1833] CRACK RIDERS. 109 



hounds from the Belvoir, Mr. Muster's, Mr. Osbaldeston's, 



and Lord Ta^nstock's, Mr. Drake's, and the Duke of 



Beaufort's. 



SEASON 1833-34. 



The first meet was on October 28th at Hounds Hill. 

 The 2)ack hunted five days a week, and some capital sport 

 was shown during the season. 



CRACK RIDERS OF WARWICKSHIRE. 



{Abstracted from " JSTlMROD.") 



Lord Denbigh lias always been well luoiinted, aud is a true fneud to 

 foxlumtiug, but now oonteuts himself witli wliat lie can get from liis seat in 

 Warwicksliire, liaviuo' given up his seat in Leicestershire. 



Lord Clonmell has always been well liorse'd. Although never appearing 

 to wish to be a first flight man in a run. where is there a dearer loA'er of 

 sport, or any man Avho has tried to be Avith the hounds harder than he 

 has ? 



The Lawleys all ride — " Sir Lawley." as he was so called at Melton, 

 then Sir Robert Lawley, late Lord Wenlock, at the head of them. But the 

 crack man of the three is Frank Lawley (now Sir Francis Lawley), as he 

 was called. He was a prime man over a country, and what we call a 

 beautiful horseman. The third and youuger brother, Mr. Beilby Lawley, 

 now Mr. Beilby Thompson, was also a pretty performer, liut I lielieve he has 

 long since done with hunting. 



Mr. Robert Canning, who resided at Hounds Hill, was sent amongst us 

 to show what that fine animal the horse can do. He measured 6ft 4in., 

 and weighed 17st., and the rare faculties aud powers he possessed 

 arose from a quick eye, a clear head, a fine hand, extreme coolness, and 

 undaunted resolution. A gentleman, a very old Meltonian, and a very good 

 judge, came inio Warwickshire for two reasons — one to see Mr. Corbet's 

 hounds, and the other to see Mr. R. Canning ride. When he got l)ack into 

 Leicestershire he described him as follows : " The morning was uufavouralile, 

 and the scent so liad that we could not get on with our fox, and I saw nothing 

 remarkable in Mr. Canning. At two o'clock we found a fresh one. The 

 liounds went at their very best pace, when Mr. Canning came out of the 

 crowd like a bee oixt of a hive, and beat every man that was out." Mr. 

 Canning's stud was five or six. He rode Favourite for eight seasons in 

 succession. His best hunter was Knowsley. a stallion, purchased from 

 Mr. Boycott ; with him he lost his start in Leicestershire. Init afterwards got 

 a front jjlace. What Warwickshire sportsmen can forget his '" conie-u}) " 

 when riding his horse over a flooded lirook or a tremendous fence. 



Mr. John Ltjcy signalised himself liy being one of three that went the 

 tremendous run Lord Middleton had from out of the Warwickshire Yale 

 country to Ditchley Park, twelve miles from Oxford — every other man being 

 beaten to a standstill, and the hounds taking iip their abode for the night in 

 the Duke of Beaufort's kennel at Heythrop. Not one of Lord Middleton's 

 men. capitally mounted as they were, could get in reach of their hounds. 

 Thei'e were also a few crack Meltonians at starting, but all, save one, shared 



