of August to the end of September. Ön the whole, I should say this pack is one that can do the brilliant without flinching: they are the best set of dogs I have seen in the West; and indeed, but for the trifling faults I have mentioned, would be perfect: but

"Perfection's not the lot of man, Nor woman, poz!” How then can we expect it in a hound?

The stabling at Youlstone is good, and kept in fine temperature, with plenty of space between the prads to prevent a coup de pied annoying a visitor. There were several well-stamped hunters for the country over which they are exercised, short in the leg, and compact in form. I saw two or three of the Anacreon blood, which, though pretty enough, are too small I think for a long day's march. The whipper-in's nag, though of Lilliputian height, I admired for its neat and compact build. The bar for teaching young hunters to spring the timber is quite comme il faut, being screened and inclosed by a fence, so that a narrow space is formed for the horse to gallop up to the point, and so little room left to turn round that on he must go. There is, moreover, no large space within for the accommodation of a parcel of gawky fellows to whoop and halloo when business is going on, which does a great deal of harm, by frightening the horses and distracting their attention. If you wisha prad to be a clipper at cool fencing unridden, his lessons should be given in the quietest possible way, and two persons only be present. Before being ridden to hounds, when the

turning-over system is the object, a quiet steady old nag, up to every move of the sward, should be sent up to the fence first, the young one following immediately after: the example of the old one will be a great inducement to the other; and practising in this way a few times after leaving the bar will do a world of good. I confess, however, this crawling way of doing business is not what I like. I prefer, whenever it can be done, my horse to go swinging altogether at his work. I am sure it does not take so much out of your horse (every muscle lending its aid) as in the other way, and is much more varmint besides. I may, perhaps, be told, one's neck runs a pretty considerable risk in this swinging style of work. True; but in the other case one's whole body is endangered; for if you are capsized, you have generally the felicity of finding yourself under your horse's feet-not exactly the most comfortable position in the world. If you break your neck, there's an end of you-you died in the field of glory, and your memory is honored by foxhunters: but to be picked up, with a symmetrical and cherished leg smashed all to pieces, never again to sport a silk stocking, or a Dean and Davis's boot, with, perhaps, a couple of eyes knocked out, and minus a set of ivories, is a consummation by no means "devoutly to be wished." But this is all a matter of taste, as the man said.

Before I left this part of the country I took a peep at several more packs; but as there is little to be said about them, and their owners appear perfectly satisfied with their respective merits, I

waive all mention, and pass on to the neighbourhood of Bodmin, where I rested for a day or two, employing my mornings in the exercise of the trigger, and my evenings with the pen, which I trust will never wilfully or accidentally injure any one.

On the 5th instant I took a pretty sharp ride to see Mr. Braddon's (of Treglith) pack of harriers, considering, from the great experience of their owner and the high character they have, I was likely to be rewarded for my trouble. The pack had left before I arrived at the kennel, but luckily threw off under Treneglos Down, which lay in my route. Soon after I joined, a walk was hit along very prettily for some distance inland, and in a small tuft of furze we found a hare in princely style, which sprang off with strong front pointing straight to the high open grounds on to Lancaster Down,skirting Tregear, the seat of Mr. Lethbridge, and on to Piper's Pool, where she went to form, and a check took place on the Launceston turnpike road leading to Camelford. At this place I had an opportunity of seeing the correctness of the Magistrate's eye, in a cast and recovery worthy of Beckford himself, both huntsman and hounds. Here puss was put to the rout; but her heart being still in the right place, she faced the open, and flew down the dell pointing to the Broughton Marshes, where we followed pretty closely, and the scent rising as we progressed, after flying about three miles, she turned again under Hallworthy, and tried the road, which this brave pack picked along admirably. On Wilsey Down, a flock of sheep, looking more like Welsh

goats than anything, put us at fault, and gave Miss a chance for her life. Casting was again the order, and over the hill we scudded, landing close to the spot where we found, where she skulked into a hedge. "Well (said I) we are done brown, that is the fact-puss has given us the slip, and we may as well turn tail:" but the Governor was of a different opinion; his courage seemed to increase with each disappointment; and he declared, if he stayed till midnight, he would find the lost heroine, and inflict on her the death she deserved.

