54 HUNTING AND SPOBTING NOTES. 



Howbeit, Zoedone, Frigate, New Meadow, Eoquefort, 

 and Equity are not very bad ones to stand on, and I shall 

 not look further for the winner at present. The question 

 of the continuance of Shrewsbury races still hangs fire. 

 The racecourse proprietors are standing out for higher 

 terms than the promoters of a new company feel inclined 

 to give. It seems a pity that if both parties are, as they 

 profess to be, anxious to see a continuation of the sport, 

 that a little more meeting each other half way cannot be 

 indulged in. The question of putting the stand and 

 buildings in proper repair seems to be a preliminary 

 difficulty, but surely this should be met by the racecourse 

 proprietors as a liability, and it would then devolve on 

 the leasing parties to maintain and keep them in order 

 and repair. There is yet time for wise and moderate 

 counsels to prevail. 



I understand that a project is on foot, which bids fair 

 to bear good fruit, and this is to hold a show for young 

 horses in the summer in connection with the puppy show, 

 to be confined to tenant-farmers within the limits of the 

 Shropshire hunt, and to embrace young horses of each 

 class. I believe also it is Mr. Lonsdale's intention to 

 obtain a good hunter sire for the benefit of the locality, 

 in which also he has Borderer's w^armest wishes. How 

 much a man can do to benefit his fellow-men in such 

 ways as these, will I trust, be exemplified, as the good 

 heart of our present master expands and becomes 

 appreciated. 



Our hunting week opened on Monday with a deluge of 

 rain. Waterproofs and stout hearts were required at 

 starting, but eleven o'clock brought a break in the 

 clouds, and at noon there was a clear sky. Attentions 

 were divided between Sir Watkin, at Euyton-XI-Towns, 

 and the Shropshire at Hawkstone. Curiously enough, 

 both packs rejoiced in good sport, and each obtained it 

 by means of a raid into the other's country. 



Giving preference to Sir Watkin — who himself faced 

 the elements most nobly — Boreatton gave no results, 

 but Grighill put us going at once, one half of the field 

 galloping to a halloa on the north and the other half 

 popping back with Good all and the pack, after 

 another that broke in a contrary direction for Boreatton. 

 Here, by a sharp turn to the left at the top of the covert, 

 after crossing the brook, the majority of the field were 



