12 WARWICKSHIRE HUNT. 



Reynard took straight through Bushwood, and made his 

 way, at a bokl slapping pace, down to within four miles of 

 Birmixigham, when he was headed and turned ; and after a 

 short time run into at the back of the Box Trees. This, I 

 remember, was a most capital thing ; the hounds stuck to 

 their game in a most delightful style, and reynard did not 

 give up until he was quite exhausted. 



The wcn'thy Master Mr. Cokbkt, Sir E. Smythe, Mr. 

 Curtis, who once kept hounds at Solihull, Mr. Henry 

 Roberts, of Stratford, Mr. Barke, 1 and four or five 

 others, were in at the death. The distance could not be 

 less than 16 miles. 



1 Mr. W. Barke was formerly landlord of the Wliite Lion Inn, at 

 Stratford-on-Avon, where tlie Warwicksliire Hunt Club was held, and 

 was very frequently in the field. He was among the ' welters,' and 

 was always considered a good fellow of his weight. An eye-M'itne.ss has 

 furnished us with the following anecdote of this sportsman : one day, 

 al)out tlie year 1795, when a party of yeomen, invited by Mr. Smith, of 

 Admington, to dine witli him at Clifford Forge, were cracking a bottle 

 as frequently as the joke, Mr. Zouch, of Milcote, inquired of Mr. Barke 

 what he wanted for Flying Gib. This animal was a shooting pony of 

 strong muscular power and uncommon activity. The owner said his 

 price was fifty guineas. ' Can he jump ?' was the next question put 



by the purchaser. ' Jump I d me, Tom, fetch him out and I'll 



shew you.' The pony was no sooner brought out than Mr. Barke 

 mounted— not in the general way, for to shew the leaping powers and 

 surprising docility of the pony, the owner sat with his face towards 

 tlie tail — and having put his head straight, with a quiet ' Come up,' 

 lie cleared a flight of rails into the turnpike road, to the great amuse- 

 ment of his companions. At their request, he repeated the leap in the 

 same extraordinary manner, and sold his pony for the sum he asked, 

 without furtlier recommendation. 



