A HUNTING TOUR.

BY CECIL.

(Continued.)

“ Est natura hominum novitatis avida."-PLINY,

“ Hilares venandi labores."

Pace-Arrival at Kilsby-The Pytchley hounds-The riding of a Pytchley field

Sport of the season-The North Warwickshire hounds-Immense field at Bilton Grange-Costume-A day with the North Warwickshire-The Atherstone hounds at the covert-side-Mr. Hall's stud-Departure for Birmingham Railway companions— Birmingham railway-The Sailor's allusion-A lonely evening-A run with Lord Gifford's hounds-Visit to Mr. Pudsey-Old associations--The Shropshire hounds-Acton Burnel-Sir Edward Smythe-Sport with the Shropshire-The Wheatland hounds-Sporting prospects in Shrewsbury-Mr. Frail—The new horse-fair.

In a fast country—which Northamptonshire is universally acknowledged to be-all your movements are of necessity regulated by a corresponding regard to pace: it becomes habitual. Even during the baliny hours of sleep, you are compelled to make the best use of your time. You can afford but a brief period for repose; therefore are you constrained to sleep as fast as possible, as though you had a certain distance to accomplish in your dreams. Your breakfast must be consumed with due regard to celerity; and you can only allow yourself thirty-five minutes to gallop eight miles to covert, where if you are too late, you might as well have remained at home. An instantaneous find-no hanging in covert-and a quick burst-are incidents of constant occurrence, with which tardy movements are inconvenient.

In my last communication, I bade my readers good-night as I was about to retire to rest in the hospitable cottage of my friend Mr. Henry Hall, having arrived with him by the express mail-train, at mid night. We had got into the “ little hours” before we could gain our dormitories. To make the best use of the time was a matter of some importance, especially to one, like myself, rather inclined to enjoy a sufficient portion of " nature's restorative." The only alternative was to sleep with all possible diligence, in accordance with other human performances in a fast country. This I did, to the full extent of the expression; at all events, I slept soundly and serenely till summoned to arise, when, having made speedy preparations, I accompanied Mr. Hall to Cold Ashby, where the Pytchley hounds had previously arrived.

On meeting a fresh pack of hounds, the first impulse is, naturally, to look them over, and criticise their appearance. “The ladies" were in waiting. They possess a great deal of character, with all the necessary qualifications for a fashionable and fast pack. I thought them drawn rather fine, which, however, is in this country generally advocated. They proceeded to draw Lord Althorpe's

gorse, where they found; and, after making a circuit of the covert, the fox condescended to break. There was not a vast deal of pressing to induce him to do so, and what there was appeared like a kind of tacit understanding between the fox and the hounds. The latter certainly did not make a clamorous display of their persuasive powers, On quitting the gorse, the scent was by no means brilliant. The atmosphere was cold, and somewhat disposed to be stormy. Without any particular incident worthy of observation, they ran their fox to a point between Long Buckby and Whilton, where they came to a check. The pace fair, but not first-rate. This check was occasioned by one of the great pests to foxhunting-a sheep-dog. The brute got a view of the fox, and coursed him, which induced him to take refuge in a drain in the middle of a field. With some difficulty, the hounds hunted him to his hiding-place, when a terrier was sent for, from Long Buckby, which rejoices in that species of animal- and shoemakers. The fox, being bolted, ran only a field or two, when he was killed. The second was found at Buckby Folly, but for some time did not think fit to leave his quarters. At length, he went away, followed by one couple of hounds and about one hundred and fifty horsemen, be the same more or less, about a mile, along a road; every man riding with as much earnestness as if the whole pack was on a-head. This, I am told, is a common practice. What an amiable temper the master of the hounds must possess! Having run the road, or parallel with it, about a mile, the scent turned to the right, over the country, which enabled Paine and the whippers-in to get the body of the pack up to the leading hounds. In making these remarks, I must observe they are not meant to convey the slightest reflections on the hounds, or Paine's method of hunting them. It would have been more in accordance with the orthodox system of foxhunting to have stopped the couple of hounds which went away, till the body of the pack could get up; but to stop them, with a crowd of horse rattling behind them, would be an impossibility. The first and only alternative would be to stop the horsemen; and, as that is not readily accomplished, the huntsman can only pursue one course under such circumstances-get his hounds together as best he can. Thus it has the appearance of a system. There is certainly a difficulty in prevailing on gentlemen not to spoil their own sport ; still, I think it may be done. If the hounds were to be taken home on one or two occasions, in the event of remonstrances being ineffective, I really believe this great object would be accomplished. Had the body of the hounds been fortunate enough to have got away on good terms with their second fox-or rather, had the field been considerate enough not to have ridden to the single couple- I believe we should have had a very pretty burst. A check occurred when the fox turned to the right over the enclosures, which in all probability would not have happened with more hounds at head, and room for them to work. At this point, most of the field went home, when, after some slow but very pretty hunting, the fox was marked to ground in the covert where he, or more probably she, was found, as I suspect it was a vixen. After the field had left us, I had an opportunity of observing the operations of the pack with a cold scent, which I must do them the justice to state they hunted with

