138 MR. WARDE'S HOUNDS 



matchmaking, but that his judgment seldom failed either in 

 form or good qualities. It was the fashion to abuse 

 Mr. Warde's hounds, as large, heavy, lumbering animals, 

 with huge heads and coarse neck-cloths ; and it is so 

 far true that some of the dogs were Brobdignags in pro- 

 portions. A hound called Mimic I well remember, of 

 height and power sufficient 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 looked 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 equaUse 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. 



A2 to the size and colour of his pack, every Master wiU 

 follow the bent of his own inclination. Power has little 

 to do with height, and a good hound or a good horse 



