All old cJiroiiiclc of Woore. 79 



since I saw this gentleman's hounds, and though report 

 had repeatedly whispered their high character into my 

 ear, yet my anticipated notions were much below the 

 mark. I expected to see very tine hounds, but never 

 for one moment suspected that the most beautiful pack 

 in the world was about to pass in review bel'ore me. 

 They had been fed about an hour before, and they con- 

 sequently presented themselves under considerable 

 •disadvantage. When, however, the door was opened, I 

 was very much surprised indeed — I was astonished ; 

 pleasingly so, certainly, for I had never seen a pack the 

 coup cVceil of which threw such uniform beauty on the 

 ■ eye. If the tout ensemble was thus surprisingly inter- 

 esting, the individual detail was more so. They are not 

 the tallest hounds I have seen, they are about five-and- 

 twenty inches in height, remarkable for bone, strength, 

 and beautiful symmetry. The bitches appear as high as 

 the dogs, and in consequence they exhibit a levelness 

 which I never witnessed in any other pack. Beyond 

 all question, I never saw hounds in such fine, such 

 healthy, such perfect condition. These hounds unite 

 the best blood in the kingdom, and their breeding 

 and getting together have evidently been directed by the 

 most acute perception, the most consummate judgment. 

 The Kutland blood is a great favourite with Mr. Wick- 

 sted. I could not perceive anything like a middling or 

 indifferently-formed hound — they were a collection of 

 perfect beauties ! Joker, a splendid dog, five years old, 

 has received an injury upon his near thigh, which has 

 wasted the limb, and incapacitated him from going out 

 with the pack ; yet, as a stallion, he is invaluable. His 

 four tw^o-year-old daughters (Carnage, Crafty, Crazy and 

 Cruel), out of Countess (all at the same litter), are, taken 

 either separately or collectively, very superior hounds ; 

 very beautiful, perfect ! Mr. Wicksted was kind 

 enough to indulge my curiosity for a considerable length 

 of time, and drew out the hounds in various ways. At 

 length I asked him if he could draw an indifferent hound 

 — he smiled. They are short-legged hounds, possessing 

 uncommon strength as well as uncommon beauty. I 

 never before felt so much gratification from a view^ of 

 hounds in the kennel, twenty three couple and a half. 



