Tlie Farmers — Fox Preservers, &c. 203 



increasing and scarifying the country ! From the 

 time when the great George Stephenson was 

 lodging in one of the Duke of Grafton's farm- 

 houses at BHsworth, and giving directions and 

 preparing specifications for the London and 

 North Western Hne, through the Grafton Hunt, 

 up to the present period, there has been no 

 cessation in the promotion and formation of that 

 which may be termed "The Necessity of the 

 Age." 



After all, there is no apparent reason why 

 hunting may not be carried on, even under 

 existing difficulties of the kind mentioned above, 

 although the sport is interfered with to a certain 

 extent. 



Against the new hindrances to the exercise of 

 "The Sport of Kings" must be set the vast 

 improvements which have taken place in the 

 Woodlands. Whittlebury Forest has been cur- 

 tailed in a marked degree ; the large head of 

 deer it formerly contained was disposed of at 

 the time of the enclosure, only a small herd 

 remaining, and these were confined on seven 

 hundred acres, in Whittlebury Park, the greater 

 proportion of which were reclaimed from the 

 jungle, and this clearance gives hounds an oppor- 

 tunity of chasing their fox without hindrance. 



