226 NIMROD'S HUNTING TOUR 



struck, not only with the increased pace of the pack, but of those 

 who followed them. There was no stopping to look what was on 

 the other side, as in days of yore, in this country ; but away 

 went three or four young Eytons, a young Kynaston, a young Owen, 

 and a nephew of mine, with the Squire of Halston and two or three 

 more older hands, at the rate of twenty miles an hour. Well was 

 it for the hounds that there was a good scent, or some of them must 

 have been killed, as giving them time to get together formed no part 

 of the system of this day; and Sir Eichard's " hold hard," though 

 sung out most au.dibly on the occasion, and sufUcient to have halted a 

 charge of cavalry, had no more effect than a summer's shower upon 

 a rock of adamant. " Go it, my tulip," was the order of the day 

 with these aspiring young Nimrods, and very merrily they did go. 



Sir Eichard Puleston is a very old master of fox-hounds, having 

 kept them almost thirty-five years. Although chiefly confined to 

 his home country, he has at different times had the Shropshire, the 

 Shiffnal, and Lord Anson's countries, in each of which I hunted 

 with him, and though never what would now be called a hard rider, 

 he has always been esteemed a good judge of hunting and an 

 excellent breeder of hounds. Sir Eichard also may almost be said 

 to have set the example of gentlemen hunting their own hounds — 

 an example which has been perhaps too generally followed, as not 

 always leading to the best results. 



As a huntsman to a pack of fox-hounds — since the days of Flying 

 Ben and the Blue Horse'-' — Sir Eichard Puleston has laboured under 

 some disadvantage, in not riding very near to his hounds — a dis- 

 advantage not generally considered so important as it really is. Of 

 his judgment in the field, however, I have ever thought highly, and 

 his voice and manner in drawing his coverts were always musical 

 and good ; but for many years past he has had a huntsman to 

 assist him. 



Sir Eichard's present pack is young, but in themselves highly 

 creditable to his judgment as a breeder. They want nothing but 

 some good efficient men about them, who will be as quick as them- 

 selves, to make them into a very clever pack. Ned Bates is getting 



* Two celebrated liunters of Sir Richard's, the latter of which hunted till 

 past twenty years of age — refusing to be put to any other easier work. 



