A SPORTSMAX OF THE OLD SCHOOL. 39 



nets, a small casting net with close meshes for catch- 

 ing bait, and fishing krails in the intermediate spaces. 

 Some good engravings on sporting sul^jects completed 

 the embellishment of the walls. On a table might also 

 be seen a stuffed martin cat, and a variety of foreign 

 birds. The Squire's library was not large, but displayed 

 his predominant passion for field sports. I recollect 

 taking a cm'sory view of some of the books, amongst 

 which were Isaac Walton, "Instructions to Young 

 Sportsmen how to Shoot Fl3'ing," "The Old English 

 Forest Ranger," " The Exploits of Robin Hood and Little 

 John in Sherwood Forest," and old ballads, amongst 

 which was that of Chevy Chase, &c. some law books 

 and works on agriculture. This sanctum sanctorum 

 looked into a small but well arranged flower garden. 



I took leave of JNIr. Girdlestone with much regret, 

 for I enjoyed my visit exceedingly. At the age of two 

 or three and twent}^, with vigorous health, everything 

 is coideur de rose. We never met again, for soon after- 

 wards I got a staff appointment in Ireland, and was 

 employed on active service in the Mediterranean, Spain, 

 and with the army in France, till the spring of 18 14^ 

 when peace was ratified. The country between JNIr. 

 Grirdlestone's house and the small town of Holt, distant 

 about three miles, was generally a wild heath and un- 

 cultivated, but for seven or eight miles along the coast 

 to the eastward, towards the small sea-bathing town of 

 Cromer, the country is hilly, well wooded, and the most 

 picturesque part of this county. The soil of Norfolk is 

 mostly sandy and gravelly, and particularly salubrious, 

 better adapted for the growing of barley than wheat. 



Norfolk can boast of having given birth to many cele- 

 brated men, churchmen, statesmen, lawyers, military 



D 4 



