138 NOTITIA VENATICA. 



they ouglit to be, on liis hounds. Hunting was no doubt at its zenith 

 about twenty-five years ago, when men rode well enough to get to the 

 hounds without doing mischief ; the huntsmen of that day had been 

 mostly bred up as whipi)ers-in under real good sportsmen ;* they could 

 hunt as well as ride, and knew what they Avere about, whether in tlie 

 woodlands or the open ; but the modern huntsman has been put up 

 since steeple-chasing came in, because old Tom Castwell, or Jack 

 Cheerly, liad got too slow to ride against modern fields ; but Tom gene- 

 rally killed his fox or run him to ground every day lie went out, and his 

 hounds could hunt through deer, hares, or village gardens,! and Jack 

 Cheerly's system of working his hounds through woodlands, without 

 their dividing or changing their fox, was the admiration of all sports- 

 men far and near. But the modern performer seldom kiEs his fox after 



* The'deliverer of the following speech may justly be ranked amongst the first 

 pei'formers of the present day. He has hunted the hounds of his noble master for 

 many seasons, giving great satisfaction. He succeeded old Philip Payne in that situ- 

 ation at the time of his death : — 



" A Huntsman's Speech. — At the dinner given to Will Long, the Duke of 

 Beaufort's huntsman, the old boy returned thanks, on his health being drunk, in a 

 sportsman-like style. When silence was obtained, he said — ' Gentlemen, I have got 

 on my legs, but I assure you I could have got on the saddle with far more confidence 

 (cheers and laughter). Indeed, I am puzzled to find suitable terms to thank you 

 for the honour you have conferred on me ; perhaps every one present has heard my 

 voice, though I may safely say that no one ever heard me make a speech (cheers and 

 laughter), and I fear if I make an attempt I shall soon be at fault (laughter), or 

 perhaps I shall break down altogether. However, trusting to your kind indulgence, 

 I'll do my best to hark forward (Hear, hear) ; and if in my efforts I should come 

 to a check, I hope you will allow me to try back, and, if possible, to regain the scent 

 and get out of my difficulties (cheers). Gentlemen, through thirty years of fox- 

 hunting I have had the good luck to spend many pleasant days in your company ; 

 but none so pleasant as this, for this is the day of all days. I shall never forget it. 

 It has always been my study to show sport ; I have had many fears about being able 

 to succeed ; whether those fears were groundless or not, you are the best judges ; 

 but, from your kindness to me this day, I think I may flatter myself that I have not 

 been altogether unsuccessful (loud cheers). To insure sport there requires a liberal 

 master, good hounds, a good scent, and last, not least, a good fox (Hear). I hope 

 we have had all these tilings. Of the noble duke it hardly becomes me to speak ; 

 but this much I must say, that a kinder master or a better sportsman never entered 

 the field (lo2td cheers). Of the hounds you must form your own opinions ; they 

 are as good as I can make them ; and I hope when next they meet, every one of you 

 will be present to hear and approve their nmsic. As to the scent, we must take that 

 as it comes ; but, with respect to foxes, I am happy to say they are strong and plenti- 

 ful, thanks to the liberal fox preservers whom I see around me (cheers). We owe it 

 to them that we had not a single blank day last season, and, from what 1 hear, there 

 is no fear that we shall have one in the present (cheers). I hope we shall all meet 

 soon in the field ; a good start is half the battle ; and when I see so numerous a 

 company as is nov? assembled, I cannot but think we have made a good beginning, 

 with a fair prospect of a good finish ; wlien we finish elsewhere, I hope you will all 

 be in at the d(>ath (loudc/ieers). Gentlemen, I am fairly run to ground (cheers and 

 laughter). Allow me again to thank you for the honour you have done me, and to 

 drink all your healths in return, wishing you health and jirosperity, and may you be 

 happy at last, when you can see no more hounds (prolonged cheers).' " — Devizes 

 Gazette. 



t Nothing is more ])rejudicial to scent than the smoke from a wood or turf fire 

 whicli hangs aljout small cottages. This may be easily jx'rceived by hounds gene- 

 rally getting into difficulties when approaching those places. 



