VISCOUNT GALWAY'S HOUNDS. 71 



Full seven weeks this season, the frost has held its sway, 

 Gone at last — so come and join them for a Friday on the clay ; 

 Bring a well-conditioned hunter, deep in girth, both long and 



low, 

 No suspicion of a roarer, bold and clever one you know. 



Trotting steadily to cover, mark the fences with your eye, 

 Choosing in imagination, where to creep and which to fly, 

 Then inspect the gathering horsemen forming up as for review. 

 Through these lines, tho' poor and feeble, you may recognise 

 a few. 



First the Master ! let us yield him pride of place and sporting 



fame, 

 Mounted on his chesnut hunter "Beaconsfield" it's honoured 



name. 

 When hound's run he's always with them, and a wonder 'tis 



to all, 

 Charging with loose rein his fences, he so rarely gets a fall. 



Her Ladyship can seldom hunt, but all are glad to find 

 Two small keen riders in the front, of thorough sporting mind, 

 Sitting his rough brown pony as to the manner born. 

 Some future day, young Master George intends to bear the 

 horn. 



A splendid bay ! who owns it ? What manners, action, pace, 

 The answer echoes in the cry, hurrah ! here comes his Grace i; 

 His genial face so cheery, is welcomed far and wide, 

 True sportsman and true gentleman, worthy his county's pride. 



Another Lord in scarlet^, he's had a longish ride, 

 Is that the reason why we miss his daughter^ at his side ? 

 Now see the youngest Duchess*, has she made up her mind 

 To order us a fox or two, in Clumber's woods to find ? 



Who's this I see in velvet cap', riding a small bay mare 

 Long scarlet coat and faultless seat ; good huntsman he, I 



swear. 

 Sometimes a sporting parson^, forsakes for us his pack, 

 And holds his own in foreign climes, on chesnut, roan, or black. 



'Duke of Portland. ■'Duchess of Newcastle. 



-Earl Manvers. *L. RoUeston (M.F.H. Rufford). 



^Lady M. Pierrepoint. «Rev. R. Fitzherbert. 



