15

BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIR

OF THE LATE

JOHN MUSTERS, ESQ.

BY HUGH BRUCE CAMPBELL, ESQ.

John Musters, Esq., of Colwick Hall and Annesley Park, Nottinghamshire, died at his last named seat, on the 8th September last.*

The family of De Musters, or de Monasteriis, is very old, and was located in Nottinghamshire prior to the time of William the Conqueror, as appears by Doomsday Book: the chief residence has for the last 200 years been at Colwick Hall, near Nottingham, which was purchased from the Byrons.

Mr. Musters was born in Grosvenor-square, London, on the 6th of July, 1777, and was consequently in his 73rd year. He was the only son and heir of John Musters, Esq., of Colwick Hall, &c., &c., by Sophia Catherine, daughter and coheiress of James Modyford Heywood, Esq., of Maristow, in the county of Devon. He had an only sister, Sophia, married to Thomas Wright Vaughan, Esq., of Woodstone, Huntingdonshire, both of whom survive him.

At the age of 13 he went to Eton, and at 17 to Christ Church College, Oxford, as a Gentleman-Commoner. Dr. Cyril Jackson was then Dean of Christ Church, by whom, as well as by the tutors and students, young Musters was, notwithstanding his sporting predilections, much liked. The whole routine of an university education was not then, as now, deemed so essential for a gentleman of his position; and he readily obtained his father's consent to his quitting Oxford, and accepting a company in the Nottinghamshire Militia, then quartered in Scotland, and to his pursuing those sporting occupations which were so congenial with his nature.

Mr. Musters married on the 17th August, 1805, Mary Anne, only daughter of George Chaworth, Esq., the heiress and representative of the ancient family of Annesley de Annesley, Nottinghamshire, residing there before the Conquest, and of the Chaworths of Wiverton, through George Chaworth, of Wiverton, who in 1436 married Alice de Annesley, then heiress of those demesnes. Miss Chaworth was at the time of her marriage, in 1805, a minor and a ward in Chancery; and the marriage

* Our readers would have reason to complain if a memoir of this distinguished sportsman did not appear in these pages as speedily as possible after the record of the above event. Mr. Musters is another proof, which was not needed, that kindliness and consideration for animals are alike characteristic of the man of courage and the true foxhunter. An idea has prevailed that the pursuits and associations of the chase were not commonly united with proper feelings for animals, temperate habits, and gentlemanly accomplishments. This memoir shows that such traits are the best indications of the genuine and successful sportsman.-ED.

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took place with the approval of the late Lord Eldon, then Lord Chancellor.

A late noble poet (Lord Byron) was also a devoted admirer of the young lady, and her marriage with his rival was the source of the bitter disappointment and sorrowing which he evinced in his writings at various periods of his after-life.

Mr. Musters survived his wife 17 years. Four sons and three daughters were the issue of this marriage, of whom all survive except the eldest and youngest sons. The eldest son married Emily, daughter of Phillip Hamond, Esq., of Westacre, Norfolk; and John Chaworth Musters, the eldest son of that marriage, a minor, now succeeds his grandfather.

Mr. Musters was a deputy-Lieutenant and Justice of the Peace for the counties of Nottingham and Derby, and was High Sheriff for Nottinghamshire in 1810. He had no senatorial ambition, and declined to be called to the House of Peers by the revived title of Lord Chaworth, on the ground (his father being then alive) that his income was not adequate; and he afterwards declined to be nominated as a candidate for the representation of his native county in Parliament, on the ground that his attachment to field sports would engross more of his time than his constituents might approve ; but, in truth, he had no taste for legislatorial occupations. He took little part in politics: his principles might be styled moderately conservative.

The remark must not be here omitted that the elegance of manner and attention to the accomplishments of the drawing room, for which Mr. Musters was scarcely less well known than he was for his success in manly sports, were in a great measure hereditary. His father was an excellent specimen of the old English country gentleman, celebrated both for the munificence of his household and the urbanity of his manners. He was a master of fox-hounds, and hunted the south Nottinghamshire country 35 seasons. His mother was one of the greatest beauties and most perfect gentlewomen of her day, the friend of another as renowned a beauty and accomplished noble lady, Isabella, Duchess of Rutland, the wife of Charles, fourth Duke of Rutland-Mrs. Musters was fair, the Duchess dark there are many portraits of both. Of those of Mrs. Musters, two at Colwick, a full and half length, a third at Petworth belonging to the late Lord Egremont, a fourth in the possession of her daughter Mrs. Vaughan (all by Sir Joshua Reynolds); and a fifth also in the possession of Mrs. Vaughan, by Romney, have been chiefly admired. The fuil length (as Hebe) by Sir Joshua and the picture (in a gypsey bonnet) by Romney have been engraved.

