54 The SedgeHeld Country 



a trifle over nine stones, and, at any rate in his younger 

 days, liked to be carried bang up in the front rank. No 

 one during a run was imbued more deeply with the enthu- 

 siasm of the chase, and though he liked to find himself in 

 the first place, there was not an iota of jealousy in his 

 nature, and he would at any time go out of his way to give 

 a younger and more inexperienced horseman the benefit of 

 his advice, so valuable from his thorough knowledge of the 

 country. 



Mr. Harvey was not a great hound man, for the simple 

 reason that living as he did so far away from the kennels, 

 and being so deeply engrossed in business on all non-hunting 

 days, he had few opportunities of paying that close atten- 

 tion to his pack which an M.F.H. is usually able to do; 

 still he did not look upon hounds as so many do, as mere 

 machines to drive a fox in front of them, and loved to listen 

 as they returned home after a good day, to Claxon's remarks 

 on the performances of some of his favourites. Of horses 

 he was extremely fond, and would dilate for long enough on 

 the merits of many whose portraits were hung round his 

 sitting-room at Leazes Terrace. Most of his favourite 

 hunters were there depicted, and the prowess of " Dancing 

 Master" and "the old grey-tailed mare" were his pet 

 themes. " Dancing Master " was a son of the famous 

 " McOrville," who did so much to improve the breed of 

 hunters in Northumberland and Durham, and was purchased 

 from Sir M. W. Ridley. Like his master he was a horse 

 of iron constitution. The " grey-tailed mare " was also one 

 of the progeny of " McOrville." She came into Mr. Harvey's 

 possession when three years old, and carried him con- 

 sistently well until she was over twenty. A more abstemious 

 man in matters both of eating and drinking than Mr. Harvey 



