82 HUNTING AND SPOBTING NOTES. 



screwed in a vice. In this situation, Staples drew the^ 

 fox from the briars ; and, as they did not part company, 

 some of the gentlemen called to him to loose the fox. 



" ' He won't loose me,' cried Staples. 



*'In a second or two he dropped, and was instantly 

 seized again by the unllinching huntsman, and thrown 

 amongst the hounds. But as the usual ceremonies had 

 not been performed, it became necessary to regain 

 possession of the fox, which (Staples was not able to 

 effect, owing to the severe -psiin he felt, arising from the 

 operation of the fox's teeth. The hounds, in an instant, 

 deprived the fox of life, and he was taken from them by 

 Mr. Clay ; after undergoing the usual process, he was 

 thrown a second time amongst the hungry pack, and 

 quickly disappeared." 



After this reminiscence, Borderer takes heart to make 

 a for'ard cast beyond even the possibilities of resuming 

 hunting this season for a few fleeting days into the 

 Elysian fields of another season, and he congratulates 

 the Shrewsbury country on having arranged for their 

 unity with their hitherto more favoured northern neigh- 

 bours, and having won from Mr. Lonsdale the promise 

 of his hunting their country free of cost next season. I 

 have no doubt that an adequate poultry and covert fund 

 will be provided, and that foxes will be well preserved — 

 as well as some new coverts laid down. If advice can 

 be judiciously given on such a subject, I would say let 

 gratitude be evidenced by promptitude in this matter — a 

 fund no2o provided, and the lives of breeding vixens saved 

 will do more for our future sport than adopting the more 

 cockney and less satisfactory method of turning down 

 tame cubs. I know which mode of procedure most 

 pleases a master, and conduces to sport. — And so Mr. 

 C. Wicksted after all is going to retire from the Ludlow 

 country ! It is sad to have to write it after the flicker 

 of hope he gave us a few days back. But we now resign 

 ourselves to the inevitable, and devoutly wish Sir 

 William Curtis as happy and durable a reign as has 

 smiled upon his predecessor. 



I 



