254 . HUNTING. 



out of place. But there are two sorts for Leicestershire, and the 

 thick one is the better. This is the Aylesbury horse. 1 



Leighton and Bletchley are the most handy entrances to 

 this little Garden of Eden for the Londoner ; Aylesbury and 

 Winslow are quite as good or better for the country, but not so 

 convenient for the railway. Christmas Gorse and High Haven 

 are memorial names, and the line between them to be beaten 

 nowhere in this mortal vale of ours ; from Aston Abbots, 

 Creslow Great Ground, or the Addington Coverts, it will be 

 strange if you get not something to think about the next day ; 

 from the latter place it may very possibly be the temperature 

 of the Addington Brook. Mr. Lowndes hunts twice a week, 

 on Tuesdays and Saturdays, with an occasional by-day in the 

 woodlands on the north-eastern side. For the last few seasons 

 he ceased to advertise his meets, owing to the unremunerative 

 crowds the London trains used to let loose on him ; but he 

 has latterly gone back to the newspapers. His pack, however, 

 is maintained by subscription, and if you hunt with it, you are 

 expected to contribute to its maintenance ; should you forget 

 to do so, you are pretty sure to be reminded of your forgetful- 

 ness. The Vale is common ground with the Rothschild stag- 

 hounds, and in part with the Bicester. 



The history of the HEYTHROP centres round two cardinal 

 landmarks, the figure of Jem Hills, and the fame of the Great 

 Tar Wood run in Lord Redesdale's mastership. Up to the 

 year 1835 the country had been hunted by the Dukes of 

 Beaufort alternately with their home and Badminton district. 

 In that year the sixth duke found his health was not equal to 

 the divided duty, and, after some difficulties, a committee of 

 management was formed, consisting of Mr. Langston of Sarsdon, 

 Lord Redesdale, and Mr. Mostyn. The hounds were all from 

 the Badminton kennels, and Jem Hills 2 came from Lord Ducie 

 to hunt them. Jem was a great character, "and ' The Druid ' 

 has gathered a record of his sayings and doings which puts him 



1 The Hiinting Countries of England, vol. i. p. 362. 



2 Jem Hills had been many years Whipper-in to the Badmington Pack, and 

 consequently knew the Heythrop country well. 



