is one thing his passion for fox-hunting we must all es- 
 teem him for; and, when we go to visit him, I think you 
 will find him a most excellent companion, and one of the 
 best bred men in the world.' 
 
 During Sir Bellingham Graham's absence from York- 
 shire, he had not been unmndful of his countrymen, and 
 the foxes on his property had been well preserved. We 
 drew a beautiful whin of his this day (in the North ' gorse' 
 is termed ' whin.') of ten acres, just then in its prime. 
 After working at him for thirty-five minutes, a fine young 
 fox was killed ; and when the hounds had eaten him, and 
 he had taken them a little turn to recover their wind, his 
 Lordship put them into the whin again. Another fox went 
 gallantly away over a very pretty country ; but being so 
 unfortunate as to change in one of Sir Bellingham's woods, 
 where our hunted fox was headed, the fresh fox took a worse 
 line, and went to ground in Tanfield Park. However, we 
 had an hour and five minutes, and marked our fox; so 
 there was no reason to complain. I made an observation, 
 that t never saw any hounds draw strong gorse as Lord 
 
 *In the well-known print of the Earl of Darlington and his 
 fox-hounds, his Lordship appears in a cap, which himself and 
 his men for many years rode in, but at present they all wear 
 hats.
 
 70 NIMROD'S HUNTING TOOK. 
 
 Darlington's did on this day, and indeed it was the same 
 throughout the season. But it is their trade ; they have 
 scarcely any other coverts to draw ; and they are almost al- 
 ways sure of a fox a grand security against slack draw- 
 ing. 
 
 When the hounds were first thrown into Sir Bellingham's 
 whin, I observed the Baronet getting rather fidgetty at 
 their not finding immediate! y-^-it being the first time any 
 covert of his had been tried since his return to Yorkshire ; 
 and he afterwards told me, that, if there had not been a 
 brace of foxes in it, he should have instantly discharged 
 his keepers; but, fortunately for them, it held a leash. 
 
 It is somewhat remarkable that our second fox this day 
 tried ths earths under the kennel at Norton Conyers, which 
 earths were constantly used when Sir Bellingham hunted 
 the Badsvvorth country, and kept his hounds in it during 
 the summer months. 
 
 On the day I have been speaking of, the hounds crossed 
 the river Ure, in which a gentleman farmer was drowned 
 two years ago whilst hunting with Lord Darlington's hounds 
 on the same day on which two other sportsmen lost their 
 lives, in a similar manner with other packs. The person 
 I am alluding to was mounted on the tallest horse in the 
 field, and was a good swimmer ; so it is supposed his head 
 turned giddy, and he fell off his horse perhaps in a fit. 
 We crossed this river another day when it was neither so 
 deep nor so rapid, but, owing to being obliged to look at 
 the water to avoid the large stones at the bottom of it, it 
 made me very giddy. There are smelts and graylings in 
 this stream, which is a very handsome one, though very 
 injurious, by its extreme rapidity, to the country through 
 which it passes. But Yorkshire is ' a land of brooks of 
 water, of fountains, and depths that spring out of valleys 
 and hills;' and, to continue the simile, it might once have 
 been said of it, that it was ' a land wherein thou shalt eat 
 bread without scarceness ; thou shalt not lack anything in 
 it ; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills 
 thou mayest dig brass.' 
 
 The Saturday previous to my meeting Lord Darlington's 
 hounds ar York Gate, rather a singular circumstance oc- 
 curred. The pack divided, and at the end of half an
 
 YORKSHIRE. 71 
 
 hour, eleven couples of them ran in to their fox, with only 
 two'couple and a half of entered hounds among them, and 
 the remainder of the pack killed theirs. 
 
 Wednesday, 15th. Met Lord Darlington at Tanfield 
 bridge, and had a very hard day for hounds, though never 
 two fields out of covert. 1 had this day not much in fa- 
 vor of sport with fox-hounds an opportunity of seeing 
 the magnificent scenery of Hackfall, another pic-nic place, 
 where there is the grandest waterfall in England. The 
 morning was wasted in rattling these coverts, as well as 
 those of Mr. Staveley, of Slemford, and all the field, ex- 
 cept Lord Darlington, Sir Bellingham Graham, Hon. Cap- 
 tain Paulet, Mr. Wharton, Colonel Ellice, Mr. Anderson, 
 myself, and the servants, were gone home. At half past 
 three o'clock, as Lord Darlington was getting his hounds 
 out of covert, Sir Bellingham addressed him thus : ' Well, 
 my Lord, I think it is time to go home, and your road is 
 my road.' ' My road, 1 said his Lordship, ' is through that 
 wood ;' pointing to Heslett Wood, two miles in nearly a 
 contrary direction. To Heslett Wood we went, and away 
 went a fox. Hounds never went faster than these did fur 
 twenty-five minutes, when they came to the first check. 
 Sir Bellingham had sent his first horse home, and was up- 
 on a five year old, in little hetter than dealer's condition, so 
 he prudently pulled up at the check ; but as far as he did 
 go he went well. ' 1 shall melt his grease,'* said he to 
 me. ' That you certainly will,' replied I ; for he was then 
 as white as a sheet. To make short of my story, we ran 
 this fox sometimes chasing, sometimes hunting, as the 
 nature of the soil admitted for one hour and twenty-two 
 minutes, and the last twenty minutes in the dark, or we 
 should certainly have tasted him. ' We want the lamps 
 lit,' said I to his Lordship, as he was cramming his mare 
 at a fence without knowing which side the ditch was, and 
 without seeing a gate which I espied in the corner. ' I 
 think we do,' said this veteran sportsman ; but he disdain- 
 ed leaving his line for the gate. I saw the place after- 
 wards, and it was an ugly drop into a turnpike road, 
 
 * ' A burnt child dreads the fire,' This has happened to Sir 
 B. more than once.
 
 72 NIMROD'S HUNTING TOUR. 
 
 Soon after this we stopped the hounds, just as they were 
 getting into Snape Park. 
 
 I dined this day at Newton House, situated at the two 
 hundred and twentieth mile-stone on the London and Glas- 
 gow road, close to the village of Londonderry, and in that 
 part of the road known by the name of Leeming Lane. 
 When first Lord Darlington inhabited it, it was upon quite 
 a small scale, and abounded with inconveniences, which 
 nothing but fox-hunting could have reconciled a Nobleman 
 with his means to have put up with. In consequence how- 
 ever, of an accident, occasioned by the falling of a stack of 
 chimneys in a very tempestuous night, about five years 
 back, it was razed to the ground, and rebuilt by his Lord- 
 ship on a very considerable scale. The kennel and sta- 
 bles are close to the .house, and the whole is shut out from 
 the road by a very high wall. The house possesses every 
 convenience as well as comfort, and is the most complete 
 hunting box in England, perhaps in any other country; 
 and here Lord Darlington says he spends the happiest days 
 of the year. The stables and offices for the servants are 
 quite perfect of their kind, as also is the kennel. This 
 place, with a pretty estate around it, abounding with pheas- 
 ants and fox coverts, both most strictly preserved by her 
 Ladyship, is the property of the Countess of Darlington. 
 
 It is not often that a wrinkle is to be given to masters of 
 fox-hounds, but the kennel at Newton House, I think, af- 
 fords one. There is a passage leading from the feeding to 
 the lodging room which is made to hold water, about six 
 inches deep on the level. This, on hunting days, is filled 
 with broth from the copper, and hounds pass through it in 
 the evening, after they have been fed. The consequence 
 is they lick their feet dry; and the healing properties of a 
 dog's tongue to a 'sore are very well established. 
 
 Perhaps I cannot do better than here give a brief ac- 
 count of the Earl of Darlington as a sportsman. To the 
 title of sportsman who can have a better claim 1 It is as 
 legitimate as his Earldom, and we must pay reverence to 
 his name. 
 
 I have already said, that Lord Darlington has kept fox- 
 hounds, and has hunted them himself, for thirty-six years ; 
 and it is positively asserted, that, unless prevented by ill-
 
 YORKSHIRE. 73 
 
 ness an unusual occurrence with him or a call of the 
 House of Lords on some important occasion, he has only 
 been absent from them in the field three times in that num- 
 ber of years. Neither does he on this account fond as he 
 is of racing ever attend the Newmarket October Meetings. 
 A pleasing recreation, they say, is no task ; but if proof 
 were wanting of his extreme attention to his duty, it will be 
 had in the first page of his book, called ' Operations of tht 
 Raby Pack,' published every year, in which it will be found 
 that he goes through all the drudgery of cub-hunting as 
 the old song says 'sleep and a downy bed scorning.' As 
 a specimen, I will transcribe the two first hunting days of 
 the season before last. 
 
 ' Wednesday, August 3 1st. At seven o'clock, I tried La- 
 dy Wood, and only found one fox, andsoon lost him. Found 
 again in'the whin, ran to the wood, and soon killed a cub 
 bitch fox. Very hot dry morning. Had twelve couples of 
 young hounds, eight couples of the two-year-olds, and ten 
 and a half of the oldest hounds; in all thirty couples and a 
 half. Rode Sir Harry; Dick, Panegyric; Will, Ravens- 
 wood : and George, Bosphorus.' Proh pudor ! my 
 Lord, to put a whipper-in upon Panegyric in such weather 
 as this ! 
 
 ' Thursday, September 1st. At seven o'clock I tried 
 Schoolhouse whin plantation blank ; and then Henderson's, 
 where I found a litter of cubs, and again found in Parna- 
 by's, and in the kennel whin, but could not run one yard, 
 nor catch a fox, from the extreme heat and blazing sun. 
 Had fourteen couples and a half of young, sixteen couples 
 and a half of the three, four, and five years old hounds out. 
 Rode Sir Harry; Dick, Swing; Will, Obadiah; , and 
 George, Salopian.' 
 
 In the same style marking every occurrence of the day 
 often with much humor, but always with abundance of 
 zeal, does this amusing record proceed, and upon no occa- 
 sion no not after the merriest evening he ever passed 
 would his Lordship retire to rest until this task were execu- 
 ted. There is a precedent for everything. It was a sacred 
 rule amongst a heathen nation, that they should every CT- 
 ening run over the actions and affairs of the day, and doubt- 
 less the practice turned to their account. 
 
 VOL. II. 7
 
 74 MM HOD'S HUNTING TOUR. 
 
 Lord Darlington's rank and fortune having placed him 
 on the summit of human life, if money can contribute to 
 the pleasures of the day, that one thing needful can never 
 he wanting. It would not be much then to say of him, that, 
 in point of expense and splendor of establishment in his 
 kennels and stables, he stands first on the roll of masters of 
 fox-hounds, keeping them upon their own resources. 1 
 should be inclined to say he did stand first; but perhaps 
 his expenditure may be exceeded by that of the Q.uorn 
 country. 
 
 Everything with Lord Darlington is managed with order 
 and method. He has a weekly state of his coverts regular- 
 ly brought to him specifying what had been done to each 
 covert, or the fences round it, and also what is required 
 to be done ; and some estimate may be made of the 
 expense he is at in preserving foxes, by the single fact c 
 his paying 340Z. a-yearto his own tenants in the Raby coun- 
 try for rent of coverts north of the river Tees. 
 
 Exclusively of advertising his fixtures in the several 
 newspapers, Lord Darlington sends private cards to several 
 of his Hunt, and he always fixes four days a-week, unless 
 when he is obliged to attend the House of Lords, when 
 they are reduced to three. In one respect his hounds have 
 an advantage, and himself must also feel it. Both his ken- 
 nels are in the centre of his Hunts, and therefore they have 
 not long distances to covert. 
 
 Lord Darlington's hounds are divided into two packs 
 one called the young, and the other the old pack, although 
 of course there are some old hounds in the former. His 
 Lordship is fond of large hounds, and he has succeeded in 
 breeding them quite to the top of the standard bigger in- 
 deed, on his own admission, than his country requires*. 
 Their speed, however, with ascent is quite proportionate to 
 their size, and when brought to hunting, fastidious must be 
 the man who finds fault with them. On this point, then, I 
 think 1 have said enough ; but I am happy to be able to 
 state the candid admission of their noble huntsman, that, to 
 those very eminent breeders of fox-hounds, Sir Richard 
 
 * In countries so close as Yorkshire, hounds must occasional!/ 
 meuse, when smaller hounds have the advantage.
 
 YORKSHIRE. 7j 
 
 Puleston and Mr. Ward, is he deeply indebted for that es- 
 sential to blood steadiness on the line for which the Raby 
 pack are at present conspicuous. 
 
 Pictures cannot be drawn without shades ; and truth and 
 impartiality require me to say, that I was given to under- 
 stand steadiness on the line was not at one time the charac- 
 teristic of the Raby pack. Their speed was undisputed ; b'it 
 a little more stoop and a little more patiencp under difficul- 
 ties were wanting. That they are at this time the speediest 
 hounds in England, it may be hard to determine ; but t have 
 heard Sir Belltngham Graham say they are the speediest // 
 ever saw ; and during the many times I hunted with them, 
 I witnessed some as fine hunting as hounds can possibly 
 show. 
 
 Having spoken of the high standard of the Raby pack, 
 I must be allowed to state that their size is as little detri- 
 mental to their symmetry as can possibly be expected, and 
 they bear evident marks of being bred by a judicious hand. 
 Large animals are never so perfect of their kind as smaller 
 ones, which mainly accounts for the advantage bitches 
 have in this respect over dog hounds ; and in horses, where 
 is the pony put in very high condition that we should not 
 call handsome? and how scarce is this quality in a horse 
 seventeen hands high ! The Raby pack are not parted for 
 the sex, and the kennel contains between seventy and eighty 
 couples of working hounds. 
 
 Lord Darlington is assisted in the field by three men 
 namely, two whippers-in, and the man who rides his Lord- 
 ship's second horse. Their Christian names are Dick, 
 Will, and George; but I can give the surname of Will only, 
 having known him as Will Price when he lived with Colo- 
 nel Berkeley. The last time I saw him previous to met?! 
 ing him in Yorkshire was on the top of a Cheltenham 
 coach, on his road to London having left Colonel Berke- 
 ley's service to hire himself to Lord Charles Somerset, 
 to take some hounds to the Cape of Good Hope. Will, how- 
 ever, thought better of going among the black boors of thru 
 settlement, and went to whip in to Mr. Musters. From 
 Mr. Musters he succeeded to his present place; and I con- 
 sider him a very able man in the field. 
 
 Here Will furnished me with an anecdote which must
 
 /G NIMROD S HUNTING TOUR. 
 
 rot be lost. Previous to his going to Mr. Musters, Will 
 Price was supposed to be a single man, but whilst in North- 
 amptonshire he had an increase to his establishment. This 
 gave rise to the report of his being married; and when his 
 old master the Colonel stumbled upon him, a word or two 
 was exchanged on the subject. 'So, Will,' said Colonel B. 
 ' you are married 1 find ? 1 should have thought you might 
 have done without a wife.'' Lord bless you, Colonel,' re- 
 plied Will, ' I am not married she's only a woman I've got 
 for the season. 1 
 
 Saturday the 18th. The fixture was at Newton House. 
 I was housed there the night before, and Sir Bellingham 
 Graham and his two sons came this day to breakfast, my 
 friend Godfrey on his celebrated pony Barefoot so named 
 from his likeness to the no less celebrated race-horse of that 
 name looking determined to go ; and in truth this young 
 Nimrod is very hard to beat. We had two very handsome 
 finds from Lady Darlington's preserves, and one of the two 
 foxes gave us a beautiful gallop of twenty-seven minutes, 
 and a kill ; we also killed the second. We had then a pret- 
 ty two-and-twenty minutes in the evening, from Askew 
 Moor, but whipped off as our fox crossed a river, and it was 
 late. Lady Augusta iViilbanke and Lady Arabella Vane 
 (his Lordship's eldest and youngest daughters) were out, 
 and a very numerous field of sportsmen besides. 
 
 With our first fox we had some very severe fencing, and 
 there were two very awkward falls. First, Mr. Fenton, 
 who, although on a very good leaper, was landed on his 
 head, on the headland of a fallow field, in no very enviable 
 manner for a weight like his. The fall, however, was a 
 harmless one ; but I attribute the disaster to this cause: 
 the Goddess of Hunting, like other old maids, is easily af- 
 fronted, and when she knits her brow is of vindictive tem- 
 per, sometimes requiring even human sacrifice. Mr. Fen- 
 ton's costume was ill suited to her court: he was attired in 
 white Russian-duck trowsers an'd Wellington boots, look- 
 ing very unlike a fox-hunter in the end of November. As 
 his cloth was black, he ought to have remembered the words 
 of the text ' How earnest thou hither not having the wed- 
 ding garment ? ' 
 
 The other accident was of a more serious nature. The
 
 YORKSHIRE* 77 
 
 whipper-in's (Dick's) horse fell with him at a fence, and 
 came with all his weight on his rider's ribs and breast. He 
 was conveyed home, and every care taken of him ; but he 
 was found to be seriously injured. 
 
 Sunday the 19th. As Sir Bellingham and myself passed 
 this day at Newton House, we had an opportunity of see- 
 ing- some of the operations of the kennel. Contrary to the 
 practice of many gentlemen-huntsmen, Lord Darlington 
 feeds his own hounds, not only on hunting days, but upon 
 all others during the season; and I was much pleased with 
 the very business-like manner in which he set about it. 
 Previous to quitting the house, he put a pair of calashes 
 over his boots, and when he got to the kennel, the feeder 
 presented him with a clean white (I scarcely know what to 
 call it) frock, something like what the better order of butch- 
 ers wear, which his Lordship put on over his coat. This 
 reached down to his heels, completely preventing his other 
 clothes being soiled ; and when he pulled off that and his 
 calashes on leaving the kennel, he was fit to walk into a 
 drawing-room. 
 
 His Lordship was minutely particular in feeding the two 
 packs ; and, although the day was far from inviting, he 
 walked out each pack for very near an hour, accompanied 
 (with the exception of Sir B. and myself) only by his feeder. 
 Were I to say I never saw a pack of fox-hounds looking 
 better and brighter in their skins than Lord Darlington's, 
 might go a point too far, but their condition was very level 
 and I never saw a sounder pack of hounds in my life or 
 one more full of bone. 
 
 During our walk out with the hounds, Lord Darlington re- 
 lated to us a singular anecdote of the instinct of a fox-hound. 
 In his father's life-time, a hound called Gleaner was sent 
 from Yorkshire to the then Duke of Bolton, of Hackwood 
 Park, near Basingstoke in Hampshire; and in the almos: 
 incredible space of sixty hours he was back at his kennel 
 in Yorkshire. 
 
 When we had done with the hounds, we devoted an hour 
 to the stables, which, though not equal in space or mag- 
 nificence to those at Raby, are in every respect sufficient, 
 and hold about thirty hunters besides coach horses. It is 
 worthy of remark, that with the exception of a pony of the 
 
 VOL. II. 7*
 
 73 NIMROD'S HUNTING TOUR. 
 
 Countess's, I never saw a hack either here or at Raby. 
 Everything goes a hunting, or in harness; but of the stud 
 I shall speak hereafter. Three of the hunters were going 
 off this day to London to the 'hammer, but we had a saddle 
 put on one of them, and gave him a gallop in the grounds, 
 which ended by Sir Beliingham purchasing him for his 
 own stud. Lord D. made us laugh when he told us he sold 
 that horse solely to oblige the ladies. ' A better hunter, 1 said 
 his Lordship, ' no man need ride; but he put his foot into a 
 grip one day with my boy, and came down, which the La- 
 dies attributed to his having only one eye.' 
 
 Speaking of the Ladies, 'Pray, my Lord,' said I, as we 
 were walking out with the hounds after feeding, ' is not 
 your kennel here very near to the house? Does not the 
 savor of the boiler sometimes find its way into the drawing- 
 room ?' 'It may,' replied his Lordship, ' but we are all to 
 well bred for fox-hunting to mind that} At all events, 
 'a concord of sweet sounds' must often titilate the Ladies' 
 ears. 
 
 I cannot here let pass an anecdote of Dick the whipper- 
 in, as it is so truly characteristic of the ruling passion, and 
 also of the attachment men have to hounds when cradled in 
 a kennel. It so happened that we were all and a pretly 
 large party seated at the breakfast table, when Lord Dar- 
 lington made his appearance. Next to the usual inquiries 
 after his Lordship's health, the question was asked by two 
 or three at once, ' Have you heard how Dick is?' ' I have 
 been to his bed-side,' said Lord D. ; 'he has had a restless 
 night, nevertheless I hope he will do well ; but he made 
 me smile when he said he had no doubt but he should be 
 able to go out with the hounds on Wednesday ! He also in- 
 quired after Lightning's eyes, and how Rufus and Mortimer 
 had fed ? ' 
 
 Monday the 20th. Lord Darlington met at No-man's 
 Moor, about five miles from Newton House. Drew sever- 
 al plantations, and Mr. Scroope's whin ; plenty of pheasants, 
 but no fox. Found beautifully in Wylde Wood, the 
 property of Mr. Wyvil, Member" for York, and had thirty 
 minutes to ground, very straight and very fast till just at 
 the end, when the hounds divided, or we must have tasted 
 him. There was a very large field this day, and amongst
 
 YORKSHIRE. 79 
 
 them his Grace of Leeds. Lord Darlington rode his fa- 
 mous grey house Panegyric, purchased some years since of his 
 Grace, and Mr. Milbanke went very well upon a horse once 
 Mr. Maxse's. 
 
 As Sir Bellingham and myself were to return to Norton 
 Conyers that afternoon, and we were then nearly twenty 
 miles distant from it, we took leave of his Lordship as he 
 was trying to bolt his fox, and made towards the place 
 where our hacks were planted. On the road we passed 
 through the village of Burniston, and here I saw a sign to a 
 public-house quite new to me. It consisted of portraits at 
 full length and in full costume of the four following person- 
 ages : a king, a soldier, a parson, and a farmer ; and the 
 house is yclept The Four Alls. Out of the mouth of His 
 Majesty were the words, ' I govern all; ' the soldier says, 
 I fight for all,' the parson ' I pray for all,' and the farmer 
 finishes with ' I pay for all.' This reminds me of an in- 
 scription over the door of an inn which Lord Darlington 
 informed me he saw at Pisa in Italy, and which he was kind 
 enough to transcribe for me whenatRaby. Its ingenuity 
 consists in being written in four different languages, and yet 
 the rhyme and metre so well preserved : 
 
 ' In questa Casa trouverate, 
 Tout ce qu'on pent souhaiter, 
 Bonutn vinum,pisces, carnes, 
 Coaches, chaises, horses, harness.' 
 
 For the benefit of those who only know one language, the- 
 followinir may be quoted as the English version of the en- 
 tertainment and accommodation thus held out to travel- 
 lers: 
 
 In this house a man may find 
 All things suited to his mind ; 
 Good wine fish and flesh in courses, 
 Coaches, chaises, harness, horses. 
 
 Tuesday, November 21st, met the -York and Ainsty at 
 Pilmor, ten miles from Norton Conyers, a common situated 
 between two very large coverts a wild fox hunting place.
 
 $0 NIMROD'S HUNTING TOUR. 
 
 but not a November fixture- In the spring it must often 
 afford runs. On this day our hounds divided and made bad 
 work of it. I got off with the smaller lot ; but seeing that 
 nothing could be done, and that the fox was making back 
 for the coverts, I trotted gently on the line. We again found, 
 and had a hunting run through a horrible country compos- 
 ed of fields about two acres each, enclosed with strong black- 
 thorn fences nice chances for horses' legs ! Fortunately 
 for my horse he cast a shoe, and I went home ; but rather 
 a singular adventure occurred. I had ridden about two 
 miles in quest of a black-smith, when I met a person on 
 foot (Mr. Dale of Creakhill). 'I think 1 have got your 
 shoe in my pocket,' said he. ' Did you not ride over the 
 rails out of Pilmor with Mr. George Swann ?' On telling 
 him I did, he informed me my horse pulled off his shoe 
 when he landed on the other side. Had it not come offa fall 
 would have been the result. 
 
 On this day several Officers of the Fifth Dragoon Guards 
 (quartered at York) were in the field. Their commanding 
 officer, Colonel Wallace, a very hard rider, was at this time 
 laid up from the effects of a bad fall with Lord Darlington's 
 hounds, which had nearly cost him his life. His foot became 
 fast in his stirrup, and he received several severe kicks from 
 his horse before hecoukl disengage himself from his perilous 
 
 situation. One of his Captains, the Hon Kennedy, 
 
 brother to the very sporting Nobleman of that name, is also 
 a bruising rider, and I had seen him and one of the Subal- 
 terns (Mr. Brimer) on a visitto Sir Bellingharn. Mr. Brimer 
 gave upwards of four hundred guineas for two of Mr. Petre's 
 hunters at his sale, when he gave up the Badsworth hounds. 
 Mr. Goodlake, another Sub of this regiment, and eldest son 
 of the Champion of the Long-tails of that name, was also 
 out this day on a horse he gave MY. Harvey Combe a lons 1 - 
 ish price for; and on another day 1 met Mr. Radcliffe of 
 this regiment in the field, who is a member of Mr. Farqu- 
 harson's Hunt, and a very pretty performer 
 
 Wednesday, 22nd, met Lord Darlington at Tanfiek! 
 Bridge, which crosses the river Eure, and had a beautiful 
 find. The fox being asleep on the, bank, and jumping up 
 among the hounds, had hard work to get away. However.
 
 YORKSHIRE. 81 
 
 he only lived half an hour, the pack being close at hisbrush, 
 This country requires notice. It goes by the name of Pic- 
 cadilly, with the pleasant addition of Piccadilly, with the 
 pavement broken up. Foj stones, this eclipses all stony or 
 flinty countries I have ever seen, and the worst part of 
 Hampshire is a fool to it. Thank Heaven, however, it is of 
 small extent, as it is surrounded by land of a different des- 
 cription. We found again and again again and again 
 in all five foxes; some on Sir Bellingham's, and some on 
 Mr. Staveley's land ; but we could do no good, although one 
 took us within half a mile of the town of Ripon. 
 
 Thursday, 23d. Nothing to be done in the hunting way ; 
 so I got upon my hack and rode to Ripon, celebrated in the 
 annals of England for its manufactory of spur-rowels; and 
 hence a brave man is called a man of mettle ' of steel as 
 true as Ripon rmotls! ' 
 
 Friday, 24th, met Lord Darlington at Butcherhouse 
 Bar, on the great North-road. The day was tempestuous, 
 and we were intercepted by snow-storms ; so the only thing 
 worth notice was, we found two brace and a half of foxes, 
 and killed a brace. We had ten minutes, I remember, aw- 
 fully fast from Pickhill whin, one of the finest coverts I 
 ever saw, but two near the rivers Swale and Wisk to pro- 
 duce any certainty of sport; though when hounds do run 
 they must go fast in that country, as the land is rich, with a 
 good deal of grass. 
 
 After hunting on this day, Sir Bellingham Graham and 
 myself dined at Throp Hall, the seat of Mr. Mark Milbanke 
 M. P. for Camelforcl. I have given it as my opinion that the 
 most complete hunting seat I ever saw is Newton House ; 
 and I think, if I were asked whether in my walk through 
 life I had seen a more complete residence for a coun- 
 try gentleman of from six to ten thousand a-year than 
 Thorp Hall, I should be inclined to say I had not. In fart, 
 the principal drawing-room comes under the head of splen- 
 did ; but it is the utile dulci, the happy admixture of conve- 
 nience and comfort throughout the entire of the place, that 
 struck me with admiration. There r\pt only is not a room 
 nor an office wanting, but every room and every office ap- 
 pears to be in its proper place. The stables also are most 
 excellent ; and as they remind me of the motto of ' good en-
 
 OxJ NIMROD S HUNTING TOTJR. 
 
 tertainment for man and horse,' I am sure it might be dis- 
 played orvthe ban-ners of Thorp, for a more agreeable house 
 no man can enter. You have all the elegances of life, with- 
 out that over-refinement of them which only operates as 
 their bane. It gives an insipidity to conversation, and may 
 not be inaptly compared to a bad cork in a bottle of good 
 -wine. It spoils the flavor of everything. 
 The Poet says, 
 
 1 'Tis not indeed, my talent to engage 
 In lofty trifles, or to swell my page 
 With wind and noise ;' 
 
 and this is very good advice: nevertheless, having been in- 
 dulged with a licence of now and then reporting some tri- 
 fling occurrences in private life that meet my eye on my 
 travels, I am induced to notice a singular feature in Mr. Mil- 
 banke's establishment : he never oices a bill, neither does he 
 ever draw a cheque. By this he assured me he saves 5QQL 
 per annum, and I can easily credit the assertion. 
 
 Thorp Hall is only three miles from Newton House, 
 consequently the intercourse between the families is almost 
 daily. Mr. Milbanke is a strict preserver of foxes on the 
 whole of his property in Lord Darlington's Hunts which 
 is very considerable and yet he has abundance of pheas- 
 ants. I consider Mr. Milbanke the best mounted man in 
 Lord Darlington's Hunt, his horses being well bred, and 
 more than equal to his weight ; and when it came to pace, 
 I thought his horses had the heels of all the rest. 
 
 Saturday, the 25th, met Lord Darlington at Exilby, a 
 very short distance from Mr. Milbanke's house. The morning 
 was wild and 'tempestuous, with frequent snow-storms, and the 
 pack appeared at the covert's side without their huntsman. 
 4 He will come yet,' said one of the Old School; 'worse 
 'weather than this has never kept him away from his hounds.' 
 The fact was his Lordship had a cold, and was- far from 
 well ; but the prophetic words were scarcely out of his old 
 friend's lips, than a gfey horse was seen in the distance, 
 which we soon perceived was old Panegyric with his mas- 
 ter on his back. Nothing occurred worth booking; but 
 we killed one fos in Low Park Wood, and after having
 
 YORKSHIRE. 
 
 tried it blank with one terrier, four foxes, were bolted out of 
 one of Mr. Milbanke's drains by another. 
 
 Sunday the 26th. Sir Bellingham and myself quitted 
 Thorp, and returned to Norton Conyers, travelling through 
 deep snow. 
 
 Monday the 27th was a hard frost. The next day a thaw 
 commenced, though not sufficient to admit of hunting; and 
 on Wednesday we were to have hunted with Lord Darling- 
 ton ; but as the fixture was at a distance, and the ground 
 scarcely rideable, we met the Boroughbridge harriers in- 
 stead. We had no scent, therefore no sport. 
 
 On the 30lh, Sir Bellingham and myself returned to 
 Thorp Hall, for the purpose of attending the Bedale Club, 
 composed of the members of the Raby Hunt. The Hon. 
 Colonel Arden was the chairman of the day, and a very 
 pleasant evening was the result. Sir Bellingham was just 
 elected a member, and displayed the embroidered fox on his 
 collar. Was anything wanting to prove Lord Darlington's 
 staunchness to fox-hunting, and all the et-ceteras of it, his 
 constant attendance at this Club every Thursday when his 
 hounds are in the country would go a great way towards it. 
 Some would consider it no small sacrifice to exchange a 
 Nobleman's dinner-room for a half-furnished parlor at the 
 Swan* at Bedale; but where fox-hunting requires it, it cea- 
 ses to be a sacrifice with such a thorough-bred sportsman a* 
 he has shown himself. It has occasionally happened that 
 engagements have prevented the attendance of any of the 
 members, and which circumstance his Lordship has been 
 aware of: but even this has not prevented his own presence, 
 taking with him some friend or friends that maybe in his 
 house. 
 
 The Bedale Club has been established six years. They 
 find their own wines, and the funds amount to between four 
 and five hundred pounds. 
 
 Friday, December 1st, met Lord Darlington at Bedale 
 town-end. Found in the Rev. John Monson's whin, and 
 had twenty-three minutes, with a kill, very quick indeed. 
 
 * I mean no disparagement to this house, which is as good as any 
 other to be met with in small towns. Bedale is situated a little to the 
 left of the Great North Road, and not more than half an hour's drive 
 from Newton House, or Thorp.
 
 84 NIMROD'S HUNTING TOOK. 
 
 Mr. Milbanke, Mr. George Sergeantson, arid Sir Belling- 
 hatn Graham, were conspicous in the burst, out of a numer- 
 ous field, and the fencing was frequent and awkward. Mr. 
 Monson lost his hat, and consequently his place at starting, 
 or no doubt he would have been with them, for he is a very 
 excellent performer. In Lord Darlington's book of last 
 year, his Lordship thus speaks of this gentleman : ' I can- 
 not omit to mention that the Rev. John Monson shone as 
 conspicuously this day on his grey mare as in the pulpit, 
 and was alone with the hounds over Ainderby mires at last 
 near Thornhill's willow bed.' 
 
 On Sunday, December 3rd, I left Northallerton, and 
 proceeded towards Sedgefield, the head-quarters of the lamb- 
 ton Hunt. 
 
 Monday, December 4th. The fixture for Mr. Lambton's 
 hounds was Whitton, a few miles distant from Rushyford, 
 but the turnpike road was as hard as Piccadilly pavement : 
 so I did not send a horse to covert, and began to prepare to 
 retrace rny steps to Newton House. About mid day, how- 
 ever, the wind changed, and symptoms appeared of what is 
 called in Durham 'fresh weather,' alias rain. So much 
 for the fickleness of English skies, for in three more hours 
 the frost was almost gone ! 
 
 It is natural to suppose that I was provided with an in- 
 troduction to Mr. Ralph Lambton, and which he was previ- 
 ously in possession of; but I did not intend making my ap- 
 perance at the Club until after the first day's hunting; so, 
 in pleasing anticipation of a good run on the morrow, I sat 
 down to my dinner at six o'clock at Rushyford inn, and in 
 half an hour after the door opened, and in walked three 
 strangers. Two strangers, other-wise attired, might have 
 alarmed my nerves; but the scarlet coats and mud-bespatter- 
 ed boots of these friendly intruders proclaimed them visitors 
 of the right sort ; and they came with a message from Mr. 
 Lambton, expressing his regret that I had not been with 
 his hounds in the morning, but hoping to see me at the 
 Club at seven o'clock, their hour of dinner. The trio was 
 composed of Mr. William Williamson (brother to Sir Hed- 
 with); Mr. Harland, of Sutton Hall, Yorkshire; and a 
 Derbyshire gentleman by the name of Hurt. They were 
 kind enough also to express their regret that I had lost a
 
 YORKSHIRE. 85 
 
 great treat on that day ; for having gone out at one o'clock 
 into a low country, they had seen a beautiful run of thir- 
 ty-five minutes, with a kill, and the riding not much amiss. 
 Being on their road to Whitworth, the seat of Mr. Dun- 
 combe Shafto, where they were engaged to dinner, they took 
 their leave with the assurance of shewing me a good day's 
 sport on the morrow. This was a promising commence- 
 ment of my visit to Durham, and a flattering reception in a 
 land of strangers. 
 
 When I awoke the next morning, I found the ground so 
 hard that there was no possibility of hunting, so took anoth- 
 er nap. My slumbers, however, were light, being distur- 
 bed by dreams of frozen oceans, mountains of ice, and all 
 the horrors of the Arctic regions ; for I had never before 
 been even thus far North, and I considered this was only the 
 beginning of an inclement season. 
 
 The specimen I had in the three members of the Sedge- 
 field Hunt brought me to the resolution of spending a few 
 days at the Club, hunting or no hunting ; so despatched my 
 clothes, and followed upon my hack. Encouraged by the 
 sudden alteration of the weather the day before, I found the 
 servants, in their red coats and caps ready for a start, and 
 several gentlemen booted and spurred ; but all in vain. 
 There was every appearance of a month's shut-up. 
 
 On my arrival at Sedgefield, I lost no time in paying my 
 respects to the master of the hounds, whom I found sports- 
 man-like taking up his abode in a small lodging, next door 
 but one to the inn where the Club dined, and where he may 
 be said to be near his work, as the kennel is. also adjoining 
 the inn yard. He accosted me with great kindness; assur- 
 ed me he would do all in his power to make my visit agree- 
 able, and to induce me to repeat it another season, whilst he 
 lamented the awkward prospect then before us. 
 
 Mr. Lambton's pack being one of very high character, it 
 was natural that I should feel anxious for a sight of them, 
 and in a very short time we were in the kennel. He was 
 also good enough to say that, although we could not hunt, 
 he would take out the whole pack for exercise, and shew me 
 some of his best country, of which, as far as my eye could 
 carry me, and looking at it under such inauspicious circum- 
 stances, I formed a very favorable opinion. 
 
 VOL. II. 8
 
 85 NIMROD'S HUNTING TOUR. 
 
 These hounds have always gone by the name of the 
 Lambton hounds, in consequence, I conclude, of a small 
 subscription, amounting to somewhat about eight hundred 
 pounds, which must go but a little way towards the expenses 
 of so grand an establishment as I am justfied in represent- 
 ing this to be. Mr. Lambton's kennel consists of about 
 sixty couples of hounds ; a very capital stud of hunters for 
 himself and his men, of whom he has four out every day ; 
 and his fixtures are always four, and very often five days a 
 week. 
 
 Of Mr Lambton I shall say nothing at present; but of 
 his pack I am called upon to declare, that although the Poet 
 tells us, 
 
 ' so slow 
 
 The growth of what is excellent, so hard 
 T" attain perfection in this nether world : : 
 
 they do approach as near perfection as we can expect any- 
 thing here. Their standard is not high not more than 
 twenty-four for dog hounds and twenty-two for bitches 
 hut they are particularly strong. In symmetry and shew 
 of high breeding they cannot be excelled ; and their condi- 
 tion is the ne plus ultra of the art. 
 
 As nothing is more gratifying than to see objects that ap- 
 proach nearest to perfection, it was a treat to me even to 
 ride upon ice with this pack before my eyes. To an ad- 
 mirer of the animal, no higher gratification could be affor- 
 ded than in looking at such hounds as Merlin, Rosamond, 
 Rosemary, Myrtle, Lovely, Venus, and Beauty. In nam- 
 ing some of them, when whelps, Mr. Lambton may almost 
 T>e said to have had some prophetic feeling, for most of the 
 names are sympathetic of beauty. There is Venus the 
 goddess herself, there is Lovely, and there is Beauty; and 
 Rosamond, among the poets, is an appellation expressive of 
 female beauty. It may be said I degrade the character of 
 female beauty when I apply it to a dog; but I should deny 
 the charge, and answer that a fox-hound bitch displays it 
 second only to a woman: for what is the basis of what we 
 call beauty 1 Is it not shape and spirit, combined with an 
 elegant carriage ? Did not ^Eneas know Venus by htr
 
 YORKSHIRE. ! 
 
 walk ? Nothing can be more elegant than the gait of an 
 English fox-hound when cast in a perfect mould. 
 
 Mr. Lambton chiefly breeds from his own blood ; but 
 where he has gone from home for crosses, he has shewn 
 his judgment in selecting such hounds as the Duke of 
 Beaufort's Lexicon, Lord Middleton's Denmark and Van- 
 guard, Mr. Osbaldeston's Ralleywood and Palafox, the Che- 
 shire Mandate, Lord Londale's Wonder, Lord Darlington's 
 Cruiser, and Mr. Ward's Jasper the old New Forest blood, 
 that scarcely ever fails. 
 
 In our ride this day Mr. Lambton took me to the house 
 of a celebrated old sportsman in this part of the world, and 
 one of that respectable and once happy class of beings call- 
 ed English yeomen. Sir Walter Scott calls them, 
 
 ' England's peculiar and appropriate sons, 
 Known in no other land ;' 
 
 and John Burrell is as good a sample as the Poet could have 
 found. For aught I know he might have had him in his 
 eye when he wrote, 
 
 ' Each boasts his hearth 
 
 And field, as free as the best lord his barony ; 
 Owing subjection to no human vassalage 
 Save to their king and law ;' 
 
 for there was an air of honest independence about John 
 Burrell that made a deep impression upon me : and when 
 he went up to the Hon. Captain Dundas, shook him heartily 
 by the hand, and, ' in the full dialect of his nation,' asked 
 him how all his friends in Yorkshire were ? I thought I saw 
 something like a resurrection of old English manners. 
 There was a warmth of feeling in his address and language 
 so different to the cold-blooded greetings of the present day 
 that was quite to my taste ; and I was sorry to hear him de- 
 cline the honor of dining at the Club, for I am sure I should 
 have had a treat. Independent of waiting till seven o'clock 
 for his dinner, Mr. Burrell told me he was got too old for 
 such company adding, with a strong emphasis, that he had 
 a great regard for the gentlemen of the Hunt, who had been 
 very kind to him.
 
 88 NIMROD'S HUNTING TOUR. 
 
 Lovers feed upon hopes, and so at times do fox-hunters. 
 We returned to Sedgefield, hoping the frost would not last 
 long-, but not without some unpleasant forebodings. Our 
 party at the Club, in consequence of the weather, was small, 
 but everything extremely comfortable and correct ; and in 
 the secretary (Mr. Benjaman Ord, well known in the school 
 as Ben Ord, and very handy with his fists) I recognised an 
 old Rugbsean, although he quitted half a year after I enter- 
 ed the school. 
 
 Wednesday, 6th The goddess of the morning appeared 
 in a doubtful garb ; not in her saffron-colored robe as the 
 poets elegantly describe her expanding with her rosy fin- 
 gers the gates of light, and scattering the pearly dew, but 
 with a complexion dark and lowering, suitable to the month 
 of December, and surrounded by a dense fog. In the night 
 there had been what we call in England a black frost ; but 
 the wind blew from a more genial point, and hopes were 
 entertained of a change. About twelve o'clock drops 
 fell from the roofs of the houses, and before two it rain- 
 ed. 
 
 The disappearance of the frost put us all in high spirits, 
 and the rest of the morning was passed in the kennel, where 
 I had the opportunity of seeing Mr. Lambton's first per- 
 formance as a huntsman in the act of feeding his hounds. 
 This he did (and he never neglects the duty) with the min- 
 utest attention ; and his pains are requited, for his condition 
 is perfect. He is here assisted by an excellent feeder, who 
 has been many years in his kennel, and doubtless he contrib- 
 utes his share towards perfection, 
 
 In whatever capacity we view him, man is very much 
 the product of his situation ; and really, beyond a fox- 
 hound or a boiler, this boiler of carrion does not appear to 
 have a thought. I should have tried to have got a wrinkle 
 from him, but he was so strong of the Durham that I could 
 scarcely comprehend two words he said. His hounds, how- 
 ever, are not so dull, for he has them in most excellent or- 
 der : they fly from the troughs at the word of command ; 
 and well they may; for when he sings out 'Wanton, Wan- 
 ton ! gang along Walton !' I am certain he might be 
 heard at the distance of a mile on a still day. 
 
 Thursday, 7th. We might have hunted this day ; but as
 
 YORKSHIRE. *'.' 
 
 Mr. Lambton's earth-stoppers do not stop from the News- 
 papers, no earths were put to: so Mr. Williamson accompa- 
 nied me to Rushyford to see my stud, and to help to kill the 
 day. On the road thither, he shewed me something he 
 thought would please. This was a very high timber fence, 
 into the road, just newly covered with broken stones, which 
 Bob, the whipper-in, had ridden over a few days before, 
 merely to turn hounds. From the concussion produced, the 
 horse was unable to keep his legs, and floundered on his 
 head on the ground. Bob, however, stuck to him, hanging 
 at one time only by his spurs ; but he never ceased hallooing, 
 1 Get away, get away, get away, hounds !' whereas most 
 people would have been thinking of being trepanned. His 
 situation must have been an awful one, or it would have 
 been thought lightly of by Mr, Williamson ; for in all my 
 days I never saw indeed it is impossible to see a more 
 nerveless rider than the renowned Billy Williamson I 
 beg pardon, but in the Sedgefield country Mr. Williamson 
 is known by no other name of whom I must make more 
 honorable mention hereafter. 
 
 Friday, 8th. The Lambton hounds met at Butterwick, 
 three miles from Sedgefield a long draw, hounds very 
 steady, but no fox. Fancied I was near some great game- 
 preserver ; or, what is worse, some vulpecide, and noted 
 the same in my book, but said nothing, We found our- 
 selves at last by the side of a beautiful whin called Green- 
 side, and here we had a beautiful find. We had also some^ 
 thing more : we had a good display of a correct ear and 
 attention to hounds in Mr. Beckwich, a sportsman of great 
 note, and also one of the has-beens over a country ; but his 
 great weight, added to being the wrong side of fifty, now 
 stops him. This gentleman is likewise dubbed ' Billy' 
 among his familiars, and the name of Billy Beckwith is 
 well known in the North. He resides at Trindon House, 
 near Sedgefield, has a good estate in the county of Durham, 
 and is one of the best shots going. 
 
 Our Greenside fox gave us a very sharp burst to Lord 
 Howden's plantations, where we changed, and could not do 
 much afterwards. Billy Williamson went, as usual, like a 
 good one upon The Barber, who gave him two falls ; but 
 that is a trifle to a man resolved to get to hounds. A Dr. 
 VOL. n. 8*
 
 90 NIMROD'S HUNTING TOUR. 
 
 Trotter (M. D.) also, son of that distinguished sportsman, 
 Mr. Trotter of Staindrop, near Raby, went in excellent form 
 on a well-bred grey. We left off this day on the beautiful 
 domain of Mr. Burdon, of Castle Eden, who many years 
 represented the county. The scenery is beautiful, but too 
 romantic for fox-hunting. 
 
 I was much pleased by the sight of John Burrell in the 
 field this morning. His riding days are over, as indeed are 
 those of most other men at his advanced age ; but he still 
 likes the smack of the whip. I was happy in having an 
 opportunity of conversing with him, and, as far as my re- 
 collection goes, the following is about the substance of our 
 day's discourse. 
 
 Nimrod. This is a clever pack of hounds, Mr. Bur- 
 Tell. 
 
 John Burrell. You never saw such a pack before, and 
 no doubt but you have seen a muckle. 
 
 Nimrod I have seen another fine pack which you know 
 Lord Darlington's, 
 
 John B. Oh, he's a fine sportsman ! and when he's at 
 Raby I often gang to see him. I am very fond of his Lord- 
 ship, and his Lordship is very fond of me. And my Lady! 
 eh, what a horsewoman she is! but she don't gang so well 
 as she did : I reckon her Ladyship gets a bit jolly. 
 
 Nimrod. You have a fine country here, Mr. Burrell. 
 
 John B. Aye! the country's well enough; but the 
 parsons' suck all the goodness out of it. It all goes to Dur- 
 ham. 
 
 Nimrod. But, Mr. Burrell, I am sorry to find the Mar- 
 quis of Londondeny kills your foxes. I fear he will hurt 
 your country worse than the parsons. 
 
 John B. Indeed I am very angry with his Lordship, and 
 I told my Lady so the other day. She can't bear the cry of 
 dogs, she says. Oh fie ! her father was as good a sports- 
 man as ever followed a hound. What ! Sir Harry Vane 
 Tempest's daughter not bear the cry of dogs ! Oh fie ! But 
 this comes of all your fine London work. It didn't use to 
 be so* I am very angry at them ; I don't think I shall ev- 
 er gang to dine at Wynyard Park again. The last time 
 1 was there, they put me into a room that smoked like a
 
 YORKSHIRE. 91 
 
 lime kiln; but I should not have minded that if they didn't 
 kill the foxes. 
 
 Style, we are told, is the image of the mind ; and here we 
 see it displayed with the freedom and independence of an 
 English yeoman, who, I hope, will never be afraid to speak 
 his sentiments, and boldly too, in this land of liberty. Kil- 
 ling foxes, and thereby destroying the sport of a number of 
 gentlemen, who incur great expenses with the expectation 
 of enjoying it, is unworthy of any man aspiring to the char- 
 acter of an English gentleman. 
 
