166 NIMROD'S HUNTING TOUR 



were practicable or not, and whether any one would attempt to ride 

 at it. Mr. Smith came up with the hounds, and, without appearing 

 to look at it, put his horse's head straight for it, and cleared it all. 

 Lord Plymouth followed him, and by l^reaking the second rail, 

 enabled my friend to follow him. 



Lord Plymouth is a Nobleman very highly entitled to the respect 

 of the sporting world, not solely in consideration of his ardent 

 attachment to fox-hunting as far as regards himself — so strongly 

 evinced by his foregoing the comforts of his two splendid mansions, 

 and contenting himself with a humble cottage in Leicestershire for 

 five months in the year — but also in commemoration of his very 

 handsome conduct in promoting the sport of the country ; for he not 

 only pays the rents of several coverts, but Gontinuecl to do so ditring 

 the seasons he tvas absent from the country on account of ill health. 

 His Lordship's stud is as good as money can procure, and he is a 

 very hard rider. 



There is one circumstance, however, in favour of fences in 

 Leicestershire and most other grass countries, and that is, they are 

 planted on the ground, and not on cops or banks ; for if they were, 

 they would be quite impracticable from the angle horses would 

 have to make to clear them. The footing also is much more secure 

 when the fence is on the ground. 



The brooks in Leicestershire and in the Duke of Eutland's country 

 make their appearance pretty often ; and the betting is, that one 

 man in ten is in, instead of over, those which are of any size. The 

 two most formidable are the Smite and the Wissendine, which are 

 very often all but overflowed, and then mischief is sure to be the 

 consequence. There are narrow places in all these brooks, but when 

 hounds are running hard there is no time allowed for looking for 

 them, and all chances must be taken. 



A very excellent map was published in 1823 by Mr. T. Combe of 

 Leicester, in which all the coverts belonging to the different hunts 

 are laid down with great accuracy ; and which is most useful to 

 those who resort to the several towns for the purpose of hunting in 

 this fine country. 



The subscription to the Quorn hounds is 2200Z. per annum, and 

 about 700/. per annum is paid for the rent of coverts. All this is 



