THE HUNTING SEASON. 169 



the last two months the huntsmen and whips have been 

 rattling the big coverts, scattering the cubs, and blood- 

 ing the young hounds. At "the metropolis of hunting/' 

 as "Nimrod'" so aptly denominated Melton Mowbray, 

 a very good time is expected. Nearly every house and 

 most of the stabling is already engaged, both in the 

 town and its vicinity ; while many of the habitues of 

 this sporting locality will be found at their favourite 

 resort during the season. Those veteran sportsmen, 

 the Earl of Wilton and Mr. Little Gilmour, who for so 

 many years have made Melton their residence during 

 the hunting season, will be at their accustomed posts 

 in due time. 



The Duke of Portland has a large stud, and intends 

 going across the beautiful grass-lands of Leicester- 

 shire in proper form, having taken up his abode at 

 the Harboro', with the view of enjoying the pleasant 

 pastime of hunting the fox under the most favourable 

 circumstances, the arrangements of that well-accus- 

 tomed hotel leaving little to be desired by the most 

 fastidious. Here also will be found Mr. Gilmour, the 

 Marquis of Queensberry, Messrs. Horace and Lewis 

 Flower, Captain Hill Trevor, and others, whilst in the 

 vicinity the Hon. Hugh and Lady Grace Lowther, with 

 Sir Beaumont and Lady Florence Dixie, will be found 

 as usual, together with a host of hard riders who 

 annually visit Melton for the purpose of enjoying the 

 sport and joining in the pleasant society which has 

 ever been the charm of this fashionable resort since 

 the days when " Nimrod " so graphically described it 

 in the Cf Quarterly Review." 



At Oakham, the capital of Redlandshire or, as we 

 call it now, Rutlandshire houses and stabling are in 



