THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 



hiin, first, the tenant of a large mansion and domain in one 

 of the midland counties, secondly, with an increased stud, and 

 not only of hunters, but coach-horses ; thirdly, a member of 

 Bibury and Kingscote Racing Clubs, and of the B.D.C., or 

 Benson Driving Club ; fourthly, with a house and fourteen- 

 stalled stable at Melton Mowbray ; and, fifthly, a member of 

 the House of Commons. Let us look, then, at his proceedings 

 in these several stations, of no small importance in our eyes. 



As may be imagined, the mansion he had fixed upon was 

 selected with an eye to tlie amusements to whicli he was 

 devoted, and to as much enjoyment of them as could be 

 procured for a certain given sum. Hunting is here not taken 

 into the account, our hero having satisfied himself that there 

 is only one part of Engla.nd in which the chase could be enjoyed 

 to perfection, and in that he did not wish to reside all the year, 

 for more reasons than one. A great object with him was 

 good roads, which Leicestershire at this period was deficient in. 

 Another, was good partridge and pheasant-shooting, to neither 

 of which were the rich pastures of the queen of all hunting 

 countries accounted favourable, from the general absence of 

 corn-fields. Our young sportsman then set himself down with 

 a clear £4700 a year at his command, in a fine old mansion, 

 whose grounds opened into the great Holyhead Road, which, 

 even at that period, was one of the best in England, and, from 

 the numerous coaches running upon it, the most interesting 

 and amusing to a person who, like our hei'O, is fond of the 

 humours and proceedings of what is called, ' THE road ' ; in 

 fact, nothing could be more to his mind, during tlie lifetime of 

 his father, than the place we have now spoken of. As has 

 already been stated, the gates of the park opened on an excel- 

 lent road ; the manor sufficiently abounded with game. Fox- 

 hounds and harriers were kept in the neighbourhood. There 

 was good coursing-ground in the open fields, belonging to the 

 proprietor of the estate ; and a river ran through the domain, 

 affording good trolling for pike, at which Frank Raby had 

 become an adept by the instructions of Jack Perren, who, by 

 the permission of Mr. Raby, was now become his keeper. But 

 the agreinens of Farndon Hall are not yet all told. One of the 

 best female cooks that London could furnish was put into his 

 kitchen, and a good stock of the choicest wines into his cellars. 

 That he had a choice set of customers for the produce of each 



271 



