48 THE CREAM OF LEICESTERSHIRE. [Seasox 



THE OLD EARL TAKES THE LEAD FROM HIS 

 OWN COVERT. 



On Monda}', January 12tli, the Quorn had a run that was 

 straight, quick, and satisfactory as any run couki be. From 

 Welby Fishpond their fox escaped to Cant's Thorns close b}', 

 with a rare scent, and hounds running liotly at his heels. A 

 few nice fences under Wartnab}'', and then he turned to the 

 left to Saxelby Spinne}', Avhence he crossed the hill and dropped 

 into the vale. Leaving Old Dalby on his left, he made for 

 Nether Broughton, under which place they bowled him 

 over in the open : time, thirty-two minutes after breaking 

 covert, forty from the find. Years of health and vigour 

 to the Earl King ! He took a lead and ke])t it through- 

 out, pace serving liim and judgment telling. Mr. Coupland, 

 Capt. Turner Farley, and jNIr. Foster were quite first-rate in 

 his wake. Several of tlie best and hardest goers of the hunt 

 got off badly and never showed in front at all. Two or three 

 ploughs after Saxelby Spinney were simply awful, and spread- 

 eagled the field sadly ; though the new liounds were able to 

 carry a head over them, and showed throughout that they can 

 fly on a scent as well as the}' can hunt a line. The best and 

 neatest run this season. Lord Wilton was delighted at its 

 being from his own covert, and claimed the brush accordingly, 

 which on other grounds he had fairlv gained. 



AFTER THE HARBOROUGH BALL. 



Thursday, February 8th, was the day of the Market Har- 

 borough Hunt Ball. But it was not fated that there should 

 be another AVaterloo run for Capt. Thomson to read of in his 

 rocky retreat in Devonshire ; nor even a gallop from Loatland 

 Wood, with a plunge into the Rushton Brook, to call back 

 remembrances to Capt. Tempest, when a month hence 



