HUNTING TOURS. 101 



ties of knowing that he was in every respect 

 qualified to undertake the responsibilities of 

 the master of the hounds, was unanimously- 

 requested to accept the office. After much 

 persuasion from his friends, and especially 

 from the farmers, who offered to afford him 

 every assistance in their power, he at length 

 consented. To engage a huntsman was Mr. 

 Colmore's next step, and he was not long in 

 coming to a decision. Charles Turner, who 

 had whipped in seven seasons to Harry Ayris, 

 and who, therefore, knew the country, and 

 was likewise known in it, was applied to, and 

 no impediment wns placed against his prefer- 

 ment. After serving an apprenticeship mider 

 so able a professor as Ayris, it was reasonable 

 to expect he would be quite capable of per- 

 forming the duties attendant on his promo- 

 tion; and those hopes have been fully realised. 

 Previously to Turner's engagement with Earl 

 Fitzhardinge he had whipped in to Mr. Thack- 

 well, in the Ledbury country, having per- 

 formed the same office some six or seven sea- 

 sons for Mr. ClifTe, Mr. ThackwelFs prede- 

 cessor. Tired of sino^le blessedness he found 

 favour with Ayris's second daughter. The 

 numerous wedding gifts they had presented 



