THE SQUIRE OF ASWARBY 



" You will be pleased to hear Sir John Trollope has got a 

 very good lot of hounds together, and will, I think, show more 

 sport in the Woodlands than has been for some years. I 

 have had one good satisfactory day with him, although very 

 much the reverse as regards finding plenty. Irnham Park 

 Wood, I am sorry to say, they drew blank, and only found 

 one fox in Osgodby Coppice, which is a terrible state of affairs, 

 as I fear many of our old foxes have paid their last debt 

 here. 



" Stoke Park Wood, Burton Slate, and Long Wood with 

 Easton Wood, are all, too, without cubs again ; but I intend 

 going to these places next week to see what there are. Our 

 open country and south of the Grantham road abounds with 

 foxes, which I hope will be disturbed the next fortnight. 



" I am truly very sorry to hear through Mr. Turnor of Lady 

 Whichcote being so poorly, but who, I sincerely hope, will 

 soon be restored to health again. Hoping you are quite well, 

 and with a good stud of horses to enjoy the pleasures of the 

 chase, which I hope the ensuing season will prove to be as 

 cheering and animating as in days of yore, 



" I beg to remain, 



" Honoured Sir, 

 " Your most humble and obedient servant, 



"Wm. Goodall." 



The next letter is of great interest. It was written in the 

 cub-hunting season of 1854, and describes the drought which 

 marked the close of a hot and dry summer. There is also 

 a reference to Will's habit of not taking out food into the 

 hunting field, a custom which, with the long hours of a Bel- 

 voir hunting day, and the weary homeward rides, would have 

 taxed severely even a stronger constitution. Will goes on to 

 tell of a remarkable run, nor does he forget his friends in the 

 Crimea. There is also a pleasant touch about the playfulness 

 of the young hounds, which is an illustration of Will's method 

 with them. This was to make every use of a hound's 

 natural intelligence, high spirit, and affection to improve him 

 in his work. 



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