284 The PytcJiley Hunt, Past and Present, 



'^ head " may now be carried between tlie respective 

 points, that it takes a good man, and a good horse also, 

 to keep well with, the pack when once settled to its 

 work. 



On the long list of its fixtures the " P.H." has none 

 more popular than that of Stanford Hall, the home 

 since the days of Henry VIII. of the ancient family of 

 Otway-Cave, now Barons Braye. In point of position, 

 picturesqueness, and sporting-surroundings, this may 

 well have earned tbe title of the " Pearl of the Pytchley 

 JMeets ;'^ and he who has hunted from Stanford without 

 sport feels as it were as if he had suffered a measure of 

 wrong and robbery. From time immemorial have the 

 owners of this favoured property been followers of the 

 chase, the name of Otway-Oave being among the more 

 prominent of the early members of the ^' P.H." 

 The gallant officer — elder brother of the present noble 

 owner of the Stanford Hall estate — who lost his life 

 at the battle of Ulundi, fighting against the hosts of 

 King Cetewayo, was famous for his bold and fearless 

 riding ; and his successor — though by no means a feather- 

 weight — has no idea of being left behind if, like his 

 neighbour, " pace and plough " do not put their veto 

 upon his carrying out his intentions. 



THE REV. J. TYRWHITT DRAKE.^ 



Wjthin a very circumscribed area of the surface of fair 

 Northamptonshire there reside, for hunting^s sake, eight 



^ This respected gentleman has, like several others mentioned in 

 the work, departed this life since the Memoir was written. — Ed. 



