146 Memoir of Tom Smith. 



from it in the form of a star; three carri- 

 ages containing the visitors were placed there, 

 which gave them opportunities of seeing the 

 foxes and the hounds crossing and recrossing, 

 and afforded them great amusement for three 

 hours, until the Duke thought it time to return 

 home for dinner, but expressing his hope that 

 the Master would bring an account of the day's 

 sport. They killed soon after the departure of 

 the Duke, and the brush was taken up to the 

 house, when his Grace introduced Mr. Smith 

 to some of the party, who were Italians, as 

 *' II cacciatore di volpi.'' His Grace, as is well 

 known, was one of the most finished gentlemen 

 in the kingdom, and a most agreeable even- 

 ing was passed. The strange exclamations of 

 the foreigners had greatly amused everybody 

 when in the field; but the amusement was 

 quite as great afterwards to see with what 

 surprise they listened to a few hunting anec- 

 dotes, and still more when told that the hunts- 

 man cheered each hound by name, and knew 



