YORKSHIRE 249 



" Thursday, September 1st. — At seven o'clock I tried Schoolhouse 

 whin plantation blank ; and then Henderson's, where I found a 

 litter of cubs, and again found in Parnaby's, and in the kennel whin, 

 but could not run one yard, nor catch a fox, from the extreme heat 

 and blazing sun. Had fourteen couples and a half of young, 

 sixteen couples and a half of the three, four, and five years old 

 hounds out. Eode Sir Harry ; Dick, Swing ; Will, Obadiah ; and 

 George, Salopian." 



In the same style — marking every occurrence of the day — often 

 with much humour, but always with abundance of zeal, does this 

 amusing record proceed, and upon no occasion — no, not after the 

 merriest evening he ever passed — would his Lordship retire to rest 

 until this task were executed. There is a precedent for everything. 

 It was a sacred rule amongst a heathen nation, that they should 

 every evening run over the actions and affairs of the day, and 

 doubtless the practice turned to their account. 



Lord Darlington's rank and fortune having placed him on the 

 summit of human life, if money can contribute to the pleasures of 

 the day, that one thing needful can never be wanting. It would not 

 be much then to say of him, that, in point of expense and splendour 

 of establishment in his kennels and stables, he stands first on the 

 roll of masters of fox-hounds, keeping them upon their own 

 resources. I should be inclined to say he did stand first ; but 

 perhaps his expenditure may be exceeded by that of the Quorn 

 country. 



Everything with Lord Darlington is managed with order and 

 method. He has a weekly state of his coverts regularly brought to 

 him — specifying what had been done to each covert, or the fences 

 round it, and also what is required to be done ; and some estimate 

 may be made of the expense he is at in preserving foxes, by the 

 single fact of his paying 340/. a-year to his own tenants in the Eaby 

 country for rent of coverts north of the river Tees. 



Exclusively of advertising his fixtures in the several newspapers, 

 Lord Darlington sends private cards to several of his Hunt, and he 

 always fixes four days a- week, unless when he is obliged to attend 

 the House of Lords, when they are reduced to three. In one 

 respect his hounds have an advantage, and himself must also feel it. 



