232 Ifcfn09 of tbe 1Rofc, IRtfle, an& (Bun 



himself against Mr. William Coke for 200 sovereigns 

 a side to shoot more partridges in two days in Scotland 

 than his opponent in the same time in Norfolk. The 

 match caused considerable excitement, and large sums 

 were wagered on the event. September 26th and 

 October 4th were the days selected. Mr. Coke shot 

 over the manor at Holkham, the property of his uncle, 

 the famous " Coke of Norfolk." Lord Kennedy chose 

 Monreith, the seat of Sir William Maxwell, in Wigtown- 

 shire, famous then for its game-preserves. The result of 

 the match was that Mr. Coke killed 8oJ brace the first 

 day, and 87 J brace the second total, 168 brace ; whilst 

 Lord Kennedy shot 50 brace the first day, and 82 the 

 second total, 132 brace. Some 20,000 guineas changed 

 hands over the issue, of which a large share came out of 

 Lord Kennedy's pocket, for he had, as usual, backed 

 himself heavily. His lordship was undoubtedly the 

 better shot of the two, but he was so wilful, obstinate, and 

 quick-tempered that he would not take the advice of 

 those who knew the ground over which he was shooting 

 better than he did, and so he lost. Sir William Maxwell 

 was very indignant with anyone who suggested that 

 Lord Kennedy's defeat was owing to the far greater 

 number of birds at Holkham than at Monreith ; but 

 when I say that the young Norfolk squire killed 35 J 

 brace in a single twenty-acre patch of swedes, I think 

 it will be apparent that Mr. Coke had the pull in that 

 respect. 



Another great match of Lord Kennedy's was against 

 Mr. Arrowsmith for 600 guineas, at 100 pigeons each, 

 30 yards rise. Fortunately for his lordship, who had 



