1899] COLONEL LEVETT. 295 



with Staffordshire, should at this stage of its history be drafted into Derbyshire." 

 But the Colonel's forebodings were not realized, much to his gratification. In 

 stating that Colonel Levett gave up the idea of again entering Parhament, it must 

 not be supposed that his loyalty to the cause of Conservatism suffered. 



His Political Activity 



continued, as his adherence to his party remained staunch ; and on political, as 

 indeed on social topics, he was a fluent and an effective speaker — cool, calm, and 

 collected, but cutting, and, to his audience, convincing. He never resorted to 

 long and wearisome speeches ; he was concise and definite, and would frequently 

 spice his remarks with a telling tale or a little caustic wit. He never minced 

 his words or went round the bush ; he took the nearest cut and hit straight 

 home. He was a cavalryman, even in his political warfare — riding relentlessly 

 at the foe with unvarying dash and vigour — blunt, frank, and breez}', carelessly 

 open-hearted. These were the characteristics which delighted his hearers and 

 certainly did not offend his opponents, who were equally appreciative of the 

 Colonel's honesty of purpose and his disregard of ceremony. The Colonel was 



Our Oldest Countky Magistrate. 



In the days before the formation^of the borough Bench he was one of the most 

 regular attendants at the Burton court, and the pains he took in sifting the 

 evidence and preserving an unprejudiced mind were proverbial. He was never 

 disturbed by a protracted case, for he ever possessed the means of varying its 

 monotony — he was an accomplished etcher, and his pen-and-ink sketches, taken 

 during the hearing of a case which, say, was bound at the outset to go for trial, 

 and therefore allowed a little freedom of thought on the Bench, were marvels of 

 artistic taste and skill. His scenes were generally landscapes, invariably relieved 

 by a pool, and often with the spire of a village church in the perspective. As a 

 fact, sketching was a favourite pastime with the Colonel, and in his charmingly 

 situated house at Wichnor, overlooking as it does a most picturesque panorama, 

 he found ample opportunity for indulging and developing his refined and artistic 

 acquirements. Of late years the deceased had to some extent relinquished his 

 public duties, and his visits to the police court, the Board of Guardians, 

 and other bodies upon which he served, had become less frequent. This was due 

 entirely to an affliction in the nether limbs, which increased with his years, 

 and rendered physical exertion additionally painful. His interest, however, 

 in public life and the various movements for the social well-being, and particu- 

 larly when pertaining to his own county and district, remained imabated. 



As A Sportsman. 



Amid all his numerous and public engagements Colonel Levett succeeded in 

 developing into a keen and accomplished sportsman. He rode regularly to 

 hounds until his limb affliction — caused, by the way, through an injury to the 

 thigh while jumping over a gate — compelled him to relinquish active interest in 

 the sport, but he always retained a warm affection for the hunt. In passing, if 

 may be mentioned that he presided at the famous meeting at Derby, called for 

 the purpose of electing a successor to the Mastership of the Meynell hounds in 

 place of Mr. Hamar Bass (resigned), and it was due to his great tact and judg- 

 ment that the gathering which, owing to circumstances which need not be 

 repeated, was on tenterhooks anticipating a sound breeze, was steered clear of 



