is:m THE FIRST WILL SMITH. 81 



powerful hound could last much longer than a big one. He was indeed 

 always a great admirer of stoutness, and would, to the last of his 

 hunting days, ride from point to point, observing the stoutness of any 

 particular hound, and would frequently recommend you not to forget 

 that virtue. He also had a great objection to a hound that would not 

 draw a covert well ; such a one soon made his exit from Brocklesby, 

 and I hope always will. In point of condition he was alw^ays very 

 particular. He liked them rather low than otherwise, and from ex- 

 perience I am sure he was quite right. He admired hounds in carrying 

 a good head, and would always observe there was something wrong if 

 they did not do so, when a tolerable scent served. His memory was 

 very strong, consequently he seldom forgot the good or bad qualities of 

 a hound. He was an advocate for dressing hounds, and would always 

 recommend a slight dressing if a storm set in to admit of it, observing, 

 '' I always liked a clean sliirt " (this was his Lordship's general observa- 

 tion), with a shrug of his shoulders. I could almost fancy I see him 

 now. 



Lord Yarborough was a gentleman that seldom interfered with his 

 huntsman, further than giving his advice ; in which case he generally 

 concluded with, " Do as you like, but I should do " — so and so. This 

 from so perfect a judge w'as of course enough, and was at all times 

 attended to, without some particular reason for the contrary, when 

 another consultation of course was held on the subject. Hunting and 

 hounds were favourite subjects with his Lordship, and he could generally 

 be seen on the subject, and many have been the lessons I have received 

 from that excellent sportsman, when I expected I should not detain 

 him five minutes. I say excellent, because I think since I have hunted 

 and can well remember, a befffr England could not produce, no ! never 

 since the days of Somerville ; and I should think Somerville was just 

 such another. Old Mr. Meynell, I believe, was a very similar sportsman 

 to his Lordship, and I have often heard him speak most highly of that 

 distinguished sportsman, when he generally observed, " ]\Iy old friend 

 Mr. Meynell." And many excellent remarks on that gentleman I have 

 heard him make. He used to say that he never saw any one manage 

 a field so well as Mr. Meynell, observing, "His manners were so per- 

 fectly the gentleman, that few would wilfully or would willingly offend 

 him." But if Mr. Meynell got in a passion and made use of rough 

 language, he was sure to make it up in a handsome manner with the 

 person the next day he was out. The manner of Mr. Meynell address- 

 ing him, which generally happened when the hounds met and before 

 they tried for a fox, was sure to have a strong impression on his mind, 

 and, if possible, he would avoid getting into the same error again, as 

 Mr. Meynell was particularly respected and looked up to in the field, 

 had a very great command on himself, and seldom spoke to any 

 particular person, but they were sure to be in fault. 



Lord Yarborough was decidedly the neatest horseman I ever saw, 



G 



