18 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1715 to 



Inn — having with him some very choice com- 

 panions from Devonshire, all of whom were 

 neighbours to my mother's family and other 

 relations; among them Colonel Bassett, who 

 succeeded Sir Thomas A eland as master of the 

 stag-hounds in Devon. 



" Things were done differently to what they 

 are in these days. I expect there were more 

 pipes of port wine finished by this party and 

 their neighbouring jolly companions during 

 their winter visits — perhaps four — than have 

 been since in twenty years. They had great 

 assistance in their festivities, as well as field 

 pursuits, from such as we seldom see now — 

 Messrs. Harry and Walter Blunt of Amport, 

 Colonel Beaver,* with several others. General 

 Sir Sidney Meadows, I believe, continually 

 joined them in the evening. 



" Mr. Pile, an alderman of Anclover, who, 

 together with his horse, numbered a hundred 

 years, was a general attendant in the field. 

 Jack Haines, the star of Devon huntsmen, was 

 idolised by all the Hampshire sportsmen ; and 

 I had the pleasure of seeing him cut ofi 

 several brushes, having frequently gone with 



* Colonel Beaver was first in the 27tli Inniskillings, and afterwards 

 in the Hants Fencibles. He lived at Penton, and with Lord South- 

 ampton (who resided at Doles, in a house which has long ago been 

 pulled down) kept a small pack of fox-hounds. 



