Jorrocks' Jaunts and Jollities eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 346 pages of information about Jorrocks' Jaunts and Jollities.

Jorrocks' Jaunts and Jollities eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 346 pages of information about Jorrocks' Jaunts and Jollities.

Old Tunbridge was again turned out, with his head towards the town from whence he took his name, and after a quarter of an hour’s law, the pack was again laid on.  He was not, however, in very good wind, and it was necessary to divide the second chase into two heats, for which purpose the hounds were whipped off about the middle, while the deer took a cold bath, after which he was again set a-going.  By half-past three they had accomplished the run; and Mr. Pegg, of the “Sussex Arms,” having mounted his Pegasus, found them at the appointed place by the Medway, where old Tunbridge’s carriage was waiting, into which having handed him, they repaired to the inn, and at five o’clock eighteen of them sat down to a dinner consisting of every delicacy of the season, the Lord High Keeper in the chair.  Being all “hungry as hunters,” little conversation passed until after the removal of the cloth, when after the King and his Majesty’s Ministers had been drunk, the President gave “The noble, manly sport of stag-hunting,” which he eulogised as the most legitimate and exhilarating of all sports, and sketched its progress from its wild state of infancy when the unhappy sportsmen had to range the fields and forests for their uncertain game, to the present state of luxurious ease and elaborate refinement, when they not only brought their deer to the meet, but by selecting the proper animal, could insure a finish at the place they most wished to dine at—­all of which was most enthusiastically applauded; and on the speaker’s ending, “Stag-hunting,” and the “Surrey staghounds,” and “Long life to all stag-hunters,” were drank in brimming and overflowing bumpers.  Fox-hunting, hare-hunting, rabbit-hunting, cat-hunting, rat-catching, badger-baiting—­all wild, seasonable, and legitimate sports followed; and the chairman having run through his list, and thinking Jorrocks was getting rather mellow, resolved to try the soothing system on him for a subscription, the badgering of the morning not having answered.  Accordingly, he called on the company to charge their glasses, as he would give them a bumper toast, which he knew they would have great pleasure in drinking.—­“He wished to propose the health of his excellent friend on his right—­MR. JORROCKS (applause), a gentleman whose name only required mentioning in any society of hunters to insure it a hearty and enthusiastic reception.  He did not flatter his excellent friend when he said he was a man for the imitation of all, and he was sure that when the present company recollected the liberal support he gave to the Surrey foxhounds, together with the keenness with which he followed that branch of amusement, they would duly appreciate, not only the honour he had conferred upon them by his presence in the field that morning, and at the table that day, but the disinterested generosity which had prompted him voluntarily to declare his intention of contributing to the future support of the Surrey staghounds (immense cheers).  He therefore thought the least they could do was to drink the health of Mr. Jorrocks, and success to the Surrey foxhounds, with three times three,” which was immediately responded to with deafening cheers.

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Jorrocks' Jaunts and Jollities from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.