The Sport of Our (Ancestors 



either in blood or possession. However, the most valu- 

 able kennels of the present day are those of the Dukes 

 of Rutland, Beaufort, and Cleveland, Lord Fitzwilliam, 

 Messrs. Ralph Lambton and Osbaldeston (now Mr. Harvey 

 Combe's). Mr. Warde has been remarkable for the great 

 bone, size, and power of the hounds he has bred. With 

 the exception of the Duke of Cleveland's and Mr. Ville- 

 bois's large packs (so called in contradistinction to packs 

 consisting of their smaller hounds, which these eminent 

 sportsmen bring into the field on the alternate days), no 

 hounds of the present day equal his in this respect. His 

 logic on the subject is incontrovertible. ' You may at 

 pleasure,' says this distinguished sportsman, ' diminish 

 the size and power of the animal you wish to breed ; but 

 it is difficult to increase, or even preserve them, adhering 

 to the same breed.' Many thought that Mr. Warde 's 

 hounds looked to some disadvantage, owing to their gener- 

 ally carrying a good deal of flesh, which, however, he con- 

 sidered — as did also the celebrated Tom Rose, the Duke 

 of Grafton's late huntsman, and father of the present — 

 absolutely essential to those which, like his, hunted strong 

 woodland countries. To the eye of a sportsman, it is 

 certain they always afforded a high treat, as the power 

 and fine symmetry of the foxhound were apparent at first 

 sight ; and almost every kennel in the south of England, 

 and several in the north, are now proud to acknowledge 

 their obligations to the blood of John Warde — the Father 

 oj the Field. 



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