Belvoir Hunt. 23 



hands generally taught them that rebellion 

 was useless and good behaviour the best 

 policy. In the education of a novice 

 with hounds Sampey was an expert, seldom 

 or never following anyone over a fence, and 

 having a capital eye for country, he was sure 

 to be handy no matter whether a run was fast 

 or slow. Mr. Commissioner Fane was a 

 celebrity who enjoyed the sport immensely, 

 and became the subject of a humorous sketch 

 and poem depicting his draggled appearance 

 on emerging from the Coston Brook, and 

 subsequent restoration at the '' Peacock," 

 Croxton, under a vigorous administration of 

 the rubbing remedy at the hands of the com- 

 passionate hostess, and copious libations of 

 hot bohea. 



Sir Thomas Whichcote, however, held 

 primary honours about this time. Possessing 

 a magnificent stud, comprised mostly of 

 thorough-bred horses, when hounds settled 

 down at their best he soon secured a place 

 which superior speed and fine horsemanship 

 enabled him to maintain to the end, and 

 which few were able to dispute in any 

 part of the run. 



