238 NIMROD'S HUNTING TOUR 



York on the following Wednesday by four o'clock in the afternoon — 

 one hundred and ninety-six miles. The mare rested the next day, 

 and on the Friday he rode her to Newcastle — eighty-two miles ; 

 making the average of the days she was at work ninety-two miles. 

 Mr. Eidsdale resides at Murton, three miles from York, where he 

 has built a house, and as complete a range of stables as human 

 ingenuity can effect, or the health and comfort of horses require. 

 He has also some capital paddocks, and is breeding thorough-bred 

 ones on an extensive scale. 



As Mr. Eidsdale was in London, we merely walked through his 

 stables and looked at his hunters, which consisted of seven. They 

 were all thorough-bred, and in excellent form to carry his weight — 

 about twelve stone. 



Mr. Swann then took me to the kennel of the York and Ainsty 

 fox-hounds, situated a mile from York, and near to Knavesmire, the 

 race-course. As might be expected from the resources of a sub- 

 scription pack, this kennel has nothing to boast of beyond the 

 necessary conveniences for a small pack of fox-hounds ; but it 

 appeared clean and wholesome, and free from epidemic disease. 

 There is one part of it which was new to me ; but the plan is a good 

 one, and I found it generally adopted in the kennels in the North : 

 the upper half of all the inner walls are built in open brick work, 

 which gives free circulation of air, and doubtless prevents disease. 



In Naylor, the huntsman to the York and Ainsty, I recognised an 

 old acquaintance. I knew him when he whipped-in to Sir Thomas 

 Mostyn in Oxfordshire, but that was in his early days. He has been 

 six years huntsman to the York and Ainsty, in which capacity — as 

 far as relates to the operations in the field — I refrain from speaking 

 of him at present. I never, however, withhold praise where it is 

 justly due, and in kennel superiority Naylor stands high. I 

 considered his hounds looking in splendid condition ; and by the 

 great pains I observed he took in feeding them in small lots, it is 

 evident he plumes himself on excelling in this most essential point. 



I think the York and Ainsty hounds, as a pack, particularly clever, 

 and possessing, individually, as great a share of beauty as is to be 

 found in most kennels. They have size, power, and size and power 

 without lumber or incumbrance, which, as far as the eye carries us 



