274 Hunting Countries of England. 



him at Basingstoke at 10.13 — but it is situated almost 

 at the spot where the Yine, Mr. Garth's and the H.H. 

 all touch. Thus the H.H. have these two packs on 

 their northern boundary^ Mr. Richard Combe's and 

 Lord Leconfi eld's on the east, the Hambledon on the 

 south, and the Hursley and the Tedworth on the west. 

 Larger fields attend the H.H. than are found with any 

 of the other packs named — two hundred, or even two 

 hundred and fifty, horsemen being a frequent muster. 

 For, once a week (on a Tuesday) the Hambledon men 

 troop in ; and on a Saturday the army turns out from 

 Aldershot. 



That you are better off on a good horse with the 

 H.H. than on a bad one, is a matter easily proved. To 

 turn out of a lane, over a bank and a quickset at a 

 moment's notice, requires a hunter ; and for a hog- 

 backed stile out of a wood you had better be on the 

 same — if immunity from disappointment or fall is an 

 object. And, again, as the chalk and loam are very 

 holding in wet weather, a strong galloper is positively 

 necessary when hounds run, and you would be with 

 them. So, if you are a resident, and would see the 

 sport, by all means mount yourself on a stout good 

 horse. Whether, as a traveller in search of change 

 and capable of buying the best, you care to launch 

 into extravagance for the sake of a trial visit into 

 Hampshire, must be for yourself to determine. 



The hunting-days of the H.H, are Monday, Tues- 

 day, Thursday, and Saturday. The three latter all 

 take them into a very similar class of country, as 

 afore noted : but Monday very often brings them 

 among banks and ditches, with smaller enclosures — 



