112 COMMENCEMENT OF THE SEASON. 



the strength of the fabric, and not plastered up with 

 such perishable materials as are inconsistent with the 

 intention of the architect ; nor will any foolish attempt 

 be made to introduce that kind of flowery language 

 so prevalent in books of modern days, by which the 

 reader may be misled into a different kind of pleasure, 

 quite foreign to that which is designed in the present 

 work. 



According to the acknowledged custom of fox- 

 hunting, the season commences in November; some 

 establishments begin to advertise their fixtures early in 

 October, but the first Monday in November opens the 

 campaign in Leicestershire, invariably at Kirby Gate ; 

 on that day may be seen at this celebrated place of 

 meeting most of the regular Melton men, and 

 undoubtedly the finest display of horseflesh that can 

 possibly be exhibited in any country in the world. In 

 humble imitation of the great men in this metropolis 

 of hunting, the numerous possessors of inferior studs, 

 who flock to the various other minor hunting quarters, 

 for the sake of enjoying the pleasures of the chase, 

 date the commencement of their hunting season from 

 this period. But it is quite another thing with the 

 master of a pack of fox-hounds ; his new year begins on 

 the very day after the last day of the bygone season, 

 that is, if he hunts till the 30th of April, his new 

 season opens on the 1st of May. And although the 

 following six are called the dead months by the gene- 

 rality of fox-hunters, they are perhaps nearly as full of 

 labour as the remaining half year. From that day his 

 whole attention must be taken up in renewing his 

 forces for the ensuing campaign, in weeding his ranks. 



