i6o Reminiscences of a 



one of the most remarkable ones for open weather, fine 

 scents and grand sport all round, that I can remember, in 

 fact hounds hardly left their kennels a day without returning 

 home with blood in their favour after a hard day's work, 

 and horses got a fair twilting from day to day which made 

 them rather waspish in the waist, towards the end of the 

 season ; no doubt they often prayed for a fortnight's frost, 

 which never came, and I don't believe they got more than 

 a day's rest from fog or frost all the season. 



To mention a few good days. November 2nd, when we met 

 at Trimdon. I rode " Old Mat," who was a great favourite 

 hunter of Mr. Mathews, a gentleman who was a colliery 

 owner and manager, and came from South Hetton to Hard- 

 wick Hall, whence he hunted a season or two ; then gave 

 up, and presented his horse to the Hunt. He (" Matt " was 

 a thoroughly good honest hunter, slow, but a fine natural 

 fencer and timber jumper. He happened a curious accident 

 a little later, when in jumping a fence he landed on a 

 plough handle, which went bang into his shoulder and made 

 a terrible wound, but thanks to the care and attention of 

 " Bob Dews," who came as helper from York, he recovered 

 and was able to hunt again, when Mr. Ord gave him to 

 Mr. Ed. Hall, of Ricknall (father of Tom Hall,* who was 

 afterwards second whipper-in to the Hunt and then went 

 to Scotland), a good old sportsman, fox preserver and 

 puppy walker, just the sort of man who did all in his power 

 for foxhunting, like many another of our South Durham 

 farmers who are " rare sorts," and who thoroughly deserved 

 to have a horse ; and it is pleasant to be able to say that 

 the pair, " Neddy " and " Mat," spent many a happy day 



• I hear that he has just accepted the post of huntsman tn the Linlithgow and StirMng 

 hounds, from May 1st next. 



