The Willey Kennels were within easy reach of the Hall, between Willey and Shirlot, where the pleasant stream before alluded to goes murmuring on its way through the Smithies to the Severn. But in order to save his dogs unnecessary exertion there were others on the opposite, or Wrekin, side of the river—
“Hounds stout and healthy, Earths well stopped, and foxes plenty,”
being mottoes of the period. The dogs were of the “heavy painstaking breed” that “stooped to their work.” How, it was said,
“Can the fox-hound ever tell, Unless by pains he takes to smell, Where Reynard’s gone?”
Experience taught the Squire the importance of a principle now more generally acted upon, that of selecting the qualities required in the hounds he bred from; and by this means he obtained developments of swiftness and scent that made his pack one good horses only of that day could keep up with. He prided himself much upon the blood of his best hounds, knew every one he had by name, and was familiar with its pedigree. Portraits of four of his favourites were painted on canvas and hung in the hall, with lines beneath expressive of their qualities, and the dates at which the paintings were made. The Right Hon. Lord Forester takes great care of these, as showing in what way the best dogs of that day differed from those of the present; and through his kindness we have been enabled to get drawings made, of which his lordship was pleased to approve, and we fancy there is no better judge living.
Three of these are shown in our engraving at the head of this chapter.
Pigmy, the bitch in the group nearest to the fox, is said to have been the smallest hound then known. Underneath the portrait are the following lines:—
“Behold in miniature the foxhound keen, Thro’ rough and smooth a better ne’er was seen; As champion here the beauteous Pigmy stands, She challenges the globe, both home and foreign lands.”
The one the farthest from the fox, is a white dog, Pilot; and underneath the painting is the following:—
“Pilot rewards his master Rowley’s care, And swift as lightning skims the transient air; Famed for the chase, from cover always first, His tongue and sterne proclaimed an arrant burst.”
The dog in front, with his head thrown up, is Childers; and underneath the picture are these lines:—