FOX-HUNTING RECOLLECTIONS 41 



that capacity, and continues to enjoy universal 

 popularity as a huntsman of the highest class. 



A few words about the history of the country. 

 The old Earl Fitzhardinge (for many years known 

 as Colonel Berkeley) hunted not only the present 

 Berkeley country, but every alternate month 

 during the season moved his hounds to the Chelten- 

 ham kennels in order to hunt both the Cotswold 

 and the North Cotswold districts. He died in 

 1857, and soon after his death, his brother, 

 Admiral Berkeley, who was created Baron Fitz- 

 hardinge in 1861, limited his country to the 

 Cheltenham and Tewkesbury road, leaving the 

 hills beyond Cheltenham for Mr. Colmore, who 

 formed his pack in 1858 by buying hounds from 

 Lord Gifford, at that time retiring from the Vale 

 of White Horse. This arrangement continued 

 until Lord Coventry took over the Broadway 

 district in 1868 to create the North Cotswold, 

 and on Mr. Colmore's death in 1871, as I have 

 said, I succeeded him as Master of the Cotswold 

 Hunt for two years. The pack which I hunted 

 descended direct from Mr. Colmore^s purchase. 



In that wild country, where foxes are mostly 

 stout, hounds must have speed and stamina to 

 race up and down the hills ; also they must have 

 drive to push a fox through the immense wood- 

 lands. The Cotswold Hills are very steep and 



