CHAP. II.] Death of Sir Charles Knightley. 51 



them a more honoured name, or one that will stand out 

 in bolder relief in a county's annals. 



The following highly characteristic letter, written by 

 Sir Charles only a few days before his death, was received 

 by the author of this volume : — 



^^ My DEAR Nethercote, — ^' The venison is very good, 

 and I shall be very happy to send you a haunch when- 

 ever you like it. How have you been lately ? I have 

 been rather fishy, and I thought that the old gentleman 

 who stalks about with a scythe and an hour-glass was 

 going to give me a punch ; but he has let me off for a 

 time, and I am quite fresh again. 



" Yours ever sincerely, 



C. Knightley." 



*^ Sunday, 22nd August," — four days before his 

 death. • 



In less than a week after the above was penned, 

 that '^ old gentleman with the scythe and the hour-glass '^ 

 had repeated his '^ punch,'' and the heart, so full of 

 hospitable thought and kindly feelings, had ceased to beat 

 for ever. 



With the transference from Pytchley to Brix worth of 

 the hunting establishment, the modern history of the 

 " P.H.'' may be said to commence. Old things passed 

 away. The Club, for some time on the wane, ceased to 

 exist ; and even the ^^ white collar,'' so long the 

 distinctive mark of the ^' Pytchley man," now disappeared 

 from sight. 



Before discussing the incidents of the new era, it will 

 be well to pass in review some of those strangers as well 

 as natives, who from time to time had formed, and for 



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