CHAP. II.] Lord Sondes^ Maste7\ 47 



before tlie critical audience,, Lis opinion was always 

 treated with, respect. With his friend and colleague. 

 Lord Althorp, he was at one in all matters except 

 politics ; and there they were as far asunder as the poles. 

 Their rivalry in the field of " shorthorn " breeding was 

 of the most amicable description, though the herd of 

 the noble lord, known to agriculturists as " Farmer 

 Jack," never touched the same point of excellence as 

 that of the Fawsley baronet. For many a year, the 

 three strains of blood most eagerly sought for and com- 

 manding the highest prices were those of Bates, Booth, 

 and Sir Charles Knightley ; and though shorthorns, 

 in sympathy with the collapse of British agriculture, 

 have fallen from the high position which they once 

 enjoyed, a scion from the stock of any of these magnates 

 of the herd-book is still looked upon as a valuable 

 possession. Wearying of the mastership all too soon, or 

 perhaps from not meeting with a sufiiciently liberal 

 support. Sir Charles retired at the close of his first 

 season. 



The reins of office were then taken up by Lord 

 Sondes ; but he, finding that twelve months of power 

 were as much as he cared for, resigned at the end of 

 1819, in favour of Sir Bellingham Graham. 



At this time, hunting from so distant a point as 

 Pytchley having been found very inconvenient. Sir 

 Charles Knightley and certain of the county gentlemen 

 determined to erect kennels at a more central point, 

 and Brixworth was 6xed upon as the most suitable spot 

 for the new hunting capital. The old Pytchley Club, 

 with all its glories, and all its old associations, was now 

 done away with ; and in a few more years the ancient 



