Dick Christian again, 19 



them. Mr. Smith and Lord Lonsdale clashed three 

 times, when I was out, and Mr. Smith got the fox 

 every time. Lord Suffield's once crossed Lord Lons- 

 dale's when they were a going from Tilton to Owston 

 Wood ; Lambert drew his hounds into a corner of a 

 field, and let 'em pass. Lord Lonsdale's were not so 

 quick in the open, but they had the longest runs. 

 They had a fine wild country, and they were capital 

 killers. They went off latterly ; I've seen 'em run 

 tail for a mile. They was never so good after the 

 madness; that would be in 1830. Lambert wasn't 

 so keen. My lord, he built a kennel at Stocking 

 Hall ; then he brings them back to Cottesmore, 

 and lived there a many years. He was a grand 

 man for hounds, was his lordship ; there are many 

 who think they know, but it's not thinking as will 

 do it. 



The oldest gentleman as kept hounds in The Packs of 

 this county was that Mr. Noel, of Exton. °i^- 



The hounds were still kept at Cottesmore. Arthur 

 Abbey was his huntsman ; he was a big, heavy man, 

 with a rasping, strong voice. Many a tuppence I've 

 had for taking off his spurs, when he come home from 

 hunting. Lord Gainsborough kept on the hounds as 

 usual after Mr. Noel ; and when he dies. Lord Lons- 

 dale (Sir William Lowther as was then) took to them 

 with Philip Payne. Philip was a first-rate little fel- 

 low — always swore by Lord Lonsdale's blood. His 

 lerdship gives them up to Sir Gilbert for a few years, 

 and then he had 'em back again. The first ^^ Meyneii 

 time I hunted the Quorn country was with 

 Mr. Meynell, in March, 1796. We met at Langton 

 Caudle, tried that and Welham spinneys, Stanton 

 and Glooston woods ; found at the Fallow Closes, and 

 killed ; then we found in Stockersten Wood, and 

 losses him near Hallaton Fern. What a wonderful 

 man he was to holler ! shrill voice, good language. 

 He rode small horses v/ith short-cut tails. Jack 



C 2 



