9. WfatibB&t.

TUFTS UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

3 9090 013 419 524

JOHNA.SEAVERNS

w<&

J7

Lieut. Colonel Duncan Munro Bethutne, formerly com-
manding the 1st Battalion cf the 9th Foot, died at Ivybank
House, Nairn, on the 18th instant, aged 55. The deceased
entered the army as emign, April 17, 1(335, and became
lieutenant, March 21, 1838. He served in the campaign in
Afghanistan in 1842, as adjutant of the Cth Regiment at the
forcing of the Khyber Pass, and as aide de camp to Sir
John M'Casldll at the action of Mamookail, forcing the
Fezeen Pass, recapture of Cabool, storm, capture, and des-
truction of Istaliff. He served also in the campaign on the
Sutlej in 1815-46, as aide de camp to Sir John M'Caskill at
the battle of Moodkee, where the major general was killed ;
as aide de cauiD to Brigadier Wallace, who was killed at
Ferozeshah; and in command of the Ugh? company of the
9th at Sobraon. He served also at the siege of Sebastopol
from November, 1854 to February, 1855. He became lieu-
tenant colonel. Dec. 24, 1858. He hadj-eceived three medals
and the fifth class ordor nf th*» Mediidie.

%zA^< ^/<P6f

SPORTING REMINISCENCES

OF

HAMPSHIRE.

Feom 1745 to 1862.

BT

ilSOR

LONDON:
CHAPMAN AND HALL, 193, PICCADILLY

1864.

LONDON :
TEINTED BT C. WHITING, BEAUFORT HOUSE, STRAND.

TO

WILLIAM THEOPHILUS GRAEME, Esq.

OP
HIGHFIELD LODGE, WINCHESTER,

THE

FATHEE OF THE HAMPSHIRE HUNT,

THIS VOLUME IS DEDICATED

IN GRATITUDE EOR MUCH KINDNESS,

BY

HIS SINCERE FRIEND

THE AUTHOR.

PREFACE.

The following book is an annual register of
the principal sporting events that have taken
place in the county of Hants during the last
century. The information has in a great
measure been derived from private diaries,
and has been communicated by many old
sportsmen still living.

The Author is also greatly indebted to the
Editors of BelVs Life and the Hants Chronicle
for allowing him free access to their back
files ; and also to the Secretaries of the dif-
ferent Hunts for their courtesy in granting an
inspection of their Hunt Records, and im-
parting much useful information.

3, Spring-gardens,

Trafalgar-square, S.W.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.
from 1745 to 1800.

PAGE

Mr. Evelyn in 1745— Mr. Ridge of Kiliniston, 1749— Joe Hall—
and Phil Gosling — Hunt Songs by the Rev. C. Powlett — Mem-
bers of the old Kilmiston Hunt — Mr. V. H. Gilbert, and Hunting
in the New Forest, 1781 — Hunting in North Hants in 1783 by
Mr. S. Terry, Mr. Poyntz, and John Topper — The old Ham-
bledon Cricket Club, and Patrons of the Game — Racing in 1788
— Mr. Stephen Terry — Lord Stawell and Will Harrison — George
IV. at Kempshot, 1788, and at the Grange, 1795— Mr. W. J.
Chute of the Vine, 1791— Mr. Ellis St. John of West Court,
1790— Mr. Land of Park House, 1791— Mr. Russell of Grey-
well, 1794— Re-Formation of the H. H. in 1795, with List of
Original Members— Mr. W. Powlett-Powlett — Mr. R. Meyler
of Crawley — Hunt Races ...... .1

CHAPTER II.

from 1800 to 1825.

The Hambledon Hunt Club, its Origin— Mr. T. Butler of Bury
Lodge, 1800— Mr. Compton— Tom Sebright, 1800— Mr. John
Truman Villebois, 1802— Mr. Henry Villebois— John Major —
Will Biggs, 1802— The N. F. H. under a Committee, 1803—

b 2

Vlll CONTENTS.

PACE

Major Cook of Droxford— Will Neverd, 1804— Richard Foster
— John Jennings — Sawyer — Members of the H. H. elected
when Mr. Villebois was Master — Colonel de Burgh, or Lord
Clanricarde, 1806 — Mr. Powlett-Powlett as Master of the
Hambledon, 1807 — Will Reeves — Ned Gosling — John Warde
and Abbey, 1808— Mr. Twynam's Harriers, 1812— Mr. Nicoll
of the New Forest, 1814 — Sportsmen in the New Forest — Mr.
Joseph Eyles— Mr. Richards of North House, 1815 — Mr. Scot-
land— Sir John Cope, 1816 — Tom Tocock and James Shirley —
Regular Attendants with Sir John — The Bramshill Ale — Mr.
A. F. Nunez of Warnford, 1816— Mr. Powlett at Lainston, 1816
— H. H. Ball, 1817— The Andover Harriers— Mr. T. Smith's
Hunt Picture— Sir Bellingham Graham, Bart., 1821— Mr. Os-
baldeston, 1821 — Dick Burton and Tom Sebright — Mr. John
Walker, 1822 — Nimrod — Sir Lucius Curtis's Harriers — Mr. C.
Shard, 1823— The Hon. W. Gage's Harriers— Mr. T. Smith,
Master of the Hambledon, 1824— Mr. Hale's, Mr. Taylor's,
and Mr. Lechmere's Harriers ....... 48

CHAPTER III.

from 1825 to 1845.

The H. H. and Hambledon Hunts, by Nimrod — Mr. Charles
Graeme — Mr. Villebois' Hounds — R. Foster — Sawyer and Jen-
nings— The Pantry Run — The Messrs. Knight — The Captains
Greenwood — Mr. James W. Scott — Mr. Baring— Mr. Frederick
Heysham — Mr. George Butler — Major Barrett — Mr. David
Murray— Mr. Smithers — Mr. Wilkinson — Mr. Wyse— Mr. T.
Smith — The Hambledon Country — Great Run from Stanstead
— Riders of the Hambledon Hunt — Major Ridge — Old Will
James — Mr. Nunez — Captain Bridges — Mr. A. Pole and R.
Adamson — Nimrod's Tour in the New Forest — Mr. S. Nicoll —
TheN. F. H. Country— Mr. Harbin— Mr. Vivian— Billy Butler
Mr. Shard's Stag-hounds — Mr. Mullins's Harriers — Mr. Asshe-
ton Smith, 1826— Mr. Beaver— Mr. H. Fellowes, 1827— Mr.
W. Wyndham, 1828— Mr. King and Squires, 1829— Members
of the Hambledon Hunt — Mr. James Wickham's and Mr.
Rumbold's Harriers, 1830— The Duke of Wellington— Mr.

CONTENTS. IX

PAGE

Robert Jessett — The Messrs. Delme, Stretton, Moody, S. Tay-
lor, G. Butler, Lukin, and Lord Lisle — Mr. Richard Bayley's,
Mr. T. Chamberlayne's, and Mr. Higgins's Harriers— Hon. G.
A. Craven's Stag-hounds — Mr. Donnithorne Taylor, 1835 —
The Royal Stag-hounds — Southampton Steeple-chase, 1837 —
Major Barrett, 1837 — Members of the H. H. elected after Mr.
Villebois' Death — Sir John Mill— Jack Shirley — Doctor Leech's
Harriers— Mr. C. W. Codrington— Mr. N. Fuller, 1839— Sir
John Halket's Stag-hounds — Jack Bradley — Visit to Tedworth,
by Cecil — The Monument on Farley Mount — Mr. B. Wallop's
Leap — The Stockbridge Beagles — Mr. White — Mr. Walter Long
— Mr. T. Frere's and the Lymington Harriers — Mr. Augustus
Onslow and Will Cox — Captain L. Shedden, 1842— Members
of the N. F. H.— Mr. Robert D. Cockburn, 1843— The Tytherly
Harriers — The Vine Picture, by Calvert — Cricket . . .121

CHAPTER IV.

from 1845 to 1862.

Captain Haworth, 1845 — Tom Clark — The Tichborne Down
Cricket Club — The United Hunts' Ball and Meet at Cranbury
— The Stoneham Harriers — The Hambledon, by Lord William
Lennox — The Hon. Augustus Berkeley — Lord Gifford— Jack
Grant — Visit to Lord Gifford, by Actseon — Colonel Frederick —
Members of the Hambledon Hunt elected after 1848— Sir R. Ry-
croft, 1848— Mr. G. Wall's Harriers— William Summers— John
Hickman— Mr. Wheble— Robert Tocock— Mr. Wall, Master of
the Hursley — Mr. Robert Pearse's and Mr. Chaplin's Harriers,
1850— Mr. Campbell Wyndham— Mr. E. St. John— The Whit-
church Harriers — Mr. John St. John's Harriers— Captain Wil-
liams's Bloodhounds- Mr. Robert Pearse, Master of the H. H.,
1852— Mr. G. Wall with the Hambledon— Mr. Stanley Lowe-
Mr. Theobald— Captain Mainwaring, 1852— Mr. Garth— Cap-
tain Evans's Harriers — The Arrow and the America — The Earl
of Portsmouth and the North Hants Hunt Club, 1854— Mr. E.
Timson— Mr. H. Barnard's, Mr. Owton's, and Mr. Lywood's
Harriers— Mr Knight— J. Orbell— Mr. E, Tredcroft, 1857—
George Kennett— Mr. Long — Orchin— Mr. Tregonwell— Lawn

X CONTENTS.

PAGB

Meet at Tedworth — Mr. T. Marsh, 1858— Mr. Algernon Lem-
priere — The Tedworth Hunt — Sir E. Antrobus, Bart. — Mr.
John Day's Harriers — Captain Poulett, 1859 — Mr. Arthur
Whieldon — George Southwell — Mr. John Arundel, Mr. George
Brooks, and other Supporters of the Vine Hunt — Captain Morant
—Mr. Thomas Nevill's Black St. Hubert's and Red Deer— Mr. F.
Yates's Harriers — Mr. Smithers's Harriers — Mr. Henry Deacon,
1862— Staunch Sportsmen with the H. H. — Mr. William
Standish — Major Dowker — Mr. James Dear's Harriers, and his
Supporters — Mr. John Bushe — Miss Bowker . . . 265

SUBSCRIBERS
Received up to the 1st of November, 1864.

Antrobus, Sir Edmund, Bart. (3 copies,)
Allee, William, Esq.
Anderson, Joseph, Esq.
Arundell, Hon. Robert Arthur
Arundell, John, Esq.
Atherley, George, Esq.
Aubertin, Rev. Peter
Auldjo, Henry, Esq.

Baring, Thomas George, Esq., M.P.

Bailey, Edward, Esq., sen.

Bailey, Frederick P., Esq.

Banting, William, Esq.

Banting, Thomas, Esq.

Barkworth, William H., Esq.

Barnard, Henry, Esq.

Barnard, James, Esq.

Batten, Herbert B., Esq.

Beach, W. W. B. Beach, Esq., M.P.

Xll SUBSCRIBERS.

Benson, William, Esq.

Benn, William W., Esq.

Berkshire, Dan.

Best, William, Esq.

Best, John, Esq.

Blagrave, Colonel

Blake, Samuel, Esq.

Blackmore, Edward, Esq., jun.

Blackmore, Mrs.

Bovill, B., Esq.

Bowker, Frederick, Esq.

Bowyer, Charles, Esq.

Bradby, James, Esq.

Bridges, Captain Charles

Bower, Lieut. -Colonel

Brace, Captain Francis E.

Brewer, John Hibberd, Esq.

Briggs, Major

Brodie, Alexander, Esq.

Brooks, George, Esq.

Brooks, William, Esq.

Brooks, A., Esq.

Budd, Francis, Esq.

Bulwer, James R., Esq. (2 copies.)

Bulpett, W. W., Esq.

Burt, Mr. T.

Butler, Colonel Thomas

Bushe, John, Esq. (4 copies.)

Carnarvon, Earl of
Calvert, James, Esq.

SUBSCRIBERS. Xlll

Cope, Rev. Sir W. H., Bart.

Carter, John Bonham, Esq., M.P.

Carter, Alfred Bonham, Esq.

Chamberlayne, Thomas, Esq. (2 copies.)

Chaplin, Ernest, Esq. (3 copies.)

Chute, W. Wiggett, Esq.

Combe, Richard, Esq.

Compton, Henry Combe, Esq.

Clark, Mr. Thomas

Coles, General

Cooke, John George, Esq. (5 cojnes.)

Coulthard, James Batten, Esq.

Courtney, Mr. W.

Crawford, Andrew Fergushill, Esq., M.D.

Crofts, Captain Edmund W.

Dorchester, Lord

Davison, Crawford, Esq.

Day, Charles A., Esq.

Day, Captain George, R.N., V.C.

Deane, Charles M., Esq.

Deane, George Onslow, Esq.

Deacon, Henry, Esq.

Dear, James, Esq.

Delme, Henry P., Esq.

Dewsnap, Mark, Esq.

Deverell, W. H., Esq.

Dilly, Montgomery, Esq.

Dixon, Cecil, Esq.

Doherty, Major-General H. E.

Dorrien, H. J., Esq.

XVI SUBSCRIBERS.

Keppel, Admiral Sir Henry, C.B.

Karslake, John B., Esq., Q.C.

King, Richard, Esq.

King, Captain

Kirkpatrick, T. G. Sandon, Esq.

Knight, Edward, Esq.

Lethbridge, Sir John, Bart.
Lamb, George, Esq.
Lamb, John, Esq.
Lavington, H., Esq.
Lawrenson, Major-General
Lempriere, Algernon, Esq.
Lewin, Frederick Mortimer, Esq.
Lipscomb, William, Esq.
Lister, M. H., Esq.
Long, Walter, Esq. (2 copies.)
Lowth, Major Charles
Lowth, George T., Esq.
Lowe, T. W. P., Esq.

Mildmay, Sir Henry, Bart.
Maddock, S. C. Horace, Esq.
Martin, James, Esq.
Marx, Francis, Esq.
Marchant, Rev. Joshua Le
Meares, George, Esq.
Miles, Jonathan, Esq.
Millett, Charles, Esq.
Minchin, Rev. Champneys
Montagu, George, Esq.
Moody, Samuel H., Esq.

SUBSCRIBERS. XV11

Morant, Frederick, Esq.
Morant-Gale, E. J., Esq.
Morant, Captain W.

Naghten, Arthur, Esq. (2 copies,)

Nevill, Thomas, Esq.

Nevill, Benjamin, Esq.

Newton, William, Esq.

Nicholson, Samuel, Esq. (10 copies.)

Nicholson, Lieut.-Colonel Lothian, CB.

Nicholson, Captain W.

Nicoll, Lieut.-Colonel S. J. L.

Norris, Captain William

Onslow, Guildford, Esq., M.P.
Oliver, George Colin, Esq.

Poulett, The Earl

Paulet, Sir Henry, Bart. (5 copies.)

Pain, William, Esq.

Parry, W. L., Esq.

Partridge, S. R., Esq,

Pearse, Robert C. T., Esq.

Pearse, William J., Esq.

Pittis, George, Esq.

Pitter, John R., Esq.

Pitter, Mr. John

Pole, Rev. Richard

Porter, G. T., Esq.

Powell, Captain Buckworth

Powell, Captain Martin

Radcliffe, F. P. Delm6, Esq.

XX SUBSCRIBERS.

Whieldon, Arthur, Esq. (4 copies.)
White, E., Esq.
Whitear, Bailey, Esq.
Wickham, Captain John
Williams, Captain Lawrence
Williamson, Captain
Wooldridge, H., Esq.
Wooldridge, Charles, jun., Esq.
Wyndham, John H. Campbell, Esq.

Yorke, Honourable Eliot T. Yorke, M.P.
Yates, Frederick, Esq.

SPORTING
REMINISCENCES OF HAMPSHIRE.

CHAPTER I.

From 1745 to 1800.

Mr. Evelyn in 1745 — Mr. Ridge of Kilmiston, 1749 — Joe Hall and
Phil Gosling — Hunt Songs by the Rev. C. Powlett — Members of the
old Kilmiston Hunt — Mr. V. H. Gilbert, and Hunting in the New
Forest, 1781— Hunting in North Hants in 1783 by Mr. S. Terry,
Mr. Poyntz, and John Topper — The old Hambledon Cricket Club,
and Patrons of the Game — Racing in 1788 — Mr. Stephen Terry —
Lord Stawell and Will Harrison— George IV. at Kempshot, 1788,
and at the Grange, 1795— Mr. W. J. Chute of the Vine, 1791— Mr.
Ellis St. John of West Court, 1790— Mr. Land of Park House, 1791
— Mr. Russell of Greywell, 1794 — Re-Formation of the H. H. in
1795, with List of Original Members— Mr. W. Powlett-Powlett —
Mr. R. Meyler of Crawley — Hunt Races.

Books on hunting generally begin with a
long dissertation on its antiquity, its benefits
to the country, and to health, and a compari-
son of hunting in past and present times. That
it is a national benefit is an axiom. Now, the
object of the present work is not to object of the
wrrite on a topic which has been book'

B

2 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1745 to

handled by such masterly writers as Peter
Beckforcl, the Blackstone of the chase, Colonel
Cook, Nimrocl, Cecil, Delme RadclifFe, Tom
Smith, and others. It would be the height of
presumption on the part of the author to at-
tempt such a thing ; but the intention is to
give a history of each hunt in this county
since its establishment, with memoirs and
notices of the masters and their huntsmen, of
the principal supporters and promoters of
sporting in Hants generally during the last
century ; and although cock-fighting, prize-
fightmsr. and single-stick were not only recog-
nisecl, but even fashionable diversions, hunt-
ing, racing, and cricket only will be alluded
to.

The limits of the work, arid the large conse-
quent expense, will not permit of the cricket
scores being set out fully ; but those desirous
of further information are referred to Frede-
rick Lilly white's large book of scores and bio-
graphies.

Although Hampshire has never ranked high,
even among the provinces, as a hunting coun-
try, yet, as a single county, with the excep-
tion of Yorkshire and Devonshire, it can, I
believe, boast of more packs of hounds than
any other in England, and of having had at

1800.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 3

their head several well-known sportsmen : one,
indeed, Thomas Assheton Smith, has recently
had a book to himself, which has absorbed
almost the entire history of the far-famed
Tedworth, while the names of Villebois and
Foster, John Warde, Chute, Cope, and others,
are familiar to most of the present day. In
order that justice may be done to their
memories, and that they and others who were
their contemporaries may not be forgotten,
the author will humbly endeavour to bring
each forward in the time he lived.

At this time packs of hounds had Mr. Evelyn,
no regular fixtures, or country, and
foxes were not preserved as at the present
day ; and a master frequently moved his
hounds from kennel to kennel, and met
wherever he heard there was a chance of
finding. The first gentleman having hounds
in Hants of whom I have found any record,
was Mr. Evelyn,* who hunted the country
about 1745. He had his kennels at Harms-
worth, where Mr. Villebois afterwards resided,
and also others at his seat near Wrotham, in
Kent. He rode a famous grey stallion, the
sire of many good hunters; and this horse

* "A family named Evelyn lived at Martyr Worthy, one of whom
built the Mansion House there about the beginning of the eighteenth
centurv." — Duthy's History of Hants.

b2

4 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1745 to

was still talked of at the time Nimrod was
resident in Hants in 1823.
Mr. Ridge, The next master was Mr. Thomas
1749 to 1795. Rjdgg 0f Manor House, Kilmiston.

From 1749 he hunted all the country be-
tween Farnham, or Alton, and Romsey, until
he gave it up to Mr. W. Powlett-P owlet t in
1795.

TheoidKii- Up to February, 1784, it was still
mistonHunt. caHed the Kilmiston Hunt, and it
will be seen in the Hants Chronicle of that
year, that, under that name, meetings were
advertised to be held at the "White Hart,
Winchester ; the Swan Inn, Alresford ; and at
Mr. Vernon's, at the Wheatsheaf, Pophani-
lane : at this last place the club possessed a
very fine cellar of port wine ; the proprietor,
however, became bankrupt, and it was seized
by his creditors and sold. The meetings were
continued there up to March, 1795, but after-
wards were held only at Winchester and Aires-
ford.

In the Hants Chronicle of March 8th, 1784,
is the following advertisement, headed : " The
Noble Diversion." The members of the H. H.
society are requested to meet at Mr. Vernon's,

at Popham-lane ; and in another no-
First notice of _*

the h. h., tice, March 29th of the same year,
' they are for the first time definitely

1800.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 5

styled the " Gentlemen of the Hampshire
Hunt." Mr. Ridge maintained the hounds
entirely at his own expense for many years,
but his family expenses so much increased,
that he announced his intention of resign-
ing them. His friends, however, came in
a body and begged him to continue as their
chief, and offered him a small subscription,
which he accepted. Mr. Ridge had twenty-
one children, nineteen of whom grew up to
be men and women. Joe Hall was Joe Hail.
Mr. Ridge's huntsman.

Phil Gosling was his first whip, his second
was a terribly hard riding, noisy fellow, re-
joicing in the euphonious title of Hell-fire
Jack. His other name is not known. Phil
Gosling was born at Stockbridge, Phu Gosling,
and first lived with old Mr. Dilly, at the
training-stables, at Ball Down ; from Mr.
Ridge he went to Mr. Chute, at the Vine,
and helped to get his pack together ; and
afterwards hunted Major Cook's hounds at
Soberton, then Lord Clanricarde's. Gosling
died at Winchester, not long ago, aged eighty-
nine.

Monthly hunt dinners were served at half-
past three, and were very sociable and con-
vivial meetings. One or two songs, written
by the Rev. C. Powlett, who was called the

6 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1715 to

Poet of the Hunt, were regularly sung ; the
first introduces three or four of the regular
attendants with Mr. Ridge and the Kilmiston
Hunt.

Kilmiston Draw near, ye frail mortals of every degree,
Hunt Who heartily sigh and complain,

songs. We'll find you a medicine, without any fee,

Shall quickly alleviate your pain.
Would you drive away care,
To the Wheatsheaf repair,
Where mirth and good humour embrace,
Our Hampshire Hunt join,
While young mirth and old wine,
Enliven the jo}-s of the chase !

The squabbles for party and contest for power

We leave to the great ones at court,
The fox-hunter wishes to charm the dull hours
With vigour to keep up the sport.
Here the soldier forgets
His old wounds and his debts,
The sailor his rocks, sands, and storms,
The priest his solemn face,
The doctor his grimace,
The lawyer his pleas and grave forms.

Would you drive away care, &c.

A soldier* accomplished appears in our front,

Whose valour no danger can check;
With the same eager spirit he leads on the hunt,
As Wolfe led him on at Quebec.
Here he meets with new toils,
Other conquests and spoils,
War and hunting pursue the same ends ;
Yet his laurels fresh bloom,
In the field a like doom,
On Montcalm, sly Eeynard attends.

Would you drive away care, &c.

A chieftainf intrepid now crowds to the van,

His canvas wide spread to the gale ;
With the ardour displayed on the sea of Japan

He gallops o'er mountain and vale.

* The soldier alluded to was General Shirreff of Upton House,^ Old
Alresford, father of, then Captain, afterwards Admiral, Shirreff,£who
resided at Ropley Cottage.

f The chieftain was Admiral Sir Hyde Parker, who distinguished
himself in the action with the Dutch on the Dogger-Bank, August 5,
1781.

1800.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 7

All the horrors combined,

Of fire, water, and wind,
Ne'er could check him in glory's bright race ;

Steering still the same track,

He disdains to look back,
When Joe* gives the signal for chase.

Would you drive away care, &c.

A sportsmanf came next, who in plain English style,

French manners and foppery defies,
His countenance spoke him the man without guile,
The truth you might read in his eyes.
When he points out the way,
We with pleasure obey,
And cheerfully follow his call,
O'er the fences we bound,
But if some reach the ground,
We laugh at the Cockneys who fall.

Would you drive away care, &c.

On tithes and oblations no longer intent,

The parsonj came hobbling along,
To forward the sport ever anxiously bent,
Though feeble and last in the throng,

His weak muse and his horse

Have alike run their course,
Long hackney'd, exhausted, and lame,

Yet the veteran entreats,

In return for past feats,
Your favour he humbly may claim.

Then, to drive away care,

He'll to Vernon's repair,
Where wit and good humour embrace,

The Hampshire Hunt join,

While young mirth and old wine
Enliven the joys of the chase.

The following song is better known, as it
was, I am informed, sung at hunt-dinners up
to almost recent times :

Free from care, from pain, from sorrow,
Haste to Thorny Down to-morrow ;
There shall our steeds outstrip the wind,
Whilst time and age creep far behind.

* Joe Hall, the huntsman.

f Mr. Thomas Ridge, the master of the hounds.
j The parson was the author, the Rev. C. Powlett of Itchen Abbas,
known as the poet of the H. H.

8 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1745 to

No long vigils of love we keep,
Nor evening's cups protract our sleep ;
But ere the sun has reached the skies,
Fresh as the morn we gaily rise.

Then free from care, &c.

See, from France yon petit maitre!

Thus exclaims the puny creature :

" Comment sortir avant Vaurore

Sans dejeuner? 'Tis a great bore."

No trifling fops can ever know

From the brisk chase what pleasures flow :

Joys above those of power and wealth —

Vigour of mind and rosy health.

Then free from care, &c.

The mushroom cit, who rolls in riches,
Curses the gates, the woods, and ditches:
" What ! for a warmin" vilely cries,
" Wenture your necks, and round your eyes?"
But we will teach the wary Jew
We've our douceurs and premiums too :
Bacchus at night the sportsman warms,
And Venus gives us all her charms.

Then free from care, &c.

The woods and hills with joy resounding,
Every heart with pleasure bounding,
What transports in our bosoms glow
When first we hear the " Tally-ho !"
Bridegroom and Bachelor lead them on ;
Soon they give way to Turpin's son;
Now to the head young Herod strives,
Old Windham roars, and Wilful drives.

Then free from care, Sec.

Checked by sheep-cots in the valley,
Men of weight gain time to rally.
Mopping his front and double chin,
Each heavy blue* comes puffing in,
Juniper hits it down the way
Magpies and crows his point betray ;
Through the wet mead and chalky soil
The villain runs his tainted foil.

Then free from care, &c.

* The uniform of Mr. Ridge's hunt was blue. The hunt button, in
1783, was made of silver, with a very large H. H. in blue on it ; it
was changed, in 1785, to a very large brass one, with the same letters.

1S00.] OF HAMPSHIRE.

Distressed at length he gains the village,
Where of late he roamed for pillage ;
Midst his old haunts he finds no friend,
And Joe's who- whoop proclaims his end.
My rhymes are done : once more excuse
Your ancient laureat's limping muse,
And here in Dian's joyous court,
Drink in full cups the noble sport ;
Then free from care, from pain, from sorrow,
Haste to Thorny Down to-morrow.

Mr. Ridge resigned the mastership of the
H. H. April 25th, 1 795, and died at Kilmiston
in 1798.

The following are some of the Members of
names of members of the old Kil- Kilmiston
miston Hunt, when Mr. Ridge was
its President, in 1782 ; their addresses were
not given in the old Hunt records, and one or
two of them I have utterly failed to discover.
I apprehend they wTere members of the Hunt,
but non-residents in the county :

Mr. Thomas Ridge, President, Manor House,
Kilmiston.

Sir Willoughby Aston, Baronet, Crawley
House.

Colonel ShirrefF, afterwards General Shirreff,
Upton House, Old Alresford.

Mr. Wm. Powlett-P owlet fc, Little Sombourn,
after at Lainston House.

Rev. C. Powlett, the poet of the H. H.,
Itchen Abbas.

10 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1745 to

Mr. H. Bonham, New Alresford, a good
cricketer, played in the Hambledon Club in
1778, afterwards at Petersfield.

Mr. T. Bonham, also of Petersfield, kept a
pack of barriers and bunted round Berely.

Sir Henry Ticbborne, the seventh baronet,
Tichborne Park.

Mr. J. C. Jervoise, Herriard, was M.P. for
Salisbury.

Mr. Robert Thistlethwayte, Southwick Park.

Mr. Dehany, Kempshot Park; was a great
cricketer.

Mr. Woolls of Farringdon, died Oct., 1824.

Mr. Harris, New-place, Alresford.

Mr. Yalding, Ovingion House.

Lord Stawell, Marelands, and Hinton House.

Mr. W. G. Ricketts of Bishop's Sutton, where
Mr. Rivers afterwards lived, next at Candover
House, and also Lainston.

Admiral Sir Hyde Parker.

Mr. Blagrove, Rotherfield Park, before Sir
Charles Taylor.

Sir Henry Paulet St. John Mildmay, Bart.

Captain Brown.

Sir T. W. Gardner, Roche Court, Fare-
ham.

Mr. Win Stanley, Brown Candover,

Mr. Pigott.

Mr. Samuel Leeke.

1800.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 11

Mr. Hodges, Bramdean, where Mr. Barnard
afterwards lived.

Mr. Holder, Ashe Park.

Captain Greville.

Mr. Bathurst, Lainston House.

Mr. Lethbridge.

Mr. Shakespear, Twyford.

Mr. Repington.

Mr. Laver Oliver, Kilmiston House, and
Brill, Bucks.

Mr. Charles Graeme, Rotherfield, afterwards
New House, Ropley, and Dean House, Kil-
miston.

Mr. Purvis.

Mr. Fox Lane, East End House, Alresford.

Mr. Grierson.

Mr. H. Powell, Andover.

Lord Gage, Westbury House.

Mr. Lowth, Hinton, and Grove House, Chis-
wick.

Mr. Drummond, the Grange Park.

Mr. Francis Love Beckford, Basing Park.

Sir Charles Mill, Bart., Mottisfont.

Mr. Charles Taylor, The Holt.

The following quaint advertise- The xew
ment, as it is termed, which unfor- Forest-
tunately bears no date, is the first notice of
fox-hounds in the New Forest that I have
been able to obtain. I apprehend that it was

12 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1745 to

about 1770-75, prior to Mr. Gilbert becoming
master:

ADVERTISEMENT.

NO HOUNDS ARE TO BE PERMITTED to hunt in the Forest,
except the Lord Warden's and the Duke of Richmond's (if he
should choose to come), but in the month of April, viz. from the 1st to
the 30th, both days inclusive.

That no Pack be suffered to go out more than three times in one
week, and no Hounds to be taken out the intermediate Days ; and to
prevent Confusion, it is agreed that the Lord Warden's Hounds are to
hunt MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, and FRIDAY, Mr. Grove's to hunt
TUESDAY, THURSDAY, and SATURDAY, and no more than two
packs of hounds to be in the Forest at the same Time.*

It is necessary to remark that the Duke of Richmond had
Liberty from the preceding Lord Warden to bring his hounds,
which was continued to him by the Duke of Gloucester, and he
was the only person who had Permission to use, not only the Ken-
nels and Stables, but the King's House likewise, if his Grace
should choose to come, which is very improbable.
Then, any strange Pack must give way for a time, that there may
be no more than two Packs at one Time.

The Earths not to be stopt till half-past four in the morning, and
no hounds to be thrown off till five.

The Earths during the Month of April, not to be stopt but by the
Keepers or their Servants.

The Keepers have orders not to suffer any Fires to be lighted on the
Earths, or any Person to stand on the Earth to keep out the Foxes.
No Tarriers to be taken out, or Foxes dug, in the Month of April.

A. Cunningham, Printer, opposite the Market-house, Southampton.!

Hunting in The first master of fox-hounds, of

Forest, whom I have been able to obtain any

Mr. v. h. accurate information, was Mr. Vin-

Giibertof cent Hawkins Gilbert of Lamb's

Lamb s

Corner. Corner,J one of the most celebrated

sportsmen in the south of England, and father

* I have been told that, in addition to Mr. Grove's hounds, Dr.
Poole of Dibden also hunted the Forest ; but I am unable to give the
date.

•j- The above was kindly lent by Major Gilbert, and has been copied
exactly from the original.

X Lamb's Corner is now called Bartley Manor House.

1800.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 13

of Major — more generally known as Jemmy
Gilbert. This gentleman is thus described by
the author of " Literary Recollections :"

"I had often met him in the field before
our acquaintance commenced, and being struck
with his bold but judicious riding, his perfect
management of the pack, and his clear, power-
ful, and animating 'Tally-ho,' but I had no
conception of the style of his sporting appoint-
ments, the completeness of his kennel, or the
economy of his household, till an invitation to
Lamb's Corner, the place of his residence, en-
abled me to witness, admire, and I may add,
marvel at them all. Mr. Beckford, the author
of the elegant ' Treatise on Hunting' (himself
an adept in the sports of the field), had paid a
visit to Lamb's Corner long previously to my
sojournment in the house, and expressed his
pleasure and admiration at the excellence of
Mr. Gilbert's hounds, and the scientific manner
(if fox-hunting may be deemed a science) in
which everything connected with his kennel
establishment was adjusted and conducted. In
the latter editions of his work, Mr. Beckford
frequently alludes to Mr. Gilbert, though not
by name, and quotes his authority, on many
points, as that of a thorough sportsman. He
brings forward also a little trait, which was

14 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1745 to

quite characteristic of the person in question,
who, though a real gentleman in his general
bearing, would sometimes suffer the zeal of
the chase to swallow up his usual good man-
ners.* c An acquaintance of mine,' says he, i a
good sportsman, but a warm man when he sees
the company pressing too closely upon his
hounds, begins with crying out, as loudly as
he can, " Hold hard !" If any one should per-
sist after that, he goes on moderately at first :
" I beg, sir, you will stop your horse. Pray, sir,

stop. Heaven bless you, sir, stop. your

blood, sir, stop your horse." ' "

Mr. Gilbert's kennels were at Northerwood,
but the hounds occasionally went to Cran-
bourne.

Woods. Woods was his first huntsman, and,
from an entry in the diary, it appears he came
on January 7th, 1781; in July of the same
year "he was discharged for neglecting the
hounds," but came back in October, "having
made proper submission, and asked pardon."
In March, 1790, a note is made that "the fox
was lost by Woods' obstinacy," and in May
of the same year he was discharged. His
next huntsmen were Tull, in 1791-2; Fox, in

* In corroboration of this, the folio-wing entry is made in Mr. Gil-
bert's diary: "Horsewhipped one White for being impertinent and

beating the hounds."

1S00. OE HAMPSHIRE. 15

1792-3; and Sebright, who was afterwards
with Mr. Compton, in 1795.

Woods died at Lyndhurst, in 1820. He
was a man of very penurious habits, and it is
said that his relations found, after his death,
in his cottage, upwards of 1000/., of which
39/. was in silver.

During Mr. Gilbert's management, in 1783,
a club was established at Romsey; but in
May, 1790, the meeting of the same was
altered. Prince William of Gloucester visited
the Forest in 1789, and dined with Mr. Gilbert ;
and on April 19th his hounds found below
Burley Beacon, ran their fox four hours, and
killed upon Hasely Hill. "The best run," Mr.
Gilbert says, " I ever saw in the New Forest."

Mention is frequently made in his memo-
randa of the following noblemen and gentle-
men who hunted in the New Forest :

Lord Wallinorford.

Lord Poulett,) Hinton St. George, Crew-
Lord Hinton,) kerne.

Lord Euston.

Sir Thomas Tancred, Foxlease Park.

Sir Thomas Heathcote, Bart., Embley.

Sir Philip Jennings Gierke, Foxlease.

Mr. A. Drummond, Castle Malwood.

Mr. Compton, Manor House, Lyndhurst.

16 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1715 to

Mr. "Wart on.

Mr. Yalden, auditor of the Bishop of Win-
chester.

Mr. Grove, Fern, Wilts.

Mr. Sloane (afterwards Sloane- Stanley),
Paultons, near Romsey.

Mr. Eyre, Warrens, near Bramshaw.

Mr. Foyle, Durnford.

Mr. John Morant, Brockenhurst Park.

Mr. Peter Serle, Chilworth, and Great Test-
wood.

Mr. Brocas.

Mr. Le Brocque, Milton.

Mr. Reynolds, near Lymington.

Colonel Heywood, Rhinefield, deputy ranger
under the Duke of Gloucester.

Mr. V. H. Gilbert died in 1798, at the age
of forty-six, and was buried at Eling.

A letter from Mr. Stephen Terry of
North Hants Dummer, to whom I am indebted for

in 1783. i*r» i* i • ii

much miormation, appeared m the
Sporting Magazine of February, 1850, ad-
dressed to Cecil, which gives a sketch of hunt-
ing in Hants in 1783. In it he says :

"I think in the year 1783 I was at school
at Andover, and recollect that during the two
years I was there, Lord Stawell brought a
clever pack of fox-hounds to the Star Inn, kept

1S00.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 17

by Mercer. During that time I saw them
frequently pass the school on their way to
Doles Wood and other places. Will Harrison
was the name of the huntsman, who lived
afterwards with Mr. Russell at Grey well, near
Odiham ; whether George Sharp and John
Richmond were at that time his assistants, I
cannot say. Lord Stawell, I believe, lived at
Marelands, near Farnham, and hunted about
that country. I presume there were not many
foxes at that time ; in consequence, his pack
was shifted about a good deal. For instance,
he had a kennel at the public-house, a mile out
of Basingstoke, on the Preston Candover-road :
his own quarters very frequently at Hackwood,
in the late Duke of Bolton's time, where I
several times met him, the duchess having
taken some notice of me as a little boy. On
one occasion, early in September, we found a
vixen and six cubs in Springwood. The vixen
got away, and in about two hours we killed
the whole of the litter. About two years after,
Mr. Barber of Fremington, near Barnstaple,
bought up one of the best packs of the day,
and hunted a great part of Mr. Smith's*
country — the first year he came to the Star

* i.e. What was, many years afterwards, in 1828, Mr. Assheton
Smith's, or the Ted-worth.

18 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1715 to

Inn — having with him some very choice com-
panions from Devonshire, all of whom were
neighbours to my mother's family and other
relations; among them Colonel Bassett, who
succeeded Sir Thomas A eland as master of the
stag-hounds in Devon.

" Things were done differently to what they
are in these days. I expect there were more
pipes of port wine finished by this party and
their neighbouring jolly companions during
their winter visits — perhaps four — than have
been since in twenty years. They had great
assistance in their festivities, as well as field
pursuits, from such as we seldom see now —
Messrs. Harry and Walter Blunt of Amport,
Colonel Beaver,* with several others. General
Sir Sidney Meadows, I believe, continually
joined them in the evening.

" Mr. Pile, an alderman of Anclover, who,
together with his horse, numbered a hundred
years, was a general attendant in the field.
Jack Haines, the star of Devon huntsmen, was
idolised by all the Hampshire sportsmen ; and
I had the pleasure of seeing him cut ofi
several brushes, having frequently gone with

* Colonel Beaver was first in the 27tli Inniskillings, and afterwards
in the Hants Fencibles. He lived at Penton, and with Lord South-
ampton (who resided at Doles, in a house which has long ago been
pulled down) kept a small pack of fox-hounds.

1800.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 19

my brother Etonians, Newton and Conlson
Wallop, from Hurstbourne. Mr. r n

x ' t Mr. Poyntz

Poyntz,* I believe, for many years ofMidg-
hunted a part of Mr. Smith's country
from Midgham, and for several years was in
the habit of bringing a strong pack to the Red
Lion at Overton. He lived, during his visits
there, at the large inn, f but always slept at the
Red Lion, his bedroom looking into the kennel.
His hounds derived some advantage from what
those of the present day seldom do ; for they
had plenty of room to make their casts. Eight
pounds was the maximum price for the hunters,
and no corn allowed between Lady-day and
Michaelmas. The hounds were never over-
ridden. John Topper, % huntsman, had some-
times difficulty in keeping his hounds together.
During the last few years of Mr. Poyntz's

* Mr. Poyntz always kept his horses turned out, and never up in
condition ; and they were only corned the night before and the morn-
ing of hunting, consequently they were • never fit to go. Mr. Poyntz
was somewhat eccentric, and had a decided mania for dancing. When
at Overton, he used frequently to give dancing parties, and invite all
the farmers and their daughters, and, when staying with his friends,
would say to the lady of the house, " Can we not have a little dance
to-night ?" and request that the maid-servants should be sent for. After
hunting in his own neighbourhood, he used to dress in his carriage and
go off to a ball at Windsor. Another peculiarity was, that he always
had a bowl of punch placed by his bedside as a nightcap. He was, I
believe, father of Mr. William Stephen Poyntz of Cowdray, Sussex.

f The inn was afterwards called the Poyntz Arms. It has nov\r been
pulled down, and a school built on the site, which was bought and pre-
sented to the parish by Mr. Lamb of Basingstoke.

% Topper was fond of his liquor, and when the scent was bad and
his hounds slack, invariably made a public-house cast.

c 2

20 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1745 to

hunting, he invariably came to covert in
his carriage-and-four, with two postilions ; his
valet, John Child, assisting Topper in the
field. Also, Topper had sometimes a boy to
assist him in bringing the three horses.

" Freefolk was a very favourite covert with
my old friend ; for, being large, he usually
went there on Monday and the following
Wednesday; also, because he had frequently
a tired fox to hunt, and besides, he picked up
the hounds which were left behind.

" He continued his hounds very late in life,
and latterly very seldom left his carriage. To
ensure amusement, he had a loaded gun ready
for a shot at a hare or partridge, or whatever
came in his way. He was always a very agree-
able companion, and I remember with grati-
tude his kindness to me when a boy.

" The Honourable William Bowes, assisted
by his brother-in-law, Barry Price, had a clever
small pack two or three seasons, lying at the inn
at Everleigh, and I frequently joined them
from the late Mr. Beach's at Netheravon, and
recollect a capital run from Southgrove, their
best covert. An active man, Wilkinson, well
known in Leicestershire, was their huntsman.
Mr. Powlett-Powlett of Sombourne used for
many years to hunt the Stockbridge side.

1S00.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 21

"He also patronised Overton some months
in the year, and from thence the Crux Easton
district.

" His twenty -four good runs from Freefolk
Wood are not yet forgotten. It happened
that, between the time of Mr. Poyntz and the
latter gentleman, there was a general carnage
of the vermin, and only a few old cunning
foxes remained.

"Mr, Smith, the father of the present gen-
tleman, always kept a strong pack of harriers
at Tedworth, and, I believe, latterly they were
all small, high-bred fox-hounds, and generally
hunted foxes. I am sorry I cannot supply
you with dates, but if there is any other in-
formation you wish for that is in my power to
give you, I shall be happy to do so.

" Yours truly,

" S. T."

The above letter appeared also in Cecil's
" Records of the Chase," p. 289 ; and he has
added some amusing comments thereon.

Hampshire might almost be called 1772.
the birthplace of cricket, as for many SSf *
years it could not only beat any other Wedon ciub.
county, but was generally successful even
against All England. The Hambledon Club,

22 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1745 to

whose first recorded matches date from 1772,
maintained the credit of the county by a long
series of victories. Its matches were generally
played on Broad Halfpenny Windmill or Stoke
Downs. In 1787 (August 14, 15, 16), at Bi-
shopsbourne Paddock, the seat of Sir Horace
Mann, they beat All England, winning by 266
runs; and in June, 1788, on Stoke Down,
they again beat All England by one innings
and 76 runs.

Amongst the names of the giants of those
days are Nyren, who kept the Bat and Ball
Inn, near Broad Halfpenny Down, and after-
wards the George Inn at Hambledon. rTyren
catered for the cricket meetings. In the Hants
Chronicle, July 6, 1778, is the following ad-
vertisement : " Nyren hopes the air of Stoke
Down will, with the ladies, stand in the place
of Marbres, Aspiques, Blanc-Manges : for good
appetites there will be a quantity of beef, ham,
chickens, tarts, &c,"

Names of the At this time James Aylwarcl, who
players. lived at Corliampton, was a crack
man, and amongst the others of the old club
were Richard Purchase of Liss, Hogsflesh of
Southwick, Taylor of Ropley and Alresford,
Richard Aubrey- Veck of Bishop's Waltham,
William Barber of Horndean, Noah Mann of

1800.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 23

North chapel, Thomas Brett of Catherington,
Peter Stewart of Hambledon, landlord of the
Green Man Inn, John Freeman tie of Alresford,
David Harris of Crookham, Edward Aburrow
of Hambledon, George Leer, also of Hamble-
don, Thomas Lord of Westmeon, John Wells
of Wrecclesham, and William Beldham, also of
the same place, who died aged ninety-seven.

The true old Hambledon Club broke up
about 1791, though, according to an account
of it m " Lilly white's Cricket Scores," vol. i.
p. 114, furnished by Mr. Thomas Smith of Fir
Hill, Droxford, it would appear that it existed
in some form or other until the year 1825.
He says: "This club contained on its list of
members at one time all the principal players
of the kingdom, amongst whom wTere many
titles of distinction, and up to the nineteenth
century all the gentlemen in the neighbour-
hood belonged to it. Amongst them were
some great patrons of the game — Messrs:
Bonham, Cole, King, Poulter, Hall, &c. &c.
Since that the club was kept up with great
spirit, including the names of Messrs. W.
Ward, Gage, Shakespeare, Delme, Butler,
Smith, Dampier, Lushington, Higgins, Morris,
Worsley, Richards, Forster. Amongst the
players we find old John Small, Lumpy (the

24 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1745 to

best slow bowler of that day), since then Brown,
the fastest bowler then known, Beagley, Carter,
&c , some of whom were paid ten shillings per
day by the club as bowlers."*
Patrons of Mr. Ridge, Mr. Dehany, and the
the game. ^ey% Qm Powlett, were also players
and patrons of the game ; the two latter were
members of the committee of the noblemen
and gentlemen, who met at the Star and
Garter, in Pali-Mall, in February, 1774, to
settle the laws of cricket. The Duke of
Dorset, the Earl of Tanker ville, the Earl of
Winchelsea, and Lord Frederick Beauclerk,
frequently played with the Hambledon Club,
and Sir Horace Mann was very active in getting
up an eleven to play against them. As early
as 1787, Alresford had an excellent eleven, and
a match on Tichborne Down against Odiham
with Beldham is reported.

In those days matches were not played en-
tirely for the love and honour of the game, as
now, but for large sums of money. The match
in July, 1778, of the Hambledon Club against
All England, was for one thousand guineas.
And not for money only was the game played,
as I find in the Hants Chronicle that a match
was played on July 14th, 1783, for eleven

* See Lilly white's Scores, vol. i. p. 114.

1800.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 25

pairs of white corded dimity breeches and
eleven handsome striped pink waistcoats.

In the month of September of this year,
Kent and Hants played for four days. In
July, 1793, a match was played on Stoke
Down between twenty -two of Hertfordshire
and Essex, who got forty-seven runs only in
each innings, and an eleven of England, who
were, in fact, nearly all Hambledon Club men,
and they got one hundred and fifteen, thus
winning by a single innings and twenty-one
runs.

But there were no regular reporters in those
days as there are now, and the accounts of
cricket and racing were not given with the ac-
curacy of the present day : this scanty, unsatis-
factory style of reporting was continued until
almost recent days. Up to nearly 1825. an
account of a country cricket match or race
meeting would only be given in two or three
lines, and this will account for the very meagre
account of hunt races hereafter alluded to in
this book.

At the Winchester races, cock- Racing, nss.
fighting, which was part of the programme,
was generally recognised as a fashionable
amusement, and in the Racing Calendars
accounts of the mains fought will be found.

26 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1745 to

The horses who ran for the king's plates
must have been very different from the
wretched cat-legged creatures we now too
frequently see start, as they carried twelve
stone, and the winner was the best of three
four-mile heats.

By advertisements in the county paper it
appears that hairdressers used to come down
from London, and stay during the race week
at the Black Swan Hotel, Winchester.
Mr. Terry of Mr. Stephen Terry of Dummer,
Dummer. Qne Q£ ^ q^^ sportsmen living in

Hants, was at Eton in 1791, and a contempo-
rary of Mr. Berkeley Craven, Mr. Thomas Asshe-
ton Smith, who was in the same form, Mr. John
Musters, afterwards master of the Pytchley,
and Beau Brummel. He began hunting on a
pony about 1785, and says he can remember
at least twenty different packs hunting in Free-
folk Wood. Mr. Terry, in his early life, hunted
a good deal in Dorsetshire, and there married
a daughter of Lieutenant-Colonel Seymer. He
saw a good deal of Mr. Peter Beckford, who
lived at Steepleton Lodge, near Blandford ; at
his death his celebrated rabbit-beagles were
divided between Lord Rivers, who lived at
Houghton, and Mr. Terry.

17S3. Mr. Terry, as stated above, re-

Lord staweii. members Lord Stawell hunting the

1800.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 27

country between Farnham and Overton. At
that time, he says, the boundaries of different
hunts were not defined ; that which is now the
H. H. was perhaps better so than any other ;
foxes were not preserved, and hounds were
moved about from one part of the county to
another. Lord Stawell had one house at
Mar elands and another at Maple Durham, and
two or three different kennels. Will Will
Harrison was his huntsman, John Harrison-
Richmond and Sharp were his whippers-in.
Will Harrison was a good old sportsman, very
cheerful and civil, but somewhat pompous in
his manner, and peculiarly addicted to using
fine words, to the great amusement of his lord-
ship. When building the kennels, Lord Sta-
well asked him how he would get water. Har-
rison said, " he had duly considered that, and
in his opinion the best plan would be to erect
a well."

He was a very short man, and his heels did
not reach much below the flaps of his saddle.
When urging his horse with his spurs, which
only dug into the flaps of his saddle, he was
heard to exclaim, " I may as well stick my
spurs into oblivion." On one occasion, when
he had run his fox from the Holt to Waverley
Abbey, the hounds entered the pleasure-
grounds, and he followed them, riding over

28 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1745 to

the well-kept lawn, and was surprised by
hearing the gardener blame him, saying,
"Why neither my master nor my mistress
ever ride there." He merely replied, "Don't
they ? Why I never saw better riding in all
my life; but we shall lose our fox owing to
these nasty stinking violets." Lord Stawell
kept hounds up to 1796. He once found a fox
in Farnham Holt, which he ran to ground at
Hurstbourne Park! Mr. Collier, the coach
proprietor, and Colonel Beaver, both saw this
run. In the Sporting Magazine of that year,
p. 46, it says, " He incurred the displeasure of
the Hampshire sportsmen by the mode of
parting with his fox-hounds, after they had
acceded to every proposition made for their
support."

1788. In 1788, the Prince of Wales

George iv. lived at Kempshot, which was before
this occupied by Mr. J. C. Crook,
and while there had a pack of stag-hounds,
which were afterwards turned into fox-hounds.
George Sharp was his huntsman for three
years, and he then went to the king's stag-
hounds. Sharp saved a good deal of money,
and received a pension from the prince until
his death. He was buried at Dummer.
Charles Davis, the Queen's huntsman, married

1800.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 29

his daughter. Sharp was succeeded by a man
named " Grantson, who came from Epping,
who gave great satisfaction, and was dismissed
only by death from the service of the prince."
— Sport. Mag., August, 1830, p. 267.

Mr. Terry says that the stables at Kempshot
were full of high-priced horses, but the stable
management was bad, and they never appeared
in condition. Mr. Edwards of Wort- Mr. Edwards
ing was the great man with these ofWortins-
hounds ; his horses were first-rate, and always
fit to go ; he was a very popular man, but
lived rather too fast for his means, and ended
his days in great poverty.

At this time, William IV. was a prince
middy at Portsmouth, and occa- Wllliam-
sionally came up to Kempshot, but he could
not ride at all to hounds. During the French
Revolution, in 1791, Kempshot was crammed
with emigrants, and the hospitable welcome
they received from the prince must have been
some consolation to them. For their amuse-
ment a grand stag-hunt was got up, and as the
royal stables could not mount them all, ten
post-horses were sent for from Demezy's, at
Hartford Bridge. The foreigners' grotesque
appearance astounded the Hampshire men, as
they were equipped with long horns over their

30 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1745 to

shoulders, in the regular French style. Prince
William turned out on a pony, and soon
fathomed a deep ditch. A hind that was not
expected to run straight was selected, in order
that the foreigners mio-lit have a better chance
of nicking in. At least five hundred horsemen
were present. The hind was uncarted at
Kempshot Park, and very soon after the
foreigners were seen sprawling all over the
country, and out of the whole number that
started scarcely fifty got to the end. This day
nearly drove George Sharp mad, for whenever
his hounds came to a check, the Frenchmen,
thinking all game was alike, three times blew
their horns, and put them on to a hare.

At this time the prince was a very hard
liver, and suffered much from gout. Nanny
Stevens of Dummer, a stout, strong woman,
was his nurse, and even helped him in and
out of his bath, while his lazy valet did
nothing but brush his clothes and look on.

Mrs. Fitzherbert visited the prince at Kemp-
shot, and, while she was there, Mr. Ridge's
hounds, with Joe Hall and Phil Gosling, came
over from Kilmiston. Lady Jersey, Lady
Cunningham, and Mesdames Hodges and
Sturt, in hunting costume, joined the field,

1S00.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 31

and Charles James Fox was at the breakfast
booted and spurred, but he was so gouty that
he could neither walk nor ride. In February,
1793, the prince's establishment underwent an
alteration. They hunted stag no more, but
took to fox instead. The prince submitted
the entire direction of the hounds to Mr.
Poyntz of Midgham, who gave up his Hamp-
shire country to his royal highness {Sport.
Mag. , vol. i. p. 305). George IV. kept his
honeymoon with Queen Caroline, April, 1795,
at Kempshot. In this month the prince was
in treaty for Penton Lodge, near The Prince
Andover ; but in October he went to nTlZe
the Grange, and paid 5000/. for the 0ct*' 179°*
stock and fixtures. The beer alone was esti-
mated at 500/., so large a stock had Mr.
Drummond in his cellar. Lord Dorchester
succeeded the prince at Kempshot ; and often,
no doubt, amidst the domestic troubles of his
after days, did the prince look back with a
sad satisfaction and sorrow on the privacy and
tranquil enjoyments of the sojourn at the
Grange. While there he joined many parties,
and was very intimate with Lord Rodney and
Mr. Charles Graeme, who then lived at Dean
House, Kilmiston.

32 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1745 to

Mr. William John Chute corn-
Mr. Chute of

the vine, mencecl liis long career as a master
of hounds with a pack of harriers
about 1791, which, after some time, he turned
into fox-hounds, and the country took the
name of the Vine from the estate he occupied.
At his death, in 1824, he left a sum of money
for the support of the pack, on condition that
they retained their original name of the Vine.
Will Biggs was at first his huntsman, and
only man ; but Phil Gosling, on leaving Mr.
Ridge, came to Mr. Chute and materially
assisted him in getting his pack into working
Hickson. order. Some time after, George
Hickson was his huntsman, and Will Burket
was whip. Mr. Chute parted with Hickson
for a short time, thinking to benefit himself
by the change, and engaged a man named
Cain as his successor ; but he did not stay
long, for, as Mr. Thomas Chute said, he could
not kill a fox because he was not Abel, so
Hickson resumed his former post, and held it
until Mr. Chute's death, when he acted as
coachman to Mrs. Chute, the widow.

Mr. Terry was staying at the Vine with
Mr. Chute in the year 1796, and on Easter
Tuesday they had a run with a celebrated
hound called Spanker, and a few others, who

1800.] OF HAMrSHIRE. 33

came from Mr. Poyntz. Some foxes had been
bred in a drain which ran under the drawing-
room, so they found directly. It was a very
sunny day, but they had a straight Spanker.
twelve miles to ground at Chilton Wood, and
they did not dig. Spanker remained with
the fox. On the fifth day after the run, as
he had not returned to the kennel, Will Bi^s
called on Mr. Terry, and, setting out together
in search, they found Spanker alive at the
earth, with the dead fox between his paws.
This staunch hound was kept at Dummer
until he recovered, and he then ran for one or
two seasons with the new pack which came to
the Vine from the Duke of Richmond.

Mr. Chute was a wonderfully good kennel
huntsman ; his hounds were renowned for
their great strength and their good noses, and
he always bred them for those two qualities.
His kennel, however, appears to have been
useful rather than ornamental, for in Mr.
George Tattersall's able work, entitled " Sport-
ing Architecture," there is a notice of it. He
says : " Where was a more miserable hole in
the shape of a kennel for fox-hounds, than that
in which the Vine pack was lodged in the late
Mr. Chute's time, and yet I never saw hounds
freer from disease, nor able to stand their

D

34 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1745 to

work better, than those hounds were. There
was not even a grass ground, nor any yard at
all so large as his own dining-room, and the
sub-soil was strong clay."

Mr. Chute was one of the last of the pig-
tails, and always wore it tied in proper form
with black ribbon ; his coat and waistcoat
were open, and his shirt fronts got up with
broad plaits. A year or two only before his
death the pigtail was sacrificed. General
Pole, who was a great friend, was present
when the dreadful deed was done in Fox the
hairdresser's shop. Great had been the solici-
tation on the one side, and reluctance on the
other ; at last an unwilling consent was given,
gained chiefly by the potent argument, " Why,
sir, it cannot last much longer, there are but
five hairs left, all the rest is ribbon !" said
the coiffeur, holding up the elaborate ap-
pendage. The fatal snip was given, and thus
ended one of the last, if not the very last, of
the pigtails.

Mr. Chute died December 13, 1824, aged
sixty-seven years. He represented the county
in parliament for nearly thirty years. He was
a fine specimen of the real old English squire,
quite one of the old school. His brother, Mr.
Thomas Vere Chute of South Pickenham,
Norfolk, was also a very good sportsman.

1800.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 35

Mr. William Chute never jumped at all
latterly, but always got off and took hold of
his horse's tail, who drew him up. At no
time was he a hard rider; and it is related
that, one day in a run, he came to some
hurdles, and asked a farmer to pull the stake
out ; the farmer got off and did so, and said,
"Now you can come." "Stop, let me get off,"
said Mr. Chute, " and I will turn my horse
over the ditch." " But there is no ditch,"
said the farmer, "and your horse will walk
over." " But I fancy there is a ditch, and
that is the same thing."

Mr. Ellis St. John of West Court, 1790.
Finchampstead, kept hounds for Mr. st. John

t • , -1 i • of West

many years, beginning with harriers, court.
which were the old Dorsetshire or
Mountain breed, very handsome and clever.
Thomas Tocock, father of Mr. Garth's well-
known servant, was his huntsman ; however,
he changed them for fox-hounds, purchasing
the Duke of Bridgewater's pack, and hunted
himself that part of the country better known
afterwards as Sir John Cope's.

Mr. St. John was a first-rate sportsman, and
so keen and excellent as a huntsman, that he
has been compared to the celebrated Jack
Russell of the north of Devon. Joe Joe Pace.

d 2

36 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1745 to

Pace, who was his whip, was an excellent
rider, and lived with Mr. St. John nntil his
death. Mr. St. John kept hounds for many
years, and latterly always had Mr. Powlett-
Powlett's drafts.

Colonel Blasrave of Calcot, who hunted
with him, says : " We never had really a good
series of sport after Mr. St. John ;" though,
of course, his successor had many good runs,
there was not the same regular character of
sport. The reason of this was, that Sir John
Cope's country was much larger, and the
coverts not so frequently hunted.

The Sporting Magazine of 1793 says : " That
Mr. St. John began his season hunting hare
in Windsor Forest, and then later hunted
buck at Overton." I much regret that I have
not been able to learn more of this excellent
sportsman ; he was the father of Mr. John
St. John of Finchampstead, to whom I shall
allude hereafter.

Mr. Land of Park House, Ham-
Park House, bledon, kept a pack of fox-hounds,
with which he hunted deer all the
summer in the Forest of Bere. In the autumn
he hunted cubs with the same hounds ; after
two or three days they would stick to their
fox, and actually go through the deer they

ISOO.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 37

had hunted in the summer ! This appears
marvellous and impossible, and the only ex-
planation I can offer is that given by Mr.
Thomas Smith, that he never hunted the deer
with his young hounds.

Will James was Mr. Land's huntsman; he
once ran a fox from Highden Wood to Pet-
worth. The old Lord Egremont sent out a
servant to tell him to whip his hounds off
immediately. James sent back an answer,
saying, " He had brought his fox out of
Hampshire, and should do nothing of the
sort;" and added, "Tell your master I hunted
before he was born, and hope to do so after he
is dead and buried." Mr. Geary of Fareham,
the son of the king's head-keeper, who lived
at Critch Lodge (the keeper's residence in the
Forest of Bere), constantly hunted with Mr.
Land. He says that his father frequently had
great rows with Mr. Land about hunting the
deer, which he had no right or permission to
do, as Mr. Geary's father kept hounds on pur-
pose to take them, and they were attended by
the resident gentry. Lord Scarborough, who
was a keen sportsman, and colonel of the
York Militia then stationed at Portsmouth,
frequently hunted with him. Mr. Land died,
and was buried at Hambledon, in 1791.

38 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1745 to

1793. Mr. Stares of Botley at this time

had a pack of harriers.

Hunt races, Owing to there being no files of
Apni, 1794, t|ie Hampshire Chronicle between
1784 and 1794, and the H. H. records com-
mencing only in 1795, I cannot discover when
the races were first held. In the Chronicle of
April 7th, 1794, 1 find "the annual H. H. Cup
was run for over Worthy Down, and was won
by Mr. Graeme's Bruiser, got by Boxer. There
was a remarkable concourse of the best com-
pany on the down, and Mr. Hayne's ball in
the evening, at St. John's House, was genteelly
attended." From this time the Hunt races were
held nearly annually, but the reports of them
are generally given in the above brief style.

Farmers' In September is the following ad-

Feast. Sept. . 1 °

22, 1704. vertisement :

FARMERS' FEAST.

THE members of the H. H. are requested to take notice the Farmers'
annual Feast will be held on Wednesday the 24th, at the Sv>*an
Inn, Alresford, when they hope for the pleasure of their friends' com-
pany as usual.

In the month of November a complete pack
of fox-hounds, then hunting in the neighbour-

hood of Andover, were advertised in the Hants
Chronicle to be sold ; the}' were the property
of Lord Southampton and Colonel Beaver,
alluded to at page 18.

1S00.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 39

At this time Mr. Russell resided „ „

Mr. Russell

at Grey well, where Lord Dorchester of Greyweii,

. 1794.

does now. He kept a pack of hounds,
and hunted part of the country which was be-
fore Lord StawelTs. Mr. Terry says it was
the country between Basingstoke and the
Golden Pot, and also that about Preston Oak-
hills and Herriard. The hounds were kept at
North Wainborough, but the horses stood at
Greywell. Mr. Russell is said to have been
originally a solicitor in Essex; he married
Lady Betty Birmingham, who was the daughter
of an Irish peer, whose title became extinct at
his death. She was a very agreeable, affable
person. When hunting, she always wore a
scarlet body to her habit. Before coming to
Greywell, Mr. Russell lived at Hook, where
Mr. Bird does now ; and in the years 1802-3
he left Greywell and went to Hoddington,
which was before occupied by Mr. John Lim-
brey.

