BIOGRAPHIES IN A NUTSHELL 145 



afterwards, and it disarranges the establishment. 

 But still it is a more gentlemanlike hour for a man 

 who hunts his own hounds, and on a quiet evening 

 nothing can exceed the pleasurable feeling it creates. 

 One of the greatest objections to it is that many men 

 are induced to ride out at that time with the hounds 

 who would not early in the morning, and nothing 

 is more annoying to a huntsman than having strange 

 horses in the rides when the young hounds first enter 

 and the pack are running in cover ; it cuts them off 

 and prevents their getting about with the huntsman, 

 and they get rode over, either owing to their own 

 awkwardness or that of the horse or rider. Therefore 

 it is best not to make known when they are going, at 

 all events unless those who do go out go with the 

 understanding that they are not to expect sport, 

 or get in the way of hounds. . . . Although the 

 writer is not aware that this plan has ever been 

 adopted by any other person, still he is bold enough 

 to assert that it is a good one, and beyond all doubt 

 most agreeable." 



I must now refer briefly to his private history. 

 He was the son of Mr. Thomas Smith, of Shaldon 

 Lodge, near Alton, Hants, and was born on the 5th 

 of August, 1780. His love of sport as a youngster 

 was so great that his father wisely removed him 

 from Eton to Holybourne, close to Alton, where 

 he could indulge in sport ; for his father, who 

 was also a noted fox-hunter, gave the son every 

 encouragement in hunting. Mr. Smith at this 



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