14 NIMROD'S HUNTING TOUR 



uncommonly fine to ride over for those who are not afraid of large 

 fences, but the drato is apt to be uncertain. A blank day has never 

 been an unusual thing here — a circumstance which I never could 

 account for, from the real fox-hunting spirit that pervades the 

 farmers who inhabit it. It is no uncommon thing to see a hundred 

 of them out in a day ; all anxious for sport ; many of them riding good 

 horses, and selling them for large prices. 



Sir Thomas Mostyn, though a young man, is an old master of 

 fox-hounds, having kept them entirely at his own expense nearly 

 twenty-five years. He took possession of the Bicester country in 

 August, 1800 : and previous to that period, he hunted part of 

 Gloucestershire, and part of Oxfordshire, having a kennel at Stow- 

 on-the-Wold, in the former county. Few men are better qualified 

 to be at the head of a pack of fox-hounds than Sir Thomas. A 

 single man, possessed of a fine fortune, and at ease in his circum- 

 stances, the expense is not an object to him ; and his conduct in the 

 field is particularly gentlemanlike — added to which, no man, did his 

 health permit him to enjoy it, is more fond of the sport. His 

 attention to his kennel is great ; and in the field he is a pattern to 

 all masters of fox-hounds. It is much to be lamented that severe 

 fits of the gout prevent his deriving that pleasure from his hounds 

 to which he is entitled ; as there are many days in the season on 

 w^hich he cannot go out at all, and on others he is obliged to return 

 home without following them far. This circumstance, however, has 

 not abated his zeal to show sport to others, though he may not have 

 it in his power to partake of it himself. 



Sir Thomas Mostyn's hunting establishment is on a very liberal 

 and extensive scale ; but his country will not admit of his hunting 

 more than four days a week, and sometimes not so often. His 

 pack is well attended by the resident gentlemen, and there are 

 generally some strangers staying at Bicester, as well as at their 

 friends' houses in the surrounding neighbourhood. When first Sir 

 Thomas hunted the country, he resided at a place called Bainton, 

 four miles from Bicester ; but about six years ago, he purchased 

 Siviffs House, then a small ale-house, also four miles from Bicester 

 on the Banbury road, which he soon converted into a very comfort- 

 able house for himself, and most complete accommodation for his 



