28 Tally ho. 



Leicester^ tliougL. eminently satisfactory from a mer- 

 cantile point of view, is not equally so to those on 

 pleasure bent. Little wonder, then, that the " Metro- 

 polis of Hunting ^^ has borne off the palm, and is the 

 place, far excellence, for those who wish to enjoy 

 hunting in its fullest perfection ; where, to quote 

 Nimrod, in his celebrated work, ^ The Chase, Turf, 

 and Road,' " it is the union of the elegant repose of 

 life, combined with the energetic sports of the field, 

 that constitutes the charm of Melton Mowbray." 



Leaving Leicester by a branch line, a short journey 

 brings me to Melton. The hour is six, the evening 

 misty and murky ; the earth, from the long-continued 

 and heavy rains, has arrived at the point of " perfect 

 saturation," and I splash through the mud and slush, 

 ander the guidance of a porter, to the Harboro' Arms, 

 to find that noted hotel full to repletion. In vain the 

 obliging proprietor, Mr. Dale, tries to find accommoda- 

 tion, but is reluctantly compelled to deny me the shelter 

 of his roof; and a feeling of painful disappointment, 

 almost approaching to despondency, comes over me 

 as I look at the bright-burning fires, the cheerful lights 

 of the elegantly furnished rooms, see the dinners 

 preparing, and note the goodly array of bottles calmly 

 reposing on the ice, soon to yield up the sparkling 

 wines of the Widow Pommery to restore the strength 

 and cheer the hearts of the tired sportsmen. 



Whilst the chambermaid is being cross-examined 

 as to the state of affairs I have time to look at the list 

 of names of those who have had the good fortune to 

 secure quarters in this eligible place of abode, and I 

 find at the head of the list Mr. Little Gilmour, whose 

 name is a household word in Melton, having been a 



