7^ Silk and Scarlet, 



county hunted ; and when the hounds were at Althorp, 

 their houses were open to their friends residing at a 

 distance, where unbounded hospitality prevailed. 

 When the hounds went to Pytchley, they shut up 

 their houses, and removed there with them ; the ladies 

 accompanying their lords to the old mansion, which, 

 though not affording all the modern luxuries, con- 

 tained ample space and every social comfort which 

 could be desired. The hounds were never ridden 

 over, which is so much the habit of the present 

 day, but had plenty of room given them. Dick 

 Knight generally took the lead ; and Lord Spencer — 

 who had the finest thoroughbred horses of the day — 

 sitting down in his saddle, followed him whithersoever 

 he might go. It was almost thought a breach of eti- 

 quette in any one to go before them. A story is 

 related, that once my lord, who could not hold his 

 horse, was amongst the hounds at a check. Dick, 

 wholly forgetting himself, and overpowered by the en- 

 thusiasm of the moment, cried out, " , my lord, 



hold hard r 



Lord Spencer's When Lord SpcnCCr, to the great re- 



Successors, gj-et of every one, gave up the hounds, 

 they were taken by Mr. Buller, who kept them only 

 the season. Stephen Goodall hunted them ; and 

 owing to his patience, quietness, and thorough know- 

 ledge of his work, combined with a good scenting 

 season, they had excellent sport. John Warde came 

 next in succession, and was at the head of affairs 

 about twelve years. He changed the system of 

 dividing the two hunts, and took the old house at 

 Boughton, where he kept the hounds. As far as 

 hunting the country went, it was an improvement ; 

 but it knocked up for a time the old Pytchley meet- 

 ings in a great degree. When John Warde gave 

 them up. Lord Althorp succeeded him, and Pytchley 

 became itself again. Oh ! what joyous days were 

 those ! Under his lordship's management, the system 



