LETTER XII. 125 



principles only can the laws of fox-hunting ever stand. 

 However extended a country may be, so long as the mas- 

 ter continues to draw the coverts contained in it, if only 

 once in the season, he cannot be lawfully dispossessed 

 of any portion of that country without his consent ; nor 

 can another master of hounds, even at the solicitation 

 of the owners of coverts, take possession of any part of it. 

 I have heard Mr. Assheton Smith quoted as an ex- 

 ample of one who has set the laws of fox-hunting at 

 defiance, and has acted contrary to their rules, in annex- 

 ing part of the Craven country to his ow^n. From my 

 recollection of the circumstances of the case, which took 

 place some years ago, I do not think such an accusation 

 is founded on facts. My impression is, that the successor 

 of Mr. Ward in the Craven country gave certain large 

 coverts, far distant from the Craven kennels, but near 

 to Mr. Smith's house, to the latter gentleman. Much 

 angry discussion took place in consequence of this act. 

 On one side it was contended that Mr. Horlock had a 

 right so to dispose of those coverts, as being not neces- 

 sary to the Craven hounds, and seldom drawn by them ; 

 on the other, that the Craven Club had the sole right to 

 dispose of the said coverts. The independent represen- 

 tative of a subscription country has undoubtedly the 

 same powers as the sole master, and I should say his 

 acts would be binding upon his successors. Mr. Ward's 

 successor maintained that he had a right to dispose of 

 these coverts to Mr. Assheton Smith ; and his view of 

 the case was confirmed by the proprietors of them. It 

 must be admitted that, unless masters of hounds pos- 

 sessed certain discretionary powers of giving or lending 

 to other masters coverts which are not indispensably ne- 



