186 REMINISCENCES, ETC. 



miles. Every hound was up, and George Carter, with the 

 fox raised high over his head with both hands, fairly 

 pirouetted as if he was setting his partner in a quadrille. 



" ' I will have that fox's head, and I will keep it as a 

 trophy of this day,' said a distinguished foreign Baron, 

 ' and I will drink to his memory and to all your healths ; ' 

 and without doubt he kept his word." 



"When Mr. Smith's horses had grown old, or were no 

 longer equal to their work, they were permitted to roam at 

 large in the park, for he never sold an animal when worn 

 out, to be subjected, as he said, to the chance of ill-treat- 

 ment. 



After his death, no hunter was sold out of his stables ; 

 all were given away by his widow among his intimate 

 friends. Paul Potter, Ham Ashley, Euxine, and Blemish 

 thus passed into the possession of those who would value 

 them for their master's sake, and never part with them. 

 His noble pack of hounds was presented by her to the 

 county of Hants, but still continues for the present to in- 

 habit its old quarters. A committee has been formed, 

 comprised of the leading land-owners of Hants and Wilts, 

 and with the assistance of liberal subscriptions, the list 

 of which contains the names of the largest game-pre- 

 servers of the district — and under the able management of 

 Mr. Northeast, whose services are entirely gratuitous, in 

 the commissariat department, the sport is destined to be 

 kept alive, and long may it be kept alive, with George 

 Carter as huntsman, assisted by Jack Fricker and "Will 

 Bryce, to do honour bo the memory of the most renowned 

 fox-hunter of his day. 



Did Mr. Smith then live alone for his favourite pastime 1 

 Let the reader answer that question who has accompanied 

 me throughout these pages, describing his gallant and 

 honourable career. Is it not rather to him, — whose keen- 

 ness and unswerving resolution, the vivida vis or ardour of 

 whose mind, so essential to success in enterprises whether 



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