 I must not let John Burrell depart just yet. He has Jong 
 afforded much amusement by that bluntness of expression, 
 for which, even in the presence of superiors, the old English 
 character has ever been conspicuous, and I must give my 
 readers one more specimen. 
 
 Lord Darlington's dog-language is particularly good. I 
 think he finds his fox in a very superior manner, and some 
 of his cheering halloos quite thrill the soul. In chase how- 
 ever, he is a little lavish of the word Forward ! which once 
 called. forth the criticism of his old friend John Burrell. 
 The hounds were one day running very hard, and, it may 
 be, a litle too fast for the horses, his Lordship's among the 
 rest. Honest John happened to be close to his Lordship, 
 who was trying to cr.tch them at the same time singing 
 out ' Forward, forward, forward !' ' What in the name of 
 God ! my Lord,' exclaimed John, ' a;e you hallooing for- 
 ward for now ? surely arn't the dogs ganging a mile before 
 us already?' 
 
 On another occasion Lord Darlington made a cast which 
 tlid not please John. Sure enough the. fox had not gone 
 lhat road ; and when, after the failure, his Lordship trotted 
 tack with his hounds to the line, John Burrell exclaimed, 
 VThatcast my Lord, was perfectly ridiculous.' Lord Dar- 
 lington smiled ; but to the 'honor of fox-hunting be it said, 
 tkat had not John Burrell been a sportsman, the joke might 
 not have gone down quite so well, as we must confess the 
 language though forcible, was homely. 
 
 Saturday, Dec. 9th. The fixture was Bradbury Bridge, 
 about half way between Sedgefield and Rushyford. We 
 had no sport worth speaking of, which I regretted for more 
 reasons than one. A very promising young sportsman, and
 
 9 2 NIMROD'S HUNTING TOUR. 
 
 an elegant horseman, had travelled night and day from 
 Brasenose College, Oxford, to get in time for this "fixture. 
 This was Mr. John Shafio, second son of Mr. Buncombe 
 Shafto, of Whitworth. He is one of the steadiest young 
 ones I ever met with ; and I pronounce him, even at 
 this time, what an Irishman would term, an illigant rider 
 to hounds. 
 
 Monday, llth. Met Mr. Lambton's hounds at Grimdon. 
 Found in Carlton whin, of eighteen acres, and killed. I 
 know nothing worthy of record on this day, unless it be 
 that Billy Williamson charged an impracticable brook 
 which The Barber went gallantly at, and, falling backwards, 
 reposed himself in it for about a quarter of an hour ; but the 
 next day afforded a day's sport worthy of a place in the an- 
 nals of fox-hunting, which it gives me unfeigned pleasure 
 to record; for, being obliged to leave the Sedgefield coun- 
 try on the following Thursday, I was afraid I should have 
 quitted it without witnessing a good specimen of what this 
 clever pack of hounds could accomplish. 
 
 The hounds met at Long Newton, twelve miles -from 
 Sedgefield, where a large field of well-mounted sportsmen 
 were waiting their arrival. Being a favorite fixture, there 
 had been a strong muster of Members on the preceding ev- 
 ening at the Club ; and I know not why for no oracle had 
 been consulted no favorable omen had appeared no pro- 
 phetic dream had been related but the cheering words ' we 
 shall havea run to-morrow,' proceeded from the lips of every 
 one. ' By the Lord, Nimrod,' said Billy Williamson, ' but 
 your condition will be tried to-morrow, for we shall find a 
 good fox in a deep country.' 
 
 The morning was fine; and, as we rode to covert, I 
 thought I saw more than a common degree of cheerfulness 
 expressed in each man's countenance. As for myself as 
 I often do on this occasion I felt a buoyancy of hear' 
 quite incompressible ; and T might well have exclaimed, 
 
 ' My bosom's Lord sits lightly on his throne.' 
 
 But who will say he does not at times feel some presage of 
 the future ? I cannot say so ; I had rather yield to che ex- 
 travagance of the Poet, and declare with him
 
 YORKSHIRE. 93 
 
 ' I know not how it is ; 
 
 But a foreboding presses on my heart 
 At times until I sicken. I have heard, 
 And from'men learn'd, that before the touch 
 (The common coarser touch) of good or ill 
 That oftentimes a subtler sense informs 
 Some spirits of the approach of ' things to be.' ' 
 
 I very much liked the country about Long Newton. It 
 was dirty and deep, and looked like fox-hunting; the fields 
 were large, with a fair share of grass. Contrary to expecta- 
 tion, we drew some very likely coverts without finding; at 
 last a fox went gallantly away from Foxyhill. The first 
 half hour was - an arrant burst. Hounds could not well go 
 faster, and the check was only momentary. One gentleman, 
 a little over anxious, had got too forward on the line, but he 
 was let off better than he would have been in some coun- 
 tries which I know. ' Hold hard, Sir,' said the Master ; 
 ' Venus has it under your horse's feet /' ' Ah !' said I, ' Ve- 
 nus is always kind to fox-hunters ;' and away we went 
 again. Wishing to make this part of my story short, at 
 the end of rather better than fifty minutes, our fox crawled, 
 dead beat, into Elstob whin*, where the hounds instantly 
 changed to a fresh one. We ran this fox one hour and 
 three minutes, and killed him in as fine style as ever a fox 
 was killed ; and out of upwards of one hundred horsemen 
 who started from the covert's side, only fifteen were able to 
 give any account of either hounds or fox having been fairly 
 run away from by the pack, and scattered in all directions 
 about the country. As is always the case on these occasions, 
 some ludicrous scenes were presented, and I shall avail my- 
 self of my licence to place one or two of them on paper. 
 
 The first half hour of this day gave the hounds a good 
 chance to get well away with their fox, which we all know is 
 
 * Elstob whin afforded a capital day's sport to the Lambton hounds 
 on the 19th of November 1822. They killed their fox after a run of 
 two hours and thirty-five minutes; when some were planted, many 
 had enough, and none went better than the gallant Captain Healey on 
 a bay mare, who rode best, to the admiration of all who lived with 
 the hounds. This fox ran twenty-five miles of country.
 
 84 NIMROD's HUNTING TOUR. 
 
 greatly in favor of a handsome finish. We had a good deal 
 of old grass, with roomy fields ; and the fences, though not 
 particularly large, were such as obliged us to take with cau- 
 tion, and of course stopped the speed of the horsemen. On 
 the one side or the other of a great many of them, gorse 
 was planted by the sides of the ditches, which rendered them 
 so blind that we were obliged to walk our horses into the 
 gorse, before they could rise at their leaps. The scent was 
 also good not perhaps what could be termed a burning one 
 but such as enabled a pack like this to hold on with their 
 fox, with their heads well up and their sterns well down. 
 But to the following circumstance is to be attributed the 
 scattering of the field, and the stoppage of the horses. The 
 space between all the checks and there were only four in 
 an hour and fifty minutes, and those very short ones was 
 very considerable ; and the last, which did the greatest mis- 
 chief, was full six miles, with the hounds going very best 
 pace, and at every yard gaining on their fox. We killed 
 him in a whin ; and I shall never forget the pleasure I felt 
 when I heard the pack at bay. ' He's gone to ground, said 
 Mr. Harland, who was making his way into the whin with 
 Mr. John Shafto. ' Not a bit of it,' exclaimed I ; ' they have 
 killed him, by G--d !' and, putting my finger to my ear, hal- 
 loo'd ' who-whoop ' till my breath was gone. 
 
 If ever the condition of hounds was put to a strong test, 
 and proved to be good, it was in this chase. 1 had the 
 pleasure of seeing them run in to their fox, and for the last 
 two miles they carried a head such as is seldom surpassed 
 in a ten minutes' burst with a burning scent. Every hound 
 was in his place, and if ever the stale simile of covering 
 them with a sheet might be allowed to be applied, it may 
 not be extravagant to do so here. 1 said it at the moment, and 
 I repeat it now, that nothing could exceed the stoutness of 
 these hounds on this day : and nothing but the excellence 
 of their condition could have produced such a finish. They 
 had been running over a severe and deep country, with a 
 great deal of plough and a great deal of fencing, for two 
 hours save seven minutes; but their powers were quite un- 
 diminished to the last: and I shall never forget the pace 
 they ran, up hill, over, a large field, which led to the whin 
 in which they killed. 
 
 The latter part of this run was over as distressing a conn-
 
 YORKSHIRE. 95 
 
 try for horses as I ever witnessed. The fields were large 
 several of them forty or fifty acres each and ploughed, 
 or in stubble. In the last half hour we had several of these 
 to traverse obliquely, which greatly distressed the few hor- 
 ses that were then struggling to keep up, and they dropped 
 ofT apace. My recollection affords me no instance of great- 
 er distress than was seen on this memorable day. Some 
 men were leading their horses: others trying to urge them 
 on in a walk; but all would not do: they were obliged to 
 decline for the fact is, the condition of the hounds was too 
 good for that of the horses. 
 
 It might be invidious in me to state who got to the end of 
 this run, and who did not. The master of the pack, upon 
 Beanstalk, went gallantly to the death, and it would be un- 
 generous to deny him his place. Ben Ord was also there . 
 Captain Beville, of the 95th, from Sunderland barracks, 
 kept his place to the end. Billy Williamson went like a 
 good one for the first half hour, when his mare broke down, 
 and we lost him. He will excuse me for expressing a doubt 
 whether, if this had not happened, he would have got to the 
 end of this run. I think it was beyond the period which 
 nature, however good, could resist crying 'enough' with 
 his style of riding ; for, as a Durham farmer says of him, 
 ' Nought but an iron horse can carry him along.' There 
 was a gentleman-farmer also on a grey mare that I thought 
 would ' call out for mamma,' if he continued cramming her 
 along at the pace he was going. I cheered him at the sec- 
 ond check, and told him she was a good one ; but she was 
 not good enough for this day, and was not to be seen at the 
 end. 
 
 There was a hard-riding young one Mr. Hurt, 1 from 
 Derbyshire who tried his best to see this fox killed, but al] 
 would not do. Although I offered him assistance toward 
 the latter end, I rather enjoyed seeing him reduced to a 
 walk, as he had been very impatient to see, what he called, 
 a run, and seemed rather to doubt whether the country 
 could produce one. If, however, he was not satisfied with 
 this day's sport, / am sure his brown mare was, and I fear 
 she was not worth much afterwards. This is the worst part 
 of the story : such a run as this is certain to produce suf- 
 fering amongst horses chiefly, however, because people
 
 96 NIMROD'S HUNTING TOUR. 
 
 will ride them when they are not fit to go and I am sorry 
 to say several did not recover the effects of this tickler. 
 Captain Dundas' horse died, which I very much regretted, 
 as he had ridden gallantly through the chase, and several 
 more were at death's door. 
 
 I do not recollect that I ever asked for a brush in my life ; 
 but on this occasion so far from home I wished to pos- 
 sess some attribute of victory; so requested a pad of this 
 gallant fox. I have had it put into a small glass case, with 
 the following inscription on the outside : 
 
 1 This fox jumped up on the 12th of December 1826 in 
 Elstob whin, before Mr. Ralph Lambton's hounds, just on 
 the line of their hunted fox, which they had been running 
 hard for fifty minutes, and was then dead beat. He was 
 killed at the end of a splendid chase of one hour in which 
 the powers and condition of this beautiful pack were dis- 
 played to the admiration of the few who lived with them to 
 the last ; and which will long be remembered in the coun- 
 ty of Durham as a proof of what a victory can be achieved 
 by fox-hounds, with a good fox before them, over the best 
 horses and the best riders in the country.' 
 
 Some ludicrous scenes occurred in this run ; and as, after 
 all', life is but an entertainment, and we all act some part in 
 the play, I am quite certain that Mr. John Davison, of Ches- 
 ter-le-street one of the best tempered men in the world, 
 and a member of the Lambton Hunt will have no objec- 
 tion to being brought on the stage, and add his mite to the 
 amusement of the audience. 
 
 It so happened, that on this day Mr. Davison sent to cov- 
 ert a very clever bay horse; and, on my making a remark 
 on him to one of his friends, he told me he believed he was 
 for sale, and might be purchased well worth the money. 
 When I saw him again, with Mr. Davison on his back, I 
 liked him better, and asked his price. The answer was, 
 ' Two hundred and fifty guineas !' Now, although we are 
 told ' money makes the mare to go,' it has not always that 
 effect upon a horse; for Mr. Davison came to a stand still,. 
 in spite of my more than once calling to him, ' Come along, 
 two hundred and fifty guineas !' This, however, was noth- 
 ing, for he had plenty of company ; but I heard afterwards 
 that about half an hour before the fox was killed the two-
 
 YORKSHIRE. 97 
 
 hundred-and-fifty-guinea-horse reposed himself on the 
 ground in no very pleasing- attitude his affrighted master 
 standing over him, with his hands clasped, and in an audi- 
 ble voice emphatically exclaiming, ' By G--d he's dead ! ! ' 
 I am happy to say, however Death did not claim him this 
 time, but only gave Mr. Davison a hint not to bring so nice 
 a horse into the field again, so totally unfit to go through a 
 severe run with hounds ; and I hope this hint may not be 
 lost upon others. 
 
 Not having been quite up to the mark, I was very much 
 fatigued with this run, and no wonder. We had been gal- 
 lopping over a deep and severe country for two hours all 
 but a few minutes; and 1 should think we had been over at 
 least two hundred fences. The consequence was, when I 
 got back to Sedgefield, I went to bed, and here I had an un- 
 expected pleasure. I fell asleep, and dreamed a dream. I 
 saw in my vision not heaps of gold, not beautiful women, 
 but Mr. Lambton's hounds running over the country as 1 
 had seen them in the morning. I saw Billy Williamson 
 going at a pace chat nothing but the blood of Medusa could 
 maintain. I cannot say, 
 
 , ' Methought I heard a voice 
 
 Sweet as the shepherd's pipe upon the mountains, 
 When all his little flock's at feed before him ;' 
 
 but I could have sworn 1 heard the whipper-in Bob's ' Get 
 away, get away, hounds,' quite as plain and in the varmint 
 tone I had heard it in the run. If I could use a pencil, I 
 could sketch Captain Dundas as my fancy painted him 
 and as he had also been seen in the morning landing from 
 the top of a steep bank, with his horse on his head, his coat 
 flying up, and his white cords in full view. I'll be bound to 
 say, if any one had been near me, he would have heard me 
 singing out 
 
 ' He is off; no he's on ; he hangs by the mane.' 
 
 I saw Mr. Lambton on Beanstalk, and John Shafto on the 
 little bay horse ; but I did not see Mr. Davison's horse on 
 his back, and his master lamenting over him, like ^Eneas 
 in the storm ( ! Duplices tendens ad sidcra palmas, talia 
 VOL. 11. 9
 
 93 NIMROD'S HUNTING TOUR. 
 
 race refer/,' by G-d he's dead !) The drowsy god permit- 
 ted nothing to disturb the pleasant workings of my fancy ; 
 so I did not dream of my brother sportsmen in distress, 
 nor of the Derbyshire youth who thought Durham could 
 not shew a run, but whose brown mare thought otherwise ; 
 but I was treated with a sight of Rosamond and Rosemary, 
 'the Captain Jewels of the Cankanet,' running into their 
 fox, with their sterns down and bristles up, putting me in 
 mind of the dogs of war. What I should have seen next, 
 I know not ; for a rap at my door to say it was time to dress 
 myself for dinner awoke me from my sleep, and away went 
 those agreeable ideas which Fancy was at that time enter- 
 taining me with, and in an half an hour after I was in the 
 Club room. 
 
 Pearls in dreams betoken tears, at least so old women 
 have it 
 
 ' There is some ill a-brewing towards my rest, 
 For I did dream of money bags to-night.' 
 
 However, as my fancy directed me to nothing of the sort, but 
 had merely amused itself with the events of the day, rather 
 might I have exclaimed with the Poet, 
 
 ' If I may trust the flattering eye of sleep, 
 My dreams presage some joyful news at hand.' 
 
 And truly this was the case. I passed the evening of this 
 day in a manner I shall not only never forget, but in a man- 
 ner that more than ever stamped on my mind the solid ad- 
 vantages of fox-hunting. The whole party seemed to pos- 
 sess but one soul. The master of the hounds was transported 
 with delight, pleasure beamed in his eye, and the bottle 
 went round best pace to a very late hour. In short, it was 
 a day of rare festivity, and worth an age of common exis- 
 tence. 
 
 When I entered the Club-room at seven o'clock, the 
 whole party, with the exception of Mr. Lambton, were as- 
 sembled, awaiting the announcement of dinner, and I think 
 I counted sixteen. When he arrived, a most entertaining 
 scene occurred. This was, the excuse each man made for
 
 YORKSHIRE. 
 
 not going to the end of the run ; and, if my recollection 
 serves, only five of the party had that pleasure. Their an- 
 swers to Mr. Lambton, who catechised them separately, gave 
 rise to much merriment; and when Mr. Beckwith told us 
 that he. was thrown out in consequence of meeting the fox, a 
 roar of laughter succeeded that being in the first place a 
 very stale excuse, and in the second, a very bad one for so 
 old and so good a sportsman as the well-known Billy Beck- 
 with. There was only one lost shoe, and that I can vouch 
 for, as having saved the credit of that staunch fox-hunter, 
 Mr. Surtees of Mainsforth This gentleman keeps up the 
 style of old English hospitality and the good customs of our 
 forefathers. He invites Mr. Lambton, his hounds, his ser- 
 vants, his horses, and his friends, with their servants and 
 horses, to his house for one fortnight every season, where 
 he entertains them with everything of the best: and I was 
 very sorry it was not in my power to accept of his kind in- 
 vitation at the ensuing anniversary of this jovial meeting. 
 Refuse it 1 could not; for his commands ^were issued in the 
 Medean style. ' You must come, 1 said he ' I shall take no 
 excuse.' 
 
 I have not yet done with descanting on the effects of this 
 fine day's sport and truly jovial night. There was a young 
 gentleman of the party who had observed a remarkable tac- 
 iturnity during the whole week. Nay, more than that, he 
 had dozed away his evenings as if careless or unconscious 
 of the passing scene. ' He is in love,' said I. I was told 
 he was not. ' He is plethoric, and should be cupped.' 
 ' Not a bit of it,' said his friend ; ' he is as good a fellow as 
 ever cracked a bottle.' ' I do not doubt it,' was my reply; 
 ' but I should like to hear him throw his tongue a little.' 
 The proceedings of this day had the wished-for effect. Like 
 a butterfly in the sunshine, he was all alive; he never once 
 dozed in his chair : he told us several excellent anecdotes, 
 and sang two capital songs. 
 
 Although on this evening we dedicated a vigil to the jol- 
 ly god, drinking is not the characteristic of the Sedgefield 
 Club : for by one of its rules the landlord forfeits a bottle of 
 wine if he neglects to bring in the bill in three hours after 
 dinner is served ; and it was only broken through on this 
 occasion, being an extraordinary one.
 
 100 NIMROD'S HUNTING TOUR. 
 
 The undress uniform of the Sedgefield Club is a plain 
 scarlet coat, with collar of the same, and white buttons. 
 The dress uniform is a black coat, black velvet collar, gilt 
 buttons, with a plained raised border, and a fox and the let- 
 ter L embossed; a white upper waistcoat, with an underone 
 of scarlet satin, silk, or cloth. The two following rules of 
 this Club are deserving of notice : 
 
 Rule 16. 'That any Member breaking a gap into, or 
 riding into, through or over any covert, after it shall be prop- 
 erly enclosed, be fined one guinea.' 
 
 Rule 17. ' That if, during the continuance of the Sedge- 
 field Meeting, any gentleman of the Lambton Hunt, or any 
 visitor shall trespass, either by shooting or coursing on any 
 manors or estates in the neighborhood, without the consent 
 of the proprietors in writing, he shall be fined twenty guin- 
 eas, upon complaint being made by the proprietors.' 
 
 There was but one take-off from the pleasure and com- 
 fort of the Sedgefield Club, and that was the lateness of the 
 dinner hour (seven o'clock) on non hunting days. Men 
 who hunt four or five days a week ought to retire early to 
 rest, which is not in their power if they do not get up from 
 the dinner table till near eleven o'clock, which must be the 
 case here. 
 
 Like Lord Darlington, Mr. Lambton is a strong suppor- 
 ter of the Sedgefield Club, as during the meeting, he never 
 accepts an invitation to dinner from any of the neighboring 
 gentlemen. Sedgefield is a small town, situate five miles to 
 the right of the great Edinburgh road, distant from Dur- 
 ham eleven, and from Stockton-on-Tees ten miles. It is no- 
 ted by the celebrated Dr. Askew for the salubrity of its air : 
 the land about it is sound and productive ; and I saw a good 
 specimen of modern farming by the Rector of the parish, 
 the Honorable and Reverend the Viscount Barrington. 
 
 The Lion of the place is Hardwicke Hall, the seat of 
 Mr. Russell, of sporting celebrity, the park of which ''adjoins 
 the town. Hardwicke Hall with its domain, however, is 
 only as I understand a cottage in a paddock when compar- 
 ed with Mr. Russell's other seat, near Durham, called 
 Brancepeth Castle. Mr. R. was not in the country when I 
 was at Sedgefield. 
 
 I must not quit the Sedgefield Club without notice of a
 
 YORKSHIRE. 1UI 
 
 song (among several others) which was sung in most excel- 
 lent style by our chairman, Mr. Sutton, of Elton nearStock- 
 ton-on-Tees, on the memorable evening I have been descri- 
 bing. It is called Sir Charles Turner's celebrated hunting 
 song, of 'Old Casar or sixty years since ;' and is somewhat 
 of a parody on the well-known Irish Killruddery Fox- 
 chase, so well described in song, and set to the same mu- 
 sic 
 
 Attend jolly sportsmen, I'll sing you a song 
 
 Which cannot fail pleasing the old and the young; 
 
 I'll sing of a famous old fox and his wiles, 
 
 Which led us a chase of at least fifty miles. 
 
 I'll tell you a tale of such men and such hounds, 
 
 With what courage they'd hie over all sorts of grounds ; 
 
 See hounds vie with hounds, and how men with men strive, 
 
 Old Draper* might rue that he were not alive ! 
 
 At Hurworth famed village, as soon as 'twas light, 
 We feasted our eyes with a ravishing sight ! 
 Each sportsman had pleasure and joy in his face, 
 Their horses and hounds were all ripe for the chase. 
 But first the Commander in Chief let me name, 
 The Lord of Kirkleatham of true honest fame, 
 A friend to good men, but profestly a foe 
 To villains with four legs as well as with two. 
 
 We had not tried long, before Rafter gave mouth 
 Esteem'd by the pack as a standard of truth; 
 They quickly flew to him, and instant declare 
 That Rafter was right, 'fora Fox had been there.' 
 And trust me he proved a notorious blade, 
 His name was Old Casar, and plunder his trade. 
 His name-sake, in all the great battles he won, 
 Spilt less blood by gallons than this rouge had done. 
 
 Unkennel'd at Aingholme, he led us a round, 
 In which we might runabout four miles of ground ; 
 Then back to the earths, but the stoppers took care 
 To baulk him from making his quarters good there; 
 
 * A celebrated old sportsman in the North Riding of York 
 VOL. n. 9*
 
 102 NIMROD'S HUNTING TOUR. 
 
 Disdaining such treatment, he flourished his brush, 
 And seem'd to say Sportsmen, I care not a rush ; 
 I'll give you a proof of such stoutness and speed, 
 That old Nimrod himself would have honor'd my breed. 
 
 Through Hornby and Smeaton he now bent his way. 
 Resolved to make this a remarkable day ; 
 He then wheel'd to the left, to the banks of the Tees, 
 But there he could find neither shelter nor ease ; 
 . So, finding with what sort of hounds he'd to deal, 
 And that his pursuers were true men of steel, 
 He push'd to gain shelter in great Crathorne wood, 
 With the hounds at his brush, and all eager for blood. 
 
 Now the field, all alive, how they smoked him along! 
 So joyous the music, each note was a song, 
 And all was good humor, and spirit, and joy, 
 Though Strong emulation enliven'd each eye. 
 Next passing by Marton, and Ormsby great hall, 
 He seem'd to^say Little 1 value you all ; 
 For many a stout horse was now slack'ning his speed. 
 And to see them tail off was diverting indeed. 
 
 Then not to be thought a contemptible fox, 
 He dared them to follow o'er Cleveland high rocks. 
 But th'ascent was so steep, and so painfully won, 
 That few gained the top before he was far gone. 
 To Kirkleatham Hall he next bent his career, 
 Hard press'd by the owner to end his life there 
 Assuring him he and his friends would not fail 
 All possible honors to render his tail. 
 
 Now no one but Turner being left in the field, 
 
 And finding Old Csesar unwilling to yield, 
 
 At Kilton thought proper to finish the strife, 
 
 So called off the pack, to give Csesar his life. 
 
 But Firetail and Bonny- Lass would have a meal, 
 
 (Whose hearts were of oak, and whose limbs were of steel, ) 
 
 So they soon ran him up to his friend at the mill, 
 
 Where, triumphant, they seized him and feasted their fill. 
 
 Then, just like attraction 'twixt needle and pole, 
 We were seated that evening at Kirkleatham Hall.
 
 YORKSHIRE. 103 
 
 Where the bottles of red and fox-hunter's bowl 
 Not only enliven'd, but cherish'd the soul, 
 Oh, long may our host still continue to grace 
 His mansion, the country, and likewise the chase : 
 And as long as Old Time shall be govern'd by clocks, 
 May Turner preside o'er the brush of the fox ! 
 
 We rarely see or hear a good hunting song ; but I think 
 the one I have transcribed a very fair sample, and appeared 
 to me still fairer at the time, from the excellent effect given 
 to it by the animating style in which Mr. Sutton sang it, as 
 well as several others with which he favored us in the course 
 of this convivial evening. 
 
 Everything connected with fox-hunting is conducted up- 
 on a very liberal scale by Mr. Lambton. His stud of hun- 
 ters is not only efficient, but contains several very superior 
 horses for his men, as well as for himself, and the greater 
 part of them are well-bred. Having five out every day, of 
 course he has a large stud ; but they were not all at Sedge- 
 field when I was there, as some of them are sent over to his 
 seat at Merton, to be changed for fresh ones, as occasion re- 
 quires. Being a single man, however, with a good fortune, 
 all these requisites are within this gentleman's reach, and 
 I only do him justice when I say that he does the thing 
 well. 
 
 With respect to his hounds, I cannot help once more say- 
 ing that they are extremely perfect and extremely good. 
 They are beautifully formed, and of a right size for endur- 
 ing fatigue. There are limits in the operations of nature as 
 wellas inthose of art. A longbeam breaks by its own weight ; 
 neither have large animals often strength in proportion to 
 their size; and of this hint Mr. Lambton availed himself. 
 I have nothing particular to notice in the kennel or stables 
 of Sedgefield. They are quite sufficient for the purpose, 
 and it must be remembered that the hounds and horses are 
 only here at certain periods of the season. 
 
 I am unable to say anything respecting Mr. Lambton's 
 home country, not having seen it; but I was given to under- 
 stand it is bad. By all accounts, it is a more desirable coun- 
 try to have property in than to ride over, as it abounds with 
 an article called 'the black diamond,' for the large possess-
 
 104 NIMROD'S HUNTING TOUR. 
 
 ion of which this family is conspicuous, and consequently it 
 abounds with coal pits*. These things do not in the least 
 contribute to the picturesque; but when black is made black 
 and white, it forms a pretty feature in the banker's book. 
 Had it not been for the long continued frost, T should 
 have been able to have given a better account of this part of 
 the county of Durham, as I was engaged to have spent some 
 time at Merton, and to have gone thence to Mr Surtees's 
 hospitable mansion. I was given to understand that I had 
 a double loss here. At the former place I should have seen 
 all the elegances of modern life; at the latter, the old-fash- 
 ioned hospitallity, now become scarce, of the old English 
 country gentleman. This to its full extent, is very near- 
 ly lost, and all within my recollection. But, as the Poet 
 says, 
 
 ' The town has tinged the country, and the stain 
 Appears a spot upon a vestal's robe, 
 The worse for what it soils.' 
 
 I should not think there are many sportsmen who have 
 not seen the print of Mr. Ralph Lambton and his hounds, 
 from a painting of Ward- He is represented in the act of 
 getting together his hounds in a covert, and is mounted on 
 a favorite hunter called Undertaker, which he rode several 
 seasons. Although I expected to find a heavier man Mr. 
 L.'s weight on horse back not exceeding twelve stone I 
 was struck with the correctness of the portrait as soon as I 
 saw the original particularly as regards his seat on his 
 saddle. He is a good horseman, and rides well up to his 
 
 * In a cold country like England there is certainly a great advan- 
 tage in a plentiful supply of coals, although the saving to the consu- 
 mers is not what might be expected, owing to the profuse expenditure 
 of them in the houses. The grates in Durham are of immense size, 
 and not only are they filled on all occasions in the winter, but there is 
 always a hoard behind them ready to supply the place of those which 
 are burning. The first evening that I went into my bed-room at 
 Sedgefield, I asked the chambermaid what joint of meat was going to 
 be roasted at the fire ; for there were more coals on it than would be 
 seen in a Hampshire kitchen.
 
 YORKSHIRE. 105 
 
 hounds. Undertaker was a most superior hunter. He was 
 got by St. George out of a Trinculo mare, and Mr. L. had 
 also annother very clever hunter out of the same mare, got 
 by Atlas. They were both bred by a medical gentleman of 
 the immortal name of Nelson. 
 
 Few people follow a pack of fox-hounds regularly for 
 any length of time without meeting with some serious acci- 
 dents, the marks of which many of them carry to the grave. 
 I am sorry to have to record a most serious one that befel 
 Mr. Lambton three years ago, which very nearly cost him 
 his life. He rode at a fence in chase, and his horse falling, 
 he was pitched upon his head, and taken up lifeless. Par- 
 alysis was the consequence of the injury, and for a long 
 time he was considered to be in imminent danger. Having 
 a good constitution he gradually recovered; but most un- 
 luckily the year afterwards he got another fall, which was 
 worse in its consequences than the first. He was riding a 
 verv old hack from his home kennel to his house at Merton, 
 a distance of about three miles, when he fell with him, and 
 he was again pitched upon his head. I am, however, hap- 
 py to say that he is now once more in very good health, al- 
 though at times he suffers from the injuries his frame receiv- 
 ed, and his head and neck are a little distorted from their nat- 
 ural position: but I have great pleasure in adding, his 
 spirits are as <?ood as ever, and he seemed to stand his work 
 well. 
 
 It is said by a writer, whose celebrity perhaps does no 
 great honor to the feelings of human nature, that, let a man 
 die amidst ever so many lamentations and regrets, if he 
 could rise again from the dead, after a lapse of a few years, 
 his re-appearance on earth would not be found to be pro- 
 ductive of unmingled satisfaction among his friends who 
 wept over his closing grave. As this experiment has never 
 been tried, all we can do is, in charity, to doubt the fact: but 
 I think I can assert, that few men in England in private life 
 would have been more sincerely or longer regretted than 
 Mr. Ralph Lambton, had this accident been fatal to him; 
 neither do I think the resurrection of such members of so- 
 ciety would ever be deemed unseasonable : for if weighed^ 
 in the scale in which I balance the qualities of mankind, he 
 would be found to be thumping weight. I was, indeed giv-
 
 106 NIMROD'S HUNTING TOUR. 
 
 en to understand by all who spoke of him, that I should find 
 him everything that a man ought to be; but as Pliny says 
 of a contemporary of his, I found him ' superior to all that 
 was reported of him*.' To the ardor of the sportsman, he 
 adds the high polish of a gentleman; and he has distin- 
 guished himself for perhaps one of our rarest virtues 
 sincerity in his friendships. In all probability I may never 
 see him again ; but I rejoice in the opportunity of declaring 
 that I shall cherish for him the greatest respect. I venerate 
 his judgment as a sportsman ; I consider him an honor to 
 fox-hunting; I esteem him as a man ; and I hold him up as 
 a pattern of an English gentleman, in the true acceptation of 
 that word. I can only add, in the words of the Bard, 
 
 ' May he live 
 Longer than I have time to tell his years !' 
 
 It was said of Shakspeare, that he was not to be tried by 
 any code of critic laws ; as much as to say, such a genius as 
 his could ' rise to faults critics dare not mend.' How then 
 can I presume to pass my feeble judgment on Mr. Ralph 
 Lambton as a huntsman to fox-hounds, knowing, as I do, 
 that his pack is one of the very highest character, and that 
 he has always hunted them himself. Wisdom, says the 
 proverb, is the produce of experience ; and if such men as 
 himself and Lord Darlington have not learned their trade, 
 this maxim does not hold good, for they have served exactly 
 five apprenticeships to the art. It must also be remembered, 
 that the prowess of a huntsman is not confined to the opera- 
 tions of the field. A skilful General is as great in council 
 as he is in action ; and unless a huntsman be clever in his 
 kennel, he does but half what is required of him. He. may 
 have sport, for that is often the consequence of fortuitous cir- 
 cumstances such as country, &c. and he may kill his 
 
 * In this able letter of Pliny to Nepos, he mentions the fact of a 
 man travelling from Cadiz to Rome to see the celebrated historian 
 Livy, and, after satisfying his curiosit)', returning home. I only speak 
 my feelings when I declare, that from the character I had heard of 
 Mr. Ralph Lambton, I would have followed the example of the enter- 
 prising Spaniard.
 
 YORKSHIRE. 107 
 
 foxes ; but he never will have a really good and steady pack 
 of fox-hounds. Combining, however, the duties of the ken- 
 nel and the field, I am bound to give Mr. Ralph Lambton 
 the credit of being premier artiste in this line, and in the 
 first class of English huntsmen now going. In some res- 
 pects he is not exactly a Jack Musters ; neither his voice 
 nor his language to his hounds is so good and so cheering; 
 indeed now and then I heard a halloo peculiar to himself; 
 but he is very decisive in his casts, the result of a very quick 
 eye; and his men assist him to admiration, being always in 
 their places. Jack Winter, first whipper-in, and huntsman 
 in his master's absence, is a very good man with hounds, 
 and has been with Mr. Lambton ever since he was a boy : 
 and Bob Fenwick, with his ' Get away, get away, hounds !' 
 quite a tip-top hand, and devotedly attached to the sport. 
 There is also a lad, as second whip, an excellent horseman, 
 and will do well by and bye. Mr. Lambton's man Harry, 
 who rides his second horse, is likewise of great use at cer- 
 tain times; so that, in a country where hounds are seldom 
 out of sight, it would be somewhat odd if they were not tol- 
 erably steady. 
 
 Foxes are beautifully found by these hounds. Mr. Lamb- 
 ton himself excels here: in drawing up to them he displays 
 a master's hand, and when on foot they are capitally halloo'd 
 away by the men. Previously to this, great order is obser- 
 ved by the field, who indeed, set an example I wish we 
 could see more generally followed. They all assemble, 
 sportsmanlike, in- one spot, and give the fox a chance to fly, 
 instead of heading him at all points, the common practice of 
 many countries. Perhaps this may here proceed from two cau- 
 ses : first they have a high respect for the commander-in- 
 chief ; and secondly, there are a great many sportsmen in 
 this Hunt who really wish to see a run. 
 
 Few tempers are proof against riot, whether it proceed 
 from hounds or men, in the act of trying to kill a fox; and 
 although Mr. Lambton's temper at other times is particular- 
 ly placid, and although I had no opportunity of seeino- it 
 tr'.ed, yet I was given to understand that he can 'serve it out' 
 to them when occasion requires ; and upon my word I real- 
 ly think the man who cannot has no business to hunt fox- 
 hounds in these days. He would be something like the Cap-
 
 108 NIMROD'S HUNTING TOUR. 
 
 tain of the man of war who made an attempt to command 
 his crew without swearing, and told the sailor to put out the 
 light. Jack did *iot obey the order ; but the moment he 
 heard the boatswain call out ' d n your eyes dowse the 
 glim,' the light was out in an instant. Mr. Lambton, how- 
 ever, does not swear, but gives them something a little 
 piquant. 
 
 Mr. Lambton rides very clever horses, and gets well over 
 a country, particularly so for his age: for although Time 
 has laid his hand gently upon him, a few more years will 
 bring him towards the grand climacteric, and this slackens 
 the pace of the best of men. 
 
 It has been contended that servants, as huntsmen, must al- 
 ways excel gentlemen hunting their own hounds ' but why 
 should this be ? 'If hunting hounds be a science (and who 
 will dispute that point ?), why should not the education and 
 theory of the gentleman, when combined with his profes- 
 sional practice, give him the superiority, instead of having 
 a contrary effect? I am here alluding to a comparison that 
 has been drawn between Mr. Musters and Tom Sebright, 
 each very great in the art ; but barring kennel management, 
 in which gentlemen huntsmen cannot be expected to equal 
 servants who are hired in great measure for that purpose, 
 and for a great part of their time have little else to do, I 
 confess I can only see one point on which my argument is at 
 all likely to give way. The servant huntsman generally 
 goes through the regular gradations of secondand first whip- 
 per-in ; and although I have heard it asserted that a whip- 
 per-in seldom makes a good huntsman, experience gives 
 the lie to that most of our first-rate huntsmen have served 
 that office: whereas now and then a gentleman puts a h,orn 
 to his saddle, and assumes the command all at once, which 
 has given to some of them the various titles of professors, 
 heaven-born huntsmen, &c. Now I conceive Mr. Muster's 
 education has been nearly equal to that of any huntsman 
 alive. His father kept fox-hounds upwards of thirty years, 
 hunting parts of Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire ; and I 
 have heen told by those who remembered it well, that, /or 
 fourteen or fifteen of those years, (i. e. from the time he 
 could bestride his fony till his father gave up the fcounJs,) 
 his son Jack acted as whipper-in whenever occasion required.
 
 YORKSHIRE. 109 
 
 I have also heard from very good authority, that when Sir 
 Henry Harpur purchased the late Mr. Musters's hounds, 
 and the noted Shaw began to hunt them, he has been heard 
 to declare that he frequently received more assistance in a 
 critical moment from Mr: John Musters than from either of 
 the men under him. 
 
 When the late Mr. Musters gave up his fox-hounds, he 
 kept a pack of harriers, which the present Mr. Musters 
 hunted for several seasons; but during this period, and in- 
 deed during the whole ofhis noviciate, as it may be termed, 
 he was in the constant habit of hunting with the celebrated 
 Mr. Meynell, who was not only particularly attached to him, 
 but partly considered him as his pupil. Indeed, almost 
 one of the last acts of the sporting life of this ' great man 
 in his way ' was making a present to Mr. Musters of ten 
 couples of his prime old hounds as a foundation of his fu- 
 ture pack. 
 
 I have here only spoken of the present Mr. Musters with 
 reference to his performance in the field. Now it has been 
 justly observed, that the fuller, the dyer, and the weaver, 
 understand not each other's trades ; notwithstanding which, 
 between them all, a good piece of cloth is manufactured. 
 Thus it is possible that a person may be a superior hunter 
 of hounds in the field, without being a master-man in his 
 kennel n and'yet the pack he hunts may be turned out in the 
 very best style. When I was at Pitsford, it was the end of 
 the season ; the favorite bitches were gone down to the 
 Nottinghamshire kennel, and the thing nearly at an end. 
 The kennel at Pitsford was also four miles from Mr. Mus- 
 ters's house, which might account for the master's eye not 
 being over it so often as might be desirable. In addition to 
 this, he had for his head whipper-in Tom Smith, who had 
 hunted Lord Middleton's pack for some seasons in War- 
 wickshire ; and he also had his house full of company : but, 
 although I make n,o comparisons, I see not the least reason 
 to doubt Mr. Musters's capability to perform all the duties 
 of ahuntsman equal to any other man in England. In- 
 deed I will go farther than this, and say, that, cradled as he 
 was in a kennel, he would be almost entitled to the appella- 
 tion of a stupid fellow had he not perfected himself in every 
 department of the art of breeding and feeding hounds. 
 
 VOL. II. 10
 
 HO NIMROD'S HUNTING TOUR. 
 
 Now, as all the world knows he is anything but a stupid fel- 
 low, and with zeal enough to set the world on fire, I argue, 
 logically, that he must be a good kennel huntsman : and as 
 to his performance in the field, not another word need be 
 said about that. Comparisons, I repeat, are odious : there- 
 fore I neither compare him with this man nor with that ; 
 but I hope it will not be long before I see the justly-cele- 
 brated Tom Sebright who by all accounts is a charming 
 fellow in the field partaking of all the animation and keen- 
 ness of his preceptor, Mr. Musters, with, as I understand, 
 a great share of the ' instinctive knowledge of the habits of a 
 fox.' 
 
 In the life of Sornervile, there is a strange expression 
 from the pen of the author the great Dr. Johnson. 'He 
 writes,' says he, ' very well for a gentleman} Now I own 
 I do not exactly comprehend the Doctor's meaning; for 
 what avails an expensive education unless itsometimes turns 
 to a good account, particularly as relates to the cultivation 
 of the mind? But I once asked a very eminent sportsman 
 what was his opinion of gentlemen huntsman ? and he, 
 gave it as follows ; ' If gentlemen 1 said he, 'have been 
 amongst hounds from their infancy, and will, when they 
 take the management of them, give up their time and 
 attention to them, the same as a common man who is 
 uneducated, there can be no doubt which of the tv.'o will 
 make the best huntsman; but the fact is, most gentleman 
 who hunt hounds have not been sufficiently amongst them 
 till they arrive at a certain time of life, when other pursuits 
 and avocations present themselves, and then they do not 
 like all the drudgery of the office. For these reasons, 
 find for these, alone, we see but few good gentlemen hunts- 
 men.' 
 
 Were I to be asked my opinion of the Sedgefield country, 
 I should almost be inclined to place it at the head of the 
 provincials. It is flat; the fields are of, a very fair size, a 
 great portion of them between twenty and forty acres, and 
 a good deal of very old sward ; it abounds in whin coverts 
 indeed I saw scarcely anything else ; and the fences for 
 the most part are practicable. To South country horses 
 they may be a little awkward, as for the most part they are 
 placed upon banks, and the V stiles are frequent. It is also 
 considered a good scenting country, as most countries in
 
 YORKSHIRE. Ill 
 
 the neighborhood of the sea* are : and it must be favorable 
 to hounds, as there are no large coverts in which they can 
 run riot. Thus Mr. Lambton's hounds are particularly 
 steady and handy, to a degree not often witnessed. 
 
 I consider Durham altogether a very sporting county. 
 The farmers ride good horses, the greater part of which 
 they breed themselves, beginning the cross with the Cleve- 
 land-bay mare. There was one part of their rural economy 
 which I particularly admired ; and that was, I never saw a 
 real cart horse in the principality of Durham. They make 
 use of for all purposes of husbandry, what we call the 
 strong nag horse, so much quicker in his step, and altogeth- 
 er more useful than the heavy-legged, slow-moving, cart- 
 horse that we are doomed to employ in the South, and to 
 which I have no hesitation in saying the ruin of many hun- 
 dred small farmers is to be traced. It may scarcely be be- 
 lieved, but such is the prejudice of carters and wagoners in 
 my part of the world in favor of these long-tailed heavy- 
 legged brutes, that they will wantonly mal-treat a horse of 
 the nag kind if put into their master's stables to work with 
 the others. I was givein to understand, that had I visited 
 Durham some years back, when wheat sold for better prices, 
 I should have seen more well-mounted yeomanry than at 
 the present day, the times having taken the hunting out of 
 some of them. 
 
 The eastern side, that is, from the Tees to the Wear, and 
 so on to the sea-shore, is the best part of the Sedgefield 
 country to ride over. Here is a good deal of old grass, the 
 fields from ten to fifty acres in extent ; and although the 
 surface of the land appears indifferent, yet being upon a 
 limestone subsoil, with the benefit of a humid atmosphere 
 from sea breezes, a pretty good scent is often the result, t 
 could perceive there is a large tract of this sort of land, well 
 planted with whin coverts ; but the most likely country to en- 
 sure a run is the southern side, bounded by the Tees, and ex- 
 tending towards Piercebridge, in Lord Darlington's Hunt. 
 Here, although the inclosures are smaller and the fences 
 stronger, yet the land is greatly superior, and consequently 
 
 * The sea is not more than ten miles from the kennel at Sedgefield 
 as the crow would fly.
 
 1 12 NIMROD'S HUNTING TOUR. 
 
 more to be depended upon for a scent. It was this side of 
 the country that afforded us our capital day's sport. 
 
 There are sporting peculiaries in almost all counties I 
 have been in. Tn the one I live in, they call a couple and 
 half, or three hounds; 'aharl' of hounds; and in Durham 
 the farmers say, hounds 'call' or 'give mouth' when 
 they challenge, or throw their tongue to a scent. When 
 analyzed, however there will appear but little difference in 
 all such terms. 
 
 Having mentioned Captain Dundas as one of the con- 
 spicous performers until the last mile, when nature said 
 'enough 1 in our fine run fron Foxyhill, and he being also 
 so popular a character in the Sedgefield Hunt, I must devote 
 half a page to his history, and I flatter myself the reader 
 will not consider the time misemployed. 
 
 The Honorable George Dundas, brother to the present 
 Noble Lord of that name, resides at Upleatham in York- 
 shire, amidst that host of friends which honest John Bur- 
 tell inquired after so kindly, and represents the Orkneys in 
 our Senate. He belongs to that profession of which Eng- 
 land is so proud, and looks as if he had ' weathered the 
 storm.' On one occasion his own ship was blown up*, and 
 he had the ill luck to see three thousand brave fellows blown 
 to atoms in the course of a few months from various -other 
 disasters.* These things, however, are the fate of war, and 
 are set down to the general account. I regret to say, the 
 Hon. Captain is occasionally a severe sufferer by the gout, 
 and perhaps none the better for foreign climates; but, when, 
 tolerably well, no man can enjoy himself more. To the 
 frankness of the sailor he unites the address of the man of 
 fashion and of the world ; it is impossible to imagine a 
 more agreeable companion. I must also style him alth- 
 ough a sailor, and very near-sighted a capital hand across 
 a country, and very fond of a bit of blood. 
 
 Billy Williamson is the most straight-forward rider of 
 
 * He once commanded a ninety-gun ship, when she took fire and 
 blew up. He remained on board the last man, when finding the tire 
 so hot that he could stand it no longer, took his knife out of his pocket t 
 cut off his trowsers, and pulling off his coat, committed himself to the 
 waves, whence he was picked up, unhurt, by his men.
 
 YORKSHIRE. 1 13 
 
 this Hunt, and a very popular character wherever he goes. 
 He is a second Ajax fearless and intrepid ; and being six 
 feet high, with great strength, and in the bloom of man- 
 hood, he is just the man to get to hounds over a stiff coun- 
 try, on a good horse. There is, however, some truth in 
 what the farmer said about the cast-iron nag. He certainly 
 is too severe upon his horse, and does not pick his ground 
 enough for a man of his weight to live with hounds to the 
 end of a good run. He should recollect he rides fifteen 
 stone, and is what is called long in the leg though none, 
 perhaps, the worse for that. Billy Williamson is one of 
 the right stamp of young men, and I wish it were possible 
 he could stock half the counties in England with his sort. 
 We are hard to beat now at least I hope so ; but then we 
 should be invincible. 
 
