84 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1800 to 



Wharton spent some time every year with his 

 friend at Bramshill. On coming to the title, 

 Sir John purchased a few race-horses, and was 

 on the turf, but he soon became tired of racing, 

 and regularly took to hunting in 1816-17. He 

 owned Shoestrings, the sister of Mr. Walker's 

 mare Shoehorn. 



Sir John Sir John's first huntsman was Tom 



v^n? Ser " Tocock, who had been first whip, and 

 Tom Tocock. afterwards huntsman, to Mr. St. John. 

 Joe Paice was first whip, and John Major 

 second. This Major was a son of Mr. Villebois' 

 huntsman. Tocock, when leaping, had a pe- 

 culiar habit of grasping the pommel of his 

 saddle. He was fifteen years with Sir John, 

 and was succeeded by John Major in 1832, 

 who only held the post one season, and then 

 George Gardiner was firsfr whip, and Robert 

 Tocock the second. 



Shirley came next, in 1835, and 



James Shir- J ' 



ley, Robert was huntsman until Sir John gave 

 up in 1850, with, first, Robert Tocock 

 and George Sweetman as his whips, and after- 

 wards Thomas Nevitt and Thomas Sweetman. 

 Shirley was "a son of old John Shirley, who 

 lived many years with Sir Richard Sutton, 

 and he was whipper-in -to Mr. Osbaldeston in 

 Leicestershire. 