Presently the chimes sprang up, and away went the little creature, steering her course (as fast as a slight hitch in her gallop would permit) up the hill, but before she had gained it the hounds were on her; and a glorious kill in the open was the reward of a two hours' skirmish.

Mr. Braddon's pack consists of twelve couple of fine upstanding animals, with good loins, wellformed chests, and clear heads; but I should prefer them a shade smaller. They are pretty sizeable, and pack famously, each dog contributing his abilities to all sorts of hunting; and they generally contrive to kill their game. Mr. Braddon has for many years been fortunate enough to have some excellent blood in his kennel: indeed, the best hound that ever trod Cornish ground, certainly in my time, was one he gave Mr. Salusbury Trelawny when at Penguite, and from which that Gentleman bred some rare clippers, perhaps unrivalled. Let old Blaster come forth. I could pick out four or five couples of bitches, which for symmetry and stamina are really complete.

The country this pack hunt is such as any man would like— open, well stocked, and with no impediment to prevent a man being always with his hounds. Mr. Braddon, though one of the Old School in the field, is a killing huntsman and up to his work; but I hope to be pardoned for just hinting, it would be as well not to use so much dog-language-his hounds don't really require it; also to exert his authority amongst the chawbacons, who are much too vociferous to be orthodox. Nothing is more injurious to hounds than a different cheer, particularly from a set of ignoramuses, who know as much about hunting as they do of

SIR,

the man in the moon; and the sooner this nuisance is indicted, the better it will be for the pack.

And now, with many good wishes for the prosperity of Sports and Sportsmen, and a thousand apologies for intruding so long on their attention, I remain

GILBERT FORESTER.

P. S. The reason Sir Walter Carew's crack establishment is not mentioned here is, for the best of all reasons, that I have not yet seen it, having been misinformed respecting the Baronet's fixtures. In my next I hope to

be able to mention it. January the 16th, 1832.

HA AVING lately been on a visit at Andover, I took advantage of the offer of a mount from the friend with whom I was staying to meet the Tidworth hounds, belonging to Mr. Smith, which hunt parts of Berkshire, Hampshire, and Wiltshire, of the fame of which Gentleman every sportsman must be acquainted, he having for many years hunted Nottinghamshire with great satisfaction to the fox-hunters of that country.

You may judge then of my mortification and regret at seeing this once splendid sportsman compelled to relinquish the pursuit of the wily varmint, and descend to the humble sport of hare hunting. Alas! Mr. Editor, know what we are, but we know not what we may be;" and the man who thirty years ago would have prophesied such a thing would have been scouted as a

we

madman. Yet such a thing has come to pass, though not from any fault or remissness on his part. Every one with whom I conversed admitted that he had done everything in the power of man to give satisfaction to the farmers, and had even gone to the expense of importing foxes from Ireland; yet still the evil hand could not be stayed; and after drawing covert to covert blank, day after day, and week after week, he threw it up in disgust, and stooped his hounds to hare.

One remarkable circumstance attending this metamorphosis, which I ought not to omit, is, that though this pack had always been perfectly free from riot, yet, after three days hunting, every hound took to hare as naturally as though they had been at work at them all their lives; and I certainly never saw a pack of finer harriers than they make, being

well suited for the country, which is hilly, stiff, and heavy, with large thick coverts; and few hares can stand twenty minutes before them with anything like a scent.

On the day on which I met them, the 29th December, we threw off at Quarley Mount, a few miles below the seat of the worthy Master, who hunts them himself, assisted by two lads (his first whip having been made kennel huntsman). The morning was frosty, and after waiting half an hour or so, we commenced operations; but, though we found four or five hares in succession, the scent was so bad that we could scarcely hunt them a yard. A laughable occurrence took place on finding our hare, strongly shewing the force of habit: the hounds were draw ing a small copse, from which the hare stole away, and was just

second

topping the opposite hill, when Mr. Smith, who has a regular hawk's eye, caught a glimpse as she passed, and in the hurry of the moment, forgetting what he was hunting, took off his cap and gave a Tally-ho, which made the whole country echo.

