On the first establishment of his pack Sir John Cope appears to have resorted to various, and in many instances distant kennels, for infusions of fresh blood, as will be seen on reference to Mr. Vyner's invaluable lists of hounds, published with the "Notitia Venatica," in which is found crosses from the Dukes of Beaufort and Richmond, Lord Darlington's, Sir Thomas Mostyn's, Colonel Wyndham's, Mr. Newnham's, and Mr. Nicholl's, with occasionally a strain from his neighbour, Mr. Chute's kennel, although there was not much of that sort, which seems rather extraordinary, as they must have been a good stamp for the country; but Sir John Cope had evidently a predilection for a largesized hound, which was not the characteristic of the Vine; they were, as the motto on their kennel-door indicated, multum in parvo. At a subsequent date stud-hounds were obtained from Mr. Warde, whose pack, in size and appearance, Sir John's at one time resembled. A cross was occasionally procured from the Royal kennels, and now and then from Mr. Villebois. Of late years the Earls Fitzhardinge, Yarborough, and Fitzwilliam, with Lord Henry Bentinck, and Mr. T. A. Smith's kennels, supplied the means of filling up the vacancies, augmented by the purchase of a goodly lot of puppies from Mr. Drake.

Without being gifted with the attributes of a first-rate sportsman, possibly from not having "entered early in life, the deficiency was made up by Sir John Cope's inestimable worth, kindness, and hospitality. Cotemporary with Mr. Chute, of the Vine, they were always on the best terms of friendship; their countries adjoining, they reciprocally drew each other's border coverts; and it was not till after Sir John had resigned his hounds to Mr. Wheble, in 1850, that the exclusive right to draw certain coverts was claimed by the present master of the Vine: a feeling of courtesy worthy of imitation. If all masters of hounds would adhere to similar acts of friendly intercourse, we should be spared those disagreeable bickerings that have, unfortunately, of late years too frequently disturbed the social character of the chase. An intrusion into another man's country, without a friendly understanding and a reciprocal accommodation, is an act which Sir John would no more have dreamt of perpetrating, than of seating himself at his neighbour's dinner-table without an invitation; nothing would induce him to violate the acknowledged usages of fox-hunting rules.

Sir John Cope was a great patron and admirer of cricket, which, next to fox-hunting, was his favourite amusement. Under his own personal auspices the Bramshill Cricket Club was established; and when the course of life, which cannot be averted, rendered him unable to participate in the active engagement of the game, he would preside over the ceremonies when the club met to play on his ground, evidently gratified with the opportunity of proffering the hospitalities for which his ancient mansion was so well adapted. During a term of nearly forty years he occupied a prominent and popular position, highly valued in the neighbourhood, and supporting it with the characteristics of

"A good old country gentleman, one of the olden time."

The reserve with which the future destiny of the Bramshill estate was treated by the deceased possessor, had excited some curiosity, and led to the general belief in the neighbourhood that it would fall into the hands of strangers, or perhaps revert to the crown. The late

baronet is, however, succeeded by his cousin, the Rev. William Henry, son of the late Lieutenant-General Cope, whose ancestor was the second son of the first baronet, Minor Canon of Westminster.

In what class of men is the love of hunting most firmly engrafted? Is it in masters of hounds, or their huntsmen; in noblemen, or other affluent votaries of fashion, who are conveyed at their ease to the place of meeting by rail or in their carriages, occasionally on their hacks, whose extensive studs afford them invariably a second horse in the field; in country squires, who have similar faciliti's for the enjoyment of the chase; in jovial farmers, when times are ] rosperous? No, it is in the humble pedestrians, who frequently walk greater distances to covert than many of the aristocratic votaries of Diana think of encountering, with all "the means and appliances to boot," railways excepted; who having performed what most people would consider a fair day's exercise, follow the hounds on foot from first to last, and unless the fox be a very straight-necked one, witness the ceremony of "breaking him up," perchance more frequently than nine-tenths of the well-mounted field.

