Barn on the right to Farmington Grove, where he remained a short period; by which those who did not succeed in getting well away from the Lodge Park were enabled to gain their places. Being viewed away by the under-whip, he made his point along the vale for Bourton-on-the-Water, when, bearing to the left, he crossed the Stow road at Bourton Bridge, still keeping the vale between Upper and Lower Slaughter to Slaughter's Copse, where the hounds were very near running into him. A fresh fox, however, was viewed away, which was mistaken for the hunted one, and the hounds, being hallooed away, were laid on to him, and ran him to Eyeford, where he entered the plantations; bearing a little to the left, but being pressed, diverged again to the right; passing the house on the same tack, continued his line through the coverts, by which many of the field were thrown out; clearing the woods, he then made for Sezincote Warren, and from thence to Bourton Wood, in Earl Fitzhardinge's hunt, where he found an accommodating sanctuary by going to earth. This run, which occupied something more than two hours and a half, cannot be computed at less than two or three and twenty miles, taking into calculation the various turns and windings which a fox usually describes the distance from point to point; Bourton Wood being due north of the Lodge Park, is at least sixteen or seventeen miles; and many of the horses were in difficulties previously to the termination. Friday, Dec. 8th.-The same pack met at Cold Aston, which, being within reach of Cheltenham, and Lord Fitzhardinge, according to custom, being in the Berkeley country, induced many of the members of that hunt to join them. Not Grove, Aston Grove, and several small spinneys were drawn without success, when a fox jumped up from a quarry about half a mile on the eastern side of the Northleach and Stow road, which he crossed, the hounds being close to his brush, direct to Farmington Grove, at a tremendous pace; in which burst, although not more than two-and-a-half to three miles, most of the horses were getting blown. Various opinions exist whether this fox did not hold on his line through the grove; but, as one was viewed retracing the course nearly in the same direction from whence we had found, Jem Hills endeavoured to recover him, in which attempt, from the deficiency of scent, he failed. Clapton Gorse was then drawn blank, but there was a fox hard by in the spinney, which, not waiting to be found, went off on hearing the note of preparation, along the vale; bearing to the right, crossed the brook for Sherborne Park, where he had no time for delay; from thence to the Lodge Park, on to the Black-pits, nearly to Aldsworth, where he was headed by some labourers, and viewed, making his point for a plantation, where the hounds changed; from whence, running back to Farmington, he was lost, the scent not proving good enough: nor was it anything like first-rate during the whole of the run; but the perseverance of the pack and quickness of their huntsman gave the horses quite enough to do, consequently many of them were unable to witness the conclusion. Wednesday, Dec. 13th.-Lord Redesdale's hounds met at Bradwell Grove. A large field, composed of most of the members of the Heythorp hunt, several from Lord Gifford's, Lord Dillon, the late master of these hounds, Mr. Pryce, master of the Goggerddan hounds, and a considerable sprinkling of Oxonians. The coverts in the immediate vicinity of Bradwell Grove were drawn without affording a fox, but the gorse near Filkinsdown was successful. The animal sought for was quickly found, and as quickly forced to quit; making a tour of the plantations, he reached Bradwell Grove, where he was much disposed to remain, but, finding the pack too ardent in their pursuit, he finally determined upon facing the open, and went away across the lawn towards Signell, when, bearing to the right over the Burford and Faringdon road, ran to Brize Norton, which village he passed, and into a plantation, where another fox joined in company with him, and they ran together, or nearly so, for some distance; at length they parted, as best friends must when Death issues the summons, the body of the hounds holding on to the hunted fox, and five couples to the fresh one, both lots killing their respective foxes almost at the same moment, within little more than a mile of each other-the one at Minster, and the other in a small ashplantation only a few fields from the Burford and Witney road. The run lasted an hour and five minutes, during which the hounds were never cast once after leaving Bradwell Grove. Being within reach of Lord Gifford's hounds on the 1st of December, I eagerly embraced the opportunity of going to the place of meeting-Ampney Park. It invariably affords me the greatest satisfaction when anything connected with the sporting world comes before my notice worthy of mentioning in terms of praise, and nothing gives me more pleasure than