MR. WICKSTED'S MASTERSHIP. 7 



rider to hounds, but that he was a man of culture and 

 literary tastes, and of a sprightly wit. Mr. Egerton 

 Warburton, in the notes to his hunting songs, a propos 

 of the poem entitled " The Woore Country," says — 



'• Charles Wicksted, tlie hero of this song, hunted the Woore country from 

 the year 1825 to the year 1836. It was ever Mr. Wicksted's chief delight to 

 know that his hounds had aftbrded a good day's sport to his friends, though no 

 one enjoyed a run more keenly or described one with more enthusiasm than 

 himself. ' The Woore Country ' was written in the year 1830, in reply to the 

 song called ' The Cheshire Hunt,' of which Mr. Wicksted was the author." 



Mr. Wicksted's song, " The Cheshire Hunt," thus alluded 

 to by Warburton, contained some spirited stanzas, but as 

 it relates entirely to the Cheshire field and country, and 

 not to North Staffordshire, it scarcely seems appropriate 

 to quote it here in extenso. Moreover, it is printed in the 

 notes to Warburton's songs, and is thus very well known. 

 The opening verse is as follows : — 



"Come, awake from your slumbers, jump out of your bed, 

 Drink your tea, mount your hack, and away to Well Head ; 

 For who'd be behindhand or like to be late 

 When Sir Hari-y's fleet pack at the coverside wait 1 " 



It is an additional point in favour of Mr. Wicksted's 

 verses that they produced Warburton's well-known and 

 spirited poem called " The Woore Country," of which 

 we have already quoted the first verse referring to Mr. 

 Wicksted and Wells. 



In the same poem the Cheshire bard happily touches 

 off the late Sir Thomas Boughey — 



"There's Aqualate's Baronet, Boughey, 

 Whose eye still on Wicksted is cast. 

 Should the fox run till midnight, I know he 

 Will stick by his friend to the last." 



The last verse of Warburton's poem describing the kill 

 is worth quoting — 



" More eager for blood at each stroke, 

 See Vengeance and Vulpecide rush. 

 Poor Reynard ! he thinks it no joke 

 Hearing Joker so close at his brush. 



