LORD GIFFORD 



157 



I ever saw with hounds was with Lord Gifford's on the 

 27th of February, 1843. They met at Crudwell, where 

 they found. I was not sufficiently acquainted with the 

 country to register the precise line at the time, but 

 they ran to Somerford Common, Webb's Wood, Flax- 

 land, Ravenroost, Red Lodge, Minety, and finally 

 whipped off at dark when running for Charlton Pond ; 

 having been hard at work upwards of four hours, and 

 the land being very wet and deep, much distress pre- 

 vailed among the horses. 



During the three years which Lord Gifford hunted 

 the country the sport was very superior. His lordship's 

 best energies were zealously devoted to the service ; 

 with John Grant for his whipper-in it was not possible 

 to conceive anything more effective ; and every sports- 

 man in the hunt felt serious regret when the noble lord 

 expressed his intention to resign. 



The management of the hounds then devolved on a 

 committee, with Mr. Cripps as master of the cere- 

 monies in the field ; and, subsequently, Mr. Barker. 

 John Grant was engaged as huntsman the first season, 

 after which he went to Lord Parker till 1847, when 

 his old master, Lord Gifford, taking the H. H., he 

 was again engaged to whip-in to his lordship. Grant 

 was succeeded in the Vale of White Horse establishment 

 by John Dinnicombe, who remained there till after 

 Mr. Villebois took the country, which was in 1850. 

 Boothroyd, on the Donnington country being re-united 

 with the Quorn, hunted Mr. Villebois' hounds one 

 season ; and in 1852 Christopher Atkinson, more com- 

 monly known by the name of Kit, who had whipped-in 

 some twelve or thirteen years in Earl Fitzhardinge's 

 establishment, was engaged as huntsman. His career, 

 poor fellow, was a short one. He died, after a short 

 illness, on the 30th November, 1853. 



Last season was Kit's first essay as huntsman, and 

 report spoke highly in his praise. It sometimes happens 

 that a very superior whipper-in makes but an indifferent 

 huntsman; but Kit had every opportunity of gaming 



