1877—78.] THRUST AND THIHST. 237 



fox in covert. The remainder were whipped off — as soon as 

 tired horses eouhl effect it — when about to enter the Punch- 

 bowl once more. These things — and others — took phice on 

 Friday afternoon, February 22nd. One little incident of the 

 rmi I remember to have entered in mental notes, to wit a 

 success^t high timber — to which pluck (Did shoulders assisted 

 Lord liossmore, even at the end of an hour's severe going. 

 Wliat arc good shoiddcrs, readers ? Are the}' sloping '? Are they 

 strong ? Yes, they may be, should be, but not necessarily must 

 be. Let them only tell you as you sit for one minute above 

 them, "We shan't roll upon you," and you may put safely aside 

 orthodoxy of shape and symmetry. A second definition ex- 

 presses the same sense in different words, " A horse with good 

 shoulders is one whose centre of gravity is at all times in front 

 of you." I say it not to such as may rightly deem themselves 

 my grandmothers of the chase ; but to the tyro — if any can be 

 found to own himself such — I recommend that he sliould ride 

 no horse over Leicestershire Avho will not answer the above 

 requirements — or, if he does, that he should at least refrain 

 from ridmg him, especially when more or less blown, at sound 

 oak rails out of deep ground. 



Friday, the 1st instant, brought March in " like a lamb ; " 

 and our last month of hunting was ushered forth in its most 

 melting mood. Rain fell again the greater part of the day. 

 There was a scent, evidently ; but foxes and fate were not 

 altogether propitious. The meet was Baggrave Hall, where 

 the weary are ever welcomed, and even the thirst begotten of a 

 Masonic Ball can be assuaged. Let me not be deemed 

 disrespectful towards the most Christian Order, in inquiring 

 how it is that entertainments under their auspices ever carry 

 with them such apparent torment of consequent drought. We 

 have seen a gamekeeper habitually finish the beer jug after 

 luncheon " lest he should be thirsty another time." This 

 wholesome precautionary measure is, I take it, seldom neg- 

 lected by the Knights of St. John ; and yet, after their gather- 

 ing at Melton Mowbray, they doffed their nprons — like black- 



