Tried Shoby Scoles, and then Lord Aylesford's Gorse, where a fox was soon unkennelled, and pursued for about half-an-hour, with a cool and uncertain scent; and, finally, given up at or near Walton Thorns.

Lord Hastings has been doing gloriously; but, wishing to become thoroughly acquainted with the Quorn, I have, as yet, seen little of the Donnington. The diminution made in his Lordship's stud by the sale at Tattersall's, is most judiciously made up by some recent purchases ;and a more complete stud no master of hounds needs covet. Lord Hastings hunts generally four days a-week; and judiciously arranges his fixtures on the Quorn side, on those days when Mr. Hodgson is on the Melton, or Harborough country, or not hunting. This enables every sportsman, within a circuit of seven miles from Loughborough, to have three or four fixtures each week with half-an-hour's ride.

Wednesday, Dec. 18th.-The Marquis met at Leek Pit House; found a fox at Stanford Park, which, after a singularly amusing run, consisting of a series of concentric circles, was killed near the place he was found after two hours' running.

Captain King, of the fifth Dragoon Guards, now stationed at Loughborough, is decidedly the most distingué new performer in Leicestershire this season. His riding is really something out of the common order, and reflects great credit on his profession. The Captain needs not say, with Mazeppa

"Ill betide

The school wherein I learnt to ride."

Captain Percy Williams and Captain Ellis Hodgson seem all resolved to shew that there is something superior in the military style. of riding.

Captain King, on Wednesday, charged Stanford Brook and Parkpaling a frightful Avernus,-only taken by men of real mettle. Those that know the spot will remember how often they have craned and quailed at the terrible pass. Another Captain King (a relation of Lord Hastings), Mr. John Balguy, and myself, had once serious thoughts, in the midst of a fine run, of trying the thing; but "Have we wives and families?" was a text that led us to better thoughts.

Mr. Musters has had a fortnight's stopper, owing to a kick on the face, received from a favourite in the stable. It would be a pity to spoil his handsome countenance, though it is that of a sexagenarian-it was the face that captivated Byron's Mary.

Mem. I don't think it improbable that no foxes will be found at Barton, though Lord Seymour is a thorough sportsman, and anxious himself for their preservation.

Leicestershire, Dec. 21st.

W. H.

OPENING OF THE SEASON IN HANTS.

The month of November afforded a fair share of sport with the different packs in this part of the country. The Hampshire hounds have not had that succession of good runs they had in November, 1838, but have plenty of foxes, and an average beginning. They met on the 4th of November, at Hursley; found in Ampfield Wood; kept running in

cover for a considerable time, with a bad scent, and left; drew Cranberry and Silksted Rows blank.

5th. Met them at Bramdean Common; drew the bushes and Hatman's Plantation blank; found in the plantation adjoining Horred's Gate; ran about twenty minutes in cover, and killed. Drew Wolfhanger; went away from thence to Ashton Wood with a drag, where a brace of foxes was soon on the move; after a sharp ring in cover, got away with one to the eastward, across the fields to Privet Rows; thence over the Bramdean and Petersfield road, through Old Down, and on to the plantations adjoining Bierly House. Skirting Park Farm, he bore away towards Rookhams; left that on his right, and went to Bordean Rows, and was killed on Williams' Hill. About forty minutes, with a bad scent :--bitch pack.

THE H. H.

November 7th. Met at Windmill Hill; found in Chawton Park ; went away to Bushy Lees. Pug was headed there, and returned through Chawton Park; crossed from thence to Splashet covert, and on to Rotherfield, where they changed, and, having two or three foxes. on foot, ran some time in cover, and were called off.

November 11th. Met at Rookley Pond; drew Philip's Heath; moved a brace of foxes. After running some time in cover, the hounds settled to one, which broke away to the eastward, and was unfortunately headed. He returned to the woods; and the scent being bad, they could not press him enough to make him try the open again; left him for another day, and went to Norwood; soon found, and ran to ground without quitting the wood; he was dug out, and given to the hounds.

