194 RECORDS OF THE CHASE 



Sir Thomas Acland as master of the stag-hounds in 

 Devon. 



" Things were done differently from what they are in 

 these days. I expect there were more pipes of port wine 

 finished by this party and their neighbouring jolly com- 

 panions during their winter visits — perhaps four — than 

 have been since in twenty years. They had great 

 assistance in their festivities as well as field pursuits 

 from such as we seldom see now — Messrs. Harry and 

 Walter Blunt of Amport, Colonel Beaver, with several 

 others. General Sir Sidney Meadows, I believe, con- 

 tinually joined them in the evening. Mr. Pile, an 

 alderman of Andover, who, together with his horse, 

 numbered a hundred years, was a general attendant in 

 the field. Jack Haines, the star of Devon huntsmen, 

 was idolised by all the Hampshire sportsmen ; and I had 

 the pleasure of seeing him cut off several brushes, having 

 frequently gone with my brother Etonians, Newton 

 and Coulson Wallop, from Hurtsbourne. Mr. Poyntz, 

 I believe, for many years hunted a part of Mr. Smith's 

 country from Midgham, and for several years was in 

 the habit of bringing a strong pack to the Red Lion at 

 Overton. He lived, during his visits there, at the large 

 inn; but always slept at the Red Lion, his bedroom 

 looking into the kennel. His hounds derived some 

 advantage from what those of the present day seldom 

 do; for they had plenty of room to make their casts. 

 Eight pounds was the maximum price for the hunters, 

 and no corn allowed between Lady Day and 

 Michaelmas. The hounds were never over-ridden. 

 John Topper, huntsman, had sometimes difficulty in 

 keeping his hounds together. During the last few years 

 of Mr. Poyntz's hunting he invariably came to covert in 

 his carriage and four, with two postilions ; his valet, 

 John Child, assisting Topper in the field. Also Topper 

 had sometimes a boy to assist in bringing the three 

 horses. Freefolk was a very favourite covert with my 

 old friend ; for being large, he usually went there on 

 Monday and the following Wednesday ; also because he 

 had frequently a tired fox to hunt, and besides he 

 picked up the hounds which were left behind. He 

 continued his hounds very late in life, and latterly 

 seldom left his carriage. To insure amusement, he had 

 a loaded gun ready for a shot at a hare, or partridge, 

 or whatever came in his way. He was always a very 



