126 CENTURY OF ENGLISH FOX-HUNTING 



for one pack of hounds to hunt the whole of the 

 country, for it was forty miles long by twenty 

 miles wide, and comprised what has been since 

 1853 the North Warwickshire country. It will 

 thus be seen that Lord Middleton founded the 

 present Warwickshire country. Unfortunately, owing 

 to an accident in the hunting field which prevented 

 him from riding again, he was compelled to resign 

 his Mastership in 1822, when he was succeeded by 

 Mr. Shirley, who reigned till 1825. He died in 1835. 



Probably no man during the present century has 

 held a more prominent position, not only in hunting 

 and agricultural history, but also in political history, 

 than Lord Althorp. Few men have had a career 

 which commands more admiration. He laboured 

 under many great disadvantages, and yet, from sheer 

 honesty of purpose, he rose to prominence in every 

 branch of work which he undertook. His polar star 

 was " duty," and his watchword " thoroughness." 

 He was the eldest son of the second Earl Spencer, 

 by Lavinia, the eldest daughter of Charles Bingham, 

 afterwards first Earl of Lucan, and was born on the 

 30th of May, 1782, at Spencer House, St. James's. 



It was during his last year at Cambridge that his 

 sporting instincts were finally developed. He spent 

 much time and money in hunting and racing, and 

 when he left Cambridge owed several thousands of 

 pounds. The pain it caused him to tell his father 

 this cured him of gambling, especially when he learnt 

 that his father would have to borrow the money to 



