THE MELTON HUNT. 207 



T'hrough thick and through thin, that he vow'd and protested* 



No money should part them, as long as life lasted ? 



But the pace that effected which money could not : 



For to part, and in death, was their no distant lot. 



In a fatal blind ditch Carlo Khan's f powers fail'd, 



Where nor lancet nor laudanum either avail'd. 



More care of a horse than he took, could take no man ; 



He'd more straw than would serve any lying-in woman. 



Still he died ! — yet just how, as nobody knows, 



It may truly be said, he died " under the Rose." 



At the death of poor Khan, Melton feels such remorse. 



That they've christen'd that ditch, "The Vale of White Horse." 



Thus ended a chase, which for distance and speed 

 It's fellow we never have heard of or read. 

 Every species of ground ev'ry horse does not suit, 

 What's a good country hunter may here prove a brute ; 

 And, unless for all sorts of strange fences prepared, 

 A man and his horse are sure to be scared. 

 This variety gives constant life to the chase ; 

 But as Forester says — " Sir, what kills, is the pace." 

 In most other countries they boast of their breed, 

 For carrying, at times, such a beautiful head ; 

 But these hounds to carry a head cannot fail. 

 And constantly too, for, — by George, — there's no tail. 

 Talk of horses, and hounds, and the system of kennel. 

 Give me Leicestershire nags, and the hounds of Old Meynell ! 



No. IV. 



• THE MELTON HUNT. 



The following song, referring to the period when Mr. Smith waa 

 ** King of Quom,"J may be deemed deserving of insertion in this work. 

 It was composed about the year 1813, by the Rev. Dr. Ford, vicar 

 of Melton Mowbray for forty-five years. He was a native of Bristol, 

 and was very popular with the members of the Melton Hunt for 

 his wit and social qualities. The late Mr. Ferneley, who found a copy 

 of it among some old papers, remarked, on furnishing it to the writer of 



* At the cover side a large sum was offered for it. t Mr. Price's horse. 



t ^ide Chapter II, passim. 