 Mr. Harland of Sutton Hall is a very pretty performer 
 over a country, and had a very neat stud for a man of his 
 light weight. They appeared either quite thorough-bred 
 or within a toucher, and three of the four were purchased 
 of Mr. Ralph Lambton. 
 
 On the morning of Wednesday the 13th I quitted Sedge- 
 field, and met Mr. Bowser's harriers about four miles 
 from Rushyford Inn. This gentleman resides at Bishop 
 Auckland, about ten miles to the westward of Sedgefield, 
 and at about equal distances from the Raby and Sedgefield, 
 Hunts. He himself was out in a scarlet coat; but his 
 hounds were hunted by an amateur, and what in this part 
 of the world is called a Statesman Anglice, a Yeoman. 
 The Statesman here was the well-known Tommy Chap- 
 man, whom I afterwards saw with Lord Darlington's 
 hounds. Knowing him to be a sportsman, I tried hard to 
 get a wrinkle or two out of him as to the country, &c.; 
 but John Burrell's lingo is plain English to his, and noth- 
 ing but a glossary could have enabled us to hold sweet 
 converse. It sometimes happens that our Southern States- 
 men are difficult to comprehend; but Tommy Chapman 
 would puzzle the Devil himself unless he were bred in 
 Durham. 
 
 On this day I recognized in the field the young Oxonian 
 whose horse I had blooded at the end of a fine day's sport 
 with Sir Thomas Mostyn's hounds two years ago, and by 
 
 VOL. II. 10*
 
 114 XJM ROD'S HUNTING TOCR. 
 
 v:hich the life of the poor animal was saved. I did not 
 then know his name, but found it to be Gregson, and was 
 informed that he had a pretty property in that part of th'e 
 world, was likely to make a good sportsman, and was much 
 patronised by Air. Ralph Larnbton. 
 
 After my hare-hunting with Mr. Bowser, I had the plea- 
 sure of visiting Mr. jQuncombe Shafto at Whitworth where 
 a large party was assembled among whom was Mr. Hart- 
 land. On the side board at Whitworth I saw several racing 
 cups. They were won by a horse called Whitworth, by 
 Agonistes a very fair racer, and the sire of many capital 
 hunters. Mr. Shafto still breeds thorough-bred ones. 
 
 Mr. Thomas Shafto (commonly called" Tom Shafto), broth- 
 er to Mr. Buncombe Shafto, is a very conspicuous charac- 
 ter in the LambtonHunt, and may be truly termed adear lov- 
 er of fox-hunting. He hasbefore fallen under my observation 
 as having possessed, as well as having made a hunter of, 
 that very celebrated horse, the original Clipper, on which 
 that fine rider, Mr. Lindo, for so many years starred over 
 Leicestershire. The temper of this horse was very violent, 
 and he gave Mr. Shafto a great many falls before he com- 
 pleted his education. Falls, we know, are awkward things, 
 and not unfrequently do they damp the ardor of young 
 sportsmen, and give them a distaste for the rough, though 
 noble, amusement of fox-hunting ; but when I relate an 
 anecdote of Mr. Thomas Shafto, who will assert that, with 
 such men as himself, broken bones or fractured skulls 
 would be even as a feather in the scale against the impass- 
 ioned delight of this noble science? 
 
 Twenty years since. Mr. Thomas Shafto was a Captain 
 in the North York Militia, and quartered in the Sister 
 Kingdom. Having obtained leave of absence, he took his 
 passage in a Liverpool packet, and attempted to cross the 
 Channel on his return to England. The propelling power 
 of steam was then unknown at least for nautical uses 
 and, by the violence of adverse winds, the vessel could not 
 keep her course. Being driven near shore, with but little 
 prospect of weathering it, the captain of the packet thought 
 proper to apprise his passengers of their imminent peril 
 adding, indeed.that he had no hopes of saving them from 
 a watery grave ! 
 
 Captain Shafto was accompanied at this time by one of
 
 YORKSHIRE. 115 
 
 his brother officers, and both heard the dreadful tidings at 
 the same momenj:. Captain Johnson fell on his knees, and 
 began to implore the Throne of Grace ; and doubtless Cap- 
 tain Shafto did the same as soon as he recovered from his 
 dread surprise. But such is the infirmity of corrupt na- 
 ture, that mortal man can with difficulty renounce the plea- 
 sures of this world, or persuade himself he shall find still 
 better in the next ; and this must have been the case with 
 Tom Shafto. There cannot be a doubt but on this trying 
 occasion Lord Darlington and his fox-hounds, as well as 
 his friend Ralph Lambton, flitted across his fancy; for in 
 the agony of the moment he did not exclaim, like the jailor 
 in the Bible, ' What shall I do to be. saved? } but, sitting 
 up in his bed, he heaved a deep sigh, and addressed his 
 brother officer in the following words ' I say, Bob, no 
 more Uckenby whin* ! !' Surely this was the ruling passion 
 strong in death ! 
 
 On another occasion, Mr. Thomas Shafto afforded an 
 instance of the prevalence we might almost call it domin- 
 ion of any particular gratification, over thought, word, and 
 deed. He was once present when the oratorical powers of 
 some of our leading Senators became the topic of discourse, 
 and, amongst others, Earl Grey's name was mentioned. 
 ' A good speaker,' observed Tom ; ' but he can ; t ride over 
 Stanley pastures.' .At another time, he was asked why he 
 quitted a friend's house when a certain family, just return- 
 ed from Paris, came to pay him a visit ? ' I don't like them,' 
 said he ; ' they are half French half English. 1 
 
 Mr. Thomas Shafto is a single man, and at present re- 
 sides with his elder brother at Whitworth. He is an excel- 
 len%judge of a horse ; a good sportsman, and rider; and 
 what is more, a very good fellow. To the eye it must be 
 allowed he has some personal peculiarities the straight- 
 cut coat ; boots and breeches by no means good ; a little of 
 his friend Sir Tatton's style about him (by no means a bad 
 one !), and he rides a race nearly as well. There is not an 
 atom of humbug about him; but if there was, I must es- 
 teem him for thinking of fox-hunting in his last moments 
 
 * A favorite covert in Lord Darlington's Hunt, near Catterick 
 Bridge.
 
 116 NIMROD'S HUNTING TOUR. 
 
 at least, in what he had reason to believe would be his 
 last. 
 
 On Thursday, 14th of December, I turned my back up- 
 on Durham, and went to visit a Shropshire acquaintance, 
 named Flounders, who resides at Yarm. I was, when at 
 his house, within a very easy distance of the far-famed Hur- 
 worth hounds which met the next day at Croft Bridge, on 
 the Great North Road, and which bridge divides the coun- 
 ties of York and Durham. As it was I was too late for 
 dinner ; but I at one time despaired of getting to my friend 
 at all, and by a circumstance worth naming. 
 
 The distance from Darlington (which I passed through) 
 to Yarm is five miles, for which I allowed myself some- 
 what about half an hour, the road being none of the best, 
 but I did not reach it under an hour. The delay arose 
 from my meeting something, which I could only compare 
 to a moving hell. Excuse my profaneness if such it can 
 be called for I cannot find any other simile. This turned 
 out to be a locomotive steam-engine, which running parallel 
 with and close to the road, so alarmed my hack, that it was 
 in vain that I tried to make him face it. This, however, is 
 not to be wondered at ; for a horse is naturally a timid ani- 
 mal, and this machine was enough to alarm the Devil him- 
 self, if he had met with it, as my horse did. out of his own 
 country. The night was dark, which increased the terrors 
 of it: and it really was a frightful object. The noise of the 
 wheels perhaps twenty pairs -the working of the engine, 
 the blazing fires of blue and yellow hues, the hissing of the 
 steam, and the black-faced wretches, with their red lips and 
 white teeth, running to and fro, all conspired to heighten 
 the resemblance, and my astonishment increased the more 
 when I reflected on such a nuisance as this being suffered 
 so close to a turnpike road- The only way in which I got 
 past it at last was to get my horse into a hole, with his 
 tail towards the machine, but I never saw an animal so al- 
 armed. 
 
 On Friday morning, Mr. Flounders accompanied me to 
 Croft Bridge to meet the Hurvvorth hounds, which place 
 was about eight miles from Yarm. Our road led us through 
 the village of Hurworth, within a short distance of the ken- 
 nel, and we overtook the hounds going to covert. They
 
 YORKSHIRE. 117 
 
 were accompanied only by Mr. Wilkinson and his whipper- 
 in ; and Mr. Flounders took this opportunity of introducing 
 me to Mr. Wilkinson. I found him very much what I ex- 
 pected to find him a well-fed Englishman, with a back as 
 broad as those of three of our dandies put together ; moun- 
 ted on a finely shaped chesnut-horse, looking very like a 
 hunter to carry seventeen stone which he had then on his 
 back; with a keen eye in his head, and a very intelligent 
 countenance strong, to be sure, in the dialect of his coun- 
 try, but looking very much like a sportsman. 
 
 There was a very large field of sportsmen assembled on 
 this day amounting to at least one hundred, which is a 
 very unusual circumstance with this pack. Mr. Lambton's 
 hounds, however, were gone from Sedgefield, and Lord Dar- 
 lington's were a long way off; so it was supplied by the gen- 
 tiemem of those Hunts, many of whom had come a long 
 distance for the occasion. 
 
 We proceeded to draw Dinsdale Wood, a covert of 
 some size, and situated on a steep hanging bank. Before 
 throwing in his hounds, Mr. Wilkinson did me the honor 
 to ask me to accompany him into the wood, and see him 
 find his fox. This invitation I readily accepted, and so far 
 I was much gratified. He found his fox instantly, and in 
 very excellent style. His halloos were very capital, and 
 his ear unsually quick. This was not all. We had a very 
 baffling fox on foot very unwilling to break and his 
 turns were short and frequent. The pack and their master, 
 however, were quite a match for him, and for about jive 
 minutes, the scene, witnessed only by ourselves, was enchant- 
 ing. ' Have at him, Music, good bitch !' halloowed Matty. 
 'By G d ! th'ast better gang away, for thou'lt die if thou 
 don't. Have at him again, Cruiser, old fellow! but thou'lt 
 have his head in thy mouth before neight*.' Oh ! that I 
 could give his view-halloos on paper ! but that can't be done. 
 They were enough to raise a man from the dead ! 
 
 The. bad part of the story is now to come. Sportsman- 
 like, Mr. Wilkinson wished to see his hounds get well 
 
 * Mr. Wilkinson told me, that last season his hounds ran a fox 
 twelve miles in the dark, and killed him, and Cruiser brought his 
 head home to him at night.
 
 118 NIMROD'S HUNTING TOUR. 
 
 away with their fox, and therefore stood still and blew hi? 
 horn ; but he should have ridden on, and blown his horn ; 
 for when we got to the top of the covert, not a hound, except a 
 few that were with us, could we get sight of. ' I know where 
 they are gone,' said Mr. Wilkinson; 'you must follow me, 
 for we shall never get over that stell*.' 1 did follow him, 
 and he took me to an awkward ford; but we might just as 
 well have gone around by York. The hounds had a capi- 
 tal run of an hour, and killed their fox, but only in the pres- 
 ence of a chosen few, who were bold enough and fortunate 
 enough to get well over this awkward stell Billy William- 
 son, I believe, being the first to charge it. It was deep and 
 rotten, and the change that was effected in the color of the 
 ci-devant white-cords of those gentlemen who dropped 
 short at it plainly showed what sort of a bottom it had. 
 
 Two things were now evident ; I was quite sure they 
 were in for a run, and I was equally sure I should see noth- 
 ing of it unless let in by some lucky turn. I did not, how- 
 ever, quit my pilot; but strange to say, I rode for exactly 
 one hour about fifty yards behind him, without ever hear- 
 ing the tongue of a hound until within the last ten minntes. 
 When we did get up to them, the thing was over ; the who- 
 whoop was only wanting ; they had not tasted him, but he 
 was dead beat, and in a few minutes more Matty had him 
 by the brush. It must have been a beautiful run for those 
 who saw it. The pace was excellent, and the country was 
 very good indeed for the provincials. 
 
 I had two reasons why I did not regret this wrong turn, 
 at first starting. First, I and my horse might have been 
 planted in the stell ; and secondly, it was a great treat to 
 me to see Matty Wilkinson and his chesnut horse get over, 
 or, 1 should rather say, creep over, upwards of a hundred 
 fences, in the very masterly manner in which they both per- 
 formed. He has ridden this horse three seasons without 
 having had a fall from him; and when I saw him creeping 
 over his fences, which appeared nothing to him, whilst my 
 horse was flying over them, and afraid to touch a thorn, I 
 almost envied his weight. Certain, however, is it, that hun- 
 ters carrying heavy men do walk into their fences in a most 
 
 * Anglice a brook.
 
 YORKSHIRE. 119 
 
 enviable manner, although indeed, if they did not walk into 
 them, they could never gallop across a deep country for an 
 hour and a hundred fences into the bargain. 
 
 I really was much pleased with the scientific manner in 
 which Mr. Wilkinson and his horse crossed the country in 
 this hour's gallop. We exchanged but few words with each 
 other with the exception of his telling me he was too 
 heavy for a huntsman and an occasional lamentation of our 
 ill luck. Matty, however, once addressed his horse, and it 
 had the desired effect. We came to a very awkward fence, 
 a wide ditch from us, and no footing for our horses but 
 among some strong stubs. ' Tak time, lad,' said Matty. 
 The lad* did take time, and did it like a workman. To- 
 wards the end of our gallop we came to another still worse 
 place. It was high and stiff, and near to a tree. Matty rode 
 up at it, and not liking it stood looking at it. 'Shall 
 I try and pull down those strong binders?' said I. 
 'No, no,' replied Matty, 'we'll gang at it;' and over 
 he went, at a good hand gallop. All his fences but this 
 were taken either at a stand or in a walk. In his gallop 
 he stood up in his stirrups, reminded me much of the New 
 Forest Harbin, and I think there is very little difference in 
 the waistbands of their breeches. Cassar wished Cassius 
 were fatter, but here this wish were vain. 
 
 This certainly was a good run, and a good finish. We 
 drew again, and three foxes all broke covert at the same 
 moment; but we did nothing worth speaking of, although 
 they tasted one of them. 
 
 After hunting this day I had the pleasure of dining at 
 Hutton Bonville, near Northallerton, the sent of Colonel 
 Towers. Birds of a feather flock together; and here I 
 was under the roof of a man as fond of hounds and every- 
 thing belonging to them as myself. His father kept fox- 
 hounds thirty-five years at his own expense; and his lady 
 is the daughter of Mr. Baker, of Elemore Hall, near Dur- 
 ham, one of the keenest sportsmen of his own or any other 
 man's day. Worse is the luck, he is now past the age of 
 
 * This reminds me of an anecdote of a capital old sportsman 
 Johnny Wynne of Ryton in Sir Richard Puleston's country. He 
 rode a very good black horse about fifteen seasons, but he never called 
 him anything but ' the colt."
 
 120 NIMROD'S HUNTING TOUR. 
 
 man; but is still to be seen by the covert's side when the 
 place of meeting is near Elemore : and only three years 
 ago he rode Jenny Homer at Middleham for the Hun- 
 ters' Stakes (gentlemen riders), and won his race, in 
 style. 
 
 Saturday, 16th. Having left two horses at Norton Con- 
 yers, I met Lord Darlington's- hounds on this day at Firby ; 
 about three miles from Newton House. It rained very 
 hard when I left Hutton Bonville, and when I got to the 
 place of meeting I found neither Greatcoat nor mud boots 
 had had the desired effect. I was ' spoiled for the day,' as 
 the dandies have it. We had no sport in the morning 
 great part of which was passed by Mr. Milbanke's fire-side, 
 waiting foi the rain to abate but a most agreeable evening 
 at Mr. John Monson's, where Sir Bellingham Graham was 
 staying, and two or three more of Mr. M.'s friends. Amongst 
 them was his brother-in-law, Mr. Wyvill, Member for 
 York, whose manly and independent speeches in Parlia- 
 ment I had often read and admired. There is a vast deal 
 of the native Englishman about this Mr. Wyvill, and a 
 very considerable share of talent ; and what rendered 
 him in no wise less estimable in my eyes he has always 
 been a good friend to fox-hounds. He hunted until he 
 turned the scale against twenty two stone, and that stops all 
 men except old Harbin and John Ward. 
 
 Sunday, 17th. Returned to my old quarters at Norton 
 Conyers, and was happy to hear that Lord Darlington : s 
 hounds had had some pretty sport in my absence. I was 
 also glad to find Sir Bellingham in better health, and his 
 stud recovering from some bangs and bruises that horses 
 will get when riden straight over a close country. I had 
 also the pleasure to hear, on good authority, that the Friday 
 after our capital run, the Lambton hounds had another tick- 
 ler in their home country, which again produced many 
 alarming symptoms among the horses, and several awkward 
 excuses from their riders. 
 
 Monday, 18th Lord Darlington's hounds met at Catter- 
 ick Lime Kilns, sixteen or seventeen miles from Norton 
 Conyers : but Sir Bellingham Graham fought shy. Like 
 all old masters of fox-hounds the pleasure of hunting with 
 any other man's pack is not sufficient to make him right
 
 YORKSHIRE. 121 
 
 keen, so I lost the pleasure of his company. We found two 
 if not three, foxes in T'lnstall whin, and one went away 
 over a good country. The Peer, however, was not aware 
 of it, and having- the body of the hounds with himself in 
 the whin, Will Price got forward and stopped those that went 
 away. But for this, we might have had a run, although 
 there was but a middling scent. I thought this looked like 
 a good country for a good fox. We found again, but he 
 ran very short, and, being twenty miles from home, I left 
 about three o'clock. 
 
 As one of the field was going^to Bedale, and my hack 
 was there, I put myself under his protection, for I was in a 
 strange country. Our road lay through the Duke of Leed's 
 domain, Hornby Castle, and I was surprised to find such a 
 great extent of grazing land. For several miles before we 
 came to the park, we rode across so many large grass fields 
 that I fancied myself going over Leicestershire. The Cas- 
 tle appeared a fine building as we passed within a mile of 
 it, but my attention was arrested by the immense number of 
 bridle gates on this domain, amounting, I was told, to many 
 more than a thousand. These were put up when his Grace 
 kept harriers ; and, with a small field, such as generally at- 
 tend hounds of that description, would almost preclude the 
 necessity of leaping. The Duke ivas out only twice when 
 I was in the country, and then I thought he seemed more 
 attentive to what his training groom had to say to him than 
 to anything else going on in the field. His Grace, how- 
 ever, is a preserver of foxes, and therefore long may he 
 live ! 
 
 Tuesday, 19. Met the Hurworth at the third mile-stone 
 from Northallerton on the Boroughbridge road. We soon 
 found a fox, and the hounds had a good run, marking him to 
 ground in Lord Darlington's country; but no one saw it 
 after the first three miles, and very few so far, for the pace 
 was tremendous, and the fences awful. What floored us all, 
 however, was the river Swale, which the fox crossed, after 
 having previously passed the Wisk, at which Sir Belling- 
 ham got a floorer. Some of the horsemen were ferry'd 
 over the Swale; but as we met Will Price, who was cross- 
 ing the country in pursuit of one of Lord Darlington's ter- 
 riers that was lost, and who informed us the hounds were 
 VOL. u. 1 1
 
 122 NIMROD'S HUNTING TOUR. 
 
 full four miles a head, running very hard, myself and a 
 great many more did not go into the boat. We knew there 
 was no draw for a second fox, and therefore it appeared use- 
 less. 
 
 This was decidedly the best scenting day I saw through- 
 out the last season ; but I am sorry to add it terminated un- 
 fortunately. Mr. Wilkinson violated the rules of fox-hun- 
 ting, by bolting his fox from, and killing him on, one of 
 Lord Darlington's earths, but a short distance from his ken- 
 nel door. 
 
 This day, after hunting, Sir Bellingham Graham and 
 myself went on a visit to Newton House, where we met 
 several of our spurting friends. We found our noble host 
 a good deal annoyed by the report that had reached him of 
 a fox being bolted and killed from one of his own earths; 
 and much as I may respect Mr. Wilkinson as a sportsman, 
 I must not attempt to justify him here. He has been a 
 master of fox-hounds many years, and we might as well 
 assert that Lord Eldon knew nothing of the laws of his 
 Court, as that Mr. Wilkinson was ignorant of the fox- 
 hunting code. A huntsman has a prescriptive right to hunt 
 his fox into another man's country, and to kill him, if he 
 can, by catching him above ground; but the moment he 
 earths, that moment he is in his castle, and is inviolable. I 
 repeat, that Mr. Wilkinson could not have been ignorant of 
 the rule, and he ought not to have killed this fox. It is a 
 reflection upon him as a sportsman ; but I am told he made 
 an acknowledgment of his error, and therefore no more 
 must be thought of it. ' To err is human ; to forgive di- 
 vine.' 
 
 As we were drinking our wine after dinner, at Newton 
 House, and this subject was in discussion, I embraced the 
 opportunity of ascertaining whether my notions respecting 
 it were correct. I did not appeal to Lord Darlington, al- 
 though so much the older sportsman of the two, but I ad- 
 dressed myself to Sir Bellingham Graham, as having hun- 
 ted six or seven different countries, and therefore more 
 competent to decide the question generally. He gave us a 
 clincher. ' I was once out,' said he, ' with Lord Lonsdale 
 in Leicestershire, and we ran a fox into a spout in the 
 Q.uorn country. He was to be seen, and almost to be
 
 YORKSHIRE. 123 
 
 touched, but the whipper-in could not bolt him without mov- 
 ing two or three stones. ' Don't touch them,' said Lord L.; 
 and Slack was ordered to take his hounds away. The ex- 
 ample of this old and good sportsman is worthy of being 
 imitated. 
 
 I was amused with the effect the murder of this fox had 
 upon Dick, Lord Darlington's first whipper-in. It appear- 
 ed to affect him quite as much as his lal'e bad fall, and, with 
 ' a face as long as my arm,' he told me, he thought it a very 
 ungenteel action. 
 
 Wednesday, 20th. Lord Darlington met at Flyntorf. 
 We drew the famous Uckenby whin blank, and then on to 
 Pepper Hall, the seat of the Hon. Colonel Arden : neither 
 the Colonel nor his foxes were at home: nor indeed could I 
 see any lying fora fox, but there is a fine country here. 
 One of my horses having been taken ill at Northallerton, I 
 quitted about two o'clock, and lost a pretty burst of twenty- 
 five minutes, with a kill. It was late when Lord Darling- 
 ton and his party returned to Newton House, having 
 had a trot of nearly twenty miles in rain and dark- 
 ness. 
 
 Thursday, 21st. Sir Bellingham Graham returned home, 
 but I remained at Newton House, intending to quit the next 
 day for Melton Mowbray. The Glasgow mail would have 
 picked me up at his Lordship's gates at five o'clock in the 
 evening, and I should have been in very good time for the 
 Q,uorn hounds the next morning, having had the promise 
 of a mount for that day and the next. The coach, however, 
 was full, so that speculation failed. 
 
 This was a day of note in the annals of fox-hunting. It 
 produced that brilliant run with Lord Anson's hounds from 
 Enderby, in Leicestershire, the seat of Mr. Loraine Smith. 
 Young Peyton, as he is called, went to the end of it; but 
 his famous mare Edgecot paid the forfeit of her life; and 
 I believe Mr. Braithwaite likewise saw him killed. Lord 
 Anson was also near doing the same at the expense of two 
 tired and one dead horse : but it was awfully severe. The 
 finish, I am told, was grand, as the death took place in the 
 castle at Ashby de la Zouch, in Derbyshire, fifteen miles 
 point blank from Enderby best pace all the way. I saw 
 Mr. Loraine Smith in London in the spring, and he told me
 
 124 MMROD'S HUNTING TOUR. 
 
 he had built a triumphal arch on the spot which produced 
 so gallant a fox, and a run well deserving of a record be- 
 yond the day. 
 
 There is, generally speaking, something irresistibly amus- 
 ing in the active workings of immoderate zeal ; and par- 
 ticularly so when the object in pursuit is of an agreeable 
 nature, and one with which we ourselves can sympathise. 
 The truth of this, will, I thinlc, be exemplified in a short 
 account 1 am enabled to give of Mr. Matthew Wilkinson, 
 as a master of fox-hounds and a sportsman in the style 
 and character of the Old School. 
 
 Mr. Matthew Wilkinson is the youngest of three broth- 
 ers, two of whom are now alive and are the representatives 
 of a family long seated in the county of Durham, and pos- 
 sessing property, amounting, as I was informed, to some- 
 what better than 2000Z. per annum in land. To distinguish 
 their Chrislian names requires a short preface. All who 
 are acquainted with the customs and manners of the north- 
 ern counties of this Island are aware, that in them John is 
 called Johnny ; William Willy] Thomas, Tommy] Matth- 
 ew, Matty ] and soon, adding the y to the termination of 
 every name that can receive it, and otherwise corrupting it 
 when the ydoes not sound prettily to the ear. Thus, then, the 
 elder of these brothers, Thomas, was called Tommy] the 
 second, Lozalure, is dubbed ; Lozzy, and still farther cor- 
 rupted by his particulars; and \latthewisknownbyno 
 other appellation than Matty or Maltha Wilkinson, maister 
 of and hootsman to the Hunvorth Hounds. These are 
 what critics term ' the abortions of familiarities ;' but it 
 would be useless to adopt any other phraseology; so 
 I shall take the liberty of adhering to the vulgar 
 tongue. 
 
 The Hurworth Hounds were originally harriers, but 
 were promoted to fox-hounds thirty-six years ago, nearly 
 thirty of which they were kept at his sole expense by the 
 elder brother Tommy/who died about seven years back. 
 Tommy, I was informed, had the advantages of education, 
 was a very superior sportsman and his view-halloo, which 
 was magnificent, is said to be still echoed in Hutton Ranby 
 Woods. Lozzy comes next in the first page of the Family 
 Bible. He resides at Heigington, not far from Rushyford,
 
 YORKSHIRE. 125 
 
 but about ten miles from the kennel, and of course contrib- 
 utes to the expense of the hounds. He is very keen ; ride ; 
 any distance to covert in the old style on his hunters 
 and thinks lightly of twenty-five miles home in the 
 dark after a good run. He also is esteemed a fair sports- 
 man. 
 
 Matty, however, is the hero of my tale; and his charac- 
 ter is described in a few words. He boasts of no scholas- 
 tic education, no collegiate reading ; neither does he appear 
 to be much under the discipline of art. But of this he 
 may be proud he keeps a pack of fox-hounds on perhaps 
 smaller means than almost any other man in England; 
 and he is acknowledged by all to be as good a rough-ami 
 ready sportsman as ever halloo'd to a hound. He is like- 
 wise much esteemed amongst his neighbors as a kind-hear- 
 ted man a character, indeed, true sportsman for the most 
 part lay claim to and maintain. 
 
 I did not see the Hurworth kennel; but it is situated at 
 Measham, about five miles from Darlington, and [ am told 
 is not badly arranged for convenience and health of hounds. 
 Here Tommy, the whipper-in and feeder one and the 
 same man with his wife and six children, have their dwell- 
 ing ; and by way of preventing riot by night, a small trap- 
 door opens close to Tommy's head when in bed, through 
 which either himself or his wife, which ever may be awake, 
 can rate the hounds, and put all quiet in~an instant. Me- 
 thinks I hear Lady Londonderry exclaim, ' Heavens ! how 
 can people bear to be so near those nasty dogs! What a 
 stench there must be !' Not a bit of it, my Lady ! To 
 Tommy and his wife it is all lavender water; and, should 
 the wind set that way, and waft into their chamber a little 
 of the kennel perfume, it would only be to them, 
 
 ' Like the sweet South. 
 That breaks upon a bank of violets, 
 Stealing and giving odor.' 
 
 In everything relating to the passion for hunting, Mr. 
 Matthew Wilkinson may have his equal, but his superior 
 would be difficult to produce. His attachment to his hounds 
 is almost beyond belief. He has always some of his favor- 
 
 VOL. II. *11
 
 126 NIMROD'S HUNTING TOUR. 
 
 ites walking about his house; and to a bitch with whelps 
 he will give as much as she can eat of a good sirloin of 
 beef or leg of mutton from his own table. I had it on un- 
 questionable authority, that, although he keeps ten or twelve 
 cows, the whelps in the spring have all the best milk, and 
 nothing but sky-blue is allowed for the house ! I was also 
 informed, that it has been his practice to keep a tame fox, 
 which would run about the house and buildings for the ed- 
 ification of the puppies as soon as they were able to follow 
 him. He keeps but four hunters for himself and Tommy, 
 and his.stable system is this His horses are never phy- 
 sicked, neither are they gallopped in their exercise having, 
 as he observes, ' plenty of gallopping when they hunt.' In. 
 corn, their bellies form the measure. 
 
 Death and its terrors kick the beam when put into the 
 scale against Matty Wilkinson's passion for the chase. Al- 
 though he cannot swim, no, not even a little, he has crossed 
 that rapid and deep river Tees at least forty times in his life 
 after his hounds, and has had some -hair breadth escapes. 
 Very soon after I was in his country, he was in the great- 
 est danger of being drowned. He plunged into this stream 
 when swelled with rain, and was unhorsed in the middle of 
 it. Fortunately catching hold of one of the stirrups, his 
 horse dragged him out, but 1 believe it was what is called 
 ' a very near go.' When he had run his fox to ground, he 
 coolly laid himself down on his back, and held up his heels, 
 to let the water run out of his boots. 1 should like to see a 
 picture of him on another occasion similar to this, when head- 
 dressed theboys on the bank toascertain what injury fl certain 
 part of his clothes had met within the water. I must not write 
 what beauty would blush to read, so dare not repeat the ques- 
 tion asked, but it was a most ludicrous one. For the same 
 reason, I must suppress the answer he made his brother 
 Tom. who told him he thought the fox was not gone 'up 
 wind; ' but it will not be forgotten in Durham till time shall 
 be no more. 
 
 I very much fear this gallant sportsman will one of these 
 days change time for eternity in his attempts to cross this 
 rapid river. Indeed, on his late escape, his brother Lozzy 
 seriously admonished him of the impending danger; but 
 all the notice taken of the salutary hint was, ' My life is my 
 own, and / suppose I may do what I like with it !'
 
 YORKSHIRE. 127 
 
 A polish weakens the vigor of native powers. Eton and 
 Cristchurch might have spoiled Matty Wilkinson, and de- 
 prived him of his niche in the Temple of Fame. It is the na- 
 tive simplicity, the original character, that pleases here, as 
 the wilds of the forest are superior to the parterres of the 
 flower garden ; and there are on record some most amus- 
 ing and characteristic anecdotes of this infatuated sports- 
 man. As I have before stated, I cannot relate them all, nei- 
 ther would one or two look well in print. 
 
 When Mr. Matthew Wilkinson's eldest brother was on 
 his death-bed, he was asked by a friend for the fixtures of 
 the forthcoming week. His reply was this : ' Why Tom- 
 my is v*y Hi, and if Tommy dees we can't hunt till Mon- 
 day ; but, if Tommy don't dee, we shall hunt at on 
 
 Friday.' A brother sportsman died, and left Matty five 
 pounds to purchase a black coat to his memory. Matty 
 purchased a red one, thinking thereby he had shown still 
 greater respect to his departed friend. 
 
 It is but natural to suppose, that, fond as Mr. Matthew 
 Wilkinson is of hounds, and having but a short kennel of 
 them, he is very much afraid of their being ridden over, 
 not only in chase, but in drawing over the country. A 
 gentleman was one day very near to them. ' Take care of 
 the hounds, Sir,' said Matty. ' Oh !' replied the gentleman 
 'my horse never kicks hounds.' 'Perhaps not, Sir,', re- 
 plied Matty in his dry way, 'but he may tread on their 
 tails.' On another occasion a young and zealous fox-hun- 
 ter was riding too near his darlings in chase. Matty check- 
 ed him. He was again on the line. Matty rated him again; 
 and at last insisted upon his riding behind himself. The 
 young one acquiesced, and so went on till towards the >nd 
 of the run, when Matty's mare began to flag. ' Get for- 
 ward, Sir,' said Matty; ' ride as hard as you can.' ' Zounds !' 
 said the young one; 'did you not tell me I was to ride be- 
 hind you,?' ' Why yes, 1 did,' said Matty ; ' but you may 
 gang along now, as mayhap you'll tice my old mare after 
 thee.' 
 
 Matty once came to a brook I beg pardon, a stell. 
 which he did not like to ride at, so walked through it, and 
 told his whipper-in (Tommy) to turn the old mare to him.
 
 128 NIMROD'S HUNTING TOUR. 
 
 The old mare would not have it ; so what was to be done 1 
 ' Turn thy own over, Tommy,' said his master, 'and then 
 mine will follow.' Tommy's horse got over; but the old 
 mare would not look at it. What was now to be done ? 
 The hounds were running hard. Why, the master jumped 
 upon the man's horse and rode away to his hounds, Tommy 
 exclaiming, loud enough to be heard by him, ' Dom thee 
 for a . . ., but that's not fair !' 
 
 I have aj ready stated that Mr. Matthew Wilkinson is not 
 much under the discipline of art. He might say with a cer- 
 tain great personage, ' By the grace of God, I am what I 
 am;' but from all I had heard of himself and his man, of 
 the Rhinoceros breeches and the oil-skin hat, the ddd spur, 
 the new fashioned whip, and other specimens of ' d n all 
 dandies school,' I was prepared to meet with something still 
 more out of the common way. This, however, was not the 
 case. Tommy with the exception of his topper, was as well 
 rigged as any whipper-in for a rough country need to be; 
 and as for the Squire, although perhaps it might be as well 
 to stop the letter M, and call him Matty and not Natty, yet 
 there was nothing extraordinary in his appearance. Some 
 there a,re who cannot reconcile themselves to the innova- 
 tions of fashion, and Mr. Matthew Wilkinson appears to be 
 one ; but with reverence be it spoken, he is a good sports- 
 man, and what matters the cut of his coat ! 
 
 Where is the tongue where is the pen where is the 
 pencil that can describe to the life? It would be a vain at- 
 tempt to do so here; and my readers must either journey to 
 Durham, or picture to themselves Mr. Matthew Wilkinson. 
 They will see before them, or they may fancy they see, an 
 English sportsman of the old stamp keen beyond words ; 
 resolute and daring in his favorite pursuit; and of a frame 
 not of the doubtful gender, but manly and powerful, and 
 formed for hardships not quite so heavy as the great John 
 Ward, nor with a countenance quite so expressive. 
 
 Mr. M. Wilkinson is esteemed a very superior huntsman 
 as far as the working of his hounds is concerned, as also 
 assisting them in recovering a scent. His great weight, 
 however (full seventeen stone), precludes the possibility of 
 his always being in his place ; though every one I convers- 
 ed with agreed, that, from his great knowledge of the country,
 
 YORKSHIRE. 129 
 
 and of the usual line of his foxes he creeps up to his hounds 
 when at fault, much sooner than might be expected. This 
 is the result of a quick eye and a good share of brains, with 
 each of which Mr. W. is very well furnished. Of his man- 
 agement in the kennel I can say nothing: nor can I say 
 much of the condi;ion of his pack, any farther than that 
 their elbows were clean, and that is as much as can be gen- 
 erally said of hounds that work as hard as his do ; but I 
 thought the hounds themselves did credit to his judgemnt. 
 They are fine slashing animals, with great power and bone 
 and are allowed to have as much hunt in them as their 
 owner has zeal ; and truly that is in abundance. f Tattler, 
 Cruiser, Juggler, and Music would be an ornament to any 
 pack. 
 
 I am not well qualified to speak of the Hurworth country. 
 Some of it, I was informed, is very good, as indeed was 
 that part which I rode over from Dinsdale wood ; but gen- 
 erally speaking, it is narrow and limited, and much inter- 
 rupted by the Tees. The subscription, I understand 
 amounts only to [751, per annum, which may perhaps with 
 good management find meal for the hounds, as the pack is 
 small, only consisting of twenty-six couples of hunting 
 hounds, and this year not more than four couples to come in. 
 Days of hunting Mondays and Fridays. 
 
 I have now done with Mr. Matthew Wilkinson and his 
 hounds. Long may he liye to enjoy his favorite sport ; and, 
 when he is gone, let his memory be cherished for the zeal 
 he has shown in the noble science of fox-hunting ! Keep- 
 ing a pack of fox-hounds with extended means is a praise- 
 worthy act ; but when those means are limited, it becomes 
 doubly so, as many other gratifications must of course give 
 place. 
 
 Friday 22nd, wishing to get home by Christmas-day, I 
 was 'afraid to try the mail again, so got on the box of some 
 coach that passed the house, and arrived at Leeds at nine 
 o'clock, whence I proceeded by the Express to London. 
 
 It was the second of March before I could quit home on 
 my return to the North ; and as the Holderness hounds 
 were my next object, I started for Beverley, their head- 
 quarters, at which place I had ordered some horses to meet
 
 130 NIMROD'S HUNTING TOUR. 
 
 No sooner arrived at the Tiger Inn, in the neat town of 
 Beverley, than I sent my card to Mr. Hodgson, the Master 
 of the Holderness, who, as he was sitting alone, most kind- 
 ly acknowledged the receipt of it in person. I found him 
 exactly what I expected, for he had been accurately describ- 
 ed to me by Sir Bellingham Graham. ' You must go,' said 
 he, ' and see Tom Hodgson. He is a very old acquaintance 
 of mine ; one of the best fellows in the world; a capital 
 sportsman ; in short, he lives for hunting} He was in the 
 prime of life; no dandy ; six feet three inches high ; and, as 
 Mat Milton says of a light bellied horse, 'carrying very lit- 
 tle dinner bag.' 
 
 Tuesday, 6th, a non-hunting day. Breakfasted with Mr. 
 Hodgson, and spent the morning in looking over hounds 
 and horses. In the evening accompanied Mr. Hodgson to 
 dinner at Swanland, the seat of Mr. (Sykes, who I muchjegret- 
 ted to hear, paid the debt of nature about six weeksafterwards. 
 Amongst the company, which was numerous, was a West 
 Riding Baronet, Sir Edward Dodsworth, very fond of fox- 
 hunting, and a staunch advocate for blood to hounds in the 
 morning-, and a glass of good port wine in the evening. 
 
 On our return in the evening we found Lord Mountsand- 
 ford at the Tiger, who was come for a week's hunting with 
 the Holderness. His Lordship was in just the right trim to 
 receive us. He had taken his bottle of Champagne and dit- 
 to of Claret; and was in the act of lighting a cigar to top 
 everything up with, when we entered the room. We soon 
 followed his example; and a glass of gin punch and an 
 hour's gossip closed the evening of this day. 
 
 Lord Mountsandford is a handsome young Irishman, edu- 
 cated entirely in England, and therefore carries no mark of 
 his country on his tongue; but his Lordship possesses the 
 characteristic cheerfulness of his native land, and is what 
 we call 'a very good fellow.' He resides a great deal in 
 Yorkshire, partly at Mr. Oliver's of Darrington, and partly 
 at Mr. Gascoine's of Parlington, to both of which gentlemen 
 I believe he is related. 
 
 Wednesday, 7th. Met the Holderness hounds at White- 
 cross, the residence of a very wealthy yeoman by the name 
 of Jackson, who occupies a considerable property of his own, 
 and resides in all the comfort I nearly said luxury of
 
 YORKSHIRE. 131 
 
 that station in life. Two peculiar features mark the char- 
 acter of Mr. Jackson. First, he takes under his roof, un- 
 invited, any sportsman living at a distance, as also his ser- 
 vant and horses, on the evening before hunting, when the 
 next day's fixture is near his house. Secondly he gives a 
 public breakfast on the mornings on which the hounds meet 
 at White-cross, which is laid out in the true style of Old 
 English hospitality. No wonder then he is so highly es- 
 teemed by the gentlemen in his part of the country, that they 
 presented him with a handsome silver cup ; on which is an 
 inscription, testifying it to be given to him as ' a slight mark 
 of esteem for his universal kindness and unbounded hospi- 
 tality on all occasions that may occur.' On the morning lam 
 speaking of he gave a most excellent breakfast to the field, 
 and I had the honor of wetting my lips in this cup. It was 
 filled vvilh capital cherry-brandy (no bad jumping-powder 
 in thiscountry of drains), which wentdownthe better for look- 
 ingat the inscription on the outside. Long life to this man, and 
 all of his sort! said 1 to myself, as I put the massive tank- 
 ard to my lips. 
 
 We had this day twenty minutes over the open, very fast, 
 from Catwick whin, and puggy, thinking it time to shift, got 
 into a drain, from which the hounds drew him, and were 
 rewarded with his blood for this business like burst. .It cer- 
 tainly was very quick so much so, that Captain Dowbig- 
 gin pronounced it the fastest twenty minutes he had ever 
 seen. We t,hen partook of Mr. Bethell's hospitality, who 
 gave us a most excellent luncheon at his handsome seat at 
 Rise, and found again in Hatfield whin ; dusted him so se- 
 verely in covert that the puff was out of him ; and we 
 turned him up also in the open, after a ten minutes' race 
 the hounds never ten yards from his brush. 
 
 It always gives me additional pleasure to speak of per- 
 sons, male or female, who preserve foxes themselves not 
 partaking of the sport- There is a good deal of merit due 
 to such conduct; for, to say nothingofgame preservesandthe 
 poultry-yard it does not, I admit, improve the neatappearance 
 of a gentleman's grounds to have a hundred horsemen gal- 
 lop across them after a wet night, as was the case at Rise ; 
 although no real injury may be ultimately sustained by the 
 land. I have here, however, an anecdote to relate of Mrs-
 
 132 NIMROD'S HUNTING TOUR. 
 
 Bethell, the fair partner of the gentleman I have been speak- 
 ing of, which every true sportsman must admire her for. 
 On one occasion, the season before last, after a capital run 
 of an hour and a half, Mr. Hodgson marked his fox to ground 
 in Rise Park; bolted him and killed. Mrs. Bethell said, 
 1 Oh, Mr. Hodgson ! after such a run as this, the late Mr. 
 Bethel* would not have killed his fox ! 
 
 Thursday, 8th. The Holderness met at Scorboro, five 
 miles from Beverley. It blew a hurricane, and rained in 
 torrents, but they killed their fox from Elton whin, after 
 thirty-five minutes slow hunting. I afterwards dined with 
 Mr. Hall of Scorboro, whose son, a very good performer 
 over a country, I was acquainted with, by having met him 
 at Mr. Osbaldeston's at Q.uorn. His place not on a very 
 large scale is one of the neatest and prettiest I ever met 
 with, quite unique in its way. 
 
 Friday, 9th. Breakfasted at Burton Agnes, the beautiful 
 and justly-celebrated seat of Sir Francis Boyton. 
 
 The Baronet and his lady accompanied us to Sir Tatton 
 Sykes's hounds, which met at a covert about five miles dis- 
 tant. It was a fine whin, in a wild country, not far from 
 the sea, but held no fox this day. We afterwards found in 
 Barnston whin, a very large and strong covert, and too large 
 for hounds to press a fox in, as they should do to make him 
 fly his country. A few rides cut throno-h it would be of 
 signal advantage. Barnston whin was formerly within the 
 limits of the Holderness Hunt, but withdrawn in conse- 
 quence of some misunderstanding between the proprietor 
 and a quondam master of those hounds. Were this pro- 
 ceeding to become general, hunting countries would net 
 be long kept entire, and great confusion would be the re- 
 sult. 
 
 We had no sport worth speaking of on this day ; indeed 
 the scent was very indifferent ; but the short run afforded 
 me one anecdote perhaps worth relating. A fox went away 
 at last from Barnston whin, taking a ring over a nasty wet 
 country. I made the best of my way over it, riding inside 
 the hounds, till we came to something like a poser. It was 
 a deep and boggy drain, with a black and rotten bank to 
 
 * A gentleman of this name who once hunted the country.
 
 YORKSHIRE. 133 
 
 jump upon, and, as the Irishman said, ' another river on the 
 other side.' It was far from agreeable; and the more we 
 looked, the less we liked it. A pause ensued. ' The hounds 
 are turning to us,' said 1. ' That admits of a doubt, Sir,' 
 said Mr. Welbourne, a tenant of Sir Francis Boyton ; and 
 gallantly charged the fence. As I expected, the bank let 
 his horse in up to his houghs; and when I saw him, horse 
 and all, well landed in the second drain, I thought it was 
 my turn to say something; so comforted him by exclaim- 
 ing, ' That, Sir, admits of no doubt.' I then put my horse 
 at a fresh place, but that admitted of no doubt :' headlong 
 we went into the next field, and although little Shamrock 
 did contrive to throw me clear of the water, yet we both 
 got up completely pie-bald : the white blaze down his face 
 was no longer visible ; and when I looked at the cords and 
 the boot-tops, I might have sung with Ovid, 
 
 'Q,ui color albus erat, nunc est contratrius albo.' 
 
 Two more of the field all I believe who came our line 
 were alsoflftored at this same fence, and one of them was 
 dragged a hundred yards by his stirrup. His boot came off 
 and released him from his awful, situation, or the conse- 
 quence might have been dreadful. 
 
 Of all fences, the most certain floorer is what is called a 
 double, with unsound ground between the two ditches or 
 drains. The impetus from the leap being added to the 
 weight of the horse and his rider, causes of course very 
 considerable pressure from the hoofs ; and if the ground is 
 not able to resist it, all spring to encounter the second diffi- 
 culty is lost and a fall is the result. 
 
 1 had the pleasure of spending the evening of this day at 
 Thorpe, the seat of the Lord Macd,onald. It is beautifully 
 situated in a snug valley on the edge of the wolds, with eve- 
 ry convenience for a large family ; but his Lordship only 
 resides here during the winter months, having a fine place 
 in Scotland. 
 
 In the morning, as we had a long distance to go to meet 
 the Holderness hounds, we were in the breakfast-room be- 
 times, owing to which, in addition to a sharp hoar frost, we 
 got to Brandsburton Moor about two hours before MF. 
 Hodgson arrived with his pack, so tender was he of his 
 VOL. n. 12
 
 134 NIMROD'S HUNTING TOUR. 
 
 hounds. This being a favorite fixture, there was a large 
 field considerably more than a hundred. With the excep- 
 tion of the hounds getting no blood three foxes going to 
 ground, two of them in rabbit burrows this was a good 
 day's sport to hard-riding men, for in each burst the pace 
 was tremendous ; and the last was rather more than a burst, 
 for it exceeded forty minutes, taking the puff out of most 
 of the nags, and causing some of them to stand on their 
 heads instead of their legs. 
 
 On Sunday afternoon, Mr. Hodgson accompanied me to 
 Bishop Burton, three miles from Beverley, the seat of that 
 very eminent sportsman Mr Watt. After an excellent lunch- 
 eon we looked into the paddocks, where I was in hopes of 
 seeing Manuella; but she was not there, neither were any 
 of his best mares. All the race-horses in work were at 
 Scott's stables at Malton. 
 
 Mr. Watt is an admi rer of the chase, and generally is seen 
 by the covert's side twice a-week. Although, perhaps, there 
 may be keener sportsmen, there is no man who wishes bet- 
 ter to fox-hunting. , 
 
 Monday, 12th. The Holderness hounds met at Elton, 
 about four miles from Beverley, but we could do nothing 
 with hounds on this day. The moment they were thrown 
 into covert I saw it was a hopeless case; for they were roll- 
 ing and staring about them from want of something better 
 to do. We at last hunted a fox to Bishop Burton, and after 
 losing some time in getting through Mr. Watt's paddocks, 
 we hunted him back to Elton, and killed in the covert ho 
 was found in. It was a wretched scenting day; and I well 
 remember that, over a large ploughed field, only one hound 
 (Render) could speak to him. 
 
