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The scene that then presented itself, as was reported to me afterwards, must have baffled all description-nine piebald youths running about the room like a party of Ojibbeways, yelling, crying, and seeking their mislaid garments.

In the mean time, hearing from Billy Sanders the cruel trick he had played the boys in hiding away their apparel, I boldly faced the exasperated victims of the jest, and was met by a violent hissing and a volley of groans. In vain did I attempt to explain, but I was hooted down; when running to the bed I produced the satchel and its contents; a momentary silence followed, which I broke by declaring my innocence, and by assuring the insurgents that I would exonerate them from all blame with their masters. This appeal was well received, and when I added that a "tuck out" at the Red House on the first early day should reward them for the perils of the past night, shouts of approbation echoed through the room, and I was again restored to their favour.

The Hoaxer's remorse, and the difficulties Kirkonnel and myself encountered in getting our friends out of Mother Pack's without discovery, must be reserved for another chapter.

NOTES OF THE CHASE.

BY CECIL.

Carpe diem quàm minimè credula postero.

This portion of the hunting season is in general so chequered with the vicissitudes of weather, that unless a man avails himself of every opportunity which may be afforded to him of meeting hounds, he must be more than usually fortunate if he falls in with many of the good things which Diana presides over for the especial enjoyment of her most favoured protegés. When frost and snow prevail, fox-hunting, like the thermometer, is obliged to yield to the influence of Zero.

We bade "Adieu" to the past year without having much occasion to complain of impediments from frost, a few days only in the month of December. The present one was ushered in upon us with a "slight check"-an intimation-but that did not continue long. All hunting establishments, and most of the owners of private studs, albeit the ardor venandi may predominate, though perhaps disinclined to sanction the impeachment, hail with content a salutary furlough from the covert side about the merry time of Christmas. Not so, however, young gentlemen from school, who look forward to the hunting as the grand event of the winter holidays; and if my pen possessed the power of bespeaking a frost, would naturally desire the ink should freeze thereon rather than impose such a restraint. Before I would compass their disappointment, I would join them in the injunction; for there is not a more pleasing variety in the associations of the chase than that of witnessing the rising generation, em alous of becoming in due time distinguished artistes with hounds. There are two things most essentially necessary to their present enjoyment and future proficiency-an experi

enced, steady pilot, and a suitable pony. Unless Papas have given up riding to hounds, or will temporarily forego that pleasure, which they can scarcely be expected to do, for the purpose of guiding and instructing the juveniles, they must be entrusted to the care of an experienced servant; but how few there are, capable of directing such a responsible charge! A wild, indiscreet, young fellow, thinking more of himself than of his duty, will lead his pupil into danger, or perhaps loose the hounds when running. An old, pottering skirter will fall into an equally objectionable error. The most desirable kind of person for such a trust is one who knows how to ride to hounds, and will point out to his young master, as events arise, what hounds are doing; when they turn, directing his attention to the necessity of turning with them; and when they check, the propriety of pulling up in time to avoid the censure of the master of the pack. A servant, properly qualified for this post, should possess a thorough knowledge of country; so as to enable him to follow the hounds without having to encounter fences (impracticable for ponies), or of going headlong into bogs, and such-like disagreeable devices. An experienced second-horseman is the sort of person best calculated for the purpose; and it would almost appear worth such a person's while, in populous hunts, to devote his attention during the Christmas holidays to the care and instruction of young gentlemen, not only in the art of riding to hounds, but equestrianism generally; and by having charge of some three or four young gentlemen, the remuneration from each would be trifling. There are many branches of education more scrupulously attended to, and more expensively provided for, which are not more essential (perhaps not so much so) to a gentleman as that of good horsemanship; but it is an art in general most unaccountably neglected. There are, it is true, riding masters in London, Brighton, Cheltenham, and other places of fashionable resort; some few, but very few of whom may be qualified for the purpose, but the majority are not. Nor is this to be wondered at, when the origin of many is inquired into. Any enterprising genius (?), with a good stock of assurance, however unqualified, either by manners or equestrian ability, thinks himself calculated to teach the art of riding; and if he can raise money sufficient for the purpose of purchasing a few worthless dangerous screws, announces himself at some fashionable watering-place as ready to devote his services to the care and instruction of young ladies and gentlemen. A superannuated Lieutenant in the Navy, or even a "Boots" from an inn, would not despair of patronage. But our subject is more immediately connected with the chase; and therefore we must "try back" to the pony.

