3H THE WAEWICKSHIRE HUNT. risos 



exactly on the fox's line. I was sixty yards to the right of tliem at the 

 time. After limiting this day, I proceeded into Warwickshire for a week, 

 and took np my quarters at Alscot Park, the fine seat of Mr. West. 

 Mr. West lias an excellent picture of his okl preceptor (Dr. Parr, of 

 Hattou, with whom "Nimrod" had an interesting conversation), and it 

 is esteemed a very faithful likeness. He is represented in somewhat of 

 an epicm'ean character, being in a loose deshabiUe, with a red nightcap 

 on his liead, a pipe in his hand, and with a smile on his face, which we 

 are left to imagine may either be the lively effect of a story he has been 

 relating or the i)leasure he has l)een deriving from repeating one of 

 Anacreon's Odes. 



On Sunday, the 13th. I bade adieu to Alscot, and went to Mr. John 

 Lucy's to dinner, where I was asked to meet two or three s})ortiug friends, 

 and to be near the WarAvickshire on Monday. I had, lioweA'er, had enough 

 of the Warwickshire, being eonAduced that from some cause — bad tneol, I 

 presume — they were incapable of .showing anything worth putting myself to 

 inconvenience for, so sent my huntei's straight on the road for their place of 

 destination. It so happened, however, that they had a pretty thing of 

 twenty-five minutes, l)ut without catching their fox. The Warwickshire 

 hounds had last season a glorioixs succession of sport, but to anyone who 

 knows what hounds sliould l)e, it is obvious that, in the condition they have 

 lately lieen, such another sei'ies of sport was not upon tlie cards — even Avith 

 Jack Wood to hunt them, and I A'ery much admire Wood's method with his 

 hounds. 



Like Harlequin's snuff, however — collected by a pinch out of every 

 man's box — the Warwickshire are of all sorts and sizes, and a very coarse lot 

 to look at ; but they are particularly liandy and steady, and when going at a 

 certain pace stoop Avell to their game ; but further this deponent sayeth not. 

 No animal can do what we require him to do unless he be in a condition to 

 do it. The Warwickshire hounds have also laboured under another dis- 

 adA'antage. They have not been able until last year to spare any of their 

 own bitches to breed from, so have l)een entirely at the mercy of other 

 kennels. In CA'ery other respect they may be said to ha\'e had more than 

 their share of advantages, Mr. Shirley having done the thing Avith a very 

 liberal hand. 



It has hitherto been my intention to continue my account of this 

 county (Warwicksliire) as a hunting country from the time of Mr. Corbet's 

 relinquishing it to the end of Lord Middletmi's reign, but there are so many 

 circumstances to be alluded to. Avhicli I could not allude to Avith 2)leasure, that 

 I had better perhaps not allude to them at all. 



In some respects Lord Middletcni Avas eA'erythiug tliat could be wished 

 for at tlie head of a pack of foxhounds — he was rich, munificent, and eA'en 

 })rofuse in his expenses attending them, aiul he Avas by some aUoAved to lie 

 a sportsman ; in others, he AA'as ill-calculated for the po.st. He came, it is 

 true, after " a Avell-graced actor." but instead of being greeted l)y the 

 county, and hailed Avith applause, there Avas a something about him that tlircAV 

 a mist over the land, Avliich not the bright ett'ulgeuce of his gold could dispel : 

 and I have heard of more fun and nu'rriment at a Welsh funeral than I ever 

 saAv by a covert side in Warwickshire in his lord.sliip's time. There is only 

 one Avay of hunting a country, and that Avas not the way Lord Middletou 

 chose. 



