HOUNDS AND HORSES. 99 



the pleasures of the chase exists as strongly now in 

 Englishmen of the present day as it did in those of the 

 distant period alluded to. 



At Melton there has been a considerable number of 

 visitors. The Earl of Wilton has not visited Egerton 

 Lodge as yet, being away on board his yacht, seeking 

 in warmer climes to escape from the rigours of our 

 variable climate. The numerous friends and admirers 

 of this venerable sportsman will be glad to hear that 

 he is in good health, and contemplates returning about 

 the end of February or the beginning of March, when 

 he will be found in the saddle once more. His fine 

 stud is in rare form, and Martin, his lordship's stud- 

 groom, may be depended upon to have them as ' ' fit 

 as fiddles " when his noble master once again joins in 

 the sport which he has followed for so long a period. 

 Looking back so far as 1837, I find in the " Quarterly 

 Review," which contains a list of visitors then residing 

 at Melton, the names of the Earl and Countess of 

 Wilton as being residents. I believe that the period at 

 which the Earl of Wilton first visited that fashionable 

 locality dates considerably beyond half a century. 

 With the exception of the well-known Mr. Little 

 Gilmour, he alone, of all his contemporaries, is to be 

 found enjoying his favourite sport with unabated 

 ardour. Colonel Forester, who has had a few runs 

 with hounds, going as boldly as ever, met with a slight 

 accident the other day, and has left for Bretby Park 

 for a week or two. 



The best sport as yet has been shown by the Belvoir 

 Hounds, which are hunted by Frank Gillard, one of 

 the most persevering of huntsmen, who may always 

 be depended upon to show sport if it is possible to do 



a 2 



