198 The Pytchley Hunt^ Past and Present, 



Though something of a cricketer^ and fond of shooting, 

 it is horse and hound which really occupy the warm 

 corners in the affections of the Pytchley Master of 1861 

 and 1874; and in no heart does the love of hunting burn 

 more strongly. Be he where he may, abroad_, in Ireland^ 

 or elsewhere, the thought of what he may be missing 

 with the Pytchley is constantly present with him during 

 the winter months. Making a personal friend of the 

 horses who carry him well, to part with a favourite for 

 any cause is a bereavement of no ordinary character. In 

 a letter to a friend, bearing date February, 1858, he says : 

 "I was out riding on Friday, and knew by old Sir 

 George's excitement that hounds were near. I am glad 

 to hear of the death of one of the many Nobottle foxes. 

 The one you tell me of came, 1 presume, from Dodford 

 Holt ; if so, that is not a bad line if you keep the Weeden 

 and Brington road sufficiently to the left, and so cross 

 those fine grass meadows. I should indeed have enjoyed 

 the Saturday gallop you speak of, with Wizard or Meteor 

 in their old form.^ I hope that the time may come when I 

 shall drop in for a few such runs. I can count on my fingers 

 every good day I have had with the Pytchley so far ; so 

 much have I been prevented by one cause or another 

 from hunting regularly. I had a very sad parting with 

 my dear old horses on Thursday last. I made up my 

 mind to clear my stables, which were filled with a multi- 

 tude of animals : many useless to me, and several nearly 

 worn out. Reserving the two old favourites and my 

 sister's horse, I sent eighteen to TattersalFs. 1 had no 

 idea until the time arrived, how attached one can become 

 to horses. I confess that I shed tears over Wizard and 



' Both these horses returned to Althorp, and died there at a ripe 

 old age. 



