THE REV. JOHN LODER 33 



present, the seventh Earl, the owner of " Sir 

 Bevis," who won the Derby, in 1879, for 

 Mr. Acton. The second Willoughby, born 

 in 1784, became a captain in the Royal Navy 

 and was lost in the wreck of H.M.S. Satellite 

 on the Goodwin Sands, in 18 10. 



Another proposal to draw the Rycot Coverts 

 produced the following amusing reply in 

 verse : — 



You are heartily welcome to Rycot, Dear Sir, 

 And we hope you will stick here as close as a Burr, 

 For you give us great pleasure whenever you come, 

 But I'm sorry to say I've got no Old Rjim, 

 So yoMx Julep won't be quite so good as I'd wish, 

 But we'll treat you to plenty of Game and of Fish, 

 And Dumplings in Broth — your favourite Dish. 

 Broth with dumplings, fish, woodcocks, hen, pheasant 



& hare, 

 I think you will reckon a good bill of fare. 

 For Desert you'll have pineapples, walnuts and pears, 

 And a bottle of old Port to drown all your cares. 

 My Cellar contains too, some excellent Sherry, 

 That without being Pitchered will make your heart 



merry. 

 Bitch Foxes besides, for your hounds to pursue. 

 Which will also afford some amusement to you, 

 To Crossdill, myself, and the rest of the crew. 

 Your gun may between whiles procure you diversion 

 And I hope you'll not find it too great an exertion ; 

 You can't fail (to be sure) of finding it pleasant. 

 To bring to the ground a woodcock, or pheasant. 

 For who knows but you may with ye help of old 



Jock 



3 



