CHASE OF THE WILD RED DEER 119 



classes ; they look forward to a meet with the stao-- 

 hounds in their respective neighbourhoods as a 

 partial holiday, and with as much g-lee as the sports- 

 man himself; for this alone, if for no other con- 

 sideration, would I support the establishment.' 



Year after year passed by after Sir Arthur 

 Chichester discontinued the huntino-, and no voice 

 was raised on behalf of the ancient sport. The old 

 spirit seemed to have died out, and to all appearance 

 the unique and exciting amusement of our ancestors 

 was passing away. It was at this time — in the year 

 1837, when the prospect seemed blank and dreary 

 — that I made an effort to revive the sport ; and I 

 claim for myself the credit of having, by untiring 

 labour and persevering industry, succeeded in creat- 

 ing a stimulus to which the existence of a pack of 

 staghounds at the present moment is, I humbly 

 venture to say, mainly due. I mention the fact 

 with pride, though I will not trouble my readers by 

 a detailed history of the circumstances, or of the 

 difficulties with which I had to contend ; suffice it to 

 say that, with the aid of two good sportsmen, the 

 present Mr Stucley Lucas and Mr George Hall 

 Peppin, the, feelings of the west-country gentlemen 

 were aroused, and a subscription was promised which 

 enabled me to organise an establishment and bring 



