Gate, Orwell, Right Away, and Fontainebleau. There is a dark one also from the north in Hutton Conyers, that will, I hope, raise some shouts on his behalf in that eventful week; for, thus far, the North does not look like making any show in our classic races of 1890.

"Of the Lancashire Plate it is difficult to judge, as the two-yearolds look very dangerous, and are dark. The young St. Simons began so well last year, that they look like doing wonders again this year, and their names are legion-Simon Magus, Simonian, St. Simon of the Rock, Siphonia, Simon de Montfort, colt by St. Simon out of Esa, colt by St. Simon out of Ithonia, Sabra, St. Bees, Grammont, Simplicity, and last, though not least, Kooralie (sister to Semolina). "Here is food for sport indeed, of which I trust the Van will be the faithful chronicler."

We have been waiting to see some pertinent Cross Country Sport. answers to the circular which, before Christmas Mr. Hwfa Williams addressed to the sporting world on the subject of how steeplechasing was to be raised out of the slough of despond into which it had sunk, and made again. popular in this sport-loving land. There has been no lack of many suggestions in the press, and here and there a right nail has, we think, been hit. Writers have now and then wandered out of the record into by-paths, but most of the old hands who, under noms de plume or initials fail in concealing their identity, have stuck to the text of Mr. Hwfa Williams' circular. The pages of "Our Van" is not the place for a dissertation on the causes which have tended to sink steeplechasing to so low an ebb, that we really and truly have only one event during the season-the Liverpoolwhich excites any interest, or is worth making a long journey to see. But perhaps the Driver may be permitted to mention the overlegislation of the G.N.H.C., the hard and fast line that causes one steeplechase course to resemble another, as if both were made in the same shop; the rule that has no regard for the fences of one country differing from those of another, and, above all, that terrible. bugbear, "the open ditch." Let the latter obstacle be retained at Sandown and Kempton, if it so pleases the authorities of those meetings; but why inflict it on a hunting country where no horse to the manner born has ever seen such a thing before? All this has had much to do, in our humble opinion, with the unpopularity of steeplechasing. The regrettable and increasing popularity of hurdle-racing has, perhaps, had much more. The large sums given to this hybrid sport is a temptation to cupidity; the fact that a plater, on the flat worthless, may be able to gallop over sticks, is of course another. We have no wish to see hurdle-racing stamped out it will always exist; but why greatly encourage it? We are sorry to see, by the way, that Mr. Hwfa Williams is in favour of hurdle races over a mile and a half. We fondly hoped that the G.N.H.C. had settled that point long ago.

There is a cry of alarm borne to us on the rustThe Future of Fox- ling leaves of the daily press, in which, though we Hunting. do not share, we still consider is not to be lightly disregarded. Is fox-hunting in danger? Have exceeding great riches, and with them the thirst of their possessors to take up the pursuits and tastes of country gentlemen, brought down

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on the backs of our farmers a taxation under which and groan? In plain English, are large fields in what "fashionable counties" making hunting unpopular an that for generations has been its backbone? Answered generally, there would be an emphatic no, we think, to the question. here and there discontent is rife, and complaints well-founded, must, on the other hand, be admitted. That such a sporting country as Warwickshire, in which we should expect the very children to lisp the language of the hunting field, should lately, at a special meeting of its Chamber of Agriculture, give utterance through its members to complaints of the mischief done by reckless and ignorant so-called "sporting men," is sufficiently significant. Those of our readers who knew the grand county, and the style of men who ride over it, will probably consider it serious. Suggestions there were at the meeting, that some plan should be devised for making the men of each hunt better customers of the farmers, in the way of buying hay and corn; and we should suppose there would not be much difficulty about that. That, however, as far as we could gather from the reports of the meeting, was a minor consideration; the burning one was the damage done by large fields, and what someone called “a rabble rout of riders. There are the men who rail to Rugby, Aylesbury, Leighton, Bedford, and other sporting centres, and never think of contributing a farthing to the hunt they honour. What is to be done with them? Among all the talk that took place in the Shire Hall at Warwick, we could discover no practical suggestion as to how the rabble rout" was to be got at. One member of the hunt, indeed, did say that if farmers would report to the hunt committee when any special damage occurred, he believed their claims would receive consideration, and with that somewhat meagre promise the talk ended. But we trust heed has been taken of the meeting, and what was said at it. Some plan must be devised for making every man who rides after hounds, whether down a lane or across a country, pay for his amusement.

