THE BAD SEASON OF I 85 I -5 2 



397 



On the same day I met James Parker, who told me that the 

 staghounds had given up hunting in Essex, owing to the hard 

 and dry state of the ground. _ u r n • 



Mr Vickerman sums up the season m the tollowmg 

 words:— The leading characteristic of the past season has 

 undoubtedly been its singular dryness, which has kept the 



Charles Ranken Vickerman 



ground hard, rendered the scent indifferent and generally made 

 it as bad a season for sport in every country, and with every 

 pack as the previous season was favourable. Colonel Wyndham 

 (of Melton), told me that Sir Richard Sutton had declared to 

 him it was the very worst season he had experienced since 

 he kept hounds, and the notices from correspondents, articles, 

 letters, &c.. in the Sporting Magazine and Bell's Life, with 