At the ball at Nottingham, in honour of Lord Howe's victory of the 1st June, 1794, amid the glare of diamonds, pearls, and other jewels, ostrich feathers and flowers, Mrs. Musters' head-dress was, with admirable taste, a simple wreath formed from a branch of natural oak: three acorns from this chaste and apposite appendage were, after breakfast the following morning, planted in presence of the company, by the Countess Howe on the lawn at Colwick-all the acorns grew, were "tenderly cared for," and are now handsome trees.

A friendship naturally commenced in early life between the late Mr. Musters and the present Duke of Rutland, which has continued warm and uninterrupted through life.

Mr. Musters did well, whatever he undertook. Fascinating the fair

sex by his singing, dancing, musical attainments, handsome and gentlemanly person, temperate habits, and cheerful and agreeable conversation. Conspicuous amongst his own sex as a runner, leaper, cricketer, angler, swimmer, and horseman he was also a good shot, and most expert in the science of" self-defence." So that it would be difficult to say wherein he most excelled-in some of these secundus paucis, in most secundus nullis.

A short time before leaving Eton a pugilistic encounter took place between Musters and Assheton Smith-the latter was the elder, but Musters was the taller-it was a thoroughly determined affair, and after one and a half hours' hard fighting (both terribly punished) the seconds interfered, for neither would give in. They were friends through life. Mr. Assheton Smith still continues his career, as honourable and successful as any to be found in the annals of hunting. Long may he live! The science of self-defence (in which Mendoza then, and Jackson afterwards, gave instruction) was on several occasions turned to account by the squire, and in a way that gave satisfaction to every one. Of a thrashing which, in returning with a party from Covent Garden theatre, he gave a lot of bullying fellows; and on another occasion, an election scene, where he was equally successful in almost annihilating a fellow brought in terrorem by the opposite party; the writer of this memoir has not sufficiently authentic data, whence to narrate the particulars. A scene, however, that occurred in Yorkshire described by an eye witness, the late J. B. Story, Esq., of Lockington, is too rich not to be detailed. The squire and Mr. Story happening to be at Scarboro' about the 12th of August, and hearing that there were not far off some open moors (i.e. ground on which gentlemen could take their sport, as on the Duke of Devonshire's moors at Buxton), sent off for their guns, dogs, and shooting paraphernalia.

Their guide, either ignorantly or intentionally, allowed them to transgress the march, and they got into a preserved district, where in a valley they had both just killed right and left, when up came the gamekeeper, a six feet two, 17 stone, burly Yorkshireman of 35, accompanied by his couple of underlings. The following brief colloquy and "turn up sued.

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Gamekeeper, in the broad dialect of the Wolds: "Well, gentlemen, you are amusing yourselves noicely-who be ye?"

Mr. Musters: "Why, my friend, I hope we are not wrong; we suppose we are shooting on the open moors.'

Gamekeeper: "You be d-d, you are upon Lord ———'s moors, a mile from t'other moor; and you know'd this as well as me."

Mr. M.: "Well, if we are off our ground I regret it; here is my card, give it with my compliments to your master, and say I will write to him.' Gamekeeper: "Oh, be dd, I've nought to do with cards; we ought to take your guns, but be off; howsimever, we mun have your game" -accompanying the words by walking up to the servant who was carrying the bag.

Mr. M. You had better not try that."
Gamekeeper: "Why?"

Mr. M. Because I shall not let you."

Gamekeeper blows out a sort of ridiculing ejaculation signifying "preposterous!" and walks vigorously towards the man with the game.

Mr. M. gives his gun to Mr. Story, and takes off his shooting jacket. Gamekeeper seeing this and laughing with his comrades, observes— "Well, I suppose I mun strip too," and takes off his jacket.

The squire and keeper thereupon take their stand in fighting attitude. The keeper goes with both arms round, and a face half-sneer halfferocity at the squire (5 feet 11 high, 13 stone 10 weight), who gets away, then goes quick in, with terrible hits right and left, and again away-repeated several times, and after one continuous round of about 10 minutes, neither party being down; the gamekeeper (his "nasal " bleeding freely, and both his eyes bunged up, blown and exhausted), hears or affects to hear a shot fired at some distance, and exclaims to his helpers-" By Gom lads, there's another lot t'other side; we mun tak them," and away started the bold pugilist and his men, amid the uproarious laughter of Mr. Story, the squire, and servants.

Mr. M., putting on his jacket, and taking his gun from Mr. Story, saluted: "Good morning, gamekeeper; if you dont tell your master, I wont."

Gamekeeper rejoined: "You be d-d, you shall answer for this at York Assizes."

