100 THE YORK AND AINSTY. 



of a hound, and immediately proceeded to intro- 

 duce new blood into the kennel, and to breed 

 hounds more largely, and be more particular in 

 draftinof. He was careful to breed from none 

 but good workers, and however good-looking a 

 hound might be he was drafted without mercy if 

 he developed any vice. Equally at home on the 

 flags and in the field, the effects of his judgment 

 were soon apparent, and during the fifteen years 

 of his mastership he brought the pack to the 

 highest state of perfection. A fine horseman, he 

 was not one of the jealous school whose sole 

 happiness consists in cutting down the field, l^ut 

 he was always on good terms with his hounds, 

 and ready to assist them when necessary. As a 

 huntsman he was especially painstaking, and 

 would never give up a fox whilst a hound could 

 own the line. He was also very averse to lifting 

 his hounds, and, consequently, soon had a close 

 hunting lot, admirably adapted for the somewhat 

 cold scenting clays of the Ainsty. He was 

 courteous in the field, but was also very firm, 

 and kept the large and hard riding fields which 

 met his hounds in capital order. With the 

 farmers he was deservedly popular, as indeed he 

 was with all classes of society. ' The best amateur 

 huntsman in England,' was the opinion expressed 

 of him by one well qualified to form an opinion, 

 and he was indeed the beau ideal of a master of 

 foxhounds. 



