178 THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 



ones ! But he found some parts of the country which 

 could not be excelled anywhere and these to a large 

 extent ; and that part which was not good had this 

 redeeming quality : a blank day in Warwickshire, at 

 this time, was as rare as a black swan in all other 

 countries. 



After a month's sojourn in Warwickshire, where he 

 received some kind attention from several of the principal 

 families, which his name and connections might have 

 insured him, he took his departure for Northampton, and 

 became domiciled at the George Inn, in the county town, 

 one of the most comfortable in England. The country 

 the word county is obsolete, in alluding to hunting 

 districts was then occupied by Mr. Warde, whose kennel 

 was at Pytchley, where the club was also established. 

 This was a fortunate circumstance for our hero, inasmuch 

 as it gave him an opportunity of witnessing the proceed- 

 ings of what may be termed the second great sportsman 

 of that day the immortal Meynell, although at that 

 time about to retire from the field, being the first. He 

 was much struck with the peculiar character of the 

 hounds, combining gigantic limbs and extraordinary 

 height and strength, with high form and symmetry ; and 

 their steadiness in chase was also at once conspicuous. 

 The turn-out, however, was not equal to Mr. Corbet's. 

 There was something like an affected disregard of appear- 

 ances in the costume of the men, and the horses were 

 of a coarser description. Still it was altogether sports- 

 manlike, for a sportsman was at the head of the establish- 

 ment. 



Our hero regretted that he was a few years too late in 

 his visit to this country, by which he lost an opportunity 

 not likely to return : this was, of seeing the celebrated 

 Dick Knight, huntsman to Lord Spencer, who formerly 

 hunted the country ; and whose portrait, from the pencil 

 of Mr. Loraine Smith, had helped to adorn the walls of 

 his room in Christchurch College. His noble master, 

 however, he had the pleasure of meeting in the field, and 

 seeing him keep a very good place in the run of an hour 

 and twenty minutes, from Winnick Warren, a cover on 

 the Daventry side the country ; his Lordship's son, then 

 Lord Althorp, who afterwards hunted the country, also 

 being one who saw the finish and the death. But, until 

 Frank Raby met Mr. Warde's hounds at a cover in the 