Mr. Russell was a first-rate sportsman. Will
Harrison, Lord Stawell's old huntsman, hunted
his hounds for some vears. and he was sue-
ceeded by John Major, who was a first-rate
huntsman, when thoroughly sober. I have
heard that Mr. Russell's retirement as a master
of hounds was caused by the following inci-

40 SPORTING REMINISCENCES 11745 to

dent : Mr. J. T. Villebois at that time kept a
jDack of harriers at Preston Candover; one
day they changed from their hare, which they
had found near Preston Wood, to a fox, which
they ran straight for about ten miles, and
killed above Amory Wood, which is between
Alton and Shalden ; Mr. Smith of Shalclen
Lodge and Mr. Villebois alone were with
them. On Mr. Russell being told of this, he,
the next time he met Mr. Villebois, expressed
his objection to what had taken place, and
some words passing between them, he said to
Mr. Villebois, " You had better hunt the coun-
try yourself." On which Mr. Villebois replied :
"If you really mean that, I will;" and to the
delight of his friends he commenced the next
year, with John Major as his huntsman. With-
out mentioning Mr. Russell's name, Nimrod
tells the same story in his history of the H. H.,
which will be found in the year 1825.

Mr. Russell used to say that he never com-
mitted any sins during the hunting season, as
he hunted six days a week and went to church
twice on Sunday, and so had no time to do
anything wrong. A fine run with his hounds,
from Dogmersfield to Liphook, on 1st Nov.,
1803, is reported in the Sporting Magazine,
p. 52.

1800.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 41

On Mr. Ridge's resignation the old Re-forma-

t7-m • , tt x * * 1 TJ XT ti°n °f the

lvilmiston Hunt, or original H. ±1. H> H? April
Club, was broken up ; and at a meet- 25' 1795*
ing Held at Winchester, April 25th, 1795, it
was re-formed. It was then resolved that the
club should consist of twenty-five members
besides the president ; that it should be called
the Hampshire Hunt ; that it should meet on
the 12th of October, and every first Friday
in every month to April inclusive; that the
hounds should be kept at Bishop's Sutton from
the second week in October till the first week
in March; that Mr. W. Powlett-Powlett be
perpetual president, and the huntsmen and
other servants be entirely under his control.
The uniform was a blue coat, with a white
waistcoat with yellow buttons, having the
letters H. H. and the Prince of Wales crest
engraved on it. Two stewards were taken in
rotation, beginning with the oldest members
of the late club, for the monthly meetings;
dinner was to be on the table precisely at five,
and the bill called for at nine o'clock, by the
president's watch. Another rule was, that any
member making any bet or match at the club,
was at liberty to be off, on paying the next
morning two guineas to the stewards of the
meeting, which were applied towards the cup
run for that year.

42 SPOUTING REMINISCENCES [1745 to

Original mem- Of the New Club, the original

bers of the i

New h. h. members were :

ciub. Mr w Powlett - Powlett, Little

Somborne.

Sir Henry Tichborne, Bart., Tichborne Park.

Mr.. George Wm. Ricketts, Twyford.

Mr. John Shakespeare, Twyford.

Mr. Charles Grseme, New House, Ropley,
and Kilmiston.

Mr. Charles Tavlor, Rotherfield.

Lord John Russell, Stratton Park.

Mr. Francis Love Beckforcl, Basing Park.

Mr. H. Lane, East End House, Alresford.

Mr. Richard Meyler, Crawley House.

Mr. R. Bingham-Newland, Rotherfield.

Mr. John Smythe, Cheriton.

Mr. George Kerr.

Mr. James Holder, Ashe Park.

Mr. J. C. Midclleton, Chawton Park.

Mr. Thomas Ridge was an honorary member.
Members Mr. Powlett -Powlett was "ma-

M^rowieu6 nager" of the H. H. until 1802, and
was master. cjuring his mastership the following
gentlemen joined the club :

Sir Charles Mill, Mottisfont.

Mr. Baine, Lainston, in 1796.

Mr. Calmady, Woodcote House.

Mr. J. T. Yillebois, 1796.

1800.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 43

Mr. Sympson, 1796.

The Hon. George Pitt, afterwards Lord
Rivers.

Mr. John Duthy, New House, Ropley.

Hon. J. Gage.

Mr. G. W. Sparrow.

Sir Henry St. John Mildmay, Bart.

Lord Powis, Woodcote, in 1797.

Mr. Iremonger.

Mr. Francis North, afterwards Lord Guild-
ford, 1798.

Captain Scott, R.N., New-place, Alresford.

Captain Gumming, 11th Dragoons, after-
wards General Sir Henry Cumming, K.C.B. ;
he distinguished himself in the expedition to
the Helcler in 1799, and was a brother officer
of Major Barrett, afterwards master of the
H. H.

Mr. Thomas Kings cote of Hinton House
married a sister of the late Sir Henry Peyton,
Bart.

Mr. Henry Villebois, 1801.

Lord Gage.

Mr. Abel Rous Dottin, Bugle Hall, South-
ampton.

Major, afterwards General, Seymour, 1801.

Mr. Terry says that Mr. Powlett's huntsman
was a clever young man named Green, who

44 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1745 to

was assisted by old Dick, who had a peculiarly
fine voice, and by a man who afterwards fol-
lowed Lord Guildford in the hunting-field.

Mr. Powiett- -^r* Powiett was lame, and could not
Powiett. mount his horse without assistance ;
he had nearly lost the use of one leg, which
was withered by a blow he received in riding
against a gate ; in consequence, he wore a long
laced-up boot, and went about on crutches.

When hunting, he wore a long grey coat,
with a blue spencer over it, and leather
breeches. His hats were peculiar, being very
much turned up to let the rain run off, and
were specially made for him by Camis of
Alresford. Were he alive, the irreverent youth
of the present time would probably inquire
the maker's name. John Bayley, for many
years after a farrier at Alresford, was Mr.
Powlett's groom. Mr. Powiett lived first at
Little Somborne, and afterwards at Lainston
House. As master of the H. H., he hunted
Freefolk Wood, before Mr. Chute kept fox-
hounds ; there was in it then a breed of foxes,
which always made their point to Sherborne
Wood! He afterwards, in 1807, hunted the
Hambledon country for several years.
Mr. e. Mey- Mr. R. Meyler was M.P. for Win-
iey.° chester, served as high sheriff for the

county, and acted more than once as steward

1S00.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 45

of the Winchester Races. He kept a pack of
harriers at his residence at Crawley, and hunted
round Ball Down and the Race-course ; he had
a remarkably fine stud of horses, which he got
into condition with his harriers, and then took
them into Leicestershire. During the winter
he lived at the old club at Melton, with Lord
Alvanley, Mr. Berkeley Craven, Sir Harry
Mildmay, Mr. H. C. Compton of the Manor
House, Lyndhurst. There they had excellent
dinners, and Mr. Meyler contrived to entice
the cook away, who shortly afterwards died at
his house in Grosvenor-square.

His horses used to exercise on Ball Down at
break of day, with bandages on. His groom
was a first-rate servant, named John Morgan.
Mr. Meyler had a large West India property.
When at Oxford, he was a great friend of the
then Marquis of Worcester, and when in Hants,
he was a great deal with Mr. Powlett when he
lived at Lainston. He was a fine, handsome
man, a hard rider, and a good tennis and
cricket-player.

A good deal will be found about Mr. Meyler
in the Memoirs of Harriet Wilson, published
in BeWs Life in April and May, 1825.

Mr. Meyler died from a fall from his horse
while with the hounds in Leicestershire, caused,
I believe, by a fit.

4G SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1745 to

A run with the H. H. is riven in
Reported the Hants Chronicle. It is here copied
Hants verbatim, principally to show the

Chronicle. , -, « .. .-% , -,

style 01 reporting at that period :
" The Gentlemen of the H. H. had an excessive
hard run on Monday last. They found at
Burntwood. The huntsman's horse died at
Popham Lane."

"At the Spring Meeting on Worth v

1796.

Races on ' Down, the cup was won by Mr. Kerr's
Downh}from Messenger at three heats, and on the
$** Hants same day a silver cup was given by
the D'entlemen of the Cottage Hunt
at Twyford." Although I have made every
inquiry, I have utterly failed to obtain any in-
formation about this Cottage Hunt.
h. h. races, The annual cup given to be run
Oct. 22. .cQY on Tichborne Down by farmers'

horses was won by Mr. Bradley's of Bighton
bay horse Prince Moody, beating Mr. Rivers's
black horse Young Marquis, and Farmer
Houohton's mare. The dinner at Alresford
afterwards was fully attended by the members
and the farmers. The Gazette, containing the
news of Sir J. B. Warren's victory and capture
of Wolf Tone, arrived at the time, and caused
many patriotic toasts to be drunk. Theobald
Wolf Tone, who was taken on board the Hoche,

1800.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 47

was the founder of the society of United Irish-
men, and the last victim to the Irish rebellion.

A run is reported in the Hants 1798.
paper. The quaintness of the Ian- ^v- 1^th-
guage is, perhaps, the only thing Hants ^
worthy of notice. I set it out in full :

" A fox was uncovered at Beauworth Woods,
and directed his course towards Twyford. He
run through the village into the garden of
Major Paulett, from thence into that of Lady
Jones, in which he was lost for upwards
of an hour, and was at last discovered in a
bed of artichokes, which had been crossed
several times by his numerous pursuers, and it
was then with some difficulty they could force
him out. He then leaped over the fence, and
made for Compton, through the river Itchen,
and was killed in a field belonging to Mr.
Houghton. From the length of the chase, the
hounds and horses seemed to be much fatigued,
and the gentlemen were highly satisfied with
their day's sport."

It appears that up to this time the 1799.
members of the H. H. wore blue Jan- 18th-
coats in the hunting-field, as a rule was now
passed that they should henceforth wear red.
The blue, however, was to be continued in the
evening.

48 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1800 to

CHAPTER II.

From 1800 to 1825.

The Hambledon Hunt Club, its Origin— Mr. T. Butler of Bury Lodge,
1800— Mr. Compton— Tom Sebright, 1800— Mr. John Truman Vil-
lebois, 1802— Mr. Henry Villebois— John Major— Will Biggs, 1802
—The N. F. H. under a Committee, 1803— Major Cook of Droxford
— "Will Neverd, 1804 — Richard Foster — John Jennings — Sawyer —
Members of the H. H. elected when Mr. Villebois was Master —
Colonel de Burgh, or Lord Clanricarde, 1806 — Mr. Powlett-Powlett
as Master of the Hambledon, 1807 — Will Reeves — Ned Gosling —
John Warde and Abbey, 1808 — Mr. Twynam's Harriers, 1812 — Mr.
Nicoll of the New Forest, 1814 — Sportsmen in the New Forest — Mr.
Joseph Eyles — Mr. Richards of North House, 1815 — Mr. Scotland —
Sir John Cope, 1816 — Tom Tocock and James Shirley — Regular
Attendants with Sir John — The Bramshill Ale — Mr. A. F. Nunez of
Warnford, 1816— Mr. Powlett at Lainston, 1816— H. H. Ball, 1817—
The Andover Harriers — Mr. T. Smith's Hunt Picture — Sir Belling-
ham Graham, Bart., 1821 — Mr. Osbaldeston, 1821 — DickjBurton and
Tom Sebright— Mr. John Walker, 1822— Nimrod— Sir Lucius Cur-
tis's Harriers — Mr. C. Shard, 1823 — The Hon. W. Gage's Harriers —
Mr. T. Smith, Master of the Hambledon, 1824— Mr. Hale's, Mr.
Taylor's, and Mr. Lechmere's Harriers.

1800. From the original minutes, me-

Hambledon moranda and agreement, kindly lent
Hunt ciub, me b Colonel Butler, I find that " a

its origin. J

meeting was held for the purpose
of establishing a pack of fox-hounds in the
vicinity of Hambledon, as it was the desire of
many gentlemen fond of rural sports to have

1825.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 49

the amusement of that noble diversion, fox-
hunting, as there was at that time no established
pack of fox-hounds convenient to the gentle-
men resident in that neighbourhood, to enable
them to partake of that noble diversion."

It states, that proposals were submitted to
the consideration of such gentlemen " as were
desirous of becoming members of a hunting
club, to be established and maintained in a
sporting-like manner." Mr. T. Butler
of Bury Lodge engaged " to collect lerr'of 'Bu^~
a pack of fox-hounds, which should Lodfe the

J- " master.

consist of not more than thirty
couple, nor less than twenty couple, to pro-
vide for their maintenance and every expense
at his own cost, with also a kennel, and such
persons as he might think necessary to their
management." It was further agreed " that
the Hunt should consist of as many gentlemen
as should choose to become subscribers by the
first day of meeting, and should pay the an-
nual sum of ten guineas to Mr. Butler ;
that the hounds should go out five times
in a fortnight, or oftener, if agreeable to Mr.
Butler and the weather permitted ; and no
weather should stop the hounds from going
to the meet unless the snow should be one
foot deep at the kennel door." And further,

E

50 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1800 to

" the hounds to be at the covert at nine
o'clock from the 10th of October to the 5th
of April; the fixtures to be settled by Mr.
Butler, without any partiality. The Hunt
were to dine monthly during the

Hunt dinners. J °

hunting season, at some inn fixed on
by the stewards, and that no French wines
were to be called for on the forfeiture of five
pounds ; and the bill was to be called for at
eight o'clock."

Will James was Mr. Butler's huntsman ;
Thomas Carter of Soberton and Foster were
his whips. This Foster was no relation
of the famous H. H. huntsman, but was a
native of Hambledon, where, at that time,
there were a great many of that name. Mr.
Butler had the hounds for three seasons. He
died in 1858. Joseph Pratt of Hambledon,
who is now alive, and in his ninety -first year,
lived with him as stud-groom for forty years.
Mr. comp- In this year, Mr. John Compton
ton, i8oo. of Manor House succeeded Mr. V.

H. Gilbert as master of the New Forest
hounds. His huntsman's name was Tom Se-
bright, father of the celebrated Tom Sebright,
who first lived with Mr. Musters, then was
whip to Mr. Osbaldeston, and afterwards
huntsman to Lord Fitzwilliam for forty years.

1S25.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 51

u Tom Sebright was wont to say Tom
that he first learnt to be so fond of Sebright
hounds by running after the late Mr. Ville-
bois' pack when he hunted the Romsey side
of the old Hampshire country. His father
was quite a huntsman worthy in his day. He
showed all the science of a i master forester'
when he hunted the New Forest."*

From memoranda in the H. H. 1800-1.
records, it appears that this was a very severe
winter, as two successive hunt meetings did
not take place " owing to continued frost and
snow."

Mr. Charles Graeme again won the 1801.
Hunt Cup ; no other notice of the race meet-
ing is anywhere recorded.

Mr. Powlett-Powlett now resigned 1802.
the management of the H. H., and Feb- 25th-
requested permission to hunt the fCom-Uuder
country round Somborne by suffer- mittee-
ance from the H. H. The request was not
granted.

In the month of March, Admiral Calmady
(of Woodcote), Mr. Kingscote (of Hinton
House, and afterwards of New Place, Aires-
ford), and Mr. John Truman Villebois (of

* Scott and Sebright, by the Druid, p. 411.
E 2

52 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1S00 to

Candover) formed a committee for the ma-
nagement of the Hampshire hounds, whereof
Mr. Villebois was the chief manager.
^r _ . . Mr. Villebois was the son of Wil-

Mr. V lllebois.

liam Villebois, descended from a
French family who settled in Ireland. He was
born at Feltham, in Middlesex, October, 1772.
Was great-grandson, on the mother's side, of
Sir Benjamin Truman, brewer of London, and
founder of the firm of Truman, Hanbury, and
Buxton. He and his next brother, Henry,*
succeeded, when quite young, to the two prin-
cipal shares in the brewery, and when they
came of age were each in possession of large
fortunes. They both retained their interests
in the brewery until their deaths, although
they took no active part in its management.
Mr. Villebois was educated at Harrow, and
afterwards went to Christ Church, Oxford.
He came into Hants soon after he was of age,
and lived both at Preston Candover and at
Brown Candover.

For two winters he hunted from East End

* Mr. Henry Villebois was also born at Feltham, 1777 ; was at
Harrow and Oxford; a friend of the Prince Regent's; a great whip,
and member of the old Four-in-Hand (Benson Driving) Club. He did
not reside in Hants, but came on visits to his brother. His own place
was Marham House, near Downham, Norfolk. He died in London in
1847. His son, Mr. Henry Villebois, kept the V. W. H. in 1849, and
hunted that country until 1854, when he retired, and sold his hounds
to the Earl of Portsmouth. He has since hunted the country round
Swaffham and Lynn, in Norfolk, and is as popular there as his uncle
was at Harmsworth.

1825.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 53

House, Alresford (where Mr. Cooke afterwards
resided). In the winter of 1814 he went to
Harmsworth, where he lived continuously
until his death, in 1837.

John Major was his first huntsman, and his
whips were Will Biggs, " Pop" Hennessy (called
"Pop" from perpetually cracking his whip),*
and John Knight. Pop was with the East
Sussex in 1832, as huntsman.

Major left Mr. Villebois because he John Major.
could not keep sober. When not fuddled, he
was a very good huntsman. He one season
killed forty brace of foxes. Foster tried very
hard to do the same, but could never get
beyond thirty-nine and a half. Major after-
wards lived with Mr. Shard, but his old habit
still clinging to him, his last days, I believe,
were spent in the union ; at any rate, this fine
sportsman was seen breaking stones on the
high road. His father lived with Mr. Chafyn,
at Cranbourne, where he was brought up.

When John Major left, Will Biggs wm Biggs.
became huntsman, and continued in that situa-
tion until his breath failed. He was not a
strong man, and suffered considerably from
what he called " spavins" in his stomach.

George Large was Mr. Villebois' stud-groom,
and was an excellent servant; he afterwards

* Sawyer gave me this reason for the nickname — but see page 76.

54 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1S0O to

lived with Mr. Robert T. Hey sham, jun., and
until quite recently was living at Southamp-
ton.

1S03. The hounds now went to Harms-
worth, formerly the residence of the Hon. Cap-
tain Rodney, and during the time they were
under the management of the committee the
following noblemen and gentlemen joined the
Hunt Club :

Captain, afterwards Admiral, Winthrop, a
nephew of General Shirreff.

Captain Hamilton, Fir Hill, Droxford.

Mr. R. Lowth, Hinton, author of the " Billes-
don Coplow"poem, in Sporting Magazine, 1800,
p. 45.

Mr. Fitzhush of Brookwood, afterwards of
Bannisters, Southampton.

Captain Gage.

Lord Henry Stewart.

Sir Henry Peyton, a great whip, and member
of the Four-in-Hand Club, lived in Oxford-
shire at Tusmore Park, and was the best man
of his day with Sir Thomas Mostyn's hounds.

Lord Rodney.

Colonel Cunnynghame, afterwards Sir David
Cunnynghame, Bart. This officer took an active
part in many of the actions in the Peninsula,
including the battle of Talavera, at the siege

1S25.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 55

of Valenciennes, where he was thirty-five times
in the trenches, and in storming the batteries
of Lincelles with the brigade of Guards ; being
then very severely wounded he was incapaci-
tated for active service, and retired upon half-
pay. He lived at Woodcote.

" On Tuesday, April 5th, the H. H. h. h. races,
Cup, run for on Worthy Down, was p ' 1803,
won by Colonel Cumming's brown gelding,
beating four others."

This vear Mr. Compton resigned New Forest

t~T hounds,

the management of the New Forest 1803.
hounds. He was succeeded by a committee,
consisting of Lord Cavan, Mr. Charles Mitchell,
and Mr. Williams, who were called "All the
Talents." At this time the king and royal
family spent some time at Cuffnells.

The Portsea harriers, kept by Mr. The Portsea
Pittis, hunted regularly twice a week. amers-

Mr. Thomas Blake brought a pack ,_ _

« i Mr. Thomas

of harriers from Wiltshire, and kept Blake's
them at Winchester for some years,
but left about 1816, and returned with his
pack to Stratford, near Old Sarum, where,
with the assistance of his nephew, Mr. John
Blake, he kept hounds until his death, in
1851, when they were hunted as a subscrip-
tion pack by the present master, Mr. Walter
Flower.

56 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1800 to

1804. Major Cook, afterwards better
Colonel cook. kn0WiT as Colonel Cook of Drox-
ford, succeeded Mr. Butler in the management
of the Hambledon hounds. Colonel Cook
hunted also part of the Staffordshire country.
He was born at Christchurch, a.d. 1773.
His father was a very influential merchant in
that town, who died when the colonel was
young, and left the Right Hon. Sir George
Rose his executor, and guardian of his children.
Colonel Cook was born a sportsman. At a
very early period he kept a pack of harriers
near Wareham. He kept hounds at Thurlow,
in Suffolk, for seven or eight seasons, and then
went into Essex and hunted the Roothings.
The year before he died, in 1829, at the re-
quest of Mr. Mcoll, who was prevented by
a domestic calamity, he superintended and
hunted the New Forest hounds, which he did
to the satisfaction of the whole field. He was
the author of an excellent book on hunting,
and the management of hounds. Phil Gosling
lived with him as huntsman, as did also Will
Neverd, and Abbey, who was afterwards with
Mr. John Warde in the New Forest, and went
with him to the Craven.

Will Neverd was a huntsman, or

^ ill >. everd.

rather in the hunting- field, forty

1825.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 57

years. From Colonel Cook he went to John
Warde, and with him hunted the Craven
country for eighteen years ; he then lived
with Mr. Mure, in Essex, and finally with Mr.
Horlock, until his death. He was a first-rate
sportsman, quiet in the field, civil to every-
body, and with a wonderful nerve for riding
to his hounds. Mmrod says (Spo7± Hag., 1824,
p. 204) that Neverd lived with Colonel Cook
for three seasons, when he had the Ham-
bledon.

" Mr. Gra3ine again won the H. H. 1805.
Cup with Gammel M'Gralaham." No further
notice of the races is taken in either the county
paper or the Hunt records. Mr. Gramme was
now appointed treasurer of the Hunt.

Messrs. Kingscote and Calmady re- Mr. vnie-
tired from the committee of manage- master of
ment of the H. H., and Mr. J. T. theILIL
Villebois became the sole master until his
death, in 1837. The period of his mastership
may be fairly said to have been the golden
age of the Hampshire Hunt. He bought the
hounds of the club in 1804, the purchase-
money was invested in the funds in the names
of the trustees, and at the time of his decease
it amounted to 3550/. 16s. 4cL, Three per
Cent. Annuities.

58 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1800 to

Richard After Will Biggs left, Richard

Foster. Foster came to Mr. Villebois as

huntsman, in 1815. John Jennings and
Sawyer were his whippers-in. Foster lived
with Lord Foley, in Worcestershire, before he
came into Hampshire. A man named Bishop
came with him from Lord Foley, who was
second whip when Sawyer was first, and Will
Stansby from Lord Petre, who was afterwards
huntsman to the H. H., when Mr. Tredcroft
was master, in 1859, was also a whip, under
Foster.

Sawyer says: "Foster was the very best
woodland huntsman he ever saw; he was
wonderfully quick in getting through live stuff,
and lost no time in going to a halloo ; and,"
he added, " we used to drive the foxes in those
days !"

It has been said that Foster encouraged
hallooing : if so, he did not teach in vain, for
never was such a country for hallooing as the
H. H.

Mr. Terry says: "Seldom were there two
such good huntsmen in one county, at the
same time, as Foster and Adamson, who
hunted the Vine." And Mr. Villebois, when
asked which was the better of his two men,
Major or Foster, pronounced in favour of the
latter. Foster died at Andover, about 1855.

1825.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 59

Jennings married Foster's daugh- johnjen-
ter. After leaving Hants, in 1834, nings-
lie went to Mr. Harvey Combe, and hunted
the Surrey Union country, when Mr. Hankey
was master, until he became blind. He died
January 9th, 1852, at Yew-tree Farm, near
Bookham, Surrey, and left six orphan children.

On leaving the H. H. he was suc-

-p, , Foster, jun.

ceeded by young Foster, who mar-
ried Will Biggs's daughter ; he afterwards went
to America, with a very large family, and has
not been since heard of.

Oswald Lister came to Mr. Yille- Oswald
bois, as whip, in 1836, from the Lister"
Surrey country, and shortly after went back
to it; in 1856 he was with the V. W. H. as
huntsman.

Sawyer first lived with Lord Clan- Sawyer.
ricarde at Warnford, who died in 1808; then
with Mr. Powlett-Powlett, as first whip ; then
with Mr. John Delme of Cams, who had
hounds for one season only. At his death
the pack was sold at Tattersall's, and purchased
by the officers quartered at Romford.

He went to Mr. Villebois in 1814, and
whipped-in to Will Biggs, succeeding Pop
Hennessy. Sawyer lived with Mr. Villebois
up to his death, in 1837, and has ever since
been in receipt of an annuity of 50/. left him

60 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1800 to

by his old master. He then went to Sir John
Mill, and hunted the Hursley country; and
then, for a very short time, he was with Mr.
Assheton Smith as whipper-in. He next went
to Mr. White of Ampfield, and stayed with
him until Jack Bradley came. After this he
did not hunt any more professionally, but
when Mr. Wall was master of the Hursley, he
occasionally mounted him. He now resides in
a comfortable cottage at Ampfield, and during
the hunting season is frequently to be seen and
heard in Ampfield Wood. Sawyer's "View
halloo" was something marvellous. He is a
wonderfully upright man for his age. He
(with the other Hunt servants) is alluded to in
Ximrod's letters on the H. H., in the Sporting
Magazine of January, 1825, which will be
found hereafter ; but, to preserve the chrono-
logical order of this work, I have introduced
them as they appeared on the stao;e

Members of .

the h. h. of events. During the mastership of
election^ when Mr. Villebois, the following noblemen
wis master°ls anc^ gentlemen were elected members

of the H. H.:*
1806. Mr. Fletcher, Upton House, Old Aires-
ford, and sold it to Colonel Onslow, a
member of the B. D. C, and drove
four greys.

* The dates indicate the vear of election.

1825.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 61

Lord Clanricarde, Warnford.

Mr. Christopher Cooke, East-end House,

Alresford.
Mr. Thomas Harley Rodney, lived in

Herefordshire.
Mr. Henry Drummond, the Grange Park.
Mr. Frederick R. 0. Villebois,* Benham

Park.

1807. Mr. Greenwood, Brookwood, before the

residence of the Earl of Malmesbuiy.

1808. Mr. Blackford.

Sir Henry St. John Miidmay, Bart.,
Dogmersfield Park.

1810. Mr. Thomas Baring.

Mr. William Theophilus Gramie, Dean
House, Kilmiston.

1811. Mr. Richard Norris, Basing Park.

Mr. Richard Meyler (re-joined), Crawley.

Mr. Gorges Lowther, Ovington; com-
manded the Fawley troop of Yeo-
manry Cavalry.

Mr. Charles Gore, Basing Park.

* Mr. Frederick Read Orme Villebois was born at Feltham, in.
August, 1782. Was in the 16th Dragoons. Lived at Benham Park,
Berks. Had Mr. J. T. Villebois' hounds at his death. Was master of
the Craven eighteen years, succeeding Mr. Smith. Ben Foote was his
huntsman. Ben Foote came from Mr. Drake in 1833, and was suc-
ceeded by the younger Tom Wingfield. From the time Mr. F. Ville-
bois took the Craven until 1838, the year after his brother Truman's
death, he lived at Adbury, near Newbury; afterwards at Benham, where
the hounds were also removed. He died in London, in 1851, and left
no issue. Benham Park was formerly occupied by the Margrave of
Anspach.

62 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1800 to

Admiral Bertie, afterwards Sir Albe-
marle Bertie, a brother of the Earl of
Abingdon.

1812. Lord Gage, Westbury House.
Mr. John Morant.

Mr. "Walter Lonsf, Preshaw House.
Mr. Paulet Mildmay, Dogmersfielcl Park.
Sir Leonard Worsley Holmes, Bart.

1813. Mr. Robert Thornton Hey sham, Hinton

House, afterwards, in 1828, New-
place, Alresford.
Mr. David Murray, Ropley Cottage and
Brampton Brian, Herefordshire.

1814. Mr. S. Langford Sainsbury, Froyle.
Captain Shirreff, R.N., afterwards Rop-
ley Cottage.

Mr. Rawlinson, New-place, Alresford.

1815. The Hon. Thomas Cranley Onslow,

Upton House, a good cricketer and
flat-race rider.
Mr. John Hanbury Beaufoy, Upton Grey.

1816. Mr. Blackburn, Preston Candover.
Major Barrett, Vernon Hill, Bishop's

Waltham, and afterwards at Cheriton.

1817. Sir Thomas Miller, Bart, Froyle.

Mr. George Butler, Bramdean, and Hill-
place.

1818. The Hon. William Gage, Westbury

House.

1825.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 63

The Hon. Mr. North, Old Alresford.
Earl Temple, Avington Park.

1819. Mr. Alexander Baring, the Grange Park.

1820. Mr. P. H. Delme, Cams, Fareham.
Mr. Meares, New-place, Alresford, and

Ropley Lodge.

1821. Mr. Edw. Knight, jun., Chawt on House.
Mr. Charles Beaufoy, Upton Grey.
Mr. James Scott, Rotherfield Park.
Mr. Charles Willaume, Candover.

Mr. George Thompson, Bishop's Sutton.
Mr. John Mills.

1822. Mr. William Bingham Baring.

Mr. James Winter Scott, jun., Rotherfield
Park.

1823. Mr. Chaloner Ogle, Worthy Park.
Captain Wilbraham, R.N., Bramdean

House.

1824. Mr. Thomas Moore Wayne, South Warn-

borough Manor House.
Mr. Charles Shard, Little Somborne.
Mr. Geo. Morgan, New-place, Alresford.
Mr. Richard Phillips.

1825. Mr. Humphrey Mildmay.

Mr. Walter Taylor, Hockley House.

1826. Mr. Edward Doughty, Tichborne Park.
1828. Mr. John Jarrett, Marelands.

Sir Henry Warde, K.C.B., Dean House.
Mr. Henry Villebois, jun.

64 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1800 to

1829. Sir Richard Rycroft, Bart., Manydown
Park.
Mr. George Colin Oliver, Bramdean
Cottage.

1832. C olonel Gauntlett, Kingsgate-street, Win-
chester.

1834. Mr. Charles Millett, Hill-place, and

Bramdean.
Mr. Rumbold, Preston Candover.
Mr. Charles M. Deane, Winchester.

1835. Mr. John T. Waddington, Twyford.

1836. Sir John Barker Mill, Bart., Mottesfont.

1837. Mr. Wm. H. Heysham, Ropley Cottage.
Colonel (now General) Coles, Woodcote.

Races on On Tuesday, October 29, the cup

Ct Oct., g^en by the members of the H. H.
lsoo. was run for on Abbotstone Down.

It was won by Mr. W. Wilkinson's Shaver,
beating five others. After the races, about
three hundred dined at the Swan Inn, Aires-
ford.

-, cnr Colonel de Burgh resided at Warn-

1S06. °

Colonel de ford Park. He had kept a small
Burgh' pack of fox-hounds, before Mr. Butler
took the Hambledon, in 1800, but gave them
away to the Prince of Wales; he now kept
a pack of harriers, and Phil Gosling was
his huntsman. Sawyer, who lived with him as

1825.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 65

whipper-in in the years 1807-8, says that the
colonel (then general) gave up his hounds to
join the Flushing or Walcheren expedition,
under the Duke of York, where he distin-
guished himself.

Nimrod, in his Reminiscences, says " he
could not ride to his hounds." Whilst Colonel
de Burgh, he married a daughter of Sir Thomas
Burke, Bart., of Marble Hill, Galway, and thus
became a brother-in-law of the late Sir Henry
Tichborne, Bart. He was afterwards better
known as Lord Clanricarde. At this time
Warnford Park was called Belmont, and, from
its low situation and deficient drainage, was
constantly under water. A facetious fellow
chalked on the gates :

Oh what a blundering Irish dog,

Who calls this a mount, when 'tis but a bog.

Warnford Park was afterwards occupied by
Sir Richard Jones, Mr. A. F. Nunez, Mr.
Abbott, and Mr. Edward Rose Tunno, and it
has now been so thoroughly drained by the
last occupant, that the witticism would no
longer be applicable, as it is as dry as any
house in the county.

The Hambledon Hunt races took h. h. c.
place on Soberton Down. isog.' ' '

F

66 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1800 to

The Members' Cup.

Mr. Minchin's b. m. Miss Andrews 12 1

Mr. Powlett's b. h. Telegraph 2 1 2

Mr. Butler's ch. h. Crookshanks 3 3 3

Mr. P. Powlett's Cup.

Mr. Lavington's b. h 1 1

Mr. W. Stare's b. m 2 2

Mr. Hoad's ch. m 3 3

1807. "The H. H. Cup was won this year
by Lord Rodney's Dart beating Mr. Nunez's
Somerset and Mr. Yillebois' Fanny. The
dinner and ball took place after the races at
the George Inn, Winchester, at six o'clock,
and the stewards were Mr. Christopher Cooke
and the Honourable Thomas Harley Rodney."
Mr. Powiett- Mr. Powlett-Powlett now resided
^ThILwI at Lainston, succeeding Mr. Ricketts
don country, there, and this year hunted a great
part of the country now known as the Upper,
or rather Western, Hambledon country, and
was master of that hunt until he resigned it to
Mr. Nunez, in 1816.
TT ,, , At a meeting of the "Society of

Hambledon ° . J

Hunt the Hambledon Hunt," held at the

Red Lion, Fareham, on November 3,
he acted as president.

From advertisements in the Hants Chronicle
there appears to have been but three hunt
dinners previously, all having taken place in

fc»

1825.] OF HAMPSHIRE. G7

this year; and they were held at Fareham,
and the George Inn, Hambledon. Sir Robert
Calder of the Holt, Mr. Richard Goddard,
Mr. F. King, Mr. Moses Hawker of Cattis-
field, Sir Thomas Champneys of Exton, and
Mr. Thomas Thistlethwayte, were stewards.

"The Hambledon Hunt Cup was soberton
run for on Soberton Down, which ^s'5
was won by Mr. Dillon's bay mare." 1807-

Will Reeves was now Mr. Powlett's win Reeves.
huntsman ; Sawyer and Ned Gosling whipped
in.

Ned Gosling is a son of old Phil xed
Gosling. He was first in Mr. Dilly's Goslins'
stables at Littleton ; then went to Mr. Powlett-
Powlett; then for a time to Mr. J. T. Ville-
bois ; and next to Mr. Nunez, at Warnford,
as groom and second horseman, in whose
service he remained until that gentleman's

&

death, in 1829. Since then he has lived with

Doctor Crawford, at Winchester. Nothing
gives him greater pleasure than to talk over
the exploits of his former days.

Mr. Powlett occasionally stopped for hunting
at North House, near Broad Halfpenny Down,
while he hunted the Hambledon country;
and is also said to have resided at Meonstoke

f2

68 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1800 to

Rectory and Midlington House, Droxford. At
this time the Hambledon Hunt wore green
coats in the hunting-field.

The lower and eastern parts of the now
Hambledon country were not regularly hunted
as they are now. Twyford Park, Stoke Park
(which were then neutral between the H. H.
and Hambledon), Corhampton, Soberton, and
Broad Halfpenny Downs appear to have been
the favourite meets.

On Mr. Powlett going back to Somborne,
Mr. Twyford of Trotton House, near Rogate,
hunted the extreme west of Sussex and the
east of Hampshire. Colonel Wyndham bought
Mr. Powlett's hounds in 1816; they went to
his kennels at the Drove, and old Luke Free-
man hunted them.

From the alliteration of his name, Mr. Pow-
lett was commonly called Pontius Pilate.

Sawyer says he was u a radical sort of a
gentleman." The meets were not advertised
until 1816; and I have heard that, unless he
was in a good humour, he would not say where
he was going.

1S08 " The master, W. P. Powlett, gave

Soberton a cup, which was won by Mr. Wooll's
horse ; the various amusements ex-
celled those of any former year." This would

1825.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 69

tend to prove that if 1807 was not the first
year of the races being held, that it was, at any
rate, the first of their being reported in the
Hants Chronicle.

This year the great John Warde, 180S.
who had previously hunted twenty- ^ntl^arde
two seasons in Oxfordshire and N- F- H-
thirteen in Northamptonshire, came to the New
Forest. This celebrated sportsman earned for
himself the appropriate name of the "Father
of the Field ;" and is frequently called " Glo-
rious John Warde" — " the Father of Fox-
hunters."

In his time the New Forest kennels were
first at King's House, and afterwards at Fox
Lease. In the year 1814, madness broke out,
and he lost forty couple of hounds.

Abbey, who lived with Colonel Abbey*
Cook, was his huntsman. Neverd, who went
with him to the Craven, and Zach Goddard*
(who was of the same family as Jack and Ben
Goddard, of Midland County celebrity), were
his whips.

Mr. Warde had a decided weakness for a
large throaty class of hound ; and he put a
particular price upon each in the pack. So

* Some Anecdotes of old Zacb Goddard will be found in Scott and
Sebright, pp. 355, 6, 7.

70 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1S00 to

big were they, that they were called " John
Warcle's jackasses."

Mr. Warde revelled in jokes and jests, and,
being always cheery himself, had the happy
knack of making everybody about him cheer-
ful. Numerous stories of him have been told
over and over again in different books and
magazines (many of them will be found in the
Sporting Magazine of 1826, p. 326), but I am
not aware that the following has yet ap-
peared in print : There was a gentleman ot
very large fortune residing in the New Forest
when he hunted it, and no one was ever in-
vited to partake of his hospitality. Mr. Warde
declared that he would get a dinner, or, at
any rate, something to eat or drink at his
house. One day this gentleman returned from
hunting before the hounds found, as it was
late before they did so, and a capital run they
had, killing their fox. On their way home
they passed this gentleman's house ; John
Warde stopped and rang the bell. The foot-
man, who answered, it said : " his master was
at dinner." " Never mind, I must see him to
tell him of the splendid run we have had."
He was shown into the dining-room where
this inhospitable gentleman was dining, with
three servants waiting on him. He then de-

1825.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 71

scribed the run, and regretted that the other
had not remained, and went over the run two
or three times, but he was not asked to take
anything. At last, giving it up in despair, he
wished him good night; but, just as he got to
the door, he turned round and said, " Will
you allow your footman to bring me a glass of
small beer?"

Mr. Warde was a very fair poet. After he
left the Forest and went to the Craven, he
used to correspond in verse with Mr. Nicoll, who
was also (in addition to his many accomplish-
ments) a bard of no mean order.

Like the Duke of Wellington, Mr. Warde
was not lengthy in his correspondence. A
gentleman once wrote to him for the character
of a whipper-in, and received the following
terse answer :

"Dear Sir, — I beg to say, if John B. had
been worth keeping, I should not have parted
with him.

" Yours truly,

" John Warde."

Mr. Warde was a master of fox-hounds
nearly fifty years. On giving up hunting he
retired to his seat at Squerries, in Kent,

72 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1S00 to

1S09 The Hunt Cup was run for on

April. Worthy Down, and was won by Mr.

Lowth s Kepeater ; beating Mr.

Nunez's Somerset, Mr. Graeme's Burford, and

Mr. Drummond's Hotspur.

May 2nd. The H. H. C. races took place on
Soberton Down on May 2nd.

^The H. H. C. Cup, value 50 guineas.

Major Crauford's g. m. Lady Bull 2 1 1

Captain Clavering's r. g. Palaf ox 1 2 2

Captain Conway's bl. g. Snuff the Moon ..388

Captain Dillon's g. g. Maltr avers 4 4 dr.

Mr. Hayter's b. g. Major 5 5 dr.

A Cup, value 50 guineas, given by Mr. Powlett.

Mr. Pittis'sb. m 13 1

Mr. Budd's b. m 2 12

Mr. Fleet's b. m 3 2 dr.

Mr. Ay 1 ward's b. m 4 4 dr.

Mr. Bone's b. m dist.

1810 At the H. H. feast a number of

Oct. soth. gentlemen and farmers met on Ab-
botstone Down, where a Silver Cup
was given by the members of the club.

Mr. Curtis's ch. m 3 1 1

Mr. Goodman's br. m. ... 1 2 2

Mr. Joliffe'sb. m 2 4 0

Mr. Robert's ch. m 4 3 3

The company afterwards went to the Swan
Inn, Alresford, where an excellent dinner was
served by Mr. Perkins.

181L At the Hambledon Hunt races on

Mav 9th. o i T^k

h.h. c. races, boberton Down :

1825.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 73

The Gentlemen's Cup.

Mr. Dillon's b. h. Prizefighter... 1

Mr. P. Powlett's Gentleman 2

Mr. Hayter's bay mare 3

The Farmers' Cup, given by Mr. Powlett.

Mr. Aylward's horse 1 1

Mr. Steel's horse 2 2

A writer in the Sporting Magazine 1812.
of 1826, calling himself "The Fox- *"*■**■
hunter, Rough and Ready," alluding to hunting
with Mr. Villebois, with Mr. Powlett, and the
Hambledon, in this year, says : "I had one
season in Hants, from November, 1811, to
May, 1812. I rode one* Benin gbrough mare
upon an average five times a fortnight, and
she was never sick nor sorry ; she was as hot
as blazes, and spilt and kilt me often enough,
and nearly did for a few hounds and a few
horses too. I fear Mr. Villebois used to be in
some terror lest I should disable his hounds,

or kill Mr. , a little man then, but a great

man since. Mr. Powlett did not stand upon
much ceremony, and gave me a proper blow-
ing up for going past him in Lord Temple's
rides, and said I lost the fox for them (it was
the best run I saw in that country), which
hurt my feelings very much. I held up
within five yards of him ; I could not help

* Beningbrough won the St. Leger in 1794. Was the property of
Sir Charles Turner.

74 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1S00 to

it; liis horse was too cool, mine too hot.
After all, I helped him to a good excuse for
losing the fox. The gentlemen sporters did
not ride cruel fierce in that country. I must
Lord Lisle, except Lord Lisle, who was capital ;
and Goodman, a green-coated farmer : he
fenced away in such desperate style that he
made money by it ; he sold an old gelding by
Pilot, a slow little prad, but tough, for 170/.,
for which two years before he gave but 177.
Mr. John That he told me. Mr. Moody* (I
Moodj> think, of Southampton) did not ride
the lanes either ; he went along straight. John
Major and Jack King were fearless enough;
and Will, the other whip, was a good creep-
ing fencer. The rest, I thought, rather loved
the strolling shady lane and humorsome con-
verse of their comrades, better than the cross-
country travelling and musical converse of the
hounds. With Mr. Powlett's was Mr. Probyn ;
he went along bravely. Reeves, tlio, huntsman,
and Sawyer, the whipper, were not too well
mounted."

1812. The Cup was won by Mr. Yille-

h. h. races. ^Q^ ^nYf0Y^ at three heats ; beat-

* Mr. John Sadleir Moody lived at 8, Hanover-bnildings, South-
ampton.' In the year 1817 he kept a pack of harriers, -with which he
occasionally hunted stag. He was for many years Secretary of the
Hambledon Hunt.

1S25.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 75

ing Mr. F. Villebois' Brompton, Mr. Grseme's
Recluse, and Mr. Xorris's Winford. At this
meeting the rule was revived as regards even-
ing dress-coats and waistcoats ; any member
thenceforth (except in mourning) appearing
in any other was to be fined one half-dozen of
claret.

The H. H. C. races on Soberton TheH.H.c.
Down took place April 12th.

races.

The Club Cup
Was won by Mr. Powlett's b. horse Blackguard (late Gentleman).

The Farmers' Cup, given by Mr. Powlett.

Mr. Horn's b. h. Hambledon 1

Beating six others.

A run of this pack, which be- TheUpham
longed to Mr. Leekblade, from Great beasles-
Belmore, by Blackdown and Longwood, is
reported in the Sporting Magazine, p. 240.

Mr. Twynam of Whitchurch, as- Mr. j.
sisted by his friend, Mr. T. James, ^™'s
kept a pack of harriers which came 1812-
from Mr. Portal, and continued to hunt that
neighbourhood until 1818, when the bulk of the
pack went back to Mr. Portal ; but Mr. George
Twynam kept back a few couple, with which
he and his friend, Mr. W. B. Allen, hunted in
a small way up to 1831. Mr. Portal did not
continue to hunt the main body many years,

76 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1800 to

but handed them over to the Andover gentle-
men, where they were maintained by sub-
scription. Mr. Twynam occasionally hunted
a bag fox. He was assisted by the Hennessys,
father and son ; and, from entries in a very
old book of Mr. Twynam's kennel accounts,
I imagine that '; Pop" was a kind of family
name, as the father is called " Old Pop," and
the son " George Pop." Two guineas appears
to have been the price paid for a fox ; five
shillings for finding a hare ; and eight shil-
lings for a dead horse. Mr. George Twvnam
died at Whitchurch, March 18th, 1846, aged
eighty-six.

1813. Mr. John Delme of Cams kept a

Mr. Deime. pack of fox-hounds for one season.
Smith was huntsman, who was afterwards
keeper. At Mr. Delme's death the pack was
sold at Tattersall's, and the servants who went
up with them were all dressed in deep mourn-
ing. Sawyer was whipper-in, and the esta-
blishment being broken up, went to Mr.
Villebois.

The best sport for several years
races, was seen at the Hambledon Hunt

races on Soberton Down, May 1st.

Sweepstakes.

Mr. Hayter's bl. m. Tot 1 1

Mr. Gauntlett's b. m. Mishap 2 2

Mr. Powlett's br. b. Kentishrnan.. 3 0

May 1st.

1825.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 77

The Farmers' Silver Cup, given by Mr. Powlett.
Six started.

Mr. Smith's horse 1

Mr. Steel's horse 2

A bead.

There was a dinner, ball, and supper after,
at the Red Lion Inn, Fareham, for which Mr.
Harris obtained great credit.

" On Tuesday, November 1st, at
the races on Abbotstone Down, the h. h. races,
Hunt Cup was won by Mr. Kersley's
grey horse, beating five others. After the race
about two hundred dined at Mr. Perkins's,
the Swan Inn, Alresford." — From the Hants
Chronicle.

Mr. John Warde resigned the ma- 1814.
nao-ement of the New Forest, and was Mr- f™1}
succeeded by Mr. Nicoll, who hunted the n. f. h.
his hounds himself. His servants were, first,
Joseph and George Grant. Joseph went to
Lord Kintore, with whom he lived twelve
years, and George went to Mr. Compton of
Manor House; they were succeeded by Joe
Peckham. The kennels were at Sir Charles
Burrard's house at Lyndhurst.

Mr. Nicoll had a most beautiful bitch pack
of hounds. One season they never missed
their fox. Mr. Nicoll used to handle them
very quietly. One day a gentleman was just
going to give a "View halloo," when he said,
" Pray don't halloo ; for if you once get their

78 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1S00 to

heads up, I shan't get them down for the rest
of the day."

When Mr. Xicoll gave up the country in
1828, the pack was sold to Lord Kintore for
1000 guineas, and he took them into the Vale
of White Horse. The first day they went out
they were a little wild, and began running
hare; he called them out of covert, and had
them well flogged by the whips. He then
drew another covert, where they ran hare
again ; he blew his horn, and tried hard to
get them out, but they would not come. So
much for the sense of the fox-hound.

A whole book might be written about Mr.
Nicoll's funny sayings and doings. Many will
be found below, in Nimrod's Visit to the
Forest in 1825.

The most regular attendants in the

Sportsmen m ~

in the hunting -field in Mr. NicolTs time

were Lords Heclley, Lisle, and Cavan*
of Eaglehurst. Mr. John Lukin of Nutshalingf
was a celebrated character in the Forest. Xo
better sportsman ever bestrode a pigskin. He
was a very pretty rider, and his celebrated

* Mr. Nicoll had one day drawn the Earldom's Hank, and -was
getting his hounds out of covert, when Lord Cavan rode up and said
he had seen two hounds running hack in the covert, Petticoat and
Harlot. " That is impossible, my lord," said Mr. Nicoll, " but it shows
what your mind is running on."

f Nutshaling is more commonly known as Nursling.

1825.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 79

grey kicker, who did his utmost to unship
him, is still talked of.

The chief supporters of hunting in chief mp-
the Forest were, first and foremost, SSSSnein
Mr. John Pultney of Northerwood, theForest-
to whose liberality the N. F. H. were for many
years indebted for hounds. At one time he
gave 300/. a year, and, to use the expression
of Tom Chamberlayne, the well-known civil
" Southampton master of the horse," Mr.
Pultney was " a man and a half."

Mr. Andrew Drummond of Cadlands, than
whom a more staunch supporter, fox-preserver,
and better sportsman does not exist.

Mr. William Sloane Stanley, who hunted
much in the Bel voir Vale.

Mr. George Eyre of Warrens.

Lord Montagu of Beaulieu was a good pre-
server of foxes, as also the Duke of Buccleugh,
who succeeded to the property.

Mr. George Harbin was a constant attendant.

Mr. Chudley Haynes.

Sir Hussey Vivian.

Mr. W. Wilder, who went into Cambridge-
shire.

Sir William Hoste.

Admiral Aitcheson of Rushington, Eling,
was a very forward rider.

80 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1S00 to

Mr. E. Timson, who kept the hounds in
1854, was also one of the leading men, on his
celebrated nags Barbariska, Acorn, and Cupid.

Mr. Henry Combe Compton has always been
a promoter of fox-hunting in the Forest, though
he hunted mostly in Leicestershire.

From the uncultivated state of a great part
of the Forest at that time, there were but few
farmers who regularly hunted.
Mr Joseph Mr. J°seph Eyles had the Hamble-
Eyies of c[on hounds for one year. Will James

Eastmeon, t J

1814. was his huntsman, and John Cald-

well was his whip. His kennels were at East-
meon. Mr. Eyles once lived at Bedlam Bolton,
near Winchester. He was a brother of Mr.
Richard Eyles of Berely House, who kept a
pack of harriers. Mr. Joseph Eyles died
March 4, 1815.

1815. He was succeeded by Mr. Richards

Mr. Richards 0f North House, Hambledon, who had

of>,orth 7 7

House. the management of the hounds for

one year. Will James was also his huntsman,
and [the hounds remained in the kennels at
Eastmeon.

K Dec. 4th. On Monday, December 4, these
hounds had a wonderful run ; they found in the
Stoke Woods, went through Chidden to Combe
Woods, to the top of Butser Hill, over Holt

1825.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 81

Down, to Ditcham, to Up Park, North Marden,
and killed on Trayford Down. It was sup-
posed to be the same fox that gave Mr. Powlett
a great run, which was called the " famous
Telegraph day," of which I have found no
record.

Ned Gosling, speaking of Mr. Richards, says :
" He was a good sportsman, and knew all about
hunting well."

The meets of the H. H. were for 1815.
the first time advertised in the county Eeb- 13th-

J Meets first

paper, but it did not appear to be a advertised.
regular system, as frequently many weeks
elapsed without any notice of the fixtures
being made.

It was determined by the members March 29th.
of the H. H., who named horses for the cup,
that the piece of plate should be a tureen of
the value of 100 guineas. It was won by Mr.
Nunez.

In this year, Mr. Thomas Scotland 1815-

v i , s-M n i i Mr. Thomas

lived at Charlton, and commenced Scotland.
his long career as a master of hounds. His
first pack were some small harriers. Shortly
after he removed to Penton, to where Mr.
John Elmore afterwards lived, and then to
Bishop's Sutton, where he has ever since re-
sided. Mr. Scotland has had all sorts of

G

82 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1800 to

hounds in his time, but his first pack at Sutton
were some draft fox-hounds given him by Mr.
Viilebois ; then he kept small harriers, beagles,
and stag-hounds.

Gelert, in his " Guide to the Hounds of Eng-
land," published in 1849, said of his harriers :

"They hunt deer after Christinas, but the
practice does not interfere with the steadiness
of the hounds, nor make them in any respect
riotous. Mr. Scotland is a thorough hounds-
man, and though he plumes himself on the
character of his pack, which is certainly very
good, yet he leans to the more noble game, and
has an acquaintance not only with all the packs
of fox-hounds in Hampshire, but literally, it
may be said, with each individual hound com-
posing those packs."

Mr. Scotland has one of the prettiest seats
on a horse that was ever seen, and in his day
was a capital man across country. He always
liked a bit of blood. About the best animal
he ever had was Mouse, a dark chesnut. Bill
Bean, one of the best judges of a horse in Eng-
land, said " Mouse was a real beauty; you
don't see such form in half a century." Mr.
Scotland rode this perfect animal for sixteen
seasons, and sold him at twenty years old to
Mr. Charles Nevill of Holt, Leicestershire, for
130 guineas (a large price in those days), and

1825.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 83

Mr. Nevill then rode him for two seasons. Mr.
Scotland is father-in-law of Mr. Yates, who
now hunts a very neat and clever pack of
harriers, and is assisted by his son, Mr. Arthur
Yates, one of the best riders in the county.
This season Sir John Cope, Bart.,

x . lblb-17.

who took the title on the death of his sir joim
brother, Sir Denzil, in 1812, com- Cope' Bart-
menced his long career as a master of hounds,
and, with Mr. St. John's pack, which was the
origin of his own, began to hunt the country
which for so many years was associated with
his name.

Sir John had been a solicitor in the Temple,
and a partner of Mr. Gerard Wharton (gene-
rally known as Jerry Wharton), who was ever
afterwards Sir John's most intimate friend,
and, like him, a first-rate sportsman and rider
to hounds. The story goes that, on the death
of Sir Denzil, a special messenger came up
from Bramshill to the chambers in the Temple
with a letter, addressed to Sir John Cope, Bart.
He was at the time examining a deed, and,
seeing the address, he hastily glanced at the
contents, threw it to his partner, and said,
" There, Jerry, hang the law, and now for fox-
hunting." The partnership was of course in-
stantly dissolved, but not the friendship. Mr.

G2

84 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1800 to

Wharton spent some time every year with his
friend at Bramshill. On coming to the title,
Sir John purchased a few race-horses, and was
on the turf, but he soon became tired of racing,
and regularly took to hunting in 1816-17. He
owned Shoestrings, the sister of Mr. Walker's
mare Shoehorn.

Sir John Sir John's first huntsman was Tom

v^n? Ser" Tocock, who had been first whip, and
Tom Tocock. afterwards huntsman, to Mr. St. John.
Joe Paice was first whip, and John Major
second. This Major was a son of Mr. Villebois'
huntsman. Tocock, when leaping, had a pe-
culiar habit of grasping the pommel of his
saddle. He was fifteen years with Sir John,
and was succeeded by John Major in 1832,
who only held the post one season, and then
George Gardiner was firsfr whip, and Robert
Tocock the second.

Shirley came next, in 1835, and

James Shir- J '

ley, Robert was huntsman until Sir John gave
up in 1850, with, first, Robert Tocock
and George Sweetman as his whips, and after-
wards Thomas Nevitt and Thomas Sweetman.
Shirley was "a son of old John Shirley, who
lived many years with Sir Richard Sutton,
and he was whipper-in -to Mr. Osbaldeston in
Leicestershire.

1825.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 85

In the organisation and management of the
hounds, Sir John was materially assisted by
Mr. Blackhall Simmonds, who then lived at
Reading, and who has always been a staunch
supporter of fox-hunting.

Sir John's country was very extensive ; it
may be said to have been from' Windsor to
Basingstoke, but it comprised in its early days
the country round Nettlebed, Caversham, and
Maidenhead. It was too large to be hunted
properly. The big woods were not sufficiently
routed, so that foxes did not fly, but too fre-
quently ran round and round. Sir John
hunted it independently of any subscription.
His establishment consisted of forty -two couple
of hounds, and fourteen horses were kept for
the use of the huntsman and whips.

Perhaps the hardest men with Sir
John were Colonel Blagrave of Calcot ri(J°rs with
(in his best day a most daring rider, ^Jeohn
and for whom no timber was ever
too big) ; his jumping a spiked gate near
Strathfieldsaye, which was nearly seven feet
high, and setting the whole field, is still re-
membered ; Mr. Hawley of West Green,
Messrs. Joseph and William Parfitt of Evers-
ley, Messrs. Blackhall .and Henry Simmonds,
Mr. William Makepeace of Bracknell, Mr.

86 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1S00 to

Leveson Gower, the Messrs. Pigott, Mr. Ba-
zalgette of Mortimer, and Mr. Dobson of Mor-
timer, who, I believe, always had a good
horse; and latterly Mr. George Montagu fre-
quently led the field.

Sir John was a very fine specimen of an old
country gentleman. He took a great interest
in cricket, and many first-class matches were
played at Bramshill, at which he looked on
with great delight.

He had one leg slightly bent (from an acci-
dent he had in Leicestershire), and he rode
with a padded stirrup-iron to protect his foot.
He was very short-sighted, and it is a wonder
that he did not break his neck. From this
cause he could not lead, but he would follow
anybody over anything. In temper he was
rather excitable, and in the field occasionally
used emphatic language.

Sir John had all sorts of blood in his kennel,
having had drafts from Sir Thomas Mostyn,
Mr. Nicoll, Mr. Chute, Mr. Thomas Assheton
Smith, and from John Warde ; and, like the
last-named gentleman, he leant too much to
big hounds. Mr. Chute, who always went
for small ones, and had the motto of " Multum
in parvo" over his kennel-door, tried hard to
dissuade him from breeding his hounds so

1825.] OF HAMPSHIRE, 87

laro;e ; and at one time, after crossing with.
John Warde's, Sir John spoilt his pack by-
getting them much too big for the country.
At a meeting of masters- of hounds at Brams-
hill, when they were assembled for a field-day
on the flags, Mr. Chute, who was present, ob-
served to the other, " Nose is everything r, and
you look only to big legs and feet."

One day Sir John's hounds clashed with
Mr. Villebois', when a single hound of the
Bramshill pack ran so much ahead that he
seized the fox alone, and was so mutilated by
him as to be obliged to be shut up for a fort-
night. The hound was a yellow and white
one, named Sampson, and Mr. Blackhall Sim-
monds, I believe, has a picture of him.

The Bramshill beer was the finest Bramshiii
in the country; no better could be ale*
brewed. Mr. Golding of Maiden Early, who
greatly admired it, tried to brew the same
quality. He bought the same malt, and had
the same brewer, but he had not the same
water, and so failed; for at Bramshill there
was a spring about twelve feet deep, so clear
and bright that one could see a sixpence at
the bottom of it; of this the ale was made,
and it was tile secret of the famous Bramshill
beer.

88 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1S00 to

About 1844-5 Sir John gave up a portion
of his country to Mr. Mortimer G. Thoyts of
Sulhampstead, who, in a very short time, pro-
duced a clever pack- of hounds, which were
well managed, and showed good sport. In
1850 Sir John gave the hounds to Mr.
Wheble, and with them went Robert Tocock,
who hunted the country for two seasons. It
was afterwards divided, Mr. Garth taking the
Hampshire side.

Sir John hunted the country thirty-five
seasons, and resigned in consequence of ill
health; at the same time Mr. George Mon-
tagu, who had hunted the South Berks for
three seasons, also resigned his country to Mr.
Wheble, which was originally part of Sir
John's ; but finding it lie too wide, he had
conditionally resigned.

Sir John Cope died on the 18th of Novem-
ber, 1851. The chief mourners at his funeral
were the Rev. W. H. Cope, minor canon of
Westminster, a distant relative, who succeeded
to the title and estates, and his old friend Mr.
J. G. Wharton. Eversley Church was hung
with black, and crowded in every part.
Amongst those present were several gentle-
men who had hunted with him; Mr. Davis,
the Queen's huntsman, and Denver, who for

1825.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 89

many years had been his stucl-groom. It is a
singular fact, worthy of record, that a single
hound followed the procession.
"The H. H. Cup was run for on

1 i loll).

Abbotstone Down, and was won by R H Cupj
Mr. Shrimpton's horse, rode by Mr. ^Xi,
Biggs. Upwards of one hundred and
fifty gentlemen and farmers afterwards dined
at the Swan Inn, Alresford. The dinner was
well served by Mr. Hudson."

Mr. Biggs was a farmer, who lived at the
inn at Popham-lane, and the horse above-
mentioned originally belonged to Mr. Scotland.

This year, Mr. A. F. Nunez of Mr. a. f.
Warnford Park took the manage- ww0°rd
ment of the Hambledon hounds, and Park*
the kennels were removed from Eastmeon to
Warnford.

Will James at first, and then Will m „ „

; Will Reeves

Reeves, were his huntsmen, and Ned and
Gosling was whip. After a time the
subscribers were not satisfied with Reeves as
huntsman, so John Neal succeeded and hunted
the hounds, until Mr. Nunez gave them up,
in 1821.

Mr. Nunez was a very heavy weight, but he
had always first-class horses, and by the ex-
cellent piloting of Ned Gosling (who gave up

90 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1800 to

his post of whip, and ever after rode behind
Mr. Nunez) he contrived to be pretty well up
wich his hounds, and see what was going on.
His best horses were, perhaps, Ducat and So-
merset ; his hunters were specially noticed by
Nimrocl in his tour in Hants. I must not
omit another famous horse, Blemish, who,
carrying fourteen stone, and ridden by Cap-
tain Bridges, won a sweepstakes in 1820, after
two heats; the captain coming in with his
whip in his mouth.

At this time the Hambledon hunted West
Dean Wood, and occasionally stopped at
Colonel Wyndham's kennels at the Drove.
In the year 1861, Mr. Cross, a retired stage-
coachman, favoured the British public with
his biography, and to render his work more
amusing, he introduced some anecdotes of Mr.
Nunez, of which some were only partly true,
while others were mere inventions of his own,
and were not told in a cheery, good-natured
manner. Mr. Cross should have known that
it is possible to be witty, yet accurate and
friendly at the same time, and, in my humble
judgment, where a writer cannot say a good-
natured thing, he had better say nothing at
all. There never was a kinder-hearted or more
hospitable man in Hants than Mr. Nunez.

1825.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 91

While he had the hounds, mad-

Madness

ness broke out in the kennels, and in the
thirteen couple and a half had to be
destroyed. The bitten hounds were all chained
up separately, at some distance from one
another, but, as the moon changed, the story
goes, that they all became raving mad.

There was a well-known French Count
gentleman living at the Swan Inn, Sauveur-
Alresford, named Count Sauveur (who was a
great friend of the late Sir George Womb well).
He was a first-rate violin-player, and very
fond of hunting, and " chaffing" Mr. Nunez,
who always took it very good-naturedly, and
generally gave him back in return as good as
he got. One day the hounds met at Warn-
ford, found a fox in the osier-beds, and went
away at a great pace up old Winchester Hill.
Mr. Nunez went up the steep incline very
slowly, and eased his horse as much as pos-
sible ; the count came by him as fast as he
could urge his nag, and shouted out, " Come
along, old Fat-gut." Mr. Nunez said nothing,
but leant quietly forward on his horse. When
the count got to the top, his horse was com-
pletely pumped out. Mr. Nunez then cantered
by, and cried out, " Come along, old Cat-gut,"
which turned the tables, and shut the count
up altogether.

