The Shropshire. 197 



east; the Wheatland ou the south-east. Its opera- 

 tions do not nowadays extend far enough to touch the 

 United Pack in the south ; while the rugged Welsh 

 hills are its only limit to the west and south-west. 



A less tempting, and consequently less popular, 

 country than some of its neighbours. The Shropshire, 

 nevertheless, has much good hunting ground, and at 

 least reaps the advantage of knowing nothing of such 

 crowds as often affect the Cheshire and Sir Watkin^s. 

 It keeps up a pack of hounds for its own amusement, 

 and its field is entirely home grown. Shrewsbury 

 people can, except by making use of the railway, get 

 no hunting with other packs, beyond a day in the 

 week with Sir Watkin. Whitchurch, just outside the 

 border, is, of course, an excellent place, commanding 

 the Shropshire, Sir Watkin, the South Cheshire, and 

 best meets of the North Staffordshire. Market 

 Drayton gives nearly the same choice, but lies rather 

 wider of the best meets. Shrewsbury is at best some 

 four hours from London (Euston-square) ; the other 

 two quarters named taking about half an hour longer 

 to reach. 



The Severn cutting its way through the country 

 naturally makes two divisions of it; which the 

 features of the ground also tend to maintain. For, 

 the north of the Severn is in the main a level plain ; 

 while to the south, when once out of the vale of 

 Shrewsbury (which forms the bed of the Severn), 

 you find yourself soon on higher and more broken 

 country. 



Looking at the northern half of the vShropshire, the 

 question at once suggests itself — '^ Why should it be 



VOL. II. p 