66

Leaves from the

The following extracts speak for themselves:"December 28th,-Cottesmore. Bitch pack at Diary of a Leicester- Ridlington. Spent the morning, as usual, with shire Sportsman. bad, ringing foxes from Stoke End and Wardley Wood, where they sadly want a fresh breed. At last we got a big fox out of Wardley, but he soon got to ground, was bolted, and with the pack at his brush, he was compelled to run somewhere, so made for Quaker's Spinnies, which he passed on the left, bore away as if for Launde and the Hog's Back, turned left handed by Belton up to Vowes Gorse, then through Allexton Wood, and so back to Wardley, and was pulled down within a field of the wood. A big ring, all grass, very fast time, twenty-five minutes. "Friday, January 10th.-Quorn at Beeby. The Holt, Baggrave, and Carr's Bridge blank. Found at John o' Gaunt; ran fast for twenty minutes by Tilton Village to ground near Skeffington. Left him and trotted off five miles to Adam's Gorse. Found; ran pointing for Burrough Village, turned to the left, and ran all along the valley over old steeplechase course up the hill, and so to Thorpe Trussells; then, bearing away left-handed, he made for Twyford, South Marefield, and eventually was given up between John o' Gaunt and

Loseby. A very fine gallop over the cream of the country; time, forty-five minutes. A large field, very much on the ride, and also on the tumble. What superb hounds and huntsmen are these!

Tuesday, January 14th.-Cottesmore at Launde Abbey. Bitch pack, eighteen-and-a-half couples. Drew Launde Great Wood; fox found himself, and was viewed away before hounds got near him. Dodged about, and we hunted him slowly up to Owston Wood, through which he ran straight, and out towards Somerby, where the pace improved, and so on to Burrough, leaving Punch Bowl well to the right; over the hill, across the old steeplechase course, up to Thorpe Satchville; passed between that village and Thorpe Trussells, and so to Ashby Pasture, into which he was viewed dead beaten. He managed to crawl down the covert, and crept into an open drain at bottom end. A good fox, whose life is valuable. Point, nine miles, straight, all grass; time, sixty minutes. A fine run over perfect country.

Thursday, January 16th.-Cottesmore at Exton Hall. Dog pack. Found at once in Tunnelly Wood in Exton Park, came away straight through Cottesmore Wood, across Painter's Farm into Burley Bushes, through Burley Wood, out over the grass nearly to dog kennels; bore away to right, crossed Oakham Road, and ran along the Ashwell Vale by canal bank, leaving Cottesmore Gorse and Woodwell Head on the right; touched Edmondthorpe, bore to right by Mr. Pochin's Home Farm, nearly to Gunby Gorse, which was left well to the right, and so to Stainby Village, and thence towards Buckminster; but bearing again to the right he was given up at Gunby Warren. A grand fox chase, and we must have run fifteen miles. Excepting just at first, it was slow hunting, but full of interest, as the hounds did their work well. Drew Gunby Gorse blank. Found in Woodwell Head, and had a wide ring to ground, and so home; a first rate day's sport.

Friday, January 17th.-Quorn at Great Dalby. Bitch pack. A terrible crowd; at least four hundred people out. Found at Gartree Hill, and had a slow hunting run over a charming country up to Owston Wood. Found at Thorpe Trussells, ran to Burdett's, and then to Gartree Hill, where they killed him. No scent.

"Tuesday, January 21st.-Cottesmore at Brook Hall. Bitch pack. Found at once in Prior's Coppice; away up wind, leaving Chesseldyne Coppice to the left, into Owston Wood, though without any check, and away over Wadboro' Hill, leaving Tilton Station on the left, up to Halstead Farm, where there was a slight check; then away to the right into John o' Gaunt, whence, no doubt, we took a fresh fox, who led us up to the corner of Tilton Village, then over the hills, leaving Lord Moreton's Gorse on his left up to top of Loseby Park; passed between Baggrave and Loseby, down the valley, and over the brook by Twyford; crossed the railway at John o' Gaunt Station, up to Burrough Village; thence, bending to the left, we crossed the steeplechase_course and up to the Thorpe Satchville Lane, and so to Thorpe Trussells, which we skirted, and pressed on to Great Dalby Village, where he turned, left-handed, passed Cream Gorse and also Ashby Pastures, without disturbing either covert, and worked his way back to Thorpe Trussells, between which place and Dalby Station he was given up at 2.50. We had

been running incessantly from 11.30 almost without any real check; several hesitations, if you like, but hardly a check. A grand line, all grass, and at times very fast. Did not draw again. Prominent throughout this fine run were Gillson, Mr. Jacobson, Lord Lonsdale, Mr. E. C. Clayton, Mr. E. Baird, Mr. Lancelot Lowther, Captain Middleton, Mr. Jackson, etc."

Essex Hounds.

During the last few weeks sport has not been much to boast of. On January 4, however, there was an exception, from Botlingworth Mill. Found at Dewley Wood; ran almost to Ongar, then over the high road to Forest Hall Osiers. Hounds here were close on his brush, but on he sailed, to ground in Kelvedon Hall Wood; fifty-five minutes. Found again in Ongar Park; ran by Foot Hill, Greenstead Wood, to Kettlebury Springs, then over the river again, to Kelvedon Hall Wood. Here this fox too went to ground, but between them we had a capital day: and you may bet, Mr. Van Driver, that horses were pretty well done up. Wednesday, January 8.-Sir H. S. Ibbetson gave a hunt breakfast. As usual this good sportsman had plenty of foxes to show; but though there was galloping about, there was nothing fast or long enough to record.

