56 Tally ho. 



rasping and racing-looking pack; and though distance 

 is said to lend enchantment to the view, yet I do not 

 think that any one of the few remaining who hunted 

 from Melton in olden times, on looking back to the 

 past, will differ from me in the view I take of hounds 

 and hunting nowadays. 



It would be presumption on my part to award the 

 palm of merit to either of these packs, especially as 

 the sport I witnessed fell short of the average standard, 

 owing to the marvellously wet season causing many of 

 the very best coverts to be drawn blank; but I can 

 fairly say that, in respect of looks, the most splendid 

 of all the packs of hounds I have ever seen is the 

 Belvoir. Perfectly matched, even in size, and specially 

 noticeable for their superb condition and beautiful 

 colour, they are, in my opinion, not to be surpassed ; 

 and were I an artist about to paint a hunting picture 

 I would choose them for models before all. In respect 

 to the Cottesmore, I am of opinion that for dash and 

 speed they will not be readily matched ; whilst of the 

 excellence of the Quorn there can be no question ; and 

 therefore I think that, as far as the hounds are con- 

 cerned. Melton stands first on the list of those places 

 I have as yet visited. 



Looking at the style of horses of which the studs are 

 composed, I believe they will bear comparison with 

 any of the cracks of former days ; even when con- 

 trasted with such nags as " the Squire's '' celebrated 

 Clasher, Billy Cokeys Advance, Sir Francis Burdett's 

 Sampson, or any other of the renowned hunters whose 

 fame is recorded in the annals of Melton ; and I assert 

 with little fear of contradiction that out of the number 

 of horses now to be found there, as prime a lot of high- 