It would be unfair to pass an opinion upon the performance of a pack with so slight an acquaintance; but the condition of the dogs was too admirable, as were the horses, particularly the one rode by Mr. Smith.

As it seems the fashion among the writers of the present day to particularize, I may add that the dress of the Hunt is green with a scarlet collar and black cap.

Wishing as long a life to Mr. Smith as your excellent Magazine is sure to have, I am, Mr. Editor, yours, FLASHMAN.

Titley, near Kington.

I1

SIR,

T is a long time since I have been among your pages, and it is not now with the light pen of joy that I write: no, it is to relieve for a moment the heaviness of sorrow; and what is a more delicious luxury to mind ill at ease than to praise that which we love to praise--that which we can praise with truth! Here goes.

The Lyneham fox-hounds for ever, huzza! These hounds are as fine, as noble a pack as gallops over the earth: Mr. Bulteel leads them on. On Tuesday the 13th they unkennelled in Dewerston, or Deerstone. After a round in the covert, he went away like a good one over Whigford Down,

through Caddaford Farm, crossed the Plym river below Caddaford Bridge, through Lilliver, over Shaugh Moor by Suddle Barrow ; a check, however. The master made one of the quickest and best casts I ever saw. Forward, forward! We lost not a minute, but rather gained by this good forward cast. Well, go on. They hit it away by Torycomb Tor, crossed the Tory Brook, through Knole Wood, over Headon, through the village of Lutton-some confusion amidst the variety of animals biped and quadruped, squalling variis linguarum voicks! guarum voicks! Through it all we went; were halloo'd on to Slade, down the valley, Marks,

Lucas Wood, Spurham, crossed the river Yealm, through Beech Wood, crossed the Ivy Bridge turnpike roads, through Beech, Stretchley, Swineson, crossed the river Yealm, through South Wood, Laverton Wood, Treby's Haws, Treby Wood, where they killed after a most superior run. Everything right-no roadsters in the way; they were all abroad, as they always should be: so the hounds killed their fox well, as excellent hounds always will do when they get out of the way of but so-so sportsmen. This run from Dewersden to Treby Wood is nine miles at least as the crow flieth, and the fox went about fourteen. Mr. Thomas Lane and two others saw the whole of this run. The remainder of the jolly party-some took their recreation on the roads to Windsor, perhaps to seek for the smiles of Royalty --others voyaged toward New England; all as fast as they could sail, light and heavy, slap away from the hounds. Those of Windsor did come in time for a bit of fox. As for the voyageurs to New England, it is supposed they were cast away, as no one saw more of them. Thus ended a delicate chase.

There was one there who cried with a loud voice, "Oh, ye ex

SIR,

cellent hounds! would that ye had no roads, no lanes (except Mr. Thomas Lane and his brothers) in your hunting country! No MacAdamising horse-tirers to meet you, who clog your sensitive noses with their steam; who never see you, except when by some unlucky chance they rush into your presence, on their favorite topics of converse, the roads; and who compel you to lose your fox! No noisy, screaming, crazy Gentlemen, who astonish you, and make you turn back your eyes with horror, and

stop you with trembling to know whence the thunder comes! No appetite seekers! No coffeehouse men, no wind-sinkers, no whistlers! Let not any voice be heard except your own, and the manly cheer of your Master ! May your followers be sportsmen, and nothing but sportsmen!"

The scarlet-clad ones laughed loud. Like Cassandra, his judgment was treated with ridicule, his truth with scorn. Well, well, he has done his best. His hunting-day, his almost only day of gladness, is fast sinking into the night of oblivion; the darkness comes rushing on--and Ha, ha, ha !—Finis to

January 21, 1832.

WHEN a character celebrated in

ONEOFUS.

I trust, accurate notice of a sportsman, who has just given us another illustration of mortality, and has fallen or dropped amongst us,

"Like leaves in wintry weather." The subject of my scrawl is Mr. William Flint, a Gentleman who by one single exhibition on the Turf has Rr