228 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1S25 to 



hounds are frequently changing, and they do 

 not like to leave the coverts, which are chiefly 

 composed of hazel; the lying is not very 

 strong, therefore they do not present much 

 difficulty for hounds. From what I saw, the 

 generality of the hunting is confined to the 

 woodlands. There is evidently a better scent 

 in covert than in the open, unless it may be 

 in the neighbourhood of South Grove, or in 

 the vale of Pewsey, which are estimated as 

 the best countries. 



Dick Burton. " Dick Burton has lived many 

 years in the service of Mr. Assheton Smith, 

 and, like his master, is well known in Lei- 

 cestershire, where he also lived with Mr. 

 Osbaldeston and Lord Southampton. He met 

 with a very serious accident some time since, 

 in consequence of a gentleman coming in con- 

 tact with him as the hounds were running 

 into their fox ; he cannot be said to have 

 entirely recovered, neither is the horse which 

 he was riding at the time. 



" Insignificant as are the fences in this 

 country, I am not prepared to say that men 

 escape without accidents, and many more falls 

 occur than might be calculated on. Hounds 

 will always have the best of horses in an open 

 country, when the scent is good ; and if they 



