THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 



ornaments without, and containing elegant and spacious apart- 

 ments within. Planned after the fashion of the Elizabethan 

 age, Amstead Abbey stood on an island, formed by a deep moat, 

 and within the palings of an extensive and finely timbered 

 park, containing a herd of deer sufficiently ample for the use 

 of a private gentleman ; the gardens, too, were large, no less 

 than three hundred yards of ' glass ' — as forcing-houses are 

 technically denominated — being visible in them, exclusive of 

 hot walls. A farm of three hundred acres of the best staple 

 land of the county was in occupation, under the eye of a Scotch 

 bailiff'; and, having been conducted on improved principles, 

 it greatly outstripped its neighbours in its produce, and turned 

 to a very profitable account : the surrounding country was also 

 of the richest and most valuable description. 



Mr. Raby's establishment consisted, indoors, of a butler 

 and two footmen, with all the requisite females, and was only 

 deficient in one respect — it wanted the onnn cook to aid the 

 English kitchen-maid ; but against this there was a prejudice 

 which time has since removed. At the period to which I 

 allude, there was an objection against these cliefs of the kitchen, 

 on the score of wasteful extravagance in their operations ; 

 experience, how^ever, has since shown that their art is practised 

 to advantage in all large establishments. By the almost 

 magical power of the rechaufoir, the remains of yesterday's 

 dinner instead of being looked lightly upon, if not in great 

 part cast to the dogs, are sent smoking and savoury into the 

 servants' hall, and so disguised as to leave the inmates of it 

 in doubt wdiether the dishes are rechaujfes or not. His woman 

 cook, however, was as good as high wages could procure, and 

 his guests had no cause for complaint. But the style of living- 

 was truly English, and, as such, the assistance of Monsieur 

 was less necessary ; the consumption of animals was prodigious 

 from the numbers of comers and goers, in addition to the family 

 itself; and did a sirloin of beef make its appearance on a 

 Sunday, and a round on the Monday, they might be looked for 

 in vain on the Tuesday. 



There was one species of luxury — refinement, indeed, it 

 may be termed, in reference to tliose times — in which Mr. 

 Raby indulged ; and this was the selection of his footmen and 

 postillions. The first were London-bred ; he declared that he 

 never saw a country-bred footman who could bring a message 



2 



