352 THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 



a master of foxhounds. By-the-bye, one piece of informa- 

 tion gleaned at Quorn somewhat surprised me, and this 

 was, the comparatively small number of foxes killed in 

 the space of five seasons, during what may be called the 

 prime of Mr. Meynell's career. The account stands thus : 

 From 16th of "August 1791 to April 1792, thirty-four 

 brace. From 16th of June 1792 to 9th of April 1793, 

 forty-one and a half brace. From 16th of June 1793 to 

 2nd of April 1794, forty-six and a half brace. From 23rd 

 of August 1794 to 4th of April 1795, twenty-six and 

 a half brace. From 26th of August 1795 to 4th of 

 April 1796, thirty-four and a half brace. This, you will 

 perceive, averages little more than thirty-six brace in the 

 season, including cub-hunting, and that commencing more 

 than usually early. Either the foxes must have been more 

 scarce than they now are, to account for this trifling 

 amount of blood ; or, what I think most probable, they 

 were wilder and more difficult to kill in Meynell's days, 

 the country itself being wilder and more open than it 

 now is. 



" The kennels and stables at Quorn are superb, and you 

 must see them soon. Exclusive of boxes, there is one 

 stable which holds twenty-eight horses, and so contrived 

 by a trifling deviation from a right line, that, although 

 all the horses appear to stand in a row, the quarters of 

 each are to be seen at either extremity of the building. 

 A clean watering-bridle hangs on the stall-post of each 

 horse, and there is a patent lamp between every six. 

 This is all very fine as far as the eye of man is concerned ; 

 but for the welfare of the horses I should prefer smaller 

 stables, so as to divide the lot according to their several 

 necessities. Horses require a state of extreme quiet at 

 times, which they cannot enjoy in a stable occupied by 

 so many. Some require to be shod ; others are in physic, 

 and most go out more than once in the day : and many 

 such occurrences tend to disturb repose, which should 

 be plentifully allowed to hunters after hard days, as a 

 great restorative of their powers, as well as a preventive 

 of fever." 



Towards the close of the season, another letter was 

 despatched by Frank Raby to his friend Hargrave, of 

 which the following is part : 



" My tour of hounds is now drawing to a conclusion ; 

 but I cannot wait till I see you for the pleasure of 



