94 Memoir of Tom Smith, 



I thought so," of the Duke was diverting 

 enough. 



During the summer time it "was Mr. 

 Smith's custom to yisit as many celebrated 

 kennels as he could, year after year, so as to 

 mark the result of breeding from j^erfect or 

 imperfect hounds, &c. He was, in the first 

 year of his Craven mastership, thus engaged 

 about a hundred miles from home, when he 

 received a most unpleasant letter from the 

 Marquis of Ailesbiuy, saying that the hounds 

 had broken away from the men when at exer- 

 cise in Tottenham Park, and had chased his 

 deer; and unless Mr. Smith kept better ser- 

 vants, he could not allow the hounds on his 

 property. Of course no time was lost in re- 

 turning home, when he heard a sad chapter 

 of accidents, though things might have been 

 worse. Contrary to orders, his men had taken 

 the young unentered hounds along with the 

 older ones into the park for exercise, fancying 

 that they were under good command. TJn- 



