THE REV. JOHN RUSSELL. 211 



started by the auctioneer to the club — an office 

 ably, and often wittily, fulfilled by Mr. John 

 Dicker Fortescue, at Chulmleigh, and, at a later 

 date, by Mr. John King, of Fowclscombe, at 

 the South Molton meetings. 



But Russell, never a good sitter round the 

 wassail-bowl, very rarely took part either as a 

 buyer or seller in these auctions ; for, at the 

 hour of their commencement, generally a late 

 one, he would, as a rule, steal away to rest, 

 enforcing, as he did so, his old maxim on those 

 who pressed him to stay : " Hunting, I tell you, 

 is worth any sacrifice ; and if you sit up and get 

 a headache, you can't thoroughly enjoy it. So, 

 by your leave, good-night, gentlemen." 



