2i6 REMINISCENCES OF 



best-looking woman in the country, and he the best 

 man with hounds that ever went over it. 

 " Good-bye, 



" Yours ever and truly, 



" P. PlERREPOINT. 



" My old woman sends you her kind remems." 



BICESTER ALPHABET. 



A stands for Algey Peyton — he's Joint-Master of our Hounds — 

 And when I speak of him I keep my pen in proper bounds ; 

 For hard as is my heart, sir, it would really make it bleed. 

 To lampoon so good a fellow who came forward in our need. 



B stands for Mr. Burton, who in Ireland was a jewel ! — 

 Before he came to England how I wish he'd got his gruel ! — 

 He may be as wise as Solon, but in his knowledge box 

 I'm blessed if he's the science of the hunting of the fox. 



C next, which stands for Clayton — he's " the uncle of the Drakes " — 

 Who when he jumps a molehill, a mountain of it makes ; 

 And talks of timber " six foot six " and " nipping over stiles " — 

 More than half of which performance in his fertile fancy lies. 



D stands for all the Drakes, sir, and \x\ truth they all can ride — 

 You'll not find it easy sailing with " the Admiral " 'longside ; 

 And I doubt if in all England any hunting-field can dish up 

 Such a " broth of boys " in pigskin as the one they call " the Bishop ". 



E is the Earl of Effingham, and here, hold hard, my muse. 

 Of the upper ten he's one whom e'en Bright could not abuse ; 

 So remember that the copy-book in which you learnt these letters 

 Taught you " never to presume to speak unkindly of your betters ". 



F stands for Harvie Farquhar, who fancies he's got hands, 

 Because a wretched three-year-old he o'er a hurdle lands ! — 

 True Banker he !— for troth to see ('tis as good as any play) 

 Him when there's an important check he's always in the way. 



G stands for little Gipps — if he'd been here long enough 



I've no doubt I should find something that would make him cut up 



rough ; 

 And I'm told that with his swagger he astonishes the noodles 

 Who sit in the bay window in the club that they call " Boodles ". 



