CHAP. IV.] Pixsentation to Mr. G. Payne 145 



of their high esteem for him^ and gratitude for his unceas- 

 ing efforts to promote the manly and health}^ sports of 

 the county/^ The ceremonial of the presentation took 

 place at the George Hotel at ISTorthampton^ where some 

 hundreds sat down to dinner : the members of the hunt 

 were in their red coats. The sun of the splendour of the 

 popular idol had long begun to wane ; but many of those 

 present knew nothing of this, and looked upon the guest of 

 the evening as the embodiment of sport, munificence, and 

 pleasant manners. As, pushing back his chair, he arose 

 to express his gratitude for the magnificent mark of the 

 goodwill of those around him, he looked the model of 

 a sportsman, and of an English country gentleman. 



It was not without some difficulty that he repressed 

 feelings, that, at first, seemed likely to overcome him ; 

 but warming to his work, his audience soon became 

 aware that they were listening to a man gifted with 

 oratorical powers of no common order. At political and 

 other dinners he had previously given the public a taste 

 of his quality as a speaker, but on this occasion his 

 feelings gave such fire to his words, that the hearts of 

 his hearers were deeply touched. On resuming his seat 

 it seemed as though the roof of the old county ball- 

 room must needs collapse with the loud, long-continued 

 applause. It is sad to know that this splendid tribute of 

 gratitude and esteem was never destined to decorate the 

 table of him to whom it was presented. Too large for the 

 dinner-table of the house in which Mr. Payne passed 

 the latter years of his life, it remained under the care of 

 the silversmiths (Messrs. Smith of Long Acre) in whose 

 atelier it was produced. On the death of the owner it 

 was bequeathed to Lord Spencer as an heirloom, on 



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