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man induced me to select Leamington as my hunting quarters for the season. You know I am a migratory bird; and as my object is to see sport, beyond that it matters not to me in what country I make my nest; and in the beginning of the second week in November 1 found my way to Royal Leamington, as it is ostentatiously termed by the natives. On inquiry, I was informed that Mr. Baker had a good cub-hunting season, and foxes were reported in good plenty. The hounds made their first appearance at a public fixture at Stoneleigh Abbey before I had arrived; therefore all I can inform you is from hearsay; but I understand there was a very numerous field in attendance to greet the new master, admire the new coats, fine horses, and of course express their opinions on the pack. The hospitalities of the mansion were offered with the liberality for which Lord Leigh is well known, although the noble owner of the domain was not at home. Touching the sport, I heard it was better calculated to afford the ladies in their carriages opportunities of receiving the attentions of the sportsmen than it was to gratify the latter with a chevy through the woods, which are of considerable extent in that part. My first day with these hounds was at Bourton, and you will of course expect me to give you my opinion of the establishment. The master, the men, the horses, and the hounds, all looked like business, though there might be an old hound or two whose appearance was not remarkably striking, but no doubt they possess qualities which can only be appreciated when at work. There was nothing in the sport of the day to call for remark, with the exception of a report not very gratifying to the worthy master, that divers foxes had been found dead from mange or some other cause, but in what coverts or on what estate I did not ascertain. I do not engage to give you the details of every day's hunting I see with these hounds. We had many pretty scurries, varying from fifteen minutes to five-andtwenty or thirty, but the scent was generally defective; and it must be remembered both Mr. Baker and his men, being unacquainted with the country, had many difficulties to contend against at the commencement of the season. It was not till after Christmas that they had any sport to speak of; and then they seemed, on entering into a new year, to have discovered a new way of managing affairs, or they had a better run of luck. The first day, however, January the 3rd, was not indicative of much improvement. They met at Dunchurch, found at Bunker's Hill, and in five minutes marked their fox to ground in a drain not stopped. This, it must be observed, attaches no blame to the worthy master, his men, or hounds. Drew many other coverts, Hill Moreton included, all blank; but none of the Bilton Grange Coverts, they being reserved for the future week, as Captain Hibburd was to entertain a large company at his house, and was anxious to cater for their amusement.

"The following day was the commencement of a most cheering im provement. The place of meeting, Henley-in-Arden. The frost, which stopped the hunting before Christmas, had evidently purified the earth; and the settled but dull and cloudy weather which succeeded, occasioned unmistakable improvement of scent. After drawing a small covert blank, found in Mockley Wood, where there was a brace, if not a leash, of foxes; settling to one of which, the

It was evident there was a scent, hounds soon forced him to break. by the pace; and, rattling him over the grass grounds, they soon reached Skilt's Wood, driving him through that covert for Studley, when, turning to the left, he gained Bannams Wood, thence pointing for Spernal Park, over a severe country, which, with the pace, caused him to turn for Brown's Wood and Five Acres, which he skirted along the meadows to Owlswood. From thence, he regained his old quarters in Mockley, to try the earths. Foiled in that attempt, he ran a ring or two round the wood, closely pressed, and was again compelled to seek the open in the direction of Umberslade, when, the hounds running from scent to view, and gaining upon him, he got into a drain; but the gallant fox was too much exhausted to bear the confined atmosphere, and came out again, to die more gloriously in the open. Time, one hour and twenty minutes, with scarcely a check throughout. A select few only witnessed the finish; and all the horses were thoroughly gruelled.

"Nothing worthy of especial notice occurred till after the succeeding frost, which again gave a respite to hounds and horses for some days. On the 24th, they met at Cubbington Gate. Weather very rainy'; and plenty of good woodland hunting. The following day-Friday which seems a fortunate one with this pack, they had a clipper from the Grove, having met at Hockley House-a place well known in olden times, when stage-coaches were the means of locomotion. After drawing two or three coverts blank, they found in the one above named, and, forcing him to quit, raced him in great style towards Mockley, bearing to the left towards Ullenball-Barrel's House-to Owlswood. The pace capital, and the fox in difficulties. Unfortu nately, at that crisis, a fresh one got on his legs, and was viewed ; and, in the enthusiasm of the moment, the person who hallooed did not detect the difference. Gentlemen may be excused for their desire to promote the sport which they and their friends come out to partake of; but if they would refrain from hallooing, unless they are quite certain it is the hunted fox, their object would be much more generally accomplished. A few of the leading hounds stuck to the line of their first fox, carried it on through the covert, and, it is believed, killed him; but the inadvertent halloo drew the body of the pack in a different direction, and got them on the wrong line. This was not detected till too late, when the hounds were running for Wavensmore, at which place they came to cold hunting; and although they carried the line on to Beaudesert, the scent failed, and the hounds were obliged to return home without blood." The country rode very heavy; and many of the field were disposed of long before the end of the day.

