1845.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 177 



nearly eighteen stone ; but he hunted his 

 hounds himself, and was first-rate as a harrier 

 huntsman. For many years he had drafts 

 from Mr. Chute, who, when he had anything 

 a little under his own size, always reserved it 

 for Mr. Mullins. At his death his pack was 

 purchased by Mr. John Portal of Laverstoke. 



"From 1826 till 1828 Mr. Asshe- 1826. 

 ton Smith established his quarters Mr.Asshe- 



x ton Smith at 



at Penton Lodge, near Andover. He Penton. 

 had ceased to be a master of hounds after he 

 gave up the Burton country, in 1824, but 

 hunted regularly with the Duke of Rutland's, 

 and other packs, in the surrounding countries. 

 At Penton he commenced operations with a 

 scratch pack, which he soon got into order; 

 but until the death of his father no very active 

 steps were taken to bring the country into the 

 condition in which it is now." 



A writer in the Sporting Magazine of May, 

 1832, p. 128, speaking of Mr. Assheton Smith, 

 says: "Combining the character of a skilful 

 sportsman with that of a desperate horseman, 

 perhaps a parallel is not to be found, and his 

 name will be handed down to posterity as a 

 specimen of enthusiastic zeal, in one indi- 

 vidual pursuit, very rarely equalled. Mr. 

 Smith did not become a master of fox-hounds 



N 



