THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS. 113 



nature. The first forty-five minutes especially was Mr. Barnard. 



very fast and was without a check. The run lasted 



three hours and ten minutes. The distance from point 

 to point was 28 miles, but as hounds run it could not 

 have been less than between 30 and 40 miles. Men 

 and horses were beaten to a standstill and the hunts- 

 man only got up at the last by borrowing a farmer's 

 horse. The run is allowed to have been one of the best 

 ever seen in Warwickshire. 



At this time, report says, ** the Warwickshire" were Good sport. 

 enjoying some admirable runs and particularly some 

 severe things on the eastern boundaries. The night 

 was often far advanced before the hounds under Ned 

 Stevens returned to the kennels. It is a pity more 

 particulars of these doings have not been preserved, 

 that I might have given my readers the benefit of 

 them, although I should trust by this time they are all 

 in a position to imagine what the country was capable 

 of showing and the hounds were able to do. 



In 1852 Mr. Robert John Barnard became ninth Lord LordWilloughby 

 Willoughby de Broke by the death of his uncle, the ^^ Broke.'' 

 eighth baron, who left no more direct heir. Four years 

 later he resigned the mastership of the hounds. This 

 resignation, however, signified nothing further than 

 retirement from the active control of the field and the 

 establishment, as he still remained one of the strongest 

 supporters of the pack, as is seen by his handsome sub- 

 scription of £500. Fox-hunting in Warwickshire 

 owes him a great debt for what he did for the chase in 

 the county. During his term of mastership his men 

 were Tom Day, Harry Taylor, Ned Stevens, Dick 

 Morris, Ben Morgan, and Jack Jones. Perhaps the 

 greatest sport was obtained while Ned Stevens carried 

 the horn. 



Lord Willoughby de Broke was never a hard rider 

 and was uncertain sometimes in his style of going and 

 his manner in the field. He, however, loved the chase 

 with all his heart. His best horse was a grey which 



H 



