Charles, Third Baron Southainptoii. 29 



a check; the fox turned to the left, by Little 

 Preston, up to Canon's Ashby. Hounds ran 

 away from huntsman and whippers-In, but the 

 fox beat them. Lord Alford was out, and rode 

 splendidly ; he was a " Jem Mason " amongst 

 the gentlemen of those days; It was a treat to 

 watch his elegant figure, and the great composure 

 with which he sailed over a country. He would 

 smoke a cigar through a run with the greatest 

 ease. 



On the last Monday in March, 1848, the 

 hounds were on the north side, engaged, as is 

 too much the case there, with more than one 

 fox. In the afternoon we drew Badby, and a fox 

 took us over the Newnham brook. Six men only 

 secured a good start; they were Mr. Knightley, 

 and two gentlemen In scarlet whom I did not 

 know, with three farmers In black coats ; we 

 passed Newnham on the left, crossed the London 

 road, going as straight as a line, Just in sight of 

 Watford Gorse on the right, and continued in 

 the same straight-necked fashion, without p-olno- 

 into a covert, down to Sulby. This ought to have 

 been the best run during Lord Southampton's 

 time, but with a heavy huntsman, and hounds none 

 the fresher, the fox, said to be dead tired and 

 near at hand, beat us. This Is the sort of fox 



