Frozen Out still. 207 



that it was a miserable day, he replied, '' Well, it is, 

 but it would make a deuced good night ; so let us 

 shut the shutters, call for some cards, order up 

 some of Irroy's hrut champagne, and go in for a 

 good nap." 



AVell, being frozen out still, I wandered westward 

 on Monday, in order to have a final look at the late 

 Major Whyte-Melville's stud, which was advertised 

 by Messrs. Tattersall to be sold on that day. By 

 the way, it has long struck me that it would be a 

 capital thing if a club were established, to be entitled 

 the M. F. H., which would be a pleasant place of resort 

 in a time like this ; the members to be masters of 

 hounds, subscribers, and riders with the different 

 packs of the United Kingdom. Information could 

 be disseminated, matters respecting hunting dis- 

 cussed, disputes adjusted, etc., and I beg to offer 

 a motto for the proposed club, new, appropriate, and 

 suggestive, viz., " Fox et prcBterea niliil ; " at present 

 it is not entered at Stationers' Hall, but it will be 

 immediately. 



Arriving at Albert Gate, I was just in time to see 

 the lamented sportsman's horses brought to the 

 hammer. Lot 88, Punch, a remarkably neat little 

 horse, and a clever hunter, was quickly knocked 

 down for a trifle above 20 guineas ; whilst Gossip, 

 said to have been the Major's favourite hunter, was 

 secured by a friend of mine for less than £30, the 

 rest realising but moderate amounts. No doubt the 

 stopper that has been put upon hunting, and the 

 prospect and prophecies of the continuance of the 

 frost, infl.uenced the sale, as, though the nags showed 

 signs of having done work, yet they had all been 



