THE BELVOIR HUNT. 35 



quickness of perception to carry that power 

 into effect ; for without the last-named pro- 

 perty a foxhound is of very little value. 

 A hound may be gifted with very low 

 scenting powers without possessing energy 

 to drive and make the best use of his 

 time. When good qualities have been 

 cultivated through many generations, the 

 animal enjoying them is the more to be 

 relied upon as being most likely to trans- 

 mit them. 



There is no place better calculated in 

 every respect to meet these hounds than at 

 the Three Queens, where I had the 

 pleasure of joining them on the 28th of 

 January 1863. There was a large and 

 truly aristocratic field in attendance, headed 

 by the Duke of Rutland, who greeted all 

 he knew with his accustomed graceful 

 affability. The proximity to Melton 

 ensures the attendance of a large portion of 

 the higher classes who affect that justly 



