Proclaimed the conqueror, until the one, With an impetuous rush, just clears the post A neck before its swift antagonist! Oh! 'tis a noble sport! This production has, moreover, a claim upon our readers, in that its proceeds, (after payment of expenses,) are to be presented to the NEWMARKET TOWN RACING FUND, the publishers having most liberally relinquished their usual commission on the sale. Thus, with a sporting subject,-a sporting author-and sporting publishersnothing is wanting save sporting readers, to whom we can most confidently recommend it. A BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF EPSOM DOWNS. SHOWING THE VARIOUS COURSES. Sketched, and Etched by GEORGE TATTERSALL. Ar the request of several subscribers, we have determined on giving a series of Views of the Crack Courses of England, in the style here presented. EPSOM has been selected as the most appropriate subject for this month, as on the 26th instant, the "Derby Day" will solve a world of mystery, and realize the hopes and fears of the past twelve months. Ascot Newmarket-Goodwood-Doncaster-York, and Liverpool will follow in due order. THE QUORN HOUNDS. THIS crack pack passed under Mr. Tattersall's hammer on the 3rd ult. They fetched capital prices. The Old Hounds brought. Lot 1. 21 couples of bitches 1000 Guineas, bought by Lord Ducie 15 Couples of Young Hounds were sold to the Marquis of Waterford for 163 guineas, and 5 bitches brought 43 guineas. The horses (all servants' horses excepting two) sold well considering the work which they had lately done. The hounds bought by Mr. Greene were understood to be for a Committee, who, with Mr. Greene at their head, have undertaken to hunt the country. We have reason to believe that Mr. Hodgson will probably return to his old quarters in the Holderness Hunt, and we believe that more changes will shortly take place in the Leicestershire and Northamptonshire countries. MASTERS OF HOUNDS. BY NIMROD. No. II. MR. CORBET-THE LATE LORD MIDDLETON MR. CORBET. It was the saying of a wise man, that "if we retain any recollection of what is passed, let it be of that which pleased us most." Perhaps it was that I was just in the spring-time of life, when all we see is couleur de rose; but certain is it, that it was with the hounds of the gentleman of whom I am now about to speak, that I most enjoyed the noble diversion of fox-hunting. I allude to the late John Corbet of Sundorne Castle, Shropshire, immortalized by sportsmen, first, as the "Father of the Trojans," with reference to the performance and blood of an individual hound in his pack; secondly, as having been considered to be a pattern-card of a master of foxhounds from the suavity of his manners, kindness of heart, and gentlemanlike conduct, both in the field and out of it, in addition to the very liberal hand with which his hunting establishment was conducted, and the brilliant sport he showed-in Warwickshire especially, which he hunted during so many years. Mr. Corbet commenced his hunting career by keeping a pack of fox-hounds, but Mr. Childe of Kinlet and Mr. Forester of Willy having fox-hounds in the same county at the same time, he was obliged to give them up, and become a master of harriers. But hereon hangs a tale which will be related anon. At what period he became a second time in possession of fox-hounds is not in my power to say, but as a very memorable event with his pack is on record as far back as the year 1780, it must have been more than twenty years previously to my making one of his field, which was in the year 1802, when I resided in Warwickshire, and I hunted with him eleven seasons in all. I had no experience of Mr. Corbet's hounds until they hunted Warwickshire, but he commenced hunting fox in Shropshire, confederate with a gentleman by the name of Powys, and in that part of it previously hunted by the Lord Bentinck of those days. He next got possession of what is called the Lichfield country, having a kennel at Shenstone, and he also hunted some of the Meriden country at this time, having for his huntsman Stephen Goodall, afterwards with Lord Sefton's hounds at Quorn, finishing his career with those of Sir Thomas Mostyn in Oxfordshire. Of him I shall hereafter have occasion to speak. During the whole period of Mr. Corbet hunting Warwickshireand he may be truly said to have" hunted Warwickshire," his country extending upwards of forty miles lengthways, and twenty across it, William Barrow, commonly called "Will Barrow," was his huntsman, and his brother Jack first whipper-in. How well do I remember every feature in both these men! Could they rise again and enter my room at this moment, their appearance would be as familiar to me as that of one of my own servants now under my roof-the effect of the impression they made upon me in the various scenes in which we were engaged. Jack liked his glass, and was a little loose in character, and yet a good man in the field; but, unless when things went pleasantly, unless his "lasses," as he was wont to call his bitch-pack, were running without one being out of her place, his countenance seldom relaxed from its natural-I may say constitutional gravity. In fact, the antipodes to his master he was, although, unless much provoked by some sport-destroying rider, never absolutely uncivil-of a stern, if not morose temper, but an excellent servant withal. And although it was the fashion to call him not the best of huntsmen, still, testing him as the pudding is tested, I see no reason for any depreciation of his talent. I can only say, that never since, with one pack of hounds, have I witnessed such a succession of sport as the pack he hunted afforded, and it was a great treat to see him ride to them. But how splendidly he was mounted. Not ten stone in his clothes, not eleven in his saddle, he rode horses able to carry five stone more-all of his master's breeding-and quite perfect in their work. Alas! his end was a sad one. He died from a fall with the harriers kept by the present Mr. Corbet of Sundorne, after having escaped any serious injury during the twenty years or more of his hunting fox-hounds, save in one instance, when his horse jumped upon him, when leading him into. a hollow way, and fractured one of his legs. And a circumstance occurred at his decease, corroborative of the character I have given of him, as being deficient in that flow of soul which is generally characteristic of the sportsman, and which his brother Jack possessed. In old stockings and other odd places in his bed-chamber at Sundorne Castle, was found gold to the amount of fourteen hundred pounds, besides suits, many of which he had never put on his person! It appeared that he had not taken any steps to improve his property, by placing his money at interest; neither had he any wish to settle himself in a farm, for which he possessed sufficient capital, but contented himself with the servants' hall of Sundorne, and hunting the harriers of the old master's representative. Barrow was in the service of Mr. Childe of Kinlet, Shropshire, NO. V.-VOL. I.-NEW SERIES. 3 F |