The Stirrey Staghotmds. 177 



Smitliam Bottom, near CouIscIod, and I hope to have 

 a look over them shortly, and to obtain a list of the 

 hounds and their pedigrees, as they struck me as 

 being a first-rate lot of animals, well matched, and 

 keeping in a compact body, notwithstanding the 

 clinking pace they went ; and as for their powers of 

 endurance, the fact of my having heard of them 

 taking the deer on more than one occasion during 

 the last season in the vicinity of Tunbridge Wells, 

 they must certainly be good stayers beyond all 

 doubt. The " country " over which they hunt is 

 extensive, varied, and in some parts very difficult 

 to get across ; but, nevertheless, they have as a rule 

 exceedingly good sport, and any one wishing for a 

 good gallop over a wild country may, by selecting 

 a fit time and place, make sure of a rattler if the deer 

 goes straight. 



I remarked on this occasion the fitness of " Young 

 Epsom," as I did that of the stag Avhich I saw 

 uncarted last spring at Ewell, and it is evident that 

 great pains are taken with them, and therefore it is 

 not much to be wondered at that, having an ener- 

 getic and agreeable master, a first-rate huntsman, a 

 blooming lot of speedy hounds, and well-conditioned 

 deer, the Surrey Staghounds should rank among the 

 first packs in the kingdom. 



Exception may be taken by some critical people 

 in respect to stag hunting, but in my opinion there 

 is very much to be said in its favour. There are 

 many gentlemen riding with the pack whose avoca- 

 tions compel them to live in London or the vicinity, 

 and who cannot spare time to travel far a-field for 

 their amusement, and who are enabled to enjoy a 



