THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS, 



27 



killed. Mr. Hawkes was not in at the death ; in fact, 

 so swift was the run that only three out of a large field 

 were, and Mr. Robert Canning said to him, when they 

 came together again, " Now, Mr. Hawkes, can 

 Warwickshire show a run ? " 



Another old Leicestershire man was Mr. Edward 

 Morant Gale, who lived at Upton House, Edge Hill. He 

 was a regular hard going rider, and my readers will 

 doubtless remember that he figured conspicuously in 

 the two severe runs I described in my last chapter. 

 He is spoken of as :— 



A Meltonian of old well versed in their creed ; 

 O'er riding all scent for the sake of a lead. 



There is to be seen in this couplet a little bit of senti- 

 ment regarding Leicestershire which I shall elucidate, 

 I hope, when I have to deal with another poetical 

 efiusion. In addition to foxhunting Mr. Morant Gale 

 had kept a clever pack of harriers. He was, however, 

 a terrible sinner, both against horse and hounds, with 

 regard to his speed. Speed ! speed ! speed ! That 

 was the one thing he wanted, and the one thing he 

 would have, no matter the length of the run. There 

 was scarcely a horse living that could take him 

 through an hour. During a brilliant run with Mr. 

 Corbet he was on a horse by "No Pretender," and at 

 the end of fifty minutes hard work disappeared. 

 The field saw no more of him, but that was nothing 

 very extraordinary, as the pace at which he tore away 

 from covert generally resulted in his equally speedy 

 discomfiture. On the occasion referred to he was found 

 after the death sitting on his saddle under a black- 

 thorn hedge, both horse and rider presenting a most 

 woeful appearance. His hat was gone, his face was 

 bleeding, and his clothes were torn. He was, however, 

 very good natured, and joined in the laughter at his 

 appearance. 



Mr. John Corbet 

 1791-1811. 



Mr. Edward 

 Morant Gale. 



His hard riding. 



