28 MEMORIES OF THE SHIRES 



excellent advice, and the man who gave it certainly 

 acted up to the principle to the very last. 



Touching that double ditch, you must not 

 imagine that it is an obstacle often met with in 

 the Shires. I only know of one other besides this, 

 and you might hunt from Melton many seasons 

 without coming across either, so that they come 

 as an unpleasant surprise to both horse and rider 

 when met with. Of course, if your misfortune 

 condemns you to hunt in Northamptonshire or 

 other barbarous counties, you must expect these 

 traps and ride accordingly. 



Mr. Little Gilmour is the only other Hght of 

 the past whom I remember, and his hard riding 

 days were over when I arrived on the scene, though 

 he had always a kind word for a boy commencing 

 his hunting career. He was the acknowledged 

 prince of heavy weights, and I have often heard 

 my father endorse that opinion. It was said of 

 him he was " a lion in the field and a lamb in the 

 fold." 



In speaking of heavy weights, I should think 

 Colonel Wyndham was the man of most stones who 

 ever attempted to hunt across Leicestershire, but 

 I don't think he ever tried to be in the first flight. 

 I believe he was comparatively a poor man, but 

 was very keen, and used to see a lot of sport with 

 two strong cobs. My father said he was a very 

 active man, and would run up the hills to relieve 

 his horse of his ponderous weight. 



Lord Grey de Wilton, like his father, was an 

 exceptionally quick man to hounds, and in a fast 

 run was nearly always to be found in the first 

 flight. Although of a very charming personality 