 The Holderness Club consists of only twenty Members. 
 They dine together once a month, and the Wednesday I 
 was at Beverley happened to be a Club day. We had a 
 large muster of Members ; the dinner, at the Beverley 
 Arms Inn, was very deserving of praise ; the wine, the prop- 
 erty of the Club, so-so ; and a ball at the assembly rooms 
 for a finish. 
 
 The following would be a very posing question to me : 
 'Who do you esteem the most zealous fox-hunter the 
 man fondest of everything relating to hounds and hunting,
 
 YORKSHIRE. 
 
 that you have met with in life?' I think I should reply, 
 either Squire Osbaldestonor Tom Hodgson ; for I really think 
 the question rests between those gentlemen. I need not say 
 that it has not been in the po\ver of Mr. Hodgson to hunt 
 hounds six days a-week, as Mr. O. has done; and for 
 the best of all reasons ! namely, every one knows he has 
 not had the stuff to do it with ; but by my soul I believe, if 
 he could keep. his eyes open without sleep, he would be with 
 his hounds by day and by night: No hen appears prouder 
 of her brood than he does of his staunch little pack: and 
 well indeed do they requite his pains. Perhaps no man in 
 England does so much work with so small a kennel of 
 hounds, for, with only twenty-two^couples of old, and nine 
 of young hounds, he hunted three times a-week throughout 
 the whole of last season ; and such has been about the state 
 of the case since he has had the Holderness country. With 
 this strength, he killed his thirty brace of foxes last hunt- 
 ing season, which I call great doings. 
 
 Encouragement is the soul of enterprize and although 
 Mr. Hodgson's subscription is no more than 1000Z. per an- 
 num, yet he is suppdrted by the good wishes of all descrip- 
 tions of persons, and particularly*by those of the yeomen 
 and farmers no bad criterion by the bye of doing things 
 right and straight forward between man and man. 
 
 Mr. Hodgson I should imagine, spends more time with 
 his hounds than any gentleman-huntsman in England, and, 
 I may venture to add, or than any other. He attributes, in- 
 deed, the extraordinary work they do for him to his walk- 
 in? them out so often on non-hunting days, by which all 
 stiffness of the joints and soreness of the feet are greatly re- 
 lieved. Dogs, we know, of all descriptions are much giv- 
 en to sleep on a full belly ; and on the morrow after a hard 
 day's sport, hounds would scarcely quit the benches after 
 feeding were it not for being made to do so. Mr. H. fre- 
 quently walks out his pack as often as six times a-day, and 
 I was told it was nothing very uncommon to see him doing 
 this by moonlight. Indeed, as far as kennel-work is con- 
 cerned, Mr. Hodgson is certainly the most painstaking 
 huntsman I ever came across in my life. In the .field his 
 skill is also acknowledged ; and there is little doubt but that
 
 136 NIMROD'S HUNTING TOUR. 
 
 time and experience will place him in the front rank: 
 zeal like his is not to be denied ! 
 
 There was one disadvantage as a huntsman to a pack of 
 fox-hounds in a deep and high scenting country, that Mr. 
 Hodgson labored under when I was at Beverley, which I 
 hear he has this year rectified. His horses, although good 
 fencers, did not possess sufficient speed to place him where 
 he ought always to be when his hounds come to a check. 
 No man can ensure being at all limes present with his pack; 
 but the less his eye is off them the better, and he should al- 
 ways be able to break away from the crowd. 
 
 In the summer Mr. Hodgson lives with his father, at 
 Sugfield, near Ferrybridge, but of course in the hunting 
 season he takes up his abode at Beverley. Trifles light as 
 air mark the character of a man, and here you see Tom 
 Hodgson in his real form the true sportsman, giving up 
 everything to fox-hunting. His crib is close to the kennel 
 and the stables ; and as it has been pronounced by a master 
 of fox-hounds ' to be better worth seeing than a palace,' I can- 
 not do less less than describe it. It consists of but two 
 rooms; one for himself, and one for 'an old woman who 
 wails upon him. The furniture of the master's room con- 
 sists of a turn-up bedstead, a sofa, half a dozen chairs, and 
 a table ; but here he can do what no man can do in a pal- 
 ace. As he lies in his bed, he can open his window, shut 
 his door, stir the fire, and rale his hounds if he hears them 
 quarrelling in their kennel. His walls are ornamented 
 with some excellent prints of sporting characters himself 
 in caricatura among the rest and the place is altogether 
 of a piece. We are not all rich enough to purchase the 
 pleasures of Corinth, as an old proverb has it; but the rich- 
 es of a Caliph could not make this man happier than I hava 
 seen him in his crib at Beverley, within hearing of the 
 sweet music of his pack. 
 
 Too nice a taste in no matter what is little less than a 
 curse. He who is pleased with nothing short of perfection 
 has less pleasure and less happiness than one who is more 
 moderate in his expectations and desires. When I entered 
 the Holderness kennel, I did not expect to see a complete 
 and perfect pack of hounds, such for obvious reasons being 
 within reach of but few; but I was confident I should see
 
 YORKSHIRE. 137 
 
 n good style of animal, hounds looking like doing business, 
 and drafted down, as the old man's cats were to those only 
 which would kill mice. No Modishes and Merkins kept, 
 as I have seen them kept, because they were too handsome 
 to hang, and too bad to give away ; but almost every hound 
 in Tom Hodgson's kennel looked, like his master, as if fie 
 knew how to kill a fox. 
 
 There is a hound in the Holderness pack worth his 
 weight in sovereigns ons of the best and closest hunters 
 I ever sa\v, and he appeared quite without a fault. He is 
 most appropriately named Pilot, and in truth he is a capital 
 steersman when any difficulty occurs, at the same time that 
 he runs quite up to the head. He is a three-year-old hun- 
 ter, and appears in the list as got by Mr. Ward's Palestine 
 out of the Badsworth Harmony the Duke of Grafior/.s 
 Roderick blood and drafted, [ believe, for the Badsworth 
 kennel. Another hound of the same year I considered par- 
 ticularly good viz. Leveller, by Lord Lonsdale's Leader 
 out of Lord Yarborough's Merry Lass his Lordship's 
 ildair sort: also Justice (very clever, and a hound of 
 great power), one year younger, by Mr. Osbaldeston's Jasper 
 out of Sir Bellingham Graham's Jealousy: Comrade, same 
 year, a capital sort, but don't exactly remember what. 
 
 The Holderness country has been established many years, 
 snd is one of very considerable extent. Speaking geograph- 
 ically, it is bounded by the German Ocean, by the river 
 Humber, by Houden, by Pocklington (fourteen miles from 
 York), and Bridlington, on the coast, eighteen miles south 
 of Scarborough which two latter places may be called its 
 corner points, and about thirty miles apart. From North to 
 South its extent is full forty-five, from East to West thirty- 
 six miles. It is only interrupted by Barnston whin and 
 Burton Agnes, and abounds in coverts and foxes. One half 
 of it is composed of that part of Yorkshire called Holder- 
 ness, and the other half the wolds and low country extend- 
 ing nearly to Houden. The river Hull divides Holderness 
 from the wolds. The air of the former is soft and humid: 
 of the latter such as is generally experienced on situations 
 of a similar altitude. 
 
 My opinion of the Holderness country is, that it is a rare 
 one for hounds, but, after much rain, a cruel one for horses: 
 
 VOL. II. 1'^*
 
 138 NIMROD'S HUNTING TODR. 
 
 and I must say is too deep to be pleasant. On some days 
 the best hunter in England may be stopped in ten minutes, 
 if ridden at the top of his pace ; for in some parts there i 
 no chance to bring him round again by getting on a 
 dry headland or a bit of sound ground. It is sop, sop, all 
 the way, and the dark color of the soil plainly denotes its 
 quality. As for the drains, it appeared to me as if more had 
 been said about them than is needful ; as T don't think they 
 present themselves oftener, or are at all more formidable, 
 than the brooks in parts of Northamptonshire, Warwick- 
 shire, Leicestershire, and one or two other Midland coun- 
 ties. I saw but one that appeared impracticable, and that 
 was shown me on my road to covert. Perhaps I was fortu- 
 nate; but those we met with in chase, whilst I was in the 
 country, were such that no horse fit to be called a hunter 
 ought to be appalled at. The horses of the country make 
 easy work of them, by, where the ground is sound, creep- 
 ing down the banks on the rising side, and then taking the 
 drains in a stand. Notwithstanding, it requires a good hun- 
 ter to get well across Holderness, and a man on his back 
 who knows how to ride him. If he is wantonly pressed, 
 he must stop; and there must be times (when hounds run 
 hard) when every advantage must be taken, and every as- 
 sistance given him. As for the fences in Holderness, they 
 are the common hedge find ditch, without hinders, and there- 
 fore only require a steady horse, and a good finger on him, 
 to get over them without much danger of falls, that is to say, 
 when the puff is in. When it is out, a molehill and a moun- 
 tain are much alike. . 
 
 The Holderness country has changed masters several 
 times within the last ten years. The first of these mention- ' 
 ed to me was Mr. Digby Legard, whose sons are now going 
 well, particularly Mr. George Legard. After he left it, it 
 became vacant for some time, a gentleman by the name of 
 Hill hunting it part of two seasons. Mr. Hay (late of 
 Warwicksbire)had it after Mr. Hill, and hunted it a year 
 and a half, declaring that it was the best scenting country 
 in all England. Mr. Osbaldeston once had a turn at it, 
 but 1 believe for not more than half a season. Then cam* 
 Mr. Hill again, and to him Mr. Hodgson succeeded, this be- 
 ing his fourth season.
 
 YORKSHIRE. 139 
 
 The amount of the subscription to Mr. Hodgson was not 
 more than 800/. the first year, but increased afterwards to 
 about 1000/. That it will continue to increase, I cannoi 
 doubt; for he has shown excellent sport; and as far as 
 himself is concerned, no man can be more popular or more 
 really deserving of encouragement. 
 
 There is one characteristic of the Holderness country 
 which must be highly flattering to the gentleman who hunts 
 it. The farmers are, to a man, not only preservers of foxes, 
 in the common meaning of the phrase, but they go beyond 
 that; for they will not have a fox killed, evenwiih hounds, if 
 they can any how save his life. 
 
 I must say a word in favor of Will Danby, Tom Hodg- 
 son's first whipper-in. He is quite as much a devotee as 
 his master, and a most obliging, civil fellow ; a good and 
 bold horseman; and by no means particular about a fall or 
 two*. He lives, like his master, but a short distance from 
 the kennel, and has, what is called 'a very tidy woman' 
 for his wife, and a very pretty litter of cubs. The follow- 
 ing anecdote is much to his credit: ' Will,' said his master, 
 'I hope next year to raise your wages.' 'Lord Sir,' re- 
 plied Will, ' I wants no more wages. I am as happy as a 
 man can be ; only let me be with the hounds, and 1 wishes 
 for nothing more.' Oh what a lesson does Will Danbr 
 give us ! What a compliment to Tom Hodgson and fox-hun- 
 ting. 
 
 In consequence of the long extended drought of summer 
 before last, the the price of hay was exorbitantly high in 
 many parts of the North of England. Singular as it may 
 appear, that consumed by Mr. Hodgson's stud at Beverley 
 was purchased in Smithfield market, London, and sent down 
 by water to Hull. It was thence conveyed gratis by some 
 sporting farmers to Beverley, and when lodged in Mr. Hodg- 
 son's buildings, cost him only six pounds per load of eigh- 
 teen hundred- weight. 
 
 There are a few hard riders in the Holderness Hunt. 
 The following are very good indeed, and would go well in 
 
 * He got one rattler while I was in the country. I asked him the 
 next day how he was. He replied, he was quite well, only he felt 
 rather queer about the head.
 
 140 NIMROD'S HUNTING TOUR. 
 
 any country : the Hon. Alexander Macdonald ; the t\vo 
 Messrs, and more especially Mr George Legard; Mr. James 
 Hall ; Mr. W. Barkwith of Hessle ; and Mr. John Smith of 
 Hull: also Mr. Watson of Wandby, a gentleman farmer, 
 always well mounted, and as well inclined to go. Report 
 spoke highly of him in ether respects, as what the Sport- 
 ing World calls ' a good sort of fellow.' There is a "Mr. 
 Thompson, also a farmer, residing at Karpham on the 
 wolds, who is a good performer, and also a good sportsman. 
 But what I call the clipper of this Hunt is a farmer of the 
 name of Medford, on his little ewe-necked grey mare. Mr. 
 Medford resides at a place called Carlton in Holderness, and 
 although he is so far north, and in the provincials, I should 
 be inclined to say he was not far from being a match for 
 those crack Leicestershire yeomen, Dick Christian and Mr. 
 Thomlin, I had my eye upon him one day in one of thn 
 Tery fast things we had over Holderness, when the ground 
 was cruelly deep. He went of at score with the little grey 
 mare; but as it will happen sometimes, every turn he made 
 was wrong, and From the pace the hounds were going and 
 the state of the country, I despaired of seeing him in his 
 place again. My fears were groundless: he got upon the 
 line; and putting his head as straight as a crow could fly, 
 was soon to be seen cheeking the leading hounds, and go- 
 ing quite at his ease. 
 
 There is one gentleman who hunts with these hounds of 
 whom I must make very honorable mention, although I 
 know not exactly whether he can be called one of the Hol- 
 derness Hunt, as he resides principally with his father, the 
 well-known and highly-respected Major Bower, of Wei- 
 ham, near Malton, a great man among the long tails. .1 
 am here alluding to his second son, Mr. John Bower, whom 
 I hesitate not to pronounce as fine a horseman as ever touch- 
 ed a bridle, with undaunted courage, and a capital eye to 
 hounds. Mr. John Bower is very well known in the Bur- 
 ton Hunt, Lincolnshire, where I understand the general 
 opinion is, that he is quite a master-man in the field; and, 
 as the best hands generally are, free from either presump- 
 tion or conceit. 
 
 Mr. Alexander Macdonald is one of the quick ones; and 
 as his horses are all thorough-bred, and his nerves tho-
 
 YORKSHIRE. 141 
 
 rough good, it will take a very quick man to beat him. 
 But he is good at everything, and is popular everywhere. 
 His brother-in-law, Lord Hopetovvn, also goes a great pace 
 for his weight, and has one most extraordinary hunter in 
 his stud. He has all the strength, and indeed some of tha 
 appearance, of a wagon horse, but is as fast as the wind, 
 and can jump anything. His Lordship puts him along at 
 a merry pace. 
 
 Although the heroes of poetry must be exalted some- 
 what above the level of ordinary men, yet fault has been 
 found with Virgil, for uniting too many perfections in one 
 man for then he becomes a prodigy, and all interest cea- 
 ses. This is the case with his hero JEneas. On every 
 occasion, save his amour with Dido (but what man of gal- 
 lantry could have done less?), he calls him piqus, and quakes 
 him appear quite equal with the gods. Let me then be- 
 ware how T fall into this extreme in describing such a man. 
 as Tom Hodgson. True it is, his being a master of fox- 
 hounds, and hunting them himself, goes a great way with 
 me, and I should like to add one feather to his plume: but 
 really that plume is full. All who know him are unani- 
 mous in his praise : every one renders him this homely hom- 
 age Tom Hodgson is, all over, a man. 
 
 Speaking of yEneas, and speaking of piety, why should 
 not my hero be styled pious? Among my fox-hunting 
 friends I know of no one so steady to church as Tom Hod- 
 gson: he is really what old Leech would have called a 
 church glutton; for he is not content with morning ser- 
 vice on Sundays, but often attends again when the lamps 
 are lit. Now too much of a good thing is worth nothing, 
 and it is possible a man may have too much church. Even 
 devotion itself will now and then require rest; and, as 
 Dean Swift has told us, people will sometimes sleep in tHeir 
 pews while the parson is dreaming in his pulpit. Thus it 
 was with the Master of the Holderness when I was at Bev- 
 erley. ' Do you take Vengeance out to-day?' said I to him 
 on the morning of the Monday we met at Elton. ' Why, 
 no," replied he ; ' I settled that point last night in church. I 
 fell asleep in the sermon, and dreamed she was running 
 hare like the d 1.' 
 
 Dreams are only our waking thoughts, and dreaming of
 
 142 NIMROD'S HUNTING TOUR. 
 
 hunting by night isby no means unnatural to one \vho thinks 
 of little else by day. 
 
 In sleep, when fancy is let loose to play, 
 Our dreams repeat the business of iheday; 
 The judge in bed will argue fresh his cause, 
 And o'er and o'er again dispense his laws, 
 The jockey dreams lie rides a winning race, 
 And guides his courser with a Chifney's grace. 
 The huntsman draws his coverts o'er again, 
 And finds his fo-x, coil'd in his well-used den; 
 Enraptur'd thinks he hears the woods resound, 
 And faintly ha'loos to some fav'rite hound. 
 The poet takes his night-cap for the bay 
 ^ Stript from the brow of Dryden or of Gay. 
 
 Thus went Tom Hodgson to his church to pray 
 And well resolv'd his evening prayers to say: 
 Say them he did; but when the learn'd Divine 
 Mounted the pulpit, and began to shine 
 In theologic lore, Tom fell fast asleep, 
 And dreamt his hounds were running hares, or sheep. 
 (Believe, me, Reader! this is nothing new, 
 Tom gets many a snooze in this snug pew.) 
 1 Get forward, Will,' cried he, ' and stop those hounds. 
 I hear them running hare like h 11.' ' Zounds!' 
 Said his friend ; ' why, Tom, ypu have forgot 
 The place you are in !' (waking) ' Oh ! no, I have not.' 
 
 Said Tom ; ' where are we now ? in the Lord's 
 
 Prayer ? 
 
 (Sleeping) Oh, Will! that Vengeance always did run 
 hare.' 
 
 From Beverley T proceeded to York, v/hare I arrived in 
 the night of thei 12th of March, and took up my abode at 
 the Black Swan. On the following morning I went to 
 have another look at the York and Ainsty fox-hounds, but 
 have no recollection of the place of meeting, any farther 
 than it was ten miles from York on the Boroughbridge 
 toad. I overtook the pack about seven miles on the road, 
 and found they were not accompanied by their huutsman,
 
 YORKSHIRE. 143 
 
 who was ill. The hounds could not run a yard ; sol trot- 
 ted home, and dined with Mr. George Swann. 
 
 Thursday, 15th. Met York and Ainsty at Nun Apple- 
 ton village, ten miles from York. We hunted a fox, that 
 had stolen away from one of Sir William Milner's coverts, 
 for some distance ; but owing to a false halloo, and two or 
 t three other awkward circumstances, we could do nothing 
 with him. Found again on Askham bog, but the day was 
 very stormy, and we had not any scent. There was a large 
 field out, several of whom belonged to Lord Harevvood's 
 Hunt. In the evening of this day I went to Whitwell to 
 dine with Sir Bellingharn Graham, and with the intention 
 of hunting the next day with Sir Tatton Sykes, but was 
 disappointed of my horse. Sir Bellingham also moving off 
 to Norton Conyers as soon as breakfast was over, rather 
 put me to my shifts for something to fill up the morning : 
 so I determined on looking at Castle Howard, the magnifi- 
 cent seat of the Earl of Carlisle, and one of the greatest 
 Lions of Yorkshire. It was formerly a place of great 
 strength, where many battles were fought particularly in 
 the reign of King Malcolm, of Scotland, who laid waste 
 this part of Yorkshire, and deluged its soil with some of 
 England's best blood. 
 
 I was given to understand there are some good riders in 
 the York and Ainsty country, exclusive of those I had the 
 pleasure of being known to. Among them I heard the 
 names of Mr. J. Agar, Mr. J- Clough, and a young one of 
 much promise of the name of Smith, a son of Colonel Smith 
 of Placeville. 
 
 Of the huntsman, Naylor, I shall begin with paying him. 
 a very handsome compliment. The splendid condition of 
 this pack was not eclipsed by anything of that description 
 which I met with in Yorkshire ; and he has the greater 
 credit here, from the circumstance of his hounds being ob- 
 liged to sleep out once a-week at least, and sometimes often- 
 er. I shall ever maintain, that, whether in their kennel or 
 in the field, there was a brightness of skin, a liveliness of 
 carriage, an evenness of flesh, and something altogether 
 about the York hounds, which denoted a master-hand at 
 home. 
 
 In the field, although I had but small means of judging-
 
 144 NIMROD'S HUNTING TOUR. 
 
 of him, I do not think highly of Naylor as a huntsman 
 certainly not so highly as he thinks of himself. I consider 
 Naylor a huntsman of very average capacity, and particu- 
 larly so for the time he has been with hounds. However, 
 'there is one glory of the sun, another of the moon, and 
 another of the stars:' all men are not- equal, and the best 
 of us have only as much knowledge as it has pleased our 
 Maket to give us, and no more. Jack Wilson, the head 
 whipper-in, stand high with the country, being accounted 
 rather better than common. 
 
 Among other qualities, Naylor is considered a wag, and 
 plumes himself upon now and then saying what he consid- 
 ers a good thing. Whilst I was at York, a gentleman rede 
 up to him, and addressed him thus : 'Now, Naylor, you 
 must mind what you are at to-day: NIMROD will be out, 
 and will have you in black and white.' 'Lord bless 
 you, Sir,' replied Naylor, 'why I have forgotten more than 
 NIMROD will ever know.' A sharp rebuke this ; and all 
 I have to say is, that I think I have read that Wisdom 
 vaunteth not itself, and is not puffed up: but God help the 
 nan who knows only what Mr. Naylor has forgotten ! How- 
 ever, there is chaff and cockle in the best grain ; so enough 
 of this. Naylor is a good and faithful servant, a capital 
 kennel huntsman, and therefore entitled to great praise: 
 but we all pay the price of celebrity, and so must he. 
 
 On Friday I returned to York, for the purpose of meeting 
 the York and Ainsty hounds the next morning. I sent a 
 horse to covert, and set out after him ; but the day was so 
 tempestuous that I turned back on the road, and the very 
 keenest of the sportsman were obliged to give it in, and 
 return home, drenched to their skins. The evening pro- 
 ved fair, and I despatched my horses to Easingwold, on 
 their road to Raby Castle, whither I was under engage- 
 ment to follow them on the succeeding Tuesday. 
 
 Accordingly, on Sunday the 18th, I took leave of York, 
 and went to Norton Conyers on my road to Raby Castle. 
 I arrived just in pucWing time, and was happy to find the 
 worthy Baronet had nearly got the belter of his painful 
 complaint, and was recovering the effects of his bad fall*. 
 
 * Whilst 1 -was akent frcm Yorkshire, this sporting Barcnet got an
 
 YORKSHIRE. 145 
 
 On the 19th, I proceeded to Raby Castle, where its Noble 
 o\vner had arrived only two days before from rather a long 
 visit to London, having been very reluctantly detained by 
 what he most appropriately termed the question of the d d 
 Corn Bill. ' Did Lord Darlington change horses here on 
 Sunday?' said I to the landlord of Catterick Bridge inn. 
 On being answered in the affirmative, I inquired after his 
 health. " ' His Lordship \vas very well,' replied Mr. Fergu- 
 son ; but when he comes down from London, he never looks 
 so well as he does when he goes up; he never looks like 
 himself till he has had a bit of fox-hunting.' 'Aye, aye,' 
 said I ; ' that is the medicine of life : there is no such balm 
 in Gilead.' 
 
 It is an eighteen mile stage from Catterick Bridge to 
 Raby, and as part of it is a byroad, with a great many gates 
 to open, 1 found that I should do no more than just get in 
 time for dinner ; and losing that at Raby is no ordinary 
 joke. One appetite,- however, was highly gratified even in 
 the jumbling a hack-chaise. The approach to Raby is a 
 feast to the eye sufficient to satisfy the veriest glutton for the 
 sublime and grand ; and when the noble Castle, with its 
 stately towers, emblazoned walls, and deep fosse that sur- 
 rounds it, retaining all their appearance of antiquity, burst 
 with commanding grandeur upon my view, strange ideas 
 presented themselves to my mind. I could not help fancy- 
 ing that, like the planets, Old Time had become retrogade, 
 and that I was on my road to visit a haughty Baron of the 
 feudal ages some three hundred years back. 
 
 The entrance into the Castle is particularly grand, and 
 the imposing effect must make that impression on all stran- 
 gers which it made upon myself. As I drove through the 
 outer gate, my arrival was announced by a deep-toned bell, 
 rung by a porter who inhabits the lodge, and which always 
 announces the approach of a guest. My carriage proceed- 
 ed at a rapid rate along the embattled terrace, and taking a 
 
 awkward floorer with Sir Tatton Sykes's bounds. They had been 
 going very best pace for about a quarter of an hour, when his horse 
 wished to decline a very awkward fence. His rider, however, was 
 not to be denied; and the consequence was, the fracture of the collar 
 bone and other severe injuries. 
 
 VOL. II. 13 *
 
 146 NIMROD'S HUNTING TOUR. 
 
 fine sweep through the inner gate, where a portcullis is 
 suspended, brought me into a quadrangular court-yard, 
 where I concluded I was to be landed for the day. But it 
 was not so. The large folding doors of the great Gothic 
 saloon opened as I approached them, and I found myself, 
 hack-chaise and all, in this noble room. Here were two or 
 three footmen, ready to take my luggage, and the groom of 
 the chambers to show me to my apartment. 
 
 ' You have very little time to dress in, Sir,' said the groom 
 of the chambers, as he led me through the turnings and 
 windings of the anti-rooms and passages of this huge build- 
 ing: ' his Lordship's clocks are fast, and he dines exactly 
 at six.' ' In twenty minutes,' replied I, ' my toilet will be 
 completed; but pray let me ask you one question you have 
 brought me hither, but how am I to find my way to the 
 drawing-room? I shall make, a wrong turn and be lost.' 
 The groom smiled, and said he would come and fetch me 
 when I rang my bell. 
 
 I f6und the Marquis* and his family in good health and 
 spirits, a small select party as his guests, and every thing 
 as I expected to find it at Raby Castle : but amidst the glit- 
 ter of affluence which is so conspicuous here, there is noth- 
 ing to chill into awe those who move in a lower sphere of 
 life. If rank and wealth were his boast, the Marquis of 
 Cleveland like Nebuchadnezzar the King could bask in 
 the sunshine on the battlements of his palace, and look 
 down in his prosperity on nine tenths of the world. But 
 nothing is less like the Noble owner of Raby. No; there 
 is in this favored son of Fortune and indeed on all who 
 bear his name a praiseworthy affability that sets perfectly 
 at their ease all those who are in his presence; and it may 
 be asserted of him, as was said of a great character of anti- 
 quity, that ' no man can be great with so much ease, none 
 familiar with, so much dignity ; ' and herein consists one of 
 the greatest ornaments to rank. 
 
 Private character is not within the pale of my critical 
 synod ; but in describing such a top-sawyer as the Marquis 
 of Cleveland has proved himself for so many revolving 
 years, it would be unjusAo the cause of fox-hunting were I 
 
 * The Earl of Darlington had just been elevated to the Marquisate 
 of'Cleveland.
 
 YORKSHIRE. lu 
 
 not to exhibit him in his several characters of an accom- 
 plished English gentleman and a first-rate English sports- 
 man. In the one, perhaps, his merit may be but lightly 
 appreciated ; for to say he is the best bred man in England 
 would be buj saying little. Those who, like himself, are 
 placed in the first class of the community, acquire, as it 
 were naturally, that easy deportment which their situation 
 confers on them, and the savior vivre, and the savior faire 
 become their second nature. As a British sportsman- 
 taking all things into the account I fearlessly assert, he 
 has not his fellow. Lord Cleveland is a sportsman in the 
 real acceptation of that comprehensive term; not one of 
 your battue gentlemen, crawling out when the day is far 
 spent, with umbrellas and goloshes; not a speculative, but 
 a downright practical sportsman of the Old as well as the 
 New School; not afraid of a shower of rain, but ready to 
 face -all winds and all weathers with his hounds in the 
 morning, and as boon a companion over a bottle of wine in 
 the evening as ever Bacchus smiled upon. 
 
 When we think of Lord Cleveland's possessions, and the 
 stake he holds in life : Avhen we look, I say, at his rank 
 and station, and then recollect that he has gone through all 
 the labor in the field, and a great part of that in the kennel 
 which is attached to the situation of huntsman to so large 
 a pack of fox-hounds as his own, for ' thirty-eight seasons 
 uninterruptedly, and with high reputation to himself, and 
 satisfaction to the sportsmen who hunted with him ; '* when 
 we consider also the great personal hazard to which he 
 must have of necessity been exposed in this long servitude 
 to his hounds ; we can scarcely reconcile ourselves to the 
 fact. But so it is; and although it is difficult to make par- 
 allels of men who shine in the same sphere, I have good 
 reason to believe his Lordship is as scientific in his calling 
 as any other huntsman of his day. To appreciate a man's 
 merits, we must look to his works; and I assert, without 
 fear of contradiction, that at the present moment there is as 
 fine and indeed as grand a kennel of fox-hounds at Raby 
 Castle as any reasonable man would either wish for or ex- 
 pect. 
 
 * See Colonel Cooke's Observations on Fox-hunling. published 182G.
 
 148 
 
 HUNTING TOt/'R. 
 
 True it is, a pleasing- recreation is no task. The minis- 
 tering passion stirs us up, and excites us to deeds we should 
 otherwise shrink from. Such is the case here. The Mar- 
 quis of Cleveland is passionately fond of hunting, and every 
 thing appertaining to 'the noble science;' so that he rarely 
 feels fatigue in the pursuit. Even in his dress, we see how 
 he honors fox-hunting. His straight-cut coat and leathern 
 belt bespeak the huntsman as clearly as Ovid says the air 
 and habit of Gerraanicus bespoke the orator : 
 
 ' Ere yet he speaks, the orator is seen 
 In all the elegance of garb and mein ! ' 
 
 I was going to observe Were the Marquis of Cleveland 
 an illiterate man, with only a second-rate understanding, 
 something about the cut of the Squire Western's of their 
 day; had Nature been less sparing of her endowments, all 
 this would be far less remarkable than it now appears ; but 
 the contrary is the real fact. His Lordship is not only a 
 man of very considerable natural talent, but of highly cul- 
 tivated acquirements; an adept in almost all languages; 
 and possesses what, in the lingo of the world is called as 
 good a head as any man in England or any other country 
 can boast of. He has travelled a great deal, and now 
 spends his summers on the Continent ; has a turn for the 
 polite arts, as well as the lesser elegances of life ; and nev- 
 er forgets what he hears or sees. If, then, we combine these 
 several advantages with his, great knowledge of the world, 
 we may safely conclude that he has never gone a hunting, 
 like Gallus of old, from the want of something better to 
 amuse himself with. Exclusive of all this, he looks most 
 minutely into his private affairs, and business may be said 
 to be the pastime of his leisure hours. 
 
 The month of March, and particularly this advanced pe- 
 riod of it, affords but few opportunities of detailing sport 
 with hounds. On Wednesday 20th, we did nothing worth 
 speaking of with the Raby pack. We were unfortunate in 
 chopping our first fox ; and our sport with our second, which 
 we ran for an hour, was destroyed by his being coursed by 
 a dog in the first place, and no scent in the second. His 
 Lordship rode Bergami and Moses this day both very 
 clever horses, and the former a splendid fencer.
 
 YORKSHIRE. 149 
 
 We had a considerable addition to our party this day at 
 the Castle, amongst whom I was happy to find some of my 
 Durham friends namely, all the family of the Shaftos, 
 Mr. Harlard, &c. and we assembled in the state drawing- 
 room. 
 
 No hunting on Thursday, so it was only a day of lounge. 
 I accompanied Mr. Milbanke to the village of Staindrop, 
 which is just without the park-wall, and where the horses 
 of all the visitors to Raby stand. As Mr. Milbanke afcd 
 Lady Augusta always take up their abode at the Castle 
 during the residence of the Marquis in the winter, he has 
 built for himself some excellent stables and coach houses 
 for his own private use ; but my horses stood at the sign of 
 the Fox and Hounds, kept by the noted Bob Williams, for 
 many years head whipper-in to the Raby pack. I believe I 
 have already spoken of this said Bob Williams; first, as 
 having lived with a brother-in-law of mine; and, secondly, 
 as having found out a specific for the cure of all complaints 
 of his fellow servants both male and female; which speci- 
 fic consisted in a fourth part of a cordial ball dissolved in a 
 pint of hot Welch ale. I must not, however, thus lightly 
 pass over this celebrated whipper-in, but give a little history 
 of his sporting career. 
 
 Bob Williams came to the Marquis of Cleveland with a 
 capital lot of hounds, which his Lordship purchased from 
 Sir Richard Puleston in 1806 or 1807; and he arrived 
 with them at Raby on a little mare, also purchased from 
 Sir Richard, which went by the name of The Puleston 
 Mare ; and which, as well as himself, cut a conspicuous 
 figure in the ' Operations of the Raby Pack ' for several 
 succeeding seasons. She was got by Young Snap, son of 
 the Old Hundred-House Snap, which I believe Lord Forest- 
 er allows to have been the best hunting blood England was 
 ever possessed of; and there is no doubting his authority. 
 
 In whatever capacity we view them, all men receive a 
 turn and character from the several occupations and pro- 
 fessions they have followed in life ; and I think I never 
 saw a more complete cut of a whipper-in than my old ac- 
 quaintance Bob. He was also which is not always the 
 case quite as good as he looked to be : and I really be- 
 lieve, which is a great deal to say, he had but one fault ; 
 
 VOL. II. 13*
 
 150 NIMROD'S HUNTING TOOK. 
 
 hut this fault was fatal -to him in his capacity of head 
 whipper-in to such a pack of hounds as were often entrus- 
 ted to his care he would get a drop to much, and the morn- 
 ing- and the evening were all the same to him. 
 
 Now the fact is, Bob, being a Welchman, never paid di- 
 vine honors to water ; but unfortunately for him, he was 
 brought up in the servants' halls of three great Welch Es- 
 quires, where ale was dealt out with a very liberal hand; 
 ami we all know what a catching sin it is, and how perfect- 
 ly irresistible it becomes at last. His late Noble master re- 
 linquished his services with the greatest reluctance; but 
 what was to be done ? Bob's complaint was incurable : and 
 I much fear, that, like a King of Navarre, he is destined to 
 perish in strong waters. He is much shook; and if he 
 had kept the Saracen's Head, instead of the Fox and Hounds, 
 I should have exclaimed on seeing him. 
 
 At the Saracen's Head Bob turns in ale and wine, 
 Until his face does represent the sign. 
 
 As it is, however, we may read thus: 
 
 Bob Williams keeps the Fox and Hounds, 
 
 A house of much resort ; 
 
 And where, should hail or rain abound. 
 
 He's sure to have his sport. 
 
 For though he now no longer rides 
 
 To Fox and Hounds in chase, 
 Yet on the sign-post at his door 
 
 He sees them go the pace. 
 
 Now Fame will tell how well he went, 
 
 On chesnut, bay, or black, 
 How like a workman, in his place, 
 
 Bob rode to the Raby pack ; 
 
 How well they knew his cheering voice; 
 
 How much they feared his smack ; 
 ' Have a care! hounds,' or, ' gently thert f ' 
 
 Was enough for the Raby pack.
 
 YORKSHIRE. 151 
 
 But now he takes his morning glass, ; 
 
 And here he's no wise slack 
 
 Looks at his sign a bad sign this ! 
 
 And drinks to the Raby pack ! 
 
 I have before mentioned the two present whippers-in to 
 the Raby hounds : I do not know of two better; and it is de- 
 lightful to see how devoted they are to the sport. Dick's 
 fondness for his hounds is, I should think quite unequalled, 
 and the language he uses when speaking of them amused 
 me much. ' I like some cf your young hounds very much 
 indeed,' said I one day to him, 'particularly Carmelite and 
 Baby.' ' Why, yes, Sir,' replied Dick, 'I always thought 
 them two very gen-teel hounds.' Dick has whipped in to 
 his Noble master about fifteen or sixteen years. 
 
 After looking at my horses, 1 took a survey of Bob Wil- 
 iams's house, and had a little chat with him about old times. 
 'Bob,' said I, ' we began hunting about the same period of 
 our lives, and have been pretty well tumbled about ; but I 
 know you have had rather more than your share of hard 
 blows : tell me how you have escaped.' Why, Sir,' replied 
 Bob, ' I have been very roughly handled. I have broke 
 three ribs a one side, and two a t'other ; both collar bones; 
 one thigh ; and been scalped. You remember, Sir Watkin's 
 Valentine* ?' To be sure,' interupted I ; ' as vicious a brute 
 as ever had a saddle on.' ' Well, Sir,' continued he, ' he 
 tumbled me down just as we were coming away with 
 a fox from Marchwiel gorse, and kicked me on the head 
 till the skin hung down all over my eyes and face: and do 
 you know, Sir, (laying an emphasis on those words as if they 
 were intended to convey something more than was expect- 
 ed,) when I gets to Wrcxham I faints for loss of blood.' 
 Now after all this, who can wonder that this gallant horse- 
 man, and certainly first-rate artist in his line, should like to 
 sit under the shade of his laurels for the rest of his life, and 
 make it a merry one if he cannot make it a long one ! Who 
 knows also that he may not have read Tom "Moore? 
 
 * Bob Williams commenced as whipper-in toSirWatkin Williams 
 Wynne, Bart, with whom he lived several years.
 
 152 NIMROD'S HUNTING TOUR. 
 
 ' Friend of my soul ! this goblet sip, 
 
 'Twill chase that pensive tear ; 
 "Pis not so sweet as woman's lip. 
 
 But oh !' tis more sincere.' 
 
 Although all conditions of life are equal in the sight of 
 God, ' and of a wise man too,' says a philosopher ; yet 
 there is a wide difference in the treatment of servants by 
 their Lords. Some are peremptory in every command, in- 
 exorable to every failing, and use their domestics as brutes ; 
 whilst others treat them with great kindness and for the 
 most part receive kindness in return. In the private rela- 
 tions of life, nothing tells more to a man's credit, or ensures 
 him a better name in the country, than the reputation of be- 
 ing a good master to his servants. When Shakspeare's 
 Lear asks old Kent, Why he wished to be in his service ? I 
 think he answers, Because you have that in your face 
 which I should like to call master.' The old boy was no 
 bad judge; for we have heard from very high authority 
 ' how good and pleasant a thing it is to live together in uni- 
 ty.' In the language of metaphor, it has been compared to 
 the precious ointment poured upon the head of Aaron, that 
 ran down to the very skirts of his garment; by which we 
 are to understand, that it extends from the highest to the 
 lowest ranks of life ; and indeed, without it this world is no- 
 thing. I have tried most things ; but I am inclined to 
 think that perfect tranquillity of mind is the ne plus ultra 
 here. 
 
 The Marquis of Cleveland's servants must have been of 
 old Kent's opinion that a kind master is a great recom- 
 mendation ; for many of them are remarkable for their long 
 services. As I am ignorant of a great part of the establish- 
 ment, I can only speak of a'few. Tommy Hodgson I have 
 mentioned as having lived more than half a century in the 
 family : Storey, the butler, as long, having entered it when 
 a boy, and he and his Lord are growing old together. It 
 was to this excellent servant that I before alluded when, 
 speaking of the diary of sport kept by the Marquis, and 
 published for a long series of years for his profit. Cicero 
 was not kinder to Tiro than Storey's master is fo him ; and 
 has honored him by calling one of his favorite whin coverts
 
 YORKSHIRE. 153 
 
 nfter him namely, Storey's whin. I like to see this: a 
 gentleman should be social in his spirit, unasuming in his 
 imnners, and kind to all who approach him. 
 
 The coachman has lived with Lord Cleveland between for- 
 ty and fifty years ; and by the size of his waistcoat I should 
 imagine he had been on pretty good terms with the cook 
 and butler : Thomas Sayer, who was kennel huntsman, and 
 afterwards porter, the same length of time; and now alive 
 in his retirement : and Mr. Barnes, the house steward, twen- 
 ty-two years. 
 
 Wheatley, his Lordship's private trainer, and cousin to 
 the jockey of that name, has been thirty-five years in his 
 place, and no doubt will complete his half century, if not 
 called away sooner by One whose commands he must obey 
 even in preference to his present master. In his younger 
 days he used to ride George the Fourth's light weights 
 Mother Bunch, Mademoiselle, &c. ; as also Lord Cleve- 
 land's match with Pedlar against Hippopotamus. 
 
 Amidst all the display of wealth and magnificence at Ra- 
 by Castle and Newton House, there is none of that over- 
 strained and sickly refinement, 
 
 ' So dull, so vapid, so genteel ;' 
 
 that I have too often met with in my walks through life; and 
 on the evening previous to hunting days, the groom fre- 
 quently makes his appearance in Lord Cleveland's draw- 
 ing-room, to receive his orders from his master's lips. I 
 now want the aid of the pencil ; fora Hogarth or a Bun- 
 bury would not have desired a better subject for their fancy 
 than Tommy Hodgson would have afforded on these occa- 
 sions. I will endeavor to describe the scene as I witness- 
 ed it. 
 
 The door opened with an announcement of ' Mr. Hodg- 
 son, my Lord;' and in walked Tommy Hodgson, present- 
 ing a full front to his master. No soldier on parade could 
 present a better ; no gate-post was ever straighter; no Shaks- 
 peare's apothecary was leaner; and the succession of lines 
 from the forehead to the chin too plainly showed that age 
 had traced his cruel way over Tommy's honest face. Not
 
 154 NIMROD'S HUNTING TOUR. 
 
 a word escaped him until the Marquis took his card * out 
 of his pocket, and then the dialouge began. It was a rare 
 specimen of the laconic : 
 
 Is Moses sound 1 
 
 Yes, my Lord. 
 
 I shall ride him. 
 
 Yes, my Lord. 
 
 Also Ber garni. 
 
 Yes, my Lord. 
 
 Dick, Swing. 
 
 Yes, my Lord. 
 
 Will, Salopian. 
 
 Yes, my Lord. 
 
 Lady Cleveland, Raby. 
 
 Yes, my Lord. 
 
 Edward, The Parson. 
 
 Yes, my Lord. 
 
 Lady Arabella, The Duchess. 
 
 Yes, my Lord. 
 
 George, Obadiah- 
 
 Yes, my Lord. 
 
 That's all ! 
 
 Yes, my Lord. [Exit Tommy. 
 
 I should here add that all these ' Yes-my-Lords ' were 
 accompanied with a respectful bob of the "head, a partial 
 shutting of the eyes, and the thumbs revolving with the uni- 
 form motion of a windmill impelled by the gentle breezes of 
 a spring morning. 
 
 Lord Cleveland's complement of hunters is thirty; which, 
 after deducting those for the Ladies' use, leaves about .ten 
 for his Lordship, and six a-piece for the two whippers-in. 
 There are, of course, some splendid horses in the stud, and 
 I observed they all possess power much more than equal 
 to tb/e weights they have to carry, which is the grand se- 
 cret after all in keeping a stable together. Moses [a very 
 fine animal], Bergami, Panegyric, and Sir Hedworth Wil- 
 
 * List of Hunters, which his Lordship has every day presented to 
 him. noing such horses as are fit for work.
 
 YORKSHIRE. 155 
 
 liamson's mare, appeared the greatest favorites with the 
 Marquis, and they certainly possess an excellent property 
 for his close country. They are very quiet at their leaps ; 
 will poke and creep into them in any way their rider likes ; 
 but when roused, are equal to clearing very great fences. 
 
 Raby, Lady Cleveland's favorite horse, must not pass un- 
 noticed. He is a beautiful animal, fifteen hands three inches 
 high ; bright bay, with black legs ; and, if he had been be- 
 spoken for the purpose he has been put to, could not be 
 more complete. Her Ladyship has ridden him seven sea- 
 sons, without, I believe, having ever given her a fall ; and 
 she rewards him for his care of her by visiting him almost 
 every day in the winter, and giving him some plum bread. 
 Strange to say, he is particularly fond of it, always express- 
 ing his delight by a neigh when his fair mistress appears at 
 the door of his box. 
 
 The stables at Raby for hunters and coach horses are on 
 a grand and very extensive scale; and there is a most spa- 
 cious riding-school attached for exercise in bad weather. 
 There is also a separate yard for race-horses, of which at 
 the period I am speaking of, there was no great show. 
 
 Friday, 23rd. We found a leash of foxes in Hilton 
 whin, and had a beautiful half hour with one of them over 
 a very good country, and quite the ultra pace. Found again : 
 ran into rather a wild country, and whipped off, having no 
 scent. 
 
 Major St. Paul brother to the gentleman of that name 
 who formerly was conspicuous in Leicestershire was out. 
 on this day. He rode a clever young horse of his own breed- 
 ing, and I liked his method of putting him at his fences. 
 ' But,' said the Marquis, ' did you see a gentleman with the 
 hounds this morning by the name of Trotter ?' On my an- 
 swering in the affirmative ' Then,' said his Lordship, 'you 
 /have seen the best horseman I ever saw in my experience in 
 the field. Mr. Trotter has been all his life, not only a most 
 superior rider over a country, but he has ridden with admi- 
 rable temper and judgment, and never pressed upon hounds.' 
 Mr. Trotter must ride at least fifteen stone. He resides at 
 the Deanry, at S a ; ndrop. 
 
 Saturday, 24th. The Raby pack met at Crag Wood, a 
 wild place to look at, but likely to hold a good wild fox.
 
 156 NIMROD'S HUNTING TOUR. 
 
 We found immediately, and a beautiful find it was ; but our 
 fox was headed by the foot people, and our chance here wns 
 lost. We found again in Etherley Wood, and lost on the 
 banks of the Wear. A bad day's sport for the hard riders, 
 but a deal of good hunting. 
 
 The turn-out from the Castle this morning was good in 
 all, I think, nearly twenty red coats and scarlet habits, and 
 the Marchioness was mounted on Raby. Mrs. Wilkinson 
 also joined us at the covert's side, and I had seen this lady 
 once in the field before. Lady Augusta Milbanke rode a 
 thorough-bred horse, formerly in Mr. Maxse's stable, and 
 one which but few women would have nerve for. He likes 
 to go quick at his fences ; but her Ladyship's hand was quite 
 a match for him, and I saw him very well piloted over two 
 or three awkward places. The Marquis rode the bay mare 
 he purchased of Sir Hedworth Williamson, and rode her 
 over a very dangerous place towards the end of the second 
 run. She had to spring at a bank faced xvith stone, having 
 her footing on large flat stones in a water-course, which had 
 been rendered slippery by the current. A slip might have 
 been awkward to legs and thighs ; but his Lordship will 
 get to his hounds if possible, and that mare is paiticularlv 
 careful and steady. 
 
 Billy Williamson was also out this day; and I am sorry 
 to add, met with a serious accident. He rode at a small 
 fence into a road, when his horse fell, and threw him with 
 much violence to the ground. Being close behind him, I 
 was immediately aware that mischief had ensued ; for on his 
 horse and himself recovering their legs, one ran to the left, 
 and the other to the right. There was something very 
 frightful in the motions of Mr. Williamson. He ran wildly 
 down the road, rubbing his head hardly with his hand, for 
 the space of fifty yards, and then fell to the ground. Mr. 
 Harland and myself instantly approached him, when we 
 found all the front teeth of his upper jaw gone, his mouth 
 fall of blood, and he complained much of his head. I under- 
 stand he is all right again now, with a fresh set of ivories ; 
 but it is rather a cruel trick for the old Dame to play so 
 good-looking a young man as he is, and just in the heyday 
 of youth. I like, however, the way he spoke of the acci- 
 dent afterwards. ''I would not, 1 said he, ' have taken a thous-
 
 YORKSHIRE. 157 
 
 and pounds for my teeth ; but I should not have cared so 
 much for the loss of them, had the accident happened at the 
 fininsh of a d d fine run !' 
 
