THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS. 35 



determined/to change nautical for military service, and, Mr. John Corbet 



forsaking salt water, he entered the Guards. But here 



he was not to find his feeb, and he made a somewhat 

 unusual change from the army to the bar, becoming 

 ultimately a commissioner in bankruptcy. Although 

 he had laid aside the scarlet for the silk as regards his 

 sterner occupations, he was still an ardent patron of 

 both in a sporting sense, and hunting and racing were 

 his chief amusements. In the famous run, which is al- 

 ways connected with his name, and for a knowledge of 

 which weareindebtedtohim, he rode a five-year-old. He 

 went at a pace technically known as "a score," but at 

 SwerfordHill his horse refused a nasty oak stile, and re- 

 tirement from the run was the consequence. He was a 

 frequent follower of "the Warwickshire," and on 

 one occasion seeing a Worcestershire squire laughing 

 violently, he went up and said to him '* Quid rides.'' 

 The squire was a better sportsman than linguist, and, 

 allowing his ear to deceive him, replied, " My Magog 

 horse." 



Of Mr. Morant.Grale I have already spoken. He was 

 one of those in the Epwell run. The Cannings, too, did 

 justice to themselves. Mr. Fretwell, whose name Mr. Fretwell. 

 my readers will see in the lines quoted, was well 

 known in the hunt. He was a specimen of what may be 

 looked upon as a departed character — the English 

 sporting yeoman. He was quite of the old form and 

 fashion. The countries he patronised were the neigh- 

 bouring Duke of Beaufort's, and Mr. Seagreave's, the 

 former especially. He was popularly known as 

 Tommy Fretwell, and he and his old white mare were 

 noticeable objects whenever he was out. He was 

 never conspicuous as a horseman but his knowledge of 

 foxhunting was nevertheless sound. He was, in fact, 

 a real enthusiast and on a short stable managed to 

 make a frequent attendance on hounds. He was gene- 

 rally esteemed and was of particular value in the pre- 

 servation of foxes in his countries. 



