NOTITIA VENATICA, 31 



arc drawn by the Warwickshire hounds. The Randans, also, a chaiii 

 of covers (perhaps nearly the deepest and darkest woodlands in Eng- 

 land), have undergone perpetual changes with the Worcestershire and 

 Staflbrdshire hounds from time immemorial. Shropshire has also ex- 

 perienced many alterations, and, in fact, there are very few countries, 

 the boundaries of which are the same that they were fifty years ago. 

 Nevertheless, there are rules and regulations acknowledged in the sport- 

 ing world by which the line of demarcation is preserved ; and as long- 

 as any established hunt continues to draw covers thus marked out, their 

 rights are held inviolable. In 1786, an action was brought against the 

 huntsman of a Mr. Sturt, for pursuing a fox over the property of an- 

 other man. The point was, whether a person hunting has a right to 

 follow foxes on to the ground of another. Lord Mansfield, who tried it, 

 said that by all the cases, as far hack as Henry VIIL, it is settled that 

 a man may follow a fox into the grounds of another. It is averred in 

 the plea that this is the only way of killing a fox. This case, however, 

 does not determine that a person may xmnecessarily trample down an- 

 other's hedges, or maliciously ride over his ground ; for, if he does 

 more than is absolutely necessary, he cannot justify it. Judgment was 

 given for the defendant. I fear the defendant would not be victorious 

 in a similar case at the present day. The most interesting cases rela- 

 tive to a disputed right of country between masters of hovmds, which 

 have occurred for many years, are between the Duke of Beaufort and 

 Mr. Horlock, which, I am happy to say, was amicably arranged ; be- 

 tween Gen. Wyndham and his brother. Col. George Wyndham ; also 

 between Mr. Drax, of Charbro' Park, and Mr. Farquharson. 



How long it is since hunt clubs were first established, we have no 

 certain authority ; but it was about the middle of the last century that 

 matters appertaining to fox-hunting were recognized with other subjects 

 of county interest. That hunt which lays claim to the greatest anti- 

 quity, as I have been credibly informed — although the hounds are little 

 better than a trencher-fed pack, the country round composed of ever- 

 lasting dingles, woods, and precipices, and the thing chiefly supported 

 by the yeomanry of the country — is the Sinnington, in Yorkshire ; and 

 amongst other peculiarities characteristic of this ancient club, the hunts- 

 man is always retained quite as much on account of his warbling quali- 

 fications as his knowledge of the chase ; and unless he has " Bright 

 Phoebus," " Old Towler," and " The grey eye of Morning," with a 

 few other choice old ballads ready at command, he is no man for " Sin- 

 nington Hoont." There are no less than twelve packs of foxhounds 

 hunting the county of York : some of these are mere scratch affairs, 

 but five or six are old-established hunts, and the members are imited in 

 one club, called the "York Union Hunt Club." This is one of the 

 most aristocratic societies in England, and none are admitted but those 

 whose character will bear the strictest investigation on all points. As 

 a proof of the stern determination of the members not to admit any 

 improper candidates into their society, I will record the following cir- 

 cumstance, which was related to me by one of its oldest supporters. A 

 few years since a person who was well known and duly appreciated for 



