The Hounds in 



First Pack of Fox-Hounds xO^ <?- 



THE first real steady pack of fox-hounds 

 established in the western part of England 

 was by Thomas Fownes, Esq., of Stepleton, in 

 Dorsetshire, about 1730. They were as handsome, 

 and fully as complete in every respect, as any of 

 the most celebrated packs of the present day. The 

 owner was obliged to dispose of them, and they 

 were sold to Mr. Bowes, in Yorkshire, the father 

 of the late Lady Strathmore, at an immense price. 

 They were taken into Yorkshire by their own 

 attendants, and, after having been viewed and much 

 admired in their kennel, a day was fixed for making 

 trial of them in the field, to meet at a famous hare- 

 cover near. When the huntsman came with his 

 hounds in the morning, he discovered a great number 

 of sportsmen, who were riding in the cover, and 

 whipping the furzes as for a hare ; he therefore 

 halted, and informed Mr. Bowes that he was un- 

 willing to throw ofF his hounds until the gentlemen 

 had retired, and ceased the slapping of whips, to 

 which his hounds were not accustomed, and he 

 would engage to find a fox in a few minutes if there 

 was one there. The gentlemen sportsmen having 

 obeyed the orders given by Mr. Bowes, the hunts- 

 man, taking the wind of the cover, threw off his 

 hounds, which immediately began to feather, and 

 soon got upon a drag into the cover, and up to the 

 fox's kennel, which went ofF close before them, and, 

 after a severe burst over a fine country, was killed, 

 to the great satisfaction of the whole party. They 

 then returned to the same cover, not one half of it 

 having been drawn, and very soon found a second 

 fox, exactly in the same manner as before, which 

 broke cover immediately over the same fine country : 



