AN IMPERIAL HUNTRESS. 81 



tunities offer of riding with five different packs of 

 high-class hounds, over a good though stiff country, 

 where foxes abound and good sport is generally 

 shown. The number of hunters for her majesty's 

 own use that have been brought over is ten, thirty- 

 five are provided for the suite and servants, and some 

 ten or twelve carriage-horses, whilst the total number 

 of the suite and servants, I am told, is no less than 

 eighty. Little doubt that, from the tradesmen's point 

 of view, such an invasion is looked upon with com- 

 plaisance. Should there be no fixture to-morrow, I 

 hope to have a look at Combermere Abbey, which, I 

 am told, is well worth seeing, being situate in a beau- 

 tiful country, and well placed for hunting, as hounds 

 can always be reached within reasonable distances. 



On Tuesday the hounds will meet within a short 

 distance of the Abbey, when I hope to have another 

 opportunity of seeing the imperial huntress go across 

 country. It is expected that a great number will 

 attend the meet on that day. The term for which the 

 occupation of the mansion has been arranged is six 

 weeks, at the expiration of which time the hunting 

 season will be drawing to a close. The cold winds, 

 productive of many pecks of dust, which are stated 

 to be worth a king's ransom, are, nevertheless, great 

 drawbacks to sport, since when the wind is in the east 

 it is neither good for man nor fox-hunting. As regards 

 the market-town of Whitchurch, which is distant from 

 London some one hundred and eighty-three miles, it 

 may be truly said that it is a quiet nay, even rather 

 a sleepy locality in which to pass a lifetime ; emi- 

 nently businesslike and respectable, though a trifle 

 dull ; old-fashioned as to its streets and buildings, but 



