HARE-HUNTERS OF THE PAST 33 



A curious type this, one surely that might well 

 figure in Mr. Cecil Aldin's gallery of ancient Georgian 

 sportsmen ! One night this curio and his old servant, 

 Will, were shot out of a buggy on Tip-tree Heath. It 

 was after a twelve hours' " dinner visit." So soon as 

 they had recovered their senses and found no bones 

 were broken, the old sportsman discovered that he 

 had lost his wig. " ' Will, where's my wig ? ' 'I 

 does not know, but I'll see, sir.' Will made many a 

 cast round the furze and at last struck the scent. 

 ' Tantaro, Master, here it is ! ' ' You lie, you rascal ! 

 it is not mine, by God ! I won't take it : throw it 

 away.' Will knew well his master's foible — whether 

 from punch or by nature I cannot say (adds the 

 narrator) — dead restiveness ; therefore, with wits 

 sharpened by good cheer, was not at a loss, and re- 

 plied, ' I knew it, sir — it is not yours ; and it is a d — d 

 old thing ; but you had better take it, for really, sir, 

 wigs are very scarce here, and perhaps you mant get a 

 better,' Temper soothed and head covered, chaise and 

 daylight landed them safe." 



There were certainly curious hunting folk in those 

 days ; they had wild spirits and could stand libations 

 and feeding that would speedily destroy the sportsman 

 of the present day. How they ate, for example ! At a 

 yeoman's dinner-table in 1825 — it was in Dorsetshire — 

 there were served the following joints: 52 lb. of beef, 

 30 lb. of veal, a 27-lb. ham, six large plum puddings, 

 and other etceteras. Truly a repast for giants ! 



Free living and too much conviviality told, however, 

 in the end, even upon these hardened veterans. Somer- 

 vile himself is a melancholy example in point. During 

 the latter years of his life he became harassed by 

 pecuniary troubles, " which in great part," says his 

 biographer, " resulted from his love of dispensing 



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