HEROES OF THE HUNTING-FIELD 143 



gives the following description of his appearance at 

 a fashionable meet : 



' On Saturday the favourite meet took place on 

 the lawn in front of Badminton House, and, as usual, 

 was quite a show day. There was a well-appointed 

 field of three hundred, including last, though not 

 least, our old friend " the hunting sweep," who was 

 received with warm congratulations by all present. 

 He was mounted on his old chestnut horse, with a 

 white face and long tail, a pad for a saddle, no stir- 

 rups, and a bridle with a new blue front — one of the 

 distinguishing characteristics of the hunt. The 

 sweep was in his sooty attire, a black jacket and 

 trousers, with his brush for a whip. This was his 

 first appearance for some time past, and he was 

 asked why he had so long absented himself. " Why, 

 gentlemen," said he, " I will explain to you the 

 cause. I have not hunted since the late Duke's 

 death. Peace to his memory ! He was a duke every 

 inch of him, and a great friend to me. He died just 

 a year ago, and I have been in mourning ever since, 

 I was so grieved at his loss that I had some idea of 

 giving up hunting altogether ; but folk speak so well 

 of the present Duke that I thought I would come 

 and pay my respects to him. Besides, I stood by . 

 him in days of yore, before he was a duke, and 

 seconded his nomination for the county, and got him 

 into the Parliament House too ; and I daresay he has 

 not forgotten me." Just at this moment the Duke 



