194 MODELS OF SYMMETRY AND STRENGTH. 



ficient to draw a small basket- carriage ; yet withal, 

 he was neither leggy nor throaty, but one of the 

 cleverest hounds, in every respect, that I have 

 ever seen. Some of Mr. Warde's bitches, also, 

 were perfect models of symmetry — clean in their 

 necks, straight on their legs, and powerful in their 

 frames ; and although I have loolced over hundreds 

 and thousands of fox-hounds since that period, the 

 names and forms of some bitches I then noticed 

 in his kennel have been indelibly impressed upon 

 my recollection, and I have never met with any 

 since which could compete with them. That such 

 hounds as Mimic were ill adapted to a flinty 

 country, like the Craven, admits of no question ; but 

 Mr. Warde was partial to a large sort of fox- 

 hound, and his lady pack could go well in any 

 country. It was said (with what truth I know 

 not) that his hunting pack partook of an early 

 breakfast before appearing at the covert side, to 

 equalise their pace with their master's, who then 

 rode somewhere about twenty stone ! Be that as 

 it may, the palmy days of John Warde in the 

 Craven country will never be forgotten by those 

 who partook of the festivities of that period, when 

 good sport and good fellowship, with unbounded 

 hospitality, so generally prevailed. 



As to the size and colour of his pack, every 



