184 RECORDS OF THE CHASE 



western. There is much variety of hill and vale, the 

 former being fenced with stone walls, and the latter 

 with hedges and ditches mostly of a practicable nature. 

 In the vale are several good brooks, some of which are 

 not easily negotiable. There is a considerable portion 

 of grass about Hullavington, and what is called the 

 Christian Malford country, which, with an accomplished 

 hunter, is a good one to ride over and see sport in. 

 Badminton Park, which is nine or ten miles in circum- 

 ference, is on an elevated situation. It is a magni- 

 ficent demesne ; and the stranger cannot fail on arriving 

 near it to be impressed with its noble grandeur. The 

 approach from Worcester Lodge is superlatively 

 beautiful. When viewed through the gates, the park, 

 full three miles in length, with the fine avenues of trees 

 and the mansion at the distance, presents the ne plus 

 ultra of a ducal residence. In the estimation of a 

 sportsman, the interest of the scenery is not a little 

 enhanced when Worcester Lodge is the appointed place 

 for the hounds to meet at. 



There is a singular fox covert in this hunt, called 

 Boxwood ; and, as the name implies, it is composed 

 entirely of that evergreen shrub. It is situated on a 

 hill, and is therefore very dry, and a favourite resort 

 of foxes. Mr. Huntley, the owner of the estate, like all 

 the other country gentlemen in the neighbourhood, is 

 a zealous friend of the vulpine family. The most 

 perfect coverts, perhaps, in England are to be seen on 

 the property of Mr. Holford at Weston Birt. The 

 attention bestowed upon them is extraordinary. They 

 are composed of various kinds of plantation trees, 

 shrubs, thorns, and gorse ; and whenever an open or 

 bare space presents itself, some neighbouring thorn, 

 shrub, or a young tree most suitable and convenient, is 

 plashed down in a manner similar to that of laying a 

 hedge, by which the barren part is covered. The 

 underwood is consequently very thick, and difficult to 

 draw. They abound with game and foxes to an extra- 

 ordinary extent ; and great credit is due to the keeper, 



