The Earl of Cardigan. 353 



in tlie Conservative interest, and retained tlie seat until 

 1837 ; when, succeeding to the title and estates, he became 

 a peer of the realm. Passionately fond of hunting, 

 there were few harder men across a country ; and at a 

 time when Quorn and Pytchley were well furnished with 

 ^^ bruisers/^ it was no easy matter for the best of them to 

 get in front of the gallant Earl. 



Taking a somewhat elevated view of his own social 

 position, and of the deference that was due to an Earl of 

 Cardigan, the Lord of Deane was wont to evince im- 

 patience when some low fellow chanced to come betwixt 

 the wind and his nobility. 



It was said of him that on one occasion, when in some 

 danger of being drowned in a brook whilst hunting in 

 Leicestershire, he was heard to exclaim, '^ Is there no one 

 who will help to save the seventh and last Earl of 

 Cardigan ? " — a story which if not '^ vero " was certainly 

 ^^ben trovato.'^ 



That he took an optimist view of his relations with his 

 tenants is instanced by a characteristic incident which 

 occurred in the presence of the writer. A fox having 

 gone to ground in one of the Deane Woods, Charles 

 Payn, contrary to Lord Cardigan's wish, commenced to 

 dig for him. 



"He has been killing some lambs, my Lord, and the 

 tenants are complaining," urged the Huntsman to his 

 lordship's remonstrance. " Tenants complaining ! " ex- 

 claimed the noble and somewhat scandalized proprietor. 

 '' The land is mine; the woods are mine, and the tenants 

 are mine ; and my tenants are not in the habit of com- 

 plaining about anything." Though somewhat over- 

 proud of his birth, his position, his appearance, and his 



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