THE 



LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 



CHAPTER I 



Introductory — The hero presented — Items of his birth, parentage, and educa- 

 tion, together with traits of his idiosyncrasy, whereby 'coming events 

 cast their shadows before.' 



In the latter part of the last century, in one of the finest of 

 the midland counties of England, lived Andrew Raby, a 

 commoner, of large possessions, and of very old English 

 blood. When, however, I use the term ' large possessions,' I 

 do not desire to convey the idea of his having an income 

 sufficient to keep up a degree of pomp and dignity equal to 

 that of his titled superiors, but such as enabled him fully to 

 support the respectable and honourable station of an English 

 country gentleman, and to indulge in all those pursuits which 

 Avere congenial to his own taste, and, likewise, to exercise 

 almost unbounded hospitality towards his friends. In fact, his 

 rental was a little above ten thousand pounds per annum ; 

 which, when the usual drawbacks of agencies, repairs, and 

 other heavy outgoings attendant on landed property, in 

 addition to an annuity he paid to a sister, were deducted, left 

 him — for he had no interest of money to pay to morto-ao-ees 

 (indeed it was his boast, that no lawyer held as much parch- 

 ment security of his as would cover a crown piece) — a clear 

 annual income of seven thousand pounds ; at least he reckoned 

 not on more, on a fair average of years. With tliis compara- 

 tively limited income, he inhabited a house suitable for a man 

 of twice his means. It covered three sides of a quadrangular 

 court; displaying a sumptuous character in its architectural 



A 



