HUNTS AND THEIR HISTORY i6i 



sledge-hammer style, which appears to have been 

 necessary to gain a reputation for wit in those days. 



When Mr. Warde gave up his hounds in 1809, 

 they were bought for 1000 guineas by Lord Althorp, 

 who somewhat significantly declined having any- 

 thing to do with the horses. It is probable, indeed, 

 that he bought the hounds rather to save Mr. Warde's 

 feelings than because he liked them. Lord Althorp's 

 mastership was a golden time for the Pytchley. He 

 mounted himself and his men well, and he had a 

 capital huntsman, Charles King, whose son, Harry, 

 was huntsman to the late Queen's Buckhounds. 

 King was a man of unusual intelligence, as most 

 good huntsmen are. He was also, which is not so 

 common, a musician of considerable natural gifts. 

 The volumes of his diary are still in the library at 

 Althorp. 



When Lord Althorp resigned the mastership in 

 1817, he was followed by Sir Charles Knightley and 

 Lord Sondes, each of whom reigned but for a single 

 season. The year 1820 was a memorable one in 

 the history of the Pytchley, for then Sir Bellingham 

 Graham became Master, and the kennels were built 

 at Brixworth. "The Old Pytchley Hall Club, with 

 all its memories and associations, was now done away 

 with and in a few more years the ancient building 

 (Pytchley Hall) was pulled down by order of its owner, 

 Mr. George Payne." * For a time about this period 

 even the white collar ceased to be worn, no doubt 

 falling into disuse at the time that the Club of which 

 it was a badge was done away with. 



In 182 1 Mr. Musters took the hounds, and during 

 the time he was Master the sport was very good. Then 

 came Mr. Osbaldeston, a character of whose exploits 



* " The Pytchley Hunt, Past and Present," p. 48. 



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