92 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1S00 to

Mr. Nunez gave up the hounds in 1821,
when Sir Bellingham Graham succeeded him.
On Mr. Powlett-Powlett giving up
Powiettfrom *ne Hambledon country, from his
lm?™' residence at Lainston House, he
hunted the country north and east
of that place, drawing Norwood, Phillip's
Heath, Speery Well, East and West Tytherley,
Wherwell Wood, and all the country nearly
to Clarendon Park, and as far north as Clat-
ford; and he continued to do so until his
death, in 1821.

1S17 " A ball and supper was given at

h. h. bache- the Swan Inn, Alresforcl, bv the

lors' ball. ' ' J

Waltzing. bachelors of the H. H. to a party of
March cth. a ilundred and fifty fashionables in
the neighbourhood. The room was appro-
priately chalked, decorated, and illuminated.
The ball was opened by Lord Rodney and
Lady Isabella Douglas, and, in the course of
the evening, waltzing was introduced, which
continued until supper was served. It was
afterwards resumed, and kept up with spirit
until six o'clock." — From the Hants Chronicle.
It is amusing to read the opinions of the
press of the time about waltzing, which had
only just been introduced in England. A
writer in the Sporting Magazine of 1819 says:

1825.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 93

" English women cannot waltz without doino-
violence to some invaluable notions of deli-
cacy and reserve with which they have been
brought up." A writer in Blackwood,

° L ' From Blach-

March, 1820, draws a parallel be- wood's Mag.
tween the sports of the ring and the
graces of the ball-room, and vindicates the
superior decency of the former, and says : "It
is less indelicate in such a man as Tom Belcher
to give Cropley a cross buttock, than an officer
of hussars to put one hand on the bare neck
of a virgin of eighteen years, another round
her waist, and thus to whirl her about for a
quarter of an hour in his arms, till both
parties are blind, and that too in the presence
of three hundred spectators. A waltzing match
is, we humbly suggest, a more indecent exhi-
bition than a boxing match. What can be
more so than to step ready stripped into the
ring, and hug in succession a long series of
military men, occasionally relieved by civilians.
The Amazon dismisses from her embrace cap-
tain, and colonel, and knight-at-arms, all pant-
ing, and perspiring, and reeling, while she
stands victorious and unexhausted in the ring.
And who compose the ring ? Judges, senators,
soldiers, grandmothers, matrons, maids, and
among them our own shrivelled correspondent.

94 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1S00 to

Go, Tabitha, to Moulsey Hurst when Turner
fights young Cabbage, and then, on your con-
science, tell the editor of Blackwood's Magazine
that their conduct is as indecent as that of
Cornet Sabretache and Miss Julia Dyaway."
Truly we may observe, Tempora mutantur.
TT TT 0 . The H. H. Spring Meeting was

H. H. Spring r O e^

Meeting, _ held on Worthy Down ; and a dinner
at the George Inn, Winchester, which
was well served by Ashcombe, took place
after.
From the The following horses started for

Hants Chron. ^ Cup .

Mr. J. T. Villebois' b. m. by Gohanna 1 1

Mr. R. T. Heysbam's bl. g. Lincoln 2 3

Mr. A. F. Nunez's b. g. Lattitat 3 2

The Ten Guinea Sweepstakes was won by Lord Rodney's Plaything.

h. h. farmers' At the annual races on Abbotstone
xovS4th Down, November 4th, the H. H.
1817- Cup, which was given to the farmers,

was won by Mr. John Waight.

" The H. H. met at Chilton Old
Runs of the House, December 6th; found at

xx. xi. j irom / '

the Sport. Woodmancote Holt ; after a run of

Mag.

three hours, passing through thirteen
parishes, killed at Weston Park, near Warn-
borough, a distance of at least thirty miles. (?)*
December 20th. Met and found at Abbot-

* Of course this does not mean as the crow flies.

1825.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 95

stone, and killed close to Farnham, a distance
of nearly forty miles. (?) About two miles
from the spot where the fox was killed, a
large goat joined in the chase, and nearly kept
pace with the horses and hounds till they came
up with the fox."

The Hambledon Hunt races were 1818-
held on Soberton Down, April 21st. races,'

April 21st.
The Farmers' Cup was won by Mr. Steel.

A Sweepstakes of 5 guineas each, and 15 added.

Colonel Wyndhaui's Gas 1

Hon. Colonel Onslow's Sir Christopher 2

And five others.

Match. — Mr. Norris's Don Giovanni beat Mr. Delme's Leporello.

Match. — Captain Seymour's b. ra., ridden by Captain Price, beat Mr.
C Delme's ch. m., ridden by Mr. Delme.

The H. H. Cup was run for on h. h. races,
Abbotstone Down. It was won by Nov' 8rd'
Mr. Curtis's brown mare. Mr. Bigg's chesnut
mare being second, all three of the heats was
entitled to a jockey whip. Each horse carried
twelve stone.

"The H. H. held their first ball Nov. 23rd.
for the present season. Dancing com- ftu^reSa_n
mencecl about ten; the ball being ford-
opened by Mr. Villebois and Lady E. Carnegie.
Twenty couple followed, and kept it up until
two, when supper was announced. Amongst
the company were the Countess Northesk, the

96 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1S00 to

Ladies A, and E. Carnegie, Lady Gage and
the two Misses Gage, Lady and Miss Tich-
borne, Lady Mildmay and the Ricketts, Hon.
Colonel and Mrs. Onslow, Colonel and Mrs.
Delap, Colonel and Mrs. Manners Sutton,
Captain and Mrs. Seymour, Major and Mrs.
Barrett, Captain Hopkins, R.N., Sir Charles
Pratt, K.C.B., the officers of the 4th and 5th
Regiments, with the Lowths, Norths, Hey-
shams, Rawlinsons, &e." — From the Hants
Chronicle.

A pack called the Andover har-

The Andover x .

harriers, riers were advertised m the county

Nov., 1818. tit ,t

paper. I believe they were main-
tained principally by Messrs. Footner and
Todd. An extraordinary run of three hours
from Snoddington farm, killing near Winter-
slow hut, is reported.

" The Hambledon had a fine run
t, , ' from Basing Park. It had been

Run from &

Basing Park, frosty, so they did not throw off until

Jan. 13th. J ' J

eleven. They found in the park a
gallant fox, which went through New Copse,
over Tisted Common, to Colemore and Prior's
Dean, to Oakshott, over the Old Litton to
Ashford, running the bottoms to Steep ; here
he headed back to Oakshott, up the Hangers
to Old Warren Copse to Colemore village,

1825.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 97

when he was run into in 'very high style'
after a run of two hours without a check" —
From the Hants Chronicle.

" Such a scarcity of foxes now ex- Scarcity of
isted in the H. H. country that there gxjjia
seemed a probability of sport being country.
entirely stopped. Representations to
the landlords were made, and their assistance
solicited. Mr. Villebois, the Hon. Colonel
Onslow, Mr. North, and Captain Gage were
appointed a committee to apply to the land-
lords on the subject." — From the H. H.
Records.

The H. H. Sprint Meeting was _ _ 0 .

r ° ° H. H. Spring

held on Worthy Down. After the Meeting,

n APril> 1819'

races, upwards of fifty gentlemen

dined together at the White Hart, where an

elegant dinner was prepared by Roblin.

The Hunt Cup.

Mr. R. T. Hey sham's Priestess, by Waxy 1

Mr. Fleming's b. g. by Headley 2

Mr. J. T. Villebois' ch. g. Cobbler 3

Mr. Norris's b. g. by Trump 4

The Hon. W. Gage won two sweepstakes of
five guineas each with Alien.

"The Hambledon Hunt races were „ .. .

Hambleclon

held on Soberton Down. Several Hunt race?,

. May, 1819.

elegant equipages were present : and

in them Lord and Lady Rodney, Lady Gage,

H

98 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1S00 to

Mr. and Lady Mary Long, Mr. and Mrs.
Heysham and family, Mr. and Mrs. Goodlad,
Mr. and Mrs. Nunez, Mr. and Mrs. Butler, &c.
" The Farmers' Cup was won by Mr. H.
Terman's brown mare, beating three others.

Sweefstakes of 5 guineas each.

Colonel Wvndham's Lot Three 1

Mr. A. F. Nunez's Alien 2

Lord Rodney's Emma 3

Mr. Heysham's Princess 4

A match between Mr. Henry Delme and
Mr. Burr owes was won by the former. Both
gentlemen rode their own horses." — Hants
Chronicle.

. Major Barton of Ropley kept a

ton's harriers, pack of about fifteen couple of liar-
riers, and hunted the country round
Ropley, Bighton, and Medsted. George Hall,
who for many years was the village postman,
now aged eighty- two, was his huntsman. He
says the major did not advertise his meets,
but hunted three days a week, and frequently
mustered twenty in the field. The pack was
sold two years before his death, in 1S21.

1819, Dec. The H. H. on the first Tuesday in
Run from December, met at Hinton House, the
House. residence of Mr. R. T. Heysham, and

Hunt picture. }ia^ a -fine hunting ran. This meet

has attained celebrity by Mr. T. Smith's pic-
ture. At the foot it states, "that it is a

1825.]

OF HAMPSHIRE.

99

sketch taken from memory on returning from
hunting, intended to represent the likenesses
of men, horses, and hounds on the point of
leaving the place of meeting. It was a frosty
morning. They found a fox at 1.26 in Black-
house ; ran him over the Warren to Rowhay,
and from thence to Stoke Park, where he
went to ground, after a severe run of three
hours and ten minutes."

PORTRAITS IN MR. SMITH'S HUNT PICTURE, FROM THE KEY.

1.

Mr. W. Long's Servant.

31.

Mr. Paulet Mildmay and Ser

2.

Mr. Walter Long.

vant.

3.

R. Foster, Huntsman.

32.

Mr. Charles Gramie.

4.

Mr. E. Manesty.

33.

Mr. Delme's Servant and

5.

Sawyer, Whipper-in.

horses.

6.

John, AVhipper-in.

34.

Mr. Thomas Butler.

7.

Mr. Smither.

35.

Mr. Robt. Barrow. ?

8.

Mr. J. T. Villebois.

36.

Mr. R. T. Heysham, jun.

9.

Hon. Col. Onslow.

37.

Mr. G. R. Richards.

10.

Mr. F. North.

38.

Mr. Thomas Smith.

11.

Mr. R. Norris.

39.

Capt. Standen.

12.

Mr. Christopher Cooke.

40.

Capt. Price.

13.

Mr. George Delme.

41.

Capt. George Greenwood.

14.

Mr. W. Greenwood.

42.

Mr. Alderman Silver.

15.

Lord Rodney.

43.

Mr. Joseph Sibley.

16.

Mr. David Murray.

44.

Major Gilbert.

17.

Capt. Bridges.

45.

Mr. W. Collyer.

18.

Mr. T. Scotland.

46.

Mr. Savage Beare.

19.

Mr. Henry Delme.

47.

Capt. Hawkshaw.

20.

Admiral Gage.

48.

Mr. Michael Rivers.

21.

Mr. R. T. Heysham.

49.

Mr. W. Wilkinson.

22.

Hon. W. Gage.

50.

Mr. Gilham.

23.

Lord Gage.

51.

Mr. Richard Bayley.

24.

Mr. R. Lowth.

52.

Mr. W. Lowth.

25.

Mr. George Butler.

53.

Mr. John Lowth.

26.

Mr. A. F. Nunez.

51.

Capt. Mills.

27.

Mr. Johnson.

55.

Mr. John Dunn.

28.

Capt. Arthur Shakespeare.

56.

Mr. Dampier.

29.

Major Barrett.

57.

Mr. Lloyd.

30

Mr. W. Powlett.

58.

Mr. S. S. Sainsbury.

h2

100 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1800 to

1820.

The H. H. Cup was run for on
h. h. races Abbotstone Down, October 31st.
stone Down, Eight horses started, each carrying
Oct. 3ist. twelve stone ; rode by farmers in the
Hampshire Hunt. There were three heats
for the cup. The first was won by Mr. Trodd's
chesnut horse, and the two last by Mr. Curtis's
bay mare. The Down was crowded with an
unusual number of carriages and spectators.
After the races nearly two hundred and fifty
gentlemen and farmers sat down to an ex-
cellent dinner, served up with great taste by
Mr. Hudson, at the Swan Inn7 Alresford."

Mr. Trodd lived at Romsey, and hunted
frequently with Mr. Villebois ; he had three
as fine horses as ever were seen. He was a
heavy man, and a good sportsman ; but, run-
ning through all his money, he ended his
career as a porter on the railroad at Romsey.

1821. " On Tuesday, February 6, the

Feb. 6th. H. H. met at the Four Lanes, Beau-
worth, and found a fox at Bishop's Coppice,
when, after a good deal of hard running during
the whole of the day, the fox was so hard
pushed that he took refuge in the dwelling-
house of Mr. Goodwin of Ovington, actually
leaped over the fire, and concealed himself in
the chimney, from which he was taken in a

1825.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 101

sack by some of the villagers, and again turned
out before bis pursuers, and killed in fine
style. ' ' — Hants Chronicle.

At this time Mr. Richard Norris Mr. Morris's
lived at Basing Park, and kept a pack hamers-
of harriers there.

" The H. H. meeting took place on h. h. races

W 4/U -Pk on Worthy

Worthy Down. Down,

April 14th.

The H. H. Cup, value 120 guineas. Two-mile Heats. 12st. each.

Mr. W. T. Gramme's b. g. Repeater 1 1

Mr. Morant's ch. m. by Rubens 2 2

Lord Rodney's Derwent 4 3

Mr. Fleming's Haphazard 3 dr.

Repeater was trained by Mr. Dilly of Littleton.
He was ridden by Samuel Day, and sold after-
wards to Mr. Meyrick for 200 guineas.

A Sweepstakes of 5 guineas each. 12 Subs. 14st. each. Gentlemen
Riders. For horses not thorough-bred or trained. Two miles.

Mr. A. F. Nunez's Blemish (Capt. Bridges) 1

The Hon. T. H. Rodney's Billy... (Col. Onslow) 2

Capt. Price's Scaramouch (Capt. Price) 3

Mr. W. T. Grseme's Chilton (Mr. Val. Kingston) 4

Mr. Thompson's Fyldener (Mr. Wallop) 5

Capt. Standen's Pilgrim (Owner) 6

Mr. Cooke's Woodfield (Mr. Shakespeare) 7

A capital race between Blemish and Billy, won
by a length. Not more than sixty persons were
at the ball at St. John's House ; owing to the
decease of the Dowager Lady Gage, many
families stayed away." — Hants Chronicle.

102 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1S00 to

182i. At this time Mr. Nunez resigned

TheHambie- the mastership of the Hambledon

don hounds. ■% -> -> i i • ,i

sir Belling- hounds, and was succeeded m the
ham Graham. management }yj Sir Bellingliam Gra-
ham, who left the Pytchley, and for a short
time resided at Hill-place, late the residence of
Mr. R. Goodlad, and the hounds were moved
to the same place. At the beginning of the
season, in November, the hounds were under
his management, and advertised in his name,
but after a few weeks Mr. Osbaldeston, who
had resigned the Quorn, came into Hants, and
became master of the Hambledon in the place
of Sir Bellingliam Graham, who addressed the
landholders of Leicestershire, offered to take
the country, and was accepted by them.

It is said that when Sir Bellingliam was
treating for the Hambledon country, he asked
Mr. Walker what subscription he would get,
and being told about 700/., said, " That will
barely keep me in spur-leathers."
Mr. Osbai- Mr. Osbaldeston, commonly known
deston, Dick as u tne Squire," finished the season

Burton, and x ;

Tom Se- which Bellingliam commenced. Dick
Burton and Tom Sebright were his
servants. Mr. Osbaldeston and Sebright hunted
the hounds between them; they were very
handy. When at fault, they would divide, so

1S25.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 103

that Mr. Osbaldeston would take one half and
Sebright the other, and so they made two casts
at once, but withal they were very unsuccessful
in bringing foxes to hand, killing, I am told,
only seven during their season. The hounds
were not fitted for the country, being too fast,
and from having previously hunted on grass,
they could not get along over the flints.

Dick Burton was afterwards whip to Mr. As-
sheton Smith, at Tedworth, and Tom Sebright,
on leaving "the Squire," went to Earl Fitz-
william, and stayed with him for many years.

An excellent portrait and biography of Mr.
Osbaldeston is to be found in the second
volume of Bailey s Magazine, p. 295, and there
is a notice of him in " Lilly white's Cricket
Scores," vol, i. p. 342. He may be said to have
been a good sportsman all round, excelling in
his day in every known field sport.

Mr. Osbaldeston was succeeded by 1823-
Mr. John Walker of Purbrook Park, walker and

TT. n . -, 1 n -, the Hamble-

His lather was a large ironfounder don.
at Rotherham, in Yorkshire, a very wealthy
man, who bought the Blythe estate, near
Don caster, of Colonel Mellish.

Mr. Walker hunted the hounds himself, and
Hugh Jermyn, who came from Longstock, was
his whip. Mr. Walker was on the turf, and

104 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1800 to

had some very fine horses. Amongst his best
were Shoestrings and Gem, with which he won
several races. He afterwards lived at Michel
Grove with his brother Richard, and they
horsed the Bognor coach, which was occa-
sionally driven in first-rate style by Mr. John
Walker, who was a member of the B. D. C, or
Benson Driving Club, first started in February,
1807. For sixteen years after its establishment
the members met two days in the year at
Benson, in Oxfordshire, and two at Bedfont,
fourteen miles from London.
The h. h., "The H. H. had a most successful

1822. season, not having had one blank

day since the commencement. On Mon-
day, November 18, they had a run through
Lord Bolton's Park, and the gate being fast at
the farther end of it, a gentleman of the name
of Apperley charged the pales and got well
over, although they were full six feet high." —
Hampshire Chronicle.

Mr. Apperley, This gentleman was the celebrated
"Nimrod." Nhnrod, who at that time lived at
Beaurepaire ; he was quite a gentleman by
birth and education, and at a very early age
took to the hunting-field, the race-course, and
the road. On all these subjects he wrote
amusingly and practically. In his day he was

1825.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 105

certainly the most popular writer, and perhaps,
taking him for all in all, he was one of the
most pleasing writers on these subjects who
has ever lived. His knowledge of horses,
hounds, and their masters, was very extensive,
and possessing a very retentive memory, he
was enabled to store up anecdotes of the best
sportsmen in England. The latter part of his
life was passed at Boulogne, where he died
May 19, 1843.

This not being one of the usual ThePontiff

o day at

days of hunting with the H. H., it Harmsworth

Dec. 22nd

was suggested by some friends of Mr. 1822.
Villebois that a by-day would be acceptable,
for the purpose of seeing the whole progeny
(amounting in all to sixteen couple and a half)
of the celebrated hound Pontiff, together with
their dams, four in number. They met at the
kennels, and, notwithstanding that the rain fell
in torrents, several sportsmen assembled at
Harmsworth. Up to this time the H. H. had
killed eighteen brace of foxes.

On Wednesday, December 18, Sir sir John
John Cope's hounds had a capital Decfisth.
run. They met at Bramshill, found at Fleet,
and ran to ground in a main earth on Jay's
Farm, near Pangbourne, a distance of full
twenty miles from where he was found. Bein

106 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1800 to

the first dav of the thaw, the morning was far
from favourable, as the ground carried much,
but the low hunting of the hounds overcame
all difficulties, and the farther they went, the
better terms they were on with their fox.
sir Lucius In ^nis year Captain Curtis, now

harriers Rear -Admiral Sir Lucius Curtis,
1822. Bart., C.B., lived at Ramsbridge

Cottage, near Weyhill, and kept a pack of
harriers. He hunted the country round
Andover, and came as far south as Chilbolton.
Mr. Assheton Smith was greatly annoyed with
these hounds, and I have heard that he once
said to Sir Lucius, " If you will give up your
harriers, I will make you a present of the best
hunter that money can procure."

1822-23. Mr. Shard resided at Little Som-
Mr. shard, borne, and hunted the country round
Danebury, Speery Well, Clatford, and Wher-
well. John Sharp, a son of old Sharp, one of
the yeoman prickers to George III., was his
huntsman. John Major, many years huntsman
to Mr. Villebois, and John Xeal were whippers-
in. Xeal was afterwards stud-oroom to Mr.
Pultney of Northerwood ; at his death he was
pensioned, and died at Lyndhurst.

During the summer months the hounds
were removed to Mr. Shard's kennels in Buck-

1825.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 107

inghamshire. Mr. Sliard was on the turf, and
the owner of Reveller, whose picture and per-
formances will be found in the Sp&rting Maga-
zine. Mr. Weston, who was for so many years
with Mr. Joseph Anderson, in Piccadilly, and
is now with Mr. John Darby, at Rugby, says
that Mr. Shard had such a stud of horses that
one does not see in the present day; he had
one especially fine grey horse, for which Lord
Maryborough offered him 500 guineas.
On Mr. John Walker resiomins;,

1823

and selling his hounds to Sir Bel- Mr.c~siiar<i
limdiam Graham, who gave up the takes the

° 7 O I Hambledon.

management of the Quorn, and sold
his pack to Mr. Osbaldeston, Mr. Shard ar-
ranged to hunt the Hambledon country, and
in April his hounds went to Mr. Nunez's
kennel, at Warnford. During the following
season, as Sharp so frequently missed killing
his fox, Mr. Shard put John Major in his
place, who killed more foxes in succession
than had been known in Hants for some time.
When master of the Hambledon, Mr. Shard
lived at Hill-place, Droxford.

"On Monday, March the 17th, TheH. il,
Mr. Villebois' hounds had a bril- rmiwl '
liant run. Dick Foster, with all his ability,
could not keep his usual place, and Mr.

108 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1800 to

Knight, jun., of Chawton Park (high sheriff
for the county), was the only one who lived on
good terms with them to the last."* — Sporting
Magazine ', p. 282.

"The Hunt races took place on
April 23rd8' Winchester race-course, and although
the day was very unfavourable the
sport was good. Four horses started for the
Cup, which was won at four heats, by Mr.
Thompson's brown horse Domenichino, beating
the Hon. W. Gage's mare, Captain ShirrefF's,
and Mr. Villebois' horses. Some of the first
jockeys were up on the occasion, including
John and Sam Day, Dockery, &c. In the
evening there was a splendid ball at the White
Hart, attended by all the fashion of the neigh-
bourhood."— Nimrod, in Sporting Magazine,
p. 8.

"The H. H. on Thursdav, April

H. H., run \

with, 27th, after a fine run of two hours

and fifty minutes from Abbotstone
Down, pursued a fox to the College Woods,
Bighton, where the hounds came to a halt,
and the whole field of sportsmen experienced
a sudden check. At length a dead well was
discovered, into which it was conjectured the

* It will be observed that this report does not even state where
the hounds met. Such was the system of reporting even in 1823.

1825.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 109

fox might have fallen, and this supposition
being strengthened by the pack surrounding
the spot, a gentleman of the Hunt (Mr. T.
Scotland, of Bishop's Sutton) was, at his own
request, lowered to the bottom of the well, a
depth of thirty-five feet. The object of his
search was discovered, and Mr. Scotland
adroitly seized the animal by the poll, and so
effectually secured him as to avoid even being
bitten. The fox did not appear to have sus-
tained material injury, but it was, of course,
impossible to preserve him, and on being re-
leased by Mr. Scotland, he became an easy
prey to the pack." — Sporting Magazine , April,
p. 56.

At this time the Hon. T. W. Gage

• The Hon. T.

kept a very handsome pack of harriers w. Gage's
at his residence at Westbury. They
came from Mr. Twynam. Cannons, his keeper,
was his whip. Mr. Gage was a good sports-
man, and rode well to hounds. He married
the daughter of Thomas W. St. Quinton, of
Skampston Hall, York. Latterly Mr. Gage
was a martyr to gout. He died at Westbury,
after a few days' illness, Jan., 1855.

Mr. Hale of Hambledon, who 1323.

t -i i , 1 n i c* Mr. Hale's

had kept a pack: ot harriers lor harriers.
thirty years, died, and Mr. Butler of Bury

110 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1S00 to

Lodge took them, and hunted them until

1834.

„ ,. . " This meeting took place on

Hambleclon ° J-

Hunt races, Thursday, May 1st, and was un-

Mav, 1823. i ti

commonly well attended, several
handsome equipages being on the course. The
Farmers' Cup, given by the members of the
Hunt, was won at three heats by Mr. Tidier' s
horse, beating six others. The Hunters' Stakes,
12st. each, gentlemen riders, were won at three
heats by Captain Shirreff's brown horse Con-
tract, beating nine others. Mr. Apperley, who
rode the winner, received a severe fall just after
he passed the ending-post in the second heat,
by coining in contact with a cart-horse. Though
considerably bruised, he was able to win the
next heat," — Sporting Magazine, p. 111.

"A fine stag-hunt took place in
tShSrtia the New Forest in this month. A
Forest, great number of sportsmen met at

Mark way Bridge, with the keepers
of the Forest in their liveries, and their hounds,
to hunt a stag well known by the farmers in
the neighbourhood of Burley as a trespasser.
He was roused at Vinny Ridge, crossed the
Salisbury-road towards Whiteparish, turned
back through Landford, took to Landford
water, and ran up to Hampworth, where the

1825.] OF HAMrSHIRE. Ill

hounds came up to him, after running three
hours without a check. Finding he could not
get away from them, he beat and drove them
all before him. Not having a gun at hand to
shoot him, some farmers brought a lurcher
dog, who ran him ; but the stag soon laid him
bleeding at his feet. A gun was produced
loaded with large shot, which had like to have
cost Mr. Gale, jun., one of the keepers, his
life. He shot at the deer at about fifteen
paces going from him, but it immediately
turned round and sprang right at him. He
had scarce time to stoop as the stag went over
him, and owing to the covert being thick he
did not return on him again. From thence
he went to North Common, where he was
shot, in the presence of twelve well-known
horsemen in the neighbourhood of Lyndhurst,
out of about eighty." — Sporting Magazine^ Oct.,
p. 41.

Mr. Shard hunted the Hambledon 1S24
country with great success, March Mr. shard
10th. Meeting at the Waterloo Inn, Hambledon,
they found in Plant's Coppice, and vlVT'
went by Southwick House, through Waterlo°-
Pinsley Wood, and turning, ran the South-
wick covers for one hour; being pressed, he
went over the grass to Old Park, Catherington,

112 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1800 to

North House, Stoke Woods, to old Winchester,
where he sunk the valley to Meon Stoke, crossed
Sooerton Down, to the forest of Bere, to Sheep-
wash, where they killed him in three hours and
five minutes, without a check of more than two
minutes. Throughout the greater part of the
run they went a clipping pace (and there was
a great demand for blacksmiths). Out of a
numerous field of sportsmen, only five or six,
besides the huntsman John Major, and the
whipper-in, lived with them until they killed,
who all acknowledged never having seen a
better run, during which the hounds were not
once lifted to a halloo. In short, he was
viewed but twice during the run. The dis-
tance was calculated to exceed thirty miles.

At the end of the season Mr. Shard resigned
the management, in consequence of his health
being unequal to the fatigue of fox-hunting,
and presented forty couple of very fine hounds
to the gentlemen of the Hunt.
Mr. Thomas Mr. Thomas Smith now became
Smith. master of the Hambledon hounds,

and hunted them himself until 1829, when
he took the Craven country ; and during
his management he showed an uninterrupted
series of sport. Mr. Smith is a thorough
sportsman, and may be said to have trodden

1825.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 113

very closely on the heels of his celebrated
namesake the Squire of Tedworth, and if he
had been equally furnished with the sinews
of war the resemblance would have been still
more striking.

One hunted the Quorn, the other the
Pytchley — the two best countries in Eng-
land— then both hunted adjacent countries:
Thomas Assheton Smith the Tedworth, and
Tom Smith the Craven; and what is still
more curious each had a whip named John
Sharp, so that from there being two Tom
Smiths, and two John Sharps, there was con-
stant confusion in conversation. Both pos-
sessed an inventive genius. Mr. Assheton
Smith built several steam yachts, and claimed
to be the practical originator of the "Wave
Line." Mr. Thomas Smith invented a loco-
motive battery capable of resisting artillery, and
movable with facility along common roads,
which attracted the attention of the Secretary
of State for War, and the staff at the Horse
Guards.

The Hambledon Tom Smith, though a bold
and good horseman, was, perhaps, not so fear-
less and reckless a rider as Mr. Assheton Smith,
but probably excelled him in knowledge of
hunting and woodcraft, for Mr. Codrington of

I

114 SPORTING REMINISCENCES. [1800 to

the Forest, speaking of him as a huntsman,
said : " Were I a fox, I would sooner have a
pack of hounds behind me than Tom Smith,
with a stick in his hand."*

Old Will James was Mr. Smith's
kennel huntsman, and proved him-
self a good manager of hounds. John Sharp,
above mentioned, who went with him to the
Craven, was his whip ; he afterwards went to
Mr. Wyndham, in the New Forest, and then
to Lord Egmont.

Good runs in the month of November, from
Marwell Hall on the 19 th, from Preshaw
House on the 24th, and from West End on
the 26th, will be found in the Sporting Maga-
zine, p. 190.

In the fourteenth volume of the

Mr. Chute's . .

and sir Joim sporting Magazine, JN lmrod says :
" By way of a finish to the season, I
treated myself to a day or two with Mr.
Chute's, Sir John Cope's, and Mr. Warde's
hounds. The fixture with Mr. Chute on the
31st of March was at West Sherborne Church,

* Scrutator, speaking of the two Torn Smiths, says: "Tom Smith,
of Leicestershire renown, could kill his fox handsomely with a good
pack of hounds. The other Tom Smith, of Hambledon and Craven
renown, could kill his fox without a good pack. I was going to say
without any hounds at all ; that is, I have seen him, when the scent
failed, doing the work hounds ought to have done, through his extra-
ordinary knowledge of the running and wily movements of the animal
he was pursuing." — Recollections of a Fox-hunter, p. 73.

1S25.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 115

and he found his fox (which he jocosely told
me he had kept for me) in a corner of Famber
Forest, and killed him handsomely at Lord
Bolton's — eight miles as the crow flies — so
beaten, that he laid down before the hounds.
This sharp and decisive thing was just what
Mr. Chute wished on this day, as several
strangers were in the field. There were two
of the best performers of the H. H., Mr. W.
Gage, brother to Lord Gage, and Mr. J|Jr- ^ase»
E. Knight, as well as Sir John Cope, Knight.
and one of his bruisers (Mr. Simmonds), with
him, all of whom had an opportunity of try-
ing their nerve over this strongly enclosed
country.

" Mr. Gage (who, I observed, was mounted
on a horse that I had ridden last year, and won
some hunters' stakes with, beating nine others)
told me he never rode over more awkward
fences for horses not quite cm fait at them,
having banks to creep upon, with wide and
deep ditches, and plenty of them.

" Of Mr. Chute's pack and his country I shall
have something to say another time. He has
been a master of hounds ever since he was a
boy, and of fox-hounds for more than thirty-
two years, and therefore claims a place in the
history of hunting countries. In allusion to

i 2

116 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1S00 to

his hounds being small, but good, the motto
over his kennel-door has been 'Multum in
parvo ;' but, in consequence of the extraordi-
nary sport his pack has had, and the fame
they have acquired, he told me he should
alter it to £ Viresque acquirunt eunclo,' for
which we must give him credit.

Sir John "I was never out but twice (last

c°Pe- season) with Sir John Cope's hounds

before, therefore can say but little about
them at present. I knew Sir John when
he had a house for several seasons at Bices-
ter, hunting with Sir Thomas Mostyn,when
he rode very hard. Some time since he
had the misfortune to break his thi^h* as
he was riding about his own grounds, and
was attacked by typhus fever afterwards,
which, he says, has done his nerve no good.
His hounds are much admired for shape, and
are very quick, and said to be particularly
powerful in covert, where no fox can stand
them long. He divides his kennel, and it
was the dog pack on the day I was out with
him. An old friend of mine, who has been
hunting with them this season, told me their
kennel management must be superior, 'for,'

* I was informed, as I stated at page 86, that the accident occurred
while hunting in Leicestershire.

1825.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 117

said he, ' they always look well, and no
hounds in England work so hard, or travel
farther, and often through a dirty country,
for Sir John will have a day's sport if pos-
sible.' My friend added, that, one day this
season, after a capital run and the hounds
twenty miles from home, Sir John went and
found another fox, and killed him, after a run
of one hour and three-quarters, when the
hounds had nearly as far to go home. This,
however, not only shows power, but condition.''''

The Hambledon Hunt races were 1824-
held on Soberton Down on Tuesday, Hunt races.
April 20th. The ball and supper at the
George Inn were fully attended.

The Trial Stakes of 10?., with 20?. added.

Mr. H. Smith's Gossoon 1

Mr. Shard's f. by Waterloo 2

Capt. Berkeley's Swindon 3

Mr. G. Morant's Roulette 4

Mr. Gauntlett's Coa 5

Mr. Jarman's Margaret Bruce 6

The Farmers' Cup, the gift of Mr. C. Shard. Two-mile heats.

Mr. Legg's Buccaneer 1 1

Mr. Saint's Ploughboy 2 2

Mr. Goldsmith's horse 3 3

Mr. Clarke's Teddy the Grinder ... 4 4

Sweepstakes of 5 sovs. each. Two-mile heats.

Mr. G. Morant's Cockatoo 2 1 1

Mr. A. F. Nunez's Bagatelle ... 1 2 dist.

A pack called " the Steep Har- 1824-25.
riers" were advertised in the Hants Harrier3-

118 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1S00 to

Chronicle of this year, but I have failed in
obtaining any particulars of them.

is 24. ^r- ^- Taylor, afterwards Sir C.

Mr. c. Taylor Taylor of Hollycombe, now had a

of stock- J •; '

bridge. very good pack, and hunted the

country round Stockbridge, as the country
round Hollycombe was very bad for hounds.
Mmrod visited Mr. Taylor at his cottage in
1825, and, speaking of his pack, says : " There
is not much to find fault with in Mr. Taylor's
kennel, though they are a little higher on the
leg than I like to see harriers, and they are
not rounded, which disfigures them in my
eye. Being full twenty inches high they go
very fast, and run well together, which may
be said is all we want, and they are well
hunted by a very good servant of the name of
Jelly — most appropriate we must allow."

Mr. Taylor wTas M.P. for Wells. An extra-
ordinary run with his harriers from Stock-
bridge race-course is reported in the Sporting
Magazine, p. 110.

Mr. Lech- Mr. Lechmere lived at Wilbury,

in Wilts, but I believe he had a few

ners.

meets in Hants by Quarley and Cholderton ;
they are noticed by Nimrod in the Sporting
Magazine, who said that his " turn out" was
good, and that he and his men were well
mounted.

1825.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 119

The old Hambledon Club declined „ . , „

Cricket from

about the end of the century, but isoo to

1825.

there were still good matches, and
some new players came into notoriety.
Anion o-st them were Mr. Thomas Assheton
Smith, the after Squire of Tedworth ; the Hon.
Col. Onslow ; Thomas C. Howard of Elvetham
(1803), one of the cracks of his day, and who
played as late as 1829 ; Windebank ; Edmund
Carter (1809) of Froxfielcl, and afterwards of
Winchester ; Mr. William Ward ; John Small,
jun., of Petersfield, in 1814; John and James
Thumwood of Hartley -row; Messrs. George
T. Knight (a first-rate bowler) and Edward
Knight of Chawton ; Charles Holloway, land-
lord of the Globe Inn, Winchester ; Thomas
Beagley of Farringdon, who played as late as
1844 in the Gentlemen v. Players of the
County ; Henry Holland of Hartley-row ;
Mr. H. Everett ; Henry Lilly white of Ropley,
a distant connexion of the celebrated Sussex
bowler ; Mr. John Willan of Preston Can-
dover, of whom more will be found hereafter.
In August, 1823, a match was played at Sir
John Cope's, at Bramshill, between England
and Hants ; Hampshire winning by five
wickets. Thomas Crimble of Overton played
very well ; and Mr. W. Ward scored 120 in
his first innings and not out, 7 in his second.

120 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1S00 to

Mr. Price frequently played for the county.
Henry and John Beagley of Farringdon came
out as players in 1825. And last, though not
least, was James Burt, the lusty landlord of
the Duke's Head, Alton ; he weighed twenty-
two stone, and played within a few days of
his death in 1858.

1845.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 121

CHAPTER III.

Feom 1825 to 1845.

The H. H. and Hambledon Hunts, by Nimrod — Mr. Charles Groeme —
Mr. Villebois' Hounds — R. Foster — Sawyer and Jennings — The
Pantry Run — The Messrs. Knight — The Captains Greenwood — Mr.
James W. Scott — Mr. Baring — Mr. Frederick Heysham — Mr. George
Butler — Major Barrett— Mr. David Murray — Mr. Smithers — Mr.
Wilkinson— Mr. Wyse — Mr. T. Smith — The Hambledon Country —
Great Run from Stanstead — Riders of the Hambledon Hunt —
Major Ridge — Old Will James — Mr. Nunez — Captain Bridges —
Mr. A Pole and R. Adam son — Nimrod's Tour in the New Forest —
Mr. S. Nicoll— The N. F. H. Country— Mr. Harbin— Mr. Vivian-
Billy Butler — Mr. Shard's Stag-hounds — Mr. Mullins's Harriers —
Mr. Assheton Smith, 1826— Mr. Beaver— Mr. H. Fellowes, 1827—
Mr. W. Wyndham, 1828— Mr. King and Squires, 1829— Members
of the Hambledon Hunt — Mr. James Wickham's and Mr. Rumbold's
Harriers, 1830— The Duke of Wellington— Mr. Robert Jessett— The
Messrs. Delme, Stretton, Moody, S. Taylor, G. Butler, Lukin, and
Lord Lisle — Mr. Richard Bayley's, Mr. T. Chamberlayne's, and Mr.
Higgins's Harriers — Hon. G. A. Craven's Stag-hounds — Mr. Donni-
thorne Taylor, 1835 — The Royal Stag-hounds — Southampton Steeple-
chase, 1837 — Major Barrett, 1837— Members of the H. H. elected
after Mr. Villebois' Death — Sir John Mill — Jack Shirley — Doctor
Leech's Harriers— Mr. C. W. Codrington— Mr. N. Fuller, 1839—
Sir John Halket's Stag-hounds — Jack Bradley — Visit to Tedworth
by Cecil — The Monument on Farley Mount — Mr. B. Wallop's Leap
— The Stockbridge Beagles— Mr. White— Mr. Walter Long— Mr. T.
Frere's and the Lymington Harriers — Mr. Augustus Onslow and
Will Cox — Captain L. Shedden, 18-42 — Members of the N. F. H.
—Mr. Robert D. Cockburn, 1843— The Tytherly Harriers— The
Vine Picture, by Calvert — Cricket.

In the January number of the 1S25.

Sporting Magazine, p. 289, is Nim- JH;;ra.'

rod's first letter on hunting in Hants. ™^ by

He says : "Nimrod.*"

122 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1825 to

u

I never hunt in Hampshire when I can
help it : that is to say, when I can hunt in
a better country ; but there is an instinct that
takes a man to hounds when they meet within
reach of his stable, which it is quite impossible
to resist. I have known what it is to repose
upon a bed of roses, and, like most of my
kind, I have languished upon a bed of thorns ;
but to ride a good hunter over a bed of flints
is a misery, which was reserved for me till I
came to Hampshire.

The h. h. " Bad- as this country is, and little

country. as j have hunted in it, I have ex-
perienced a great deal of pleasure from the
Mr. vniebois. very masterly manner in which Mr.
Villebois hunts it, it being quite impossible,
as I have before observed, for any establish-
ment to be better conducted than his; and
the only alloy that attends it, is the painful
recollection that so fine a kennel of hounds,
so able a huntsman, such clever whippers-in,
such a liberal master, and so good a judge,
should not all be transplanted into a better
country. Here, however, are they fixed ; and
fortunate is it for the Hampshire sportsmen
that they have them ; and I have good reason
for knowing that they are not unmindful of
their treasure.

1845.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 123

" Although, as I have before observed, Mr.
Villebois has no subscription to his hounds,
not even an earth stopped for him, they are
better known by the name of the H. H., or
Hampshire Hunt, which is a title of old stand-
ing in this county. Their kennel is at Harms-
ford* (Harmsworth), four miles from Aires-
ford, on the Basingstoke side of the town, and
close to the mansion-house in which Mr. Ville-
bois resides, and where he occupies a farm of
-^.ve hundred acres, which, together with the
house, is the property of Lord Rodney. He
also occupies a still larger farm of his own in
the neighbourhood of Popham-lane, so that
he cannot be said to be in want of rural occu-
pations. The kennel was built by himself,
has every convenience for so large an establish-
ment, and is particularly healthy and clean.
He has also another kennel at Hursley, four
miles from Winchester, from which he gets
his cub-hunting. Foster, the huntsman, re-
sides in a comfortable house about a quarter
of a mile from the kennel, where his own five
horses stand, as also eight others for the use
of the two whippers-in — those ridden by Mr.
Villebois being kept at the mansion-house.

" Mr. Villebois lays claim to the honourable

* Sic in orig.

124 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1825 to

appellation of an old master of fox-hounds,
having been now twenty-three years in the
service. His debut is said to be this : When
he resided at Preston Candover, in the house
lately occupied by Mr. Willan,* he was master
of a pack of harriers ; and having found a fox
with them in a country not hunted by fox-
hounds, he had a capital run, and killed him.
In commemoration of this, he has an excellent
picture (by Marshall) in his dining-room, in
which he is represented in the act of dis-
mounting his horse, for the purpose of cutting
off the brush. This is supposed to have spoiled
him for cutting off the scut ; and aspiring to
higher honours, he succeeded Mr. Paulett in
the management of the Hampshire hounds.
These he continued to keep, with the sub-
scription, for a period of three years, when, in
a manner which entitles him to the character
I have given of him, he purchased the pack
from the club, and has ever since hunted the
country without a hound being fed, or even
an earth being stopped, but at his expense.

" It may not be too much to assert that
nothing in the shape of a country club can be

* In 1835 Mr. Willan drove the Age between London and Brighton,
until Sir Vincent Cotton bought it of him. He afterwards drove the
Magnet on the same road, and frequently went up and down in one
day, 104 miles.

1845.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 125

more respectable than that of the H. H."
(Here follows a list of the members, which
has been given at pp. 42 and 60.)

" Having more than once had the honour of
dining with them, I can speak to the fact,
that not only are their dinners served up in a
style almost amounting to elegance, but there
exists among the members in their social
hours that proper portion of jollity and good
fellowship which, upon such occasions, ought
to exist among fox-hunters of the present day.
Some songs are sung ; and the due medium
is observed between the boisterous mirth and
roaring licentiousness of our forefathers at
their hunting parties, and that excess of re-
finement which is becoming the character-
istic of modern manners.

" At the head of the list of the Hampshire
Hunt stood his present Majesty's name for
many years previous to his accession to the
throne ; and to this are they indebted for the
plume of feathers which adorns their uniform
button. This honour was conferred upon
them when his Majesty resided at Kempshot,
within the limits of the Hunt, and, as himself
a master of fox-hounds, his patronage was
aptly bestowed. The morning uniform is a
scarlet coat, and that worn in the evening

126 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1825 to

consists of a blue coat, with white kerseymere
waistcoat, having the gilt button with the
letters H. H. under the plume, handsomely
embossed on its surface."

Mmrod here sets out the rules which have
been given at p. 41.

Mr. Charles " The father of the H. H. is that
Graeme. well-known sportsman, Mr. Grseme,
who resides in the neighbourhood of Aires-
ford, and with whom fox-hounds, and the

/ 7

other good things of this world, have agreed
so well, that he is said to look as well as he
did twenty years ago, and is one of the few
men who ride hard and well at his time of
life.*

" Among other charges against fox-hunting,
I have heard it accused of being a selfish
amusement, in which gentlemen alone can
partake, but from which ladies are, by their
nature, excluded. The Hampshire Hunt are
entitled to an honourable acquittal here ; for
though they would not, if they could, alter

* Mr. Charles Graeme came into Hants about 1785; he had been a
■writer in India, and was a witness on Warren Hastings's trial. About
1789 he lived at Rotherfield, which was then an old red house which
belonged to the Marquis of Winchester. He then went to Xew House,
Ropley, and next bought Dean House, Kilmiston, of Mr. Laver Oliver,
which he afterwards sold to Sir Henry Warde, K.C.B. His son, Mr.
W. T. Graeme, to whom this book is dedicated, succeeded his father as
secretary of the H. H., and has officiated as steward, at the Hunt and
other county races, oftener than any other gentleman. Like his father,
he has been the owner of several good horses.

1845.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 127

the nature of the ladies, and make fox-hunters
of them, yet they patronise no less than five
balls in the year; Mr. Villebois al- Hunt bails.
ways being appointed the steward of the first.
These, we are certain, cover a multitude of
sins, and would prove, if proof were wanting,
that fox-hunting and gallantry are inseparable
from each other. In the month of April,
also, there is more sport for the ladies — the
Cup being run for at Winchester — when the
club dine together, and the evening is con-
cluded by a ball.

" By a list before me, Mr. Villebois' kennel
consists of seventy couples of hunting-hounds ;
and his usual entry is from twenty-two to
twenty-four couples. He divides them into
two packs — one called the large, and the other
the small pack ; the average height of the first
being from twenty-two inches and a half to
twenty-four and a half; and of the other,
from twenty to twenty -two, and this division
of the kennel makes them very even to the
eye. As may be supposed, there are rather
more bitches than dog-hounds in the small
pack, though, if my recollection serves me,
there are nine or ten couples of the latter.

" Your readers cannot forget the unpa-
ralleled instance that occurred two years back,

128 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1825 to

of Mr. Villebois taking out a pack for the
day's hunting all got by one hound out of four
bitches — an account of which was then given
in the Sjwrting Magazine* The name of the
sire was Pontiff; and the bitches were Ven-
geance, Thoughtless, Notable, and Milliner —
the two last now running with the pack.

" To breed hounds for Hampshire is no
easy task; for those which would scarcely
ever miss a fox in some countries might
seldom kill one here. For example : Mr.
Osbaldeston's twenty-five couples picked out
of his celebrated pack, with Seabright at their
head, only killed seven Hampshire foxes in
three months ; and I have reason to believe
Sir Bellingham Graham did about as much.
Before I hunted a month in it, I pronounced
it to be the most difficult country to kill a
good fox in that I ever had seen, and my
opinion is in no wise changed. By the time
Christmas is past, if the weather be open,
more than half of it is ploughed; and from
the constant changing from pretty good to
very bad land, hounds are always uncertain
of their scent, and, consequently, afraid to
hold on. To this must be added the number
of small, as well as large, coverts which
abound in it, where foxes are always making

* This occurred Dec. 22, 1822, and 13 alluded to at p. 105.

1845.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 129

work and have the advantage. Exclusive of
these, the large hedgerows he meets with
enables him to turn back unperceived upon
the hounds, and consequently to gain time.

" It may be observed that I have said
enough to prove the difficulty of killing a
good Hampshire fox ; but I have not done.
It may be safely asserted that Mr. Villebois'
hounds, in chase, are two-thirds of their time
either in covert or on ploughed land, which
generally carries ; and, although there are
fences in his country, yet there are no brooks,
nor anything sufficiently strong to keep back
the body of horses, so that hounds are always
more or less pressed upon when at fault. The
foxes also seldom run straight, so that all the
field get up sooner or later ; and some of
them accidentally find themselves before the
hounds, when they had good reason to think
they were behind them.

" Mr. Villebois, then, has these evils to pro-
vide for : in the first place, he must sacrifice
anything to nose, for your stiff-necked ones
will never do in Hampshire. He Whata
must have legs and feet of the verv Hants hound

° , J should be.

best form, or they will not stand the

flints. He must have speed, or his hounds

could not get away from the horses. He must

K

130 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1825 to

have power, particularly in the loins, or they
would not only not get up the hills quick
enough for their foxes, but they would not be
able to carry the weight that sticks to their
feet over these greasy fallows. They must
have high form and symmetry, or they would
not do what is required of them ; neither
would they do for Mr. Villebois. They must
be fed light, for more reasons than one ; but
those are too obvious to require notice.*
Mr. Tiiiebois' " From some circumstances I have
hounds. mentioned, it will readily appear
that Mr. Villebois is very strong in his own
blood ; and, with the exception of a few
Fitzwilliam bitches, and now and then a cross
from his neighbours, he is not much indebted
to distant kennels. The character of his
hounds is very strongly marked. They are
particularly deep in their fore-quarters ; short
and straight in their legs ; a little arched in
their backs ; very clear in their throats ; heads
well set on ; rich in their colours ; and, being
lightly feci, have a very airy appearance.
From the number he enters — never less than
twenty-two couples — he is able to keep up
that strength in his kennel which the severity

* I have purposely omitted all pedigrees of hounds, as I imagine
but few would care to know if Mr. Villebois' famous Rouser was the
son of Romulus or Remus.

1845.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 131

of his country, and four, and sometimes five,
days' hunting a week, require. I asked him
one day how many of his hounds he thought
were, on an average, cut by flints after a hard
run ? When he told me, at least one-half !

" There are no coarse hounds in the H. H.
kennel ; and, what I think is rarely met with,
there are as many, if not more, handsome
dog-hounds than bitches.

" As may be supposed, there are different
opinions on the respective merits of the large
and the small pack ; and, as it may also be
supposed, in a country such as I have been de-
scribing, they are generally in favour of the
small one. I do not feel myself qualified to
decide so nice a point, but this I can say, I
never saw the large hounds miss killing a
fairly-found fox but once. I was asked lately
whether I thought they carried so good a
head ? I replied that there are parts of Hamp-
shire on which no hounds can carry a good
one. In the first place, they are so often in
covert, from whence they cannot all get away
with the scent at once, and in the next place, in
a great extent of the ploughed country, both
hounds and horses are obliged to go up the
furrows and follow each other in a string. In
the last run (an hour and thirty-seven minutes)

k2

132 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1825 to

I saw with these hounds there was no want of
head over the grass, but over the plough, when
the fox ran straight, we were all obliged to
string, where the lands were very wide, and
consequently the furrows many yards distant
from each other. I have heard it stated that
the most brilliant runs have been shown by the
small pack, and I think it reasonable to con-
clude that it should be so, and I never attempt
to argue against facts.

" One thing, however, I can answer for in
both packs, and that is, from the great strength
in young hounds, there is no want of power at
the last, and they have killed twenty-five brace
of foxes up to the present day.
Foster. " Of Foster, the huntsman, I have

already spoken, but I must be allowed to
mention him here. He was brought up under
that renowned old sportsman, Mr. Smith of
Sholebrook Lodge, in Northamptonshire, who
farmed the Duke of Grafton's hounds, and
rode after him as pad-groom when in his
eighty-ninth year ! John Clay don then hunted
them, and was succeeded by Tom Rose, the
present huntsman. Foster then lived ten years
with Lord Southampton, from whence he went
to Lord Foley, and it was with his lordship's
pack, as first whipper-in, that I first knew him,

IS 13.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 133

and where he greatly distinguished himself,
both as a sportsman and a rider. He has been
nine years with Mr. Villebois' hounds, with
which he has given the greatest satisfaction to
the country and to his master.

"Having seen most of the best packs of
hounds this country has produced for these
last twenty years, it may not be presuming to
say that I have seen many of the best hunts-
men of that period, but I do not imagine that
any of them could have excelled Foster, with
his present experience, as a woodland hunts-
man. He has an excellent eye as well as ear
to his hounds, is very quick and clever in his
casts, and his language to hounds is delight-
fully sporting and good. He is now only in
his fortieth year.

" Foster, however, has one great advantage
with Mr. Villebois ; he is uncommonly well as-
sisted. I am no man for a pun, and still more
ignorant of the lingo called ' slang,' but I must
be allowed to say that his first whipper-in is
quite ' a top-Sawyer.'* His second Sawyer and
whipper-in, John Jennings, is very Jenninss-
good, and on my asking Foster whether he
were any relation to Ben Jennings, who hunts

* " His name is Sawyer, and the Hants people call him Mr. Sliaw-
yer." — Nimrod.

134 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1825 to

Mr. Farquharson's hounds, he told me he was
not. ' He is the first of his family, sir,' said
he, l that ever was in our line.'

aMr. Villebois is very popular in Hamp-
shire, as the abundance of foxes, and the re-
spect shown to him, will amply testify. His
deportment in the field is extremely gentleman-
like ; at the same time that there is a firmness
of character about him which never fails to
add authority to command — the consequence
of which is, that I never saw less mischief done
to hounds than his generally experience. Like
many other masters of hounds, Mr. Yillebois
was never a forward rider ; but, from his
knowledge of the country, and being well
mounted, he is seldom wide of his hounds,
and he is an excellent judge of hunting, and
everything belonging to that noble science.
He has two brothers very well known in the
sporting world ; one of them, Mr. Henry
Villebois, as a first-rate coachman, and the
other, Mr. Frederick Yillebois, who resides in
the Craven country, as an excellent sports-
man, and a very good rider to hounds.

" I have more than once chosen the latter
for my pilot in strange and awkward countries,
and never repented of my choice. Despite of
the country — which I shall hereafter describe

1845.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 135

— I have, as I before observed, received a great
deal of pleasure in hunting with Mr. Villebois'
hounds. From Alpha to Omega there is — if I
may be allowed the expression — a propriety
attending the establishment, as well as a cor-
rectness of conduct in everything relating to it,
which are highly gratifying to a sportsman's
eye, and which cannot be too closely imitated.
The civility and respectful behaviour of the
servants are beyond all praise, and whether it
be by the command of their master, or whether
it be from their own sense of propriety, I will
not take upon myself to determine, but an oath,
or a coarse expression of any sort, in the field
is never heard to escape them under the most
trying circumstances that may occur.

"Mr. Villebois' country is of very Mr. vniebois'
considerable extent, and so it ought countir-
to be for four regularly advertised fixtures
every week, and very often a by-day on the
Friday. It commences at a village called
Crondall, to the right of the road from Odiham
to Farnham, and reaches to Southampton in
one direction, and to Eomsey in another. It
is also of considerable width. Almost the
whole of it comes under the denomination of
a woodland country, though much of it has a
very fox-hunting appearance, and were it not

136 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1825 to

for the flints, with which a great part of it
abounds, it would rank high among the pro-
vincials.

" In point of fences, it is not difficult to get
across, as there are no brooks, and the ditches
are for the most part dry ; but, notwithstand-
ing this, it is one in which no man can be sure
of being with hounds.

" This is, first, owing to the frequency of the
coverts, in which hounds are hidden from his
view; and, secondly, to the almost constant
occurrence of those very wide hedgerows,
which nothing in the shape of a horse can
pass, but by pulling up into a walk and boring
through. Here much time is lost, and in two
instances I have been stuck fast in the middle
of them, unable for some minutes to get forward
or backward. A gate-leaper is essential, as in
many places the hedges are* only cut once in
nine years for the fuel, so that they are im-
penetrable to a horse.

" It is true that a considerable part of Mr.
Villebois' country is pretty clear of flints. It
is also true that less injury, by cutting and
wounding, is done to horses that are hunted in
it than might be imagined, though fatal cases
do occur. The danger, however, is more in
idea than in reality, but a foreigner cannot

1815.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 137

divest himself of alarm. One day this season
I witnessed a particularly sharp burst over the
most flinty part of the country, when those
horses that were with the hounds were nearly
at their full speed, but no mischief ensued.

" There is one part of riding over Hamp-
shire, however, very injurious to horses, and
from which I have witnessed several bad ac-
cidents in the little I have hunted in it, and
that is leaping into the roads covered with
broken flints. At these fences, where the drop
is considerable, every man who has a regard
for his horse, and has a good use of his own
legs, should dismount ; for though the injury
to the internal foot may not immediately ap-
pear, danger of ruining him for ever is always
at hand.

A particular sort of horse, as well Horse suited
as hound, is adapted to Hampshire. t0 Hants*
He should be well bred, on account of the
hills ; short in his legs, quick, and handy to
turn ; a good upright leaper, and not long in
the pasterns, on account of the flints. The hair
on his heels should be encouraged to grow ; he
should be drawn fine in his body, and set on
the muzzle the night before hunting.

K There is one part of Mr. Villebois' The Hartley
country which, when looked at by a country'

138 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1S25 to

sportsman, he regrets is not of greater extent,
and that is called the i Hartley country.'

"It is composed of large grass fields, with
strong fences, and holds a good scent. During
the low price of corn, however, there was not
so much ploughed land in any part of Mr.
Villebois' country as there would otherwise
have been; but since that article has borne
a better price, the plough is making rapid
strides, and much of old down land is being
broken up.

"Wishing to see the whole of Mr. Villebois'
country before I attempted a description of it,
and being only enabled to reach part of it from
my own stable, I sent my horses to Alresford,
which is the head-quarters of the Hunt. I
arrived there on the 21st of December, which
is called the shortest day, but it was long
enough for us, for it rained the whole morn-
ing, and we drew a blank. Considering the
weather, however, I was very fortunate, having
seen one beautiful burst of forty minutes and
two fine runs (one two hours and twenty-seven
minutes, and the other one hour and thirty-
seven minutes, killing both foxes) in seven
days' hunting. I missed one very fine run of
one hour and forty minutes, and killed him, by
going to London ; and these hounds had the

1845.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 139

best run of the year the day after I returned
home. It was upwards of fourteen The Pantry
miles, in a straight direction, and over run*
so severe a country that there were several
bad falls, and it was for some 'time doubtful
whether or not the coroner would not have
been in requisition. Mr. William Heysham
rode at a stile, which his horse refused. Mr. wiiiiam

0. . i . . ., i Heysham.

n turning nun at it again, lie saw Mr H

the cause of his refusal : Mr. Hugo Miidmay.

Mildmay was lying on the ground on the other

side of it, covered with dirt, with his head under

his shoulder, apparently dead, and an hour

expired before animation was restored. The

fox on that day was so pressed that he ran into

a dwelling-house, and secreted himself in the

pantry among the bacon. Foster said it was

one of the severest and most brilliant day's

sport he had ever seen with hounds. This run

was with the small pack.*

"Not having hunted last season in Hamp-

* The Pantry run took place Jan. 11, 1825. " They met at Beau-
worth, and, without hanging in covert, or crossing the same field
twice, the fox was killed at Town Hill, three miles from Southampton."
A picture of the fox on the bacon-rack in the pantry was painted by
Mr. Collier of Chilland, and afterwards lithographed. Sawyer and
Mr. Scotland were first into the pantry ; and of others, those who had
the best of it in the run were Mr. John Taylor on Sealing-wax, Mr.
Samuel Taylor, Mr. George Butler on the Admiral, Mr. Frederick
Heysham on Ollipod, and Mr. Collier. Sawyer, talking it over, said,
" I think we all came down that day." Mr. Collier was a very good
sportsman; when hounds ran straight no man went better. — Author.

140 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1825 to

shire, I missed some of Mr. Villebois' field.
Amongst tliem I looked in vain for Mr. John
Willan, who was one of their best performers,
but who, with his family, has left this part of
the world. Gaptain Price (son of that well-
known sportsman, Mr. Barry Price) has also
taken up his quarters in Sir Thomas Mostyn's
country, where I hear he is considered a teazer
when things go straight. Mr. Charles Beaufoy
and Mr. Thompson are gone on a tour to the
Continent. Surely there can be nothing to see
there equal to Dick Foster and Mr. Yillebois'
fox-hounds, and a writ of 'ne exeat regno'
should be served upon such men in October.
It is gratifying, however, to see the rising
generation of young men of fortune in this
country entering so well to the sport.
The Messrs. " The Mr. Knights of Chawton

Knight. papk all ride hard. and from what

I have seen of the elder brother, I am of
opinion that he would make a first-rate per-
former, with one or two years' experience in
Leicestershire.

The Captain " The two Captain Greenwoods
Greenwoods. come under the denomination of ele-
gant horsemen over a country ; and I have
good reason for thinking they would go well
anywhere.

1845.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 141

" Mr. Scott, and Mr. Baring, jun., Mr. Scott,
promise well ; and Mr. Frederick ^ FreTg'
Hey sham has not been to Oxford Heysham-
for nothing, and if degrees were taken in a
riding-school, I think he would be a first-class
man. He is at present rather too fond of
hounds, but that is a fault on the right side
with a young one, and will, in time, correct
itself.

" Air. George Butler stands high Mr. George
among the Hampshire riders, having Butler-
served a five years' apprenticeship at Melton ;
and I understand that on the day of which I
have been speaking, when the coroner was so
nearly wanted, he went best of any one in the
field.

"There is one gentleman whom I must not
pass over — not only as an old member of the
Hunt, and a brother-in-law to Mr. Villebois,
but as a most useful member of the common-
wealth, in everything relating to fox-hunting
and keeping things straight and well in a
country — and this is Major Barrett,* Major
late of the 11th Light Dragoons, but Barrett

* Major Barrett was not a Hampshire man. He was the son of a
captain in the Royal Artillery, and was born in 1773, near Woolwich,
where his father was quartered. His father was appointed military
governor of St. John's, Newfoundland, and died there a few years after
his appointment, leaving his son quite a child in England. He was first
in an infantry regiment for a year or two, and went -with the unfortu-

142 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [3S25 to

now residing in the neighbourhood of Aires-
ford. The major, like many of the rest of us,
is not so quick as he was ten years ago; but
the turn-out of himself and his horse is i quite
the thing.' Talking of a neat turn-out, how-
ever, I must not omit one member of this
Hunt, who has so long been conspicuous in
Mr. David this difficult art — I mean Mr. David
Murray. Murray. When I first knew Mr.
Murray he was a member of Christ Church
College, Oxford, and rode a horse, if possible,
neater than himself. I allude to the well-
known Zig-Zag, afterwards purchased by Lord
Plymouth at so large a price, and, in my
opinion, a complete pattern of a Leicestershire
hunter, for a certain weight, Mr. Murray cer-
tainly does the thing well, and in these mixed
times I like to see a man looking like a gen-
tleman.

"It is not, however, among the patrician
order alone that we are to look for examples.
In an humble sphere there are two or three
persons who seldom miss a day's hunting with
Mr. Yillebois' hounds, who are well entitled to
a niche in the Sporting Magazine. First, there

nate expedition to Holland. He afterwards exchanged into the 11th
Light Dragoons, in which he served in the Peninsular campaign, and
left that regiment and the service as major in 1814. His coming into
Hampshire is due entirely to the fact of Truman Villebois, whom he
knew well, hunting the country. He died March, 1817. — Author.

