BIOGRAPHIES IN A NUTSHELL 141 



Hambledon, which he hunted till 1852. It has often 

 been said that " Gentleman " Smith's reputation was 

 eclipsed by that of his namesake. Comparisons are 

 odious, but nobody will deny that " Gentleman " 

 Smith is entitled to be ranked amongst the giants 

 of the hunting field. Mr. Nethercote, the recognised 

 historian of the Pytchley Hunt, writes of him : " A 

 more thorough master of the noble science, or one 

 whose thoughts were more completely engrossed 

 in the ways of fox and hounds, probably never 

 carried a horn," It must be remembered that Mr, 

 Smith succeeded Lord Chesterfield in the Pytchley 

 country, and it was no light matter to follow such 

 a prince as the Lord of Bretby ; yet, confident in 

 his ability to show sport, Mr. Smith ventured upon 

 the responsibility of getting an establishment to- 

 gether. Certainly he entered into office with a 

 great reputation, both from the Hambledon and 

 Craven countries, and he had used his pen as well 

 as his horn in the promotion of sport. But he 

 was hampered in regard to finance, and probably 

 had the worst lot of horses and hounds that had 

 ever been seen in Northamptonshire. The hounds 

 were a portion of Lord Chesterfield's pack, which 

 were purchased by the Hunt for the small sum of 

 ^400, after twenty couples had been sent to Lord 

 Ducie. These twenty couples were all hung, because 

 they were so incorrigibly wild. So much for the 

 hounds. The horses varied in value from ;^20 to 

 £60. Yet, during the two seasons of Mr. Smith's 



