Lord Portsmouth's. 333 



sional bog is apt to fetter tlie leap or interfere witli tlie 

 safety of landing. But it is a treat to get across a 

 country at all — rather tlian round it, as must be tbe 

 almost universal rule of action in Devonsbire. Tbere 

 is mucb less moorland, or open common, in Lord 

 Portsmouth's country than in those of bis neighbours 

 towards Exmoor and the north. The land is every- 

 where inclosed as stiffly as steep bank and stout hedge 

 can make it ; and roads, lanes, and gates must be the 

 study and the means of getting about. So for this 

 country, as for Devonshire generally, your mount 

 should be one that can make his way quickly along a 

 road, scramble over and through rough places, and 

 carry you safely home at night, after having been out 

 of his stables for as many hours as would often suffice 

 for two days' hunting in some more fashionable parts 

 of England. For want of this — by far the most suit- 

 able — class of animal, the visitor need never find him- 

 self unable to go oute They are not only grown in the 

 country, but are to be hired everywhere, with much 

 less cost than — and none of the risk of — bringing ex- 

 pensive horses a long distance by rail, on to ground 

 to which they are unused and unsuited. 



Throughout the west country good sportsmen and 

 stout foxhunters are freely scattered. They are 

 especially plentiful where Lord Portsmouth holds sway 

 — for instance, Mr. Robert Luxton, who for many a 

 year has been quite a right-hand to the Hunt, ever 

 ready to settle any damage or smooth any dispute, to 

 rear his share and more than his share of cubs and 

 puppies, to turn a hound or read the Riot Act over a 

 young-one ; Mr. Henry Churchill^ who for more than 



