iga ROYAL ROCK BEAGLE HUNT. 



December 26th, 1846. Snow was laj-ing on the ground, and there was a 

 hard frost, but the grass just appeared above the snow. It was a bright clear 

 day, with a Hglit air from the west, which just moistened the snow, and the 

 scent was excellent in the grass land, and very fair on fallows and wheat. 



Scent is sometimes very good just before a frost. When the R.R.B. 



went to Beeston, 24tii February, 1847, they recorded that — 



The scent was burning. The pack seemed never to check, but carried it 

 breast high, for miles at a time, at the most dashing pace they have ever done. 

 A better day's sport was never seen. 



The next day was a hard frost, with the roads as dry and hard as 

 possible, yet tliey had a fair scent all day, and especially in the afternoon. 



March i8th, 1847. East wind ; ground as dry and hard as in a frost. 

 Hardly a particle of scent on grass, none on fallows. 



January 24th, 1852. In the most tremendous rain, which never ceased the 

 whole afternoon ; nevertheless, the scent proved verj' fair, and we had some 

 excellent hunting, running into our hare in one hour and three-quarters. It 

 being so very wet, we knocked off early. 



March 6th, 1852. Sutton. A nasty, dry, hard, dusty day. We turned in 

 opposite Mr. W^hite's house, where there appeared miles of fallow land. We, of 

 course, soon had a hare afoot, but could make very little of her, owing to the 

 numerous dry fallows. We looked for a second hare nearer Little Sutton, which 

 took us on the grass land. Here we had a splendid half-hour, the hare unfortu- 

 nately coming back to the fallows, and, as before, the hounds could not carry 

 her a yard. 



All this March the east wind continued, with not a drop of rain nor an 

 atom of scent. 



20th March, 1852. No change in wind or weather, everything as dry as a 

 chip, and scarcely a particle of scent ; found hares in abundance, but could do 

 no good with them. Most annoying ! here the end of the season arriving, and 

 a first-rate chance thrown away. 



25th March, 1852. Noctorum. Weather still the same, which proved of 

 little consequence, for we looked the land well over, but could find nothing. 



This is a record of patient perseverance in the pursuit of sport. 



In vain malignant steams and winter fogs 



Load the dull air, and hover round our coasts. 



The huntsman, ever gay, robust, and bold, 



Defies the noxious vapour, and confides 



In this delightful exercise to raise 



His drooping head and cheer his heart with joy. 



='= '■'■'- '■'■- Thus on the air 



Depends the hunter's hopes. When ruddy streaks 

 At eve forbode a blust'ring stormy day. 

 Or low'ring clouds blacken the mountain's brow, 

 When nipping frosts, and the keen-biting blasts 

 Of the dry-parching east, menace the trees 

 With tender blossoms teeming, kindly spare 

 Thy sleeping pack, in their warm beds of straw 

 Low-sinking at their ease ; listless, they shrink 

 Into some dark recess, nor hear thy voice, 

 ••" Tho' oft invoked ; or, haply, if thy call 



