THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 



quite at the outside of the most open and best part of the 

 county. I conclude, however, that it is, as a residence for a 

 master of foxhounds, in every respect complete.' 



Mr. Somerhy. — ' Quorndon Hall, as a house, although plea- 

 santly situated, on the bank of the river Soar, which runs 

 partially through the grounds, has no pretension beyond the 

 rank of country gentlemen's houses in general ; neither is it 

 upon a large scale. Its situation, also, is not central ; but it 

 has one advantage, which Mr. Meynell thinks much of. It is 

 within easy reach of the forest of Charnwood, which affords 

 excellent opportunities for making young liounds, as well as of 

 cub-hunting, in the autumn, with the old ones. That forest 

 abounds with foxes — is good scenting ground; and we hunt 

 there long after the good country is shut up ; — in fact, until 

 May-day, at which period of the year it is desirable, for more 

 reasons than one, that hounds should not have far to travel to 

 cover. Mr. Meynell is, therefore, partial to Quorndon as a 

 residence ; and he has a temporary kennel in the Market 

 Harborough country, in which liis hounds lie, when the fixture 

 is in that quarter.' 



Mr. Raby. — ' You are, I conclude, domiciled at Melton 

 Mowbray. All I know of that town is, from having onee 

 passed through it, on my road to the north of England ; but 

 I did not get out of my carriage. It appeared to be but an 

 insignificant place.' 



Mr. Somerhy. — ' And it is so ; it possesses but one inn, and 

 that a very bad one ; no bank, and very few good houses. But 

 it is well situated for a sportsman, during his residence in the 

 county ; as almost every good cover in Mr. Meynell's, as well 

 as in the other hunts, is to be got at from it ; and, weather 

 permitting, no man need remain idle in Melton from want of 

 being able to reach hounds.' 



Mr. Raby. — ' Do you hunt every day ? ' 

 Mr. Somerhy. — ' I do.' 



Mr. Rahy. — ' Is not the fatigue of hunting six days in the 

 week more than the generality of constitutions will bear without 

 injury?' 



Mr. Somerhy. — ' I think not. On the contrar}^, it is my 

 opinion, tliat any man, under the age of fifty-five, whose frame 

 is naturally sound, who lives temperately as to wine, and who 

 will allow himself eight hours' bed, will Ije better in health for 



34 



