BREEDING OF HUNTERS. 289 



differed a good deal about him; and while many, 

 including Mr. Osbaldeston (who ranked him with his 

 hound Vaulter), thought him bordering on perfection, 

 others have told us that he by no means came up to 

 their notions of a first-class hunter. He was even- 

 tually sold by auction, along with Polecat and the re- 

 mainder of Captain Ross's stud, opposite the George 

 at Melton, arid was knocked down to Lord Willoughby 

 D'Eresby for 350 guineas. Upwards of two years 

 afterwards Dick Christian was at Grimsthorpe Castle, 

 and his lordship said, " Christian, will the old horse 

 know you, do you think ?" " Very likely, my lord," 

 said Dick, and on going into the stall and speaking to 

 him, he seemed to express, by rocking about, the very 

 greatest pleasure at the visit. His sire Clinker was 

 by Sir Peter Teazle, and he and his two half-brothers 

 were bred by a Lincolnshire farmer of the name of 

 Wagstaff, out of, we believe, a Sancho mare. It was 

 from his High Sheriff's seat in the York court that 

 " The Squire" answered Captain Boss's challenge to 

 run him against Clasher, who was a very good-looking 

 fifteen-three brown horse, well up to thirteen stone, 

 and able to live in the front rank in those jealous 

 days, when it was all the fashion to " ride at" his 

 owner. Ride as they might, " The Squire" was not 

 to be caught, even with second horses, when he was 

 on Assheton, of whom he fondly avers, " He was the 

 very best horse I ever had in my life, or ever saw in 

 my life." He was a complete racer to look at, and 

 barely measured fifteen one-and-a-half; and those 

 who have had the pleasure .of looking round Mr. 

 Perneley's Melton studio will remember his admirable 

 painting of " The Squire" charging a gate on the 

 little horse, while the late Sir Harry Goodricke (who 

 always looked out for an odd cramped place) on Doctor 

 Russell, and Mr. Holyoake on Crossbow, are coming 

 over the fence on each side of him. Dick Burton 

 rode him for three seasons before his master took to 



