76 THE BROCKLESBY HOUNDS. [1842 



to Scartho, right-handed to Waltham, and left-handed back 

 to Scartho, where Smith viewed him on the Waltham road. 

 Hounds next ran to the Weelsby Covert, turning when 

 about a hundred yards from them, to Weelsby House, 

 pointing first for Peeks, and then left-handed over Clee and 

 round to the Abbey at Grimsby. Near the toll-bar Jack 

 Backhouse met the fox, and finding that he was quite 

 fresh. Smith stopped the hounds after they had been 

 running in fine style for two hours and fifty-five minutes. 

 It was a very hard day for hounds and horses, as they had 

 such wry-necked foxes in front of them. 



At the end of the book I find an entry regarding the 

 Hunt Steeple Race ; it states that Mr. Loft was the 

 winner, that Mr. C. Nainby was second, Mr. Baxter third, 

 and the rest nowhere. The course lay from Keelby Spro- 

 thorns over Aylesby and Laceby, and over the road at 

 Irby Scrub Close, to a finish in Mr. P. Skipworth's large 

 gTass field. " A dull concern," says the old huntsman. 



WILL SMITH'S THOUGHTS ON HUNTING AND VARIOUS 

 OTHER SUBJECTS. 



Epitaphs ox So:\ierville's Huntsman. 



Here lies the body of John Hoitt, of Henley-in-Arden, who died 

 June 16th, 1802, aged 85. He was huntsman to Somerville and others 

 near seventy years ; but his occupation in the field, where he eminently 

 excelled, did not preclude his attention to other business, or prevent 

 him from bringing up a large family, by care and industry, with credit, 

 the eldest of whom, Thomas, caused this stone to be erected to his 

 memory, as a small token of his duty and affection. 



Death, mighty hmiter, who must earth us all, 

 Now Hoitt adds to Boeter's thy fall ; 

 He ran a burst, and early ceased his toil ; 

 You till late evening hung upon the foil. 

 But years, that Fate to Boeter denied. 

 The grateful praise of Somerville supplied. 

 His classic pen inscribes the mournful stone. 

 Records his servant's worth and proves his own. 

 He was thy master, too. Thy cheerful horn 

 Has often called him at the peep of morn 



