Page:Once a Week Volume 7.djvu/651

. 29, 1862.] from a distance, a practice (we were nearly saying sacrilegious) to which we owe the loss of some of the most interesting relics of the past.

A few years ago two curious old documents were found in a farmhouse in the neighbourhood, one containing a list of the members of the hunt in its palmiest days; the other an account, by an eye-witness, of the memorable run which gained the championship of the sporting world for Charlton. The list of names which we subjoin speaks for itself as to the fashionable pretensions of Charlton, and the “run,” though scarcely intelligible, we fear, except to persons well acquainted with the locality, may still be interesting, especially as sportsmen from all parts of England have ridden over much the same ground from time to time with Lord Leconfield’s (Colonel Wyndham’s) hounds.

Members of the Charlton Hunt, with their weights, entered at Fox Hall, February 14th, 1703:—

Duke of Richmond, 15st.; Earl of Albemarle, 12st. 5lb.; Earl of Tankerville, 11st.; Earl of Lifford, 12st.; Major-General Honeywood, 13st. 8lb.; Lord Nassau Powlet, 13st. 13lb.; Andrew Charlton, Esq., l0st. 2lb.; Ralph Jennison, 9st. 11lb.; Phillip Meadows, Esq., 11st.; Wm. Conolly, Esq., 11st. 8lb.; Captain Hopgood, 12st.; Sir Cecil Bishhopp, Bart., 9st. 8lb.; Edward Carrol, Esq., 11st. 1lb.; Thomas Strickland, Esq., 9st. 7lb.; Gaston Orme, Esq., 11st. 11lb.; Richard Honeywood, Esq., 11st. 1lb.; Sir Thomas Prendergast, Bart., 14st. 5lb.; Earl of Sunderland, 13st. 5lb.; Sir John Lumley, 10st. 2lb.; Earl Cowper, 13st.; Col. J. Hushe, 15st. 9lb.; Mr. Loftus, 11st, 11lb.; Sir Robert Gilford, Bart., 12st. 6lb.; Lord De la Warr, 16st. 8lb.; Lord Glenorchy, 10st. 10lb.; Brigr. Churchill, 13st. 7lb.; Stephen Fox, Esq., 8st. 7lb.; Henry Fox, Esq., 11st. 13lb.; Mr. St. Paul, 13st. 7lb.; Mr. Brompton, 20st. 3lb.

From the date of the above to that of 22nd February, 1748, the following are added in the Charlton weighing book:

Lord Lovel; Thos. Miller, Esq.; W. Alsworth, Esq.; Ed. Brudenel; Mr. Kelsel; Mr. Goddard; Mich. Broughton, Esq.; Lord Dursley; Col. Hawley; Lord Harcourt; Barrington Goldsworthy, Esq.; Mr. Villers; Lord Borringdon; Dr. Disaquillers; Humphrey Brown; Lord March (24th Aug., 1738, 2st. 5lb., being only 8 years old); Hon. Th. Fielding; Lord James Cavendish; Lord Ossulston; Lord Ch. Fitzroy; Lord H. Beauclerk; Lord Harry Liddle; Sir John Miller; Thos. Horde, Esq.; Will. Fauquier; Hon. Mr. Stourton: Hon. Ch. Bentinck; Hon. Col. Legge; Hon. James Dormer; Duke of Kingston; Hon. G. Bennett; Sir Robert Smith; Thos. Strickland, Esq.; Capt. Shafton; Admiral Townsend; Capt. Carpenter; Lord Bury; the Hon. W. Keppel; Marquis of Hartington; Earl of Dalkeith; Earl of Lincoln; Earl of Kildare; Hon. Col. Waldegrave; Hon. Gen. Brudenel; Hon. John Boscawen; Sir William Corbett; Sir Mathew Fetherstone; Duke of Grafton; Percy Wyndham O’Brien, Esq.; Lord Robert Manners; Viscount Downe.

The following is a copy of the MS. found in the farm-house:—

,—Friday, 26th of January, 1738.—It has been long a matter of controversy in the hunting world, to which particular county, or set of men, the superiority of power belonged. Prejudice and partiality have the greatest share in their disputes, and every society their proper champion to assert their pre-eminence and bring home the trophies to their own country. Even Richmond Park has its Dymack. But, on Friday, the 26th of Jan., 1738, there was a decisive engagement on the plains of Sussex, which, after ten hours’ struggle, has settled all further debates, and given the brush to the gentlemen of Charlton. Present on the morning:—The Duke of Richmond; Duchess of Richmond; Duke of St. Albans; Lord Viscount Harcourt; Lord Henry Beauclerk; Lord Ossulston; Sir Harry Liddle; Brigr. Henry Hawley; Ralph Jennison, Esq.; Edward Pauncfort, Esq.; Will. Fauquier, Esq.; Cornet Philip Honiwood; Richard Biddulph, Esq.; Charles Biddulph, Esq.; Mr. St Paul; Mr.