CHAP. I.] Mr. Andrezv of Harleston — C/'ias. King. 27 



29tli of July of tliat year, the first stone of a new Stand 

 was laid at Nortliampton by Mr. Jolin Stevenson 

 (owner of ''True Blue ^^ and '' Duenna/') accompanied 

 by tlie mayor of tlie borougli and the town council, 

 and other gentlemen favourable to racing. After the 

 ceremony the company retired to a marquee erected on 

 the ground, to partake of wine, the mayor presiding. 

 After the customary toasts, the healths of the Marquis 

 of Exeter, Earl Spencer, the Earl of Cardigan, the Hon. 

 Captain Spencer, George Payne, Esq., and Fox-hunting 

 were given ; and there appeared on the part of all 

 assembled a determination to use every endeavour to 

 make the Northampton Races second to none in the 

 kingdom. 



Mr. Andrew of Harleston was a good man on a horse, 

 and like his friends and neighbours, Messrs. Elwes 

 and Bouverie, was short in stature and light in weight, 

 though scarcely so particular in the shape and cut of 

 his garments as either of these. This trio of country 

 squires were each fond of tbe turf; but the owner of 

 Harleston could not boast the prudence of either of the 

 others, and so seriously injured his fortune by his specu- 

 lations that, after a while, the property passed into the 

 hands of Lord Spencer, and became part of the Althorp 

 territory. 



No name as a Huntsman is more familiar to old North- 

 amptonshire, or at all events to that portion of it hunted 

 by the Pytchley hounds, than that of Charles King. 

 Unknown to the present generation, in the time of Lord 

 Althorp it was to the hunting-man of that day what the 

 names of Charles Payne and Will Goodall have been 

 during the last thirty years. He was tall and slight, 



