24 THE BADMINTON HUNT. 



quite In his prime ; both hounds and horses 

 were of a different stamp to what I had 

 been accustomed to see. I heard an anec- 

 dote of the Duke, who had found it neces- 

 sary on a previous occasion to remonstrate 

 with a young Oxonian of high family, who 

 had wantonly pressed upon the hounds 

 and caused them to lose their fox. It was 

 so consistent with his Grace's kind yet 

 impressive manner. The young aspirant 

 to equestrian fame had several times 

 pressed the hounds off the scent, which 

 was but indifferent ; at length the fox was 

 lost, and he was doomed to receive this 

 well-directed but severe rebuke. Riding 

 up to him and taking off his hat, his Grace 

 exclaimed, " Sir, I have to thank you ; and 

 I beg every gentleman in the field will 

 follow my example, take off their hats and 

 thank you for spoiling a very good day's 

 sport.'' 



Several seasons elapsed before I had 



