MR. WARD'S HOUNDS 79 



the hunting, though we had scarcely scent enough to shew even low- 

 scenting hounds to advantage. Oldaker got an awkward fall, owing 

 to riding in one of those felo-de-se instruments, a gag-rein bridle, 

 which never could be intended to ride to hounds with. 



On the Monday following, I met these hounds again in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Newbury, and was not disappointed in the pleasure of 

 seeing Mr. Ward in the field. He came to covert, as usual, in his 

 gig, wuth Sir John Cope by his side, and appeared in excellent 

 health. As a dragsman, I could not help observing that his horse 

 had no bearing rein to his pad, but I was informed he never uses 

 such things — not even when he puts his team together on the road. 

 His three men also rode in snaffle bridles, as he never allows them 

 to use any other. 



When mounted on his hunter, and in the midst of his hounds, I 

 could not help looking at Mr. Ward with admiration — I might 

 almost say with veneration, when I considered that I had before me 

 a man, w^hose long life has been devoted to fox-hunting, and whose 

 character as a sportsman has always stood so high ; whose name is 

 every day quoted as authority for some rule of conduct in the 

 kennel, or as the author of some witty saying or some pleasant joke, 

 and as a real sample of old English blood. He looks in high health 

 and vigour ; as a proof of which, I was told, that being President of 

 his Club a short time since, and having — to use the words of 

 my informant — " screwed up his party almost to the top hole," 

 he pulled a fox's head out of his pocket, and drank a bumper to 

 Fox-hunting. 



I know not what weight Mr. Ward now rides, but I do not 

 wonder at his telling a gentleman, who was out with him, that it 

 tuould be the best rcc'qm for his hot horse. He reminded me of a 

 celebrated character among the welter weights in the Forest, who, 

 on being asked what he weighed, replied, that he was " two-and- 

 twenty stone on the to eigh-b ridge" — as much as to say "no scales 

 will hold me." 



On the day I have been last speaking of, we found our fox in less 

 than half an hour after we began to draw. We ran him upwards of 

 two hours, through a good scenting country at first; and at one 

 time at a fair pace, with the hope that he was then going to fly ; 



