258 NIMROD'S HUNTING TOUR 



a cold, and was far from well ; but the prophetic words were 

 scarcely out of his old friend's lips, than a grey horse was seen in 

 the distance, which we soon perceived was old Panegyric with his 

 master on his back. Nothing occurred worth booking; but we 

 killed one fox in Low Park Wood, and after having tried it blank 

 with one terrier, four foxes were bolted out of one of Mr. Milbanke's 

 drains by another. 



Sunday the 26th.— Sir Bellingham and myself quitted Thorp, and 

 returned to Norton Conyers, travelhng through deep snow. 



Monday the 27th was a hard frost. The next day a thaw 

 commenced, though not sufficient to admit of hunting ; and on 

 Wednesday we were to have hunted with Lord Darlington ; but as 

 the fixture was at a distance, and the ground scarcely rideable, we 

 met the Boroughbridge harriers instead. We had no scent, therefore 

 no sport. 



On the 30th, Sir Bellingham and myself returned to Thorp Hall, 

 for the purpose of attending the Bedale Club, composed of the 

 Members of the Eaby Hunt. The Hon. Colonel Arden was the 

 chairman of the day, and a very pleasant evening was the result. 

 Sir Bellingham was just elected a member, and displayed the 

 embroidered fox on his collar. Was anything wanting to prove 

 Lord Darlington's staunchness to fox-hunting, and all the et-cetcras 

 of it, his constant attendance at this Club every Thursday when his 

 hounds are in the country would go a great way towards it. Some 

 would consider it no small sacrifice to exchange a Nobleman's 

 dinner-room for a half-furnished parlour at the Swan * at Bedale ; 

 but where fox-hunting requires it, it ceases to be a sacrifice with 

 such a thorough-bred sportsman as he has shewn himself. It has 

 occasionally happened that engagements have prevented the 

 attendance of any of the members, and which circumstance his 

 Lordship has been aware of : but even this has not prevented his 

 own presence, taking with him some friend or friends that may be 

 in his house. 



* I mean no disparagement to this house, which is as good as any other to 

 be met with in small towns. Bedale is situated a little to the left of the 

 Great North Road, and not more than half an hour's drive from Newton House, 

 or Thorp. 



