1881] HARD TIMES. 67 



depression set iii ; prices and rents went down together, 

 and the agricultural interest appears never to be likely to 

 recover from it. 



THE LAMENT OF THE SQUIRES. 



Broke ! broke, broke, 



Are the lords of the soil aud the squires ; 

 And alas ! that my tongue should utter, 



The thoughts that arise in the Shires. 



0, bad for the nobleman's son, 



When his stud is to Tattersall's sent ! 



O, bad for the squire, too, 



When his tenants can pay him no rent ! 



And the eager crowds go on 



To Ascot aud Newmarket still ; 

 But Oh ! for the touch of the vanished coin, 



And the sound of the gold in the till. 



Broke ! broke, broke, 



Are the lords of this cold, clay land ; 

 And slender' s the chance that the money lost 



Will ever come back to hand. 



CM. 



SEASON 1881-82. ' • .' 



Lord Willoughby de Broke's diary {con fin /fed) : 



First day of eubhunting ou August 30tli, at Suitterfield Bushes at 

 5 o'clock. 



Septemher 10th, Snitterfield BusJtes. — Tremendous liard luoruiug. Fouud 

 at half-past six o'clock, aud ran iutlie Bushes till half -past twelve, aud killed 

 an old fox. The liouuds ran very well aud stout, aud the eutry all did well. 

 Bauish and Bluecap amongst the young ones, and Herald and Audibly did 

 well among the entered hounds. The liouiids were just eleven hours out of 

 keimel. 



October 29th, Shutford. — When near Shutford Chimp a fox crossed close 

 to the jjack, and away they went, leaving Tadmartou on the left, and Bloxham 

 on the left, and I stopped them at last in the Heythrop country, close to a 

 place called Barford, as the horses were beat. A seven-mile point, aud a very 

 good run. Duchess, Dexter, and Claslier did well, so did Silence. 



First day of open hunting. 



October Slst, TJielsford. — Found at Fir Tree Hill, ran along the brook 

 side between Newbold Paeey and Ashorne, up to Lighthorne Rough, 

 through tliat aud Hell Hole, and Moreton Wo(k1, and down to Asliorue again, 

 aud as if for Oakley, but turned to the right, aud went back again Ijy Piper's 



F 2 



