THE BADMINTON 188 



originated in the circumstance, already named, of the 

 stag-hunting establishment kept up at Badminton 

 previously to the introduction of fox-hunting, when 

 green was no doubt the colour usually worn on those 

 occasions. 



The Badminton country is considerably more extensive 

 than the Heythrop ; and so well are the foxes preserved 

 that it affords quite a sufficient number for four days 

 in the week, admitting forty-nine and a half brace to 

 be killed in one season ; which was the case with that 

 of 1852-53, said to have been the best they ever had ; 

 and the number of the foxes killed exceeded that of any 

 former winter by four or five brace. It will long be 

 remembered both by sportsmen and farmers as the 

 wettest period ever known. The scent being especially 

 good, the hounds fairly ran away from the horses, and 

 therefore, not being pressed upon, were enabled to 

 exert their hunting faculties to great advantage. I was 

 impressed with a remark made by William Long, which 

 is so characteristic of the huntsman, who is in ecstasies 

 when he sees the hounds run away from the horsemen, 

 and by their condition enabled to maintain their 

 advantage. A gentleman observed to him the very 

 deep state of the country, when Long replied, "What 

 does it signify how deep the country is, so that the 

 hounds can run.^*" 



The Duke of Beaufort's country is joined on one side 

 by the Earl Fitzhardinge's Berkeley country ; that is, 

 principally on the west and north-west. On the extreme 

 north there is a hilly district, about Stroud, scarcely 

 ever hunted. On the east is the Vale of White Horse ; 

 and in the neighbourhood of Devizes Mr. Thomas 

 Assheton Smith's comes within reach. On the south is 

 a countr>% now without hounds, which was formerly 

 hunted by Mr. Horlock. Avening village is the farthest 

 place of meeting north of Badminton ; and New Park, 

 one mile from Devizes, on the south, which may be 

 estimated in a direct line at about thirty miles. 

 Bushton is the eastern extremity ; and Stoke Park the 