Jem Hastings, whose death took place last summer, which event was noticed in the November number, was one of those; and there is another man surviving him, attached to the same pack, equally ardent in his love of hunting, Samuel Cornock, of Nibley, near Berkeley Castle, the seat of Earl Fitzhardinge. He is a thin wiry little fellow, under five feet six inches in height, with a quick varmint-looking eye, and from the exercise he takes has no superfluous flesh to carry. Sammy is a constant attendant on the noble Earl's hounds, when they are in their home country, and at one time accompanied them to Cheltenham; but of late years he gave that up, entertaining punctilious respect for Jem Hastings, whose exclusive right he considered was vested in that quarter. Nevertheless to keep himself in practice, and the constant enjoyment of his favourite occupation, in the absence of the Earl's hounds, he goes further a-field, to meet the Duke of Beaufort's, whose places of meeting are seldom less, often more, than ten miles from Sammy's abode. As may be supposed, he has a carte blanche to the servant's hall of every sporting man in the country. His costume is a red coat, with white cords, and tanned leather leggings, the whole surmounted with a white hat. This man's father was a weaver of cloth, and before he was eleven years of age the juvenile began to evince his penchant for hunting by playing truant to follow the celebrated pack kept by the late Earl of Berkeley, ancestor of the Earl Fitzhardinge, who did not fail to notice the boy, and often gave him a shilling, which had the effect of a peace offering with his parents, who not approving of his habits threatened him with chastisement, declaring they would hunt him round the house with a stick; but when the noble Earl's gratuity was produced, their wrath was appeased. Often, when eating his dinner, if he heard the hounds he would leave his meal to follow them. The encouragement he met with was no doubt an additional stimulus to his love of hunting, and as he grew in years he still continued his favourite and laborious pursuit; occasionally in the summer following the vocation of an itinerant merchant, dealing in oranges and such small wares as he found to be in demand among his rural connection; but that vocation he has for some years relinquished. He relates having gone, about ten years ago, to meet the Duke of Beaufort's hounds at Draycott Park, more than eighteen miles

from his home; they found in the park, ran to Ann Grove, to West Park, Bingham, Foxley, Easton Grey, and Weston Birt, where they killed. The second fox was found in Pinkney Park, and ran to Sherston across to Silk Wood, where he left them, having to trudge ten miles to his home not a bad day's work for a man on horse-back, much more on foot. This he says is the hardest day's work he ever remembers. He has gone as far as twenty miles to meet hounds in the morning, with a corresponding distance to return, and has often gone to Jackament's Bottom, which is sixteen miles, to meet the Duke of Beaufort. His pace going to covert is from four to five miles in the hour, according to the state of the roads and country. Of course he prefers an open country, where he has a far better chance than in an enclosed one; but knowing the run of the foxes, he is often enabled to avail himself of that acquirement and save much labour-no inconsiderable advantage when so much bodily exertion is inevitable. He makes himself useful by taking care of the terriers, collecting any lost hound, and informing the gentlemen around Berkeley Castle where the appointments are made, as his lordship's fixtures are not advertised except in the Cheltenham country; for these services he is amply rewarded by the liberality of Earl Fitzhardinge. Being a civil, obliging man, of unobtrusive manners, he reaps the reward of his good behaviour, and it is said he is never known to speak ill or disrespectfully of any one.

So constant an attendant at the covert-side, and that during a period of forty years, he has not failed to attract the notice of distinguished personages, visitors at Badminton and Berkeley Castle, and being a well-conducted man, he has received many bountiful presents. Our hero's ambition prompted him to visit the Exhibition, and on reaching London his first duty was to present himself at the residence of his generous patron, Earl Fitzhardinge; when on his arrival being made known, his lordship desired that he might be ushered into his presence, and after giving him seasonable counsel touching his engagements, ordered that Mr. Samuel Cornock, of North Nibley, near Berkeley, should be suitably provided for. But Mr. Samuel Cornock, of North Nibley, had other aristocratic patrons to whom he was in duty bound to pay respectful homage. The Duke of Beaufort of course stood next, and the only circumstance which appears to have occasioned the pedestrian foxhunter uneasiness during his visit to London was his Grace's indisposition. The Duke of Wellington, when on a visit at Badminton, had noticed Mr. Cornock, who therefore paid his respects at Apsley House, where he was admitted to the noble duke's presence, and from whom he received a liberal gratuity. He likewise made his obeisance at the residences of her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, their Graces the Dukes of Bedford and Sutherland, the Earl of Suffolk, Earl Bathurst, and on the day on which her Majesty attended to close the session of parliament, had an audience with Lords Adolphus and Frederic Fitzclarence. It is related that his notoriety as a pedestrian votary of the chase had reached the ears of our gracious Queen; and in order that Mr. Cornock, of North Nibley, might have a full view of the imposing procession, he was introduced to the acquaintance of a policeman, in order that he might be ushered into a position where he would most advantageously 66 see and be seen." Attired in the costume of the Berkeley Hunt-a scarlet coat and black velvet collar,

with a flying fox embroidered thereon in silver and gold; a pair of white cords and new leggings, with his usual white hat-he failed not to attract much notice. His friendly guide, the policeman, conducted him into the park, and placed him between two of the Life-guardsmen, to whom were communicated the instructions of a high authority that they should preserve such space as would protect Mr. Cornock, of North Nibley, from the inconvenience of being crowded, which the aforesaid soldiers facetiously assured him they would enforce, if necessary, with the point of their swords. Thus honourably protected, he awaited the approach of the royal carriage, upon which he took off his hat, and waving it in true sportsmanlike style, gave three hearty and loyal cheers, which her Majesty was graciously pleased to acknowledge with smiling approbation.

