THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 



as I imagined, I got over head in a brook, and was obliged to 

 return without seeing a liound. They proved to be Mr. Asshe- 

 ton Smith, called here, 'par excellence no doubt, Tom Smith, 

 and Mr, Vansittart, both mounted upon hunters. 



' I was much disappointed with Melton — I mean the town, 

 which is a poor place, but it contains many good fellows. I 

 dined at the Old Club the first day, the members of which 

 appear to live together after the manner of brothers, and just 

 as sportsman ought to live ; no midnight revelling to shake 

 the nerves. In fact, I am told a pint of wine is the usual 

 limit with many of the best men at Melton. 



' To-day I went to church, a beautiful specimen of the 

 florid Gothic, with very pretty chimes, and was amused as 

 well as edified by the rector, Dr. Ford. When I say " amused," 

 I must tell you why. He would not suffer the clerk to murder 

 the second and fourth verses of the psalm of the day, but read 

 them himself, evidently partaking of the poetical inspiration of 

 the author of them. It is really abominable to hear our clerk 

 at Amstead murder and miscall this fine language, — " the howl 

 in the dessart," for example. But enough of this. After 

 church I walked through several stables in the town, and saw, 

 as you may suppose, many fine horses. To carry my weight, 

 Mr. Forester's stud pleased me most. They were chiefly 

 brown geldings, that colour being prevalent in Shropshire 

 (where he generally purchases his hunters), with those got by 

 the Hundred House Snap, his favourite blood. Cholmondeley's 

 horses were very perfect, and just suited to his weight. By 

 the way, I remember a Christchurch man, out of his county, 

 saying that whilst he was staying at his seat in Cheshire, 

 thirteen hunters took their departure for Melton ; and on his ob- 

 serving that " it must be a difiicult matter to find such a lot " : — 

 " Not at all," replied Cholmondeley, " the difficulty is in finding 

 the money to pay for them." 



' Further particulars of what I saw to-day must remain till 

 we meet. I shall only add that, although the general con- 

 dition of tlie hunters here is very good, it does not equal that 

 of Lord Sefton's stud ; and I have told Pritchard — who of 

 course growled on hearing it— that no hunter of mine should 

 ever again have a summer's run at grass. 



' Believe me, dear Inkleton, 

 ' Truly youi's, 



' Francis Raby. 

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