62 The Old Surrey Fox Hounds 



regretted that more, many more, could not see this run 

 through : they would then have exclaimed, i We now 

 know what a clipping run with fox-hounds means.' One 

 such run is worth any trouble to enjoy, and to the setting 

 sun of one's existence it can never be forgotten. The 

 hounds were about twenty miles from the kennels, and 

 reached home about midnight. As a fine sporting, wild 

 cross-country run, either for fencing, pace, hunting, and 

 finish, it was never surpassed and rarely equalled. Though 

 Surrey is not Leicestershire, I doubt if more average sport 

 is not had with these hounds than in more favoured 

 countries." 



Having thus given a bright and vivid account of one of 

 the grandest Surrey runs of fifty years ago, the same 

 vivacious commentator winds up in the following terms : — 



" One must lament that coming years and indisposition 

 have kept the worthy and liberal Master, Mr. Hood, from 

 the field. He generously says, c I have had my day, and 

 I now wish to see others enjoy theirs'; and he does not 

 mind paying handsomely towards their enjoyment. It is 

 now his tenth year of mastership to these hounds ; and, 

 assisted as he is in the management by such first-rate 

 sportsmen and workmen as William Mortimer and Harry 

 Nicholl, and with such a kennel of hounds, Old Surrey 

 may smile with content, and say to those ambitious to 

 hunt in the Shires, c You may go farther and fare worse.' 

 To all handy the 'village' who wish to enjoy life, I would 

 recommend a good horse — for nothing but a good 'un 

 will do — and a day, or a few days, with the Old Surrey in 



