1820] 



ME. JOHN HAWKES. 



65 



John Hawkes, trainer to George III., resided for 

 several years at Snitterfield, and he was well known by 

 all Warwickshire sportsmen as the best gentleman rider in 

 the country, and he frequently rode in sweepstakes and 

 matches over Warwick Racecourse. "Nimrod" says "he 

 was the model of a light dragoon, and a famous jockey ; " 

 and Mr. Buckle says " he was not only clever in his saddle 

 but right in his attics." He rode a steeplechase for the 

 Prince Regent, who asked him if those were the best spurs 

 he had. He replied, "Yes, your Highness." "Here, 

 then," said the Regent, "take mine." On one occasion, 

 when asked how he liked a particular horse, he said, 



" I like very few horses, very few women, and few 



men." Hawkes well understood hunting, and was the 

 author of a book called " Meynellian Science." The spurs 

 given him by the Prince Regent were hung up at Norton 

 Hall after his death. 'No doubt, after a day's hunting in 

 the Shires, he often rode home with 



A FEW OF THE RIGHT SORT THAT HAVE DONE THE EIGHT THING. 









K\ 



Vol. I. 