1815.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 143

is a most respectable yeoman and farmer by
the name of Smithers, who resides at

Mr. Smithers. .

bramdean, and who is as good a
sportsman, and as good a judge of hunting, as
the county of Hants can boast of. I have a
little anecdote to relate here concerning him.

"Although I had seen Mr. Smithers out
several times with Mr. Villebois' hounds, yet
I did not know where he resided; but the
place of meeting being near his house, and the
morning dreadfully wet, I sought shelter for
myself and horses, without being aware of it,
in his yard. Seeing me enter it he came out
to meet me, and accommodated me with room
in his own stable. As soon as I entered it,
and saw his old cropped horse, I immediately
recognised him, and observed that c I hoped I
saw Mr. Smithers well.' 1 1 hope, also,' re-
plied he, 'that I see Mr. Nimrod well;' and
taking me to his house, gave me a hearty
welcome. No sooner was I seated by his fire,
than calling to his wife, he exclaimed, ' Come
here, my dear; here is Mr. Nimrod.' Never
shall I forget the reception I met with from
Mrs. Smithers. Her handsome black eyes
seemed to sparkle, and I almost think, that if
I had asked such a favour, she would not have
refused me a kiss. The hounds, however, ap-

144 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1825 to

pearing in sight, I of course took my departure,
after filling my pockets with her good ginger
cakes.

Mr. Wilkin- "The other sporting character in
humble life, to whom I have before
alluded to, is the well-known Mr. Wilkinson.*
I call him ' well known,' because he kept an
inn for many years on the great Western-road,
and consequently is no stranger to the public.
Having taken good care of number one, he has
some time since retired from business, and re-
sides in a good house of his own, in the town
of Alresford, where he keeps his two hunters
and his gig, and is, if we may judge by ap-
pearances, one of the happiest men in Hamp-
shire. I never met Mr. Villebois' hounds but
once without Mr. Wilkinson being with them,
so enthusiastically fond is he of the sport;
neither did I ever see — nor do I expect I ever
shall see — a fox found by this pack without
having a halloo from him, in some part of the
run. Upon the balance, perhaps more harm
than good may arise from it; but he cannot
help it, and nothing but the pace stops him.
Notwithstanding this, Mr. Wilkinson is a useful

* Mr. Wilkinson had houses both at Popham Lane and at Stock-
bridge. He generally had a useful well-bred horse, which he ran at
the county meetings, and old John Day, then quite a young hand,
used to ride for him. — Author.

18*5.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 145

man in the country. He has a smile for every

one, is very civil and obliging, and promotes

peace and good humour wherever he goes.

" Previous to my residing in Hampshire, I do

not recollect having met with a regular Work-
ed o

ing dragsman.by the covert's side. A coach-
man by the name of Wyse, however, Mr. Wyse.
who was a great many years on the old South-
ampton Union, and feathered his nest so com-
fortably on, what we call on the road, ' a
twenty-four-mile bit of ground, with fourteen
good coaches a week, and only one home,'
that he has for a long time kept his one or
two hunters, and enjoyed himself as a man
ought to do who has the means in his power.*
"He has now left the coach, and retired
on the fruits of his industry. I met him
several times with the Hambledon hounds,
and could not help smiling to see him double-
thonging his horse (which, by the way, he does
gallantly for a man of his weight, and the
cattle he rides), as if he had him at the wheel
of the old coach, with six in and twelve out,
and ten minutes behind time. Wyse has some

* Mr. Wyse arrived at Popham Lane in the morning and had to
wait till evening for his down coach, which enabled him to hunt when-
ever the hounds met in that quarter. Mr. Wyse died June 7, 1837; a
memoir of him will be found in the Sporting Magazine, July, p. 287.
Mr. Wyse always rode with a spare stirrup-leather round his horse's
neck, as he said, " in case a friend's leather broke." The limits of this
work will not allow me to record many amusing anecdotes of him. —
Author.

146 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1825 to

little notion of a hunter, and occasionally sells
one, on fair terms, to the gentlemen in the
neighbourhood.

" During the time my horses were

Mr. T. o J

Smith of at Alresford I had the pleasure of
spending a week with Mr. Smith,
who now has the management of the Ham-
bledon hounds. He resides at Hill-place, three
miles from Droxford, in the house which Sir
Bellingham Graham and Mr. Osbaldeston occu-
pied when they hunted the Hambledon country.
There are stables for twenty-one horses, and the
kennel, built by Sir Bellingham, under the
superintendence and direction of Mr. Kicoll, is
a very comfortable one for a small establish-
ment, and agrees well with hounds. The roof
is thatched, which is considered an advantage
in keeping hounds warm in severe weather.

"There is an old saying, 'A rolling stone
never gathers moss ;' and it is no small disad-
vantage to the Hambledon country, that in
the course of the last ten years it has been in
the possession of the following gentlemen : Mr.
Powlett, Mr. Eyles, Mr. Nunez, Sir Bellingham
Graham, Mr. Osbaldeston, Mr. John Walker,
Mr. Shard, and Mr. Smith, who at present
hunts it.* Mr. Smith did not take to it under

* Nimrod has omitted Mr. Richards of North House, who had the
hounds for one season in 1815.

184(5.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 147

the most favourable circumstances, not having
possession of it till cub-hunting was over, with
the uncertainty of the subscription being con-
tinued, and with a kennel of hounds not in the
most blooming condition, having been too long
under the care of that good sportsman, but that
wet soul, old John Major. In addition to all,
he lost the assistance of Sharpe (son of Mr.
Lumley Saville's huntsman), who hunted these
hounds for Mr. Shard, and gave great satis-
faction in the field. Mr. Smith, however, took
to the country in a manner highly creditable
to himself, namely, to prevent its becoming
vacant, and to afford time for other arrange-
ments to be made. Having stated this, it
must be gratifying to his brother sportsmen to
learn that his sport has been beyond expecta-
tion good, and he has given the greatest satis-
faction to the subscribers and all others who
have been out with him. He hunts the hounds
himself; is indefatigable in his exertions to
afford sport ; and by way of showing what it
is to hunt hounds in a woodland country, I
mention the fact that he has lost twenty '-eight
pounds of flesh since the first week in November !
"The Hambledon country is de- m TT

J The Ham-

cidedly the best in Hampshire. It biedon
is a better country for hounds, has

l2

148 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1325 to

more of grass and less of flints than those
hunted by Mr. Villebois, or the late Mr. Chute,
and has altogether a more fox-hunting appear-
ance. That part of it in the neighbourhood of
Waltham Chase, Durley, Rowhay, Twyford
Park, &c, is capable of showing very good
sport indeed.

" I hunted only four days with the Ham-
bledon hounds, but witnessed on one of them
the best Hampshire fox I have ever yet seen,
having afforded us a run, straight over the
country, of fourteen miles without a cast, and
without his once putting his head into a covert.
Being one of Mr. Villebois' foxes, he was
marked to ground in Micheldever Wood, full
seventeen miles from the place where he was
found. #

" A short time after I left them, these hounds
had another capital run, which finding its way
into the papers, was copied from thence into
the last number of the Sporting Magazine, and
since then they have had another still more
deserving of notice.

"Having been told by Mr. Villebois that it

* The hounds met this day at Mr. Nunez's, at Warnford Park, and
found an old fox at Henwood ; went away to Hinton House, crossing
the river near Alresford, to the Grange, and then ran to ground in
Micheldever Wood. Mr. Smith says that the old earthstopper coming
up, expressed his regret that he had not been informed that the hounds
were to hunt that day, he believing they were the H. H. — Author.

1845.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 149

was something out of the common way, I
wrote to Mr. Smith, requesting him to oblige
me with an account of it, which I now present
to your readers. It will, undoubtedly, remind
many of them of what hunting was forty years

ago.

In reply to your letter,' says Great

a <.

run

Mr. Smith, ' I will endeavour to de- *™/p*£,
scribe the run we had on Monday, Jan- 18th-
January 18th. We met at Stanstead Park,
at which place I was informed, by a note from
Mr. Bingham Newland, that Colonel George
Wyndham's hounds were coming to Funting-
don-lane-end, about two miles off. I conse-
quently determined on drawing away from
that point, leaving part of Stanstead Forest
not drawn, and trotted away to the Markwells,
a covert belonging to Sir S. Jervoise; found
in his covert called the Oliphants, about one
o'clock ; wind at north-west. The hounds went
off directly up wind, their very best pace, over
the Down, by the Markwells, skirting Lady
Holt Park, straight through Ditcham, without
a turn in this immense covert, leaving Ditcham
House on the left, where, finding the wind in
his teeth, he bore away over Hasting Down to
Up Park, in which they passed through a large
herd of deer. He now took over the South

150 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1825 to

Downs, the Telegraph Hills — the most severe
part he could have chosen — and through the
whole of the West Dean Woods, a chain of
coverts for several miles, keeping the rides the
whole way, thereby convincing us that he was
in earnest, and that our spurs would be want-
ing later in the day. The hounds now crossed
the open between these woods and Chalton
Forest, close by Colonel George Wyndham's
kennel at the Dove, where he was viewed
about five minutes before them, and they ap-
peared to be running into their fox till within
a short distance of the forest, when they came,
for the first time, to a trifling check, owing to
a flock of sheep. They, however, soon got on
their scent a^ain, and then took over the
Downs towards Petworth, skirting Burton
Park, and keeping the bottom to Graffham,
when they again came up the hill, at the end
of the hanging wood, passing over a main
earth (probably stopped) and over the Down
to a large covert on the right, when they got
up to him, and he was frequently viewed among
the hounds, completely beaten — so much so,
that one gentleman actually dismounted to
take him from them. We had now been run-
ning him two hours and forty minutes, when,
at this crisis of such an extraordinary run,

1845.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 151

a fellow on foot commenced a violent view-
halloo on the Down to a fresh fox, and being
close to him the hounds could not be stopped ;
and again facing the Downs, for several miles
towards Arundel, they headed, and ran him
hard through some large coverts at the end of
Potscomb Wood. Here I was able to stop
them, very late in the day, and between thirty
and forty miles from their kennel.

" ' On our return we had to pass close to
Colonel Wyndham's, who had just returned
with his own hounds, and who, in the most
polite and liberal manner, offered to take in
myself and hounds for the night, where, it is
unnecessary to add, we met with every pos-
sible comfort. The colonel also offered the
same accommodation to the gentlemen who
were with me, and sent a servant to those
who might be passing the village of East
Dean, to request the pleasure of their com-
pany for the night,

" ' Amongst those who were at the last were
Messrs. E. Morant, G. Butler, and Hale, Cap-
tain Georges, Hon. William Gage, Messrs.
Richards, Hill, and Norrk It is fair to add,
Captain Georges' grey mare had the best of
it. I am sorry to say a capital hunter died
on the road home.'

152 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1825 to

" Colonel Wyndham declared that, from
his knowledge of the country the fox went
over, it was the most severe run he had ever
heard of, and he wrote a full account of it to
Lord Egremont. The colonel intends trying
his hand some day with this gallant fox.*

" ' On Saturday last,' adds Mr. Smith, 'Mr.
Mcoll brought his hounds as near as he could
to give me a day. We had a capital thing ;
two hours and forty minutes ; every horse
beat. jSacoll tired three !'

" Fortune is often a little spiteful to fox-
hounds, and, by one turn of her wheel, she
spoiled the finish to Mr. Smith's run ; for had
he killed his fox, instead of being hallooed
away to a fresh one, his hounds, from the ex-
treme severity of the country, would have
been entitled to great praise. As it was, how-
ever, we must look upon it as a day's work
for hounds and horses, which, perhaps fortu-
nately, but rarely occurs.

* Mr. Smith has told me that after Colonel Wyndham had made
them all comfortable, he left the dining-room, but returned in half an
hour, saying he had been to the kennel to see how the pack looked
after such a severe run, and that as soon as he entered the lodging
room every hound jumped off the benches ready to start off home !
Of those who got to the end (not mentioned above) was John Sharpe,
one of the whips. Mr. G. Morant's horse, Cockatoo (the best he ever
had), never recovered from this run. Mr. Smith further adds, that
many inquiries were made during the night at the kennel to know if
the hounds had returned, especially from Hill-place, as Mr. George
Butler had been recently married, and the first information was on his
return at eleven o'clock in a post-chaise, he having wisely left his
hunter at the inn at Horndean. — Author.

1845.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 153

"Without in the least attempting to detract
from the merit of my friend Mr. Smith and
his hounds, it is my duty, as the historian of
his country, to account for the many very
long runs he has had this season. In the
first place, from the way in which his country
has been hunted, his foxes have not been
' killed down,' as we term it, as they are in
those countries which have been more regu-
larly hunted. In the next, he is rather short
of assistance in the field, and not so strong in
young hounds as some other kennels.

" One thing, however, I will venture to
pronounce, that Mr. Smith will make a good
huntsman, with a little more experience ; and
if zeal and perseverance will serve him, he has
rather more than his share of each. I do not
presume to dictate to any one ; but from the
sport he has this year shown, I may go so far
as to say, he has proved himself worthy of the
support of the country.

" There are several good sports- „

° x Eiders in the

men and hard riders in the Hamble- Hambiedon
don Hunt ; and amongst the sub-
scribers are three naval officers, Admiral
Colpoys, Sir William Hoste, and Captain Col-
lier, all very fond of the sport. I do not
recollect ever meeting a sportsman belonging
to this noble profession who did not ride hard.

154 SPORTING PtEMINISCEXCES [1828 to

A sailor is used to smile at clanger, and thinks
nothing of being capsized upon dry land. Sir
Sir William "William Hoste has been in Leicester-
shire, and can show them how to
ride as well as to fight, and we must all allow
that ' fas est ab hoste doceri.'
Major radge « There are two other gentlemen

and Captain # °

Close. of this Hunt — Major Ridge and Cap-

tain Close — who, though they spent all their
younger clays in India, took care not to leave
behind them their passion for fox-hunting.
On hearing an excellent view-halloo one day
from the former gentleman, Mr. Nunez ex-
claimed, ' Could you not swear he was got by
a fox-hunter !' The major's father once hunted
the Hambleclon country.*

" I met with a very good old sportsman,
who now forms part of Mr. Smith's establish-
ment, and who has been an old servant to the
oid Win Hambledon hounds, having hunted
James. them when my Lord Clanricarde

and Mr. Powlett had them. He is said to be
an excellent judge of hunting ; but was never
able to ride well to his hounds, which, of
course, was a great disadvantage to him, and
perhaps stopped his promotion in life. He

* Jsimrod is wrong here; the major's father lived at Kilmiston, aud
was master of the original H. H. from 1749 to 1795. See page 4.

1845.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 155

gave me the following account of a season's
sport he had some years back : —

" His hounds went out seventeen days with-
out killing a fox. ' First,' said the old man,
' it was my fault, then it was the hounds'
fault, then they were too fat, then they were
too thin ; at last,' continued William, ' one
morning they all fled from my horse's heels,
like mad things ; the moment they got to the
covert found their fox directly, and killed
eighteen out of the next nineteen foxes ! The
fact was, the weather changed, and the hounds
had not been slack before for want of blood,
but for want of what is to them the greatest
pleasure of their lives, a medium through which
they could exercise their powers of smelling? Let
any man, who is a judge of hunting, observe
the difference of hounds drawing for a fox
over good and over bad land. But I must
hold hard here. Old William James, how-
ever, is right to the very letter.

" On the morning on which we had the fine
run I have before spoken of, we were invited
to breakfast with Mr. Nunez, who Mr. Nunez,
was for five years master of the Hambledon
hounds. This gentleman was keeping his
Christmas in the old English style, sitting
down every day eighteen at dinner — all

156 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1825 to

supped up in his own house. I have been
in the habit of looking upon Mr. Nunez as
the best-mounted man in Hampshire, for his
weight, and, until this season, considered him
a good groom ; but whether it was too early
in the year for the bloom, or from some other
cause, I know not, but when I last saw his
horses the polish was wanting.

" The Hambledon Hunt are not quite un-
mindful of the ladies, as there are races in
April on Soberton Down, and a ball and
supper at Hambledon in the evening. A cup
is given for the farmers' horses, and a sweep-
stakes for those belonging to gentlemen who
hunt in Hampshire or Sussex, carrying twelve
stone each ; two-mile heats ; the winner of
which I had the pleasure to ride the year
before last. Every one south of London, who
moves in the sporting world, has heard of
Captain Captain Bridges, who has long been
Bridges. conspicuous for daring feats of horse-
manship and coachmanship.* The Captain is
a gentleman born and bred, being the son of
the late General Bridges, and resides at the
Hermitage, situated in a beautiful part of the
county of Hants.

* Captain Bridges once rode down the Devil's Dyke at Brighton
for a bet, -with a half-crown between each knee and the saddle. —
Author.

1845.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 157

" The following anecdote of Captain Bridges
should not be lost to posterity, being so truly
characteristic of an Englishman. Being one
day with the fox-hounds, he saw two gentle-
men parleying with a farmer in a gateway,
who refused to let them pass through it. The
captain rode up to them, and asked them
what was the matter ? ' Why,' said one of
the gentlemen, ' this farmer says he will
murder the first man who attempts to go into
the field.' 'Does he?' said the Captain;
c then here goes ; life for life ; and immediately
charged him. The fellow aimed a desperate
blow at his head, which, in spite of the velvet-
cap, would have felled him to the ground, if
he had not had the good fortune to have
avoided it; when, taking to his heels, the
coward fled, with the Captain after him, and
absolutely crept into a large covered drain to
avoid him. 'Whoo-hoop!' said the Captain,
' I've run him to ground, by Jove !'

"I have already said that Captain Bridges
is one of the best tandem drivers in England.
In the exercise of his art he offers the follow-
ing bet : that he ivill throw any man out of the
carriage without himself being thrown out.
Strange to say, this bet has been accepted, for
the life as well as the money of the loser
might be the forfeit.

158 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1825 to

" Captain Bridges is so well known in
Hampshire by the name of 'the Captain,'
that I hope he will pardon my applying to
him the familiar though honourable title.
Among his other accomplishments he has the
credit of riding a race so well, that when I
once went to ride against him, I found he
was more the favourite than his horse. c The
Captain wins for a pound,' said a farmer in
my hearing, as I first entered the course.
Knowing there was a large field against him,
I naturally asked the farmer if he knew any-
thing of the horse the Captain was going to
ride. ' Not I,' said the farmer ; l but the
Captain wins, and no one else, for a pound.'

" Captain Bridges hunts regularly with fox-
hounds, and keeps a pack of harriers of his
own. Were it necessary to show his devotion
to the sport, this fact would be sufficient :
The last time I saw him out, he told me that
he was severely attacked by gout at three
o'clock that morning ; but, determined to hunt,
a dose for he had taken two strong calomel
pills, sixty drops of the gout medi-
cine called colchicum, on the top of which he
put a glass of hot gin-and-water, on his road
to covert, 'to keep things in their places.'

" To describe the Captain's dress would take

1S45.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 159

a livelier pen than mine. His hat I have
seen, and, by the side of it, the JollifFe, or any
other, wonld hide their diminished heads.
The waistcoat I have not seen ; but I have
been given to understand, that a person would
be almost as much at a loss to say of what
materials it was composed, as Mr. Warde was
to inform a certain great personage, who
asked him what hair his hat was made ofu
and perhaps would not be quite so happy in
his conjecture.

"Although, as I have before mentioned,
Captain Bridges resides at the Hermitage, he
does not live the life of a hermit — being what
the world calls L a jolly good fellow ;' and I
have reason to believe that, in these shady
groves, the nightingale oftener hears the Cap-
tain than the Captain hears the nightingale,
for in his convivial hours he occasionally imi-
tates the mail-coach horn so well as to be
heard at a considerable distance.

" When speaking of captains, the following
is too good to be lost : — The first day I was
out with the Hambledon hounds, we met at
Preshaw House, the seat of Mr. Long ; and
getting hold of a dodging fox, he soon brought
us back to the covert where we found him,
and where a son of Mr. Long's, a fine boy

160 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1825 to

about nine vears old, was stationed on his
pony, with the hope of getting another peep
at us. It so happened that the servant who
attended tally-ho'd the fox, and we all came
close to him; when the boy, perceiving a
captain of dragoons* among the field, who,
by the orderly-book of his regiment, is denied
the Christian-like operation of shaving, he
rode up to his father and exclaimed : ' Papa,

who is that gentleman iiith a ivig wider his
nose V

" I have one more anecdote, and then I
have done; but this relates to myself. On
the second day I was out with these hounds ;
as I was changing from my hack to my hunter,
a farmer by the name of Boys — who, I under-
stand, is a character in his way — addressed
me thus ; ' Why, you be a stranger in these
parts, ben't you ?' ' Yes,' replied I ; ' I am.'
1 A pretty good pack of clogs, ben't they, sir?'
' I dare say they are,' was my answer ; i but I
will tell you more about them by-and-by.'
1 Ah !' said the farmer, shaking his head,
i there is one fault about the gentlemen who
follows these hounds, they breaks the fences, but
they never mends them.' Not taking him rightly,

* I believe the officer alluded to was Colonel George Greenwood, of
the 2nd Life Guards, and not in the Dragoons. — Author.

1845.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 161

I said, ' My good fellow ! you cannot expect
gentlemen to mend every fence they break
down when they are hunting. 'Oh!' replied
Mr. Boys, ' there is one way of mending them.
What do you think of a leg of mutton and a
good bowl of punch ? Did you see what was
put in the Hampshire paper' (here he alluded
to an extract from one of my letters describ-
ing Mr. Villebois' farmers' race and the dinner
given to them afterwards) ' about Squire Ville-
boy?' 'Yes,' replied I; 'I did.' 'Well,'
continued Mr. Bo}ts, ' nothing never made
half so much noise in our parish as that. The
paper was handed about from house to house
for three Sundays together, and, at last, the
part was cut out and read aloud in the church-
yard.'

"Nimrod.

" P.S. On looking over what I have written
of Mr. Villebois' hounds, I think it necessary
to observe that I never saw Mr. Frederick
Heysham ride anywhere but in Hampshire,
therefore cannot say how he performs in deep
and strong countries ; but I think, when on
his chesnut horse, he is rather quicker in
getting to his hounds than any one I have
seen in Hampshire, and has no objection to

M

162 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1825 to

a new-painted gate at any time of the clay.
The Hon. W. Gage, Mr. George Delme, and
Mr. Meares ride very well to hounds."

Mr. Abraham Mr- Abraham Pole (brother to Sir

TflLTilr Peter Pole) of West Ham> near

hounds. Basingstoke, on the death of Mr.
Chute, succeeded as master of the Vine. " The
hounds were kept, not by annual subscription,
but on condition of Mr. Pole receiving a sum
of money from the gentlemen of the Hunt, for
the purpose of building a kennel and pur-
chasing horses." — Sporting Magazine, vol. xvi.
p. 47.

Richard Mr. Pole built kennels at West

Adamson. Ham H brought Richard Adam-

son, the celebrated huntsman, into Hants.
Adamson lived before with Lord Scarborough
and was once with Mr. Musters, and he learnt
his first lessons in hunting from his father, who
hunted Sir John Dashwood's harriers, near
Bourton-on-the-Hill. Will Burket, late with
Mr. Chute, was his whip. Adamson was a
grand huntsman in woodlands ; almost on his
first dav he showed oreat talent. During the
cub-hunting season they had a clipping run
from Pamber Forest, and ran from scent to
view on Cannon Heath (where the race-horses
now train) in fifty minutes. In the Forest he

1845.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 163

showed his science. Approaching Mr. Pole,
he took off his cap, and said, " Sir, the main of
the pack are on an old fox. May I order the
five couples on the cub to be stopped, and try
our luck on an evident flyer ?" For he saw
he was an old one by the way he ran the rides.
Adamson was a «;ood rider and a good servant,

O O 7

and gave universal satisfaction.

At this time the pack had somewhat de-
generated, but they did their work gallantly.
The old Duke of Beaufort helped Mr. Pole
with some good hunting hounds, and intro-
duced the badger-pied sort ; before this they
were all black-pied.

Mr. Pole had the Vine only one season, and
"it is due to him that, never having been a
master of hounds before, he merely took the
management until a successor to Mr. Chute
could be found." — NimrocVs Reminiscences.

In the Sporting Magazine (October,
1825, p. 393) is given the conclu- tour in the

. New Forest.

sion of Nimrod's tour in Hants. He
says : " The road from Melton-Mo wbray to
Lyndburst, the head-quarters of that country,
being two miles nearer through my own stable-
yard than by any other route, my horses re-
freshed themselves for a few days in their own
stalls, and arrived at Lyndhurst on the 10th of

m 2

164 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1825 to

April. Taking a peep at London on my road,
I mounted the box of the best coach in Ens;-
land (the Southampton Telegraph), and on the
morning of the same day, working it down the
road by the side of those accomplished coach-
men, Mr. Peere and Mr. Taylor, I arrived at
Beechwood, the seat of Sir Hussey Vivian, by
dinner, and took up my abode under his
hospitable roof during my visit to the Fo-
rest,

" Although I had never been in ' The Forest,'
as it is called, all others being considered quite
infra dig. to this, yet, having lived a great deal
with a friend (Mr. Chudleigh Haynes) who
took much delight in talking of it, and who
but from ill health would never have forsaken
it, I fancied myself all but at home. I had
listened with so much pleasure to the many
entertaining stories of what had happened
there in Mr. Warde's, as well as in Mr. Xicoll's
time (and I believe in no country under the
sun has the l Coffee-house,' as it is called, been
equal to this), that the names of John Warde,
Sam Nicoll, Charles Mitchell, Billy Butler,
Jemmy Gilbert, Harbin, Nunez, not forgetting
Old Woods and half a score others, were quite
familiar to my ear.

"My readers are aware that the present

IS -15.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 165

master of the New Forest hounds, Mr. Nicoii.
Mr. Nicoll, succeeded the great John Warde,
and has now hunted the country nine seasons,
with a subscription of about 1200/. per annum.
His taste for hounds is allowed to be very cor-
rect, and his bitches have been considered about
the standard mark. Mr. Nicoll's country not
requiring a strong pack, his kennel is not large,
consisting generally of forty couples of hunt-
ing hounds, about one-half of which are bred
by himself, and the other half by the Duke of
Beaufort, whose young drafts Mr. Nicoll has
been so fortunate to get for some years past.
The celebrated New Forest Justice blood is
still going, and nothing can, I believe, excel it.
My visit to Sir Hussey extended to the 20th of
April, during which time I hunted four times
with Mr. Nicoll ; but the same cause (the dry
weather) which operated against sport in the
country I had just quitted, was in full force
there, not a drop of rain having fallen for
many weeks. Added to this, there was one
other bar, not only to sport, but to all chance
of sport, and that was — I am sorry to pronounce
it — a lamentable scarcity of foxes. To such an
extent, however, I was given to understand,
has the unhappy mania for pheasants increased
in the precincts of the Forest, that no sooner

166 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1825 to

does a fox stray out of it than he is in a trap.
From all I heard, indeed, I have good reason
to believe that, were it not for the kindness of
his Royal Highness the Duke of York, Head-
Warden of the Forest, the persons employed
under the Lords Commissioners of Woods and
Forests, Mr. Drummond, the Steward of the
Bramber Manor, and a few others well disposed
towards fox-hunting, there would not be a fox
in the country, though the lying for them ex-
ceeds anything I ever witnessed before. Brother
sportsmen, mind this — -fox-hunting trembles on
the beam ! and I think I hear hundreds of the
rising generation exclaim, ' The sooner it kicks
the better, for it is too rough an amusement
for us.'

" I saw one very pretty thing with Mr.
Nicoll's pack, running him to ground in
twenty-five minutes. The pace was quick
enough to show hounds to advantage, and also
to show what following them in the Xew
Forest is. The first part was over the open,
and the latter among trees and bushes, where
the quick running and flying to scent and cry
was beautiful to those who could see it. I also
saw a great deal of excellent slow-hunting on
days in which hounds could have hunted no-
where else ; but on all rough ground like the
Forest, there is what is called i a side scent,'

1845.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 167

from the game so often touching with his sides
as well as with his pads, and which is very
favourable to hounds. This description of
sport, however, is beautiful to behold, and in
some measure suitable to mid-day hunting in
the month of April, when the sun is often hot
and oppressive.

" Mr. Nicoll hunts his own hounds, assisted
by two whippers-in, all very well mounted.
Indeed, I do not know when I have seen a
more useful stud of hunters than Mr. Nicoll's ;
and Sir Bellingham Graham, who was then
staying with him, offered him a large sum for
one of them. His weight is a welter, but he
rides hard and well across the Forest ; and,
save and except he has to skirt a bog, or is
well planted in the middle of it, he is never
away from his hounds.

" One of his whippers-in, Joe, took joe
my fancy much. A good rough-look- Pe am*
in a- fellow, born in the Forest, and about as
hard as one of its native oaks. His language
to his hounds is somewhat unique ; all in the
monosyllable, whose ' breath is short and strong,'
and his cheer, when drawing, was compared
by a wag to a man in an emetic, with the dose
not quite strong enough for him. Notwith-
standing this, Joe is a clever fellow in his way,
and a useful, industrious servant.

168 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1825 to

" Mr. Xicoll is but a young master of fox-
hounds, and consequently a young huntsman ;
but Mr. Xicoll is a man of quick parts, and
soon made himself perfect in the science.

"He has, however, taken no small pains to
become so, devoting a great part of his time to the
kennel, and I scarcely know where he pleased
me most — there or in the kennel. He is an ex-
cellent feeder, and looks to essential points, in
shape and make. He is not like some masters of
hounds that I could name, all for legs and feet,
nearly regardless of other form, but has an eye
to points for speed and lasting. His style of
hound struck me as being particularly good,
and I mio'ht also add, that when we have seen
a few of his kennel, we have seen them all.
Mr. Xicoll looks like a true-born Englishman
who is not ashamed of his country — which is
more than we can say of all we meet. He is
not a dandy, we must admit, but he has culti-
vated his mind more than his dress; and,
amongst other accomplishments, Mr. Xicoll is
a poet of a very pretty turn. As a master of
fox-hounds, however, I saw nothing in the
least magisterial or imperious in Mr. Xicoll in
the field ; on the contrary, he was polite and
obliging to all. As a companion, Mr. Xicoll is
a man of great readiness of wit, and a happy

IS 45.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 169

quickness in reply. A well-mounted man had
one day been pressing so closely on his hounds
that nothing but a Job could stand it any
longer, and Mr. Nicoll bestowed upon him a
few hearty damns. The offender rode up to
him, and said, ' Upon my word, Mr. Nicoll, I
don't understand this, sir. I did not come out
to be damned.' ' Then go home and be damned,'
replied Mr. Nicoll.*

" It being the Easter holidays, I had the
pleasure of seeing one part of Mr. Nicoll's
establishment which I should otherwise have
missed, and that was his two sons in the field.
The eldest (my friend Sam, about Sam Nicoii,
twelve years of age) will rate and ■jun*
turn a hound with any man in England ; and
as for the youngest (only seven years old), in
his scarlet coat and hunting-whip, he and his
pony are allowed to be quite unique. This is
training up a child in the way he should go,
and it will take a good horseman to go better
than my friend Sam Nicoll, jun., over the
Forest.

£ ' The New Forest is a very awkward The n. f.
country to get across, and one in countr^
which, in my opinion, there is no great enjoy-

* This was addressed to one Alison, a Southampton barber, who
used to hunt on an old grey horse. — Author.

170 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1825 to

ment of hounds, when they go the pace. Fences
are generally to be managed, but bogs require
wings ; and as heart of oak is rather harder
than men's skulls, another difficulty presents
itself in the wooded parts — a tree is to be
encountered at about every fourth stride of
the horse. Horses that are used to all this
soon become wonderfully handy ; but, taking
it altogether, the Forest is a distressing country
to them, although they get a few chances in
their favour by foxes running short, which,
from the nature of the country, they must
often do.

Mr. iiarbin. " There was one person in the
Forest of whom, having heard so much, I
was particularly anxious to see, and that was
Mr. Harbin.*

" This gentleman resides in the Forest, and,
like the oaks that overshadow it, he has not
been stinted in his growth. His weight on his
horse must be upwards of twenty stone, but
his seat on his saddle surprised me much. He
stood up in his stirrups, in his thin jockey
boots, as his horse galloped along, and dis-
played all the activity of a ten-stone man. He
is also allowed to be an excellent sportsman,
and knows every track. I have a singular cir-

* Mr. Harbin died at Fritham, May 3, 1837, setat 76. For a me-
moir, see Sporting Magazine, June, 1837. — Author.

1845.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 171

cumstance to relate of Mr. Harbin, which. I
heard from his own mouth.

" On my speaking to him in praise of his
chesnut horse, for a finer animal eyes never
beheld, he told me that he was glandered for
four seasons, but it made no difference in his
work, and he is now quite well.

" Lyndhurst still remains the capital of the
Forest, and several gentlemen (among whom
were that celebrated sportsman, Mr. Templer,
Mr. Spurrier, and Mr. J. Codrington) were
staying at the Crown. Sir Bellingham Graham
was on a visit to Mr. Nicoll ; Mr. John Moore
was staying with Mr. Compton ; and Sir John
Cope and Mr. Warde were also to have been
with Mr. Nicoll, but were prevented by slight
indisposition.

" Sir Hussey Vivian's father was Mr. Vivian.
on a visit to him when I was in the Forest,
and is an example to all men of the good
effects of a country life and country sports.
Mr. Vivian resides at Trewan, in Cornwall,
where he has kept hounds for a great number
of years (hunting fox after Christmas), and
where he fulfils some of the most important
offices of a country gentleman. Although
nearly arrived at the ' age of man,' Mr. Vivian
is young in condition, and as firm and strong
a horseman as I ever met with.

172 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1S25 to

" On the second day of my hunting with
Mr. Nicoll, I had the pleasure of seeing the
Biiiy Butler, well-known Mr. Butler. Although
we had never met, we had heard and read of
each other, and a slight introduction put us
completely at our ease.

" Mr. Butler informed me that the last was
the fortieth month of April in succession that he
had spent in the Forest, but gave it as his
opinion that, should he live to see forty years
more, fox-hunting in the Forest would only be
talked of as having once been.

" When his Majesty — then Prince of Wales
— hunted in Dorsetshire, where Mr. Butler re-
sides, he was extremely pleased with his society,
and bestowed upon him several slight marks of
his attention, and which I understand he con-
tinues to do to this day.

" Every one, indeed, must be pleased with
Mr. Butler. There is about him a simplicity
of manner, added to a quaintness of expression,
very rarely met with in these sophisticated
days, to which an additional zest is given by a
powerful Dorsetshire dialect. As a sportsman,
a companion, and a worthy, excellent man,
however, Mr. Butler ranks with any one, and
his name is as well known in the Western
hemisphere of the sporting world as Russell's

1845.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 173

waggons are on the Western-road. As may be
expected, the gentleman I have been speaking
of — being quite an original — does not only
afford amusement to his friends, but is now
and then himself the subject of an harmless
joke. On the last day of my visit to Sir
Hussey, he had a large party to dinner,
amongst whom was Mr. Butler, and by ac-
cident he was placed opposite an excellent
painting of a fox by Barringer. It so happened
that Mr. Butler never saw this fox till he had
taken his glass of port wine after his cheese,
when he suddenly exclaimed, ' What a beauti-
ful picture of a fox !' ' Ah, Billy,' said an old
friend of his, who sat opposite to him, c how
well your nose must have been down this last
hour, that you never saw that fox before !'
Sir Hussey lives well.

" NlMROD."

"The H. H. races took place on 1825.
Friday, April 15, on Worthy Down, H- H- races-
and afforded excellent sport. The H. H. Cup,
value 100 guineas, was won by the Hon. T.
W. Gage's Gimlet, beating Mr. Villebois' horse
Veteran, by Blucher, on whom the betting at
starting was 10 to 1 ; by which unexpected
occurrence the knowing ones were completely

174 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1825 to

floored. The next race was a Sweepstakes of
5 guineas each. Twelve subs. Gentlemen
riders. It was won, after a severe contest, by
a neck, by Mr. Molony's mare Madge Wildfire,
rode by the owner. A match for 50 guineas.
Two miles. Mr. Sawbridge's Justice, rode by
Captain Bridges, beat Mr. Graeme's Rodney, rode
by Captain Price." — Sporting Magazine, p. 52.
Mr. shard's Mr. Charles Shard, having pur-

stag-houncls,

1825. chased the .North Devon stag-hounds

from Mr. Lucas, now hunted stag from his
residence at Somborne. Nimrod, after visiting
him, says, in the Sporting Magazine for De-
cember, p. 60 : " Whatever Mr. Shard does,
he does with spirit, and, with the exception of
a sad lack of hounds, his turn-out was very
good indeed. He himself was mounted on his
favourite grey horse — such a one as Ave rarely
meet with ; and he had two servants (Sharp,
formerly huntsman to the Hon. Luniley Saville,
and his son, bred up, I believe, in his present
master's service), also very well mounted, in
the field. Two friends of his, Mr. Smith of
Somborne and Mr. Lovell of Rookley, acted as
yeomen prickers, which gave the whole a very
classical effect. Mr. Shard's person, as master
of the ceremonies, was also adorned by a hand-
some belt, to which was suspended a bugle.

1845.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 175

The place of meeting was Flower Down, near
Winchester. This being the first time of our
stag's performance, he did not show us much
sport. He v/ent away very unwillingly for
Crawley Warren, which he seemed very anxious
to enter, but did not attempt the pales. Here
it was supposed by many that he would be
taken, but I was prepared for another start,
and he went away for about three miles at his
very best pace, with one couple of hounds close
to his haunches, and all the rest some distance
behind. He was with much difficulty secured,
and after being blooded in the tail, soon re-
covered himself; and I was sony to hear that
he seriously injured the elder Sharp that even-
ing in the paddock.

"Mr. Shard has, I understand, fifteen deer
in his paddocks at Somborne House, but is
very short of hounds, having been obliged to
get rid of several of the old North Devon
pack, who were gotten below the mark ; and
I should not suspect the Hampshire flints
agreed with hounds of this great size. He
has, however, had some small addition to his
pack from his Majesty's kennel." — Sporting
Magazine, p. 61.

On the 11th November Mr. Shard turned
out on Ball Down, in the presence of a very

176 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1S25 to

large field. Among the spectators was Mon-
sieur Louis, the French giant from Lorraine,
who contrived to curtail his fair proportions
of seven feet five inches to the narrow limits
of a close carriage. The stag went off to
Crawley, and then in full view for about six
miles, followed by a field of two hundred
horsemen, extending a distance of nearly two
miles, and was taken at Titcomb Bridge.

At the end of the season of 1826 Mr. Shard
disposed of his stag-hounds : part went to Ger-
many, and the others were bought by some
sportsmen in the neighbourhood of Epping.
Mr. Muiiins's Mr* Mullins lived about a mile
hamers. from Basingstoke, and at this time
had kept a pack of harriers about seventeen
years. They had been in his family before he
took them, and they were then tinged with
southern blood ; but Mr. Mullins soon found
out that for a flying hare, over the Hampshire
hills, this hanging sort was of no avail. Mr.
Mullins acknowledges the benefit his pack has
received from a cross of Sir John Dashwood's
blood, several of his hounds being bred from
his pack. For this cross he was indebted to
Mr. Bonham of Petersfield, who became pos-
sessed of Sir John's hounds.

Mr. Mullins was a very big man, riding

1845.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 177

nearly eighteen stone ; but he hunted his
hounds himself, and was first-rate as a harrier
huntsman. For many years he had drafts
from Mr. Chute, who, when he had anything
a little under his own size, always reserved it
for Mr. Mullins. At his death his pack was
purchased by Mr. John Portal of Laverstoke.

"From 1826 till 1828 Mr. Asshe- 1826.
ton Smith established his quarters Mr.Asshe-

x ton Smith at

at Penton Lodge, near Andover. He Penton.
had ceased to be a master of hounds after he
gave up the Burton country, in 1824, but
hunted regularly with the Duke of Rutland's,
and other packs, in the surrounding countries.
At Penton he commenced operations with a
scratch pack, which he soon got into order;
but until the death of his father no very active
steps were taken to bring the country into the
condition in which it is now."

A writer in the Sporting Magazine of May,
1832, p. 128, speaking of Mr. Assheton Smith,
says: "Combining the character of a skilful
sportsman with that of a desperate horseman,
perhaps a parallel is not to be found, and his
name will be handed down to posterity as a
specimen of enthusiastic zeal, in one indi-
vidual pursuit, very rarely equalled. Mr.
Smith did not become a master of fox-hounds

N

178 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1825 to

because it was the fashion to be a master of
fox-hounds, neither did he go a hunting be-
cause others went a hunting, neither did he
ride well up to his hounds one day, and be a
mile behind them the next. No ; from the
first day of the season to the last he was
always the same man, the same desperate
fellow over a country, and unquestionably
possessing on every occasion, and at every hoar
of the clay, the most bull-dog-like nerve ever
exhibited in a saddle.

" His motto was, ' I'll be with my hounds ;'
and all those who have seen him must ac-
knowledge he made no vain boast of his
prowess. His falls were countless, and no
wonder ! for he rode at places which he knew
no horse could leap over; but his object was
to get one way or other into the field with his
hounds. As a horseman, however, he has
ever been super-excellent."

In 1827 Mr. Smith purchased Sir
Richard Sutton's hounds, and with
them came Dick Burton, who had lived ten
years with Mr. Smith in Leicestershire.

Dick Burton was a good horseman, and
very active in the field; he lived altogether
twenty- two years with Mr. Smith. In 1860
he was still living near Quorndon. George
Carter came to Tedworth with the Grafton

1845.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 179

hounds in 1840. David Edwards was his first
whip, and Cowley his second.

Several good sportsmen were regular attend-
ants with Mr. Smith, viz. the Messrs. Everett
and Hetley, General Wyndham, Mr. Rowden
of Durrington, Mr. Hay ward of Wivelsforcl,
who generally had a good horse, and was also
well known with the Duke of Beaufort.

Mr. Charles Beaver of Overton, 1826.
son of Colonel Beaver, now sue- Mr; -Beaver

7 with the

ceeded Mr. A. Pole as master of Vine-
the Vine hounds, but only had them for one
season. Mr. Beaver served for some years in
the army, first in the 34th Regiment, and then,
in 1805, in the 11th Light Dragoons, and
having been quartered at different stations in
England, and always fond of hunting from a
child, he saw a good deal of sport before he
became a master of hounds. Richard Adam-
son was his huntsman, and during his year of
management the Vine had one or two extraor-
dinary runs. On one occasion they found at
Ashe Park, and ran their fox to Holybourne,
and from Waltham Frimleys, with another,
they went nearly to Alton. Mr. Beaver's
hounds, under the excellent management of
Adamson, were very quick and handy, and
flew like a flock of pigeons.

Mr. Beaver was a member of the Maddington

n2

180 SPORTING REMINISCENCES. [1825 to

and old Bibmy Clubs, and from his proficiency
as a jockey he was called "Young Buckle."

He always preferred thorough-bred horses
in the field, and had a famous hunter called
Watchman, by Precipitate, which he bought of
Thistlewood,* who was hung for high treason,
and afterwards sold him to Lord Southampton ;
and another, which he bought of old Wyse, the
coachman, by the Prince of Wales's Rebel, which
he rode for eighteen years without a fall ; these
were, perhaps, the two most serviceable horses
he had, although he bought of Mr. John Elmore
Bill Bean's renowned horse Bean Stalk, who
was nearly as intelligent and quick as his old
master, which is saying a great deal for him.

After he gave up the management of the
Vine, Mr. Beaver for six years never missed a
day with his friend Mr. Assheton Smith, who
had just then come into the county ; and he
says that during that time he never once saw
a blank day.

The h. h. c. The Hambledon Hunt Races took
races, 1826. ^\ace on g0])ert0n Down, April 25th.

The Farmers' Cup was won by Mr. Woolridge's
bay mare Miss Royal; and the Sweepstakes,
of 5 sovs. each, for horses not thorough-bred,
was won by

* Arthur Thistlewood was executed at the Old Bailey, May 1st. 1820.
He was the chief of the Cato-street conspirators, whose object was to as-
sassinate the King's ministers. He started in life with some fortune
and education, and had been a lieutenant in the army.

1845.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 181

Mr. Legg's b. m. Careless 1

Capt. Berkeley's br. g. Molsey 2

Capt. George's br. g. He's-a-Coming ... 0
Mr. Vine's ch. h. Young Witchcraft ... 0

Mr. Henry Fellowes succeeded Mr. 1827.
Beaver as master of the Vine. Adam- JJjJgf^th"
son was also his huntsman. At this tne Vine-
period Sandford Wood and Chinham afforded
great sport. There were also very good runs
from Many Down. One memorable spin from
the little plantation in the Park to Faccombe
Wood, via North Oakley, Sidmonton Down,
and Litchfield, is still talked of. With the
exception of two seasons, when these hounds
were managed by a committee, in 1834, and
when Mr. Donnithorne Taylor was master, in
1835, Mr. Fellowes had them seventeen sea-
sons. He resigned in 1845.

One of the finest stag-hunts ever

° , Stag-hunt in

seen took place in the Forest on this the Forest,

Dec. 7th.

day. The hounds met at Mr. Henry
Combe Compton's, Manor House, and drew
the covert at Boldrewood Furze-brake, where
a stag was found, which went to the border of
Beaulieu Manor, then turned towards Brocken-
hurst, where the hounds came up, and shortly
after which the stag was secured at the head
of the mill, principally by the active assistance
of Major Rose and Mr. C. Vivian. There was
a large field out, among whom were the Bight

182 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1825 to

Hon. Sir George Rose, General Sir Hussey
Vivian, and several other officers.

1828. Mr. Nicoll resigned the manage-

TheN.F.H. ment of the ±sT. F. H., and was suc-

Mr. \\ .

Wyndham. ceeded by Mr. William Wyndham,
who lived at Burnford House, Bramshaw, and
removed the hounds from the kennels at Lynd-
hurst to Bramshaw. He hunted them himself.
His servants were William Butler,

His servants. m 7

Harry Gillett, afterwards huntsman
to Captain Shedden, Sam Powell, who acted
as second horseman as well as whip, and also
Sharp, who had lived with Mr. Smith of the
Hambledon, and who, on leaving the Forest,
went to Colonel Wyndham, in Sussex.

Mm South says, in the Sporting Magazine :
"The removal of the kennel to Bramshaw, five
miles from Lyndhurst,- is certainly a disadvan-
tage for the place, for, on a dies non or a pour-
ing wet day, what is an unfortunate individual
to do with himself? and there are few sports-
men who cannot pass an hour or two in a
kennel very agreeably. It used to be a great
lounge during Mr. Mcoll's time, who, from all
accounts, must have been admirable in the
Forest ; indeed, his humour alone is worth any
money."

The H. H. races were held on h.h. races,
Worthy Down, April 20th. Amongst AprU 20th-'

1845.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 183

the company were Lord and Lady Rodney,
Sir Henry Tichborne and family, Sir Henry
Warde, K.C.B., Hon. Colonel Onslow, Hon.
Wm. Gao-e, Messrs. J. T. Villebois, Robert T.
Heysham, H. Fellowes, "W". T. Graeme, Carter,
Ricketts, A. F. Nunez, G. Thompson, W.
Wayne, Hoare, W. Lynn,* Griffith, Staines.
Mr. Grssme officiated as steward.

The Hunt Cup, value 150 guineas. 12st. Heats. Two miles.
Mr. R. T. Heysham's gr. g. Don Miguel... (John Day) 1 1

Mr. J. W. Scott's b. g. Why Not 4 2

Mr. J.T. Villebois' b. h. Scarborough 2 dr.

Mr. W. T. Graeme's bl. m. Tipsy (Conolly) 3 dr.

The Stoneham Park Stakes, 10 sovs. each. Two miles.

Mr. W. Graeme's bl. h. Whim (Conolly) 1

M. C Shard's filly by Orville 2

Mr. J. T. Villebois' b. h. Scarborough 3

The Harmsworth Stakes, 5 sovs. each. Two miles. Gentlemen

riders.

Mr. W. T. Graeme's bl. m. Tipsey (Mr. Davis) 1

Hon. T. Rodney's bl. g. Lindsay (Capt. Price) 2

Mr. J. W. Scott's Why Not (Capt. Greenwood) 3

Mr. Fleming's Intruder (Mr. Fred. Heysham) 4

At the Hambledon Hunt races, on mi TT TT „

; The H. H. C.

Soberton Down, the Farmers' Cup races,

i n/r n j i tt APril> 1828-

was won by Mr. Stare s en. g. Hymen,

beating horses belonging to Messrs. Carpenter,

Hooper, and Legg.

* Mr. Lynn, commonly called Billy Lynn, was a yachtsman, very
well known at Southampton. An account of a trip in his yacht, the
Blue-eyed Maid, is given by Nimrod in the Sporting Magazine, vol. xviii.
p. 363. He was a great friend of Mr. G. Thompson of Bishop's Sutton,
who sailed with him. Mr. Lynn was very fond of port wine. Nature
had given him a very large nose, which was highly coloured. He used
to call it his safety-valve, but it became so bad at last that it was
obliged to be cut off.

184 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1825 to

The Hunters' Stakes, gentlemen riders, was
won by Mr. Berkeley's horse, beating Mr.
Stewart and the Hon. W. Gage.
h. h. The Farmers' Cup was run for on

farmers' race. Abbotstone Down, and won bv Mr.
Legg's brown mare by Traveller, beating Mr.
Whitear's, Mr. Maughan's, and Mr. Trodd's
horses. The winner was ridden by Mr. Wil-
liam Leg£.

CO

On December 19th the Hambledon

Dec. 19th. , -, -. -, n p ttt ,

Fine run hounds had a line run from \\ est
Endlf End, through Allington, Durley,
donHamble" Stroud, and Cleverley Woods, by
Corhampton and Preshaw to Ext on.
At Warnford the fox crossed the water, and
was run into after a run of seventeen miles.
About one hundred horsemen were in the
field at starting, but not more than a dozen
were in at the death. Mr. T. Smith, the
master, got the brush, after wading through a
river breast high. Of those who got to the
end were the two Messrs. Moody, S. Taylor,
Capt. Burnaby Green, Colonel George Green-
wood, Mr. Charles Brett, and Capt, Sullivan.
Mr. T. Smith* resigned the manage-

1829

Mr King ment of the Hambledon and took
^^ the Craven hounds. He was suc-

Hambledon.

ceeded by Mr. J. King, who brought
his hounds with him from Devonshire.

1845.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 185

Mr. King, before coming into Hants, lived
at Fowelscombe, about four miles from Ivy
Bridge, and kept a famous pack of harriers,
which he sold to Mr. H. F. Yeatman of Stock
House, Sherborne. Mr. King also had fox-
hounds in Devon, and, with his friend Mr.
John Bulteel, hunted the country between
Exeter and Plymouth. Mr. King was a
thorough good sportsman, and up to every-
thing ; he was a good fisherman, a good shot,
and a particularly keen otter-hunter.

Mr. King hunted nothing but bitches; he
had a big and a little pack : the former stand-
ing from twenty-two to twenty-three inches,
the latter twenty-one. They were very even,
and when at their best pace might have been
covered with a sheet. When Mr. King retired
in 1841, he placed in his successor's hand fifty-
five couple of as fine hounds as ever entered a
covert. Mr. King hunted the hounds hmself

John Squires, who came from Mr> KhK„'s
Devonshire with him, was his first servants-
whip ; Joe Peckham, from the N. F. H., and
Will Wheeler were, during his management,
his other whips, both under Squires.

Squires began hunting at nine Johll
years old with Mr. George Templer S(iuires-
of Stover, Devon, and lived with him seven
seasons; then went to Mr. Bulteel of Ply-

186 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1825 to

mouth for five ; and then to Mr. King at
Fowelscombe. When Mr. Walter Long took
the Hambleclon in 1841, he became his hunts-
man, and stayed in Hants till 1848, when he
went to Lord Leconfield, succeeding Jem
N orris. At the end of his eighteenth season
with the Hambleclon, he was presented by the
farmers with a silver horn and cup. It is
impossible to say too much of him as a hunts-
man. It was a great treat to hear him cheer
his hounds as they were dragging up to their
fox. As a kennel man he was very good ; he
had his hounds " like stars," none could be
handsomer.

Members and The following gentlemen have
of ttJeH^- been members and supporters of the
biecion Hunt Hambledon hounds from Mr. King's

from Mr. . °

King's time mastership in 1829, but are not ar-

up to 1849. -. . -, n , . ,

ranged m order of their election :

Mr. George Orred, Rooksbury, formerly of
Tranmere, Cheshire.

Mr. Bettesworth P. Shearer, Swanmore
House.

Mr. James R. Greig, Holywell House.

Mr. Hamilton Burrell, Hilsea,

Mr. J. H. Campbell- Wyndham, Ext on.

Captain Georges, Cams Cottage.

Hon. Robert A. Arundell, Bugle Hall,
Southampton, and Houghton Lodge.

1845.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 187

Col. Napier, afterwards Col. Elers Napier.

Mr. George Colin Oliver, Bramdean Cottage.

Mr. Thomas Hext, Shidfielcl, and Trenarren,
Cornwall.

Sir James Campbell.

Lord Vaux, 2nd Life Guards, Southampton,
and Harrowden, Northampton.

Mr. C. M. Kinclerslev, Northbrook House.

Mr. Thomas Bourke, Holywell House.

Mr. Agar Robartes, Lanhyclrock, Cornwall.

Captain Hugonin, Nursted House, Buriton.

Mr. Thomas Butler, Bury Lodge, Hambledon.

Mr. John N. Pitter, West-end Hill, South-
ampton.

Mr. Alexander Hoyes, Bitterne Grove.

Mr. John Long (late 10th Hussars), Marwell.

Mr. F. P. Delme RadelifFe, Shawford House,
Secretary in 1831.

Mr. Edward Bryan.

Mr. Edmund Knapp, Southampton.

Mr. Stephen Ram, Southampton.

Sir John Halket, Bart,, Fareham.

Captain Griffith, Southampton, Secretary in
1832.

Mr. John Burrell, East Cosham.

Mr. William Abbott, Warnford Park.

Mr. Charles Brett, West Hill, near Titchfield.

Mr. W. H. Barkworth, Cams Cottage, Ham-
bledon.

188 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1825 to

Mr. Peter Barfoot, Dr oxford.

Mr. Thomas Chamberlayne, Cranbury Park.

General Wm. C. Coles, Woodcote House,
Bramdean.

Mr. Mildmay Clerk, Southampton.

Mr. Henry Peter Delme, Cams Hall, Fareham.

Captain George Delme, R.K, Cams Hall.

Mr. John Willis Fleming, M.P., Stoneham
House.

The Hon. T. W. Gage, Westbury.

Lieut. -Colonel Greenwood, Brookwood.

Captain Burnaby Green, R.N., Wickham.

Mr. William Hornby, Hook, Titchfield.

Mr. James Barlow Hoy.

Mr. William Gamier, Rooksbury.

Mr. William Sadler, Longstock.

Mr. F. W. Harvey, Purbrook.

Mr. Edward Huddlestone, Swanmore.

Sir Jervoise Clarke Jervoise, Bart., Idsworth.

Mr. Robert Jessett, Black Down.

Mr. Walter Jervis Long, Preshaw House.

Captain (afterwards Admiral) George 0.
Lempriere, Pelham-place.

Mr. John Sadleir Moody, Llanover Build-
ings, Southampton, Secretary in 1839.

Mr. Joseph Martineau, Basing Park.

Captain Hood Richards, The Hermitage,
Hambledon.

Mr. Thomas Ridge, Hambledon.

1845.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 189

Mr. William Stephens, Hambleclon.

Mr. Lewis Shedden.

Mr. Samuel Taylor, Upham, Secretary in 1843.

Mr. Richard King, Warnford, Secretary in
1859.

Captain Williamson.

Mr. John Bonham Carter, Petersfield.

Mr. James Winter Scott, Rotherfield Park.

Mr.. Charles Millett, Hill-place.

Captain Napier, R.N.

Mr. Wadham Wyndham, The Close, Salis-
bury.

Mr. Thomas Shiffner, Northbrook House,
Waltham.

Mr. Henry Dorrien, Portsmouth.

Mr. William Sumner-Smith, Southampton.

Mr. E. Rose Tunno, Warnford Park.

Mr. Thomas Smith, Fir Hill, Droxford.

Mr. John Hornby, Hook.

Mr. Thomas Stephens.

Sir Thomas Miller, Bart., Froyle.

Mr. Walter Long, jun., Preshaw House.

Mr. Samuel Hawkins, Marwell Lodge.

Mr. E. Morant-Gale, Upham.

Mr. H. Dundas Drummond, Bishop's Wal-
tham.

Sir Richard Tucker, Wickham.

Mr. Charles A. Day, Bevois Hill, South-
ampton.

190 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1325 to

Mr. George T. Thresher, Fareham.

Captain Keppel, R.N., now Admiral Sir
Henry Keppel, C.B.

Mr. George Atherley, Southampton.

Mr. Thomas Willis.

Mr. Frederick Falwasser Kit nocks, Botley.

Mr. Henry Wood, Bramdean.

Mr. Wynn Hornby, Hook House.

Mr. Henry Minchin, Holywell House.

Mr. William Higgins, Hambledon.

Mr. George A. Hulbert, Stakes Hill Lodge.
Hambledon The annual races were held on
May'oth, Soberton Down, but, owing to bad
1829. weather, there was but a very small

attendance.

The Farmers' Cup.

Mr. Legg's horse by Oohanna... 2 11

Mr. Stare's Royal 1 0 0

Mr. Kennett's Diana 8 2 2

h. n. races, The Farmers' Cup, run for on
Abbotstone Down, was won by Mr.
Legge ; the second prize of a saddle and bridle
was given to Mr. Corclery.

1S30. Mr. James Wickham kept a pack

Mr James 0f twelve couple of harriers at Sutton

\\ lcknam. s J-

harriers. Scotney, which he hunted himself
round Micheldever, Wonston, Chilbolton, and
Littleton. This little pack was principally of
Mr. Mullins's breed, although Mr. Wickham
had a few drafts from Mr. Boniface, in Sussex.

1845.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 191

He made them a present to Mr. Chamberlayne
of Cr anbury in 1832.

Mr. C. Rumbold of Preston House, Mr. Rum-

z^ t i , l n i hold's har-

Candover, kept a pack of harriers, riers.
which he hunted himself, and his groom
whipped into him. When he gave them up, he
gave his pack to Mr. Scotland of Bishop's Sutton.
At the Hambledon Hunt races on Hambiedon
Soberton Down, for the Farmers' Hunt races,

' May 11th,

Cup, the following started : 183°-

Mr. Stare's br. g. Royal 1 1

Mr. R. Legg's horse by Gohauna... 2 2
Mr. Carpenter's b. ra. by Skim 3 3

The Hunters' Stakes.

Mr. Leber's ch. h. Octavius.

-'&»

Nim South visited Hants, and in 1831.
the Sporting Magazine, p. 253, describes a visit
to Sir John Cope's hounds, and his meeting
with the Duke of Wellington. " The The Duke of
hounds met at Hartley Row-gate," he Welliuston-
says. " Just as I reached this part a drizzling
rain commenced, and I put forward to seek
shelter at the meet. Neither hounds nor
horses were visible, though the man at the
gate said they would not be long in coming.
A little rain was falling, so getting off my
horse I took shelter under an open shed, at
the end of a blacksmith's shop, which stands
by the side of the turnpike. Looking up the
road, along which I had just passed, I saw a

192 SPOUTING REMINISCENCES [1825 to

red coat coming, win cling along at a snail's
pace, the wearer evidently disregarding the
sprinkling. ' He is a sportsman,' thought I ;
' and see, he wears drab breeches — a sure sign of
one !' The wearer drew nearer, and, to my sur-
prise, I found they were drab fustian trousers,
instead of drab kerseymere breeches. He was a
man somewhat stricken in years, with a grave
and thoughtful countenance. His dress con-
sisted of a plain scarlet frock coat, a lilac silk
waistcoat, kid gloves, the aforesaid fustians,
and boots which we call Wellingtons ; and
certainly they were Wellingtons in every sense
of the word, for the wearer was neither more
nor less than the illustrious Arthur himself.
As he advanced towards the blacksmith's shop,
my red coat caught his eye, and, at the same
moment, my eye caught his undeniable nose.
There was no mistaking him, and I took off
my hat to the greatest man of the day. His
Grace advanced towards the shed, acknow-
ledging my deference with a bow and a good-
humoured smile, and finding that the hounds
would come to the place where we then were,
he followed my example, and put himself and
horse under it, where we stayed chatting to-
gether until the rain was over. As we left
the shed a stage-coach drove by, the pas-
sengers on which and coachman recognising

1845.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 193

him, took off their hats, which he returned
with the old two-fingered salute to his nose.
His groom now arrived ; and shortly after the
hounds, Sir John Cope, two ladies, and several
gentlemen also made their appearance. The
Duke was quite the country gentleman, cordial,
and intimate with all. First he shook hands
with Sir John, then with squire this, and
then with squire that ; in fact, he was hand-
and-glove with all. We had just the sort of
day's sport to please a man like the Duke of
Wellington, who, though mighty in the field
of war, cuts no great figure in the hunting
one. Indeed, to do him all due justice, I have
seldom seen a man with less idea of riding
than he has. His seat is unsightly in the ex-
treme, and few men get more falls in the
course of the year than his Grace. Neverthe-
less, he seemed to enjoy the thing amazingly,
and, what with leading over occasionally and
his groom's assistance, he did very well."

The Duke hunted in trousers, and wore a
semi-military costume with hounds for some
time ; and it is said that, when first he sported
a pair of top-boots, he seemed quite proud of
them, and drew Adamson's attention to them.
One day when he came to meet the H. H. at
Popham Lane, Mr. Wilkinson politely sug-

o

194 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1825 to

gestecl that, if lie intended following the
hounds, he had better take up his stirrups
a couple of holes. The Duke was a great
supporter of the Vine hounds, at one time
subscribing 400/. a year, although he had not
many coverts in that Hunt ; yet, to show his
good feeling towards it, with his own hand he
wrote on a lease to Mr. Chaplin of Ewhurst,
that foxes must be preserved. In 1845, Sir
John Cope's hounds drew the Strathfieldsaye
coverts blank, and the fact being reported to
his Grace on his arrival from London, the
next day a positive notice was given to each
keeper that, if Sir John Cope's hounds ever
again drew the coverts without finding, he
should be instantly discharged.
•■ m A meeting of the subscribers of

He-formation °

of the Ham. the Hambledon hounds was held at

bledon Hunt , ~ T -r» • i 5 ~ytt ^ i

club. the Crown Inn, bishop s Vv altham,

' pn ' when it was resolved that a club be
established, and be called the Hambledon Hunt
Club ; and that then subscribers of 10/. be
considered members, unless they specified to
the contrary. Mr. Delme was appointed trea-
surer; and Mr. Delme RadclifFe,* secretary.

