158 RECORDS OF THE CHASE 



experience. His father, who was a thorough-bred 

 Yorkshireman, at an early age entered into the service 

 of Sir BelHngham Graham, and whipped-in to the 

 baronet, I beheve, first of all in the Badsworth, and 

 afterwards in the Atherstone country. When Mr. 

 Hornyhold took the Worcestershire hounds he engaged 

 the elder Kit as huntsman, and upon that gentleman's 

 resignation he went to the Surrey Union ; from thence 

 to Mr. now Lord, Portman, in Dorsetshire, where he 

 first entered his son in the mysteries of woodcraft. 

 When scarcely, if any, more than fourteen years of 

 age, he officiated as whipper-in to his father. 



However the celebrated masters of this hunt have dis- 

 tinguished themselves for liberality, talent, and en- 

 thusiastic zeal to afford sport, none can have excelled 

 Mr. Villebois, the gentleman who now hunts the 

 country. He is the nephew of two masters of fox- 

 hounds whose names have long been renowned — the late 

 Mr. J. Villebois, who hunted the Hampshire, and Mr. 

 F. Villebois, the Craven countries. This gentleman's 

 father also kept stag-hounds. Most of Mr. Villebois' 

 predecessors hunted the hounds themselves, but this 

 duty is now deputed to a professional huntsman. 



The Vale of White Horse has always been a great 

 acquisition to the sportsmen frequenting Cheltenham 

 during the months when Lord Fitzhardinge's hounds 

 are absent. The railway, which passes through the 

 country, is an essential convenience, although it takes 

 somewhat of a circuitous route through Gloucester. 

 There is a great proportion of grass in this hunt, which 

 holds a good scent, the fences are strong, and the land 

 in wet weather is heavy. In the neighbourhood of 

 Aldworth, Bibury, Foss Cross, Barnesley, the Hare 

 Bushes, and Jackaments Bottom there is an abundance 

 of stone walls and more ploughed land. The principal 

 woods are close to the kennels, at the extremity of 

 Oakley Park, and they are extremely convenient for 

 cub-hunting. The park is an admirable place to exer- 

 cise hounds in, as it is full of deer and hares. 



