CAPT. Johnstone's hounds and country. 221 



a very wide one, but there is enough for two- 

 days-a-week ; and foxes are plentiful, and moreover, 

 exceedingly stout. It extends from Scarborough 

 on the east to Aislaby Whin on the west, the 

 southern boundary is the North Eastern Railway, 

 and the country extends northwards as far as 

 Fylingdales. A great deal of it is very rough, to 

 wit, Cloughton, where, thanks to Capt. Johnstone's 

 kindness, David Smallwood and the Eskdale have 

 many a good day. Dalby Ridge. Lockton, and 

 Levisham are also places which would scarcely 

 be appreciated by some of the hard-riding and 

 steeplechasing school, but these gentlemen would 

 find 'plenty of room for their strength,' to use 

 a Yorkshire saying, if they went to Howe Bridge 

 or Snainton ; where, if there is not so much grass 

 as the fastidious would like, there is big jumping 

 enough to satisfy anyone. It is most enjoyable 

 to meet the pack at their favourite fixture, Howe 

 Bridge, which is situate midway between Malton 

 and Pickering. Here are generally assembled 

 from one hundred to one hundred and fifty 

 well mounted horsemen, the elite of the neigh- 

 bouring hunts, and the majority of whom mean 

 going. Bruckshaw and Fagan on thoroughbred 

 ones ; Willy Brown, the gentleman jockey, on 

 a likely young one, and Jack Richardson, of 

 Foxton, two hard-ridiiig men from the Sinnington ; 

 the pick of Lord Middleton's hunt ; a few 

 men from the York ; and, perhaps, Max Angus 



