82 ON THE GRAMPIAN HILLS. 



boasting a fine old church. It also boasts a re- 

 markable monument to John Talbot, first Earl of 

 Shrewsbury, surnamed the English Achilles, who was 

 killed at the battle of Bordeaux. His bones were 

 transferred from France and interred at Whitchurch. 

 The police arrangements of the district are under the 

 direction of the chief constable, Captain Harrison, and 

 Superintendent Plant, as well as the chief superin- 

 tendent of the Shropshire constabulary, Mr. Haines, 

 who unostentatiously perform their duties, whilst 

 showing themselves courteous to all comers who 

 require information. 



ii. 



CHILL blew the wind, with a bitter accompaniment of 

 sleet, as I galloped along en route for Combermere 

 Abbey on Monday morning. A gray mist partially 

 veiled the country, causing the venerable oaks and 

 ancient hawthorns to stand prominently in the gloom. 

 There was no fixture within a moderate distance of 

 Whitchurch, and therefore, not having the opportunity 

 of riding to hounds, I determined to visit the Abbey, 

 in order to see the residence selected for the Empress 

 of Austria during her temporary sojourn in this 

 country for the purpose of enjoying the pleasures of 

 the chase. Gradually the mist cleared away, and I was 

 able to form an opinion of the nature of the locality. 

 I saw a wide expanse of undulating land, principally 

 grass, over which the going was delightful. To ride 

 across this country at the tail of a pack of fleet hounds 

 requires a clever, bold, and resolute horse, if the rider 

 wishes to go the pace and take a place in the first 



