318 HUNTING TOURS. 



two brothers, Mr. Francis and Mr. Robert 

 Canning, shone as the champions of welter 

 weights ; and the late Mr. Hawkes was one of 

 the first to exemplify the superiority of 

 thorough-bred horses in the hunting-field if 

 ridden with that refined skill for which he 

 was so justly famed. Mr. Corbet resigning 

 in 1812 the hounds were sold to the late Lord 

 Middleton, who kept them ten seasons, having 

 for his huntsman the celebrated John Wood. 

 A severe fall from his horse compelled his 

 lordship to forego the delights of foxhunting 

 but, in the hope of recovering, he lent his 

 hounds to Sir Tatton Sykes ; thus this 

 country, which had hitherto been hunted 

 without any subscription, had to find both 

 the needful and a fresh pack of hounds. This 

 difficulty was overcome by Mr. Shirley, of 

 Eatington Hall, who undertook the manage- 

 ment of the country till some other gentleman 

 would come forward to relieve him from the 

 responsibilities. At the termination of the 

 second season, Mr. Hay, of Dunse Castle, in 

 Scotland, who had been keeping hounds in the 

 Woore country, took the duties off Mr. Shir- 

 ley's hands, hunting them himself, with Wil- 

 liam Boxall as first whip. This gentleman's 



