THE CHACE. 
Russian minister, is residing there now. His Excel- 
lency has ten hunters of his own, rides hard, and is 
much esteemed by the Meltonians, and all sportsmen in 
the neighbourhood.* During the visit of Don Miguel 
to the Duke of Wellington at Strathfieldsay, a few years 
back, he went out with the Vine hounds (late Mr. 
Chute's), to which his Grace is a subscriber. He rode 
a celebrated hunter of the late King's, and gallantly did 
he put him along. It too often happens, however, on 
such occasions, when sport is most anxiously desired for 
the amusement of some distinguished individual, that 
the game runs short, or the scent lies faintly. Such 
was a good deal the case in this instance, although there 
was running enough to shew that Miguel would have 
stopped at nothing that might have come in his way to 
oppose his being with the hounds. Of his qualities as 
a sportsman there was little opportunity of judging, but 
he certainly shewed himself to be a horseman of a 
* Several French sportsmen have lately visited Leicestershire; the 
best performer of them, perhaps, is M. Normandie. M. de Vauhlan and 
M. d' Hinnisdale have both had a taste of Melton ; and, in 1834, the 
last-named gentleman spent the winter at Leamington, in "Warwickshire. 
This was the year in which M. Vaublan was in Leicestershire, where, 
although very indifferently mounted by Tilbury, and experiencing many 
falls, he was almost always to be seen at the finish of a good run. At all 
events, he went as long as his horse could go, and was considered a very 
good horseman. M. de Normandie has hunted much, both in Leicester- 
shire, Warwickshire, and Dorsetshire, being at this time domiciled at 
Catestock, in the latter county, the head quarters of Mr. Farquharson's 
hunt, with three thorough-bred young ones in his stud, namely, Ciudad, 
Rouncival, and Rodrigo, which no doubt will soon become perfect in 
his hands, for no man need have better. 
