LEAMINGTON 115 



on- Avon, he had others at Meriden, between Coventry 

 and Coleshill, for the purpose of hunting the neigh- 

 bouring coverts, in those days known as the Warwick- 

 shire Woodlands. The coverts near Dunchurch have 

 at times been hunted by the Warwickshire hounds, 

 sometimes by the Atherstone, at others by the 

 Pytchley. 



From Mr. Corbet this country passed to Lord 

 Middleton, who hunted it ten seasons, showing great 

 sport ; but I doubt whether his lordship's general 

 arrangements were highly appreciated. The celebrated 

 John Wood was huntsman during the greater portion 

 if not the whole of the time. In 1822 Lord Middleton 

 had the misfortune to receive a fall from one of his 

 horses which shook his lordship considerably and in- 

 duced him to give up hunting for a time ; upon which 

 Mr. Shirley of Eatington Hall came forward and under- 

 took the management of the hounds till some other 

 gentleman could be found ambitious of distinction. 

 After keeping them two seasons, Mr. Hay of Dunse 

 Castle in Scotland succeeded. During three or four 

 seasons this gentleman had been hunting the Woore 

 country" in Staffordshire ; therefore he was no novice 

 when he entered upon Warwickshire, and he undertook 

 the duties of huntsman himself, with William Boxall 

 as first whip. 



By this time, Leamington was beginning to assume 

 some importance. The first time I hunted in Warwick- 

 shire was during the period when Mr. Shirley had the 

 hounds. In those days the only hotel affording toler- 

 able accommodation was Copps's, and that was com- 

 paratively a cottage. This country had no doubt under- 

 gone considerable changes since the palmy days of Mr. 

 Corbet. The plough had been introduced extensively, 

 and at the present time it is still more generally used. 



About twenty years ago it was declared in moments 

 of exultation by a few sanguine friends of Leamington, 

 that the hunting attractions in that place would be so 

 powerful as totally to eclipse Melton. That, however. 



