ii6 CHASE OF THE WILD RED DEER 



proved destructive to the cause of stag-hunting 

 altogether. 



The country remained unhunted until 1827, in 

 which year, and at a time when all looked hopeless 

 and forlorn, the late Sir Arthur Chichester, of 

 Youlstone, near Barnstaple, brought into the field 

 a fine pack, made up of large drafts from different 

 kennels of foxhounds, and again gladdened the 

 hearts of his fellow-sportsmen with the sound of 

 the horn in autumn. His pack hunted the country 

 occasionally with considerable success, until the 

 spring of 1833, when, from some cause or another, 

 the worthy baronet gave up the hounds, and the 

 poacher again resumed his work of destruction, and 

 unchecked by the interference of landlords and pro- 

 prietors of coverts in many parts of the country, 

 made fearful havoc among the already thinned and 

 diminished ranks of the denizens of the forest. 



Before the late Sir Arthur Chichester determined 

 to hunt the deer, an attempt was made to establish 

 a subscription pack, and though the movement was 

 not ultimately successful, it met with considerable 

 support ; and I cannot refrain from laying before 

 my readers a letter written to me at this period by 

 the then Lord Porchester in answer to one I had 

 written to his Lordship, requesting his aid, in the 



