1825.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 85 



In the organisation and management of the 

 hounds, Sir John was materially assisted by 

 Mr. Blackhall Simmonds, who then lived at 

 Reading, and who has always been a staunch 

 supporter of fox-hunting. 



Sir John's country was very extensive ; it 

 may be said to have been from' Windsor to 

 Basingstoke, but it comprised in its early days 

 the country round Nettlebed, Caversham, and 

 Maidenhead. It was too large to be hunted 

 properly. The big woods were not sufficiently 

 routed, so that foxes did not fly, but too fre- 

 quently ran round and round. Sir John 

 hunted it independently of any subscription. 

 His establishment consisted of forty -two couple 

 of hounds, and fourteen horses were kept for 

 the use of the huntsman and whips. 



Perhaps the hardest men with Sir 

 John were Colonel Blagrave of Calcot ri( J° rs with 

 (in his best day a most daring rider, ^ J e ohn 

 and for whom no timber was ever 

 too big) ; his jumping a spiked gate near 

 Strathfieldsaye, which was nearly seven feet 

 high, and setting the whole field, is still re- 

 membered ; Mr. Hawley of West Green, 

 Messrs. Joseph and William Parfitt of Evers- 

 ley, Messrs. Blackhall .and Henry Simmonds, 

 Mr. William Makepeace of Bracknell, Mr. 



