HOUNDS AND HORSES. 107 



Easen, showing first-rate sport. The dwellers in Lin- 

 colnshire, like those residing in Yorkshire, delight 

 greatly in horses and hounds, producing some of the 

 very best. 



Drawing nearer to the metropolis, several good 

 packs are to be found. The Oakley for one, hunting 

 around Bedford, Sharnbrook, and Olney a wide 

 expanse of country four days a week, having fifty- 

 eight couples of excellent hounds to do the work. 

 Easily reached from London, this old-established and 

 first-rate pack should be seen. Many a fine day's 

 sport have I witnessed with the Oakley in the days 

 when Frank Beers hunted them. When the fixture is 

 Shelton Gorse, let those who would like to see a down- 

 right good run try their luck there, and if, as usual, a 

 stout old fox goes away, they will have no cause to 

 regret the trouble of travelling so far. If space per- 

 mitted, there are many other packs of hounds deserv- 

 ing notice, and it is clear to me that, notwithstanding 1 

 the bad times, which have so largely affected the agri- 

 cultural interest, neither the landlord nor tenant farmer 

 has shown the least desire to interfere with the national 

 sport of fox-hunting. 



In respect to horses, it is evident that there is little 

 decrease in the value of first-class animals, as proved 

 in the recent sale, by Messrs. Tattersall, of Mr. Flower's 

 fine stud, three out of the string realising the large 

 sum of 1500 guineas, and the remainder highly satis- 

 factory prices. Eeally good hunters, hacks, or harness- 

 horses command as high prices as ever they did. 

 Nevertheless, if you are prepared to open your purse- 

 strings wide enough, and will visit Rugby, Acton, 

 Green Street, Stamford Street, the Westminster Road, 



