322 NIMROD S HUNTING TOUR 



whipper-in to the Eaby pack. I believe I have ah'eady spoken of 

 this said Bob Williams; first, as having lived with a brother-in-law 

 of mine ; and, secondly, as having found out a specific for the cure 

 of all complaints of his fellow servants — both male and female ; 

 which specific consisted in a fourth part of a cordial ball dissolved 

 in a pint of hot Welch ale. 1 must not, however, thus lightly pass 

 over this celebrated whipper-in, but give a little history of his 

 sporting career. 



Bob Williams came to the Marquis of Cleveland with a capital lot 

 of hounds, which his Lordship purchased from Sir Eichard Puleston 

 in 1806 or 1807 ; and he arrived with them at Eaby on a little mare 

 also purchased from Sir Eichard, which went by the name of Tlie 

 Puleston Marc ; and which, as well as himself, cut a conspicuous 

 figure in " The Operations of the Eaby Pack " for several succeeding 

 seasons. She was got by Young Snap, son of the Old Hundred- 

 House Snap, which I believe Lord Forester allows to have been the 

 best hunting blood England was ever possessed of ; and there is no 

 doubting his authority. 



In whatever capacity we view them, all men receive a turn and 

 character from the several occupations and professions they have 

 followed in life ; and I think I never saw a more complete cut of a 

 whipper-in than my old acquaintance Bob. He was also — which is 

 not always the case — quite as good as he looked to be ; and I really 

 believe, which is a great deal to say, lie had hut one fault ; but this 

 ault was fatal to him in his capacity of head whipper-in to such a 

 pack of hounds as were often entrusted to his care — he would get a 

 drop too much, and the morning and the evening were all the same 

 to him. 



Now the fact is. Bob, being a Welchman, never paid divine 

 honours to water ; but unfortunately for him, he was brought up in 

 the servants' halls of three great Welch Esquires, where ale was 

 dealt out with a very liberal hand ; and we all know what a catching 

 sin it is, and how perfectly irresistible it becomes at last. His late 

 Noble master relinquished his services with the greatest reluctance ; 

 but what was to be done ? Bob's complaint was incurable ; and I much 

 fear, that, like a King of Navarre, he is destined to perish in strong 

 waters. He is much shook ; and if he had kept the Saracen's Head, 



