FOX-HUNTING RECOLLECTIONS 89 



Edmund Antrobus, who was a constant attendant, 

 and at that time probably about the oldest 

 Member of the Hunt. Everley belonged to Sir 

 John Astley (so well known as '' the Mate ''), 

 who sometimes had a day with us ; but he cared 

 more for the turf than the chase, and the place 

 was let to Mr. C. J. Curtis, who took it chiefly 

 for shooting, but at the same time was the best 

 of fox preservers. 



At Wilcot Manor House there lived at that 

 time Lord Algernon St. Maur, who afterwards 

 became the 14th Duke of Somerset ; he and 

 his four sons were out every day, and they all 

 delighted in hunting with the Tedworth. Lord 

 Algernon had been formerly in the '' Blues '' 

 (where he was known by the nickname of 

 '' Mousey ") ; a light weight, he always rode 

 thoroughbred horses which could gallop, and 

 when hounds were running nothing could re- 

 strain his ardour. Wherever he was, it was 

 impossible to resist the charm of his old-fashioned 

 courtesy and kindly nature; no wonder he was 

 beloved by all who knew him. In former times 

 he was often to be found in Hyde Park or at 

 TattersalFs, arm in arm with his inseparable 

 companions, Mr. George Lane Fox and the Earl 

 of Macclesfield. During the sixties and seventies 

 this trio was known as the '' Ancient Critics,'' for 



