JOHN KING OF FOWLESCOMBE 35 



after George Templer^s return from abroad, when 

 Sir Walter was just about to take on the hounds 

 from King. That (and poetical licence in ignoring 

 the intervening master) would reconcile the allusion 

 with the facts. I am also inclined to suspect, from 

 the fact that Sir Walter did not come of age until 

 1828 and that his journal covers the whole of King's 

 two seasons, that the last-named was to some extent 

 acting as a warming-pan for his successor. We get 

 an idea of the master and of his pack from the follow- 

 ing : 



" The late Mr. John King of Fowlescombe was an 

 able sportsman. His hounds were rather lighter 

 than those which meet with most consideration at 

 the present time (1861), yet neatly proportioned and 

 not deficient in power, and withal most true and 

 efficient hunters. He maintained the principle that 

 hounds should account for their fox with as little 

 assistance as possible, and work out their own 

 success. Naturally shrewd and observing, as dwellers 

 and frequenters of the moor usually are, he was fully 

 cognisant of the nature and habits of the wild 

 animal he pursued, and when he did render assistance 

 to his favourites it was invariably to the purpose, and 

 followed by happy results." ^ 



The pack went by the name of " Mr. King's 

 Hounds, "2 and we can gather the extent of country 

 hunted from the entries in Sir W'alter Carew's 

 hunting journal, ^ which, as already stated, includes 

 the period of King's mastership. Here is a list of 

 his fixtures during the season 1827-8 : 



^ Letters on the past and present Foxhounds of Devonshire. 



* See Hunting Appointments in Trewman's Exeter Flying Post of the 

 period. 



* See next chapter, p, 46. 



