44 HUKTING TOURS. 



and Mr. Codrington, a gentleman represented 

 to have been a very superior sportsman, 

 commenced hunting this country early in 

 the present century, and continued the mas- 

 tership till 1824, when the late Mr. Harvey 

 Coombe undertook it conjointly with the 

 Old Berkeley. Two seasons terminated this 

 gentleman's engagement, when Lord Kintore 

 came forward and presided over the arrange- 

 ments with the utmost zeal and enthusiasm, 

 hunting his own hounds, and exhibiting dar- 

 ing deeds of horsemanship scarcely ever 

 approached ; but a triennial occupation was 

 unfortunately the extent of the noble lord's 

 career in this country, when the late Earl 

 Ducie, then the Honourable Henry Moreton, 

 made his debut as a master of foxhounds. On 

 the division of the country being decided upon 

 two years afterwards, and when Mr. Moreton 

 removed his hounds from Farringdon to Oak- 

 ley Park, Mr. Parker, of Worcester, was 

 entrusted with the duties of hunting this 

 country, under the denomination of the Old 

 Berkshire. This lasted but one season, for 

 although Mr. Parker was an excellent sports- 

 man, " the sinews of war " with him were 

 weak, and the subscriptions not being ade- 



