RIGHT OF COVERTS 37 



he might exert his influence in persuading neighbouring 

 gentlemen to take their coverts from the original hunt 

 and permit him to draw them ; but such proceedings 

 would be totally at variance with the conventional 

 usages of sportsmen. If the general custom were other- 

 wise, the most annoying circumstances would con- 

 stantly arise to frustrate the efforts and overturn the 

 arrangements of masters of hounds. Every estate that 

 might happen to be sold, having coverts thereon, or 

 any such coverts changing proprietors by inheritance 

 or otherwise, might be the means of nearly breaking up 

 many hunting establishments, if the code of con- 

 ventional regulations did not in a general way, by con- 

 sent, prevail over the laws of the land. 



The sporting country of Warwick may be mentioned 

 as an example of the etiquette observed with respect to 

 the privileges of masters of hounds. In the days of Mr. 

 Corbet the whole of the country now denominated the 

 Warwickshire was hunted by that gentleman, together 

 with that which has been since called the North Warwick- 

 shire, and altogether it was very extensive. None of 

 Mr. Corbet's successors have ever hunted the whole of 

 it. Coverts on the boundaries, and woodlands, have 

 been lent to masters of hounds by way of accommoda- 

 tion and convenience to all parties, and for several years 

 a great portion was not hunted at all till Mr. Vyner 

 entered on the northern division an arrangement 

 sanctioned by the owners of the coverts and the master 

 of the Warwickshire hounds ; but it was, not separated 

 so as to be considered an independent or integral 

 country. It was held on the same conditions, by Mr. 

 Hellier, and also by Mr. Willson, the respective suc- 

 cessors to Mr. Vyner. Again becoming vacant, some of 

 the coverts have been drawn by the Atherstone hounds. 

 Mr. Selby Lowndes enters upon it on similar terms to 

 those which were observed in the case of Mr. Vyner. 

 Another example may be introduced of the Bourton 

 Woods, in the Earl Fitzhardinge's Broadway country, 

 which are the private property of Lord Redesdale. 



