7 8 The Pytchley Hunt^ Past and Present, [chap. m. 



CHAPTER III. 



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

 hounds — Troublesome foxes — Attachment of his hounds — His 

 qualifications for the IMastership — Mr. 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 Laughtun Mills — Match to ride 200 miles in ten hours, with 

 the horses used — Challenges all the world for 2O,OO0Z. — As a shot, 

 a cricketer, a boxer, an M.P,, and a Turfite — Mr. Wilkins, 

 Master, 183-i — Jack Stevens, huntsman ; his early death — 

 "Billy" Russell— Mr. George Payne, Master, 1835— The 

 Earl of Chesterfield, ilXa.^-^^er, 18^58 — Lords Cardigan, Maid- 

 stone, and Macdonald — Old Times and Manners — Perfection of 

 Lord Chesterfield's arrangements — His resignation in 1840 — The 

 Hon. Wilbraham Tollemarche — " 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. 



The modern history of the Pytchley Hunt may be said 

 to commence in 1821, when Mr. John Chaworth Musters, 

 of Colwick Hall, Notts, better known as " Jack Musters/' 

 moved with his own pack of hounds out of Nottingham- 

 shire, to take the Mastership of the Pytchley country. 

 The pleasant days and lively nights of the ^' old club " 

 had now passed away ; but, so far as hunting and con- 

 venience went, the removal of the hounds to a central 

 point, and the abolition of what may be called the 

 " alternate system, '^ was greatly in favour of sport. To 

 strangers the change was highly welcome; and Brix- 



