4 THE NORTH STAPFORDSHIllE HOUNDS. 



Wicksted, of Betley, one of tlie best-known sportsmen 

 of that day. He kept liis hounds at Betley, and, with 

 the famous old Will Wells for his huntsman, showed 

 capital sport for eleven years. Warburton has devoted 

 the first of his hunting songs to the Woore country : — 



" Now summer's dull season is over, 



Once more we behold the glad pack, 

 And Wicksted appears at the cover 



Once more on old Mercury's back. 

 And Wells in the saddle is seated, 



Though with scarce a whole bone in his skin. 

 His cheer by the echo repeated, 



' Loo in, little dearies ! Loo in ! ' " 



"Mercury" figures also in a race at the Anson Hunt 

 Meeting in 1825, as appears from the Sporting Magazine 

 for that year. The serious history of the North Stafford 

 Hunt begins with the Mastership of Mr. AVicksted in 

 1825. 



The same mao^azine for 1829 has the followinsj account 

 of a great competition for superiority between the rival 

 packs of Shropshire, Cheshire, and Staffordshire : — 



" On Tuesday, April 7tli, 1829, a very numerous field, consisting of upwards 

 of six hundred of the principal performers of the neighbouring counties, attracted 

 by honest rivalry and good fellowship, met at Shavington (Lord Kilmorey's) in 

 consequence of a previous agreement entered into between Sir Harry Mainwaring, 

 manager of the Cheshire, Mr. Lloyd, of Aston, manager of the Shropshire, and 

 Mr. Wicksted, of the Staffordshire. Seven couples were selected from each pack 

 in this trial of excellence. Found in Shavington Wood ; off they went at an 

 astonishingly terrible pace to Styche, then to Cleverly Gorse, where they came to 

 a check ; crossed New Street lane, leaving Ightfield to the left, and lost near Burly- 

 dam. This burst lasted about twenty-five minutes. Next proceeded to Comber- 

 mere, found, and killed in cover, as was believed the same fox which had got 

 away in the morning. A third was quickly viewed, which, after affording twenty 

 minutes' delightful sport, was observed by Will Staples to be a bitch fox. The 

 hounds were in consequence whipped off, and so ended the hunting of that day. 

 ' Chanter,' the pride of Shropshire, was the first to give tongue, and with 

 ' Orator ' of the same pack, led the way for a considerable time, and these two 

 were allowed to be the best hounds in the field, and of course proud Salopia 

 claimed the superiority in the day's sport. Sir H. Mainwaring, who managed 

 the united pack, added greatly to the pleasure by his gentlemanlike yet firm 

 conduct throughout. Of Mr. Wicksted, it is sufficient to say that his hounds 

 exhibited convincing proofs of the benefits resulting from a well-ordered system 

 both in the kennel and in the field. Will Head, the huntsman of the Cheshire, 

 after a sharp contest, succeeded in gaining the brush, for which honour he found 



