384 HUNTING TOURS. 



the country, more especially of one who 

 knows it so well, is such a brilliant per- 

 former, and is so enthusiastically, so pas- 

 sionately fond of foxhunting as Mr. Croome. 



In all parts of the hunt the foxes are well 

 cared for alike by the landed proprietors and 

 the farmers ; and it proclaims the esteem in 

 which Mr. Croome was held by the latter very 

 influential class, that, the year before he 

 resigned, a subscription of ^200 was added 

 by them to the guaranteed fund. 



The kennels and stables, which are at the 

 entrance to Oakley Park, within a mile of 

 Cirencester, were erected during Earl Ducie's 

 mastership, at the time when the division of the 

 country took place. Without any pretension 

 to architectural refinement, either externally 

 or internally, they are spacious and con- 

 venient. 



Mr.Croome's pack consisted of forty couples 

 of hounds, one of which, Tragedy, is in her 

 eighth season ; there is one couple in their 

 seventh season, one couple and a half six sea- 

 sons, two couples and a half five seasons, five 

 couples and a half four seasons, eight couples 

 and a half three seasons, twelve couples two 

 seasons, and eight couples and a half of young 



