MR. SMITH AT PENTON. 35 



giving him an admonition to take care that it did not 

 kick him off. It was not much bigger than a large 

 Newfoundland dog. The transition from two splendid 

 horses and a capital hack in the morning, to the back of 

 this diminutive sheltie in the afternoon, was somewhat 

 ridiculous, but did not affect the squire's mode of riding 

 for his masterly hand persuaded the little animal to carry 

 him to his own door within the hour, the distance being: a 

 dozen miles, good measure. 



Nimrod graphically describes a great meet at Weyhill, in 

 December, 1827, the year after Mr. Smith came to Pentou. 

 First, speaking of the country, he observes, " there is no- 

 thing but beds of flints ;" and as for the Hampshire wood- 

 lands, " they are the worst country in the known world." 

 George Gardener was at that time Mr. Smith's head whip- 

 per-in. There were 300 horsemen in the field. He then 

 goes on to say : " Not only was the appearance of the 

 hounds, as hounds, splendid indeed, but their performance 

 was equally good.* The scent was wretchedly bad, but they 

 stooped to it like rabbit beagles ; and unfortunate as our 

 day's sport in other respects was, any one would have had 

 a treat in seeing this highly-bred pack pick their way, as it 

 were, inch by inch, over one stubble-field. I must own I 

 was delighted, and I wish some huntsmen I could name 

 had been present to take a lesson from their huntsman, Mr. 

 Smith, whose patience and judgment were conspicuous on 

 this trying occasion. I may say trying, because his fox was 

 but just before him, and he had the eyes of a very large 

 field upon him. But he never lifted his hounds a yard, 

 though the line of country was apparently before him ; and 

 thus did he hit off his fox, for he did not take that line." t 



Nimix)d adds, respecting what he terms the foundation of 

 an " independent dynasty " by Mr. Smith in Hants ; — 

 " When I first heard of his hunting the Andover country, 



* Mr. Smith had Sir R. Sutton's pack this year, 

 t Sportinrf Mwjazine, December, 1827, p. laO. 



