10 NOTTTIA VKNATTCA. 



T was assurer! by ono of tlio spcftatovs that, t-lioii^-li all the monarehs 

 were tolerable niarksiiicn, none shot so Avell as the Empress of Austria, 

 who always selected the hares as the smallest objects, and never failed 

 to kill with a single ball. The ladies, it was said, entered Avith spirit 

 into this amusement, and seemed delighted at the sufferings of a poor 

 fox which, aftei- being fired at till all his legs were broken, still gasped 

 for breath." 



In speaking of hunting on the continent, I cannot prevail upon my- 

 self to dismiss the subject without giving some account of one of the 

 most extraordinary characters as a sportsman, or rather sportswoman, 

 that ever existed, either in this country or in any other. The person to 

 whom I allude was the Baroness de Dracek, or Brack, as it is pro- 

 nounced ; she resided in an old-fashioned chateau, surrounded with 

 woods, on the Belgian frontier of France, and about sixteen miles from 

 the town of Calais. In the year 1839, I visited the place from curiosity ; 

 and although nothing but the history remained of this most eccentric 

 character, save and except a few relics relative to the chase and other 

 emblems of her darling occupation, a short sketch of what I saw, will, 

 I hope, not be found unentertaining to the generality of my readers. 

 On approaching the grand entrance, nothing particularly struck the eye 

 excepting a kind of pent-house, Avhich had been built up purposely to 

 protect from the weather a large collection of the heads of wolves 

 killed in the chase by this modern Camilla. Upon entering the house, 

 we passed through the rooms on the ground-floor, where still hung 

 many of the family pictures ; amongst them were several representing 

 the Baroness in her usual hunting costume, and in the act of perform- 

 ing some of her most renowned exploits in the chase. The most remark- 

 able was where she was described upon her favourite gray horse, pre- 

 pared to start on a hunting expedition ; her style of dress, which it must 

 be allowed was unique, was the following : — A green coat, with a gold 

 belt round the waist ; hat with a high crown, having a small gold band 

 round it ; her hair powdered, and appearing behind in rather large 

 curls ; leather breeches, and boots ; and seated in her saddle, of course, 

 a la chasseur. In addition to all this she had the coiiteau de rhasse by 

 her side, and the figure of the wolf on the buttons of her clothes, deno- 

 ting the chef d'amvre of her pursuits. Her best hunting dress, richly 

 ornamented, cost 1,200 francs ; but Avith the exception of one button 

 not a remnant Avas to be found. Behind lier saddle Avas placed a blouse, 

 to be resorted to in case of rain. In the dining-room 1 Avas shoAvn the 

 spot where this extraordinary person, stricken with apoplexy, fell in 

 her seventy-fifth year, dying on the folloAving da3^ Her grave Avhere 

 her remains rest is situated at no great distance from the house, in the 

 church-yard, between tAvo elm trees, Avhere, on a Avooden cross, is the 

 foUoAving inscription : — " Ici repose le corps de noble Bame Marie Cecile 

 Charlotte de jjauretau, Baronne do Bracek. Bccidt'e le ID Jan., age 

 75." There is a rude sketch of the family arms, AA^hich are Avolves Avith 

 the heads of cocks. Amongst the ])ictures in the house is one, I forgot 

 to mention, representing our heroine in the act of fishing, in Avhich she 

 was a great adept. Tlie kitchen Avas an ample apartment, and bore 



