INTKODUCTION. 



In a certain venerable volume,* that may not be 

 familiar to readers generally, it is written for the world's 

 information — " Leicestershire (which is explained to be 

 otherwise Ledcestershire, a town or castle on tlie Leir, 

 ancient name for Soar), being almost in the middle of 

 England, and consequently at a considerable distance 

 from the sea, the air is very sweet and wholesome." The 

 same publication has it, that "the pastures all about 

 Melton Mowbray are exceeding good, and the appear- 

 ance pleasing. 



" With respect to the inhabitants of this county, they 

 are in their manners consistent with their situations in 

 life — many of them being as polished in their manners 

 and conversation as any in England." This is satis- 

 factory for such as dwell in Leicestershire ; and they 

 could hardly have penned the eulogium better them- 

 selves. I don't quite like it, though, that only many 

 of us carry a polish — though a broad margin is left to 

 allow for the variety of our "situations in life." 



Now, we rather pride ourselves upon a certain amount 

 of general polish in Leicestershire — at all events when we 

 carry ourselves, and our manners, into the hunting-field. 

 We are very particular about taking our turn — or, at the 

 very least, we always aver with much apology that we 

 " couldn't hold our horse," when by accident a vantage 



* Daltou's Pjiitish Traveller. 



