FUTURE PROSPECTS. 297 



for showing sport should not be lost sight of in this con- 

 nection. We have already, in an early chapter, referred to 

 several points in its favour, and we should like again to 

 say a good word for our native county, in which the 

 present writer has spent nearly the whole of a fairly long 

 life. It is the fashion to speak of North Stafibrdshire as a 

 poor hunting country, and by those who think that hunt- 

 ing can only be enjoyed in a flying country like Leicester- 

 shire, it may be so classed ; but we venture to think that 

 those who decry North Stafibrdshire as a hunting country 

 do it an injustice, and that their prejudice most likely 

 arises from a want of thorough knowledoe of the district. 

 It is true that enclosures are generally small, that portions 

 of the country are hilly, and that a ditch-and-bank country 

 is not the most enjoyable for a man to ride over who has 

 not been accustomed to it ; but Non ciduis liominl con- 

 tingit adire Corinthum, we cannot all set up a big stud 

 of thoroughbreds, and betake ourselves to Melton or 

 Market Harborough, and the sportsman who is willing to 

 make the most of the advantages within his reach may 

 enjoy some capital sport, and will find hounds now and 

 then quite fast enough for him and his mount, even in 

 North Staff'ord shire. 



Then what a joy it is to revel in a grass country like 

 ours, where ploughed fields are the rare exception and 

 turf the general rule ! A fine scenting country it is, too, 

 for the most part, and wild foxes abound through the 

 length and breadth of it, that disdain to dodge and twist, 

 or to make for the nearest drain or rabbit-hole, but set their 

 mask for some distant point and determine to do or die. 

 No man need wish for a finer gallop than we have often 

 had from Draycot right into the heart of the Meynell 

 country, or from the Woore coverts right into the centre 

 of the Cheshire Hunt. What country can show finer 

 woodlands than the North Staff'ord ? better nurseries for 

 foxes, better schools for young hounds ? 



The present writer must risk being set down as a 

 laudator temjyoi^is acti and an enthusiast, when he 



