256 The PytcJiley Htmt, Past and Present, 



Many years have come and gone since lie of whom we 

 have been speaking formed a no less conspicuous than 

 popular member of a Pytchley Meet. It may, however^ 

 be confidently affirmed that neither time nor the cares 

 and troubles of political struggles have erased from his 

 memory the many happy hours that he has passed amid 

 the broad acres of Northamptonshire and in the company 

 of Charles Payn and his " famous little bitches." 



CAPTAIN "BAY'^ MIDDLETON. 



On five days out of six^ weather permitting, there may be 

 seen issuing from his enviable quarters at Hazelbeach on 

 his way to the Meet, one of the most widely known of the 

 hunting-heroes of the day. Whether Captain Middleton 

 owes his sobriquet of " Bay ^^ to the colouring assigned 

 to him by nature, or to the celebrated Derby winner of 

 1836, is immaterial, but from either of these sources it 

 may well derive its origin. A prominent member of the 

 noble army of " bruisers,^ ^ the subject of this memoir is 

 not attached to the battalion which can see no good in 

 fighting or hunting unless it be always carried on at 

 ^^ fever-heat.'^ Thankful for all the plums that may fall 

 in his path in the way of '' brilliant " gallops, the day of 

 small things is gratefully accepted by him for what it 

 may be worth. Possessing the instincts of a true sports- 

 man, to him the big fence and the " rattling " forty 

 minutes are not all in all. Failing the quicker '^ mercy,'' 

 the slow hunting-run is, in his estimation, by no means 

 to be treated with contempt ; nor is a season stigmatized 

 as " the worst ever known," because every day has not 

 produced its clipping forty minutes. He may truthfully 



