Maesfen — Digging out at Cressage. 39 



black boggy meadows fast to Frees, over the railway, to 

 ground, near Coton Hall, in twenty-five miimtes. Not a 

 bad line, and for those who hardened their hearts, a 

 successful gallop. 



On Saturday, Sir Watkin once more opened the ball 

 on his Whitchurch side at Maesfen, but had to encounter 

 one of the roughest possible days, which of course 

 militated against sport. There is certainly a continually 

 recurring game of cross purposes between Sir Watkin and 

 Mr. Corbet this season hereabouts, each having in turn 

 disturbed the other's country. To-day Mr. Corbet chose 

 a bye day in coverts hard by Sir Watkin's draw — a piece 

 of bad taste surely ! but worse still was the form dis- 

 played by several of the so-called Sir Watkinites, in 

 leaving their own hunt, and filing off to join the 

 Corbetites ! 



What could aiore clearly show the growing peripateti- 

 cism of the hunting men of to-day than this ? Looking at 

 the loyal way in which Sir Watkin hunts this Whit- 

 church side of his country, sparing no expense or trouble 

 to show sport, it does seem extraordinary that he should 

 be treated by even one of his numerous field in such a 

 way ! Truly the patriotism of the old days is departing, 

 and I cannot refrain from dropping a tear over it. 



P.S. — I have since heard that Thatcher finished up 

 the Cressage day with a two hours' dig, and murdered 

 what was thought to be a fresh fox from Golding's 

 coppice, in spite of the protestations of his field. This 

 covert is close to Pitchford property, and the news will 

 not be very pleasing to Colonel Cotes, who is so anxious 

 to show sport, and has been so unlucky about having 

 finds there this season. The fact is, that south of the 

 river, Thatcher is king, lords, and commons in the 

 absence of the master, and I know I am expressing a 

 very general opinion that Mr. Lonsdale would be doing 

 the right thing in appointing a deputy, to whom such 

 a question as this, and the drawing of coverts, might 

 with propriety be left. 



