SAMUEL CORNOCK 149 



hardest day's work he ever experienced. He had gone 

 twenty miles to meet hounds in the morning, with 

 the same distance to return ; but he does not appear 

 ever to have accomphshed the feat of his contemporary 

 Jem Hastings. 



Not to be behind in the fashion, Mister Samuel 

 Cornock visited the Exhibition, availing himself of the 

 opportunity of paying his respects to his aristocratic 

 sporting patrons. On the day on which her Majesty 

 attended to close the Session of Parliament, a noble 

 lord introduced him to the care of a policeman, in order 

 that he might be placed in a situation where he would 

 most advantageously ' see and be seen.' Attired in the 

 coat of the Berkeley Hunt, which is of scarlet with a 

 black velvet collar, having a flying fox embroidered 

 thereon in silver and gold, a pair of white cords and 

 new leggings, he failed not to attract notice ; albeit it 

 is reported that some of the ignorant cockney juveniles 

 who swarm on such occasions accosted him with their 

 impudent slang, in the supposition that he was a rat- 

 catcher. He was safely conducted into the park by his 

 friendly guide the policeman, and placed between two 

 Life-guardsmen, with instructions from a high author- 

 ity that they should preserve such space for Mister 

 Samuel Cornock of North Nibley as would protect him 

 from inconvenience. Thus guarded, he awaited the 

 approach of the royal carriage, upon which he took off 

 his hat, and waving it with an attitude similar to that 

 which he would adopt when endeavouring to cap the 

 hounds to a scent, gave three hearty and loyal view- 

 halloos, which he declares, and no doubt conscientiously 

 believes, her Majesty was graciously pleased to acknow- 

 ledge with smiling approbation. 



The Earl Fitzhardinge's hunting appointments not 

 being advertised in the Berkeley country, Sammy is 

 employed to make them known to the gentlemen who 

 reside in the neighbourhood ; for which and other 

 similar services he is liberally remunerated by his lord- 

 ship, independently of the presents which he receives. 



