HUNTING TOURS. 211 



emulate, over the pasture fields of the mid- 

 land shires. Of this gentleman the charac- 

 teristic soubriquet of the Flying Childe, by 

 which he was known, denoted the velocity 

 of his meteor-like speed as compared with 

 the pace of his associates. His motto might 

 well have been adopted from the expression 

 made use of by Hector to Andromache — 



" The foremost place I claim — 

 The first in danger as the first in fame." 



On Mr. Childe's resignation as a master 

 of hounds, the foxes enjoyed a few years 

 respite, unless, indeed, that their lethargy 

 was disturbed by any of the harriers kept in 

 the neighbourhood that might occasionally 

 stimulate them to a little constitutional exer- 

 cise, till Mr. Adams, of Ludlow, established 

 a pack, which would be about half a century 

 ago. These hounds, I have reason to believe, 

 were purchased from Major Bland, who had 

 been hunting Worcestershire and the borders 

 of Herefordshire with them, that gentlemen 

 having had them transferred to him by Lord 

 Foley. This was one of the crack packs 

 of the day, but I am unable to trace them 

 beyond the time when Mr. Adams retired, 



