136 EEMIXISCEXCES OF A SPORTSMAX. 



enjoyed much this rabbit shooting, although there was 

 little variety, excepting that we now and then got a hare. 

 We were constantly kept on the alert by the lively 

 spaniels bolting the rabbits from each side of the hedge, 

 and affording capital shots, as they scampered over the 

 grass, and my friend, who was a most hospitable man, 

 crowned our day's shooting with an excellent dinner and 

 wines of the finest quality. 



Some years after the long protracted war with the 

 French republic and the Emperor Napoleon, I sheathed 

 my sv\'ord and retired to some landed property in Cam- 

 bridgeshire, and, like many unwise military and naval 

 men*, took to farming ; and this at a very unlucky time 

 for agriculturists, as a considerable change for the worse 

 had taken place in the price of the products of the land, 

 which had fallen from war prices to those of peace. 

 The farm I cultivated might certainly be termed rather 

 a large one, consisting of 700 acres, all arable, except 

 between seventy or eighty acres in the park. With a 

 full conviction, that with the little knowledge and ex- 

 perience I had in farming, and my fondness for field 

 sports, I should be certainly unable to manage so large 

 a concern, I took into my service a very honest and 

 respectable old bailiff, who Avas so fat that I was obliged 

 to keep a horse for him. His salary was 100/. per 



* I once sailed in the flag-ship of an admiral who had been appointed 

 to a considerable command, and hoped that he might retrieve his fortime, 

 having, by the building of a country house and farming for several 

 years, managed to get rid of 25,000/. prize money, which he had made 

 during the war. I was much pleased to hear afterwards (for he was an 

 excellent, good-natm-ed man) that by his share of the fi-eight of money, 

 caiTied by men-of-war at this period, he had made 20,000/. diu-ing the 

 time he had this command. Now aU these freights are conveyed by 

 -steamers to foreign parts and our colonies. 



