TO 



THE RIGHT HONOURABLE 



THE EAEL OF STAMFOED AND WAEEINGTON, 



ETC. 7;tc, 



My dear Lord, 



By the following Tale, in whicli the characters are 

 depicted from real life, I have endeavoured to show that Fox- 

 hunters are not men of one idea only, or of one pursuit ; and 

 that Masters of Fox-hounds do not, as they have been grossly 

 misrepresented, live for Fox-hunting alone. As an exemplifica- 

 tion of the contrary being the fact, I could adduce numerous 

 instances ; but need go no further than point to your Lordship, 

 now occupying the first position in the hunting world, as Master 

 of the Quorn Country, and may affirm, without flattery, that 

 the encomium bestowed on your great predecessor, the celebrated 

 Hugo Meynell, may with equal truth be applied to yourself : — 

 " He was, indeed, as much the repandu of the elite of Grosvenor 

 Square — as much at home at St. James's — as he was at Quorndon 

 or at Ashby pastures." However bold and adventurous in the 



A 



