THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 



api^earing bent upon conquest — the pace up to this moment 

 having been a flying one. He tlien made his line for Kirkby, 

 leaving the Gorse to the left, as if Burbage Wood were his next 

 point ; but the hounds pressed him so hard, that he went 

 farther a-field ; and, to come to the end of my story, he was 

 killed at the end of one hour and fifty-five minutes, during 

 which time nothing occurred which could be called a check. 

 The country being awfully deep, and the pace throughout fast 

 in the extreme, several disasters occurred, and veterinary 

 surgeons were in request, on the morrow, in more directions 

 than one. 



' By the bye, I do not recollect having told you that I 

 hunted one week in Yorkshire, wath the hounds of the far- 

 famed Earl of Darlington. He has a noble establishment of 

 hounds and horses, a most extensive country, and he performs 

 the office of huntsman both in the field and in the kennel. 

 He is a superb horseman over a country as well, and altogether 

 a sportsman, being one of the leading men in the north on the 

 turf. He is, likewise — for I had the honour of passing two 

 days with him at his castle — one of the most lively and 

 agreeable companions I ever met with over a bottle of claret, 

 abounding with anecdotes, and having a most agreeable manner 

 of relating them. What think you of his feeding his hounds 

 in a smock-frock ? which I saw him do twice. I hope some day 

 to do the same by mine, that is, when I have them to feed. 

 His Lordship always keeps a diary of each day's sport, written 

 with much spirit, and showing that his heart and soul are in 

 the pursuit. I will give you a little specimen of his style, in 

 recording the sport of the first day on which I was out with his 

 pack. Speaking of those of his field who went well in the 

 brilliant run we had, of an hour and forty minutes, he says — " I 

 cannot omit to mention that the Rev. Mr. John Morton shone 

 as conspicuously on his grey mare as he always does in the 

 pulpit." Then, speaking of myself, his Lordship has thus 

 described me : — " A young gentleman by the name of Raby, a 

 friend of my eldest son, who made his acquaintance at Melton, 

 was out with us this day, and rode well to my hounds; he 

 appears to have an old head upon young shoulders, and I 

 prophesy that he will, some day or another, make a dis- 

 tinguished sportsman." 



' His Lordship did not show me what he had written ; but 



358 



