THE QUORN. 113 



given up to Earl Ferrers within a year or so, who has established 

 a two day a week country, in what T fancy must be pretty 

 much the lines of the Donnington, hunted about fifty years 

 ago by the then Marquis of Hastings, but since that pretty 

 much merged in the Quorn, so that now no less than three 

 distinct packs are hunting the country, which was no more than 

 sullicient for Mr. Meynell a hundred years ago. I believe I have 

 read that he hunted but three days a week, while, at the present 

 time, the vaiious packs make regularly eight days a week, and 

 with by-days often ten and eleven. Could any stronger proof 

 of the increasing popularity of the chase be wanting ? 



As I said above, very soon after Sir Eichard Sutton's death, 

 Mr. Eichard Sutton relinquished the portion on the Harborough 

 side, which he had hunted, and as Lord Stamford refused to 

 take it on with the other portion of the Quorn, aU that side was 

 in danger of being left without hounds. Then it was that, very 

 late in the year 1856, Mr. Tailby came forward at the request 

 of the land and covert owners, and thus was formed what has 

 ever since been known as Mr. Tailby's or the Billesdon 

 country. 



This of course effected a great change, and ^Larket Harborough 

 became, as it were, a sort of second Melton. Mr. Tailby got a 

 capital pack of hounds, built the kennels at Billesdon, and 

 secured Tom Day as huntsman, while the country, not to be 

 outdone, set to work to make gorse coverts, and expended a 

 large amount of money in rendering the country what it has 

 since become. Men flocked into Market Harborough, houses 

 were built, stables taken, and a complete change wrought. In 

 fact, many good men took residences in the country on Mr. 

 Tailby's accession to the mastership, notably Mr. St. John, of 

 Eitteswell, as fine a judge of all that appertains to the chase as 

 could anywhere be found ; and now I hear that, as Mr. Tailby 

 gave up last spring, he will be seen in Leicestershire no more, 

 saying that " he came into the country with Mr. Tailby, and he 

 should go out with him." 



