Charles^ Third Baron Southampton. 23 



named Beech, who intended to hunt regularly on 

 Mr. Coombe's horses. This friend was taken ill ; 

 the doctor was sent for, and prescribed some 

 medicine. The patient said " No, I never took 

 a dose in my life, and I never will." He kept 

 his word — and died. On that account the stud 

 was sent away, and the visit ended. During the 

 first season there was only moderate sport, some 

 quick things and kills, but Lord Southampton 

 said : " They don't catch the stout foxes." 



In the spring of 1843 ^^^^ Derry came, and 

 two new whippers-in, but no better sport followed 

 with the change. In 1844 Lord Southampton 

 engaged Ned Rose, who had hunted before 

 George Carter for the Duke. Ned had been 

 keeping the "Spotted Dog" (the " Talbot ") at 

 Towcester, and subsequently "The Cock" at 

 Stony Stratford. His upper proportions had so 

 much increased and his legs decreased in size 

 that he resembled a " beer barrel on toothpicks." 

 Lord Southampton sent Ned out in July, and 

 asked me to go with him to Nun Wood, on the 

 estate where I was then living. We went and 

 killed a fox, but more by accident than anything 

 else. The hounds ran into standing corn, so they 

 went home and remained for three weeks. 



Rose accomplished his cub-hunting with credit ; 



