336 NIMROD'S HUNTING TOUR 



ham Graham also declined at the same time with myself, having 

 only taken a peep at them on one of Mr. Maxse's horses, being still 

 unable to ride from the fracture he had received in the North. I 

 finished this day most agreeably under Sir Harry Goodricke's 

 mahogany, where I met several old friends, who, like myself, were 

 partakers of the hospitality and good fare of the truly sporting 

 Baronet. 



Tuesday, 3rd. — Met the Quorn hounds at Widmerpool Inn. This 

 was never a favourite fixture with me. The country about Wynnstay 

 gorse is about as bad as anything in the provincials ; and it is not 

 only deep, but most disagreeably sticky and holding for horses, of 

 which none but the very best can go there. We drew a good 

 covert, however, on this day, called Parson's Gorse, and encountered 

 one of the evils attending spring hunting. The pack had passed 

 through without a feather, when unfortunately a farmer espied a fox 

 in one corner of the gorse, and gave the office. It is in vain to 

 attempt to stop fox-hounds with their game in view ; and in less 

 than two minutes, a vixen, with six cubs in her, was torn to pieces 

 by the pack. We had a large field ; a great deal of hard work for 

 horses, and a beautiful pack of hounds — dog pack No. 1. 



I was treated this day to a ride on Mr. Maher's Picton. which I 

 call a perfect hunter for the weight he can carry. The free use of 

 his shoulders, in all his paces, is quite above praise. Highly 

 however, as Mr. M. values this first-rate horse, he rode him hack in 

 London in May and June last, and told me he thought it was better 

 for him than doing nothing. Mr. Maher has been a regular Melton 

 man for twenty-two seasons ; and his nerve and horsemanship are 

 unrivalled even there. He amused me by saying he had rather ride 

 to and from covert all his life in Leicestershire, than hunt in three 

 parts of the counties of England in which hounds are kept. Met a 

 considerable party at dinner this evening at Sir Harry's. 



Wednesday, 4th. — Croxton Park races. All went off very 

 pleasantly and well, with a good display of gentleman-jockeyship — 

 Messrs. White, Kent, Captain F. Berkeley, Lord Wilton, &c. 

 Returned from the course on Mr. Payne's coach — a beautiful team, 

 and very well handled by Mr. P. ; made one of a very large party at 

 Sir Harry's ; and finished the evening at the Cocking. 