to pronounce the very great improvement in the appearance of Lord Gifford's hounds since last year. They came to the covert side looking in excellent condition-beautiful in their coats, level in size, and they are a style of hound which the most fastidious cannot fail being pleased with. The events of the day were not so propitious as to form subject for much comment, but they were such as human influence has no control over; as, for instance, want of scent, and being unfortunate in meeting with foxes not inclined to run straight; nevertheless some of the over ambitious riding men were not content to give the hounds room to work for what little scent there was, until Lord Gifford spoke out in terms not to be mistaken. There was, however, one circumstance which I heard to my great mortification, and which I record with still greater; but having undertaken to lay before the public the result of all my observations in the sporting world, I am bound, however repugnant it is to my own feelings, to notice every event which transpires. To be under the necessity of noticing the destruction of foxes in any country in which hounds are kept, even when those foxes are destroyed by persons who are avowedly hostile to fox-hunting, is far from being an agreeable task; but when facts come to my knowledge of foxes being destroyed on the estate of a sportsman, one who has made Melton his winter residence for years, and where, as a sportsman, his society has ever been courted by all who have surrounded him, it cannot be doubted that I should feel the greatest reluctance to introduce the cir cumstance. That Sir James Musgrave's keepers should destroy the foxes at Barnesley must be without Sir James's sanction, especially as the coverts are hunted by Lord Gifford, and are within so short a distance of Lord Fitzhardinge's, that the foxes are constantly traversing backwards and forwards. No doubt exists that the keepers have destroyed them, but I sincerely trust in my next communication to be enabled to state that Sir James Musgrave has issued his mandates for their future security. As a visit to a well conducted racing-stable is on all occasions a subject of interest, being in the neighbourhood of Blandford, I had an opportunity of going through Mr. Percy's, at Pimperne, two miles from the town. The stabling and loose boxes are most excellently constructed; the important subject of ventilation is scrupulously attended to, and is contrived in a manner worthy of attention: I will therefore describe it. The external air is admitted by means of a tunnel or chimney, commencing at about eighteen inches from the ground, and is carried up between the brickwork, opening in the sill or ledge of the window; thus the admission of the vital principle is effected without the possibility of creating a draught or current to come in contact with the inmates, and the foul air is permitted to escape through tunnels constructed in the ceiling and roof; by this means a perfectly free circulation is established. The mangers are lined with zinc, and have round bars of inch iron adapted so as to prevent the horses from biting them, and by that means acquiring a habit of cribbing. The most perfect cleanliness prevails in every part, which is rendered the more practicable in consequence of the material with which the mangers are lined; disease is no doubt kept in subjection by these attentions. Close to the stabling a most excellent sheltered ride is formed, on which the horses can be exercised in the most boisterous weather; an important addition to a training establishment, but one which is very rarely to be found. The exercise ground lies about a mile, or rather more, from the stables, the turf of which is very superior, and the gallops are of a varied description, one of which is much after the form of the Derby course at Epsom; it commences with a hill, even stronger than that over which the great race is run, and the distance is a quarter of a mile further; indeed, no ground can be more admirably adapted to try a Derby horse upon. In the stables I was shown Arctic, looking as fresh as ever, and, although a cocktail, is a useful horse to a string of young ones. A bay colt by Bay Middleton, out of Silvertail, three years old, is a very clever, wiry, elastic animal; he was claimed at Egham for £600, at which price he cannot be a dear bargain. Antler, by Defence or Venison, out of Defender's dam, partakes a great deal of the characteristics of the latter stallion, so much so as to identify the legitimacy of his descent; unfortunately for his owner, the circumstance of his dam having been put to two horses was not expressed in his nomination for the Derby, consequently he cannot run for that stake, which after the superior form he has already evinced, added to his appearance, must be a great disappointment; he has started three times, and has won twice, having been successful for the Hopeful Stake and the Prendergast, but was