November 13th. The fixture, Tichbourne Down. Drew the Hassocks and Sutton Scrubs blank; went to Cheriton Wood, where a brace of foxes was soon found, and, after ringing the changes for more than half an hour, they settled to one. He hung to the wood for full thirty minutes, but was so closely pressed, he broke away towards Bramdean Common, leaving Old Park on his left; skirted the common, through the Rookery, and over the fields to Woodcote Park, across the Bramdean road, and as fast as he could go to Brookwood Park ; leaving the house on his left, crossed the Wheely Lane, and took to the fields, pointing for Bere Farm; turned to the right, and went to Wheely; thence to Riversden, where he ran into a cart-house, from which he was soon obliged to fly, the pack being close at his heels. To this point the pace was great; the time five and twenty minutes, without check or halloo; from the cart-house he went to a cover a short distance from the farm-yard; ran round it two or three times, and was killed. The line of the fox about eight miles; the pace severe, and the country as heavy as I ever saw it. Mr. Knight, of Chawton Park, took the lead, and maintained it throughout. The field was large :-the bitch pack.

THE HAMBLEDON HOUNDS.

The breed of foxes in this hunt is decidedly better than last year, and some good sport has been shewn during the past month.

The

first public fixture was, as usual, at Berry Lodge, Hambledon; the weather dry and cold; several foxes found, but no scent; some scurrying, but nothing worthy of notice.

November 1st. Met at Hollywell House. Found in Close Wood; had a twenty minutes' run, and lost. Drew Frimp, and found one of the right sort; went away to Hazle Holt; thence to Bottom Copse; made the best of his way to Sailor's Wood, on to the plantations adjoining the warren, through which they soon rallied him; when he boldly crossed the warren for Chestfoot Head, where the scent becoming bad, and the day on the wane, the hounds were called off. A heavy rain the whole day; the field small, and very select at Chestfoot Head. The hounds carried a beautiful head the greater part of the run; time about forty minutes.

November 4th. The fixture Botley Gate. Found directly, in the coverts at the back of Botley Farm, a leash of foxes on foot; the hounds constantly changing, and neither of them would break; the scent bad. Nothing could exceed the determined perseverance of the hounds through these thick coverts, more than usually strong this year, from the lateness of the leaf. After three hours hard running, they were called off, and went home :-large pack.

November 8th. Met at Winter's Hill Common. Found directly in Durley Wood; he broke at the lower side of the covert, and crossed the fields to Winter's Hill Common, over Mr. Stans's farm to Redland's Copse; through that, took the line for Mr. Morant Gale's house; turned on the right; crossed the fields, pointing for Grassteds, near which he ran under a large heap of moors. A sharp burst, and over a line of country as deep and difficult, as the lovers of strong fences and heavy ground could desire. Several men set to work at moving the moors, which was no very light matter, as a delay of forty minutes took place before he was made to bolt; when he went his best pace back to Redlands, and ran to earth. We then drew Durwood blank, and found in a plantation immediately adjoining; he ran to the upper side of it as far as the edge of Gander Down; turned there, and followed the line of plantations by the side of Salt Lane; thence to Durwood, and away to Lane End Farm, on the upper side of which he was headed by a drove of sheep; turned short; took a line through the Rose Hill Woods, to Durwood, where he beat us. The scent, generally speaking, bad, with an occasional dash of something better: -the large pack.

November 11th. Met at Bursledon Windmill. Found in Badenham; ran to Netley Lodge; thence to West Wood, where two or three foxes were soon on foot; kept running the greater part of the day in cover, with a bad scent :-small pack.

November 13th. The fixture Broad-halfpenny Down. Found in Highden; went away at the top of his speed to Duncombe; turned short there, and came back to Highden; ran in cover about ten minutes, and crossed the fields for Clanfield Rows, pointing for Hog's Lodge, and was killed in a turnip field. Time, forty minutes :-large pack.

November 15th. Met them at Corhampton Down. Drew Frimp, and the small covers near it, blank. Found in Hazle Holt; went away to Shepherds; thence to Swanmore Farm; leaving that on his left, went to Damson Hill; turned to the right, and went over Bishop's

Down to Clearsley Wood, through the Preshaw Rows, and over Mr. Long's Park; thence to the plantations between that and Durwood; on to Honeyman's Rows; just touched on the Warren; was headed there by a man, and returned to the enclosures; took the line for Owslebury Down; turned again, through the Rose Hill covers, to Durwood; thence to Preshaw and Sailor's Wood, and we eventually lost him, after three hours hours' hard work :-small pack.

THE VINE.

