220 RECORDS OF THE CHASE 



counter. A gig was one mode of conveyance, posting 

 another; the first uncomfortable, the latter expensive. 

 I think I have now stated sufficient to show how many 

 difficulties beset the sportsman in former days who was 

 compelled to reside in London ; we will now take a view 

 of his amended position in 1854. 



Never having hunted from London myself I cannot 

 speak from experience ; and therefore to avoid leading 

 any of my readers astray, I have sought information 

 from gentlemen accustomed to do so, and therefore 

 insert their kind communications. 



" Dear Sir, 



" As you requested me, I send you the result of 

 my experience in hunting from London. 



" To the metropolitan sportsman of the present day 

 steam (or rather the production through its agency, the 

 rail) is of incalculable value. It was at first considered 

 that the railways would eventually result in the total 

 destruction of fox-hunting, as the trains would sweep 

 the lines at the time the hounds were in chase of their 

 game, to the utter annihilation of the whole pack, if 

 they did not operate as a check upon the wily animal 

 in making his point altogether. Experience has, how- 

 ever, proved that such is not the case, or a rare occur- 

 rence. Not only do they enable the Londoner to select 

 a superior pack of hounds and a good country as the 

 arena of his day's diversion; but they afford facilities 

 previously unattempted to the provincialist to trans- 

 port himself and his horse to distant meets of adjoining 

 hunts far beyond his reach in former times, even had he 

 sent his horse over-night to sleep at the nearest hotel — 

 a practice which was fraught with great inconvenience 

 and considerable expense, as, in addition to the wear 

 and tear on the road to the legs of a used hunter, I have 

 known many horses off their feed in a strange stable ; 

 besides which, the change of temperature in winter 

 which he would have to encounter would be very likely 

 to operate prejudicially upon his condition. At the 

 present period, a man residing in London may on any 

 day in the week select to hunt with any of the numerous 

 packs of fox or stag-hounds within fifty miles in the 

 vicinity of the various railways, and either take his 



