Sm HEXRY PAUL SEALE, BART. 79 



interest in past sportsmen of an even comparatively 

 recent period. 



The pack, which was the properb.- of the master 

 and maintained by him, consisted of bitches only, 

 averaging about twenty-one inches, and went by the 

 name of Sir Henr^' Seale's Hounds. A hst, dated 

 1849, comprising twenty-four couple and a half, 

 besides puppies, is given at the end of this chapter. 



Sir Hemy' hunted the hounds himseh'. " In 

 addition to his many good qualities as a huntsman. 

 Sir Hemy- has a fine, manly voice and uses it with 

 thrilling effect when he has just found his fox : the 

 echoes in the deep covers of Woodleigh know it well. 

 Foxes are wild, but lamentably scarce ; and the 

 country is veiy- difficult for horses, being intersected 

 by deep lanes and perpendicular ' bottoms.' The 

 kennels are at Dartmouth where Sir Henry hves. and 

 are inconveniently situated for the countr\-, beins at 

 one end of it."i 



Sir Henry's wonderful voice is a tradition in South 

 Devon. It used to be said that it was worth riding 

 twent\" miles only to hear him draw a woodland. 



He was sensible, too, of the poetry of the sport. In 

 an article on Devonshire hunting reminiscences in 

 the Wesiern Morning Xeics of a few vears ago, the 

 writer, after speaking of Sir Henry as a perfect 

 master and gentleman and referring to his beautiful 

 voice, quotes the following passage from one of his 

 letters : 



"It is said Devon is not a hunting country- ; but 

 I have always held it is one of the best for its variety 

 and charming scenei^-. But a man must be well 

 mounted and able to ride." 



^ Fori.i'i Guidi for ISo*?. p. li. 



