330 NIMROD'S HUNTING TOUR 



delicate Lady Arabella Vane, of whom it may be said, a hmidred 

 years hence, 



" Non ilia loco, neque origine gentis 

 Clara, sed arte fuit ; " * 



and who will say that fox-hunting abates woman's softness ? 



In the dining-room of Eaby Castle is a grand picture of the Feast of 

 Canaan ; but I was more pleased with several on sporting subjects. 

 There are three groups of hounds particularly well executed, and a 

 beautiful portrait of the bitch Costive, which may be said to have 

 been the Niobe of the Eaby pack. This noted bitch is buried in the 

 pleasure grounds of the Castle, and her cemetery is enclosed by a 

 wall. 



The picture, by Marshall, of Lord Darlington and his hounds, from 

 which the well-known print is taken, also adorns these walls ; and 

 there are portraits of four celebrated hunters and two distinguished 

 race-horses. Amongst the latter are Haphazard, with Pierse the 

 jockey and Sam Wheatley the training groom ; and Muley Moloch, 

 with Mr. Hardy Thompson and Mr. Trotter. In short this splendid 

 apartment is quite in character with everything else at Eaby. 



The kennel at Eaby was built by the late Earl of Darlington and 

 the late Duke of Cleveland ; fox-hounds were kept in it many years. 

 It is a Gothic ornamented building, conspicuously situated in the 

 park, and possesses every comfort and convenience for the largest 

 establishment of fox-hounds. The Eaby hounds are divided into an 

 old and a young pack ; and bear evidence of being bred by a judicious 

 hand. 



As a horseman Lord Cleveland deserves a word. What most men 

 delight in, that is, a fine-mouthed horse, is far from a treat to him. 

 He I'ides all his horses with a hard hand, and consequently likes those 

 that will bear against him ; and he has a peculiar way of putting 

 them at their fences. I have seen him absolutely make them paw 

 down the hedge before he will let them rise, if there should be a blind 

 and deep ditch on the other side, by wdiich plan he no doubt saves 

 many falls ; and he had but one whilst I was in the North. His 

 perfect knowledge of the country also gives him a great advantage in 



* Xot more conspicuous by her birth than her accomplishments. 



