198 HUNTING TOURS. 



procrastinated, and during the cub-hunting 

 season a vast number of foxes were abroad in 

 the corn fields, but they have been found 

 again in their proper quarters since regular 

 hunting commenced. 



Like the family of the Smiths, in the ser- 

 vice of the noble house of Yarborough, for 

 whom several generations of that name were 

 huntsmen (till very recently the entail was in 

 abeyance but for one season only), the Leed- 

 hams have held the appointment as hunts- 

 men to the Hoar Cross hounds by a sort of 

 copyhold of inheritance ever since the first 

 establishment of the pack. This distinction 

 has with the Leedhams been remarkably sig- 

 nificant, inasmuch as this, while there has 

 always been a Leedham at the head of affairs, 

 his first and second whippers-in have been 

 either brothers or very near of kin. What 

 can possibly proclaim more forcibly the gene- 

 rous and high-minded feelings of the master, 

 or more significantly to the propriety of con- 

 duct and faithfulness of the servant? The 

 first appointment to this enviable position 

 was vested in Thomas Leedham, when his 

 sons Joseph and Thomas whipped-in to him. 

 He was succeeded as huntsman by Joseph, 



