1824] THE FIRST WILL SMITH. 51 



Wood, finishinof on October I6tli with a moderate scentiuo- 

 day from Woottou House. The young hounds gave their 

 huntsman satisfaction on the whole, killing twenty-seven 

 cubs, and running nine to ground. Warble, Wisdom, 

 Bowler, Platoff, Hector, Archer, Tyrant, Turban, Fear- 

 nought, Novelty and Limner earned the greatest com- 

 mendation. 



Owing to the very hot, dry summer of 1825, it was not 

 possible to start cub-hunting till August 15th, and then 

 operations were commenced in Ulceby Wood, the first 

 time hounds had been there since it was enclosed. In 

 spite of very dry weather, a very fair cub-hunting season, 

 which included several very sporting runs, came to an 

 end on October 15th. Sixteen brace of cubs were killed, 

 and four brace marked to OTound. Smith makes leno-thv 

 reference to the young hounds tliat had performed credi- 

 tably, to those that are free of tongue, those that are shy, 

 and those that are wild in their work. As one reads his 

 diaries, one cannot help noticing that good hound-work 

 is the special pride of the huntsman, and not the bringing 

 off of great runs, for he will frequentl}' devote more space 

 to a moderate day, when hounds had to work on a bad 

 scent, than to some brilliant scurry, when all hounds had 

 to do was to drive ahead with a burnin<T scent. 



O 



The summer of 1826 was also very dry, and it was 

 not till September 8th that a nice rain set hounds at 

 liberty to disturb the litters in the woodlands. There 

 is no regular diary during this season, which proved a 

 very dry and scentless one, and there is not a record of 

 the killed. In spite of fewer days of education, however, 

 Will says he never saw hounds enter so quickly and satis- 

 factorily, and comes to the conclusion that one may begin 

 cub-hunting too soon. There was never one really good 

 scenting day, but much pretty hunting, and the hunts- 

 man appears to be most proud of his entry. He gives a 

 list of those who show most promise. 



Cub-hunting in 1827 began in Newsham Chase on 

 August 20th with only a moderate scent, and hounds missed 



