ii6 



A Great Run and Evolution. 



run was over the Sedgefield country, formerly hunted by Ralph Lambton 

 — and I believe I am the only man now living who hunted with Mr. 

 Lambton, who gave up his hounds in 1838. 



" As to my opinion of fox-hunting, past and present, I may say the 

 sport is not on the whole so enjoyable as it was, say, fifty years ago, and 

 for the following reasons : — 



1. Hounds were not bred for appearance and pace only so much as 



they are now. 



2. Fo.xes were wilder and more natural. 



3. Hounds were not so pressed on by crowded fields of riding men 



and women. 



4. Many countries were not so thickly populated, and railways were 



not so numerous. 



5 and lastly, Scent was, I think, more in evidence then than now. 

 I mean that good-scenting days were not so few and far between 

 as at the present time. As to scent, I am bound to confess that 

 I know nothing about it." 



