vlli Contents, 



Chapter II. 



PAGE 



Character of Lord Althorp ; an Agriculturist and Breeder of Short- 

 horns ; a boxer and supporter of pugilism ; with anecdotes 

 of Parson Ambrose ; Lord Byron, and Jackson the prize- 

 fighter; Gullj', Cribb, and others — The prize-ring — Fee- 

 DEEiCK, fourth Eael Spencee — The Althorp District — 

 Sandars Gorse — Sie Chaeles Knightley, Master, 1817- 

 18 ; a fine horseman, and breeder of Shorthorns — an ardent 

 Horticulturist — his house at Fawsley, and secret chamber — 

 Lord Sondes, Master, 1818-19— Sie Bellingham Geaham, 

 Master, 1819 — Notices of some of the usual visitors to a 

 Pytchley Meet : Dick Gurney ; Squire Wood of Brixworth ; 

 Matthew Oldacre; Sir R. Murchison ; Captain Blunt ; Admiral 

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

 W. Dickens ; Rev. J. 0. Humphrey; Rev. J. Wickes; and 

 Rev. Loraine Smith — Henry Couch, a military deserter and 

 felon ; his singular career and extraordinary letters . . 31 



Chapter III. 



Me. John Chawoeth Musters, Master, 1821 — Opinions on 

 his hounds — Troublesome foxes — Attachment of his hounds 

 — His qualifications for the Mastership — Me. Osbaldeston, 

 Master, 1827 — His appearance, manners and abilities — 

 Excellence of his hounds — The best riders at Melton, 1820-30 

 — Osbaldeston's excellence as a steeplechase rider — Race on 

 ' Grimaldi ' against 'Moonraker' — Celebrity of his bitch- 

 pack — Run from Misterton to Laughton Mills — Match to 

 ride 200 miles in ten hours, with the horses used — Chal- 

 lenges all the world for 20,OOOL — As a shot, a cricketer, a 

 boxer, an M.P., and a turfite — Mr. Wilkins, blaster, 1834 

 — Jack Stevens, Huntsman, his early death — "Billy" 

 Russell — Mr, George Payne, Master, 1835 — The Earl 

 of Chesterfield, Master, 1838 — Lords Cardigan, Maid- 

 stone, and Macdonald — Old times and manners — Perfec- 

 tion of Lord Chesterfield's arrangements — His resignation 

 in 1840— The Hon. Wilbraham Tollemache—" Ginger " 

 Stubbs, and other hunters — Dick Christian and Matty 

 Milton — Old horses not so safe as young ones — Daniel 

 Lambert — Mr, T, Assheton Smith — Dick Christian and Bill 

 Wright 78 



Chapter IV. 



Mb. T. " Gentleman " Smith, Master, 1840— Sir Francis H, 

 Goodricze, Master, 1842-44 — The Brixworth Sporting- 



