90 NIMROD'S HUNTING TOUR 



quite enough for the horses ; and I never heard that Mr. T. Smith 

 complained of any want of speed in those hounds he took from 

 Mr. Ward into Lincolnshire. The lot consisted of fifteen couples of 

 hunting hounds, two couples of puppies fit to enter, and five couples 

 of sucking whelps, 



Mr. Ward's hounds are proverbially steady in drawing, and every 

 tongue is a fox. There are generally six or seven couples of young 

 hounds out every day. Had the best judge in the world been out on 

 Penwood day, he could have found no fault. We ran over great 

 variety of ground with a very indifferent scent, and the working of 

 the hounds to catch it was extremely beautiful. Sovereign, Minor, 

 and Posum, particularly distinguished themselves. 



One thing struck me in the Craven country, that I did not see the 

 same faces (at least not more than a score of them) by the covert's 

 side on each day of hunting. The field generally consisted of about 

 sixty, but on one side of the country I saw men whom I never met 

 on the other. One gentleman, however, never failed being at his 

 post, and that was the Eev. Fulwar Fowle. This gentleman resides 

 in the village of Kentbury, about four miles from Hungerford, of 

 which place he is Eector ; and proved himself so good a subject, 

 and such a useful member of society, that in the time of our troubles, 

 when fox-hunting, as well as every other valuable institution in the 

 country, was in danger, he stepped manfully forth, and was invested 

 by his Sovereign with martial as well as clerical authority — having 

 the command of a corps of Berks yeomanry. On being reviewed by 

 the King (George III.) when on duty at Windsor, his Majesty was 

 pleased to observe, that Colonel Fowle was not only one of his best 

 cavalry officers, but one of the best preachers, one of the best shots, 

 and one of the best riders to hounds in his dominions. Who would 

 not be proud of such a compliment from such a man ! 



From the following anecdote of the Eev. Colonel, we may very 

 fairly conclude that he would not have disgraced the martial order 

 had he met with the enemy in the gate : — He got a fall one day into 

 a brook, by which he knocked out three of his teeth, and broke one 

 of his legs. He was carried home and put to bed ; but having a 

 party that evening in his house, he had a glass of wine brought to 

 him, and drank all their good healths and success to fox-hunting ! 



