FAVOURITE HOUNDS. 53 



however, his peculiar days (like other clogs), and sometimes 

 would do very little. Another great favourite was Van- 

 quisher, from Sir E,, Sutton's kennel, a beautiful hound, who 

 always kept close to his master's horse, never drawing before 

 the fox was found, and then continuing close to the fox 

 till he was killed. Next comes Trimmer, a grey fine-shaped 

 hound, also from the same kennel. This hound, he used 

 to say, was the most perfect and complete in all his good 

 qualities, such as finding, hunting, and chasing, of any 

 hound he ever rode after. Trimbush was another especial 

 favourite ; and Nigel, not unlike in size and colour (black- 

 pied) to Trimbush, was equally valued. Nigel always 

 showed the greatest animation, even when very old, directly 

 a fox was afoot. He seemed to undergo a sudden meta- 

 morphosis at once from age to youth, and became full of life 

 and spirit. Rifleman was also the double favourite both of 

 the master and mistress, and had almost the privileges of 

 a parlour boarder. 



Towards the end of the squire's hunting career, Commoner, 

 Conqueror, Flamer, and Lexicon invariably went out when- 

 ever he joined the field. He said it cheered him to see 

 their old honest faces, although their day for afibrding sport 

 was over. There is always, he said, a gravity and impor- 

 tance of demeanour in the countenance of a good hound, as 

 if he knew his superiority over the rest of the canine species. 

 Har was very careful in not speaking to them when they 

 were at fault, so as to draw their attention off their work, 

 for, like Beckford, he could then see an expression of 

 rebuke in their faces, as much as to say, " What do you 

 want 1 let me alone." One of the old hounds still remains 

 (1860), the patriarch of the pack, and as finely shaped a fox- 

 hound and as good a one as ever man rode after. This 

 is old Nelson, well worthy of the name he bears. On the 

 first day he came, he singled out Mr. Smith, attached him- 

 self to him, and ever afterwards was the first to salute him 

 when he entered the field. He had belonijed to tlie Duke of 



