GALLANT RUX WITH THE BELVOIR HOUNDS. 185 



run. Now I consider that imaginary runs are almost 

 too puerile for even cockneys to read ; and although 

 I could describe a run perfect in all its parts, even to 

 the " who whoop " and where I might add " e/ quorum 

 pars magna fid,''' the fact of its having taken place in 

 a provincial district, and consequently the ground 

 traversed only well known to a few snobs*, I will 

 content myself by transcribing from " The Journal 

 of the Operations of the Belvoir Fox-hounds," a run 

 which took place on December 10, 1805, and which 

 has justly been pronounced as one of the best runs 

 ever recorded. There will be no imaginari/ conversa- 

 tion between imaginary persons introduced, no line of 

 country selected to serve the purpose; and although 

 there will be no " death holloa" wafted on the Q^ales 

 to Cottesmore, I hope I may be allowed to introduce 

 it without further apology. 



Waltham, Dec. 10. — It had snowed considerably 

 in the morning, and was inclined to freeze; and, as 

 the Sun had little or no power, we soon perceived, on 

 meeting at \Yaltham, that there was no probability of 

 the snow melting sufficiently to enable us to throw 

 off in that country. As the Vale of Belvoir appeared 

 free from snow, we determined, by a rapid and 

 sudden movement, to reach Jericho Cover. Unex- 

 pected as our appearance was in that quarter, yet the 

 foxes were not taken by surprise. On our arrival 

 there, we were informed that a fox had been disturbed 

 from an adjoining stubble-field, and had entered the 

 cover. Probably he had passed through it ; for, on 

 throwing in the hounds, some of them would have 



* All who may have never made their debut in Leicestershire. 



