4 THE BILLESDON HUNT. 



of ostentation or display, had been con- 

 structed. 



The prevailing Impressions connected 

 with the surface of Leicestershire are 

 perhaps erroneous. Conjectures frequently 

 indicate that it is nearly, if not quite, a 

 flat, whereas there are numerous undula- 

 tions and hills — Illstone, Slawston, Billes- 

 don, Coplow, and Burrow Hill, close at 

 hand, affording examples sufficient to 

 pump the horses, however perfect the 

 assiduity of their grooms may render their 

 condition. It has, too, undergone many 

 material chancres — much more land is 



o 



under the plough ; from what cause, where 

 it is so thoroughly adapted to grazing, it is 

 rather difficult to define. Probably a con- 

 siderable quantity was broken up when 

 corn bore a remunerative price, and has 

 never been restored to its primitive con- 

 dition. The double posts and rails which 

 at one period were numerous, affording 