* Mr. Delme Radcliffe was at Eton and in the Grenadier Guards,
•was a neat flat race rider, frequently riding against Lord Wilton and
the Berkeleys. He was also a good pigeon shot, and competed in the
great Sweepstakes with Lords Kennedy and Anson, Captain Eoss, and
Mr. Osbaldeston. He fh*st kept harriers for three seasons at his seat in
Hertfordshire, and then the Sebright hounds for five seasons.

1845.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 195

The club was established mainly through
the exertions of Mr. Delme Radcliffe, who
framed the rules. On the night of the first
Hunt dinner at the Crown Inn, Bishop's Wal-
tham, January 4th, 1831, the following song
was composed and sung by Mr. Radcliffe :

THE HAMBLEDON HUNT.

Now the frost is all gone, and we're happily met
To debate on the true science over our wet ;
Fill a bumper all round, let us jovially sing
Hurra! for the Hambledon! — long live our King!*

Fill up your glass, every man ;

He is an ass who won't hunt if he can.

We are all truly loyal, for every one knows
A fox-hunter is loyal wherever he goes ;
And I'm sure, round this table, we all are agreed,
We've a King well adapted for taking the lead.
Fill tip, &c.

To such a King's honour it greatly redounds,
That his rein chiefly tends to direct him to hounds ;
But as Kings are not subject alone to my pen,
I'll now give you a touch at a few of his men.
Fill up, &c.

To begin with a scion of such a good stock,
Prince Dickf is a varmint young chip of the block,
He will face any fence at his father's command,
So let's hope that his days may be long in the land.
Fill up, &c.

- As the pride of our country, by all 'tis confest,
That our Greenwoods in winter appear to the best ;
Either Colonel or Captain, whatever they ride,
Will get over a church and the steeple beside.
Fill up, &c.

From Hill-place comes George Butler, unlikely to fail
In maintaining his place on the Mil or the vale ;
On his old Irish horse he would ne'er be too late
At the right side of Staken, bound hedge, stile, or gate.
Fill up, &c.

* Mr. King, master of the Hambledon hounds,
f Prince Dick, Mr. King's heir apparent.

o 2

196 SFORTING REMINISCENCES [1825 to

Next skimming the furrow you'll see Major Ridge ;
If he comes to a brook he'll not look for a bridge:
Such a sportsman as this is not easily beat,
And I trust he'll get over whate'er he may meet.

Fill up, &c.

On a roaring bay horse, in the wake of Sir Frank,*
You may see Mr. Halkett come over the bank ;
Should he want any wind for the troublesome jade,
He can find a North- Wester^ to bring to his aid.

Fill up, &c.

Squire Delme', from Cams, is determined for one,
As he fully enjoys it, to see all the fun :
Should he chance to arrive rather late with his drag,
He can make up his ground on his little brown nag.

Fill up, &c.

He brings brother George, who, all ripe for the burst,
Has resolved in his mind to be nothing but first ;
Sometimes the Freemason% indulges his whim,
Just to prove that the secret is lasting with him.

Fill up, &c.

And a Bedfordshire sportsman with only one fear,
Lest the Gttardsman§ should ever be found in the rear ;
Just as jealous as George, and as anxious to go
"While he can with the first, for the fame of the " 0."

Fill up, &c.

And I trust he will go when he gets on his SocJcs,f\
If that trump, William Gage,^ will again find a fox,
Just to lend such a chevy from Henwood till dark,
With a pretty " Whoo-whoop" beyond Rotherfield Parle.**

Fill up, &c.

* Commodore Sir Francis Collier, C.B.

■j" North Wester, a hunter, the property of Mr. Halket, formerly
celebrated at Newmarket — a winner of two classes of the Oatlands, &c.

J Freemason, a hunter, the property of Capt. George Delme, R.N.,
renowned for his lasting good qualities.

§ Guardsman, a celebrated hunter, the property of a member of the
Oakley Hunt — winner of a steeple-chase, December, 1829. For other
performances see Racing Calendars for 1828, 1829, 1830.

| Socks, another superior horse, belonging to the same individual.

^1 The Hon. William Gage, of Westbury House, a staunch sportsman
and preserver of foxes, especially in Henwood, the best pheasant pre-
serve.

** Alluding to a splendid run with the Hambledon this season, from
Henwood, with a three o'clock fox, which they killed beyond Rother-
field Park, the seat of J. Scott, Esq.

1845.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 197

Now I've sung a great deal, and could sing a deal more,
But perhaps, if 1 do, you may vote me a bore :
If I've not told you half of the prime ones you'll see,
Come well mounted to-morrow to covert with me.

Fill up, &c.

So I'll wind up my rhyme, having told you my reason,
With wishing us sport for the rest of the season;
May we ne'er be prevented a day by the frost,
And all ride the best horses that ever were cros't.

Fill up, &c.

Last, tho' not least, to the ladies — 'twere really too bad
If I had not a stanza for beauty to add.
To the joy of our hearts, the delight of our life —
God bless all in the county — maid, widow, or wife.

Fill up, &c.

One word more to the farmers I cannot withhold;
May they all ride a gelding to turn into gold :
May they ne'er be annoy'd by bad crops or by Swing,
But merrily thrive, and go hunting with King.

Fill up your glass, every man,

He is an ass, who won't hunt if he can.

Mr. D. Radcliffe held the office secretaries
of secretary only one year ; in 1832 M^Dehmf'
he was succeeded by Capt. Thomas RadcKffe.
Griffith, who acted until April, 1839,
when Mr. John Sadleir Moody took his place ;
and he continued in office until 1843, when Mr.
Samuel S. Taylor took upon himself the duty,
which he satisfactorily discharged until 1859,
when he resigned to Mr. Richard King, to
whose kindness I am indebted for information
connected with the Hunt.

The Hampshire Hunt races on !831.
Worthy Down, on account of un- h!h. races,
favourable weather, were not numerously at-
tended. Mr. Villebois and the Hon. William
Gage were stewards; and present were Lord

198 SPOUTING REMINISCENCES [1825 to

and Lady Rodney, Sir Francis and Lady Col-
lier, Sir Henry Warde, Mr. and Mrs. R. T.
Heysham, Mr. R. Heysham, jun., Mr. F. Hey-
sham, Messrs. Drummond, C. Barrett, W. T.
Graeme, T. ISTevill, G. Butler, Stephen Terry,
J. Portal, Robert Tichborne, &c.

The Hunt Cup, value 100 guineas. Two-mile heats. 12st. each.

Hon. T. H. Eodney's b. m. Enrica, 5 years.... (Cowley) 1 1

Mr. W. T. Graeme's br. g. Sarnian (broke down) 2 0

Mr. F. Heysham's br. h. Julian, by Buffalo, 6 years ... 3 3

Mr. Taylor's ch. g. Brigand, aged 0 dr.

The Old Alresford Stakes of 10 sovs. each. Two miles.

Mr. Heysham's Hintonia (John Day) 1

Mr. W. T. Graeme's b. f. Jewess 2

Lord Rodney's b. f. by Royal dr.

Col. Greenwood's Christmas-box dr.

Mr. T. Scotland's Reformer dr.

" After the races a large party dined at the
George ; the dinner was well served by Free-
man. At the ball nearly seventy ladies and
gentlemen were present. Truss's quadrille
band attended." — Hants Chronicle.

The Hainbledon Hunt races on
TT t ' Soberton Down were numerously

Hambledon J

Hunt races, attended. Amongst the company
were Sir Colin Campbell (the Go-
vernor of Portsmouth) and family, Hon. Wil-
liam and Mrs. Gage, Sir Francis and Lady
Collier, Mr. and Mrs. Delme, Mr. Abbott and
family, Mr. and Mrs. S. Hawkins, Mr. and
Mrs. Duff, Lord George Lennox, Lord Lisle,

1845.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 199

Mr. Augustus Berkeley, Mr. Butler, Mr. and
Mrs. R. T. Heysham, Mr. King, Mr. Brett,
Captain Warde, Mr. Lynn, &c.

The sport commenced with running for the
Farmers' Cup, which was of oak (part of the
celebrated Victory when Lord Nelson's flag-
ship), beautifully carved and mounted with
silver. It was won by Mr. R. Legge's bay
mare, ridden by the owner.

The Soberton Stakes of 5 guineas each. Gentlemen riders. Two

miles.

Mr. Duff's mare by Rubens (Capt. Berkeley) 6 11

Mr. Sergeant's Byron (Mr. Legge) 16 3

Mr. Hall's Paganini (Owner) 2 2 2

Capt. Griffith's Blacklegs (Mr. F. Heysham) 3 3 4

Mr. T. Chamberlayne's gr. g (Mr. S. Taylor) 5 5 6

Mr. Abbott's Turk (Mr. R. Jessett) 4 4 5

Captain Berkeley's riding was much ad-
mired; and the neat seats and good jockey-
ship displayed by Messrs. Frederick Heysham,
Samuel Taylor, and Robert Jessett, deserved a
better fate.

The Heart of Oak Cup.

(This also was a part of the Victory.')

Capt. Delme's Betty Martin (S.Mann) 1 2 1

Capt. Richard's Carbineer (Owner) 2 12

Sir F. Collier's Reformer (Capt. Berkeley) 4 dr.

Mr. Brett's ch. m (Mr. Aug. Berkeley) 3 dr.

Mr. Chamberlayne's Julia 5 dr.

The sport concluded with a match, which
was won by Mr. Jessett, who rode his cele-
brated horse North Wester, beating his oppo-
nent with ease by a length.

200 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1825 to

The ball at the King's Head, Wickham, was
attended by most of the company before men-
tioned. The supper was elegantly served by
Sandles. The attentions of the stewards, Sir
Francis Collier and Captain George Delme,
were unremitting.

Mr. Robert Mr. Jessett was a very hard man
Jessett. with hounds, and a capital flat and

steeple-chase rider. In 1831 he won the
St. Albans Steeple-chase, riding Moonraker,
then belonging to Mr. Caldicott, but after-
wards the property of Mr. Anderson, who also
won several races with him. Mr. Jessett had
a very good horse, Montagu, with which he
won several Kings plates.
mi J833-, A writer in the Sporting Maqazine

The H amble- -* J °

don Hunt, (May, p. 43), signing himself Miles,
Mr. King. writing to his friend Oneofus, says:
" I saw your old acquaintance, Mr. King, who
now hunts the Hambledon country, and, with
Jack Squires for first whip, has shown most
splendid sport. Up to January 18th he had
a succession of runs (killing seventeen foxes in
sixteen days), and many of them most capital
things. I need not say he is a universal
favourite both in and out of the field. His
health is not good, and he suffers at times
from the effects of a severe fall last season,

1845.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 201

which prevents his riding hard. Nevertheless,
he does manage, by having very clever horses,
and getting off at bad places, to get to his
hounds most surprisingly, and it is very seldom
he is far from them. However, nothing can
stop his man.

" I remember one day, in a very quick
thing from Botley Grange, seeing Squires.
Squires go as straight as a bird from the wood
at finding, up to the gorse leading from West
End to Fair Oak, over a most difficult country.
He was the only man who went the line of the
hounds, and as I rode along the lane parallel
with him, I looked at him in admiration as he
took fence after fence in the most gallant
manner, coming down at last into the lane
from the top of a very high bank, which his
horse did most cleverly.

"The other whip (Will Wheeler) is also a
very good rider, and understands his business.

"The hounds are small; indeed, so much
so, that the first time I saw them I could
hardly believe they were fox-hounds.

" Mr. King fancies a small hound better cal-
culated for an enclosed and woodland country,
which most part of the Hambledon is, though
I never could understand why a larger hound
should not be as good, and in getting over

202 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1325 to

fences he certainly has the advantage. It is
only in a hilly country that a small hound
should be preferred. Mr. King always had
small hounds, and I understand he carries his
fancy in this so far, that in the course of a year
or two he intends to have his pack entirely of
bitches, keeping only a few stallion hounds for
breeding. There are some very good riders
in the Hambledon Hunt. I should say the
Messrs. youngest Mr. Delme is generally the
Deime. first, and on his chesnut few can beat
him. All the Messrs. Delme are good ; in-
deed, I think they should be reckoned the
Mr. stretton three best. Mr. Stretton is also a
very good one on his own nags. I was sorry
to hear he had the ill luck to lose two horses ;
one from a stub in the frog, which mortified,
the other from inflammation.
Messrs. " The Messrs. Moody are good

Moody. riders, though they know the country
rather too well, which generally makes a man
ride cunning.

Mr. s.Tayior. " Mr. S. Taylor, from what I have
seen once or twice, can go very straight, I
suspect.

Mr. G.Butier. " Mr. George Butler is a good
rider, and is not particular about a fall or two,
which you may depend is no bad criterion to

1345.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 203

judge by, especially if the person be an old
sportsman, as he is.

" Lord Lisle* hunts a good deal Lord Lisle,
with these hounds, and is a most capital good
sportsman and hard rider, also a most enter-
taining person at the covert side. Mr. Mr. Lukin.
Lukinf appears very often, and it always made
me enjoy a run the more when I saw him
going along, standing up in his stirrups, and
screeching with delight, which is his custom
when hounds are running hard. November
the 12th, they met at West End, found at
Allington, pointed for Stoke Park, but turned
to Durley, where the country was very deep,
the fences very blind, and a thick fog the whole
time, and killed after fifty-two minutes. There
were a great many falls. Mr. Moody had two,
Mr. King, jun., one, and Mr. Taylor one, be-
sides many others. On January the 14th, met
at Fair Oak, found near Durley, and went
away straight to Botley Grange, where he went
to ground. The youngest Mr. Delme and
another were first. Mr. G. Butler got a bad
fall, and lost his nag. Mr. Taylor had two

* Lord Lisle fell off his horse in a fit and died, November, 1834.

f Mr. Lukin wore rather conspicuous leather breeches, of the tint
that gaiters are now made ; but he was a very great dandy in his
way, and universally admitted to have been a capital man across
country.

204 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1825 to

falls, and Mr. Beresford one, besides two or
three being bogged in one of the bottoms."
1833. The Hambledon Hunt Races took

Hambiedon p]ace on Soberton Down. The man-
Hunt races, L

April 9th. ner in which the races were con-
ducted reflected great credit on the stewards,
Mr. Stratton Marsham and Mr. S. Hawkins.

The Hambledon Hunt Stakes of 5 sovs. each, for horses not
thorough-bred, carrying 12st. Gentlemen riders.

Capt. Williamson's br. colt by Vampyre (Owner) 1 1

T Mr. John Henry Campbell's Ladybird] 2 2

Mr. John Halket's Barrister 3 3

Mr. Delme Kadcliffe's Bob Handy 4 0

Mr. T. Chamberlayne's Planet 5 0

Mr. R. Hetley's br. g. Brown Stout 6 0

Cape. Delme"s gr. m. Quicksilver 7 0

The Farmers' Cup, value 50/. Bidden by Farmers.

Mr. Freeland's b. m. Cottager (Mr. Newman) 1 1

Mr. Houghton's ch. m 2 2

Mr. Legg's br. m 3 3

h. h. races, The H. H. Races were held on
April nth.' "Worthy Down.

Mr. Taylor's b. g. Hazard walked over.

Match.

Mr. Delme BadclifFe's Bob Handy (Owner) 1

Mr. E. Hetley's gr. g. Nutmeg (Mr. J. H. Campbell) 2

Betting was 2 to 1 on Bob Handy. Held
hard, he Avon cleverly by two lengths, in spite
of Mr. Campbell's exertions, and liberal allow-
ance of whip and spur.

Major Barrett and Mr. George C. Oliver

1845.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 205

acted as stewards, in the absence of Sir R.
Philips and Mr. H. Mildmay. ig33

A piece of plate was presented October 4th.
to Mr. Villebois by the members of the H. H.
as a memorial of their esteem and regard.

Mr. Charles Graeme, " the father of the
Hampshire Hunt," died at Alresford in the
eighty-first year of his age. He was for many
years, and up to his death, the secretary of the
hunt, and was succeeded in that office by his
son, Mr. W. T. Graeme of Highfield, Win-
chester (and at the same time Major Barrett
was appointed treasurer). Mr. Graeme was a
thorough specimen of an old English gentle-
man ; the universal kindness and courtesy of
his manner endeared him not only to his re-
latives and friends, but to all who had the
pleasure of his acquaintance.

Mr. R. Bailey of King's Worthy

. J o J Mr. Richard

now started his pack of harriers, and Bailey's

I1 1 T*T"1 PT*^

hunted the country in that neighbour-
hood about ten years. He was an excellent
sportsman of the old school, and his hospitality
secured him the friendship of all his neigh-
bours.

The H. H. had not their usual 1834.
share of sport this year. Complaints H- H-
began to be made that Foster was getting slow,

206 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1825 to

and did not keep up with his hounds as he did
formerly.

Mr. Chamberlayne of Cranbury,
beriayne's who had no w kept harriers for two

ii 1 1*1*1 PT*^

seasons, gave a cup at the Winchester
Races, to be run for by farmers over whose
lands he hunted. Mr. Chamberlayne shortly
after this gave his pack to Mr. John King,
the master of the Hambledon, who after a time
gave some of them to Mr. Yeatman ; the others
went to India to hunt jackals.

On Mr. Butler giving up his little

Messrs. & o 1

Wm. and g. pack of harriers, the country round
Hambledon was hunted by Messrs.
William and Godfrey Higgins, and these gen-
tlemen kept their hounds about ten years.

1834. The Hambledon Hunt races took

h. h. c. place on Soberton Down, April 9th,

races, L ' x '

April. and, although the weather was very

cold, there was a large attendance.

The Farmers' Cup
Was won by Mr. Martin's gr. gelding.

A Piece of Plate.

Mr. J. H. Campbell's b. m (Owner) 1 1

Mr. King's b. g (Gen. Wyndham) 2 2

Mr. T. Chamberlayne's gr. g „ ,...(Mr. Hetley) 3 0

The ball took place at the King's Head Inn,
Wickham, where upwards of eighty of the
gentry attended. The supper was well served

1845.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 207

by Mr. Sandles. Mr. H. Minchin and Mr. T.
Chamberlayne were stewards.

Mr. W. H. Barkwortli of Hamble- Dec 3rd.

n -, i • Mr. Bark-

don narrowly escaped a very serious worth>s

accident. His horse fell into a draw- escape-

well on Fisher's Farm, near Basing Park, and

was killed, his rider avoiding a similar fate by

beino; thrown over his head. The excavation

which had been made for building stone was

concealed by weeds and underwood.

The Hambledon hounds met at 1835

Bordean House on February 6th to Run with

, t tt t> • i i the Ham-

draw the Hangers. Being a by-day, biedon,
there were but very few gentlemen fromBor-
out. Soon after the hounds were in deanHouse-
covert, a fine fox was viewed away, making
for Froxfield. They ran straight to Hawkley
Hangers, crossed the open country away for
Woolmer Forest, where but very few could
follow. Mr. James Barnard kept the lead till-
near the forest, where he had a fall at a very
high bank, and was unable to get to the hounds
again. Mr. Richard Lasham then took the
lead. The fox was taken alive in a pond, and
turned loose. Many horses could not leave
their stable for some time after.

In consequence of the severe illness Feb- llth-

x H. H. Hunt

of Mr. Henry Hunt, commonly called bail.

208 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1825 to

a

Orator Hunt," who was lying at the Swan Inn,
Alresford, the ball took place at Park House
(now the public-house on Tichborne Down).
The supper served by Mr. Lane was excellent.
Mr. Hunt, who was the late member for Pres-
ton, was a great friend of Mr. Wilkinson of
Alresford. He died at the Swan, on the 15th,
and was buried at Storrington, in Sussex.
Mr. Hunt, in his early life, was an enthusiastic
sportsman ; his hunters were never stabled
during the winter, having only the use of
well-covered sheds in the farm-yard, and with
these horses he could beat nearly every man
in the field.

h. h. races, The H. H. races were held on
April 7th. Worthy Down, Lord Gage and Mr.
Walter Long'stewards.

The Cup, value 100 guineas. Two-mile heats. 12st.

Hon. W. Gage's Juliet (John Da}', jun.) 12 1

Mr. DelmeVBlack Swan (John Day, sen.) 3 1 2

Mr. Taylor's Theresa (Sherman) 2 3 dr.

The Harmsavorth Stakes, 10 sovs each. Weight for age. One

mile.

Hon. W. Gage's Romeo (John Day, sen.) 1

Mr. Hewett's Counsellor 2

Capt. Williamson's Scrivener 3

Capt. Witham's Little Tower 4

The Scurry Stakes, 5 sovs. list. Gentlemen riders.

Mr. John Henry Campbell's Mystery (Owner) 1

Capt. Witham's Bugle Boy (Owner) 2

Major Barrett's Miss Careful 3

Capt. Seymour's Lancer (Mr. Torrens) 4

Capt. Dehne's Glis (Owner) 5

Capt. Williamson's St. Patrick (Owner) 6

Mr. Wilkinson's Hazard (Mr. S. Taylor) 7

Mr. W. T. Graeme's Composer (Gen. Wyndham) 8

1845.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 209

Mr. Campbell rode very judiciously, and
did not show in front until within the dis-
tance.

" The ball and supper at the White Hart was
numerously attended. Amongst those present
were the Hon. T. W. Gage and Mr. W. Long,
the stewards; Lady Mary Long, Mr. Walter
Long, jun., Mr. J. T. Villebois, Mr. and Mrs.
W. Heysham, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Tichborne,
Mr. and Mrs. Erie, Captain Nevill, Colonel
Gauntlett, Major Barrett, the Misses Cooke,
Colonel Harrison, and the officers of the 23rd
Fusiliers." — Hants Chronicle. 1835

" The Hambledon Hunt races were h. h. c.
held on Soberton Down, April 21st, April 2ist.
the Hon. Wm. Gage and Mr. J. King stewards.

The Farmers' Cup. Ridden by Farmers.

Mr. Dodderill's b. m. Miss Foote 1 1

Mr. R. Legg's b. m. Polly (Owner) 2 2

Mr. Freehand's Reform 3 3

Mr. Twynam's Leonidas 4 5

Mr. Drewatt's Nancy Dawson 5 4

The Club Stakes.

Mr. King's Gainsborough (Gen. Wyndham) 1 1

Capt. Williamson's Bittern (Owner) 2 dist.

" In the second heat Captain Williamson had
a bad fall, his horse having swerved against a
post. He was attended by a surgeon, who did
not think proper to bleed him, and he was con-
veyed in his carriage from the course.

p

210 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1825 to

A Sweepstakes.

Mr. John Henry Campbell's b. m. Mystery ...(Owner) 1 1
Mr. Turner's b. m. Miss Freedom (Mr. Hall) 2 2

" The company was very numerous, and in-
cluded the Turkish Ambassador, Namik Pacha,
and his suite, accompanied by Mr. Stewart
Hall, at whose house at Northam he was
staying. ' ' — Hants Chronicle.

The system of turf reporting, even up to the
present time, was very inaccurate ; in most
cases the rider of the winning horse only was
given, and it has been with some difficulty
that the names of the gentlemen riders and
jockeys have been obtained.

183K The Hon. George Augustus Cra-

November. ven, who resided at Brambridge, now

CrTven's kept a pack of stag-hounds, and had

stag-bounds. severai good runs. Brambridoe was

formerly the property of the Wells family, from
whom it descended to Mr. Charles Smythe,
who died in 1832, and left it to his nieces, the
daughters of Mr. Walter Smythe, who died in
1822. Mr. Craven married, December, 1833,
Georgina, daughter of Mr. Walter Smythe.
His eldest son, Mr. W. G. Craven, who married
a daughter of the Earl of Hardwicke, now
hunts at Melton, and has a fine stud of horses
there. On the 23rd November Mr. Craven

1845.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 211

turned out a stag on Oliver's Battery. Previous
to starting, Mr. Chamberlayne of Cranbury
gave a dejeuner. The deer went over Winchester
race-course, through Worthy and Easton to
Avin^ton Park, where he was taken. On the
30th they had a very severe run. Uncarted
at Farley Mount, the stag went by Pitt to Yew
Hill, Bishopstoke, Durley, Bishop's Waltham,
and Botley, where he took the water, from
whence he was driven and ran to Bursledon.
He distanced the hounds and escaped. Mr.
Craven died August, 1836, aged twenty-six.

A pack of harriers was now kept The
at Lyinington by Messrs. St. Barbe hide"?.0
and Bennet.

Mr. Fellowes resigned the manage- The vine.
ment of the Vine hounds for a short thome°Tay-
time only, and was succeeded by Mr. lor> Nov*
Donnithorne Taylor, who had them until the
end of the season. Mr. Taylor was assisted by
Mr. Harris, an excellent sportsman and a very
good rider. At the end of the season (March
15th) he gave a dinner to sixty farmers at the
Poyntz Arms, Overton. Adamson was his
huntsman, and T. Slater whip.

The Royal Stag-hounds, under the 1836.
management of the Earl of Erroll>- ^J g™;
visited the New Forest. On their nounds-

p 2

212 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1825 to

first day of meeting, at Lyndhurst, at least
two thousand people were present, including
the Duke of Beaufort, Lords Cavan, Uxbridge,
and Adolphus Fitzclarence, Messrs. H. C.
Compton, James W. Scott, M.P., Sir Edward
Hulse, Bart, Sir J. B. Mill, Bart., Sir John
Cope, Bart., Messrs. Thomas Assheton Smith,
J. T. Yillebois, Hankey, J. King, W. Wynd-
ham, and the masters of several other packs.

Mr. Assheton Smith was riding and talking
with Charles Davis, when the hounds got upon
the scent and began running. He went on
galloping and talking, when, there being a
large hole in the way, his horse swerved, and
he fell over his shoulder on to his back. A
gentleman who was riding behind was rather
officious, and hoped he was not hurt, when
Davis turned round and said : " He is much
too hard to be hurt."* This was just the sort
of speech to please Mr. Smith.

"The Hambledon hounds met at
Hambiedon, Hogg's Lodge, December 14th, found
FiSn Beih near Highden Wood, and broke in-
LVe' st antly over Butser D own, pointing for

Ditch am, to Harting Down, and ran for several

* Scrutator, in his " Recollections of a Fox-hunter," says : " His
fearless riding, and wonderful escapes, without broken bones, or any-
apparent injury, obtained for him, among the lower orders in his
Hampshire country, the well-earned and justly-applied title of " The
Hard Gentleman."

1845.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 213

miles over the Downs, until headed by a sheep-
dog, which caused a check. The pace up to
this was racing. The fox now left the Downs
and broke over the fine vale in the -direction of
Rogate, where many difficulties here occurred ;
and a gallant admiral, the hero of St. Vincent,
who had ridden the greater part of the run
without his hat, gained another victory by not
breaking his neck when he rode at a gate-post
and tumbled well into the next field. For four
more miles it was a complete race, no horse
could live in the same field with the hounds,
when, without the least assistance, the pack
ran from scent to view, and into their fox in
the turnpike-road, a short distance on the
Rogate side of Mid hurst. The distance was
seventeen miles ; time, one hour fifty minutes."

The H. H. met on Saturday, Fe- 1837-
bruary 4th, at Northington Down. Feb. 4th. '
They found at Blackwood, and ran by Mitchel-
dever, to Crawley Warren, by Worthy Groves
through Norwood, to Westley, and ultimately
to ground at Parnholt, after a run of two
hours and a half. Only one or two were up
at the finish.

" This event took place on April Southampton
5th. It was a Sweepstakes of 10 sovs. chasPe.e
each, with 50 given by the town ; weight, 12st.

214 SPOUTING REMINISCENCES [1825 to

each, open to all England. Owing to a fall of
snow in the night the start did not take place
till twelve o'clock. After weighing in South-
ampton, the jockeys were taken by the um-
pires to view the ground, which they were
enabled to do without going over it, the
whole line, which was over Stoneham flat,
lying parallel with the high road from Twy-
ford to Southampton ; the start being in a
field on Boyatt Farm, and the finish in a large
field at North Stoneham. Owing to the ex-
ertions of the umpires, Messrs. King and Cham-
berlayne, not a single horseman attempted to
ride any part of the course. The generality of
the jumps were bank and ditch, with fences on
the top, the ditches being wide and deep. The
following came to the post." — From Bell's Life.

Mr. Hawthorn's Sailor (Mr. Powell) 1

Mr. Robert Jessett's Montague (Mr. Jessett) 2

Mr. Brett's Jim Crow (Mr. Oliver) 0

Capt. Williamson's Bittern (Mr. G. Bayley) 0

Mr. A. Dyson's William Tell (Owner) 0

Mr. Thompson's Coxswain (Owner) 0

March 22nd. A dinner was given by the gentle-
Dinner to men 0f tjie Ted worth Hunt to Mr.

Mr. Assheton

Smith. Assheton Smith. Eighty-two gentle-

men— thirty of whom were in hunting costume
— sat down to a sumptuous dinner in the Town
Hall, Andover, provided by Mr. Matcham, of
the White Hart. The chair was ably filled by

3845.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 215

the Right Hon. H. Pierrepoint, supported by
Mr. Assheton Smith and the Marquis of Douro.
Among the company were Lords Frederick and
William Paulet, Sir Edmund Antrobus, Bart,,
Mr. Pu Etwall, M.P., Messrs. E. R. Tunno,
Henry Fellowes, Col. Hicks Beach, Wroughton,
John Poore the Mayor of Andover, and Cap-
tain Montagu.

This Captain Montagu was an ad- Captain

., . -■ Montagu,

venturer, or something worse, whose 0r Cauty.
real name was Cauty; he was afterwards
transported.

An anecdote of his being recognised as a
blackleg by Lord George Ben thick, who met
him at Mr. Smith's house, will be found in
Mr. Smith's life, p. 183 of the small edition.

Mr. John Truman Villebois, who Death of
had maintained the hounds at his boj*Sj
own expense since 1805, died at APnll2th-
Harmsworth, Hampshire, April 12th. He left
annuities to all his servants living with him at
the time of his decease, including Foster the
huntsman, and Sawyer first whip.

A special meeting of the H. H. April 25th.
was held in consequence of the de- ^ takes'"
cease of Mr. Villebois. Major Bar- theH- H-
rett of Cheriton, brother-in-law to Mr. Villebois,
then undertook the management, and the com-

216 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1825 to

mittee appointed for managing the affairs and
funds of the club were Admiral Sir Win. Gage,
Lord Rodney, Major Barrett, the Hon. Wm.
Gage, Colonel Gauntlett, Mr. William H. Hey-
sham. Mr. John T.Waddington was appointed
secretary, and held that office till 1840, when
Mr. Walter Taylor succeeded him. The kennels
were removed from Harmsworth to Cheriton.
c. T . Sir John Mill, Bart., of Mottis-

Sir John " "

Mm, Bart., font, who had bought the Sandbeck

took part of c

the Hursiey nounds, and engaged bawyer as his
huntsman, applied to the H. H for
leave to hunt their Hursiey country, west of
the Itchen. This request was complied with,
the H. H., however, reserving to themselves
exclusively Norwood, Crab Wood, Worthy
Groves, the Race-course, and the Crawley
belts as far as Chilbolton, and the right of re-
suming the Hursiey country at any future period.
Major Barrett, as master of the H. H., hunted
all the above-named coverts until 1840, when
they also were handed over to Mr. White of
Ampfield, and then hunted by permission.
Major Major Barrett held the H. H. until

vants. 1842. In his first season Foster was

his huntsman, Tom Beal and Robert Shepherd
were whips ; in the second, Jack Shirley and
Richard Hall whipped in. Foster left in April,
1840, and Shirley succeeded Jiim.

1845.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 217

Jack Shirley was the son of old suriey.
Shirley of Grantham, who was once huntsman
to Sir Eicharcl Sutton. On leaving the H. H.
he became first whip to the Duke of Cleveland.
Poor Shirley was cruelly murdered by poachers
when assisting the keepers to watch at Raby
Castle, on February 2nd, 1848. Shirley was
liked by all who knew him, and his funeral
was numerously attended. The cluke was with
him within a few minutes of his death, and
assured him that those dearest to him should
be provided for. He left a widow and three
children. The poachers were tried at Durham,
and two of them sentenced to death. James
Gower (who in 1844 was thrown from a cart
and killed) and George Page (who for many
years lived with Colonel Greenwood, and now
keeps the Hut Inn, at West Meon) were his
whips.

The folio win g gentlemen were elected mem-
bers of the H. H. after Mr. Yillebois' death :

1837. Mr. Augustus Onslow, Upton

House, Old Alresford, master Mmta* of

7 ' the H. H.

m 1842. elected after

1838. Colonel William Greenwood, bois' death.

Brookwood Park.
Mr. Frederick Thresher, Bentley.

1839. Major T. Pipon, East End House,

Alresford.

218 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1825 to

Mr. Le Marchant Thomas, Upton Gray.
Mr. Francis Marx of Shalclen, Secre-
tary in 1852.
1840. Mr. Samuel Nicholson, Waverley Abbey.

1842. Captain Pipon, Langtons, Alresford.
Mr. Oliver Calley Coclrington, Dean

House, Kilmiston.
Mr. William W. Bulpett, Winchester.

1843. Captain Arthur Onslow, Scots Fusilier

Guards.

1844. Mr. Francis Jervoise Ellis, Preston

Candover, now Herriard Park.
Members of The following gentlemen have
elected since been elected members of the H. H.
1845' since 1845:

Mr. J. Lei^h Williams, Farnham.
Mr. Charles Bowyer, Farleigh House.
Captain Martin E. Haworth, New House,

Ropley.
Sir James Rivers, Bart., Martyr Worthy.

1846. Mr. John Hardy, Worthy Park.
Mr. William Mackay, Upton Gray.

1847. Mr. E. Rose Tunno, Warnford Park.

1848. Sir Charles Hayes Miller, Bart., Froyle.
Mr. Samuel George Smith, Worthy Park.
Mr. Henry Joyce Mulcock, Ropley.

1849. Mr. George Sclater (now Sclater Booth,

M.P.), Hoddington.

1845.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 219

Mr. Robert C. T. Pearse, South Warn-
borough Lodge, Master in 1852.

Mr. Thomas George Baring, M.P., Strat-
ton Park.

Mr. John Shelley, Avington Park.

1850. Mr. George Alfred Ellis Wall, King's

Worthy.

1851. Mr. William John Pearse, South Warn-

borough Lodge.

1852. Lieut.-Col. Samuel J. L. Nicoll, Win-

chester.

1854. Hon. George Agar, Ropley New House.

1855. Sir Edmund Antrobus, Bart.
Captain Richard Spicer, West Meon.
Sir Richard Bethell, Hackwood Park.
Mr. Henry Blunt, Kempshot Park.

1856. Mr. Gordon Ives, Bentworth Hall.
Mr. Joseph James, Holybourne.
Mr. Edward Trederoft, Alresford.

1857. Mr. Algernon Lempriere, Pelham.
The Earl of Uxbridge, Herriard.
Mr. Routh, Farleigh Park.

1859. Sir Alfred Tichborne, Bart., Tichborne

Park.
1862. Major Paynton Pigott-Conant, Grey well

Hill.
Mr. Richard Combe, Pierrepont, Farn-

ham.

220 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1825 to

1863. Mr. Edward Sartoris, Warnford Park.
Mr. Henry King, Preston Candover.

1864. Mr. Thomas Chamberlayne, Cranbury

Park.

1837. ]V£r> Henry Fellowes resumed tlie

hounds. management of the Vine.

R. Adamson now left, and was succeeded
John Press, by John Press, who came from the
East Sussex, and stayed with the Vine until
the early part of the season in 1842.
win Borer. Tom Slater and Will Borer (or
Boar) were his whips. Press afterwards
hunted the Crawley and Horsham, and in
1858 went to Mr. Barnett, in Cambridgeshire.
When Press left, Will Borer took his place,
and hunted the hounds very ably.
Doctor A good run with the pack of this

harrier! celebrated sportsman from North
Warnborough of two hours and twenty-five
minutes is noticed in the Sjoorting Magazine,
p. 446.

Mr. Leech kept harriers for fifty years. He
was a fine specimen of an old-fashioned sports-
man. His costume would now be considered
somewhat peculiar ; he always wore a blue
coat and brass buttons, leather breeches, no
braces, and very often a thin white line of
shirt showed the interval. Mr. Frere of Odi-
ham ultimately joined him, and they hunted

1845.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 221

the pack together. At the time his picture
was taken (it is stated on the print) he was
the oldest sportsman in England. Mr. Leech
was a great man for game-cocks. Mr. Smithers
now hunts the same country.

" Sir John Mill's hounds had a fine 18g8
run from Parnholt Wood, by West- Jan.
wood, Westley, Phillip's Heath, over iJirg
the White Horse Downs, to Barton hounds-
Stacey Down, to the Water Meadows at Bul-
lington, which were very boggy, and where
the river was deep, with a big fence on the
opposite side; out of a large field only four
went with the hounds, viz. : Mr. William
Sadler on a thorough-bred, Mr. Hopkins on
his favourite chesnut, Mr. R. Jessett on a
hack by Dr. Syntax, and Mr. Walton. From
the Water Meadows the fox went to Freefolk
Wood, and then to ground at Laverstoke.
The distance was about fifteen miles as the
crow flies. The hounds were well hunted by
Sawyer, so many years with the H. H." — From
Belts Life.

The celebrated young jockey, Sam Fatal acci.
Day, second son of Mr. John Day of ^"^sam
Danebury, whilst riding with Sir Day-
John Mill's hounds (March 14), had a very
severe fall, his horse falling on his chest. He
was removed to the house of his brother-in-

222 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1825 to

law, Mr. William Sadler, near Stockbridge,
where he lingered till he died. By his con-
duct and skill he had acquired the respect of
all gentlemen connected with the turf. He
was the youngest jockey that ever won the
Leger.

In the month of April the Royal
stag-hounds, Stag-hounds again visited the New
Forest. The first meet for the season
was at Bolton's Bench, where a large field
assembled ; and of those present were the
Earl of Erroll, Lords Kingston and Portman,
Messrs. Wyndham, Foljambe, King, Daly ell,
and Dufiield, and the celebrated Billy Butler,
for the fifty-third anniversary of spending the
April month in the Forest, still looking very
cheerful.

h. h. races, " The annual race for the H. H.
April isth. £up took place on Tichborne Down.

Mr. Legg's The Whale, by Whalebone 1 1

Mr. H. Lewis's mare by Gaberlunzie 2 4

Mr. G. Young's br. m. by Don Juan 3 2

Mr. W. H. Eames's br. colt Hudibras 4 3

Present to "On the same day a deputation

e. Foster. waited on Foster, the huntsman.
Mr. Michael Rivers of Bishop's Sutton pre-
sented him with a massive silver tankard and
hunting-horn, purchased by subscriptions of
half-a-crown each from the gentlemen and

1S45.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 223

yeomen of Hants, bearing the following in-
scription : ' Presented to Mr. Richard Foster
for uniform good conduct and skill as a hunts-
man, during twenty-four years' service with
the late J. T. Villebois, Esq., master of the H. H.
April, 1838.' " — From the Hants Chronicle.

The H. H. met at Tichborne Park, Good runs
November 13th; found in Fully; f8^antsin
went awav to Beauworth, over the The H- H->

t i from Tich-

Milbarrows and Longwood Warren borne Park.
to the Water Meadows, near the
Twyford turnpike-gate ; then turned back
across the down and killed at Hazely Row.
Time, fifty-five minutes, with scarcely a check.
Towards the end of the run, Mr. Knapp of
Southampton had a very bad fall.

" The Hambledon hounds had a m TT

g m The Ham-

fine run after meeting at Winter shill biedon,

Common; they found in Durwood, fromWin-

and went by Preshaw, Beacon Hill, tershilL

Warnford Park, and Butser Hill to Ramsden,

where he was run into. Distance, fourteen

miles. Time, one hour and thirty-five minutes.

Messrs. Barkworth, R, Jessett, R. King, Walter

Long, and Squires only were fortunate enough

to see the run."— From BelTs Life*

* Runs extracted from BelVs Life are not copied verbatim, but are
considerably condensed. The limits of this book would not allow them
to be copied in extenso.

224 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1825 to

sir John " ^ir J°nn Cope had a grand run

Cope from Dogmersfield to Ewhurst : only

Dec. 22nd, °# \ ■/

from Dog- Messrs. Pigott, Bazalgette, Davidson,
Dobson, Shirley the huntsman, and
Neverd the whip, saw it. The distance was
eighteen miles." — Bell's Life.
Mr. c. w. On Mr. Wyndham's resignation,

Sf n Mr. C. W. Codrington succeeded as
n. f. h. master. He resided also at Burnford
House, Bramshaw.

His servants. His huntsman was George Whit-
more, who was afterwards with the South
Berks and in Cheshire. His whip was David
Edwards, commonly called and known as
" Humpy David," who, in 1842, went to Mr.
Assheton Smith ; and then to Mr. Montagu
with the South Berks, where he gave great
satisfaction ; he also went into Cheshire, and
was in that country at the time of " the
difficulty."

Mr. Codrington was a thorough sportsman,
and very gentlemanly in the field.

" On November 20th, the N. F. H. met at
Rhinefield ; found near Lyndhurst, and ran
very fast through the New Park Inclosures,
then away over the open, leaving most of the
field inside, as fast as the hounds could run
up to Heathy Ditton, and killed as he was
crawling over a bank. This was a very quick

1845.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 225

thing. Mr. John Drummond in long black
boots, riding a magnificent grey horse, went
well with the hounds, as did Major Gilbert
and Mr. Timson." — From BeWs Life.

Sir John Barker Mill gave up his 1839.
hounds on account of the wilful destruction of
foxes in some parts of his country ; but he
finished up his season with a very good day
from Rookley. A dinner was given to Sir
John at Hursley (May 10), when he was pre-
sented with a gold snuff-box. At the dinner
were Mr. Chamberlayne of Cranbury, Mr.
Waddilove, General Yates, Colonel Iremonger,
Messrs. Waddington, J. H. Campbell, C. Deane,
W. Bulpett, J. Theobald, &c. These hounds
were afterwards advertised as " The Hursley
Subscription Hounds."

Mr. Neston Fuller kept a pack of Mr> Fuller>g
harriers which hunted between Farn- harners-
borough and Winchfield. Several good runs
are reported in BelVs Life.

Sir John Halket, Bart., kept stag-

i i t^ i i-i Sir Jolm

hounds at rarenam, which were Haiket's

hunted by that good sportsman and

fine rider, Mr. Alfred Dyson. In 1840 they

were hunted by Jack Bradley ; at the end of

which year they were sold to the Marquis of

Waterford, and went into Leicestershire.

Q

226 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1825 to

jack Brad- Jack Bradley was the son of a
ley- farmer at Tunworth ; he went from

Sir John Halket with the hounds to the Mar-
quis of Waterford ; he then went to Mr. Yeat-
man of Stock House, in Dorsetshire ; and,
lastly, hunted the Hursley, when Mr. White
was master. Bradley went to Australia, and
died there.

"Mr. Assheton Smith had a fine

Good runs in

1839. run from W oodborough, by btanton,

Smith, from to Patney, through the villages of
woodborough, gtoke? Hiilcot) and Charlton, by Wils-

ford and Harden, to Conock Grove.
Time, sixty-two minutes. Distance, fifteen
miles. A few only were up at the finish, viz. :
Hessrs. Hayward, Pike, Pierrepoint, Clift,
Bleeck, Hontagu, and Rowden. The horse of
the worthy master was beaten before reaching
Conock Grove." — From BelTs Life.

" The Fareham stag-hounds, under
HaiSs the management of Mr. John Henry
stag-hounds, Qamp]3eu? met and turned out a stag

on Winchester race-course, which
went by Stoke Charity to Popham Beacon,
and was taken at Sir Thomas Baring's, at
Stratton, where the field was hospitably enter-
tained by Mr. Nation, the steward. Dr. Twy-
nam on Taffy, and Mr. E. Bailey on Constitu-
tion, were foremost in the field." — BelTs Life.

1845.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 227

" Sir John Cope had a brilliant run a. _ 7

1 Sir John

from Bucklersbury. The fox, after Cope,
skirting Yattenden, ran to Compton from Buck-
and Aldworth, over the Ridge Downs
to Unhill Woods on to Blewbury, and was
killed after a run of three hours, and a dis-
tance of twenty -five miles. Of those who got
to the end. were Messrs. Padbury, Larkham,
William Strange, Gellnie, Lancelot-Halton,
and Nevis." — From BelVs Life.

"The Vine met at Bramley, and, The vine,
after a sharp run of one hour and a ^om1<th'
half, killed at Silchester, in a house Biamley-
belonging to Mr. J. Newnham. So pressed
was the fox, that, seeing a door open, he
entered, ran up-stairs with the hounds at his
brush, and was factually killed in a bedroom."
— From BelVs Life.

Cecil, the able correspondent of 1840
BelVs Life, and author of "Hunting Mr. Asshe-
Tours," paid a visit to Mr. Assheton country
Smith and the H. H. during this CeciL
year, and he says in the Sporting
Magazine, p. 344 :

" Hampshire, at all events the greater part
of what Mr. Assheton Smith hunts, is anything
but a good country ; the woodlands are very
extensive. Foxes are numerous, consequently

Q2

228 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1S25 to

hounds are frequently changing, and they do
not like to leave the coverts, which are chiefly
composed of hazel; the lying is not very
strong, therefore they do not present much
difficulty for hounds. From what I saw, the
generality of the hunting is confined to the
woodlands. There is evidently a better scent
in covert than in the open, unless it may be
in the neighbourhood of South Grove, or in
the vale of Pewsey, which are estimated as
the best countries.

Dick Burton. " Dick Burton has lived many
years in the service of Mr. Assheton Smith,
and, like his master, is well known in Lei-
cestershire, where he also lived with Mr.
Osbaldeston and Lord Southampton. He met
with a very serious accident some time since,
in consequence of a gentleman coming in con-
tact with him as the hounds were running
into their fox ; he cannot be said to have
entirely recovered, neither is the horse which
he was riding at the time.

" Insignificant as are the fences in this
country, I am not prepared to say that men
escape without accidents, and many more falls
occur than might be calculated on. Hounds
will always have the best of horses in an open
country, when the scent is good ; and if they

1845.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 229

get a little blown, they are careless about
rising at such small fences, and down they
come.

" Cowley, who came from the Cowley.
Heythrop, is whipper-in ; he is a resolute, de
termined sort of fellow, and well calculated
for such a situation.

"The stud of horses is of a very Mr. Smith's
superior description. Indeed, I stud"
scarcely recollect having seen so good a selec-
tion ; they show plenty of blood, with plenty
of bone, and no lumber, and what is of great
importance in the choice of horses to go across
a country, there was not one that I could de-
nominate leggy. The usual compliment is
about twenty-four, but I apprehend an extra
horse or two is not an object. Smart, the
dealer of Cricklade, supplies these stables with
many, and there are few better judges of the
right sort.

"On the 3rd of February, the TheH,H.
Hampshire hounds being within reach, I availed
myself of the opportunity of meeting them at
Farley Mount. One great object was to see
old Dick Foster, of whom I had heard so
much when in his younger days he was hunts-
man to the late Lord Foley in Worcestershire
and Staffordshire. Hampshire does not strike

230 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1825 to

me as a country in which a man's abilities as a
huntsman have a fair scope for exertion; so
much covert-hunting is very uninteresting at
the best of times, and these large woodlands
are overstocked with foxes. I was never out
with either these hounds or Mr. Assheton
Smith's without two or three brace being
found in the course of the day, and on some
occasions almost as many on foot at once. As
Foster encourages people to halloo, much con-
fusion is created, but as the fields are small,
some such assistance is unquestionably re-
quired. Fifty or sixty horsemen is considered
a lar^e muster, and on several occasions when
I was out there were not above twenty. The
veteran is anxious to get some of them to ride
forward in order to view his fox and halloo his
hounds on, which appears very requisite in
such a country, although I know some masters
of hounds who would be nearly mad' if any
one were to offer to do so, alleging that they
would be sure to head the fox ; but I believe,
after all, if a fox means to break covert, he is
not to be deterred. I observe Foster is very
cautious how he attempts to hunt up to a fox
that has got what he considers too good a start,
and he is right.

" There is one advantage which an open

1845.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 231

country like this possesses when a fox does
leave the coverts, persons blessed with good
sight can view him a long way, and a little
' telegraphing' in some degree makes up for a
bad scent ; but this requires to be judiciously
attended to, or a fresh fox may save the life of
a beaten one, and too much hallooing is doubt-
less very injurious to hounds.

i: We had no sport on the day on which
these hounds met at Farley Mount : three
brace of foxes, an immense tract of woodland,
and no scent, are combinations sufficient to
accouit for it ; but I must not leave unnoticed
a monument which I perceived had The
stood ' the ragings of the pitiless paSey
storm' for many years. It was erected, Mount-
as I an informed, by Sir P. St. John, to the
memory of a favourite horse who leaped into
a chalk-pit with him when following the
hounds, and although the pit was a great
depth, both escaped unhurt, and the horse
aftervards won the Hunters' Stakes at Win-
chester.

" Cn reference to the Racing Calendar, I
perceive that Mr. St. John's ch. horse Fox-
hunter won 50 guineas at Winchester, and the
same mm at Reading in 1740, and also similar
amouits at each of those places in the follow-

monu-
ment on

232 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1825 to

ing year. I conclude, therefore, that must be
the horse in question.*

" These said chalk-pits require a man to be
a little on the alert, for you not un frequently
come upon them very unawares, and should
you be unfortunate enough to ride into any one,
the great probability is you may not be quite so
fortunate as Sir P. St. John in being able to
ride out again unscathed, f

" Foster is no doubt much worried at tae
hounds which hunted this country, and of
which he had the management for something
like twenty-five years, having been transferred
to the Craven country, and the hounds Which
formerly hunted there having been consigned
to him. A huntsman naturally feels a desire
to retain the hounds over which he has pre-
sided, and, in fact, which have been bred under

* Cecil is partly right, but as I have obtained the exact inscription
on the pedestal of the monument, I am enabled to give the trm story.
" Underneath lies buried a horse the property of Paulet St. Johl, Esq.,
that in the month of September, 1733, leaped into a chalk-pit, a fox-
hunting, 25 fee* deep, with his master on his back, and in (jctober,
1734, he Avon the Hunters' Plate on Worthy Down, and was pde by
his master, and entered in the name of Beware Chalk-pit."

f Mr. Barton Wallop, while hunting with the Hursley homds on
March 15, 1817, had a providential escape, in leaping over a high
fence on the other side of which was a chalk-pit. The horse laadedon
his legs, and neither the animal nor Mr. Wallop were at all hui. The
depth of the pit was about ten feet, which, added to the height of the
fence, made a drop of about fifteen feet. Lieutenant Lloyd] of the
Grenadier Guards, had also a narrow escape, as he was about t< follow,
but had time to pull up. Prince Edward of Saxe Weimar, ant many
others also, were following.

1815.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 233

his direction : there is a sort of prejudice — I
may say affection — for them, which cannot
exist for a fresh pack, at least until some time
has elapsed.

" The neighbourhood of Stock- The Stock.
bridge is particularly adapted for Jjntfn
hare-hunting, and there is a beauti- beasles-
ful little pack of beagles called 'the Stock-
bridge Union,' the chief supporters of which
are Mr. William Sadler and Mr. John Day, jun.
They are Lilliputian fox-hounds, and show
more dash and courage than I ever witnessed
before in such little creatures."

" January 29th, Sir John Halket 1840
turned out a stag at Mr. King's, at Good runs.
Barton Stacey, which, after a severe ticket's
run by Tidbury Ring, Ashe Park, stas-bou»ds-
and St. John's Wood, was taken at Manydown.
The distance traversed was eighteen miles, and
the time one hour and twenty minutes. Only
ten horsemen were up at the finish. Of these,
Mr. William Sadler's was the freshest. Sir John
went well throughout, and the latter part of
the run hunted the hounds himself, as Jack
Bradley's horse was dead beaten." — Bell's Life.

" The H. H. had a fine run from Tbe H. il,
Thedden Grange via Chawton Park, ^ ^'_
not hanging a minute there, to Old den Grange.

234 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1825 to

Down, Newton Common, Rotherfield Park,
Colemore, and killed beyond Basing Park.
Messrs. Augustus Onslow, Samuel Nicholson,
F. Yates, Shirley the huntsman, and Dick
Hall the whip, went throughout the run." —
From Bell's Life.

1840-41 ^r- White of Ampfield took the
Mr. white Hursley hounds, and removed the
kennels to Ampfield. The H. H. now
gave up to the Hursley the country lying west
of the river Itchen, and bounded by the turn-
pike road from Winchester to Andover, through
Wherwell, for a period of three years.

Mr. White's hounds were obtained by drafts
from the Duke of Beaufort, Mr. Codrington,
Mr. Assheton Smith, and Colonel Wynclham.

George Sharp, from Mr. Richardson of
Fin don, was Mr. White's huntsman at first,
and afterwards Jack Bradley.

1S41 Mr. King resigned the Hambledon

Mr. Waiter on account of ill health, and was suc-
of°thenHam- ceeded by Mr. Walter Long, jun.,
bledon' who was master until 1848.
Servants. John Squires, who had been Mr.

Squires, Kings whip, was his huntsman, and
gave great satisfaction. In 1845,
John Treadwell was his whip for four seasons,
and they left the pack together. Squires said

1845.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 235

that " he was worth any six men he ever saw
as a whip, such a hard worker was he in
covert, that no fox could slip away without
being viewed by him." He went to the Vine
for a short time. In 1856, Treadwell was in
Essex, and in 1857 went as huntsman to Lord
Stamford with the Quorn.

Mr. Long showed as good sport as the
country would allow. This year, in the farm
of Mr. Henry Barnard of East Meon, there
were eight foxes in one small covert, all of
which afforded good runs.

Mr. Tobias Frere of Odiham now Mr< Frere's
hunted the country so many years hamers-
known as Dr. Leech's, and continued to do so
until he went to reside at Whitchurch, in 1850.

The Hon. Colonel Keppel kept a Jk. L

J- -L -I- Lymmgton

pack of harriers at Lymington, which harriers.
I believe were kept in 1842 by Mr. Henry
Dennett, but beyond the time I have not
found out any more about them. 1S11

" At the H. H. races on Tichborne h. h. races,

Anvil

Down, the Farmers' Cup was won by From the
Mr. T. Earwaker's grey filly, bred by records.
Mr. W. Apletree of Basingstoke, beating horses
of Mr. Henry Budcl of Lyeway, of Mr. Clark
of Ciiddisden, of Mr. James' Christmas, and of
Mr. James Bridger. Mr. H. Budd won the

236 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1825 to

piece of plate given by Major Barrett. After

the race, an ordinary was held at the Swan.

Alresford, at which Major Barrett presided,

and Mr. George Smith of Bighton acted as

vice-president."

Runs, mi. «The H. H. met at Bramdean

H. H., Nov.

2nd, from Common for the first day of the

Bramdean J

Common. season, and had a fine run from
Cheriton Wood. A fox broke away to the
well-known view halloo of Mr. George Smith,
and made off to Sutton Wood, on through
Bighton to Woodridden, from which covert he
was viewed stealing over the downs by Gods-
field to Northington, and then through the
Grange Park, where he was killed in the lake.
The gentlemen most forward this day were :
Mr. Edward Knight on Lucifer, Mr. F. Yates
on a roan mare, Mr. Taylor, Mr. T. Scotland
on a chesnut, and that best of old fellows, Mr.
Wilkinson of Alresford." — BelVs Life.

Dec. 8th. The Royal Stag-hounds met at
houndsffrom Popham Lane. The hind first ran
Popnam-iane. ^e London road for four miles,

nearly into Basingstoke, where the hounds
were stopped. After ten minutes' law, they
were laid on, and went to Sherborne St. John,
and by the lanes to Pamber and Tadley,
through some deep country by Silchester, and

1845.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 237

took water between Mortimer and Strathneld-
saye, where she was secured after a run of
two hours and forty-five minutes. At the
meet was a large field, and with them Prince
George of Cambridge, Lord Adolphus Fitz-
clarence, and Lords George Bentinck and
Dorchester.

On the retirement of Maj or Barrett, 1842.
Mr. Augustus Onslow, eldest son of **- 0nvflow

& ' takes the

the Hon. Colonel Onslow of Upton H- H-
House, became master of the H. H., and had
them for three seasons. Mr. Onslow discharged
the duties of master with satisfaction to every-
body, and his retirement carried with it the
sincere regret of all who hunted with him, for
he was courteous to his field, a good sports-
man, and a forward rider.

Jack Shirley was Mr. Onslow's Servants.
huntsman for his first year, and he was followed
by Will Cox. During the two first seasons,
Jem Gower and Richard Hall, and the third,
George Cox and Hall, were whippers-in. Both
William and George Cox have seen wniiam and
a great deal of hunting in different Georse Cox"
parts. In 1837 they were both whips to Gene-
ral Wyndham, at Sladeland, under Sharp ;
they then came to the H. H. Will Cox went
to the Vine in 1845, when Sir Richard Ry croft

238 SPORTING REMINISCENCES L1825 T0

was master, and stayed with that hunt eight
seasons ; he then went to the Meath, and Lord
Doneraile, in Ireland, and back to Hampshire
with the Hambledon in I860. George Cox
went to the Vine with his brother, and then to
the Eaby. Both brothers are excellent servants.
1842. On the death of Mr. Codrington,

Shedden Captain Shedden took the N. F. H.,

master of -, -, -, i , i

the x. f. h. and when he was elected master, on
October 15th, he had neither horses, hounds,
servants, nor even kennels. A temporary build-
ing was hastily put up at Woodlands. Horses
were bought, and a pack of hounds, which
were chiefly drafts from the Quorn, were ad-
vertised to meet on November the 15th ! At
this time there were about five thousand fallow
deer in the Forest, from which the hounds had
to be broken. In April, 1843, Captain Shedden
bought the whole of the Hursley pack. He
bred but very few, as it was difficult to get
walks for them. After Mr. Assheton Smith
had chosen his puppies out of the eighty couple
he annually bred, he let Captain Shedden have
from twelve to fifteen couple, so that ultimately
the hounds became entirely of Mr. Assheton
Smith's breed.

There being no kennels in the New Forest
country, several members subscribed, in shares

1845.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 239

of 50/. each, to build them with stables and a
cottage. Mr. H. C. Compton made a present
of the land, which was situate at Furzy Lawn,
about one mile from Lyndhurst.

For the first season Joe Peckham, TT „.„

' H. Gillett

and then for a few years Harry Gillett and j. cha-
(who lived as whip with Mr. "Wynd-
ham), was huntsman, and after him John
Chapelow (who came from Lord Sondes', in
Xorfolk) ; but during the last few years of his
tenure, Captain Shedden hunted the hounds
himself. He was master of the N. F. H. eleven
seasons.

Since Captain Shedden's time the country is
not improved (in a fox-hunting sense) ; many
enclosures have been recently made, and the
foxes run much shorter than formerly. Then
they often ran ten and even twelve miles
straight; for instance, they once found in
Amberwood, and killed in Stubby Coppice.
Also, finding in Stubby Coppice, they killed
on Ashley Hills ; again, finding in the same
covert, they ran to ground at Eyeworth, or ten
miles from point to point. A good run which
took place quite at the end of April deserves
notice. Mr. William Wyndham came down
for a few days to see his old country and the
new hounds ; he came out but three times, and

240 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1825 to

it happened that out of them the lady-pack was
not out twice. The scent was very good, so
that they had a great deal of chasing, but very
little hunting. Mr. Wyndham said, " I should
have liked to have seen more of your dog-pack,
and your hounds hunt more." Mr. Shedden
replied, " If you will stay, I will have the dog-
hounds out once more ; there is an outlving
fox in a covert near Ringwood ; we will try
and find him, and see if we can have some
hunting." He was found, went straight away,
and was run into in the open near Woodlands,
after one hour and five minutes, or twelve
miles from point to point. Mr. Wyndham said
it was the finest run he had ever seen. So he
did not see the hounds hunt after all, and his
health failing, he never came out in the Forest
again.

During his mastership, Captain Shedden
gave universal satisfaction. The sport, during
his last season, could not be surpassed, and his
finishing day at Brockenhurst was most satis-
factory. An immense field congratulated the
master when they came up, after the fox was
killed. Captain Shedden, who then rode sixteen
stone, was first up at the death.

Ladies in the During Captain Shedclen's master-
New Forest, gj^ severai laclies hunted in the Xew

prior

1845.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 241

Forest. Among them was Mrs. Shedden, who
was a beautiful horsewoman, Lady Rose Lovell,
Mrs. Robbins, Mrs. Rowley, and Miss Gore, now
Lady Edward Thynne, whose fine horseman-
ship was more than once specially alluded to
in the Sporting Magazine.

The following are the names of Members of
gentlemen who were elected mem- ^cfe'dF'
bers of the N. F. H. prior to 1842 : t0 1842

Mr. John Pulteney of Northerwood.

Mr. William Sloane Stanley, Paultons.

Mr. Andrew Drummond, Cadlands.

Mr. Henry Combe Compton, Manor House.

Lord Palmerston, Broadlands.

Mr. Samuel Mcoll, Lyndhurst.

Mr. William Wyndham, Burnford House.

Admiral Hyde Parker, Boldre.

Mr. Samuel Heathcote, Bramshaw Hill.

Sir George Rose, Sandhills, Christchurch.

Mr. George E. Eyre, Warrens, Bramshaw.

Mr. John Morant, Brockenhurst House.

Colonel Robbins, Castle Malwood, Minstead.

Major Gilbert, Bartley Lodge.

Mr. E. Nightingale, Embley.

Mr. H. Timson.

Mr. Edward Timson, Tatchbury.

Mr. H. Compton, jun., Manor House.

Sir Charles Hulse, Bart., Breamore.

R

242 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1825 to

Mr. John Lukin, Nursling.

Captain Aitcheson, R.N., Shrubshill, Lynd-

hurst.

Mr. Matthew Monro, Fritham Cottage.

Mr. George Labalmondiere, Fritham Cot-
tage.

Mr. George Harbin, Fritham Lodge.

Mr. Charles Philips, Eling.

Mr. R. Bowden-Smith, Lyndhurst.

Members fhe Hon. Colonel Keppel, Lym-

elected after u ' J

1842. inert on.

Mr. Edward Weld, Pilewell.

Mr. W. H. Sloane-Stanley, Paultons.

Lieutenant-Colonel Thornhill, New Park.

Mr. J. 0. Crewe-Reed, Hill, Southampton.

