HAMPSHIRE llo 



Sallust says of kings, that "neither armies nor gold can preserve 

 them upon their thrones — they must reign in the affection of their 

 people : " and this partly applies to the masters of fox-hounds, who 

 are little kings in their way. Mr. Villebois is very popular in Hamp- 

 shire — as the abundance of foxes and the respect shewn to him will 

 amply testify. His deportment in the field is extremely gentleman- 

 like ; at the same time that thei'e is a firmness of character about 

 him which never fails to add authority to command — the conse- 

 quence of which is, that I never saw less mischief done to hounds 

 than his generally experience. Like many other masters of hounds, 

 Mr. Villebois was never a forward rider ; but, from his knowledge of 

 the country, and being well mounted, he is seldom wide of his 

 hounds ; and he is an excellent judge of hunting, and everything 

 belonging to that noble science. He has two brothers very well 

 known in the sporting world — one of them (Mr. Henry Villebois) as 

 a first-rate coachman, and the other (Mr. Frederick Villebois, who 

 resides in the Craven country) as an excellent sportsman and a 

 very good rider to hounds. I have more than once chosen the 

 latter for my pilot in strange and awkward countries, and never 

 repented of my choice. 



Despite of the country, I have received a great deal of pleasure in 

 hunting with Mr. Villebois' hounds. From Alpha to Omega there 

 is — if I may be allowed the expression — a propriety attending the 

 establishment, §ls well as a correctness of conduct in everything 

 relating to it, which are highly gratifying to a sportsman's eye, and 

 which cannot be too closely imitated. The civility and respectful 

 behaviour of the servants are beyond all praise ; and whether it be 

 by the command of their master, or whether it be from their own 

 sense of propriety, I will not take upon myself to determine, but an 

 oath or a coarse expression of any sort in the field is never heard 

 to escape them under the most trying circumstances that may 

 occur. 



Mr. Villebois' country is of very considerable extent ; and so it 

 ought to be for four regularly advertised fixtures every week, and 

 very often a bye-day on the Friday. It commences at a village called 

 Crundell, to the right of the road from Odiham to Farnham, and 

 reaches to Southampton in one direction, and to Eomsey in another. 



