YORK AND AINST\ HUNTSMEN. 257 



horn but a few short months, durino- which time he eained 

 the good opinion of all who cast in their lot with the York 

 and Ainsty. The whole of his career I have been unable 

 to trace, but he was, I believe, at one time with the 

 V. W. H., and thence he went to Lord Coventry. He left 

 Lord Coventry's service, and was, for a year or two, in 

 business as a publican, and then he came to hunt the York 

 and Ainsty, this being his first huntsman's place. From the 

 beginning he did well. He was very quick, a famous horse- 

 man, though perhaps rather a hard man on his horse, and 

 he was a capital all-round sportsman. Indeed, he took to 

 everything in the shape of sport as naturally as a duck to 

 water. He was a quick-witted man, with considerable powers 

 of sarcasm, as may be gathered from the following anecdote. 

 Hounds were going along the road to draw, and one of the 

 field got in amongst them, with the result that his horse 

 kicked a good hound and sent him sprawling. Before he 

 could speak Squires said, ' Never mind, sir ; don't apologise. 

 We've plenty more at home.' Squires left a wide circle of 

 friends and admirers behind him, and his untimely fate was 

 much regretted. 



When Captain Slingsby took the reins of office he 

 engaged J. Hollidge as his huntsman. Hollidge had had 

 considerable experience in Yorkshire, having whipped-in to 

 both the Bramham Moor and the Badsworth. He was then 

 with the Chiddingfold for a time, and after hunting the York 

 and Ainsty for a season he retired from the profession. His 

 place was taken by George Gillson, who had commenced his 

 professional career at the York and Ainsty kennels. He 

 was afterwards whipper-in at Brocklesby, and thence he 

 went to be first whipper-in to the Quorn, under Tom F"irr. 

 After that he was with Lord Ferrers, who hunted part ot 

 the Ouorn and Atherstone countries, and then he went to 

 the York and Ainsty. After seven years' service in that 



