MELTON HOWSBAY. 147 



the shape and make of the nag. There a fine goat 

 visits the different boxes, fraternising with the steeds, 

 and partaking freely of the oats which are provided 

 for the afternoon feed, whilst fox-terriers and cats 

 live on amicable terms in this united family. This 

 association tends, Mr. Hughes informs me, to render 

 the horses gentle and tractable ; and I went without 

 hesitation up to the side of every one of these spirited 

 horses, not seeing in any case a vicious-looking or ill- 

 tempered animal ; and the conclusion I have long since 

 arrived at was confirmed, that kindness and confidence, 

 combined with gentle treatment, will have more effect 

 on the tempers of animals than any amount of rough 

 treatment or undue and excessive punishment. As I 

 walked back to my hotel I met several well-mounted 

 men returning from the chase, and heard that the 

 Cottesmore had had a fair day's sport, notwithstanding 

 the inclemency of the weather. 



On the following day the Belvoir Hounds, I 

 found, would meet at Waltham, about five miles from 

 Melton, and I was told that the first covert that 

 would be drawn was the gorse known as Bur- 

 bidge's Cover, within two miles of Melton. Thither 

 several sportsmen repaired, but as I wished to see 

 the Duke of Kutland's beautiful pack, and mistrusted 

 common report, I cantered over to the "meet," the 

 morning being fine, though the weather was cold and 

 the snow still lay in sheltered places. A moderate 

 " field " only assembled at Langham, and I had time 

 to examine this crack lot of hounds, and after looking 

 over them, noting their evenness, fine condition, and 

 uniformity of colour, I saw no reason to alter an 

 opinion expressed some four years back when asked 



K 2 



