CHAPTER VI 



JORROCKS AND THE OLD SURREY 



'"T^HE immortal Jorrocks — whose creator was, as we 

 -*■ need hardly state, the late Mr. R. S. Surtees — had a 

 warm corner in his heart for the Old Surrey Fox Hounds. 

 He seems to have hunted with them pretty regularly ; he 

 knew and loved their peculiarities, their diversions, and 

 the bright sport they showed. We must make allow- 

 ance for the jocular spirit in which he deals with this and 

 similar themes. His sense of humour was always exuber- 

 ant : a genial cynicism marked many of his utterances. 



In " Jaunts and Jollities," published by R. Ackermann 

 in the year 1843, we find two special chapters on these 

 hounds, and each excursus is vastly entertaining. The 

 author is delighted with his text. " What true-bred city 

 sportsman," he begins by asking, " has not, in his day, put 

 ofT the most urgent business — perhaps his marriage or 

 even the interment of his rib — that he might brave the 

 morn with that renowned pack, the Surrey subscription 

 fox-hounds ? Lives there, we would ask, a thoroughbred, 

 prime, bang-up, slapdash, breakneck, out-and-out artist 

 within three miles of the Monument, who has not 

 occasionally gone a good 'un with this celebrated pack ? 

 . . . One of the most striking features in the aspect of 



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