Mr. Frederick M. Lewin, Ridgway Castle.

Colonel Buckley, New Hall, Hownton.

Mr. W. Farr, Iforcl.

Mr. Henry Jacob, the Close, Salisbury.

Mr. E. Mills, Bistern.

Mr. Robert Eyre, Bartley, Eling.

The Earl of Malmesbury, Blackwater.

Lieutenant-Colonel Drummond, Portswood.

Mr. Charles Brett, Exbury House.

Mr. J. Mills, Bistern, Ringwood.

Sir Edward Hulse, Bart., Breamore.

Mr. S. Hulse.

1845.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 243

Sir Frederick H. Bathurst, Bart., Clarendon
Park.

Mr. Horatio F. Holloway, Marchwood.

Mr. Alexander Powell, jun., Foxlease.

Captain Lindsay Shedden, Lymington.

Earl Nelson, Trafalgar House, Salisbury.

Hon. W. Hare, Lymington.

Sir Henry Paulet, Bart., Little Testwood.

Mr. Frederick Bradburn, Lyburn.

Captain Sir J. Rivett Carnac, Bart., Rock
Cliff, Milford.

Capt. Walter Williams, Elcombs.

Mr. John Drewe, the Grove, Eling.

Mr. Thomas Gladstone, Cuffnells, Lyndhurst.

Mr. Goodrich Shedden, Merrion - square,
Dublin.

Mr. Nelson Matcham, New House.

Mr. Thomas Deane Shute, Bramshaw Hill.

Captain Scobell.

Mr. Royd, Exbury.

Mr. J. F. Breton, Lyndhurst.

Major- General Robbins, Castle Mai wood.

Captain F. Lovell, Brockenhurst.

Mr. R. Bowden Smith, Forest Lodge, Lynd-
hurst.

Captain Buckworth Powell, Foxlease.

Mr. L. W. Cumberbatch, Queen's House,
Lyndhurst.

r2

244 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1825 to

Captain W. Parker, Minestead Lodge.

Hon. E. Douglas, Bartley Manor House.

Captain Martin Powell, secretary to the
N. F. H., Beechen, Lyndhurst.
h. h. races. ^he H. H., or Farmers', took place

From the # ' 11

Hants chron. on Tichborne Down on April 26th.

The Farmers' Race.

Mr. Legge's (of Hawkely) ch. h 1 1

Mr. W. Bridger's (of Oakhanger) b. h 2 2

A Piece of Plate, given by Major Barrett.

Mr. J. Bridger's b. h 1 2 1

Mr. Ewen's (of Weild) ch. h 3 12

Mr. Hunt's (of Alresford) b. h 2 3 3

At the ordinary, which was held at the Swan
Inn, Alresford, the chair was ably filled by Mr.
Rivers of Bishop's Sutton. During the even-
ing a splendid piece of plate, purchased from a
subscription amongst the yeomanry, was pre-
sented to Major Barrett, as a testimony of
their esteem during his mastership of the
H. H.

Good runs in "Sir John Cope's hounds met at
F8b2- Strathfieldsaye, and a very large field

sir John 0f upwards of two hundred horse -
strat'hfieid- men were present. The Duke was
present at the meet with his guests,
the Judges of the Western Circuit, who had
been staying with his Grace according to
annual custom. Neither of their lordships
nor the Duke joined the hunt. A fine fox was

1845.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 245

found at Mortimer Gorse, who took them at a
great pace to Bramley Frith, then back over a
very strong country to Silchester, where he was
run into. Lord Charles Wellesley went very
well throughout this run." — From BeWs Life.

This pack had a series of good runs, Dec. 7th.
and never better sport than at this £.^H* H''
time. December 7th, they met at Brookwood.
Brookwood House, and did not find till late,
at the back of Mr. Walter Taylor's house, at
Hockley. The fox went away straight and
fast to Fully and Hampage, then over the
Warren to Preshaw and Beacon Hill to Rivers-
den, skirting both Blackhouse and Brookwood,
passing above the villages of Bramdean and
Hinton, where they were obliged to whip off
in the dark, although the fox was dead beaten,
and only a short distance before them. The
Squire of Chawton, Mr. Edward Knight, who
rode in his usual style, had a bad fall, as did
Mr. Coulthard. Very few remained to the end
of the day.

From the Cart and Horses, Worthy, Dec- 9th
where the meet was enlivened by the j^n\H* H '
Grenadier Guards marching out with Worth7-
their band for exercise. After a long draw,
they found about two o'clock in Micheldever
Wood. The fox, instead of taking the usual
route through Thorn ey Down, went at first

246 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1825 to

towards the Grange, then turned over the open
by Colonel Wall's park at Worthy, crossed
the turnpike-road, skirted the Race-course to
Crawley Belts, and then to Flower Down and
Littleton ; then, after a check of five minutes,
away by Lainston House to Farley Mount, into
Parnholt. By this time it was quite dark, and
although the fox was quite beaten, he escaped.
It was run in one hour and twenty-five minutes,
and in a dense fog the whole time. Several
strangers were out amongst them — Major
Uclny (Grenadier Guards), Mr. Worth, a sports-
man well known in Devonshire. Of those who
got to the end were Messrs. Augustus Onslow,
Arthur Onslow, Mr. James East, M.P., Mr.
Barton Wallop, Mr. W. Green, Dr. Twynam,
and Mr. Charles Deane.

Dec. 24th. " The H. H. had a severe run from
The h. h., Beauworth. After drawing Cheriton

from Beau- O

worth. Wood blank, they got on an outlying

fox, which took them over Tichborne Down,
through Ropley, to Newton Common, Chawton
Park, down to the deep country by Worldham
to Langrish Farm, at Greatham, where they
killed after a run of two hours and ten minutes.
Many horses were left at farm-houses. Seven
only were up at the death — viz. Mr. E. Knight,
who got the brush, Mr. Gearing, whose horse

1845.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 247

died afterwards, Dr. Twynam, Mr. Onslow,
Mr. B. Wallop, and Mr. Collier. "—BeIVs Life,

After three years Mr. White re- 1Si3
signed the management of the Hursley Mr. r. d.
hounds, and was succeeded by Mr. master of
Robert Drayton Cockburn, son of theHlirs1^
the Dean of York, and nephew of Sir Robert
Peel, Bart., who, with his brother, hunted these
hounds up to 1850, and during that time
showed extraordinary sport. Mr. Cockburn
was certainly one of the best gentlemen hunts-
men that ever came into the country, and very
popular as a master of hounds. Combined with
a thorough knowledge of the sport, he showed
great judgment in the selection and manage-
ment of his hounds. His death, which was
caused by jaundice, took place on the 15th of
June, 1850, at the rectory Kelston, near Rath,
the residence of his father. Mr. Cockburn,
from wearing brown top-boots, which then had
not come into fashion, was familiarly called
" Mahogany Bob." Robert Teed was Mr.
Cockburn's whip. On Mr. White's retirement,
a further period of seven years ivas granted by
the H. H. to Mr. Cockburn to hunt the Hursley
country.

General Yates kept a small pack of The ivther-
from twelve to fourteen couple of leyharners-

248 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1825 to

harriers at Tytherley, and hunted them him-
self. One or two good runs from Lockerly are
reported in the Hants Chronicle. This pack
was sold at the end of the season at Winchester,
and bought by Mr. King.
h. h. c. "The Hambledon Hunt races on

April 20th. Soberton Down were very well at-
tended. Among the company were Mr. and
Lady Mary Long, Colonel and Lady Maria
Saunderson, Sir Charles and Lady Napier, Sir
James Campbell, Sir R. Grant, Mr. Henry and
Captain George Delme, Colonel Alderson, Hon.
William Gage, Messrs. E. Knight, G. Knight,
T. Butler, J. W. Scott, &c.

The Farmers' Cup.

Mr. Stare's br. g. Starling Oil

Mr. Mitchell's ch. g. Capsicum 1 2 2

Mr. Way's bl. g. Warrior 2 0 3

h. h. races, "The H. H. races took place on
April 24th. ' Tichborne Down.

The Farmers' Cup was won by-
Mr. J. Bridger's b. h. byNimrod 1 1

Beating eight others.

" The same horse carrying 7 lbs. extra won
a handsome silver cup given by Mr. Augustus
Onslow." — Hants Chronicle.
n. f. h. The N. F. H. races were held near

Aug.' Lyndhurst, August 16th. Captain

1845.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 249

Lindsay Shedden and Mr. W. Williams were
stewards.

The H. H. met at Candover
Church ; found in Chilton Wood, 1843.
went to Thorney Down, and straight Feb. 8th,
through it without stopping to Michel- ^r.Can"
dever Wood, where there was a slight
check ; crossed the railway by Waller's Ash
Tunnel, over the Race-course, to Littleton,
then through Norwood, by Lainston to Crab-
wood, where they killed, after a fine run of
two hours and ten minutes. Distance from
point to point thirteen miles. Ground tra-
versed from sixteen to eighteen miles.

"The H. H. met at Mr. T. M. TheH. h.,
Wayne's, at South Warnborou£fh, ?ec- Ith*

J ° ' from South

than whom there is no stauncher Wam-
supporter of hunting in Hants ; and
found of course immediately in E asters, and
went away to Horsden Common, to Sheep
House, by Blounce and Weston Common to
Mr. Rumbold's at Preston Candover ; then
over Herriard Common and back by Weston
Common, and killed in Humley Grove. Will
Cox rode to his hounds and handled them in
a most workmanlike manner. The pace was
so great, that out of seventy horsemen but
very few lived to the finish, and of these were

250 SPORTING REMINISCENCES L1825 to

the master, Mr. Onslow, Mr. Marx, and Will

Cox, the huntsman." — Belts Life.

" The same day, Captain Lindsay
Dec.Vth,' ' Sneddon's hounds met at Vinney
mTsr™ey Eidge, and found in Horme Hill a
fine fox, who went over Feltham
Flats, through the Eagle's Nest to Fritham,
Fordingbridge, to Bratley Water, and was run
into after fifty-five minutes' racing. Amongst
those up were the master, Colonel Robbins,
Mr. Compton, M.P., Mr. H. Compton, Mr.
Buckworth Powell, Mr. R. Carnac, Sir Henry
Paulet, Bart., Mr. Martin Powell, and Mr.
Mackinnon." — Belts Life.

" As Mr. Barton Wallop's groom

Extraordinary L °

leap, was exercising two hunters, a dog

Dec. 2nd. & °

jumped out of a hedge and started
the horses. They overpowered the groom,
and, after running a mile and a half, came to
the St. Cross turnpike-gate, which they both
jumped at the same moment (the groom riding
one and leading the other), and they cleared
the gate, which was six feet high. Neither
the man nor the horses were in the least hurt."
— Belts Life.

Picture of An excellent picture, representing

"The Duke's the Duke of Wellington at a meet of
Hunt." ^he yme Hunt, in Hurstbourne Park,

1845.]

OF HAMPSHIRE.

251

was painted by Mr. Henry Calvert. It is the
only picture in which the Duke figures as a
sportsman. From the key-plate I give the
names of the other portraits :

1.

Capt. Frederic.

21.

Lord Dorchester.

2.

Miss Mary Fellowes.

22.

Col. Beach.

3.

Mr. Blackall Simmonds.

23.

Mr. John Portal.

4.

The Second Whip.

24.

Mr. A. F. Greville.

5.

Master Beach.

25.

Marchioness of Douro.

6.

Mr. William Chaplin.

26.

Baron Neumann.

7.

Mr. William Holding.

27.

Marquis of Douro.

8.

Mr. John Wickham.

28.

Earl of March.

9.

Capt. Cunnynghame.

29.

The Duke of Wellington.

10.

Mr. George Twynam.

30.

Capt. Brown.

11.

Mr. W. Hicks-Beach.

31.

Archduke of Austria.

12.

Rev. Edward St. John.

32.

Mr. Henry Fellowes (Master

13.

Mr. and Mrs. Lees.

of the Hounds).

14.

Lord Charles Wellesley.

33.

The First Whip.

15.

Mr. Robert Rawlins.

34.

The Duke's Groom, John

16.

Mr. Darby Griffiths.

Mears.

17.

Sir Richard Rycroft, Bart.

35.

Mr. Curtis.

18.

Mr. Edward St. John.

36.

Mr. Chapman.

19.

Mr. Francis Piggott.

37.

Mr. Charles Bridges.

20.

Sir M. H. Beach, Bart.

38.

Dale, the Huntsman.

The Hambleclon Hunt races were is44.
veiw numerouslv attended : and pre- H- H- c-

J J -1- races,

sent were Mr. and Lady Mary Long, April isth.
Mr. and Mrs. Barnes, Mr. and Mrs. Chamber-
layne, Mr. and Mrs. Abbott, Lord Yaux, Mr.
and Mrs. J. H. Campbell, the Officers of the
Grenadier Guards, Mr. 0. C. Codrington, Sir
John and Lady Campbell, Mr. H. Delme,
Captain Delme, Mr. H. Thornton, Messrs. C.
Deane, W. Bulpett, S. Taylor, T. Bidge,
Walter Long, R. Hetley, W. T. Graeme, &c

252 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1825 to

The Hunt Club Stakes.

Mr. J. H. Campbell's b. g. Somerset 1 1

Mr. Bourke's b. g. Sir Walter 2 2

Lord Paget's b. g 3 3

Hurdle Race.

Capt. Delme's c. g. Reprobate 1 1

Hon. R. A. Arundell's Tatterdemalion ... (Lord Vaux) 2 dist.

Five others started.

ii. h. races, " At the H. H. races on Tiehborne
April 26th. Down, Mr. Ewen's chesnut horse
Norman won the Cup. The race for the
piece of plate, given by Mr. Onslow, did not
at first fill. Mr. Onslow then said it should
be given to be run for by any six horses that
should start for it by a given time. Six
started, and showed tolerably good sport ; the
second heat was won by only half a neck by
Mr. Ewen's chesnut horse, the winner of the
Cup. Four horses then started for a sweep-
stakes— Gentlemen riders — which was well
contested, and won by Mr. Frederick Yates's
brown horse, beating Mr. Onslow's, Lord
Paget's, and Mr. Nicholson's horses." — Hants
Chronicle.

In comparison with the number of

Cricket,

from matches played at the latter end of

' the last century, and with those that
have taken place during the last twenty years,
the game at this time appeared to decline in
the county, and, from want of encourage-

1845.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 253

ment, there were not so many young players
coming forward to supply the places of their
seniors ; and it is probable that, but for the
support the game received from a few in-
fluential country gentlemen, it would have
fallen still lower.

In 1827, the Messrs. Knight of 1827.
Chawton played well, and supported the game
in their own neighbourhood. Mr. G. T.
Knight was a very good bowler, and contri-
buted to many of the M. C. C. victories.

There was in this year a good club on Tich-
borne Down, which at one time nearly or
quite died out, but was resuscitated about
1844-5. The principal performers in the old
club were Messrs. Calmady, Edward Hopkins,
Smith, Berry, W. Lowth, G. Lowth, James
Greenwood, Richard Plucknett, and Mr. John
Dunn of Alresford.

Mr. Dunn was a great supporter of the
game, and for many years got up a match be-
tween eleven gentlemen of the neighbourhood
and eleven players of Alresford, which was
called "Mr. Dunn's Match."

August 4th and 5th. At Lord's a 1S28
Hampshire Eleven beat England by England ».
eight wickets. Hants, first innings,
111 runs; England getting 61 each innings.

254 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1S25 to

It is fair to add that England did not play its
strongest Eleven. James Broadbridge and
W. Lillywhite bowled.

The Hants Eleven were W. Matthews, G.
Brown, Tom Beagley, Mr. Ward, Mr. H.
Kingscote, T. C. Howard, Mr. G. Claridge,
Mr. Lowe, Mr. F. Nicholas, Captain Davidson,
Captain Greenwood, Mr. Deedes ; and of these,
I imagine, one or two were not bona fide
Hampshire men.

1S29 This match was played at Mid-

Midhurst©. hurst, June 15th, 1829. The Ham-

Hambledon. i i n tth i*i^ 1

bledon Lleven, which formerly
played All England, had now fallen from its
high estate, as Midhurst won by 69 runs.

The Hambledon Eleven were Messrs. J.
Bulbeck, Foster, Pay, Hammond, Boyce,
Friend, Etherington, Gale, Bligh, Downman,
and Garrett. Soon after this, Windmill Down
(where the return match was played) was
ploughed up.

George George Freemantle, son of the old

Freemantie. Hambledon Club player, came out
this year in a match at Lord's, playing for
England v. Sussex. He was born at Easton,
near Winchester; was a left-handed bat, but

a right-handed bowler ; was living in Win-
es ' o

Chester in 1861.

1845.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 255

June 28-29. A match was played 1S30.
between the Gentlemen of Hants, Gentlemen

7 of Hants v.

with Lillywhite and Broadbridge, v. Gentlemen

n -i r* -ri t i » i of England.

the Gentlemen of England, with
Fuller Pilch and W. Searle.

The Hants gentlemen on this occasion were
H. Everett, W. Ward, H. Kingscote, W. Potter,
T. Vigne, — Smith, H. Anderson, E. Mills,
and — Calmady.

Matches between these Elevens 1834.
were frequently played on Alton f°nutw?£"
Butts, Twyford and Tichborne cAh/ster'

' J Alton, Alres-

Downs, and on Southampton Marsh, ford Elevens.

The Winchester players were W. Davis, H.
Holloway, B. Charrett, J. LuiF, R. Winde-
bank, W. Purchase, G. Freemantle, W. Collins,
A. Holdaway, G. Pointer, and J. Pugh.

The Southampton were William Jones, J.
Zimmerman, G. Collins, Lillywhite, Kelsey,
Neale, E. Scammel, Brooks, Etheridge, Giles,
and Hart.

The Alresford Eleven were John Privett,
Edward Privett (a good steady bat and straight
slow bowler), G. Pescod, G. Collyer (a good
wicket-keeper and useful old-fashioned player),
William Privett, T. Freeman, N. Chase, R.
Fowler, T. Crook (a very fast underhand
bowler), J. Earwaker, and M. Chandler.

256 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1825 to

The Alton Eleven were George Whitcher,
John Ayling, William Ayling, A. Albery, Tom
Beagley, Harry Beagley, H. White, G. White,
John Beagley, Mr. Holding, and James Burt.

183g A match was played at Lord's be-

june 2i, 22. tween the Gentlemen of Hampshire,
Hants v. * with Good, v. the M. C. C. The

the M. C. C. Qounty won ^ 47 rung#

The Eleven were Mr. R. Payne, a master at
Winchester College, a good bat ; Mr. Thomas
Chamberlayne of Cranbury Park, a most
liberal supporter of the game ; Mr. John St.
John of Finchampstead, a good bat ; Mr. G.
B. Townsend of the Close, Salisbury, a fine
bat and good wicket keeper in the Eton Eleven,
1832 ; Sir F. H. Bathurst, one of the finest
fast round bowlers of his time, and a very hard
hitter ; Mr. W. Ward, Mr. James Greenwood
of Brookwood (in the Eton Eleven in 1825),
Mr. Guildford Onslow (now M.P. for Guild-
ford), Mr. Huddlestone, and Mr. John Henry
Campbell (now Mr. J. H. Campbell- Wyndham
of Exton, who also lived at Salisbury, and
played for Wilts).

The return match was played at Mr
The°sameat T. Chamberlayne's, Cranbury Park,
rarkbury between the M. C. C, with no pro-
fessionals, and the Gentlemen of

1845.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 257

Hampshire. M. C. C., 76 and 30 ; Hants, 40
and 67, with two wickets to go down.

The County Eleven were Mr. T. Chamber-
lay ne, Mr. C. F. Trower (then of Weston
Grove, near Southampton, now a Colonial
bishop), Mr. R. Payne, Mr. Alfred Lowth, Mr.
G. B. Townsend, Sir F. Bathurst, Mr. W.
Ward, Mr. Godfrey B. Lee (who bowled beau-
tifully in this match, then bowler to the Ox-
ford University Eleven, now the Warden of
Winchester College), Mr. John St. John, Mr.
Onslow, and Mr. Godfrey Higgins of Ham-
bledon .

Mr. Alfred Lowth was also this year bowler
to the University of Oxford, and in his time
was one of the best gentlemen bowlers that
have ever lived. He was born July 20th,
1817, at Chiswick; was first at Eton on the
foundation, but finding there was no chance
of getting to King's College he went to Win-
chester, where he again failed to get to New
College, from being superannuated. He then
went to Exeter College, Oxford. Mr. Lowth
was a very effective left-handed bowler.

A match was played on the Stone-

-A.U1T. *-lstt

henge ground between Eleven Gentle- Gentlemen
men of Hants v. Eleven Gentlemen of Gentlemen
Wilts. The Stonehenge won in one

s

258 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1825 ia

innings and 9 runs. In the Hants Eleven
were Mr. Chamberlayne, Mr. Edward Hopkins
of Alresforcl, Mr. Godfrey Lee, Mr. Lowth, Mr.
Guildford Onslow, Mr. St. John, Mr. George
Montagu, afterwards master of the South Berks,
Mr. James Greenwood, Mr. Seymer Terry, who
played this year in the Winchester Eleven,
at Lord's, v. Harrow, Mr. Higgins, and Mr. E.
Morant Gale of Upham.

In the return match, in which Messrs.
Lowth and Giffard bowled admirably, Hants
won easily, Wilts only getting 17 in their first
innings and 38 in the second; Hants first
innings 143. The Eleven was changed, Messrs.
Thos. Gamier, John Gamier, J. Giffard, Hus-
sey, and R. Payne, playing.

1839. The same match was played at

June 27th. Cranburv Park, when Hants again

Hampshire v. J CJ

stonehenge. Won by 22 runs. The Eleven was
a^ain different, and were conroosed of Luff, a
left-handed bowler of Winchester, who went in
first, and carried out his bat, Barfoot, Mr.
Chamberlayne's coachman, Mr. F. Hogge of
the New Forest, Mr. Chamberlayne, Mr. H.
Bigge, Mr. Godfrey Higgins, Sir John Barker
Mill, Bart,, Mr. St. John, Mr. Clutterbuck of
Southampton, Mr. E. Morant Gale, and Mr.
R. Bowden Smith, Southampton.

1845..] OF HAMPSHIRE. 259

This match is noted in Lillywhite's Book of
Scores thus: "Though the winning side is
called Hampshire, still it is presumed it can
scarcely he the best Eleven in the county. In
fact, about this time there was no true Hamp-
shire Eleven."

This is wrong ; Hampshire had a very good
Eleven, but they were not put together. Sir
Fred. Bathurst, Messrs, Lee, Lowth, Giffard,
G. B. Townsend, and Beagley, were six first-
rate men. The county never was stronger in
bowling than at this period, and it was by no
means weak in batting, as will be seen by the
scores in the M. C. C, with no professionals, v.
the Gentlemen of Hants, played August 5th
and 6th.

This match was played in Cran- 1839-
bury Park, the Gentlemen of Hants Gentlemen*

• t tt . \ nn of Hants.

winning very easily. Hants lbb Aug. 5, 6.
and 265 ; M. C. C. 105 and 56, with 5 wickets
down.

In this match Mr. G. B. Townsend got 72
and 130, and Mr. John St. John, Mr. Ward,
and Sir Frederick Bathurst, also got large
scores.

The Gentlemen of Hants played 1840.
the Gentlemen of Sussex, and won by 41 runs ;

s2

260 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1825 to

but there was no change in the Eleven of
former years.

North and
South

This match was played at South-
Hants, ampton, August 23rd :

1st Innings. 2nd Innings.

North Hants 26 ... 75

South Hants 50 ... 53

The North Hants Eleven were Messrs.
Seymer Terry, T. Chamberlayne, G. B. Lee,
Tom Beagley, H. Beagley, E. Brown, R. Clut-
terbuck, F. Huddlestone, E. Morant Gale, Ed-
ward Hopkins, and J. H. Campbell.

The South Hants were Messrs. W. Brown,
C. F. Trower, C. Hawkins, a Sussex man, a
fine bat and point, who was now bowler to
the South Hants Club, G. B. Townsend, Lewis,
R. Bodle, a Sussex man, who this year came
to the South Hants as bowler, Sir J. B. Mill,
Lord Somerton, Mr. Wynne of Broxmore Park,
Captain Colt of Rownhams, and Mr. R. Bowden
Smith.

]841 A match was played July 22nd

At Lord's, and 23rd, at Lord's, between Eleven
Gentlemen Gentlemen of the M. C. C. with no
of Hants. professionals, v. Eleven Gentlemen of
Hants, with Caldecourt. The M. C. C. scored
83 and 75, and won by 2 runs ; Hants, 96
and 60. As Caldecourt made 47 in his first

1845.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 261

innings, and 22 in his second, it ought more
properly to be called Caldecourt with the
Gentlemen of Hampshire.
The return match was played at Atsouth-

x J ampton. Re-

Southampton, but the Gentlemen of turn match.
Hants now received the material assistance of
Lillywhite and Wenman, and won the match
by 48 runs. The county scored 70 and 97, of
these the professionals scored the lion's share :
Lillywhite 6 and 20, and Wenman 39 and 32.
The County Eleven, except Mr. Ward and Mr.
Townsend, did not trouble the scorers.

This match was played at South- T.^b41*
ampton, August 20th, and is remark- Down v.
able for the large number of noughts. Hants. The
On the Tichborne side, E. Privett Match,
and Smith alone got good scores ; and on the
Southampton, Bodle only got double figures,
10 and 15. The Tichborne Eleven made 50
and 95 ; the South Hants, 47 and 43. The
Tichborne Down Eleven were Messrs. J. Green-
wood, Richard Dalton, G. Dalton, H. Austen,
S. Nicholson, Harrison Dalton, W. Nicholson,
Robins, G. Smith, and E. Privett. The South
Hants were Messrs. W. Stevens, J. F. Fal-
wasser, E. W. Kerrison, Captain Weir, E. Mo-
rant, Gale, J. Bradshaw, T. Chamberlayne, R.
B. Smith, Bodle, and G. Barfoot.

262 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1825 -to

There were eight noughts in the second
innings of Southampton, and twenty-one alto-
gether in the match.

1842. Hampshire again played theM.CC.,

^Da^and211^ ^S Vear W011 ^ie ^^ °J ^35
R. Bodle. ruilS.

The Hampshire Eleven were Messrs. J.
Greenwood, T. Chamberlayne, P. J. Hornby,
Sir F. Bathurst, W. Ward, F. Huddlestone, E.
B. Smith, Daniel Day, and Richard Bodle, and
scored 49 and 283 ; in the second innings both
the professionals scored 70.

Daniel Day is a Surrey man by birth, but
came to Hants this year, and was for some
time bowler to the South Hants Club.

Richard Bodle is a Sussex man ; he came to
Southampton in 1839, and has lived there
ever since. He was for many years bowler to
the South Hants Club.

1842. This noted Hants player came out

Mr. Charles . -i • , t i j i • • tt

Ridding. tins year at Lord s, playing m Harrow
v. Winchester, in the place of Mr. V. C. Smith,
who was taken ilL Mr. C. Ridding has played
in many matches for the county, and by his
wonderful long-stopping contributed much to
the gaining of many victories. As a bat he is
very steady, and generally gets good scores ;
he is wonderfully tough, and scorns the use of

1845.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 263

both pads and gloves, even against the swiftest
bowling.

His brothers, Messrs. Arthur and William
Ridding, have both frequently played for the
county, and distinguished themselves.

Mr. William Ridding was the best wicket-
keeper of his day, and it was a great sight to
see both the brothers Ridding behind the
wicket.

Mr. Arthur Ridding was a good bat, and the
only man I ever saw who did not care for old
Clarke's bowling, and knocked it about as he
pleased.

A match was played between Eleven
Gentlemen of Hampshire, with D. on Day's
Day, against Eleven Players, who sround-
won by seven wickets.

The Gentlemen scored 113 and 63
The Players 151 and 27

The Gentlemen were R. B. Smith, who began
his innings with five fours, T. Chamberlayne,
E. Morant Gale, Captain Weir, G. B.Townsend,
Hon. Captain Liclclell, Sir F. Bathurst, F. Hud-
dlestone, J. H. Campbell, F. Eyre.

The Players were E. Trimmer of Alton, E.
Privett of Alresford, G. Barfoot of Cranbury,
George Freemantle of Winchester, A. Stoneage

264 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1825 to

of Hambledon, Jerry Windebank of Hinton,
Henry and Thomas Beagley of Farringdon,
Davis, Burt of Alton, Powell of Southampton.

1844. There was a fair County Eleven at

don, July 19. Hambledon, supported by Messrs.
W. H. Barkworth and Godfrey Higgins. A
match was played there against the South
Hants Club.

The South Hants Eleven were Messrs. E.
Morant Gale, T. Chamberlayne, R. B. Smith,
T. Bourke, Fred. Falwasser, Montague Day,
B. W. Greenfield, E. Easther, G. Barfoot, R.
Bodle, and D. Day; they scored 91 and 59.

The Hambledon Eleven were Mr. Lee, J.
Bulbeck, Godfrey Higgins, W. H. Barkworth,
Thomas Smith, Hall, Stoneage, Greentree,
Meredith, and Foster; they scored 71 and 44,
and six wickets down.

1862.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 265

CHAPTER IV.

Frox 1345 to 1862.

Captain Haworth, 1845 — Tom Clark — The Tichborne Down Cricket
Club— The United Hunts' Ball and Meet at Cranbury — The Stone-
ham Harriers — The Hambledon, by Lord William Lennox — The
Hon. Augustus Berkeley — Lord Gifford — Jack Grant — Visit to Lord
GifTord by Actseon — Colonel Frederick — Members of the Hamble-
don Hunt elected after 1848— Sir R. Eycroft, 1848— Mr. G. Wall's
Harriers — William Summers — John Hickman — Mr. Wheble —
Robert Tocock — Mr. Wall, Master of the Hursley — Mr. Robert
Pearse's and Mr. Chaplin's Harriers, 1850 — Mr. Campbell Wyndham
—Mr. E. St. John — The Whitchurch Harriers — Mr. John St.
John's Harriers — Captain Williams's Bloodhounds — Mr. Robert
Pearse, Master of the H. H., 1852— Mr. G. Wall with the Ham-
bledon— Mr. Stanley Lowe — Mr. Theobald — Captain Mainwaring,
1852 — Mr. Garth — Captain Evans's Harriers — The Arrow and
the America — The Earl of Portsmouth and the North Hants
Hunt Club, 1854— Mr. E. Timson— Mr. H. Barnard's, Mr. Owton's,
and Mr. Lywood's Harriers — Mr. Knight — J. Orbell — Mr. E. Tred-
croft, 1857 — George Kennett — Mr. Long — Orchin — Mr. Tregon-
well— Lawn Meet at Tedworth— Mr. T. Marsh, 1858— Mr. Alger-
non Lempriere — The Tedworth Hunt — Sir E. Antrobus, Bart. —
Mr. John Day's Harriers — Captain Poulett, 1859 — Mr. Arthur
Whieldon — George Southwell — Mr. John Arundel, Mr. George
Brooks, and other Supporters of the Vine Hunt — Captain Morant
— Mr. Thomas Nevill's Black St. Hubert's and Red Deer— Mr. F.
Yates's Harriers — Mr. Smithers's Harriers — Mr. Henry Deacon,
1862 — Staunch Sportsmen with the H. H. — Mr. William Standish
— Major Dowker — Mr. James Dear's Harriers, and his Supporters —
Mr. John Bushe — Miss Bowker.

When Mr. Augustus Onslow re- is45.
signed the mastership of the H. H. he Capt- Ha-

• r T-i worth takes

was succeeded by Captain Martin E. the h. h.
Haworth, who, before this, while F
living at Kenford, near Powderham Castle, in
Devon, had hunted the country round Chud-
leigh, formerly Sir Walter Carew's.

Captain Haworth brought his own hounds,

266 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [IMS 10

which were a very fine handsome pack, but a
turn too fast for the country.

Captain Haworth was a sportsman in the
very truest sense of the word ; a man made
for a master of hounds ; a good kennel and
field huntsman; a capital horseman, and one
of the most popular masters that ever came
into Hampshire. He was indefatigable in his
endeavours to show sport, and, when he left
the country, no gentleman ever carried with
him more abundantly the sincere good wishes
of all who knew him.

Captain Haworth hunted the hounds him-
self.

Tom ciark. His servants were : Tom Clark,
who was his first whip, and Richard Hall and
Jack Woodley, second whips. Charles Pike
was second horseman.

Clark has now seen a good deal of service,
and proved himself a first-rate man. He is a
very neat horseman and good rider. I believe
he began with Mr. Mure, in Suffolk, then
whipped in to the Atherstone, under Thurlow,
and, after that, he lived with Sir John Gerard,
in Cheshire. On leaving the H. H. he went
to the Craven, then to Mr. Morrell with the
old Berkshire, and, lastly, went to the Duke
of Beaufort, where he has proved himself an
able successor to Will Long.

1S62.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 267

Mr. Fellowes resigned the manage- ism.
ment of the Vine, after having had The Vin2-
them seventeen years ; and this Hunt was now-
managed by a committee, of whom Sir Richard
Ry croft, Bart., was the chief manager.

A dinner was given to Mr. Fellowes at the
Poyntz Arms, Overton, at which Sir William
Heathcote, Bart., presided, which was nume-
rously attended by the principal landholders
in the Vine Hunt.

At this time, Lord George Bentinck kept
his horses at Basingstoke, and regularly
hunted with the Vine hounds.

John Dale, who had been with John Dale,
these hounds as huntsman since 1842, now
left, and went to the Renfrew and Lanarkshire,
and was succeeded by Will Cox from the
H. H., his brother George Cox likewise ac-
companying him. Will Cox stayed with this
pack until 1852 ; but George left in 1848, and
was succeeded by John Treadwell, who did not
stay long, and was followed by Charles Barwick.

Present at these races were Sir H- H- races
Henry and Lady Tichborne and stone Down,
family, Lady Mary Long, Messrs. isS. 3 '
Augustus and Frederick Onslow, Mr. and
Mrs. Yates, Captains Hilliard and Arthur
Onslow, Messrs. Wayne, W. Taylor, S. Nichol-
son, J. Moody, W. H. Heysham, George

268 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1845 to

Oliver, Barton Wallop, W. T. Grgeme, Wynd-
ham Portal, Murray, E. Knight, Colonel Wil-
liam Greenwood, Major Pipon, and Captain
Haworth.

The H. H. Cup, given by the Members of the H. H.

Mr. W. Ayling's ch. h. by Algar •. 1 1

Mr. Shriinpton's b. m 2 2

Mr. R. Lasham, Mr. Fitt, Mr. H. Young,
and Mr. Steele also entered.

The Hunters' Stakes.

Mr. F. Yates's b. h. Billy-Go-by-'Em ...(Mr. Wallop) 1

Mr. S. Nicholson's Nameless (Owner) 2

Captain Hilliard's George (Owner) 8

The Hack Stakes.

Mr. Legg's Adrian 1

Beating two others.

1845. The Hambledon Hunt races were

n h. c. IiqH on Soberton Down, May 8th.
May W The Hon. T. W. Ga^e and Mr. J.

Godfrey Higgins stewards.

"£3

The Hambledon Club Stakes of 10 sovs. each.

Captain Shipley's Paul Clifford (Hearne) 3 11

Captain Seymour's ch. m (Captain Rose) 12 2

Mr. F. Yates's Billy-Go-by-'Em (Mr. Barton Wallop) 2 3 0

The Farmers' Club, with 10 sovs. to the second horse.

Mr. J. Bulbeck's ch. g. My Pet 1 1

Mr. Mitchell's br. g. Tom Thumb 2 2

Mr. Judd's bk. g. Firebrass 3 3

Mr. J. Ayhvard's Lucy 4 0

The Stewards' Stakes.

Mr. Legg's ch. g. Adrian 2 11

Mr. King's g. f. Harem 12 3

Mr. H. Parker's Maud 0 3 2

Mr. Caffall's Midnight Star 3 4 0

1862.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 269

Many good matches were now 1845.
played on Tichborne Down, the Club, gjjjjjf of
owin£ to the exertions of Mr. Maine the Ti<J-

° borne Dowa

and other gentlemen, having now been ciub.
thoroughly re-established. In a match played
in July against Winchester College, the Tich-
borne Down Eleven were Mr. J. T. Maine
of Bighton Wood, H. Lipscomb of Alresford,
Harrison Dalton of Candover, H. Barker, R.
Wynne of Wadham College, Oxford, Edward
Dalton, William Clement of Chawton, Godfrey
B. Lee, Charles Wordsworth of Winchester
College, Richard Dalton of Candover, and
Claud Magnay of Medstead.

The members of the H. H., Ham- is46.
bleclon, and Hursley Hunts gave a u»itef

J ° Hunts ball,

grand ball at St. John's House, Feb. 12.
Winchester. The committee of management
were Mr. Walter Long, jun., Captain Haworth,
Mr. Augustus Onslow, Mr. George Atherley,
Mr. Thomas Chamberlayne, and Mr. W. T.
Grseme. The rooms were tastefully fitted up,
and the dancing was under the superintend-
ance of Mr. Peter Dickson, M.C., of South-
ampton. Nearly five hundred Avere present.
The gentlemen of the H. H. wore their Club
costume, blue coats and white waistcoats ;
those of the Hambledon and Hursley were in

270 SPORTESPB REMINISCENCES [1845 to

scarlet. The supper was provided by Gunter
of Berkeley-square.

Meet at a On the following morning, the

andMion of hounds met at Cranbury Park, where
Ferb.ei3acks' a grand breakfast was provided. At
1846- the particular request of Mr. Cham-

berlayne, a novel exhibition took place, by the
junction of drafts from three packs of hounds,
seven couple from eachr from the H. H., Ham-
bledon, and Hursley. They all met in the park,
near the house, and were separately paraded
and inspected by the company, amongst whom
were several masters of hounds. The hounds
were then put together, and, by general con-
sent, Squires, the huntsman of the Hamble-
don, was chosen huntsman in chief, Captain
Haworth and Mr. Robert Cockburn accom-
panying him into the covert at the bottom of
the park, where they soon found, and, much
to the amusement of numerous parties of
ladies in carriages, the fox ran past the house
and over to Cranbury Common. Here he
was headed, and again passed the house into
Cranbury AVood, and after a run of fifty-five
minutes was killed in a very thick coppice,
Squires, Captain Haworthr and Mr. Cockburn
rushing in on foot to secure the brush, which
Squires secured. It was remarked that, when
running, the whole pack went well together,

1862.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 271

but, whenever the scent was lost, the lady
hounds which formed Captain Haworth's and
Mr. Long's divisions, flashed out more quickly
than Mr. Cockburn's dogs, who, however, had
their noses well down. It was late before
they killed ; and as they did not draw again,
a large number of gentlemen now adjourned
to the house, where they were again hospitably
entertained by Mr. Chamberlayne." — From
the Hants Chronicle.

The friends and subscribers of the 1846-
Hursley Hunt invited Mr. Cockburn Mr. cock-
to dine with them at the King's Head March 11.
Inn, Hursley, where an excellent dinner was
provided by the worthy host, John Bull. Mr.
John Fleming of Stoneham Park took the
chair, and Mr. Walton of Merdon the vice-
chair, and both landlords and tenant-farmers
appeared to vie with each other in their ex-
pressions of esteem towards Mr. Cockburn
and their attachment towards fox-hunting.
Mr. Cockburn said, in reference to the last
season, " that he had never had a more suc-
cessful one, and that it had proved that foxes
and pheasants could live together, and that if
gentlemen preserved their coverts he would
never have a blank day." The chairman,
whose health was received with equal enthu-
siasm, pledged himself u that his coverts should

272 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1845 to

swarm with foxes, and said that he would
rather have his game destroyed by them than
give encouragement to poaching!" The only
subject of regret was the absence of Sir John
Mill and Mr. Chamberlavne, from illness.
Amongst the company were the following
staunch sportsmen — Mr. W. T. Graeme, Col.
Gauntlett, Joseph White of Ampfield, William
Steed, Richard, Edward, and George Bailey,
William Collier, R. Raw lings, Thomas and
Henry Edwards, T. Neville, and Messrs. Pain,
Hopkins, Pern, Courtney, Allee, &c.
The stone- Mr. John Fleming of Stoneham
hamhar- kept harriers, with which he also

ners. 1 "

1846. hunted deer occasionally.

On February 19th, he turned out a stag on
Oliver's battery, which, after a turn on Teg
Down, went by Week Hill, and then through
the West Gate into Winchester, explored the
High-street, and was taken in St. John-street.
The friends of this pack invited Mr. Fleming
to a dinner at the Black Swan, Winchester ;
Mr. Newton of Twyford presided, and Mr.
William Pain acted as vice-chairman. The
company consisted of nearly sixty gentlemen
and farmers. Each owner and occupier of
land assured Mr. Fleming that he was at per-
fect liberty, with his friends, to ride over their
lands as often as they pleased.

1862.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 273

The H. H. kennels were removed from
Cheriton to Ropley, Mr. W. Wilkinson of
Alresford having made the Hunt a present of
about one acre and three-quarters of freehold
land, on which they were built.

The Hampshire Hunt races were 1846
fully attended. There were present h. h. races
Lord North, Walter Long and family, stn0ne Down,
Mr. Moray, Captain and Lady Mary ApriL
Haworth, Messrs. Pigott, W. H. Heysham, S.
Taylor, J. S. Moody, G. Oliver, S. Nicholson,
W. T. Graeme, Barton Wallop, and Colonel
Greenwood, &c.

The H. H. Cup.

Mr. Shrimpton's Trump 1 1

Mr. W. Ayling's b. m 3 2

Mr. W. Shrimpton's b. m 2 dist.

Won in a canter.

Sweepstakes of 5 sovs. each. Gentlemen riders.

Mr. F. Yates's Gold Dust (Mr. B. Wallop) 1 1

Mr. S. Nicholson's Ax About (Owner) 3 2

Capt. Haworth's Why do you Want it 3 2

Hurdle Race.

Mr. Shrimpton's Trump 1

Mr. Yates's Billy-go-by-'Em 2

Capt. Haworth's Whip 3

Mr. Chamberlayne's Jupiter 4

The Hambledon Hunt races were 1S46-

H H C

held on Soberton Down, May 7th. races,"

May.
The Farmers' Cup, with 10 sovs. to the second horse.

Mr. J. Aylward's b. m. Lucy 1 1

Mr. Workman's b. m. Whitefoot 2 3

Mr. T. Gearing's Lass of the Grove 3 2

Mr. Budd's Bay Bess 4 5

Mr. Judd's Marwell 5 4

T

274 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1845 to

The Hack Stakes of 10 sovs. each, and 10 added.

Mr. Lomer's ch. m. Emma 1

Mr. Roe's Midas 2

Mr. Lowe's b. h. Trumour 4

Mr. Shrimpton's Trump Fell lame

A Sweepstakes of 10 sovs. each, and 10 added.

Mr. Lowe's Trumour (Hearn) 5 11

Mr. Yates's Gold Dust (Mr. Wallop) 1 2 2

Mr. Mitchell's Sultan 2 dist.

Mr. Lomer's Emma 3 dist.

Mr. Roe's Midas 4 dist.

Mr. H. P. Delme and Mr. T. Chamberlayne
■were stewards.

Cricket ^ matcli was played at Tichborne

May 28. Down, between the Tichborne Down

Catapult '

match. Club, with the Catapult as bowler,

with the County Players.

1st innings. 2nd innings.

The Players scored 32 75

The Gentlemen 65

E. Privett, Blake and Collyer of Alresford,
played well and made good scores, and the
latter was unusually active and stumped out
several of his opponents. On the side of
the Gentlemen, Messrs. E. Dalton and John
Durell made some fine hits. And the fielding
of Messrs. W. Clement and H. Lipscomb was
excellent. Mr. George Smith of Tichborne
Down created some amusement by running
half way over to meet the ball from the

1862.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 275

Catapult before it touched the ground, and
succeeded thus in getting ten runs, but the
Catapult was stealthily altered by Mr. Cham-
berlayne to meet the dodge, and the next ball
took the wicket.

A match was played between the ™vn0™d
Tichborne Down Club and the South Hants

Club,

South Hants Club : July 17.

1st innings. 2nd innings.

The South Hants made 30 79

The Tichborne Down 67 52

With five wickets to go down.

The South Hants Eleven were — Messrs.
Chamberlayne, Falwaser, R. B. Smith, Morant,
Gale, C. Ridding, V. C. Smith Onslow, G.
Higgins, and W. H. Barkworth (R. Bodle,
and D. Day bowlers).

The Tichborne Down Eleven were — Messrs.
J. T. Maine, G. Onslow-Deane, H. Wickham,
W. Clement, E. Dalton, F. Butler, R. Dalton,
S. Terry, H. Dalton (G. Smith and E. Privett
bowlers).

"The H. H. met at Four-lanes, is-±6.
Beauworth. Before starting, Captain Go<Kinms.
Haworth addressed a few words to Jan- i'1*
the field, and begged them not to ride worth.

unnecessarily over the wheat and vetches ; they
found directly, and went at a great pace to
Durwood, which they scarcely entered, went

t 2

276 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1345 to

over Kilmiston Down, through Westwood and
Shorley, then away over the Warren through
Rosehill Park to Marwell, and ran into him
in Mr. Lowndes' pantry, where both fox and
hounds scrambled, to the great damage of the
glass and china, but the hospitable host and
hostess treated the occurrence with great good
humour." — From the Hants Chronicle.

1846. " The Hambledon hounds met at

bihedo^am" Allington, and found directly a gal-
Feb. 25, jan£ fox ^y^Q bro^e 0Ver the railwav

from Al- ' J

lington. to Stoke Park, by Brambridge, over
Golden Common through Twyford Park to
Morested, and was run into as he was rising
the hill on Chilcomb Down. Time, one hour ;
distance, about eleven miles. Up at the finish
were Mr. Walter Long, the master ; Mr. S. S.
Taylor, Mr. Morant Gale, and Squires the
huntsman, who was with his hounds through-
out, and a few others." — From BeIVs Life.

1846. " The Hambledon met at Bury

severemn Lodge, the residence of Mr. Thomas
with ditto Butler, and had a very severe run ;

from Bury ' J

Lodge. they found in Wallop's Wood, went

over Stoke Down to Highden, raced over the
downs to Ditcham Grove, where only a few
were left, through the Hangers to .Up Park
(where Squires's mare was beat, and that good
sportsman, Mr. J. Clarke Jervoise, dismounted

1S62.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 277

and lent Squires his horse) ; here the fox
turned into the enclosures, by Nurstead and
Bureton, and again faced the hills crossed at
starting, and struggled on to Highden, where
every horse was beaten to a stand-still, and
Squires reluctantly called the hounds off, after
running for three hours over not less than
twenty-three miles of most severe country.
Squires's mare died the next day. Out of a
field of about sixty at starting, only about a
dozen saw the end of this very severe day." —
From BelTs Life.

"Sir John Cope's hounds had a fine Nov. 27.

/>r. •! • .1 . Sir John

run 01 fourteen miles without a cope, from
check from Eversley Bridge. Al- Eversle^-
though then in his seventy-seventh year, Sir
John was up at the finish." — From Bell's
Life.

In the Sporting Magazine, p. 170, l84?-
the hounds are thus noticed: "As biedon
we approached the place of meeting, L°™J ^ii.7
Bury Lodge, we overtook Mr. Leth- ^Lennox,
bridge, mounted on an extremely clever brown
mare, and Mr. Sicklemore, of the navy, on a
chesnut gelding that looked as if he could go,
nor did he belie his looks. The rendezvous
took place in front of a most comfortable-look-
ing building, Bury Lodge, where the lawn was
graced by the presence of ladies, and a hunters'

278 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1845 to

breakfast was prepared within doors for all
who had the acquaintance of the hospitable
owner.

Mr. Long. " Mr. Long, the master of the
hounds, was well mounted, and by his affabi-
lity and courtesy to all his field, must be a
popular man. He was extremely quiet through-
out the day, always with his hounds, and by
his manner proved that he thought the suaviter
in modo the best system of carrying on the
sport. The huntsman, Squires, rode a very
clever chesnut gelding, and I hear that he is
as good a man in the kennel as he is in the
field. The whipper-in, Tredwell, son of Mr.
Farquharson's huntsman, is a regular i chip of
the old block,' and looked determined to be in
his place, on a serviceable-looking roan mare.
" There were many well-mounted sporting-
looking men and farmers, whose names I was
not acquainted with, or I should have had
great pleasure in acknowledging the courtesy
they extended to me a stranger, mounted on
rather a rough-looking pony, and having just
returned from a cruise, equipped in a suit
more calculated for the deck of a fishing-smack
in the North Seas than the covert-side of the
Hambledon Hunt.

" I ascertained from the huntsman that they

1863*] OF HAMPSHIRE. 279

had killed seven brace of cubs, and that Grass-
tead Wood, where we were to throw off, was a
certain find.

" There was one of the field to whom I have
not yet referred, but who deserves the most
favourable mention. I allude to the Honour-
able Augustus Berkeley. In earlier The Hon
days he was a first-rate performer in Augustus
Leicestershire, and in that county, as
well as the Cheltenham and Vale of Berkeley,
where he hunted with his noble brother, the
Earl Fitzharclinge, there were few, if any, better
men. Indeed, we question whether at any
time the ' Brothers Berkeley,' Frederick and
Augustus, could be equalled. The captain
has, however, confided himself to the pro-
vinces, and now devotes his hunting time
between Colonel Wyndham's, Mr. Richard-
son's, the Hambledonr and Sir Horace Sey-
mour's harriers. Upon the day I allude to,
Captain Berkeley was mounted on a remark-
ably clever Irish horse called 'The Baby.' If
he was infantine in name, he was a i giant' in
the field, for a more perfect hunter I never
saw; a first-rate fencerr and fast enough for
any hounds. No sooner did we find, than the
captain exclaimed, c Follow me !' but to say
and to do are widely different ; however, at a

280 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1485 to

humble distance I followed my leader, who
went like a bird throughout the run. For-
tunately for me, for nearly three miles a road
skirted the line the fox took ; and then, with
an eye upon the captain, who was leading
across the country, I macadamised it : nor was
I left alone, for many, like the highwaymen in
Macheath's gang, seemed to say, ' Let us take
the road.' The wily animal being a novice,
after running twenty minutes, was headed by
a clod, and turned right back for the wood,
where we found him. Here, within a few yards
of the covert, the fox was run into after a very
pretty hunting run. Mr. Long, the huntsman,
and the whipper-in, were well with the hounds
throughout the day, and did their respec-
tive duties in the most praiseworthy manner.
Everything was carried on in a quiet and
sportsman-like form ; there was no riding over
hounds, and no unnecessary hallooing."
T , _._ , At the end of the season, in April,

Lord Gmorcl. I

Captain Haworth, deterred by the
increased expense consequent on the now very
high price of all articles of food, resigned the
management of the H. H., and was succeeded
bv Lord Gilford, who had hunted the Ludlow
country and the Yale of White Horse. Lord
GifFord was an indefatigable and keen sports-
man, and during the time he was master of

1S62.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 281

the H. H. his efforts to show sport were gene-
rally crowned with success.

Lord Gifford had sixty couple of hunting
hounds, and hunted them himself; he was
assisted in his first season by Charles Cross
and Richard Hall ; and in his second Servants.
and third by Jack Grant and Dan Berkshire.

Grant came from Lord Parker.* Jack Grant.
He had lived with Lord Gifford before, and
thoroughly understood his system. He was a
very quiet man with hounds, and knew his
business in the kennel as well as in the field.
He is since dead.

Arrangements were now made by the com-
mittee of the H. H. with Sir John Cope about
the country round Greywell, and permission
was granted to him to draw the coverts there,
under certain conditions.

" The Hursley had a fine run from 18^-

Hur^lev

Chilworth Lodge on January 15th, Good run
the residence of Sir Edward Butler, AVOrth.
over the Baddesley country ; the fox was run
into and broken up, and nothing left but the
head, before any one could get to them, which
was a matter of regret to Mr. Cockburn, who
wished to present the brush to Mr. Gearing,
for his gallant manner of riding through this

* Lord Parker keeps the South Oxfordshire. He is now known as
the Earl of Macclesfield.

282 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1843 to

difficult run. Amongst the few others that
were at all forward, were the Messrs. Cock-
burn, Mr. Green, Mr. White, jun., Mr. Burt,
and Dick Teed, the whip. The time was two
hours and twenty minutes. Up to this time,
this pack had hunted nineteen days, killed
fourteen foxes, and run five to ground, not
including the cub-hunting season." — BeWsLife.
h. h. c. The Hambledon Hunt races were

Mav 6. held on Soberton Down, May 6th :

Messrs. Walter, J. Long, and W. Sumner Smith
ably officiated as stewards.

Hurdle Race.

Mr. Sandford's b. g. Horace 1 1

Capt. James's b. m. Gosport Maid 2 dist.

Mr. Peel's and Mr. G. Day's horses -were distanced.

The Hambledon Hot Clue Stakes.

Capt. Haworth's Fairy 1 1

Capt. Delme's Bertha 2 2

Capt. Pryse's Lady Alice 3 8

Mr. W. J. Long's Banjo 4 dist.

Mr. J. H. Camp bell Wyndham's h. by Colonel 5 4

The Farmers' Cup.

Mr. Avlward's Little Thought-of 6 11

Mr. Budd's blk. colt by Rock 14 2

Mr. Newton's m. by Venison... 2 2 3

Mr. Judd's Hawkeston ..4 3 4

Mr. Workman's Whitefoot 7 5 5

1S47. There were many good matches

Cricket. played at Bramshill, which were pa-
tronised and supported by Sir John Cope and

1SG2.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 283

Mr. Charles Beauclerk ; the principal players
being the Messrs. Frere, Paul, St. John, W.
Parfett, H. Paine, Cave, Corclery, T. Gooclchild,
G. Montague, May, Masters.

Action, writing in the Sporting 1S48.
Magazine ?, says: "I had heard that ^^Gif-0
amongst all the numerous amateur ford by

t Actason.

performers of modern days, Lord
Gifford was not only a most indefatigable and
quick hand in the field, but also, for his years,
an excellent judge of hounds and hunting,
and likely to make some day or other a really
scientific huntsman. Consequently, prejudiced
exceedingly in his favour, I started for the old
H. H. country, and on Thursday, February 2 4th,
met the hounds at Farleigh House.

" The morning was somewhat wild and
stormy, and the hounds were a little behind
their time at the place of meeting. At length
they made their appearance, conducted by
their noble master, and attended by three
servants, one of whom, a lad, whipped in on
what I conclude was his lordship's second
horse. The four horses connected with the
establishment each wore a white front to the
bridle to distinguish them from the rest of the
field at a distance ; a necessary precaution, as
in these da}^s so many men riding with hounds

284 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1845 to

are in the habit of wearing caps, and it is
sometimes almost impossible at a distance,
especially in a dark woodland country, accu-
rately to discern upon all occasions a gentle-
man sportsman from Jack the whipper-in.

" The hounds, which consisted of eighteen
couples and a half, were the big pack, and I
should say, in my humble judgment, very full
of flesh for the time of year, especially where
the weight of an unshod animal must mate-
rially increase the annoyance of traversing, as
these hounds do occasionally, vast beds of
flints in their day's work.

" The field was not numerous, consisting of
about thirty horsemen, of whom not above ten
or a dozen were dressed in scarlet. The hounds
drew several coverts to the south of Farleigh
House without finding, but found at last in a
large wood of Mr. Blunt' s, where a brace of
foxes were quickly on foot; the hounds di-
viding several times in the course of the morn-
ing's sport. Without entering minutely into
a detail of the run, suffice it to say that after
bellowsing about from wood to wood, round
and round, telegraphed from halloa to halloa
by countrymen for about two hours, one of
the foxes which had been found in the morn-
ing was hunted into the out -buildings of

1862.] OF HAMPSHIPwE. 285

Durnmer House, and killed in a pond close to
the lawn in front of the windows. It was an
unfortunate thing that Mr. Terry, who resides
at Durnmer, was absent from, home upon a
visit to a friend's in the neighbourhood. How-
ever, his son, who, like his father, is one of the
keenest and best sportsmen in Hampshire, gave
us all a good luncheon, which was the more
agreeable, as the day was exceedingly cold, and
the rain still pouring down, as it had nearly
the whole of the morning, in torrents ; the
whole country looking more dismal than ever,
composed as it is of large cheerless districts of
bad-scenting ploughed land and never-ending
woodlands. Amongst the whole field that were
out, there was hardly one that I could recog-
nise as belonging to the old set that I used to
know in former days. The Taylors, the Min-
chins, the Heyshams, had all, I conclude, left
off hunting, as none of them were to be seen
as formerly by the covert's side, in the good
old days of Mr. John Villebois.

"It is now many years ago since I spent a
most agreeable week with that fine specimen
of the old English gentleman and sportsman :
my horses, which were then at Newbury, were
attacked with influenza, and he kindly invited
me to stay and hunt for a week with his own

286 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1845 to

hounds, which were hunted by a man who
was allowed to be one of the most scientific
huntsmen of the clay, Dick Foster, assisted by
Sawyer as first whip, an equally clever hand
in his way as whip. An extraordinary anec-
dote is related of these two men quarrelling;
and although they never spoke to each other
excepting formally upon the business of hunt-
ing for three years, they worked on together
in the field without the slightest appearance of
jealousy, and killed their foxes together in as
workmanlike a style as if they had been the
best friends on earth.

" At the time of Mr. John Villebois' death,
his pack, which he left by will to his brother,
Mr. Frederick Villebois, were taken into the
Craven country, from which stock the present
Craven hounds have descended.

" Amongst the sportsmen so well known for
many years in Hampshire, I had almost for-
Coionei gotten to mention Colonel Frederick,

Frederick. i t i p n ...

who cued a tew years ago from injuries
received from a bad fall from his horse two
years before his death. This fine old sportsman
was in his eightieth year, and although suffering
great pain, used to ride hunting to nearly the
very last. Independently of his being a first-
rate sportsman, he was a most agreeable com-

1862.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 287

pardon ; and his connexions and luck of
quarters when in the army, gave him an im-
mense advantage in prosecuting his sporting
propensities not only in England, but in India
and other parts of the world ; he was full of
anecdote as he was of experience in all that
relates to the chequered concomitants of a
sportsman's life. Although a free liver in hot
and cold climates, he never was known to have
an illness before his last fall, hardly ever was
known to have taken such a thing as a dose of
physic, and to the day of his death his hair
more resembled that of a boy's than that of an
old man of eighty, for there was scarcely a
white hair to be found in his head."
" I went over on Friday, February
the 25th, to Sir John Cope's, at sir John
Bramshill, as I wished particularly
to have a look at his pack, which I had not
done for several years. The strength of the
kennels is forty couple and a half, hunting
three days a week. By looking at the pedigree,
I saw that they were getting a good deal into
Mr. Drake's blood, which Shirley informed
me they obtained in the following manner :
Fort wo years Mr. Drake had bred too many
whelps for the quarter which he could com-
mand, and having nearly twenty couple ready

288 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1845 to

to go out, gave them to Tom Wingfield, his
huntsman, as draft to sell. Sir John was the
lucky purchaser, and I believe got the whole
lot for fifteen pounds.

Jem Shirley. " Jem Shirley has now been hunts-
man to the Bramshill hounds fifteen years;
before that he was with Mr. Osbaldeston in
Northamptonshire six seasons, coming to him
from Sir Richard Sutton, in whose kennel
he may be said to have been bred. He is a
universal favourite with the field, as also
with his master ; and although some of the
young-uns, who are never content unless
hounds are continually flying, fancy he is
getting slow, my humble opinion is, that, if
one of the new lifting artistes were put in
his place, the hounds, over so ticklish a scent-
ing country as that part of Hampshire is well
known to be, would seldom kill a stout fox
after a run. The family of the Shirleys have
been well known and respected by the fox-
hunting world for many years. Old Jack
Shirley, the father of Sir John Cope's hunts-
man, was huntsman to Sir Richard Sutton, in
Lincolnshire, for a great number of years.
Robert ' ' The first whipper-in to the Brams-

Tocock. kill hounds is Robert Tocock, a son of
Tocock who was huntsman to the pack for a

1862. J OF HAMPSHIRE. 289

great number of seasons ; lie is a very steady,
good hand with hounds, and thoroughly knows
his business.

" On Monday, the 19th, a circumstance oc-
curred, which, although I have known several
instances in the course of my life, is not of
very frequent occurrence — viz. the joining
together of two different packs of hounds
when running their foxes into the same neigh-
bourhood on this day. Sir John Cope's
hounds met at Winchheld House, when they
drew Tossel Wood, the rest of the Winchheld
covers, and Lousy Moor, all blank. They then
proceeded to Dogmersfield Park, where they
found a fox by the side of the lake. The
hounds came away over the park wall, crossing
the Farnham and Odiham road, through
Varnclell's Coppice to Well, and to Gravelly
Wood. Here they fell in with the H. H., with
their master, Lord Gifford ; that pack having
thrown off at Sutton Common, where they
found a fox in the furze, which they brought
to Froyle, and on to Gravelly Wood, into
which covert their fox was viewed at the same
time, and by the same person who had viewed
Sir John Cope's fox. Here the two packs
joined together, and having settled to one of
the foxes, gave him a turn or two round the

u

290 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1845 to

covert and away for No Man's Land, where
they killed him. Whose fox it was, no one
could determine ; but we understood that
Lord Gilford had only found his fox about
twenty minutes, whilst Sir John Cope's hounds
had been engaged with theirs for upwards of
an hour. However, it did not much signify
whose it was, the hounds killed him, and the
greatest harmony prevailed. The way in
which Jem Shirley dropped the command of
his pack when they joined, being ready to
turn the hounds to Lord Gifford if required,
was the admiration of every sportsman out,
as well as the handiness shown by the hounds
in coining away, when mixed, at the end of
the day's sport."
March. ]\/[r Walter Long gave up the

The Ham- o & 1

biedon. Mr. management of the Hambledon
master. hounds, and was succeeded by Mr.
Smith, who became master of this pack for
the second time.

Members of The following gentlemen were
elected elected members of the Hambledon

£f Hunt during the time that Mr.
mastership. Smith was master.

Mr. Erasmus Sanders, Hill House, Ham-
bledon.

Captain James Alley ne, Exton House.
Captain Alexander Alleyne, Exton House.

1862.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 201

Doctor Barney, Holywell House.

Mr. Archer Burton, Woodlands, Emsworth.

Mr. S. G. Smith, Worthy Park.

Mr. J. B. Bradshaw, Fair Oak Park.

Captain Burrell, Cosham House.

Mr. Harry Carter, Portsmouth.

Mr. Cosmo Gordon, Exton.

Elected while Mr. Wall was master, from
1852:

Sir Edward Butler, Bitterne.

