2 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1745 to 



handled by such masterly writers as Peter 

 Beckforcl, the Blackstone of the chase, Colonel 

 Cook, Nimrocl, Cecil, Delme RadclifFe, Tom 

 Smith, and others. It would be the height of 

 presumption on the part of the author to at- 

 tempt such a thing ; but the intention is to 

 give a history of each hunt in this county 

 since its establishment, with memoirs and 

 notices of the masters and their huntsmen, of 

 the principal supporters and promoters of 

 sporting in Hants generally during the last 

 century ; and although cock-fighting, prize- 

 fightmsr. and single-stick were not only recog- 

 nisecl, but even fashionable diversions, hunt- 

 ing, racing, and cricket only will be alluded 

 to. 



The limits of the work, arid the large conse- 

 quent expense, will not permit of the cricket 

 scores being set out fully ; but those desirous 

 of further information are referred to Frede- 

 rick Lilly white's large book of scores and bio- 

 graphies. 



Although Hampshire has never ranked high, 

 even among the provinces, as a hunting coun- 

 try, yet, as a single county, with the excep- 

 tion of Yorkshire and Devonshire, it can, I 

 believe, boast of more packs of hounds than 

 any other in England, and of having had at 



