SQUIRE OSBALDESTON 89 



pace, were not held in so much estimation as hunting 

 runs; and in 1823 ' The Squire,' as he was termed by 

 his friends, returned to his old quarters at Quorndon 

 Hall, and Sir Bellingham Graham w^ent into what is 

 now called the Albrighton country. Mr. Osbaldeston 

 then undertook the arduous post of hunting his own 

 hounds. On the previous occasion Tom Sebright offici- 

 ated ; Dick Burton was the first whip to Mr. Osbaldeston, 

 until he met with a severe accident, when his place 

 was occupied by the equally well-known Jack Stevens, 

 assisted by James Shirley ; and two more efficient 

 whippers-in never turned hounds to their huntsman's 

 horn. 



With what pleasure do we retrace our lives to the 

 period of our youthful days, and what a happy circum- 

 stance it is that we retain more vivid recollection of 

 subjects which afford us delight than of those which 

 create vexation ! Thus we refer to by-gone days with 

 considerable satisfaction, and compare them with the 

 present as having been more profuse of prosperity and 

 social happiness. This is not an unaccountable feeling 

 considering that youth is the stage of our existence 

 when we are most susceptible to the impressions of joy, 

 ere we have encountered the deceits of mankind, the 

 stratagems of malevolence and the vicissitudes of 

 fortune ; ere we have gained knowledge by experience, 

 and are more capable of detecting imperfections, which 

 being discovered detract something from the enjoy- 

 ment of pursuits with which they may be connected. 

 Highly elated was I when I first contemplated a visit to 

 the Elysian Fields of Leicestershire. It was at 

 Christmas, 1826, I made an engagement with a neigh- 

 bouring friend, a junior relative of Mr. Lockley's, to 

 join our forces and take a trip to Melton. 



Not wishing to incur unnecessary expenses, our 

 arrangements were made in this fashion. My friend 

 had three hunters, and he undertook to drive me to 

 Melton in his buggy, which was likewise to be our mode 

 of conveyance to covert, when the place of meeting 



