208 THE BROCKLESBY HOUNDS. 



Mr. William Philipson. 



Mr. William Philipson, of Bradley, is said to have 

 entertained more fox-hunters than any other man in 

 England, and a more hospitable or kindly-hearted gentle- 

 man never lived. No one passing near his house, either 

 going to or coming from hunting, but must give him a 

 call. Rumour has it that once when hounds were to meet 

 in the neighbourhood, the ground proved to be too frost- 

 bound for hunting, so a party went to call on Mr. Philip- 

 son, and announced their intention of stopping till 

 hunting was possible — a week if necessary. Some of 

 them did stop nearly a week, and the first night — or 

 morning — the party went to bed in their boots and 

 spurs, presumably to be ready in case the frost broke up 

 suddenly. 



A good story is also told about a friend of Mr. 

 Philipson's, who, by reason of a nervous affection, had one 

 of his eyes closed for three years. Mr. Philipson swore 

 that port wine taken in sufficient quantity would cure 

 him, and he proved it. The gentleman in question was 

 dining with a party at Mr. Philipson's house, and beamed 

 upon them as usual with his one eye, till, having discussed 

 each man his second bottle of '34 — Mr. Philipson had a 

 splendid cellar of port, and was very proud of it, too — to 

 their great astonishment the other eye opened ; and it 

 gave him no further trouble afterwards. 



He was very fond of his pointers, and could make 

 them " hold up " at any time and anywhere. On one 

 occasion he made a bet with Captain Farr, also a great 

 man for pointers, that his dog would find game before 

 " his honourable and gallant friend's " did. Captain Farr 

 came with his dog to Bradley, dined and spent the night 

 there, and directly after breakfast the next morning 

 operations commenced. 



