NEW FOREST 171 



great deal of him in the field, but never sate him quarrelling, and very 

 seldom interfering, ivitli his horse. He is also always well mounted 

 for his welter weight, and his horses are generally in condition, 

 though he has lost his factotum in his hunting stable — Tom Penn — 

 who rode after him for so many years over the country, and whose 

 judgment in hunters was considered superior. Tom was killed by a 

 fall from his horse in hunting ; and his successor dropped dead from 

 his, this season, in Leicestershire ; but such accidents are inseparable 

 from humanity. 



Speaking of pad-boys, as they are termed — which was the original 

 office of Tom Penn — a good " second-horse-man " (now so called) is 

 most essential to a Leicestershire sportsman — a second horse being 

 quite indispensable if he wish to be on a par with his neighbours. 

 He should not only be a good rider and a light weight, but he should 

 have an eye to a country, and be some judge of hunting, to enable 

 him to know which way hounds are likely to turn ; to observe when 

 they are sinking in their pace, and likely to come to a check, that he 

 may be able to luring his horse fresh and well up to his master. 

 Having gotten on the horse that has been relieved by the exchange, 

 there is some art also required in getting him round again, by picking 

 the best and soundest ground, weakest fences, &c., and taking the 

 most judicious line for the point the fox may be making. 



A FORTNIGHT IN THE NEW FOREST IN APRIL. 



It may create a smile when we think, that not having the honour 

 of being an Archbishop, a Bishop, an Earl, or a Baron, had I been 

 born in the reigns of a Henry, a Eichard, or a John, I should not 

 have been allowed to hunt in a King's forest ; but living under the 

 milder sceptre of George the Fourth, I am at liberty to hunt where 

 I list. With this privilege then, I promised myself a pleasure I had 

 never enjoyed — a fortnight's hunting in the New Forest in April. 

 On the 10th of the month I arrived at Beechw^ood, the seat of Sir 

 Hussey Vivian, by dinner, and took up my abode under his hospitable 

 roof during my visit to the Forest. 



Although I had never been in " The Forest," as it is called — all 

 others being considei'ed quite infra dig. to this— yet having lived a 