As I have before observed, the selection of a suitable pony for a young gentleman to commence hunting upon is a subject which requires some attention. He should be good-tempered, clever at his fences, in fair condition, and should have a good mouth (which very few ponies have) these attributes are indispensible; and he may have as many other perfections as possible.

Hitherto the present has been a severe season for horses, and without affording a commensurate amount of sport, inasmuch as there has been an unusual quantity of rain; all countries have, therefore, been distressingly heavy, but there have been very few good scenting days. The wear and tear of horse-flesh are essentially greater when wading

after hounds for several hours through deep ground, than when the land is sound, the scent good, the pace equivalent, and the crisis more quickly decided. Among the provincials, the Hambledon have been spoken of as having enjoyed much sport. It is universally acknowledged they have a very talented master to direct them, and that is a very important circumstance; for I fear talent in masters of hounds is not generally appreciated as it ought to be. Various influences are too often the causes of gentlemen being put in possession of countries without their being endowed with many of those qualifications which are ab solutely essential to success in the science of woodcraft. When a master of hounds shows sport, that accomplishment should be allowed to preponderate over numberless minor objections or eccentricities, and will assuredly do so if sport is the real motive for having a country hunted.

The elaborate descriptions which have appeared in print, of runs with the Heythrope hounds. show that they have had to contend against much distress; for a succession of runs of three or four hours' duration is a sore affliction to hounds and horses, which the majority of those who follow them never take into consideration. If their horses are "knocked up," and cannot show again for a fortnight or so, it is an event of little importance; but it is a very different affair with those belonging to the kennel they and the hounds must appear again at the cover-side to make good the appointments, let their condition be what it may. Such protracted chases are not what the Heythrop were wont to rejoice in. Jem Hills' acknowledged quickness, with anything like a scent, usually makes the pace too good for such tedious displays, and is the most convincing evidence that they, like others, have had to contend against much deficiency of the "essential medium." When the narrator of a chase descends to the minutia of describing the fox having ran "up this ride," down "that," and "across" another, in covert, it seriously detracts from the merits of the run in the estimation of those who feel interested in the establishment. Such details wear a very chaffy complection.

Taking the mediocre nature of the scason as regards scent into consideration, the H. H. have had more than an average of sport; and if some portions of the country are not quite so well provided with foxes as they might be, in others they are plentiful-thanks to the good taste of those who preserve them. The Farleigh and Nutley coverts, which belong to Mr. Bowyer, are well tenanted by the vulpine family. Herriard is equally well cared for by Mr. Jervoise, Dummer by Mr. Terry, and South Warnborough by Mr. Wayne. Mr. Slater likewise preserves to as great an extent as a limited quantity of covert permits. There are also plenty of foxes in Sir T. Miller's coverts, at Hollybourne. Mr. Mackay has a good show at Uptongrey. Sir E. Doughty preserves them most scrupulously at Tichbourne Park; and Col. Greenwood at Brookwood. But there is no gentleman to whom the members of the H. H. have greater reason to feel under a high sense of obligation than to the proprietor of Cheriton Woods and Beaworth, Mr. Mulcock, whose coverts are always well stocked with foxes, although he never hunts, himself. The attendants on the H. H. consist principally of the gentlemen who are residents in the country, and they are, I think, more numerous than those in a similar station in many of the countries where the fields are numerically great. In the vicinity of all places of fashionable resort, such as Cheltenham, Bath, or Leamington, vast

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numbers sally forth on hunting days who are in no degree identified with the country. The mercantile districts also augment the numbers at the covert side when the places of meeting are within reach; consequently immense fields are oftentimes congregated, a small portion only of whom are landed proprietors. Foxhunting is a social enjoyment totally at variance with exclusive principles, and extremely dangerous would be any attempt to alter its character. man who has not the good fortune to inherit an estate, or the nearly equal good fortune to possess the means of purchasing one, may rent a manor; shoot and course over it; fish, if his taste and talent incline that way. If it be extensive, he may keep harriers, and hunt "the timids," regarding even that pursuit with much exclusiveness, provided he is never under the necessity of following his game on to the land of another; remembering that the moment he does so, the bonds of exclusiveness are snaped asunder. But as no one man's estate is sufficiently large to enable him to hunt foxes upon it without visiting the land of his neighbours, it must be looked upon as an amusement of sufferance, and, being so constituted, open to all the world.

