THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 



established in this part of England by Sir Thomas Mostyn 

 and his connections, brought with them, at different periods, 

 from North Wales. The connections consisted of Sir Edwai'd 

 Lloyd, since created Lord Mostyn, who married the Baronet's 

 sister, and at length succeeded to his property ; and Mr. 

 Griffith Lloyd, his brother, a fellow of All Souls, Oxford, both 

 o-ood sportsmen. As may be expected, more Welsh gentlemen 

 occasionally sojourned in the neighbourhood, for the sake of 

 huntino- with their countryman, who was deservedly popular 

 amongst them all. 



But the great object of attraction in the eyes of Frank Raby 

 was the huntsman to this pack, the very celebrated Shaw, who 

 afterwards hunted the Belvoir hounds with so much spirit and 

 Mat. There was a peculiarity in his manner of hunting his 

 hounds which was quite unlike anything he had ever before 

 seen, as well as a quickness, almost approaching to wildness, 

 in his motions, that could not be lost upon any one who was 

 capable of common observation. And to show the repute he 

 was in as a huntsman, and the value put on liis services by 

 his master, his salary — for wages would be an improper term 

 for such an annual sum, although paid to a person occupying 

 what may be called a menial situation — was £300 per annum, 

 with a servant to arrange his apartment ! And then his 

 horsemanship also surprised Frank Raby. There was an 

 ease and elegance in his seat not often witnessed even in the 

 higher orders of life, together with a quickness that kept him 

 always in his place, and this with a pack noted, as that of Sir 

 Thomas Mostyn was, in those days, for going a racing pace 

 whenever the scent served. And he was told of an extra- 

 ordinary circumstance that occurred to Shaw, which made a 

 lasting impression on his mind. He first commenced hunting- 

 Sir Thomas Mostyn's hounds in what is called the Woore 

 country, comprising parts of Staffordshire and Cheshire, pre- 

 viously to their removal into Oxfordshire. It so happened, at 

 this time, that, partly from a scarcity of foxes, and partly 

 from ill-luck in not catching them, the space of seventeen 

 days had passed over without his hounds tasting blood. 

 Having, then, marked a fox to ground in an earth on the side 

 of a bank, Shaw determined on digging to him, although the 

 night had commenced, and the assistance of lantliorns had 

 become necessary. At length he got him in his hand, not a 



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