162 HUNTING TOURS. 



all times be with them to render his assist* 

 ance. 



The establishment of foxhounds to hunt 

 this country regularly is comparatively of 

 recent date. During the early part of the 

 present century harriers were kept in divers 

 places, and the foxes were occasionally 

 aroused by their melody, but whether their 

 brushes or masks were often brought home 

 as trophies is a question I cannot determine. 

 Mr. Symonds was perhaps the most successful 

 of any of that period. With the year 1826, 

 however, foxhunting assumed a more im- 

 portant position. In that year the late Mr. 

 Dansey, of Easton, a good sportsman, who 

 distinguished himself in other countries, 

 brought his hounds to Hereford, and conti- 

 nued four seasons, when Mr. Lewis succeeded 

 him, but was not fortunate in his attempts. 

 Two years afterwards Mr. Thomas purchased 

 the hounds from Mr. Lewis, and by the addi- 

 tion of drafts from the Badminton, Berkeley, 

 and other kennels soon formed a very efficient 

 pack. They then became worthy of a distinctive 

 title, and were known as the Herefordshire 

 Hounds. A committee undertook the respon- 

 sibilities, the hounds and horses being farmed 



