32 Tally ho. 



^^mercat town/^ celebrated for the beauty of its 

 church j situate on the river Stoure ; placed on one 

 of the great North roads, some fifteen miles from 

 Leicester and eighteen from Nottingham ; but though 

 it is true that the town boasts of "mercat/' and a 

 good one too, it is as the Metropolis of Hunting that 

 it is distinguished in these days. In the morning I 

 am awakened by the tramp of horses going out to 

 exercise, and as I sit writing my attention is diverted 

 to the splendid studs of animals that pass my window, 

 the equals to which, in number and quality, I have 

 never seen at any time or place. Stags^ heads and horns, 

 horses^ hoofs, sporting prints, portraits of celebrated 

 masters of foxhounds and hunting crops, decorate the 

 walls of the rooms ; the shops are devoted to the sale 

 of saddles, bridles, whips, horns, horse-clothing, dog- 

 collars, whistles, currycombs, leather gaiters, gloves, 

 bird's-eye neckcloths, and scarlet mittens. Fox 

 terriers abound. The male inhabitants in general 

 may be described as being of the order of the horse — 

 horsey, hospitable, jovial, and generous ; of the fair 

 sex I could say many pretty things, but will refrain, 

 as it might be deemed impertinent if I were to par- 

 ticularise where all are charming. Pleasant as I found 

 Melton on this occasion, I could but note the change 

 that has taken place. The Old Club no longer exists, 

 the junior clubs have vanished, and after eight o'clock 

 the shops are closed, the visitors at dinner, and quiet 

 rules the night. A change indeed from the olden 

 style of living at Melton. ^^ 



'' You knew the Marquis of Waterford, of course V* / 

 says the oldest inhabitant. 



"Yes/' 



