THE M.F.H. 3 



more than creditably. So the name of the mighty hunter 

 must be revered by all those who love the turf, both the 

 long straight, up which gaily clad jockeys finish, and 

 the fields diversified by hedges and ditches over which 

 we show the way when circumstances are favourable 

 and all is going well. 



For " since all in Adam first began," as Matt. Prior 

 sings, a good many must have continued on through 

 Nimrod, and the immortal grandson of Ham was the 

 archetype of several illustrious personages who live and 

 flourish in the present day. vSuch an one is the M.F.H. , 

 whom' we will call the Marquis of Wiltshire. Here, 

 however, the attempt to draw exact parallels must cease. 

 That Lord Wiltshire would have distinguished himself 

 in any position or capacity, every one who has the 

 pleasure of his acquaintance must feel convinced ; and 

 it is easy to suppose that his predecessor would have 

 become equally famous had he been born so many 

 thousands of years later than he was. 



We may assume that Nimrod would, like his descend- 

 ant, have been made a K.G., the acknowledged leader 

 of society in the wide district over which his influence 

 extended, and the bestower of a hunt " button," to 

 receive which would have been at once a recognition 

 of good-fellowship and of skill and courage in the 

 field. 



Such an one is the Marquis. Listened to with respect 

 and attention when he speaks in the Upper House alike 

 upon political or agricultural topics, an authority upon 



B 2 



