THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 



a brook, besides losino^, as 1 undeistand, a tine day's sport. How- 

 ever, the lesson will not be lost upon me, in having impressed two 

 things upon my mind ; first, to be wider awake on a Imnting 

 morning ; secondly, the fact that a pretty good hunter with my 

 father's harriers is a devilish bad cover-hack in Leicestershire.' 

 Tlie next day being Sunday, Frank Raby, after being in 

 clmrch, for Melton men go to church, and hearing an excellent 

 discourse from Doctor Ford, on the empty vanity of all human 

 pursuits, was conducted by his friend Somerby through several 

 of the stables belonging to the principal Melton men, which 

 was to him a great treat. Tlie impression made upon him by 

 this inspection was conveyed to his friend, Sir John Inkleton, 

 in a letter, of which the following is a copy : — 



' Melton, February 8, 1802. 



' Dear Inkleton, — 



' I promised to let you know how I get on in Leicester- 

 shire. I made a bad start on Friday with the Quorn ;— 

 attempted to go tlie pace Avith the leading men, and brought 

 Gentleman to a standstill. I think his place is " the pro- 

 vincials," as the top-sawyers here call all countries but their 

 own. However, I was nmch pleased with their beautiful 

 riding, and went as long as I could. But, to use the vulgar 

 phrase, I must either eat more pudding, — that is, become 

 older, — or buy better horses, before I shall be able to go their 

 pace, for it is nearly the Bibury Welter pace. And yet I have 

 no reason to be displeased with my first day in Leicestershire. 

 Somerby introduced me to several of the dons, and, above 

 all, to Mr. Meynell, who equals all I have heard of him in his 

 manners and appearance. Lord Sefton does the whole thing 

 in first-rate style ; his huntsman. Raven (I have not seen 

 Stephen Goodall), is worth riding fifty miles to see. Every 

 one says he is perfect in the field, and has, what can be said 

 of few, only one fault elsewhere. He is rather too fond of his 

 Lordship's good October. The meet at Cream Lodge Gorse 

 was such a sight as I never thought I should see — but more 

 of this when we meet. 



' Yesterday I made a very " bad cast," as old Dick says. I 

 missed seeing a fine run with Lord Lonsdale's liounds by over- 

 sleeping myself, and got well punished for so doing. When I 

 ought to have been half-way to cover, I was at my breakfast, 

 and by endeavouring to follow the two last men out of Melton, 

 but generally two of the first in a run, on their cover-hacks, 



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