70 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1S00 to 



big were they, that they were called " John 

 Warcle's jackasses." 



Mr. Warde revelled in jokes and jests, and, 

 being always cheery himself, had the happy 

 knack of making everybody about him cheer- 

 ful. Numerous stories of him have been told 

 over and over again in different books and 

 magazines (many of them will be found in the 

 Sporting Magazine of 1826, p. 326), but I am 

 not aware that the following has yet ap- 

 peared in print : There was a gentleman ot 

 very large fortune residing in the New Forest 

 when he hunted it, and no one was ever in- 

 vited to partake of his hospitality. Mr. Warde 

 declared that he would get a dinner, or, at 

 any rate, something to eat or drink at his 

 house. One day this gentleman returned from 

 hunting before the hounds found, as it was 

 late before they did so, and a capital run they 

 had, killing their fox. On their way home 

 they passed this gentleman's house ; John 

 Warde stopped and rang the bell. The foot- 

 man, who answered, it said : " his master was 

 at dinner." " Never mind, I must see him to 

 tell him of the splendid run we have had." 

 He was shown into the dining-room where 

 this inhospitable gentleman was dining, with 

 three servants waiting on him. He then de- 



