60 Memoir of Tom Smith. 



which at one time seemed imminent. In- 

 formation came one clay, after dinner, that 

 Lord Anson had run a fox to ground in the 

 Quorndon country, and then, contrary to cus- 

 tom, had had it dug out. Sir Belllngham 

 fell into a towering rage, and on the instant 

 wrote a challenge to his lordship. With dif- 

 ficulty Mr. Smith prevailed on the baronet 

 not to send it off instanter, but to take it 

 with him to the meet next day, and abide 

 by the judgment of the Hunt. This was, 

 that if any insult was meant, it was not to 

 Sir E., but to the whole Hunt ; but that great 

 allowance was to be made for so young a 

 Master of Hounds as his lordship, and that 

 a letter of remonstrance was all that was 

 called for. Eather reluctantly Sir Eellingham 

 gave up the '' affair," and he was repaid by 

 a capital run, with blood of fox instead of 

 a lord at the end of it. 



On his way home Mr. Smith paid a visit to 

 Great Marlow. Hearing that the royal stag- 



