CHAP. II.] Sir Charles Knightley, Master. 45 



was tlie first to go. His liospitality was of that genial 

 description which, while it included friends of his own 

 rank, did not leave out in the cold the neighbouring 

 squire or parson — indeed, he never seemed more happy 

 than when his guests were those of his own neighbour- 

 hood. 



After the resignation of Lord Althorp in 1817, into no 

 hands more appropriate could the mastership of the 

 hounds have fallen than into those of his friend, Sir 

 Charles Knightley, who by virtue of his keenness, 

 knowledge of hunting, social position, and general 

 popularity, was in every way suited to the position. 

 A horseman of the highest class, Sir Charles at no 

 time had a superior in riding to hounds, and on 

 either of his famous thorough-breds, " Sir Mariner '' 

 or ^^ Benvolio," he was more than a match for tlie 

 " swells ^^ from Melton or Market Harbro\ A hedg-e 

 and brook between Brix worth and Cottesbrooke, just 

 to the left of the station, still known as " Sir 

 Charles's leap,^^ is sufficient evidence that he was nob 

 to be stopped by a fence, however formidable, when 

 the necessity arose for a little extra steam. Tall, thin, 

 with aquiline nose and high cheek-bones, the appear- 

 ance of the Fawsley baronet was such as to make him 

 remarkable among a multitude — an appearance en- 

 hanced as he advanced in years by a habit he had 

 acquired of carrying his head bent upon his chest. A 

 consistent inflexible Tory of the old school, he repre- 

 sented a division of his native county in Parliament 

 for several years, and fought many a contested election. 

 Not greatly blessed with the gift of eloquence, and 

 with a slight difficulty of utterance, his attempts to 



