A Good Thne at Rugby. 235 



Captain Spilling (of the 13tli Hussars), Mr. Shell, 

 and Mr. Heysham, whose name is a pass-word to every 

 hunt in the kingdom, by reason of his disinterested 

 exertions on behalf of that admirable institution — 

 which I especially commend to the notice of the 

 sportswomen of the day — the Hunt Servants^ Benefit 

 Society. 



Next, I learned that my name was entered as an 

 honorary member of the Rugby Club, of the comforts 

 of which I availed myself during my stay. Then, 

 when I visited my friend, Mr. Darby, hunting men 

 will appreciate my good fortune if I say that I had 

 not been in the room five minutes before I was ofiered 

 a mount on the pick of his stud, and that during my 

 stay I had the privilege of riding the most valuable 

 and best horses in his stable. WTiat more was want- 

 ing to ensure a good time ? 



When Queen Elizabeth, who also was very fond of 

 the chase, visited Kenilworth, it is not recorded in 

 history — for I have carefully searched — that the Earl 

 of Leicester placed his hunters at her Majesty's dis- 

 posal during her stay in Warwickshire. 



I was more fortunate. I had everything that heart 

 could desire during my visit, without the unmeaning 

 pomp and pageantry that is attendant on Royalty — an 

 excellent dinner at the mess, extremely pleasant com- 

 panions, an hour or two's chat, and a good cigar at the 

 evening reception of Mr. Darby, where more anec- 

 dotes of sportsmen of past and present times are to 

 be heard than ever it has been my luck to come across 

 before. 



I went to bed betimes, to be in readiness in the 

 morning for a day with the Atherstone, the fixture 



