THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 



over Newiiuivket Heath, Imno^ vis a vis to the niatcli between 

 Meynell's Riclimond and Smith Barry's Bluecap, two celebrated 

 foxhounds, over the Beacon course of the same place. The 

 famous prints, ' in caricature,' of Dick Knic^lit and the Pytch- 

 ley Hunt, were also to be seen, as well as an excellent piint 

 of Robert Forfeit, so many yeai-s huntsman to the oi-eat John 

 Warde. Tom Oldacre, on Brush, just then ])ublished, was like- 

 wise in the collection ; as was Sir Thomas Mostyn's favourite 

 foKhound bitch. Lady, with her whelps, a print that is to this 

 da}^ to be seen in half the public-houses in Oxfoixlshire. There 

 were likewise paintings of Bonnybell and Tyrant, two favourite 

 harriers in his father's pack ; but the deficiency of globes and 

 maps was made up by a plentiful assortment of four-horse and 

 hunting wdiips, boxing gloves and fishing rods, and sundiy 

 other paraphernalia of the sportsman. 



Hargrave's rooms were very similarly adorned. Arthur 

 Wentworth, the earth-stopper, was suspended over his fire- 

 place. A Cheshire pile gamecock was above that ; and in other 

 parts of his sitting-room were the following well-known prints : 

 — A bitch fox and her cubs, by Sartorius ; Humphreys and 

 Mendoza in attitude; the Phenomena trotting mare; a por- 

 trait of Eclipse, with John Oakley (the only man who could 

 ride him) on his back; the great Malay cock match; the 

 York ' Highflyer ' coach, immortalised by Hogarth ; the London 

 and Shrewsbury Mail ; Jem Howell, the celebi'ated coach- 

 man of Costar's ' Oxford and Brummagem Day,' as it was 

 then called ; portraits of Bill Stuart, and Bob Doll3% with 

 his famous dog Nelson, ' the cock of the Oxford walk ' ; like- 

 wise an excellent picture of Squires Draper and Newby, two 

 celebrated Yorkshire sportsmen, representing them in the grey 

 of the morning, opening the door of the kennel. Among the 

 books were some odd numbers of the ' Racing Calendar ' ; 

 the first volume of the ' Stud Book,' the only one then 

 published ; ' Isaak Walton, on Angling ' ; ' Peacham's Complete 

 Gentleman ' ; and some numbers of the ' Sporting Magazine,' 

 a periodical not of much note in those days. 



In his bedroom was a good show of whips, both for hunting 

 and for the road, all made by Mr. Crowther of Swallow-street, 

 the crack man of that day, and who sold them for a crack 

 price. 



' But were there not always crack men ? ' was the answer 



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