FOX-HUNTING AND WARFARE 321 



every chance. He had kept staghounds in Leicester- 

 shire from 1839 to 1842, when after serving with 

 his regiment he returned to England as Earl of 

 Cardigan, and showed good sport, though his heart 

 was in the more legitimate pursuit; and if hunting 

 be the image of war, he loved the reflection only 

 next to the reality. Perhaps he was keener on a 

 quick thing with difficult fences to be jumped, in 

 which he could relish the emulation of competing 

 with those whom he used to class together as "the 

 short list," than on the charms of a woodland run, 

 though he hunted regularly with the Pytchley and 

 Mr. Fitzwilliam's Hounds whenever they came into 

 his neighbourhood in the spring. He used to boast 

 that he never sacrificed a duty to a pleasure, but 

 it is a curious coincidence that he always found 

 or made time to go out hunting whenever a pack 

 of foxhounds met within reach — and Deene Park 

 was within reach of the finest hunting country in 

 England. In 1828, however, he rented Brooksby, 

 and again, in 1 851, he rented a house at Melton 

 once occupied by Mr. Gilmour. But after his second 

 marriage he became more attached than ever to 

 Deene Park, and spent the winter months there 

 unfailingly, dispensing hospitality, and fulfilling the 

 duties of a great English proprietor with consider- 

 able tact and unbounded liberality. In regard to 

 horsemanship he admired the dashing courage of a 

 horse more than any other quality, as might only 

 be expected from the leader of the Balaclava Charge, 



