CHESHIRE 223 



the major made an unlucky turn, and his brother, Mr. Mytton, Mr. 

 Domville Poole, and Mr. John Hill (brother to Sir Eowland) 

 were the leading men. Will Head also rode very near to his 

 hounds. 



Prom what I have heard of the Cheshire country, nothing can be 

 better conducted, or made more agreeable to the manager of the 

 pack than all pecuniary concerns. The subscription — 2,000/. per 

 annum — is paid to the appointed day, and there are no less than 

 fifty gorse coverts in the Hunt. One kennel is upon Delamere 

 Forest, another at Wrenbury on the Shropshire side the country, 

 and the other at Peover, near Knutsford, the seat of Sir Harry 

 Mainwaring. 



Sir Harry Mainwaring has had the management of the Cheshire 

 hounds for the last six seasons, and has given universal satisfaction. 

 Well, indeed, he may ; for he is not only a most zealous sportsman, 

 but one of the best-tempered men in the world. Although it was 

 not in my power to accept of his very kind invitation to Peover, I 

 had the pleasure of spending two days with him at Mr. Domville 

 Poole's, and found him an unaffected country gentleman and a very 

 agreeable companion. 



I considered Sir Harry's men very efficiently mounted; and a 

 bay mare of Will Head's of a stamp quite superior. The stud was 

 also in uncommonly good condition, under the care of Charles 

 Davis. 



Will Head commenced his career with the Duke of Rutland's 

 hounds. In 1817, he went to the Badsworth, and whipped-in 

 to them one season ; next, to Mr. Osbaldeston, two seasons ; and 

 then to Sir Belhngham Graham, for one— during the time he 

 hunted Northamptonshire. From him he went to the Cheshire 

 hounds, with which he began as whipper-in, but which he has now 

 hunted two seasons, giving great satisfaction. He is very zealous 

 to kill his fox ; rides well up to his hounds ; has a nice cheering 

 halloo, though perhaps a little too-free with it at times. Of his 

 two whippers-in I can say but little, as I did not see them in 

 difficulties sufficient to try them. 



I was born and bred within a gun's shot of Cheshire, and it is 

 natural to conclude that the first fox-hounds I ever hunted with 