"A very severe day in the woodlands, on the 5th of February. The frost not being out of the ground, they did not throw off till after twelve o'clock, when the Chase Woods, Haslar Coppice, and Fernhill were drawn without success. There was, however, a little coterie of the vulpine family in Crackley Wood; and, after some bustling in covert, the hounds took the line away by the usual route to Long Meadow Wood, where it would appear that a great portion of the field were desirous to pass the remainder of the day, judging from the assiduity with which they headed the fox at every attempt he

made to break. Moreover, there were two foxes on foot, a brace having come almost together from Crackley. After hunting some time in covert, and when the hounds had so far beaten their fox that he was viewed within twenty yards of them, in evident trouble, the pounds were hallooed to the fresh fox; and away they went, at high-pressure speed, through the Honily coverts, to Frogmore and Balsal Temple, where he turned to the right for Berkeswell Bogs, and made good his line to the Black Waste, where he hung for some time; but the hounds stuck to him, and at length forced him to leave, when he made good his point for Tile Hill, in which direction the pack was following; but the horses were all beaten, and, it being nearly dark, the whippers-in were sent forward to stop the hounds, as they had been hard at work with two foxes more than two hours and a half. This was accomplished, with the assistance of some friendly farmers, although the fox was again viewed, quite exhausted.

"On the 7th, these hounds had one of those glorious bursts in which it is not a man's good fortune to participate many times in his life. It only wanted a more satisfactory conclusion to have rendered it perfect. Those who know the line of country which the fox took, will acknowledge that there is not a finer one in England-large enclosures, all grass; tremendous fences; and two glorious brooks. With a straight-running fox and a good scent, the chances are five to one the hounds beat the horses-which was decidedly the case in this instance. The description of the run is brief: being nearly in a direct line from point to point, and no covert for the fox to enter, the tale is told in a few words. They found him in Bunker's Hill, and ran him to Shuckborough. The field was immense, consisting of representatives of the Pytchley, the Atherstone, and many strangers, besides the usual attendants on the North Warwickshire. Those who are acquainted with the enterprising spirit which presides over such an assemblage, will readily understand the difficulties Mr. Baker had to contend against in getting his hounds to settle to their fox after he had left the covert. They were not only ridden over in all directions, but the pack was actually ridden through, as if it were to divide them. Happily, however, a friendly brook appeared in the line, which thinned the ranks of a great portion of the mischievous crew;' and the hounds laid to work in earnest. Presently the river Leam was to be crossed-no impediment, of course, to hounds, but an unequivocal cooler for horses and horsemen. Moreover, it was bank-full, and some eight yards from bank to bank. Two gentlemen only attempted it-Mr. Campbell, of Monzie, and Major Fellowes, a leading man with the Pytchley. They both charged it in a most gallant and determined manner. Mr. Campbell's horse landed with his fore-legs on the opposite bank, and pitched his rider on terra firma; however, the object was accomplished-both were on the right side, unhurt; and, remounting, Mr. Campbell went on again, and was alone in his glory for some miles. Major Fellowes was not so fortunate: his horse succeeded in clearing the brook, but, from the great effort which he made, fell heavily on the opposite side, and lay for some time, evidently blown and shaken, but ultimately got up, and not much the worse. Ere this, it was evident that Shuckborough was the point. The hounds were stream

ing away over the great grass plain, with only Mr. Campbell in their wake; and the field made good the point with all convenient speed. On reaching the canal, the hounds were discovered at a check: they had brought the line of the fox up to the bank, but could carry it on no further. The gallant fox had been seen by some labourers close on the margin of the water; and there is no doubt he jumped in, but, being too much exhausted to gain the other side, sank, to rise no more. While endeavouring to recover the line, and before the immersion was clearly accounted for, away went the hounds, and joined the Warwickshire, who had brought their fox close to the point, having been running in the Shuckborough coverts all the morning. The united packs, mustering more than forty couples, could do but little over the foiled ground, and were, consequently, divided. From Bunker's Hill to the canal exceeds a distance of seven miles, which was run over by the hounds in thirty-seven minutes. There is an anecdote of Dick Knight, the huntsman to the Pytchley Hounds when the late Earl Spencer hunted the country, concerning canals, which refers to this. 'It's all over with the country, my lord,' said Dick, with mournful countenance, to his noble master. 'What now?' inquired his lordship. Oh, those d-d canals they are cutting must ruin it, my lord: there will be no getting across it after hounds.' It was in the identical canal of which Dick Knight complained, that this fox was drowned.

