Memoirs of Henry Hunt, Esq., vol 2 | Page 3

engagement to
go with some brother sportsmen to Wales, on a grouse shooting party.
Our dogs and guns having been sent on before with our servants, we
started, two of us, in my curricle, and the third person met us at the
New Passage, near Bristol. Unfortunately, we arrived there too late for
the tide; there was only one more boat could pass over the Severn that
night, and that boat was already hired, and waiting to take over the old
Marquis of Lansdown. This was a heavy disappointment to us, as our
dogs were on this side of the water, and would, the next day, have
between twenty and thirty miles to travel, to Pontypool, where we were
going to shoot. The twelfth of August, which was the first day for
grouse-shooting, was on the following day, and therefore our dogs
ought to have gone on some part of the way that very evening, that they
might be fit for the field, or rather the hills, as soon as the shooting
commenced. What was to be done? There was no contending against
the tide. At last I made up my mind to ask the old Marquis to allow the
dogs and a servant to pass over with him. My companions declined
joining in the application, as they were fearful that he would take it as
an insult; and, at all events, there was little chance of his compliance, as
the boat was but a small one, and he had his servants and a considerable

portion of luggage to carry, the whole being nearly enough to fill the
boat. I, however, wrote a note and requested an audience, which was
instantly granted: the noble Marquis, on my entering the room, politely
asking me whether there was any thing he could do to oblige me? I
related to him our unfortunate case, which I represented as most forlorn;
and which, by the bye, none but sportsmen can comprehend. On his
perceiving my anxiety, he laughed heartily, and said, "Make yourself
easy, Mr. Hunt; I will with great pleasure take you and your dogs over
with me in my boat, and I shall be most happy to have your company."
I thanked him warmly, but hinted that I had two companions, which
would be too many for the boat. "Come, come," said he, "we will talk
to the boatman. It certainly will not do to overload; but if he should
think there will be too many, I will, nevertheless, so manage as to set
you at ease upon the subject; for I shall feel great pleasure in having it
in my power to facilitate your sport. As my immediately crossing the
river is of little consequence to me, I will remain on this side till the
morning, and you shall go in the boat, upon condition that, you and
your friends will occupy the beds and eat the supper that I have
bespoken at the Black Rock, on the other side. I expressed my grateful
sense of his polite attention; but, as the boatman had now arrived, and
assured him that he could take us all in his boat with great safety, it was
arranged that we should go together.
The Marquis having finished his tea, we all embarked. He had his
housekeeper and his valet, and we had myself and two friends, with our
servant, and two brace of pointers. The old Marquis of Lansdown, the
father of the present Marquis, was not only one of the most
accomplished gentlemen and profound statesmen of the age, but his
liberality and hospitality were truly characteristic of the old English
nobility. He knew who and what I was, perfectly well, although we
were never before personally acquainted; and he remarked, that my
situation in life rendered me one of the most independent men in the
kingdom. He dwelt upon the talents of Lord Henry Petty, who was his
second and favourite son; and he prognosticated, that he would be an
eminent politician, and that some day he would shine at the head of the
English Government. He, however, emphatically said, that, after all, his
son's situation would never be so independent as mine was, because he
would always be bound in the trammels of party. He invited me to

Bow-wood, upon his return, for which I politely thanked him,
informing him, at the same time, that as I had some friends out of
Berkshire staying at my house, I meant, with his permission, to take
them some day to see the house, gardens, and park, at Bow-wood. To
this he replied, that he hoped he should be at home when we came; that
he should feel the greatest pleasure in shewing it to us himself; but that,
go whenever we would, he should be very