By the way, have you read the correspondence in the Field of January 11th and 18th, in reference to a difficulty which has arisen between the master of the Essex Hunt and the officers of the Royal Dragoons? Surely no good can be done to foxhunting by allowing some of these letters to see the light. Still, the master, in my judgment, was compelled by the circumstances of the country to expect officers, in a garrison stationed in the district, to subscribe as much as resident hunting men. But so long as the regiment sends a subscription, the officers should be made welcome, if they do not muster more than two or three at a time. The difficulty was, however, one for well-wishers to both parties to smooth over by diplomacy, and not at all one that required to be accentuated by discussion in the public press.

Cheshire Notes.

On Boxing Day there was a brilliant day's sport with the North Pack. 1st: A clinking thirty minutes from one of Oulton Spinneys, to ground at Darnhall; pace terrific, the hounds slipping the majority. 2nd: After a find in a withy bed near Wettenhall, we had a ring at a racing pace by Page's Wood, and killed in twenty minutes. On December 27th, Brindley Lea was the fixture with the South Pack, and we had fifteen minutes as hard as hounds could race, from Ridley to the hills, where he went to ground. A bad fox from Peckforton did not do much for the day's sport: which, however, ended in a real forty-five minutes from Baddily, which was finished by a brilliant kill in the open at Bunbury Church. After an interim of frost, sport recommenced January 6th. This was an uneventful day. But on Tuesday, the South Pack were at Broomhall, whence they had a short scurry, and lost. A fox slipped away from a small covert, and gave us a real good forty minutes, killing in the Park at Nantwich. In the afternoon two foxes jumped out of a hollow tree near Broomhall, and we had a very fine hunting run after one of them, for nearly an hour, to Doddington, but lost him near Willaston; this was a grand day. On Wednesday the North

Pack raced from Chilton to the Forest-a six miles' point, in thirty-five minutes-a clinker. Thursday had nothing worth mentioning. But on Friday the South Pack found at Hurleston, and raced to the Hills, a five and a half mile point, in twenty-eight minutes. Such a pace, over such a country, over the cream of Cheshire, up wind all the way! Saturday with Sir Watkin Wynn. Found near Ightfield, and had a capital thirty-five minutes to ground near Ash. Found again at Sandford, and had a good ring of twenty minutes. What the hounds did more I cannot say, as one horse had done enough.

The Essex
Union.

"Sport in the Essex Union country," says a valued correspondent, "has been good lately. Tuesday, January 7th: Puddledock.-Found in the famed cover of this name, our fox breaking on the Cranham side, but being headed, crossed the road and Southend line of railway, and they hunted him to within a field of Codham Hall. Bearing right-handed, hounds got on rather better terms over the grass meadows; and going on by way of Great Warley Rectory, our fox skirted Warley Hall Wood, and led the field over a scratchy line of country, to Childerditch Wood, the only cover touched during the run. Here a fresh fox for a time complicated proceedings; but the master soon had them right, and they raced away across Thorndon Park, the fox going to ground just in front of the pack, in a large earth near the house; time, one hour. Mill Wood held a brace; ran a very fast ring round Thorndon, back into Mill Wood, away on the Horndon side, and into and through Pigott's Bushes. From here hounds ran hard and straight up to Bottedown Hill, sank the hill to Gravel Pits, and marked their fox in a small rabbit hole near Herongate; hounds quickly dislodged, and earned blood. Thursday, January 9th, saw us at Graces Walk. Found on Woodham Walter Common, ran smartly to Tofts, and back to the Common, where he beat us. The osier bed near Woodhill held a fox, and hounds getting away on his back, sent him along right merrily for twenty minutes, the greater part of the pursuit being over some rough uncultivated land; and their fox beat them by going to ground in a large hollow tree in Danbury Park. The following Saturday a capital day's sport. Meeting at Downham, found directly in Cock Wood; ran him prettily down to Moor Gardens, where he turned sharp to the right, and the pace improved as hounds drove their fox over the undulating grass pastures near Downham Church. Crossing the road near Downham Village, they ran hard and straight on to Bishops. It is a nice point whether we didn't change foxes here, though hounds never seemed to be off the line; from here, running hard into Fortyacre, he went to ground. The Squire of Runwell as usual had a fox for us-or foxes, we should say-as we ran two rings between Runwell and Wellwood, eventually losing our fox close to where we found him; time, two hours; a hard day for horses and hounds. Monday, January 13.-Another red letter day. Crays Hill. Found in Stoney Grove, ran as for Wickford, but turned to the left, and over a capital line of country, by way of Basildon and the steeplechase course, to Little Ropers Shaw; thirty-five minutes as hard as hounds could go. Turned back here, and after another good forty VOL. LIII.—NO. 360.

K