SEASON, 187G-77. 



[*^* Military duties in Lulia robbed the Author of the season 1875-76, and hin 

 unexpected return home at the eleventh hour for tlie winter 1876-77 limited 

 his rceords to the Belvoir aiid the Cottesmore. Thin iMjrpcnedf hmvever, to 

 be the most famous season of a decade for the Iwtter jjack.l 



FIRST FRUITS OF 1876. 



ROXTON PARK is the 

 yearly rendezvous named 

 by his Grace of Rutland, 

 whereat Melton is fii'st in- 

 vited to ride to his beautiful 

 pack. The dropping of the 

 curtain for the season is 

 also marked for this time- 

 honoured spot, but we have 

 nothing to do with that at 

 1^ re sent. Now we look for- 

 ward to months of such fun 

 as only hunting can give us. 

 We have no lame horses m 

 our stables, and we are as 

 " keen as pepper." 



So on Wednesday, Nov. 8, 

 you might have found yourself at 11 a.m. under the gnarled 

 oaks of the old park, if you number i^unctualit}' as one of your 

 sins ; or you might have met the hounds issuing from the 

 gates at 11.30 if you are practical. You were better oif in 

 the latter case ; for it was a bitter morning, such as November 

 seldom offers — a hoar frost under the hedgerows still, and a 



