THE BADMINTON HUNT. 57 



feature of the run, with the exception of 

 here and there one or two scattered pieces 

 of plough, all was pasture, and, when out of 

 Bradon, the finest in England. They 

 crossed the Thames, the I sis and its 

 branches, three times, besides the Hann- 

 ington Brook. It was indeed a magnificent 

 run, and without a grain of flattery stamps 

 the Marquis of Worcester as one of the 

 finest horsemen with hoitnds of the day. 

 After leaving Somerford coverts, his master- 

 ship, to me, seemed faultless ; always in 

 place, with head, hand, and heart, never 

 once flurried. It was a fine performance, 

 of which an English sportsman may well 

 be proud." 



The time occupied was rather more than 

 three hours and a half, and the distance 

 is computed over eight-and-twenty miles. 

 After the first portion of the run, second 

 horses were of no avail ; the line was so 

 remarkably straight. Few, very few, in- 



