164 NIMROD'S HUNTING TOUR 



severes in the attempt. He is a very brave man over a country, 

 and has hitherto escaped pretty well — taking the thorough-bred 

 ones into account ; but last year he got a very rough fall over timber, 

 which laid him on his back for a month. This happened in con- 

 sequence of some newly-made ground giving way with him as he 

 rode quickly at the fence. The horse fell upon him, and hurt him 

 very much, to the no small discomfiture of his brother sportsmen, 

 for he is very popular at Melton. His horses were in very high 

 condition, and it is supposed that he has got one of the very best 

 hunting grooms in England. 



The more I see of Leicestershire, and the more I look at it with 

 a sportsman's eye, the less I am surprised that it has ever been 

 considered the Montpelier of hunting countries, and that it is 

 resorted to by persons from all parts of the kingdom. As I was 

 riding to covert to meet Lord Lonsdale's hounds at Coles Lodge, 

 Sir James Musgrave was kind enough to shew me the brilliant run 

 Mr. Osbaldeston's hounds had the season before last from the Coplow 

 to Eanksborough ; and I really think that if an artist were to paint 

 a panorama, and make fox-hunting the subject of it, his imagination 

 could not furnish him with a finer prospect for his pencil. I should 

 not think there was a field in the run less than forty acres, and many 

 more than a hundred, with that beautiful variety of ground which sets 

 off hounds to such advantage, and which (though severe for horses) 

 gives such a commanding view to those who are following them. 



The ox-fence, peculiar to this part of the kingdom, is considered 

 to be the most formidable ; and from the description I shall give of 

 it, my readers must be aware that it is sometimes a stopper, not 

 only to the ox, but to the high-bred hunter, with ever so good a 

 man upon his back. When bullocks, however, get fresh in condition, 

 and the gad-fly gets about them, it requires a strong fence 

 to prevent their breaking their pasture, as they will run almost 

 anywhere to avoid them. The ox-fence is formed thus : First, there 

 is a wide ditch ; secondly, a strong black-thorn hedge, which in 

 that rich country generally grows luxuriantly ; and about two yards 

 beyond the hedge is a strong single rail about four feet high. Now 

 from whichever side this fence is approached, the exertion to clear 

 it must be considerable. If we approach it from the inner or ditch 



