DICK KNIGHT AXD THE SQUIRE. 101 



afterwards mentioned with deliglit and enthusiasm by the 

 old stagers of the Quorndon, the Pytchley, the Cottesmore, 

 Atherstone, and every county for fifty miles round. Many 

 of these had followed him when leading the van over 

 Leicestershire, or had ridden by his side in the front rank 

 with the Pytchley, in Northamptonshire. The lines written 

 on one of the best of his hunters were not yet forgotten : 



"On Ajax, a nag well in Leicestershire known, 

 See the gallant Tom Smith make a line of his own : 

 Though in dirt fetlock deep, he ne'er dreams of a fall, 

 And in mounting the hill, why he passes them all." 



They called to mind also the far-famed exploits of Dick 

 Knight, when each country drew its parallel between its 

 favourite huntsman. Perhaps a little of the ancient 

 jealousy still remained, well described in the following 

 couplets, which referred to the squire's lather, who 

 hunted with the Pytchley ; but on this day, at all events, 

 " the renowned Tom " was incontestably without a rival : 



** Now Dick Knight and Smith Assheton we spy in the van, 

 Ridiug hard, like two Furies, to catch as catch can ; 

 ' Now, Egmont ! ' says Assheton ; * Now, Contract ! ' says Dick, — 

 'By Jove ! those proud Quornites shall now see the trick.' " 



That such a compliment should have been paid to the 

 quondam master of the Quorn is the more remarkable, as 

 h^ cannot be said to have been altogether personally popular 

 either in Leicestershire or generally in the hunting-field. 

 There is no doubt that he wanted the " suaviter in moclo " 

 which commended the leadership of Lord Foley, Mr. Mey- 

 nell, Sir Bellingham Graham,* Sir Harry Goodricke, and 

 others ; and therefore by those who did not know the 

 sterling qualities of the head and heart which were encased 



* Sir Bellingham Graham always called a bad seat " a wash-ball 

 seat ; " from a round piece of soap, which is always slipping about in a 

 washhand-basin. Beeswax, Paul, and Jerry were three of his best 

 horses. 