On such days as the scent has been by any means favourable, Lord Gifford's hounds have had some capital runs. The crack event appears to have been on the 10th of January-a bye day, in consequence of the frost not permitting them to hunt on the previous Monday. Few persons were out. The place of meeting was Bradley, where they found, and, without a check, ran to Herriard, having gone through Preston Oakhills, and Farleigh; no one with them but Lord Gifford, Mr. Francis Berkeley, and John Grant. From Herriard the pace slackened; still they went on to Uptongrey and Tunworth, whipping off near dark, all the horses having had quite enough; but not having seen it, I am unable to afford those particulars whieh this capital run so amply deserves. The first hour and fifteen minutes is spoken of as having been most

severe.

Lord Gifford had also a good run on the 16th, from Avington House; and another on the 18th from Ellisfield Common, when the hounds found their fox in Preston Oakhills. Broke away instantly at the lower end of the covert towards Herriard Common, leaving it on the right for Herriard Park, where, being headed, he turned to the left for Halwood and Swallick, the hounds doing their work most admirably. Crossing the Alton and Basingstoke road, he then make through Hackwood Park, leaving the house and stables on the right-hand, when he again entered the park; headed short back, he crossed the road, skirting the plantation on the left of the road, through the pleasure grounds of a worthy Quaker, and, crossing the road, paid a similar visit at Mr. Covey's; from thence to some gardens in the outskirts of Basingstoke, where he was eventually lost. The time up to this point, fifty minutes. Lord Gifford, with his usual quickness, made a cast towards the railway; but, not being able to hit off, his fox returned to the gardens, trying in every direction, and in every building, but to no purpose; although, in all probability, he had ensconced himself in some unaccountable cover. Whatever Lord Gifford's disappointment may be at not killing him, this fox will serve for another day; he is of a wild, straight-necked family, of the right sort. About an hour after the hounds had left the fox was discovered in the stable of a public house, from which he fortunately escaped.

A very mistaken notion prevails with those who have hunted all their lives in distant countries, that horses having been ridden in Hampshire can know nothing about fencing. It depends entirely upon the person who rides them. A man may, in many parts, get about after hounds without scarcely ever riding over a fence; but if he goes with them, it is another affair; he will find many which, though not large, are intricate, requiring activity from his horse. For the purpose of making hunters, it is one of the best countries I ever was in; but there are so few bred in it, that it is not probable ever to become a place of resort for persons who desire to reinforce their cavalry departments. The northern district of country, hunted by the Vine hounds, contains fences that will call into effect the best energies of the most experienced hunter; and I am informed that part of Lord Gifford's country, in the neighbourhood of Hartley, is very strongly fenced, just the style of country to suit his lordship; but unfortunately it does not abound with foxes. It might be expected that I should introduce the names of those gentlemen who are most conspicuous when hounds are running a course, which I have adopted in former communications; but I am of opinion, from past experience, it is better omitted-for various reasons. Some, however well they may ride to hounds, do not wish to have their exploits recorded. Others, who perhaps do not go quite so well, fancy themselves slighted or neglected if they are not noticed; while many, who have not the slightest pretension to distinction, are vastly annoyed at being left out. Now, as my motive in taking these "Notes of the Chase" is fraught with a most earnest desire to afford pleasurable and satisfactory sensibilities, I conceive my object will be more completely attained by dealing with generalities, than personalities of any kind, in matters appertaining to individual prowess. The machinery of the Vine hunt has been, unfortunately, much out of joint for some time, in consequence of the bad fall which Cox, the huntsman, met with in December. The whipper-in was advanced for a time; but forgetting himself on being remonstrated with, by one of the members of the hunt, for making too constant use of his horn, his dismissal followed; so that as soon as Cox was sufficiently recovered to resume his duties, a whipper-in was wanted—a functionary not to be dispensed with in any country, but in parts of the Vine more than commonly necessary; and when another man is appointed, it will take some time before he and the hounds can become on terms of acquaintance with each other. these circumstances it is not to be wondered at that " the Vine" is not in a flourishing condition.

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On the 13th of this month, these hounds met at the Vine, where they found an abundance of foxes, but not much scent; having changed, they ran one to Chinham, where they lost him; came back to the Vine, found another, which also beat them; and after drawing the coverts in the line, found another at Drunken Tiddle, or some such queer-named place, in all probability one which had been disturbed in the morning from the Vine, as he led them back again to that place, where they eventually lost him. It was a severe day for the hounds, as they were running upwards of four hours, with a very bad scent, and several foxes on foot they were constantly overridden; a very common occurrence with most packs, more especially those where there is no master or efficient member in authority to keep the field in some order an office by no means enviable-or easy of accomplishment. It is not the man

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