1800.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 5 



styled the " Gentlemen of the Hampshire 

 Hunt." Mr. Ridge maintained the hounds 

 entirely at his own expense for many years, 

 but his family expenses so much increased, 

 that he announced his intention of resign- 

 ing them. His friends, however, came in 

 a body and begged him to continue as their 

 chief, and offered him a small subscription, 

 which he accepted. Mr. Ridge had twenty- 

 one children, nineteen of whom grew up to 

 be men and women. Joe Hall was Joe Hail. 

 Mr. Ridge's huntsman. 



Phil Gosling was his first whip, his second 

 was a terribly hard riding, noisy fellow, re- 

 joicing in the euphonious title of Hell-fire 

 Jack. His other name is not known. Phil 

 Gosling was born at Stockbridge, Phu Gosling, 

 and first lived with old Mr. Dilly, at the 

 training-stables, at Ball Down ; from Mr. 

 Ridge he went to Mr. Chute, at the Vine, 

 and helped to get his pack together ; and 

 afterwards hunted Major Cook's hounds at 

 Soberton, then Lord Clanricarde's. Gosling 

 died at Winchester, not long ago, aged eighty- 

 nine. 



Monthly hunt dinners were served at half- 

 past three, and were very sociable and con- 

 vivial meetings. One or two songs, written 

 by the Rev. C. Powlett, who was called the 



