OXFORDSHIRE 19 



boys — the faster the better" — he is to be stopped by nothing that 

 any other man can get over, and he is particularly quick at getting 

 out of a crowd. Fence, brook, and timber are all the same to him, 

 and he has a remarkably good eye to hounds. He is also an every- 

 day rider, and certainly one of the pleasantest men in England to 

 ride over a country with ; for, so far from having a grain of jealousy 

 about him, he will give a man every assistance in his power, and 

 seems {{leased when he sees another going as well as himself. The 

 Oxford men swear by him. He has long been their favourite pilot, 

 though he has landed many of them not exactly in "the haven 

 where they would be." He is very good at a brook, but at times 

 dangerous to follow for those who cannot swim. 



In his hunting stable. Sir Henry is well horsed, though his number 

 seldom exceeds five. He is too good a judge to keep more than his 

 country requires ; and as he does not go from home to hunt, he 

 seldom gets more than four days in the week, with the exception of 

 now and then a day with the Duke of Grafton at Whistleywood, or 

 one or two other places. His hunters are very perfect, for he will 

 have them so. He is a capital horseman, and, taking him in harness 

 and out, no man can do more with a horse than he can. Sir Henry 

 is also a good judge of the savoir vivre, and all is right at Tusmore. 



Sir Edward Lloyd is a good sportsman, has a good eye to hounds, 

 and few men at his time of day, and of his weight, ride to them so 

 well. His eldest son promised to be a first rate. He is, however, 

 a hard rider, a popular man in the country, and delights in fox- 

 hunting. 



There are four of the Drakes who attend the Mostyn Hunt, and 

 are uncommonly well mounted. Mr. T. T. Drake resides at Buck- 

 land, where Sir Henry Peyton lived previous to his removing to 

 Tusmore. Mr. John Drake is a brilliant performer, and no man can 

 beat him for an hour, best pace, over a strong country. His horses 

 are of the right stamp ; and one of them can do anything that is 

 required of a hunter, and he has refused six hundred guineas for 

 him. 



Mr. Harrison, of Shelswell, can ride well to hounds, but he has 

 his particular days. "When he does " set-to," and things go to please 

 him, he is not to be denied. 