great patience. Ob, what a pity such a fine pack of hounds, in such a splendid country, should not have full scope to exercise their talents!

I found it was a generally-expressed opinion that these hounds had not had their average share of sport this season, How should they ? It certainly has not been a good scenting season; and, overridden as they are, it is utterly impossible hounds should have sport, unless on brilliant scenting days. By comparison, many provincial packs have been more fortunate. They have had some good hunting-runs, obviously because they have not been interrupted by crowds of ambitious and inconsiderate horsemen.

On the following day, February 16th, we went to meet the North Warwickshire, at Bilton Grange. Having heard so much of Mr. Selby Lowndes's celebrated lady pack, I was most anxious to get a sight of them before they commenced operations. Report has certainly not overrated them, as regards their appearance : as a pack, their symmetry is perfection. I thought they looked very high in flesh, more particularly compared with the Pytchley; but I was informed by several gentlemen to whom I made the remark, that, in point of wind, they were in no respect defective. The day's sport unfortunately afforded me no opportunity of forming an opinion upon that point. It has been Mr. Selby Lowndes's practice to feed on Indian-corn meal for many years; and I was particularly anxious to have seen a run with them, for I must confess I am still sceptical that the acme of condition can be attained on that kind of food. Mr. Lowndes will, I am sure, pardon me for these remarks. I do not mean to assert that his hounds are not in condition ; but, from what I saw of the effects produced by feeding with the Indian-corn meal, many years ago, my opinion is against it. These hounds looked particularly bright and healthy in their coats, surpassing in that respect any I have lately seen, with the exception of Mr. Wheble's. My stay in this country was so short, that I was unable to visit either the Pytchley or North Warwickshire kennels ; for a day in each of them would have afforded me much pleasure. To pass an opinion on hounds, from merely seeing them one day in the field, would be an act of presumption. All I dare attempt is to make observations concerning particular events which may transpire ; and if those opinions are erroneous, in the estimation of those who are better able to decide, I must plead my excuse, in the very brief opportunity I have, under such circumstances, of forming only transitory conclusions.

Many years have passed away since I have met hounds in the North Warwickshire country. I have not been there since Mr. Hellier hanted it. Bilton Grange, and all the other fixtures on the Dunchurch side, were in those days popular, when very large fields were wont to assemble; but I certainly never witnessed anything to be compared with the attendance on this occasion. The increase of railway accommodation in some degree accounts for this; also, the progressive enlargement of Leamington, and the augmented number of sportsmen who resort to that place. I believe, if the fact could have been ascertained, there was a representative from more than half the hunting countries in England present. From the Atherstone and Pytchley being neighbouring hunts, of course there were many, and I

