1861] TOM MATTHEWS. 25? 



had hunted the country. He wished that an equal success 

 might attend him in the Vale of White Horse. Mr. 

 Greaves acknowledged the compliment, and urged the 

 young noblemen of the country to preserve foxes, and 

 thereby increase the sport which might be obtained from 

 the Hunt. The Eev. J. Lucy, as an old foxhunter, gave 

 the health of Lord Willoughby de Broke and Mr. North, 

 and he urged a better preservation of foxes. 



The Eev. AMlliam Miller's black horse, The Squire, 

 was by Knight of Crwynne out of a mare by Sir Hercules. 



During this season Tom Matthews came as huntsman. 

 He had been first emj^loyed by Sir E. Smythe, of Acton 

 Burnell, and was afterwards in the employment of Mr. 

 Sm}i;he Owen, Lord Hill, and Mr. Eyton ; he was next 

 with the Worcestershire and the Cottesmore, and he was 

 afterwards for tAvelve seasons in Heland. He was a very 

 good kennel huntsman, and he eventually greatly improved 

 the j)ack. He was not a quick huntsman in the field or a 

 bold rider, and he had in these respects seen his best 

 day before coming to Warwickshire. 



About this time Mr. Spencer Lucy bought the Black- 

 more A^ale Harriers from Mr. Yeatman. They were dwarf 

 foxhounds, and were chiefly used for hare hunting, but 

 occasionally for staghunting ; their small size enabled 

 them to get through fences very quick when running at a 

 great pace. Mr. Lucy used to feed a haveer, that is, 

 a red deer stag, with his horns cut off, for six weeks 

 in a farmyard, until he got into good condition. During 

 several seasons he had some remarkable runs. The deer 

 on one occasion was enlarged on the borders of the North 

 Cotswold comitry, in the Yale of Evesham, and was taken 

 on Crimscote Down after a run of 50min. without a 

 check. 



On another occasion the deer was enlarged at Ead- 

 bourne during the week after the Hunt ball, but was lost, 

 much to the disappointment of Mr. Henry Chaplin and 

 many others who were out. Next week the deer was 

 reported to be in Nunn's BusheS; and the harriers were 