I understand Mr. Fellowes has been shewing some good sport with this excellent pack. They had a splendid thing on the 2nd of November, from Great Dean Wood. After a smart ring in cover, he went away through Little Dean Wood, and across the open to Clerken Green; thence towards Manydown Park; leaving that on his right, went to Mosshanger House, and Summerdown Copse; thence across the open to Great Dean Wood again, the hounds so close at his brush, that no waiting time was allowed; crossed the open, pointing for Netley; turned on the left to Ashwarren Farm; thence to Dean Park, across the London road to Ash Park; on to Berry Down Copse. Skirting Bramdean Wood, he then bore away to the Southampton Railroad; crossed it, and went to Steventon; turned to the right, just touching on Ashton Grove and Waltham Trenby; crossed the turnpike road, and over the open to the Winchester road, and into the H. H. country, where they ran into him. Time, one hour and ten minutes. Fortunately for those out, it was not a straight run, or few would have seen it. The hounds did their work in a style worthy of so good a pack.

On the 11th, they had a good thing of about fifty minutes, and killed, from Freefolk Wood.

NIMROD, ON THE WANTON DESTRUCTION OF FOXES BY THOSE WHO HAVE MOST NEED OF THEM.

IN "Bell's Life," of the 17th November, is an account of a run with the hounds of that very celebrated sportsman and huntsman, Mr. Musters, finishing with marking the fox to ground, at the end of an hour, over a fine country; digging to him, in a main earth which held another fox, and killing him on the same earth, "much to the gratification," as the writer expresses himself, " of his panting followers, who soon put him out of sight." Another fox, it appears, was also digged out of this main earth, and sent to Annesley (Mr. Musters's other seat), "for future sport." But I must quote one more sentence from this brief, but pithy account of this day's hunting. "Some sorrow," adds the writer, was evinced that such a fine fox should have been killed, as there is, at times, a scarcity in that neighbourhood."

66

Now, my high regard for fox-hunting, and all appertaining to the success and continuance of it, leads me to comment freely on the above proceedings; and equally my high regard for Mr. Musters, both as a

sportsman, a gentleman, and a friend, causes me to wish that other hounds than his—those of some stranger sportsman-had afforded the occasion for my remarks. But how stands the case? Mr. Musters

meets at the covers of a gentleman of large property in the county and a sportsman, and draws them all blank. A new gorse cover, on Papplewick Forest, is next drawn, but no fox. "Nothing daunted," says his reporter, onward he goes (and I think I see him going, trotting along, talking, I was near saying "making love," to his hounds as they trot by his side, smiling in his face, as much as to say, "God bless you,"for never hounds loved a man as his love him) to Bestwood Park, where he at length found the fox he killed.

But it is the motive for digging to, and killing, this "fine fox" that I have to account for, and to comment upon. The blooding of his hounds was evidently the motive for his doing so, as it was for digging to, and killing, one at the close of last season, in my presence, at the end of two hours' hard work in getting at him. And what had happened on the morning of the evening on which the above-named digging and killing had occurred? Why, we only found that one fox after a long draw; and, on the next day's hunting, we never found at all. So much, then, for what I call "a wanton destruction of foxes by those who have most need of them."

But an answer will at once be given to these strictures of mine. The run from Bestwood Park was a run of an hour, great part of it at "a rattling pace," and "without a check." So writes the correspondent to Bell; and that which I saw was a long hunting run, in which difficulties occurred that could only have been surmounted by a master hand; and, therefore, in both cases, it may be said the hounds well deserved their fox, and his blood would have told upon them with the next that they found. No doubt they did; and could they have revelled in it whilst, as the crack huntsman of the north expresses himself, the sti-mulus was upon them, when their bristles were up, it would have been a most beneficial, as well as, perhaps, grateful repast. That a fox thrown to hounds, which have been shivering under a hedge, about the horses' heels, for a couple of hours or more, after having been digged from an earth into which they may have marked him, after a good or bad run, may be of no avail at all to them, as far as the blood of a fox avails them, I will not take upon myself to determine; but this I will say, that, in my opinion, founded on what I have seen and heard on the subject, the benefit of blood so obtained is not to be put in the scale against the tendency of the digging system to injure countries by destroying the foxes, towards the end of the season, and, more especially still, countries in which foxes are already scarce, as they are described to be in that to which these remarks refer.

And a word more on what is called blooding of hounds. The value of blood well earned, and speedily obtained, no one will dispute, although, as is the case with staghounds, the natural instinct of the animal dog urges him to pursue an object emitting a scent that is grateful to him, so long as his powers will enable him to do so, without tasting the animal who affords him this scent; and he runs him quickly or slowly, as the state of the atmosphere admits of his doing so, by the means of what we call scent. But what I contend for, is that too much value is put on blood not acquired in the moment