could recognize Captain Ramsay, and the two Messrs. Standishes, from Berkshire; Mr. H. Bradley, formerly the master of the staghounds, from the Worcestershire side of the Albrighton country; and Mr. William Davenport, than whom there is not a better performer over the country, or a more steady sportsman, from the Shropshire side of the same hunt. Not a few might be recognized from Birmingham--a place proverbially noted for badly-cut coats. It is rather amusing to contemplate the varieties of costume which are to be seen in such a large field. Boots of all shapes, colours, and characters, to suit the taste of the wearer or the caprice of the valet. Who shall dare to criticise the cut of a boot, or the colour of the tops, without a standard whereby fashion shall be regarded ? Nevertheless, tops are unmistakeably correct, whether they be wbite or brown. But, in the cut of a coat, it is necessary to devote a little more reverence to fashion, if a man desires to be taken for a sportsman and a gentleman. I observed one or two attired in the obsolete, narrow-skirted garments of 1825, than which nothing can be more ridiculous in the field. A dress-coat looks as absurd on horseback as a riding-coat would be outré in a ball-room. We may easily imagine some antiquated gentleman, who has not seen a hound at the covert-side for the last twenty years, whose experience at the best was ever limited, when, ensconced by his fireside, on a cold, boisterous night, following an equally rough day, while inhaling the perfume of his nicotian mixture, he congratulates himself that, having given up hunting, he has escaped the inclemency of the weather, indulging himself at the same time with the pleasing delusion that he was once a sportsman, albeit he never knew the difference between one of Osbaldestone's celebrated Furriers and a Welsh harrier—who inculcates in the minds of his uninitiated companions some idea that he is still well versed in all that appertains to foxhunting, comparing the extraordinary resem. blance between his once-favourite hunter and a picture of some other person's pet, of more recent date, thorough-bred, with a full tail, between which there is no more likeness to the horses of his day, when short tails were in vogue, than there is between West Australian and a cob. Such a character may be supposed to urge, with eloquent rhetoric, that narrow-skirted coats such as he always wore are equally consistent in the field, and quite as good security against rain, as those which are cut to cover the thighs. He may be imagined to argue theoretically that the wind blows the flaps back, when riding at a fast pace, in which state he thinks they can afford no defence at all. But those who have tried the experiment know better. When hounds are running, it matters not what the fashion of a coat may be ; and if it were not to protect the body and arms from thorns, the rider would, during that particular period, be rnore at liberty without the incumbrance of the garment: yet, as it happens that hounds are not always running, there are times when a full-skirted coat is very acceptable—that is, when you are sitting on your horse's back by the covert-side, in rainy weather, or returning home after the day's sport is over. Protection from the elements, in those cases, is very acceptable. I have heard an anecdote of a member of the United Hunt, when hounds were running hard, commonly taking off his coat, and fastening it to his saddle.

After this little bit of skirting, we must “hark back to covert.” The hounds were thrown into the plantation near the house, which they drew with great exactness, and in due time found a fox; but the covert was so completely surrounded by horsemen, that the possibility of his breaking appeared a forlorn hope. He did, bowever, contrive to thread his way to a neighbouring spinny, actually among the legs of the horses, with several hounds in view, and meeting him in all directions. How he escaped being chopped was indeed a miracle ; but I presume he was accustomed to it. Being forced from the spiuny, he regained the plantation, and once attempted to face the open ; but the widely-spread field were opposed to such a proceeding, and headed him back. Such reckless conduct I certainly never witnessed on any other ccasion. What Mr. Lowndes thought of it, and felt, I cannot presume to state; but he appeared to bear it with the most enviable composure. Subsequently, a fox was viewed in the grass grounds below; and some supposed it was the one found in the plantation, which I can scarcely believe, as I do not conceive it was possible he could have left without being seen. As the hounds were not running at the moment, and Mr. Lowndes, hearing the halloo, of course he went to it ; but on his arrival, there was no scent, and, upon enquiry, it appeared fifteen or twenty minutes bad elapsed since the fox was viewed. A move was then made to Cook's Gorse-a place celebrated, as it ever has been, as a certain find. Nor was this an exception. The fox went away over as good a line as any in England-between Kilsby and Barby, to AshbySaint-Leger ; but the scent was wretched, and the difficulties against wbich Mr. Lowndes and his pack had to contend were greatly enhanced by the wanton riding of the field. There were men out who seemed to be determined not only to override the hounds, but to ride over each other. A gentleman, whom I had the pleasure of meeting at dinner on the previous day, when charging a brook, was ridden at by two-what to designate them I do not know, certainly not sportsmen-one on either side; and he was actually knocked off his horse. The perseverance with which the hounds bunted a very bad scent cannot be mentioned in too high terms. Before they got to AshbySaint-Leger (where they lost him), it was evidently a hopeless case; but still, they worked it with as much earnestness as if they had only just come to a check, with a good scent. As I have several in vitations for next season, I hope to have opportunities of seeing them under more fortunate circumstances.

Ansious to make the best use of my time, as other engagements prevented my remaining longer at Kilsby, I availed myself, en route io Rugby on the following morning, in Mr. Hall's dog.cart, of going round by Church-Over, to see the Atherstone throw off. Only five minutes' inspection of hounds at the covert-side is not sufficient to enable me to make any remarks. It was the dog.pack; and they showed a vast deal of bone and power. I believe they had a pretly scurry with their first fox; but, being on wheels, I saw nothing of it.

Before leaving Mr. Hall, as a matter of course, I went through bis stables, many of the occupants of which were bred or reared at Dudding Hill. They afford additional evidence of the superiority of that establishment, and of the excellence of the system adopted to