A CHRISTMAS WEEK IN HAMPSHIRE. 193 



morning of Saturday, the 29th, saw me in the saddle 

 again early, for I had a long jog before me to meet 

 the H. H. at Sutton Common. 



Winny Copse, as usual, was good for a fox, and, 

 equally as usual, our fox made for Weston Common 

 and thence to Froyle Park, where he beat them. 

 About this period the gout beat me too, although I 

 had only one boot and one gaiter on, and reluctantly 

 enough I turned my horse's head for home. 



Now, have I not made out some case for North 

 Hants? Here in a week, or rather eight days, I 

 hunted five, and if I had had leisure (and horses) 

 could have hunted one more, the other two being 

 Sunday and Christmas Day. Of these five days the 

 first showed us a fair hunting run ; the second, two 

 nice gallops ; and the third plenty of fun, although I 

 will not pretend to rank the chase of the carted deer 

 very high among field sports. As for the last two, 

 but for my physical disablement, my diary might 

 chronicle better sport on those, for on each occasion 

 I can only speak to the doings with the morning fox. 



The frost came with the New Year, and I only 

 got three days at its conclusion before my route came 

 and moved me on to 



" Fresh woods and pastures new." 



Except in the New Forest, I have not hunted in 

 Hampshire since. 



