THEIR PHILOSOPHY OF THE CHASE. 87 



him ; my uncle, in telling me of it, simply said, ' Of course I 

 spoke to him about it.' Now I, experienced in his gift of 

 saying bitter things in a smooth way, always felt rather sorry 

 for Napoleon at being the recipient of a short but powerful 

 discourse on 'My duty towards my neighbour' — at a fence. As 

 a man of old and gentle descent, he had the fine manner of a 

 day that is past, habits cultured and refined in advance of his 

 day, and a taste even fastidious. 



If the original of Parson Dove is to live in posterity, it is 

 only fair he should be known as he really was. 



In conclusion, I have the Rev. Cave Humfrey's kind 

 permission to quote further interesting particulars respect- 

 ing his uncle, from his recent correspondence with me on 

 the subject : — 



I used often to stay with John Humfrey and your aunt at 

 Kibworth Hall, when I was a boy. I never knew their son,* 

 but I believe it was some likeness in me to him that was the 

 cause of my being there a good deal. I do not remember him 

 but I faintly recall a Capt. Costobadie, who used to be there 

 very frequently. 



My uncle came of an old Leicestershire family, and was con- 

 nected with many others such as the Halfords, Vaughans, 

 Whalleys, Vowes, Brownes of Stretton-en-le-Field, Caves of 

 Stamford, &c. He was born in 1800 ; his father was Rector 

 and Lord of the Manor of Laughton, his mother was Miss 

 Cave-Brown, sister of Sir William, 9th Baronet ; his grand- 

 father was Lebbeus Humfrey, Esq., of Kibworth, who was 

 High Sheriff of Leicestershire about 1770. 



My uncle took his degree at Cambridge, and succeeded his 

 father as Rector of Laughton ; Foxton was subsequently given 

 him by the Crown. He was tall and handsome, wMth a well- 

 bred, distinguished appearance. Though devoted to hunting, 

 anything horsy or sporting in his costume was conspicuous by 

 its absence. In domestic and social life he hardly ever spoke 

 of horses or hunting. 



• Alluding to Lieut. John Charles Humfrey (onl^' son and heir) who, to the inex- 

 pressible grief of his parents, died of fever in early manhood. 



