CHAP. II.] CJiaractej' of Lord AltJiorp. 31 



CHAPTER II. 



ChaMcter of Lord Althorp ; becomes an Agriculturist and Breeder of 

 Shorthorns : a boxer and supporter of pugilism ; with anecdotes 

 of Parson Ami rose, Lord Byron, and Jackson the prize-tigliter ; 

 Gully, Cribb, and others — 'The prize-ring — Prize-fight at Acheres, 

 near Paris — Feederick, fourth EarlSpencee; a breeder of 

 racehorses ; an excellent shot, and patron of" cricket — The Althorp 

 Distiict — SandarsGorse — Sir Charles Knightley, Master, 

 1817-18 ; his fine horsemanship and deficient eloquence — Rivals 

 Lord Althorp in breeding Shorthorns — An ardent Horticulturist 

 — Resigns the Mastership — His house at Fawsley; its secret 

 chamber; a Martin Mar-prelate Tract covertly printed there 

 — Lord Sondes, J/a^^er, 1818-19 — Sir Bellingham Graham, 

 Master, 1819 — Notices of scmie of the usual visitors to a i^ytchley 

 Meet: Dick Gurney; Squire Wood of Brixworth ; Matthew 

 Oldacre ; Sir Roderick Murchison ; Capt. Blunt ; Admiral Sir 

 W. Pell ; The Rev. Vere Isham; The Rev. John Whalley ; The 

 Rev. W. Dickens ; The Rev. J. C. Humphrey ; The Rev. J. 

 Wickes ; and The Rev. Loraine Smith — Henry Couch, a military 

 deserter and felon ; his singular career and extraordinary letters — 

 John Dunt, a worthy old soldier, and his letter. 



Among a long list of honoured names, thePytchley Hunt 

 can point to none more notable than that of John 

 Charles, Viscount Althorp. Like the great Duke himself, 

 the polar star of his life was duty, and his most marked 

 characteristic, ^"^ thoroughness.''^ Whatever he under- 

 took he did with all his might, and in the best possible 

 manner, without much regard to cost. By sheer force of 

 character, and a straightforwardness of conduct never 

 equalled in the tortuous paths of political life, the posi- 

 tion he attained in the House of Commons is almost 

 without a parallel. Entirely wanting in the great gift of 



