1244 NIMROD'S HUNTING TOUR 



country was close, and some of it loose in the soil, and not looking 

 favourable for scent ; but, taken altogether, I did not dislike it ; and 

 I thought that part of it which I had ridden across on my road to 

 covert was capable of shewing a tine run. 



Sir Bellingham did not accompany me this day to the York 

 hounds, for two reasons : first, himself and his establishment were 

 on the move to Norton Conyers ; and, secondly, he was unwell. On 

 my arrival there, I found him in possession of a stud of hunters ; 

 and my own horses safely arrived, and most comfortably quartered 

 in one of his five-stall stables. 



As may bo natural to suppose, the great attractions to my eye in 

 my visit to the North were the Earl of Darlington's and Mr. Ealph 

 Lambton's fox-hounds. The rank of the former — the splendour of 

 his establishment— the character I had heard of him — all had some 

 share in exciting my curiosity; but these were of comparative 

 insignificance to the extraordinary fact of his having hunted his 

 own hounds thirty-six seasons ; and not hunting them only, but 

 going through all the drudgery of a huntsman, by constantly 

 drafting and feeding them in the season, and paying the most minute 

 attention to all the operations of the kennel. 



Although his inferior in rank, in the same hold with his Lordship 

 as a sportsman is that idol of his circle, Mr. Ealph Lambton, who 

 has kept and hunted the Lambton hounds thirty-five seasons — his 

 elder brother having kept them seven years before. 



Lord Darlington's hounds met on Monday the 13th at York Gate, 

 on the London and Glasgow road, three miles from Sir'Bellingham's 

 house. As is always the case when the fixture is so near, we had 

 not a minute to spare, and just got to the place as Lord Darlington 

 drove up in his carriage, with Jjady Arabella Vane, his youngest 

 daughter, for whose riding a most splendid horse was in waiting. 

 Lady Arabella was attired in her scarlet habit, and his Lordship in a 

 straight-cut scarlet coat, with an embroidered fox on the collar, a 

 hat, and a leather girdle across his shoulder. His two whippers-in 

 were also in hats, and had the embroidered fox on the collar.''- 



* III tho ■\voll-kno\vn print of tho Earl of Darlington and his fox-hounds, his 

 Lordship appears in a cap, which hinisolf and his uiou for many years rodo in, 

 but at present thev all wear hats. 



