26 MEMOIR OF 



The eyes of the noble master, being himself 

 an enthusiastic stag-hunter, must have sparkled 

 with delight on witnessing the daring ardour 

 of the young Oxonian, as he struggled through 

 the deep water to collar the deer, and finally 

 emerged red-handed from the hght. Russell, 

 on that occasion, was not invited to enjoy the 

 princely hospitality of Castle Hill, and to cele- 

 brate in due form the death of his hrst deer ; 

 but, if such honour had been done him, certain 

 it is that he would have been the first of the 

 company to forswear the wassail bowl, and to 

 bid one and all an early '' good-night." For 

 has not his old friend, the late accomplished 

 and much-beloved Devonshire squire, George 

 Tempter of Stover, chronicled his unvarying 

 habit in this respect ? In poetic strain he 

 writes thus of him : 



" Another Prime Minister rode from the North, 



Of his talents Southmolton can best tell the worth ; 

 So prone to the chase that he followed each scent, 

 From the stag in the forest to ' bubble-a-vent ; ' 

 More attached to his bed than a lover of wine, 

 He was sure to be sound on his pillow at nine." 



" Bubble-a-vent "is a term used in otter 

 hunting ; when the quarry bolting in a hurry 

 or becoming distressed by the chase, is com- 

 pelled to vent ; and thus, by a chain of silver 

 bubbles rising to the surface, unconsciously 

 reveals his course beneath the turbid wave. 



