WARWICKSHIRE HUNT. 369 



In 1824, Mr. Shirley was succeeded by Mr. Hay, of 

 Dunse Castle, Scotland, who, making Wood his kennel 

 huntsman, hunted the hounds himself. Mr. Hay did the 

 thing with great spirit, for a more zealous Sportsman never 

 yet drew breath. His stud was excellent, and he rode admi- 

 rably to hounds. He gave abundant satisfaction, and his 

 relinquishment of the comitry was regretted. 



Warwickshire was now doomed to undergo another 

 change. In 1827, Mr. Fellowes followed Mr. Hay in the 

 management of those hounds, having long been resident in 

 Warwickshire, where he had proved himself a Sportsman, 

 in the widest acceptation of that word. He continued Wood 

 as his huntsman, but in 1830 he resigned. 



Mr. Russell, nephew to the Duke of Bedford, then 

 became Master of the hounds. Hew'as allowed to be emi- 

 nently qualified for the task he had undertaken, being a good 

 judge of hunting, and particularly gentleman-like in his 

 demeanour. 



In Mr. Corbet's time, the commencement of the 

 season was ushered in after a manner not unworthy of notice, 

 and still less unworthy of example. By the first Monday 

 in November, the gentlemen composing the Club, assembled 

 at Stratford-on-Avon ; and on that day, the late Lord 

 Willoughby-de-broke, of Compton Verney, gave a 

 dinner to the Master of the hounds, and a numerous party 

 of sportsmen then resident in the neighbourhood, in com- 

 memoration of the opening of the season. This highly 

 respected Nobleman, of the old school, is dead ; but the 

 present Lord, although no fox-hunter, is an excellent friend 

 to fox-hunting. His Lordship, however, was not without 

 a little music in his kennel, having been Master of a clever 

 pack of harriers, now given up. 



The late Earl of Aylesford, of Packington Hall, near 

 Meriden, was also a stanch ally of Mr. Corbet. The 