 Major Healey was also out to day : he is a workman ; 
 but on this day he was, like myself, suffering from an inju- 
 ry in his back, and not able to ride over a fence." The Ma- 
 jor's brother, Captain Healey, goes well, considering he 
 has lost an arm, and his performance did not escape the 
 keen eye of Godfrey Graham. ' I say, papa,' said he to 
 Sir Bellingham, as he trotted by him on his pony, in the 
 true Harrow-school lingo, 'how devishly that one-armed fel- 
 low rides /' 
 
 I have stated that the Marchioness of Cleveland was out 
 on this day. She is a most graceful horse-woman : and, 
 when her favorite hunter, Brighton, was in his prime, cut a 
 prominent figure in ' The Operations of the Raby Pack.' 
 
 The Ladies Augusta Milbanke and Arabella Vane are 
 constant attendants on the Raby pack three times a fortnight, 
 which is pretty good work for the softer sex. They have 
 been well entered to hounds from their very infancy ; yet it 
 would be difficult to produce two more amiable or accom- 
 plished persons. As for Lady Augusta, she is not only a 
 fine rider, but she is nothing less than a sportswoman. She 
 is as attentive to hounds in their work as her noble 
 father himself, and he never enjoyed a fine run more. Then 
 look at the elegant and delicate Lady Arabella Vane, of 
 whom it may be said, a hundred years hence, 
 
 ' Non ilia loco, neque origine gentis 
 Clara, sed arte fuit*:' 
 
 and who Avill say that fox-hunting abates woman's softness? 
 In the dining room of Raby Castle is a grand picture of 
 the Feast of Canaan ; but I was more pleased with several 
 on sporting subjects. There are three groups of hounds 
 particularly well executed, and abeautiful portrait of the bitch 
 Costive, which may be said to have been the Niobe of the 
 Raby pack. This noted bitch is buried in the pleasure 
 
 * Not more conspicuous by her birth than her accomplishments. 
 
 VOL. II. 14
 
 158 NIMROD'S HUNTING TOUR. 
 
 grounds of the Castle, and her cemetery is enclosed by a 
 wall. 
 
 The picture, by Marshall, of Lord Darlington and his 
 hounds, from which the well-known print is taken, also ad- 
 orns these walls ; and there are portraits of four celebrated 
 hunters and two distinguished race-horses. Amongst the 
 latter are Haphazard, with Pierse the jockey and Sam 
 Wheatley the training groom ; arid Muley Moloch, with 
 Mr. Hardy Thompson and Mr. Trotter. In short this splen- 
 did apartment is quite in character with everything else at 
 Raby. 
 
 The kennel at Raby was bui}t by the late Earl of Dar- 
 lington and the late Duke of Cleveland ; fox-hounds were 
 kept in it many years. It is a Gothic ornamented building, 
 conspicuously situated in the park, and possesses every 
 comfort and convenience for the largest establishment of 
 fox-hounds. The Raby hounds are divided into an old and 
 a young pack ; and bear evidence of being bred by a judic- 
 ious hand. 
 
 As a horseman Lord Cleveland deserves a word. What 
 most men delight in, that is, a fine-mouthed horse is far 
 from a treat to him. He rides all his horses with a hard 
 hand, and consequently likes those that will bear against 
 him ; and he has a peculiar way of putting them at their 
 fences. I have seen him absolutely make them paw down 
 the hedge before he will let them rise, if there should be a 
 blind and deep ditch on the other side, by which plan he no 
 doubt saves many falls ; and he had but one whilst I was 
 in the North. His perfect knowledge of the country also 
 gives him a great advantage in getting to his hounds, and 
 he is seldom far from them when wanting. 
 
 Lord Cleveland's annual publication of The Operations 
 of the Raby Pack at once shows the man. There is an 
 enthusiastic admiration in his descriptions of some of the 
 runs, which proves how his very heart and soul have shared 
 in the sport of the day. Such expressions as these often oc- 
 cur 'Most divine, enthusiastic hunting, with a delightful 
 recovery at last !' ' The darling hounds behaved like jew- 
 els !' distinguishing several of them by their names. On 
 one occasion, indeed, some years back, he gave at his own 
 table the health of Centinel, Bonnyface, and Lazarus,
 
 YORKSHIRE. 159 
 
 hounds which had particularly distinguished themselves in 
 a run. 
 
 In looking 1 over these books for several past years' sport, 
 I saw they were often turned to a good account. In 181 1, 
 a hard riding gentleman receives the folio wing mild rebuke: 
 4 A very good run,' says his Lordship, 'but unfortunately 
 lost by Mr. J. B., an excellent sportsman, who never means 
 to do wrong, but, from great keenness, is sometimes too for- 
 ward, which as an old sportsman, I claim a right to say to 
 him.' 
 
 The following (in 1825 and 1826) applies well to all 
 fox-killing lords or their keepers. ' In consequence of the 
 innumerable foxes which ' Lord Tyrconnel reported to me 
 were about Kipling, and attacking his hares in the mid- 
 dle of the day one of his Lordship's keepers saw three fox- 
 es worrying a hare I selected sixteen couples of my best 
 and steadiest hounds to go to Kipling at eleven o'clock, and 
 obey his Lordship's commands, when they tried every myr- 
 tle, rush, whin bush, hazel tree, brick-kiln remains, thorn 
 hedge, pleasure ground, and pheasant-preserve appurtenan- 
 ces, without ever finding a fox, for nearly three hours, ex- 
 cept one most unfortunate old dog fox, which was instantly 
 killed, and laboring under a poisonous disorder called the 
 scab. 
 
 Again : ' Went to Holmebank whin ; found only one 
 fox (although Mr. Ramsden and his keeper stated that foxes 
 were very abundant), and we ran into the small wood next 
 to Newby Park, where the hounds enjoyed such quantities 
 of hares that they have, with the assistance of traps last year 
 banished the foxes.' 
 
 After stating the names of the places at which the hounds 
 met; the coverts in which foxes have been found ; the days 
 on which foxes were either killed or earthed, between the 
 31st of August 1825 and the 18th of April 1826, with a 
 detailed account of each day's sport this Book concludes 
 with a list of the hounds; casualties of the pack; and 
 hounds drafted in the kennel: and the following is the re- 
 sult of the season's sport : killed eighty-eight foxes earthed 
 twenty-one, blank days none ! ! 
 
 There are two or three very clipping riders in the Raby 
 Hunt : and the gentleman of the blackc\oih are quite as conspic-
 
 160 NIMROD'S HUNTING TOUR. 
 
 uous as the pinks. Amongst the former Mr. John Monson 
 is pre-eminent ; but Messrs. Newton and Henderson are 
 always in good places. Mr. Milbanke is quite a first-rater, 
 being as quick as any man need to be; and quick must he 
 or any other man be to live with these hounds. Like Bob 
 Williams, and a good many more that I could name, he has 
 been rather roughly handled in the field, having been blood- 
 ed no less than nine times, in consequence of severe falls 
 with hounds. He is, however, nothing daunted, but will 
 be close to their sterns if possible. 
 
 I was also much pleased with the style of riding of Mr. 
 Thomas Maude, of Selaby, Captain Baird T did not see in 
 the field 'during my stay in the North, but I believe he was 
 unwell. Of that great artist, however, or of Sir Belling- 
 ham Graham who is now a Raby huntsman I need say 
 nothing as I should only waste my words. 
 
 Mr. Wharton (the well-known Jerry Wharton) is almost 
 altogether on a visit to Lord Cleveland in the hunting sea- 
 son. He is a good, workman, and generally well mounted, 
 having this year a horse Mr. Holyoake offered him 400 
 guineas for. 
 
 Monday, 26th. The Raby pack met this day at a place 
 with a wild name, and wild also by nature; I think it is 
 called Grain-raw. It is situated on the borders of an open 
 country almost approaching to moors, and affords them 
 some very fine runs with old travelling foxes in the spring. 
 The Marquis promised me a treat this day ; but unfortunate- 
 ly our game took the wrong line of country, and we had 
 no great diversion. We found in an unenclosed gorse, but 
 could make nothing of it. We found again, and had a very 
 sharp thing to ground, Lord Cleveland viewing him before 
 his hounds for more than two miles. Bolted him and kill- 
 ed. Did not find again, and drew more country blank this 
 day than I had ever seen with the Raby pack. There Avas 
 a good field considering the wildness of the place. 
 
 Tuesday, 27th. The fixture Raby, an4 tne turn-out from 
 the Castle was grand the scarlet habits again mingling 
 with the throng, and the Marchioness on Raby. We found : 
 but our fox taking down wind with very little scent, we 
 could do nothing worth speaking of. Found two more fox- 
 es in the morning chopping one; but in the afternoon we
 
 
 
 YORKSHIRE. 161 
 
 drew one of the fine whins in the park, when a fox went 
 gallantly away, and gave them a good half hour, very best 
 pace. 
 
 There was a fine old sportsman on a visit at Raby Castle 
 on this day, the veteran Colonel O'Callaghan ; who, although 
 at a very advanced age, retains all the good humor and gai- 
 ety of youth, and was a match at a rubber of shorts for any 
 of them. He resides at Heighington, not far from Raby. 
 
 Wednesday, 28th. Took leave of Raby, and made the 
 best of rny way for Ferrybridge, about eighty miles south, 
 where some horses awaited my arrival, and where I intend- 
 ed sojourning a few days to see the Badsvvorth hounds. 
 
 Thursday, 29th. Met the Badsworth at Hutt Green about 
 eight miles from Ferrybridge. There had been a ball at 
 York the night before ; so that, instead of meeting, as I ex- 
 pected, a large field, with many of whom I should have 
 been acquainted, Jack Richards, the huntsman, was the on- 
 ly man out of whom I could say 'how do you do?' 
 
 Lord Hawke has had the management of these hounds 
 since Mr. Petre gave them up ; and his Lordship, in spite 
 of the ball, which he had attended, was at his post about an 
 hour after the usual time. He very politely informed me 
 that he had enjoyed a good season's sport, and had not been 
 absent from his hounds one day since the hunting season* 
 had commenced. This I though looked very well in a young 
 one. 
 
 When I say we found a fox, I have said all. The clerk 
 of the weather was determined we should do nothing; "for, 
 what with wind rain and snow, a more miserable day no 
 man ever encountered by choice. After drawing Pollington 
 whin, I returned to Ferrybridge, where I was capitally ac- 
 commodated in every way. 
 
 It would be presumptuous in me to give an opinion of the 
 Badsworth pack after so short an acquaintance, and this 
 with only part of them ; but what I saw did not very much 
 captivate my sight. I thought them rather coarse, and want- 
 ing that airy form and peculiar scale which characteiize 
 the high-bred fox-hound of the present day. Modish and 
 Roman attracted my notice ; and on looking at the list I 
 find they have bred from Roman, although they have very 
 little of their own blood on the sire's side. Modish is neat, 
 
 VOL. II. 14*
 
 162 NIMROD'S HUNTING TOUR. 
 
 but of too close a frame to please my eye. I believe she is 
 dam of the York Twister. The pack is small, consisting 
 of only forty couples. 
 
 Of their country I can say nothing, for I saw nothing. 
 Jack Richards looked uncommonly well and sportsmanlike, 
 but is a good deal heavier than when I saw him swim the 
 Thame in Staffordshire, when whipping-in to Sir Belling- 
 ham Graham, by whom he was brought up; and I used to 
 think him an excellent whipper-in when in his service. 
 Jack Chapel another of Sir Bellingham's pupils whips 
 in to Richards, and a very clever fellow he is; perhaps as 
 fine a horseman as ever sate in a saddle. 
 
 Saturday, 3 1st. Set out to meet Lord Harewood's hounds, 
 which met twelve miles from Ferrybridge. When I had 
 proceeded about a mile on my road, I found the weather so 
 boisterous that any chance of sport was at an end; and, 
 having sent some horses to Melton Mowbray, turned right 
 about, put myself on the box of the Edinburgh mail, and 
 got to Grantham by dinner. I learnt afterwards that I had 
 acted wisely; for the day, the country, and everything was 
 against sport; and those who reached the covert soon made 
 the best of their way home again. 
 
 I was, however, disappointed in not seeing Lord Hare- 
 wood's hounds. It is an old-established pack, and, of course 
 there is no want of the means to do the thing well ; and 
 money is almost a sine qua non in fox-hunting. A strange 
 circumstance happened last season with these hounds. Their 
 huntsman imprudently capped them into a very rapid mill- 
 stream, and three or four couples were drowned. A young 
 gentleman named Markham, gallantly plunged in to their 
 assistance, and very narrowly escaped their fate. He suc- 
 ceeded in saving one of them. 
 
 April 1st. Arrived at Melton, and had the pleasure of 
 dining at the Old Club. On the 2nd, met Mr. Osbaldeston 
 at Kirby Gate (he Lady pack looking in high beauty, and 
 a thundering large field. Rode Captain Ross's Waterman, 
 brother to Clinker; and, in spite of the Decalogue, could 
 not help wishing he belonged to my stable. 
 
 A curious circumstance connects itself with this clay's 
 hunting. There was a fox which has given these hounds no 
 less than three remarkably sharp bursts from Carberry Hill
 
 YORKSHIRE. 163 
 
 without their being able to catch him, and he had in conse- 
 quence obtained the name of the Carberry Hill Fox. What 
 was also extraordinary, he always took the same line to- 
 wards Orton, and the following are the various periods for 
 which he stood before this celebrated pack : first time, twen- 
 ty-eight minutes; second time, twenty five minutes ; third 
 time, twenty-three minutes, defeating them on each*. On 
 the day I am speaking of, he did not wait to be found ; 
 but we viewed him going gallantly away, and taking his 
 old line George Marriott close at his brush, with his hat 
 in his hand, hallooing as ifthe devil was in him ; but George 
 Marriott, I suppose, is a privileged man. 
 
 As may be expected, all the hard-riding men were on 
 the alert, and hard indeed did those ride who went any- 
 where near the hounds on this day. The pace was truly 
 awful ; but that was not all. If he had picked Leicester- 
 shire, this fox could not, 1 should imagine, have found four 
 or five more distressing fields for the nags than those they 
 had at first to encounter all against the collar, high ridges 
 with deep furrows, and the latter, between wet and dry, al- 
 most enough to pull their legs off. Had it not been for a 
 bit of a check in a road fora minute or two, where several 
 changed their horses for fresh ones, some of the best- must 
 have declined : as I heard Lord Alvanley (who went as 
 usual like a good one)say, his horse had just carried him 
 those ten minutes, and that was all that he could do. His 
 Lordship, however, jumped on a fresh one at the check, 
 and went on. As Captain Ross' horses had been thrown 
 out of work, in consequence of his having been an invalid, 
 I was only a looker-on ; but to any one who had never seen 
 Leicestershire before, this burst would have afforded a very 
 pretty specimen. Sir Bellingham Graham also declined a"t 
 the same time with myself, having only taken a peep at 
 them on one of Mr- Maxse's horses, being still unable to 
 ride from the fracture he had received in the North. I fin- 
 ished this day most agreeably under Sir Harry Goodricke's 
 mahogany, where I met several old friends, who like my 
 
 * Mr. Osbaldeston had another turn at this fox late in the month of 
 April, when he beat him again, after a very severe run over partly the 
 same country.
 
 164 NIMROD'S HUNTING TOUR. 
 
 self, were partakers of the hospitality and good fare of the 
 truly sporting Baronet. 
 
 Tuesday, 3rd. Met the Quorn hounds at Widmerpool 
 Inn. This was never a favorite fixture with me. The 
 country about Winnstay gorse is about as bad as anything 
 in the provincials ; and it is not only deep, but most disa- 
 greeably sticky and holding for horses, of which none but 
 the very best can go there. We drew a good covert, how- 
 ever, on this day, called Parson's Gorse, and encountered 
 one of the evils attending spring hunting. The pack had 
 passed through without a feather when unfortunately a far- 
 mer espied a fox in one corner of the gorse, and gave the of- 
 fice. It is in vain to attempt to stop fox-hounds with their 
 game in view: and in less than two minutes, a vixen, with 
 six cubs in her, was torn to pieces by the pack. We had a 
 large field; a great deal of hard work for horses, and a 
 beautiful pack of hounds dog pack No. 1. 
 
 I was treated this day to a ride on Mr. Maher's Picton, 
 which I call a perfect hunter for the weight he can carry. 
 The free use of his shoulders, in all his paces, is quite 
 above praise. Highly, however, as Mr. M. values this first 
 rate horse, he rode him hack in London in May and June 
 last, and told me he thought it was better for him than 
 doing nothing. Mr. Maher has been a regular Melton man 
 for twenty-two seasons ; and his nerve and horsemanship 
 are unrivalled even there. He amused me by saying he 
 had rather ride to and from covert all his life in Leicester- 
 shire, than hunt in three parts of the counties of England 
 in which hounds are kept. Met a considerable party at 
 dinner this evening at Sir Harry's. 
 
 Wednesday, 4th. Croxton Park races. All went off 
 very pleasantly and well, with a good display of gentleman 
 jockeyship Messrs. White, "Kent, Captain F. Berkeley, 
 Lord Wilton, &c. Returned from the course on Mr. Payne's 
 coach a beautiful team and very well handled by Mr. P. ; 
 made one of a very large party at Sir Harry's; and finish- 
 ed the evening at the Cocking. 
 
 Thursday, 5th, Met the Duke of Rutland's hounds at 
 Stowe Wood, about twelve miles from Melton, a woodland 
 country, but looking much like the land of fox-hunting : 
 a very large field, and drew a great tract of country without
 
 YORKSHIRE. 165 
 
 touching- on a fox partly, perhaps, owing 1 to Lord Lons- 
 dale's hounds having run through several of the coverts on 
 the preceding day. When we did find, however, we could 
 not get on ; for we had two enemies to contend with a 
 harsh wind and hot sun. The hounds hunted to admira- 
 tion, and looked in their usual good form; but April hunt- 
 ing is generally a failure. 
 
 No sooner is a thorough-bred hunter seen in Leicester- 
 shire than he is sold, if his owner is disposed to part with 
 him. I rode Shamrock at Stowe Wood, and the following 
 morning he became the property of Mr. Middleton Bid- 
 dulph at a premium of course, as they say on 'Change. 
 
 Friday, 6th. Met Mr. Osbaldeston at Six Hills. Found 
 in Cussington Gorse, the fox taking a beautiful line, as if 
 thinking of Melton Spinney; but there was not an atom of 
 scent. To my surprise we drew Munday's Gorse blank, 
 and a vast deal of country besides, persevering till five 
 o'clock. Amongst a host of sportsmen from all parts of 
 His Majesty's dominions, was Sir Edward Mostyn on the 
 Clipper, for which horse he gave six hundred guineas. He 
 is certainly a very grand animal, although Nature has 
 somewhat defaced her work by giving him white stockings. 
 Went with Mr- Osbaldeston to Q,uorn, and, although past 
 seven o'clock when we arrived there, looked over the young 
 hounds before we fed. 
 
 Saturday, 6th. Met the Quorn hounds at Widmerpool 
 Inn. We were a long time finding a fox this day. At 
 half-past three o'clock, however, Lord Rancliffe's wood at 
 Bunny produced us a good one, and we had half an hour 
 very sharp, but lost him. I rode a charming horse of Mr. 
 Osbaldeston's, called Blucher, and had the pleasure of hear- 
 ing Mr. Biddulph say he would not take three hundred 
 guineas for little Shamrock, although he ran away twice 
 with him in tbje run. In the skurrj^ that straitforward one, 
 Captain Frederick Berkeley, got a damper in a brook, but 
 it was a yawner. 
 
 Good hounds and sport are not naturally co-existing cir- 
 cumstances. Excellent as the Q,uorn packs must be allow- 
 ed to be, they did not show much sport last year, with the 
 exception of a few splendid things, particularly one from 
 the Coplowwith the bitches, which, I believe, was consider-
 
 166 NIMROD'S HUNTING TOUR. 
 
 ed quite the ultra of fox-hunting. They went away close 
 at his brush from this classic ground, taking over the fine 
 lordships of Norton-by-Galby and Oaclby, and ran into him 
 near Wigston, AFTER A BURST OF FORTY-EIGHT MINUTES 
 WITHOUT A CHECK ! ! There was a trifling pause, I was 
 told, owing to a flock of sheep, but the scent was carried 
 on in a trot, so there was but little relief for the bellows, 
 and only six or seven saw the finish. I need not say these 
 were first-raters ; but for the honor of thjt noble animal 
 the horse, I am proud to add, there was one welter-weight 
 up at the death Mr. Maxse, on the Baron. 
 
 Such runs as these, in any country, are 'like angels' 
 visits, few and far between,' but they must be highly grati- 
 fying to a master of hounds in Leicestershire; and I can 
 fancy the Squire and Jack Stevens talking over this day's 
 sport on their road home with the pack. ' Well, Jack," 
 methinks the Squire to have exclaimed, ' thank God, ice went 
 fast enough for them to-day ! There was no occasion to 
 cry Hold hard ! no pressing upon the hounds ; and I would 
 have betted a guinea to a shilling on blood after the first ten 
 minutes.' 
 
 Mr. Osbaldeston's hounds showed great sport in their 
 new country, Northamptonshire the natural consequence 
 of having what may be called fair play. I also understand 
 that in his office as huntsman he has been extremely fair 
 towards his foxes, on which subject it would be well if some 
 of his brother huntsmen would take a hint. ' Murdering 
 foxes,' said the great Meynell, ' is a most absurd prodigality ; 
 for seasoned foxes are as necessary to sport as experienced 
 hounds.' That Mr. Osbaldeston's hounds are as good as 
 hounds can be, I think no sportsman who has seen them 
 will deny. 
 
 I was delighted to see Lord Alvanley going so brilliantly 
 over Leicestershire, notwithstanding his increased weight, 
 and having been, as we say in the stable, out of regular 
 work for some of the past seasons. His Lordship, also, we 
 well know, has been very intimate with ' the little hours? 
 which the doctors tell us are not favorable to the nervous 
 system; but his nerves are equal to the largest fence in 
 Leicestershire, and for pace, he is quite in the first flight. 
 
 Lord Alvanley's return to Melton Mowbray has been
 
 YORKSHIRE. 167 
 
 hailed as a happy omen of perpetuating the renown of Lei- 
 cestershire as a hunting country. Whithersoever 'he goes, 
 he must act as a magnet; for his presence and conversation 
 may be compared to the Sun's rays, which enliven every 
 hour of the day ; and as for the night 
 
 ' He is so fu 11 \>f pleasant anecdote; 
 So rich, so gay, so poignant in his wit ; 
 Time vanishes before him as he speaks, 
 And ruddy morning through the lattice peeps 
 Ere night seems \vell begun.' 
 
 His appearance and costume in the field also amused me 
 much. He wears what maybe compared to the Regulation 
 jack-boot of the Royal Horse Guards Blue, the top of which 
 reaches considerably higher than the knee, and doubtless 
 protects him from the thorns and blows he would otherwise 
 receive in cramming through the rough Leicestershire 
 fences, of which he is anything but shy. 
 
 On Sunday the 8th, I left Q,uorn, and proceeded to Lon- 
 don on my road home, ordering my groom to make the 
 best of his road to Lyndhurst with my horses, to enable me 
 to top up the season in the Forest. 
 
 Having now turned my back upon Yorkshire, I began to 
 ruminate upon what I had seen in it. Its character, as a 
 fox-hunting country, is comprised in a few words. It is, 
 like all the provincials, too close to enjoy hounds in, and 
 subject to everlasting interruptions from coverts, rivers, 
 canals, and rail-roads. The ploughed land in some parts 
 may rather be termed rotten than deep though, generally 
 speaking, this is by no means its character but in the 
 Bedale country the grass land is particularly sound and 
 dry. The fences, with the exception of the brooks, are such 
 as do not so much put to the test the spring and power of a 
 hunter, as his temper and the ready use of his legs ; but 
 the finger of his rider is almost constantly put to the trial. 
 It is a country in which men who ride quickly over it must 
 get falls. 
 
 For scent, I should say, Yorkshire is upon the whole fa- 
 vorable, and Holderness good to the proverb ; but, notwith- 
 standing this, I have reason to think straight-forward runs 
 are scarce articles in this land of sporting. It must, how-
 
 168 NIMROD'S HUNTING TOUR. 
 
 ever, be recollected, that the majority of the coverts are, 
 whin, and ringing runs generally prevail where they 
 abound, which accounts for the ease with which gentlemen 
 now jump upon their second horses in Leicestershire. A 
 fox breaking from a wood has usually time to look about 
 him, steal quietly away, and make his point : but from a 
 gorse covert he is almost always viewed away, is alarmed, 
 gets blown, and turns short. 
 
 As a sporting county, Yorkshire has no parallel, neither 
 is it possible it ever can have one. Jn extent (ninety square 
 miles) it is equal to several of the petty German Principal- 
 ities; .and every man in it aye, even the Archbishop him- 
 self is a sportsman. There is not a ' boots ' at an inn that 
 has not his guinea on the Leger ; and the manufacturer 
 with his apron, who, in other places, knows no more of a 
 horse than a horse knows of him, will take ' foive to one ' 
 he. names the winner. In short, the horse is the York- 
 shireman's idol; and had Virgil visited its plains previous 
 to writing his first Georgic, he would have assuredly giv c n 
 it the preference to Epirus. 
 
 During my visit to Raby, Lord Cleveland told me T mis- 
 sed a treat by not being present at an interview he had with 
 one of his Durham earth-stoppers; but I will answer for it 
 I should not have understood five words he uttered. Lan- 
 guage, however, is the dress of thought; and there is some- 
 thing very amusing in the native laconism, as Mr. Pope 
 calls it, of these people, when neatly and aptly applied. 
 The following is no bad specimen. The Marquis was 
 changing horses some time since at an inn in his neighbor- 
 hood, when he expressed a wish that no time should be 
 lost, as he was in a hurry. ' Drive my Lord well, lads,' 
 said the Landlord ; 'but (by a side wind) mind me don't 
 overegg t pudding? Anglice, ' Don't kill my horses.' 
 
 The monosyllables cars, gi/lls, and stells often appear in 
 Lord Cleveland's book. 'What is a stell?' said I one day 
 to a Durham sportsman. A stell is a beck,' he replied. 
 1 What is a beck?' added I- 'A beck is a brook, 1 was the 
 answer. ' Oh, now I have it,' resumed I. 
 
 The character of men's native country is for the most 
 part as strongly impressed upon them, as its accent is on 
 their tongue : and such is the case here. The county of
 
 YORKSHIRE. 1G ( J 
 
 York is a proud and bold feature in the map of England, 
 and its inhabitants do not disgrace it. They are good sol- 
 diers, keen sportsman, and a fine manly race, worthy of 
 British soil. 
 
 I shall now take leave of the North, by presenting my 
 readers with a celebrated hunting song, made some years 
 since on Lord Cleveland's Hunt, when his Lordship had 
 the Badsworth country. Several of the characters mention- 
 ed no longer exist, but it was considered a well-drawn pic- 
 ture of the time. 
 
 HO WELL WOOD: 
 
 OR, ' THE HOUNDS OP OLD RABY FOR ME !' 
 
 Whilst passing o'er Barnsdale, I happen'd to spy 
 
 A fox stealing on, and the hounds in full cry ; 
 
 They are Darlington's sure, for his voice I well know, 
 
 Crying ' Forward ! hark forward !' from Skelbrook below. 
 With my Bally namonaora, 
 The hounds of Old Raby for me. 
 
 See Binchester leads them, whose speed seldom fails, 
 And now let us see who can tread on their tails ; 
 For, like pigeons in flight, the best hunter would blow, 
 Should his master attempt to ride over them now. 
 With my, &c. 
 
 From Howell Wood come, they to Stapleton go, 
 What confusion I see in the valley below ; 
 My friends in black collars nearly beat out of sight, 
 And Badsworth's old heroes in sorrowful plight. 
 With my, &c. 
 
 'Tis hard to describe all the frolic and fun, 
 Which, of course, must ensue in this capital run ; 
 But I quote the old proverb, howe'er trite and lame, 
 That ' the looker on sees most by half of the game.' 
 With my, &c. 
 
 Then, first in the burst, see dashing away, 
 Taking all on his stroke, on Ralpho the grey, 
 
 VOL. II. 15
 
 170 NIMROD'S HUNTING TOUR. 
 
 With persuaders in flank, comes Darlington's Peer, 
 With his chin sticking out, and his cap on one ear. 
 With my, &c. 
 
 Never heeding a tumble, a scratch, or a fall, 
 Lying close in his quarter, see Scott of Woodhall ! 
 And mind how he cheers them with ' Hark to the cry !' 
 Whilst on him thePeer keeps ^pretty sharp eye. 
 With my, &c. 
 
 And next him on Morgan, all rattle and talk, 
 Cramming over the fences comes wild Martin Hawke ; 
 But his neck he must break surely sooner or late, 
 As he'd rather ride over than open a gate. 
 With my, &c. 
 
 Then there's dashing Frank Boynton, who rides ,thorough- 
 Their carcases nearly as small as their heads ; [breds, 
 
 But he rides so d d hard that it makes my heart ache, 
 From fear his long legs should be left on a stake. 
 With my, &c. 
 
 Behold Harry Mellish, as wild as the wind, 
 On Lancaster mounted, leaving numbers behind ; 
 But lately return'd from democrat France, 
 Where, forgetting to bet, he's been learning to dance. 
 With my, &c. 
 
 That eagle-eyed sportsman, Charles Branding, behold, 
 Lying in a snug place, which needs scarcely be told ; 
 But from riding so hard, my friend Charley, forbear, 
 From fear you should tire your thirty pound mare ! 
 With my, &c. 
 
 And close at his heels, see Bob Lascelles advance, 
 Dress'd as gay for the field as if leading the dance, 
 Resolved to ride hard, nor be counted the last, 
 Pretty sure of the speed of his fav'rite Out-cast. 
 With my, &c. 
 
 Next mounted on Pancake, see yonder comes Len, 
 A sportsman I'm sure well deserving my pen ;
 
 YORKSHIRE. 171 
 
 His looks in high glee, and enjoying the fun, 
 Tho' truly I fear that his cake's aver done. 
 With my, &c. 
 
 On Methodist perch'd in a very good station, 
 Frank Barlow behold, that firm prop of the nation : 
 But nothing could greater offend the good soul, 
 Then to Coventry sent from the ckase and the bowl. 
 With my, &c. 
 
 Then those two little fellows, as light as a feather, 
 Charles Parker and Clowes, come racing together : 
 And riding behind them, see Oliver Dick, 
 With Slap-dash half blown, looking sharp for a nick. 
 With my, &c. 
 
 On Ebony mounted behold my Lord Barnard, 
 To live near the pack now obliged is to strain hard ; 
 But mounting friend Barny on something that's quick, 
 1 warrant, my lads, he would shew you a trick. 
 With my, &c. 
 
 Then Bland and Tom Gascoigce I spy in the van, 
 Fading hard as two devil's, at catch as catch can, 
 But racing along to try which can get first, 
 Already I see both their horses are burst. 
 WitA my, &c. 
 
 Then smack at a yswner falls my friend Billy Clough ; 
 He gets up, stares iround him, faith ! silly enough ; 
 While Pilkintopnear him, cries, ' Pr'ythee get bled !' 
 'Oh no, never ;nind, Sir, I fell on my head.' 
 With my, &c. 
 
 But where's that hard rider, my friend Colonel Bell ? 
 At the frst setting off from the covert he fell. 
 But I see the old crop, thus the whole chase will carry, 
 In respectable style, the good temper'd Harry. 
 With my, &c. 
 
 With very small feet sticking fast in the mud. 
 Frank Hawks worth I see on his neat bit of blood
 
 172 NIMROD'S HUNTING TOUR. 
 
 But pull up, my friend, say you've lost a fore shoe, 
 JZlsebkeding, I fear, must be shortly for you. 
 With my, &c. 
 
 To keep their nags fresh for the end of the day, 
 Sir Edward and Lascelles just canter away ; 
 Not enjoying the pace our Raby hounds go, 
 But preferring the maxim of certain and slow. 
 With my, &c. 
 
 At the top of his speed, sadly beat and forelorn, 
 Behold Captain Horton is steering for Bain ; 
 For accustom'd at sea both to shift and to tack, 
 He hopes by man<zuvring to gain the fleet pack. 
 With my. &c. 
 
 The two Lees, Harvey Hawke, Frank Soth'ron, and all, 
 Are skirting avray for Stapleton Hall ; 
 Whilst far in the rear behold OverleyCooke, 
 Endeav'ring to scramble o'er Ample's wide, brook. 
 With my, &c. 
 
 Far aloof to the right, and op'ning a gate, 
 There's a sportsman by syem who never rides straight ; 
 But why, my good Godfrey, <.hus far will you roam, 
 When a pack of fine beagles hunt close to your home ? 
 With my, &t. 
 
 Safe o'er the brook but where's Caj^ain Bancer ? 
 Oh ! he's stopping to catch Sir Rowland Winn's prancer ; 
 But what istne use of that, my friend ^"inn 7 
 If on foot you attempt it, you'll sure tumbh in. 
 With my, &c. 
 
 On his chesnut nag mounted, and heaving in lank, 
 At a very great distance behold Bacon Frank, 
 So true's the old maxim, we even now find, 
 That Justice will always come limping behind. 
 With my, &c. 
 
 See Starkey and Hopwood, so full of their jokes, 
 From Braham Moor come, to be quizzing the folkes ;
 
 YORKSHIRE. 1/3 
 
 And when they return the whole chase they'll explain 
 Tho'they saw little of it to crony Fox Lane. 
 With my, &c. 
 
 Lost, spavin'd, and gall'd, but shewing some blood 
 For from Coxcomb's poor shoulders it streams in a flood 
 Behold Mr. Hodson, how he fumes and he frets, 
 While his black lies entangled in cursed sheep nets. 
 With my, &c. 
 
 If his name I pass'd over I fear he would cavil 
 I just wish to say that I saw Mr Saville : 
 And with very long coat on (a friend to his tailor), 
 With some more Wakefield heroes, behold Mr. Nailor. 
 With my, &c. 
 
 A large posse see in the valley below, 
 Who serve very well just to make up a show ; 
 But broad as the brook is, it made many stop, 
 It's not ev'ry man's good luck to get to the top, 
 With my, &c. 
 
 Now all having pass'd, I'll to Ferrybridge go, 
 Each event of the day at the Club I shall know ; 
 Where bright bumpers of claret enliven the night, 
 And chase far away hated envy and spite. 
 With my, &c. 
 
 Then forgive me, my friends, if you think me severe ; 
 'Tis but me4?it as a joke, not intended to sneer; 
 Come I'll give you a toast, in a bumper of wine, 
 'Here's success to this Club, and to sport so divine!' 
 
 And the hounds of old Rfhy for me. 
 
 I arrived at home on the 10th of Apvl, and left it again 
 on the loth for the New Forest. I wis to have taken up 
 my old quarters under the roof of Sir Hussey Vivian ; but 
 he was deprived of the pleasure of receiving a large party 
 of his friends at this time, by being obliged to attend His 
 Majesty in London. I had received many kind invitations 
 from Mr. Nicoll to visit him, and I spent one of the pleas- 
 antest weeks of my life under his roof. Here, however, I 
 
 VOL. II. 15*
 
 174 NIMROD'S HUNTING TOUR. 
 
 must pause. Numerous would have been the jokes, count- 
 less the anecdotes for John Ward was with us that I 
 might have gleaned in those 'gay-spent festive nights;' but 
 all must now be silent. The hand of Death has snatched 
 away one who presided at the feast, and the house of feast- 
 ing has been a house of mourning. In a few months af- 
 terwards, the wife of our kind host and the mother of his 
 nine children died in giving brith to a tenth, and Mr. Nicoll 
 lost what nothing can replace. 
 
 Impatient, however, as mankind are apt to be under cal- 
 amities which, after all, are but the condition of their ex- 
 istence yet contrasts give variety to life. Did we never 
 taste what is bitter, we should know nothing of 'the sweets. 
 Where, than can there be a greater contrast than between 
 the large rich fields of Leicestershire, and the sterile, heath- 
 clad surface of a Hampshire forest? Notwithstanding this, 
 there is something in a forest which calls to mind pastoral 
 and hunting ages long since gone by, but of course conge- 
 nial to the feelings of a sportsman; and as, according (o 
 the doctrine of Aristotle, the love of the beautiful is implan- 
 ted in us by Nature, every man sportsman or no sports- 
 man must feel instinctive pleasure in such a scene as Mon- 
 day the 16th of April presented to us at the meeting of Mr. 
 Nicoll's hounds. The morning was most propitious ; Na- 
 ture appeared in very gay attire ; and, exclusive of ladies, 
 upwards of three hundred horsemen, from all parts of Eng- 
 land, formed the motley group. Amongst these, the follow- 
 ing conspicuous characters composed MrflLNicoll's party: 
 the great John Ward ; the no less celebratea John, common- 
 ly called Jack Wormold; Mr. Spurrier; Mr. Foljambe, 
 master of the Lincolnshire fox-hounds; Sir Harry Good- 
 ricke, and Sir Bllingham Graham. Mr. John Moore, as 
 usual, was also in the neighborhood (at Mr. Combton's) ; 
 a considerable pany of sporting men at the Inn at Lynd- 
 huist ; and Billy Bpxler, being his forty-second appearance. 
 The Leicestershire do-as did not bring their own horses, 
 but were very respectably mounted by Mr. Tilbury, who 
 sent eight hunters to Lyndhurst for their use. 
 
 To give an account of sport with hounds on this occasion 
 will not do now ; but on the first day we were saved from 
 one of the evils attending April fox-hunting, by the keen
 
 YORKSHIRE. 175 
 
 eye and activity of Mr. Foljambe, who jumped off his 
 horse just in time to save a vixen fox which gave suck from 
 falling a prey to the pack. After the hounds were taken 
 a\vay by Mr. Nicoll, she was put down, and, although ap- 
 parently injured by a gripe on her back, she trotted away 
 as if nothing had happened. 
 
 April fox-hunting never can be good ; but this was a 
 most scentless week, even in the New Forest, where hounds 
 generally catch a scent by some means. To cut the matter 
 short, we had but one pretty run out of four days' meeting ; 
 but we saw a deal of good hunting picking it out by 
 the inch and we witnessed great skill in our huntsman. 
 I remember saying to myself, the second day we were out 
 with a very perplexing scent, ' Well, considering our hunts- 
 man told us last night, that to make a huntsman perfect, his 
 lips should be seined together, I never saw hounds lifted bet- 
 ter than these have been this day. 1 To say he lifted them 
 njj't'ic ground, would be-too figurative an expression ; but 
 he certainly did it to a charm, and his scream was thrilling 
 and good. However, we might as well say Horace was a 
 stupid fellow, and Demosthenes no spokesman, as to say 
 Mr. Nicoll is not u huntsman ; for he is one: but what can- 
 not a master-mind like his accomplish particularly when 
 directed principally to one point ? 
 
 I have said that Mr. Ward was of our party. I have 
 said enough, then, to shew that mirth and good humor were 
 the order of the day. His presence, indeed, always reminds 
 me of Lucian's description of the Elysian fields, where he 
 makes it appear there are two springs the one of laugh- 
 ter, and the other of joy ; and it is almost needless to add, 
 that those who drink of them are filled with mirth and hi- 
 larity for the rest of the day. The mora] here is delightful 
 to contemplate ; for it is as much as to say, that, unless we 
 bring a kind heart into society, we have no business there. 
 Hera Mr. Ward may be almost termed the miracle of his 
 day. Courted as he has been for such a great length of 
 years, we might expect to find him, like a wayward child, 
 wishing to have everything his own way; but it is not so. 
 No; his social capacities seem to expand as his age 
 advances, and, like Saul, to be more glorious in his latter 
 years.
 
 176 NIMROD'S HUNTING TOUR. 
 
 It v/ould be tantalizing to mention the name of this real 
 old English Gentleman, and not accompany it with an an- 
 ecdote or two ; so I hope t shall be pardoned for selecting 
 the following. 
 
 It is well known that this far-famed sportsman has ever 
 been fond of having his hounds high in flesh, in their work. 
 I partly place it to his having always hunted strong, wet 
 countries; with rough woodlands ; but 1 am not going to 
 argue the merits of the case here. We are all fond of our 
 own systems, and, like Pygmalion the sculptor, never fail 
 to become enamored of our own creations. Mr. Nicoll, on 
 the other hand, feeds lightly in the spring months, and we 
 well know that hounds which work on light food will look 
 light in warm weather. 'There is one advantage,' said 
 Mr. Ward, as we were one morning passing away four 
 hours in the kennel, 'in visiting my friend Sam Nicoll. 
 No man need trouble himself to take his razors with him ; 
 for only let him lather his face well, and walk down to the 
 kennel, he might take any one of these hounds by the head 
 and tail, and shave himself to perfection with his back bone! 
 These hounds,' added he, 'look as if they had just landed 
 from Noah's ark.' 
 
 Anecdote the second may surprise, and for this reason : 
 I think it is Fielding who has told us, that there is an 
 air of gentility about a real gentleman which dress can 
 neither give nor conceal. Notwithstanding this, Mr. 
 Ward told us, ^that a short time since he was taken for a 
 butcher \ and I will oive it in his own words. 
 
 ' I was driving down the road one day,' said he, in his 
 usual facetious style, ' when I saw a man I knew bargain- 
 ing for some fat bullocks. ' Cannot you deal ?' said I. 
 ' Why, no, Sir,' ^plied the buyer; 'the gentleman is too 
 hard with me.' ' Then let me try and put you together.' 
 So, getting out of my curricle, and handling the beasts, I 
 pronounced them to be worth a certain sum. The buyer 
 doubted it. ' Well, then,' I said,' here is a butcher corning, 
 we will hear what he has to say.' The butcher looked 
 at the bullocks, and then at me and after taking a second 
 look, addressed me thus ' Why, you are in business, arn't 
 you T ' Not at present,' I replied, pulling a very long
 
 YORKSHIRE. 177 
 
 face; ' / have been unfortunate? 'Worse luck!' said the 
 butcher; ' for you are a d d good judge.' ' 
 
 Now I can only account for this in two ways : either the 
 butcher was a better judge of beef than of a gentleman, 
 which is by no means improbable; or, Mr. Ward having 
 his box coat on, the knight of the clever did not see those 
 neat boots and leathers for which his person has ever been so 
 distinguished ; neither do I think it possible he could have 
 looked into his face. Mr. Ward, however, would make an 
 excellent master-butcher in one respect ; for, having been 
 a very considerable stall-feeder of cattle for a great number 
 of years, and paid much attention to the system, it must 
 be a good judge that could get the blind side of him in a 
 deal. 
 
 I must now bring my visit to the North to a close. Let 
 me conclude it, then with the following remarks : 
 
 In the first place, I have to thank all the Sporting World, 
 and my friends in particular, for the kind dispensation granted 
 me in the free use of their names, as, without this indulgence, 
 my pen would have been cramped, and I should have flut- 
 tered like a bird with its wings clipped, unable to soar above 
 the ground. I hope I have taken no unfair advantage of 
 this boasted privilege. I am not aware of having stained 
 my paper with falsehood, neither have I dipped my pen in 
 gall: but if it be said 1 have written in a spirit of partiality; 
 if kind feeling and friendship have had too great a share in 
 the characters I have drawn, and I have heightened them a 
 little beyond the truth, I am sure of pardon here. An abler 
 pen than mine would have executed the task better ; but in 
 one respect lam not ill-qualified for a traveller. I have 
 neither antipathies, nor prejudices to manners, habits, cli- 
 mate, meat, drink, persons, or things, having long learned to 
 take the world as it comes, making the best of everything. 
 I am now verging on those years in which I am entitled to 
 confirm by practice what was taught me in theory, and I 
 have found most of those lessons good. My experience, 
 however, has given the lie to one. I was told, 
 
 : You'll find the friendship of the world a show ! 
 Mere outward show ! "Tis like the harlot's tears, 
 
 The statesman's promise, or false patriot's zeal 
 
 Full of fair seeming, but delusion all.'
 
 178 NIMROD'S HUNTING TOUR. 
 
 I cannot say I have found it so! Rather would I tell the 
 snarling cynic that the world to me has proved a friend, 
 and 1 am proud to say ' / owe thee much.' 1 Were I, however, 
 to allude fora moment to the commendations bestowed upon 
 what little I have written, I should account for them all in 
 the language of Swift. ' It is the wise choice of the sub- ' 
 ject,' says he, 'that adorns and distinguishes the writer;' 
 and mine, we know, is a popular one. In the shape of a 
 Tour, however, this is my last attempt ; but it may serve 
 for a model for others to improve upon ; and, perhaps, more 
 good than harm might be the result. Society exists amongst 
 men by a mutual communication of their thoughts ; and, 
 although I fear I have added little to the stock, their recip- 
 rocal commerce is the chief source of knowledge. 
 
 To conclude : I shall never forget the pleasure I derived 
 in the perusal of a passage from the pen of Gibbon, where- 
 in he describes the hour in which he completed that great 
 monument of his fame the Decline and Fall of the Ro- 
 man Empire. ' It was,' says he, ' on the day, or rather the 
 night, of the 27th June 1787, between the hours of eleven 
 and twelve, that I wrote the last lines of the last page in a 
 summer-house in my garden. After laying down my pen, 
 I took several turns in a covered walk of acacias, which 
 commands a prospect of the country, the lake, and the 
 mountains. The air was temperate, the sky was serene, 
 the silver orb of the moon was reflected on the waters, and 
 all ISature was silent. I will not dissemble the first emo- 
 tions of joy on the recovery of my freedom, and, perhaps, 
 the establishment of my fame. But my pride was soon hum- 
 bled ; and a sober melancholy was spread over my mind 
 by the idea, that I had taken an everlasting leave of an 
 old and agreeable companion : and that, whatsoever might 
 be the future fate of my History, the life of the Historian 
 might be short and precarious !' 
 
 On the 22d of April, I left the Forest, and in the even- 
 ing of that day arrived at home. Although my pockets 
 were as empty as when they came from the tailor's, my 
 spirits were good. I dwelt with pleasure on the scenes I 
 had been a witness of, and indulged a hope that I might see 
 something like them again. But this was not all. I echoed 
 the words of an elegant writer, who "so happily expresses
 
 YORKSHIRE. 179 
 
 himself on a similar occasion. ' When we travel towards 
 home,' says he, l we return, as it were, to the arms of a 
 friend; and BLESS THAT GOODNESS WHICH HAS so OR- 
 DAINED, THAT HOME WITH NO CHARMS CHARMS US BE- 
 CAUSE IT is OUR HOME!!'
 
 RIDING TO HOUNDS. 
 
 Venatu invigilant pueri, silvasqne fatigant ; 
 Flectere ludus equos et spicula tendere cornu. 
 At, patiensoperum parvoque assueta, juventus 
 Aut rastris terram domat, aut quatit oppida bello. 
 
 VIRGIL. 
 
