242 REMINISCENCES OF 



Tiney, and the luggage horses and men, and drove 

 in a hansom to 4 Albert Street, to visit Mr. Heysham 

 (honorary treasurer of the Hunt Benefit Society). 

 A very nice old man, but suffers terribly from gout. 

 He fed us sumptuously on tea, cold chicken and 

 tongue. We then went on to see Mr. Hugo Haig 

 in his bachelor rooms. He was delighted to see us, 

 and showed father the letter (afterwards printed and 

 in all sporting papers) he had written to Captain 

 Soames about the Pytchley Hunt fund. On our 

 return to Rugby station we met Charlie Guthrie and 

 a friend on their way back from hunting. He nobly 

 offered me a mount and asked us to stay with him at 

 Newton. We also saw Mr. Melville Cartwright. 

 We eventually arrived at Atherstone about six and 

 were met by John Pye. Drove in a fly and pair to 

 Cliff House, where we found Mr. and Mrs. Oakeley, 

 both most cordial, cheery and kind. 



Wednesday, 20th March. — Meet at Clifton. We 

 drove on to the meet. Mrs. Colville in a bath-chair 

 drawn by a donkey and pursued by a hospital nurse 

 and boy. Father rode a nailing black horse of Tom 

 Alkin's ; jumped like a cricket-ball. He found it 

 very difficult to remain on, as he bounded so. I 

 rode a bay mare with huge mane, the property of 

 Mr. Alkin's niece ; saddled with an enormous and 

 uncomfortable howdah and prominent right side 

 pommel. Mare pulled dead and had a light bridle 

 on, I could not hold her a bit, which I at once dis- 

 covered. Drew Clifton Rough blank and then Mr. 

 (Harry) Townsend's new cover also blank. He 



