xii North Staffordshire. 



Scott and Will Jones, the liuntsman, and first whip, are 

 excellent sei*vants, and slaves to sport ; the hounds are- 

 first-rate, and all mean business, so that I cannot but 

 condole with them over the circumstances over which they 

 have no control. 



North Staffordshire is much in the same state as the 

 Albrighton, except, perhaps, that Dickens is not quite so' 

 keen as he used to be. I have heard of his staying at 

 home on days, that to us, appeared warrantable hunting-, 

 ones — such as the Shropshire Atcham Bridge Friday, 

 when the ground rode softly enough, in all conscience. 

 Still, Dickens knows his business, and can hunt a fox 

 against most men. I wish this vile long frost had not 

 upset Borderer's calculations of having a few days witli 

 them. 



The Ludlow do not crow with their whilom vigour. 

 There have been very few of those long point to point 

 runs that so cheered and enlivened them last season* 

 Kadnorshire has not once been touched upon ; although 

 the North Hereford about Docklow and Marston Firs 

 has been paid a visit — and the Worcestershire at Clifton- 

 on-Teme. In truth, there is a great grief here, because 

 their pleasant paths for the last twenty years have been 

 rudely interrupted, and they have awakened to the fact 

 that Mr. Wicksted and they are to part, not wholly, but 

 as their Master. I can scarcely trust myself to speak 

 on this matter, where old associations and friendships 

 are so nearly concerned. There was a flicker of hope 

 that the chord would not be broken, and yet it has gone, 

 and Sir William Curtis of Caynham Court is now elected' 

 the future Master of the destinies of the Ludlow. 



The history of the Ludlow country is interesting, and 