 Our boys the forest range, and lead the course, 
 Bend the tough bow, and break the prancing horse. 
 Long thirst, long hunger, our bold youths can bear, 
 Plough, fight, or shake embattled towns with war. 
 
 PITT'S Translation. 
 
 VOL. II. 16
 
 RIDING TO HOUNDS. 
 
 THE magistrates of the Greek Republic encouraged mu- 
 sic and the fine arts as a check against the ferocity of man- 
 ners which their gymnastic and military exercises might 
 have inspired ; but, at the present day, we have more need 
 of alarm lest the manly diversions should decline, and there 
 should be 'nothing left to counteract the feminine and ener- 
 vating effects of luxurious and fashionable manners.' We 
 have not the Campus Martius we know nothing of the 
 Romana Militia ; and.it is to the sports of the field alone 
 sports so congenial to our nature- that we are to look for a 
 counterbalance to the evil alluded to, and for the preserva- 
 tion of that manly character which has ever been the distin- 
 guishing feature of an English gentleman. It has even been 
 asserted, thatto sportsmen are weindebted for preservingthe 
 human race from degenerating: of this, however, we are 
 certain, that the sports of the field promote real courage ; 
 for what chance, says a popular writer, would a regiment 
 composed of men who could only dance, sing, and act plays, 
 have against one composed of men who could ride, box, and 
 shoot ! 
 
 Riding is an accomplishment which has been held in the 
 highest estimation from the very earliest ages, and was re- 
 warded at the Olympic Games. It once formed part of the 
 education of youth ; and we find Cicero, with the vanity 
 generally attending his writings, telling his son Marcus, that 
 as, on account of his father's fame, the eyes of all the world would 
 be upon him, he congratulated him on having received the 
 praise of Pompey for his riding. Lord Chesterfield recom- 
 mended this accomplishment to his son ; as did Lord Chat- 
 ham to his nephew; and even a Rajah of Seringapatam
 
 184 RIDING TO HOUNDS. 
 
 does not think it beneath his Imperial dignity. Hannibal, 
 we are told, was the best horseman of his day. In his dress 
 he differed in nothing from the ordinary men of his time ; 
 but in everything that related to his horses and their accout- 
 rements, he was superbly magnificent and fastidiously cor- 
 rect. In battle, he was the first to engage, and the last to 
 retreat. 
 
 From the days of the young Ascanius to the present hour, 
 riding to hounds has formed one of the chief amusements 
 of men of all ages, and in all situations in life ; and it ap- 
 pears by Tibullus, that there was a ' a painful pre-eminence' 
 in the field in his time. That riding over a country was in 
 fashion in the Augustan age, we learn from Virgil's* direc- 
 tions for breeding, where he tells us we should not leap a 
 mare when she is in foal. Ossian compliments the son of 
 Torran with beingfirst in the chase; and Addison observes, 
 that ' some find their account in heading a cry of hounds, as 
 much as others would in the dignity of Lord chancellor.' 
 What figure these ancient Nimrods would have cut by the 
 side of a good Meltonian of the present day, it is not in my 
 power to conjecture. The best Kings and Emperors how- 
 ever, encouraged all such manly exercises; and Horace 
 wrote his Carmen Seculare in their praise. The pursuits 
 of the field in particular, being more or less attended with 
 risk, have a tendency to increase natural courage ; and, by 
 rendering men familiar with danger, make them less liable 
 to lose their presence of mind when in it, and less anxious 
 to get out of it. As the foil is the semblance of the naked 
 sword, the chase is the image of war; and after all, 'it is 
 the contempt of danger which ennobles the life of a sol- 
 dier.' 
 
 Riding to hounds on paper, or over a bottle of wine by a 
 good fire-side, is one thing ; and -riding alongside them for 
 an hour when going their best pace over a strongly-enclos- 
 ed and deep country is another. Than the one nothing is 
 more easy gates, styles, brooks, and fences, are all taken 
 in stroke, and nothing is too high or too wide. Than the other 
 nothing is more difficult body and mind are both at work, 
 and every now and then the ' courage must be screwed up 
 
 * Non saltu superare viam sit passus.
 
 RIDING TO HOUNDS. 185 
 
 to the sticking place.' Like most other things, however, 
 there are two ways of doing it one in comparative safety 
 and supreme enjoyment ; the other, like Damocles, at the 
 feast, in the midst of pleasure, but in constant apprehension, 
 of destruction. All this depends oq, the goodness of the 
 horse we ridB, and our skill in riding him. ' Hand without 
 head ' will not do, neither will head without hand. Judgment, 
 here, must be combined with execution. 
 
 Independent of the pleasure arising from the chase, 1 
 have always considered a covert's side with hounds that are 
 well attended to be one of the most lively scenes in nature. 
 The pride of the morning, the meeting of friends, and the 
 anticipation of diversion, contribute to raise the spirits and 
 expand the soul. In my experience in life, I have found, 
 or heard of, but few friendships formed on the associations 
 of very early years ; and for one lasting friendship founded at 
 a school or college, I have known a dozen proceeding from 
 fox-hunting ; and I have no hesitation in adding, that the 
 
 ._/ i o ' 
 
 best introduction for a young man of fortune and fashion of 
 the present day is to be found at Billesdon Coplow or Oad- 
 by toll-bar. 
 
 Leicestershire is the place of all others, where riding to 
 hounds is put to the test. The excuses of ' I was the wrong 
 side of the covert I did not get a start, or, the hounds slip- 
 ped away from me,' will very seldom serve here, as every 
 man can get a fair start if he is aicakc, and every man has 
 an opportunity, of distinguishing himself. 
 
 It is a remarkable fact, and a striking proof of the diffi- 
 culty attending it, that, barring Leicestershire, there are 
 not in other countries more than half a score of men calling 
 themselves sportsmen and well mounted who can ride to 
 hounds that is to say, who can live with them for an hour 
 over a strong country and at their best pace. There are, 
 however, I will venture to assert, in each of these countries 
 twice that number of men whose nerve is equal to any fence 
 that the others will ride at ; yet, from certain causes, they 
 cannot get near hounds. Now how are we to reconcile this? 
 Here are two men, with nerve equally good and equally 
 well mounted, get a fair start with hounds ; one of them 
 shall never be a field from them, and the other shall be dead 
 beat, or perhaps lost, before he gets half through the run if 
 
 VOL. II. 16*
 
 186 
 
 RIDING TO HOUNDS. 
 
 it is good one. Nay, I will go one step farther the one 
 man shall ride three or four stone heavier than the other ! 
 This appears paradoxical, but every day's experience proves 
 it. Let us endeavor to account for it. 
 
 If hounds always ran straight over a country, the diffi- 
 culty of riding to them would be materially lessened. A 
 good horse, with a good hand upon him and boldly ridden, 
 would nineteen times out of twenty carry a man up to them, 
 provided no insurmountable difficulties such as rivers inter- 
 vened : the hand, without much assistance from the head : 
 would then do the business; but the difficulty consists in 
 turning to hounds, and riding inside and not outside of them, 
 and thereby cutting off the angles. Whoever considers the 
 proportion of the diameter to the circumference of a circle 
 will be convinced of the great advantage of riding 
 inside of hounds in their turns, and avoiding angles. Hack- 
 ney-coachmen in London are well aware of this. For ex- 
 ample, let a man get into one of their coaches, and give 
 Jarvey his direction : if his place of destination lies to his 
 right hand, he will observe how immediately he makes his 
 turn down the first street that leads in that direction, and 
 vice versa. Let us suppose two hackney-coachmen started 
 at the top of the Haymarket, and were ordered to Temple- 
 bar : let one take the first turn to the left, which is Panton- 
 street cross Leicester-square, along Chandos-street, and 
 get into the Strand down Southampton-street how much 
 sooner would he be at Temple-bar than the other, should he 
 make the angle of Charing Cross! This exactly applies 
 to riding to hounds. How often have I seen one set of men 
 riding as hard as their horses could carry them, and stop- 
 ping at nothing, but still losing ground, and being beaten ; 
 when at the same time, others, better judges, were going by 
 the side of hounds quite at their ease, and merely because 
 they have turned with them, and not after them, by which 
 the angles have been avoided. 
 
 There is another point in riding to hounds not sufficient- 
 ly considered. Every sportsman will know what I mean 
 by the difference between a quick horse and a fast one. Very 
 few countries require fast horses, but all require quick ones; 
 and a quick man upon a quick horse would beat a slow 
 man upon Eclipse. The speed and stride of Hambletonian
 
 RIDING TO HOUNDS. 187 
 
 would be useless in any country, however valuable at New- 
 market; but it is a quick man upon a quick horse that in 
 nineteen countries out of twenty gets best to hounds. By 
 a quick man, I mean one who has a good eye to the direc- 
 tion his hounds are going in who turns as his hounds turn 
 has a good eye to practicable places in his fences, and, when 
 he comes to them, is decisive in his determination to go at 
 them. In many other things besides riding over a country, 
 he who stops to consider is lost ; but in this decision is eve- 
 rything. The l nonprogredi, est regredi,' may be particu- 
 larly applied to riding to hounds. When we stop, they are 
 going; and catching hounds with a holding scent is what 
 few men and horses are equal to. The celebrated Dick 
 Knight's speech to Lord Spencer, when he hunted his 
 hounds, proved he was of this opinion. He had just ridden 
 over. a rasper, which his Lord stopped to look at. ' Come 
 along my Lord,' said Dick; 'the more you look, the less 
 you'll like it.' 
 
 By a quick horse, I mean one that is quick on getting on 
 his speed again after having been stopped at his fences, and 
 is handy in being pulled up or turned. This is the horse 
 that will distinguish himself in enclosed countries, where 
 hounds seldom run or men seldom ride straight. It was 
 this wonderful quickness at his fences, independent of his 
 speed, that gave that famous horse 'the Clipper' such an. 
 advantage over a country when hounds ran hard. Whether 
 the ditch was towards him, or from him, he would not suf- 
 fer himself to be collected, or pulled together, therefore lost 
 no time in his fences. He was on his speed again, as it 
 were, before other horses had scarcely alighted on trie 
 ground. Thus taking all sorts offences in this rapid way, 
 without suffering himself to be collected, might do very well 
 with Mr. Lindo on his back, but it is not every man : s nerve 
 or finger that it would suit. It enabled him, however, to 
 go a mile and a half over a country on the Clipper, whilst 
 many others were going a mile. 
 
 In my experience of men riding to hounds, I have made 
 the following remark that it is not because a man is a good 
 horseman, that he puts his horse well at his fences, and is 
 not afraid of them that he .can live with hounds. On the 
 contrary, I have seen numbers answering this description
 
 188 RIDING TO HOUNDS. 
 
 that never could see a run when the pace was quick. The 
 reason of this was they were not quick. They lost time at 
 their fences, and they would not gallop. T am willing to 
 admit that the act of extending a horse over rough ground, 
 and among grips particularly if that horse has a long 
 stride and does not pull together is a greater trial to nerves 
 than the generality of fences, and is attended with more 
 danger. The worst falls are those which happen in the 
 open field when horses are going at nearly the top of their 
 speed; and it requires a finer finger to put a horse alog 
 his best pace, over rough ground, than to ride him if he 
 knows his business, over the stifFest and most difficult fences. 
 In the one case he sees his own danger; in the other his 
 rider must see for him, and, by the finger, caution him 
 against it. It is in this way alone that I can account for so 
 many persons that I have known and met with, who, with 
 all the necessary qualifications for riding to hounds, as far 
 as fencing and horsemanship are concerned, yet never see 
 a run at the best pace, because they will not gallop. 
 
 There is another description of persons, who are gener- 
 ally defeated when business is to be done, and those are your 
 very light weights. In my experience of fox-hunting, I 
 have observed that men above eleven stone for the most part 
 beat men under eleven stone and for this reason : the very 
 light man says, 'anything will cairy me;' and if he hears 
 of a slight bit of blood, which no man of any size will buy 
 because he cannot carry weight, he goes and purchases him 
 calling him ' a nice little horse to carry his weight.' The 
 consequence of this' is, as force must be opposed to force, 
 this nice little horse and his rider are knocked backwards 
 and thrown over by fences, which a heavier man on a heavier 
 horse would break through if he could not clear. I am 
 no advocate for large horses, but they must have substance 
 and weight, or they cannot get through a strong country. 
 
 Putting fences out of the question, we may view this mat- 
 ter in another light. We know that weight equalizes aH 
 horses of all ages and all sizes. If, therefore, a man weigh- 
 ing only ten stone gets horses only fit to carry ten stone, he 
 can go no faster in a deep country than the man who weighs 
 fifteen stones provided he be mounted on horses equal to carry 
 fifteen atone. This only applies to galloping ; but if they come
 
 RIDING TO HOUNDS. 189 
 
 to fencing, the heavy man has it hollow. The heavy man 
 says, ' I must get horses to carry me :' the very light man 
 says, 'those which can carry no one else will do for me ;' 
 and thus he is too often defeated- To this must be added, 
 in favor of the heavy man, that strength in the rider as well 
 as in the horse, is necessary in getting a horse across a stiff 
 and deep country where the fences are large and frequent. 
 ' The gentleman rode very well,' said Buckle the jockey, of 
 a gentleman rider opposed to him in a race, ' but he tired 
 before his horse ;' and this applies to the very light man over 
 a country. 
 
 Riding to hounds, like most other things, has undergone 
 a revolution in the march of time. Some years back, the 
 best man was he, who after never being near the hounds for 
 nineteen miles [supposing them to run so far], came up to 
 them at the twentieth, and got the brush, which he carried 
 home in triumph under the front of his bridle. The best 
 man now is he who goes best through the best part of the 
 run, even should he be ' dead beat ' at the last. As to riding 
 or asking fo.r the brush, a man would as soon ask for the 
 scalp of the huntsman's head in the regular hunting coun- 
 tries as for the brush of a fox. I once did see, and in one 
 of the crack counties, a man ride over a fence into the mid- 
 dle of hounds as they were in the act of worrying their fox; 
 and on the owner of them asking him why he did so, he re- 
 plied that he wanted the brush. ' You shall have the brush, 
 Sir,' said the master of the pack, ' and let it serve you for 
 the rest of your life. Take off that red coat when you get 
 home, and never come a hunting again.' 
 
 There are many men, particularly those whose hunting 
 has been confined to ploughed and light scenting countries, 
 who can form but a faint idea of the speed of hounds in 
 those countries which are capable of holding what is called 
 a burning, or, more properly a lasting scent, such as will 
 enable hounds to run straight. The circumstance, however, 
 which I am about to mention, at the same time that it will 
 show the pace which hounds under certain circumstances 
 are able to maintain, will warrant the assertions I have 
 made as to the difficulty of seeing a run when the pace is 
 very quick, as also the necessity of horses being in the very 
 best tune to attempt it. The instance I now allude to was
 
 190 RIDING TO HOUNDS. 
 
 with the Duke of Rutland's hounds when Shaw hunted 
 them. There was, as usual, a large field on the day I speak 
 of; but what is very unsual in Leicestershire, the covert in 
 which we found our fox was surrounded by a wall. This 
 wall, in the direction the fox went oft, was not to be jumped; 
 but there was a bridle-gate, which the first man who was 
 lucky enough to get through was Mr. John Storey [better 
 known in the Sporting World by the name of Jack Storeyl, 
 on the old race-horse Cockspinner. Strange as it may ap- 
 pear, Mr. John Storey upon Cockspinner was the only man 
 who saw that run, although it lasted but twenty-two minutes, 
 and there was not a fence to stop any horse deserving the 
 name of hunter. Seeing Mr. Lindo on Petruchio, and Mr. 
 Davy no better pilots making for a place in the side wall, 
 which was practicable, I followed them ; but in consequence 
 of a rail being on the other side of it, which- obliged us to 
 take it at twice, and meeting immediately with another 
 double fence, added to the acute angle we made by going 
 over the side Avail, we never could get near the hounds. 
 The horse I rode had just been winning Hunters' Stakes, 
 and, as before observed, there were no impracticable fences 
 in the way ; but I never caught a sight of the pack over 
 that fine country, until just as they were running into their 
 fox, when I saw them on some rising ground better than a 
 mile a-head. When Shaw came up, he pulled out his watch, 
 and exclaimed, ' Beat two miles in twenty-two minutes, by 
 G d ! ' 
 
 This is one among some hundred instances of horses not 
 being able to live with hounds unless they not only start 
 with them ; but as the speed of hounds has been ascertain- 
 ed to be superior to that of horses, it is absolutely necessary 
 to enable them to live with them at their deepest rate, that 
 they should not only not go over as much ground as they 
 do, but by turning inside, and not outside them, they should 
 consequently, go over less. 
 
 In some countries, getting well away with hounds is diffi- 
 cult and uncertain. Where coverts are large, on windy 
 days it is almost even betting whether a man gets a good 
 start or not. It is true, though singular, that in woodlands 
 foxes will often run the same line* of country for genera- 
 
 * I have seen many instances of this at a covert called Alveston Pas-
 
 
 
 RIDING TO HOUNDS. 191 
 
 lions in succession; but this is not to be depended upon, nei- 
 ther is there much reliance to be placed upon the wind. I 
 remember telling an old and very good sportsman one day 
 in Leicestershire, that the wind would most probably take 
 us to his country; when he observed, that by the time I had 
 been a foxhunter as long as he had, I should learn to trust 
 but little to the wind. ' A fox,' said he, ' will make his 
 point in spite of the wind: and it is only when he finds 
 himself pressed that he will cease to face it.' This I believe 
 to be the case ; but one observation 1 have made is, that 
 when a fox starts up wind, and then turns, he seldom faces 
 it again. All they, however, wko consult the wind, and 
 ride to it, instead of to the hounds, will too often find them- 
 selves in a wrong latitude. 
 
 It is one of the drawbacks upon the pleasure of fox-hunt- 
 ing, that a man sometimes rides twenty miles to meet hounds, 
 and then loses a fine run by not getting away with them. 
 The rose, however, is never without the thorn ; and this 
 must sometimes happen in large woodlands, which most 
 commonly produce the best foxes. As foxes generally 
 hang a little in large coverts, the best sportsman is often 
 puzzled how to act. If running down wind, it is difficult 
 for him to hear them. If he follows them up and down a 
 deep covert often, his horse is half beaten before the run 
 begins- It is necessary to be wide awake upon these occa- 
 sions; and I have always thought it to be the safer plan, 
 
 tures, near Stratford-on-Avon in Warwickshire,- a place which ha's 
 afforded several brilliant runs. Unless foxes break for Mr. West' 
 coverts, they almost invariably come away to Sir Charles Mordant's 
 woods, beyond which is as fine a country as any in England. To 
 avoid sinking the hill, and a very bad brook, all those who know the 
 circumstance are in the habit of going along a road for about a mile, 
 whence they can command the hounds by the the time they can settle 
 to their fox. On a particular day, however, when Lord Middleton 
 hunted Warwickshire, I remember Colonel Berkeley and his two 
 brothers were out, when, not knowing of this nick,they followed the 
 hounds down the meadows, when, contrary to the usual practice, the 
 fox did not cross the brook, but turned short to the left, down a fine 
 vale, for Wellesburn, and the three brothers alone saw the run. This 
 was almost a solitary instance of a fox taking that direction.
 
 192 RIDING TO HOUNDS. 
 
 when a man comes out determined to have a day's sport to, 
 keep as near to hounds in covert as it is possible even if 
 he does take something out of his horse in doing so. By 
 getting well away with them, he has riot got to catch them, 
 which may be still more against him than even going two 
 or three times up and down a deep ride in a covert. At all 
 events, a sportsman's object is to be with hounds ; and it is 
 better to be with them on a horse half beaten, than to be ri- 
 ding about the country asking the old question, ' Did you 
 see the hounds ?' on a fresh one. 
 
 The following anecdote is in point. A gentleman of 
 large fortune, well known in Staffordshire, was out with 
 the late Mr. Meynell when he hunted Leicestershire, and in 
 those days was going 'with high and vent'rous sail.' Com- 
 ing to a river which had much overflowed its banks, he pulled 
 off his coat and waistcoat, and swam for a considerable dis- 
 tance. The first man who got around by a bridge was 
 JL<ord Forester, who, getting on the line with them, asked a 
 countryman whether he saw the hounds. ' Oh yes,' said 
 thefellovv, 'I seed 'em but you will never see 'em no 
 more ; they have been gone this quarter of an hour.' 
 ' Who was with them,' said his Lordship. ' No one but the 
 yriller? was the reply, 'and he was riding most nation hard 
 
 to be sure,' This wag Mr. G in his shirt. 
 
 Had hunting and the present spirited manner of riding 
 to hounds been practised as we practisethem in ealier times, 
 I cannot help thinking that they would have formed a fine 
 subject for a pastoral or an epic poem, in the hands of The- 
 ocritus or Virgil, when dressed in the lustre of their lan- 
 guage, and adorned with their ' living words.' Such a 
 poem would have been read with unmingled feelings of de- 
 light. The twang of the hum, the echo of the woods, the 
 -cry of the hounds, the cheers of the huntsmen, and the ar- 
 do'r of the riders, would not have been interrupted by the 
 recollections of countries wasted by want, or cities depopu- 
 lated by the sword. What a contrast would the cheerful 
 and happy scenes of the sportsman present to the blood- 
 stained career of the hero I As Bellona is represented by 
 the poets in language too horrible to read, Diana, though 
 bent on the pleasures of the chase, is painted with all the
 
 RIDING TO HOUNDS. 193 
 
 I 
 
 attractions of her sex, and in the elegant simplicity of nature. 
 The epithets applied to this sporting goddess are said to be 
 the happiest in the Latin language. 
 
 Although \ve have but an imperfect idea of the manner 
 in \vhich the ancients hunted their hounds, and got across 
 a country after them, yet we are satisfied that they did both. 
 We are also satisfied that, amongst those who wrote upon 
 domestic economy, there were many good judges of hounds 
 and horses, particularly of the latter. Instead of taking up 
 a Scotch novel, which I could not read, or a fashionable 
 canto which I could not understand, it has been my prac- 
 tice, when wiling away a tedious hour, to look in the books 
 which I read in my youth. [ have been forcibly struck 
 with some passages that I have met with in them relating 
 to the horse, which so exactly accord with my own ideas of 
 what a hunter should be, that I shall take leave to mention 
 them. 
 
 Pliny has the following remarkable sentence: ' Equi 
 sine frasnis, deformis ispe cursus, rigida cervice, et extento 
 capite, currentium,' which we may safely translate thus : 
 horses that go with a stiff neck, and their noses poked out 
 and not pulling together in their stride, are unfit to carry a 
 gentleman. How to choose a colt for a hunter, we cannot 
 improve upon Virgil's advice. Let him be well bred, says 
 he, and tread well on his pasterns. Of his courage so es- 
 sential to a first-rate hunter he says, he should be the first 
 to lead the way, to dash through the stream, and to trust 
 himself on the unknown bridge. The ' primus etire viarn,' 
 is all that we could wish or ask for. Varro says we should 
 choose onethat is the first to plunge into a stream without wait- 
 ing for his companions ; and Columella, one which is af- 
 raid of nothing; who goes faster than the rest, and particu- 
 larly, 'si fossam sine cunctatione transilit.' How exactly a 
 brook jumper ! 
 
 The form of a horse seems to have been well understood 
 by these ancient writers. Virgil and Horace speak of the 
 ' ardua cervix,' by which, no doubt, they meant to imply 
 carrying the head in a good place. They also speak of the 
 neat head, and Varro recommends caput ' non magnum,' but 
 not a small head, which is certainly a defect. 
 
 The necessary points to carry weight were not overlook- 
 
 VOL. 11. 17
 
 194 RIDING TO HOUNDS. 
 
 ed. The broad back and the double chine are mentioned 
 by several of them, as well as the wide chest ; but Virgil's 
 ' luxuriatque toris, animosum pectus,' is exactly expressive 
 of the power and spirit of a fine hunter. The ' tori ' I take 
 to be the brawny swellings of the muscles of the breast, 
 which are so apparent in some horses, and which word is 
 applied by the same author to the lion. I have never met 
 with any observations on bone; but in their descriptions of 
 this fine animal they descend to the most minute points, 
 such as the nostrils, which they tell us should not be nar- 
 row, but they do not say that they should be wide, which 
 they certainiy should not be. They apply the epithet ' hil- 
 aris' to the temper, which implies everything we could wish 
 lively, but docile. As to the color, Virgil is not quite so 
 intelligible. He says bay horses are reckoned stout (hon- 
 esti), as also greys; but condems the white. Now as I be- 
 lieve there never was a white foal, it is difficult to separate 
 the virtues of the one from the other. 
 
 In one point of view, our present method of riding to 
 hounds bears some analogy to ancient timts. It is a sort 
 of Saturnalin amusement, in which all ranks and privileges 
 are set aside, and he that has the best horse and the best 
 nerves takes the precedence for the day. A butcher's boy 
 upon a pony may throw the dirt in the face of the first 
 Duke in the kingdom. This, however, though little 
 thought of, is one of the many advantages arising from a 
 land of liberty: 
 
 In proportion to the number ofyoung men of family and 
 fortune that are rising up in the world, will bu the propor- 
 tion of the different occupations and diversions which their 
 several inclinations will lead them to pursue. Nature, how- 
 ever, has something to do with this ; for some bodies are 
 less vigorous than others, and must be content with diver- 
 sions of a less fatiguing description than hunting, which, 
 when well followed, is the most laborious of all pursuits of 
 the field; and he who pursues it in earnest should be 
 in proportion as strong and as sound as the horse he 
 rides. 
 
 It was remarked by a Northamptonshire Baronet, too 
 universally distinguished for his knowledge of hunting, 
 and his determined and desperate manner of riding 
 to hounds, to require any mention of his name that he
 
 RIDING TO HOUNDS. 195 
 
 considered it part of a man's moral duty to preserve his 
 health for the sake of riding to hounds! That it is part of 
 every man's moral duty to avoid dissipation, and to take 
 care of his constitution, no one will dispute; and that men 
 who are devoted to hunting generally live temperately, those 
 who live with them can best testify. Without temperance, 
 the fatigue of hunting five or six days a week would exhaust 
 the strongest constitution. Hard work, or what we call 
 ' severe exercise,' wears the human frame by attrition ; but 
 if that attrition be increased by the excitement of drinking 
 and a quick pulse, the machine will be the sooner worn out. 
 Nevertheless, as strong exercise is a preservative against 
 the penalties of high feeding, he who takes the greater 
 share of the one may indulge with more impunity in the 
 other. The man, however, who wishes to distinguish him- 
 self in the field, and to continue to do so for the best part of 
 his life, must be temperate, The muzzle must now and then 
 be put on himself, as well as his horse ; but non misere viv- 
 it qui parce vivitj is a maxim too old and too true to be disput- 
 ed or doubted. 
 
 Few men have tried the effect of hard work more than 
 myself. For several years of my life I have had horses 
 with three different packs of hounds choosing the best fix- 
 tures for the day with each. As may be imagined, I have 
 had plenty of road-work, besides hunting; and, when the 
 weather has been open, my time may be said to have been 
 almost divided between my saddle and my bed. I never 
 knew what it was to be fatigued provided I lived temper- 
 ately and went early to rest; and such a life bade defiance 
 to disease, A very celebrated physician of the last century 
 was in the habit of giving much such a prescription to his 
 patients : ' Live,' said he, ' in a saddle.' That riding is the 
 most wholesome of all exercises I have little doubt, for des- 
 pite of all the vile stuff that finds its road down his throat, 
 who ever heard of a bilious post-boy ! 
 
 To return to my subject. As 
 
 ' without a genius, learning soars in vain,' 
 so is riding to hounds like the inspiration of the muse. It
 
 196 RIDING TO HOUNDS. 
 
 must in some degree be born with a man, or he will never 
 excell in it. He must possess judgement, temper, coolness, 
 and courage: and even then, though these good properties 
 may receive their birth with himself, yet they must be per- 
 fected by practice and observation. A mad-man or a cow- 
 ard are equally unfit for the business ; but under any cir- 
 cumstances, as Humphrey Clinker observes, he must serve 
 an apprenticeship to it. As far, however, as nature is con- 
 cerned, the form of a man has a good deal to do with it ; 
 for it is impossible that any one with a round thigh and a 
 large calf to his leg can have a perfect seat on his horse, 
 and without a good seat he cannot have a good hand. 
 
 The hand on a horse I take to proceed also from other 
 causes. I conceive it to be intimately connected with the 
 nervous functions of the digestive organs and here again 
 is the necessity for temperance and regular living in 
 those who wish to excel in the field more particularly en- 
 forced. 
 
 The advantages of a fine hand on a horse are, no doubt, 
 of the very highest importance in riding a race, but not 
 more so than in riding over a country ; and if a horse could 
 speak, he would say, ' ride me with a fine hand and an easy 
 bit.' A horse's ear is said to be in his mouth ; and it is 
 from the bit that he receives the wishes and instructions of 
 his rider. 
 
 The art of riding has been but little cultivated in this 
 country, nor do I think much benefit would be derived from 
 it if it were. That the menage was known in the time of 
 Augustus is evident; but that any advantage could be gained 
 by teaching a horse, by severe and painful discipline, to 
 dance a capriolo, or a cornetti, I never could bring myself 
 to imagine, unless the object were to fit him for the stage 
 or the circus. As for the lessons of a riding-master, they 
 may be essential to a good military seat, or to teach an Eng- 
 lishman to ride like a Frenchman ; but they never will teach 
 a man how to ride, and make the most of his horse over a 
 country. With the assistance of nature, he must teach him- 
 self; but whether he is to be an apt scholar must depend on 
 a variety of circumstances. 
 
 The many instances of falls which I have seen from the 
 effect of a bad hand are innumerable ; but as the head of a
 
 RIDING TO HOUNDS. 197 
 
 horse may also be termed the rudder that steers him, if the 
 helmsman is a bad one, a capsize must often be the conse- 
 quence. On the other hand, it is not within the power of my 
 pen to describe the benefit of a fine, but firm and steady, 
 hand on the hunter when going at a rapid pace across a 
 country. We all recollect some years ago, that the late 
 Sam Chifney talked and wrote about a new method of riding 
 the racer with a slack rein ; but this was theory, which, 
 even with his fine finger and his superior horsemanship, 
 could not be put into practice. We also remember, that a 
 few years back it was considered stylish to ride the hunter 
 with his head quite loose. It is certainly pleasing to see 
 one so perfect as to be capable of being so ridden ; but I 
 confess it yet remains for me to see a man keep up with 
 hounds for an hour at their best pace with a slack rein. 
 When they are going with a bad scent, it is possible, per- 
 haps, to be done ; but even then, if the horse, as I before 
 observed, could speak, he would ask for a little assistance 
 where the ground was deep and distressing. 
 
 One of the principal advantages arising from a fine fin- 
 ger on a hunter is in handing him over his fences so as to 
 prevent a greater exertion of his powers than is necessary to 
 get safely over them. To those horses which carry high 
 weights, this style of riding is most beneficial ; and to the 
 practice of it is Mr. Maxse indebted for the front-rank place 
 he has so long held among the Meltonians. 
 
 I well remember the first time that this fine effect of su- 
 perior hand struck me so forcibly, and that was the first time 
 I ever hunted in Leicestershire, when Lord Forester was 
 in his prime. I had seen him out several times in provin- 
 cial countries on his friends' horses when on a visit at their 
 houses but I had never seen him in Leicestershire. On the 
 day I allude to we had a sharp burst of about half an hour. 
 Lord Forester (then Mr. Cecil Forester) was mounted on 
 Bernardo ; and thinking that I could not fix upon a better 
 pilot, I followed him at a humble distance, but sufficiently 
 near to him to remark the superiority of his style of riding, 
 and to account for his being able to make horses live an hour 
 under his weight, which could not live more than forty min- 
 utes under much lighter men. It arose from his very su- 
 perior manner of handing them over their fences, and hus- 
 
 VOL. II. 17*
 
 198 RIDING TO HOUNDS. 
 
 bandingtheir powers, by preventing them from leaping high- 
 er or further than was absolutely necessary to clear the 
 fences he put them at. The fences we met with were strong ; 
 but so easily did he seem to get over them, that they appear- 
 ed trifling, until I came to them, when I found them quite 
 large enough to be agreeable. 
 
 It was on this celebrated horse (Bernardo) that Lord 
 Forester leaped a brook, when he was said to have cleared 
 the astonishing space of thirty feet. Not having witness- 
 ed the leap, I can only say, that if any man on any horse 
 could have done it, it was to have been accomplished by 
 Lord Forester on Bernardo. He was followed by a hard 
 riding farmer by the name of Wing; but it appears that 
 he had nor quite so strong a feather in his pinion, as he 
 barely cleared the brook, which was twenty-three feet from 
 bank to bank. 
 
 As there are few if any, instances in the records of sport- 
 ing of so conspicnousand eminent a character as Lord For- 
 ester, and as anything relating to such a character must be 
 entertaining and interesting, I shall devote a few lines on the 
 subject. 
 
 Lord Forester was educated at Westminster, and went 
 thence to Christ Church, Oxford; but having been brought 
 up under the eye of his uncle, so well known as ' Old For- 
 ester of Willy,' and who kept fox-hounds for many years of 
 his life, he may be said to have been well entered to the 
 sport. Heshewed, early in life, a remarkable fine eye to the 
 essential points of a hunter ; and so much was his judg- 
 ment looked up to, and so great was his reputation as a 
 rider, that many a man has given him a hundred guineas 
 more for a horse than he would have given to any one else, 
 merely because he could say, ' I bought him of Forester.' 
 It is needless to observe that this predilection was not 
 lost upon so good a judge, and that at one period of his 
 life his hunting was by no means an expensive amusement 
 to him. 
 
 Lord Forester which can be said of few other men 
 was a hard rider for nearly thirty years of his life ; and it 
 was only in consequence of repeated attacks of the gout 
 that he was obliged to resign his place in the field to men 
 younger than himself; but such are the effects of that terrible 
 disease, that few persons are enabled to stand the bangs and
 
 RIDING TO HOUNDS. 199 
 
 bruises that are met with in riding over a country after one or 
 two severe fits of it. Having, however, married the Duke 
 of Rutlands's sister, he goes every season to Belvoir, ap- 
 pearing at covert when his health will permit" him, but giv- 
 ing place to an excellent representative in his eldest 
 son, who bids fair to equal his father in the field, and whom 
 I mentioned in one of my letters on Oxfordshire, as ' a very 
 promising young one. 1 
 
 Lord Forester's seat on his horse at once denotes the 
 workman, being strong, powerful, and graceful. A fine 
 man upon a fine horse' has been characterised as one of the 
 best specimens of the plastic art of Him who made them ; 
 but unless the man sits gracefully on the horse, and handles 
 him well, that fine effect is lost. As the poet says, he should 
 be ' incorporate with the brave beast,' and such does Lord 
 F. appear to be. His eye to a country is also remarkably 
 quick, and his knowledge of Leicestershire has given him 
 no small advantage. 
 
 Where a strong competition exists as in riding to hounds 
 it is almost requiring too much of human nature to shut 
 out all appearance of jealousy ; and some humorous anec- 
 dotes are related of Lord Forester in his hard riding days. 
 One is, that getting first to a gentleman's park, the pales of 
 which were not to be leaped, he espied a small bridle-gate, 
 which he got through before the rest of the field came up, 
 and locking it after him, and putting the key into his pock- 
 et, he bade farewell to his brother sportsmen, and of course 
 had the rest of the run to himself. On another occasion, 
 he is said to have ridden at a fence regardless of the old cau- 
 tion of looking before we leap, and to have landed in the 
 middle of a very deep pond : on a countryman, who saw 
 him, calling out to some others who were coming in the 
 same direction to warn them of their danger, he stopped 
 him by exclaiming, ' Hold your tongue say nothing we 
 shall have it full in a minute !' 
 
 As I before observed, Lord Forester always showed a 
 master-judgment in the points of a hunter; and in conse- 
 quence of his residing in Shropshire a county which has 
 so long been celebrated for its breed of horses he has a 
 good opportunity of mounting himself well. He has al- 
 ways insisted on the necessity of lengthy shoulders, good 
 fetlocks, well-formed hind a legs, and open feet 1 ; and know-
 
 200 RIDING TO HOUNDS. 
 
 ing better than to confound strength with size, his horses 
 seldom exceeded 15 hands 2 inches. On anything relating 
 to a hunter his authority has long been considered classic, 
 and if ' Forester said so,' it is enough. 
 
 There is an old adage but a very true one, that ' when a 
 man's character is established, he may say anything ;' and 
 this may in some measure be applied to Lord Forester. 
 Without any illnatured object, but merely to afford amuse- 
 ment, hewill occasionally indulge in somefreedom of speech; 
 and certainly his Lordship must be allowed to possess a 
 most happy talent of quizzing what in the phrase of the 
 day, is called 'a slow top*.' As a sportsman, however, the 
 name of Lord Forester will always stand pre-eminent in 
 the field ; and in private life he is a very friendly man, and 
 has ever adhered'-to those principles of honor and integrity 
 which characterise the gentleman. 
 
 Incorporated as it were with the name of Forester,' in 
 the Sporting World, for these last thirty years, has been the 
 nameof 'Cholmondeley. The strongest friendship has existed 
 between them from very early life, and when we heard of the 
 one, we generally heard of the other; and it is hard to say which 
 of them has given most eclat to Leicestershire fox-hunting. 
 Asa rider to hounds though a brilliantonethe latter always gave 
 way to the former, who must be considered as the champion of 
 his day] but in elegant manners, and in the accomplish- 
 ments of a gentleman, he yields to no one. These ga41ant 
 sportsmen might be classically termed the Castor and Pol- 
 lux of their day; and had they lived in the time of Hercu- 
 les, they would have borne away his honors at the Olym- 
 pic. As it is, however, they have been rewarded by their 
 Sovereign, by being raised to the Patrican order. Whether 
 they would have been so honored, had they not been so con- 
 spicuous in the field, it is not in my power to determine ; 
 but certain it is, that though Lord Forester may sound well 
 enough, Lord Delamere is a bad exchange for Thomas 
 
 * A ' slow top ' is one who is so unfortunate as to appear by a covert's 
 side within twenty miles of Melton Mowbray under any of the lollow- 
 ing circumstances : ' With a front to his bridle, or with a martin- 
 gal ; on a country-made saddle, with nobs on his stirrups ; with a sad- 
 dle cloth ; in a straight-cut coat ; in leather breeches or military spurs. 
 It is deemed impossible that such a man can ' do the thing.'
 
 RIDING TO HOUNDS. 201 
 
 Cholmondeley Esq. of Vale-Royal M. P., for the county. 
 The one reminds us of 'olden times;' the other is to be 
 heard of nowhere but in the third volume of a four-and six- 
 penny novel, ' by a Lady." 
 
 The way to heaven was once so easy, that, if I recollect 
 right, Juvenal makes Atlas complain that his shoulders 
 ached with the load of gods he had to carry; and if this 
 were the case now, he who could beat every man in Leices- 
 tershire for a season would in time have a snug birth 
 amongst them. There was, however, says Cicero, rather 
 too close a resemblance between gods and men in those days 
 to please him ; and we will not dispute this point. Never- 
 theless, we may venture to assert, that, amongst us sports- 
 men, ' the laurels that Cs3sar won ' would be weeds com- 
 pared with those which we should \0eath around his 
 brow. 
 
 In what way the sons of Adam were to have passed their 
 lives had not Paradise been too good for them, I leave oth- 
 ers to decide ; but to me a covert's side in a good country is 
 an. Elysium. Solomon satiated himself with women, wine, 
 and palaces, fine horses, gold, and silver, good eating, drink- 
 ing, and music, and then grumbled at them all; but he nev- 
 er tried fox-hunting, or I think he would would have been 
 in better humor. It is among the scenes of nature that 
 generous emotions are excited, and like the veteran Coch- 
 ran, or the great John Ward, if we live amongst them, we 
 shall enjoy them to the last, and leave to others to indulge 
 in softness and effeminacy, which not only deprive them of 
 all fence against discord or age, but leave them with shat- 
 tered nerves and exhausted senses, and a pampered appetite 
 for what they cannot enjoy. Of such men as these, we 
 may justly exclaim ' Non his juventis orta parentibus!' 
 ' it is not from such sires that the race of English^ gentlemen 
 is to be propagated. 1 
 
 In fair play, however, there is one reason why King Sol- 
 omon could not have tried fox-hunting, and that is, the com- 
 pany he must have mixed with when riding to hounds ; for 
 certainly the best performer we have ever heard of has been 
 one with whom this Royal Israelite could not with proprie- 
 ty have entered the field, after having preached so much 
 against him ; and that is the devil ! Reader, be not sur-
 
 202 RIDING TO HOUNDS. 
 
 prised or alarmed ! but ask a Meltonian how such a one, 
 who has been distinguishing himself with hounds gets on, 
 and it is ten to one that he answers, ' Oh, he rides like the 
 devil!' Now as this simile is really become proverbial, it 
 is only fair to conclude that the devil has been a very good 
 performer in his time. As to the color he rode in, it may 
 be difficult at this moment to determine, but we have the 
 best authority for believing he was never so black as he is 
 painted. In his own country we should imagine he rode in 
 red. 
 
 Though Solomon may never have tried it, hunting has 
 been a favorite sport with Kings since the days of the 
 princely Cyrus. Our Second Henry acknowledged to be 
 one of our greatest Kings was such a. determined sports- 
 man, that I shall afve a little sketch of him in that charac- 
 ter in the words ot one of his historians. 
 
 ' He neglected his hands ' says this pleasing writer, ' nev- 
 er wearing gloves but in hawking. His clothes were short, 
 calculated for expedition ; his boots plain, and his bonnet 
 unadorned. His feet and legs were generally in a bruised 
 and livid state, from the repeated blows of his horses, yet 
 he never sat down unless when unavoidable. His chief 
 amusements were those of the field, which he pursued with 
 immoderate ardor. He was on horseback before the sun 
 was up often fatigued the most robust sportsman in the 
 chase; and returning sometimes late, sat down to a frugal 
 meal which was soon despatched, and he was again on his 
 feet till an early hour called him to his couch. Thus, by 
 exercise and abstemiousness, he opposed a disposition to cor- 
 pulency, which indulgence would soon have rendered troub- 
 lesome and unwieldy. His hawks were brought from Nor- 
 way, and some from Wales ; but he was particularly cu- 
 rious in his hounds, that they should be fleet, well-tongued, 
 and consonous. His vices were the vices of the man, and 
 his virtues were the virtues of a Prince. He wished to 
 make his people happy, by easing their burthens; and miti- 
 gated the severity of the forest laws, in the eye of his ru- 
 ling passion. Notwithstanding this,' adds his biographer 
 (but perhaps his subjects were unreasonable), ' he was little 
 loved, and died unregretted.' 
 
 The character I have now transcribed is the character of
 
 RIDING TO HOUNDS. 203 
 
 a man, as well as that of a Prince ; and we might find some 
 parallels to it in modern days. I have already mentioned 
 the opinion of a sporting Baronet in Northamptonshire, that 
 it was the moral duty of every man to take care of his 
 health for the sake of riding to hounds an opinion in which 
 I heartily concur ; and as to the bruised and livid state of 
 his Majesty's legs, we might also find a comparison here ; 
 for it is said of Frederick Berkeley, that at the end of one 
 season in Leicestershire, his body was ' black and blue,' as 
 it is termed, from the bangs and blows he had encountered 
 in riding to hounds. These, however, are the men to breed 
 from: 'for who,' says a very old writer on hunting, 'is so 
 likely to gain a rampart, or mount an entrenchment, as he 
 whose long practice hath been scaling the fortifications of 
 meadows and inclosures ? who so proper to manage his 
 horse with address and intrepidity in time of action, as he 
 whose trade and occupation are leaping over five-bar gates, 
 hedges, and stone- walls ? Habit and experience qualify the 
 fox-hunter for the sap or for the storm, to unkennel or pur- 
 sue : long custom hath made him acquainted with all sorts 
 of ground, with hills and valleys, morasses and deserts, 
 streights and precipices ; hath enabled him to excel in 
 marcher forage, in ambush or surprise, in attack or retreat. 
 How common was it for champions like these to give terror 
 to a squadron, or to make lanes among legions of French- 
 men ! With what health and vigor did they then return 
 home to the arms of their consorts! What hopeful, rosy, 
 jolly branches were seen round their table! What martial 
 heroes, inheritors of their virtues and their valor, did they 
 leave to their country!' 
 
 As the gallant sportsman to whom I have now ventured to 
 allude has just entered into the holy state of wedlock, some 
 part of the above extract rather aptly applies: and as he has 
 selected a daughter of the late Duke of Richmond for his 
 wife, I may be allowed to observe, in the language of Nim- 
 rod, that the cross must be a good one. 
 
 ' Age (:?ays the author of Rasselas) ' looks with anger on 
 the temerity of youth, and youth with contempt on the scru- 
 pulosity of age !' Nothing can be more true than this, and 
 I once saw it exemplified : An old lady of my acquaintance 
 was taking an airing one day in her carriage, and, as the
 
 204 RIDING TO HOUNDS. 
 
 song says, ' the hounds came in view." ' You were in luck, 
 Madam,' said I to her in the evening. ' Yes,' she replied, 
 ' I saw you all daring Providence} I could not help being 
 struck with the remark, but ventured to tell her Ladyship, 
 that I was in hopes that ' a Providence sat up aloft ' to keep 
 watch for the life<>f a sportsman as well as that for poor 
 Jack. When a man, however, is in the act of riding to 
 hounds, and determined to be with them, being hurt by a 
 fall is only a secondary consideration, the first being whether 
 he may not lose his horse, for as Tom Smith says, exclusive 
 of being done for the day, there is nothing so low as to be 
 running after one's horse, crying out ' Catch my hdrse ! 
 pray catch my horse !' 
 
 When we come to reflect, however, it is astonishing how 
 few persons out of the number that ride over a country are 
 hurt by falls. A good story is told on this subject of a hard- 
 riding whipper-in, who had a great many falls in his time, 
 but was never hurt in any of them. One unlucky day, 
 however, his horse fell with him, and rolling him as a cook 
 would a pie-crust, nearly flattened all the prominences of 
 his body. Getting up, and limping after him, he was heard 
 muttering to himself Well, now I be hurt! There is a pic- 
 ture at Mr. Corbet's, of Sundorn,ofthe famous Tom Moody 
 when whipper-in to Mr. Childe. He is represented in the 
 act of falling over some high park palings, and at the same 
 time giving a view-halloo to a fox that was sinking before 
 his hounds. This is the man, who, when he was run to 
 ground himself, was carried to the church-yard by six earth- 
 stoppers, who, by his request, gave three 'rattling view hal- 
 loos ' over his grave. 
 
