230 HUNTING. 



Cottesmore, on the particular understanding that if ever a 

 Lowther took to the latter hounds again, it should revert to its 

 ancient use. And this actually did happen in the season of 

 187 1-2. In the early years of the century the Cottesmore 

 country was very wild, rough, and deep ; even now it is much 

 the wildest, the most in a state of nature, of the Shires. This 

 made the hounds particularly good hunters, and though not 

 so quick in the open as the Quorn, they were always held to 

 be the best on a line. The historians of the chase are less 

 voluminous on the Cottesmore hunt than on many others. 

 With the exception of Dick Christian's reminiscences, and the 

 fact that Sir Richard Sutton w^as master for a short but brilliant 

 reign before taking the Quorn, there are few facts to be gathered 

 from history. Dick tells us of a tremendous run in Sir Gilbert's 

 reign, known as ' The Prince of Wales's day,' afterwards George 

 the Fourth. His Royal Highness was staying at Normanton ; 

 ' he was nowhere, bless you ; they gave him the brush, though, 

 just to please him.' The Prince must have had plenty to keep 

 him company, for it was, by the veteran's account, a desperate 

 affair. ' We found at Armley Wood, then through Empingham, 

 Cottesmore Wood, straight through Exton Park, across the 

 North Road by Horn Lane toll-bar, through x\rdwick Wood, 

 where the balloon from Nottingham fell, The Lings, Fowthorpe 

 Oaks, Stamford Field-side, Royal Belthorpe, Rasen Gretford ; 

 then we came to Langtoft and Deeping — let me see — and 

 Tallerton, and then by Uppington Wood, and killed at Essen- 

 dine Park — that's it. Six horses died in the field ; these they laid 

 heels up'ards. Lord Charles Manners and Sir Gilbert were up 

 first. There must have been twenty-two miles or more. The run 

 would have made sixteen or seventeen of it. The late Lord 

 Lonsdale was out, and Lindow, and Germaine, and Vanneck. I 

 would be about twenty-eight then, and somewhere about ten 

 stone.' Oakham and Stamford are the head-quarters most 

 commonly patronised, and the former the most. A quiet market 

 town it is, about three hours' journey from London, with plenty 

 of good accommodation for man and beast. From here you get 



