138 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1S25 to 



sportsman, he regrets is not of greater extent, 

 and that is called the i Hartley country.' 



"It is composed of large grass fields, with 

 strong fences, and holds a good scent. During 

 the low price of corn, however, there was not 

 so much ploughed land in any part of Mr. 

 Villebois' country as there would otherwise 

 have been; but since that article has borne 

 a better price, the plough is making rapid 

 strides, and much of old down land is being 

 broken up. 



"Wishing to see the whole of Mr. Villebois' 

 country before I attempted a description of it, 

 and being only enabled to reach part of it from 

 my own stable, I sent my horses to Alresford, 

 which is the head-quarters of the Hunt. I 

 arrived there on the 21st of December, which 

 is called the shortest day, but it was long 

 enough for us, for it rained the whole morn- 

 ing, and we drew a blank. Considering the 

 weather, however, I was very fortunate, having 

 seen one beautiful burst of forty minutes and 

 two fine runs (one two hours and twenty-seven 

 minutes, and the other one hour and thirty- 

 seven minutes, killing both foxes) in seven 

 days' hunting. I missed one very fine run of 

 one hour and forty minutes, and killed him, by 

 going to London ; and these hounds had the 



