Ube Bads Spencer 377 



Dodford Holt ; if so, that is not a bad line if you keep 

 the Weedon and Brington road sufficiently to the left, 

 and so cross those fine grass meadows. I should, indeed, 

 have enjoyed the Saturday gallop you speak of, with 

 Wizard or Meteor in their old form. I hope that the 

 time may come when I shall drop in for a few such runs. 

 I can count on my fingers every good day I have had with 

 the Pytchley so far ; so much have I been prevented by 

 one cause or another from hunting regularly. I had a 

 very sad parting with my dear old horses on Thursday 

 last. I made up my mind to clear my stables, which 

 were filled with a multitude of animals ; many useless to 

 me, and several nearly worn out. Reserving the two 

 old favourites, and my sister's horse, I sent eighteen to 

 Tattersall's. I had no idea, until the time arrived, how 

 attached one can become to horses. I confess that I 

 shed tears over Wizard and one or two others that 

 neighed whenever they heard my footsteps, and whose 

 every movement I knew exactly. Poor things ! I long 

 to hear that they have fallen into good hands.' 



In 1859, on the resignation of the Hon. Fred. Villiers, 

 who had hunted the Pytchley country for several years, 

 Lord Spencer was unanimously voted to be the man to 

 succeed that fine sportsman. He accepted the invitation, 

 and, it is needless to say, asked for no subscription. It 

 was generally admitted at the close of the first season 

 that the new Master was one of the best the Pytchley 

 had ever known. ' His manner in the field,' says one who 

 then hunted regularly with the Pytchley, 'was always 

 charming. He had a cheerful recognition for every- 

 body. , Noted as a bold and forward rider, no one who 

 has seen him on his hands and knees, making personal 

 inquiries as to the exact whereabouts of the wily animal 



