196 SFORTING REMINISCENCES [1825 to 



Next skimming the furrow you'll see Major Ridge ; 

 If he comes to a brook he'll not look for a bridge: 

 Such a sportsman as this is not easily beat, 

 And I trust he'll get over whate'er he may meet. 



Fill up, &c. 



On a roaring bay horse, in the wake of Sir Frank,* 

 You may see Mr. Halkett come over the bank ; 

 Should he want any wind for the troublesome jade, 

 He can find a North- Wester^ to bring to his aid. 



Fill up, &c. 



Squire Delme', from Cams, is determined for one, 

 As he fully enjoys it, to see all the fun : 

 Should he chance to arrive rather late with his drag, 

 He can make up his ground on his little brown nag. 



Fill up, &c. 



He brings brother George, who, all ripe for the burst, 

 Has resolved in his mind to be nothing but first ; 

 Sometimes the Freemason% indulges his whim, 

 Just to prove that the secret is lasting with him. 



Fill up, &c. 



And a Bedfordshire sportsman with only one fear, 

 Lest the Gttardsman§ should ever be found in the rear ; 

 Just as jealous as George, and as anxious to go 

 "While he can with the first, for the fame of the " 0." 



Fill up, &c. 



And I trust he will go when he gets on his SocJcs,f\ 

 If that trump, William Gage,^ will again find a fox, 

 Just to lend such a chevy from Henwood till dark, 

 With a pretty " Whoo-whoop" beyond Rotherfield Parle.** 



Fill up, &c. 



* Commodore Sir Francis Collier, C.B. 



■j" North Wester, a hunter, the property of Mr. Halket, formerly 

 celebrated at Newmarket — a winner of two classes of the Oatlands, &c. 



J Freemason, a hunter, the property of Capt. George Delme, R.N., 

 renowned for his lasting good qualities. 



§ Guardsman, a celebrated hunter, the property of a member of the 

 Oakley Hunt — winner of a steeple-chase, December, 1829. For other 

 performances see Racing Calendars for 1828, 1829, 1830. 



| Socks, another superior horse, belonging to the same individual. 



^1 The Hon. William Gage, of Westbury House, a staunch sportsman 

 and preserver of foxes, especially in Henwood, the best pheasant pre- 

 serve. 



** Alluding to a splendid run with the Hambledon this season, from 

 Henwood, with a three o'clock fox, which they killed beyond Rother- 

 field Park, the seat of J. Scott, Esq. 



