HACK-HUNTING. 497 



(as far as my brief experience goes) the best month of the year 

 for real sport. The country, too, is easier to get over now, 

 gentlemen, than it was in November — is it not ? 



Monday morning broke with warm rain splashing against the 

 window-panes — with March put back a peg or two — and fox- 

 hunting set on its legs for the remainder of the season. The 

 Grafton met at Farthingstone ; and, though they had not, like 

 some of their neighbours, advertised for noon, Lord Penrhyn 

 gave nearly the same indulgence. When March is once in, I 

 doubt if any single member of a field is at the rendezvous 

 punctual to time — if that time be earlier than midday. Monday 

 was a refreshing day on which to find oneself hunting (possibly 

 I may speak with some little bias on this score — being at length 

 released from the kindly thraldom of mere heai'say. There are 

 times when a man may heartily thank God for pure fresh air 

 and for the happiness of being — and never more heartily than 

 when existence is found in the presence of hounds and in the 

 pleasures of the hunting-field.) Of the sport — well, the usual 

 Monday run had not come off while I was there to see, or to 

 suppose it from a distance. 



It was different on Tuesday, with regard to the size of the 

 field — the North Warwickshire at Dunchurch, on a breezy 

 spring morning. Mr. Ashton found himself in command of a 

 perfect corps d'armee — gathered from far and near and every 

 side. By the way — whether it is because the great body con- 

 servative of English foxhunters have been so nauseated by all 

 that is Irish, except horses, or for some reason yet unexplained, 

 the custom of " capping " at the meet has never taken hold in 

 this country — even where it would be most applicable. And if 

 the question be not impertinent — where could a more suitable 

 meet be found than at Dunchurch — an instance of a most 

 popular fixture near the junction points of several Hunts. 

 (This is no exaggeration — for to my own knowledge there were 

 good sportsmen present, who had ridden from home, and from 

 no less than seven different countries.) The bulk of the field 

 indeed was made up of others than North Warwickshire men : 



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