348 WARWICKSHIRE HUNT. 



LEAMIAGTOAL 



This place, which thirty years ago was nothing more 

 than a httle irregular village, is now become a large and 

 populous town. Macbeth was not more astonished at the 

 mysterious approach of Birnam Wood towards Dunsinane, 

 than an absentee for that period would be on his sudden 

 return to this delightful watering-place. 



The Spa had not long emerged from its primitive 

 rusticity, than it presented to visitors a happy combination 

 of comfort and amusement. Gentlemen, who came into 

 the country to join the Warwickshire Hunt, made it their 

 head-quarters during the Season ; the progress of improve- 

 ment was rapid and successful ; and in the course of a short 

 time, few localities could turn out a more gay assemblage 

 of red-coats than Leamington. 



The Sportsman, when here, may be said to reside in 

 the very centre of his favovirite amusement. The Warwick- 

 shire frequently meet within a few miles of him, ^nd other 

 packs often throw off at some covert which he can reach 

 within the hour, in a Canterbury-gallop, on his hack. 



In successive seasons, Leamington has been honoured 

 with the presence of some of the finest Foxhunters in the 

 United Kingdom : and at a grand fancy dress ball held 

 lately at the Upper Assembly Rooms, upwards of forty 

 gentlemen, dressed in the uniform of the Warwickshire 

 Hunt, were present. 



For some years, the Sporting Gentlemen, aided by the 

 tradesmen of the town subscribed annually to the Warwick- 

 shire Hounds. At the commencement of the season, 1 835-6, 

 Mr. Thornhill and the Members of the Hunt, gave many 



