310 



THE CREAM OF LEICESTERSHIRE. 



[Season 



SCRAPTOFT AND BARKBY. 



n WiK^^'^^ 



''*J J3 III j^^: 



Let the Quorn gallop of Friday last, Jan. 9, be my theme. 

 The meet had been Baggrave Hall, and the morning in 

 sequence to Colonel Bmiiahy's Annual Tenant Dinner. "Why 

 all the neighbouring world should consider the occasion 

 eminently theirs, is a question not for me to solve. Thej' all 

 do, and Baggrave Hall on the Friday immediatel}^ consequent 

 on the Colonel's Fete is a rendezvous for Leicester's million, 

 and as many more besides. 



The Prince of Wales' Gorse loosed off a leash of foxes for 

 theh." morning's edification. Firr hunted one to death through 

 the clouds of skirmishers that hoVered over the Hungerton and 

 Coplow districts. The morning's retrospect, indeed, contains 

 little else than an over-strung pack, a flanking crowd of 

 gallopers, a direct onslaught of over-riders, and a huntsman 

 coolly working his best, with apparent disregard of mob and 

 multitude. "With everything in favour of the fox — a cold quiet 

 morning and sundry loud-voiced idlers alone excejited — he was 

 killed after a twisting career, as he reached Hungerton Fox- 

 holes — found the said holes stopped two feet from the surface, 

 and was pulled out b}' the leading hounds. The next chase 



