LEICESTERSHIRE 165 



side, we have not only the ditch and hedge to clear, but the rail also, 

 which is generally strong enough to throw all l^ut the heavy weights 

 down, if their horses do not clear it ; and if they do, it takes some- 

 thing out of them, which is not very easily replaced in a very quick 

 thing. If the fence be approached from the rail side, the fly is also 

 tremendous ; and if, after clearing all, the horse alight in the 

 furrow instead of on the top of the land, the drop is most distressing 

 to him. 



In the very strongly-fenced parts of Leicestershire, Eutlandshire, 

 and Northamptonshire, it is often impossible to go at all except 

 where timber is to be found ; and, fortunately for those who hunt in 

 them, it is generally to be met with, and particularly in the corners 

 of the fields adjoining either hovels, sheep pens, or gates ; and there 

 it is sometimes to be met with single, and unaccompanied even by a 

 ditch — though always awfully strong. The gates are also very 

 strong, and frequently difficult to get at, on account of sloughs or 

 other awkward ground in the approach to them. 



There is one kind of fence peculiar, for the most part, to those 

 celebrated countries. This consists in the common thorn fence, with 

 a yawning ditch on one side ; but the hedge is not only strongly 

 plashed at the top, but made to lean toivards the field lohereon it 

 groios. This occasions a great space of ground to be covered by a 

 horse that clears all when he takes it from the hedge side ; and if he 

 do not clear it, a fall must be the consequence. I do not think 

 " doubles " are so frequent here as in some other countries I have 

 hunted in ; but now and then w^e meet with a fence of this 

 description ; — first, there is a ditch, then a rail, then another ditch, 

 and then another rail. Now as it is obvious there is no landing for 

 a horse on the middle of this fence but on the first rail or in the 

 second ditch, it must be taken at a fly, and it generally extends over 

 a great space of ground. A friend of mine was out one day this 

 season with Lord Lonsdale's hounds, and saw a gallant performance 

 at one of these fences by Mr. T. Smith. My friend happened to be 

 in a situation to view the fox whilst the hounds were at fault, and 

 conseauently awaited their coming with the scent. He had been 

 previously amusing himself with looking at this stopper, as he 

 supposed it to be, and was meditating within himself whether it 



