THE WAEWICKSHIRE 

 HOUNDS. 



CHAPTER I. 



INTRODUCTION — SOMERVILLE, THE WARWICKSHIRE 



HUNTING POET— Early packs of fox-hounds — 

 Mr. VVrightson's— a day's sport in 1780 — The 

 celebrated John Warde. 



AS iu our national annals it has been the lot of the Introduction. 

 "Heart of England," as Warwickshire may justly 

 call itself, to stand out in particular prominence, owing 

 to the deeds done withia its borders, or by the great 

 ones to whom it has given birth ; so I venture to think a 

 foremost place may be given it in the history of hunting, 

 on account of the sport of which it has shown itself 

 capable, and the illustrious names which have 

 appeared at different times in connection with 

 the chase over its lands, during the period which has 

 elapsed since the time, when, just a hundred years ago, 

 the great John Warde was sowing the seeds of fox- 

 hunting in the county. In giving a sketch of the pro- 

 gress of the sport since that time, I trust my readers 

 will acquit me, at start, of presumption enough 

 to attempt a history of the hunt in the full acceptance 

 of that word. Much material, has of course, disap- 

 peared for ever. Many, I have no doubt, of the most 

 brilliant runs have never been put on paper. The 

 history of a hunt lives and dies, to a large extent, with 

 its followers, but if I can give but a sketch of the 

 career of the pack, now known far and wid^ as " The 

 Warwickshire," during the century of its existence, I 



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