THE CHACE. 
quantity of arable land in the county of Leicester, and 
the very great demand for forage, oats and hay are 
always considerably dearer here than at any other place 
in England. The sum-total of expenses attending a 
stud of twelve hunters at Melton, including every out- 
going, is, as nearly as can be estimated, one thousand 
pounds per annum. In all stables the average outlay 
for the purchase of horses is great, at least two 
hundred guineas each hunter; and, in some, the annual 
amount of wear and tear of horse-flesh is considerable. 
At no distant date within at most thirty years 
Melton-Mowbray was an insignificant-looking little 
town. It is prettily situated in a rich vale, through 
which the river Stoure passes, but had nothing an artist 
would have called a feature about it, except its beautiful 
church. But of late it has put on a very different 
appearance, owing to the numbers of comfortable houses 
which have been erected for the accommodation of its 
sporting visiters, who now spend not less, on an average, 
than fifty thousand pounds per annum on the spot. It 
stands on one of the great north roads, eighteen miles 
from Nottingham, and fifteen from Leicester ; which 
latter place is also become a favourite resort of sports- 
men, as it is well situated for the best part of the Quorn, 
and Lord Lonsdale's countries, and many of the favourite 
covers of the Atherstone (lately better known as Lord 
Anson's) country, can be reached from it. 
The following description of the Old Club at Melton- 
Mowbray, so called in contradistinction to the New 
