252 



HUNTING. 



dame's school, when Whitecross Green or Islip Town- End was 

 the meet, the undergraduates used to muster strong. All this 

 part of the country, known locally as the Quarters, is com- 

 manded from Oxford, but that once great centre of learning, 

 and other things less convenient, perhaps, but to young minds 

 not less agreeable, is a little far off for the best of the Bicester. 

 While in this country, we can hardly leave unnoticed the 

 Whaddon Chase pack, better known as Mr. Selby-Lowndes's. 

 Save for a break of five seasons, when he was with the North 

 Warwickshire and the Atherstone, the 'Squire' of Whaddon 

 has hunted this country for over forty years. What the country 

 is can be said in a very few words — it is the Vale of Aylesbury, 

 immortalised in song by Whyte- Melville, and in speech of 

 various degrees of eloquence by all who have ever ridden over 

 its glorious pastures hi dry weather. In a deep winter its 

 charms are more disputable, though indeed no one can deny 

 Xki^xx poivers of attraction. It is full of brooks, but all, save the 

 Addington Brook only, clean fair jumps ; and the doubles of 

 the Vale are as famous as the ox fences of Market Harboro', and, 

 in some eyes, as impracticable. No doubt, to ride straight 

 over this country does require a very good pair ; but, given 

 the necessary qualifications, it is heavenly — the 'Londoner's 

 Leicestershire,' as ' Brooksby,' invoking ' apt alliteration's artful 

 aid,' has styled it ; ' one great dairy farm — rich pasture from 

 end to end,' but also, ' one week a springboard, the next it is a 

 treacle pot.' At its best, however, he truly describes it as ' a 

 lovely succession of sweet-scenting meadows, from whose elastic 

 face a horse bounds easily and gladly on to sound firm banks, 

 to light with equal safety on turf renewed beyond, while hounds 

 spread out at their fences and carry a broad head from field to 

 field.' The fences are, as we have said, big, and the doubles 

 especially take a deal of doing. But if big, they are gentle- 

 manly ; they are alike from end to end, and you may as a rule 

 have them anywhere you please all down the line. Conse- 

 quently there is none of the cramming and pushing for the one 

 place that so often mars the fun in the Shires ; and though there 



