158 ifctngs of tfoe 1Rofc, IRifle, an& (Bun 



bringing them to bag was deemed nulli secundus. 

 From an account which he kept for a number of years, 

 it appears that upwards of six hundred couple fell to 

 his single barrel. The coverts which afforded him this 

 his favourite sport were, Enfield Chase (before it was 

 enclosed) ; Hollick and Betstyle Woods, near Colney 

 Hatch ; Lords' Grove, Southgate ; the Larks and the 

 Hawk Hills, Essex. 



Mr. Holt shot wild fowl and snipe equally well, which 

 at times he met with in great numbers in Tottenham 

 and Edmonton Marshes. The most inclement weather 

 did not deter him from going out in pursuit of them ; 

 and though not a fast walker, no day was ever too 

 long for him. In all his shooting excursions he was 

 attended by Joseph Ratford up to the close of a 

 lengthened and faithful servitude of forty-three years, 

 when in April, 1817, Death laid this attached follower 

 low, deservedly lamented by Mr. Holt and his family. 

 This speaks volumes for both master and man. 



In his early days Mr. Holt shot with a gun made 

 by Lett, and afterwards with one by Nock, the barrels 

 of each three feet three inches ; but for the last twenty 

 years of his shooting with one by E. Baker, of White- 

 chapel Road, the barrel two feet ten inches, a gun he 

 highly prized, and with which he killed very many 

 long shots." 



The writer then proceeds to give a pretty long list of 

 John Holt's feats with the gun, which I shall not quote 

 because many of the exploits considered phenomenal 

 then would seem of little account to the modern sports- 

 man. To kill eleven pigeons out of twelve, as Holt 



