130 COVERT-SIDE SKETCHES. 



brated men who was ever known in the hunting world, and 

 whose fame was almost equal to that of Meynell himself. I 

 allude to Mr. John Warde, of Squerries, in Kent, who was 

 master of hounds for over half a century, and for thirteen seasons 

 liad the Pytchley country-. While hunting it, he lived at 

 Broughton Hall ; Bob Forfeit was his huntsman, and his hounds 

 were so large that they were commonly known as '■ John 

 AVarde's Jackasses," and caused much amusement and joking in 

 the hunting world generally. The Squire, however, knew what 

 he was about ; and although it is very probable that such large 

 hounds were not exactly suited to the Pytchley country, many 

 of the best houndsmen in England were glad to get the blood, 

 and some of our most fashionable packs at the present time, and 

 those that have made most money at the hammer, strain back 

 to them. He was wont himself to say " that their heads were 

 so big that when they once got them down it was a very diffi- 

 cult matter to get them up again," by which he meant, I pre- 

 sume, that they would stick to the line, and hunt a cold scent 

 when lighter-looking ones would not. One great run they had, 

 which has been recorded, and it was from ^larston Wood to 

 Skeffington, in Leicestershire, and over the very cream of what 

 was Mr. Tailby's country. The Squire was as noted on the coach- 

 box as in the hunting-field, and, I believe, at one time went 

 somewhat largely into the speculation of horsing public coaches. 

 He sold his hounds for good prices, and, in later years, when he 

 retired from the Craven country, Mr. Horlock gave him a 

 thousand guineas for his pack. His most celebrated horse was 

 Blue Ruin, bought out of a hay-cart in Hungerford Market, for 

 which Mr. Assheton Smith offered him three hundred guineas, 

 after having ridden a run in frost and snow. Mr. Warde saw 

 him pulling a heavy load of hay, and said, " That is just the horse 

 to make me a hunter," and bought him. He was a very heavy 

 man, exceedingly fond of company, and most facetious, though 

 his jokes at times were somewhat of the broadest. Being 

 asked why he had suchbig men as huntsmen and whips, he re- 



