HUNTING AT BRIGHTON. 153 



three years, and being well supported by the popular 

 Master of the Southdown (Mr. Streatfield), never fails 

 to show a good run if it is possible to do so. The 

 landowners and tenant-farmers have the most liberal 

 views in regard to fox-hunting, not deigning to look at 

 a piece of well-trampled wheat, but preserving foxes, 

 and encouraging this the noblest of all our national 

 sports. If the visitor to this fashionable resort should 

 prefer riding with harriers, he has the chance of two 

 of the best packs in England. First, if he is a real 

 lover of hunting one who delights to see a pack of 

 true-bred harriers puzzle out the line of a sturdy hare 

 over the bold and open downs which form their 

 country then he should ride with Mr. Steyning 

 Beard's celebrated pack, the Brookside; or if he 

 should prefer a clinking good gallop for twenty-five 

 minutes, then he should choose the Brighton Harriers, 

 when Mr. Dewe will give him the opportunity of 

 galloping his hardest, for this pack are racers, every 

 hound being a draft from some well-known kennel 

 of foxhounds, being entered to hare, and invariably 

 showing good sport, which they could not do unless 

 they were speedy, as the large " fields " which ride 

 with this popular pack are difficult to hold in hand, 

 necessitating prompt action on the part of the hunts- 

 man to get away from the crowd and give the hounds 

 a fair chance. Once let them draw clear from the 

 large "field," and it will be a good man who lives 

 alongside of, much less rides over, Mr. Dewe's beauties. 

 The first meet of the season of the Southdown 

 took place at the kennels at Ringmer, when some one 

 hundred and forty well-mounted men and ten or 

 twelve ladies assembled, amongst whom were many 



