20 The Old Surrey Fox Hounds 



it ? — and whilst they were running, Mr. David Majori- 

 banks cut in and finished the run with them ; he then 

 insisted on everybody present going to his house for the 

 purpose of enjoying his hospitality. The day was hot ; 

 so, when his visitors dismounted, they took their coats off, 

 and proclaimed that their thirst was particularly vivid. 

 Champagne, claret, and hock were served in wholesale 

 quantity, and harmony reigned supreme — also for a long 

 time. Amongst that company — alack ! where is " dat 

 barty " now ? — were Lord Ranelagh, long Tom Codring- 

 ton, Billy Russell, the member for Pontefract, and Mr. Van 

 Kingston, who, sitting on a sofa and enjoying himself 

 heartily with the others, said that he felt slightly lame 

 from a fall sustained during the day. Examining him at 

 once, his convives discovered that the small bone of his 

 leg was broken. A bit of a stoic was he, as well as a 

 convivial soul ! 



Flourishing at about the period under notice was 

 another quaint character of the hunt, namely, Mr. Joshua 

 Hobson, of Stamford Hill, who achieved wealth beyond 

 the dreams of avarice even in connexion with the brewing 

 business. He weighed over twenty stone, and rode big 

 horses which cost him a lot of money. Accompanied by 

 one of his sons, who weighed nearly as much as himself, 

 Mr. Hobson used to drive in a curious chariot to 

 Parnham's at Croydon — which was then a great hunting 

 centre for the Old Surrey — where they kept their horses, 

 and, after hunting with spirit all day, they went back in 

 their carriage, in which they both peacefully slept. 