 If I were asked who it was that had shown the greatest 
 contempt for the consequence of a bad fall, that ever came 
 under my observation, I should have no hesitation in say- 
 ing, it was a gentleman by the name of Stanhope, who was 
 on a visit to Sir Bellingham Graham, when he hunted the 
 Atherstone countiy. On the Friday his horse fell with him, 
 and hurt his shoulder, but nothing was broken or displaced. 
 The consequence was, he came out on the following Mon- 
 day with his arm in a sling. We found a fox in the finest 
 part of Sir Bellingharn's Leicesteshire country, and killed 
 in fifteen minutes, during which Mr. Stanhope was in a very
 
 RIDING TO HOUNDS. 205 
 
 good place. Having had the pleasure of meeting him a 
 few evenings before at Sir Bellingham's, I asked him if he 
 did not find it very awkward to ride with only one hand, 
 when he assured me he found little difficulty with the horse 
 he was then riding, as he was so very temperate, and had 
 never given him a fall. ' That is dange3us to boast of,' 
 said T to him ; and here the conversation ended. We found 
 another fox, and had a fine run of an hour and ten minutes 
 and killed. About the middle of it, we came to a brook, 
 which we all got well over with the exception of Stanhope, 
 who unfortunately pitching on a turn in the bank, and dis- 
 daining to look, did not clear it, and his horse threw him 
 with great violence on the opposite side. 1 saw him lying 
 on the ground, apparently as dead as if he had been shot at 
 Waterloo; and it was upwards of five minutes before he 
 showed any signs of returning animation. On getting back 
 to Sir Bellingham's house having been blooded at Bos- 
 worth all necessary measures were taken, and the doctor 
 would feign have persuaded Mr. Stanhope that some ribs 
 were broken. He had a short husky cough, and two or 
 three other directing symptoms which seldom mislead a 
 skilful apothecary ; but he resisted all such insinuations, 
 and assured him he should be well in a few days: and the 
 Quorn hounds coming within reach on the following 
 . Thursday, he went to meet them still having his arm in a 
 sling ! 
 
 In the course of this day's sport, some of the party, 
 among whom was Mr. Stanhope, got into a corner of a 
 field and were pounded. What is not very usual in this 
 country, one of the hardest riders in England had dismount- 
 ed, and was trying to pull down the top bar of a flight of 
 rails, which did not otherwise appear practicable. 'Let me 
 try,' said Mr. Stanhope, ' I am on a good one.' The sequel 
 was, he rode at it and got a tremendous fall. On seeing 
 him lying on the ground, Sir Bellingham rode up to him, 
 and said, ' Now I'll tell you what, Stanhope, you are a good 
 one, but by G-d you shall ride no more to-day ! Go to 
 Leicester and put yourself into your carriage, and get to 
 town as quick as you can and get cuied ! ' He took his 
 friend's advice; and when he arrived there, Mr. Heaviside 
 found out that he had two ribs broken, and his breast-bone 
 
 VOL. II. 18
 
 206 RIDING TO HOUNDS. 
 
 beaten in ! ! This, we may also say, is not a bad sort of a 
 man to breed from. 
 
 The most difficult part of riding to hounds is ' facing a 
 brook ; ' but before I proceed to say any thing on that sub- 
 ject generally, 1 shall mention one which Mr. Mytton leap- 
 ed in cool blood, on his return from hunting his own hounds 
 in Shropshire. It measured a Iktle more than seven yards 
 in the clear ; but the space covered in the leap was nine 
 yards and a quarter, from one hind footstep to the other. 
 .Being at his house at the time, I saw it measured the next 
 morning in the presence of several other sporting men. 
 This extraordinary leap, without the presence of hounds, 
 was taken by that extraordinary horse Baronet. Some 
 years since, Mr. Mytton .backed him to clear nine yards 
 over hurdles placed at some distance from each other ; but 
 he performed the task so often with him before the appoint- 
 ed time, that he refused it then and lost his master's money. 
 
 Baronet is a mean looking horse, with only one eye ; but 
 Nature has made amends for that, by giving him more than 
 one life, or he would never have survived the last seven 
 years which he has been in Mr. Mytton's possession. He 
 may be said to be as stout as steel ; and if there was rank 
 among brutes, this Baronet should have been raised to the 
 peerage. 
 
 Mr. Mytton has no doubt put the powers of the horse to 
 the test as much as any man in England, or in any other 
 country; and it is a common answer to the question whether 
 such a fence is practicable, that ' it would do for Mytton. 1 
 In Lord Bradford's Park, when he hunted the Shiffnal coun- 
 try, he cleared one of his Lordship's deer-hurdles, upwards 
 of six feet high; and, what is more surprising, he covered 
 the space of eight yards in length at the same time. This 
 was accomplished on a horse called 'The Hero,' which he 
 purchased of me for 500 guineas, and was the same that 
 leaped the gate with him in Mr. Jellico's grounds in Shrop- 
 shire, the height of which was seven feet. I have possess- 
 ed belter brook-jumpers than ' The Hero,' as he would al- 
 ways make a trifling stop at them ; but he was the highest 
 leaper I ever was master of in my life. 
 
 In my experience of riding to hounds, I have observed, 
 that nothing tends so much to make a field select as a good
 
 RIDING TO HOUNDS. 207 
 
 rasping brook. In the first place, many horses will not 
 face it, and in the next, many men will not ride at it ; and 
 to be good at water is one of the first and most essential 
 qualifications in each. Even a brookling, with soft banks, 
 and horses a little abroad, often creates no small confusion 
 among those who are not mounted on hunters.* A fall at 
 a brook is generally an awkward one, both to the rider and 
 to his horse: the latter is very liable to strain himself; and 
 the former, if not hurt, is sure to be spoiled for the day, ex- 
 clusive of affording some amusement to his friends. When 
 the famous Dick Knight hunted Northamptonshire, he rode 
 over a wide and deep brook at the same time that a Rever- 
 end Gentleman was floating down it, having been landed in 
 the middle of it. ' The gentleman swims like a cork,' said 
 Dick, without ever thinking of assisting him. This tum- 
 bling into deep brooks, however, is no joking matter; for 
 when a man comes to fall backwards with his horse into 
 deep water, and, as it often happens, gets under him, and 
 remains there till his horse recover his legs, he may be said 
 to be anywhere but in clover, and many narrow escapes to 
 my knowledge have been encountered. 
 
 Several wagers have been made about leaping brooks in 
 cool blood. One was between Lord Alvanley and Mr. 
 Maher, some years since, in Leicestershire, for 100 guineas. 
 It was that each did not ride over a brook that measured six 
 yards in the clear, without disturbing the water. They both 
 cleared it handsomely, but a bit of dirt being thrown back 
 into it by Lord Alvanley's horse, after he had landed, it was 
 of course decided against his Lordship. 
 
 Among the accidents that happen from brook-jumping, 
 over-reaching horses is the most common. To guard against 
 this, the inside edge of the hinder shoes should be bevilled 
 down with the blacksmith's hammer, so as to make it quite 
 harmless, as the best preventive of over-reaching. 
 
 A horse cannot be called a hunter unless he is a good 
 brook-jumper ; but to be a very good orfe is a rare qualifica- 
 tion. It is not that almost every horse has not the power of 
 extending himself over six or seven yards of water'; but a 
 great many of them appear to have a more natural dislike 
 
 * All hunters are horses, but all horses are not hunters.
 
 208 RIDING TO HOUNDS. 
 
 to it than to any other species of fence ; and to get over a 
 wide brook requires os much resolution in a horse as in his 
 rider; and in no part of riding to hounds does a man dis- 
 tinguish himself more. When I was in the habit of mak- 
 ing young horses into hunters I found the best effect from 
 the following plan of education : I used to pitch upon rather 
 a soft meadow, through which ran a small rivulet, or ' brook- 
 ling,' as it is termed, with shelving banks on each side, so 
 that there was no possibility of getting a fall by a young 
 one putting his feet into it at taking off I then accustomed 
 him to go three-parts speed at it, taking it in his stroke, 
 which he generally appeared to do with increased confi- 
 dence every time he was ridden at it. I never rode him 
 over it more than three times in one day, taking care he did 
 not see it till he came close to it. I have frequently seen 
 six or seven yards, from side to side, cleared in this way 
 without apparent difficulty. The advantage of this method 
 is, that it gives confidence to a young one, as, from the na- 
 ture of the ground, a mistake cannot happen ; and I have 
 no doubt but that many horses are prevented from ever 
 being good brook-jumpers by getting into brooks before they 
 know how to get over them. I had a very satisfactory 
 proof of the efficacy of this plan three years ago with a 
 thorough-bred horse just out of training, and who, when I 
 first had him, stopped short and snorted even at a deep cart- 
 rut: after a few of these lessons, he would leap a very fair 
 brook, merely the result of confidence in himself. 
 
 Amongst other countries, I hunted one season in Ireland; 
 and there I found out the reason of the horses of that coun- 
 try being such good drain-leapers, as they are called, which 
 is to be attributed solely to their education. If an Irishman 
 has got a clever young horse, which he means to make a 
 hunter, he puts a fellow more than half drunk on his back, 
 with a pair of sharp spurs and a cutting whip (Anglice, a 
 hand-whip,) and he gallops him at all sorts of fences, re* 
 gardless whether he goes into them or over them though 
 with the help of the instruments just mentioned, and a good 
 ' Horough ! by Jasus, the devil a balk you're going to make 
 now ! ' the latter is generally accomplished. In our own 
 country, however, I am sorry to say, a little punishment is 
 wanting tc persuade most horses to extend themselves over
 
 RIDING TO HOUNDS. 209 
 
 large brooks; and 'the persuaders,' as they are termed, as 
 well as a stroke or two of the whip down the shoulders, are 
 of the greatest use. It should here be observed, that though 
 the spurs should be applied when in the act of charging a 
 brook, the rider's knees should be straightened before he 
 comes to the bank, or, in case of a refusal, a ducking must 
 be the consequence. 
 
 Most people know what a number of brooks there are in 
 the Q,uorn and Belvoir countries ; and most sportsmen have 
 heard what a rare hand Tom Smith is at getting over them. 
 The Styx itself would scarcely stop him when a fox is sink- 
 ing. This is to be attributed to his resolute way of riding 
 to hounds, by which his horses know it is in vain to refuse 
 whatever he may put them at. What I have now said, was 
 strongly exemplified when he hunted the Q,uorn hounds. 
 He was galloping at three-parts speed down one of those 
 large fields in the Harborough country, in the act of bring- 
 ing his hounds to a scent, and was looking back to see if 
 they were coming: in the middle of this field, and exactly 
 in the course in which his horse was going, was a pond of 
 water, into which he leaped, thinking it useless to refuse, 
 and of course not knowing that he was not intended to do 
 so. This horse would, no doubt, have jumped into the 
 Thames or the Severn. 
 
 Milton gives reason to brutes ; and undoubtedly some 
 hunters that have been ridden many seasons in enclosed 
 countries, and are of docile tempers, nearly bear him out in 
 his hypothesis for it is wonderful with what care and cau- 
 tion many of them avoid danger, and at the same time east- 
 themselves of labor in a run, by taking every advantage of 
 picking their ground. A horse of this description can 
 scarcely be made to go on the top of a deep-ploughed land, 
 as he knows he shall tread much more firmly in the furrow ; 
 and he will make many attempts to get on head-lands and 
 other sound ground. I once saw a particular instance of 
 sagacity in a hunter of my own, which I shall never forget: 
 I was riding him at a small fence in Northamptonshire, hav- 
 ing my eye intent on the hounds, and did not see a row of 
 live stakes, the remains of another fence which had been 
 cut up, as is common in that country, and on which he would 
 have alighted ; but he stopped short, and refused it. Whe 
 
 VOL. II. 18*
 
 210 
 
 RIDING TO HOUNDS. 
 
 ther this was or was not reason, I leave others to determine; 
 but it was something ' sui generis, 1 which saved me a good 
 horse, and I am satisfied. 
 
 Having mentioned what I have found to be the best 
 method of getting horses over brooks, I now come to point 
 out the best way of getting them out of them, when they 
 are so unfortunate as to get in ; and which is always a 
 troublesome and often a difficult task. When a horse of 
 my own was pulled out of the river Cherwell, the cheek of 
 the snaffle bit was forced through his under jaw, so that he 
 could only eat bruised corn for the rest of the season. This 
 was from want of better management. Two seasons back 
 I got a horse into a brook in Staffordshire, the bottom of 
 which was so bad that he was unable to keep on his feet. 
 His head was the only part above water, and one more strug- 
 gle would have drowned him. By the direction, however, 
 of some old sportsmen who were present, a quantity of stir- 
 rup-leathers were buckled together, one of which was se- 
 cured around his neck, and he was pulled out by his head, 
 and thus his life was preserved. 
 
 In leaping a wide brook, a horse must spring a certain 
 height, or the joint weight of himself and his rider would 
 bring him too soon to the ground. The momentum, how- 
 ever, has a good deal to do with it; for which reason a man 
 should always ride at a brook at a quick pace, holding his 
 horse fast by the head, sticking the needles well into 
 his sides, and never letting him see it till he comes to 
 it. 
 
 Standing leapers that is, horses which will only leap 
 standing are now almost exploded, and are very unfit for 
 brook-jumping. It must, indeed, require no small degree 
 of nerve to ride one of this description over a good deep 
 brook with hollow banks. Some* years since Mr. Robert 
 Canning bought a very magnificent horse, called Parnassus, 
 from the Earl of Stamford, who, though he leaped a fence 
 or two flying on the day he bought him, would always 
 stand at them afterwards probably to be accounted for by 
 his not liking seventeen stone on his back ; and also, per- 
 haps, the result of a little of that reasoning faculty which 
 the poet I alluded to has allowed to these noble animals. It 
 was astonishing^ however, what brooks Mr. Canning could
 
 RIDING TO HOUNDS. 211 
 
 get this horse over ; but the world is not peopled with such 
 riders as him, and standing jumpers are, generally speaking, 
 bad articles for fox-hunters. 
 
 There is one method of riding to hounds most essential 
 to getting across enclosed countries, which the Melton men 
 call ' screwing. 1 This consists in forcing a horse through 
 rough places, without suffering him to jump at least, not 
 more than sufficient to clear the ditch, if there be one, 
 Two things are requisite here a fine hand in the rider 
 and a disregard of being pricked in the horse. It is on 
 the latter account that thorough-bred horses so often fail in 
 making good hunters, as not one in twenty will bear press- 
 ing against strong thorns, in consequence of their skins 
 being so thin. With men in the habit of riding to hounds, 
 being thrown off a horse, unless the horse fall, is the last 
 thing they dream of; but I was the other day, in trying to 
 screw a thorough-bred one through a thick place out of a 
 covert in Surrey. He took a sudden spring in the air from 
 the place where he stood, trying to clear the highest twig 
 in the fence ; and being very powerful in his hips, the lash 
 of his hind legs all but unhorsed me. It accounted for my 
 having seen him throw a groom over his head a few days 
 before at two trifling fences in succession. 
 
 Without screwing and creeping, however, no man can be 
 sure of getting over all kinds of countries. The former is 
 most particularly useful in Leicestershire, Northampton- 
 shire, and Warwickshire, where the quick is not plashed 
 down ; and creeping is a sine qua non in Staffordshire, 
 Shropshire, Cheshire, and all those countries where the 
 hedge is put on the bank or cop. Were horses to take 
 these fences flying, it is next to impossible that they could live 
 very long with hounds. Creeping adds also very much to 
 the safety of the rider ; for if a horse take time to get on 
 the bank, and will stick his hinder feet firmly into it before 
 he springs, he will have it in his power to clear a ditch 
 however broad ; and 1 understand this is the way in which 
 the Essex hunters are trained to get across that deeply-ditch- 
 ed country. 
 
 It may be said, that when ahorse is creeping, hounds are 
 getting away from him. This, I admit, would be the case 
 were he to creep at all sorts of fences'; but it is only at such
 
 212 RIDING TO HOUNDS. 
 
 as are not to be leaped flying, without distress to himself 
 and danger to his rider, that such a method of fencing is to 
 be recommended. It must be recollected, that when a horse 
 is creeping, he is getting a puff at the same time, which 
 will enable his rider to take a liberty with him, which he 
 could not otherwise have done, by putting him along merrily 
 over the next field. 
 
 When horses are perfect at their business, and time will 
 allow, they cannot be ridden too slow at most sorts offences, 
 as the shock to the frame in alighting on the ground must 
 be, in great measure, proportioned to the velocity with which 
 they go at them. There is, however, a just mean to be ob- 
 served, and a good deal of judgment to be used at some 
 fences. For instance, when riding at stiles, little more is to 
 be done than giving a hunter to understand that he is to go 
 at them, and if 'the puff' is not out of him, and he is a 
 good timber leaper, they are nearly as safe as any other stiff 
 fences that a man rides at provided, I should observe, 
 there are no awkward foot bridges or planks on either side 
 of them. At gates a different method of riding is necessa- 
 ry ; a horse should always be put briskly at a gate, for two 
 reasons one, because it distinguishes between riding at it 
 with the intention of leaping it, and going up to it to open 
 it; and the other, because, if he do not clear it, he is more 
 likely to break it. I remember seeing a celebrated hard 
 rider, who hunts his own hounds, have a fall over one gate 
 and break two more in the course of the same run, and [ 
 was convinced that all the mistakes were to be attributed to 
 the quiet manner in which he rode at them. His horse did 
 not appear to be satisfied whether he were to go at them or 
 not, till he came close to them, and then he could not com- 
 mand them with more than fourteen stone on his back. 
 When riding at park paling, or any other fence that is not 
 familiar to him, and therefore in some degree appalling, a 
 considerable share of resolution should be displayed by the 
 rider to induce his horse to face it. He should take fast 
 hold of his head, ramming his spurs well into him, at the 
 same time giving him a stroke or two down the shoul- 
 ders with his whip, as much as to say, 'it is no use to re- 
 fuse.' 
 
 I am an advocate for riding rather fast at most timber
 
 RIDING TO HOUNDS. 213 
 
 fences, as being less dangerous to the rider in case of a fall. 
 As to myself, I have, of course, had many falls over timber, 
 but I never had a horse fall on me, which I attribute to gen- 
 erally riding briskly at it. In doing so, if a horse hit it so 
 as to bring him down, his rider gets what is called 'a purl,' 
 but nine times out of ten he is thrown clear of his horse. 
 On the other hand, when riding slow at it, if the horse is 
 suffered to stop and half refuse it (if I may be allowed such 
 an expression), the odds are much in favor of his quietly 
 landing his rider on the other side, and then quietly fall- 
 ing upon him and perhaps giving him his quietus for 
 ever. 
 
 Taking the aggregate of countries, I will be bold to 
 assert, that one half the accidents in riding to hounds are 
 to be attributed to some awkwardness 'in the rider ; and in 
 some particular ones which I could name, it is next to mir- 
 aculous that they do not more frequently occur. A short time 
 since I heard that a well-known owner of a horse-reposit- 
 ory in the metropolis had had a dreadful fall over a stile 
 with the Hatfield hounds, and there was little hope of his 
 recovery. ' My life for it,' said I, ' that was some awkward 
 trick or other !' Upon inquiry, I found it was occasioned 
 thus : Forgetting old Dick Knight's advice to My Lord 
 Bpencer, he rode up to the stile to see how he liked it, and 
 in the act of ' craning' to peep at the other side of it, his 
 epurs ran into his horse: the horse made a spring, chuck- 
 ed his rider over the stile, and then tumbled on the top of 
 him. 
 
 Now had this good citizen lost his life by this pantomimic 
 exhibition, and I had been the foreman of his inquest, do 
 not fora moment imagine that to either horses, hounds, or 
 hunting, should this melancholy catastrophe have been at- 
 tributed. No : there should have been no ' Accidental 
 Death' no deodand on the horse for I should have de- 
 picted it as one of the clearest and best-defined cases of ' fe- 
 lo de se.' Had he ridden his horse like a workman at the 
 stile, all, no doubt, would have been well, and he might 
 have amused himself with looking at it some other 
 time. 
 
 My experience has taught me that many falls over tim- 
 ber arise from horses not having a catch to their shoes. I
 
 214 RIDING TO HOUNDS. 
 
 have for many years insisted on'the necessity of the outer 
 heel of the fore, as well as the hinder, shoes being turned 
 up for hunters that are to be ridden over a country ; for if 
 a horse stops at a fence of this description, and his legs all 
 get together under his fore parts, his power of springing 
 from the ground is destroyed. As to the injury which many 
 people apprehend from the fore feet not having in this case 
 an equal bearing on the ground, I confess I was never able 
 to trace any to this cause, with horses that have been pro- 
 perly shod in other respects; for during the winter months, 
 when either on the road or in the field, the ' turned-up' heel, 
 as it is called, will always sufficiently indent the ground to 
 produce an equal bearing to the foot. With respect to the 
 danger of a horse over-reaching, and catching the heel of 
 the fore shoe in the inner edge of the hinder one, it is entire- 
 ly to be obviated by having that edge bevilled down, and 
 made blunt, as I have before directed. Without this pre- 
 caution, accidents of this nature have occurred; and in a 
 a particular instance in Surry, a few years ago, the shoes 
 were obliged to be taken off the horse of a gentleman's 
 huntsman, by a blacksmith, before he could be released 
 from his perilous situation. Fortunately, his rider escaped 
 injury: but such falls must be doubly hazardous from the 
 suddenness with which the animal must come down. 
 
 The advantage of what is called ' a catch' to the outside 
 heel is very great in riding at timber, and most particularly 
 so at stiles on greasy foot-paths sometimes rendered doub- 
 ly so by a frosty morning succeeded by a mid-day sun. 
 Horses will often make a pause at common stiles ; but if 
 there happen to be a foot-bridge on either side of them, they 
 are still more apt to do so, and, for the reasons I have be- 
 fore given, falls are too often the consequence. 
 
 Putting leaping out of the question, with some horses a 
 catch to all the four shoes is of great advantage in gal lop- 
 ing acioss a wet country. None but those who.like myself, have 
 been accustomed to ride all sorts of horses with hounds, 
 know what difference there is in the firmness with which 
 some of them take hold of the ground, in all their paces, 
 when compared with others. Some have what grooms call 
 a slathering way of going,' which is tiresome to themseves, 
 as well as most unpleasant to their rider; and to them such
 
 RIDING TO HOUNDS. 215 
 
 a catch to the shoe is almost necessary, to make them eith- 
 er safe or agreeable, setting fencing, as I observed, quite out 
 of the question. I remember a few years since going to 
 look at a horse in Worcestershire, that had been winning 
 some hunters stakes in a canter, and which was recommen- 
 ded to me as likely to make a first-rate Leicestershire hun- 
 ter. On trying him I found he slipped about in his slow 
 paces to such a degree that I immediately dismounted him, 
 and gave up all thought of purchasing him. This partly 
 arose from too long a stride, and partly from a peculiar 
 method of putting down the foot, from the shoulder. 
 
 Exclusive of brooks and timber, there is another sort of 
 fence that should be ridden quickly, and that is, a bushy 
 or ' blackbird' fence, as it is called, being a liv% white-thorn, 
 hedge, not plashed, but with a strong suspicion of a wide 
 ditch on the other side, and 'no time allowed,' as the coach- 
 men say, for looking at it. This is termed ' swishing at a 
 rasper ;' and the only chance a man has of getting a ho'rse 
 to extend himself sufficiently over it all, and to, 'come well 
 into the next field,' is to put him three-parts-speed at it, 'and 
 trust to the momentum for getting over it. It was precisely 
 at a fence of this description that I witnessed the accident 
 two years ago to Mr. Osbaldeston in Leicestershire. The 
 horse he rode (Cervantes) was a particular high leaper, but 
 apt to drop short on the other side, which was the case in 
 this instance, and where the momentum was more particu- 
 larly rendered necessary- 
 
 I never see the word ' momentum ' but it brings to my 
 recollection an anecdote of an old friend of mine a Fel- 
 low of a college, and a good fellow too who was used to 
 amuse me much by talking philosophically and mathematical- 
 ly on riding to hounds the words momentum visvirida and 
 impetus, being for ever on his tongue. With the nerves of 
 a bull-dog, and no mean opinion of his prowess, he was in 
 thei habit of purchasing horses, which, from natural or ac- 
 quired defects, had failed in making hunters in the hands of 
 others. His idea was, that if Nature had unfortunately in- 
 tended such brutes to carry themselves in all forms but the 
 right, that intention could be obviated by the means of me- 
 chanical force. To effect this, all sorts of trappings were 
 resorted to; and it was really alarming to men with any
 
 216 RIDING TO HOUNDS. 
 
 nerves at all to see him sailing across a country with the 
 momentum visvivida, and impetus, all in full operation, on 
 horses with mouths, like the heart of oak, but with their 
 heads confined with a strong cavesson-martingal. On one 
 occasion a most ludicrous accident occurred. This gentle- 
 man was out with the Duke of Beaufort's hounds in Oxford- 
 shire on a horse thus accoutred, when the cavession he was 
 riding in fortunately gave way. As may be expected, hav- 
 ing no further power over the brute, away went the philoso- 
 pher, like a ship at sea without a rudder, and, as ill luck 
 would have it, the momentum, the vis vivida and the impetus 
 all formed their nucleus in the person of an unfortunate 
 butcher on his pony, who was going quietly along a road; 
 and the two fiders and their horses were laid prostrate on 
 the ground. The breath, as may be supposed, was knocked 
 out of each ; but the butcher first came to himself, and, look- 
 ing at his opponent, whom he had not previously seen, was 
 heard to sigh out in the true language of a slaughter-house, 
 ' D n your eyes but you've killed me, by G d !' 
 
 During my visit to Surrey, I saw some horses tackled 
 in curious ways in ways which I had never before seen, 
 and which would preclude the possibility of their getting 
 across a country, taking all kind of fences as they come. 
 In two instances, I observed the head confined to the saddle 
 by bearing-reins, in the same manner as a postillion some- 
 times bears up the horse he rides, to save himself the trou- 
 ble of holding up his head. One of these gentlemen I had 
 never seen before ; but the -other was the well-known Mr. 
 Dickenson, a sportsman of some standing in Surrey, and an 
 occasional performer in Leicestershire. 
 
 Much of the pleasure and safety of the rider depends on 
 the position of the horse's head ; and I have good reason 
 to think that the great importance of the head being at lib- 
 erty in enabling a horse to struggle out of a scrape, is not 
 sufficiently known or considered of, but it is obvious to any 
 one who will bestow upon it a few minutes' reflection, or 
 who will watch the motions of the animal in a state of na- 
 ture- A plank placed in equilibrium cannot rise at one end 
 till it sinks at the other; neither can a horse get his hinder 
 parts over a very high fence when his head is in the air. 
 If he carries it too low, he is equally unpleasant, but less'
 
 RIDING TO HOUNDS. 217 
 
 dangerous. To carry it where it should bs must depend 
 on the mould he is cast in. 
 
 What has been said of good writing may be applied to 
 good riding ' it is a fine art, and known only to few ' 
 
 ' The chosen few alone the sport enjoy.' 
 
 Did this assertion require proof, it would soon be found, 
 not only on the race-course, but in the field. Look at the 
 small number of first-rate riders of a race,. and the cotnpar- 
 itively small list of the elite when hounds run hard ! ' How 
 are you, Bruen?' said Lindo one morning in my presence, 
 before three hundred sportsmen assembled at a favorite cov- 
 ert in Leicestershire. ' Never, better !' replied Bruen* : 'a 
 very large field to-day !!'' So much the better! 1 said Lin- 
 do: 'only let 'em go, and it will soon be small enouffh !' 
 These words savored a little of that saucy passion ' to 
 which Fielding has given a name; but which generally 
 accompanies a conscious pre-eminence over other men and 
 if ever to be allowed in the field, must be excusable in 'such 
 riders as Mr. Lindo. 
 
 Having mentioned the name of Lindo, the seat on the 
 horse presents itself to my mind. Most persons are ac- 
 quainted with his; for if they have not seen him ride over 
 a country in the morning, they have seen him 'going a slap- 
 ping pace' on a snuff-box in the evening. The artist has 
 hit him off to a nicety ; and every man who is a judge must 
 allow that he looks like a workman. He has got his horse 
 fast by the head with a firm and steady hand, and, at the 
 pace he is supposed to be going, he must receive no small 
 advantage from the assistance he is giving him, by stand- 
 ing up in h v is stirrups, and thereby throwing his weight on 
 that part of his horse's body most able to heart it. 
 
 With respect to the general propriety of standing up in 
 the stirrups when hounds run hard, circumstances must be 
 consulted. With men Like Lindo born to ride no doubt 
 can arise as to the advantage of it ; but with heavy, long- 
 legged riders, it is better to sit quietly down in the saddle, 
 
 * Colonel Bruen, M. P.forCarlow, one of the hardest riders of his 
 ay, and one of the leading characters on the Irish turf, 
 VOL. 11. 19
 
 218 RIDING TO HOUNDS. 
 
 particularly over ridge and furrow, when it would be next to 
 impossible for them to be quite steady in their stirrups. It 
 is my decided opinion, however, that a hunter's head should 
 never be loose but that over all sorts of ground when going 
 a good pace he should have some support from the hand. 
 
 None but those who have had much experience in riding 
 to hounds know how much a horse is to be recovered in 
 the middle of a run by a little good management. Let a 
 hunter be never so fit to go, it is possible to blow him ; and 
 when he has been going for some time in deep ground, his 
 wind naturally fails him to a greater or lesser degree, and 
 he becomes weak. If his rider can get him out of this deep 
 ground, even if he goes a little out of his line for it, on to 
 some that is quite sound, and, standing up in his stirrups, 
 will take a good pull at his head, he will recover himself 
 wonderfully in a few hundred yards, although he may not 
 be allowed to slacken his pace at all. This also proves be- 
 yond all doubt the good effect of holding a horse together 
 with a firm and steady hand. 
 
 The most masterly instance of the use of a good head in 
 assisting a horse over a country, in the way which I have 
 been describing, that ever came under my observation, was 
 in that accomplished horseman, Sir Henry Peyton. We 
 were running a fox very hard with Sir Thomas Mostyn's 
 hounds, and we had a deep fallow field to encounter. Sir 
 Henry espied a dry ditch running parallel with it ; and not 
 regarding a few thorns and brambles, he rode up it, and 
 when he came to the top of the field, his horse had an evi- 
 dent advantage over the rest. This might be called a sec- 
 ond 'trick.' 
 
 The greatest trial of nerve, next to being shot at is put- 
 ting a horse that is blown at stiff and high timber. His ri- 
 der is not only likely to get a fall, but a fall of the worst 
 description, as it is ten to one but the horse not only tum- 
 bles upon him, from not having the power to rise [perhaps 
 half the height of the fence], but that he lies upon him 
 when he is down. I remember once asking a huntsman 
 how his horse carried him suspecting him to be one of the 
 wrong sort when he answered, that he was a dunghill 
 brute, and not content with tumbling him down, ' but,' 
 added he, ' he lies on me for half an hour when he 
 is down. 1
 
 RIDING TO HOUNDS. 219 
 
 A little management, however, is useful in all these mat- 
 ters. The mere act of turning a hunter around, if he ap- 
 appears much distressed for wind, before we put him at a 
 fence, will relieve him greatly, and generally enable him to 
 clear it, if he is of the right sort to come again. 
 
 Large fences take a great deal out of a hunter, and con- 
 sequently tend to stop him; but it is the pace that kills.' A 
 celebrated Meltonian -wrote to his father a few days since, 
 and this was part of his epistle: ' We had a quick thing 
 last week, eight miles,point blank, in twenty-six minutes ! If I 
 had not had a second horse posted [luckily] halfway, I could 
 not have seen it.' So much for pace ! Concluding that the 
 run was not quite straight, it was at the rate of twenty miles 
 in the hour ! This reminds me of an amusing anecdote. 
 
 A great man in Leicestershire sold a horse to a little 
 man, assuring him that he was a very good hunter. The 
 little man, however, soon found out that he was a very bad 
 hunter, and remonstrated with the great man on the subject. 
 ' You assured me,' said 1 he, ' this was as good a horse as 
 you ever posssessed in your life.' ' Did I ?' replied the 
 great man : ' 1 think, Sir, you must be mistaken.' On his be- 
 ing re-assured that those were his precise words, he exclaim- 
 ed, ' Oh ? now, Sir, I recollect all about it. I told you he 
 was a very good hunter ; and so he is if you let him go his 
 own pace; but when I wanted him to go mine, he did not 
 exactly suit me.' This is a common case. Depend upon 
 it, though time is slow, it is the pace that kills. 
 
 Accounts of no less than three different persons having 
 met with their deaths in hunting, all in one day, have recent- 
 ly been presented to the public view : the first with the 
 Oakley, the second with Lord Darlington's and the third 
 with the Hurworth fox-hounds*; and what is as singular as it 
 
 * John Edwards, Esq. of Silsoe, Bedfordshire, was out with the 
 Oakley hounds, when, in attempting to cross a ford at a place called 
 Newton, in Buckinghamshire, nearly opposite to Brayfield House, 
 the seat of Major Farrer, and which had previously been passed by 
 many of the sportsmen in perfect safety, he, with several other gen- 
 tlemen who were not acquainted with the proper course they ought to 
 have followed, took a wrong direction, when all of them flounced
 
 220 RIDING TO HOUND:?. 
 
 is lamentable, each was occasioned by a noble effort to get 
 to hounds, regardless of the appalling obstacle of a danger- 
 ous and devouring element, in which these gallant sports- 
 men all found a watery grave. To such a pitch, however, 
 has the system of riding to hounds now arrived, tliat the 
 chances of life and death are but a feather in the scale when 
 opposed to the determination of a modern fox-hunter 'to 
 see the thing,' and ' to be in a oood place.' 
 
 It is too true that without danger there is no glory. Nev- 
 ertheless, much as I may be an advocate for making every 
 possible effort to get to hounds, yet we should not altogeth- 
 er despise the old saving clause that, sometimes, discretion 
 is the better part of valor; for to say nothing of the indi- 
 vidual who loses his life, the heart-rending bewailings of 
 those who have to lament the loss of it, in a parent, husband, 
 brother, orson, are much too great to be thus rashly hazarded 
 for the mere gratification of a passion, however noble it 
 may be, when attended with such [probable] fearful conse- 
 quences. In one case now alluded to, a father perishes in 
 
 headlong into deep water. Mr E. who was on a very spirited horse, 
 unhappily lost his seat, but still kept fast hold of the bridle; and it is 
 supposed, in his exertion to save himself, that the animal, whilst strug- 
 gling and plunging in the water, struck him on the head with his 
 fore feet which stunned him through which accident he sank, and 
 was drowned. His companions wiih great difficulty escaped with 
 their lives, and all the horses were rescued. Mr. Walbram.of Baid- 
 ersby, was crossing the river Ure with Lord Darlington's hounds, 
 near Stainley, when, unable to stem the force of the current, he was 
 carried out of his depth and drowned. His son had nearly shar- 
 ed the same fate in endeavoring to save his father. The Rev. Mar- 
 maduke Theakston. in the ardor of the chase with the Hurworth 
 hounds, was tempted to cross the river Tees at a ford near Worsall. 
 The water was deeper than usual, owing to previous rains and he un- 
 fortunately mistook the ford. His horse a powerful and spirited ani- 
 mal, swam with him into the middle of the river, when, getting im- 
 patient he reared and threw his rider backwards. Mr. Theakston 
 was then observed to swim fapparently strong and well), and several 
 gentlemen who watched him with extreme anxiety had hopes he 
 would reach the shore ; butall at once, when within five yards of it he 
 sank and never rose a?ain.
 
 RIDING TO HOUNDS. xi'-il 
 
 the presence of his son : in another, a husband leaves a wid- 
 ow with eight children, and pregnant with the ninth: and 
 the third appears to have been an only child, born to all the 
 pleasures of life, and highly qualified for the enjoyment of 
 them. 
 
 Much, I repeat, as I admire the man who rides gallantly 
 across a country, yet it is useless to attempt impossibilities ; 
 and among these I have no hesitation in generally classing 
 the getting across deep and rapid streams, with a horse pre- 
 haps blown at the time, unless the rider be not only an ex- 
 pert swimmer, but also unless he be in the habit of swimming 
 horses, and, swimming with his clothes on. Mr. Theakston.it is 
 evident, was a swimmer; but there is every reason to believe 
 that the weight of his clothes sank him at last; and in the mo- 
 ment of alarm, he had not the presence of mind to relieve him- 
 self by floating on his back, or by any of those expedients 
 which expert swimmers have recourse to when they find 
 themselves exhausted. Perhaps however, situated as he 
 was, these expedients would not have availed him ; for, ta- 
 king into consideration that the clothes a man wears when 
 hunting cannot be estimated at less than ten pounds when 
 dry, it may be fairly concluded that when wet, with the ad- 
 dition of water in the boots, pockets, &c., this weight must 
 be more than doubled. Conceive, then, a man swimming, 
 perhaps in dead water, with more than twenty-four pounds 
 dead weight hanging about him, all verging to the bot- 
 tom, and opposing his efforts to sustain himself on the sur- 
 face ! 
 
 On reading this calamitous account over again, I see 
 much reason \.o suppose that the free use of the horse's head 
 when in difficulty, and which I have already so much dwelt 
 upon, was denied to him on this fatal instance; and to it, 
 perhaps, may the melancholy catastrophe be attributed. 
 His horse,' says the writer of the paragraph in the Hull 
 advertiser, ' a spirited and powerful animal, swam with him 
 into the middle of the river, when getting impatient, he 
 reared and threw his rider backward.' Now there is every 
 reason to believe, that had Mr. Theakston left the horse to 
 himself, holding on by the mane and only directing his 
 course when necessary with the snaffle rein, he would have 
 borne him in safety across the stream. 
 
 VOL. II. 19*
 
 222 
 
 RIDING TO HOUNDS. 
 
 I speak from practical obvservation on this subject. When 
 at a watering-place in Wales, I was in the habit of having 
 ray horse swum in the sea by a man who was in the constant 
 practice of swimming them for a very trifling consideration. 
 He was himself a very expert swimmer, and regularly at- 
 tended the bathing machines, From this man I learnt, that 
 there were only three things to be observed in swimming 
 a horse first, to give him free use of his head: secondly, 
 to hold on by the mane ; and, lastly, taking the feet out of ^he 
 .stirrups, to lean the body obliquely forward as much as pos- 
 sible, which will cause the ivater to get under it and float 
 it, and thereby diminish the weight of it on the horse. It 
 was the opinion of this person, that a horse would swim 
 nearly as far uilh a man on his back, who was thus expert 
 at the management of him, as he would witnout him. 
 
 There is a small arm of the sea, about a mile wide at 
 high water, which divides the northern and southern prin- 
 cipalities of Wales, and over which is a horse ferry. A 
 Mr. Evans, a gentleman of some property in that neighbor- 
 hood, was crossing it a few years ago as the tide was run- 
 ning out with great rapidity, when his horse leaped over- 
 board, and was carried out to sea, over the bar. Mr. E. 
 never expected to see him again ; but he recovered the 
 shore between that place and the village of Towyn in Mer- 
 ionethshire, after swimming more than two miles. Another 
 gentleman swam a small Welsh galloway across this ferry 
 with perfect safety ; and happening to be in that country at 
 the time, I saw him in half an hour after he had done it. 
 So much for the power of horses in water ! 
 
 When I was about eighteen years of age, I had a nar- 
 row escape from being drowned with Mr. Leech's hounds. 
 The hounds crossed the river Dee natu rally a very rapid 
 river, but then increased by the rains. Sir Watkin Wynn, 
 who [as well as his two brothers] is like a duck in the wa- 
 ter, went first, and was followed by about six out of the 
 field. ' Half venturing, half shrinking,' 1 went a little way 
 into the stream, and came back again. Seeing the hounds 
 hitting off their fox on the other side, I made a second at- 
 tempt ; and being mounted on a mare of Sir Watkin's, call- 
 ed Thetis, and trusting to her genii to preserve me, I made 
 a second attempt, and was carried down the stream amongst
 
 RIDING TO HOUNDS. 223 
 
 some huge stones. Not being able to swim, I gave myself 
 up for lost; but the resolution of the mare, and my holding 
 on by the mane, enabled her to regain the opposite bank, 
 and I have never tried such an aquatic excursion since. A 
 man may attempt the Hellespont for a woman ; but, on cool- 
 er reflection, he is scarcely justified in running such risks 
 of his life for a fox. 
 
 The following excellent remarks on ' anticipating a 
 check, and making a judicious cast [when casting is necessa- 
 ry] the most useful knowledge in fox-hunting' are from 
 the pen of John Lockley, Esq., one of the first sportsmen 
 as well as hardest riders of his day the result of up- 
 wards of thirty years' experience in the best countries*. 
 They were communicated by NIMROD, and form an aptcon- 
 clusion to his admirable Letters. 
 
 'At a time when all the world run mad about fox-hunting, 
 I am surprised so few gentlemen have learned to enjoy it 
 rationally. The fashion of the present day is hard riding ; 
 and at night, when over the convival board, their only plea- 
 sure seems to be in relating the exploits or disasters of their 
 own or their friends' horses : not a word about the best or 
 worst hound in the pack ; or any idea ever started to ascer- 
 tain whether by system or by accident, they had contrived to 
 carry a scent twenty miles over a country to kill a fox; 
 and how so great an event has been achieved, few modern 
 sportsmen can with any degree of accuracy relate. 
 
 ' Many years ago, I recollect a gentleman who kept ten 
 horses in Leicestershire, and who had been riding near me 
 often in a very fine run, in which two of the most interest- 
 ing and beautiful things happened that ev$r I remember to 
 
 * An admirable memoir is given of this celebrated Sportsman, from 
 the pen ofNiMnoD, in the SPOKTINU MAGZINE, vol. xv. N, S. p. 409: his 
 obituary, in vol. xxiii. p. 420; and a brief notice of this extraordinary 
 man, in vol. xxiv. p. 105.
 
 224 RIDING TO HOUNDS. 
 
 have seen, and to whom I remarked them when the run 
 was over. ' Good God, Sir,' said he, ' I saw nothing of it.' 
 This was a hard rider, who, from his own account, saw 
 nothing while riding his horse as hard as he could go, and 
 as near the tail of the hounds as he could possibly get. And 
 how should he ? for a man behind the hounds cannot be a 
 judge of what is going on in front, and is the first person 
 (by pressing upon them) to bring them to a check. 
 
 ' A good sportsman will as often as possible ride parallel 
 with the pack, not after them, unless by short turns he is 
 obliged to do otherwise ; by which means he can see every- 
 thing that is going on, and anticipate the probable cause of 
 hounds coming to a fault ; and I believe a good huntsman, 
 and a minute observer, will twice out of three times discov- 
 er the object in the line of hounds that caused it, and as soon 
 as he suspects it, pull up his horse; for instance, a church, 
 a village, a farm-house team at plough, men at work, 
 sheep, and above all cattle, are the things most likely to 
 impede the scent (be it remembered, that the breath of one 
 cow will distract hounds more than an hundred sheep). 
 When any of these objects present themselves in the face of 
 hounds, you may then anticipate a stop, and, by pulling up 
 your horse, and observing which way the pack inclined be- 
 fore the check, you will be able (without casting) to hold 
 them to the right or left accordingly. 
 
 ' If casting is necessary you should be directed by the paceor 
 degreeof scent whichyou broughtto thespot wherethe hounds 
 threw up: if you came quick, and your hounds are not blown 
 (be sure to attend to that), you make a quick cast in the direc- 
 tion which the hounds were inclining, by. forming a small 
 
 O * J 
 
 circle first, and a larger circle afterwards if you are not suc- 
 cessful : but if the hounds are blown, you should invaria- 
 bly cast them quietlv, and hold them back ; for when hounds 
 have run a long way hard, they lose their noses from want 
 of wind, and run beyond the scent, especially if there is 
 water in their view. 
 
 'In a fair country, and hounds in condition, it is my opin^ 
 ion, that if the above observations could be carried into ef 
 feet, few foxes would escape. Patience is the best perfor 
 mer in the chase. All hounds in these times are wel 
 enough bred ; and all hounds have power enough (if judi- 
 ciously directed) to kill their fox.'
 
 LIST OF NAMES 
 
 Noblemen, Gentlemen, Masters of Hounds, Huntsmen, 
 Whippers-in, <^e. to VOL. i. 
 
 
 Pase 
 
 
 Pase 
 
 Atkins Christopher 
 
 71 
 
 Chute Mr. 
 
 90, 136 
 
 Adderly Mr. 
 
 158 
 
 Cope Sir John 
 
 90 
 
 An son Lord 
 
 161 
 
 Combe Harvey 
 
 94 146 
 
 
 
 
 Chichester Sir Arthur 
 
 110 
 
 Beckford Mr. 
 Beaufort the Duke of 
 
 19 
 21,23 
 
 Collier Captain 
 Colpoys Admiral 
 
 136 
 136 
 
 Barrow Will, 
 
 43 
 
 Close Captain 
 
 136 
 
 Bradley Richard 
 
 45 
 
 Combe Mr. 
 
 144 
 
 Best Mr. R. 
 
 45 
 
 Combe t\1 r. J. 
 
 183 
 
 Berkeley Col. 
 
 60 
 
 Cradock Mr. 
 
 184 
 
 Boycott Mr. 
 
 65 
 
 
 
 Bolton Mr. 
 Burrett Mr. 
 Bruce Lord 
 
 70 
 82 
 100 
 
 Drake Mr. John 
 Dyer Mr. 
 Dehne Mr. G. 
 
 33, 140 
 69 
 134 
 
 Barring Mr. 
 
 134 
 
 Dorchester Lord 
 
 142 
 
 Butler Mr. George 
 
 134 
 
 
 
 Barret Major 
 
 135 
 
 Evans Mr. 
 
 26 
 
 Bridges Captain 
 
 137 
 
 Edge Mr. 
 
 179 
 
 BroadheadMr. 
 
 140 
 
 Edge Mr. John 
 
 180 
 
 Beecher Mr. 
 
 143 
 
 
 
 Bretton Billy 
 
 159 
 
 Ferrius Lord 
 
 17 
 
 Burton Dick 
 
 184 
 
 FowleRev. Mr. 
 
 105 
 
 Ball John 
 
 184 
 
 Farguharson Mr. 
 
 109 
 
 Barry Mr. Smith 
 
 185 
 
 Fellowes Newton 
 
 112 
 
 Burdett Sir Francis 
 
 191 
 
 Foster Mr. 
 
 130. 134 
 
 Codrington Mr. 
 
 21, 26 
 
 Frygatt Mr. John 
 
 177 
 
 Corbet Mr. 
 Canning Mr. Robert 
 
 36, 47 
 30, 52 
 
 Goodale Stephen 
 Griffin Mr. 
 
 98 
 
 33 
 
 Cockran Mr. 
 
 67 
 
 Gag* Lord 
 
 81 
 
 Cator Colonel 
 
 81 
 
 Greame Mr. 
 
 127
 
 226 
 
 LIST OF NAMES. 
 
 Page 
 
 Page 
 
 Greenwood Captain 
 
 134 
 
 Maxse Mr. 
 
 179 
 
 Gage Hon. William 
 
 134 
 
 Musters John 
 
 179 
 
 Grosvenor Mr. R. 
 
 168 
 
 
 
 Goosey Huntsman 
 
 168 
 
 Newnham Mr. 
 
 30 
 
 Goodricke Sir H. 
 
 169 
 
 Newnham Mr. Bigland 
 
 85 
 
 Grant Messrs. 
 
 185 
 
 Neverd Wm. 
 
 97, 103 
 
 
 
 Nunes Mr. 
 
 137 
 
 Harrison Mr. 
 
 32 
 
 Nicholl Mr. 
 
 189 
 
 Hawkes John 
 
 63 
 
 
 
 Haigh Mr. 
 
 67 
 
 Oldaker Henry 
 
 94 
 
 Hobson Mr. 
 
 68 
 
 Oldaker Tom. 
 
 147 
 
 Harvey Captain 
 
 69 
 
 Otaway Sir Loftus 
 
 151 
 
 Holt Mr. 
 
 69 
 
 Osbaldeston Mr. 
 
 169 
 
 Hooker Dr. 
 
 86 
 
 Oldaker Farmer 
 
 184 
 
 Hodson Mr. 
 
