240 HORSES AND HOUNDS. 



_ We have seldom an opportunity of knowing what elements 

 distant kennels are composed of. Runs are recorded, it is true, 

 of almost every ])ack, and there is generally a monstrous deal of 

 trash mixed up with them also about splendid packs of hounds, 

 when, perhaps, half of them are like turnspits. Then we hear 

 of the darlings (not Grace Darlings, many of them, I'll warrant), 

 beauties, and every hyperbole that can be made available to 

 laud their favourites to the skies — flying like pigeons, &c., &c. 

 This is all very fine and may be all very true, perhaps ; but I 

 should just like to have a look at these paragons, and so would, 

 I dare affirm, many more. Nothing is more easy. We have a 

 grand cattle show in London, and great i^oultry exhibitions. 

 There are also little shows of long-eared rabbits, shows of ter- 

 riers, and shows of spaniels, and why not an annual show of 

 fox-hounds at Tattersall's 1 



The plan I would suggest is this — that each master of fox- 

 hounds should send a couple of young unentered hounds, dog and 

 bitch, of his _ own breeding (say two or three days before the 

 Epsom Meeting), with their feeders ; but, first and foremost, as 

 nothing can be done without a dinner, let every master of fox- 

 hounds subscribe a couple of sovereigns annually to a fox- 

 hunting club, to meet at the Clarendon, or any other place 

 which may be considered more eligible. A president should be 

 chosen. Probably either the Duke of Beaufort or the Duke of 

 Rutland would not refuse their services to promote so laudable 

 an object. For a guinea per head an excellent dinner could be 

 provided, with a sufiicient allowance of wine. There are now 

 advertised in BdVs Life about seventy packs of fox-hounds — 

 say that only fifty subscribed. We have, then, 100^. to com- 

 mence with. If all appeared at the dinner, there would be 50^. 

 expended. I would, however, admit a few others, if considered 

 expedient, by tickets. We have, then, 60l. to expend in pre- 

 miums. These I would award somewhat after this fashion — 

 two prize goblets to the best two couples of hounds, the first 

 of 10^., the second of 6l.: a silver medal or two for others. I 

 would also distribute lOZ. among the feeders. We have then 

 20/. left for extra expenses. 



A judge or judges should be appointed, to decide on the 

 merits of the hounds, and their awards to be given after the 

 dinner, and the prizes distributed. The annual subscriptions 

 to be forwarded to the Editor of BeWs Life, who would, I have no 

 doubt, receive them, and lend his able assistance to the secre- 

 tary to carry out the arrangements about the dinner, prizes, &c. 

 The formation of such a club would be most desirable. By it 

 all disputed points might be settled as to hunting rights, &c., 



