Giants of the Past i8i 



twenty stone, and could of course never be there 

 at a critical moment. Sir Thomas was unlucky in 

 his huntsmen. In early days he had the great 

 Mr. Shawe — a fine horseman, and a cheery one 

 over the country if things went well ; but if they 

 could not hunt him, he tried to hunt him himself, 

 and he soon got their heads up. He afterwards 

 had a huntsman named Teesdale, who had been 

 a coachman, and knew better how to handle the 

 ribbons than to handle a scent. Hence he was 

 driven to old Stephen, who, if he could have been 

 reduced ten stone, would have been invaluable ; 

 but except as a kennel huntsman, he did him little 

 good. Although Stephen had little sport with Sir 

 Thomas, he had an extraordinary season in Oxford- 

 shire in 1 799-1 800 with Lord Sefton. They had 

 a pack of hounds, the refuse of every kennel, and 

 tainted with every fault — pushers, skirters, some 

 which had not power to go up to a scent, and some 

 which would go without one. However, it being 

 a wonderful scenting season, they had such a year's 

 sport as was probably never known in Oxfordshire 

 before or since. Stephen went with Lord Sefton 

 into Leicestershire, where he hunted the young 

 pack, and showed the greatest science in breaking 

 them ; and he afterwards came to Sir Thomas, 

 where he remained till he gave it up. 



The Druid [H. H. Dixofi), 



Thomas Assheton-Smith <7^ -o 



""IT TILL you not wait for Captain Cold- 

 V V stream ? " said an officious yeoman, as Mr. 

 Smith was moving on to draw Clatford Oakcuts. 

 " I have had three hundred Captains out before 

 now, sir," was the response, " but never better sport 



