I LOSE GEORGE CARTER 121 



than mine ; for I foresaw that the parliamentary duties which I 

 had undertaken, and the state of West Indian affairs, together, 

 would prevent my continuing my hounds, or at least render their 

 continuance uncertain ; and therefore it was decidedly George 

 Carter's interest to leave me. George being unwilling to go, I 

 added that if an additional twenty pounds to his wages would 

 bring my service anything near the duke's, I should be glad to 

 retain him ; but if it did not, for his own sake, he had better at 

 once accept Lord James's proposition. He told me that there 

 was at least a hundred pounds difference between the two 

 situations; so, by my advice, and with my full consent, he 

 succeeded Rose as huntsman to the Duke of Grafton, in which 

 service he remained till the hounds were given up ; he was 

 then engaged by Mr. Ashheton Smith, in whose service he con- 

 tinues. Tom Skinner's brother, Harry Skinner, then came to 

 me from the Worcestershire hounds, and Tom resumed the first 

 place. Harry was a willing, good-humoured fellow, not afraid 

 of work ; and though I missed George Carter sadly, no altera- 

 tion took place in my sport nor in the number of foxes killed ; 

 and all, as far as. sport was concerned, continued " merry as a 

 marriage bell." 



