CHAP. I.] Second Lord Spencer — Mr. Bnller. 7 



of tlie Admiralty, assumed tlie Mastership of tbe 

 country, and held it thirteen years. He was a very fine 

 horseman, and his stud was formed of animals of the 

 highest class only. So different were the customs of 

 that time from what they happily are now, that it was 

 held to be contrary to etiquette for any one to pass his 

 lordship in the field, except the huntsman. During 

 these years, the Pytchley Hunt attained a high degree of 

 popularity, many of the magnates of the land being 

 desirous of becoming members of it. To what an extent 

 this was the case may be learned from the subjoined list 

 of the names on the books at the Club in 1782 : — 



Earl Spencer. Mr. Powis. 



Earl of Jersey. Mr. Conyers. 



Earl of Westmoreland. Mr. C. Finch. 



]\larquis of Graham. Mr. Raynsford. 



Viscount Althorp- Earl of Lincoln. 



l)uke of Devonshire. Viscount Eairbord. 



Viscount Torrington. Sir Horace Mann. 



Earl of Winchels a. H(m. P. Granville. 



Lord R. Cavendish. Mr. Bouverie. 



Erirl of Aylesford. Mr. Poyntz. 



Earl of Powis. Mr. Fleming. 



Hon. G. St. John. Mr. Hatton. 



Mr. Knightle3% Mr. Doughty. 



Mr. Scaweu. . Mr. Assneton Smith. 



To the great regret of all connected with the Pytchley 

 Hunt, political duties necessitated Lord Spencer, in 

 1796, to relinquish the post he had filled with so much 

 distinction for thirteen years ; and for one season, Mr. 

 BuLLEK, of Maid well Hall, undertook the management 

 of affairs. Lord Spencer's celebrated huntsman, " Dick 

 Knight,^' has left a name which will ever be remembered 

 in the records of not only the Pytchley Hunt, but also 