Mr. Augustus Nugent, Portsmouth.

Mr. George A. Wilder.

Mr. Frederick Raikes, Warnford.

Mr. Charles Sartoris, Warnford, afterwards
Brambridge House.

Mr. Hugh F. L. Astley, Quoblye, Bishopstoke.

Captain R. H. Spicer, West Meon.

Mr. William Standish, Upton Cottage,
Bursledon.

Elected while Mr. Lon^ was master in 1857,
and since :

Captain William Xorris, Rifle Brigade.
Mr. George Long, Portsmouth.
Mr. Boyce Combe, Hill House, Portsmouth.
Captain Christie, Holywell House.
Captain Conran, Northbrook House.
Captain Hugonin, Nursted House, Buriton.

u2

292 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1845 to

Captain Montagu Dettmar, West Leigh.

Mr. George Onslow Deane, Bishopstoke.

Mr. R. Herbert, Oatlands, Purbrook.

Sir William W. Knighton, Blenclworth Lodge.

Captain, now Earl Poulett, Purbrook.

Mr. James G. Bouchier, Shidfield, Droxford.

Mr. Michael Seymour, Cadlington House,
Horndean.

Major Briggs, Catherington House.

Captain Eccles, Oak Lodge, Fair Oak.

Captain Brace, Catisfield, Fareham.

Major Orred, Rooksbury.

Lieut. -Col. Charles W. Randolph, Warnford.

Captain Day, R.K, V.C., Nursling.
The vine. Sir Richard Rycroft uras now the

Sir r. Ry- actual master of the Vine hounds,

croft. '

1848. which were a good looking, level

pack, about twenty-three inches high.

On November 2 3rd, W. Cox, the huntsman,
met with a bad accident, in consequence of
his horse, while going very fast through some
live stuff, hitting his leg on a stub. Both fell
heavily, and Cox's shoulder, coming with
great violence to the ground, was much in-
jured. As he was quite disabled, the hounds
were confined to the kennel for some time,
much to the annoyance of many of the prin-
cipal supporters and attendants. At this time
the Vine had but one whipper-in, and it was

1862.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 293

not to be expected that either he could act as
huntsman, or the hounds obey him as such
at a few days' notice. However, they went out
a few times; but he did not long hold the
post, for on being found fault with by an in-
fluential member of the Hunt for making too
much use of his horn, he forgot himself so
much that his instant dismissal ensued. Cox
was now sufficiently recovered to resume his
old place, but as they now wanted a whip, it
is not surprising that the Vine had an indif-
ferent season.

In 1846, Mr. George A. E. Wall ls^
of King's Worthy, bought the Isle of harriers.
Wight harriers from Mr. Harvey, near New-
port, and took them into Worcestershire,
where he hunted an extensive country round
Worcester for two seasons. He now brought
them into Hants to Worthy, and hunted the
country which was previously Mr. Richard
Bailey's. George Davis, from the Worcester-
shire fox-hounds, was his whip. Mr. Wall
hunted his pack himself, three days a week.

On January 19th, meeting at ^ ,

^ 7 c? Run from

Crambourne Clump, he found a hare Cranboume
in the plantation, which went by
Hunton osier-beds, over Hunton Farm to
Weston, then to Stoke Charity, over the rail-
road to Stratton Lodge, and into Micheldever

294 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1845 to

Wood, where they whipped off. Time one
hour and twenty minutes, distance twelve
miles. In 1849, Mr. Wall sold his harriers to
Mr. Robert Pearse of South Warnborough.
Mr. Wall was a great supporter of cricket,
and established the Worthy Park Club, which
this year, in September, played the Tichborne
Down Club.

1848. " Mr. Assheton Smith had a grand

Good runs. run from Everlei^h, by Burbage,

The Ted- ° ' J -,

worth, from and South Grove, through the Graf-
ton Fields, through Bedwyn Brails
to Shalbourne plantation, where there was a
great tail of horsemen, then by Oxen Wood,
back to Botley Clump, again into the vale,
by Martin, through Wilton Marsh, where the
scent grew cold, and a halloa to a fresh fox
saved his life. Not a single check was there
up to this point, and they ran from end to
end over nearly twenty-five miles of country
in two hours and twenty-five minutes, all up
wind for the first fourteen miles." — BelTs Life.
TheHurs- Mr. Cockbum met at Rookley

lev Feb. 14

from Pond, the property of Mr. W. Allee,

Rookley. t i t ,i . t

and. here, during this season, eleven
foxes were found, and nine of them hilled!
This day they had a fine run of one hour
and forty-five minutes. The veteran sports-

1862.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 295

man, C. R. Manley, went well throughout the
run, and Dick Teed the whip broke down his
famous mare, " The Midnight Star."

The Vine met at Pamber End, 1848-
drew the r orest, and found instantly ; March the
the hounds settled and raced their pambe?m
fox through the parishes of Silches- End"
ter, Bramley, Sherfield, Hartley Westpall, and
Stratfield-Turgis, over a very stiff country,
and ran into him in the shrubbery at By-
land's, where plenty of good cheer was pro-
vided for all by Captain Brown. The whole
field were delighted with this run, and com-
plimented Will Cox on the admirable way in
which his hounds worked.

This pack had another very fine

r -o i T -£! v The Vine,

run from ropiiam Lane, finding a March 6,
fox at Waltham Frimley, and going ^^e".
by Blackwood, Dummer Down, the
Holt, to Thorney Down, ran through this
wood at a tremendous pace, and crossed the
valley at Brown Candover. Here the held,
which had considerably lessened, expected
that he must die ; but he made another effort,
and succeeded in reaching Upper Lanham,
and after a burst through that wood was
killed after a sharp run of one hour and fifty
minutes.

296 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1845 to

1848. " Sir John Cope met at Elvetham

Cope,°hn Mount, and found at Horsden Com-

froTElve- m011> Weilt awa)r to %e Common

tham. and Dogmersfield, down the road

to the back of Odiham, threaded all the
gardens and scaled a wall into the grounds
of Mr. F. Cole, away to North Warnborough,
then to South Warnborough, Sutton Com-
mon, Froyle-High-Wood, and was killed in
Gabriels. Messrs. Poole, Garth, Makepeace,
Simonds, Bazalgette, and Nicholson, were, as
usual, in the front rank." — From BelTs Life.

" The H. H. met at the Golden Pot.
March '6th, Found in Kowe Wood, after one

Goide^Pot. rmS *ne f°x went through Jordan's
Coppice towards Holybourne, over
the turnpike by South Wood, over Shalden
Warren to Mr. Holding's farm, where there
was a slight check, then again forward to
Shalden Park, over Blounce and Swain's Hill,
through Vinney and Easters to Sutton, then
to Well and His;h Wood, where he was headed
and returned over a severe country, past the
Froyles, through Coldrey Coppice, on to Bent-
ley, where he was viewed very much distressed,
making across the green for the Holt Forest ;
but he failed to reach it, and the pack ran into
him, not far from Mareland's Bridge, after a run
of one hour and forty-five minutes, almost

1862.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 297

without a check. This run was acknowledged
by one of the oldest sportsmen present to be
one of the finest that had been seen with the
H. H. for several years." — Hants Chronicle,
staunch fox " Lord Gifford had a very good
InHtheELH. season, and at no time were the co-
country. verts in the H. H. country better
stocked with foxes than now. The Farleigh
and Nutley coverts, belonging to Mr. Charles
Bowyer, were well provided. Herriard was
well looked after by Mr. Jervoise, Dummer by
Mr. Terry, South Warnborough by Mr. T. M.
Wayne, and in Sir Thomas Miller's coverts
at Holybourne there was a good show ; on the
other side of the Hunt, Sir Edward Doughty
at Tichborne, and Colonel Greenwood at
Brookwood, carefully preserved; but there
was no gentleman to whom the members of
the Hunt were under greater obligations than
Mr. H. J. Mulcock, the owner of the Mr. Muieock.
Beauworth coverts; they were always
well stocked, although he never hunted him-
self."— Sporting Magazine.

In consequence of ill health, Sir 1549.
Richard Rycroft resigned the master- Th? Viue

^ ° under a

ship of the Vine, which every one committee,
regretted, and the Hunt was now managed by
a committee, consisting of Messrs. Edward
St. John of Church Oakley, W. Portal, and

298 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1845 to

W. Beach, who made great alterations and

additions both to the kennels and stables.

h. h. c. At -fche Hambledon Hunt races on

races,

1849. Soberton Down, the Farmers' Cup was

won by Mr. Aylward's " Little Thoaght-of,"
beating four others, and the Military Stakes by
Captain Roebuck's Fusilier. There was con-
siderable excitement at this meeting. A Ham-
bledon man named Edwards offered for sale to
the huntsman of a neighbouring Hunt a litter
of cubs, which he said were in a covert close
by. This was told to the master (Mr. Smith).
Instant search was made for the man, and a
reward of 10/. was publicly offered to any men
who would duck him in a horse-pond which
was near. On hearing this, he made very good
use of the time required for explanation to the
mob, and stole away, and was seen going over
the hill as fast as his legs could carry him.

1850. Lord Gifford now gave up the
Indefa11' H. H., and went back to his old
committee, country in Herefordshire. Mr. George
Wall made an offer to take the hounds, and
negotiations for that purpose were commenced,
but were not carried into effect, and the Hunt
was now managed by a committee, consisting
of Mr. Edward Knight of Chawton House
(who was the master or manager), Mr. James
Winter Scott of Rotherfield Park, and Mr.

1862.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 299

Ellis Jervoise of Herriard. Mr. tapper's hounds,
which were lately the Findon, were purchased,
and with them came William Summers, who
had seen a good deal of hunting before he
came into Hants. Summers was born Summers.
at Dorking, his first place was with the Earl
of Rothes, then he was live years with the
Surrey Stag-hounds as whip, then with the
Duke of Cumberland, then with the West
Kent under Mr. Waring, next he was ten
seasons with Mr. Richardson at Findon, then
three seasons with Mr. Napper, and on his
parting with his hounds to the H. H. he
came to Mr. Knight as huntsman. Summers
was a good man in the kennel and in the field,
very cheery in covert, and has been compared
by many to Foster. An anecdote is told of
him in Bailey s Magazine, vol. ii. p. 309, in
a communication headed " A Few Words on
the Sagacity of Huntsmen:" "An instance
of that confidence which is the companion of
skill was evinced one fine morning by old
Summers, now huntsman of the Hursley, re-
sulting in one of the best runs ever seen over
the Vine country. A favourite gorse had
been drawn blank, when several hounds dashed
out of covert exactly on the line of a hare
just viewed away, whips were cracked, and
" Ware hare" re-echoed. Summers, with one

300 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1845 to

hand raised as supplicating patience and silence,
sat motionless, till one old trusted hound took
up the cry. Her tongue had been scarcely
thrown, when with a joyous cheer he screamed,
' That's fox, that's fox ! forward ! away.' No
fox had been visible over a wide extent of
open, but nevertheless a wary old-'un had
stolen off and was killed on that day, after a
chase which adorned nearly a column of next
Sunday s Bell?

Robert Summers was assisted while with

John hW the H. H. by Charles Cross and
man- Robert Chilcls in his first season, and

by John Hickman and Robert Childs in the
second. - Robert Childs, who was a native of
Bishop's Sutton, afterwards hunted t\\Q East
Sussex, under Mr. H. M. Curteis.

Jack Hickman was born at Gloucester ; he
was first with Lord Fitzhardinge, under Harry
Ayris, for two seasons. He was altogether
four seasons with the H. H., under Summers
and Roberts; he next went to the Oakley, and
Mr. Tailby in 1861. Hickman then became an
inmate of the Brompton Hospital owing to a
very severe illness, caused by his horse falling
on him in a brook, and while there he received
much kindness from his old H. H. friends,
who, headed by his old master, Mr. Robert
Pearse, got up a subscription for him.

1862.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 301

Sir John Cope, owing to con- 1850.

. . -i mi i • i i Mr. Wheble

tmued illness, now gave his hounds of Buiimershe
to Mr. Wheble of Buiimershe Court, Court-
near Reading, who took the country. It was
of immense extent as he received it from Sir
John, being bounded on the north bv Unhill
Wood, and included Steatly, Pangbourne, and
Pinkney Green, near Maidenhead, the country
round the Golden Farmer, Frimley, and Farn-
borough, Windsor Great Park, and Virginia
Water. On the south it was bounded by
Winchfield and Strathneldsaye ; and, at the
same time, Mr. Wheble took the country which
had been hunted by Mr. Montagu, known as
the South Berks. Mr. Wheble built some ex-
cellent kennels near his house from buildings
previously used as loose boxes, and the boiling-
house was fitted up with a steaming apparatus
for cooking, like the one in use at the Vine.
Robert Tocock, who was so many His servants.

ST -, ^ , -, -. , . Robert To-

ir John Copes head whip, cock.

was huntsman, and David Edwards, who

left Mr. Montagu, was whip.

The country was afterwards divided in 1852,
when Mr. Garth took the Hampshire side of
it, with Robert Tocock as his huntsman.

Mr. Robert Cockburn died June 1S5°-

The Hurs-

loth, and his hounds were purchased ley taken
for 300/. by Mr. George Wall, who waii. '

302 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1845 to

took the Hursley country, and hunted it for
two seasons. Henry Nason, from the Mon-
mouth, and Will Fisher were his whippers-in.
Mr. Pearse's Mr. Robert Pearse of South Warn-
hamers. borough, who had purchased Mr.
Wall's harriers, now hunted the country
between Odiham and Alton, and for the two
seasons he hunted them had excellent sport.
His brother, Mr. William Pearse, assisted him
in the field.

Mr. Chaplin's Mr. Chaplin of Ewhurst, who
was for some years M.P. for Salis-
bury, kept a nice pack of harriers from 1850
to the time of his death in 1859. He com-
menced with very small highly-bred hounds
from Mr. Corbett's in Shropshire. He found,
however, that the Hampshire hills and flints
proved too much for them, and he changed
their size, substituting drafts from Mr. Flower
of Xetton, from Mr. Corbett (who had also
changed his pack), and also from some dwarf
fox-hounds from Charles Papie of the Pytch-
ley, in 1854. The pack was then perfect. Will
Cox, on seeing them, said, "Very neat indeed.
I wouldn't be a cub in a hollow coppice
afore rem." They hunted all the country from
Basingstoke to Whitchurch, and over the
Cannon Heath training ground to Highclere.
Mr. Horace Chaplin hunted them for one

1862.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 303

season, and then Mr. Ernest Chaplin, now so
well known with Mr. Tailby and the Pytcjiley.

After these gentlemen, the pack was hunted
by Peter Kelly, a hard-riding Irishman, who,
when they were given up, went to hunt the
garrison fox-hounds at Gibraltar.

One of the best runs they had ended with
their driving the hare over Ewhurst Lake,
one hundred and fifty yards wide, all the pack
in chase taking the water and killing in the
middle. Mr. Pole, Mr. Twitchin, and Mr.
George Brooks of Sherborne, all good sports-
men, were frequent followers. Mr. Chaplin's
family often turned out, nine in number. At
his death, the pack was sold to a gentleman
in Kent, who w anted them to drive the woods
in the shooting season; but, of course, they
were useless for that purpose.

The N. F. H. had a series of ex- Good runs
cellent runs on the 8th from Beaulieu, ^ f. h.
when Colonel Lawrenson, Colonel ApnL
Parker, Mr. Mills, General Robbins, and Cap-
tain Shedden had the best of it ; and on the
11 th from Bramshaw, whence they had a fine
run of one hour and a quarter ; and first this
day were the masters, Mr. E. Timson and
Captain Powell.

The Hampshire Hunt races were H- H- raced>
held on Abbotstone Down. Among isso.

304 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1845 to

the company were Lord Gifford (late master
of the hounds), Sir Edward and Lady
Doughty, the Honourable Captain Berkeley,
Col. and Mrs. W. Greenwood, Messrs. F. Marx,
G. Wall, Walter Taylor, Frederick Onslow,
Robert Rawlins, Blackall Simonds, Frederick
Yates, T. Frere, J. Simonds, Lousada, Stephen
Terry, Newton, Joseph James, Chaplin, &c.

The H. H. Cup.

Mr. T. Parker's ch. geld 1 1

Mr. Steele's gr. g. Skulk 2 dist.

Mr. Shrimpton's bl. g 3 2

Sweepstakes.

Mr. Parham's b. m. Jenny Lind 1 1

Mr. Yates's ch. li. Labourer 3 2

Mr. Earwaker's Little Bessy 2 dr.

ii. h. c. races, The Hambledon Hunt races were
held on Soberton Down on May 16th.
There was a large attendance. There were pre-
sent— Lord and Lady Gifford, Mr. and Mrs.
Walter Lon<r, Mr. and Mrs. F. Marx, Mr. and
Mrs. Pio-ott, Mr. and Mrs. John Lone: Mr. and
Mrs. T. Smith, Sir Henry Paulet, Bart.,
Major Yea, Mr. and Mrs. W. Heysham, Messrs.
C. W. Deane, W. T. Grseme, G. C. Oliver, 0.
C. Codrington, F. Yates, F. Onslow, W. Bark-
worth, T. Ridge, Godfrey Higgins, Richard
King, H. Dorrien, &c.

The Soberton Stakes of 3 sovs. each, and 10 added

Mr. Serjeant's ch. g. Thug 1

Mr. Gosling's b. g. Titmouse 2

Mr. Earwaker's br. g 3

Mr. Smith's c. g. Fugitive 4

The winner was sold by auction for 43^. to Mr. Land.

1862.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 305

The Farmers' Cup.

Mr. Aylward's b. m. Little Thought-of .. 1

Mr. Stare's b. m. Buffalo Gal 2

Mr. Lavington's Plough-Boy o

Mr. Collier's Hock 4

Mr. Campbell Wyndham of Exton Accident
this year broke his thigh, by his Campbell
horse slipping up after a very hard wyndham-
frost on Butser Hill. He was taken home in
a cart, and was treated at first as if for a
dislocation, and suffered great pain ; Mr.
Wyndham then sent for Dr. Cutler from
London, who said it was not a dislocation but
a fracture.

Mr. Wyndham owns extensive woods in
the centre of the Hambledon Hunt, which are
well stocked with foxes.

In former years he was often seen in the
first flight with the Oakley. He was a good
flat race rider, and, being fond of racing, has
kept several good horses. A memoir of Mr.
Wyndham by "Argus,"* the " Jules Janin" of
the English Turf, will be found in the Sporting
Magazine of 1858, p. 455.

* Argus is a Hampshire man. He is the son of the late General
Willes, and was born at Portsmouth, September 7, 1824. He created
a great sensation as soon as he came into the world, by the fact of his
having a caul and two teeth. He has thoroughly proved himself an
exception to the rule, that " no man is a prophet in his own country."
As a sporting writer of the present day he perhaps stands alone. His
contributions to Bailey s Magazine and the Morning Post are always
independent, but cheery and good natured.

X

306 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [131=5 to

1850. A match was played between the

Cricket.

June 24. Braiiishill and Xorth Hants Clubs
North on June 24th. The bowling of Mr.

Hants. Arthur Maine on the side of the

North Hants, and of Messrs. Eliot Morres and
Henry Frere on the Bramshill, was very good.
The Bramshill Eleven were Messrs. Hewett,
Iremonger, E. Morres, H. Frere, Payne, Paul,
E. Willats, White, E. Curtis, S. Cordery, D.
Wrix. They scored 111 and 135. The
North Hants Eleven were Messrs. H. Maine,
G. Wall, Aldbury, H. Whitmore, White, W.
T. Clement, Caesar, Seymer Terry, Arthur
Maine, J. T. Maine, and Daniel Trimmer.
They scored 76 and 59, and six wickets
down.

There was a very good Club in

v>ricK.cU in

the New the New Forest. The chief per-
formers were Messrs. R. Bowden
Smith, F. Breton, Francis Compton, Paulet
Compton, H. Morant, T. Onslow, H. Bliss.
Arnold of Cambridge was their professional
bowler.

August 22 On Daniel Day's ground at Itchen

ai? England a matcn was played between the
v Fourteen All England Eleven and Fourteen of

of Hants. °

Hants. The Fourteen who repre-
sented the county were Sir F. Bathurst, W.
Hounsell, A. White, E. H. L. Willes, F. Comp-

1862.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 307

ton, T. Elliot, C. E. Coleridge, James Pollett,
G. E. Humphrey, D. Day, G. B. Townsencl,
F. P. Wickham, and H. Frere. They scored
74 and 57.

The England Eleven were J. Guy, Mr. H.
Vernon, W. Martingell, George Parr, Tom
Box, Mr. N. Felix, Mr. John Walker, W.
Clarke, John Wisden, G. Chatterton, W.
Hilly er. They scored 131, and won by nine
wickets.

Mr. Edward St. John was now 1551.
sole manager of the Vine hounds, ^Ir- St-

0 ■ / John

and the pack showed more sport this master of

, , . the Vine.

season than they had done during
the last three or four years. There was a
decided air of improvement about the estab-
lishment. Cecil, who hunted a great deal in
the North of Hants at this time, has reported
several runs in the Sjwrting Magazine. Mr.
St. John was a fine rider to hounds.

Mr. Tobias Frere was now living mi m.

& The Whit-

at Whitchurch, and having excellent church har-

Tiers

sport in that neighbourhood with his
capital pack of harriers. Meeting at the An-
dover-road station on November 12th he had
an extraordinary fast and straight run. Finding
a hare at Hunton, they went over the Race-
course, by Waller's Ash, to the Cart and Horse
at Worthy, then took the water meadows, and

x2

308 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [IS ±5 to

swam across the river, and was killed at
Easton, after a run of eight miles from point
to point, in fifty minutes.

Mr. John St. John of Finchamp-
st. John's stead is son of Mr. Ellis St. John of

harriers, ,,T ~ , _

1850. West Court, who tor so many years

hunted that part of the country before Sir

John Cope. Like his father, Mr. St. John is

a first-rate sportsman and a very neat rider.

This year, at the invitation of Mr. Blackall

Simmon ds of Hermit's Tower, he came to

Winchester, and hunted that country which

was before Mr. Wall's, and he showed such

good sport that, at the request of many

friends, he came again the following season.

He was whipped in to by his friend Mr. James

Dear. Mr. St. John pays an annual visit to

Winchester at the end of the season, and

hunts alternate days with Mr. Dear. Mr.

St. John was a very good cricketer, and

played in many good matches for the country.

Ca tain Captain Williams's pack was com-

wniiams's posed of bloodhounds belonging to

hounds. the keepers in the New Forest, used

for tracking wounded deer. Application was

made for permission to use these hounds in

pursuit of the deer, as the Royal Hounds had

discontinued their visits to the Forest, The

chief supporters of the bloodhounds were the

-

1862.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 309

Marquis of Worcester, Captain Lovell, Captain
Compton, Captain Martin Powell, Captain
Shedden (the master of the N. F. H.), General
Robbins, Sir Henry Paulet, Mr. Edward Tim-
son, Captain Hyde Parker, Captain Bullej
Colonel Drummond, Mr. Esdaile, Mr. Roycls
and Mr. Mew.

Harry Gillett was whip and second hunts
man.

The Hambledon Hunt races took h. h. c.
place on Soberton Down. April 24.

The Hunt Club Stakes.

Mr. Judd's The Pope

Beating three others.
The Farmers' Cup.

Mr. Lotam's Half-and-Half 1

Beating six others.

The Soberton Stakes.

Mr. Serjeant's Cameo won the first heat, and Mr. Judd's Sally Sutton
the second. Mr. Judd's walked over for the third.

" The Hambledon hounds had a Good runs
good run from Idsworth, on Monday, j* 18r5T1-

o J J ' The Ham-

March 24th, finding near Chalton biedon, from

,.. , . . Idsworth.

Mill and going straight into the
low country, by Blendworth and Horndean
Holt, where the scent improved, and the
hounds raced to Havant thicket, and there
turned to the right into so deep and strongly
enclosed a country that the field became so
select that only Mr. T. Smith (the master),
Mr. Sartoris (16th Lancers), Mr. Hulbert, Mr.

310 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1845 to

Shaw, Mr. Alfred Dyson, and Mr. Stares
could keep with the hounds; crossing Bed-
hampton Park the fox now entered the Liberty
to the back of Horndean, then to Lea Park,
through Crookhorn, to Belmont, leaving Ha-
vant to the left; he went on till the sea
stopped his farther progress, and after running
through some gardens was killed at Stakes,
after a fine run of two hours and a quarter.
The veteran master and Mr. Dyson on a
restive thorough-bred had the best of the run
from end to end." — From Bell's Life.

1851 " ^r- Wall met at Leckford Hut

Dec. io. December 15th, and had a fine run
from Leek?' from Dumpers Oak, by the Valley
ford' of the Test, past Mr. Iremonger's

house, to Wherwell Wood, Lieut. -Col. Arthur
Onslow of the Scotch Fusilier Guards, Cap-
tain Forrest, Mr. Barton Wallop, the master,
and Mr. Bailey, were the best placed during
the run." — From Bell's Life.

The H. H. met at the kennels and
The h.h., found in Ropley Wood. Went by
kTmUs6 Round Coppice to Wolfhanger and
Ashton Wood to Basing Park and
Froxfield, to Bordean Hangers, then by Lan-
grish and Ramsdean to Butser Hill and into
Highden Wood, where, getting on a fresh fox,
they whipped off. Distance about twelve miles.

1862.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 311

After the Assizes at Winchester, 185L
the learned Judge Coleridge having The Bar ».
disposed of all the cases, presided at Hants.01
a cricket match between the Bar of the
Western Circuit and the North Hants ; and
his lordship found that the learned gentle-
men were as eminent in the Field as in the
Court ; for they beat their adversaries by
18 runs, the number being for the Bar 145,
for the North Hants 127. Several motions
were made with great beauty and manliness,
but the merits and not technicalities were
attended to. His lordship appeared to be
quite as much pleased as if the matter had
been a lively argument upon a special de-
murrer.

A match was played on Brook's 1851-

Ground between the South Hants and 23.

Club and the Players of Hampshire. ^Hailt8

The South Hants Club won by pla^ers-
7 runs.

The Eleven were — Sir Frederick Bathurst,
Messrs. T. Chamberlayne, D. T. Chamberlayne,
H. T. Johns, Captain Weir, R. Bowclen
Smith, Alexander Stead, G. Barfoot, H. Dum-
bleton, F. Day, and T. C. Elliot. They scored
75 and 100.

The Players were — Joseph Harbut, Henry
Misselbrook, Richard Bodle, Maurice Batchelor,

312 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1845 to

Corke, Lamparcl, Biles, Greentree, Donkin,
Webber, and Powell. They made 71 and 97.
H. Misselbrook is a native of Otterbourne,
and keeps the Cricketers' Inn there ; he has
had several engagements as bowler at Oxford.
aii England This match was plaved on Dav's

v. Iwenty s. J J

of Hamp- Ground at Itchen, near Southampton,

shire. r\ i it

1851. on October 6th and 7th. The

England Eleven were Mr. N. Felix, Mr.
Alexander Marshall, J. Wisden, T. Box,
G. Parr, W. Caffyn, W. Martingell, Julius
Cassar, A. Mynn, J. Guy, and J. Grundy.
They scored 93 and 72.

The Hampshire Twenty were Sir F. Bathurst,
T. Onslow, W. Pearse, Charles H. Ridding,
Arthur Ridding, F. Compton, W. Ridding,
Charles Theobald, F. Hervey Bathurst, H. T.
Johns, W. Clement, G. E. Humphrey, Captain
Weir, F. Breton, J. Greenwood, E. Morant
Gale, F. Johns, T. Chambeiiayne, H. G.
Green, and Daniel Day. They scored 41 and
33, with 12 wickets down. In the first
innings of Hampshire out of twenty innings
there were thirteen noughts, and in these first
innings the last eight wickets fell for nothing ! !

1852. Mr. Robert Pearse now gave up

Pearfe^akL n*s na™ers and assumed the ma-
the h. h. nagement of the H. H. ; and it has

1862.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 31

o

<>

been, I believe rightly, said by some old
sportsmen that the H. H. had better sport
during his regime than they had had for
some time before. Mr. Pearse had many
drafts from Lord Fitzharclinge, and succeeded
thoroughly in getting quite the right sort and
size of hound for the country. Mr. PesCrse was
a good horseman, and had a good knowledge
of hounds and hunting. Charles c. Roberts.
Roberts, who came from Lord Southampton,
proved himself to be a very good huntsman ;
he afterwards lived with Mr. Phillips in Ox-
fordshire, and Lord Doneraile in Ireland.
His whips were John Hickman and Dan
Berkshire. The latter came from Dan Berk_
Lord GifFord, and on leaving Hants shire-
he went to Mr. Henley Greaves, and then was
with the Badsworth and the Quorn ; he is now
huntsman to Lord Portsmouth, at Eggesford.

A dinner was given to Mr. Pearse by the
members of the H. H. and the farmers, Fe-
bruary 8th, 1854, as a token of their respect
and approbation of the sportsman-like manner
in which he hunted the country. Lord Ash-
burton filled the chair, and was supported by,
as vice-presidents, Mr. Marx and Mr. Nichol-
son. Ninety-eight sat down to an excellent
dinner served by Mr. Rous. After the retire-

314 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1845 to

ment of the chairman, Mr. Frederick Bailey-
was unanimously voted to the chair, which he
filled most ably.

Mr. Waii In the month of April, after an

Hambiedon, excellent season's sport, Mr. T. Smith
1852. resigned the mastership of the Ham-

biedon hounds, and at the same time Mr. Wall
gave up the Hursley, and was accepted as the
new master. Mr. Wall resided at Droxford
during the four years he had them. At first,
Charles Champion, who had been Mr. Smith's
head man, hunted the hounds, and on leaving he
went to the Croxteth harriers, near Liverpool.
Mr. Wall's other servants were Henry Nason
and William Fisher. Mr. Wall had great faith
in the blood of Sir Tatton Sykes, whose drafts
he had when master of the Hambiedon. Mr.
Wall was not a feather-weight, but was always
very well mounted, and being a good horseman,
was always with his hounds. Perhaps his best
horse was a grey, called the Slasher, own
brother to Lord GiiFord's well-known hunter
Sam, by Jack Tar.

Dinner to On March 16th, 1854, the members

and friends of the Hambiedon Hunt,
anxious to testify their esteem for Mr. Wall,
their master, invited him to a dinner at the
Red Lion Hotel, Fareham. There were about

1862.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 315

sixty gentlemen present, amongst whom were :
Sir Jervoise Clarke Jervoise, Bart., chairman ;
Messrs. W. H. Barkworth, T. Ridge, C. Sartoris,
G. Hulbert, Augustus Nugent, Delme Rad-
cliffe, H. P. Delme, S. S. Taylor, H. Dorrien,
F. Raikes, C. Gordon, W. Missing, J. Sewell;
Captains Forbes, Vaughan, and Snow ; Messrs.
George Clarke, C. B. Smith, J. Harvey, T.
Stares, W. Carver, James Martin, George
Pittis, Charles James, J. Hinxman, J. H.
Colson, C. Stubbs, John Barfoot, and other
staunch supporters of fox-hunting.

Mr. Stanlev Lowe, who had bought ,/r1852-

J ° Mr. Stanley

the North Devon, now became master Lowe takes
of the Hursley hounds, and resided hounds.
at Lainston. Summers left the H. H. and
came to the Hursley, and his whipper-in was
John Tubb, an Irishman, who was in no way
related to his well-known civil namesake of
the Winchester Garrison Stables.

Mr. Theobald of Sutton Courtney, ™T- ™f-

J ' bald takes

near Abingdon, who had hunted the n. f. h.
the country between Bath and Warminster,
now became master of the New Forest
hounds, and resided at Forest Lodge, Lynd-
hurst, and his kennels were at Furzey Lawn.
Smith, who had hunted Lord Folkestone's
harriers, was his huntsman; Frank Walker

316 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [ISio 10

and Will Chapelow, the son of Mr. Shedden's
huntsman, were his whippers-in.
Captain Captain Main waring, son of Sir

takes tL Harry Mainwaring, Bart., of Peover
Hall in Cheshire, now became master
George °f the Vine hounds. George Turner,
lumer. wj10 came from Lord Southampton,

was his huntsman. Turner had before, I be-
lieve, been with the Cheshire, and in 1858
he went to the Blackmore Yale, where he
gave great satisfaction. The principal sub-
Supporters seribers to the Vine hounds now
were — Lord Lymington,* Lord Cal-
thorpe, Sir Richard Rycroft, the Duke of Wel-
lington, Lord Charles AYellesley ; Messrs. W. H.
Beach, T. G. Baring, Paul Hunter, Mortimer
G. Thoyts, R. G. Mount, Dr. X. P. Smith,
Captain Bridges, H. J. Oldfield, C. Darby
Griffith, M.P.. W. J. Chaplin, W. L. W. Chute,
W. J. Portal, C. R. Pettat, W. Holding, George
Lamb, E. W. St. John, J. Ponsford, H. Porcher,
and Robert Allfrey.

Mr. Garth. Mr. T. C. Garth now bought Mr.
Wheble's*dog pack, and with them hunted the
Hampshire portion of his country. His kennels
were at his residence at Haynes Hill, near
Reading. Robert Tocock left Mr. Wheble, and

* Now the Earl of Portsmouth.

1862.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 317

became his huntsman ; and his whips were
Thomas Sweetman and Henry Tocock ; the
latter was succeeded in 1859 by George Bart-
let, from Sir Watkin Wynn. In 1855, Mr.
Wheble resigned his hounds to Mr. Montagu,
and David Edwards, who was his huntsman
after Tocock left, went to the Cheshire. In
the same year, Mr. Garth was entertained
at dinner by his friends and supporters, and
presented with a silver horn.

Captain Evans, who lived at Brox- 1852-
more Park near Romsey, kept a pack EvaiSS
of harriers, and hunted the country in harners-
that neighbourhood; he had before kept hounds
in Oxfordshire, and hunted round Wychwood
Forest, and was well known as "the Flying
Captain." His pack, which were very level,
being above fifteen but not sixteen inches
hi«"h, were very handsome and steady. When
in Oxfordshire, Captain Evans had a wonderful
retriever which acted as "whip," and Sam the
actually turned the hounds to him Retriever-
when they required casting. This wonderful
dog would lead a horse any distance along a
road with the bridle in his mouth and bring
him safely home, and " Sam" was not only his
master's whip, but his valet also, never making
any mistake in the articles of dress he was told
to fetch.

318 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1845 to

h.h. races, The Hunt races on Abbotstone
a>0' ' Down were numerously attended, as
there was a desire on the part of the neigh-
bourhood to do honour to the young master
of the hounds, Mr. Robert Pearse. Nearly
all the principal families attended — viz. Mr.
Walter and Lady Mary Long, Sir Edward and
Lady Doughty, Colonel and Mrs. Hawker,
Mr. and Mrs. 0. Codrington, Colonel and Mrs.
Greenwood, Mr. and Mrs. Marx, Captain and
the Honourable Mrs. Manaton Pipon, Mr. and
Mrs. F. Yates, Messrs. E. Knight, W. H. Hey-
sham, W. T. GraBme, G. Wall, Sumner Smith,
W. Pearse, W. and S. Taylor, H. J. Mulcock,
John Dunn, J. T. Maine, Frederick Onslow,
and the officers of the 7th and 38th Regiments.

The H H ^^e Hum: Cup, given by the Members of the H. H. to

races, ' ' the Fanners.

May 5. Mi\ T. Parker's ch. g. Harmsworth (George Young) 1

Mr. Legg's br. g. Go-Behind 2

Mr. Spencer's b. m. Madcap 3

The Hunters' Stakes, 3 sovs. each, and 10 added.

Mr. Judd's Turk 4 11

Mr. Pearson's (7th. Fusiliers) Highflyer (Capt. Dickson) 12 2

Mr. Morgan's bl. g. Arthur 3 0 0

The Selling Stakes.

Mr. Judd's Ramsborough 4 11

Mr. Spencer's Madcap 12 2

Mr. Pearse's Maid of the Mill 2 3 dr.

1862.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 319

■

" On NewYear's-clay the Tedworth j^™8
met at Ham Ashley. The fox was Mr.Assheton

Tt i TT'-n Smith,

found going down Kyever's Hill ; Jan. i,
first he pointed for Stipe, but turned Ham
to Ham Church, threaded Ham AshIey'
Sprays, and went up the hill at Bull's Copse,
giving the horses a regular breather. Away
by Combe Wood and Vernham to Fosbury
Wood and Oxenwood village, and then
straight back to Ham Ashley ; down the hill
thundered the pack close at him, and rolled
him over by the side of Bagshot Wood, after
a fine run over all sorts of country, finding in
Wilts, running into Hants, and killing in
Berks. The master rode like a boy on a horse
that he had never seen before that day, and
which he bought for a large price at the end
of the run." — From Bell's Life.

u Mr. Wheble's hounds met at Mr.whebie,
Bylands, the residence of Captain from By-
Brown, near Stratfieldsaye. A large ams'
field assembled. The Duke was dressed for
the field, but the rain fell in torrents, and
stopped him. They found in Bull coverts, and
after a ring went away across Strathfielclsaye
Park and village, by the Fighting Cocks and
Lilley Mill, crossed the Lodclen to Sherfield

320 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1845 to

through Mr. Pigott-Conant's park, and was
pulled down by Long Coppice, after a brilliant
run of one hour and twenty minutes. Mr.
Wheble, Mr. Hobson, Messrs. William and
Pery Standish, and Mr. Bazalgette, went fa-
mously."— From Bell's Life.
Mr. whe- " These hounds had another very

bie's, Feb 2, fast run meeting at Farley Hill, the

from iarlev ' ° J

Hiii. 1852. residence of Mr. Standish. They
found in the gorse directly, and went away
to Moor Copse, Shinfield, crossed the Lod-
don, and pointed for Beech Hill; here the
pace was so great, that only seven were with
them — viz. Messrs. Wheble, Conroy, William
Standish, St. John, Robert Tocock, and David
Edwards; there was a short check near
Spencer's Common, when the fox was viewed
by Mr. Montagu ; they settled down again, and
they raced towards Penge Wood, but turned
through Hartley Court, and ran to ground in
a drain near the two-mile house ; being dug
out, he once more faced the open, but was run
into after racing fifty minutes. Mr. William
Standish met with an accident, after which,
Mr. Montagu led the field."— From Bell's Life.
Mr. Garth's, « j\jr Garth's hounds had their

Nov. 1,

1852. first meet at his residence at Haines

Hill, where a large party assembled to break-

1862.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 321

fast ; among them were : Sir Charles Rus-
sell, Messrs. George Vansittart, M.P., Wil-
liam and Pery Standish, John Leveson Gower,
Conroy, J. Simonds, St. John, Faulkner,
Martin, Major Hanmer, Captains Rowley and
Wilder, &c, and a good sprinkling of yeomen,
who appeared out of good feeling to Mr. Garth
and the old Bramshill Hunt.

The following appeared in BeWs 1852-
Life, May 23rd, 1852 : A member wager.*"
of one of the leading Clubs in London, and
a master of fox-hounds, offered to back a
young lady, from two to five thousand pounds,
to ride against any other lady in England as
follows: viz. to ride from London to Bir-
mingham, using two horses ; to ride four
miles over the Newmarket course ; to ride a
four-mile steeple-chase over Hertfordshire, or
to hunt the Hursley fox-hounds, in October
next, and to kill a fox with them. In the
paper of the following week the challenge
was accepted by a Miss Mary Ashburton,
Ladies' Horsebreaker, of Thayer- street, Man-
chester-square, if any gentleman would pro-
vide the horses. The young lady bess Key-
so backed to do these feats was that
fine horsewoman Miss Reynolds, then hunting
in Hants. I need not say that the wager was

Y

322 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1S45 to

laid entirely without her knowledge or con-
sent, and that it came to nothing.
The Arrow I must now turn for a moment
lleHca, from hunting to yachting, at least so
1852- far as it is connected with that good

sportsman Mr. Chamberlayne, and his cele-
brated yacht the Arrow. Mr. Chamberlayne
bought the old shell, lying on the shore of the
Itehen, full of mud and water, in the year
1846. She was then on the point of being
broken up. Mr. Chamberlayne purchased it
merely to obtain her midship section as a
guide to a vessel he intended building ; but
finding her timbers so sound, and of course
so thoroughly seasoned, he determined to re-
store her midships, and carry out his own
lines from it. She was finished the following
spring, and sailed for the Royal Yacht Squa-
dron prize round the Isle of Wight in August,
and beat the Dryad and two others by four
hours and a half. In 1852, she achieved a
national victory in beating the overrated
America for the Queen's Cup round the
Isle of Wight, the course being longer than
that sailed by the America when she won in
1851, and in two hours and ten minutes less
time. The Arrow sailed with her old sails, as

1862.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 323

her new set were not ready, and she beat the
America by eleven minutes, from the Needles
to Byde pier. The Arrow has now beaten
every vessel afloat which has any pretension
to sailing, and has won altogether upwards of
1500/. in prizes; amongst others, the last cup
given by the late Prince Consort, and the first
given by the Prince of Wales. She has been
lengthened and altered three times, bringing
her tonnage from 84 up to 102 tons.

Among the company at the H. H. 185S-

a i i . , t\ H. H. races,

races on Abbot-stone Down were May 6.
Colonel and Mrs. Greenwood, Captain Mana-
ton, and the Honourable Mrs. Pipon, Mr. and
Mrs. F. Marx, Mr. and Mrs. Codrington, Mr.
N. Fuller and party, Hon. W. T. Gage, Messrs.
W. T. Graeme, Ellis Jervoise, W. and S.
Taylor, Walter Long, H. Mulcock, F. Morant,
Robert and W. Pearse, Major Galley, Captain
Vau^han.

The Farmers' Cup, given by the Members.

Mr. Parker's ch. g. Harmsworth 1 1

Mr. W. Legg's Gay Lad 2 2

Mr. G. Spencer's Madcap 3 dr.

A Whip, value 10/., given by Mr. Charles Miller, for horses hunted
regularly in Hants. Gentlemen riders.

Mr. Spencer's Madcap (Capt. Vaughan) 1 1

Mr. C Miller's b. m. by Gallipoli (Mr. Robt. Pearse) 2 2

Mr. W. Pearse's Lady Alicia (Owner) 3 3

y2

324 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1815 to

A Humtees' Stakes of 3 sovs. each, over four nights of hurdles.

Mr. Judd's ch. h. Evergreen (Mr. Legg) 2 11

Mr. Smith's b. h. Eustic (Owner) 12 2

Mr. Grjeme'sch. h. Skyrocket... (Capt. Vaughau) 0 0 3

On Captain Mainwaring's retire-
TheEariof ment, Lord Portsmouth (who had
28;jf bought Mr. Henry Villebois' pack
the vine. on his giving up the V. W. H.), to
the great delight of the neighbourhood, be-
came master of the Vine hounds, and during
the four seasons his lordship had them, he
had a succession of good sport.
His servants. George Turner was his huntsman,
and Frank Goodall, now with Mr. Tailby,
was first whip ; Alfred Hedges, who went to
the Puckeridge, was the second.

This Club, which was formed more

The North . '

Hants Hunt for convivial purposes than the pro-
motion of fox-hunting, was originated
by Lord Portsmouth, who during his short
stay in Hants was very active in his endea-
vours to enliven the somewhat monotonous
routine of county society. The following
gentlemen were members :

General Shubrick, Andover.

Colonel W. Lascelles, Andover.

Captain Mainwaring, Worting House.

Captain R. P. Warren, Worting House.

1S62.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 325

Lord Dorchester, Grey well.

Mr. H. S. Oldfield, Beaurepaire.

Mr. Nelson Rycroft, Wootton St. Lawrence.

Captain Tyssen.

Mr. Win. Etwall, Longstock House.

Mr. Ralph Etwall, Andover.

Mr. W. L. W. Chute, The Vine.

Mr. H. Fowle, Andover.

Mr. F. J. Ellis Jervoise, Herriard Park.

Mr. George Lamb, Worting.

Mr. John Quicke, jun.

Mr. T. Baring, Norman Court, West Ty-
therley.

Mr. Thomas George Baring, M.P., Stratton
Park.

Captain C. Bridges, Overton.

Sir John W. Pollen, Bart., Redenham House,
Andover.

Mr. F. Pigott, M.P., Heckfield, near Winch-
field.

The Earl of Portsmouth, Hurstbourne Park.

Mr. E. W. St. John, Ashe Park.

Mr. George Sclater, Hoddington House.

Mr. Allan B. Heath, Andover.

Mr. W. S. Portal, Church Oakley.

Lord Carnarvon, Highclere Castle, Newbury.

Mr. Thomas Assheton Smith, Tedworth.

Mr. Thomas Best, Red Rice House.

326 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1846 to

Mr. H. J. Hunt, Kempshot.

Mr. Robert Allfrey, Wokefield Park, Read-

me*

Sir W. Cubitt, Penton Lodge.

Earl Bruce, Savernake.

Mr. N. Cumberledge, Crookham.

Mr. G. J. Huddlestone, Tunworth, Basing-
stoke.

Mr. William Everett, Abbotswood, Romsey.

Mr. Henry Beaumont Coles, Longparish.

Mr. John Hibberd Brewer, GarWs.

Mr. W. T. Grasme,- Winchester.

Mr. Charles J. Slocock, Newbury.

Mr. Slingsby Bethell, Hackwood Park.

Mr. William J. Pearse, South Warnborough.

Mr. R. W. G. Mount, Wasing-place, near
Xewbury.

Mr. George Willes, Hungerford Park.

Mr. W. Kingsmill, Siclmonton House.

Hon. D. Fortescue, M.P., Andover.

Mr. Henry Fox, Adbury Lodge, Burgh clere.

Mr. R. S. Routh, Farleigh Wallop.

Captain W. Prowse, Andover.

Mr. Tyrwhitt Walker, Bossington House,
Stockbridge.

Mr. Edward Tredcroft, Alresford.

The Marquis of Aylesbury, Savernake.

1S62.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 327

Mr. Arthur E. Whieldon, Quidhampton.

Sir Joshua Walmesley, Wolverton Park.

Mr. Edward Timson of Tatch- Mr. Timson
bury Mount, fearing that the Forest 5"h".f.h.,
would be without anv hounds, 18°4,
came forward as master, * and secured a con-
tinuance of that sport which had been so long-
enjoyed in that country, and so well was his
devotion to the cause of fox-hunting appre-
ciated, that on his retirement at the end of
five seasons he was presented by his friends
with a piece of plate, as a token of their
esteem for his invariable gentlemanlike con-
duct, and unwearied exertions to show sport.

Mr. Timson's hounds came from His ser-
Cornwall, and his kennels were at vants"
his residence at Tatchbury Mount. In his
first season, Sam Powell, from the SamPoweU.
South Wilts, was his huntsman ; he was fol-
lowed the next year by John Din- j0hnDm-
nicomb, who was a very quiet man mcomb-
with hounds, and had seen some service before
coming to Mr. Timson, having succeeded Jack
Grant, Lord Gifford's active whip, when he left
Lord Parker, and was also with the V. W. H.
and the Puckerid^e. On his leaving the
N. F. H., William Hawtin, from the w. Hawtin.

328 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1S45 to

Bedale, came to the Forest in 1857, and lias
remained there ever since.

Mr. Timson's whippers-in were Thomas Jen-
nings and Job Dyer.
Mr. Henry Mr. Henry Barnard of Park Farm,

Barnard's J

harriers. East Meon, now kept a pack of neat
black and white harriers, about twenty inches
high, and hunted twice a week along the line
of hills from Petersfield to Meonstoke. Mr.
Barnard has great sport, and receives every
encouragement from the gentry and farmers
in the neighbourhood. In November, 1861,
Mr. Barnard had an extraordinary run of one
hour and fifteen minutes without a check,
with a hare found on Mr. Foster's farm at
Meonstoke.
Mr. Caleb Mr. Owton's harriers hunted the

Owton'shar- _

riers, 1854. country round Owslebury, Upliam,
and Fair Oak, and this year, on February 8th,
they met at Mr. Newton's, at Twyford, and
hunted a fallow deer which was turned out
there, and gave them a severe run.
Mr. Lywood. On Mr. Owton giving up his pack
in 1862, his country was taken by Mr. L.
Lywood, who had it for one season, and
he finished with hunting deer in the New
Forest, where he was successful in taking
several, and having very good sport.

1862.J OF HAMPSHIRE. 329

Lord Besborough, who was staying 1854.
with Lord Ashburton at the Grange, R°ya? ,

a " stag-hounds,

brought the Royal Stag-hounds into Jan- 12-
Hants, and on the 12th uncarted a stag at
Popham Beacon, which was taken at Free-
folk ; the ground was half covered with snow.
The H. H. races were held on TT „

H. H. races.

Abbotstone Down, on May the 12th.

The Hunters' Stakes, over four flights of hurdles. Heats.

Mr. Williamson's b. m. Catch-Me-if-You-Can 4 11

Mr. Barnett's b. m. Bonnie Jean 12 2

Mr. R. Pearse's ch. g. aged 2 3 0

Mr. G. Judd's b. m. Doubtful 3 4 0

The Farmers' Cup, given by the Members of the H. H.

Mr. Legg's Gaylad 1 1

Mr. Judd's Buffalo Gal 2 2

Mr. Spencer's Madcap 3 0

Mr. J. Earwaker's Ploughman 4 0

A Sweepstakes of 3 sovs. each, and 10 added.

Mr. Serjeant's The Kaffir 1 1

Mr. Hinxman's Never Thought-of 2 3

Mr. R. Pearse's ch. g 3 2

Some good matches were now Cricket.
played at Mr. Beach's, at Oakley Park. Mr.
Henry Frere, Mr. Ernest Chaplin, Mr. Charles
Ridding, and MajorWallington, being, perhaps,
the best performers.

This match was played on the 1854-

_ _, i o i The United

Antelope Ground, at Southampton, v. Eighteen
on August 7th and 8th. The United °Vithachat-

<3

Eleven were — Mr. H. L. Nicholson,

terton and
Buttress.

330 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1845 to

J. Dean, T. Adams, H. Sampson, T. Hunt,
John Lillywhite, H. Wright, T. Lockyer,
J. Grundy, J. Wisden, and Tom Sherman ;
they scored 181. The Eighteen were — Messrs.
T. Onslow, H. Frere, W. Clement, F. Compton,
C. H. Ridding, Digby Compton, Charles Theo-
bald, H. S. R. Pearce, Sir F. Bathurst, Bart,,
T. C. Elliot, H. T. Johns, J. Greenwood, T.
Chamberlayne, R. Bodle, W. Buttress, G.
Chatterton, D. Day, and Henry Musselbrook ;
they scored 63 and 47.

On Mr. Robert Pearse retiring
,r v-.\. from the management of the H. H.,

Mr. Knight © '

master of ]\/[r Edward Knight of Chawton

the H. H. &

House became master. Mr. Knight
has been alluded to frequently as a good
sportsman and fine rider. His huntsman was
Joseph Joseph Orbell, one of the best that

ever came into Hants ; he was par-
ticularly good in drawing a covert, and in
other respects most anxious to show sport ; on
leaving the H. H. he went to the Puckeridge.
Tom Hedges and John Bailey, son of William
Bailey of the Anchor Inn, Ropley, were
whippers-in.

TheH.H.c. The Hambledon Hunt races were
MCay'3. held on Soberton Down on May 3rd.

1862.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 331

There was a good attendance, but the sport was
very inferior.

The Hunt Hurdle Race.

Mr. G. Wall's The Wreck „. 1

Mr. J. Harvey's Mahratta 2

Mr. Quinton's Sportsman 3

The Farmers' Cup.

Mr. F. Clark's Miss Archy 1 1

Mr. Hinxman's Black Prince 2 2

Mr. Stare's Cockspur 3 0

Mr. G. Wall's Rosebud 4 0

The annual Hampshire Hunt 1855-
races were held on Abbotstone May io.
Down, and in spite of the coldness of the
weather there was a large attendance.

The Hunters' Stakes of 3 sovs. each, with 10 added.

Mr. Legg's Gaylad 1 1

Mr. Quinton's Sportsman 2 3

Mr. Copley's Potheen 3 2

The Farmers' Cup, given by the Members of the H. H.

Mr. J. Shrimpton's Brown Bet 1 1

Mr. Legg's bn. h. Gaylad 2 2

Mr. G. Young's ch. h. Hampshire Hunter .... 3 0

Mr. G. Judd's Sally Sutton 4 0

Mr W. Shrimpton's bn. h. Young Prince 5 0

Sweepstakes of 3 sovs. each, and 10 added.

Mr. Pain's Gadfly 1 4 1

Mr. Legg's Miss Hercules 2 12

Mr. Pearse's Leamington 4 3 3

Mr. Formby's Defiance 3 2 0

Mr. Edward Tredcroft of Warnham 1856.
Court, Horsham, took the H. H., and Croft master
was their master until succeeded by of the H' H"

332 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1845 to

George Mr. H. Deacon in 1862. At first,
George Kennett was his huntsman.
Kennett was a native of Cheriton, and was
originally in the kennel when Lord Gifford
was master. He went with his lordship into
Herefordshire, and came from there to Mr.
Tredcroft ; after staying two seasons with the
H. H., he went to Mr. RadclifFe in Dorsetshire.
William Fisher, who was huntsman in 1860,
and John Bailey, now with Mr. Tailby, were
whippers-in. Kennett was succeeded by Henry
Nason. Nason, who had lived with Mr. Wall,
and came from the Linlithgow and Stirling, and
his whippers-in were Fisher and Charles Brack-
ley, who had been under Ben Goddard with Mr.
Drake. Nason only remained one season, and was
stansby. followed by Will Stansby, who came
from the Duke of Beaufort, and who, as shown
before, was second whip to Mr. Yillebois under
Foster ; he also remained but one season, and
returned to the Duke of Beaufort. On his
leaving, William Fisher became huntsman,
and the pack was hunted between him and
Mr. Tredcroft, each hunting them on alternate
days. Mr. Tredcroft was a very zealous sports-
man, and spared no expense in the mainte-
nance of his establishment, and his servants
were mounted in first-rate style. A dinner

1862.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 333

was given to Mr. Tredcroft at Alton, April 27,
1857, which was attended by many members
of the H. H., and several officers from Alder-
shot.

In the month of April, Mr. Wall 1S56-

i -i • r* -i tt Captain

gave up the mastership ot the Mam- Wilder
bledon, and was succeeded by Cap- Long.
tain Wilder, who died in the month of July.
To prevent the country being without hounds,
Mr. Walter Long a^ain became master. 0 renin
was his huntsman for one season only, being
obliged to give up on account of deafness.
George Champion was his whipper-in ; he left
with Orchin, and went to the South Down.
They were succeeded by Thomas Hills as
huntsman, and Alfred Munns as whipper-in.
In 1858, Mr. Long was obliged to go abroad,
and during his absence Mr. Thomas Wynne
Hornby of Upham acted as master in the
kennel and in the field.

The Hambledon Hunt steeple- H. h. c.
chases took place at Wickham, over chases,
the ground of Messrs. C. B. Smith and April' 15>
Braclby, on April 15th.

The H. H. C. Steeple-chase of 5 sovs. each, with 25 added.
12st. Dist. four miles.

Mr. Wall's b. m. The Wreck.... (Mr. Nason) 1

Mr. Smith's gr. g. Charlie (Mr. Harvey) 2

Mr. Clark's ch. h. Emperor (Owner) 3 Bolted

334 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1845 to

The United Hunt Race of 5 sovs. each, and 20 added.

Mr. Lywood's b. m. Gadfly (Tubb) 1

Mr. Harvey's The Kaffir (Owner) 2

Mr. Clark's b. m. Countess (Jones) 3

The Scurry Stakes.

Mr. Formby's Hercules (Burrowes) 1

Mr. Smith's Topsy (Hayter) 2

Mr. Shrimpton's Young Prince 3

h. h. races, The H. H. races were held on
ay ' Abbotstone Down on May 2nd.

The Hurdle Race.

Mr. J. Shrimpton's Brown Bet 1 1

Mr. J. Story's g. m. My Aunt 3 0

Mr. G. Judd's Champagne 4 2

The H. H. Cup.

Mr. J. Shrimpton's Brown Bet 1 1

Mr. G. Judd's Champagne 2 2

Mr. Shrimpton's b. g. Young Prince dist.

1857 Mr. John Tregonwell of Cranborne

Mr. Tregon- Lodge, Dorset, now became master of
of the the Hursley hounds, and resided at

Hursley. T . tT a i •

Lamstone House, bummers was his
huntsman. The first season, James Roffey
and George Summers were whippers-in;
the former remained only one year, and was
succeeded by Edwin Summers. Mr. Tre-
gonwell had several good runs during his
management, and Summers showed as much
sport as can be expected from the country.
Mr. Tregonwell was a very neat horseman,
and rode straight and well to his hounds, and

1862.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 335

had the peculiarity of always being the cleanest
man in the field ; for, never mind how deep
and dirty the country, yet he was ever as spot-
less and neat as when he turned out in the
morning.

The H. H. races took place on H. h. races.
Abbotstone Down, April 24th, and 1857*
were numerously attended. Amongst the com-
pany were : Colonel and Mrs. Greenwood, Mr.
and Mrs. Robert Pearse, the Earl of Uxbridge,
Mr. and Mrs. Marx, Major and Mrs. Colville,
Captain and Mrs. Lindsay, Mr. Fuller and
party, Mr. and Mrs. F. Yates, Mr. Tredcroft,
Colonel Fleming, Colonel Nicoll, Captain Ro-
bert Smith, Messrs. Jervoise, W. W. Richard-
son, W. T. Graeme, Peter Dickson, F. Hey-
sham, S. Terry, and Joseph James.

A Hurdle Race, in which no professional jockey was allowed to ride.

Captain Morgan's b. h. Hold Hard (Owner) 2 11

Mr. E. Tredcroft's ch. h. Freemason 1 4 2

Mr. Lywood's The Major '. 3 2 3

Mr. Crewe's b. m. Lansdowne 4 3 0

Colonel Fleming's b. h. Upton Gray 5 5 0

The Farmers' Cup, for horses the property of Farmers holding 100
acres of land in the Hampshire Hunt, hunted since January. To be
ridden by Farmers.

Mr. Spencer's The Arrow (Owner) 1 1

Mr. Bradby's b. h. Young Langar 2 2

Mr. G. Young's c. h. Hampshire Hunter 3 0

Mr. H. Wolfe's b. h. The Huntsman 4 0

Mr. G. Shrimpton's Lady Maria 5 0

336 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1845 to

The h. h. c. The Hambledon Hunt races took
place on Soberton Down on May 7th.

The Hunt Club Stakes of 5 sovs. each for horses regularly hunted in
Hants, or with Colonel Wyndham's hounds.

Mr. Tredcroft's ch. h. Freemason (Mr. Hunt) 1

Mr. Day's St. Patrick 2

Mr. Dorrien's Wild Grave 3

Mr. Shrimpton's Dulcimer 4

The Stewards' Stakes of 5 sovs. each, and 15 added.

Mr. Nightingale's b. m. Amelia (Owner.) 1

Mr. Loe's b. g. Billy 2

Mr. Deacon's b. m. Ada 3

™ W1?TI " At this time the X. F. H. had a

The N.F.H.,

from series of good sport on February

Paultons, -i-»

1857. 10th ; they met at Paultons, and

found in Mr. Stanley's plantations; they
hunted steadily up to Crows-nest, and then
raced their fox for forty minutes by the Tele-
graph to Ey worth Wood by the Eoyal Oak,
and Fritham to Hockerill and Pig-pit, where
they ran to ground. Dinnicomb, it was uni-
versally remarked, hunted the hounds very
well."— From BelVs Life.

" The last of these celebrated an-
meet at nual gatherings was held at Ted-
worth on October 13th, and to
greet the veteran squire, who was now eighty-
two years old, were — the Marquis and Mar-
chioness of Winchester, the Marquis of Ayles-
bury, Lord Charles Wellesley, Sir Edmund

1862.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 337

Antrobus, Sir John Pollen, Sir Edward Poore,
the Right Honourable Mr. Sydney Herbert,
Mr. and Lady Rose Lovell, Mr. and the Ho-
nourable Mrs. Pierrepoint, Messrs. John Bushe,
Tyrwhitt Walker, Charles Pressley, Thomas
Best, Chaffin Grove, Thomas Fowle, Wadham
Knatchbull, M. Marsh, M.P., W. Tugwell,
Mackrel Smith, T. Lamb, W. Everett, H. Sut-
ton, Mr. and Mrs. W. Humphrey, Mr. and Mrs.
J. H. Brewer, Mr. Edmund Antrobus, M.P.,
Mr. Robert Antrobus, R. Hetley, Major Eustace
Heathcote, Colonel Montague, Colonel New-
ington, Messrs. John Pitt Ewart, Walter Flower,
J. B. Starkey, and many other known sup-
porters of the Tedworth Hunt.

Lord Portsmouth being unable to 1858.
endure the cold winds of Hampshire, The Vine'
was advised to remove to his native air ; and,
greatly to the regret of all, he returned to
E^gesford. As a master of hounds Lord
Portsmouth was cheery in the field and in-
defatigable in his exertions to show sport.

He now sold part of his hounds — viz. twenty
couple — to Mr. Digby of Sherborne Castle,
and George Turner went with them ; the re-
maining fifty couple his lordship took into
Devonshire, where they were first hunted by
that energetic sportsman, John Dunn, and

z

338 SPORTING REMINISCENCES '[1845 10

afterwards by Dan Berkshire. And now
comes a painful episode in the Vine history,
which, as a truthful historian, I am bound to
relate.

1S58 His lordship was succeeded by

Mr. Thomas Mr. Marsh (or rather Mr. Walker)

Marsh

alias who was related to Sir Watkin

Wynn's, well known and respected

huntsman. Mr. Marsh had previously kept

and hunted hounds in Herefordshire for two

seasons. He was a light weight and a very

fine horseman. It is said that he had once

lived with Sir Richard Sutton as stud-groom,

and, in that capacity, had bought hunters for

his master in the North of Hants. Shortly

after his arrival, he was recognised and

addressed as Walker, but he stoutly denied

his identity. On the 25th of February, 1859,

he was summoned before the magistrates of

Kingsclere, Mr. Melville Portal being the

chairman of the Bench, and charged with

causing a fox to be cruelly tortured on the

morning of Sunday, January 30, contrary to

the provisions of the 12th and 13th Vic. c. 92.

