The V/orccstersliirc at Hiiidlip. 73 



Wood, at times showed well to the front. We are glad 

 to report that the South Shropshire gentlemen kept in 

 the saddle better than they did last week." Surely after 

 all the sport in the south this year, and while the season 

 is yet in its prime, it ^vould be wise to call a meeting to 

 consider the future of this country. Borderer is not 

 inspired, nor a prophet, but he believes it only needs a 

 uniform promise of support to Mr. Lonsdale, and a 

 truthful exposition of want of funds, to win from him the 

 promise of putting, for next season, both the north and 

 south countries on an equal footing, and to handsomely 

 waive a subscription. If this were so, I believe there 

 would be more heart thrown into hunting south of the 

 river than we have seen for many a day, and that at least 

 three new gorse coverts w^ould be planted and tended 

 with increasing care. " Hunting men of the south, do 

 not let the grass grow under your feet. Carpc diem, and 

 keep your hunting." 



EIGHTEENTH WEEK, Februaey 22nd to the 27th. 



If ever hunting men have been tried in the matter of 

 weather, this x\nno Domini, 1886, will stand out pre- 

 eminently in this respect. I can recall no parallel since 

 1854, when the frost did not disappear before the end of 

 the first week in March. Extraordinary, however, has 

 been the scent, notwithstanding the bitter east wind, 

 especially on the grass. Borderer always gives the foxes 

 credit for favouring us a little through this amiable 

 month of February in the matter of scent, and he 

 believes as a physiological fact this is true. 



Be this as it may, some very bright gems in way of 

 sport have come to hand within the last week or two. 

 Conspicuous amongst them being a great Worcestershire 

 day on LolxI Hindlip's birthday, who is so well knowui 

 as Sir Henry Allsopp, that some of my readers will 

 hardly recognise him under his new title. It has been an 

 annual custom to meet at Hindlip on Sir Henry's 

 birthday, and drink a bumper to foxhunting. On this 



