THE HUNTING SEASON. 173 



first-class packs within reach, and, unless there is a 

 strong departure from the usual custom, right good 

 sport may safely be depended upon. The principal 

 hotel, the Royal George, has, as usual, many visitors, 

 amongst whom occur the well-known names of Count 

 Metternich, Mr. Shiel, Mr. W. N. Heysham, Captain 

 Scott, Mr. Hopcrof t, etc., all attracted by the comforts 

 and conveniences of this well-known establishment. 

 In the town are located Mr. Yarborough, Mr. Sea- 

 bright, Mr. Dalgleish, Mr. Swaley, Mr. Shoolbred, 

 and sundry other hard-riding men, who enjoy the 

 clinking runs of this convenient centre of the Midland 

 Counties. Foxes are abundant in this district, hares 

 somewhat scarce, and likely soon to be scarcer. 



The Duke of Beaufort's noble pack is in full force, 

 numbering seventy-five couples of magnificent hounds, 

 with which the Marquis of Worcester will hunt the 

 country five days a week. When last I visited Bad- 

 minton kennels I recognised what a perfect hound 

 should be, and the description of the well-known Mr. 

 Meynell of former days, designated by " Nimrod" as the 

 "Father of the modern chase/' was fully realised when I 

 observed the short backs, open bosoms, straight legs, 

 and compact feet which he determined to be the proper 

 form of the foxhound. The country hunted by the 

 Duke of Beaufort requires powerful hounds, the fences 

 being big, and the country in parts hilly, with stone 

 walls here and there, which require clever nags to 

 surmount. If Janus, which was knocked down to 

 Lord Arthur Somerset the other day at the sale at 

 Cricklewood of the Andover and Wey Hill Company's 

 hunters, should be destined for the Duke of Beaufort, 

 he may safely be depended upon to carry any reason- 



