THE WHIPrER-IN 79 



beautifully executed engravings of the most celebrated of our 

 hunting establishments, in the various departments of the 

 kennel and the field, accompanied by short biographical 

 notices of the hounds, countries, and men. In speaking of the 

 Burton Hunt, then in the hands of Sir Richard Sutton, Davis 

 gives a capital illustration in the words of a " Huntsman 

 Whipper-in " of the difference between the acts of the master 

 and the acts of the man. " Sir Richard," says Mr. Davis, 

 " hunts his own hounds, but his locum tencns must not be 

 forgotten, the prime, good, old John Shirley, one of nature's 

 noblest works. To John Shirley Sir Richard has trusted all 

 the care and business of the kennel and the discipline of his 

 pack. The hounds are made to his hands ; Shirley is 

 nominally and hard-workingly (if we may coin a word) the 

 Huntsman. He was early initiated into the m}steries and 

 duties of stable and kennel in the service of Thomas Assheton 

 Smith, Esq., and we need not say more to convince that both 

 are well grounded in him. He came to Lincoln with this 

 gentleman, and it was here that Sir Richard knew his worth 

 and abilities as a servant. After he had hunted the hounds for 

 some seasons, it was signified to him that Sir Richard wished 

 to take upon himself that task. His answer was, ' Well, Sir 

 Richard, I am glad of it, very glad of it ; now, whatever j/fw do 

 wrong, be it ever so wrong, it will be called bad luck ; when- 

 ever / met with bad luck, / was called ignorantly wrong — that 

 will be the difference. But go on — you will do it well.' " 



And well Sir Richard has done it. Long may he continue 

 to do it, say we. 



Jack Shirley, we may remind our readers, is the Whipper-in 

 described by Nimrod as riding the loose-headed old hunter 

 down a hill in one of the worst fields in Leicestershire — 

 between Tilton and Somerby, abounding with ant hills and 

 deep furrows — the rider putting a lash to his whip, with a 

 large open clasp knife between his teeth at the time. 