 88 
 
 O'Neil Mr. 
 
 185 
 
 Hedden Wm. 
 
 97 
 
 
 
 Hemstead Mr. 
 
 106 
 
 Peyton Sir Henry 
 
 31, 140 
 
 Horlock John 
 
 110 
 
 Penn Tom. 
 
 33 
 
 Heysham Mr. 133, 
 
 134 
 
 Porter Mr. Walsh 
 
 64 
 
 Holyoake Mr. 
 
 180 
 
 Percivall Mr. 
 
 68 
 
 Harbin Mr. 
 
 193 
 
 Price Captain 
 
 134 
 
 Hoste, Sir William 
 
 136 
 
 Payne Phillip 
 
 148 
 
 
 
 Peel Mr. 
 
 161 
 
 Incledon Mr. 
 
 110 
 
 Plymouth Lord 
 
 183 
 
 
 
 Peen Tom 
 
 188 
 
 Jersev Lord 
 
 31 
 
 
 
 Jolliffe Colonel 72 
 
 , 76 
 
 Roffey Mr. 
 
 74 
 
 Jennings J. Mr. 
 
 109 
 
 Russell Rev John 
 
 122 
 
 Knivert Wm. 
 
 95 
 
 Ridge Major 
 Rutland Duke of 
 
 137 
 
 168 
 
 Knight Messrs, 
 
 134 
 
 Ross Captain 
 
 185 
 
 Knightly Mr. 
 
 156 
 
 
 
 Kingscote Mr. H. 
 
 163 
 
 Smith (Tom) 
 
 15, 16 
 
 Kinsore Earl of 
 
 186 
 
 Sefton Lord 
 
 17 
 
 
 
 Smith Loraine 
 
 18 
 
 Locklev John 
 
 45 
 
 Siroud, the horse dealer 
 
 46 
 
 Lloyd Mr. G. 
 
 140 
 
 Stubbs Water Esq. 
 
 54 
 
 Lloyd Mr. Mostyn 
 
 140 
 
 Skepwith Sir Gray 
 
 64 
 
 Lloyd Edward 
 
 140 
 
 Stephen Mr. 
 
 11-2 
 
 Lucy Mr. John 
 
 154 
 
 Smith Mr. 
 
 130, 136 
 
 Lucy Mr. G. 
 
 156 
 
 Scott Mr. 
 
 134 
 
 Leech Mr. 
 
 164 
 
 Shirley Mr. 
 
 154 
 
 Lambton Ralph 
 
 175 
 
 Shaw Mr. 
 
 160 
 
 
 
 Shawdon Capt. 
 
 167, 187 
 
 Maynord Mr. 
 
 16 
 
 Sebright Tom 
 
 174 
 
 Mostin Sir Thomas 21, 23, 
 
 139 
 
 Stuart Captain 
 
 175 
 
 Middleton Lord 60, 
 
 155 
 
 Smith Mr. J. 
 
 182 
 
 Morant Edward Gale 
 
 61 
 
 
 
 Meares Mr. 
 
 134 
 
 Troy etc Rev. Dr. 
 
 111 
 
 Murray Mr. David 
 
 135 
 
 Templer Mr. 
 
 119 
 
 Marriott Mr. 175, 
 
 176 
 
 Taylor Rev, H. 
 
 122
 
 LIST OF NAMES. 
 
 227 
 
 Villebois Mr. 
 
 Page 
 125 
 
 Willan Mr. John 
 
 Page 
 134 
 
 Vernon Lord 
 
 159 
 
 Wilkinson Mr. 
 
 135 
 
 Vivian Sir Hussey 
 
 189 
 
 Westall Bob 
 
 145 
 
 
 
 Wood Jack 
 
 154 
 
 Wingfield Tom 
 
 15 
 
 White Mr. John 
 
 176 
 
 Winniatt Reginald Mr. 64 
 
 Wardle Col. 
 
 180 
 
 Woodbridge Mr. E. 
 
 72 
 
 Watkins Sir 
 
 188 
 
 Wyndham's Colonel 
 Ward Mr. 
 
 78 
 92, 102, 103 
 
 Wynn William 
 Wroughton Mr. 
 
 188 
 106 
 
 
 VOL. 
 
 II. 
 
 
 
 Page. 
 
 
 Page 
 
 Arden Colonel 
 Alvanley Lord 
 Anson Lord 
 
 83 
 163, 166 
 123 
 
 Danby Will 
 Dick (whipper-in) 
 Dodsworth Sir E. 
 
 139 
 78 
 130 
 
 Boxall Will 
 
 7 
 
 Dowbiggin Capt. 
 
 131 
 
 Boycott Mr. 
 
 11 
 
 FellowesMr. 
 
 7 
 
 Barrow Will 
 
 13 
 
 Ford Mr. 
 
 45 
 
 Brook Sir Richard 
 
 45 
 
 Finton Mr. 
 
 76 
 
 Brook Colonel 
 
 45 
 
 Flounders Mr. 
 
 116 
 
 Bates Ned 
 Burrel John 
 
 50 
 
 87 
 
 Foljambe Mr. 
 
 175 
 
 Beckwith Mr. 
 Beville Captain 
 Baird Captain 
 
 89 
 95 
 "160 
 
 Graham Sir Belling 
 Graham Godfrey 
 GleggMr. 
 
 ham 12,19,163 
 26 
 45 
 
 Baker Mr. 
 
 119 
 
 Goodlake Mr. 
 
 80 
 
 Bethel Mr. 
 
 131 
 
 Goodricke Mr. 
 
 163 
 
 Biddulph Mr. 
 
 165 
 
 Gregson Mr. 
 
 114 
 
 Bower Mr. John 
 
 140 
 
 
 
 
 
 Hav Mr. 
 
 5 
 
 Cockhill Mr. 
 
 7 
 
 Holland Mr. F. 
 
 / 
 
 Campbell Mr. H. 
 
 7 
 
 Hill Lord 
 
 30 
 
 Corbet Mr. Andrew 
 
 15 
 
 Head Will 
 
 46 
 
 Coke William 
 
 45 
 
 Hill John 
 
 41 
 
 Carter Mr. 
 
 62 
 
 Harland Mr. 
 
 84, 94 
 
 Chapel Jack 
 
 162 
 
 Hurt Mr. 
 
 95 
 
 Chapman Tommy 
 
 113 
 
 Hall Mr. 
 
 132 
 
 Cleaveland Lady 
 
 155, 156 
 
 Harewood Lord 
 
 161 
 
 
 
 Hawke Lord 
 
 161 
 
 Dews Mr. 
 
 7 
 
 Healey Major 
 
 157 
 
 Derry Will 
 Delamere Lord 
 
 56 
 45 
 
 Healev Captain 
 Hodgson Mr. T. 
 
 157 
 130 
 
 Darlingtsn Lord 67, 69,71,72, 158 
 Davey, Mr, 55, 56 
 
 Dundas Captain 87 
 
 Hodgson Tommy 
 Hopeton Lord 
 
 153 
 141 
 
 Davison John 
 
 96 
 
 Isham Mr H. 
 
 56
 
 228 
 
 LIST OF NAMES. 
 
 
 Pa ir e 
 
 
 Pace 
 
 Isham Mr. V. 
 
 56 
 
 Puleston Sir Richard 
 
 19, 35 
 
 Isled Mr. A. 
 
 57 
 
 Poole Mr.Dr. 
 
 45 
 
 
 
 Parsons Mr. 
 
 57 
 
 Jackson Mr. 
 
 130 
 
 Potterton Mr. 
 
 58 
 
 
 
 Price .Will 
 
 7"> 
 
 Kynaston Mr. 
 
 41 
 
 Payne Mr. 
 
 164 
 
 Kenneyday Hon. 
 
 80 
 
 
 
 
 ' 
 
 Risdale Mr. 
 
 61 
 
 Lon? Will 
 
 3 
 
 Radcliffe Mr. 
 
 80 
 
 Lee Mr. 
 
 4 
 
 Richards Jack 
 
 161 
 
 Lyster Mr. H. 
 
 34,40 
 
 Russell Mr. 
 
 100 
 
 Leech William Esq. 
 
 47 
 
 Rutland duke of 
 
 164 
 
 Lloyd William 
 
 41 
 
 
 
 Larhbton Mr. 85, 
 
 86, 97 
 
 Sheldon Mr. 
 
 7 
 
 Leeds Duke of 
 
 1-21 
 
 Staples Will 
 
 15, 25 
 
 Legard Mr. D. 
 
 138 
 
 Smythe Sir Edward 
 
 31 
 
 Legard Mr. G. 
 
 140 
 
 Smythe Owen 
 
 41 
 
 Lonsdale Lord 
 
 165 
 
 Smith Tom, 
 
 56 
 
 
 
 Svkes Sir Tatton 
 
 63 
 
 Meyrick Mr. 
 
 4,57 
 
 Shafto Mr. D. 
 
 8 
 
 Moray Major 
 
 11 
 
 Shafto Mr. John 
 
 98 
 
 Matthews Mr. S. 
 
 1-2 
 
 Sebright Tom 
 
 108 
 
 Mytton Mr. 
 
 1C, 18 
 
 Smith Mr. Loraine 
 
 123 
 
 Montague Mr. Henry 
 
 27 
 
 Sterans Jack 
 
 160 
 
 Mainwaring Sir Ha'rry 
 
 43 
 
 
 
 Musters Mr. John 
 
 52, 53 
 
 Tomkinson James 
 
 45 
 
 Milbanke Lady Augusta 
 
 76, 157 
 
 Trotter Dr. 
 
 90 
 
 Milbanke Mr. 
 
 79 
 
 Thompson Mr. 
 
 139 
 
 Monson Rev. John 
 
 83 
 
 Tomkinson Major 
 
 45 
 
 Macdonald Mr. 
 
 133 
 
 Towers Colonel 
 
 140 
 
 Maher Mr. 
 
 164 
 
 Trotter Mr. 
 
 87 
 
 Markham Mr. 
 
 169 
 
 
 
 Maude Mr. T. 
 
 160 
 
 Vane Lady Arabella 
 
 76, 157 
 
 Maxse Mr. 
 
 160 
 
 
 
 Medford Mr. 
 
 140 
 
 Wood Jack 
 
 7 
 
 Milbanke Mr. M. 
 
 151 
 
 Whitmore Mr. 
 
 11 
 
 Mostyn Sir Ed. 
 
 164 
 
 Wrigglesworth Jack 
 
 25 
 
 Mountsandford Lord 
 
 130 
 
 Walley Mr. 
 
 57 
 
 Moore Mr. John 
 
 178 
 
 Whitworth Mr. 
 
 58 
 
 
 
 AVallace Col. 
 
 80 
 
 Newton Mr. 
 
 4-2 
 
 Williamson William 
 
 84 
 
 Navlor Mr. 
 
 143 
 
 Watson Mr. 
 
 140 
 
 Nicoll Mr. 
 
 174 
 
 Watt Mr. 
 
 134 
 
 
 
 Welbourne Mr. 
 
 133 
 
 Otway Sir Loftus 
 
 10 
 
 Wharton Mr. J. 
 
 160 
 
 Ord Mr. B. 
 
 95 
 
 Wilkinson Mr, 
 
 117, 12-2 
 
 O'Callaghan 
 
 161 
 
 Wilkinson Mrs. 
 
 156 
 
 Osbaldeston Mr. 
 
 163 
 
 Williams Bob 
 
 149 
 
 
 
 Wvnne Johnny 
 
 ll'J 
 
 Payne Phillip 
 
 3 
 
 Wyville Mr. 
 
 120 
 
 Patrick Mr. 
 
 *f 
 i 
 
 Wormald Mr. John 
 
 174
 
 Jfew \Vork, publUhed by Carey, tea, A Blanchard. 
 
 Dunglisson's Physiology. 
 
 HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY, illustrated by en<rravinu By 
 ROBLEY DUNGLISSON, M. D., Professor of Materia Medica, 
 Therapeutics, Hygiene and Medical Jurisprudence, in the 
 University of Maryland, &c. &c., second edition, with nu- 
 merous additions and modifications. In 2 vols. 8vo. 
 
 This work, although intended chiefly for the professional reader, is adapt- 
 je comprehension of every one, the anatomical and other descriptions 
 being elucidated by wood cuts and by copperplate engravings. It comprises 
 il investigation of every function executed by the various organs of the 
 body, in health, and is calculated to convey accurate impressions regarding 
 the deeply interesting and mysterious phenomena that are associated 
 re of man both as an individual and a species and a knowledge 
 ot which is now regarded indispensable to the formation of the well educa- 
 ted gentleman. 
 
 THE LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS. 
 
 With coloured plates : elegantly bound, with gilt edges : a beau- 
 tiful volume for a present. 
 
 SISMONDI'S HISTORY OF THE FALL OF THE 
 ROMAN EMPIRE: 
 
 COMPRISING A VIEW OF THE INVASION OF THE BARBARIANS. 
 
 . THE INFIRMITIES OF GENIUS, 
 
 illustrated by referring the anomalies in the literary character, 
 to the habits and constitutional peculiarities of Men of Genius. 
 By R. R. MADDEN, Esq. In 2 vols. 12mo. 
 
 ' This is a very valuable and interesting work, full of new views and curi- 
 ms deductions ; beginning with general remarks on the influence of literary 
 habits, on the constitution, and thence proceeding to make the theory more 
 actual by its application to particular instances. 
 
 " His physical biographies, if we may so term them, of Burns, Cowper, By- 
 on, and Scott, are of a very curious and novel kind ; written with equal feei- 
 ng and observation. He traces Cowper's malady to its true source, monoma- 
 nia on religious subjects; and the tone of the remarks is at once so just and 
 so candid, that we cannot do better than give a brief portion." Lit. Gazette. 
 
 THE LIFE OF PRINCE TALLEYRAND. 
 Accompanied by a Portrait In 1 volume, 8vo. 
 
 How could the work be otherwise than interesting, when it traces the career of l statesman, who, 
 Jiough now in his eighty-first year, has commanding influence in every European cabinet, who acquired 
 sower under the French monarchy, and retained it under the Republic, the Directory, the Consulate, tie 
 Empire, and the Dynasty of Artoii and Orleans 'i".ilhcns\im.
 
 New Works, published by Carey, Lea, & Blanchard. 
 
 DR. BIRD'S NEW NOVEL CALAVAR. 
 
 CALAVAR, OR THE KNIGHT OF THE CONQUEST, a 
 
 Romance of Mexico. Two vols. 12mo. 
 
 " Suffice it to say, that Calavar, throughout, is a romance of very great inte- 
 rest. It will interest the imaginative from its spirited and stirring scenes of 
 battle and blood : it will please the poetic from the splendour and beauty of its 
 descriptions, and it will charm every lover of fiction by the masterly and graphic 
 scenes which it will continually present to him." JV. Y. Commercial Advtr. 
 
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 not scruple to pronounce it superior to any thing of the kind which has yet 
 emanated from the American press." Baltimore Federal Gazette. 
 
 "In our opinion, it is decidedly the best American novel that has been writ- 
 ten, except those enchanting pictures of Cooper, in which the interest is made 
 to depend on the vicissitudes of the sea, and the adventures of the daring 
 mariner." 
 
 " The style elegant, sufficiently ornate, yet pure and classical." 
 
 " The period which has been judiciously selected by this writer, is one of the 
 highest interest a period so crowded with important events, that it is impossi- 
 ble to contemplate its vivid scenes without intense curiosity and wonder." 
 Hall's Western Monthly Magazine. 
 
 "The unities are perfectly preserved throughout, poetical probability is never 
 transgressed : curiosity is satisfied, and the quaint language of three centuries 
 ago is sustained with unwavering consistency, and with a force and elegance 
 of composition rarely, if ever, surpassed. It is, without question, the best 
 American novel that has yet appeared." A". Y. America*. 
 
 GRUMMETT'S LOG. 
 
 LEAVES FROM MY LOG BOOK. By Flexible Grnmmett, 
 P. M. In one vol. 
 
 RANDOLPH'S LETTERS. Letters of John Randolph to a 
 young relative, embracing a series of years, from early 
 youth to mature manhood. In one vol. 
 
 "This collection, made by the young relative himself, is entirely authentic. 
 The letters were selected from among several hundred, as most fit for publica- 
 tion. Every one of them is strongly characteristic. They are made up of 
 excellent instructions to his relative, respecting personal conduct and the culture 
 of his mind; philosophical remarks; accounts of his own situation and feel- 
 ings; notices of his acquaintance, &c." National Gazette. 
 
 " The letters now published exhibit many amiable traits of private character, 
 and show how keenly he suffered from his own overwrought sensibilities. 
 They abound in evidences of good feeling, and good sense. As specimens of 
 epistolary style, they may be safely consulted ; while, as furnishing a closer 
 insight into the views and habits of a man who was misunderstood by many, 
 and whose history is part of the history of his country, they should be read by 
 all." Daily Chronicle. 
 
 CHARLES THE FIRST. Memoirs of the Court of King 
 Charles the First. ByLucyAikin. In two vols. 8vo. 
 
 "The admirers of Charles the First, owe no gratitude to Miss Aikin. She 
 has told too plain a tale. She has given, it is true, no summary of the cha- 
 racter of that monarch, but she has devoted an extensive work to a faithful 
 relation of his public works and actions, and has left it to tell its story." 
 JlthtnceuTK. 
 
 " Following up her interesting career of an historical writer, Lucy Aikin 
 has here produced one of those episodes belonging to our national annals, 
 which add to the importance of facts elaborated from many a source, all the 
 charms which are usually found in the inventions of fiction. 
 
 " Suffice it to say, that from family and other papers long hidden from the 
 public view, new lights are ever and anon shed upon the actors and pro- 
 ceedings of that time ; and that without delving too deeply into them, our 
 intelligent author has wrought the whole into one of those' agreeable nar- 
 ratives for which her pen is so justly popular." Lit. Gazette.
 
 New Works, published toy Carey, Lea, * Blanchnrd. 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS. 
 
 NOBLE DEEDS OF WOMAN. In 2 vols. 12mo. 
 
 " The noble deeds chronicled in this volume make a noble book. We 
 dismiss it to the honourable and eager reception that it will everywhere 
 find." Metropolitan. 
 
 ESSAY ON THE RATE OF WAGES, with an examination 
 of the cause of the differences in the condition of the 
 labouring population throughout the world. By H. C. CAREY. 
 1 vol. demy 8vo. 
 
 THE PRINCIPLES OF FREE TRADE, illustrated in a 
 series of short and familiar essays. By CONDY RAGUET, 
 Esq. lvol.8vo. 
 
 MRS. TROLLOPE'S BELGIUM AND WESTERN GERMANY 
 
 INCLUDING VISITS TO BADEN-BADEN, WEISBADEN, CASSEL, 
 
 HANOVER, &c. &c. IN 1 VOL. 
 
 " We have pleasure in saying, that we think her style considerably strength' 
 ened and improved since her 'Tour in America." Quarterly Review. 
 
 MEMOIRS OF CELEBRATED WOMEN OF ALL 
 COUNTRIES. 
 
 BY THE DUCHESS D'ABRANTES. 
 
 ON THE PENITENTIARY SYSTEM 
 
 IN THE UNITED STATES, 
 AND ITS APPLICATION IN FRANCE: 
 
 With an Appendix on Penal Codes, and Statistical Notes. By 
 G. DE BEAUMONT and A. DE TOQUEVILLE, Counsellors in the 
 Royal Court of Paris, and Members of the Historical Society 
 of Pennsylvania. Translated from the French : with an in- 
 troduction, notes, and additions. By FRANCIS LEIBER. In 1 
 vol. 8vo. 
 
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 industry and intelligence, and to have rendered themselves thoroughly ac- 
 quainted with the subject." 
 
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 We shall probably have occasion to recur again to this valuable work." Salt. 
 American. 
 
 HISTORY OF SPAIN AND PORTUGAL. 
 
 Complete, in 5 vols. 12mo. 
 
 ' A work unequalled in modern English historical literature." Athtnaum.
 
 New Works, published by Carey, Lea, & Blanchard. 
 
 TRAITS AND TRADITIONS OF PORTUGAL, collected 
 during: a residence in that country. By Miss 1'ardoe. In 
 two vols. 12mo. 
 
 " A very singular and effective union of the very best properties which we 
 seek for in books of travels on the one hand, and in works of the imagination 
 on the other." Monthly Review. 
 
 " The manners of Portugal were never before delineated with so much truth 
 and vivacity." Standard. 
 
 THE POSTHUMOUS POEMS OF THE REV. GEORGE 
 CRABBE, with his Letters and Journals, and a Memoir 
 of his Life. By his Son and Executor. In two handsome 
 vols. 
 
 1 Then art in my recta at home another Series of Stories, in number and quantity mffieicnt for a 
 volume ; and Of they an much like the former m execution, and rufficimtly different m eeenlt ana cAa- 
 racfen, they may hereafter, in peaceable times, be taorth icmelhing to you ; ana the more, becauie 1 thall, 
 tehatcvtr it mortal of me, be at rut in the chancel of Trowbridgt church." Crabbe to hii Son. 
 
 1 The Life of Crabbe will be found far more abundant in striking incident* 
 and extraordinary contrasts and reverses, tban that of almost any other poet 
 with whose personal story we are acquainted. It will be seen from his own 
 Diaries, how calmly he had tasted, both of the very bitterest adversity a des- 
 titute and forlorn wanderer about the streets of London, and of what, con- 
 sidering his early position and distresses, may be called splendid prosperity the 
 honoured and admired friend of Burke, Johnson, Reynolds, Thurlow, Fox and 
 more recently of Scott, Rogers, Moore, <kc. ic. the courted guest of the noblest 
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 poraries." 
 
 THE BOOK OF SCIENCE ; a familiar introduction to the 
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 Sciences. Illustrated by many curious and interesting 
 Experiments and Observations, and including Notices of 
 the most recent Discoveries. Embellished with upwards 
 of two hundred Engravings on wood. 
 
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 clever wood cuts : it is published with the design of affording to youthful minds 
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 sciences, including accounts of the most important discoveries recently made in 
 the several departments of natural 'knowledge. All this the book professes to 
 do, and does it well. We think by the easy and familiar tone that it adopts in 
 the descriptions, it will become a great favourite with youth." Metrop. JHag. 
 
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 have carefully perused every page, and every page has afforded us proofs of 
 accuracy and observation which we hardly expected. There cannot be a more 
 delightful present to the young, or anything better calculated to refresh the 
 memories of the old. It is the book, of all others, to teach young people how 
 to think." ffew Monthly Magatine. 
 
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 youth may obtain a very clear knowledge of each branch of natural philosophy. 
 The volume is printed uniformly with the ' Boy's Own Book,' and may be said to 
 be a suitable successor to that little work. The compiler deserves great credit 
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 familiar style of conveying information. We cannot do better than recommend 
 parents to .present to their children this elegant little production." Repertory 
 of Jtrts. 
 
 "Our readers will, doubtless, remember the 'Boy's Own Bonk;' the present 
 volume is a sequel to that amusing little work. It is got up with extreme care, 
 and illustrated with an immense number of figures, of extraordinary neatness 
 of execution." Jltlas. 
 
 THE HISTORY OF IRELAND. By THOMAS MOORE. Vol. I 
 is now ready, and the remainder in progress.
 
 HISTORIES FOR SCHOOLS, 
 
 THE HISTORY OF ENG- 
 LAND. By Sir JAMES MACK- 
 INTOSH. In three vols. 12mo. 
 
 The same work in one large 
 
 vol. 8vo. 
 
 THE HISTORY OF FRANCE 
 By E. E. CROWE. In 3 v. 12mo. 
 
 THE HISTORY OF SCOT- 
 LAND. By Sir WALTER 
 SCOTT. In two vols. 12mo. 
 
 THE HISTORY OF THE 
 NETHERLANDS TO THE 
 BATTLE OF WATERLOO. 
 By T. C.GRATTAN. 1 vol. 12mo. 
 
 THE HISTORY OF THE 
 ITALIAN REPUBLICS, be- 
 ing a view of the rise, pro- 
 gress, and fall of Italian Free- 
 dom. By J. C. L. DE Sis- 
 MONDI In one vol. 12nao. 
 
 THE HISTORY OF SPAIN 
 & PORTUGAL. 5 vols. 12mo. 
 
 A HISTORY OF SWITZER- 
 LAND. In 1 vol. 12mo. 
 
 A HISTORY OF IRELAND. 
 By THOMAS MOORE. In 12mo. 
 
 HISTORY OF THE FALL 
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 comprising a view of the inva- 
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 barians. By J. C. L. DE Sis- 
 MONDI. In one vol. 8vo. 
 
 HISTORY OF THE LIFE AND 
 VOYAGES OF CHRISTO- 
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 COMPANIONS. By WASH- 
 INGTON IRVING. In 3 vols. 8vo. 
 
 THE EARLY NAVAL HIS- 
 TORY OF ENGLAND. By 
 ROBERT SOUTHEY. 1 vol. 8vo 
 
 ELEMENTS OF THE INTEGRAL CALCULUS; with its 
 Applications to Geometry, and to the Summation of Infinite 
 Series, &c. Revised and corrected by MICHAEL O'SHAN- 
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 cribed. Mr. Young has brought Ihe science within the reach of every intelli- 
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 matical learning in Great Britain." Presbyterian Review, January, 1832. 
 
 ELEMENTS OF THE DIFFERENTIAL CALCULUS ; com- 
 prehending the General Theory of Curve Surfaces, and of 
 Curves of Double Curvature. Revised and corrected by 
 MICHAEL O'SHANNESSY, A. M- 1 vol. 8vo. 
 
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 s most valuable in the large works of the most celebrated Analysts, are con 
 taincd in one volume, beautifully printed on a fine paper, and neatly bound 
 in cloth. It appears to be in every respect well fitted for aClass-Book, and 
 can scarcely fail to be very generally adopted " Presbyterian Rcvie, Sep 
 tcnibcr, 1831.
 
 EDUCATION. 
 
 A TREATISE ON ASTRONOMY. By Sir JOHN F. W. HER- 
 SCHEL. In 1 vol. 12mo. with questions- 
 
 AN ELEMENTARY TREATISE ON ALGEBRA, Theoretical 
 and Practical ; with attempts to simplify some of the more 
 difficult parts of the science, particularly the demonstration of 
 the Binomial Theorem, in its most general form ; the Solution 
 of Equations of the higher orders ; the Summation of Infinite 
 Series, &c. By J. R. YOUNG. First American edition, with 
 Additions and Improvements, by SAMUEL WARD, Jun. Svo. 
 "A new and ingenious general method of solving Equations has been recently 
 discovered by Messrs. H. Atkinson, Holdred, and Horner, independently of each 
 other. For the best practical view of this new method and its applications, 
 consult the Elementary Treatise on Algebra, by Mr. J. R. Younz, a work which 
 deserves our cordial recommendation. 1 - 1 Dr. Gregory's edition of JIutton's Mathe- 
 matics. 
 
 " For the summation of Infinite Series the author gives a new and ingenious 
 method, which is very easy and extensive in its application." Newcastle Mag. 
 
 By the same Author. 
 
 ELEMENTS OP GEOMETRY ; containing a new and universal 
 Treatise on the Doctrine of Proportions, together with Notes, 
 in which are pointed out and corrected several important errors 
 that have hitherto remained unnoticed in the writings of Ge- 
 ometers. Also, an Examination of the various Theories of Paral- 
 lel Lines that have been proposed by Legendre, Bcrtrand, Ivory, 
 Leslie, and others. 
 
 " His observations on the theory of parallel lines, the labor he has bestowed 
 on the doctrines of proportion, as well as his corrections of many errors of pre- 
 ceding Geometers, and supplying their defects, together with his minute attention 
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 valuable, especially to the learner." Philosophical JUagaiine. 
 
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 Various fallacies latent in the reasoning of some celebrated mathematicians, 
 both of anciant and modern date, are pointed out and discussed in a tone of calm 
 moderation, which we regret to say is not always employed in the scientific 
 world." Monthly Magazine. 
 
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 THE ELEMENTS OF ANALYTICAL GEOMETRY ; compre- 
 hending the Doctrine of the Conic Sections, and the General 
 Theory of Curves and Surfaces of the second order, with a 
 variety of local Problems on Lines and Surfaces. Intended for 
 the use of Mathematical Students in Schools and Universities. 
 
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 ELEMENTS OF PLANE AND SPHERICAL TRIGONOME- 
 TRY, comprehending the Theory of Navigation and of Nautical 
 Astronomy. 
 
 ELEMENTS OF MECHANICS, comprehending Statics and 
 Dynamics.
 
 EDUCATION. 
 
 A New Abridgement of AINSWORTH'S DICTIONARY, 
 English and Latin, for the use of Grammar Schools. By 
 JOHN DYMOCK, LL. D., with Notes, by CHARLES ANTHON. 
 1 vol. 18mo. 
 
 In (his edition are introduced several alterations and improvements, for the 
 fjwcial purpose of facilitating the labor and increasing the knowledge of tlie 
 young scholar. 
 
 GREEK AND ENGLISH LEXICON. By D. DONJJEGAN. Abridged 
 for the use of Schools. In 1 vol. royal 18mo., containing above 
 800 pages. 
 
 This work is printed on a handsome distinct type, and remains as much 
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 printed, it is sold at such price as to be within the reach of all students. It 
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 The vocabulary is more extensive and complete comprising not only words 
 found in the classics, but also such as are found in the writings of Hippocrates 
 and the Greek physicians. The meaning!! attached to words by the several 
 writers are also given. 
 
 Words are given in alphabetical order in every poetical and dialectic variety. 
 
 The conjugation of verbs and flection of nonns are more complete than in 
 other lexicons; the meanings of words fuller and more correct there being 
 first a primary and then a secondary meaning, each distinguished from the 
 metaphorical and Miomalical. Phrases are also given when they note any 
 peculiarity in signification. The etymology of words is only omitted where it is 
 confused or disputed. There is nothing left out which the young student would 
 find necessary in studyinz the classics, and which would enable him to under- 
 stand the true meaning of a word. In short, in this work the essential advan- 
 tages of a good Dictionary are combined with those of a good Grammar advan- 
 tages not found in any Greek and Knglish lexicon now used. 
 
 ELEMENTS OF MECHANICS. By JAMES RENWICK, Esq., 
 
 Professor of Natural and Experimental Philosophy, Columbia 
 
 College, N. Y. In 8vo. with numerous Engravings. 
 
 "We think this decidedly the best treatise on Mechanics, which has issued 
 
 from the American press, that we have seen ; one, too, that is alike creditable to 
 
 the writer, and to the state of science in this country." Americ':n Quarterly Rev. 
 
 ELEMENTS OF OPTICS. By DAVID BREWSTER. First Amer- 
 ican edition, with Notes and Additions, by A. D. BACHE, Pro- 
 fessor of Natural Philosophy and Chemistry in the University 
 of Pennsylvania. 18mo. 
 
 "The author has given proof of his well-known industry, and extensive ac- 
 quaintance with the results of science in every part of Europe." Monthly Mag. 
 " The subject is, as might be expected, ably treated, and clearly illustrated." 
 U. S. Jour. 
 
 A TREATISE ON HYDROSTATICS AND PNEUMATICS. 
 By the Rev. DIONYSIUS LARDNER, LL. D. F. R. S. &c. First 
 American from the first London edition, with Notes by BEN- 
 JAMIN F. JOSLJN, M. D., Professor of Natural Philosophy in Union 
 College. 
 
 " It fully sustains the favorable opinion we have already expressed as to this 
 valuable compendium of modern science." Lit. Gaz. 
 
 "Dr. Lardner has made a good use of his acquaintance with the familiar facts 
 which illustrate the principles of science." Monthly Mag. 
 
 "It is written with a full knowledge of the subject, and in a popular style, 
 abounding in practical illustrations of the abstruse operations of these im- 
 portant sciences." U. S. Jour.
 
 FRENCH AND SPANISH. 
 
 BY A. BOLMAR. 
 
 A COLLECTION OF COLLOQUIAL PHRASES on every 
 Topic necessary to maintain Conversation, arranged under differ- 
 ent heads, with numerous remarks on the peculiar pronunciation 
 and use of various words the whole so disposed as considerably 
 to facilitate the acquisition of a correct pronunciation of the 
 French. By A. BOLMAR. One vol. 18mo. 
 
 A SELECTION OF ONE HUNDRED PERRIN'S FABLES, 
 accompanied by a Key, containing the text, a literal and free 
 translation, arranged in such a manner as to point out the differ- 
 ence between the French and the English idiom, also a figured 
 pronunciation of the French, according to the best French works 
 extant on the subject ; the whole preceded by a short treatise on 
 the sounds of the French language, compared with those of the 
 English. 
 
 LES AVENTURES DE TELEMAQUE PAR FENELON, ac 
 
 companied by a Key to the first eight books ; containing like the 
 Fables the Text a Literal and Free Translation ; intended as 
 a Sequel to the Fables. 
 
 The expression 'figured pronunciation,' is above employed to express that the 
 words in the Key to the French Fables are spelt and divided as they are pronounced 
 It is what WALKER has done in his Critical Pronouncing Dictionary ; for instance 
 he indicates the pronunciation of the vord enough, by dividing and spelling it thus 
 e-nuf. In the same manner I indicate the pronunciation of the von! comptaien 
 thus, kon-lt\ As the understanding of the figured pronunciation of WALKER re 
 quires the student to be acquainted with the primitive sounds of the English rowels 
 he must likewise, before he can understand the figured pronunciation of the French 
 make himself acquainted Kith the 20 primitive sounds of the French roicelt. This 
 any intelligent person can get from a native, or from anybody v-ho reads French 
 well, in a few hours. 
 
 A COMPLETE TREATISE ON THE GENDERS OF FRENCH 
 NOUNS ; in a small pamphlet of fourteen pages. 
 
 This little work, which is the most complete of the kind, is the 
 fruit of great labor, and will prove of immense service to every 
 learner. 
 
 ALL THE FRENCH VERBS, BOTH REGULAR AND IR- 
 REGULAR, in a small volume. 
 
 The verbs tire to be, avoir to have, parferto-speak.^/Jnir to finish, recevoir 
 to receive, vendre to'sell, se lever to rise, se bien porter to be well, s'en aller 
 to go away, are here all conjugated tiiro\\gh-~-fiffi.rmatively negatively 
 interrogatively and negatively and interrogatively an arrangement which 
 will greatly facilitate the scholar in his learning the French verbs, and 
 which will save the master the trouble of explaining over and over again 
 what may be much more easily learned from books, thus leaving him more 
 time to give his pupil, during the lesson, that inslruction which cannot be 
 found in books, but which must be learned from a master. 
 
 NEUMAN'S SPANISH AND ENGLISH DICTIONARY. 
 
 New Edition, in one vol. 18mo.
 
 MECHANICS, MANUFACTURES, & c . 
 
 A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON RAIL-ROADS, AND INTE- 
 RIOR COMMUNICATION IN GENERAL containing an 
 account of the performances of the different Locomotive En- 
 gines at, and subsequent to, the Liverpool Contest ; upwards of 
 two hundred and sixty Experiments, with Tables of the com- 
 parative value of Canals and Rail-roads, and the power of the 
 present Locomotive Engines. By NICHOLAS WOOD, Colliery 
 Viewer, Member of the Institution of Civil Engineers, &c. 
 8vo. With plates. 
 
 " In this, the able author has brought up his treatise to the date of the latest 
 improvements in this nationally important plan. We consider the volume to 
 be one of great general interest. "-r-Lit. Gar. 
 
 " We must, in justice, refer the reader to the work itself, strongly assuring 
 him that, whether he be a man of science, or one totally unacquainted with its 
 technical difficulties, he will here receive instruction and pleasure, in a degree 
 which we have seldom seen united before." Monthly Review. 
 
 REPORTS ON LOCOMOTIVE AND FIXED ENGINES. By 
 J. STEPHEXSON and J. WALKER, Civil Engineers. With an 
 Account of the Liverpool and Manchester Rail-road, by H. 
 BOOTH. In 8vo. With plates. 
 
 MILLWRIGHT AND MILLER'S GUIDE. By OLIVER EVANS. 
 
 New Edition, with additions and corrections, by the Professor 
 of Mechanics in the Franklin Institute of Pennsylvania, and a 
 description of an improved Merchant Flour-Mill, with engrav- 
 ings, by C. & O. Evans, Engineers. 
 
 THE NATURE AND PROPERTIES OF THE SUGAR-CANE, 
 
 with Practical Directions for its Culture, and the Manufacture 
 of its various Products ; detailing the improved Methods of Ex- 
 tracting, Boiling, Refining, and Distilling ; also descriptions of 
 the Best Machinery, and useful Directions for the general Man- 
 agement of Estates. By GEORGE RICHARDSON PORTER. 
 " This Tolume contains a valuable mass of scientific and practical informa- 
 tion, and is, indeed, a compendium of everything interesting relative to colonial 
 agriculture and Manufacture." Intelligence. 
 
 " We can altogether recommend this volume as a most valuable addition to 
 the library of the home West India merchant, as well as that of the resident 
 pXantcr." Lit. Gazette. 
 
 ELEMENTS OF MECHANICS. By JAMES RENWICK, Esq. 
 Professor of Natural and Experimental Philosophy, Columbia 
 College, N. Y. In 8vo. with numerous engravings. 
 
 " We think this decidedly the best treatise on Mechanics, which has issued 
 from the American press, that we have seen ; one, too, that is alike creditable 
 to the writer, and to the state of science in this country." Jim. Qatar. Revictc 
 
 TREATISE ON CLOCK AND WATCH-MAKING, Theoretical 
 and Practical, by THOMAS REID, Edinburgh Honorary Member 
 of the Worshipful Company of Clock-Makers, London. Royal 
 8vo. Illustrated by numerous plates.
 
 f^fstorg anH 
 
 GEOLOGICAL MANUAL, by H. T. DE LA BECHE, F. R. S, 
 F. G. S., Mem. Geol. Soc. of France. In 8va With 104 Wood 
 Cuts. 
 
 " A work of first-rate importance in the science to which it relates, and which 
 must henceforth take its place in the Library of every student in Geology." 
 Phil. Magazine. 
 
 ELEMENTS OF PHYSICS, OR NATURAL PHILOSOPHY, 
 GENERAL AND MEDICAL, explained independently of 
 TECHNICAL MATHEMATICS, and containing New Dis- 
 quisitions and Practical Suggestions. By NEILL ARNOTT, M. D. 
 Second American from the fourth London edition, with Addi- 
 tions by ISAAC HAYS, M. D. 
 " Dr. Arnott's work has done for Physics as much as Locke's Essay did for 
 
 the science of mind." London University Magazine. 
 "We may venture to predict that it will not be surpassed." rimes. 
 "Dr. A. has not done less for Physics than Blackstone did for the Law." 
 
 Morning Herald. 
 " Dr. A. has made Natural Philosophy as attractive as Bufibn made Natural 
 
 History." French Critic. 
 
 " A work of the highest class among the productions of mind." Courier. 
 " We regard the style and manner as quite admirable." Morning Chronicle 
 " As interesting as novel-reading." Ithcnirum. 
 
 " Never did philosophic band wield a pen more calculated to win men to be 
 wise and good." Edinburgh Observer. 
 
 " Of this valuable, or we might say, invaluable work, a second edition baa 
 been speedily demanded by the public voice." Lit. Qaz, 
 
 ARNOTT'S ELEMENTS OF PHYSICS. VoL H. Part I. 
 Containing Light and Heat 
 
 " Dr. Arnott's previous volume has been so well received, that it has almost 
 banished all the flimsy productions called popular, which falsely pretend to strip 
 science of its mysterious and repulsive aspect, and to exhibit a holiday apparel. 
 The success of such a work shows most clearly that it is plain but sound know- 
 ledge which the public want." Monthly Review. 
 
 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY, OR NATURAL HISTORY 
 OF BIRDS, INHABITING THE UNITED STATES. By CHARLES 
 LTJCIEN BONAPARTE ; designed as a continuation of Wilson's 
 Ornithology, Vols. I. II. III. and IV. 
 
 %* Gentlemen' who possess Wilson, and are desirous of rendering the 
 work complete, are informed that the edition of this work is very small, 
 and that but a very limited number of copies remain unsold. 
 
 A DISCOURSE ON THE REVOLUTIONS OF THE SURFACE 
 
 OF THE GLOBE AND THE CHANGES THEREBY PRODUCED IN 
 
 THE ANIMAL KINGDOM. By BARON G. CUVIER. Trans- 
 lated from the French, with Illustrations and a Glossary. In 
 12mo. With Plates. 
 "One of the most scientific and important, yet plain and lucid works, which 
 
 adorn the age." Here is vast aid to the reader interested in the study of 
 
 nature, and the lights which reason and investigation have thrown upon the 
 formation of the universe." JVcw Monthly Magazine.
 
 CHEMISTRY. 
 
 THE CHEMISTRY OF THE ARTS, on the basis of Gray's 
 Operative Chemist, being an Exhibition of the Art* and 
 Manufactures dependent on Chemical Principles, with 
 numerous Engraving*, by ARTHUR L,. PORTER, M. D. 
 late Professor of Chemistry, &c. In the University of Ver- 
 mont. In 8vo. With numerous Plates. 
 
 The popular and valuable English work of Mr. Gray, which forms the 
 groundwork of the present volume, was published in London in 1829, and 
 designed to exhibit a systematic and practical view of the numerous Arts and 
 Manufactures which involve the application of Chemical Science. The au- 
 thor himself a skilful, manufacturing, as well as an able, scientific chemist, 
 njoying the multiplied advantages afforded by the metropolis of the greatest 
 manufacturing nation on earth, was eminently qualified for so arduous an 
 undertaking, and the popularity of the work in England, as well as its 
 intrinsic merits, attest the fidelity and success with which it has been ex- 
 ecuted. In the work now offered to the American public, the practical 
 character of the Operative Chemist has been preserved, and much extend- 
 ed by the addition of a great variety of original matter, by numerous cor- 
 rections of the original text, and the adaptation of the whole to the state 
 and want,-; of the Arts and Manufactures of the United States. Among the 
 most considerable additions will be found full and extended treatises on the 
 Bleaching of Cotton and Linen, on the various branches of Calico Printing, 
 on the Manufacture of the Chloride of Lime, or Bleaching Powder, and 
 numerous Staple Articles used in the Arts of Dying, Calico Printing, and 
 various other processes of Manufacture, such as the Salts of Tin, Lead, 
 Manganese, and Antimony; the most recent Improvements on the Manu- 
 facture of the Muriatic, Nitric, and Sulphuric Acids, the Chromates of 
 Potash, the latest information on the comparative Value of Different Va- 
 rieties of Fuel, on the Construction of Stoves, Fire-Places, and Stoving 
 Rooms, on the Ventilation of Apartments, &c. &c. The leading object has 
 been to improve and extend the practical character of the Operative Chem- 
 ist, and to supply, as the publishers flatter themselves, a deficiency which 
 is felt by every artist and manufacturer, whose processes involve the prin- 
 ciples of chemical science, the vtant of a Systematic Work which should 
 embody the most recent improvements in the chemical arts and manufac- 
 tures, whether derived from the researches of scientific men, or the ex- 
 periments and observations of the operative manufacturer arid artisans 
 themselves. 
 
 CHEMICAL MANIPULATION. Instruction to Students on 
 the Method? of performing Experiments of Demonstra- 
 tion or Research, with accuracy and success. By MICHAEL 
 FARADAY, F. R. S. First American, from the second 
 London edition, with Additions by J. 1C. MITCHELL, M. I>. 
 
 " After a very careful perusal of this work, we strenuously recommend it, as 
 iilariin;: the most complete and excellent instructions for conducting chemical 
 experiments. There are few persons, however great their experience, who may 
 not gain information in many important particulars; and for ourselves, we beg 
 most unequivocally to acknowledge that we have acquired many new and im- 
 portant hinta on subjects of even every-day occurrence." Philosophical Mag. 
 
 A work hitherto exceedingly wanted in the laboratory, equally useful to the 
 proficient and to the student, and eminently creditable to the industry and skill 
 of the author, and to the school whence it emanates." Journal of Scieact and 
 Jlrli.
 
 CLASSICAL LITERATURE. 
 
 INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY OF THE GREEK CLASSIC 
 POETS, for the use of Young Persons at School or College. 
 
 Contents. General Introduction ; Homeric Questions ; 
 Life of Homer ; Iliad ; Odyssey ; Margites ; Batrachomyo- 
 machia ; Hymns ; Hesiod. By Henry Nelson Coleridge. 
 
 "We have been highly pleased with this little volume. This work supplies a 
 want which we have often painfully felt, and affords a manual which we should 
 gladly see placed in the hands of every embryo under-graduate. We look for- 
 ward to the next portion of this work with very eager and impatient ex- 
 pectation." British Critic. 
 
 " Mr. Coleridge's work not only deserves the praise of clear, eloquent and 
 scholar-like exposition of the preliminary matter, which is necessary in order to 
 understand and enter into the character of the great Poet of antiquity; but it 
 has likewise the more rare merit of being admirably adapted for its acknow- 
 ledged purpose. It is written in that fresh and ardent spirit, which to the con- 
 genial mind of youth, will convey instruction in the most effective manner, by 
 awakening the desire of it; and by enlisting the lively and buoyant feelings in 
 the cause of useful and improving study; while, by its pregnant lirevity, it is 
 more likely to stimulate than to supersede more profound and extensive research. 
 ff then, as it is avowedly intended for the use of the younger readers of Homer, 
 and, as it is impossible not to discover, with a more particular view th the great 
 school to which the author owes his education, we shall be much mistaken if it 
 does not become as popular as it will be useful in that celebrated establish- 
 ment." Quarterly Review. 
 
 " We sincerely hope that Mr. Coleridge will favor us with a continuation of 
 this work, which he promises. Oent. Mag. 
 
 "The author of this elegant volume has collected a vast mass of valuable in- 
 formation. To the higher classes of the public schools, and young men of uni- 
 versities, this volume will be especially valuable; as it will afford an agreeable 
 relief of light reading to more grave studies, at once instructive and entertain- 
 ing." Wtsleyan Methodist Magazine. 
 
 ATLAS OF ANCIENT GEOGRAPHY, consisting of 21 Col- 
 ored Maps, with a complete Accentuated Index. By SAMUEL 
 BUTLER, D. D., F. R. S. &c. Archdeacon of Derby. 
 
 By the same Author. 
 
 GEOGRAPHIA CLASSICA : a Sketch of Ancient Geography, 
 for the Use of Schools. In 8vo. 
 
 Extract of a Letter from Professor Stuart of Andover. 
 
 " I have used Butler's Atlas Classica for 12 or 14 years, and prefer it or the 
 score of convenience and correctness to any atlas within the compass ol my 
 knowledge. It is evidently a work of much care and taste, and most happily 
 adapted to classical readers and indeed all others, who consult the history of past 
 as. I have long cherished a strong desire to see the work brought forward in 
 this country, and I am exceedingly gratified that you have carried through this 
 undertaking. The beautiful manner in which the specimen is executed that you 
 have sent me does great credit to engravers and publishers. It cannot be that 
 our schools and colleges will fail to adopt this work, and bring it into very gen- 
 eral circulation. I know of none which in all respects would supply its place." 
 
 "The abridged but classical and excellent work of Butler, on Ancient Geogra- 
 phy, which you are printing as an accompaniment to the maps, I consider one 
 of the most attractive works of the kind, especially for young persons studying 
 the classics, that has como under my notice. I wish you the most ample success 
 in these highly useful publications."


 
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