io6 The Pytchley Hunt, Past and P^'esent. [chap.ih. 



almost covered the amount of " swagger " that incited 

 it. To the friend who mounted him he had a habit of 

 saying, '^ Fll do your animal justice /^ and accordingly 

 takiug for hi-3 motto, " Fiatjustitia, mat Ginger/' he soon 

 made it clear to himself and to others whether or no the 

 horse of his friend was troubled with the '' jumps." He 

 rarely saw a run to its close, "grief ^' usually overtaking 

 him long before the journey was completed. Living much 

 in a society whose members did not on all occasions '^ take 

 the first turn to the right and go straight on/^ he him- 

 self began to tread the tortuous pathways of the turf. 

 A cloud arose under which this mighty " lepper '* dis- 

 appeared from view, and out of which he had not emerged, 

 when his name appeared on the list of those who hence- 

 forth were to be sought for under, rather than above, the 

 turf. 



Amongst the county gentlemen hunting at this time 

 were Messrs. Charles aud Quintus Yivian, Mr. Bouverie, 

 Mr. W. C. Nethercote (Eoyal Horse Guards), Sir Jus- 

 tinian Isbam, Bart., Mr. Vere Isham, Mr. Harris of 

 Wootton, Mr. Wood of Brixworth, Mr. T. Wood of 

 Arthingworth, Mr. E. Knightley, Mr. G. Payne, Mr. 

 Hungerford, Lord Cardigan, Mr. Tryon, Mr. W. Neville : 

 the field being principally made up by strangers staying 

 at Brixworth and Market Harborough. 



Occasionally appearing at a Meet near the last- 

 mentioned town was one who held the same high 

 position among professional horsemen that Assbeton 

 Smith did amoug gentlemen-riders — Dick Christian. 



Powerful in the saddle, perfectly fearless, and ready to 

 undertake a mount which most men would decline 

 without thanks, he was in constant request to act as 



