The Pytehley. 131 



The Pytehley country, without having any absolute 

 centre, is commanded by four or five points in its 

 circumference — all easily attainable from London, and 

 all offering variety for intermediate days, when the 

 pack under notice happens to be in kennel or out of 

 distance. Rugby, Weedon, Northampton, and Market 

 Harboro' are the chief of these. Daventry and Lutter- 

 worth may be pointed out as easy excellent quarters, 

 less familiar by name and less within the scope of the 

 flying visitor. Rugby and Harboro^ are best known ; 

 and Rugby is the most fully patronised. All the four 

 former are within two hours' distance of Euston or 

 St. Pancras ; and (what is not given to the more 

 remote grandeur of Melton, Oakham, and Upper 

 Leicestershire) it is feasible to reach them by a 7.30 

 train, in time for an eleven o'clock meet. 



Rugby is most in favour with those who would run 

 and hunt. For not only does it link itself with the 

 Pytehley, and give a choice of packs besides; but it 

 has a wide society of its own, and has express trains 

 to Town almost every hour. Thus, to keep two or 

 three horses at Rugby, and run down from London for 

 such days as one feels oneself at liberty, is a common 

 and easy plan on the part of men who, while unable 

 to separate themselves for any length of time from 

 more serious occupation, are yet anxious to obtain 

 hunting of the highest class. With the further 

 advantage of a club, with good and almost unlimited 

 accommodation to be had for horses, with a good 

 hotel, and hunting residences galore, no wonder that 

 Rugby also attracts many to take up permanent 

 quarters for the winter. For these — if they would 



