24 REMINISCENCES OF 



of his pack, for he had no skirters and very few 

 babblers, but there was a great deal too much " too- 

 tooing," and if the hounds did not go at once at the 

 call of the horn, the whips were very severe upon 

 them. I have no doubt that as the hounds get more 

 seasoned, and as they get to understand a little more 

 of the noble science of hunting, some of these faults 

 may be corrected. It may surprise you, that although 

 this is the month of February, we are only at the 

 commencement of the season, and it may be we may 

 kill a good many May foxes. We have the same 

 master as last season, and I have no doubt he will 

 carry out the same old system of lifting his hounds, 

 and not leave them to find the scent themselves. I 

 was at the first meet the other day, and saw some 

 new dogs there, and some of them were more ex- 

 traordinary importations than those which appeared 

 the last season. There was an importation from the 

 Tipperary kennel, which I hardly think any Master 

 of Hounds would like to see hunting with his pack. 

 It was at the covert side I learned that the master 

 intended to draft the Tipperary importation, and if 

 that be the case, I hope at the first meet next week I 

 shall have greater pleasure in meeting his hounds. I 

 am exceedingly grateful to you that, amidst the 

 exciting topics of this day, you have found a place 

 for those who follow the St. Stephen's pack. I used 

 to say there was no ill of mind or body which a good 

 gallop across the country would not cure. That was 

 when I could get something to carry me, but with 

 the pack I shall have to hunt the rest of this season, 



