A Newspaper cutting about Jemmy Hartwright a descendant of John Hartwright of Swinesherd, Worc

The following appeared in “Bell’s Life in London” on February 6^th 1842.

 Sir,- Owing to the late frost we have been exceedingly dull here, as hunting is our chief and, I may say only amusement; during which time the parties have amused themselves by making bets on the forthcoming steeplechases, and the probability of a fox being killed within a month from 7^th January.  We have also introduced here a new game to our citizens, and not a very pleasing one I hazard, by a person well known at the Cigar Divan in the Strand by the name of “My Lord”, and who has profited handsomely by his previous knowledge. The bet between Mr Jemmy Hartwright and Mr Clutterbuck of £25 to £5 came off yesterday.  The Worcestershire Hounds having met at Monkwood, which they drew blank, proceeded to Ockridge, a cover belonging to Lord Ward, where they immediately found, and went away to Shrawley: the scent was so high, and the hounds went at such a slashing pace, that but few saw it until they came to Astley Cover, where reynard waited a little to catch his wind, but being discovered by Count Fig, he politely gave him the halloo, and away they went merrily to Stourport, where he was evidently distressed, and we very moment expected him to whoo-whoop, but he gallantly took the Severn, with the hounds close to his brush.  On the opposite side of the river was a steep brushy rock (Lincomb), and it was truly picturesque to see the spirited attempts of the hounds to reach the top; it was impossible for the huntsmen to ford the river, so they were obliged to round by Stourport, where a curious sight presented itself, a dog having pinned a donkey in the street.  One of the party tried to buy the dog, thinking it would be useful in the pack; but his judgement, according to our view of the subject, is not worth much.  The hounds took the fox to Bishop’s Wood, where the huntsmen got up to them by hard riding, and ran him near the seat of Lord Sandys, at which place he was killed.  Thus was won the bet by Jemmie Hartwright.  The distance was about fifteen miles and done in an hour and a quarter, which, considering the heavy state of the country, was very good work.  The second steeple-chase here has been the source of such controversy, the restrictions being that the horses “shall be regularly hunted with our hounds, and for six months prior to the race the bona-fide property and be in the actual possession of a resident of the city or county of Worcester”: one party contending that if a horse be seen with hounds six times that will comply with the first stipulation of being “regularly hunted”, etc; secondly that a horse may be qualified, and change hands a dozen times before the race, provided his several masters during that time be residents, etc., and that the actual possession will be satisfied by his being in the hands of a trainer out of the county of Worcester, after being hunted six times.  Your definition in your next of these stipulations may save a great deal of angry disputes, cement good-fellowship, and give a little knowledge to the exclusives, and by doing it will so oblige your obedient servant, A Constant Subscriber. – Worcester Feb., 3

 

Taken from an 1899 copy of a Finch Mason print