NOTITIA VENATICA. 137 



carry oft" the quantity of matter formed, to place pipes made of hollow 

 canes reaching from the sores ahout his limbs to a large vessel hy the 

 Led-side. This drain upon his constitution lasted for some time, until 

 at last, by judicious treatment, aided by a natural constitutional sound- 

 ness, he totally recovered tlie use of his limbs, although the muscles on 

 his legs were so nnich reduced as to oblige him to have artificial jiads to 

 protect him from injury when on horseback. A curious instance of a 

 whipper-in with a cork leg is i-elated of a man of the name of Jones, 

 who fractured his knee-pan in so dreadful a manner with the iron ham- 

 mer of his hunting-whip, while attempting to break a padlock on a gate 

 when out hunting, that tlie limb was obhged to be amputated ; yet he 

 recovered sufficiently to perform his duties, and was well known as an 

 excellent hand in Shropshire for many seasons. Amongst some of the 

 first hands which have been known as quite *' top-sawyers" when they 

 were only whippers-in, many cut but a very indifferent figure Avhen they 

 came to be promoted to the office of huntsman. As an instance of this, 

 we may enumerate Jack Stevens, so well remembered and appreciated 

 as one of the very best whippers-in and first-rate hands over a severe 

 country, that ever attempted to turn a hound, whether in the open or a 

 deep woodland. With one of the most brilliant and musical voices (till 

 rendered in after life ropy and hoarse by hard work — and the too usual 

 concomitant — drink), with a flow of hunting language and phraseology 

 never surpassed by another of his craft, with a nerve the most undaunted, 

 and a constitution of iron pervading his diminutive frame, weighing in 

 the saddle only 9st. 21bs., with an unflagging buoyancy of spirits, a fine 

 temper, and a most respectful deportment towards every sportsman in 

 the field, and Avith a strict determination to assist his master througli a 

 run Avithout jealousy, to show sport and kill his fox, did Jack Stevens 

 Avhip-in to Squire Osbaldeston for fourteen consecutive seasons, the last 

 eight of Avhich Avere passed in the Pytchley country ; bixt he is gone, 

 and at tlie early age of forty-tAvo his cold remains Avere placed under the 

 sod, in the quiet but sporting church-yard of BrixAVorth, in Northamp- 

 tonshire. The natural ambition inherent in almost all men, and from 

 which it is absurd to suppose even a first-rate Avhipper-in to be exempt, 

 had prompted many to attempt to soar in a sphere in Avhich their expe- 

 rience in their calling has but imperfectly prepared tliem ; as an in- 

 stance, hoAvever, to the contrary, Ave may mention Old Tom Ball, Avho 

 was long knoAvn and respected as an excellent Avhipper-in in the Old 

 Berkeley country : he had l)cen frequently oft'ered the situation of hunts- 

 man to several packs of foxhounds, Avhicli lie invariably declined, mo- 

 destly ol»serving that he Avas not sure of having talent to succeed in his 

 ncAV appointment, and that the mortification of returning to the place of 

 Avhippei*-in Avould bo too great for him to hazard. 



C'hanged as the system is, during the last fifty years, for the better, 

 still the old school had a deal of the right sort of knoAvledge, gained by 

 extreme patience and the observation of circumstances. The pace of 

 the present day is too fast to allow time for a huntsman to reflect ; all 

 he thinks about is, " IIoav they are going ! I shall be all behind Avith 

 these jealous fellows ;" and his eyes are on the horses instead of where 