The prosecution was instituted by the Society

for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

From the evidence of William Searle, the

head whip, it appeared that a fox was run to

1862.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 339

ground and dug out near Kingsclere, when
the master ordered it to be chained up in the
dairy. On the following morning, Mr. Marsh
told him and the under whip to cut its hind
leg off, which they did. The fox was then
put into a sack and taken to Mr. Taplin's
close by. Mr. Marsh with the under whip on
horseback followed with twenty-six couple of
hounds. They then turned the fox out, who
ran about two hundred yards and was killed.
Mr. Marsh denied having ordered Searle to
maim the fox, and expressed his regret at
what had occurred. The bench said a gross
cruelty had been perpetrated as well as an
outrage to public decency and morality, in
the defendent taking his hounds out on a
Sunday, yet they found that according to the
Statute, a fox did not come within the mean-
ing of a " domestic animal," and, therefore,
they dismissed the case, but strongly repre-
hended the defendant's conduct. In conse-
quence, Mr. Marsh was served with a notice
prohibiting him from drawing the coverts or
entering the lands of Lord Portsmouth, Lord
Carnarvon, Melville Portal, Robert Portal,
Richard Pole, Lovelace B. Wither, W. W.
Beach, William Kingsmill, William Fisher,
Lieut. -Col. Duberly, and J. Holdin-

z 2

if*

340 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1845 to

1858. « The H. H. met at Brookwood

Mr. Algernon

Lempriere. Park, March 23rd, where a large
field assembled. A young lady well got up,
attended by a groom, both well mounted,
made her appearance, modestly riding wide
of the rest of the field, apparently avoiding
notice, and to this was attributed her not
getting a good start. The hounds found
directly they were thrown into Black House,
and very unusually broke away with a burn-
ing scent, on the side nearest Joan's Acre,
through the Brookwood coverts, crossed the
Dean and made for West Tisted, through
Merryfield, and killed in the covert beyond
that place in forty-eight minutes. Only nine
got a good start. The heroine of the tale
was one of the unfortunates ; but as soon
as it was known that they had broken
away on the other side of the covert, she
gallantly took the lead and headed the second
flight, till she came up to them near Merry-
field, and was in at the death in a good place,
taking the fences as they came without any
hesitation.

" A stiff flight of rails brought her mare
down, she was up again in an instant, and,
nothing daunted, rode as straight as before.
The admiration and politeness of her followers

1862.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 341

was very great. ' Take care, that's an
awkward double fence you are coming to,'
said one ; but she took it flying. Nobody
knew the lady; and inquiries were made as
to who she could be. A gallant Colonel,
thinking to come the old soldier over them,
quietly sidled up to the groom and asked the
lady's name : ' Miss Thomas, Colonel,' was
the answer; 'Where does she live?' l She is
a stranger in these parts, but is staying at
Pelham-place.' Not having gained much in-
formation, the Colonel abandoned further
attempts. It was, however, unanimously agreed
that the brush should be given to the lady,
and the master, Mr. Tredcroft, with one of
his best bows and his cap raised, went up and
presented the trophy, highly complimenting
her riding and the goodness of her horse.
This was too much to hear, and a loud laugh
burst from under the thick veil, and, throwing
it up and tossing off hat and flowing curls,
the well known countenance of the young
Squire, the son of the Admiral, presented
itself to the astonishment of all the field, and
to none more so than the very polite master
of the hounds. It was universally admitted
that it was the best done thing ever seen.
The heroine or rather hero of the exploit was

342 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1845 to

Mr. Algernon Lempriere." — From the Hants
Chronicle.

1S58. The Hambledon steeple-chases took

TheH.H. C. l

steeple- place at Waterloo, on March 29th,

o\~\ n ^p

March 29. and the arrangements reflected great
credit on the stewards, Major Ingilby, Cap-
tain Gordon, and Mr. Augustus Nugent.

The first race was won by Mr. Budcl's
Dulcimer, beating Mr. Clark's The Squire.

The second and third were both won by
Mr. Bidgood's Thistle Whipper.
h. h. races, The H. H. races were held on
May 6. Abbotstone Down on May 6th.

The Hurdle race, of three sovereigns each
and ten added, Avas won by Mr. Asprey's
Lady Wynn ; beating three others.

The Farmer's Cup by Mr. G. Juclcl's
Blemish.

The Sweepstakes, by Mr. William Pearse's
Beverley.

The Hunters' Stakes, by Mr. Lipscomb's
Bonny Jean.

h. h. c. The Hambledon Hunt races were

held on Soberton Down, on May 8th.

The Farmers' Cup.

Mr. Shrirnpton's Dulcimer 1

Mr. Stare's Cockspur 2

Mr. Barnett's Fallow-deer 0

Four others started, but were not placed.

races.

1862.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 343

A Silver Cup the gift of Captain Wilder.

Mr. Shrimpton's Lady Tatton 1

Mr. T. Barnett's Fallow Doe 2

Mr. Bulbeck's The Pet 3

Mr. C. B. Smith's The Kaffir 4

H. H. C. Stakes,
Mr. Shrimpton's Brown Bet walked over.

After the death of Sir. Assheton m 1£?8-

i he red-
Smith, Sirs. Smith presented the worth Hunt.

Tedworth pack to the gentlemen hunting in
that country. A meeting was held at the
Star Inn, Andover, to arrange the future
management of the country ; and present
were the Slarquis of Aylesbury, Sir J. W.
Pollen, The Baron cle Langen, Colonel Walter,
Messrs. Thomas Best, H. Fowle, J. H. Brewer,
SI. H. Slarsh, J. Edwards, G. Everett, A. B.
Heath, T. Lamb, H. A. Loscombe, R. A.
Eouth, H. Bailey, A. Slay, T. Powell, H.
Hussey, W. B. Slerriman, EL Footner, John
Day, W. Barrett, and others interested in the
welfare of the Hunt, A committee of man-
agement was formed, consisting of the Siar-
quis of Aylesbury, Sir John Pollen, Sir
Edmund Antrobus, and Sir. H. Fowle,
Sir. J. H. Brewer undertook the office of
Secretary; and a subscription to the amount
of 1150/ was raised.

344 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1845 to

George Carter who was then sixty-seven
years old, was retained as huntsman, and Jack
Frieker and Will Brice as whippers-in.
sir Edmund Sir Edmund Antrobus had fre-
Antroims. quently taken the management in
the field during Mr. Smith's illness ; and no
gentleman could be better qualified to do so,
as he had been a master of hounds himself,
having succeeded Mr. Maberly in the manage-
ment of the old Surrey country in 1839. Sir
Edmund is a first-rate sportsman and has
always been a staunch supporter of fox hunt-
ing.

Mr. joim ^r- J°nn Day, the well-known

Day's har- trainer of Daneburv, kept a verv

ners, 1858. .

neat pack of harriers, which afforded
great sport. He hunted them himself, and
was whipped in to by his son and little
Judd, who has since distinguished himself
by winning several races for the Danebury
Stable. This pack was given up in 1860-1,
and, I believe, went to Austria.
Good runs. The H. H. had an extraordinary
?• H» run from West Tisted, where Mr.

from \\ est '

Tisted, James Stubbs entertained the field

with his usual hospitality. They
found immediately in Ashton Wood and went

away over Basing Park, racing over the good

1862.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 345

scenting ground, then over the stiffly fenced
country round Froxfield, by the Trooper Gate
to the highest point of Hawkley Hanger, and
down into the meadows below ; crossed the
Greatham stream to the open heaths of Wool-
mer Forest, and, after a mile or two, they
raced into their fox, after a fine run of one
hour and fifteen minutes, over twelve miles of
country.

The Hurslev met at Ball Down,

Dec. 31.

and had a fine run from Norwood TheHurs-
through Crawley Village, to Leek- Bail Down.
ford Hut and Titcomb Bridge, then
by Chilbolton, to Bullington and Stoke
Charity, over the railway to Micheldever
Wood, where they pulled him down, after a
run of two hours and fifteen minutes, going
through twelve parishes.

The Gentlemen of the County this Cricket.
year beat the Gentlemen of Kent in of Hants v.
a single innings, and the Sussex by ontenTand
166 runs. The Hampshire Eleven Sussex-
were : Captain Bathurst, Messrs. A. B. Trol-
lope, F. Compton, H. Frere, C. Ridding,
W. Knatchbull, H. Monro, G. E. George,
W. K Heysham, E. L. Ecle, and H. T. Gill-
son.

346 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1S45 to

1859. Captain, now Earl Poulett, at this

PoSett ^me became master of the Ham-
masterof bledon hounds, and at no period

the nam- ' L

biedon. since their existence have they

been so liberally managed, or have they
had better sport. A large portion of Colonel
Wyndham's west Sussex country was now
added; and in order to hunt it fairly, these
hounds now go out six times a week, and
following the Tidworth precedent, Captain
Poulett and Cox always hunt on alternate
days, and occasionally on the same day.
The master receives the support he de-
serves, and among his best friends, who
are not members of the Hunt, but without
whom he could not well get on may be
reckoned :

Good men Messrs. C. B. Smith of Wickham,

5 th?, , Messrs. Horn, E. Elclerfield, W.

Hambledon ;

Hunt. Friend, J. Goldsmith, J. Twynam,

and R. Pink of Hambledon ; F. Pratt and
T. Earwaker of West Meon ; John Stares of
Droxford; R, Gale and Mortimer of Horndean;
James Martin of Cams; George Pittis, G.
Clark, H. Appleford of Marwell ; Henry Bar-
nard of East Meon ; and of others, who will
attribute to my ignorance an unintentional
omission of their names.

1862.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 347

During the first season, Alfred Lett's
Munns (since dead) was huntsman, servants.
and Robert Price (who had his leg broken by
a young horse that a farmeipvas riding) was
whipper-in. Will Cox came in 1860, Alfred
Munns becoming first whip, the other whippers
in since have been Tom Champion and Charles
Cox.

Mr. Arthur Whieldon commenced M ^Arthur
his very successful career as a master WMeidon

•J master ot

of hounds by doing a bold thing, the vine.
having purchased a pack of foxhounds, and
engaged Humphry Pearce as huntsman, be-
fore he had an inch of country, or a kennel
to put them in. At this time nothing was
decided as to the management of the Vine
country. No public meeting had as yet been
called, and there were no kennels, the old
ones having been pulled down when Lord
Portsmouth took the country and removed the
hounds to Hurstbourne. It so happened
that the West Kent hounds were the only
established pack to be had this year ; and Mr.
Whieldon knowing that hounds were the chief
ingredient in sport, went in boldly and bought
them, and for a time was in the awkward posi-
tion of a master of foxhounds without a
country, until his oifer to take the Vine was

348 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1845 to

accepted ; and, during the time lie has been
their master, they have had a better succession
of sport than any other pack in the county.

Mr. Whieldon began hunting at a very early
age, when living at Wetton-place in North-
amptonshire, in the heart of the Pytchley coun-
try, and as a very " small boy" was blooded
by Mr. Osbaldeston, then in his zenith, after a
clipping run from Dodford Holt, and killed in
his father's park.

When at school at Winchester (from 1830
to 1837) with his brother George, now the
popular Squire of Wyke Hall, near Wincan-
ton, he kept a few harriers, and had many a
run on Twyford Down before breakfast. Mr.
Whieldon then hunted regularly in North-
amptonshire in the reigns of Mr. Osbaldeston,
Sir Harry Goodriche, Mr. George Payne, and
Lord Chesterfield, in the glorious days of Jack
Stevens and Will Deny ; and since then he
has had a turn in nearly every country south
of the Trent, and has always shown himself
to be a good and keen sportsman, for, as
Humphry Pearce, his huntsman, rightly and
quaintly observed, "there is no Mary Ann
about my master."

George Humphry stayed with Mr. Whiel-

southweii. don untn lg61j when he was guc_

1862.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 349

ceeded by George Southwell, than whom a
better servant cannot be found, either in the
kennel or in the field. He commenced his
hunting career with the South Wold with
Mr. Helyar, with whom he stayed six seasons ;
he was then with Mr. Henley Greaves, and the
Cottesmore for one, and was with Mr. George
Cooke, both in the Craven and Tiverton
countries; he is assisted by Harry Purdue,
who first acted as whip under Mr. Whieldon ;
during Lord Portsmouth's time, he ran after
the hounds and was the recognised " Sexton"
of the Hunt. Independently of the Principal
Squires and large landholders, Mr. supporers-
Whieldon is very fortunate in having so many
good friends to fox-hunting in his country.
Mr. John Arundel of Brimpton, Messrs.
and Mr. George Brooks of Monk and George
Sherborne, are certainly two of the Brooks-
best, the former having in his time turned
down and brought up one hundred and thirty
foxes, and Mr. Brooks may be fairly said to
be fonder of a litter of cubs than many
parents are of their children ; so kindly does
he act towards them in loco parentis, that on
one occasion when their larder of rats and
rabbits was exhausted, he actually fed his
pets on young partridges !

350 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1845 to

Good men Amongst other good fox proser-

in the V me o o I

Hunt. vers and staunch sportsmen are the

Messrs. A. Twitchin, sen. and jun., of North
Oakley ; the Messrs. Beckingham of Ashe ;
John Bailey of Bear Mill, Whitchurch ; the
Messrs. Neate of Overton ; Stephen Burdass
of Freefolk ; the Messrs. Pitter of Hunton, J.
Hooper of Litchfield, G. Webb of Hanning-
ton, and probably many others; but I must
not omit Mr. Francis Budd of Cliddesden,
who keeps a pack of harriers, and hunts the
country between Basingstoke and Kempshot,
and is a good sportsman with his own pack,
and a fox preserver also.

Mr. Whieldon, during his manage-

Run through & °

wherweii meiit, has had many good runs ; but
Nov, 29, perhaps the best and most remark-
able was on the 29th of November,
1862. They met at Whitchurch Lodge Gate,
and found in Lord Portsmouth's osier-beds at
Tufton, and raced the fox over the meadows,
through Hurstbourne Park, into Wherwell
Wood, when only five men out of a large
field, including Mr. Whieldon and his two
whips, were anywhere near them when he
entered this interminable forest of four thou-
sand acres. They forced him through with-

1862.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 351

out a check or turn, and again took the open
at the extreme end near Lower Clatforcl, after
traversing quite four miles through the wood,
then over the river, leaving Red Rice on the
left, and ran into him dead beaten in the
open below Abbots Ann, in the Tedworth coun-
try, after one hour and twenty-five minutes,
with every hound up, but not so the field. It
was quite six miles from Wherwell to where
they killed, and they did not enter a covert
all the way. Strange to say, they passed the
Tedworth who had met at Red Rice, and they
said they had had no scent. This is perhaps
one of the most remarkable runs on record in
this country, and never was done before, and
it is an extraordinary performance of both
fox and hounds. Besides Mr. Whieldon, those
who saw the run from end to end were
Captain Harvey and his brother, Mr. Henry
Harvey, Messrs. George Brooks, G. Rawlins,
and B. Bovill.

On March 4th, 1862, Mr. Whieldon was
presented with a testimonial of a silver horn
at a public dinner in the Town Hall, Basing-
stoke, when there was a numerous muster of
hunting men from all the surrounding Hunts,
a fact the more gratifying to him as such

352 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1845 to

gatherings were not customary in the Vine
Hunt, and. a similar honour had not been
paid to any former master.
Dinner to A dinner was given by the Hurs-

JSmSST ley Hunt t0 Mr- John T- Treg°nwellJ

1859. ^he master, at the George Hotel, Win-

chester. The committee of management were
Messrs. T. Chamberlayne, W. T. Graeme, Lieut. -
Col. Nicoll, T. Edwards, and W. Allee ; and pre-
sent were the Hon. Robert A. Arundell, W. G.
Sclater-Booth, M. P., Gen. Frederick, C. M.
Deane, W. W. Bulpett, George Onslow Deane,
S. Turner, E. Tredcroft, Col. Gauntlett, Major
C. Lowth, Major M 'Donald, Major A. Womb-
well, Captain Crofts, Captain Dowker, Captain
Norris, Captain D. Chamberlayne, G. Raw-
lins, J. Wickham, Edward Bailey, H. Edwards,
W. N. Heysham, J. Courtney, George Bailey,
Bailey Whitear, W. Hopkins, W. Barry, J.
Griffith, George Hunt, Henry Bishop (89th
Regt,), Wm. Everett, J. P. Fitt, L. Lywood,
George Pern, B. Sillence, Richard Stride, H.
Peake, George Smith, and Summers the hunts-
man, &c. &c.

The Hambledon Hunt races were

TT TT p

races, held on Soberton Down, and the

stewards were Captain Poulett and
Mr. W. H. Barkworth.

1S62.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 353

Hurdle Race of 5 sovs., with 10 added.

Mr. Weyrnark's British Yeoman (Captain Hunter) 1 I

Mr. Lywood's br. g. Newton 2 2

Mr. Self s Matilda 3 0

The Farmers' Cup.

Mr. H. Barnard's Faun Oil

Mr. Carver's Spanker 12 2

Mr. Barnett's Musidora 2 3 0

Mr. Earwaker's Laird o' Cockpen 3 4 0

" The N. F.*H. met at Hill Top Nov. 19.
Gate, and, punctual to a minute, with the
Hawtin and his famous lady-pack fr0m hui
made their appearance, and soon Top Gate*
after the master, Mr. Edward Timson, arrived
also. There was a good muster of red and
black coats, amongst whom were Sir Henry
Paulet, Bart., Captains Heath, Timson, Martin,
and Buckworth Powell, and A. Gore ; Messrs.
Mudge, St. Barbe, C. and J. Shrubb, Everett,
Palmer, Stride, Fletcher, Ashby, Carter, &c.
They trotted off to Stairsley, one of the
Duke of Buccleugh's coverts, than whom a
stauncher preserver of foxes cannot be found.
Scarcely were the hounds thrown in, when a
fox went away towards Exbury, the seat of
Mr. Ricardo, and pointed for the Beaulieu
River ; but turned through King's Copse, over
Hertford Heath, and raced along the Ipley
River, to Ferney Craft, and the Deep Leap

2 a

354 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1S45 to

to Langley Manor, where the hounds would
not allow him to hang, but forced him through
the Marchwood coverts to Denny Wood, by
which time horses and hounds had all had
enough, and the scent beginning to fail, they
were obliged to whip off after a run of up-
wards of twenty miles. There were several
falls, but no serious accidents. The hunts-
man was always in his place, and Captain
Timson, Messrs. Palmer, Gore, Shrubb, and
least, but far from last, Mr. Carter on his
clipping little chesnut pony, were well with
the hounds throughout the run." — From BeJTs
Life.

1S60. Captain W. Morant, the youngest

Morlnta son of Mr- John Movant of Brocken-
master of fo-Qpst House, and formerly in the
n. f. h. Grenadier Guards, on the retirement
of Mr. Timson, became master of the N. F. H.
The hounds were asrain removed to the kennels
at Furzy Lawn. Captain Morant hunts the
hounds himself. During his two first seasons,
Job Dyer was his whipper-in, and he was fol-
lowed by young William Hawtin, his father
now acting as kennel huntsman. The Hunt
uniform was now changed ; scarlet coats, with
green collars and waistcoats, being adopted.
h. h. c. races. The Hambledoii Hunt races were

1862.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 355

liekl on Soberton Down, for the last time, on
April 27th. The stewards were Lieutenant-
Colonel Bower (1st Hants Light Horse) and
Mr. E. Sartoris.

The Farmers' Cup. ,
Mr. Seward's Friar 1

Beating Messrs. Barnett's, Plowman's, Hunt's, and Courtenay's horses.

The Stewards' Stakes.

Mr. Weymark's Vouralak 1

Mr. L. Ly wood's Touchstone 2

And three others.

The H. H. C. Stakes.

Mr. W. Pearse's Beverley 1

Mr. Weymark's Nancy 2

And two others.

" The Hambledon hounds met at Nov.
Broad Halfpenny Down, and found biedon^om
in a piece of gorse near Hogg's Lodge Broad Half"
one of the right sort. The pack raced Down-
him over Buriton Down at such a pace that no
horse was able to live with them, to Ditcham,
over the water meadows, by Petersfield Pond,
by Durford Bridge, and pulled him down on
the edge of the brook by Pen Farm, in the oc-
cupation of that friend to hunting, Mr. Seward.
Time, one hour and twenty minutes. Those
up at the kill were Captain Poulett, Messrs. J.
Vidler, J. Hugonin, Campbell TVyndham, R.
Payne, J. E. Padden, Richard King (who took
the brush), Captain Lambert, and some officers

2 a2

356 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1845 to

from Portsmouth. All were delighted at the
finish, and too much praise could not be given
to Will Cox for the quiet way he handled his
hounds. ' ' — Bell's Life.

Being anxious to obtain some
Mr. Neviii's knowledge of these singularly beauti-
Huberf' ftu1 hounds, I wrote to Mr. Nevill, and
bloodhounds requested him, as a favour, to give

and red-deer A ' ©

presented to me some account of them. He kindly

him by the . J

Duke of send me a long letter, which I copy

Beaufort. 7

verbatim :
" I first obtained the breed from the New
Forest, before it was disafforested; they are
the breed of ancient kings, and were used for
chasing the majestic stag over the wild waste,
where the musical St. Hubert hound thoroughly
carried out his nature. I have possessed the
breed for twenty years, and I now have twenty
couple. George Gaiger, the huntsman, has
been with the pack from childhood, and also
Thomas Lock, the whip; therefore they are
well versed in the management of the blood-
hound, which requires very peculiar tact. I
now relate to you several chases of the Monarch
stag. I turned him out in the year 1855, close
to the Worthy kennel, and he gave me a nice
gallop. When the chase was over, he followed
me home, bein£ on horseback, which he fre-

1862.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 357

quently did. Another time he gave me an
excellent run from Winchester Race-course.
He ran from there to Wonston, over the open
to Hill Farm, to Norwood, through Littleton,
and was taken at Winchester in a pond. As
soon as I rode up I called him, and he instantly
left the water with a bound, and went home
close to my stirrup, which astonished my sport-
ing friends. His fellow-mate, the hind Princess,
has also many times done the same thing. She
was left (in 1857) in the meadows with a cow
when she thought proper to roam away, and
wras absent for six months, and then I heard
she was in Burntwood. I immediately let out
two couple and a half of my stag-hounds, and
with my father (who was a great sportsman),
my huntsman, and whip, after drawing for
some time, roused her ; she gave us first a ring-
round the wood, then broke away to Shrowner,
from there to the Grange Park, to Candover,
though Wield and College Wood, Chawton
Park, and Newton Common, and she was then
a quarter of an hour before the small pack.
She was seen by a man to go into Inny Down
when it was quite dusk. My hounds and
horses were quite tired, so I whipped off, and
left her for another day. The distance was
supposed to be thirty miles by the way she

358 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1845 to

ran. Three weeks after, I heard of her again
from that noted sportsman, Mr. E. Knight of
Chawton, and taking the same number of
hounds, I found her in Bushy Lees, and ran
her at a racing pace for one hour. That good
sportsman, Mr. W. Collier (who was especially
fond of stag-hunting), was out on that clay, and
well he went for an aged man, as he was up at
the take. The deer was runnincr anion 2^ some
cows, and the huntsman hallooed to a man to
open the yard-gate; in another instant she
would have left the cows, and we should not
have taken her that day, I instantly got off
my horse and went into the yard ; the moment
I called to her, she instantly came to me, and
I had some difficulty in keeping her from
treading on my feet. Although she had been
absent in a wild state for six months, she fol-
lowed me into a pen, and would have followed
me home, but I thought it too far. This caused
a great degree of wonder to the field, being
a thing so uncommon to witness. I now
state to vou the different animals

What the *

bloodhounds the bloodhounds hunt. 1 often kill
fourteen rats a day with them in
turnips and hedges, and their cry is equal to
their chasing the deer, and with the same
energy as when after the stag. Badgers and

1S62.J OF HAMPSHIRE. 359

foxes turned out, and drags, even as far as man,
as I have recovered with them stolen goods
from a thief. Water-fowl in sedge I occa-
sionally hunt in the meadows for amusement,
and sometimes take them. One day I chased
a swan for a quarter of a mile in the main river,
and to see the hounds swim after him and come
again to the bank and rest themselves for a
moment, and then gallop away again, was
astounding for a sportsman, who would hardly
believe such a thing. This shows the breed of
the magnificent St. Hubert hound.

"TLBL"

0

A whole volume might be written __ XT __

o m Mr. Nevills

about Mr. Nevill's exploits. His power over

. animals.

power over annuals is something ex-
traordinary, and he appears to possess the
secrets of a charmer. In 1850 he made a
fallow deer so tame, that he frequently took it
for a gallop when he rode his hounds to
exercise, and he would then turn it out before
the bloodhounds, all seeming alike to enjoy
the fun of the thing, and she invariably ran
straight home, and joined the cows in the
meadow. This deer, when the hounds were
feeding, would push her way through them,
and would eat the meal out of the same trough

360 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1845 to

until it was all gone. In 1852, Mr. Tunno of
Warnforcl gave him a jackal, which followed
him round the field like a dog, and came
readily to his call. At the request of Mr. R.
D. Cockburn, the master of the Hursley, he
turned him out on the race-course before the
bloodhounds, had a good run, and took him
His horse uninjured. On his well-known clever
Dartmoor. ]_10rse Dartmoor, Mr. Nevill once rode
from Chilland to meet the Queen's Stag-hounds
in the New Forest, had a fine run, and returned
home afterwards — a performance almost in-
credible. Dartmoor was fourteen hands three
inches, and nearly thorough-bred, of great
power, very fast, and could almost jump his
own height. He one day left a field, where he
was turned out, joined the hounds who were
running a drag, remained with them the
whole run, keeping at his proper distance
and stopping at the checks, came quietly home
when all was over, and rejoined the other
cattle in the field. He died at the age of
thirty, and was buried in the meadow; an
oak-tree was jxlanted over him, and by his side
were interred some bloodhounds and a deer
to keep him company. Perhaps Mr. NevilTs
greatest performance was on the 21st August,
1839, when, single handed, with only one
hound (who had only a few days before been

1862.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 361

taken from her whelps), and mounted on a
pony, he took and brought home an outlying
fallow deer, after a very severe chase through
corn-fields. This, Mr. Nevill says, was the
proudest moment of his life. In 1860 he re-
ceived a present from the Duke of Beaufort of
some red deer, and so, in the company of his
black St. Huberts and his thorough-bred horses,
Mr. Nevill passes a life congenial to his ardent
nature. With his celebrated deer Forest Hart,
in December, 1862, Mr. Nevill had some ex-
traordinary runs of great distance, full par-
ticulars of which are to be found in Belts Life
and the Hampshire Chronicle.

The Hambledon Hunt steeple- 1861
chases were held at Waterloo, April April 15th,
15. The stewards were Captain W. steeple-
Poulett and Mr. Chamberlayne. The chases>
course comprised about twenty fences, of every
description, except a brook.

The H. H. C. Stakes of 5 sovs. each, with 40 added, for horses that
have been regularly hunted with the Hambledon hounds during
1860-61.

Mr. Cox's Theodine, by Theon ... (Mr. Edwards) 1

Mr. Harvey's Amorous Boy (Mr. Lywood) 2

Capt. Lambert's Kevolt (Mr. Biscoe) 0

Mr. J. Clark's Minor's Wife (Owner) 0

The United Hunt Steeple-chase Stakes.

Mr. A. Yates's Playman (Mr. A. Yates)f

Mr. Cox's Theodine (Mr. Edwards)}

Mr. Hunt's Bainbow (Mr. Lywood)

Mr. Cox's Firefly (Capt. Townley)

Mr. F. Yates's Remus (Mr. Loe)

Mr. A. Yates's Playman walked over.

362 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1815 tq

TheH. h. The jj jj races were held on

races,

April 19th, Abbotstone Down.

1861.

Hurdle Race of 3 sovs. each, and 10 added.

Mr. R. Combes' Pugilist ... (Mr. W. Pearse) I I

Mr. Starkey's Niinrod . 0 0

Mr. Arthur Yates's Remus (Owner) 0 0

The Farmers' Cub.

Mr. G. Judd's Reynard (Mr. Budd) I 1

BeatiDg Mr. Hetherington's Calema and five others.

The Hunters' Stakes.

Mr. R. Combe's Pugilist (Owner) 1

Mr. William Pearse's Beverley..... (Owner) 2

Three others started.

A Sweepstakes and the Scurry were both won by Mr. W. Pearse's

Beverley.

Runs in 1861. " Tlie N" F* H* met at Picket Post,

The and bad a fine run with their second

Feb. 26th, fox ; found at Burley Anderwood,
Po0st.Pick'et and went away to Vinny Ridge,
through Gillet's Enclosure, by Mark
Ash back to Burley, and, strange to say, for
three successive times he ran this same ring ;
the third time he broke away through Gillet
over a boggy bottom by Bank, to Hunt Hill
Enclosure, where, after one hour and twenty
minutes' hard running, without a check after
a regular race, the hounds killed him. Seven
only saw the end of this run — viz. Captain
Morant (the master), Captain M. Powell, Cap-

1SG2.] OE HAMPSHIRE. 363

tain Boultbee, Mr. Tiroson, Mr. Everett, Will
Hawtin the kennel huntsman, and Job Dyer
the whip." — Bell's Life.

"The Hambleclon hounds met at

The

Chilgrove, and had quite an old- Hambiedon,

r> t ' i mi , March l9t,

fashioned run. Inere was not a fromCMi-
large field out. They found near grove'
West dean House, went over Cucum-
ber Hill, through the Mario ws over Cocking
Hill, down Stedcombe Bottom, to Bepton,
where the ground was very trying for both.
horses and hounds, over Midhurst Common,
crossed the river at Woolbeding, passed Sted-
ham Mill to Pound Common and Paling's
Copse, where he was viewed in the open and
run into. Time, two hours and ten minutes,
over at least twenty -two miles of some of the
stiffest country in Sussex. There was scarcely
a check throughout. Captain Poulett (owing
to Cox's horse having thrown a shoe in the
early part of the run) took the hounds him-
self, and handled them in a masterly manner.
Through this extraordinary run in the "A
division" were Captain Poulett on his favourite
mare Irish Molly, Captain H. Jervoise on
Multum in Parvo, Sir Jervoise, of course, on
his chesnut mare Mountain Maid, and the
Messrs. Wise, Clark, Habin, and Peskett got

364 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1845 to

through the difficulties with great credit." —
BelVs Life.

Mr. f. Yates's An excellent pack belonging to Mr.
harriers. Frederick Yates of Bishop's Sutton,
and very well hunted by himself, and occa-
sionally by his son, Mr. Arthur Yates, now
showed extraordinary sport, and many of
their best runs, ably described by Viator, are
to be found in Bell's Life : some of them in
the Wield and Medstecl country being equal
to anything seen with the fox-hounds. Both
the Messrs. Yates have derived great assist-
ance in the field from the presence of Mr.
Scotland; and, having been brought up by
that excellent sportsman, it is needless to say
that the hounds are handled in a masterly
style.

Mr. Smithers of Odiham now

Mr. Stephen . . ,

smitbers's showed sport in that neighbourhood,
second to none in the county, and
amply repaid those visiting his pretty little
pack. Their performances are occasionally
reported in the county paper.

1862 Mr. E. Tredcroft, after an able

Mr. h. Dea- and successful career as a master of

con master -, -i . . . t n , 1

of the hounds, now retired from tne

H" H* management of the H. H. ; prior to

his departure, a farewell dinner was given to

1S62.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 365

him at the Swan Inn, Alresforcl. The chair
was most ably occupied by Mr. Charles Miller,
and the vice-chair by that excellent sportsman,
Mr. Frederick Bailey of Candover, to whom
each master of the hounds has been greatly
indebted for his zealous assistance. And pre-
sent to testify their good wishes and esteem
were Mr. Sclater Booth, M.P., General Coles,
the Hon. Arthur Arundell, Lieut. -Colonel
Nicoll, Lieut.-ColonelM'Donald, Major Newde-
gate (Rifle Brigade), Captain Spicer, Messrs.
E. Blackmore, A. Yates, J. James, T. Cor-
dery, John Stubbs, T. Redford, R. H. Ether-
ington, Parker, Wolfe, &c.

Mr. Tredcroft was succeeded by Mr. Henry
Deacon, an excellent sportsman, who had
hunted both harriers and fox-hounds when
living at Holwell, near Tavistock, Devon,
and with both had proved himself a very
patient and persevering huntsman. Mr. Deacon
is a quiet, good rider across country. In Devon-
shire he rode both on the flat and in several
steeple-chases, and particularly distinguished
himself at Torquay, in 1854, on his mare
Fawn. The first season, Will Fisher was his
huntsman, and he was followed by Charles
Pike, who lived with Captain Haworth as
second horseman, and had since then been

366 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1S45 to

with the old Berkshire under Tom Clark

i

with the Cotswold, and the Essex and Suffolk ;
George Loader and Alfred Summers are his
whippers-in.

In a very short time, from his excellent
tact in the field and qualities as a sportsman,
Mr. Deacon made himself exceedingly popu-
lar, and, as it was stated in the "Van" in
Bailey s Magazine, " he could ride through
any of the farmers' houses without their cry-
ing i Ware crockery ;' ' and amongst them are
„ , some capital fellows, whose hospi-

Good men L m ' ■*•

in the h. h. tality is proverbial, and whose devo-
tion to fox-hunting is testified in
more ways than by their attendance in the
field; and of those whose names occur most
r eadily to me are the Messrs. Eggar of Bentley,
James Taylor of Kilmiston, Owen Richards of
Bighton, George Judd of Bishop's Sutton,
Frederick Bailey and Atkins of Candover, H.
Fitt of Cheriton, John Turvill of Hartley
Park, Robert and Richard Hetherington of
Ropley (who always have a good fox in Old
Down), John Godwin of Tichborne, James
Stubbs of West Tisted, William Lipscomb of
Sevington, W. Pain of Woodmancote, T. Cor-
dery of Wield, and Mr. Bailey Whitear of
Shrowner House.

1862.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 367

Mr. William Standisli of South 1362.
Stoneham House, on the resignation dish master
of Mr. Tregonwell, took the Hursley Hursley.
hounds, and has conducted that establishment
with unprecedented liberality. Mr. Standisli
is a first-rate rider, and has some excellent
horses, and is in every respect deserving of a
better country than the Hursley, for, although
he meets with every encouragement from Lord
Palmerston, Sir William Heathcote, and Mr.
Chamberlayne, who are the principal land-
holders, yet, I am bound to say, there have
been black sheep in his country, and that
foxes have been found trapped on more than
one occasion ; and as I make a point of men-
tioning all the good men and true that I can
think of, I should be doing an injustice were
I to pass over without a good word Good men
Mr. W. Allee of Rookley (a staunch Hursley
preserver and excellent sportsman), coantry-
the Messrs. Bailey, T. Edwards of Compton,
J. Fitt of Westley, H. Barton and Westbrook
of Hursley, George Rider of Braishfielcl,
George Pern and George Smith of Crawley,
Mr. H. Watkins of Lainston, and Mr. Russell
the veterinarian of Stockbridge ; the two last, I
believe, annually walk a puppy for the master.

Summers now became kennel huntsman, as

368 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1845 to

Mr. Standish hunts the hounds himself; and
his whippers-in are Walter Bell, who came
from Lord Portman, and Edwin Summers.
George Summers was whip the first season,
but, on leaving, went to the Puckeridge, where
he gave great satisfaction.
Major Mr. Standish has a very active as-

Dowker. sistant in Major Dowker of Win-
chester, who not only takes the warmest in-
terest in the kennels at Crawley, as testified by
his frequent attendance there, but annually
brings up iiye or six puppies, and tends them
with paternal kindness.

Mr. Ander- Mr. Joseph Anderson of Longstock
son's harriers. House, with a pack of harriers which
he purchased from Mr. Longman of Farn-
borough, now hunted the country in his own
neighbourhood, and finished the season most
successfully by hunting deer, which afforded
several very good runs.

The h. h. c. The Hambledon Hunt steeple-
cSf" chases took place at Waterloo, Cap-
APril- tain Poulett and Mr. Chamberlayne

again acting as stewards.

The United Hunts' Race.

Mr. Hall's Lady Betsy (Mr. Grant) 1

Mr. Tisdall's Dinorah (Owner) 2

Mr. Weston's Newick (Mr. Miles) 3

Mr. Elphick's Advent (Mr. Cameron) 0

Mr. G. Hunt's Paddy (Mr. Mew) 0

1SG2.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 369

The Farmers' Cup.

Mr. Charles Whittle's Mv Pet (Mr. Grant) 1

Mr. Sholter's Polly P. ..." (Andrews) 2

Mr. G. Pittis's Brandy 3

Messrs. T. Warner, A. Browning, Lywood,
Earwaker, Stares, Loe, Habin, Curtis, and
Spencer, also started horses.

The Hambledon Hunt Race.

Mr. Cox's Theodine (Mr. Edwards) 1

Mr. Browning's Amorous Boy (Mr. Lywood) 2

Mr. Hunt's Paddy (Mr. Mew) 3

The H. H. races took place on Ab- H. h. races,
botstone Down, on April 23rd. The APril23rd-'
Earl of Uxbridge, Mr. W. T. Grame, Mr. C.
H. Miller, Mr. E. Tredcroft, and Mr. R. T.
Pearse, were stewards.

Hurdle Pace of 3 sovs. each, and 10 added, for horses constantly
hunted in Hants. One mile and a half. Heats.

Mr. W. Pearse's The Flier (Owner), 1 1

Mr. A. Yates's b. g. Remus (Owner) 2 0

Mr. G. F. Pigott's (60th Rifles) Comet 0 2

The Farmers' Cup, presented by the Members of the H. H., for
horses bond fide the property of farmers holding not less than 100
-acres in the H. H. country. Two miles. Heats.

Mr. Parson's ch. g. Python 1 1

Mr. Ayling's ch. m. Lilybell 2 0

Mr. Judd's b. g. Smike 0 2

The Hunters' Stakes of 3 sovs. each, and 10 added.

Mr. A. Yates's b. g. Sapper ton ...(Mr. A. Yates) 1
Mr. W. Pearse's b. g. Beverley 2

A Sweepstakes of 3 sovs. each, and 10 added.

Mr. G. H. Seward's Ratcatcher 1 1

Mr. A. Yates's Sapperton 2 O

Mr. G. Judd's Smike 0 2

2 B

370 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1845 to

Mr. James Last, though by no means the least

Dear s © j

harriers. worthy of r ecor d amongst the different
packs in Hampshire, is the excellent one of Mr.
James Dear of Winchester, whose performances
are frequently recorded in the columns of the
county paper and Bell's Life. Mr. Dear began
keeping hounds in 1853, and has since re-
gularly hunted the country round Winchester.
Mr. Dear's kennel-man and assistant in the
field is Thomas Wilding, a native of Blandford,
and who served in the Crimea as a bombardier
in the Royal Artillery. Tom makes himself
generally useful, and is very civil and obliging.
Mr. Dear's system is that of leaving his pack
to themselves, and the result is that they come
to his call so readily that a whipper-in is not
required. The correctness of Mr. Dear's theory
of hunting is thoroughly proved by the ex-
traordinary sport he shows, and at a check his
hounds very frequently make their own casts.
At first, Mr. Dear went out with only a few of
his particular friends, but such sport has his
pack shown, that he now frequently has forty
Mr. John followers. Mr. John Bushe, formerly
Bushe. so wen kn0wn as a first-rate sports-

man at Melton, and with the Queen's hounds,
is a regular attendant, never missing a day, and

1862,] OF HAMPSHIRE. 371

lie lias converted many to an appreciation of
hare-hunting in Hampshire, and made them
see that this part of the country is particularly
adapted for harriers ; but by this I wish it to
be clearly understood that Mr, Bushe does not
depreciate fox-hunting, as nobody enjoys a
good straight running fox more than he does,
but most must admit that a good spin in the
open, with a stout Jack hare, is better than
playing at blind-man's-buff with a bad fox in
a big wood, as is too frequently the case in
Hampshire. Several ladies hunt with Mr.
Dear, who is a decided favourite of the fair
sex; amongst them Miss Bowker, one of the
boldest and neatest performers with hounds I
have ever seen. Mr. Dear's chief sup- Mr. Dear's
porters are Mr. C. R. Cundell of s"PP°rters*
Weston, Mr. Canning of Sutton Scotney, Mr.
Dunning of Chilbolton, Mr. W. Newton of
Twyford, the Messrs. Fitter of Hunton, Mr.
Rawlins of Bullington, Messrs. George and
Edward Bailey, the Messrs. Courtney, and
William Cordery of Twyforcl. On March the
22nd a dinner and testimonial were given to
Mr. Dear, at Winchester. It consisted of an
elegant silver tea and coffee service, and a
large salver, and "also an elegant claret cup

372 SPORTING REMINISCENCES. [1862.

and a silver hunting horn ; and on the last
was engraved :

Presented to Mr. JAMES DEAR

By LADIES

"Who love to hear the Music of his Hounds.

No event of importance having occurred
since this period, and no change having taken
place in the management of any of the esta-
blished packs in the county, I now conclude
my labours, and I trust I may be pardoned a
little egotism when I say I have spared neither
time, trouble, nor expense, in endeavouring to
obtain a complete annual register of all the
principal sporting events that have taken place
in the county ; and I trust that any omission
will be attributed to my ignorance, rather than
to my want of attention. I have throughout
done my utmost to ensure accuracy of dates
and facts, and finally hope that nothing I have
either said, or omitted to say, will give offence
to any one.

I N D E X.

A.

Abbey, 56, 69
Adamson, E., 162, 211, 220
Aitchison, Admiral, 79
Ale, The Bramslrill, 87
Allee, Mr. W., 272, 294, 367
Alresford Eleven, The, in 1834, 255
Alton Eleven, The, in 1834, 256
Anderson, Mr. Joseph, 368
Andover Harriers, The, 96
Antrobus, Sir Edmund, Bart., 215,

337, 344
Apperley, Mr., 104, 110
Argus, 305

Arrow, The yacht, 322
Arundell, Hon. R. A., 187

Mr. John, 349

Aston, Sir Willoughby, 9

B.

Bailey, Mr. Richard, 205

Mr. Frederick, 317, 365

John, 320, 332

Ball, H. H. Bachelors', 92

H. H., 95, 127

1846— United Hunts', 269

Barkworth, Mr. W. H., 187, 207, 264,

315
Barnard, Mr. James, 207

Mr. Henry, 235, 328

Barrett, Major, 62, 141, 215

Takes the H. II., 215
Barton, Major, of Ilopley, 98
Bathurst, Sir Frederick, Bart., 256-9
Bazalgette, Mr., 86
Beach, Mr. W., 298
Beagles, The Stockbridge, 233
Beagley, Thomas, 119, 264
Beaufoy, Mr. Charles, 63, 140
Beaver, Colonel, 18, 38

Mr. Charles, 179

Bell, Walter, 368

Bentinck, Lord George, 215, 237, 267
Berkeley, Hon. Augustus, 279
Berkshire, Dan, 281, 313, 338
Biggs, Will, 32, 53

Mr., of Popham, 89, 95

Birmingham, Lady Betty, 39
Blagrave, Colonel, of Calcot, 36, 8i>
Blake, Mr. Thomas, 55
Bloodhounds, Capt. Williams's, 308
Bodle, R. (cricketer), 260
Bonham, Mr. T., 10, 23, 176
Borer (or Boar), Will, 220
Bowker, Miss, 371

Bowyer, Mr. Charles, 297
Boys, Mr. (farmer), 160
Brackley, Charles, 332
Bradley, Jack, 225-6, 234
Bramshill, Cricket at, 306

374

INDEX.

Brett, Mr. Charles, 184, 187
Brewer, Mr. J. Hibberd, 326, 343
Bridges, Captain, of the Hermitage,

156, 174
Brooks, Mr. George, 303, 349
Budd, Mr. Francis, 350
Burket, Will, 162
Burt, James, 120
Burton, Dick, 102, 178, '228
Bushe, Mr. John, 370
Butler, Billy, 172, 222
■ Mr. Thomas, of Bury Lodge,

49, 110, 187

Mr. George, 139, 141, 151, 195,

202

C.

Calmady, Admiral, 51
Caroline, Queen, 31
Carter, George, 179, 343
Catapult Match, The, 274
Cavan, Lord, 55, 78
Chamberlayne, Mr. T., 188, 256, 367
Champion, Charles, 314

George, 333

Tom, 347

Chapelow, John, 239
Chaplin's, Mr., harriers, 302
Childs, Bobert, 300

Chute, Mr. William J., 32, 33
His kennel, 33
His pigtail, 34
By Nvmrod, 114

Mr. Thomas, 34

Clanricarde, Lord, 61, 65
Clark, Tom, 266 '
Clement, Mr. W., 269, 274
Close, Captain, 154
Cockburn, Mr. Robert, 247, 270

Dinner to, 271
Cockfighting, 25
Codrington, Mr. C. W., 224
Coles, General, 64, 188
Collier, Admiral Sir F., 153

Mr. W., of Chilland, 139, 272,

358

Compton, Mr. John, 15, 50, 55

Mr. Henry C, 80, 212, 239

Cook, Colonel, of Droxford, 56

Cooke, Mr. Christopher, 61, 66

Cope, Sir John, Bart., 83, 212
Good riders with, 85
Good runs with, 105, 244, 296
By Nimrod, 116
By Actceon, 287

Coulthard, Mr., 245

Cowley, 229

Cox, Will and George, 237, 249, 267

Will, 292, 347

Charles, 347

Cranbury Park, Meet at, 270

Craven, Hon. G. A., 210

Cricket— Old Hambledon Club, 22
Patrons of, 24, 283
From 1825 to 1845, 252
The Tichbome Down Club, 253
The Catapult Match, 274
At Bramshill, 1850, 306
In the New Forest, 306
The Bar v. The North Hants, 311
At Oakley Park, 329

Cross, Charles, 281, 300

Cunnynghame, Sir David, 54

Curtis, Sir Lucius, 106

D.

Dale, John, 267

Dalton, Bichard and Harrison, 261-9

Davis, Mr. Charles, 28-88

Day, Mr. Charles, 189

Daniel, 262

Young Sam, 221

Mr. John, jun., 233-344

De Burgh, Colonel, 64
Deacon, Mr. Henry, 364
Deane, Mr. Charles, 246
Dear, Mr. James, 370

His supporters, 371
Testimonial to, 372
Delme, Mr. P. H., 63, 188, 202

Mr. John, 76

Mr. George, 162, 188

Dorchester, Lord, 23/
Doughty, Sir Edward, 297
Dowker, Major, 368
Drummond, Mr. John, 225
Dunn, John, of Alresford, 253
Durell, Mr. John, 274

INDEX.

375

Dyer, Job, 328

Dyson, Mr. Alfred, 225, 310

E.
Edwards, Mr., of Worting, 29

David, 224, 301, 317

Evans, Captain, 317
Evelyn, Mr., 3
Everett, Mr. H., 119

the Messrs., 179

Eyles, Mr. Joseph, 80

Mr. Richard, 80

Eyre, Mr. G., 16, 79

F.
Falwasser, Mr. F., 190
Farley Mount Monument, 231
Farmers' Feast, 38
Fellowes, Mr. H., 181, 220, 267
Fisher, William, 302, 314, 332, 365
Fitzherbert, Mrs., 30
Fleming, Mr. John W., 188, 271
Fletcher, Mr., 60
Flints in Hants, 136
Forrest, Captain, 310
Foster, Mr. Butler's whip, 50
Foster, Richard, 58, 132, 229, 286

Present to, 222
Foster, jun., 59
Fowle, Mr. H., 343
Fox, Charles James, 31
Fox-hunter, Rough and Ready, 73
Frederick, Colonel, 286
Freeman tie, George, 254, 263
Frere, Mr. T., 220, 235, 307

Mr. H., 306

Fuller's, Mr. N., harriers, 225

G.

Gage, Lord, 11, 43, 62

Hon. William, 62, 115, 151,

188

His harriers, 109
Gaiger, George, 356
Garth, Mr. T. C, 316
Gauntlett, Colonel, 64, 216
Gearing, Mr., 281
Geary, Mr., 37
George IV. at Kempshot, 28
At the Grange, 31

Georges, Captain, 151, 181, 186
Gifford, Lord, 280

A visit to, by Actceon, 283
Gilbert, Mr. V. H., of the New Forest,
12

Major, 225

Gillett, Harry, 182, 239, 309
Goddard, Old Zach, 69
Goodall, Frank, 324
Goodman, Farmer, 74
Gore, Mr. Charles, 62

Miss, 241

Gosling, Phil, 5, 32, 56, 64

Ned, 67, 89

Gout, Captain Bridge's dose for, 158
Gower, Mr. Leveson, 86

Jem, 237

Graeme, Mr. Charles, 11, 31, 42, 51,

126, 205

Treasurer of the H. H., 57

W. T., Mr., 61, 126, 272

Secretary of the H. H., 205

Graham, Sir Bellingham, Bart., 102,

128, 167
Grant, Jack, 281

Joseph and George, 77

Green, Captain Burnaby, 184, 188
Greenfield, Mr. B. W., 264
Greenwood, Mr., 61

the Captains, by Nimrod, 140

Colonel George, 184

Colonel William, 188, 217

Mr. James, 253, 258

H.

H. H., the first notice of, 4

Re-formation of, in 1795, 41
Original members, 42
List of members, 42, 60, 217
Description of, by Nimrod, 121

Cecil, 229
Good runs with, 95, 98, 139, 236,

245-49, 297
Fox- preservers in the, 297
Good men in the, 366

Hale, Mr., 109, 151

Halkett, Sir John, 187, 225
Good run with, 233

Hall, Joe, 5, 7

George, 98

376

INDEX.

Hall, Richard, 237, 266, 281
Hambledon Cricket Club, 22

Against Midhurst in 1829, 254
Hambledon Hunt, its origin, 48

Re-formation of, 1831, 194

Secretaries of, 197

Dinners, 66

By Nimrod, 147

Good riders in the, 153

By Miles, 200

List of Members, 186, 290

By Lord W. Lennox, 277

Good men in the, 346
Hampshire as a hunting country, 230
Harbin, Mr., 170
Harriers, the Portsea, 55

Mr. T. Blake's, 55

Mr. Scotland's, 81

Major Barton's, 98

Hon. T. W. Gage's, 109

Mr. Hale's, 109

The Steep, 117

Mr. Taylor's, 118

Mr. Lechmere's, 118

Mr. Mullins's, 176

Mr. Portal's, 177

Mr. J. Wickham's, 190

Mr. Rumbold's, 190

Mr. Richard Bailey's, 205

Mr. T. Chamberlayne's, 206

Messrs. W. and G. Higgins's, 206

The Lymington, 211

Doctor Leech's, 220

Mr. N. Fuller's, 225

Mr. Frere's, 235, 307

Hon. Colonel Keppel's, 235

The Tytherley, 247

Mr. G. Wall's, 293

Mr. Robert Pearse's, 302

Mr. Chaplin's, 302

Mr. John St. John's, 308

Mr. H. Barnard's, 328

Mr. C. Owton's, 328

Mr. L. Lywood's, 328

Mr. John Dav's, 344

Mr. F. Yates's, 364

Mr. S. Smithers's, 364

Mr. J. Anderson's, 368

Mr. James Dear's, 370
Hawley, Mr., 85

Haworth, Captain M., 265, 270
Heathcote, Sir W., 267, 367
Hedges, Alfred, 324
Hennessy, Pop, 53, 76
Hey sham, Mr. R. T., 62, 98

Mr. William, 64, 139, 216

Mr. Frederick, 139, 141, 161,

183

Hickman, Jack, 300, 313
Hickson, George, 32
Higgins, Messrs. W. and G., 206, 257,

264
Hills, Thomas, 333
Hornby, Mr. William, 188
Mr. Wynn, 190, 333

Horse suited to Hants, 137
Hoste, Sir William, 79, 153
Hound, what a Hants should be, 129
Hunt, Orator, 208

Hurslev Country, origin of the, 216,
247"

First called the Hursley, 225

Good men in the, 367

J.

James, Old Will, 37, 50, 80, 89, 114

By Nimrod, 154
Jennings, John, 59, 133
Jervoise, Mr. J. C, 10

Sir J. Clarke, 188, 363

Mr. Ellis, 297, 299

Jessett, Mr. Robert, 188, 200, 221
Judd the Jockey, 344

K.

Kempshot, the Prince of Wales at, 28
Kennett, George, 332
Keppel, Hon. Col., 235
Kilmiston Hunt, the old, 4

List of Members, 9
King, Mr. J., 184

His hounds, by Miles, 201
King, Mr. Richard, 355
Knight, Mr. Edward, 63, 108, 115,
119, 236, 298, 330

The Messrs., by Nimrod, 140

Mr. G. T., 119

Land, Mr., of Park House, 36

INDEX.

377

Lawn meet at Tedworth, 337

Lechmere, Mr., 118

Lee, Mr. Godfrey B., 257, 269

Leech, Doctor, 220

Leekblade, Mr., 75

Lempriere, Mr. Algernon, 340

Lethbridge, Mr., 277

Lisle, Lord, 74, 78, 203

Lister, Oswald, 59

Loadei*, George, 366

Long, Mr. Walter, sen., 62, 188

■ Mr. John, 187

Mr. Walter, Jan., 189

Master of the Hambledon, 234,
278
Lovell, Mr., of Rookley, 174

Lady Rose, 241

Captain, 309

Lowe, Mr. Stanley, 315
Lowth, Mr. R., 11, 54, 72

Messrs. W. and G., 253

Mr. Alfred, 257

Lynn, Mr. W., 183
Lywood, Mr. L., 328

M.
Maine, Mr. J. T., 269
Mainwaring, Captain, 316
Major, John, 39, 53, 106
Major, the younger, 84
Marsh, Mr. Thomas, 338
Marx, Mr. F., H. H. Secretary, 218,

250
Meares, Mr., 63, 162
Meets first advertised, 81
Meyler, Mr. R., 44, 61
Mildmav, Sir Henry P., 10, 43

Mr. Paulet, 62

Mr. Hugo, 139

Mill, Sir John Barker, Bart., 64, 216,

225
Miller, Sir Thomas, Bart., 62, 189,

297
Misselbrook, H., 312
Mitchell, Mr. Charles, 55
Montagu, Lord, 79

Mr. George, 86, 88, 258, 320

Captain, 215

Moody, Mr. John Sadleir, 74, 188
Morant, Captain, 354

Morant-Gale, Mr. E., 258, 276
Mulcock, Mr. H. J., 297
Mullins, Mr., 176
Munns, Alfred, 333, 347
Murray, Mr. David, 62, 142

N.
N. F. H. under a Committee, 55

Members of the, 241-2-3
Nason, Henry, 302, 314, 332
Neal, John, 89, 106
Neverd, Will, 56, 69
Nevill, Mr. T., 356
New Forest, Hunting in the, 12

Nimrod's Tour in the, 163

Ladies in the, 240
Newton, Mr., 272, 371
Nicholson, Mr. S., 234, 261, 296
Nicoll, Mr. S., 77, 152

By Nimrod, 164

Mr. S., jun., 169, 219

Nimrod, 104

His letters on the H. H. and
Hambledon, 121

On the New Forest, 163
Norris, Mr. Richard, 61, 101, 151
North, Hon. Mr., 63, 97
North Hants Hunt Club, 324
Nunez, Mr. A. F., 89, 156, 183
Nyren, 22

O.
Oliver, Mr. Laver, 11

Mr. George C, 64, 187

Onslow, The Hon. T. Cranley, 62, 97,

119
■ Mr. Augustus, 217, 234, 237

Mr. Guildford, 256

Orbell, J., 330
Orchen, J., 333
Osbaldeston, Mr., 102
Owton, Mr. Caleb, 328

P.

Paice, Joe, 35, 84

Pantry Run, The, in 1825, 139

Parfett, Messrs. J. and W., 85

Parker, Sir Hyde, 6, 10

Paulet, Sir Henry, Bart., 250, 309

Pearce, Humphry, 347

C

378

INDEX.

Pearse, Mr. Eobert, 302, 312

Pearse, Mr. W., 302, 362

Peckham, Joe, 167, 185, 239

Pevton, Sir H., 54

Pike, Charles, 266, 365

Pittis's, Mr., Harriers, 55

Pole, Mr. Abraham, 62

Pontiff Day, The, in 1822, 105, 128

Portal, Mr. John, 177

Mr. W., 297

Portraits in the H. H. picture, 99

In the Vine picture, 251
Portsmouth, Earl of, 324, 337
Poulett, Earl or Captain, 346, 363
Powell, Sam, 327

Captain M., 244, 250, 309, 363

Povntz, Mr., 19

Press, John, 220

Price, Captain, 140, 174, 183

Eobert, 347

Probyn, Mr., 74
Pultney, Mr. John, 79
Purdue, Harry, 349

E.

Pacing in 1788, 25

Radcliffe, Mr. F. Delme', 187, 194, 197

Bawlins, Mr. G., 351

Peeves, Will, 67, 74, 89

Eeynolds, Miss, 321

Eichards, Mr., of North House, 80, 151

Eicketts, Mr. W. G., 10, 42, 183

Bidge, Mr., of Kilmiston, 4, 5, 7, 9, 42

Major, 152

Mr. Thomas, 188, 315

Eidding, The Messrs. (cricketers), 262
Eobbins, Colonel, 250

Mrs., 241

Eoberts, Charles, 313

Eose, Hon. Sir George, 182

Eumbold, Mr., 190

Eussell, Mr., of Greywell, 39

Eycroft, Sir Eichard, Bart., 64, 292

S.
Sadler, Mr. W., 188, 221, 233
St. John, Mr. Ellis, 35

Mr. John, 256, 308

St. John's, Mr. Paulet, leap, 232
St. John, Mr. Edward, 297, 307

Sartoris, Mr., 309

Sauveur, Count, 91

Sawyer, 59, 67, 133, 286

Scotland, Mr. Thomas, 81, 109, 139,

236
Scott, Mr. James Winter, 63, 141,

189, 212, 298
Scrutatoi- on the two Tom Smiths, 114
Sebright, Tom, the elder, 51

the younger, 103

Secretaries of the H. H. C, 197
Shard, Mr. Charles, 63, 106, 107

Master of the Hambledon, 111
His stag-hounds, 174
Sharp, George, 28, 234

John, 106, 114, 182

Shedden, Captain, 283, 303
Shirley, James, 84, 288

Jack, 217, 237

Sicklemore, Mr., 277

Simmonds, Messrs. Blackhall and

Henry, 85
Smith, Mr. T. Assheton, of Tedworth,
113
As a horseman, 177
In the New Forest, 212
Dinner to, at Andover, 214
His country, by Cecil, 227
Smith, Mr. T.,' of Hill-place, 112,
146, 290

H. H., picture by, 98
His locomotive battery, 113
Smith, Mr., of Somborne, 174

Mr. W. Sumner, 187, 282

Mr. E. Bowden, 258

George (cricketer), 261, 274

Smithers, Mr., of Bramdean, 143

Mr. Stephen, 364

Soberton Eaces first reported, 68
Song by Mr. Delme Eadcliffe, 195
Songs, Hampshire Hunt, 6
Southampton Eleven, in 1834, 255
Southwell, George, 349
Spanker, run with, 33
Squires, John, 185, 201, 234, 276-8
Stag-hounds— Mr. C. Shard's, 174
Hon. G. A. Craven's, 210
The Eoyal, 211, 222, 236, 329
Sir John Halkett's, 225-6
Mr. T. Nevill's, 356

INDEX.

379

Standish, Mr. William, 320, 367

Mr. Pery, 320

Stansby, Will, 58, 332
Stares, Mr., of Botley, 38
Stawell, Lord, 10, 16, 2 G
Steeple-chase, Southampton, 213
Stevens, Nanny, 30
Stretton, Mr., 202

Summers, William, 299, 315, 334, 368

George, 334

Edwin, 334, 368

Alfred, 366

Sweetman, G. and T., 84, 317

Talents, All the, 55
Taylor, Mr. Walter, 216

Sir Charles, 118

1 ■ Mr. John, 139

Mr. Sam., 139, 185, 188, 276

Mr. Donnithorne, 211

Tedworth Hunt, The, in 1858, 343
Terry, Mr. Stephen, 26, 297

On hunting in 1783, 16

Mr. Seymer, 258, 285

Theobald, Mr., 315

Thompson, Mr. George, 63, 140, 183

Thoyts, Mr. M., 88

Tichborne Down Cricket Club, 261,
269

Timson, Mr. Edward, 80, 225, 330

• Master of the K F. H., 327

Tocock, Thomas, 35, 84

Robert, 84, 288, 301, 316

Topper, John, 19
Townsend, Mr. G. B., 257, 261
Treadwell, John, 234, 267, 278
Tredcroft, Mr. Edward, 331, 364
Tregonwell, Mr. John, 334

Dinner to, 352
Trodd, Mr., of Romsey, 100
Tubb, John, 315
Turner, George, 316, 324
Twitchin, Mr. A., 303, 350
Twynam, Mr. 75

U.

Upham beagles, The, 75
Uxbridge, Lord, 212

V„

Vernon's, the Wheatsheaf, 4
Villebois, Mr. John Truman, 40, 42
52 ' ' '

Master of the H. H., 57

By Mmrod, 123

His hounds, country, and death,
130, 135, 215

Mr. Henry, 43, 52, 134

Mr. Henry, jun., 52, 63

Mr. Frederick, 61, 134

Vine Hunt, The, picture of, by Cal-
vert, 251 '

Under a Committee, 297

Supporters of, in 1852, 316

Good men in the, 350
Vivian, Sir Hussey, 79, 182

W.

Waddington, Mr. John T., 64, 216

Wager in Bell's Life, 321

Walker, Mr. John, 103

Walker, Frank, 316

Wall Mr. George, A. E., 293, 298,
301, 314

Walton, Mr., 221, 271

Waltzing, on, 92

Warde, Sir Henry, 63, 183

John, 69

Warnford Park, 65
Wayne, Mr. Thomas M., 63, 249, 297
Wellesley, Lord Charles, 245
Wellington, the Duke of, 191
Wharton, Mr. Gerard, 83
Wheble, Mr., 88, 301, 317
Wheeler, Will, 185/201
Whieldon, Mr. Arthur, 347, 351
White, Mr., of Ampfield, 234, 272
Whitmore, George, 224
Wick ham, Mr. James, 190
Wilder, Captain, 333
Wilding, Thomas, 370
Wilkinson, Mr. W., 144, 236, 273
Willan, Mr. John, 119, 124, 140
William IV., 29
Williams, Captain, 308
Williamson, Captain, 189, 209
Winchester Town Eleven, in 1834

255 '

380

INDEX.

Woodley, Jack, 266
Woods, New Forest Huntsman, 14
Wyndham, Mr. W., 182, 212, 222
Wyndham, Mr. J. H. Campbell, 186,
209, 355

As a cricketer, 256

His accident, 305

Y.

Yacht, the America, 322

Yates, Mr. Frederick, 83, 234, 236,

268, 364
Yates, Mr. Arthur, 83, 361, 364

THE END.

LONDON :
FEINTED BT C. WHITING, BEAUFOET HOUSE, STEAND.