HUNTING TOURS. 181 



improving practically on the observations he 

 had made, as a new pack was formed from 

 drafts. At the termination of the succeeding 

 five years, the Heythrop country being esta- 

 blished, he was engaged as huntsman, where 

 he has remained ever since, esteemed and 

 regarded by all classes with whom he is con- 

 cerned. Some years ago, from over exertion, 

 he had the misfortune to rupture a blood- 

 vessel, and for two seasons his nephew, George 

 Hills, took the horn ; but fortunately rest 

 restored him, and, as all good ones do, " he 

 came again" as cheery as ever. 



The foundation of the pack was laid with 

 twenty-five couples from the Duke of Beau- 

 fort's, twenty-one couples from Lord Radnor's, 

 which did not turn out satisfactorily, ten or 

 twelve couples from Lord Ducie's, including 

 Eocket, whose descendants do him great 

 credit, a couple and a half, unentered, of 

 bitches from Mr. Drake's, and an unentered 

 draft from the Warwickshire. The following 

 season four couples and a half were added 

 from Mr. Drake's, two couples of which were 

 bitches. These hounds proved very valuable. 

 It is probable they were a second draft, 

 nearly equivalent to being picked. These, it 



