BRITISH SPORT PAST AND PRESENT 



pace ; and a mile and a half fiu'ther, the second horses are 

 fallen in with, just in the nick of time. A short check from 

 the stain of sheep makes everything comfortable ; and, the 

 Squire having hit off his fox like a workman, thirteen men, 

 out of two hundred, are fresh mounted, and with the 

 hounds, which settle to the scent again at a truly killing 

 pace. 



' " Hold hard, Holyoake ! " exclaims Mr. Osbaldeston (now 

 mounted on Clasher), knowing what double-quick time he 

 would be marching to, with fresh pipes to play upon, and the 

 crowd well shaken off ; " pray don't press 'em too hard, and 

 we shall be sure to kill our fox.^ Have at him there, Abigail 

 and Fickle, good bitches — see what a head they are carrying ! 

 I '11 bet a thousand they kill him." The country appears 

 better and better. " He 's taking a capital line," exclaims 

 Sir Harry Goodricke, as he points out to Sir James Musgrave 

 two young Furrier hounds, who are particularly distinguishing 

 themselves at the moment. " Worth a dozen Reform Bills," 

 shouts Sir Francis Burdett,^ sitting erect upon Sampson,^ 

 and putting his head straight at a yawner. " We shall 

 have the Whissendine brook," cries Mr. Maher, who knows 

 every field in the country, " for he is making straight for 

 Teigh." " And a bumper too, after last night's rain," holloas 

 Captain Berkeley, determined to get first to four stiff rails in 

 a corner. " So much the better," says Lord Alvanley, " I 

 like a bumper at all times." " A fig for the Whissendine," 

 cries Lord Gardner ; "I am on the best water-jumper in 

 my stable." 



' The prophecy turns up. Having skirted Ranksborough 

 gorse, the villain has nowhere to stop short of Woodwell-head 



' One peculiar excellence in Mr. Osbaldeston's hounds was their steadiness under 

 pressure by the crowd (Author's note). 



2 Sir Francis Burdett, M. P. for Westminster 1807-18.37, was prominent among the 

 organisers of the 'Hampden Clubs/ founded in 1810 and after, for parliamentary 

 reform. He was twice imprisoned on political charges, in 1810 and 1820. 



^ A favourite hunter of the baronet's, which he once honoured by coming all the way 

 from London to Melton to ride one day with hounds (Author's note). 



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