MR. WARD'S HOUNDS 77 



terrier, in the midst of a fine pack of fox-hounds ; or a hunted fox 

 dug to, unless it be in a common drain or a rabbit spout, for which 

 purpose there is always a cur dog at hand. 



MR. ward's hounds. 



On the day after I was out with Sir John, I met Mr. Ward's 

 hounds within a mile of Newbury. It is just twenty years last 

 December since I hunted with him, when, if I had not made a 

 memorandum of the sport, it was well impressed on my memory, 

 as it cost me a pretty good hunter. It stands thus in my book : — 



" Friday, December 30, 1803, met Mr. Ward at Winnick Warren 

 (Northamptonshire). Ean a fox to ground, bolted him, and killed 

 him. Found again, five minutes before twelve, near the same place, 

 and killed him when attempting to reach the earths at Thorncomb 

 in Leicestershire, after a run of one hour and three-quarters, with 

 only two trifling checks, and which was declared by Mr. Ward and 

 Lord Spencer to be the quickest run for the time ever seen in 

 Northamptonshire. A large field was out, and among the few who 

 saw him killed were. Lords Spencer and Althorp, Mr. Elwes, Mr. 

 Buller, Eev. Mr. Barnard, &c. Mr. Ward came up about twenty 

 minutes after we had killed the fox. Bob Forfeit, the huntsman, 

 got a bad fall at a brook. Horses — Caravan and Snufi^-box." 



In May, 1805, the following note appears at the bottom of this 

 memorandum : — 



" Snuff-box never recovered this day. A humour settled in his 

 thigh, and after a great discharge, thought it was well. Turned out 

 for the summer, but worse than ever when he came into work again. 

 Sent him up to Mr. Field, who fired him, but all to no purpose, and 

 sold him at Tattersall's for 26Z." 



On the day I have previously alluded to (the 2d inst), I was 

 disappointed in not seeing Mr. Ward in the field. It was a very 

 inclement morning, and no doubt he was prevented by weather. 

 His hounds, however, were a matter of considerable interest to me, 

 as a pack bred by one of the oldiest and most celebrated sportsmen 

 of the last century — a sportsman of the Old School, but who has 

 had the opportiinity of judging of all the advantages and dis- 

 advantages of the New — one, whose judgment has been acknowledged 



