96 REMINISCENCES OF A HUNTSMAN 



name to my tradesmen, and so obtained or neutralised several 

 votes. On this I at once repaired to the scene of action, and, 

 in company with Lord John Russell, canvassed several votes 

 which were neutralised, among them the veterinary surgeon who 

 attended my stables, and he consented to vote for Lord John 

 Russell, but was afraid to go to the poll on account of Mr. 

 PolhilPs people, that which is usually called the mob being on 

 Mr. PolhilPs side. Upon this, I assured him I would answer 

 for his safety, took him by the arm, and saw him register his 

 vote. The election concluded by the return of Mr. W. H. 

 Whitbread and Mr. Polhill, the latter beating Lord John 

 Russell by five votes. Mr. Polhill then took umbrage at what 

 I had done, although the actions of his own canvassers called 

 for it, and his tenants sent home every puppy from their walks ; 

 on my reporting this at Woburn, those puppies were received 

 by his Grace's tenants. 



The summer passed pleasantly enough, and, on commencing 

 cub-hunting, foxes came infinitely quicker to hand than they 

 did the first season ; and we occasionally killed two or three of 

 a morning, which I could well afford to do in the woodlands, 

 the cubs having been better preserved. A very near neighbour 

 of mine, Mr. Higgins, of a place called Turvey Abbey, I found 

 to be rabid against hounds and foxes; indeed, I had been 

 warned to avoid his land as much as possible. For a wonder, 

 as they told me, he tolerated my crossing his estate more quietly 

 than usual ; but he destroyed every fox he could get near. I 

 once ran a cub into his grounds and killed him, and in the 

 ditch of the little plantation by which the hounds broke him up 

 there lay two of the same litter, shot, and their brushes cut off. 

 Now I know very well that there are few men who will favour a 

 sport, how much good soever it may do to the country, if they 

 enjoy it not themselves, or who like to have their hen-roosts 

 assailed and their game taken by an animal that makes them 

 individually no return. When I say "few" perhaps I am 

 wrong ; " some men " would be nearer the mark, for there are a 

 great many, and ladies among them, who, though they do not 



