342 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY 



this neighbourhood where I should Hke to pitch my tent. The 

 country looks so English, the very hills, though detrimental to 

 hunting, give it a variety of scene, and the continued grass 

 and numerous bridle ways render it delightful for riding or 

 rambling. I can scarcely imagine a more enjoyable life than to 

 have one's headquarters in this neighbourhood with occasional 

 rambles in spring, summer or autumn, to the Highlands or 

 Wales, or similar places, for some fishing and shooting, not 

 omitting the salmon or red deer. 



But after all this eulogium shall I say I am disappointed 

 with Leicestershire as a hunting country, or rather that it does 

 not come up to my expectations, or the opinions I had formed 

 of it from the hasty view and taste of it I had in the latter part 

 of the season of 1844. I confess that such is rather my feeling 

 at the present moment, though perhaps I am somewhat pre- 

 mature ; but it is more hilly than I expected, and the fences, 

 though few and far between, are in too many places impractic- 

 able, so that it is impossible to ride as straight as over the 

 Roothings, and offers a premium to those who affect gateways 

 and bridleways, which are found in abundance. At any rate, I 

 think that I am not premature in saying that I am disappointed 

 with the greater part of the country round Melton, so much so 

 as to feel some surprise that it should ever have attained such 

 great fame and popularity ; but it must have proceeded rather 

 from its central position in regard to the three packs of the 

 Ouorn, Belvoir and Cottesmore, than to the goodness of the 

 country, for all its best country lies in High Leicestershire, 

 which is a o-reater distance from Melton than from either 

 Leicester, Lutterworth or Market Harborough. Billesdon 

 seems to me very central for the best country of the Ouorn and 

 Cottesmore, but would be very far from the Belvoir though 

 within reach of the Pytchley, when in the Market Harborough 

 country. 



Tomlin, the rough-rider, who like most men of his class, 

 seems a good natured devil-may-care fellow, knowing every- 

 body and every place, was very civil in pointing out the road I 

 ought to have taken to-day, in case of my coming to the same 

 place again, lives at Billesdon, I will therefore enquire further 

 as to its merits. 



Having dismissed my hack I had the unpleasant task of 

 riding home a tired horse, but was fortunate in getting the 

 pilotage of Mr, Oliver's servants to Melton, which I reached 

 about 6 o'clock, very tired and out of spirits. The long and 

 bad day made me feel all the fatigues of yesterday, and being 



