124 The Hunting Countries of England. 



number. Most of these will be farmers — who, 

 throughout the country, are keenly wedded to the 

 sport. Resident and foxhunting landowners there 

 are few — a great drawback to the country, and a 

 difficulty of some consequence in the case of a 

 subscription pack. 



West of Ripon, we get again upon hills — a rough 

 but sporting country, of moorland, grass, and stone- 

 walls, which until the last year or two has not been 

 much hunted, but which the present Master is striving 

 hard to utilise. Its natural qualifications are sterling 

 enough — if only local influence will, as is hoped, assist 

 to develope them. 



Major Dent has now had the country three seasons ; 

 and hunts the hounds himself. The present pack 

 was founded in 1856 by Lord Feversham, who bought 

 the Forfarshire Hounds, and added lots from Sir 

 Richard Sutton's sale. Lord Feversham himself sold 

 lis hounds in 1867; but many of the best were 

 purchased on behalf of the Bedale Hunt by Mr. J. B. 

 Booth, the late master, and drafts from the Brocklesby 

 and other Kennels obtained to make up the pack. 

 Major Dent has recruited his Kennel largely from 

 Lord Zetland's and Mr. Lane Fox's; and has gone 

 to The Milton and The Belvoir for blood to cross with 

 that at home. The Bedale Country, however, is of 

 much older date. It originally formed part of the 

 immense track hunted by The Raby Hounds, the 

 property of the Earl of Darlington, who, about the 

 year 1794, gave up the Badsworth and took the Raby 

 Country (including the present Bedale). As a 

 separate Hunt, the Bedale was (jriginated by Mr. 



