1834] BEILLIANT SPORT. 123 



politely paraded the pack before them aloiijj a sunk fence, in order to enable 

 tlieni to have a near view of the hounds * 



Among the sportsmen were three successive masters of tlie Warwickshire 

 hounds— Mr. Fellowes, Mr. Russell, and Mr. Thornhill. In addition 

 to these. I noticed SiR Walter Carew, the popular master of a pack in the 

 West of England ; LoRD Edward Somerset, from his brotlier the Duke of 

 Beaufort's country; Lord Clonmell. with several of Mr. Drake's men; 

 Lord Kinnaird, from Melton, &.c. It is needless to remark upon the 

 splendid studs which such a meeting collected together, or how desirous 

 everyone felt the sport on this day should bear some proportion to the 

 niuubers collected. For some time, particularly on considering the dryness 

 of the ground, there was much anxiety on this point, " mine host " on the 

 island not being at home, and several coverts being drawn with no other 

 result than the opportimity given to old friends of cultivating those kind 

 feelings which belong so peculiarly to foxliunting, and of admiring the 

 striking scenery over which chance carried them. At length, w^hen but few 

 were ])repared for the find, and when the mas's of the field were far in the 

 rear, a fox broke from a small i)iece of gorse on the summit of one of the 

 Dassett hills, and went away 2>ointing for Boddington. But this was up-wind, 

 and far too expensive in breath with homids so near and so determined to 

 kill. Accordingly, making a ring by the Sontham Road, and on his return 

 leaving Famborough on the left, our fox gave us forty-seven minutes down 

 to Itchington. where, in another quarter of an hour in the covert, he poured 

 forth his lofty spirit into the thin air, and instead of taking a " lodging on the 

 cold ground" for his remains, permitted them to be divided among his ardent 

 pursuers. The only take off from the delights of this day was an accident 

 which befel Mr. Holden, whose situation, from a fall on his head, was 

 rendered most alarming. 



The last meet this season was on Monday, March 31st, 

 at Eatington Yilhige. 



The ^.Varwickshire sport this season has been nothing 

 short of brilliant, which all friends to foxhunting and 

 admirers of sport must rejoice at. Mr. Thornhill, with a 

 handsome subscription of 2250/. per annum, started with a 

 zeal and determination that could not fail to command 

 success. 



The hounds this season hunted on 106 days, and 

 killed and accounted for eighty-three foxes. 



• The huntsman feels a secret pride, an inward feeling of self-gratification, which 

 he does not openly express, when he can ride up to the heels of his hounds in a rapid 

 burst, or at the end of a long and very severe run. He has many difficulties to 

 encounter, and duties to perform, which do not, in common, belong to any other person 

 present ; and if he should be fortunate enough to overcome them all, on that day he 

 must be the happiest man in the field. These remarks equally apply to every one of 

 that useful and interesting class of men, who knows his duty, and is determmed to 

 do it. 



