20 mms ot tbe 1[3untina*f iel^ 



In 1807, Colonel Berkeley, who was subsequently 

 created Earl Fitzhardinge, established the pack which 

 has ever since hunted that part of the country, and is 

 known as Lord Fitzhardinge's. With the vast wealth 

 at his disposal the earl was able to keep up his hunting 

 establishment in magnificent style, and he spared no 

 expense upon his kennels and stables. In 1826 he 

 engaged the services of Harry Ayris, one of the best 

 huntsmen ever seen, who was never known to lose his 

 hounds, and was a consummate master of his business 

 both in the field and in the kennel ; a very bold rider, 

 too, over all kinds of fences, and as cheery a soul as 

 ever threw leg over a saddle. The earl and his hunts- 

 man were well suited to one another, and no more 

 characteristic pair were to be seen in England. The 

 earl had his eccentricities, as will be gathered from the 

 following sketch of him, given by the authors of Country 

 Quarters. 



* Lord Fitzhardinge was very liberal in paying for 

 poultry said to be destroyed, and paid bill after bill with- 

 out any demur, until one day a claim was made for a calf, 

 when he said : " No, Ayris, no ; they will send in for a 

 sow and pigs next ! " But I have heard of an old farmer 

 who lived near Andoversford, who had lost a lot of 

 poultry by a fox, till at last he was tempted to set a 

 trap for him, and offered a reward for him, dead or 

 alive. One morning a fox was brought into his yard 

 in a bag, and the old boy sallied forth to deal vengeance, 

 but the sight of the captive was too much for him. 

 " Damn thee," he said, " I cannot kill thee ; " and he had 

 him put into the bag again, and turned out in a field — 

 the jolly old fellow view-hallooing him clear awa}'. 

 When the old peer heard of it, he sent him the biggest 



