THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS. 



His Hunting Re- 

 '^ cord. 



connected with the sport. He was, indeed, Mr. John Wards 



" a fine old English gentleman, one of the olden time." ' 



Popular with all classes, it is little to be wondered 

 that fox-hunting found no opposition among the 

 farmers in the countries in which he introduced it. 

 Followed as his successor in Warwickshire by Mr. 

 Corbet, who was equally a gentleman in thought, 

 action, and word, the Warwickshire agriculturists 

 soon became attached to the sport, and ardent sup- 

 porters and preservers, and it is gratifying to note that 

 this loyalty has ever been maintained. The following 

 are some of the countries hunted by him during the 57 

 years of mastership. Up to 1776 he hunted round 

 Squerries, his seat in Kent ; up to 1780 round Gatten- 

 den, in Berks ; up to 1798 in Oxfordshire, and during 

 some seasons Warwickshire. In 1797 he went to the 

 Pytchley country. From 1808 to 1814 he hunted in the 

 New Forest, and from 1814 to 1826 in the Craven. 

 This, however, must only be taken as quite a skeleton 

 list, and the dates as approximate ones. There are 

 other countries which can claim connection with him. 

 While in the New Forest an unfortunate outbreak of 

 madness destroyed his pack. The beginning of fox- 

 hunting saw large powerful hounds bred. Indeed size His Hounds 

 was a point which was much considered. As a breeder 

 of such hounds Mr. Warde was celebrated, his hounds 

 being noted equally for their huoting properties. He 

 built a number of kennels, and said he could do so for 

 less money than any man. In his stable, however, he 

 cannot be considered as successful as in his kennel. He 

 never gave much money for horses, either for himself or 

 his men. His huntsman, it is «true, usually rode a 

 useful sort of horse, but his whips were badly mounted. 

 He only gave 35 guineas for Blue Ruin, a horse for his 

 own use, bought ofif a distiller at Maidstone, with the 

 character of being v iolent in harness, and Coxcomb, the 

 best hunter he is said to have ever owned, was knocked 

 down at about the same price to him by Mr. Richard 



His Horses. 



