30 NTMROD'S HITXTING TOUR 



guineas. Shropshire horses, however, have deservedly borne a good 

 name. The blood of Old Snap, Eegulus, Revenge, Tommy, Minister, 

 &c., is scarcely extinct, and their places have been supplied by some 

 excellent stallions, such as Sultan, Transit, and others equally good; 

 and to this day the dealers keep a sharp look out for Shropshire 

 horses. For the first five or six seasons that I hunted with Mr. 

 Corbet's hounds, Will Barrow, his huntsman, rode two strapping 

 chestmxt horses, purchased in the way I have described. One w^as 

 got by Revenge, and the other by Tommy. They were equal to 

 about four stone more than Will's weight, and being perfect fencers, 

 flying and standing, it is needless to say, that, with such a horseman 

 ' on their backs, they were not easily stopped. His other horses were 

 also of the first class. 



Will Barrow was as fine a horseman as ever rode over a country, 

 which gave him an advantage over his hounds, as his eye was never 

 off them in chase. He knew Warwickshire as well as he did the 

 parish he was born in ; and let his hounds go whither they would, or 

 as fast as they would, they could not be long out of his sight. Will, 

 however, was not a good tempered man ; and I always thought that 

 it, in some degree, depended upon whether he was in a humour to 

 kill his fox, that his hounds w^ere to have blood or not. He could 

 not bear to be interfered with hy any one in his casts ; and a word, 

 even from his master, at a critical moment would sour his temper 

 for the day. On the other hand, when things went to please him — 

 when the fox put his head towards a good country, and his favorite 

 pack (the bitches) was shaking off the crowd and getting upon good 

 terms with him, Barrow was then a good huntsman. He rode so 

 well that he was able to give his hounds immediate assistance ; and 

 as he was at all times regardless of fences, his casts were quick and 

 decisive. In dog language. Will Barrow was never excelled. His 

 view-halloo was the best and most melodious I ever heard ; 



(What so grateful to the ear, 



As the voice that speaks to cheer?) 



and to sec him and hear him by the side of the bitches, cheering them 

 with his halloo (which defies the pen), and " have at him, my lasses," 

 pleased me more than anything that I have ever seen or heard in 