beaten for the Clearwell. The chestnut colt, by Elis, out of Delightful, known in the betting ring as the Delightful colt, is a great, strapping, good-looking animal, with plenty of power, fine action, and apparently an excellent temper; his action, as far as I could judge by seeing him go at half speed, is everything his backers can wish, and, if he be well on the day, will, no doubt, have many friends; as attempting to form any opinion what pretensions a dark horse can have, must be open to much uncertainty, to make inquiry of a trainer would be impertinent and absurd; nevertheless a small investment at the present price cannot be productive of much sacrifice, and may turn out a good speculation. Queen Charlotte, by Elis, out of Charlotte West, two years old, in the Oaks, is a nice racing-looking filly, with all the appearance of being speedy. A chestnut colt by Elis, out of Odessa, two years old; sister to Queen Charlotte; brother to Delightful; and a colt by Elis, out of Antler's dam, which last three are yearlings, complete the Hon. Sidney Herbert's string of horses at present in training at Percy's. In addition to which there are three, the property of Mr. Fox-a brown filly, by Camel, out of Destiny; a bay filly, by Glaucus, both two years old; and a yearling colt, by Elis, out of Taunton Lass. Mr. Herbert has employed Percy to train for him for several years, on whose behalf he has been very successful. Like most others of the human creation, he has had afflictions to contend against, which have been showered upon him in the loss of all his children but one, out of a family of eight or nine; among them a most promising young jockey, named Chudleigh Percy, who was engaged in the service of Lord George Bentinck, and employed by several other patrons of the turf in high repute. The high encomiums which I have heard of this good lad's amiability, integrity, and skill in his calling, declare his loss to be a serious one to his employers and the public. THE HORSE AND THE HOUND. BY TRANBY. There's a bliss, beyond all that the cockney can boast, Do their work, spite of brooks, walls, and hedges so high. Whole seasons of pleasure elsewhere to be found; And, oh! if there be an enjoyment on earth, 'Tis afforded, I'm sure, in the horse and the hound. 105 SPORTING WRITERS. BY NIMROD. : Mr. Smith condemns a method of drawing covers not unusualviz., a huntsman throws his hounds into a cover which he cannot ride, and consequently is obliged to keep outside as soon as the hounds are in, away he trots round the outside, thinking that, by getting to the opposite side of the cover, he will be able to draw them through by his voice; but the consequence is, three parts of the pack, hearing him trot away, turn their heads and follow outside, and are apt to be on the watch for it ever afterwards. Had he gone steadily on, though outside, they would have drawn it properly. That hounds should be apt to dread being left behind, is not to be wondered at, considering the quickness with which they get away with their fox. In drawing gorse covers, Mr. Smith recommends a huntsman taking his hounds round it, when they will more readily find the open parts. I am not aware that I have seen this method adopted, but I see no objection to it. In large covers, when more than one fox is on foot, and there is doubt what to do, should one be viewed away, our author recommends the hounds to be at once stopped from the one they are running in cover, and capped on to the "flyer;" and for this he gives the following good and straightforward reason:-" After the season begins," he says, "the field have a right to expect sport; but, if necessary to rattle covers, and stay in them for the purpose of making all the foxes fly, it should be done before regular hunting begins, or have a by-day for it now and then; otherwise a whole season may pass without a run from this cover, for there are foxes that will never break cover." On the subject of foxes found in large covers, Mr. Smith has an interesting remark, although I doubt whether he do not carry his theory a little too far. He talks of a fox, under such circumstances, hanging in cover for the purpose of preparing himself; in short, he will not, he thinks, break until he is fit to go. With twenty couples of hounds at his brush, I doubt his being such a philosopher; still I agree with the writer in thinking that a turn or two round a cover by a fox, when not pressed by the pack, may be of service to him previously to his facing the open; and also in his remark that, if a fox hangs a little in a gorse cover for half-an-hour before he breaks, it takes more trouble to kill him than if whipped out of his kennel in view. Whether, however, the zeal of our author in the following passage does not carry him a little too far, I leave experienced foxhunters to determine. "There are foxes," he says, "that can beat any hounds, if they have time to prepare themselves, and have a fair start." |