TROJAN 47 



of the single hound. He still carried on the scent to 

 another wood, where the pack joined him, and, pointing 

 for Uffmoor Wood between Halesowen and Hagley, 

 after an excellent run they killed their fox. I have 

 often heard the exploits of this celebrated hound 

 spoken of by the late Mr. Holyoake (father of Sir F. L. 

 Goodriche and of Mr. T. Holyoake), who was a 

 distinguished member of Mr. Corbet's hunt. Trojan 

 however, could not have been in existence at the time 

 Mr. Corbet entered upon the Warwickshire country, 

 because, as nearly as I can make out, it was not till 

 about the year 1792 that he had the kennels at 

 Stratford-on-Avon. Be that as it may, Trojan was the 

 favourite progenitor of the pack, and, from what I have 

 been informed, Mr. Corbet rather went into extremes 

 by breeding too closely ; yet the very great fame which 

 his hounds attained must be confirmatory of the 

 assertion that no extensive indiscretion of that kind 

 could have been practised. Beckford says, *' A very 

 famous sportsman has told me that he frequently breeds 

 from brothers and sisters. As I should be very unwilling 

 to urge anything in opposition to such authority, you 

 had better try it ; and if it succeeds in hounds, it is 

 more, I believe, than it usually does in other animals." 

 Whether this great authority referred to Mr. Corbet as 

 *' the very famous sportsman," I cannot presume to 

 state, as he makes no allusion to any name, neither 

 does he recommend incestuous breeding from his own 

 experience ; and breeders of hounds of the present day 

 are unanimously opposed to it. Beckford very 

 judiciously observes, " that to look well they should 

 be all nearly of a size ; and I even think they should all 

 look of the same family." Somerville adds weight to 

 this in his usual beautiful style : — 



" But above all take heed, nor mix thy hounds 

 Of diff'rent kinds; discordant sounds shall grate 

 Thy cars offended, and a lagging line 

 Of babbling curs disgrace thy broken pack." 



Again Beckford says, "There are necessary points in 



