156 Hark Away. 



stock being, in tlie judgment of many landlords of 

 practical experience, the direction in which to look for 

 favourable results, in the face of the constantly increas- 

 ing import of corn at such exceedingly low prices, and 

 the high price of meat of every description. 



Finding no chance of change of Aveather, and that 

 my journey to Rugby in search of sport was a failure, 

 I determined to return from my bootless errand, 

 promising to come again with the open weather, to 

 ride with the different packs which are to be reached 

 from thence. There is one great inducement offered in 

 this central position for taking up one's quarters there, 

 namely, the admirable service of trains, Avhich do the 

 journey to and from Euston in two hours. Hunting 

 tickets are issued, the number of trains is considerable, 

 and stabling good enough for the most fastidious is to 

 be obtained in convenient parts of the tow^n. 



The early appearance of frost and snow gives 

 premature and unnecessary rest to the studs, which, 

 as a rule, have not been called upon to do much thus 

 far to necessitate it, and the advent of such inclement 

 weather would have been more convenient to the 

 sportsman had it been delayed until after Christmas ; 

 but as we cannot control the season, it is no use 

 grumbling, and all that we can do is to wait patiently 

 for the good time coming. When that happy state 

 of things is arrived at, I hope to visit Melton, and to 

 see the working of the Cottesmore under the new 

 management of Lord Carington, to observe Tom 

 Firr perform across the grass with his racing pack, 

 Frank Gillard and his Bel voir beauties, and generally 

 to enjoy the opportunities for sport, and enter into 

 the jovialities of that cheery and celebrated place, 



