76 THE MASTER OF HOUNDS 



MR. TOM SMITH 



It is a curious coincidence in fox-hunting history 

 that there should have been two Tom Smiths who w^ere 

 M.F.H.s at the same time, and that one should write a 

 biography of the other. Mr. Tom. "Gentleman" 

 Smith, as he was called to distinguish him from Mr. 

 Tom Assheton-Smith, was Master of the Hambledon 

 Hounds from 1824, when he succeeded Mr. Shard, of 

 Hill Place, till 1829. Then he reigned over the Craven 

 Hunt from 1829 till 1833, and subsequently was Master 

 of the Pytchley from 1840 till 1842. Afterwards Mr. 

 Smith returned to the Hambledon, which he hunted 

 till 1852. It has often been said that " Gentleman " 

 Smith's reputation was eclipsed by that of his name- 

 sake. Comparisons are odious, but nobody will deny 

 that " Gentleman " Smith is entitled to be ranked 

 amongst the giants of the hunting-field. Mr. Nether- 

 cote, the recognised historian of the Pytchley Hunt, 

 writes of him : " A more thorough master of the noble 

 science, or one whose thoughts were more completely 

 engrossed in the ways of fox and hounds, probably 

 never carried a horn." It must be remembered that 

 Mr. Smith succeeded Lord Chesterfield in the Pytchley 

 country, and it was no light matter to follow such a 

 prince as the Lord of Bretby ; yet, confident in his 

 ability to show sport, Mr. Smith ventured upon the 

 responsibility of getting an establishment together. 

 Certainly he entered into office with a great reputation 



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