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be brought by good management, a friend informs me that Beale, the veteran huntsman of the Tiverton hounds, had not only had capital sport, but had killed eleven brace of foxes prior to the first of November without the aid of a whipper-in. As a hunting country I know nothing whatever of Devonshire, but have always understood that it is wild in the extreme, and that the foxes partake of the nature of the country. It is the first time I ever heard of the huntsman to a pack of foxhounds attempting to hunt without a whipper-in, and cannot understand how he managed when two or more foxes were on foot and his hounds divided. I can readily conceive a man having his hounds very handy and attached to him, so that they would do anything he might require of them, except stopping when they had once settled down to a scent.

Thus early in the season severe runs cannot be expected; but I hear the Craven had a good day's sport on the 5th of November. With the first fox they had thirty minutes without a check, and ran him to ground in a main earth. The second fox stood before the hounds an hour and ten minutes, when they ran into an ancient lord of his species. The manner in which these hounds are hunted has already raised the unanimous declaration that better sport has not been seen in the country for many years, and they generally kill their foxes if they do not go to ground; but the earth-stopping does not seem to be well attended to, in some parts. This appears to be a very general cause of complaint in many hunts, and certainly denotes the necessity for the adoption of a better system. I have frequently advocated the advantages which would follow, if all the main earths were to be broken up; and every season's experience tends to confirm the opinion. It may be true that foxes often run to ground, when hard pressed, in drains and rabbit-holes, the latter of which cannot be stopped or destroyed, although the former may be secured; but I think if the proposed plan were to be generally adopted, the foxes not being accustomed to find sanctuaries under ground, would very seldom resort to such places; their habits would be changed, and their natural wildness promoted.

The importation of foxes from France during the last ten years has no doubt been very extensive. Of course, they could not possess any knowledge of a line of country, neither can it be expected that their produce is many degrees superior in that respect. Any gentleman who incurs the expense and trouble of importing foxes, will carry out his good intentions by feeding them-an attention which at first must be imperative, at the same time it renders them less wild than their more vigorous co-mates, who have always been accustomed to work for their living.

Mr. Wheble commenced the season early. The opening day was fixed for the 25th of October; the rendezvous, Bullmershe Court; and I regret exceedingly that I was unable to make one of the party; but I am indebted to a friend who was present for an outline of the day's sport. A very numerous field, estimated between two and three hundred, assembled in honour of the occasion, to whom the hospitalities of the house were proferred with cordial liberality. Among the principal subscribers and preservers of foxes were the members for Berkshire and Reading, Mr. Palmer and Mr. Pigot, Mr. Thoyts, Mr. Montagu, Mr. Alfrey, Mr. Alfrey, jun., Mr. Dashwood Fowler, Mr. Stevens, Captain Ramsey, Mr. Halton, Mr. Dobson, Mr. W. Wheble, Mr. R. J. Webb,

Mr. A. Beauclerk, Mr. Codrington, Mr. A. Leigh, Mr. Blandy, &c. The pack having been paraded, duly criticised, and pronounced perfect in their appearance by several good judges who were present, proceeded to draw one of the coverts near the house, where they soon found, and two brace, if not two brace and a-half, of foxes were on foot. They, however, settled down to one of them, which, as may readily be conceived, with so large a field, all more than usually anxious for a start, was headed back on his first attempt to quit the covert; the second time he was more successful, when, after running a ring which occupied twenty minutes, he was killed in the park. The second fox was found at Maiden Early. He ran back to the Bullmershe coverts, where he was lost. It seldom happens on these "field days" that any very severe runs are seen; and that may be in general regarded as a fortunate circumstance. Many families resident in the neighbourhood attend on these occasions, and the ladies in carriages would be unable to see any of the sport if a fox, immediately on being found, went straight away for a fresh country. When a fox is so accommodating as to run a ring, he should be esteemed for his gallantry; when he meets his fate, his obsequies are graced by many sympathizing expressions from his fair friends.

This is David Edwards's second season as a huntsman. As whipperin, he was well known in this country, when he turned the hounds to that excellent sportsman, Mr. Montagu; and subsequently to Robert Tocock, when Mr. Wheble hunted the whole of that which was in the possession of the late Sir John Cope; and it is very gratifying to be able to state from indubitable authority that he gave universal satisfaction to all the members of the hunt and those who attended the hounds. It is still more gratifying to add, that those sentiments are extended to him in his more arduous duties as huntsman. Many good whips make but indifferent huntsmen; and it is an exceedingly pleasing office to be enabled to record a man's successful promotion to the first-class of his profession.

The men are mounted extremely well, though, I believe, Mr. Wheble would gladly make additions to his stud; but horses such as he selects are not very readily to be met with.

A list of the hounds will show that much good judgment has been exercised in their selection. Not having many walks, Mr. Wheble is under the necessity of procuring some drafts annually; in doing which, the best blood from the most fashionable kennels has been chosen.

There is a fair stock of foxes in the country; but, as it is rather limited in extent, they will not have more than they want. Several of the coverts, which in former years were drawn by Mr. Montagu, are now claimed by the Vine. There is no doubt they belong to the latter hunt, and, from what I have always understood, were lent by the late Mr. Chute to the late Sir John Cope. As the Vine have an extensive country very well stocked with foxes, it would certainly be an accommodation to Mr. Wheble if a similar arrangement could be effected; and as the coverts in question lie at a considerable distance from the Overton kennels, it appears that it would be mutually beneficial to both parties.

With feelings of the most unaffected regret, I have to announce the * To appear in our next.

rather sudden dissolution of one of England's noblest peers-Henry, the seventh Duke of Beaufort, who expired at Badminton, on Thursday, November the 17th, aged 61. The noble Duke had long been a sufferer from gout, which painful circumstance has often been mentioned in these pages. On Wednesday His Grace was attacked with alarming symptoms, and medical skill was ineffective in preventing the malady from approaching vital parts. Time and space preclude the possibility of doing just honour to His Grace's memory till a future opportunity.

"TO AN OLD TUNE."

ENGRAVED BY W. BACKSHELL, FROM A PAINTING RY A. COOPER, R.A.

Here, at any rate, are some fresh words for it, with which the noble sportsman may make his first hit on the other little dear he has contrived to stalk up to :

"Maid of the Mountain! thou wast born

On the bright forehead of the morn;
Where first the sunbeams light the dew,
And sprinkle through its pearly hue
The glittering gold and sapphire blue.
When often as thy bloom they kissed,
The world below yet slept in mist-
Silent, and cold, and dark as they
Who dwell upon its laboured clay.
Flower of the Desert! sweet and free

Is all the world which dwells with thee!

"Thine is the world of freedom cheer

World of the eagle and the deer;

Where the sun shines wide, and the bright streams flow,

And none shall toil and and trouble know

Frank as the winds which round them blow.

Flower of the Hill, most fair and free,

Great is my joy to dwell with thee !"

We borrow, appropriately enough, from "The Lays of the Deer Forest." The lines are addressed originally to the Oighrean-some wild mountain-flower, as we take it. Our friend, however, may fit them easily enough to the fair subject before him, and make as much play with them as if armed with a set of rhymes from Robin Burns himself.

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