The South Staffordshire. 247 



singularly blessed in this respect. It has an unusual 

 number of resident and well-wishing landowners ; and 

 since a local pack has been set on foot^ foxes have 

 increased from year to year^ till now the country may 

 be regarded as exceptionally well-preserved and well- 

 stocked. 



Cannock Chase virtually occupies quite a quarter of 

 Major Browne's huntable ground. Commencing at 

 Shugborough Park (the seat of Lord Lichfield), at the 

 junction of the Sow and the Trent, it stretches inwards 

 from, the north-west past Rugeley and Beaudesert 

 (Lord Anglesey's place) for an extent of six or eight 

 miles. Much of it has in recent time been inclosed 

 and in some degree cultivated, and year by year its 

 expanse becomes more curtailed. But still there 

 exists a long broad tract of wild open ground, whose 

 sweeping slopes own to no richer produce than heather 

 and bramble. The great mass of covert has long 

 disappeared, and only a copse is to be seen here and 

 there. Thus, hounds are always under the eye of the 

 huntsman ; and men who love hunting for hunting's 

 sake can find plenty to interest them in a run on the 

 Chase. There is nothing to ride over — unless you 

 except ruts and rabbit holes — and there is not always 

 a scent. So it is needless to say it is not altogether 

 favourite ground with the multitude. The colliers 

 have a way of firing the heather as the freak seizes 

 them. The newly burnt surface of course sends 

 hounds' noses up at once ; but where the burning has 

 taken place long enough ago to allow of the new 

 grass and heather again springing through, there is 

 often a brilliant scent. The soil of the Chase being 



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