144 HISTORY OF HARTING. 



of it ;* but however this may be, smallpox carried 

 away the Squire's eldest son at the age of thirty-six, 

 and Lady Mary was left a young widow after but six 

 years of sunshine at Lady Holt. The Squire was 

 heartbroken, and entered in his diary the touching 

 lines " 1718, Ap. 6. Being Palm Sunday, my dear 

 son, never to be forgotten, died of the smallpox. 

 Sweet Jesu, grant me resignation, and to him eternal 

 rest." After the funeral the family went abroad for 

 six years, and Lady Holt was let to Edward Roper, 

 Esq., of Eltham.f Oct. 18, 1718. 



Pope had already characterised Mr. Roper ..." he 

 has the reputation of keeping the best pack of fox- 

 hounds in England, and will visit the ladies in a 

 hunting dress." Elwin says that he was connected 

 by marriage with Caryll's neighbours, the Butlers 

 of Sussex. He afterwards rented Lady Holt, and in 

 1718 took a lease of Caryll's stables and kennel at 

 Findon. He adds: "The announcement of the death 

 of Mr. Roper in the Historical Register for 1723, is* 

 in keeping with Pope's description. Feb. 27 ' Ed. 

 Roper, Esq., of Eltham, in the county of Kent, died 

 of the hurt he received by a fall from his horse, as he 

 was hunting a fox. He was eighty-four years of 

 age, and had all his life been a keen sportsman.' " 

 He was a good tenant of Lady Holt ; for with cha- 

 racteristic couleur de rose the Squire notes, March 25 

 (1729) : " I think 'tis very happy if a man can keep 

 up and emprove his own house with other people's 

 money, as I did at Lady Holt whilst I let it." % 



* Squire's Account Book, June 7, 1714. "To Tupper (who 

 sunk Lady Holt well), for fetching a dead dogg, ' Emperor,' out 

 of y e well. . . . 2s. 6d." 



f Pope seems to have stirred himself on Caryll's behalf, not 

 only writing him a letter of condolence, but also endeavouring to 

 let Lady Holt for him, Oct. 18, 1718. "Before I could see my 

 Lord Burlington who was as much upon the ramble as myself, I 

 heard Mr. Pultney had agreed for Lady Holt." 

 \ Caryll Correspondence, 1729. 



