10 



cestors, so frequently to partake of the pleasures of the 

 chase, disrelished and scarcely even thought of, by the 

 fashionable inactive gallants of the present day, abated in 

 the revolution of a year, to one hunting day, in each week, 

 instead of two^ and other occasional intervening hunts. 



It was worthy of their prudential wisdom. 



" Voluptates coinmendat rarier usus," said the sage, 



Juvenal. 



A governing principle in their future proceedings. — 



In 1769, the Club prevailed on Mr. Morris to permit 

 his negro man Natt (or as was well known in after times, 

 by the name of old Natty, by every urchin in town and 

 country,) to be enlisted in their service, and to use a favo- 

 rite managerical epithet of stars engaged, his poiverful 

 aid, was obtained, for the interest of the purchase money 

 of his time and for his apparel, and in case of accident, 

 the Company stipulated to indemnify for damages. 



Faithful bandy legged Natt, was re-engaged year after 

 year on like terms, until he became a free agent and was 

 then regularly installed as knight of the whip, and be- 

 came master and commander of a noble family of can- 

 nines. This venerable grey pated African sportsman, 

 was allowed fifty pounds per annum, a house, and a horse, 

 with Jack Still, as assistant on liberal wages at the cost of 

 the Club. 



The established hunting uniform in 1774, was a dark 

 brown cloth coatee, with lappelled dragoon pockets, 



