"158 COVERT-SIDE SKETCHES. 



capital huntsman and a very bold, resolute horseman. The 

 story is told of him that some years ago he was rather in disgrace, 

 and Mr. Hall had been giving him a wigging going to covert. 

 Soon after they found and came to one of those tremendous deep 

 and wide drains, much too large to be jumped, which are the 

 curse of Holderness. " Where is the nearest bridge V asked the 

 master. *' Here is the bridge," rejoined Backhouse, whose 

 temper was set up by the wigging ; and, shoving The Dandy, 

 the horse he was riding, into it, he got safely across, though the 

 horse was known to be a bad swimmer, and, moreover, he repeated 

 the feat again the same day. John Hollings succeeded Back- 

 house with the horn, but did not stay long, and George Ash, still 

 there, was the last huntsman under the Squire of Scarboro'. Mr. 

 Hall was a wonderful man himself over a country, notwithstand- 

 ing weight, increasing years, and, towards the last, being a cripple; 

 and, whether on the wolds or in the deep country, no one could 

 beat him. Then it is true very few men had such horses under 

 them, for his stable was as well supplied as his kennel, and at 

 one time a good many thoroughbred ones from Sledmere found 

 their way into his hands ; he was quite as willing to sell as 

 to buy, and Sir Eichard Sutton had several from him at 

 one time and another. Mr. Hall showed as well over the grass 

 as in his own country, and I have heard of his cutting down 

 the field in the Belvoir Vale, when on one of those visits to 

 the Midlands that he always enjoyed so much. At the sale, 

 soon after his death, the stud realized very large prices, and 

 one made 700 gs. 



The Misses Hall rode also in a wonderful manner, and with 

 as much science and judgment as boldness ; they could take 

 care of themselves, were never in any one's way, and, in fact, 

 when hounds ran hard, were not to be beaten. I fear it will be 

 some time ere Holderness sees such another master as Mr. James 

 Hall. 



They had a very promising one in the Hon. Alan Pennington, 

 for many years very well known in Mr. Tailby's country and 



