3 1 6 The Pytchley Hunt, Past and Present, 



ceeding never for a moment became anything but a sub- 

 ject for congratulation. Peculiar in many of his ways, 

 and regardless of appearances, Sir Francis used to cause 

 some amusement by the habit of taking his horse to 

 cover tied to the back of the gig. This was done to save 

 the weight of the groom, who, being a heavy man, was 

 better in his master's trap than on the back of his 

 master^s hunter. The most marked characteristics of 

 this fine old Officer of Eugineers were hastiness of tem- 

 per, combined with great amiability, and an extraordinary 

 appreciation of the humorous. A Quarterly Reviewer 

 and a somewhat voluminous writer, many of his works 

 sparkle with fun, as will be attested by all who have read 

 them ; one, ^^ Bubbles from the Brunnens of Nassau,'^ a 

 laughable description of ^^Life at the German Baths," 

 especially so : also ^^ Stokers and Pokers/' an account 

 of the working of a great Railway — the London and 

 North- Western. Amongst others of his various writings 

 may be mentioned " The Emigrant ; " ^'^ A Narrative " 

 (during his Governorship of Canada) ; ^^ A Fortnight in 

 Ireland,^' &c. 



Devoted to children, nothing gave him greater pleasure 

 than asking them questions, and listening to their 

 replies ; and any answer or remark denoting originality 

 or a sense of fun gave him unfeigned satisfaction. Had 

 he been the school-inspector, who, on asking a boy what 

 tlie meaning of ^^ responsibility " was, was told, ^'^ If I 

 had only two buttons on my trousers, and one was to 

 come off, the whole responsibility would rest with the 

 other,'' he would not have ceased smiling for a week. 



When engaged to be married, he was told that his 

 fiancee might be obliged to have recourse to a medicine 



