216 WARWICKSHIRE HUNT. 



BY G. R. 



MEEr LADBROKE. 



On Monday, November 29th, we met at Ladbroke, and 

 found in a small gorse covert. In a very few minutes sly 

 reynard made his appearance in full view, and a finer fellow 

 never led a pack of hounds. The scent being good, the 

 hounds were out in a moment, and went away in such dash- 

 ing style, that few only had the pleasure of riding in the 

 same field Avith them, and very many so far in the rear 

 ranks, that they contented themselves with the common 

 inquiry, ' Pray, Sir, can you inform me which way the 

 hounds are gone ?' Here we had a check by the fox going 

 along a road, and were soon put right, by one of Captain 

 Swing's brigade, at work in a ditch by the road side, 

 who told the huntsman 1 that pug had sheered to a plan- 

 tation at a short distance. This put us all right again, and 

 the gallant animal which promised us so much sport on his 

 first appearance, realized all our expectations, by standing 

 before his stanch pursuers full an hour ; and at length, 

 after as fine a run as ever was seen, went to earth near 

 Rugby, a distance of 1 4 or 1 5 miles from the place of start- 

 ing, and we must have gone considerably more than 20 

 miles. — Very few went better or straighter than the Master 

 of the hounds. 



1 A huntsman (says Mr. Beckford,) should be attached to the 

 sport, and indefatigable in the pursuit of it ; he should be sensible, 

 good tempered, sober, exact, and cleanly, a good groom, and an excel- 

 lent horseman ; his voice should be strong and clear, with an eye so 

 quick as to perceive which of his hounds carry the scent when all are 

 running, and where they throw up ; as well as an ear so excellent, as 

 always to distinguish the leading hounds when he does not see them. 

 Such are the qualities that constitute perfection in a huntsman ; he 

 should not, however, be too fond of displajdng them, till called forth by 

 necessity ; it being a peculiar and distinguishing trait in his province, 

 to let his hounds alone whilst they can hunt, and strenuously to assist 

 them when thev cannot. 



