LEICESTERSHIRE 157 



season, when Mr. Osbaldeston again took possession of it in the 

 summer of 1823, and has hunted it to the present time. Mr. Smith 

 and Sir BelHngham Graham hunted their hounds themselves ; but 

 during the first time Mr. Osbaldeston was master of them, they were 

 hunted by that celebrated performer, Tom Sebright, who now lives 

 with Lord Fitzwilliam. At present Mr. Osbaldeston hunts them 

 himself. 



There is one part of hunting in Leicestershire which is very 

 striking to a stranger — and that is, the assembling of the field at the 

 covert's side. Like radii verging to the centre, they are seen coming 

 in all directions to the place appointed ; and many of them mounted 

 on what in some countries would be considered very good hunters. 

 Unless, however, the horses used for this purpose were good, they 

 could not do what is required of them, as the pace is generally quick. 

 "When I see them coming, splashed up to their necks, I often think 

 of our Immortal Bard. When welcoming the messenger from the 

 battle of Holmedon, King Henry exclaims — 



" Here is a dear and true-industrious friend, 

 Sir Walter Blunt, new lighted from his horse. 

 Stained xviih the variations of each soil." 



The grand sight, however, in a Leicestershire field is the start ; 

 and here it is that what is called " a workman " distinguishes him- 

 self; for, as Dean Swift says, " it is as hard to get rid of numbers as 

 of hell. Whoever has an ambition to be heard in a crowd," con- 

 tinues this facetious writer, when speaking of public spokesmen, 

 " must press, and squeeze, and thrust, and climb '•' with indefatigable 

 pains till he has exalted himself above them ; " and so it is with a 

 man who means to see a Leicestershire run. No small danger is 

 here to be encountered ; for if he fall, he is almost certain to be 

 ridden over, and some luck must attend him if he be not seriously 

 hurt. In the 7nclee there are ahvays some wiio have not the best 

 hands on their horses, and therefore cannot always stop when they 

 wish, however well inclined to do so. 



Cato talks of charming dislocated bones by repeating mystical 



* " Evadere ad auras. 



Hoc labor, hoc opus est." — Hor. 



