The Merry Past 



upon the order and regularity of his habits), took 

 a few glasses of Madeira, and retired to his supperless 

 bed at nine o'clock. After 1787, having ceased to 

 hunt, he gave away his pack. 



One of the most intrepid sportswomen who ever 

 followed hounds was the Marchioness of Salisbury, 

 who was burnt to death in 1836 when eighty-six years 

 of age. 



Archery and coursing were also patronised by this 

 sporting lady. 



A feature of the coursing season at Hatfield was 

 Bryant's day, as it was called, Mr. Bryant being then 

 the landlord of the Salisbury Arms Inn at Hatfield, 

 and having been complimented by the Marchioness 

 with one separate and distinct day of coursing, in 

 order to invite his friends to the sport, and after- 

 wards to dine at his house. 



Old Lady Salisbury was in early life prominent in 

 the hunting field, and for many years presided over 

 the destinies of the Hatfield hunt, which, in after 

 years, developed into the Hertfordshire hounds. 



Up to her seventieth year she was heard to say, if 

 she could not hunt a pack of foxhounds, she was still 

 able to follow the harriers. Her ladyship's ardour in 

 the chase was excessive ; she was a constant atten- 

 dant of the hunt for eighteen successive years, during 

 which she was seldom absent a day from the covert 

 side. She was an elegant and accomplished horse- 

 woman, and rode with as much intrepidity as judg- 

 ment : no day was too long for her, and she was ever 

 anxious to give good sport to the field, which was 



83 



