I BECOME M.F.H. 5 



The exact age at which I first entered on my duties as 

 second whip to my father's pack of harriers, I cannot now 

 call to my recollection ; but under his able tuition, my 

 education in that line was so rapid, that I was soon per- 

 mitted to hold the first place, Jack being put under me, 

 and I quickly became so thoroughly conversant with 

 kennel management as well, that the feeding of the hounds 

 was generally entrusted to my care. 



During this period I had also hunted occasionally with 

 fox-hounds, which rendered me gradually disincHned to 

 the pursuit of the timid hare ; although from our pack 

 being mostly composed of thorough-bred fox-hounds, we 

 had often a good straight clipping run (these, however, 

 forming the exceptions to our general rule), and my ardour 

 for the " noble science " increasing, I at length persuaded 

 my father to give up the harriers, and allow me to sub- 

 stitute a few couples of fox-hounds in their place, so that 

 at the early age of twenty I became M. F. H., and began 

 hunting my own hounds. From my father's long ex- 

 perience in fox-hunting as well as hare-hunting, his un- 

 rivalled abilities both as a rider and huntsman to his own 

 pack, it was impossible for me to have been placed under 

 more able tuition as to the management of horses and 

 hounds ; in fact, he was acknowledged to be the very 

 best rider of his time, and as a huntsman, no one was then, 

 or could be now, his superior. 



One of his maxims on horsemanship was, that a good 

 rider had no business ever to fall, without his horse being 

 down with him ; and from this being so often inculcated 

 in my boyish riding lessons, both with and without stirrups, 

 I may date my entire escape from any serious injury by 

 a fall during my whole hunting career ; and when a young 

 man, I may say that none could ride more fearlessly, 