It is perhaps unnecessary to mention such was not the case. Mr. Story used to say he never saw such an illustration of what spirit and science could do against matter and ignorance.

Mr. Musters' active and athletic powers were extraordinary. It was in his younger days his standing challenge to run 50 yards, he carrying a man of any weight, against another's running 100 yards; and another general challenge of his was to run 50 yards against any horse's 100. He won these matches frequently. The only one in which he had any difficulty was when with his regiment at Paisley; at the age of 24, carrying the 15 stone quarter-master 50 yards against a young Scotchman's 100 yards, his rider so wriggled and kicked and shook the squire (a very common occurrence with amateur jockeys) it was declared a dead heat. On the second race, however, after some tutoring of the quartermaster, the squire won his race by half a yard. He could walk erect under a rail and leap over it, and he could jump on the flat 18 feet both

ways.

He was always a very early riser: 5 or 6 o'clock to get up and 10 or 11 to retire, were his hours; he had no difficulty in adhering to this rule, for he uniformly eschewed strong drink, and indulged not in tobacco, cigars, snuff, or such intoxications; he did not estop others from doing so, but always had a horror of a man of such habits.

All gambling he utterly abhorred, whilst he commiserated those who were unhappily addicted thereto, and amongst whom he could enumerate some for whom he entertained a great regard. He would occasionally have a £5 bet on the St. Leger, the Derby, or even on a match at cricket or billiards; but it is believed that he very rarely, if ever, won more than that sum at any one time.

His epistolary writing was in accordance with his address-flowing, clear, and easy. His temper, like that of many only sons, and all spoiled children, was uncertain: to use a homely phrase, he sometimes got out on the wrong side of the bed, yet he was equally free from sullenness as from vindictiveness of disposition. His temper was quick to rise, but, happily as quick to fall-there was a speedy oblivion. He would be rating

severely a whip; in the same moment, on hearing a favourite hound speak out or a young one whimper, his manner would change, and he would address and direct the same whip, in the most agreeable piano tone, to get forward to a particular spot, and look out.

He cared not, or would not condescend to notice any idle gossiping tales about himself, but on one occasion he departed from his accustomed rule. His hounds met at Colston Bassett, and he happened to be late; on arriving at the meet, in a group of sportsman, a certain deceased clergyman was amusing the others (or thought he was doing so), by pretending to relate an anecdote of the squire, and mentioning the name of a lady in the neighbourhood; and the fun was going on, when up rode Mr. Musters, and as it were unconsciously joined in the general smile. Lord Alvanly, however, struck with such improper and very unclerical conduct, told Mr. Musters that the laugh had been at his expense through the medium of the gentleman in the black coat. instant Mr. M., addressing that person, said "Mr. * * * *, I pity you, I pity you from my heart, for I find you are as deformed in mind as in body.' Severe as was the reproof, it was just and merited, and the pitiableness and discomfort of the object were long remembered.

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Mr. Musters' fondness for music and singing, in both of which his judgment was very good, continued unabated to the last. Only a few months before his death he went to London purposely to hear Jenny Lind. His memory was accurate he was an agreeable companion, and enjoyed the society of his friends. He took a moderate quantity of wine (always having particular regard to its quality), but was never known to be intoxicated; and his freedom from egotism was not his least agreeable property.

Mr. Musters was a skilful salmon-fisher. In the Duke of Buccleugh's water in the Tweed, near Kelso, he has taken from 15 to 18 fish of large size in the day. About a year before his death he presented his salmon rods to Sir Richard Sutton, and at the same time selected and sent other tokens of his regard to a few other friends.

But it is as a huntsman that Mr. Musters' eminence chiefly rests, and our attention must now therefore be directed to, and conclude with him in that capacity. In Mr. Vyner's Notitia Venatica, and in the late Captain Apperley's writings (under the well known signature of Nimrod) in the Old Sporting Magazine, Mr. Lorraine Smith's, and other productions on fox hunting, there is necessarily much and honourable mention of Mr. Musters, and many interesting scenes and anecdotes are recorded. Mr. Vyner styles him-"a sportsman of the most distinguished celebrity, deservedly placed at the head of the list of all huntsmen, whether amateurs or professionals." A concise description, universally admitted to be true. This memoir of Mr. Musters, whilst it briefly refers to those writers, will only occupy such fresh ground as they have left, accompanied with a few anecdotes tending to enhance the value of fox-hunting as the purely national and manly pastime which has so long been the characteristic of this country, and at the same time to promote, elevate, and improve the same by its present and future followers.

It has been stated that Mr. Musters' father was for a very long period a master of fox-hounds; the son, consequently, became early imbued with the habits and knowledge requisite in a successful sportsman.