274 NIMROD'S HUNTING TOUR 



sport and truly jovial night. There was a young gentleman of the 

 party who had observed a remarkable taciturnity during the whole 

 week. Nay, more than that, he had dozed away his evenings as if 

 careless or unconscious of the passing scene. " He is in love," said 

 I. I was told he was not. " He is plethoric, and should be cupped." 

 — " Not a bit of it," said his friend ; " he is as good a fellow as ever 

 cracked a bottle." — "I do not doubt it," was my reply; "but I 

 should like to hear him throw his tongue a little." The proceedings 

 of this day had the wished-for effect. Like a butterfly in the sun- 

 shine, he was all alive ; he never once dozed in his chair ; he told us 

 several excellent anecdotes, and sang two capital songs. 



Although on this evening we dedicated a vigil to the jolly god, 

 drinking is not the characteristic of the Sedgefield Club ; for by one 

 of its rules the landlord forfeits a bottle of wine if he neglects to 

 bring in the bill in three hours after dinner is served ; and it was 

 only broken through on this occasion, being an extraordinary one. 



The undress uniform of the Sedgefield Club is a plain scarlet coat, 

 with collar of the same, and white buttons. The dress uniform 

 is a black coat, black velvet collar, gilt buttons, with a plain raised 

 border, and a fox and the letter L embossed ; a white upper 

 waistcoat, with an under-one of scarlet satin, silk, or cloth. The 

 two following rules of this Club are deserving of notice : — 



Eule 16. " That any Member breaking a gap into, or riding into, 

 through, or over any covert, after it shall be properly enclosed, be 

 fined one guinea." 



Eule 17. "That if, during the continuance of the Sedgefield 

 Meeting, any gentleman of the Lambton Hunt, or any visitor, shall 

 trespass, either by shooting or coursing on any manors or estates in 

 the neighbourhood, without the consent of the proprietors in writing, 

 he shall be fined twenty guineas, upon complaint being made by the 

 proprietors." 



There was but one take-off from the pleasure and comfort of the 

 Sedgefield Club, and that was the lateness of the dinner hour (seven 

 o'clock) on non-hunting days. Men who hunt four or five days a 

 week ought to retire early to rest, which is not in their power if they 

 do not get up from the dinner table till near eleven o'clock, which 

 must be the case here. 



