2IO Tally ho, 



the Duke of Rutland, who rode with his hounds for 

 the first time this season. In consequence of this^ 

 there was a large muster from all quarters. 



Having heard there was a good deal of light plough 

 landj with flying fences and few ditches, and thinking 

 it would be just the place to suit me, I secured a mount 

 on a well-known grey horse — who, I was told, would 

 jump anything ; ^' Though,^^ said his owner, " he does 

 make a little noise in his gallop. '' My reply was that, 

 in such case, I should go like a Scottish chieftain, with 

 ray piper before me ; and I found, on further acquaint- 

 ance, that the grey was quite equal to the occasion. 

 I trotted away through Thorpe Arnold and Waltham, 

 leaving Croxton Park to the left, turned into the fields, 

 and having had a private trial, which came ofi" satis- 

 factorily, I rode into the farmyard in time to witness 

 the arrival of the numerous well-mounted ladies and 

 gentlemen who put in an appearance on this occasion, 

 hailing from all quarters. Melton being well repre- 

 sented. Amongst the ladies I observed Mrs. Hornsby, 

 Mrs. Younger, mounted on a real lady^s horse, tem- 

 perate, and a perfect jumper; Mrs. Candy, Miss 

 Bennett, accompanied by her brother, Mr. Gordon 

 Bennett, and a young lady who went at her fences 

 with an earnestness of purpose that led me to believe 

 that in a year or two^s time she will be a luminary 

 that will dazzle the lookers-on in the shires. If I was 

 asked to select a model sportsman from among those 

 present, I should choose Captain Myddleton for one, 

 and Major Paynter for another, who, if he does not 

 ride as hard as he used to do, yet still takes a good 

 deal of beating when he makes up his mind to go the 

 pace. I observed also Mr. Turner, of Stoke, and Mr. 



