YORKSHIRE 311 



it is composed of that part of Yorkshire called Holderness, and the 

 other half the wolds and low country extending nearly to Houden. 

 The river Hull divides Holderness from the wolds. The air of the 

 former is soft and humid ; of the latter such as is generally 

 experienced on situations of a similar altitude. 



My opinion of the Holderness country is, that it is a rare one for 

 hounds, but, after much rain, a cruel one for horses ; and I must 

 say is too deep to be pleasant. On some days the best hunter in 

 England may be stopped in ten minutes, if ridden at the top of his 

 pace ; for in some parts there is no chance to bring him round again 

 by getting on a dry headland or a bit of sound ground. It is sop, 

 sop, all the way, and the dark colour of the soil plainly denotes its 

 quality. As for the drains, it appeared to me as if more has been 

 said about them than is needful ; as I don't think they present 

 themselves oftener, or are at all more formidable, than the brooks in 

 parts of Northamptonshire, Warwickshire, Leicestershire, and one 

 or two other Midland counties. I saw but one that appeared im- 

 practicable, and that was shewn me on my road to covert. Perhaps 

 I was fortunate ; but those we met with in chase, whilst I was in 

 the country, were such as no horse fit to be called a hunter ought 

 to be appalled at. The horses of the country make easy work of 

 them, by, where the ground is sound, creeping down the banks on 

 the rising side, and then taking the drains in a stand. Notwith- 

 standing, it requires a good hunter to get well across Holderness, 

 and a man on his back who knows how to ride him. If he is 

 wantonly pressed, he must stop ; and there must be times (when 

 hounds run hard) when every advantage must be taken, and ever 

 assistance given him. As for the fences in Holderness, they are 

 the common hedge and ditch, u-ithout binders, and therefore only 

 require a steady horse, and a good finger on him, to get over them 

 without much danger of falls, that is to say, when the ])ujf is in, 

 "When it is out, a molehill and a mountain are much alike. 



The Holderness country has changed masters several times 

 within the last ten years. The first of these mentioned to me was 

 Mr. Digby Legard, whose sons are now going well, particularly Mr. 

 George Legard. After he left it, it became vacant for some time, a 

 gentleman by the name of Hill hunting it part of two seasons. 



