OSBALDESTON, .^c. 

 Chapter XXII, 



Osbaldeston's Hounds. — In connection with what I say at p. 357 I 

 wish to refer to what Sir Reginald Graham contributed to The Field 

 of May 26, 1894, in a most interesting letter alluding to Mr. Osbaldeston's 

 pack. He states that his father, Mr. Bellingham Graham, purchased 

 all Osbaldeston's hounds except 25 couple, when he took over the 

 Quorn in 1821, but upon the Squire's return in 1823 he repurchased 

 an equal lot from Mr. Graham at £1,110. Sir Reginald also states 

 that Osbaldeston's most celebrated stallion-hounds were Furrier, 

 Flourisher, Vaulter, Rasselas, Valentine, Hermit, and Rocket. Furrier, 

 a black and white hound, by Saladin from Fallacy, was bred at Belvoir 

 in 1821, and at one time there were 2^\ couple by Furrier in the Squire's 

 pack, and sometimes he made the whole of his pack for the day's hunt- 

 ing of hounds got by that famous sire. In conclusion, Sir Reginald 

 plaintively asks, " Where are the descendants of this historic pack ? " 



Woodland Hunting. — Osbaldeston found out some eighty-five 

 years ago a fact which many men of the present have not learned yet, 

 which was that, if woodlands be constantly hunted, foxes will fly 

 from them nearly as readily as they do from gorse or spinneys. 

 He therefore dusted his big woods during cub hunting in rare style, 

 and it is recorded of him by Mr. Blews, that when he took the Burton 

 ■country he took his hounds to the great strong woodlands which then 

 existed near Wragby, six days a week for five weaks on a stretch, 

 until at last he made the foxes so anxious to get away, that they would 

 fly at even the sound of his voice. This he proved one day, to decide 

 a bet of a guinea, which he made with a friend on the subject. Having 

 stationed him in a pirticular spot, and going into the wood, which is 

 now nearly all cut down, the Squire began to cheer an imaginary pack 

 of hounds, when a leash of foxes went away almost immediately, in 

 full view of his friend. Naturally, however, woodlands were not the 

 Squire's favourite coverts, for when he took the Pytchley country 

 afterwards, which he continued to hunt till the end of his remarkable 

 career, he considered that in it he had " at last found Paradise." 



Osbaldeston's Racing Career.— Dealing with Osbaldeston only 

 as regards the feats he actually performed himself, I make no mention 

 -of the stud of flat racehorses which he kept for years. Although he 

 usually rode them himself, and could hold his own with the best pro- 

 fessionals of the day, he was not nearly as successful on the flat as he 

 was across country. In fact the gallant fellow lost heavily by the 

 business, and it principally brought about his ruin. 



CAPTAIN BARCLAY-ALLARDICE. 

 Chapter XXII. 

 The Track and Domicile in the Great Walk. — As stated at 

 p. 372 I took my account of Captain Barclay's walk from what 



