LOCKLEY'S MAXIMS 85 



With young beginners, if intimately acquainted, he 

 was very kind in giving them hints and advice teaching 

 them how they should go in a manner peculiar to him- 

 self ; and if sometimes they were mixed up with a slight 

 degree of sarcasm, as in the latter instance, they were 

 well meant and impressive. His great experience and 

 age entitled him to some latitude of expression, and he 

 was sincere in his motives. For one, I feel much 

 indebted to him, and often regret not having followed 

 his injunctions more implicitly. It would have siaved 

 me many misadventures and many five-pound notes ; 

 but, unfortunately, it is too often the case in our 

 youthful days that we slight the admonitions of our 

 best-experienced mentors, and in no walk of life is good 

 counsel of greater importance than in the sporting 

 world. From Mr. Lockley's experience, observant 

 habits, and devotion to fox-hunting, his maxims were 

 worthy of attention. I recollect a message he sent by 

 me to Mr. Boycott, when that gentleman first began to 

 hunt the Albrighton country. When he commenced, 

 he killed several cubs and some old foxes with rather an 

 unrelenting hand, which reached Lockley's ears. 

 " Give my compliments to Mr. Boycott," said he, 

 "and tell him not to be too fond of killing his foxes 

 down. It is as necessary for sport to have a stock of 

 foxes in condition, and acquainted with the country, 

 as it is to have hounds and horses in condition." When 

 riding to hounds he was particularly careful to avoid 

 pressing upon them. " Anticipating a check," as he 

 called it, " was a necessary caution with every man 

 who desired to ride like a sportsman." By this he 

 meant taking notice if there was anything, such as a 

 flock of sheep, herd of cattle, team at plough, or 

 labourer at work in the line, calculated to head the 

 fox and occasion a check. There are many gentlemen 

 of the present day who would profit greatly by this 

 hint. 



The successor to Mr. Meynell was the late Earl of 

 Sefton. The magnificence and style which his lord- 



