128 REMINISCENCES OF A HUNTSMAN 



born, overcame every other consideration, and I determined to 

 sell my hounds. I knew this was not the happiest course for 

 me, but it was the course, perhaps, of duty, at least it was not 

 selfish. 



At this time Mr. Osbaldeston resigned the Pytchley country, 

 and Mr. Wilkins was in treaty for it. I think it was Mr. Payne 

 who advised Mr. Wilkins to apply to me to buy my hounds. 

 The sad day arrived, and I took him into the kennel. In selling 

 them I could not find in my heart to let them all go beyond my 

 reach, in case I should keep hounds again ; so I made an odd 

 sort of arrangement with him. I sold him the entered hounds, 

 and gave him the unentered, on condition that, if I claimed 

 them at the close of any season, half of each entry of each 

 succeeding season were to be mine. The moment I conversed 

 with Mr. Wilkins, and saw the sort of sportsman or otherwise 

 that he was, there were a few favourite hounds I resolved not to 

 let him have. One of these was Harrogate. Harrogate and 

 some others I gave to the Duke of Grafton, knowing that under 

 George Carter they would be well cared for and rendered happy, 

 their use and beautiful attainments in the field being thoroughly 

 known to their huntsman. One of the bitches, a one -year 

 hunter, that I sold to Mr. Wilkins, returned home in a few 

 days, and never would remain in his kennel. Poor dear old 

 Harrogate ! the noble hound is fresh in my remembrance now. 

 He died at a good old age here at Beacon Lodge, and assisted 

 me to kill the first brace of otters I ever found in the New 

 Forest. In my mind^s eye I see him now come flashing out into 

 the ride in Puddington Great Hayes, on the second cub he had 

 ever seen found. We had killed one that morning in Colworth 

 Thick ; the cub was beaten, turning very short, and Harrogate 

 had evidently just had a view at him. He dashed into the ride, 

 his stern lashing his sides in his beautiful style of hunting, and 

 looked up and down for the cub, and then into cover again. 

 Harrogate entered at once, as almost all the Berkeley Castle- 

 bred litters do, and for this reason their walks are full of hares 

 and rabbits, and they begin to hunt as soon as they can run. 



