GREAT RIDING PERIOD WITH THE QUORN. 155 



wliicli the late Duke of Wellington always extended to 

 him.* 



"There can, I think, be little doubt that Mr. Smith 

 would have made a first-rate cavalry general. In all his 

 conduct, at home and in every country, he manifested a 

 sincere desire to promote the best interests of all classes 

 within his reach, and did this effectually, but without the 

 slightest ostentation ; while his quickness, foresight, and 

 determination were undoubted. His devotion to hunting 

 was, no doubt, exaggerated ; but beneath it lay the purpose 

 of fostering the manly qualities of his fellow-countrymen of 

 all classes ; an object of the deepest importance at the 

 period of peril to this country which existed when he first 

 became distinguished as a sportsman (1805 to 1815). I 

 heartily wish we had a Tom Smith now." 



"The greatest riding period with the Quorn," observes 

 the author of the Post and Paddock, " is generally allowed to 

 be that of Lords Jersey, Germaine, and Forester, and Messrs. 

 Cholmondeley (afterwards Lord Delamere), Assheton Smith, 

 Lindow, and his twin brother, Mr. Rawlinson, who was as 

 famous over Leicestershire on Spread Eagle as he was on 

 the turf with Coronation. It used to be said that Mr. 

 Eawlinson's riding was the better for his horse, but that 

 Mr. Lindow sold his horses better." " Mr. Meynell," says 

 Dick Christian, in his " Post and Paddock " lecture, " was 

 like a regular little apple-dumpling on horseback ; Mr 

 Assheton Smith and Lord Forester, they were the men for 

 me. Lord Jersey, too, my word ! he was very good ; and Sir 

 Charles Knightley, he was one of Lord Jersey's stamp. 

 How he would go, to be sure ! he icould be with the 



* "I own," said Sir Hussey, afterwards Lord, Vivian, himself a 

 distinguished soldier, (upon the order of the day for the third reading 

 of the proposed Game Bill,) "I am proud of sporting ; and the greatest 

 commander the world ever had has declared that he found men who 

 followed the hounds brave aud valiant soldiers." 



