254 THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 



with us here indeed, he resides within the limits of the 

 hunt who has introduced a somewhat novel.style of seat on 

 his horse, which, although perhaps he may carry it to an 

 extreme, appears to succeed with him, and will, no doubt, 

 induce many to follow his example, to a certain extent. 

 I allude to the increased length of stirrup-leather which 

 this man, whose name is Welch Posten, allows himself, 

 extending almost beyond that used by the military, or in 

 the manege. It is likewise worthy of notice, that, although 

 his height is nearly six feet, he rides two mares neither 

 of which are fifteen hands high, but which are very 

 difficult to beat with their owner on their backs. I am 

 told he gave 400 guineas for them, and they are well 

 worth the money, being very accomplished fencers, and 

 nearly thorough-bred. You have often heard me say 

 that I thought both you and myself used stirrup-leathers 

 of not sufficient length ; and the case I now allude to 

 confirms me in that opinion, so much so that I have 

 dropped my stirrups at least three holes. I am convinced 

 that I sit easier on my horse by having my weight placed 

 near to the shoulder, on that part, indeed, which is the 

 point of union in the horse, instead of near to the loins, 

 which are the weakest part of his frame. 



" But speaking of extraordinary men in our line, I 

 must say a word of one in this hunt, whose equal, perhaps, 

 is nowhere else to be found. His name is Stibbs, and 

 so inveterate a lover of the chase is he, that he is not 

 contented with hunting with Mr. Corbet's foxhounds four 

 days a week, which is the number of their hunting days, 

 with a bye one occasionally, but he absolutely keeps a 

 pack of harriers, to hunt the other two. The climax, 

 however, is yet to come. On being informed, one Sunday 

 morning, that a fox which had been brought to him over 

 night, had escaped from the place in which it was 

 confined, he ordered horses to be saddled for himself and 

 his man, and letting out his hounds, laid them on the 

 scent of the fugitive, and killed him after a sharp burst ! 

 This very extraordinary man never misses a day in the 

 season ; he knows hunting well, and is rapturously fond 

 of it, but, being shy of fences, sees very little of a run ; 

 nevertheless, by an intimate knowledge of the country, 

 like his friend Mr. Corbet, he generally appears shortly 

 -after the chase is finished, be it never so good. 



" One of the bright features in this hunt is a ball and 



