HIS HUNTSMEN AND WHIPPERS-IN. 27 



or wKippers-in, of some of the most skilful of their craft. 

 Jack Shirley, who had been huntsman to Lord Sefton, Dick 

 Burton, Joe Harrison, and Tom AYingfield, all in turn were 

 worthy of their new master. 



"Jack Shirley was one of Mr. Meynell's whips ; he was 

 an otvdacious fellow, big and stout, with a rough voice. He 

 was a great man with Mr. Smith and Sir Richard Sutton in 

 Lincolnshire."* He used to ride young horses for ten 

 shillings the day when he whipped-in for Mr. Smith, and 

 when he asked his master's permission, it was always 

 granted with these words, " Provided they do not kick 

 hounds." The squire was very angry with Jack on 

 one occasion, for riding a young horse with a mar- 

 tingale. Shirley was Mr. Smith's second whip in Leicester- 

 shire. 



Tom Wingfield was " good in his casts," and a huntsman 

 after Beckford's own heart. His son lived nineteen years 

 with Mr. Drake. Tom had lived with Mr. Meynell as 

 second whip, and he was head whip to Mr. Smith in 1807, 

 when Dick Burton first came to him, then quite a lad. 

 Joseph Harrison had hunted the hounds at Quorn for Lord 

 Foley until Mr. Smith purchased them. Tom Day came to 

 him afterwards from Sir George Sitwell, who hunted Derby- 

 shire and Yorkshire. 



" What a capital hand over the country," exclaims Kim rod, 

 '' Ivas Jack Shirley in those days, and what a capital anecdote 

 did Mr. John Moore tell me of him from his own experience. 

 He was riding Gadsby, a celebrated hunter of Mr. Smith's, 

 but then a good deal the worse for wear, over one of the 

 worst fields in all Leicestershire for a blown horse, between 

 Tilton and Somerby, abounding with large ant-hills and 

 deep holding furrows. The old horse, said my informant, 

 was going along at a slapping pace, with his head quite 

 loose, down hill at the time, whilst Jack was in the act of 



