HUNTING AT BRIGHTON. 155 



was run into and speedily broken up. A second 

 fox was found at Black Shaw Copse, which showed 

 the field a fair hunting run, being finally pulled down 

 at a covert near Firle. Thus auspiciously was the 

 season commenced. On the 7th the meet of these 

 hounds was Buckingham Manor House, near Shore- 

 ham, the residence of Mr. J. H. Bridger, a staunch 

 supporter of the noble sport, and a wonderful pre- 

 server of foxes. Here in a paddock, in front of the 

 house, a large company was visible, on horseback, in 

 carriages and on foot. A recherche breakfast was 

 provided, after which Champion proceeded to draw 

 for a fox in a piece of rape on a hillside near at 

 hand. But a very short time elapsed ere the "hill 

 and dale and woodland re-echoed back the sound of 

 the halloo of the huntsman and the music of the 

 hound." Sharp, short, and decisive was this spurt; 

 for coursing the cub at a racing pace for some fifteen 

 minutes, he was run into and broken up, after a very 

 brief career. So abundant were the foxes in this 

 sporting locality that another being found in a piece 

 of rape, and being unable to escape from the blood- 

 thirsty hounds, he too was numbered amongst the 

 slain. After this another was viewed going in the 

 direction of Thunder's Barrow, and the hounds being 

 promptly laid on his line, he made for the Tenantry 

 Gorse, but fearing to tarry there he tried the Eoughs, 

 which were soon made too hot to hold him, and 

 he slipped through the Beeding Gorse, making for 

 Erringham, where he ran into a piece of gorse ; but 

 thinking it unadvisable to remain long in the shelter 

 of the covert, he bolted, in view, with the pack close 

 at his heels. He eventually contrived, although several 