When interrogated as to the impression made upon his mind by the exhibition which he went to see, our little adventurer replies "it was very beautiful," but the whole of his thoughts are evidently directed, and with laudable gratitude, to the kindness and liberality of the aristocratic patrons to whom he had paid his respects.

Truly painful is the contemplation of the present aspect of England's principal national sports-foxhunting and racing! and this unfortunate condition of affairs arises mainly, if not entirely, from the state of the laws relating thereto. Will the legislature come forward and rescue these important sports--for important they are to our national character -from their apparently falling state? It is to be apprehended they will not. In one of the most favourite and fashionable hunting countries an unfortunate dispute exists respecting its boundaries, which has been already noticed. In Bell's Life of December 7th appears an adver tisement, announcing the sale of Sir Robert Peel's hunters, with an intimation that Sir Robert Peel "is declining hunting with the Atherstone hounds in consequence of the unsportsmanlike conduct and political animosity, even in the hunting-field, of certain protectionist farmers." Letters have likewise been inserted in the same widelycirculated columns, explanatory of facts and opinions, upon which I shall offer no comment. Politics would be equally misplaced in these columns as they are in the sanctuary of the hunting-field, where, under any circumstances, it is mortifying to observe they should have been introduced in hostile array. Whether the offence or injury arose directly from the political principles which Sir Robert Peel holds, or from words which he may have expressed emanating from that source touching upon persons entertaining different sentiments, matters not, because in either case the event had its origin in politics; and if feelings of retaliation must be exercised, it would have been far more respectful to the "noble science" to have sought some other occasion than the hunting-field for its exhibition. The majority of the agriculturists in Warwickshire and Staffordshire are proverbially attached to foxhunting, and I feel convinced would never upon reflection persist in any act that should prejudice its popularity, or otherwise injure its success. If the laws relative to trespass in connection with hunting were different to what they are, the two above-mentioned cases could not exist.

HUNTING IN AUSTRALIA.

BY A PILGRIM SPORTSMAN.

66

Alfred Club, September.

SIR,-Whilst sitting at the Club in Melbourne last November, your May number was handed to me, which contained an article signed Stockwhip." It was given to amuse me, but struck me rather as being a little too hard on the Australian sportsman. The colony, be it remembered, had been struggling under difficulties for some years; and, of course, its sporting had also felt the shock; indeed, it is only surprising to me that, with the small appliances, hunting and racing have made such strides.

It would be equally unfair, I think, after my complaint, were I not to attempt to record what is really the state of hunting in Australia. At the time I am speaking of, there were in the club two masters of hounds Mr. Compton Ferrars, of the Geelong; and Mr. James Philcox, from Adelaide: and when at dinner I met these two gentlemen, I felt that their names ought not to be sounded by the crack of a stock-whip only; but that some one who had heard their horn, and acknowledged the cheerfulness with which it was answered, ought to speak to it.

Of the Geelong I can say but little, as I arrived too late to see them at work; but their business-like appearance bespeaks care, judgment, and thought. Too much cannot be said in praise of their master; he has the goodwill of all, and is, they tell me, a slashing rider. He hunts them himself; but has had a scarcity of blood lately, in consequence of the dog (alias fox) having been poisoned by strychnine. The depredation he commits among the flocks calls, I believe, for this otherwise unsportsmanlike act.

Mr. Ferrars told me that he must now import deer, and turn them into staghounds; and that he was making preparation for their reception. A fact like this speaks for itself; but I shall not rest content with offering you merely the good resolves of good sportsmen.

Let me first, then, tell you something about the Adelaide pack; and as the two colonies, Adelaide and Melbourne, go nearly hand in hand in sporting matters, a few days with the one will give you a good notion of either. Hounds were imported into Adelaide about the year 1838-a small draft from V. D. Land, of, I think, harriers: these were hunted by Mr. George Hamilton, and showed some clever runs. In 1841 five couples of foxhounds were imported from the East Sussex kennel; these were added to the others, and went on for a few years under two or three managements, but at length the want of funds stopped them. The times beat all the masters, but still no season was allowed to go by without hunting; and as soon as better things began to dawn, the first amusements thought of were racing and hunting. In 1846 Mr. Philcox took to them, and with what subscription he could get, carried them on. The first two years the sport was lean, but the addition of Mr. Baker's hounds, and an alteration in the time of meeting, have enabled him to