SHROPSHIRE 191 



Sir Bellingham and myself dined at Sundorn Castle on this day 

 with Mrs. Corbet (widow of that justly-esteemed sportsman), who 

 now, with her four sons and one daughter, resides in the house, and 

 where the former munificence of the establishment seems by no 

 means diminished. Some alterations have certainly taken place, 

 produced by the sweeping hand of Time. Instead of sixty 

 couples of the blood of the Trojans, with Will Barrow at their head, 

 the kennel contains a small pack of harriers, kept by the present 

 Mr. Corbet — and Will Barrow is dead. 



Every sportsman will like to hear what was the finish of the noted 

 Will Barrow, whose halloo so often thrilled through my soul. He 

 descended in the scale, and, from a huntsman to fox-hounds, became 

 huntsman to the present Mr. Corbet's harriers ; and an excellent 

 one he was supposed to be. In following them one day last year, 

 his horse fell with him, and in three weeks he was in his grave. Ye 

 fates, how cruel ! Will Barrow (as he lived so well with them) 

 should have died with fox-hounds, and the brush of his last fox should 

 have waved among his funeral plumes : 



" For could we choose the time, and choose aright, 

 'Tis best to die, our honour at the height." 



The most extraordinary part of Will Barrow's history is yet to 



come. In boxes in which he kept his clothes, in old stockings, and 



in all sorts of odd places, was property to the amount of fourteen 



hundred pounds found at his decease, besides suits of clothes — many 



of them never put on — sufficient for a parish ! ! It appears that he 



had not taken any steps to increase his property by placing his 



money at interest ; neither had he any wish to settle himself in a 



farm, or any other respectable situation in life ; but seemed to think 



his favourite saddle-room and the servants' hall at Sundorn quite 



good enough for him. His bones repose in the churchyard at 



Uffington, about a mile from Sundorn, and on the headstone of his 



tomb are the following lines : — 



Of this world's pleasure I have had my share. 



For few the sorrows I was doom'd to bear : 



How oft I have enjoyed the noble chase 



Of hounds and foxes, each striving for the race ! 



But the knell of Death calls me away ; 



So, sportsmen, farewell ! — I must obey. 