"One more outline of a day's sport with these hounds, and I must close for the season, as I am about to move my quarters, which I sincerely regret; for I shall not meet with such sport in the country where my engagements require my presence.

"On the 9th, they met at Hockley House again; and the recent good runs in that part of the country occasioned an immense field to assemble. The hounds found in Mockley; and for some time it seemed doubtful which would have the best of it-the hounds, in their persevering endeavours to drive their fox from covert, or the inexperienced portion of the field, in their extraordinary exertions in heading him back. However, the hounds did at last succeed, and ran him to Studley, where he was lost. Ladbroke supplied another, with which the hounds went away upon good terms, to Forshaw Park-Earlswood-to Shirley, where the hounds were close upon their fox, and at times viewing him; but, unfortunately, a fresh fox was seen, when the people began to halloo as if they were suddenly afflicted with insanity. Divers voices of stentorian tone, pitched in inharmonious keys, drew the hounds away from their beaten fox; and, settling to the fresh one, before the whips could get up to stop them, went on through the covert, and away, at a slapping pace, to Ladbroke, the wood in which the second fox was found, only three or four horses being able to live with the pack. After running twice round this large wood, the fox again broke; but the horses were so much distressed, and the day so far spent, it being six o'clock, with twenty miles between that spot and the kennels, that it was imperatively necessary to stop the hounds. How many foxes they have been deprived of by incautious halloos, during the season, it would be difficult to determine; but three good runs have been spoilt within a month!"

TIDINGS FROM LEICESTERSHIRE.

Thanks to the generous efforts of Mr. Richard and Mr. Frank Sutton, the hunting season in Leicestershire has passed off much better than could have been expected. They have afforded sport when foxes were to be found; and both for their own sake and for the sake of their lamented father, they have enjoyed the general esteem and good will of the whole county. So popular, indeed, have they been among us, that I have repeatedly heard, and from influential quarters, the expression of earnest wishes that some arrangement might be made, by which they might have continued to hunt the country in conjunction. More ardent sportsmen do not exist. It is satisfactory, however, that they will still continue in the county, and they will render the present master, the Earl of Stamford and Warrington, very efficient service. At the sale of their hounds, his Lordship was a large purchaser, and his kennel will contain four packs, which in blood and training are not inferior to any hounds in England. Mr. Cradock, to the satisfaction of all sportsmen, will still continue to lend his valuable aid to the management. The obligations which all men hunting in Leicestershire owe to that excellent man have been generally felt and acknowledged. To repay such obligations was impossible, because, though a lawyer, Mr. Cradock would not accept even 6s. 8d. for his trouble; but the late Sir Richard Sutton had long contemplated some testimonial of the high value he placed on such valuable and gratuitous services. He died before his intention could be realized; but his trustees and sons, aware of that intention, have, to their great honour, done just what they believed Sir Richard himself would have done. They have presented Mr. Cradock with a piece of plate, which will be an heirloom in the family, and testify what the Quorn Hunt has owed to the Cradocks. Had Sir Richard Sutton been spared another year, he would have had a public dinner and a public presentation. When the donor of the splendid gift was no longer with us, a private presentation seemed in better taste; it was more congenial, too, to Mr. Cradock's unobtrusive habits; for he is one of those who

"Do good by stealth, and blush to find it fame."

The Croxton Races passed off with great éclat. The sport was all that could be desired; but the attendance, owing to the unavoidable absence of the Duke of Rutland, was somewhat smaller than usual.

It is gratifying to sportsmen, that through the accommodating spirit of Mr. Edward Warner, the Quorn kennels and stables will continue to be the head-quarters of the hunt. To have removed them elsewhere would have been to lose the genius loci. When Lord Stamford has entirely completed his arrangements, the Sporting Review shall chronicle them, and it will then be seen with what force and with what promise of success he will make his début next season. His large possessions, and the high respect with which the Greys have long been held in the county, will give Lord Stamford great influence a very necessary point to secure sport.

Leicestershire, 22nd April.

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