156 REMINISCENCES OF 



and lived in a little house on " the Watling Street " 

 in Witherley village, and commenced hunting on the 

 ist of October, 1852. Cross was huntsman ; Will 

 Mawe, first whip ; Tom Parker, second whip. 

 Season ended 4th April. 



On 4th June, 1853, my eldest son was born in 

 Edinburgh, and christened John St. Clair. His 

 godfathers were James Lord Rosslyn and John 

 Madocks, i3th Light Dragoons. 



I got possession of Mancetter Manor House in 

 the autumn of 1853. 



1853. We began on the i2th September at 

 Gopsall ; Cross huntsman, Will Maude first, and 

 Jim Maiden second whips. He was a son of old 

 Joe Maiden, the Cheshire huntsman, who tumbled 

 into the copper and injured his leg so badly that he 

 had it amputated. For many years he was kennel 

 huntsman in North Staffordshire, and rode with a 

 wooden leg. 



One day hunting I was wet through, and when I 

 got to Arbury, Charles Newdegate asked me if I 

 would stay to dinner, and he would send for my 

 clothes. So I had a cup of tea, went to bed and fell 

 asleep. When I awoke I thought it was next morn- 

 ing, and he was in my room dressed for dinner. He 

 said, ''All the people have come to dinner, but your 

 clothes haven't come ". Among those present were 

 Lord Cardigan, Lord Willoughby de Broke, Sir 

 Theophilus Biddulph, etc. He said, "Couldn't you 

 wear my clothes ? " I managed his shirt, waistcoat 

 and coat well enough, but he always wore his trousers 



