86 HUNTING AND SPORTING NOTES. 



day of our effeminacy and weakness have begun. Are 

 we afraid to touch a difficult question, because the water- 

 drinkers say it is dehhng ? Ere long, let us hope that 

 the Jockey Club, or the racing authorities of the future, 

 w^hoever they may be, will wake up to the error of their 

 ways, and give a helping hand to such a meeting as 

 Shrewsbury. Let it not then be said, " Oh, it is too 

 late now, the course has been ploughed up for market 

 gardens." 



1 fear we must write down the past week, from a hunt- 

 ing point of view, as a fitful and disappointing one. On 

 Monday, with Sir Watkin's, at "West Felton, there is not 

 much to be said by those who were there, and foxes were 

 not so plentiful as usual thereabouts ; while at Ellerton 

 Hall, with the Shropshire, foxes were plentiful, and 

 scent was deficient. 



On Tuesday, Mr. Corbet did not put in an appearance 

 at Wilkesley. 



On Wednesday, at Cressage, it was past mid-day before 

 it was deemed prudent to make a start, and then it was 

 indifferent " going." Cressage Park, Ford's Coppice, 

 Kenley G-orse, and the Harnage Coverts were all drawn 

 blank, but a fox was eventually found in Steven's Hill, 

 that ran to the Golding Coverts, and on to Eaton Mascott, 

 where we went to ground, and Thatcher was last seen 

 determined on digging him out. Surely foxes are not too 

 plentiful about there. 



On I'hursday I determined on a change of venue, 

 having more than once been baulked in a determination 

 to have a day with the Albrighton. Stafford Castle, and 

 a hospitable friend close by, could not not be resisted.. 

 On Wednesday night, the odds were against hunting at 

 all, but the morning revealed a change. The most 

 cutting south wind swept over the country that 

 it has ever been my lot to encounter, and by eleven o'clock 

 an icy rain added its accompaniment to the 

 delights of a hunting morning. There were 

 plenty of stout hearts in Stafford trudging out to the 

 meet, nevertheless, a few carriages, and a small field, 

 mostly farmers. The master and Lady Bough ey were 

 soon there, and it was evident that something in the shape 

 of a bit of silver was to be presented to somebody, for 

 out of somebody's capacious pocket came a big cup, 

 which was handed to Sir Thomas Boughey, and by him 



