THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 267 



As may be imagined, the mansion he had fixed upon 

 was selected with an eye to the amusements to which he 

 was devoted, and to as much enjoyment of them as could 

 be procured for a certain given sum. Hunting is here 

 not taken into the account, our hero having satisfied 

 himself that there is only one part of England in which 

 the chase could be enjoyed to perfection, and in that he 

 did not wish to reside all the year, for more reasons than 

 one. A great object with him was good roads, which 

 Leicestershire at this period was deficient in. Another, 

 was good partridge and pheasant-shooting, to neither of 

 which were the rich pastures of the queen of all hunting 

 countries accounted favourable, from the general absence 

 of corn-fields. Our young sportsman then set himself down 

 with a clear 4700 a year at his command, in a fine old 

 mansion, whose grounds opened into the great Holyhead 

 road, which, even at that period, was one of the best in 

 England, and, from the numerous coaches running upon 

 it, the most interesting and amusing to a person who, like 

 our hero, is fond of the humours and proceedings of what 

 is called, " THE ROAD ; " in fact, nothing could be more to 

 his mind, during the lifetime of his father, than the place 

 we have now spoken of. As has already been stated, the 

 gates of the park opened on an excellent road ; the manor 

 sufficiently abounded with game. Foxhounds and harriers 

 were kept in the neighbourhood. There was good coursing- 

 ground in the open fields, belonging to the proprietor of 

 the estate ; and a river ran through the domain, affording 

 good trolling for pike, at which Frank Raby had become 

 an adept by the instructions of Jack Perren, who, by the 

 permission of Mr. Raby, was now become his keeper. But 

 the ayremens of Farndon Hall are not yet all told. One 

 of the best female cooks that London could furnish was 

 put into his kitchen, and a good stock of the choicest 

 wines into his cellars. That he had a choice set of 

 customers for the produce of each of these essentials to 

 true epicurean enjoyment, it is scarcely necessary to make 

 apparent. 



It having been on the first of May following the decease 

 of his uncle, that our hero took possession of Farndon Hall, 

 some account of his proceedings there may be looked for. 

 We will begin with him in his stable-yard, our fancy 

 directing us thither, in accordance with our own taste. 

 Of his hunters, not much can be said. Unprovided with 



