HUNTING RECOLLECTIONS. 45 



Loseby Hall, which belonged to the 

 Fowkes family, was at one time rented by the 

 great Lord Waterford, and was the scene of 

 many of his exploits. I drove there to a meet 

 with Colonel and Mrs. Burnaby, and Sir 

 Frederic showed me the marks of " Cock 

 Robin's " feet on the polished floor in the dining 

 room, the story goes, after dinner, Lord 

 Waterford and a party of friends, who had been 

 dining well, but not too wisely, began betting 

 on the performances of their horses. Lord 

 Waterford said " Cock Robin " could beat any 

 of them, so my Lord had a gate brought in, 

 " Cock Robin " was fetched from his stable, 

 and over the gate he jumped. Another of his 

 bets was, he would drive to Melton, six miles 

 straight across country, in his brougham. Four 

 hunters were put in the carriage, but I don't 

 think he got very far before the whole thing was 

 smashed up. 



One of his Lordship's customs was to ride 

 a pony up the beautiful stone staircase. One 

 night, being very far gone, he rode his horse up 

 to the first floor and jumped over the bannisters. 

 Needless to say, the horse was killed. I was 

 so inspired by such wonderful tales that, on my 

 return home, I was only prevented by the 

 earnest entreaty of my father — who begged me 

 not to do it — from riding an old horse called 

 " Banker," up the stairs at the Lawn. 



It was the custom on Sunday at Gaddesby 

 to go round the stables. Mr. Cheney had 

 twenty-five hacks and hunters for his own riding 

 — and some beauties there were amongst them. 



